How You Can Get $1,000 In 3 Easy Steps Thanks To Chase

 

Here's a great way to travel FREE this summer. Chase is offering 100,000 points (value $1,250) for the Sapphire Preferred credit card. Now, this is one of my favorite cards anyway, but coupled with this amazing bonus offer, woohoo! 

Here's the deal: 

• $4000 minimum spend in the first 3 months
• 100,000 Ultimate Reward Points
• $95 annual fee, not waived the first year
• 2x points on travel and dining
• 1x points on everything else
• Redeem points at 1.25 in the Chase travel portal and Pay Yourself Back
• Complimentary Dashpass subscription with Door Dash
• $60 credit on Peloton membership

You qualify for this deal if you have excellent credit, do not currently hold a Sapphire card, and have not received a new member bonus in the past 48 months. 

The Sapphire Preferred and Reserve are my favorite cards right now due to the flexibility of the Ultimate Reward Points. You can transfer the points to more than a dozen airlines and hotels including Southwest, IHG, Hyatt, and Marriott. 

If you decide to hop on this offer, please consider using my referral link. That's how we do it at almostfreefamilytravel.com 

Easy Way To Earn 65,000 Southwest Airlines Points

 

One of the best travel rewards out there is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass (a BOGO on flights) and now Southwest is offering a huge bonus to make it easier to earn. 

Through July 14th, open any of the personal Southwest credit cards, spend $2,000 and you will earn a bonus of 65,000 points. Wow! This is one of the highest offers we have ever seen. 

You earn the companion pass when you accumulate 125,000 points in a single calendar year. However, the earlier in the year, the better since the companion pass is good for the rest of the year in which you earn it AND the following year. 

I have saved thousands of dollars by having the companion pass. Just recently, we flew to New York for graduation and my youngest daughter was my companion so she flew FREE. 

Easy Way To Earn 65,000 Southwest Airlines Points 

There are three personal Southwest credit cards to choose from, but you can only hold one at a time. 

And before you choose the one with the lowest annual fee, read on. 

• Plus - $69 annual fee, 3,000 anniversary points, 2 points per $1
• Premier - $99 annual fee, 6,000 anniversary points, 2 points per $1, no foreign transaction fees
• Priority - $149 annual fee, $75 Southwest credit, 7,500 anniversary points, 2 points per $1, no foreign transaction fees, 4 upgrade passes

If you look closer, the Priority card is the best deal with the credit, upgrade passes and increased anniversary points. 

If you decide to apply for any of these cards, please consider using my referral link. Same deal, but it helps me keep flying and finding ways to save you money. 

Take a trip on United, earn 2,500 bonus miles

 

If you are planning to travel in the next few weeks by air and on United Airlines, then you will want to listen up! A new targetted United promotion aimed at getting people back on the planes wants to reward you with extra miles. 

Here's how it works: 

1. Register at this link 

2. Book and fly by June 13th 

3. Earn a bonus 2,500 miles 

Your flight must cost at least $150 and must be on United or United Express. The promotion code is T014MA if the link doesn't work. Miles earned through the promotion will not count towards Million Miler status or Premier status. 

Hilton Mega Bonus Offer - 180,000 Points

 

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass is offering a mega bonus of 180,000 points! Woohoo! If you have never had this card before, you might want to jump on this offer. The deal is 130,000 points for a $2,000 minimum spend and another 50,000 additional points if you spend $10,000 total on the card within 6 months.

Hilton Mega Bonus Offer - 180,000 Points 

 

So if you break it down....that's really 190,000 points for a $10,000 spend in 6 months. 

The fine print on this card:

• The annual fee on this card is $95 and it is not waived for the first year. 
• The card comes with complimentary Gold Status at Hilton 
• Earns 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points on groceries, gas, and dining. 
• If you spend $15,000 in a calendar year on this card, you get a FREE weekend night. 
• You also get 10 lounge visits with Priority Pass Select membership. 

So you know how big this offer is, let me share with you the value you can get from Hilton points. The photo above is from Berlin, Germany. We took a family vacation to Eastern Europe, highly recommend. In Krakow, Poland, we used 5,000 Hilton points per room per night to stay at Hampton Inn and Suites. The room included breakfast, key for family travel. The hotel is a bit out of town, but it is located right next to the mall and within feet of the trolley stop that goes directly downtown. 

In Warsaw, Poland, we stayed at another Hampton Inn and Suites for just 10,000 Hilton points per night per room. The hotel also included breakfast and was located right across the street from the main train station downtown. 

Two years ago, we spent a few weeks in Panama. We stayed at another Hampton Inn and Suites in Panama City priced at just 10,000 points per night per room. Yes, it included a huge breakfast buffet and featured a rooftop pool. It was located right in downtown Panama City. After a week there, we boarded a catamaran for a glorious week in the San Blas islands. 

Of course, there are also luxury resorts for about 90,000 points per night so if that's your jam, this would buy two nights there. 

I'm sure now you are getting the idea. 190,000 Hilton points can buy you hotel nights for a long time. 

Pretty sweet. 

You may not be traveling right now, but you will do it again soon, and this way you will be ready. 

That's how we do it at almostfreefamilytravel.com Happy traveling! 

American Air Offers Miles Back To Entice You To Fly

There is a new targeted promotion out there from American Airlines. If you are lucky enough to be eligible for this one, good for you. 

The promotion is as follows:

• book an award flight by May 14, 2021
• fly during the months of June or July
• get 400 miles back per flight, up to four flights in total. 

Eligible flights must be on American Airlines and not partner airlines like Alaska. 

If you were targeted, you can find the offer in the “Promotions” tab of your AAdvantage profile. Once you register, a tracker will become available as shown below.

Big Sale on SeaWorld Tickets Extended To May 9

 

San Diego SeaWorld is back open for business. The park has launched a sale to lure visitors. The Spring Spectacular Sale has been extended through Sunday, May 9th. 

• Single specific day passes are $59.99 for adults
• The Fun Card is also back priced at $95.99 for adults. The Fun Card lets you play for a day and then return the rest of the year as much as you would like. 
• The Preschool Fun Card is $20, same idea, but you must visit the park for the first time by May 27th, 2021. 
• CA and AZ K-12 teachers can get a FREE Fun card for 2021. 
• The So Cal Resident pass is also on sale for just $9 per month or $108. This pass is good for 12 months and includes 50% off parking. 

Here's a tip, buy a Silver Annual Pass ($126) which includes FREE general parking for one person in your family. 

The park is open to in-state visitors with proof of residency and out-of-state visitors who can present proof of being fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated is considered at least two weeks past the second dose. 

Once you buy your ticket or pass, you will need to make a reservation for a specific date online. 

Remember amusement parks usually code as either travel or entertainment, so use a credit card that rewards you for travel such as your Chase Sapphire Preferred or your Capital One Venture card.  Both cards are offering amazing bonuses right now! 

Great News! Marriott Extends Expiration Date For Points and FREE Nights

 

Great news! Marriott Bonvoy extended expirations again! Now, Bonvoy points will not expire until March 31st, 2022. FREE night award certificates will not expire until January 3rd, 2022. This is great news for Bonvoy members. 

Remember, points expire after 24 months of non activity. The best way to have activity on your account is with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. That way every time you make a purchase, you earn a few points and the activity keeps your points alive. 

Through May 12th, you can get a super bonus on any Marriott credit card by using my referral link. 

If you apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, you can get 3 FREE award nights with just a $1,000 minimum spend. If you apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold, you get one FREE award night with just a $500 minimum spend. 

Remember, these are purchases you are making anyway and you have 3 months to reach the minimum spend. Pretty sweet! 

Remember to set up auto pay right away because you do not want to pay any late fees. 

I love Marriott Bonvoy points because you can use them for any of the 24 hotel brands in the portfolio and you can transfer them to more than a dozen airlines. Plus when you transfer them to certain airlines, you will get a bonus 5,000 miles. And most of the Marriott credit cards come with a FREE night award certificate on your anniversary.