Points Summary’s Year End Summary and Best Trip Reports of 2013

It’s that time again where I would re-evaluate my status and the future of my blog. In July, I wrote about my Mid-Year Evaluation and Best Trip Reports of 2013. The best trip reports are usually the interesting ones from unique destinations (usually international). The majority of my blog posts are about my trip reports from mileage running and mileage run vacations. I want my readers to be informed on the cultural aspects of the destination in addition to the hotel, lounge, and business/first class reviews. I buy cheap fares to maximize my elite status on American Airlines for less than $5,000 (less than 5cpm). I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule where I can book these mileage run/mistake fares way in advance.

Here’s a round-up of some major trips and mileage run vacations I’ve taken this year:

Mexico City, Mexico
Tel Aviv, Israel (also includes Jerusalem, Bethlehem (Palestinian Authority), and the Dead Sea)
Shanghai, China
Lima, Peru – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Santiago, Chile
Monterrey, Mexico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Bogota, Colombia
Helsinki, Finland – Geneva, Switzerland – Nice, France – Monaco, Monte Carlo – a work in progress
Mexico City, Mexico – Santiago, Chile Part 1 – a work in progress
Puerto Nuevo, Rosarito, Tijuana Mexico – a work in progress
Mexico City, Mexico – Santiago, Chile Part 2 – (mid-December)

Looking ahead – Trips planned in 2014:

Mexico City, Mexico – Lima, Peru – Buenos Aires, Argentina (January 2014)
Singapore – Narita, Japan (February 2014)
Mexico City, Mexico – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Santiago, Chile (March 2014)
Seoul, South Korea (March 2014)
Ascension, Paraguay (April 2014)
Taipei, Taiwan (May 2014)
Panama City, Panama (June 2014)
Sao Paulo – Curitiba – Belo Horizonte – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 2014)
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Suhar, Oman (August 2014)
Barranquilla, Colombia (September 2014)

I’ve already secured Executive Platinum for the year on American Airlines. Next year, it seems like it’s in the bag as well with having booked 70,000 EQM’s. I’m in quite a bit of a dilemma here since I don’t have any trips booked for July and October. I’m just waiting for the next mistake fare or low mileage run to a unique international destination. I am still avoiding travel to Western Europe and won’t be booking any bearing a major deal. Some of the interesting places I have in mind for 2014 include: Driving to Ensenada, booking award tickets for Cancun in July, and exploring more of Mexico like Puerto Vallarta. In terms of major international destinations, I would love to go to Delhi and Mumbai.

Looking ahead for 2015, I am interested in another trip to Colombia, but possibly Medellin or Cartagena. Realistically, I would love to find a deal to Caracas in Venezuela, Montevideo in Uruguay, Nicaragua, and explore more of Latin/South America. Again, I am looking to avoid travel to Western Europe, but I am open to Prague, Vienna, Bucharest, and Budapest.