Happy Holidays From Almost FREE Family Travel

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! 

Thank you for reading and supporting the blog. 

Now the question is where will you travel in 2019?

Stephanie 

Chase FREEDOM Q1 Bonus Categories Are .....

One of the perks of the no fee Chase Freedom credit card is a rotating 5% bonus category. Chase just announced the Q1 category of gas stations, tolls and drugstores. You can earn up to $1,500 cash back in these categories combined. 

You need to activate your card by March 14th 2019 and it is retroactive. 

By switching your buying habits just for the first quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on your gas fill-ups. Pretty sweet! If you have a Chase Sapphire credit card, you can use the Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel. If not, then you can use the points for cash back. 

Since the Chase FREEDOM card has no annual fee, it's a good catch-all card. If you don't have this card yet and would like it, follow this link and you will get a $150 bonus when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. You will also earn 1% cash back on all purchases. 

Buy $10, Get $5 FREE At Starbucks

New Starbucks promotion out today if you need to buy any gifts or maybe just load up your own card. To take advantage of the offer, click on this link for the Starbucks-Masterpass promotion. Create an account if you don't have a Masterpass account yet. Add a $10 Starbucks card and when you click on your cart, you will see the $5 promotion card added. Quantities are limited so act fast. 

If you see that you can only pay with a Capital One card, go incognito and try again. You will need to pay with a Mastercard. 

Discover Q1 2019 Bonus Categories

Besides requiring no annual fees, Discover and Chase Freedom credit cards offer bonus rotating categories every quarter.  Which mean instead of earning just 1% cash back on purchases in these categories, you earn 5%. We are still waiting to hear what the Chase Freedom categories will be for Q1 2019. But Discover released its bonus categories for Q1, you will earn 5% cash back at grocery stores. 

You must activate your card by logging into your account and then remember to use that card whenever you make a purchase in the bonus category. You can earn up to $1,500 in the quarter. 

I'll keep you posted on the Chase Freedom bonus categories for Q1 when they are released. 

Buy A Delta Gift Card, Get An Airbnb Gift Card FREE

If you are planning to buy a Delta plane ticket anytime soon, you may want to buy the gift card now and pick up a discount on your next Airbnb too. This promotion will go quickly since there is a very limited supply of gift cards available. But if you are lucky and move quickly, it could be a bit of a discount on your next vacation. You must use this link. 
Remember to use your Delta credit card to buy the gift card if you have one in order to maximize your points or your Capital One Venture Card or your Barclays Arrival Plus and then you can erase most or all of the purchase with points and you get both for FREE. 
And good luck! 

Why You Need To Think Strategy When Booking Flights

Loyalty is still rewarded when you fly. So when you book that next flight, be sure to use the right credit card to maximize perks. Most of the airlines have co-branded credit cards, United, American, Southwest, Alaska, Delta. Depending on what's important to you i.e. lounge access, priority boarding, free checked bags, extra miles, companion ticket and which airline you typically fly will determine which card makes the most sense for you. 

For example, I flew to New York last weekend and booked my American Airlines flight with my co-branded Citi American Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard which includes one FREE checked bag and priority boarding. 

Priority boarding means you move up to boarding group 6 which for my flight meant the difference between being allowed to carry on my bag or checking my bag. 

If you tend to fly different airlines, then I recommend the Capital One Venture or Barclays Arrival Plus. Both cards let you "erase" travel charges with points earned. You can charge any airline, hotel, train or other travel and then use points to offset the purchase. Both come with a large sign up bonus and annual fee waived for the first year. 

Cash In On Great Deals For Travel Gear

Ebags offers just about everything you might need to pack your stuff when you travel. And they were offering great deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But even if you missed those, the deals are continuing. 

Just this morning, I found 70% off packing cubes. A 6 pack set for just $24.99 plus 2 shoe bags for just $11.99. 

Of course, we use a shopping portal and today, Ebates is offering 12% cash back on purchases from Ebags. Woohoo! 
FREE Shipping for purchases over $49 or 2-day FREE shipping with ShopRunner. 
So if you are planning to travel over the holidays, even though I always advise you to travel light, you might want to stock up. If you want to shop at Ebags, use my link for $10 off your first purchase. 
And if you don't have an Ebates.com account yet, use my link and you will get $10 cash back with your first purchase. 
So use the two links together and that's $20 off! That's how we do it at almostFREEfamilytravel.com

Remember Your Amex Offers On Black Friday

We already talked about using shopping portals for extra savings and miles during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Now let's talk about stacking offers by using the right credit card for your purchase. 
Some credit cards offer additional bonuses like these from American Express. 
If you log into your American Express card online and scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a list of Amex offers like these. They rotate and range from a few bucks off to some huge savings. 

You need to activate the offer before you make the purchase and then American Express will issue a statement credit. Of course, you will make your purchase through a portal, but you will use this Amex card to double dip. 

Chase Freedom offers rotating categories. This quarter, you get 5% cash back at Costco, department stores and Chase Pay. 
If you are a Target shopper, then the Red Card always gives 5% back and if you shop at Amazon, then the Amazon card also always gives 5% cash back. 
So before you make any purchases this week, do some homework and it could end up saving you some big bucks! 

Save Money Using Portals On Black Friday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest shopping days of the year. Most of the popular retailers will offer some sort of deal to get you to open your wallet. And the shopping portals are not going to be left out. Good news for you because you can double dip! Actually triple dip if you use the right credit card for your purchases. 

How does this work?

This morning, we checked Ebates.com, one of my favorite cash back shopping portals and they have already listed a few Pre-Black Friday deals like 5% cash back on Amazon devices bought through Amazon.com, 10% back at JC Penney and more. They are also featuring promo codes and Black Friday ads from stores. 

So how does it work? It's easy. 

1. Sign up for a FREE account through this referral link. You will get a FREE $10 for using my referral link. 

2. Then find the retailer where you want to make your purchase 

3. You will see the cashback offer for Ebates.com members 

4. Click on the shop now button 

3% might not seem like much, but if you use shopping portals every time you shop, it starts to add up. And when Ebates.com sends you your "big fat check", it's time to celebrate. 

So remember shopping portals this holiday season and let us know how it goes. 

Yes, You Can Do New York City On A Budget

Driving in NYC 

Traveling to NYC last minute and on a budget, possible? Yes! New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but if you plan it right even last minute, you can stay within your budget and have a great time.
Flights and hotels take the biggest bite out of the budget. For flights, using google.com/flights will let you know what flights are available and then you can check each airline to find out how many miles you will need. Sometimes, you can find last-minute flights for as little as 12,500 miles each way.
For this last minute flight, I found a flight from San Diego to JFK for 12,500, but the return would cost 20,000 miles so I opted to pay for the return. Booked my American Airlines flight using my Citi American credit card so I would get one FREE checked bag, extra miles, and priority boarding.

The Wyndham New Yorker Hotel

Now Wyndham hotels are always 15,000 points per stay so I checked awardmapper.com  to see if there were any Wyndham hotels in NYC. There are about 8 Wyndham hotels in the city and two still had rooms available including The New Yorker, an iconic relic. Awesome! This hotel runs about $350 per night so it's a huge savings. The hotel is well located, but no breakfast included.
The hotel even has a deal with the parking garage next door so you can leave your car $40 for 24 hours. You don't need a car in NYC, in fact, it's probably better not to bring a car. But I picked up my daughter from school so it made sense this time. I almost always try booking my car through costco.com since it seems to offer the best deal.  For this weekend, I was able to book a car for just $100 for the weekend and I earned American Airlines miles on that rental too. Remember to join the car rental loyalty club and give your information when you pick up your car.

Of course, we had to split the hot trend in NYC of an egglu or soft waffle cone ice cream spectacular. This one is from New Sensations. Cost $8. 

And I always head for bagels in NYC. Found this new bagel shop right around the corner from the hotel. Liberty Bagels Mid Town had dozens of bagel flavors and smears including vegan and tofu. Yum!
Check out the 1/2 price ticket booth in Times Square for show tickets or try https://www.todaytix.com/x/nyc for great online deals.
Have fun and enjoy the city!

Shop Early And Get Bonus Miles

If you do your holiday shopping early, then you can rack up some serious bonus miles. Most of the airline shopping portals are offering bonus miles like this offer above from American Airlines. Southwest, United, Alaska and American are offering very similar spends and bonuses through November 18th. 

Remember shopping portals are awesome. Whenever you shop online, use a portal to double dip on miles. 

For example, I remodeled my kitchen recently and needed to buy the backsplash. I found the one I liked at Home Depot. But instead of buying it in the store, I logged into the American Airlines shopping portal, clicked on Home Depot and earned 5x miles for each dollar I spent plus 500 bonus miles.  And I charged the backsplash to my Capital One Venture card so I can use the points to erase my travel purchases. 

It all adds up and miles earned through the Southwest shopping portal count towards the companion pass. 

That's how we do it here at almost FREE family travel. 

Bonus 50,000 Marriott Points For An Upgrade

If you currently have the Marriott Premier credit card, you may be eligible for an upgrade and bonus of 50,000 points. It's a little tricky to figure out if you are eligible and what the upgrade bonus will be. Try this link and if that doesn't work, log in to your Chase credit card account, click on reward details, click on the ad asking you to learn more about the credit card and then click on upgrade. 

Be sure to take a screenshot or photo of your offer like I did above before you click accept just in case. I talked to customer service who confirmed that upgrading does not affect 5/24 status. Though you may have to pay the difference in the annual fee which is $10. But $10 for 50,000 Marriott points is a bargain. Some members are reporting offers as low as 10,000 points which may not be worth it. 

Let us know how it goes for you in the comments below. 

FREE Holiday Shipping On Amazon For Everyone

Amazon announced today that it will offer FREE shipping for non-Prime members now through Christmas. Last year, non-Prime members had to order $25 or more in order to get FREE shipping. Prime members always get FREE shipping. Though during the holidays, some items will be same day delivery for Prime members. 

Due to increased competition from Walmart and Target, Amazon needs to boost sales. 

Remember to use a shopping portal, Benefit app or Smile when you shop through Amazon so a portion of your purchase goes to charity. 

Let the holiday shopping season begin! 

How To Get Started With Miles And Points

For the past 5 years, I have been talking to you about how to travel as a family using points and miles. This weekend, I traveled to New York City last minute. Check my blog post on how to travel last minute with points and miles. 

But on the way home, I sat next to a young woman whose mom had just passed away suddenly. 

So she is now flying every few weeks from San Diego to Chicago to resettle her father and pack up her mother's belongings. A tragic story in itself. 

 I asked her if she is using points and miles to buy her plane tickets, she said no. I said you do have a frequent flier number so you are at least collecting miles? Yes, she said. Do you always fly the same airline? She said no and added that she had to pay $70 for checked bags. She told me she even looked into flying Spirit. 

I told her about the blog and she said she was just thinking that she should open a credit card. I'm writing this article to help her get started. I don't know her name so I'll call her Sarah. 

In this situation, there are a few ways to go. I call it leveraged spending which to me means that you are making every purchase, purchases that you would make anyway, work as hard as you are. So for Sarah, she is buying plane tickets every few weeks so how can we leverage that spending to get her a few free tickets or collect points/miles for an awesome trip in the future. 

1. Apply for a Capital One Venture card with a 50,000 sign up bonus for a $3,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee waived for the first year. Sarah should charge everything to this card including her next few flights. She will get the bonus and then can use it to "erase" at least one flight if not two flights to Chicago.  When you log into your Capital One account, you will see any travel charges listed and the points needed to "erase" them. If you fly various airlines or use trains or airbnb, then this card will do the trick. 

2. If Sarah decides to stick to a particular airline, she may want to try a co-branded credit card like the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card. She would get 40,000 bonus miles with a $2,000 minimum spend and the $95 annual fee is waived the first year. She would get a FREE checked bag and preferred boarding. United Airlines and Southwest also offer co-branded cards. 

3. Another option may be to open a Starwood American Express or Chase Sapphire Preferred.  Both of these cards come with bonus offers for a minium spend. You can use the points to transfer to dozens of airlines for FREE flights or hotels for FREE rooms. 

I hope Sarah reads this. Though I didn't get her name, I did give her my website address. Prayers and hugs go out to Sarah and her family. 

That's how we do it at almost FREE family travel. 

How To Find The Best Shopping Portal

Shopping online used to be new and different, but now we use it to buy lots of things. But are you using shopping portals to maximize the value when you online shop?

If not, you are leaving FREE money or miles on the table. 

Here's the idea. When you shop online, you can go straight to the store's website and make your purchase OR you can go to a marketplace, find the same store and earn cash back or miles on the same purchase. 

It doesn't cost you any extra money, but can save you lots! 

Try cashbackmonitor.com to check the number of miles, points or cash back you will earn on a variety of portals from Southwest, United, American, Ebates and more. 

Then pick your favorite and start shopping! 

It's that easy. Around the holidays, shopping portals will offer bonus miles/points if you make a certain dollar amount worth of purchases so watch for those and watch the miles/points/cash back add up quickly. When I checked the site for this article, I noticed even Amazon was listed offering up to 10% cash back through Ebates.com. Crazy! If you use my link, for Ebates.com, you will earn $10 for signing up and making a purchase for at least $25. 

That's how we do it at almost FREE family travel. 

Take Advantage Of Hotel Promotions To Score Extra Points

Hotel promotions are an easy way to increase your points quickly for FREE hotel stays. If you have upcoming stays, be sure to look at the currrent promotions for any brands that you collect points. 

Right now, Hilton is offering up to 3x points on stays booked through its website for stays Sept. 10 - Jan. 3. You must register before you book your stay.  Look for the Moments Made Bigger promotion.

Marriott/SPG is also offering a promotion right now. The 29 Ways To Stay with a daily game and prizes of points and stays. So far, I have won 50 points. It is also offering its Megabonus where you earn 2,000 bonus points for stays of 2 nights or more and 1,000 points per brand starting with your second brand. To register, log into your account and check the promotions page. You must register by Jan. 7, 2019 and stay between Sept. 26 and Jan. 31, 2019. 

That's how we do it here at almost FREE family travel. Spend smart to travel for FREE. 

Get A FREE Ride To The Polls On Election Day!

Uber and Lyft are offering FREE rides on Election Day to urge people to head to the polls. In partnership with #votetogether and Democracy Works, Uber will offer FREE rides and poll locations via its app. 

Lyft will offer free and discounted rides. You can find promo codes on vote.org, Nonprofit Vote and Turbovote. 

In separate media releases, both companies have stated that they are not encouraging people to vote for a specific party or candidate, they are just helping people get to the polls. 

Exercise your right, vote! 

See America's National Parks For FREE

Once again, fourth graders can enter the national parks for FREE. Just go on this website, answer some questions about your trip and print your pass. 

• The pass expires August 31, 2019. 
• You must bring a printed paper version of your pass, no electronic versions
• The pass is good for kids under 16 and 3 adults
• You still need to pay for parking fees and tours. 

Have fun and enjoy! 

Southwest May Fly To Hawaii Sooner Thank We Thought

You may be able to fly to Hawaii on Southwest as soon as October or November 2018. We have just received word that the airline submitted in flight operations and procedures documentation for ETOPS (government) approval.  That move puts them one step closer to adding routes. 

Another clue is that all airlines including Hawaiian Airlines are offering $142 one way flights to Hawaii from the west coast. That low fare signals that they are preparing for competition from Southwest.

Southwest plans to offer service from several west coast cities to Honolulu and Maui. The airline may offer intra island service as well. 

We will keep you posted! 

Top 5 Things To See And Do In Trinidad, Cuba

Trinidad is considered the jewel of Cuba with cobblestone streets and colonial old town. It lives up to its name. You only need a few days to explore Trinidad. You can take a shared taxi from Havana for about $35 per person. You can book an Airbnb.com online which is more expensive than Havana, but still only $30 per night. Find a casa particulares that is close to the old city center so you can walk and has air conditioning like Casa de Yash. Be sure to pay the extra $4-$5 for breakfast and enjoy one dinner $10 per person at the casa.

Top 5 things to see in Trinidad:

1.  I urge you to start with a FREE walking tour that starts in the plaza opposite the Historical Museum. 

2. Nightlife centers around the steps with live music playing every evening courtesy of Casa De La Musica. Here's a tip if you sit above the steps before 7pm, it's FREE. After 7pm, you will pay a few CUC to enter. 

3. There is also a club in cave near the radio tower. We did not hike up there because we heard mixed reviews. But if you are into that stuff, it may be worth the hike and your $5 CUC. 

One of the most popular day trips from Trinidad is to visit the waterfall via horseback. Tours cost $20-$35 per person. Dozens of tourists will board their horses on the outskirt of town for the all-day tour. You can hike if you prefer, but it is a long walk. Even on horseback, you will walk the last 30 minutes so wear closed toed shoes. 

4. The waterfall is well worth it. 

5. And on the way, you will visit a coffee and cigar farm which is interesting. Our tour also stopped at a restaurant where we could eat lunch or enjoy a drink. 

Trinidad is a delightful place to spend a few days. The people are friendly and welcoming. The town is also close to the coast if you want to enjoy the beach. 

IHG Point Break Hotels Are Selling Out Fast

Every quarter, IHG announces list of "point break" hotels. This means you can book these hotels for just a fraction of the points needed normally. They are offered as low as 5,000 points per night to 15,000 points per night. 

Usually, these are hotels that IHG is trying to promote or fill up or are in offseason. But it's always interesting to look at the list and see if it may fit into your plans. 

Last year, I was touring colleges with my daughter. There was a hotel located near one of the campuses and I was able to book it for 5,000 points saving me about $100. 

So it's always worth a check. That's how we do it at almostfreefamilytravel.com

Top Things To See And Do In Vinales, Cuba

 Vinales, Cuba is beautiful. A small town just 3 hours outside of Havana, but it could be another world. Tall mountains, caves, country living at its finest.
If you have time to spend a few days here, I recommend it. If you only have time for a day trip, it's well worth it.

We only had time for a day trip from Havana. I would recommend taking a shared taxi from Havana and then hiring a guide and car to take you to the caves, the mural, a tobacco farm and to a farm for lunch. If you have time, there are dozens of airbnb.com in Vinales. Most are located along the main street in town. 

Amazing organic lunch....this is the original farm to table right here. Ask Cuban farmers what they do with their food rations from the government and they will tell you they feed it to the animals. Be sure to try eating Ropa Vieja while in Cuba. 

The Cuban people are warm and welcoming. We enjoyed talking to them about life in Cuba. 

Even though it was not tobacco growing season, this man showed us how the leaves should look and how to roll cigars. They will try to sell you cigars or coffee at every demonstration like this one. The government allows them to sell 10% of their crop. They usually sell their wares at a good price and it's good quality. 

The famous mural de la prehistoria in Vinales. It took 18 people 4 years to complete. 

The bar located on the grounds of the mural has the best pina coladas anywhere. I highly recommend taking a break and enjoying. Next post: Trinidad, Cuba. 

Earn United Miles When You Shop Groupon

United Mileage Plus is teaming up with Groupon! For every dollar you spend on Groupon local, you will earn 5 miles on United Mileage Plus.  You will earn 4 miles per dollars on Groupon Getaways and 3 miles per dollar on Groupon Goods.  Just add your Mileage plus account number to your Groupon account. 

And if you are new to Groupon, you will get 1,000 miles with your first purchase over $30.  You must register your Mileage Plus account number with Groupon and then enter the code United in checkout. United is part of the Star Alliance which includes dozens of airlines. We flew to Europe last summer using United miles on Austrian Airlines booked through Singapore Air. Crazy, but all 5 plane tickets were FREE. That's how we do it here at almostFREEfamilytravel! 

How To Get Around Baggage Fees

Paying for checked baggage when you fly is a total bummer. This week, Jet Blue announced it is raising the price to check a bag. American Airlines and United followed the lead and raised their baggage fees by $5. 

But there's hope. You can work around the baggage fees with a bit of planning. 

1. First, the easiest workaround is to pack light. You really don't need more than a week's worth of clothes for any trip. When we were in Peru for 3 weeks, we stayed at an Airbnb halfway through the trip that had a washing machine.  In Prague, we found a laundromat which was an adventure in itself.  Plus take travel sizes of your toiletries and you are all set. 

2.  Sometimes, you have to check a bag like when we went to Cuba. We needed lots of sunscreens and weren't sure we could buy it there. So check one bag for the family and carry the rest of the suitcases on. Now at least you are only paying for one. 

3. If you have a Citi American Advantage Platinum Select, Platinum Select World Elite, and Executive World Elite credit card or the United Explorer credit card, you get a FREE checked bag. So take advantage of the perks of the credit card. Some cards offer credits for incidentals like baggage fees. So be sure you know which card you have offers that and pay for your incidentals with it so you can get credit back. 

4. If you have a Capital One credit card or Barclays Arrival Plus, you may be able to "erase" the baggage fee if it is coded as travel. 

Paying for checked bags is a drag and definitely not the way we do it at almostfreefamilytravel! 

Chase FREEDOM Q4 Bonus Categories Announced

Chase just announced 4th quarter bonus categories for the Chase Freedom credit card. The categories rotate each quarter and earn 5% cash back. If you max it out, you can earn $1,500 cash back each quarter. Wow! 
For October-December, you will earn 5% cash back in Wholesale Clubs like Costco and Sams (gas is not included), Department Stores (think holiday shopping) and Chase Pay. 
The fine details of this bonus are the $1,500 is a combined cash back not all in one category. And not all department stores are included. Click here to check the list of participating merchants.  Note that Target and Walmart are NOT included. 
Now since Chase Pay is a 4th quarter bonus category, you could pay at any merchant with Chase Pay and earn 5% cash back. 
You must activate your credit card by Dec. 14, 2018. 

Top 5 Things To See And Do In Havana, Cuba

Havana, Cuba used to be the playground for the rich and you can still experience that celebration at the famous Tropicana. I put the Tropicana on my top 5 list, but only so you can make the decision about whether or not you want to partake. Tickets cost $90 each and you can buy them online before you arrive. You can add dinner at the restaurant for an additional $30 per ticket. Dinner is nice and if you eat dinner there, you cut the line to get in. You can also buy VIP tickets so you can sit closer to the stage. Personally, every seat in the house is good so I don't see a point to paying more. When you enter, they will ask you to pay $5 so you can take photos. We paid, but no one ever checked and I saw lots of people taking photos and video. FYI, a taxi from Havana to the Tropicana will cost about 30 CUC each way. 

Back to the top things to see in Havana:

1. FREE Walking Tour - this was amazing! Our guide walked and talked for 4 hours. He showed us Hemingway's bars, the museums, the plaza, the capital, the classic cars, the architecture, the history, the murals and more. You can make a reservation online before you go. This is a FREE walking tour so be sure to tip your guide. 

2. Museum de la Revolucion - this museum traces the history of the revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro. It really helps to give you perspective and to hear some of the propaganda told to the Cubans about the west. Fidel Castro's boat, Gramma, is housed here. Admission costs 8 CUC. 

3. Cannon Ceremony at Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabana - This ceremony happens every evening at 9pm and is not to be missed. You can take the ferry from Old Havana to the Cristo and walk for 1 CUC or you can take a taxi for 10 CUC. Admission to the fortress is 8 CUC so go early. Starting at 8:45pm, the soldiers parade and then ready a real cannon. At exactly 9pm, they shoot the cannon to symbol the end of the day. 

4. Hemingways Haunts - So if you are an Earnest Hemingway fan, then you won't want to miss his room in the Hotel Ambos Mundos, Floridita Bar and La Bodequita Del Medio. In Hotel Ambos Mundos, you should buy a ticket for 5 CUC to check out Hemingway's room #511. Just the ride in the elevator is pretty cool. The rooftop bar is also worth checking out. FYI, this hotel is on Trump's list of hotels to avoid so you may not want to stay there.  Floridita Bar is packed and features a statue of the writer. La Bodequita Del Medio cannot be missed due to the graffiti on the wall and the music blaring out of it. Apparently, Hemingway drank one drink at this bar one time, but tourists flock to it. 

5. Ride in a classic car to Fusterlandia - Here's a twofer for you. Choose a classic car in the main plaza and rent it for 2 hours. Each hour should cost about 30-35 CUC. Have the driver take you on the Malecon to Fusterlandia. The Malecon is a beautiful stretch of highway that runs along the ocean. You will see the Hotel Nacional (it is worth checking out the lobby and hall of fame) and the closed US Embassy. Fusterlandia is a Gaudi like town that is just plain crazy. Spend 15-20 minutes walking through the gallery. Don't buy souvenirs here instead buy them in Trinidad. On the way back, the driver should take you through the park and next to the cemetery. Great tour and bang for your buck. 

How I Saved $750 On Flights To Panama

Every time I score 5 FREE flights to some faraway place, I jump for joy just like in this photo! 

And now I have done it again! So I have to share the how with you so you can do it too. Everyone can do this. Travel does not need to be expensive!  

This latest coup is scoring 5 FREE round-trip flights from LAX to Panama City, Panama over the holidays. Now I must tell you getting saver award tickets over the holidays is not easy and getting 5, wow! 

So here's what I did. First, I found that Copa Airlines and United Airlines offered the most direct flights to Panama City.  I started checking them every day about 300 days out. Yes, that's 300 days out. I finally found saver availability from LAX to Panama City, Panama and then return to Houston. But the last leg back to LAX wouldn't open up. 

Since United and Copa do not offer good transfers from Starwood, my trick is to transfer Starwood points to Singapore Airlines and then use Kris Flyer points to book on United. 

I always call Singapore Airlines first to confirm availability. Sometimes, they will put a hold on the seats while the points transfer. In this case, they would not hold them so I took a chance. 

I transferred 140,000 Starwood points to my Kris Flyer account at Singapore Airlines. The points transfer 20,000 Starwood points for 25,000 Kris Flyer points. Starwood to United transfers at 2:1 so that's not a good deal. Transferring to Kris Flyer, you actually get a 5,000 point bonus. 

I needed 175,000 Kris Flyer points so I transferred 140,000 Starwood points. That's essentially like getting one round-trip flight FREE. 

Now here's a word of warning, once you transfer to Kris Flyer, you cannot get the points back. 

Once the points transfer which can take a few days, I call Singapore Airlines and book the flights. 

The last leg still had no availability so I booked the other three legs for 35,000 points each. You still have to pay the taxes which totaled $425.  I put the taxes on my Capital One Venture card and erased them using points. (See my previous posts on how this works)

Now, here's the kicker. I found flights from Houston to LAX for $147 each so I booked those, paid for them with Capital One Venture card and erased them too.  Essentially, I just got 5 FREE round-trip tickets, but wait it gets better. 

Yesterday, I receive a change notice for our flights from Houston to LAX. They pushed the flight two hours earlier which usually would be great. But now our flight is departing Houston as our flight from Panama City is arriving. Hmmm, that's not going to work. 

I check United and bam, now you can book an award ticket all the way from Panama City to LAX for 17,500 miles. I call Singapore Airlines and they are willing to make the adjustment as long as I pay the additional airline taxes approximately $425. I call United about the change of notice and get a $916 refund for the tickets. 

The bottom line is it pays to keep checking even after you book your tickets to see if you can get a better deal. Hope you could follow that. If you need any help, feel free to email me or comment below. That's how we do it at almost FREE family travel.