This morning, I checked out of my Medellín hotel, enjoyed my Avianca business class flight to Miami, transited cheaply to Fort Lauderdale, and then used my Resy credit for an awesome dinner. It was an unusually easy-breezy transition day.
My balcony at the Golden Valley Hotel Medellín
What is the Wild Card challenge? For this challenge, our contestants have chosen from wild-card decks to set the parameters of their trips. First, they selected travel destinations, then hotel, airline, and transferable points cards, which provide their points and miles budgets. And finally, they selected power-ups and obstacles to make their travels a little more realistic to the challenges our readers and listeners face and make things a little more interesting! Learn more about the ongoing challenge here.
Next up: Travel began on Tuesday 9/22/26! Contestants have already visited their first destination and must now make their way to their second destination in time for our Destination 2 Livestream on Saturday 9/26 at 9pm ET.
Trip Overview
Card Draws
Destinations
Panama -> Colombia -> Melbourne, Australia
Credit Cards
Delta Gold Business: 90K Miles, $150 Delta Stays credit
Bonvoy Brilliant: 150K Points, $250 Statement Credit
Amex Gold: 100K Points, $50 Resy credit
AA MileUp: 15K Miles
Obstacle
The Night Owl (no flights before 10 AM)
Power-up
Stay in the Zone (I got to reselect a destination card to stay in one zone, the Americas, for my first and second destinations)
Pre-trip: Trip planning. Before the trip started, I described several booking options I had considered, then announced that I had come up with a crazy new plan, which I would reveal later. See: My abandoned plans and a wild new one.
Traveling in style. I set some lofty goals for myself for this trip: fly mostly in business class, stay in interesting hotels, and truly enjoy the destinations. See: Traveling in style — my style.
A missed connection followed by fun in Panama. On Tuesday, my flight to San Salvador (with an onward connection to Panama City) was delayed. I missed my connection, slept in a lounge Sleep Room, then arrived at my Panama City hotel around 9 AM. I then toured Panama City’s old town (Casco Viejo) and the Panama Canal. See: My missed connection to Panama.
An awesome historic hotel in Panama. I found the perfect hotel in the perfect location. The problem? It wasn’t a Marriott. So, instead of using my Marriott points, I booked it with my Delta miles. See: An awesome hotel in Panama City’s historic old town courtesy of Delta miles.
Adventures in Colombia. On my first night in Medellin, I enjoyed a street-food tour. The next day, I did an all-day adventure which included a boat ride, a visit to the touristy but adorable town of Guatapé, and the chance to climb the biggest rock I’ve ever seen. See: Colombian food, fun, and a giant rock.
Medellín hotel
Golden Valley Hotel Medellín rooftop patio/bar
My “Exclusive Suite” at the Golden Valley Hotel Medellín
For my two nights in Medellín, I stayed in the Golden Valley Hotel. It’s a modern independent hotel in the coveted El Poblado neighborhood. Made-to-order breakfast is included daily and served on its rooftop patio, which becomes a rooftop bar at night. I sprang for the top-end “Exclusive Suite with Jacuzzi” and paid only 26,537 Delta miles for 2 nights. While I wasn’t as wowed by the hotel as I had hoped, I still had an excellent stay.
Pros:
Perfect location. It was just steps away from the meeting point for both tours I took during my stay.
Rooftop patio/bar. I loved having breakfast on the outdoor patio with great views
Made-to-order breakfast is included
Attractive room and bathroom design
Decent-sized balcony with large hot tub (I used the balcony but not the hot tub)
Comfortable bed
Excellent A/C
My room was spotlessly clean
Cons:
Rooms are tiny (and I sprang for the “Exclusive Suite with Jacuzzi.” I’d hate to see how small the other rooms are)
Breakfast options are slim
Medellín Airport (MDE): Curb to gate in 7 minutes
I considered trying to fit in another Medellín activity this morning, but every A.I. I consulted insisted that I be at the airport at least 2 hours before my flight, even without checked bags to worry about (sorry Tim). They claimed international flights begin boarding an hour before departure, and that passport control could take anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes. I skipped doing a morning activity, but I needn’t have.
I arrived at the Medellín airport (MDE) at 9:16 A.M., and made it to my gate by 9:23. Here’s what happened in those seven minutes:
I recorded the time when I got out of my Uber: 9:16
I headed towards international departures and then scanned my boarding pass to enter the security line.
There was no line at security, so I was through in no time.
I then stood in the passport control line for a minute or two until an airport employee told me that U.S. residents can go through the automated gates (I guess she could tell that I was a gringo).
There was no line at the automated passport control gates. I scanned my passport and then was asked in Spanish to enter my flight number. I wasn’t 100% sure that I had translated it correctly, so I asked an employee who confirmed. My passport scan had timed out, so I scanned it again, entered my flight number, and passed through. My gate was only about a two-minute walk from there.
Once I was at my gate, I recorded the time: 9:23.
I then went to the nearby “The Lounge” to wait for boarding, which started 50 minutes before departure.
I documented the above in case it helps others. Supposedly, the main risk of arriving closer to departure was the variable time to get through the passport control line. However, if you can qualify for the automated gates, I don’t think that’s really much of a concern.
Avianca business class Medellin to Miami
My lunch on the flight: Surprisingly delicious Eggplant lasagna
This 3.5-hour flight was excellent. My seat was comfortable. My eggplant lasagna lunch was delicious. The forward-cabin flight attendant was great.
Avianca A320 “Business Americas.”
Avianca’s business class is nothing like international business class with lie-flat seats. Instead, it’s better compared to domestic first class in the United States. Some liken it to European business class, in which they simply block the middle seats that are otherwise the same as economy seats, but I think that’s unfair. It’s true that Avianca’s business-class seats look like European business-class seats, but they’re different. Avianca’s seats are much wider and more comfortable than economy seats.
For the most part, I think that Avianca’s seats are comparable to U.S. domestic first class, but there are a few differences:
Avianca offers wider seats
Avianca’s armrests are subpar: The one along the middle console is wide and comfortable, but the outside armrest (towards the window or aisle, depending on where you sit) is uncomfortably thin and close.
Avianca’s seats look like economy plus seats. If you expect it to look plush and first-classy, you’ll be disappointed.
Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale for the win
I could have taken an expensive Uber to my Fort Lauderdale hotel. Instead, I took the Tri-Rail most of the way for only $5 (the weekend daily rate), then took a cheap Uber from there to my hotel ($13, after tip). My Amex Gold card’s $10 Uber credit covers most of the latter. The biggest downside of the Tri-Rail is reduced weekend service, so if you miss your train, you’ll have to wait about an hour for the next.
Resy dinner at The Katherine
After checking in at my hotel (more about that tomorrow), I walked a few blocks to The Katherine, which the New York Times named in 2023 as having one of the 23 best dishes in America (Thai Red Curry Yellowtail). I ordered the closest option on the current menu: Thai Red Curry Branzino. It was delicious! My meal came to $52 after tip. The Katherine is a Resy credit-qualifying restaurant, so I finally used my $50 Resy credit from my Amex Gold card! The net cost after the credit: $2.
Trip Accounting
Item
Rewards Spent
Cash Spent
Rewards Earned
Business class Detroit to Panama
35K Amex points transferred to Aeroplan
$60
N/A
Uber to hotel
$28
Lunch
$10
Panama Canal Tour
$68
$18.36 Capital One Shopping rewards + $3.40 cash (card-linked offer)
Dinner
$27
Tips & Misc
$40
Wed-Thu 9/24 Panama City Hotel
Hotel Plaza Herrera (2 nights)
40,520 Delta Miles, $150 Delta Stay credit
$0
Thu-Fri 9/25 Activities in Colombia
Uber to Panama City airport
$24
Business Class Panama City to Medellin (then onward to Miami later)
30,000
$200
Uber from Medellin airport to hotel
$34
Medellin Food Tour
$35
$12.25 Capital One Shopping rewards + $1.75 cash (card-linked offer)
Guatapé Tour
$44
$15.55 Capital One Shopping rewards + $2.22 cash (card-linked offer)
Tips & Misc
$35
Sat 9/26 Colombia to FLL
Golden Valley Hotel (2 nights)
26,537 Delta Miles
$0
Uber from hotel to Medellín airport
$47
Tri-Rail from MIA to Fort Lauderdale
$5
Uber from Tri-Rail
$13 – $10 = $3
Resy Dinner
$52 – $50 = $2
Total Cash Spent & Rewards Earned To Date:
$662
$46.16 Capital One Shopping rewards + $7.37 cash
Amex Gold Card
Bonvoy Brilliant
Delta Gold Business
AA MileUp
Starting Amount
100K Points, $50 Resy, $10 Dining, $10 Uber
150K Points, $250 Cash, $25 Dining
90K Points, $150 Delta Stays
15K Points
Spent To-Date
65K Points, $10 Uber, $50 Resy
—
67,057 Points, $150 Credit
—
Amount Remaining
35K Points, $10 Dining
150K Points, $250 Cash, $25 Dining
22,943 Points, $0 Delta Stays
15K Points
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