First quarter almost in the books and nothing exciting
 

This has been a frustrating start to the year.

1. Devaluation of hotel points
2. Realization of revenue based programs becoming the way of the future
3. Lack of any great bonus offers
4. No great transfer bonus offers from Amex (delta hasn't had one in almost a year now)
5. OD stopped selling $500 GF's
6. The official death of Amex shopping portal
7. Death of 20% MR rebate on Platinum Amex

As a leisure traveler I don't rack up a bunch of miles flying so I'm really craving for a nice big bone thrown my way right about now like the 70k Amex delta from last year

First quarter almost in the books and nothing exciting
 

lets stay positive and hope something shows up to ring in the summer =]

something good has to happen, right?

Don't forget the end of the 2BM, and no more 10 UR points per swipe on Freedom from Chase.

I'm a leisure traveler also, but I think you're being overly pessimistic.

I've learned on FlyerTalk that deals come and deals go. I go with the flow, add to my accounts when possible, and try to keep redeeming. I've got a nice size stash of points and I'm still able to take what I consider luxury trips for a price that I can afford.

I'm leaving later this week for a 3 1/2 week trip to the Netherlands and Italy.
- We're flying from Southern California to Amsterdam in J courtesy of AA miles
- When we arrive in Amsterdam, we've got a 4 night hotel stay courtesy of our Priority Club points
- We'll then take a 1 week "tulip time" riverboat cruise. (I had to pay for most of that portion of the trip. But I did earn tons of Chase U.R. points by making the cruise booking last summer when Chase offered a big bonus for booking a cruise thru the U.R. travel agency.)
- Then it's a flight to Milan using British Airways miles
- 3 nights in Milan using Starwood points
- We rent a car and drive south, to the Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Siena. I'll have to pay for most of that, but I am using a Marriott free night certificate in Pisa.
- Finally, back home in J on American Airlines using AA miles

So life and travel are good. My biggest concern is where should we go next and how to maximize the value of the miles and points I've accumulated.

The 100k Amex Plat was a good deal.

There are lots of good fare deals out there, although many are hesitant to post good ones on FT these days

Meh - look at the bright side - Air Koryo has some fantastic bargain flights!:p

While the offers are indeed less than they have been in the past (including closing some loop holes like can't apply for 2 AA miles cards at the sametime and Hilton Honors) these offers that are currently out there are pretty good.

I just recently got the 100K BA card along with a boatload of Hilton miles (which I spent most of before the big devalue).

I'm fairly new to the churning game and with 3 little ones it's harder for me to spend all my points for long overseas trips due to kids schedules. I realize that if I keep doing churning eventually I will run lower on what I can and can't sign up for but happy with what is still out there.

Used to be better even a couple years ago? Sure but I think since I started reading there seems to be the question asked with there isn't a bunch of new offers "is the game over?"

Yah I want those $500 Girl Friends back :p

Obviously all of this is a function of the improving economy, but I do think we will continue to see lucrative credit cards sign-up bonuses. People increasing their spending on cards, and more likely to pay-off balances, means banks are as willing as ever to offer rewards to lure customers.

This. I'm incredibly grateful to FT for the travel opportunities it's open up for me and my family. Thanks to all who share what they can.

A bit off topic, but why 3 days in Milan? Are you going to go anywhere else from there?

Devaluations happen, sign up bonuses come and go. The miles manufacturing business is alive and well for Q1 and going forward, working overtime actually :D

As long as the status quo remains we should be good. all in all- it was an absolutely horrible quarter for all things miles and points related

Wasn't the first quarter in the books as of April 1st? ;)

OT, but anyway: I think in terms of hotel nights, since points redemptions are per night.

On our day of arrival, the British Airways flight from AMS to LHR to Milan Linate airport gets us into Milan in the mid-late afternoon. So really day 1 is a travel day and we'll have some time to slow down.

The major logistics issue I have on these long international trips is laundry. I know (from the FT thread on the Westin Milan) that there is a laundry not horribly far from the hotel. So there is some laundry time figured in there.

I found a fair number of things to visit in Milan. There is the big central church, the Duomo. And there is the big shopping mall (the Galleria). But there are also quite a number of smaller churches that we can visit - my wife and I love going into churches, especially in Italy and Spain. Even the smaller churches are sometimes fabulously beautiful. Also there is a cemetery in Milan (Cimitero Monumentale di Milano) that we might visit - it seems like an odd thing to do, but if you've ever visited St. Louis Cemetery in New Orleans or Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires you would understand.