Well that went by fast! September 3 will mark exactly 5 years since I launched this blog with my very first post, What’s the point? The post went live at 4:01 PM and got probably zero traffic. I knew nothing about SEO, content marketing, or anything related to blogging.
Really, I just wanted to share my excitement over this hobby and because I enjoyed writing and needed a creative outlet. It’s been a fun and rewarding 5 years. I’ve got an awesome group of readers and a few mean, but creative trolls who keep the comment section interesting.
Not only am I incredibly lucky to earn a living doing this, but I’ve also had some amazing travel experiences and met awesome people along the way. I have to give credit to the folks at Internet Brands for investing in me early on with a guest spot on Frugal Travel Guy, then a gig as Managing Editor. This opened up a lot of opportunities and helped me grow my following.
I want to thank all the readers who’ve supported me along the way. Whether it was a lovely email, kind words at a points and miles shindig, or using my referral links. I appreciate it and hope you’ve gotten as much out of this blog as I have.
To celebrate five years of (inconsistent) blogging, I’ll be giving away five $100 e-gift cards – winner’s choice. Please note, I’m going to limit each person to one prize only. So give it your best shot and be sure to follow the instructions below.
The first step? Make sure you’ve subscribed to my mailing list:
Giveaway #1: Snapchat
1. Follow me on Snapchat.
2. Send me a snap pic or video conveying 1.) your favorite PointChaser post OR 2.) your favorite points and miles award redemption so far. There is NO LIMIT on the number of Snapchat entries – just keep them fun and don’t send the same entries over and over again. Extra points for creativity (but keep it PG)!
3. I will choose the best snap and announce the winner on August 29. You have 48 hours to claim your prize by contacting me with delivery info.
4. Entry deadline: August 28 at 11:59 PM (PT)
Giveaway #2: Blog Comment Section
1. Leave a comment on this post, sharing your favorite blog post OR your favorite award redemption. There is NO LIMIT on the number of comments you can leave. Just make sure it’s actually in THIS POST and no others on this blog.
2. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on September
3. You have 48 hours to claim your prize by emailing me back with the requested information.
4. Entry deadline: September 2 at 11:59 PM (PT)
Giveaway #3: Twitter
1. Follow me on Twitter.
2. Tweet @pointchaser a link to your favorite PointChaser blog post OR tweet about your favorite award redemption so far. Be sure to also use the hashtag #pointchaserturns5 where all entries will be tracked.
Once again, there is NO LIMIT on the number of Twitter entries you can submit. Just make sure the tweets are unique (i.e. don’t share the same tweet over and over).
3. I will choose a winner using Random.org and announce it on September
4. You have 48 hours to claim your prize by emailing me back with delivery information.
5. Entry deadline: September 2 at 11:59 PM (PT)
Giveaway #4: Instagram
1. Follow me on Instagram.
2. Share a photo of your favorite trip booked on points and miles, tag @pointchaser, and use the hashtag #pointchaserturns5, where all entries will be tracked. There are NO LIMITS on the number of Instagram entries you can submit. Just make sure your entries are unique (i.e. don’t use the same photo over and over again).
3. I will choose the best photo and announce it on September 3. You have 48 hours to claim your prize by emailing me back with the requested information.
4. Entry deadline: September 2 at 11:59 PM (PT)
Giveaway #5: Facebook
1. Like the Pointchaser Facebook page.
2. Leave a comment, letting me know your favorite blog post OR your favorite award redemption so far. Use the hashtag #pointchaserturns5. There are NO LIMITS on the number of Facebook entries. Just make sure your entries are unique (i.e. don’t use the same photo over and over again).
3. I will choose the best photo and announce it on September 3. You have 48 hours to claim your prize by emailing me back with the requested information.
4. Entry deadline: September 2 at 11:59 PM (PT)
Good luck and thanks again for sticking with me for the past five years! If you have any questions about this giveaway, feel free to email me.
Congrats Ariana! My fav posts are the refugee ones! https://www.pointchaser.com/report/my-observations-of-the-calais-jungle-refugee-camp/
Fav award redemption: 78k Avianca Lifemiles one way 1st class on ANA jfk-tokyo
Ariana, thanks for a really unique blog, which I have filled for years. I love your posts that nobody covers, especially Afghanistan. My favorite is:https://www.pointchaser.com/report/arghandeh-afghanistan-travel/.
favorite redemption is 32.5k alaska miles for layflat business on an A-330 CLT–>LGB via PHX
Congratulations. I enjoy reading all your stories.
I appreciate all of the MS posts, but my favorites were the Calais Diaries series, like this one: https://www.pointchaser.com/report/calais-diaries-new-kabul-restaurant/
My best one was 3 front cabin seats ATL to BZN Delta for less points than economy, must have been system glitch
I loved reading your Calais Dairies.
My favorite redemption was AA miles for business class on Cathay from LAX to Hong Kong.
Congratulations. You have the best written posts of anyone. I always find your information helpful and insightful.
Congrats! I loved My Beef With the Capital One Venture Card post. I needed the info because I was thinking to open a card myself
Happy 5th! I always look to your hotel and city reviews for idea’s They’ve been very helpful in my planning.
Congrats! I like the posts that explain manufactured spending in detail.
Favorite redemption – 35K AA points to get to Exuma, Bahamas (GGT). Real pain to get down there and expensive to boot!
Other fave redemption – DeltaOne CDG – MSP, via SLC (LOL!). 1 hours in lay-flat. I can handle that!
This is also a good one https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/10-best-credit-cards-non-bonus-category-manufactured-spending/
My favorite award redemption was a few years ago when IcelandAir and Alaska Airlines had a partnership and we could purchase IcelandAir miles in krona, redeem those miles on AS to HI, First Class, all for the equivalent of about $300US.
Congratulations. I have enjoyed reading your posts,maybe the ones from Afghanistan were my favorites. I like it that one can read your blog without having to log on. Thanks.
Hey Ariana, congrats again on 5 years! My fav post is honestly one of the more ‘quick reference guide’ for Hyatt stay redemptions. I like resorting back to https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/best-hyatt-hotels-category-7/ when looking at specific category Hyatt redemption options when I’m looking to redeem.
Congrats on 5 years of blogging! My fav award redemption was to redeem Chase UR points for staying six nights at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. Thanks.
I also appreciated the MS roundup post Everything You Need to Know About Manufactured Spending:
https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/manufactured-spending/
Nice to have everything in one place to refer to.,
I’m a HUGE Gilmore girls fan. So seeing the post about the town in Ontario where the pilot was filmed really made me love you even more!
I liked your manufactures spending beginners guide.
The refugee posts are the first I read when I found this site. So probably those.
So happy to use AA miles to book premium award tickets to Asia which I can change the flight schedules without penalty 🙂
the etihad first apartment was pretty amazing!
Free Fairmont hotel stays like Pacific Rim in Vancouver!
I am a beginner with MSing, always amazed and admiring your skill at how you do such a big volume, the most I do only about 3K/mo, I know, pitiful….
That said, my favorite post was your “Where to Buy Money Orders with a PIN-enabled Gift Card”: https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/buy-money-orders-with-a-gift-card/
The walmart asset protection post was a good read!
Monthly ms posts.
I love your beginners’ guide series, for instance “Points and Miles Beginner’s Guide: How to Meet Large Credit Card Spending Requirements” which helps us to figure out if we really want cards with over $3K in 90 days spending requirements.
Interesting about The Plastic Merchant. Thanks for the tips.
Cathay business class redemptions are my favorite.
Favorite redemption was my first to Cabo using SW and Hyatt!
Happy 5th! Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Singapore is quite relevant to me cause I will be taking the same flight next month!
I really want a giftcard! Roadtrip to Hana Highway Maui article looks so good and makes me wanna book a trip to Hawaii especially cause I’ve never been there yet!
Congrats. I actually love all your posts.
I enjoy reading about your tips like the Hyatt Diamond Challenge.
Congratulations Ariana! My favorite award redemption was using Alaska airlines to secure first class tickets on BA from ORD to LHR; returning on business with air france from CDG to ORD and staying at the luxury collection Tower in Londres and the Prince de Galles at Paris in a suite.
Joe
I enjoy your writing, particularly concerning your volunteering at the refugee camp, but most of your posts are interesting. Well done and congrats! My favorite redemption is Asiana miles to South America in business for 70k rt- 35000 spend at the grocery store with Vgcs.
Favorite redemption: 90K delta pesos for Business/first to Europe
I like reading your beginner’s guides
One of the favorite blog: 5 Cheap Ways to Complete the Hyatt Diamond Challenge
https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/cheap-ways-complete-hyatt-diamond-challenge/
just in time for this Informative Blog: 7 Rideshare Apps You Should Be Using in New York City
https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/nyc-rideshare-apps
Congratulations! Your post that I like the most is the post on how to sell gift cards to TPM. Very excellent guide and useful for most of us since the death of bluebird.
Congrats on 5 years! My favourite posts of yours are the MS ones. Back in the halcyon days of Birds of red and blue and Vanilla reloads and CVS, your MS posts would inspire me to get out there and do more.
I liked my redemption to Hawaii with AA. A great mother daughter trip
I really loved my redemption with United when you could tag on a free one way. Those were the days.
Another favorite redemption was my 10 day trip to Italy. I so want to go back!
My new favorite post is today’s: Where to buy Visa gift cards with a credit card. Nice list of options!
I Agree with denise, I was just looking for places to buy visa gift cards with credit cards. Happy 5 yr bloggiversary!
I like the 10 best places to redeem club carlson points. could you do a more recent one in case these have changed?
https://www.pointchaser.com/guide/places-redeem-club-carlson-annual-free-night/
I always loved you’re Best Hotels by Category Collection; tons of good info there.
We loved the Etihad First Apartment; best hard product we’ve experienced.
Best redemption has to be Cathay F… I mean, how can you top the caviar course?
I’ve really enjoyed reading your ‘week in MS’ posts. I can totally relate to some of your trials and tribulations!
I know people will scoff at a BA F award as being one of the best, but hands down, the Concorde Room at JFK is one of the top airport lounges in the world.
Another great award was our stay at the Conrad Maldives (right before the huge deval); simply amazing.
One of my fav redemptions was using UR points to get 6 RT tickets to surprise our family for Eid ❤
Your giveaway post is pretty epic too