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MY WIFE BELIEVES travel is an adventure filled with new food, new adventures and new friends. Others believe it’s a never-ending series of negotiations, surcharges, taxes and exchange rates, and these need to be painstakingly managed to minimize cost and the deep-seated shame associated with overpaying.
I guess I lean a little more in one direction, as evidenced by my recent travel adventure: a road trip to the East Coast followed by a flight to Chile.
Because of my travel savvy, Booking.com has bestowed upon me the honorific “Genius Level 3,” which means I can get up to a 20% discount on the trips I book. It could be that I am indeed a travel genius—though it may also have something to do with using the site to book 15 stays within the past two years.
Either way, the site also generously offered me a $25 voucher for lodgings, as long as those lodgings were booked almost immediately. Well, the joke was on those Booking.com folks, as Springfield, Illinois, happened to lie between me and the East Coast, and I always wanted to walk in the footsteps of the third greatest president.
Next stop was Cincinnati, to celebrate a loyal reader’s birthday. An Airbnb was engaged, except that—through extensive planning—the Air portion, along with its requisite fees and surcharges, was avoided. Basically, my wife became good friends with the bnb-keeper during a prior stay—such good friends that we now just pay her directly.
During the entire road trip, gas was procured via the GasBuddy app on my cell phone, which enables me to find the cheapest gas. This is done to reward low-cost gas stations, thus driving down gas prices for everyone. It also prevents the shame of overpaying for gas, while allowing for the mocking of others who go to more costly stations located just off the prior exit. If my car needs to be run on vapors with fingers crossed, air-conditioning off and windows up for the last few miles, so be it.
The City of Brotherly Love was called upon, with the primary purpose of meeting my editor to discuss possible upcoming projects, including My Money Journey the Movie. The secondary purpose was to partake of that most economic aspect of the Philadelphia culinary experience: no, not the cheesesteak, but the Citywide Special—a shot of Jim Beam and a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, all for $4.
The author’s wife catches up on her reading at their pod hotel.
A pod hotel room in New York City was then booked for the slightly less-than-exorbitant $281 a night. It’s not the ubiquitous and eponymous box you see in the driveway of people who refuse to pay movers $5,000 for moving their remaining personal belongings after conducting a cursory garage sale—though it’s only slightly larger. I thought the missus would balk, but she was sold by both the great Midtown location and the fact that she’d be getting the bottom bunk.
Now, what to do with the car? Parking at JFK airport for the month or so that we’d be gone would be ruinous to my wallet and my conscience. My wife reached out to a girlfriend who said we could leave the car with her on the Lower West Side. She would street park it, move it as required to comply with alternate side of the street parking, and keep the battery charged by using it to commute to the Hamptons on weekends.
One of the benefits of owning a 10-year-old compact car is that your wife doesn’t really worry about it. Her friend, though, had some vague apprehensions, though not necessarily about driving a 10-year-old car. I believe it was more about being seen in the Hamptons driving a Hyundai Elantra. I thought she could just mention that her Beemer was in the shop and this “piece of crap” was a loaner. In the end, I decided it would be best for all concerned if it was parked in another friend’s suburban driveway.
We flew on LATAM Airlines to Santiago de Chile for a reasonable $360 one way. While technically it isn’t the de jure national airline of Chile, LATAM is the de facto national airline of Easter Island and therefore charged accordingly for that leg of our journey. After booking our six-hour flight to the home of nearly 1,000 extant moai, I realized that using LATAM’s Spanish language website could have saved me considerable pesos. I will not share how much due to the deep shame I am still feeling.
Our lodgings at the Hotel Ismael in Santiago graciously offered an airport pickup for $50. In a few places—Morocco and Zimbabwe immediately come to mind—this offer should be accepted with thanks. In most places, though, it should be politely declined.
A website called Rome2Rio.com estimated a taxi should run no more than $21, which was confirmed by inputting the Santiago airport and Hotel Ismael into the Uber app well beforehand. Was all this research really required? Well, for me it was, as Robert De Niro’s secret agent character stated in the movie Ronin, “I never walk into a place I don’t know how to walk out of.”
I went with Uber and there’s no better way to start off a Santiago sojourn than by saving $32. I could have saved even more by taking two buses from the airport to the hotel, but after six days in a pod and 10 hours in an airplane, I didn’t want to push my luck.
Easter Island lodgings were booked via the missus via Airbnb via a local named Makohe Akuna, who appeared in a movie called 180 Degrees South and which we watched for research purposes.
Fifteen moai and two Flacks
Initially, I thought she was charging us $25 a night more for using the English language Airbnb website. And following the Easter Island flight debacle, I didn’t think further shame could be stood. But after an hour of “discussion” with the missus, we realized that our host was charging an extra $25 per night for hosting an extra person.
If this had been a U.S. Airbnb, I would have just booked it for one and taken my chances. I usually figure it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. But since it’s the second most isolated island in the world, I decided not to. Oh, yeah, and why was she charging an extra $25? I don’t know because the missus forbade me from asking.
As I type this, I’m enjoying a Pisco Sour in Santiago, while planning the next stop on our grand tour of South America. I’ve always wanted to visit Bogota, though Buenos Aries might be another option, with its good steak and better wine. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the Argentine peso is in the crapper.
Meanwhile, you might be wondering about the headline. When I tried to use it on an earlier article, HumbleDollar’s editor nixed it, saying you should never use words that most readers won’t understand. But I finally wore him down. So, what is a flaneur? Here’s Wikipedia’s take.
Michael Flack blogs at AfterActionReport.info. He’s a former naval officer and 20-year veteran of the oil and gas industry. Now retired, Mike enjoys traveling, blogging and spreadsheets. Check out his earlier articles.
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Thoroughly enjoy your writing. The “beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission” mantra is an Air Force maxim. Also, the best Pisco Sours are in Lima not Santiago. My wife and I were in Santiago at a very unusual time – stayed at the Hilton across from the president’s place. Cost us $1.27/night and our room service bottle of wine was 11 cents and we got 10 cents back when we returned the bottle. Hard to believe, but true. Allende was assassinated about a month later. We’re heading for Mendoza in ’24 where we’ll find the best Malbec.
Enjoyed reading! I’ve grudgingly paid a few nickels and dimes out of sheer exhaustion/laziness, but try to battle most excess fees and charges when I can.
The only non-starter? Shared bathrooms. I’d go for it myself if hotel reviews were good, but my travel companion absolutely refuses to even consider it.
They love a good deal and are totally fine with budget places. But that’s a deal breaker. lol. I can live with that, I guess.
My birthday is on Tuesday, but I guess it would be a long hop from South America to Northern California, so I won’t be expecting you.
Dr. Lefty, Tuesday is kind of short notice, though if you live in San Franscisco I’ll pencil you in for next year.
Hi Mike,
Having completed one of my retirement goals of reading an (auto)biography of each of the presidents I’m curious as to which you put as number two between Washington (presumed) and Lincoln.
Me too. Some people may say FDR. But both Washington and Lincoln seem to me the most critical to the country as a nation.
Gentlemen, if you click the link I think you may see where I was going with this.
I enjoyed my two business related trips to Chile.I spent time in Santiago, LaSerena, Antofagsta and Iquique. Chile is like an inverted California so north is dry and south is wet. If you are on the coast, beware of earthquakes and tsunamis. If an earthquake is felt, everyone runs away from the ocean to the hills.
Harold Tynes, got it; California upside down and run for the hills.
Congratulations. I figure the more frugal the traveler, the longer she can travel.
I thought I had followed my usual practice and taken the bus to Santiago airport, but on checking my blog I see I, too, took a taxi. But I had taken the overnight bus from Pucon to Valparaiso.
My go-to hotel in New York is the Jane, which is both historic and well-located. However, the rooms are really small and the cheap ones are not en-suite. My usual single is currently $139/night, a double is $159. Pre-Covid a single was $99. I’ve never had to wait for the bathroom, and the water is reliably hot.
Thanks for the recommendation on another reasonable NY hotel! I’ll add another to the list that I stumbled upon at E 24th & 3rd and really enjoyed, if a shared bathroom is okay. The “American Dream BnB” (really a hostel, as evidenced by their URL) looked utterly unpromising on the outside, but was very charming inside, with comfortable beds and clean bathrooms, plus a fun, funky vibe and nice fellow guests of all ages. They also serve a free breakfast of fruit and doughnuts, but I’ve opted to grab a bagel nearby on my own nickel to go with the fruit instead. Checking the prices online rather than in my memory, it’s $139 for a single and $148/158 for a double, so comparable to the Jane, I guess.
The first time I stayed there was after a long, crazy travel day that included an unexpected (but wonderful) trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, so the name of the hostel seemed like kismet when I was walking around lower Manhattan searching on my phone for a place to stay. Really glad I took a chance on it, and it’s now my go-to.
mytimetotravel, the question the Jane begs to ask: “Is an unshared bathroom worth $100/night?” It therefore looks very promising and more importantly the Missus is intrigued.
Cool. It’s been a while since I was in NY, but I’d certainly go back to the Jane. However, when I said really small I meant it: small even by London standards. I also recommend breakfast at the Bus Stop cafe a couple of blocks south and east.
BTW, Buenos Aires is another place where it’s a good idea to accept the hotel’s ride (I didn’t think it was necessary in Morocco). Watch out for the bird poop/mustard scam there.
mytimetotravel, I just returned from BA and the Ubers were plentiful and economical.
mytimetotravel, you were lucky, every taxi I used in Marrakech had a broken l’Compteur.
Not unusual. In that situation you need to negotiate the price ahead of time. If they do use it you have to keep an eagle eye on the route. I have had drivers in Turkey, Vietnam and India all try to take the “scenic route”. And in Italy they like to set the meter on the wrong tariff. Less effort to take public transport, when it exists, especially now Google maps knows about it.
So funny to see you mention the Bus Stop! I’ve been going there on and off for decades. By Manhattan standards, it’s a bargain — and these days the restaurant takes credit cards, so you don’t have to visit the ATM beforehand. Nearby is another great Manhattan landmark, Myers of Keswick, my source for all things English, notably salmon paste, steak and kidney pies, sausage rolls, and bangers.
Thanks for the recommendation – I see they stock Scotch eggs as well…. The Jane is also very close to the High Line, although it was a lot more crowded the last time I was there than when it first opened.
I often recommend that NYC visitors walk the High Line — one of the city’s great freebies. Central Park is another — I particularly recommend being at the clock near the zoo when the hour strikes — along with the 9/11 Memorial and walking the Brooklyn Bridge. And for the price of a subway ticket, it’s worth riding the sky tram to Roosevelt Island and also taking the Staten Island ferry.
Also the Public Library. Loved the ferry, must try the tram. Among less well-known museums I always visit the Rubin and the Museum of Arts and Design.
Is there some sort of signup page for us “loyal readers” to have our favorite HD authors come celebrate our birthdays with us or is it more of an ad hoc process?
I also want to know if we’re all going to be invited to the premiere of the movie. I need to start looking for a gown for the red carpet.
If you’re willing to post your birth date and home address — your Social Security number might also be helpful — I’m sure there’s somebody out there who’d be willing to surprise you, though perhaps not pleasantly!
My birthday is in April, which makes me a Buenos Aries 🙂
Nate Allen, before I create the signup page, I need to know what city you live in.
I would have guessed a Flaneur was one who enjoyed flan, the Spanish dessert. I love the random things I learn from HD writers.
Mike, I’m glad you wore Jonathan down on the title, so that I can be reminded of what a flaneur is.
Recently in Stratford-on-Avon I saw that an old home had once been the residence of a certain “gentleman adventurer.” I immediately felt an affinity for the term. Reading Wikipedia’s definition of the flaneur, I may feel even more.
Either might be suitable for use on a calling card. The advantage of gentleman adventurer is that even those who don’t know what it is will form an idea from the expression that’s probably not too far off. Flaneur, being a foreign word, will obviously be far less understood without some explanation, but perhaps that’s a good thing.
Here’s the closest I could get to a GA definition.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GentlemanAdventurer
Wow… quite an ordeal to avoid being nickel and dimed to death. I hate those miscellaneous fees and surcharges to the point where it just feels like a monetary insult hurled by the service provider. My spouse and I have not been on a vacation for several years. This article has given me enough reason to not start traveling again. It’s just not worth it due to the shame of being charged for every detail. I think I might better enjoy staying home in the closet than going on a trip. Exactly why I’m not attending the BH conference this year (hotel, parking, etc fees and surcharges).
Piper, I’m sorry to read fees and surcharges mean you won’t travel. As I see it, we can either fight to avoid the nickles and dimes, or just remember they’re only nickles and dimes and don’t sweat them. Either way works, but don’t give in and let the system win!
They are indeed only nickels and dimes, but it’s death by a thousand cuts. And paying it only sends a message that what they are doing is ok.
I have a good friend who feels it’s wrong to go spend his money in a country he finds political fault with. I understand his sentiment, and yours, but I also don’t want to throw out the baby with the bath water.
I have pretty much taken China off the list, but I have the advantage of having already visited three times, including Xinjiang in 2001. I am also reluctant to revisit India solo, as it seems to have gotten more dangerous for women.
I have three times planned to visit Tunisia and canceled each time because of the security situation, but friends recently got back and say it’s currently fine. Also said the mosaics were the best they’ve ever seen.
Great tips for the avid traveler.
I share your love of travel. We can’t hold a candle to you, but we have been to 44 countries and all 50 states and each has made a great impression on us.
‘To me people who say they have no interest in travel are saying they have no interest in learning or understanding-even their own country.
Many of our experiences have been amazing and still provide value today. For example three weeks in Russia and two weeks in the Ukraine and Crimea allow us a unique perspective.
Visiting with Palestinians and seeing how they live and think was enlightening as was being chased out of the Muslim area of Jerusalem because there was a cross displayed.
Walking Omaha beach and visiting concentration camps is a feeling impossible to explain.
Eating in European homes alone is educational. One of the best meals in my life was in a home in Bordeaux.
I’m sure you know what I mean, Mike.
Our international traveling is over I suspect and I sure miss it. More Americans could benefit in understanding their own country and the world if they explored a bit more.
Interesting article, Mike, and I like your adventurous spirit! I am also a Gas Buddy fan and Costco gas. On a recent road trip from SW Missouri to Breckenridge, CO, I used both to plan my refueling stops. At first I used Costco’s app, but realized I could use a filter on Gas Buddy. Then I added the Costco stops on my map app. I made the Costco locations “favorites” on Gas Buddy for future use. I did have to fill, or add a few gallons, at non-Costco stations a few times. The process was fun for me, but I think my wife silently rolls her eyes!
oh, I know the eye-rolling mate routine! It’s the price we pay, so to speak…