Edition 4 | Book one-way flights to save hundreds, the charm of Little Hanoi in Prague, and more.
TMT | EDITION 4
INSIDE THIS EDITION.
Local spotlight. The charm of Little Hanoi in Prague.
On my mind. Taiwan reopening and Chase's new airport lounges.
Deal alert. A promo code on paid Hyatt hotel stays.
Travel trick. Booking one-way flights to save money.
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Local spotlight: Vietnam x Czech Republic
Ahoj! Greetings from Prague. (To anyone new to this newsletter from my WaPo story, welcome.)
More than just a neighborhood.
As someone that's 100% Chinese American, I'm a visible minority in most parts of Europe. So when I found out that the Czech Republic has a significant Vietnamese diaspora, I couldn't help but feel a little, well, relieved.
While that might sound weird, I can explain. There's a certain self-consciousness that I experience when I'm traveling (especially solo) and no one else around is a person of color.
I was fascinated by Sapa, or "Little Hanoi," an enclave of Vietnamese stores, restaurants, cafes, travel agencies, or in some cases, one business that does all of those things. It's a bit far out from the Prague city center (about 20 minutes by car) but it was bustling on a rainy Saturday when I visited.
Sapa is not a residential neighborhood, but rather a huge market comprising of rusty old huts, containers, warehouses and dozens of little bistros. It's a little chaotic and has a distinctively Asian atmosphere.
As I learned, many Vietnamese folks live in the Czech Republic because of ... communism. Decades ago, migrant workers flocked to the region, and it was actually encouraged by Vietnamese authorities, in the hope that migrants would return with skills and training.
But most stayed and laid down roots. And as the years go by, they're becoming more and more integrated into the Czech community.
Side note: Anthony Bourdain did an episode of "Parts Unknown" on Prague (and Little Hanoi) which I plan to check out.
Also, if you're an editor reading this and want to commission a story on Sapa, please reach out!
Where I stayed
I stayed at the Andaz Prague, a gorgeous five-star Hyatt property housed in a 1916-built neoclassical landmark near the city’s cobblestoned Old Town.
It's not a cheap hotel (rates are around $400 per night in cash or 23,000-28,000 Hyatt points per night) but it might be one of my favorite city hotels ever.
Plenty of content on the Andaz Prague on my Instagram Story Highlights.
On my mind: An eye on Taiwan & Chase lounges.
Taiwan plans to ease entry restrictions in June.
With COVID zero and massive lockdowns no longer at play (unlike Mainland China and Hong Kong), Taiwan is considering easing restrictions soon. I don't expect any imminent reopening but any news is good news.
Chase confirms more airport lounges.
As travelers return, airport lounges are more crowded than ever...but the competition is heating up. Chase has at least eight new lounges in the pipeline. And a new Chase Travel portal is coming.
A new low-cost flight option to Europe.
Norse Atlantic is a new airline launching in June. (It's essentially Norwegian Airlines 2.0.) You can fly low cost to Europe from New York, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles starting at $149 each way. But prepare to pay more for anything beyond a seat.
Last chance: Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus ends Wed.
On June 1, one of the best starter rewards card out there is ending its 80,000-point bonus. Those 80,000 points can be used for at least $1,000 in travel (or potentially more if you transfer to airline or hotel partners like I do).
Interested? Here's my referral link.
Deal alert: A Hyatt promo code.
Even saving up to 15% can go a long way this summer, especially when travel prices are high.
Bilt, the company that lets you earn points on rent, is partnering with Hyatt to offer an up to 15% off promo code: BILT4YOU.
It won't give you a massive discount but you'll save a few bucks while being cancellable without penalty. (And you don't have to be a Bilt member to use the code.)
Booking: Enter BILT4YOU at Hyatt.com before searching for a hotel.
Validity: Book by August 15, 2022 for stays through November 22, 2022.
Travel trick: The power of one-way flights.
One of my favorite tricks that I share is how to save money by booking one-way flights. I wrote a story for The Points Guy last year about this very topic.
When paying with cash, my first rule of thumb is to always search and compare the costs for both a round-trip flight and the one-way flight segments. I typically do this with a simple Google Flights search. There have been many cases where booking two one-way flights — with two different airlines — is less expensive than booking a round-trip with a single airline.
Of course, there are exceptions and the trick typically only works for domestic U.S. travel. (International flights are often more expensive booked as one-way vs. round trip).
But as travel becomes prohibitively expensive this summer, try to save if you can save by booking as two one-ways.
Anything you want to see featured in this newsletter? Just want to chat travel or points? Let me know. Respond to this email or shoot me a DM (@thechrisflyer) on the socials.
Until next time.
-CD
New to The Multidimensional Traveler (TMT)?
My philosophy, of sorts, is to always strive to be a more well-rounded traveler. That means being more savvy: Leveraging credit card points, finding cash deals, being prepared for travel mishaps, etc.
But I also want to be open to connection and soak in my surroundings: Connecting with locals, learning more about a destination, and have experiences that are unique.
No matter how you travel, I hope the things that I’ve learned (and continue to learn) help in some way.