Feb 27-March 8, 2019 Barcelona, Warsaw, Crete, Stockholm

A $209 one way ticket flying United Airlines from my California home airport of Monterey MRY to Barcelona via SFO made a trip to Europe in late February an opportunity to finish my two year quest for Aegean Miles+Bonus Gold elite with Star Alliance Gold benefits. I booked a Ryanair flight for Barcelona to Warsaw Modlin without leaving BCN airport and spent two nights in Warsaw before flying Aegean Airlines to Athens and Chanai, Crete on a 4-night stay at an independent boutique hotel near Chania Harbor.

This trip allowed me to earn 60,000 IHG Rewards Club points with three nights in Warsaw at three different IHG hotels.

Feb 27-March 8, 2019

San Francisco to Barcelona, Warsaw, Crete, Warsaw, Stockholm, SFO 

IHG Rewards Club ‘Free Nights. Faster.’ promotion Jan 15-Apr 30, 2019 (Jan 7, 2019).

Winter in Crete on my final push for Star Alliance Gold (Jan 23, 2019).

March travel fulfilling nights IHG, Best Western and Choice (Feb 24, 2019).

Flight Review 2 days only United SFO to Barcelona special nonstop (Feb 28, 2019).

Trip Report – Ryanair Barcelona to Warsaw Modlin WMI $52 (March 3, 2019).

Warsaw, Poland

IHG Free Nights. Faster. Stay 1 Holiday Inn Warsaw City Centre (March 4, 2019).

IHG Free Nights Faster – Stay 2 InterContinental Warsaw $129 earned 12,997 points (March 6, 2019).

Chania, Crete, Greece

Going for Gold Flight Review Aegean Airlines Warsaw-Athens (March 2, 2019).

Laid back in Chania, Crete (March 7, 2019).

Trip Report – Porto del Colombo Hotel Chania, Crete $39/night (March 12, 2019).

Chania, Crete harbor walk to lighthouse (March 19, 2019).

Tracking Aegean flight path Chania to Warsaw with my iPhone photos (March 7, 2019).

Warsaw

Holiday Inn Express Warsaw Airport has been a windfall for cheap IHG bonus points (May 23, 2019).

IHG Free Nights Faster – $291 earned 60,000 points with 3 nights in Warsaw (March 9, 2019).

IHG Free Nights Faster final tally 60,757 points earned on $291 for 3 nights (March 18, 2019).

Tourist photo walk Warsaw City Center (March 10, 2019).

Stockholm

Choice Privileges 10,000 points (1 night) – Clarion Hotel Sign Stockholm a transit stay 10K per night deal (March 14, 2019).

Price of Travel – Poland, Greece, Sweden comparisons (March 25, 2019).