FallenPlat

I don't read this site much, and it's for a reason. A lot of reasons, actually.

Anyway, today one of the featured posts is about "The Past and Present Wonders of Istanbul," with ten pictures -- a photo essay. The author claims to have visited Istanbul on many occasions.

I've been there once, decades ago.

The very first picture was labeled "View of the Bosphorus Strait," and featured a small bridge. A small bridge? Over the Bosphorus?

Enough said. How could any travel writer, even amateur, who's actually been to Istanbul possibly not know what the Bosphorus is? Or know about the Golden Horn?

I think I know the answer.

84fiero

Yeah, pretty big difference between those two!

FallenPlat

Someone finally noted the error in the comments. The caption now reads "An overhead view of Istanbul." Still, no thank you, acknowledgement, or anything.

Color me decidedly unimpressed. You're better off reading Flyertalk.

oliver2002

Thats par for the course for TPG, some stock photos, mostly not owned, but just referenced, with meshed info from Wikipedia and other open sources. The Munich entry at TPG is such a gem, mentioned it before. (S-Bahn to Theresienwiese, Air Berlin flight to JKF, etc)

Astrophsx

The first episode:

For some reason I was interested to see what the end product would look like.

- Five or six layover links for credit card referrals.
- Only one way ticket to Africa is shown. I guess it's just better to stay in Africa if you only have half the miles necessary and the extra $165 for taxes/fees (90k + $5 award highlighted for Business).
- Skips over the fee Amex Plat charges to transfer points to miles. (~$54 for this ticket)
- Not really sure what he does for the charity in Ghana. Is he speaking to those kids about miles and points? Is he going there because he raised money for this charity and wants to see what the charity is doing?
- This seems more like an ad for Delta and Amex.

On a positive note it is one of the best videos a travel blogger has put out. Would be fun to see trip reports that had this level of production. Though I'd like to see the journey in more of a vlog style. It would be interesting to see what the actual journey to a destination was like and highlights of what a blogger did at the actual destination and not just detailing the flight/hotel.

I'm not sure at the start of the video if he is claiming he created the miles and points community. I kind of get that impression.

Troopers

Future episodes per TPGtv:

Here’s what we’re working on for the first season:

1. AFRICA: “Getting to Africa Using 90K Delta SkyMiles and $5.60”
AIR DATE: 2/1/2016

2. AFRICA: “PeaceJam: Ghana”
AIR DATE: 2/8/2016

3. AFRICA: “Accra Mövenpick Hotel Review & Fantasy Coffins”
AIR DATE: 2/15/2016

4. AFRICA: “Accra Boxing & Nightlife”
AIR DATE: 2/22/2016

5. AFRICA: “Traveling to Rwanda, Trekking with Gorillas & Thousand Hills Hotel Review”
AIR DATE: 2/29/2016

6. AFRICA: “How Kigali has Changed Since the Rwandan Genocide + Hotel Review”
AIR DATE: 3/7/2016

7. AFRICA: “Westin Cape Town Review & The First Black Female Wine Producer in South Africa”
AIR DATE: 3/14/2016

8. AFRICA: “Cape Town Sandboarding & Nobu Restaurant Review”
AIR DATE: 3/21/2016

9. QATAR “What to do in Qatar When You Only Have Six Hours”
AIR DATE: 3/28/16

kokonutz

Great quality.

But boring for anyone but a noob, which is clearly the target audience.

TMM1982

Wasn't a bad video at all.

YoungSoloTraveler

Not badly produced but you can easily tell on camera he looks quite awkward. Its well produced because frankly he probably spent mid five figures shooting the whole thing. I'm guessing a producer + cameraman had to come along for the ride.

All this blatent ad logo placement for TPG though is just ridiculous. With all the money being spent on social media, you'd expect better. He should stick to his strong suit and smile awkwardly hawking the sapphire card.

TMM1982

Possibly but how much is Delta giving him for that one?

theshortfinal

Vids kind of look like a knockoff Bourdain. Hard to knock the guy though. He turned what most of us consider a hobby into a full-time job (part time )

SanDiego1K

Brian will be giving a TED talk tomorrow.

TED University
Wed Feb 17, 2016
2:15 – 4:00

Astrophsx

No doubt he will mention his flight in the residence. I'm actually looking forward to see his talk.

Adam1222

I remember the good old days when only geniuses gave Ted talks.

kokonutz

Heck, I remember the good old days when only frequent flyer experts spoke at points and miles seminars!