McGarvy's Word Journalist ... Podcaster ... Speaker

Choose the softest landing point from the United States

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

Last week, Joe Brancatelli in an article about the election exile and implemented this idea:, but this is a theme I've been thinking hard for eight years ago, and I'm just bothering this question. There are many friends. In this article, let me tell you what I am talking to.

By the way, I already have Irish nationality and have 35 years. In other words, I and my spouse can emigrate to EU countries.

In fact, the migration to Dublin I want in Ireland is too expensive, and recently Ireland has not welcomed outsiders who are accused of everything, from serious housing shortage to inflation.

The remaining is other areas in Europe, but the most American expatriates are Mexico, about three times the secon d-largest Canada. Mexico has about 800, 000 American expatriates. Spain is 57, 000 in Spain.

In fact, the number of expatriates will decrease dramatically after Mexico and Canada. Other North American countries are easy and cheap to access to the United States, from doctors to family trips. Is there anyone who wants to fly $ 1000 from Madrid to New York for a doctor's reservation?

Another reality: Mexico is easy for US citizens to migrate and are quite cheap. It's OK if you show 293, 000 dollars savings / investment. If your monthly income is $ 7300, that is possible. There is also a temporary residence option and it is cheaper.

Regarding Canada, it is difficult to get a legal residence right. It's not impossible, but it won't happen if you really want to move to Canada. < SPAN> McGarvy's word journalist ... Podcaster ... Speaker

Choose the softest landing point from the United States

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

Last week, Joe Brancatelli in an article about the election exile and implemented this idea:, but this is a theme I've been thinking hard for eight years ago, and I'm just bothering this question. There are many friends. In this article, let me tell you what I am talking to.

By the way, I already have Irish nationality and have 35 years. In other words, I and my spouse can emigrate to EU countries.

In fact, the migration to Dublin I want in Ireland is too expensive, and recently Ireland has not welcomed outsiders who are accused of everything, from serious housing shortage to inflation.

The remaining is other areas in Europe, but the most American expatriates are Mexico, about three times the secon d-largest Canada. Mexico has about 800, 000 American expatriates. Spain is 57, 000 in Spain.

In fact, the number of expatriates will decrease dramatically after Mexico and Canada. Other North American countries are easy and cheap to access to the United States, from doctors to family trips. Is there anyone who wants to fly $ 1000 from Madrid to New York for a doctor's reservation?

Another reality: Mexico is easy for US citizens to migrate and are quite cheap. It's OK if you show 293, 000 dollars savings / investment. If your monthly income is $ 7300, that is possible. There is also a temporary residence option and it is cheaper.

Regarding Canada, it is difficult to get a legal residence right. It's not impossible, but it won't happen if you really want to move to Canada. McGarvy's Word Journalist ... Podcaster ... Speaker

Choose the softest landing point from the United States

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

Last week, Joe Brancatelli in an article about the election exile and implemented this idea:, but this is a theme I've been thinking hard for eight years ago, and I'm just bothering this question. There are many friends. In this article, let me tell you what I am talking to.

By the way, I already have Irish nationality and have 35 years. In other words, I and my spouse can emigrate to EU countries.

In fact, the migration to Dublin I want in Ireland is too expensive, and recently Ireland has not welcomed outsiders who are accused of everything, from serious housing shortage to inflation.

The remaining is other areas in Europe, but the most American expatriates are Mexico, about three times the secon d-largest Canada. Mexico has about 800, 000 American expatriates. Spain is 57, 000 in Spain.

In fact, the number of expatriates will decrease dramatically after Mexico and Canada. Other North American countries are easy and cheap to access to the United States, from doctors to family trips. Is there anyone who wants to fly $ 1000 from Madrid to New York for a doctor's reservation?

Another reality: Mexico is easy for US citizens to migrate and are quite cheap. It's OK if you show 293, 000 dollars savings / investment. If your monthly income is $ 7300, that is possible. There is also a temporary residence option and it is cheaper.

Regarding Canada, it is difficult to get a legal residence right. It's not impossible, but it won't happen if you don't really want to move to Canada.

Do you think about the EU? Of course, it is possible to acquire the citizens of Ireland, Italy, and Polish, but the chosen country needs to have some direct connection. If you are a high roller, think about the Republic of Malta. With the pressure from the EU, Malta has modified its high roller citizenship program. As follows: Approximately $ 800, 000 investment, about $ 750, 000 real estate purchase, $ 10, 000 donation to NGOs, about $ 600, 000 family additions, one year living in Malta. Certainly expensive, EU passports are better than any other passport and are the best in the world.

Is there a small budget? Portugal may be the answer. The s o-called Golden Visa has been significantly revised mainly for citizens' protests, but it still requires $ 500, 000 investment in private equity or venture capital funds. It is. In the past, real estate purchases were a preferred means for US expatriates, but their options were gone because citizens shouted about rents and housing prices. However, there are almost no other requirements for Golden Visa, and you may not have to live in Portugal, and you can do most of the things that citizens can do there. Five years later, you can apply for permanent residence and citizenship.

Greece offers similar things at a low price of around $ 250, 000, and real estate investment is possible, but the scope of the target real estate is narrow in the price range. Other roads with a wide range of choices require about $ 800, 000 real estate investment.

Another option is to invest about $ 400, 000 in Greece's business.

Greece's offer has little conditions.

Many EU countries have despised the Greece and Portugal scheme. Will they last forever? Regarding Malta, the degree of corruption is high.

The economy of Greece and Portugal is the weakest among historic EU countries. < SPAN> Are you thinking about EU? Of course, it is possible to acquire the citizens of Ireland, Italy, and Polish, but the chosen country needs to have some direct connection. If you are a high roller, think about the Republic of Malta. With the pressure from the EU, Malta has modified its high roller citizenship program. As follows: Approximately $ 800, 000 investment, about $ 750, 000 real estate purchase, $ 10, 000 donation to NGOs, about $ 600, 000 family additions, one year living in Malta. Certainly expensive, EU passports are better than any other passport and are the best in the world.

Is there a small budget? Portugal may be the answer. The s o-called Golden Visa has been significantly revised mainly for citizens' protests, but it still requires $ 500, 000 investment in private equity or venture capital funds. It is. In the past, real estate purchases were a preferred means for US expatriates, but their options were gone because citizens shouted about rents and housing prices. However, there are almost no other requirements for Golden Visa, and you may not have to live in Portugal, and you can do most of the things that citizens can do there. Five years later, you can apply for permanent residence and citizenship.

Robert McGar Bay

Another option is to invest about $ 400, 000 in Greece's business.

Greece's offer has little conditions.

Many EU countries have despised the Greece and Portugal scheme. Will they last forever? Regarding Malta, the degree of corruption is high.

The economy of Greece and Portugal is the weakest among historic EU countries. Do you think about the EU? Of course, it is possible to acquire the citizens of Ireland, Italy, and Polish, but the chosen country needs to have some direct connection. If you are a high roller, think about the Republic of Malta. With the pressure from the EU, Malta has modified its high roller citizenship program. As follows: Approximately $ 800, 000 investment, about $ 750, 000 real estate purchase, $ 10, 000 donation to NGOs, about $ 600, 000 family additions, one year living in Malta. Certainly expensive, EU passports are better than any other passport and are the best in the world.

Is there a small budget? Portugal may be the answer. The s o-called Golden Visa has been significantly revised mainly for citizens' protests, but it still requires $ 500, 000 investment in private equity or venture capital funds. It is. In the past, real estate purchases were a preferred means for US expatriates, but their options were gone because citizens shouted about rents and housing prices. However, there are almost no other requirements for Golden Visa, and you may not have to live in Portugal, and you can do most of the things that citizens can do there. Five years later, you can apply for permanent residence and citizenship.

Greece offers similar things at a low price of around $ 250, 000, and real estate investment is possible, but the scope of the target real estate is narrow in the price range. Other roads with a wide range of choices require about $ 800, 000 real estate investment.

Another option is to invest about $ 400, 000 in Greece's business.

Greece's offer has little conditions.

Many EU countries have despised the Greece and Portugal scheme. Will they last forever? Regarding Malta, the degree of corruption is high.

The economy of Greece and Portugal is the weakest among historic EU countries.

Where should I move? The conversation usually ends there, but my answer is simple: probably in the barrier of Rabpies, La Latino or Rastoro, and there are many crowds on a narrow road on the street. Madrid also has a culture! -There are food and history. The expense will be a little less than the Phoenix where I live. I spent a considerable amount of time in these barrios three times in the past five years. It's been a year since I started learning Spanish. Will I move? Well, I have to wait until November.

Here is a link to the podcast created by Google AI about this article. This is part of Google's Deep Dive and Notebooklm program.

Dick Darbin rides again: Cross fire on the Frequent Flyer Program

October 3, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

Dick Darbin, a member of the Illinois, has once again noticed the airline's free quant flyer program. What Darbin is thinking is the revolution of how to operate the Frequent Flyer program.

At present, most forecasts see the Senate turn over to the Republican Party in the 2024 election, which is a very unstable election, like black Nazis in North Carolina. However, if the Democratic Party loses in the Senate (Darbin is currently the majority secretar y-general), the hope that this bill will be enacted will disappear.

I'm sorry because it's a good bill.

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

This is the book of the bill: "The airline prohibits the fact that the airline has the terms of reserving the rights that can be changed at any time without a notification of consumers, in the terms of use of a mileage program and airline affiliated credit cards, but instead. We are obliged to notify consumers at least a year ago, for changes in these terms of use or lowering the values ​​of no n-added points or dangerous.

Another pillar of the bill is "1 point / miles on all pages on the website within 90 days after the establishment, so that consumers can compare the values ​​of different airlines more easily. Mandy to display the information disclosure that has been updated in real time to stand out. "

The bill also forced the airline to allow consumers to freely combine points and cash to pay their flights.

Other portions of the bill make the transfer of points to others easier (and for free) and prohibit the expiration date of points.

That's because American Airlines has recently been told that the expiration date of 11, 000 miles has expired. Rather, I wanted to give miles to my family who was a faithful passenger (I don't know why), but it costs $ 55, and I was forced to pay for bit & par t-time job, and charity. I thought it was insult that the donation was free.

Airlines for America, an airline industry group, describes the Derbin bill as the following: US airlines have been abolished for those who are trying to abolish these loyalty programs. We have been working on "Let's keep our points". US airlines have a transparency of these programs, and policy proppons should recognize their popularity and work to prevent unnecessary regulations from being abolished. "

Who can read "US airlines that are transparent about these programs"? The program of the three major airlines in Japan has no transparency. < SPAN> The gest of the bill: "Prohibit the terms of the airline that can change the right to change the right to change at any time without a notification of consumers, in the terms of use for the airline," The Terms of Mileage Programs and Credit Cards for airline affiliated credit cards. Instead, it is obliged to notify consumers at least a year ago, such as changing these Terms of Use or reducing the value of no n-added points or exposing them to dangerous.

Another pillar of the bill is "1 point / miles on all pages on the website within 90 days after the establishment, so that consumers can compare the values ​​of different airlines more easily. Mandy to display the information disclosure that has been updated in real time to stand out. "

The bill also forced the airline to allow consumers to freely combine points and cash to pay their flights.

Other portions of the bill make the transfer of points to others easier (and for free) and prohibit the expiration date of points.

That's because American Airlines has recently been told that the expiration date of 11, 000 miles has expired. Rather, I wanted to give miles to my family who was a faithful passenger (I don't know why), but it costs $ 55, and I was forced to pay for bit & par t-time job, and charity. I thought it was insult that the donation was free.

Airlines for America, an airline industry group, describes the Derbin bill as the following: US airlines have been abolished for those who are trying to abolish these loyalty programs. We have been working on "Let's keep our points". US airlines have a transparency of these programs, and policy proppons should recognize their popularity and work to prevent unnecessary regulations from being abolished. "

Who can read "US airlines that are transparent about these programs"? The program of the three major airlines in Japan has no transparency. This is the book of the bill: "The airline prohibits the fact that the airline has the terms of reserving the rights that can be changed at any time without a notification of consumers, in the terms of use of a mileage program and airline affiliated credit cards, but instead. We are obliged to notify consumers at least a year ago, for changes in these terms of use or lowering the values ​​of no n-added points or dangerous.

Another pillar of the bill is "1 point / miles on all pages on the website within 90 days after the establishment, so that consumers can compare the values ​​of different airlines more easily. Mandy to display the information disclosure that has been updated in real time to stand out. "

The bill also forced the airline to allow consumers to freely combine points and cash to pay their flights.

Other portions of the bill make the transfer of points to others easier (and for free) and prohibit the expiration date of points.

That's because American Airlines has recently been told that the expiration date of 11, 000 miles has expired. Rather, I wanted to give miles to my family who was a faithful passenger (I don't know why), but it costs $ 55, and I was forced to pay for bit & par t-time job, and charity. I thought it was insult that the donation was free.

Airlines for America, an airline industry group, describes the Derbin bill as the following: US airlines have been abolished for those who are trying to abolish these loyalty programs. We have been working on "Let's keep our points". US airlines have a transparency of these programs, and policy proppons should recognize their popularity and work to prevent unnecessary regulations from being abolished. "

Who can read "US airlines that are transparent about these programs"? The program of the three major airlines in Japan has no transparency.

Certainly, for three major domestic companies, we know that loyalty programs are one of the biggest sources of profits, and the actual aircraft operation itself has produced a slight profit. It may be all facts. But that doesn't mean that just because I'm a masochist sticks, the passengers continue to be swung by the airline, swung around in front of them, and many passengers will be happy to jump.

In the last 10 years, I have obtained three sets of air tickets to Europe. But just because you can beat an airline game doesn't mean that.

So I agree with the Darbin plan.

A place to go in the no n-hot list 2025

2024 September 27, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Intripid explains this list as follows: "We, which we announce every year, encourage travelers to remove travelers from sightseeing courses and to examine les s-known destions. At the same time, we strive to spread sightseeing in places where sightseeing can have a major positive influence on the community and the local economy, "said Erica Criticides, Global Product in Intra Ripid Travel. Say. "We are constantly evolving travel to recognize the reality of ove r-three, distributed travelers into new and exciting places, and provide opportunities to travel during a year. "

Two cities, such as San Francisco and London, have fallen in popularity among American travelers, are not so hot anymore, but they are not on this list, but what a Pakistan Gilgit Valtestan Is ranked first.

I have never heard of it, and honestly, Pakistan was rated by the United States of State 3 ("Review Transit"), and some areas were rated as level 4 ("not traveling"). It was considered a huge entry area.

Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan is located in the Kashmir region where both India and Pakistan claim to be territorial, and their population is sparse. If you like the high altitude and a rocky landscape, you may want to go.

I know anyone who has visited Greenland, but I know who has stepped into Disco Island, which recorded Eric the Red as the first visitor around 982. do not have. The population is about 1, 100, which is a really attractive place.

The third place is Cape York, Australia, located in the fur North Queensland, the largest primeval area in the northeast of Australia.

The fourth place is Adirondak in New York. Burlington VT is in contact with the northeast border of the mountains. You can enjoy it through the four seasons. However, in the summer, it is crowded with tourists, so if you want to dodge the tsunami of tourists, this destination may be removed that season.

The fifth place is the Mongolian sign Shand in the Gobi Desert. I know only Mongolia is the information obtained from the "Grand Tour" broadcast in 2019, or just because I saw this program, I did not ride a car or horse, but Mongolia. The desire to explore was not satisfied.

OK, don't you know the remaining five? I understand. (If you wish, here is here).

The 10th place Oslo has a lot of sightseeing sites, and in fact it is the only Nordic capital that I have never been to. I like Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen. However, there is a problem with Oslo's position. In the summer of 2025, many tourists may visit Oslo. This is because "cool corrections", which spend a lot of vacations in places where Greece, Italy, and Spain are not so hot, are big trends. If you want a place in Europe, the temperature is cool, and you haven't been there yet, Oslo will be your place.

Perhaps this list doesn't have much of your heart. But here is the main subject. For a horde of vacation and those who want to avoid hostility to tourists, it is a good idea to think about places that are not traveling very much and focus on some places that can be a great destination. Let's make your own not hot list. Knowing what is important for you, such as nature, museums, shopping, meals, wine, etc., you will find a few places with travelers who meet all conditions. < SPAN> Sure, I know who have visited Greenland, but around 982, who has stepped into Disco Island, where Eric the Red is the first visitor. I don't know. The population is about 1, 100, which is a really attractive place.

The third place is Cape York, Australia, located in the fur North Queensland, the largest primeval area in the northeast of Australia.

The fourth place is Adirondak in New York. Burlington VT is in contact with the northeast border of the mountains. You can enjoy it through the four seasons. However, in the summer, it is crowded with tourists, so if you want to dodge the tsunami of tourists, this destination may be removed that season.

The fifth place is the Mongolian sign Shand in the Gobi Desert. I know only Mongolia is the information obtained from the "Grand Tour" broadcast in 2019, or just because I saw this program, I did not ride a car or horse, but Mongolia. The desire to explore was not satisfied.

OK, don't you know the remaining five? I understand. (If you wish, here is here).

The 10th place Oslo has a lot of sightseeing sites, and in fact it is the only Nordic capital that I have never been to. I like Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen. However, there is a problem with Oslo's position. In the summer of 2025, many tourists may visit Oslo. This is because "cool corrections", which spend a lot of vacations in places where Greece, Italy, and Spain are not so hot, are big trends. If you want a place in Europe, the temperature is cool, and you haven't been there yet, Oslo will be your place.

Perhaps this list doesn't have much of your heart. But here is the main subject. For a horde of vacation and those who want to avoid hostility to tourists, it is a good idea to think about places that are not traveling very much and focus on some places that can be a great destination. Let's make your own not hot list. Knowing what is important for you, such as nature, museums, shopping, meals, wine, etc., you will find a few places with travelers who meet all conditions. I know anyone who has visited Greenland, but I know who has stepped into Disco Island, which recorded Eric the Red as the first visitor around 982. do not have. The population is about 1, 100, which is a really attractive place.

The third place is Cape York, Australia, located in the fur North Queensland, the largest primeval area in the northeast of Australia.

The fourth place is Adirondak in New York. Burlington VT is in contact with the northeast border of the mountains. You can enjoy it through the four seasons. However, in the summer, it is crowded with tourists, so if you want to dodge the tsunami of tourists, this destination may be removed that season.

The fifth place is the Mongolian sign Shand in the Gobi Desert. I know only Mongolia is the information obtained from the "Grand Tour" broadcast in 2019, or just because I saw this program, I did not ride a car or horse, but Mongolia. The desire to explore was not satisfied.

Robert McGar Bay

The 10th place Oslo has a lot of sightseeing sites, and in fact it is the only Nordic capital that I have never been to. I like Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen. However, there is a problem with Oslo's position. In the summer of 2025, many tourists may visit Oslo. This is because "cool corrections", which spend a lot of vacations in places where Greece, Italy, and Spain are not so hot, are big trends. If you want a place in Europe, the temperature is cool, and you haven't been there yet, Oslo will be your place.

Perhaps this list doesn't have much of your heart. But here is the main subject. For a horde of vacation and those who want to avoid hostility to tourists, it is a good idea to think about places that are not traveling very much and focus on some places that can be a great destination. Let's make your own not hot list. Knowing what is important for you, such as nature, museums, shopping, meals, wine, etc., you will find a few places with travelers who meet all conditions.

Personally, I have already decided on the summer of 2025, and living in Phoenix, I am determined to travel in the peak month of heat, even if July is the peak month for global travel, sadly.

On the way, I considered Buenos Aires, Tallinn, Belfast (a long-time personal favorite, but never during the summer "marching season"), Sydney Australia, and a few others. In the end, all were off the table, and in the end, only two remained. The runner-up was Madrid, where I spent a wonderful month in 2024.

I won't tell you where I'm going until I go next summer. It's just a small step in continuing to explore less-explored places.

Where are you going? Don't tell me.

Nickelback and thin-margin overtourism: Beware the hand of greed

September 19, 2024 | rjmcgarvey | Consumer Affairs, Travel

Robert McGarvey

From Paris to Athens, the Canary Islands to Rome, locals are fussing over overtourism. They're talking about strict measures to maintain quality of life for locals, and they're trying to let us know they mean it.

Image by Google's AI tool Imagen3

Think about it: Venice imposed a 5 euro tourist tax this year, and looks set to double it next year.

Barcelona charges 50 cents to $2. 40 per tourist per day.

The Netherlands charges 3 euros per night.

Rome is looking to charge 3-7 euros per night.

And more European cities and countries are trying to jump on the "it's free" train.

But is it good for disgruntled locals? That's the question.

Many American cities have long imposed a kind of tourist tax in the form of a special tax on hotel rooms that often exceeds 10% in many cities, including Honolulu, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Several European cities, including Amsterdam and Berlin, do the same. And many countries, including Mexico, Japan, and Belgium, levy tourist taxes, usually less than $10 per person.

Question: Does this curb overtourism? Of course not. That was never the purpose. Cities and countries have been siphoning these 5- and 10-cent fees for years, without noticeably curbing tourism. Rather, the money is a kind of giveaway that politicians can spend however they like.

These taxes and fees are particularly convenient for governments because they are paid by tourists, not locals—i. e. voters—who have no say in how destinations are run or who gets elected.

Certainly, tourist industry officials warn the high taxes to keep tourists away.

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Because Bhutan is a "developing country" centered on agriculture and forestry, if you want simple and large cash injection, you have to open the gate and attract tourists.

Bhutan also restricts the number of tourists to 300, 000 annually.

We are seriously working on suppressing overtourism.

Bhutan believes that tourists are "satisfied" because Bhutan is a fund for continuing to be Bhutan and the free medical and education expenses for the people.

All countries, islands, and cities, which have a horde of tourists, should emulate Bhutan, which means imposing a high fee to tourists and a limit on the number of people. However, it is a tough medicine, and the tourism industry, which has vested interests, will bark, thinking that their cows will be eaten. And politicians will listen to their opinions, and that's why the only voice of ant i-sightseeing is lip.

Bhutan is serious, but not Santorini. Please watch this tw o-minute Reuters video, but Santorini is full of tourists. We are considering collecting 20 euros per passenger on a cruise ship. However, most of them are paid to Athens, and Santorini is assigned an unspecified number of people to increase infrastructure.

Similar things are happening in Bali. Jakarta introduced a tourism tax of about $ 10 per person because excessive sightseeing has ruined the former "land of the gods". By the way, Bali is the second largest foreign currency in Indonesia after oil and has $ 20 billion annually. Jakarta doesn't want to break the piggy bank. < SPAN> Certainly, tourist industry officials warn that high taxes will keep tourists away.

Taxes that are not higher than one cup of coffee or one wine will not keep tourists away.

Because Bhutan is a "developing country" centered on agriculture and forestry, if you want simple and large cash injection, you have to open the gate and attract tourists.

Bhutan also restricts the number of tourists to 300, 000 annually.

We are seriously working on suppressing overtourism.

Bhutan believes that tourists are "satisfied" because Bhutan is a fund for continuing to be Bhutan and the free medical and education expenses for the people.

All countries, islands, and cities, which have a horde of tourists, should emulate Bhutan, which means imposing a high fee to tourists and a limit on the number of people. However, it is a tough medicine, and the tourism industry, which has vested interests, will bark, thinking that their cows will be eaten. And politicians will listen to their opinions, and that's why the only voice of ant i-sightseeing is lip.

Bhutan is serious, but not Santorini. Please watch this tw o-minute Reuters video, but Santorini is full of tourists. We are considering collecting 20 euros per passenger on a cruise ship. However, most of them are paid to Athens, and Santorini is assigned an unspecified number of people to increase infrastructure.

Similar things are happening in Bali. Jakarta introduced a tourism tax of about $ 10 per person because excessive sightseeing has ruined the former "land of the gods". By the way, Bali is the second largest foreign currency in Indonesia after oil and has $ 20 billion annually. Jakarta doesn't want to break the piggy bank. Certainly, tourist industry officials warn the high taxes to keep tourists away.

Taxes that are not higher than one cup of coffee or one wine will not keep tourists away.

Because Bhutan is a "developing country" centered on agriculture and forestry, if you want simple and large cash injection, you have to open the gate and attract tourists.

Bhutan also restricts the number of tourists to 300, 000 annually.

We are seriously working on suppressing overtourism.

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

All countries, islands, and cities, which have a horde of tourists, should emulate Bhutan, which means imposing a high fee to tourists and a limit on the number of people. However, it is a tough medicine, and the tourism industry, which has vested interests, will bark, thinking that their cows will be eaten. And politicians will listen to their opinions, and that's why the only voice of ant i-sightseeing is lip.

Bhutan is serious, but not Santorini. Please watch this tw o-minute Reuters video, but Santorini is full of tourists. We are considering collecting 20 euros per passenger on a cruise ship. However, most of them are paid to Athens, and Santorini is assigned an unspecified number of people to increase infrastructure.

Similar things are happening in Bali. Jakarta introduced a tourism tax of about $ 10 per person because excessive sightseeing has ruined the former "land of the gods". By the way, Bali is the second largest foreign currency in Indonesia after oil and has $ 20 billion annually. Jakarta doesn't want to break the piggy bank.

Overtourism is a pest, but it would be foolish to wait for politicians and entrenched economic interests to cure it. They won't. My advice is to go to places where there are no tourists, i. e. visit places with a lot of tourists in very low seasons (for example, Rome is usually empty for the first two weeks of December), and always aim to go to places where there are no tourists (Paris is touristy for most of the year, Marseille is not). It's easy to avoid crowds if you want to.

Yogi Berra probably wouldn't have said it, but it's too crowded and no one goes there anymore.

Airlines hit back at DOT Soap Opera Continues

September 13, 2024 | rjmcgarvey | Consumer Affairs, Travel

Robert McGarvey

The Department of Transportation threw the first punch. It wrote letters to the big four US airlines (United, Delta, American, and Southwest) demanding information about their frequent flyer programs, strongly suggesting that there is something rotten about the airlines tinkering with award thresholds to fill their coffers.

Now the airlines are fighting back.

My advice to them is to plug their ears with wax, as Ulysses had his men do when the ship approached the Siren Island. I will keep my ears open, like Ulysses, to understand the threats. I am tied to a desk so I can't bribe any airline with free tickets.

But I listen to them and I read what they say.

Take United CEO Scott Kirby, for example. The DOT's request seems to have irritated Kirby. At a US Chamber of Commerce meeting in Washington DC, Kirby seemed to take a "how dare you" attitude toward the DOT's request to know specifically how airlines run their loyalty programs. "Customers love these programs," Kirby said. Three million passengers flew with miles on United this summer.

He didn't say United has more than 110 million members.

Kirby was right when he said 107 million members of United's loyalty program didn't use miles for travel this summer.

He also didn't mention that in the second quarter, United booked $892 million in "other revenue," including mileage sales and credit card agreements. Much of that goes to the bottom line and accounts for the bulk of UAL's profits.

Kirby isn't alone.

"The US Travel Business Association Jeff Freeman CEO said, said the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's investigation, and said," The federal government reduced 3, 000 controllers and was loved by 80 % of travelers. It is surprising to manage the reward programs of the airline and waste valuable time.

He did not show evidence that the program was "loved" to 80 % of the travelers. He did not admit that many travelers have praised the DOT effort to support the airline to process the refunds of canceled flights more quickly and kindly.

By the way, according to YOUGOV's poll, less than half of the focus on the airline, except for 55 % supported Delta Airlines. Mr. Kirby's airline was only 48 %. "Lovely" airline "is not suitable for the same sentence.

On the other hand, Airlines for American industry groups say: "The loyalty program is a means of gratitude to travelers because the competition between airlines is fierce, so the airline is grateful to travelers. People participate in various loyalty programs, and US airlines that can be applied to travel and other benefits are transparent, and policy proprietors are consumers. But we should be able to continue providing such important benefits.

What is the transparency of the program? By the time the airline was issuing a static reward chart, it was at least a certain amount of transparency, but today in the era of dynamic pricing, the program is not transparent. Right now, I'm thinking of accumulating enough miles to buy two free tickets to Europe next summer, but to be honest, whether the cost will be 150, 000 miles, 400, 000 miles. It has no idea whether it will be a mileage, and its uncertainty is complicated to assemble a strategy.

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

I haven't yet believed that DOT (Ministry of Transport) surveys will have to play better in the reward program. However, DOT may be ashamed of the airline and may throw a little accessories to us to forget the terribleness of the loyalty program. Is it a free service of a warm white wine?

I don't think the royalty program will be improved. Why do you have to do something?

Bill Muggie, a senior fellow who is in charge of AMERICAN ECONOMIC LIBERTIES PROJECT, in a comment from the Travel Weekly magazine, summarizes the confusion of miles well: "People have the best beliefs. Participate in the program for decades ...

Don't start counting the benefits of Frequent Flyer: DO T-airlines

September 6, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

Robert McGar Bay

Last Thursday, the Ministry of Transportation dropped a bomb. The headline of the news release is: "The Ministry of Transportation is investigating the rewarding customs of the four largest airlines in the United States to protect consumer airline rewards.

The release is: "As a part of the survey, the Secretary of Transportation of Pete Batigig, the US Transportation of Pete Batigig, sent a letter to American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and recorded detailed information on privilege programs, practices, and policies. The investigation of the dot to submit a report is to cut down, hidden price settings, additional price, competition, and options, by consumers who participate in the airline reward program. It focuses on how it is affected by the decrease.

I'm sorry while yawning.

Of course, we are affected by the continuous cut down of the accumulated points and miles. However, this seems to go back to 1981 when American Airlines debuted the AADVANTAGE program.

Joe Brancatelli has been worried that the value of the mileage program is shrinking for many years more than I remember, and has urged readers to use the existing miles.

Brancatelli also argues that the only way to win the game is to pursue a credit card with a gorgeous welcome bonus.

Still, it doesn't always win, but at least there's a chance to lose.

In reality, the possibility of winning a mileage game is as much as winning Times Square in the 1970s with a 3-card Monte.

Yes, I got a pair ticket for traveling European in three years in the past four years, but I hadn't earned points or miles for a long time, and I bought a ticket last year to a alms of a monk. Probably, there is enough miles for free round trips from PHX to LAX, but there is no more.

And I applaud the poverty of my points. It means I'm doing something right.

October 10, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel

According to McKinsey, 58% of all reward miles are earned through ground purchases, not by people who fly.

Simple question: What are the odds of winning on a slot machine in Las Vegas? There is no answer to this question, because every machine can have a different payout rate, and in fact, the same machine in the same casino often has a different payout rate. It's the house that decides the payout rate.

And so is the airline program. And airlines have the protection of the Supreme Court and lower courts: "In April 2014, the Supreme Court held that the Airline Deregulation Act (ADA) preempts common law claims for breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by frequent flyer members.

• "Since the high court's decision, several federal courts have ruled in favor of airlines on contractual and extra-contractual claims arising from the interpretation of similar reward programs. These decisions are a positive development for airlines that rely on the terms set forth in their program agreements, especially provisions that give airlines sole discretion in how they act and interpret the agreements."
• DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg will get some headlines from this maneuver, and an airline or two might throw us a bone, but we're never going to go back to static reward charts or fixed values ​​of points or miles. The airlines changed all the rules, and most of us followed them.
• I'm not saying that frequent flyer programs are fair, kind, or reasonable. Frequent flyer programs are huge profits for airlines and very little for passengers. But you can have fun playing the miles and rewards game, as long as you understand the rules and accept that airlines make the rules. I have a flight to Europe to prove it. Just don't ever think you're winning. The Immorality of Travel August 29, 2024 | rjmcgarvey | Consumer Affairs, Travel Robert McGarvey
• "Travel is the vice of many and the virtue of the few. The young travel in education, the old travel in experience," Bacon said. But Bacon was lucky enough to live early and escape the modern cult. He never saw what we have seen."

By the way, it is Francis Bacon, not me, as to the author of the above scream. It was published in the June 1911 issue of The Atlantic under the headline "The Immorality of Travel," and there are no underlines.

With the underlines, I think, I could toast him or her for this searing work. This is dazzling, insightful copy that could have been, or should have been, written in a year when so many tourists are struggling with their ugly consequences, from Barcelona to Venice to Bali. We deface the walls of Rome, we desecrate sacred things in Bali, we fall to our deaths to take selfies in Bavarian castles.

Overtourism is destroying the things we say we cherish. Like this anonymous writer, I have seen cities desecrated, tourists brandishing selfie sticks that become unintentional weapons, and, perhaps most disturbing of all, thick crowds of tourists jostling for space in front of Guernica at the Reina Sofia and Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" at the Prado, not for a better view of the art but for a position to take a selfie (thankfully, the Prado bans selfies, so Bosch is largely spared that humiliation).

2024 becomes 1911.

The piece continues:

"Travel is the great epidemic of the modern world, common to most races, a waste of time and money, destructive of the places visited, and most unbeautiful in all its effects.

Why do they bother to travel? I have no idea. Only, they seem to want to put a gun notch in their pistols. Their friends probably wouldn't think them cool (cool? Travel metastasizes.

"One of the saddest features of the whole matter is the havoc wrought in innocent regions by hordes of disease-infesting travelers," barked a 1911 scribe.

Ant i-pure, an innocent dedicated destination, which is being polluted by more than 170, 000 tourists annually, is Antarctica. By the way, if you think about the earth, you can lie when you go. As mentioned in Atlantic's article in 2023, it is the "last place on the earth where tourists should go."

Antarctica is just a corner of the iceberg.

• Choose the softest landing point from the United States
• Regarding Canada, it is difficult to get a legal residence right. It's not impossible, but it won't happen if you really want to move to Canada. McGarvy's Word Journalist ... Podcaster ... Speaker
• The economy of Greece and Portugal is the weakest among historic EU countries. < SPAN> Are you thinking about EU? Of course, it is possible to acquire the citizens of Ireland, Italy, and Polish, but the chosen country needs to have some direct connection. If you are a high roller, think about the Republic of Malta. With the pressure from the EU, Malta has modified its high roller citizenship program. As follows: Approximately $ 800, 000 investment, about $ 750, 000 real estate purchase, $ 10, 000 donation to NGOs, about $ 600, 000 family additions, one year living in Malta. Certainly expensive, EU passports are better than any other passport and are the best in the world.
• At present, most forecasts see the Senate turn over to the Republican Party in the 2024 election, which is a very unstable election, like black Nazis in North Carolina. However, if the Democratic Party loses in the Senate (Darbin is currently the majority secretar y-general), the hope that this bill will be enacted will disappear.
• 2024 September 27, 2024 ｜ RJMCGARVEY ｜ Consumer issues, travel
• The fourth place is Adirondak in New York. Burlington VT is in contact with the northeast border of the mountains. You can enjoy it through the four seasons. However, in the summer, it is crowded with tourists, so if you want to dodge the tsunami of tourists, this destination may be removed that season.
• These taxes and fees are particularly convenient for governments because they are paid by tourists, not locals—i. e. voters—who have no say in how destinations are run or who gets elected.
• Bhutan also restricts the number of tourists to 300, 000 annually.
• On the other hand, Airlines for American industry groups say: "The loyalty program is a means of gratitude to travelers because the competition between airlines is fierce, so the airline is grateful to travelers. People participate in various loyalty programs, and US airlines that can be applied to travel and other benefits are transparent, and policy proprietors are consumers. But we should be able to continue providing such important benefits.
• Yes, I got a pair ticket for traveling European in three years in the past four years, but I hadn't earned points or miles for a long time, and I bought a ticket last year to a alms of a monk. Probably, there is enough miles for free round trips from PHX to LAX, but there is no more.