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Today’s warning about QR codes on parking meters is another example of how Elliott Confidential PRO pays for itself. One person got taken for $2,000. I’ll tell you how to avoid this scam.
You’ll find that kind of consumer reporting in every issue, and PRO subscribers get all of it, plus Backchannel, the vault and my books. Don’t miss out.
A cabin at Kinloch Wilderness Retreat on New Zealand’s South Island. (Photo by Aren Elliott)
☀ A lodge that gives power back — Two properties on the far shore of Lake Whakatipu are running the sustainability experiment most hotels only advertise. One of them generates more electricity in a year than it consumes and routes every dollar of profit into a community trust. The other is wiring an 1868 pioneer tavern into a solar microgrid. You can read the full story today.
On Backchannel, Barbara Bibel wants to fly two people to Hanoi on United miles, and the one nonstop between the United States and Vietnam is the flight her miles can’t book. Don’t worry, we have a fix for her.
For Members Only: The Federal Trade Commission is warning you to inspect the URL before scanning a QR code on a parking meter. That advice does nothing for you in a city whose meters never accepted QR payments in the first place, and one driver in British Columbia lost $2,000 finding that out. So how do you know what your meter really takes? — Christopher Elliott
FEATURED ARTICLE
These New Zealand eco-lodges are redefining sustainability (and reaching for the stars)
The night sky at Kinloch Wilderness Retreat is bright enough that guests reach for a light switch to turn off the stars. Across Lake Whakatipu, the Headwaters Eco Lodge pipes daylight into its rooms through overhead panels and hands all of its profit to a community trust. Two lodges on a remote New Zealand lake head are testing whether a hotel can leave a place better than it found it. Is this what luxury looks like now?
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Travelex Insurance Services is a leading travel insurance provider in the United States with over 55 years combined industry expertise of helping people dream, explore and travel with confidence. We offer comprehensive travel insurance plans with optional upgrades allowing travelers to customize the plans to fit their needs. Compare plans, get a quote and buy online at Travelexinsurance.com.
📌 Here’s what you missed this week
Catch up on the latest stories from the Elliott Report
These New Zealand eco-lodges are redefining sustainability (and reaching for the stars)
Two lodges at the head of Lake Whakatipu on New Zealand’s South Island have pushed sustainability well past recycled materials and refillable soap dispensers. One generates more power over a year than it uses and sends all of its profit to a community trust, and the other is wiring an 1868 pioneer tavern into a 500-kilowatt solar microgrid.
Help! Amazon said “yes” to a $179 refund—and then it said “no”
Andrew Greenman bought $179 sneakers from a third-party seller on Amazon and injured his ankle before he had worn them out. An Amazon agent emailed him a written promise of the money back within 48 hours, and the company’s executive customer relations office later ruled that its own agent’s promise didn’t comply with policy.
Why did Dollar charge me $1,858 for a car they didn’t have?
Dennis Drake returned a Jeep Compass to Dollar at the Albuquerque airport and flew home to Texas the same afternoon. Dollar’s system logged the car as still out, and the bill that followed came to $1,858 on top of insurance he had declined at the counter.
Help! Budget says I smoked in my car — but these photos prove nothing!
Ray Oswald and his wife returned their rental to Budget at O’Hare after a family funeral and left with a clean receipt for $312. The company billed them $450 for smoke residue five days later, citing photos of a cup holder that could have been taken in any white Mazda.
How AI bots are deceiving travelers—and what to do about it
A Baltimore engineer booked a Hershey, Pa., hotel on reviews praising its upscale amenities and attentive service, then found a broken air conditioner and dirty sheets. He checked the timestamps and saw the reviews had all posted in the same week.
Why I turned down a $15,000 case
A Pennsylvania carpenter says a fraudulent Western Union transfer cost him $15,000, and my team couldn’t take the case. It’s also the peg for our relaunched podcast, which opens on another file we lost and the twist that brought it back two years later.
JetBlue, Southwest and a week that changed everything
JetBlue announced a domestic first class cabin on Sept. 1, and the next morning Southwest said it’s opening airport lounges in four cities. For 25 years these were the two airlines that did it differently, and that ended in about 24 hours.
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TravelInsurance.com makes it fast and easy to compare and buy travel insurance online from top-rated providers. Our unbiased comparison engine allows travelers to read reviews, compare pricing and benefits and buy the right policy with a price guarantee, every time. Compare and buy travel insurance now at TravelInsurance.com.
💬 What you’re saying on Backchannel
How do I get to Vietnam?
Barbara Bibel and a friend are flying to Vietnam with side trips to Cambodia and Thailand, and she wants to book the long haul with United miles. Only one airline flies nonstop between the United States and Vietnam, and her miles won’t touch it, so whatever she books runs through an Asian hub. Which Star Alliance carrier should she be searching for two award seats into Hanoi? Here’s what our team said on Backchannel. Remember, you can ask us anything on Backchannel. We love to help.
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Yonder Travel Insurance is an online travel insurance comparison site offering 5-star customer service from friendly humans, guiding you from quotes to claims. Our experts have poured over hundreds of policies from the top travel insurance providers in the US to provide the best travel insurance recommendations for the type of trip you take. Compare travel insurance options at Yonder Travel Insurance.
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