Get miles on credit cards

I know this topic has been done to death but I feel the urgent need to share some hidden truths people may not know about. I own the following cards and these are the privileges on each:

1. UOB PRVI Miles Platinum American Express^® Card
Earn 2.5 miles for every S$1 spent overseas
Earn 1.6 miles for every S$1 spent locally
Bonus 20,000 miles every year if you spend more than S$50,000 per annum
Complimentary one-way limousine transfer to the airport

BUT the fine print:
You accumulate UNI$ first at the rate of UNI$4 for S$5 spending. Then you will need to convert your UNI$ into miles. That requires you to fill up some form to link your UNI$ account to your KrisFlyer account, and a $20 fee. Conversion is in blocks of 10,000 for UNI$5000.
To get the limousine transfer, you need to charge travel-related expenses (limited to air ticket bookings, hotel bookings or any travel package from a travel or tour agency) of at least $500 to your card. I haven't used this privilege yet, which brings me to the most problematic part:

This is a AMEX card and is not widely accepted. You may find problems finding merchants that actually do accept an AMEX card. 

Final rate: S$1 = 1.6 miles

2. Citbank Premier Miles Card
Earn 2 Citi Miles with every S$1 overseas spend.
Earn 1.2 Citi Miles with every S$1 local spend (No minimum spend required, No rebate cap)
Complimentary Priority Pass membership (2 complimentary visits per year)
Conversion is available to several types of frequent flyer membership. For KrisFlyer, 1 Citi Mile equals to 1 KrisFlyer mile. There is a $25 fee and this takes 5 working days. Min 500 for each transaction.

Final rate: S$1 = 1.2 miles

3. Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Card
Bonus 5,000 miles upon sign up
Earn 1 KrisFlyer mile with every S$1.60 charged to your Card.

Earn 50% more miles when you spend S$5,000

Receive an additional 50% more miles when you spend S$12,000

Double KrisFlyer miles for bookings on singaporeair.com

Miles credited directly to your KrisFlyer account

This is a AMEX card and is not widely accepted. You may find problems finding merchants that actually do accept an AMEX card. 

 

Final rate: S$1 = 0.625 miles

Conclusion: I have been accumulating spending on my Citibank Premier Miles card since forever. The rate is reasonable and I don't have to worry about miles expiring.

However, I would start carrying around my UOB Prvi card more often and take the opportunity to charge it if the merchant accepts AMEX card. Then again, going by the need to convert in blocks of UNI$5000 would require S$6250 spending. At the end of the day, I still think the Citibank Premier Miles card makes the most sense.

Like to unlock on Facebook promotion

SQ opened up the Tokyo Haneda promo fares today. When I checked at 10am, my intended travel dates were available 23 May to 27 May. All in, 2 pax for $961.60. But I resisted the huge urge to book. Absence makes the heart fonder?

Day 10 - 17th Jan 2013 (Tokyo)

After having hotel breakfast, we headed for Shinjuku JR station and collected a queue number for Sarabeth. Despite reaching early (close to 1030/1100), our queue number to come back was for 1530! (gasp, faints) But I am determined to have it so we stalled for time in the area.

Popped by a few hair salons in an attempt to make reservations for my hair services but some were full, it being a weekend. We were quite lucky to be able to get a slot at 1300 at one of the salons and I was served by a stylist who could speak English (he was in Australia for a while!). Thank God! So I did my hair while Tobs slept in the chair next to me. I think he tried to stay awake but gave up. Heh:)

After everything was done, the stylist gave me a curly blow dry and the end effect was quite jappish. Obviously I was not able to replicate the same thing thereafter. Boo.

Then it was back to Sarabeth for our allocated slot. It was a really quaint and cosy cafe. Full of Jap girls catching up over all-day breakfast. Of course we chiong-ed the egg benedict. Tobs was trying to decide between their French Toast and Pancake and opted for the former after some consideration. French Toast is more special! If we hadn't gotten their flower tea (or whatchamacallit that it quite ex and not very nice), I think I would have gotten the Pancake. But overkill? Definitely, considering after the egg benedict was served and I sank my teeth in it for the first mouthful, my eyes widened and I signaled that I needed another order. NOW! Seriously. Best egg benedict I've ever had.

Everything was so good. I really wanted more more more but the poor stomach has insufficient capacity. Boo.

We went to the Tokyo Metropolitian Government Offices to go up to their observatory (free!) but unfortunately, one lift was shut for upgrading works so there was only 1 functional lift and it took a while before we got up. But the good thing was, it coincided with the sun set so the colours were really pretty.

Before we left, we headed to Ikebukuro for a last shot at Bomb and last sweep of the desserts. Bagged a Rio Cheese Cake but to our dismay, the Happy Pouch were all sold out! :(( The familiar staff who always served us (the jolly man who looks like a comedian) gave a really sad im-so-sorry-pls-just-kill-me-now-since-i-have-no-more-stock-for-you look. Aw.

Then it was a long train ride to Haneda airport which involved a heart stopping realisation that we were on the wrong platform followed by mad rush to the right platform, including having to punch out and correct our Suica.

Day 8/9 - 15th/16th Feb 2013 (Tokyo)

On 15th, we checked out of Sakura Tei and travelled to Sendai for my yearly treat. It was a tough decision since it was obviously a detour but it was such a waste if we did not make full use of the JR pass huh. Due to our last minute decision (it was just churning inside and I was afraid to confirm it), we did not get seats together and had to sit separately.

I got to sit with a nice lady who spoke to me in Japanese asking if I had space (cos my luggage was in front of me in the space between my seat and the seat in front). She even offered to roll my luggage into her space (how nice!). I replied in my broken Japanese thanking her and saying it's ok, to which she spoke even more Japanese and that was when I had to reveal the truth - actually I don't really know what she was saying. "E-go hanase mas ka?" She looked surprised and asked where I was from. That began a nice long conversation until we stopped at Sendai.

I really enjoyed it, even though it was peppered with silence once in a while, it was comfortable silence while each mulled over what had transpired. I told her about our ski experience, to which she highly recommended Tohoku. She told me she was visiting her sister in Sendai, to which I related that we were going to Sendai just to eat lunch before heading back to Tokyo (which obviously attracted a horrified look). I explained we were using the JR pass so its fine, otherwise it would have costed a bomb. She replied that the JR pass is really good - her son (who is American citizen now) uses it when he comes back.

If my Japanese were better, perhaps the entire conversation could have been conducted in Japanese. But I thought it was quite interesting and fruitful nonetheless. It seems like we often meet interesting people who like to talk to us:)

No photos of triangle cos I've taken thousands already. And it will just make me sad to see it again. Boo:(

Then we travelled back to Tokyo where we headed for (yes, you guessed it) our yearly treat at Bomb. Queued quite a bit but it was rewarding when we got in.

On 16th, we went shopping at Ginza. Raided g.u then uniqlo, the 12-storey massive building.

Went to buy skin care at Astalift and also Dr Ci:Labo - spent quite a bit but got several freebies too. Although it was kinda disappointing to see that these products are also sold at the Haneda airport (tax free!) but hey, the airport ones don't come with freebies!

While doing our usual raid at Seibu, Tobu, etc in Ikebukuro, we had strawberry mille crepe from Yoku Moku (staple raid)

and discovered (drumroll) HAPPY POUCH from Mon Cher, a new stall. It's called Happy Pouch cos one mouthful of this thing is a symphony of textures and instantly causes your mood to go up by a gazillion percent (ok, I made this part up). But I say it is fantabulous/wonderful/awesome/perfect!!! Reminds me of the long departed Strawberry Daifuku from La Fuga, and also C-cup from Hokkaido. It totally rocks. I super want to eat it now pls.

Day 7 - 14th Feb 2013 (Yuzawa)

We woke up and went for the breakfast even before it officially started as we wanted to catch the first shuttle leaving for Gala Yuzawa so we can maximise our half day ski pass. All thanks to the rejuvenating soak in the onsen, we woke up with no aches at all, unlike our virgin ski experience in Seoul. In fact, we were all psyched up for another day of skiing. These are mostly iPhone pictures cos I did not bring my DSLR up.

Being early birds we had the benefit of taking lots of photos on the gondola up.

Animal searching for food in the snow and left tracks!

Really enjoyed being early birds cos the slopes were not too crowded and the weather was fantastic - praise God.

Emboldened, we decided to take the 3rd beginner route that I was quite adverse towards yesterday. Fell a few times, but nothing I cannot manage. It was quite fun to fall also, and the snow was powdery and comfortable; unlike the wet and sloppy type in Seoul.

Tobs was having a good day and he went for more rounds while I rested at the bottom of the slope and took time to build a mini snow cat. kawaii~

Ski-ed till close to 2.30pm and then had to leave the slopes cos our shuttle was coming at 3. I think we're getting addicted to skiing. I could do this once a year man.

Unfortunately for us, the driver completely forgot that he promised to pick us up at 3pm. We waited till close to 3.30pm then decided to take one of the shuttle buses to some place close to the hotel and had to walk a distance back. Not surprisingly, we were quite pissed off but the hotel did not seem apologetic enough. Why, think we are not potential return customers? Hmpf.

Returned our gear and then took a quick walk outside to explore whatever there is in Echigo Yuzawa. There's a small sake place offering 5 cups at 200Y or something similar, complete with cool dispensers. We aren't sake drinkers so that wasn't really for us.

Also chanced upon flavoured Kit Kat. I kept telling Tobs I want to visit the Kit Kat factory and try all the flavours but I guess some of them are specific to the region and won't be so easily available.

Returned back to hotel and had a good soak in the onsen. By dinner, we were very warm and comfy. The spread was different from yesterday's and I wouldn't trouble with the pictures cos overall, I felt last night's spread was better. But it was still enjoyable nevertheless. Once again, we had a T-family sitting beside us, speaking in Mandarin and peering at our food and quipping "how come they have this and we don't?" "oh must be that they got the more expensive set" "your father got the cheapest you know" blah blah blah. No peace. Argh.

Happy Valentines Day gift from Tobs:) Yum yum blueberry cheesecake kit kat (which I have yet to try as of 3 April 2013)