A possible ex-London hack, pocket guide to Marriott benefits, basketball in Iraq and more

Have you ever wondered if you could book a cheap ticket from Point A->Point B->Point C and just skip the first part and get on at Point B? Even if you’ve long know that you can’t, you’ve probably wished you could. In this Frequent Miler week in review around the web, we have an advanced play on that concept that just might work. Also pick up a good pocket guide for reference with a property misunderstanding new Marriott benefits, what it’s like to move to Iraq to play basketball and more.

Does Italian law mean you can book a cheap BA ticket from Milan but get on in London?

File this under “advanced plays for adventurous travelers who can schmooze well on the phone, don’t get stressed easily, and have enough miles to drop back ten yards and punt if it doesn’t work out”. I know some readers may be in that category and interested in taking this one for a test-spin, so see this Head for Points post that lays out how and why it may work.

Long-distance shot: Why some Americans risk playing professional basketball in Iraq

Not at all related to miles and points, but I found this rare deep dive from Yahoo news to be a fascinating read about what it’s like to be an American living abroad in what we might expect to be a hostile environment. Iraq isn’t on my travel list any time soon, but most of the perspective I have on Iraq has come from either hyper-adventurous travelers or military members who have been stationed there. I thought this was a unique perspective (not to mention a playing opportunity I would not have imagined existed).

Map Of All The World’s National Parks

Just what the title says it is, this cool resource created by Drew at Travel Is Free could be a great planning tool if you enjoy the natural wonders of the world. While I enjoy national (and state) parks, I don’t typically plan a trip around visiting them as I simply don’t know many of them outside of the US. I’ve bookmarked this post to come back to it the next time we’re planning a trip to see what parks are nearby.

Marriott Rewards & SPG Loyalty Program Information Pocket Guide (Great For Elites!)

Loyalty Lobby got ahold of a handy little pocket guide being provided to properties and published it. This could certainly prove to be a useful tool to reference if you find yourself dealing with a front desk that doesn’t correctly understand the new program and benefits.

That’s it for this week around the web. Check back soon for this week’s last chance deals.

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