Archive | ExpatVista

Expat Logistics

From 40 Nights to 75: When Marriott Titanium Stops Being a Stretch

May 13, 2026

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3 min read

From 40 Nights to 75: When Marriott Titanium Stops Being a Stretch

How a UK debit card changed a 75-night target from a deliberate strategy into a much smaller year-end decision

Expat Vista

Portfolio Management

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

May 11, 2026

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4 min read

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

The math worked on paper. A week later, where we stand on all the rebates, points, and the stay experience itself.

Expat Vista

Hotel Reviews

May 9, 2026

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3 min read

London Marriott Maida Vale Review

An upgraded Executive Apartment with far more usable space than expected

Expat Vista

Hilton

Testing Amex’s Lifetime Rule After Six Years: A Clean Surpass Datapoint

May 7, 2026

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3 min read

Testing Amex’s Lifetime Rule After Six Years: A Clean Surpass Datapoint

A real-world Hilton Surpass datapoint on Amex’s “once per lifetime” rule.

Expat Vista

Program Mechanics

Qantas Points Plus Pay: What You’re Actually Deciding

May 6, 2026

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2 min read

Qantas Points Plus Pay: What You’re Actually Deciding

How the Qantas slider reveals a fixed exchange rate, and what that means for when to use points

Expat Vista

Expat Logistics

The Only UK Marriott Card That Adds Nights to a US Setup

May 5, 2026

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2 min read

The Only UK Marriott Card That Adds Nights to a US Setup

Why the UK debit card behaves differently from the credit card, and how it changes your starting position

Expat Vista

Expat Logistics

Marriott UK Debit Card: What It Really Costs to Run

May 5, 2026

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2 min read

Marriott UK Debit Card: What It Really Costs to Run

An early look at the real costs. The FX isn’t as simple as it appears, and most of the value depends on what you do next.

Expat Vista

Miles & Points

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

May 2, 2026

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2 min read

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

Across Marriott, Hilton, and IHG

Expat Vista

Loyalty Programs

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

May 1, 2026

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2 min read

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

How a £249 cash rate (no points, no certificates) became a net-positive stay after stacking Amex offers, Marriott promos, and our existing routine.

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

Apr 30, 2026

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2 min read

The Cost of Untested Constraints

Why small assumptions quietly change how you spend

Expat Vista

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Melbourne to London: I Paid $1,488 (Not $5,500) for Business Class

Apr 29, 2026

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3 min read

Melbourne to London: I Paid $1,488 (Not $5,500) for Business Class

Why the only number that mattered wasn’t 5 cpp, but a $500 upgrade on a long-haul return

Expat Vista

Expat Logistics

Apr 27, 2026

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2 min read

The FX Spread You Don’t See

A real $11,100 transfer and how retail banks actually price currency

Expat Vista

From 40 Nights to 75: When Marriott Titanium Stops Being a Stretch

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

London Marriott Maida Vale Review

Testing Amex’s Lifetime Rule After Six Years: A Clean Surpass Datapoint

Qantas Points Plus Pay: What You’re Actually Deciding

The Only UK Marriott Card That Adds Nights to a US Setup

Marriott UK Debit Card: What It Really Costs to Run

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

Turning a £70 Thursday Pub Habit Into Two Marriott Elite Night Credits

The Cost of Untested Constraints

Melbourne to London: I Paid $1,488 (Not $5,500) for Business Class

The FX Spread You Don’t See

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