Mexico's Most Charming Colonial City 🇲🇽

San Miguel de Allende: Mexico's Most Charming Colonial City 🇲🇽

A UNESCO World Heritage City and consistently ranked among the world's best small cities, San Miguel de Allende is the kind of place that gets under your skin fast. Cobblestone streets wind past art galleries, live music spills out of mezcal bars, flower-draped balconies frame every corner, and somehow it all costs less than you'd expect. Walkable, beautiful, and endlessly interesting — this one belongs on your list.

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Getting There ✈️

There's no airport in San Miguel itself, so you'll need to plan your arrival. Three airports serve the city, each with its own trade-offs. You can fly from the US or use the Cross Border Express from San Diego to fly out of Tijuana. If you can't use points in the travel portal to cover your flights or miles, you can always use your Capital One Venture X and "erase" the flights. 

1. Del Bajío International Airport (BJX) — León/Guanajuato 🥇 Best for most travelers

• About 1.5 hours away (~100 km)
• The most direct flights from the US, including nonstops from Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta
• Served by United, American, Delta, Volaris, and Aeromexico

2. Querétaro International Airport (QRO) 🥈 Solid alternative

• About 1 hour 15 minutes away (~60 km) — actually the closest geographically
• Fewer international routes, but the airport is growing quickly
• Works well if you connect through Mexico City

3. Mexico City International Airport (MEX) or AIFA (NLU) — Widest selection, longer transfer

• About 3 to 3.5 hours by highway (~270 km)
• Your best bet if you're flying in from Europe, South America, or Asia
• Many travelers tack on a night in CDMX and turn the drive up to SMA into part of the trip

💡 Hot tip: Budget airline Volaris sells an annual unlimited flights pass for around $500 — the catch is you can only book a few days before departure. Worth it if you're flexible.

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Getting to Town 🚐

From BJX or QRO, pre-booking a shuttle is the move. We recommend BajioGo Shuttle — shared rides run about $66 per person round-trip. If you plan to use it regularly, their pass drops the cost to just $10 per ride.

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Getting Around 👟

San Miguel is small and very walkable, but here's something the Instagram photos won't tell you: it's built on a hillside. When booking accommodation, pay attention to where you land on that slope — your legs will thank you. We stayed a few blocks from the historic center at casaavra.com, which hit the sweet spot of flat location, great price, and genuine comfort.

One more thing: almost every street is cobblestone. Gorgeous? Yes. Forgiving on heels? Absolutely not. Pack good walking shoes — we watched a few brave souls attempt the streets in stilettos and it was not going well. Also worth noting: the city sits at 6,400 feet elevation, so give yourself a day to adjust before going full tourist mode.

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What to Do 🎨

Start with a walking tour. It's the fastest way to get your bearings, pick up local recommendations, and discover buildings you'd never find on your own. Our guide took us inside stunning off-the-beaten-path spots, including an incredible mural hidden inside the Arts and Culture Building.

Visit Fabrica La Aurora. A converted 19th-century textile factory turned high-end gallery and studio complex — plan to spend a couple of hours here.

Spend time in the main square. The neo-Gothic pink Parroquia church anchors the plaza and looks different (and frankly better) every hour of the day.

Wander without a plan. Some of the best moments in San Miguel happen when you have nowhere specific to be — ducking into a courtyard, stumbling on a jazz trio, finding a rooftop bar with a view.

Take a cooking class. Learn to make chiles rellenos at Pura Vida Kitchens, pair them with natural wines, and leave with a skill you'll actually use at home. 🍷

Hit the Saturday farmers market. The whole town shows up for this one — live music, local produce, great people-watching. Don't skip it. 🌿

Day Trips. Check out the thermal hot springs just 15 minutes drive from town

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The Expat Factor 🏡

San Miguel has a well-established expat community, drawn largely by the low cost of living. Rental rates are reasonable, daily life is affordable, and the quality of life is high. It's not a secret, but it still feels like one.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

🚨 Chase Just Raised the Sapphire Reserve Welcome Bonus to 150,000 Points!

🚨 Chase Just Raised the Sapphire Reserve Welcome Bonus to 150,000 Points!

Chase quietly made a big move — the Chase Sapphire Reserve is now offering 150,000 bonus points to new cardholders, and this is one worth paying attention to.

Full disclosure: I have a complicated history with this card after last year's refresh (you can read about that here), but I also just used it for a nearly free Las Vegas weekend in January 🎰 — so clearly we've worked things out.

Here's what the current offer looks like:

Spend $6,000 in the first 3 months and you'll earn 150,000 bonus points. Those points are conservatively valued at around $2,500 — but depending on how you redeem them, (transfer to a dozen different airlines and several hotel chains including Hyatt) they can stretch significantly further.

The annual fee is $795, which I know sounds steep. But before you close the tab, take a look at what's included:

• ✈️ $300 Travel Credit
• 🎟️ $300 StubHub Credit
• 🍽️ $300 Dining Credit
• 🏨 $500 Edit Hotels Credit
• 🏨 $250 Select Chase Hotels Credit
• 🛂 $120 Global Entry Credit
• 🚗 $10/month Lyft Credit
• 🛵 $25/month DoorDash Credit
• 🎵 Complimentary Apple TV+ & Apple Music
• 🚴 $120 Peloton Credit
• 🛋️ Priority Pass Lounge Access (you + 2 guests)
• 🛋️ Sapphire Lounge Access

If you actually use these credits, the math works strongly in your favor. That said, it does take some intentionality to make sure you're not leaving value on the table — this card rewards people who engage with it.

A few things to know before you apply:

You can hold both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve at the same time. However, if you've received a welcome bonus on either personal Sapphire card in the past 48 months, you likely won't qualify for this one. The good news? Chase will show you an eligibility pop-up before the hard credit pull, so you'll know where you stand before anything hits your credit report. 👍

If this fits how you already travel — or how you want to travel — it's a genuinely strong offer. Hit the link below to apply through my referral link, and feel free to reach out with any questions!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Score 10,000 Free Miles for Your Fall Europe Trip ✈️

Score 10,000 Free Miles for Your Fall Europe Trip ✈️

Planning a trip to Europe this September? Here's a deal worth knowing about: book a qualifying flight now and you'll pocket a bonus 10,000 Flying Blue miles — no hoops, no tricks.

Here's what you need to qualify:

• 📅 Book by May 3rd
• 🗓️ Travel between April 22nd – September 30th, 2026
• 🛬 Fly at least one segment from the US to Amsterdam or Paris (CDG)
• 💺 Economy class only
• 🇺🇸 US residents only
• New bookings only — existing reservations don't count

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So what can you actually do with 10,000 miles? 🤔

More than you might think. Every month, Flying Blue — the loyalty program shared by KLM and Air France — releases a promotional transatlantic route priced at just 18,750 miles. That means your 10,000 bonus miles put you well over halfway to a completely free flight to Europe. You'd only need to earn (or buy) the remaining 8,750 miles to redeem a one-way award ticket.

Plus Capital One, Bilt and Chase are transfer partners with Flying Blue. 👏

If a fall trip to Paris, Amsterdam or anywhere in Europe is already on your radar 🗼, this is a genuinely solid reason to book sooner rather than later. That May 3rd deadline moves fast.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

How You Can Get A "FREE" 500 Delta Miles

If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I'm a big fan of shopping portals. For the uninitiated: a shopping portal is a marketplace featuring thousands of retailers where you earn bonus points or miles just by clicking through before you buy — stacked on top of whatever your credit card already earns you.

Lately, I've been routing most of my purchases through Rakuten, and here's why it's worth your attention. You can link your Rakuten account to your Bilt account to earn flexible Bilt points, which transfer to a solid lineup of airlines and hotels — think Southwest, KLM, Air France, American, United, Hyatt, Hilton, and Wyndham. If you use my referral link, you get $50 or 5,000 Bilt points when you spend $50 in the Rakuten shopping portal. 

That said, most major airlines and many hotel brands run their own portals too. A great free tool to bookmark is cashbackmonitor.com — it shows you which portals are currently offering elevated bonus rates so you can always pick the best option.

A current deal worth knowing about 🗓️

Delta is running a promotion right now: earn a 500-mile bonus when you make $100 in cumulative purchases through its marketplace by May 4th. 

While digging into this, I spotted that AARP was offering 1,100 miles for a new membership — and the membership itself is just $15. I went ahead and signed up since it had been on my to-do list anyway. With $85 more in purchases before May 4th, I'll hit that additional 500-mile bonus too.

Other ways to earn Delta miles ✈️

Delta has a surprisingly wide ecosystem of earning partners beyond the portal:

• Airbnb – book through deltaairbnb.com
• Starbucks – link your accounts
• Uber & Uber Eats – connect your Delta and Uber profiles
• Hertz – earn miles on rental cars

The opportunities add up faster than you might expect. A little intentionality about where you click before you shop or book can translate into thousands of extra miles and points over time — with no change to your actual spending.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities. 

The Cross Border Express: Your Smartest Way to Fly from the US to Mexico (and Beyond)

Here's something most US travelers don't know: you can walk from San Diego directly into a Mexican international airport — no long drives, no connecting flights. It's called the Cross Border Express (CBX), and it's genuinely one of the best-kept secrets in budget travel. ✈️

You park your car, stroll across a pedestrian bridge, and step straight into Tijuana International Airport. From there, dozens of airlines fly direct routes all over Mexico and beyond — often at a fraction of what you'd pay flying out of San Diego or LAX.

The CBX opened in 2015 with a vision of Tijuana as the Pacific gateway, and the numbers back it up: 25 million travelers have crossed since then, roughly 10,500 per day.

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Getting There 🚗

You've got a few options:

Parking — Several lots surround the bridge, ranging from $15–$45/day, with valet available. You can reserve your spot online in advance, which is worth doing during busy periods.

Shuttle — CBX runs shuttle service from various Southern California locations. A quick search turned up LA–CBX for just $35 one way — hard to beat.

Uber/Lyft — Rideshare works well getting there (we paid $44 from Mission Valley), but factor in the return trip before committing. Prices can swing significantly — Uber quoted us $110 on the way back. Also note: drop-off is right at the entrance, but rideshare pick-up is near Lot 2.

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Your CBX Ticket 🎟️

There are three ways to buy:

• Online (recommended) — Head to the CBX website. Prices vary by season, and there are options for families, groups, military, unaccompanied teens, and assisted travelers needing wheelchair access or other support.
• Kiosk inside the walkway — This works, but lines can form and slow you down. Skip it if you can.
• Bundled with your flight — Some airlines include the CBX ticket at checkout. Compare that price against buying directly from CBX before assuming it's a deal.

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At the Bridge 🛂

Have three things ready: your CBX pass, boarding pass, and passport. Then settle in for the walk — it's not short. Free luggage carts are available on the bridge, which is a lifesaver with heavy bags. One heads-up: there are no restrooms on the crossing, so plan accordingly.

Once you're through, you'll enter TIJ near the check-in counters. Drop your checked bags there, then head to security.

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Timing ⏱️

For us, the whole process — parking, crossing, check-in — took 45 minutes or less. That said, give yourself extra cushion during high season or holidays. It's a smooth process, but travel always rewards a little patience.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities. 

How Transfer Bonuses Can Stretch Your Points Further 🚀

One of the smartest ways to get more value out of your flexible points is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. And here's a little bonus (pun intended) — almost every month, one or more partners run a transfer bonus ranging anywhere from 10% to 80%. That kind of boost can make a real difference. 💪

Not every transfer partner is worth your points even with a bonus, but the good ones become genuinely great when a promotion hits.

This Month's Standout Deal 🌟

Chase Ultimate Rewards is currently offering a 20% bonus on transfers to Air Canada Aeroplan — and this one is worth acting on. On the flip side, IHG even with a 70% bonus is not usually a good value, however, if you need to top off your account, it might be good option with the bonus. 

Aeroplan consistently offers strong redemption rates, and it's one of the best ways to book flights on United Airlines without actually using United miles.

Here's a real example to show you what that looks like:

Booking Method	Cost
Aeroplan miles (San Diego → Denver)	15,000 miles
Chase points transferred to Aeroplan (with 20% bonus)	13,000 points
United miles for the same flight	15,000 miles
Chase Travel Portal	~18,000 points

Transferring Chase points to Aeroplan with the current bonus saves you money compared to every other option though you will pay $47 in taxes. That's a real win. 🎯

How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points 📲

It's easier than you might think. Here's how to do it:

1. Log into Chase and click "Redeem Points" — the same button you'd use for the travel portal
2. Select "Transfer Partners"
3. Enter your loyalty number to link your accounts
   
   
   
4. Enter the number of points you want to transfer (in increments of 1,000) — for our example, you'd transfer 13,000 Chase points to receive 15,000 Aeroplan miles
   
   
   
5. Confirm the transfer — it usually processes immediately, though occasionally it can take a couple of days

Once the transfer goes through, pop over to the Aeroplan website to confirm the miles landed in your account, then book your flight. Done! ✅

Keep an eye on these transfer bonuses — they rotate regularly and can quietly deliver some of the best value in the points world. 👀

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities. 

Atmos Rewards Is Back With a 100,000-Point Bonus 🎉

Atmos Rewards (Alaska Airlines) just brought back its 100,000-point bonus offer — and this one is worth paying attention to.

I usually steer my clients toward flexible point programs like Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Amex. But after jumping on this offer last year, I can confirm that Atmos Rewards holds its own when it comes to flexibility — especially for families.

Why Atmos Points Are More Flexible Than You'd Think ✈️

Alaska Airlines partners with 13 alliance members, including some heavy hitters:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Aer Lingus
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• Sri Lankan Airlines

That's a lot of booking options. To put it to the test, I ran a few searches:

• San Francisco → Sydney, Australia — multiple options on Fiji Airways and American Airlines ✅
• New York → Madrid, Spain — solid choices on Iberia and American Airlines ✅

• Seattle → Tokyo — non stop even business class bookable on Hawaiian Airlines  ✅

Could you sometimes find a better deal booking directly, say on Iberia using Avios? Possibly. But Atmos points shine when you need options fast. A client of mine needed a last-minute flight to Austin — cash prices were brutal, but we found a redemption for just 12,500 Atmos points. That's the kind of win that makes keeping a points stash worthwhile. 🙌

The Two Card Offers Right Now 💳

Summit Card — 100,000-point bonus

• Spend $6,500 in the first 3 months
• $395 annual fee
• Perks: 50% flight discount code, 8 lounge passes, and a 25,000-point global companion award

Ascent Card — 80,000-point bonus

• Spend $4,000 in 4 months
• $95 annual fee
• Perks: 50% flight discount code, $99 companion fare, and one free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests

Both are genuinely strong offers. Whether you go big with the Summit or keep it lean with the Ascent, having a healthy Atmos points balance gives you real booking power when you need it most. 🗺️

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.