I'm a Black Expat AMA

[Wiseborn]

Zero annual fee travel card

Dont sleep on on the Bilt World Elite Mastercard
Our Expert Take
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (rates & fees) is our favorite pick for anyone who wants a no annual fee credit card without foreign transaction fees.
Why We Like It
The Bilt Card can compete with many midrange travel cards in terms of benefits. You’ll find a number of included trip protections and flexible, transferable rewards (with familiar partners like Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and World of Hyatt).
The card also offers a path to earn up to 100,000 points on rent each calendar year with no transaction fees, which makes it a unicorn among other credit cards. Just know that to earn points in a given statement period, you must use your card at least five times (rewards & benefits).
What We Don’t Like
There’s a glaring goose egg in terms of a welcome bonus on this card. Considering that most other travel cards have offers valued at several hundred dollars (or more), this is a huge opportunity cost.
Who It’s Best For
The Bilt Mastercard is an especially good choice for renters since it’s a fast way to earn points, but it could make sense for anyone who wants to skip foreign transaction fees on a card without an annual fee.
Expert Commentary

Julian Kheel

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
It’s almost impossible to earn rewards on what is the biggest monthly expense for many people, which is why anyone who pays rent should have a Bilt Mastercard in their wallet. Not only will you earn points just from paying your rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year), you’ll do it without being charged a fee for the transaction, and Bilt points are among the most versatile travel points around. (Pro Tip: Don’t redeem Bilt points to pay rent when you can get much more value for them for travel!).

Pros & Cons

• Earn rewards on rent (up to 100,000 points per calendar year)
• No annual fee
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Points can be transferred to partners

• Requires five card transactions per statement period to earn rewards
• No welcome bonus
• Rewards outside of rent spend are relatively low compared to other cards

Card Details

• $0 Annual Fee
• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
• Earns 3x points on dining
• Earn 2x points on travel
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Earn up to 5x Bilt Points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
• Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statements, toward a down payment on a home, etc.

 

[Wiseborn]

More sosua real estate advice but also applicable anywhere.

They have really been working on infrastructure in Sosua but it cannot keep up with all the people getting condos there. If you buy or rent you want to check the electrical wiring system. You want to check the actual Underground lines to the fuse boxes. The cheap ass wiring is where you get 60% of electrical failures ( outside of Blackouts) If the wiring is fukked up having Inverters and generators won’t matter as much as the power isn’t flowing effectively through the system.

Your shyt is underpowered and you might get a power surge. I hate old ass electrical appliances but some places aren’t equipped to handle stackable washer dryers Large refrigerators and 65 inch smart TV’s or 20 smart devices in your home.

#knowbeforeyoubuy

 

[Wiseborn]

Colombian Airline Pro Tips

I never had a problem with any Colombian airline and used Aviance to fly to Meddy from Cali and vice versa. But I have friends who have used Avianca and they said when buying last minute tickets online there’s usually a problem meaning they tend to “hold’. The Credit card information and when they show up for the flight they don’t have a seat.

They said that Priceline works way better for Avianca. My Advice is if flying internally is to buy at the counter with cash and get a paper ticket/ Boarding pass

That’s another thing they lost their phones this Trip so they had to buy new tickets had they had paper tickets they would’ve been good.

I will say I usually use Copa out of Panama when flying from the US to Cali. I’ve never had a problem other than sometimes the flight layover is too short and you have to hustle to get the connecting flight so i suggest not taking a layover for less than an hour.

 

[trap101-ETHout-Allegri-In]

Colombian Airline Pro Tips

I never had a problem with any Colombian airline and used Aviance to fly to Meddy from Cali and vice versa. But I have friends who have used Avianca and they said when buying last minute tickets online there’s usually a problem meaning they tend to “hold’. The Credit card information and when they show up for the flight they don’t have a seat.

They said that Priceline works way better for Avianca. My Advice is if flying internally is to buy at the counter with cash and get a paper ticket/ Boarding pass

That’s another thing they lost their phones this Trip so they had to buy new tickets had they had paper tickets they would’ve been good.

I will say I usually use Copa out of Panama when flying from the US to Cali. I’ve never had a problem other than sometimes the flight layover is too short and you have to hustle to get the connecting flight so i suggest not taking a layover for less than an hour.

How you find Copa? They're the last of all the Central American airlines and are a hub between North amd South America. I'be never flown them, but know they have pretty. good rates.

 

[Wiseborn]

How you find Copa? They're the last of all the Central American airlines and are a hub between North amd South America. I'be never flown them, but know they have pretty. good rates.

They fly direct from IAD to Panama City. The flights are cheap and On Time.

Ethiad is my overall favorite airline and Copa can’t really compete but getting you from the US to Latin America well they’re way better than Spirit.

 

[TRBM]

what did you want to do in Cali? Meaning what is making you think of coming to Cali?

For example I wanted to live in a place where there was significant Black people including some not on the very bottom rungs socially That had a low cost of living with good infrastructure.

What's the climate like rn? I'm nervous to get out there now

 

[Aintnobodystupid]

When you out the bushes, shoot me a pm.

 

[Wiseborn]

What's the climate like rn? I'm nervous to get out there now

Think Summer on the east coast minus the humidity.

You get two rainy seasons where the \temps drop to 60 degrees farenheit,

Usually in the 75 to 80 degrees range warm but not sticky heat.

 

[Memorial Stadium Piru]

Kenya next year June for my 28th birthday

 

[Wiseborn]

Kenya next year June for my 28th birthday

Thats what's up You should have a great time. I got a buddy there right now.

 

[Wiseborn]

Air bnb Pro tip

Do read the fine print. Id always book for two people regardless but aviod any place that saud Guest Friendly Airbnbs are facing a global crackdown and cities are regulating them so goofy terms like Guest friendly or Guests allowed will get those spots cancelled once the Lawyers and the AI finds them.

To aviod that look to see if they say No guests and if it says that don't bring in a guest. But if you book a one bedroom for twi people you're covered if you meet someone cool to Netflix and Chill with after the club.

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

Think Summer on the east coast minus the humidity.

You get two rainy seasons where the \temps drop to 60 degrees farenheit,

Usually in the 75 to 80 degrees range warm but not sticky heat.

Welcome back brother!!! They can’t hold a soldier down. Dap + rep

 

[Wiseborn]

Welcome back brother!!! They can’t hold a soldier down. Dap + rep

Yeah technically I would stayed gone but I said so much cool shyt on this thread I wanted to remember it, For example I'm gonna apply for that BILT card now that Chase raised their fees for holding their card.

But 7 years abroad I feel like a Global citizen, I notice the board in general gets into rage bait gender wars diaspora wars and bothsiderism

Every one has the right to feel how they feel and it would be weird to change your whole world view over an anonymous post.

So I'm gonna aviod the bullshyt and focus on what I'm doing.

I would advise the Coli to take a Vacation from the bullshyt from time to time, go somewhere nice and relax.

If I can give advice that's great.

One other thing Im an expat for Economic reasons.

Theres been a study that although 300K Black women left the job market 200,000 more left durimg COVID and never went back.


I stopped working before COVID but AI is coming for jobs no matter what you do Stack your chips You got less than 2 million in a 401K and or renting you might find it feasible to live abroad too.



You shouldn't have to choose between cracked crab in Lobster you can have both

 

[#BOTHSIDES]

Yeah technically I would stayed gone but I said so much cool shyt on this thread I wanted to remember it, For example I'm gonna apply for that BILT card now that Chase raised their fees for holding their card.

But 7 years abroad I feel like a Global citizen, I notice the board in general gets into rage bait gender wars diaspora wars and bothsiderism

Every one has the right to feel how they feel and it would be weird to change your whole world view over an anonymous post.

So I'm gonna aviod the bullshyt and focus on what I'm doing.

I would advise the Coli to take a Vacation from the bullshyt from time to time, go somewhere nice and relax.

If I can give advice that's great.

One other thing Im an expat for Economic reasons.

Theres been a study that although 300K Black women left the job market 200,000 more left durimg COVID and never went back.


I stopped working before COVID but AI is coming for jobs no matter what you do Stack your chips You got less than 2 million in a 401K and or renting you might find it feasible to live abroad too.



You shouldn't have to choose between cracked crab in Lobster you can have both

 

[Wiseborn]

Gringo price hack

Shop around. before buying something see the real price online. Yes there's sales taxes and Tariffs but The regional Amazons have the real price.

Not Amazon itself even if you switch it to the country that youre in they're gonna have the American Price you need the Regional Amazons like Mercado Libre in Latin America and Jambo in east Africa.