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