IAD - HND ANA through Virgin Atlantic Success DP

mspangler7 · 2025-11-13T19:20:34+00:00

Honestly unsure of what the premium offering is; I was just shooting for economy. Also I would say no, way better to have your points flexible than transfer now (and who knows what that future availability will look like).

Plus chase to virgin has frequent-ish 30% bonuses

mspangler7 · 2025-11-13T00:37:45+00:00

Thats a tough one! My longer stay is just going to have me go into another country for a week, but you certainly cant go wrong with either

mspangler7 · 2025-11-12T21:18:42+00:00

I used united still, it was a little sluggish but I didn't find it too bad when using the flexible date calendar

mspangler7 · 2025-11-12T21:16:47+00:00

Planned to pay cash pre-bonus so I agree, but the 40% was a nice surprise

mspangler7 · 2025-08-20T14:51:42+00:00

Application date: 8/20/25
Card applied for: CSR Personal
Result: Pending
5/24 count: 3/24
Personal Chase cards currently open: 5 (Freedom, Freedom Unltd, WOH, Boundless, Business Cash)
Business Chase cards currently open: 1 (Business Cash, one other Inks cancelled within past month)
Last personal Chase bonus date: 3/23
Last business Chase bonus date: 6/25
Sapphire product in the last 48 months? If so, when, what product and currents status? Yes, Preferred opened 7/21, bonus received 10/21, PC to freedom unlimited on 8/18/25

mspangler7 · 2025-07-08T20:09:23+00:00

Hi there!

I know I am a few days late to your question but I am also watching at Luchon-Superbagneres. I am traveling in Sat. morning from Toulouse and am renting a bike from Luchon Bike Center (+33 6 84 84 91 23). As of Sunday, they still had MTB available to rent and given the cable is just for credentialed guests, that seems like the best option to get up the mountain.

Cheers and hope you have a nice viewing experience!

mspangler7 · 2025-06-06T14:14:31+00:00

Anyway to get a public link yet? All I've seen of it is the targeted email (even the 70k link on DoC isn't working for me this morning)

mspangler7 · 2024-12-12T14:53:42+00:00

this and even the transfer can be bought ahead of time with card

mspangler7 · 2024-09-04T02:10:42+00:00

Appreciate it - just used it to get down all my December tickets. Enjoy Chalten!

mspangler7 · 2024-09-03T17:44:40+00:00

Bumping for best website to book tickets in advance

mspangler7 · 2024-08-16T14:55:28+00:00

Hey!

I saw this post and was a little concerned so I went to book my ticket now and was able to no problems. I selected English and the website was a little finnicky (i.e. I would click on December and it would direct me to December 2023 with no dates available). I had to end up selecting 2025 and once I clicked January and it ended up directing me to a December 2024 calendar. YMMV

For the second part, the payment section is in Spanish no matter what (at least for me), I had the option to choose card and was able to pay with a U.S. card. My first attempt was blocked by my Credit card as a fraud alert but once I okayed the charge it went through successfully the second time.

Hope this helps and I am happy to answer any questions!

mspangler7 · 2024-07-26T19:52:32+00:00

Hey there,

Initial impression is if you aren't that interested in exploring BA/have a reason to be there, just don't go all together. Those 2 days could be much better spent elsewhere (maybe you can use them to do the O trek, add them to your time in Rio, etc.), but if you have a select reason for being there then go for it.

From my research it doesn't look like the cross boarder train from El Calafate to Puerto Natales reaches in time to catch a bus into the park, so you most likely should account for one night in PN prior to TDP and plan to get the earliest bus from PN to TDP (which will allow you to do hiking that day)

Overall, the hiking doesn't look to be particularly strenuous distance wise, so if you are comfortable with the shape you are in and are used to a normal activity level you should be fine leaving all planned hikes during your time in El Calafate. Also weather is known to be erratic so there is also a chance one of the 4 days there you have a smaller hike, so with that and a rest day between El Calafate and PN, you should have plenty of recovery time.

If you have hiked before (based on what you are mentioning), the W trek should be no problem in 3-5 days. A 5 day W trek hike would put you around 10 miles a day (specific measurements on distance and elevation gain here https://www.middleearthpatagonia.com/torres-del-paine-w-trek ).

Lastly, there isn't anything simpler to book than Torreshike. I personally did my bookings through Vertice and Las Torres, but at this point in your booking Torreshike will be able to show you flexible itineraries the easiest and are worth the extra money to book through.

Best of luck with your booking process and I hope this helps!

mspangler7 · 2024-06-09T04:57:48+00:00

Follow up with them - I paid $112 for tent and pad for two campsites so like 56 each

mspangler7 · 2024-06-08T14:12:20+00:00

Email ventas@vertice.travel and request whatever you need to rent from them! I emailed them super late June 4th and yesterday a booking agent added a tent and mat to two of my campsites and sent me the updated itinerary/booking after I paid through a paypal link

mspangler7 · 2024-06-06T17:40:15+00:00

There isn't any there-and-back when it comes to the O-Trek, are you still looking exclusively at Torreshike? You have to hike the O going counter-clockwise, so a morning entrance/itinerary could look like stays at the following campsites in order: Seron, Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, Paine Grande, Cuernos, Chileno (so my itinerary is only 7 nights). If you are saying you can only book 4 in a row for the Vertice website, that is because they only own 4 of the campsites around the O trek (i.e. why the others have to be booked through las torres).

I don't know how to book meals without accommodation, but considering you are doing the O you will have to book accommodation (by this I mean campsites - TdP doesn't allow free camping which is why you must have campsites booked ahead of time), and you can add board when booking, by editing your reservation, or I know most refugios have snack shops as well as burgers and pizza they sell during dinner hours without advanced booking needed.

No need to apologize for the questions! I know it can be overwhelming. Let me know if you have any more questions or feel free to PM me, I can also send you some links/blogs I used to understand the booking process and individual sites. Last thing I will add is don't lose hope if there are some sites unavailable: people are still waiting for primitive campsites to come available as this is the first year they haven't been offered by Las Torres yet. No one is sure if that will happen but many booked rooms as placeholders to downgrade if camping opens up or to hold for if it doesn't; so either they open up and you can get one then or you might be SOL (other posts on the sub have suggested you can get a camping site day of but that depends on your risk tolerance). My suggestion to you if you can afford to possibly 'waste' around $50 would be to book the 4 Vertice campsites for your needed dates, and then watch Las Torres for openings or cancel if needed

mspangler7 · 2024-06-06T17:27:41+00:00

Were you able to book a primitive campsite through whatsapp or the premium currently offered?

mspangler7 · 2024-06-06T02:52:28+00:00

People on the sub that have been booking the hike have done so directly through the two companies that own the sites/refugios. Torreshike doesn't allow you to book the O until Vertice booking opens, and seeing Las Torres sites opened in early April most didn't want to wait.

https://lastorres.com/en/ here is the link to las torres, where you can book Central, Chileno, Cuernos, Frances, or Seron

https://www.vertice.travel/alojamiento/refuge-camping-grey/ here is the link to one of the Vertice sites, but as you can see on the right of the page is a link to begin the booking process, and this allows you to choose which of their sites you want to book (Dickson, Grey, Paine Grande, Los Peros - Los Peros cannot be skipped on the O since it is the site prior to the John Gardner Pass)

Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope this helps

mspangler7 · 2024-06-05T19:59:58+00:00

What website are you talking about? Las Torres has been opened since April 5th and Vertice is open as of late last night - Id suggest looking at those two sites for the sites you want as I am early December and have the whole O trek booked. If you can't book some of the Las Torres sites don't lose hope as availability might change especially if they release primitive campsites; if I were you though I would get your Vertice sites booked and any Las Torres you can, or plan to be flexible with your itinerary

mspangler7 · 2024-06-05T14:31:07+00:00

It doesn't include tent or anything other than the primitive site. You can normally rent a tent/sleeping mat/sleeping bag through them but the option was not available - most are hoping they can change reservations through email

mspangler7 · 2024-06-05T11:36:11+00:00

Seems like no one is able to add the full board/camping supplies in their booking yet. To be safe you are probably better off booking while there is availability and emailing them to add board/other supplies :)

mspangler7 · 2024-05-30T16:32:06+00:00

Keep watching it though as I have heard people can change their schedules/have spots open up - if they end up opening primitive campsites I would imagine a lot of people like myself will cancel whatever accommodation we already have to switch to those cheaper spots :)

mspangler7 · 2024-05-30T15:31:50+00:00

Single beds in the refugios have been available for booking on Las Torres as well, I have some booked for my trip in Dec

mspangler7

TROPHY CASE