A cruise is an extraordinary way to spend a vacation. And there are options for nearly everyone. I mean, just think about it! Interested in visiting some of the most epic places on earth? Go on a cruise. Intrigued about taking it slow and traveling across the Atlantic like we used to before air travel? Go on a cruise. Want to see Europe, Africa, South America, Antarctica, or other parts of the world in a way you haven’t? Go on a cruise. You can see extravagant parts of the world in a whole slew of different ways by going on a cruise and it seems like more and more people are beginning to realize that.
The cruise industry took it on the chin for a while (beginning around March of 2020), but the industry is currently poised for a massive comeback. According to a recent AAA survey, 52% of U.S. adults are just as likely or more likely to consider booking a cruise as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic started. For context, only 45% answered the same way a year ago. “Cruising is back in a big way. We expect a lot more people to book cruises in 2023,” says Paula Twidale, AAA Senior Vice President of Travel. There are several factors for this:
“Cruise lines have undertaken extensive measures to promote health and safety onboard, so you can expect attention to detail and cleanliness,” said Twidale. Cruise deals
0 Comments
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, with the kids jingle belling… sorry, nearly got carried away there. Yes, the holiday season is in full swing with cooler weather (as I write this, I can see that it’s snowing outside through the window in front of me), fireplaces in full use, Christmas decorations taking center stage, and last but certainly not least, consumers going a bit crazy on the spending side. That last one will be the focus of this article. It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to travel hacking or are an experienced travel hacker, one of the most important things you can do this time of year is to maximize your holiday spending to get as many points and miles as you can by using the right cards. But how do you do that? Picking the right cards for yourself After the ring, the big day itself, and all the events surrounding it, oftentimes there’s not much left in the coffers for a dream honeymoon. However, there’s no need to run away and pout! There are plenty of destinations out there that’ll check all the right boxes when it comes to a romantic getaway for a newlywed couple without breaking the bank.
Halfway around the world Palawan, Philippines So far this year, I’ve spent way more than should be legal on my wedding. But it’s not all bad! I’ve put most of that on credit cards trying to maximize my earning potential when it comes to points and miles. You see, I’ve figured out first hand that expenses can add up quickly when planning a wedding, but using the right credit cards for wedding and honeymoon purchases can pay off big time for future travel. Including bonuses, I’ve earned: Trying to figure out where you’re going on that much-deserved post wedding trip? Whether you’re looking for someplace romantic, exotic, budget friendly, or someplace where breathtaking beaches are plentiful, there are nearly an endless amount of options when figuring out where to go on your honeymoon.
It’s true. Taking trains around Europe is almost like a right of passage. ‘Everyone’ does it, it’s fun, unique, and can get you pretty much anywhere. A Eurail Pass also allows you to play loose and fast with your plans. Want to stay an extra day in a particular city? Not a problem. The pass will still be good the next day. There is a lot of good to say about a rail pass when touring Europe.
But (and this is a big one) they can be very expensive. A three country Eurail Pass that’s good for five travel days over the span of two months will set you back at least $406. If you break that down by travel days, it comes out to just over $81 per day. Not bad, but you could do better. It’s true: I’ve been talking about how you can save a ton on travel with credit cards as of late. I mean, I did write a book on it. So sue me. Oh! And you can buy it here if you’d like. You’re welcome :) Anyways, where was I? Right: saving on travel. There are plenty of other ways to go about saving money while traveling. I wrote about a couple of them here. Unfortunately, when it comes to flights - the "deals" are harder to come by. It’s just the way it is. So what can you do to fly on the cheap? Don’t believe everything you hear
Those who are frequent visitors already know I love taking advantage of credit card rewards. For the new readers? Well, now you know. Credit card rewards can be very lucrative. I’ve easily saved thousands by using my miles and points for free flights or free stays at hotels.
The rewards you earn make it possible for you to afford to travel to an expensive destination (such as Bora Bora or Australia) or stay longer at a cheap location (such as Prague or Vietnam). Points and miles can also change how you actually do the traveling. Wanna fly first class? Use your miles. Getting points It’s the day I’ve been looking forward to for months now! My book is now officially out! You can get the ebook version or paperback!
For now, it is exclusively on sale on Amazon. Here’s the direct link to both versions. It’s an easy read and probably won’t take you more than a day or two. But it’s extremely educational and certainly worth every penny - especially when you consider how much you can potentially save on travel.
This summer I went back to Europe for the first time in a long time. Over the span of two weeks, my fiancée and I took in the Netherlands, Czech Republic (or Czechia, if you prefer), Germany, and Switzerland.
Many of you have asked how I paid for the trip. I covered the flights here. Yeah, free flights by transferring 110,000 of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a few of Chase’s travel partners (United and Air France). Taxes, unfortunately, still have to get paid, so in addition to my points, I paid $250. Once we landed, here’s where we stayed and how much it cost: When traveling, it’s important that you can pack everything you need, and easily have access to it. That is why, when possible, I try not to check a bag.
It’s certainly in your best interest to pack a carry-on instead of checking a bag. It’s cheaper, your luggage is less likely to be lost, you’ll have everything you need with you at all times, and it’ll save you time. Yes, packing is important. And you also need to know how to do it. Which is probably why the questions I get the most deal with packing. One of them is, “what’s in your bag?” I've decided to answer that question in this post. So without further ado, the following is everything I can fit in my carry-on(s): One of the most annoying parts of traveling is going through the TSA security line. Yeah, the part of your travels where you basically have to strip down to your skivvies in front of strangers so you can board the flight to wherever it is you’re going.
I’ve written about how I feel about the TSA before, but here’s something you may not realize about their rules. There is a way you can get your favorite drink (bigger than 3.4 ounces) past security! A reminder of TSA’s 3-1-1 rule
When going on vacation, what’s near the top of the list of things people worry about? The answer you’re looking for is packing. Just Google the phrase “how to pack” and you’ll find over 500 million results. My pieces about packing are among them: Packing Tips That’ll Save you Money and Learn to Pack Like a Boss.
The competition may have just been blown out of the water with the new Chase Sapphire Reserve. I’ll tell you right out front, this card has a $450 annual fee. But with the amazing travel benefits this card comes with, that fee is well worth it. But what are these benefits? Why is the $450 annual fee worth it? And is the card for you? This post will supply you with all the answers you need.
Not interested in using credit cards to save big on travel? You’re certainly not alone. Getting a credit card with travel rewards isn’t always easy. And even after you get it, you may find it’s not worth the annual cost (it likely has). Don’t worry! There are ways you can still save big without any credit cards. And in my opinion, one of the best ways to do so is to consider using Costco Travel. |
Stay inspired with The KKR in Your EmailCategories
All
|