Get 10% Cash Back On Walmart.com

It doesn't happen very often, 10% cash back at Walmart.com. The 10% is on clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, appliances, home, beauty. Then it's 5% back on electronics, movies, music and books.
To access this incredible deal, you need to sign up for an Ebates.com account. It's free to sign up and I would appreciate it if you would use my link. You will get a bonus $10 cash back just for using my link.
Once you create your account, find Walmart in the list of stores, click on the shop now button and Ebates will keep track of how much you spend. Once you log $5 in cash back, Ebates will send you a check. They will send you an email first offering you a chance to redeem your cash back for a gift card. You will actually get more cash back if you take the gift card. But it's your choice.

Happy Shopping!

Buy 3 Airline Tickets, Get 1 FREE

If you have plans to travel from the US to Mexico or Central America, you could buy 3 tickets and get 1 FREE.
Here's the step by step how to do it:

1. You will need to open an AeroMexico credit card
2. Upon approval, they will send you a complimentary companion voucher for flights from the US to Mexico. That's a bonus.
2. Make one purchase and you will earn 10,000 miles, another bonus. Aeromexico is part of the Sky Team so you can book using Chase Ultimate Rewards and Starwood Points.
3. But here's the perk we are after, use your new card to buy 3 airline tickets and get the 4th free. You must call Aeromexico at 1 800 237 6639 to make the reservation and then go to the Aeromexico counter at the airport to actually buy your tickets. The service agent told me they need to verify the card. All 4 tickets must be for the same itinerary, but do not have to be limited to the US and Mexico.
4. You will earn double miles on the tickets you buy.
5. If you choose to keep this card, you will earn a $99 companion certificate every year on your anniversary.

The card does not appear to have an annual fee.

It's a nice perk and could save you up to $1,000. That's how we do almost FREE family travel.

Book An IHG Hotel For Just 5,000 Points

Every quarter, IHG releases a list of point break hotels. In other words, a list of hotels you can book that quarter for just 5,000 points per night. It's an incredible deal if the hotel fits into your travel plans. 

Last year, I booked the Crowne Plaza near Newark Airport for one night for 5,000 points. It worked out perfectly since my daughter and I were touring a college in the area. 

The list for this quarter was released this morning so check it out. Book fast if any of the hotels work for you. The rate is only good through April 30th 2018. You can always cancel. 

Check out the list here! 

Get A FREE Week Of Hotel Stays In Krakow, Poland

Main Square In Krakow Poland

Hilton just announced its new American Express co-branded credit cards and they come with 100,000 Hilton points. What can you do with 100,000 Hilton points? I used Hilton points this summer to stay in Krakow Poland for 5,000 points per night per room including breakfast. I used another 10,000 points per night per room including breakfast in Warsaw Poland. So for my family of 5, we used a total of 60,000 points for 4 nights (2 rooms each night) and a full breakfast. We also made sandwiches at breakfast and ate those for lunch.

You can easily stretch the 100,000 points to cover a whole week or more depending on where you go and which hotel you choose. 

So how do you earn those 100,000 points?

You have a few options, let's break them down. 

1. The Hilton Ascend - $95 annual fee

Earn up to 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points

Earn 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you make an additional $1,000 in purchases with your new Card within your first 6 months.^†

2. The Hilton Aspire - $450 annual fee

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points

after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.^†

3. Hilton American Express Business Card - $95 annual fee and $3,000 minimum spend. 

Both cards include bonus points for spend at Hilton brand hotels and other purchases. The Aspire card has larger bonuses plus a FREE night on your anniversary. It also includes a $250 statement credit on eligible purchases at Hilton Hotels, a $100 property credit when you book 2 nights, a $250 airline credit for incidental charges and Diamond status.
The Ascend card comes with Gold status. Gold and Diamond status include a 25% bonus on points earned plus your 5th night FREE when you book 5 nights using points.

The bottom line is Hilton points can give you almost FREE family travel depending on where you are going. Whether to get the Ascend or Aspire depends on how you and your family travel and whether you think you will use the benefits of paying the higher annual fee. Neither card waives the annual free for the first year.

Local Skiing At Mountain High

Local skiing can often be a great way to introduce the family to the sport without breaking the bank. Just two hours drive from Los Angeles and San Diego, Mountain High is the ultimate local ski resort. Yep, this means, you can go to the beach in the morning and ski the slopes in the afternoon.
Almost FREE Family Travel got a chance to visit the resort for media day.

Mountain High has lots of ticket options available. If you buy a lift ticket right from the window, you will pay $79 for adults, $40 for children 12 and under. Children 6 and under are FREE. But if you buy online at least 48 hours in advance,  the Quick E ticket can save you up to 50%. The price varies depending on the day. And once you buy it, you can reload it online so you don't have to wait in line when you arrive.  There are some blackout dates with this ticket. There are also 4 day and night lift ticket deals for less than $200. 

Lessons start at $114 for children and include lift ticket, rentals and an instructor. Be warned though the lift ticket may only be valid for the bunny hill chairlifts. The website site doesn't indicate that detail, but my daughter's ticket was not valid on the express lift. 

 The rental process was easy and streamlined. Rentals were $37 for the adult ski or snowboard package and $27 for children plus $8 for a helmet. There were plenty of places to rent in Wrightwood before you enter the resort too.
Parking was FREE. And Mountain High offers shuttle service on weekends from San Diego and Los Angeles starting at just $40 per adult if you would rather leave the car at home.
Food options are pretty limited. The typical burgers outside on the grill and salads inside.
The local mountains have received no snow this season, but Mountain High is able to make snow and still cover the main runs. It was sparse and only 8 runs were open, but there was definitely enough snow covering the main trails to enjoy a great day! 
So if you want to try skiing or snowboarding, this might be a great way to cut the cost and see if you like it or enjoy a nice day in the mountains.

How To Get FREE Gold Status On American

Targetted emails were sent out this week offering FREE Gold and Platinum status with American Airlines. No strings attached. The email reads: You’ve been selected to receive free American Airlines AAdvantage® Gold status through May 25, 2018. You’ll experience all the benefits of Gold status. Plus, we’ll give you ten 500-mile upgrades just for registering — no strings attached. Sign up before you travel and no later than February 1, 2018. Use promotion code HV18G. According to the fine print, once you register, you earn Gold status and the following perks: Complimentary upgrades on flights 500 miles or less within North America (confirmed as early as 24 hours before departure) Priority through the airport at check-in, security and boarding 7 award miles/U.S. dollar (40% bonus) Complimentary access to Preferred seats 1 free checked bag oneworld® RubySM status on partner airlines Gold status is valid through May 25, 2018. If you get the targetted email and plan to fly, it may benefit you.

Book Your IHG Hotel By Today

IHG is changing the number of points you need for reward nights for most of its 700 properties. Approximately 499 properties will see an increase and 192 will see a decrease. The change is scheduled to happen on January 17th so if you are looking at any IHG hotels, book now.
Here is a link to the changes for 2018. The hotels are listed by country.
An IHG rep said the new rates will kick in starting January 16th so book today! We are waiting for the new quarter of point break hotels to be released too so watch for that. Point break hotels are amazing deals offered at 5,000 points per night, but you have to jump on them quickly before they sell out.