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- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
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Just got back from Peru yesterday with ABD. I was trying to keep up with this thread on my iPad at night, but lost track several days ago.
I used an AmEx offer at the JW Marriott Lima before the start of the trip (spend $1,000.00 save $100.00), but the credit hasn't posted yet. Will have to set a reminder to call next week as the AmEx credits usually post pretty quickly.
Also used a Bonvoy FN certificate for ds at the Westin Lima the first night of the ABD so he could have his own room (he had his own room at the JW Marriott with AA points from dhs account).
The ABD was great. Hotels were all very good, food was excellent and our group was, for the most part, really good. Highlight of the trip for me was Machu Picchu, which is really indescribable. I can't say enough good things about ABD, so if you are thinking of one, definitely do it. There is so much magic on the trips and the guides are (almost) always outstanding. There were 35 on our trip (a family of 4 had to cancel the first day of the trip due to health issues -- a reminder to always have trip insurance), which was a good number. Once we left Lima our group split into 2 since large buses don't fit on the roads in the Sacred Valley (some of the roads wind up and down mountains). Dd and I had started taking altitude sickness preventative medication in Lima (diamox) and I am super glad that we did. There were several that were affected once we got to the Sacred Valley (all teenagers), one having to have the doctor come to the resort. Once we hit Cusco, ds was hit pretty hard for a day, as were 3 others. I found it very hard to breathe going up stairs / hills and this got much worse once we arrived in Cusco, but I wasn't physically ill, so for that I am very grateful. I will post a more detailed summary on the ABD
section once I have more time to gather my thoughts. Unfortunately I did contract some kind of stomach illness in Cusco, not sure if it is related to altitude or not, but I am hoping it will resolve now that we are back in N. America. I have lost my appetite and find it hard to even look at food (harsh words for a moderate foodie).
I hope I didn't miss too much and Happy New Year everyone!
I used an AmEx offer at the JW Marriott Lima before the start of the trip (spend $1,000.00 save $100.00), but the credit hasn't posted yet. Will have to set a reminder to call next week as the AmEx credits usually post pretty quickly.
Also used a Bonvoy FN certificate for ds at the Westin Lima the first night of the ABD so he could have his own room (he had his own room at the JW Marriott with AA points from dhs account).
The ABD was great. Hotels were all very good, food was excellent and our group was, for the most part, really good. Highlight of the trip for me was Machu Picchu, which is really indescribable. I can't say enough good things about ABD, so if you are thinking of one, definitely do it. There is so much magic on the trips and the guides are (almost) always outstanding. There were 35 on our trip (a family of 4 had to cancel the first day of the trip due to health issues -- a reminder to always have trip insurance), which was a good number. Once we left Lima our group split into 2 since large buses don't fit on the roads in the Sacred Valley (some of the roads wind up and down mountains). Dd and I had started taking altitude sickness preventative medication in Lima (diamox) and I am super glad that we did. There were several that were affected once we got to the Sacred Valley (all teenagers), one having to have the doctor come to the resort. Once we hit Cusco, ds was hit pretty hard for a day, as were 3 others. I found it very hard to breathe going up stairs / hills and this got much worse once we arrived in Cusco, but I wasn't physically ill, so for that I am very grateful. I will post a more detailed summary on the ABD
section once I have more time to gather my thoughts. Unfortunately I did contract some kind of stomach illness in Cusco, not sure if it is related to altitude or not, but I am hoping it will resolve now that we are back in N. America. I have lost my appetite and find it hard to even look at food (harsh words for a moderate foodie).
I hope I didn't miss too much and Happy New Year everyone!
). My account shows payment due 3/2/20, so according to this, the statement will probably close around 2/26 - 2/28 depending on if they count weekends or just business days. I will for sure have the $1,000 minimum spent by then. Should I wait to try to match the current offer until after the first statement closes and get the original bonus points, or in the long run, would it matter since it's kind of a two tiered bonus anyway?? If they match, I assume I would still get the first 40,000 points after meeting the initial $1,000 spend and then get the additional 35,000 points after meeting the other $4,000 in the next few months.
