Ohhhhh, they’re so much better watched from her own site: http://natalietran.me/

Well done, boys.

Go to: I NEED SPAIN for tourist info.

Capital One credit card – FANTASTIC A+++

That’s right, you pay no foreign transaction fees for any international purchase. In the past, some stores overseas would ask if I wanted to pay in dollars or Euros, and it used to matter. But in the past few years, credit card issuers don’t care. If it’s a transaction made by a foreign company, you get billed. This means, my purchases from ASOS.com, Iberia, Spanair, and apartment rental agencies – bam, I got hit with a 3% foreign transaction fee every time. Now, with Capital One, on my statement, each foreign transaction lists its exchange rate which is generous to me, and there are indeed NOO additional fees. I love that. Plus, I got to put my own image on the card – a cute picture of me on a white and lavender background. With this card, ask for the transaction to be put through in the original currency instead of U.S. dollars when they give you the choice. You’ll likely get a better rate from Capital One.

Schwab High-Yield Investors Checking Account – FANTASTIC – A+++

I can’t help but rate these two options highly. Though Schwab doesn’t list the exchange rate on each transaction nor the original amount – so save your receipts – they refund any fee charged at the end of the statement cycle, and do not charge you either a % nor flat fee for the ATM withdrawal. For domestic use, it’s great for when you don’t feel like running around finding your bank’s ATM machine. For foreign withdrawals, I’m just ecstatic. My regular bank charges $5 PLUS 3% in addition to the average $5 foreign bank charge. For $300, that amounts to a sobering $19. With Schwab, nothing, nada, $0.

Warn your bank if you have foreign travel plans

Note that for any bank’s ATM card, you should your bank in advance – sometimes it’s called the Fraud Department – and tell them where and when you’ll be out of the country so they don’t block your account. That happened to me once, and I have to say it’s not fun.

I hope these policies don’t change, because I like being a happy traveler.

Under certain licenses detailed on the U.S. government’s website – professional, religious, and academic – American citizens can travel to Cuba. Apparently, with certain visas they have to remain within Havana, and they have to obtain non-U.S. medical insurance which can be purchased upon entry.

Alas, I have no academic or professional reasons to go, so I am stuck looking from the outside, but this is one step further to some day being able to see this once-paradise famed for its hospitality.

I signed up for a British Airways credit card to receive the 100,000 bonus miles (after $2,000 purchase). Then I started using it for all purchases, since I was getting 1.25 miles for each dollar spent. Then, I tried to redeem some miles.

The shocker

I found that British Airways charges you the fuel surcharge and taxes and fees, a minimum of $100+ for transatlantic flights each way for the surcharge alone.  A search concluded that for a May round-trip flight to Madrid and back, I’d use 60,000 of my miles and pay $300 or more total.

My tried and true frequent flyer program

Redeeming American Airlines miles is much more rewarding. I’ve paid from $44 to $80 in taxes for round-trip flights to the same European location. And if I flew between October 16 and May 15, it would only take 40,000 miles.

The consolation prize

Thankfully, redeeming domestic U.S. flights via British Airways is useful. $5 in total taxes for a round-trip from Austin to LAX.

Why American Airlines is terrific

I’ve gone back to spending on my American Airlines credit card for another reason. All British Airways transatlantic flights stop-over in London, which sometimes means another stopover for me, which I don’t like at all. Through American, if I book far enough ahead, sometimes I just have one stopover for a flight from the small city of Austin! And another thing. In the last year, American has upgraded its mileage reservations system. It’s easy to see one month at a time what days still have rewards seats available in each category. British Airways’ search is much more shot in the dark and tells you NO more often than not.

Of course, with all these ripped gym bodies all around, one of the first things I did was find a gym, run and owned by of course, a gorgeous bronzed ripped guy, of French origin. He cracked me up because every time I’d cuss in Spanish or say the word “whore” he’d get embarrassed and utter “Madre mía” meaning “mother of mine.” I like oxymorons – huge guy who gets shocked by little foul-mouthed chick.

I hit the gym every day I could, with a great view of course, of the whatever body of water is there in Ibiza (I don’t pay attention to such things – is it a sea or ocean? Whatev).

Enjoyed myself thoroughly at the opening party of Pacha, formerly my favorite club in Barcelona before it shut down, though now it’s been replaced by a kick-ass club called Oshum I have yet to set foot in… next time I’ll have to check it out.

It was sardine-can packed, so I stayed away from the booze – plus, the fucking bartender lady wouldn’t serve me – seems like if you’re not bald, you’re not going to order as many drinks so you’re not worth her time. When it started to get reasonable, a guy who worked there, handsome Victor from Sitges outside of Barcelona with big innocent eyes, told me about some other rooms, so I got myself a juice in one of those, and this gorgeous black female DJ in awesome distinctive fishnets gave me a gift. But mostly, it was a juice and hang-out-with-Victor night.

More later. Just going to say: Viva Italia!!

1) We met in the Writer’s Store on Westwood Blvd. I thought, “Hm, they keep their men gorgeous  in L.A.”  Then he chatted me up, invited me to lunch, and a couple of days later on the way to dropping me off at the airport, we stopped by his Bel Air home for fifteen minutes of a little bit of fun. And he was right, I wasn’t late for my flight!

2) Some making out with a tall Keanu Reeves look-a-like in a secluded spot atop a gazebo at the airport watching planes take off and land as the sun came up.

3) Getting to act out a little fantasy with a guy who looked very much like my first big crush. Talk about closure and feeling like I was in high school again (along with the awkwardness – ha).