Recently I participated in the (perhaps) targeted 1000 Free Priority Club points offer. At the end of the video, a credit card offer was given for 80,000 Priority Club points. I did the same video for my wife and her offer was for 60,000 Priority Club points.

80,000 points were too good to pass up, so I went ahead and applied for the card and was approved. There was no annual fee the first year and no minimum spend either.

When the card arrived, I called customer service to activate my card. One of the perhaps overlooked benefits is that you can set your own billing date if you ask them. I set my billing date to three days from the time I activated my card. As soon as I hung up the phone, I went online and made a purchase.

Three days later my billing date hit and just like that, 80000 points were in my account. I know that most cards today have minimum spends, but for those that don’t – this is a quick way to get your points!

FTD flowers is offering 2500 Hilton Honors points for each purchase. The lowest cost item I can find is the Perfect Petals Mother’s Day Spa Set for $19.99 with a $10.99 delivery charge for May 15th delivery or $19.99 delivery charge to get it there by Mother’s Day. Flowers start at $39.99.

Terms and conditions:
This offer cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts. Redemption of vouchers, gift certificates, gift cards, or reward codes may be subject to additional or different restrictions; please refer to those products for their terms and conditions. Offer not valid at retail stores or any other website. To earn Hilton HHonors™ Bonus Points, you must order online at www.ftd.com/hilton2500 or dial 1-800-SEND-FTD and mention promo code 24849.

Thanks to reader Sice for the tip

Have you ever heard of Richie Farmer? Neither had I until I read some articles out of Kentucky about his alleged abuse of power as the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Kentucky. Richie was a born and raised in Kentucky and played for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1988 to 1992. His jersey was retired after his college career and he eventually ended up being elected as the Commissioner of Agriculture in 2003.

A recent audit was performed in conjunction with his time as the Commissioner of Agriculture which found some pretty heinous abuses of power:

- Purchased rifles to give to staff members and kept a bunch for himself
- Reserved hotel rooms in the name of employees that was then used for his family members
- Had state workers construct a basketball court at his house
- Had an employee drive him to go hunting where Richie shot a deer from the car and made the employee field dress it for him
- Stole a VCR(??) from his office
- Had state workers mow his yard, chauffeur his dog, move a gun safe to his basement.
- Purchased a couple of 60 inch TVs for his office and a conference room so that he could watch March Madness and expedited the wall brackets costing $60 so it could be mounted before the tournament
- Lastly, Richie is accused of earning 55,000 Marriott Rewards points in conjunction with a 2008 convention held for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington.

The last point amuses me. There is a list of pretty blatant abuses of power, but is earning Marriott Rewards points for a convention really against the Kentucky state law? Shouldn’t that be a benefit to the employee? The company I work for allows us to accumulate our own hotel points and airline miles. The assumption is that we are using the lowest priced airline and not picking flights based on airline loyalty. In turn, the company allows us to accumulate points and miles. Luckily, living in a Delta hub, Delta is usually the lowest price option flying internationally.

The moral of the story is, don’t shoot animals from your state vehicle, don’t have state workers build a basketball court, and lastly don’t you dare steal Marriott Rewards points.

I had a chance to stay at the Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City recently.

Before you arrive, make sure and sign up for the Kimpton Hotels Loyalty program which allows you to receive the following benefits during your stay:

1. Raid the mini-bar up to $10 during your stay
2. Free Wi-fi

The second thing you should do before you check in at the front desk, is to check in with Foursquare. This will allow you to receive a complimentary upgrade during your stay (upon availability). Unfortunately, I didn’t see this until halfway through my stay and therefore can’t comment on what the upgrade was like.

I’ve stayed at the Grand America, Hilton, Radisson , and the Marriott City Center, but never the Hotel Monaco.

Valet parking is the only parking option available and costs $17 a night. The check in was very easy.

Overall I was impressed with the hotel. It was definitely in the upper echelon of hotels in Salt Lake City, ranking only behind the Grand America. The service was impeccable, the location was centrally located – within walking distance of the new City Creek development. I would recommend staying at the Hotel Monaco.

Here are my restaurant recommendations if you’re staying in Salt Lake City.

1. Thai – Sawadee restaurant for authentic Thai food.
2. Mexican – Red Iguana
3. Killer Belgian dessert waffles and fries with 10 types of homemade mayonnaise- Bruges
4. Philly Cheesesteaks and Meatball Subs (as seen on Diners, Drive ins and Dives) – Moochie’s
5. Burgers and Fries – Crown Burger
6. “Greasy spoon” breakfast – Blue Plate Diner

Priority Club is offering 1000 free Priority Club points for watching a 90 second video about the Priority Club select Visa from Chase. Go to www.priorityclub.com/visa1000 and enter in promo code PGFTNHNAD3

The Priority Club Select Visa offers
* 80,000 Bonus Points after first use
* Free Night Ever Year
* 5 points for every $1 spent at hotels
* 2 points for gas, groceries, and dining
* 1 point for all other purchases
* 10% Points Rebate
* No annual fee the first year

PC Insider reports that it may be targeted though it worked for me with no problem.

UPDATE: It appears that even the amount of points offered is targeted as my wife was only offered 60,000 points after watching the video.

Previously, Starwood points could be extended by only the following activities:

1) Stay at a Starwood property
* Westin
* St. Regis
* Le Meridien
* aloft
* element
* Sheraton
* Four Points
* The Luxury Collection
2)Incidental spending (counts even during an ineligible stay)
3)Use the Starwood American Express card
4)Eating at a Starwood property and giving your SPG number when you pay your bill
5)Be a Gold or Platinum member

These activités would not extend your points
1)Redeeming points
2)Transferring points
3)Purchasing points
4)Taking surveys

Recently, the Terms and Conditions have changed.

4.2 Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for SVO Owners to whom the obligations in Section 9 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum status. An SPG Member is considered “Inactive” if during a 12 month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had an Eligible Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints, or (c) the SPG Member’s account has been cancelled.

From Starwood Lurker himself: “Just to clarify, it should be read as being a) or b) or c). Any Starpoints activity resulting from earning or redeeming will now count towards keeping an account active.”

This change makes keeping those Starwood points from expiring much easier now. Thanks Starwood!

Last March, I traveled to the Maldives and stayed at the Conrad Rangali Island. It was simply the best vacation I have ever had. The service was top notch, the weather was perfect, and the food was great but expensive.

The Conrad Rangali Island does not allow for upgrades for elites “due to the very special nature of the accommodations at Conrad Maldives”. This wasn’t a problem at all as their reward room was a Beach Villa which was stunning.

Back in March, as Diamonds we were offered the choice of two benefits: a free cocktail hour each day for two at Vilu bar or free breakfast buffet each day for two at either Vilu or Atoll Market. Gold members were offered free cocktail hour each day for one at Vilu bar or free breakfast buffet each for one at either Vilu or Atoll Market.

This was an incredible benefit as the buffet costs $50 per person per day. We saved at least $800 in breakfast costs alone.

Sadly, the terms and conditions have now changed.

Diamond

Due to the very special nature of the accommodations at Conrad Maldives, we are unable to offer upgraded accommodations. However, as you are a valued Diamond member, we are delighted to offer you the following benefits during your stay:

One bottle of Sparkling wine* upon arrival
Chocolate & Fruit amenities upon arrival
Daily Happy Hour at Vilu restaurant for you and sharing guest in same villa from 17.00 – 18.00 hours

HHonors™ Global Benefits:

Earn points & miles “double-dipping”
Complimentary weekday newspaper (online print)
Late checkout upon request, subject to availability
Two complimentary bottles of water per day

Gold

Due to the very special nature of the accommodations at Conrad Maldives, we are unable to offer upgraded accommodations. However, as you are a valued Gold member, we are delighted to offer you the following benefits during your stay:

One bottle of wine* upon arrival
Chocolate & Fruit amenities upon arrival
Daily Happy Hour at Vilu restaurant for you and sharing guest in same villa from 17.00 – 18.00 hours

HHonors™ Global Benefits:

Earn points & miles “double-dipping”
Complimentary weekday newspaper (online print)
Late checkout upon request, subject to availability
Two complimentary bottles of water per day

*Service of alcoholic beverages is subject to local laws.

So not only are there no upgrades, but no more breakfast benefit either. This wouldn’t prevent me from returning to this resort, but certainly would mean reconsideration.

It’s worth noting that the Waldorf Astoria Maldives still offers breakfast for you and a guest for Diamond members.

Package 1: (for HHonors Diamond Members)

Daily breakfast for member and one guest
One bottle of wine
Complimentary daily access to the Spa Hydrotherapy Facilities
Fruit basket upon arrival (regular replenishment for subsequent days)

You can get 1000 Free Hilton HHonors points by registering a mobile phone number and a Visa card. You’re basically agreeing to receive “special offers” via text. They promise to only send you two messages and you can opt out at any time.

You can earn an additional 4000 Hilton Honors points by spending at least $100 at a US Hilton hotel or resort with your registered Visa card.

You must register by June 30, 2012 to receive the sign up bonus and must spend $100 by then to receive the additional 4000.

Earn 1000 Priority Club points for watching a 90 second video.

Step 1:Go to priorityclub.com/visa1000

Step 2:Enter in one of the promo codes
SKAEXGTNC4
SKAEXR6WC4
SKAEX8M4C4
SKAEX9KYC4

Step 3:Watch a 90 second video

thanks to Points Master for the tip

An updated Priority Club points break list is out where you can book rooms for only 5000 points per night.

Some of the highlights:
Intercontinental in Almaty, Kazakhstan (I’ve stayed here, very nice hotel priced at $450)
Intercontinental in Chicago (O’Hare)
Intercontinental Beijing
Intercontinental Hanoi

Book quickly as they don’t last long