Woohoo! How You Can Get 5x Points On Amazon

 

Woohoo! Chase is out with the Q2 5x bonus categories! And Amazon.com is back. Chase FREEDOM FLEX offer rotating bonus categories that earn 5x points. 

Past categories have included: 

• gas stations 
• grocery stores
• nail salons 
• EV charging 

The categories change every quarter so you can earn lots of Chase Ultimate Reward points quickly. You are limited to just $1,500 per quarter. But that translates to 7,500 points. Woohoo! 

We got a bonus category in March so stay posted to see if we get another one in June. 

You need to activate your card here.  

If you don't have a Chase FREEDOM FLEX credit card, it's a great everyday card. No annual fee and a $200 bonus for just a $500 minimum spend. 

How To Find JetBlue Flights For Just 7000 Points

 

Let's just say this is number one zillion why I love Chase Ultimate Reward points. The option to transfer points to JetBlue. 

Jet Blue has six hubs, JFK, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, San Juan and Los Angeles. And if you search flights, you can find one way flights for as low as 7,000 points and $5.60 in taxes. Wow! 

JetBlue partners with Hawaiian Airlines, Iceland Air, Eithad, Qatar, TAP Portugal, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways. You book all of these airlines on the Jet Blue website so it's fairly easy. To find these incredible deals, go to the JetBlue.com website. Enter your departure airport and destination airport and a date. Be sure to click use true blue points. 

Look at this flight from JFK to Orlando, Florida. 

To get a monthly overview, click on the date.

But it gets even more interesting if you want to fly across the pond. Look at this one way flight from LAX to Lisbon, Portugal. Taxes are shown as $5.60 and the cash price is more than $800. Wow! 

What's amazing about this is your Chase Ultimate Reward points transfer to Jet Blue 1:1 which makes these flights very cheap plus the taxes are low. In my travel coaching program, I show you how you can earn thousands of CUR points easily with just your normal purchases. 

Now whenever you are planning to transfer points from Chase, Citi or Amex to an airline, be sure the flight is available BEFORE you transfer points because you can't get the points back. 

The transfer should happen immediately though the fine print says it could take a few days. 

I usually put the flights I want in the cart and then make the transfer. You may have to log out and back in for the points to show up in your Jet Blue account. 

My favorite way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards is with my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Right now, you can earn 60,000 bonus points with a $4,000 minimum spend. It also includes a Global Entry credit, Priority Pass Lounge Access and travel delay and cancellation insurance. If the $550 annual fee for the Sapphire is too heft, my next favorite is the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. It comes with the same bonus offer and less benefits, but only has a $95 annual fee. 

Need guidance finding and making these redemptions, join my travel coaching program and let me help you. Use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" for $50 off. 

5 Essential Travel To-Dos Before the Year Ends

The end of the year is quickly upon us once again! Besides end of year sales and tax moves, you may also want to look at the five travel tasks that top the ultimate year end checklist. Here is the list: 

• Travel credits - check all of your airlines to see if you have any travel credits due to expire on Dec. 31st. Many of them ask you to book your flight by the expiration date, but you can travel later. Sometimes, you can book a trip and then cancel it and that will extend the expiration date, but keep in mind that doesn't always work. You may need to call, email or message on social media to the airline to find the right person who can extend the expiration date. Don't give up! It took me a week with a few phone calls, emails and private message on twitter to find someone to extend a United travel credit so I could book a flight in May 2024. 

• FREE hotel nights - Check the expiration dates on those FREE hotel night certificates to see if you any are expiring or if you need to book by Dec. 31st. 

5 Essential Travel To-Dos Before the Year Ends – Your Ultimate Year-End Adventure Checklist!

• Annual fees - this should be noted on your personal tracker, but if not, check to see if any of your credit cards are nearing the anniversary date. If so, make the decision about whether the card still fits with your strategy. If not, cancel it. 

• Credit card perks - check those perks like the $50 Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit or Global Entry or $300 travel credit, be sure to use these before they reset. 

• Points and Miles expiration dates - check those expiration dates for points and miles on airlines and hotels. If they are close to expiring, make a purchase to show activity or transfer the points to another account or person. 

The $147 sale price for my Travel Coaching Program ends January 15th, so don't wait. Use promo code "NEWYEAR" for $50 off. This price includes 3 video modules about points and miles plus two bonus modules with real life examples, personal points and miles tracker, 1:1 live coaching session with me, and monthly group zoom sessions. Hope you will start off the year right! 

Before you watch the ball drop or sip that celebratory champagne, take an hour to review your points and miles so that 2025 is full of adventure and lots of travel. 

Another Client Success Story: $3,000 Off A Trip To Croatia and Greece

 

Woohoo! Another AlmostFREEFamilyTravel.com Success Story!

Are you dreaming of a European getaway without the hefty price tag? Well, get ready for some exciting news!

One of our amazing coaching program students just completed a three-week trip to Croatia and Greece this past summer with her partner, and they saved over $3,000 on their entire trip by leveraging the power of points and miles! Yes, you read that right—$3,000 in savings!

How Did They Do It?

With a little guidance and strategy, they turned their dream vacation into a budget-friendly reality. Here’s how they pulled it off:

• Partner Airlines & Repositioning Flights: By flying with partner airlines and booking repositioning flights, they saved big on international and regional travel.
• Strategic Earning & Redeeming of Points: They mastered the art of earning and redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One points to cover flights, hotels, and even upgrades!
• Airport Lounges & Premium Economy Upgrades: Instead of spending money on expensive meals and cramped flights, they relaxed in airport lounges and enjoyed premium economy seats. Talk about luxury for less!

Sounds amazing, right? We’re thrilled to see them experience such incredible success—and you can do the same!

How You Can Do It Too!

By joining our AlmostFREEFamilyTravel.com Coaching Program, you'll gain access to all the insider knowledge and tools that made this success story possible. Here’s what you’ll get:

• Video Series: Learn how to maximize your travel rewards and points with easy-to-follow lessons.
• Custom Tracker: Stay organized and on top of your travel goals with our personalized tracker.
• 1:1 Consulting Session: Get expert advice tailored to your travel plans.
• Live Monthly Group Coaching: Join a community of like-minded travelers, ask questions, and get feedback in our monthly live coaching sessions.

And here’s the best part— You can join right now for just $197! That’s a one-time payment for a lifetime of travel hacks, strategies, and savings!

But wait… we’ve got something extra special for you!

Black Friday Special: Save $50!

Use the coupon code “BlackFriday” at checkout to get $50 off the coaching program! This is the best deal we offer, and it expires November 30th at 11:59pm PST.

Don’t Miss Out on This Opportunity!

Don’t spend tons of money on your next vacation. Instead, let us help you travel for almost FREE forever. Join our coaching program today, and start making your travel dreams a reality—just like this success story!

We can’t wait to see you in the program and help you unlock all the amazing travel rewards waiting for you.

Woohoo! Let’s make your next trip an AlmostFREE adventure!

---

P.S. The $50 off Black Friday deal won’t last forever, so grab your spot now and start planning your next European getaway (or wherever your heart desires)!

Last Day For A Bonus Offer From Our Fav Travel Card

Update:

This offer is ending November 14th.

Get ready for some fantastic news, family travelers! The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card just sweetened the deal, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you!

Imagine this: a whopping 60,000 bonus points (that's at least $750 in FREE travel!) PLUS a $300 travel credit on travel purchases. And wait, there's more – a $50 hotel credit too! Add it all up, and you're looking at over $1,000 in FREE travel. How amazing is that for your next family adventure?

But here's a little secret: with some savvy planning, you could stretch those points even further. Want to know how I used Chase Ultimate Rewards points to save a jaw-dropping $15,000 on a family trip to Tahiti? Just ask, and I'll share all the details!

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Now, let's talk strategy. This card opens up a world of possibilities with its transfer partners. You can move your points to various airlines and hotel chains, giving you ultimate flexibility for your family's travel dreams.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind with this offer:

• You'll need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the bonus.
• You can only earn a bonus on a Sapphire card once every four years.
• You can only hold one Chase Sapphire card at a time (either the Preferred or the Reserve).

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Want to make sure this card aligns perfectly with your family's travel plans? Let's chat!

Book a one-on-one session with me, or join our Travel Coaching Program for even more insights. You'll learn all about maximizing points and miles, get a personalized credit card tracker, and join our monthly live coaching sessions.

Don't let this opportunity slip away – we never know how long these amazing offers will last. Let's start planning your next almost-free family adventure today!

Chase Ink 90,000 Bonus Ends Thursday

 

This amazing offer ends on November 7th at 6am pst. If you haven't applied for this one yet, you should really consider it. 

90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth $900, but could be worth even more if you already hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve credit card because you can use them in the travel portal and/or transfer them to dozens of airlines and several hotel chains.  

This offer is:

• 90,000 bonus points 
• no annual fee for this card 
• $6,000 minimum spend

The Ink Business Unlimited is a business card, but Chase is very lenient on the definition of a business.  Types of businesses that qualify include dog walker, selling items on Ebay or Etsy or rental property.

This offer ends Thursday so don't wait and if you do apply, please consider using my referral link. 

What Is A Transfer Bonus And How Can It Mean Big Savings For You

 

One of the top reasons, we love Chase Ultimate Rewards points is because they are so flexible. You can use them in the travel portal to buy flights, hotels, car rentals and even cruises. You can also transfer them to dozens of different airlines and several hotel chains. 

And sometimes, Chase offers bonus points when you transfer your Chase Ultimate Reward points to specific partners. You can get as many as 100% bonus points. When the bonus offer coincides with a fare sale, then wow! 

Like right now, Virgin Atlantic and FlyingBlue are doing a fare sale and Chase is offering a 40% bonus to Virgin. 

What does this mean? Take a look at some of these fares being offered by Virgin. 

• Heathrow to LAX for just 9,000 Virgin points. 

If you were to take advantage of the transfer bonus, just 7,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points would equal approximately 9,000- 10,000 Virgin Atlantic points. Wow! You could transfer a few more points and fly Premium or Upper Class.

To transfer Chase points:

• Login to your Chase.com account
• Click on redeem points 
• Hover over travel and click on transfer to travel partners
• Click on the partner you want to transfer points TO
• Enter your membership information
• Your name must match exactly! 
• Enter the number of points you want to transfer (must be in increments of 1,000)
• Confirm
• The transfer should happen almost immediately

Word of advice, do NOT transfer points until you know how you are going to use the points. You CANNOT get them back. 

Chase transfer partners are a great way to make that bucket list trip affordable.

One of our favorite Chase Ink Business cards, the Business Unlimited, has a points promotion ending on November 7th. The minimum spend is $6,000, there is no annual fee and the bonus is 90,000 points which equals $900, but if you hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred card, you can squeeze more value out of this one. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is also offering a bonus $300 travel credit right now which is an amazing offer. 

If you would like help planning your bucket list trip, reach out to me. I'll help you use points and miles to make your memorable trip affordable. 

You Got Capital One Lounge Access, Now What?

 

Enjoying an alberol spritz in the Capital One Lounge in Denver! So even though my flight was delayed, I was able to charge my phone, do some work, enjoy a drink or two and a nice meal. 

Lounge access comes with my Capital One Venture X credit card. In fact, I added my three children as authorized users which is FREE and they get lounge access too. Well worth, the $395 annual fee. 

But while I was waiting in line, I heard so many people confused about how lounge access works and how much it costs. 

So let's try to sort this out. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

For simplicity, I am going to focus on the Capital One Lounges (currently in Washington DC Dulles, Denver, Dallas and coming soon to Las Vegas) and the Priority Pass (a network of 1,600 lounges worldwide). I know there are other lounges out there for business class and various airlines, but we are just going to focus on these. 

First question, how do you get lounge access:

• Capital One Lounge - Capital One Venture X credit card holders get unlimited lounge access for Capital One Lounges. They can also bring two guests with them. Capital One Venture credit card holders get 2 lounge passes per year. 
• Priority Pass Lounge - Capital One Venture X credit card holders get membership included as a benefit for the card holder and authorized users. Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card holders get membership for the card holder only. Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards holders also get membership included. Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex and Capital One Venture X card holders can bring two guests. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card used to include a restaurant benefit as well which was awesome, but it dropped that benefit in July 2024. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

Once you activate your membership online to the Priority Pass, you will get a card in the mail and a digital card that you show at the lounge entrance along with your boarding pass. You can download the app and find lounges worldwide. 

You can only visit the lounge while you are waiting for a flight departure and not  upon arrival unless you are connecting to another flight. 

For the Capital One Lounges, you show your boarding pass and your Capital One credit card. Since there are only three lounges currently, they are packed and often have a waitlist. 

It's a good idea to get on the wait list, but it's a bit tricky to find in the app. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

• Login to your Capital One account
• Click on Explore rewards and benefits
• Click on Lounges in the upper right corner
• Click on the lounge
• You will see the current capacity and then a button to join the waitlist 
• Once you do that, you will get a text when it is your turn to enter 
• You have 10 minutes to show up or you will lose your turn and have to join the waitlist again

Both the Capital One Venture X and Venture card come with a 75,000 bonus for a $4,000 minimum spend. The Venture X carries a $395 annual fee, but you get a $300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry credit, Priority Pass membership and Capital One lounge access for the card holder and up to 4 authorized users for FREE. The Venture card only carries a $95 annual fee and comes with 2 lounge passes each year. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a hefty $550 annual fee, comes with a $300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access and 1.5 to 1 value for Chase Ultimate Rewards points in the travel portal. 

Both Capital One and Chase Ultimate Reward points are considered flex points and can be transferred to dozens of airlines and hotels. 

If this sounds interesting to you, I recommend going through my points and miles course which includes a 1:1 strategy session with me, a custom tracker and ongoing group coaching. Let's get you traveling for almost FREE and making those priceless memories! 

🌟 Brand Loyalty: Friend or Foe?

 

We've all been there – falling head over heels for a particular travel brand. Maybe you're always flying with United, or you can't resist a Marriott stay. But is this unwavering loyalty serving you well? Let's break it down and see how flexible points can be a game-changer for family travel.

✈️ Flight Comparison: LAX to Tokyo

Imagine you're planning a family trip to Japan. As a United loyalist, you check their rates first:

• United Airlines: 110,000 miles round trip
• American Airlines: 70,000 miles round trip

That's a whopping 40,000-mile difference per person! For a family of five, that's a 200,000-mile saving. Talk about a loyalty tax!

🏨 Hotel Showdown in Tokyo

Now, let's look at accommodation options:

• Hyatt Regency Tokyo: 15,000 Hyatt points per night
• Moxy Tokyo (Marriott): 33,000 points per night (with 5th night free)

Both are great options, but what if you're locked into one brand? You might miss out on the best deal for your family.

💳 The Power of Flexible Points

This is where flexible points shine! With programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, AMEX Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Citi ThankYou Points, you can:

• Shop around for the best deals
• Transfer points to various airlines and hotels
• Use travel portals for bookings
• Erase travel purchases with points

Flexible points give you the freedom to choose the best value for your family's needs.

🌟 Brand Loyalty: Friend or Foe?

Right now, I am recommending two credit cards for most of my clients:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred - 60,000 bonus points plus $300 travel credit for a $4,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee. This card also comes with a $50 hotel credit  You can only hold ONE Sapphire credit card and you are only eligible for the bonus every 48 months. 

2.  Chase Ink Business Unlimited - $900 cash (it's really 90,000 points), $0 annual fee, $6,000 minimum spend. Be sure to apply for the Business Unlimited.  Popup will redirect you to the offer. 

If you would like help planning your next adventure or using points and miles to take a bucket list vacation, check out our website for travel advising and our new Travel Coaching Program. We would love to help you and your family make memories! 

#FlexiblePoints #FamilyTravel #TravelHacks #PointsAndMiles #AlmostFreeTravel

Your Guide to Scoring Holiday Season Flight Deals

 

It's that time of the year. Time to look for holiday flights. Whether you are looking to take a holiday trip or bring a child home for the holidays, you may be searching for a cheap flight or at least a travel deal. 

Twice in the last week, clients have asked me for help finding discounts on holiday flights. So here is your guide to finding those cheap flights or at least cheaper:

1. Start with google.com/flights to see what's available and the going rate. Try various airports, days, times etc. to see if you can move the needle. We are going to search for flights from New York to LAX. Look at the difference just by flying from JFK or Newark. 

Try using the date grid to check out different combinations of days to get a lower price. 

2. Be flexible - You may want to travel on certain days, but if you stay an extra day or leave a day early, you could save a lot of money. For example, over Thanksgiving, if you can stay an extra day and travel on Monday, December 2nd, the price for the flight may drop in half. A hack is using the flexible calendar on google flights. 

3. Check travel portals like Chase or Capital One. - Will the portals offer you a deal if you use points? And if you end up having to buy the flight, at least, you will earn 5x points on the purchase. Be sure to check the flexible dates calendar here too. 

Even if the prices aren't lower, this is one of the times, flexible points come in handy. You get a discount if you use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points because they are worth 1.5:1 with the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card and 1.25:1 with the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. You can see with my Reserve card, I could pick up this $697 flight for 46,438 points. Still painful, but at least there is a discount. 

Worse comes to worse, you buy this flight through the portal and earn 5x points. You can also set an alert through google.com/flights or in the travel portal to let you know if the price drops. It's unlikely, but you never know. 

The bottom line is that the more flexible you can be on your dates and times, the more you can save. And remember, most people plan their travel about six weeks out. In the case of travel deals around the holidays, the early bird gets the worm. 

If you would like some help, please reach out. We love finding travel deals and planning amazing vacations using points and miles. 

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Get ready for some fantastic news, family travelers! The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card just sweetened the deal, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you!

Imagine this: a whopping 60,000 bonus points (that's at least $750 in FREE travel!) PLUS a $300 travel credit on travel purchases. And wait, there's more – a $50 hotel credit too! Add it all up, and you're looking at over $1,000 in FREE travel. How amazing is that for your next family adventure?

Over Water Bungalow in Moorea

But here's a little secret: with some savvy planning, you could stretch those points even further. Want to know how I used Chase Ultimate Rewards points to save a jaw-dropping $15,000 on a family trip to Tahiti? Just ask, and I'll share all the details!

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Now, let's talk strategy. This card opens up a world of possibilities with its transfer partners. You can move your points to various airlines and hotel chains, giving you ultimate flexibility for your family's travel dreams.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind with this offer:

• You'll need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the bonus.
• You can only earn a bonus on a Sapphire card once every four years.
• You can only hold one Chase Sapphire card at a time (either the Preferred or the Reserve).

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Want to make sure this card aligns perfectly with your family's travel plans? Let's chat!

Book a one-on-one session with me, or join our Travel Coaching Program for even more insights. You'll learn all about maximizing points and miles, get a personalized credit card tracker, and join our monthly live coaching sessions.

Don't let this opportunity slip away – we never know how long these amazing offers will last. Let's start planning your next almost-free family adventure today!

5 Must See Places To Visit in Medellin, Colombia

  

This city used to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world, now it is a cultural mecca for tourists and digital nomads. Medellin, Colombia should be on everyone's bucket list for travel. Recently, I visited this vibrant city and I have to share my top 5 must see sights. 

First, a few tips and tricks to get to Colombia using points and miles. There are several airlines that fly to Medellin including Copa, United, American and even Spirit. As always, be sure to check prices on several websites including airlines and travel portals. 

I found flights through the Chase Travel Portal on Copa Airlines for 54,000 points for two round trip flights. I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve account to book these so I got 1.5:1 value for my points. Right now, you can get a 60,000 point bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred, two of my favorite cards and hands down, my favorite flexible points. These cards can make a huge difference in your strategy when you combine your Chase Ultimate Reward points from your other cards too. 

No problem ordering vegetarian meals in advance, but choosing seats on Copa Airlines was tricky. If you don't want to buy seats, you are assigned at check in. They assign seats based on when you check in and start assigning from the back of the plane to the front. 

So on the way to Medellin, I checked in 24 hours in advance and ended up in the back row. However, on the way home, I delayed check in about 5 hours and ended up in row 9. Woohoo! 

Copa Airlines was very pleasant. Seats were adequate. Service was fine. I had heard they were strict with luggage, but no one checked either way and we were able to carry on a bag and a personal item. They did require us to check in at the desk before going through security even though we had checked in online to confirm our passports. 

Arriving in Medellín? Navigate the transportation scene like a pro. Either pre-arrange a driver or master the art of Uber meetups. While Uber operates in a grey area, it's widely used and budget-friendly. For the ultimate local experience, dare to try an Uber Moto!

U.S. travelers will find Colombia refreshingly affordable. Savor local cuisine for pocket change, rest your head in comfortable accommodations for around $50 a night, and zip around the city in Ubers for less than the price of a latte back home.

Now, let's explore Medellín's must-see attractions:

1. Immerse yourself in the vibrant street art of Comuna 13 - Tour this neighborhood with a local who talks about the history, the graffiti, the art and famous escalators. Besides seeing the sights, taste local food like mango ice cream and empanadas. This tour is a winner and it only costs $20 per person.    
   
   
   
2. Escape to nature in Parque Arví - The journey is part of the fun to reach this ecological nature reserve. Take the metro to the end of the line Santo Domingo and then two funiculars to the top of the mountain. It should cost you approximately 3,000 pesos to reach Santo Domingo and 12,500 pesos to ride up on the funicular. You will feel like you are spending the day in the mountains here. Besides hiking or walking the trails, you can shop at local vendors. Guided tours cost 50,000 pesos, but you can also just walk the trails on your own. 
   
   
   
3. Delve into history with a Pablo Escobar tour - This tour was a highlight of our trip. Guide Juan met Pablo Escobar and tells a lot of personal stories about the crime boss. He also walks you through this important part of city history from the memorial to Escobar's grave. 
   
   
   
4. Marvel at the views from Guatapé and El Peñol - Guatape is a made for Insta town with a street with umbrellas hanging throughout the streets. Be sure to notice the beautiful 3D paintings on the sides of the buildings. Then challenge yourself to climb 704 steps up to the top of El Penol. This is a great day trip from Medellin. 
   
   
   
5. Discover the heart of the city in Downtown Medellín with a FREE walking tour - I love FREE walking tours! The guides are local and not only talk about the sights and history, but share personal stories about what life is like in their country and city. Take a half day to walk through the crowded streets of downtown, look at the giant bronze statues in Plaza Botero, art in Centro Cultura and the beautiful National Palace Shopping Center. 

Don't forget to wander through El Poblado, indulging in mouthwatering empanadas and arepas along the way.

If you would like help planning your Colombian vacation using points and miles, join my Travel Coaching Program, book a consulting session with me or chat with the AI Travel Bot on my website.