Why You Might Want To Spend Some Time on Tahiti Island

Most people stop in Tahiti for a few hours or maybe a night en route to the more popular Moorea or Bora Bora. But recently I spent a week on the big island and loved it. 

I'll share some of the things we enjoyed, but first, some pros to staying on the big island. The most important is affordability. 

The Airbnb's are cheaper, we are talking $100 per night cheaper which adds up quickly. Food is cheaper because there are just more options. Tours are cheaper because again more options and less tourists. 

Why You Might Want To Spend Some Time on Tahiti Island 

So what did we find to do? 

1. Well, the most obvious is taking a boat out to see the famous surf wave at Teahupoo. Totally worth it! In fact, it's wild to be sitting on a boat with the surfers next to you riding one of the most famous waves in the world. 

Only once did we worry about taking a wave ourselves. 

We booked a 4-hour tour through Teahupoo Excursions. Michael and his crew were fabulous. We spent about an hour at the wave and then headed to the southern tip of Tahiti Iti, past the end of the road. They maneuvered the boat through a canal into the jungle where we disembarked and swam across the river. The guide led us on a short walk through the jungle to a beautiful grotto inside a lava tube for a short swim. 

When we returned to the boat, the crew served chips and a very homemade cocktail that you just drink and don't ask what inside. It was delicious by the way. 

The next few sights can be done over a few days or in one long day as a driving loop around the island. 

2. Black Sand Beach at Taharuu - probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The current is strong and the rocks are plentiful so watch your feet. Be sure to check out the eels in the lagoon. 

3. Grotto de Maraa - giant cave formed by a lava tube. No swimming, but beautiful photo spot. FREE admission. 

4. Water Garden of Vaipahi - beautiful botanical garden that can provide the perfect picnic spot. Watch out for the chickens though who may want to share. your food. FREE admission and bathrooms available. 

Why You Might Want To Spend Some Time on Tahiti Island 

5. Arapaho Blowhole - one of the only blowholes in the world that spits out compressed air instead of water. 

6. Waterfalls at Tiarei - there are actually three waterfalls here. The first is a short walk from the parking lot. The others are a 20 minute walk from the parking lot. No swimming, but the view is meditative. 

7. Point Venus - the best spot on the island to view the sunset. It also features calm waters perfect for swimming, a lovely beach and volleyball courts. 

We chose to do all of these stops as a one day self driving tour. We started the day around 11am and returned home by 7:30pm so it's a full day. If you prefer a guide or don't have a car, I recommend Lydia. Let her know I sent you. 

Why You Might Want To Spend Some Time on Tahiti Island 

Other notable things to see and do on the island of Tahiti: 

8. Downtown Papeete - This is a half day walking tour that you can do on your own. Check out the indoor street market in Papeete, the cathedral, botanical gardens and the presidential palace. 

9. Food trucks - There are two places to find food trucks, a small one is right by the water in downtown Papeete and a larger one is closer to Point Venus on the water side of the highway. Both yum! Large portions so plan to share. 

10. Fun swimming snorkeling beach - We spent plenty of afternoons at this great beach at highway marker PK18. There are bathrooms available and plenty of free parking. It's also a great place to see the sunset. Be sure to check out the bakery Le Fournil Hautbois which is the best on the island. 

We completely enjoyed our time on the island of Tahiti. In my next post, I'll share what we did during our 10 days in Moorea. If you would like help planning your bucket list trip to French Polynesia, reach out to me. I'll help you use points and miles to make this amazing trip affordable. 

 

You Got Capital One Lounge Access, Now What?

 

Enjoying an alberol spritz in the Capital One Lounge in Denver! So even though my flight was delayed, I was able to charge my phone, do some work, enjoy a drink or two and a nice meal. 

Lounge access comes with my Capital One Venture X credit card. In fact, I added my three children as authorized users which is FREE and they get lounge access too. Well worth, the $395 annual fee. 

But while I was waiting in line, I heard so many people confused about how lounge access works and how much it costs. 

So let's try to sort this out. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

For simplicity, I am going to focus on the Capital One Lounges (currently in Washington DC Dulles, Denver, Dallas and coming soon to Las Vegas) and the Priority Pass (a network of 1,600 lounges worldwide). I know there are other lounges out there for business class and various airlines, but we are just going to focus on these. 

First question, how do you get lounge access:

• Capital One Lounge - Capital One Venture X credit card holders get unlimited lounge access for Capital One Lounges. They can also bring two guests with them. Capital One Venture credit card holders get 2 lounge passes per year. 
• Priority Pass Lounge - Capital One Venture X credit card holders get membership included as a benefit for the card holder and authorized users. Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card holders get membership for the card holder only. Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards holders also get membership included. Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex and Capital One Venture X card holders can bring two guests. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card used to include a restaurant benefit as well which was awesome, but it dropped that benefit in July 2024. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

Once you activate your membership online to the Priority Pass, you will get a card in the mail and a digital card that you show at the lounge entrance along with your boarding pass. You can download the app and find lounges worldwide. 

You can only visit the lounge while you are waiting for a flight departure and not  upon arrival unless you are connecting to another flight. 

For the Capital One Lounges, you show your boarding pass and your Capital One credit card. Since there are only three lounges currently, they are packed and often have a waitlist. 

It's a good idea to get on the wait list, but it's a bit tricky to find in the app. 

You Got The Capital One Venture X Lounge Access, Now What?

• Login to your Capital One account
• Click on Explore rewards and benefits
• Click on Lounges in the upper right corner
• Click on the lounge
• You will see the current capacity and then a button to join the waitlist 
• Once you do that, you will get a text when it is your turn to enter 
• You have 10 minutes to show up or you will lose your turn and have to join the waitlist again

Both the Capital One Venture X and Venture card come with a 75,000 bonus for a $4,000 minimum spend. The Venture X carries a $395 annual fee, but you get a $300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry credit, Priority Pass membership and Capital One lounge access for the card holder and up to 4 authorized users for FREE. The Venture card only carries a $95 annual fee and comes with 2 lounge passes each year. 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a hefty $550 annual fee, comes with a $300 travel credit, $120 Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access and 1.5 to 1 value for Chase Ultimate Rewards points in the travel portal. 

Both Capital One and Chase Ultimate Reward points are considered flex points and can be transferred to dozens of airlines and hotels. 

If this sounds interesting to you, I recommend going through my points and miles course which includes a 1:1 strategy session with me, a custom tracker and ongoing group coaching. Let's get you traveling for almost FREE and making those priceless memories! 

Unlock Your Travel Superpowers: Meet Our New AI Assistant!

 

Hey there, savvy travelers! 🌎✈️ Are you ready to embark on your next adventure but feeling overwhelmed by the endless possibilities? We've got some exciting news that'll make your travel planning a breeze!

Introducing Your New Travel Buddy: Our AI Assistant!

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new AI Travel Assistant, designed to help you discover and plan the perfect getaway for you and your family. Whether you're dreaming of a sun-soaked beach or a bustling city escape, our AI is here to guide you every step of the way.

How It Works

Our AI Travel Assistant is super easy to use and tailored to your unique preferences. Here's what you can expect:

1. Quick Questionnaire: The assistant will ask you a few simple questions to understand your travel desires:
• Urban adventure or tropical paradise?
• Domestic or international?
• Who's joining you on this trip?
• Got children? What are their ages?
2. Travel Style: Tell us what kind of experience you're after:
   • Active and adventurous
   • Beach relaxation
   • Cultural immersion
   • A bit of everything!
3. Points and Miles: If you're looking to maximize your rewards, let the assistant know which points and miles you have at your disposal.
4. Personalized Recommendations: Based on your inputs, the AI will suggest three fantastic destinations tailored just for you!
5. Dive Deeper: Love one of the suggestions? Ask for hotel recommendations, must-do activities, and top-notch restaurants.
6. Flexible Options: Not quite what you had in mind? No problem! Just ask the assistant to try again with new ideas.
7. Maximize Your Rewards: Once you've picked your dream destination, get expert advice on using your points and miles for the best value.

Why You'll Love Our AI Travel Assistant

• Tailored to You: Get personalized recommendations based on your unique preferences and travel style.
• Family-Friendly: Perfect for planning trips with kids of all ages.
• Points and Miles Savvy: Maximize your travel rewards for almost free family adventures!
• Time-Saver: Skip the endless research and get curated suggestions in minutes.
• Flexible and Fun: Explore new destinations you might not have considered before.

Ready to Plan Your Next Adventure?

Give our AI Travel Assistant a spin and watch your dream vacation come to life! We'd love to hear about your experience – did you discover an exciting new destination? Any suggestions to make it even better? Your feedback helps us improve and ensure you're getting the most out of your travel planning.

Happy travels, and remember – adventure is out there, and our AI Travel Assistant is here to help you find it! 🌴🏙️🏔️

#AITravelPlanner #FamilyVacation #TravelHacks #PointsAndMiles #AlmostFreeTravel

🌟 Brand Loyalty: Friend or Foe?

 

We've all been there – falling head over heels for a particular travel brand. Maybe you're always flying with United, or you can't resist a Marriott stay. But is this unwavering loyalty serving you well? Let's break it down and see how flexible points can be a game-changer for family travel.

✈️ Flight Comparison: LAX to Tokyo

Imagine you're planning a family trip to Japan. As a United loyalist, you check their rates first:

• United Airlines: 110,000 miles round trip
• American Airlines: 70,000 miles round trip

That's a whopping 40,000-mile difference per person! For a family of five, that's a 200,000-mile saving. Talk about a loyalty tax!

🏨 Hotel Showdown in Tokyo

Now, let's look at accommodation options:

• Hyatt Regency Tokyo: 15,000 Hyatt points per night
• Moxy Tokyo (Marriott): 33,000 points per night (with 5th night free)

Both are great options, but what if you're locked into one brand? You might miss out on the best deal for your family.

💳 The Power of Flexible Points

This is where flexible points shine! With programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, AMEX Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Citi ThankYou Points, you can:

• Shop around for the best deals
• Transfer points to various airlines and hotels
• Use travel portals for bookings
• Erase travel purchases with points

Flexible points give you the freedom to choose the best value for your family's needs.

🌟 Brand Loyalty: Friend or Foe?

Right now, I am recommending two credit cards for most of my clients:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred - 60,000 bonus points plus $300 travel credit for a $4,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee. This card also comes with a $50 hotel credit  You can only hold ONE Sapphire credit card and you are only eligible for the bonus every 48 months. 

2.  Chase Ink Business Unlimited - $900 cash (it's really 90,000 points), $0 annual fee, $6,000 minimum spend. Be sure to apply for the Business Unlimited.  Popup will redirect you to the offer. 

If you would like help planning your next adventure or using points and miles to take a bucket list vacation, check out our website for travel advising and our new Travel Coaching Program. We would love to help you and your family make memories! 

#FlexiblePoints #FamilyTravel #TravelHacks #PointsAndMiles #AlmostFreeTravel

Your Guide to Scoring Holiday Season Flight Deals

 

It's that time of the year. Time to look for holiday flights. Whether you are looking to take a holiday trip or bring a child home for the holidays, you may be searching for a cheap flight or at least a travel deal. 

Twice in the last week, clients have asked me for help finding discounts on holiday flights. So here is your guide to finding those cheap flights or at least cheaper:

1. Start with google.com/flights to see what's available and the going rate. Try various airports, days, times etc. to see if you can move the needle. We are going to search for flights from New York to LAX. Look at the difference just by flying from JFK or Newark. 

Try using the date grid to check out different combinations of days to get a lower price. 

2. Be flexible - You may want to travel on certain days, but if you stay an extra day or leave a day early, you could save a lot of money. For example, over Thanksgiving, if you can stay an extra day and travel on Monday, December 2nd, the price for the flight may drop in half. A hack is using the flexible calendar on google flights. 

3. Check travel portals like Chase or Capital One. - Will the portals offer you a deal if you use points? And if you end up having to buy the flight, at least, you will earn 5x points on the purchase. Be sure to check the flexible dates calendar here too. 

Even if the prices aren't lower, this is one of the times, flexible points come in handy. You get a discount if you use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points because they are worth 1.5:1 with the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card and 1.25:1 with the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. You can see with my Reserve card, I could pick up this $697 flight for 46,438 points. Still painful, but at least there is a discount. 

Worse comes to worse, you buy this flight through the portal and earn 5x points. You can also set an alert through google.com/flights or in the travel portal to let you know if the price drops. It's unlikely, but you never know. 

The bottom line is that the more flexible you can be on your dates and times, the more you can save. And remember, most people plan their travel about six weeks out. In the case of travel deals around the holidays, the early bird gets the worm. 

If you would like some help, please reach out. We love finding travel deals and planning amazing vacations using points and miles. 

Global Entry Is now FREE for kids

 

Great news! 

Global Entry is now FREE for kids under 18. Bad news, the membership price just went up to $120. 

So what is Global Entry? It is a program to expedite your journey through customs when you return to the United States. There is a separate Global Entry line with kiosks at 75 airports. You snap your photo, scan your passport and breeze right through the gate. 

If you have ever spent hours waiting in the customs line, you will appreciate the ease of this service. If you take 4+ international trips in 5 years, this is worth it especially if it's FREE. We will tell you how to get Global Entry for FREE in a bit. 

Global Entry includes TSA Precheck which will help you breeze through security for flights inside the US. You can also keep your shoes on and your laptop and toiletries in your bag which is a huge plus! 

Trusted Traveler has two other similar programs, NEXUS (expedited entry for Canada) and SENTRI (expedited entry for Mexico). 

Global Entry, Mobile Passport Control, and CLEAR are all US government programs that can help travelers move through the airport faster. 

• Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program that allows expedited entry into the US
• Mobile Passport Control is a free app that speeds up the customs declaration process
• CLEAR is an identity company that helps travelers quickly confirm their identity before security screening.

Global Entry Is now FREE for kids 

It's easy to apply through the Trusted Traveler website. You will need to complete your application with passport and driver's license information and then complete a second application for your child using their email address. At the prompt, you will enter your application ID and then click exempt from the fee for your child.  

You will still need to complete an interview as part of the process. Once you are conditionally approved, you will be prompted to schedule an interview. You may be able to schedule this process upon international arrival back into the US at the airport. If not, you will need to schedule the interview BEFORE you depart on your international trip. 

Global Entry Is now FREE for kids 

Besides saving money on Global Entry for kids, you can also get yours for FREE by using the right credit card to pay for it. Some of our favorite cards that include a Global Entry credit are:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One Venture X
• Capital One Venture 

As always though, be sure to choose the card that helps you reach your travel goals. We are here to help you with our Travel Coaching Program and 1:1 consulting. 

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Get ready for some fantastic news, family travelers! The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card just sweetened the deal, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you!

Imagine this: a whopping 60,000 bonus points (that's at least $750 in FREE travel!) PLUS a $300 travel credit on travel purchases. And wait, there's more – a $50 hotel credit too! Add it all up, and you're looking at over $1,000 in FREE travel. How amazing is that for your next family adventure?

Over Water Bungalow in Moorea

But here's a little secret: with some savvy planning, you could stretch those points even further. Want to know how I used Chase Ultimate Rewards points to save a jaw-dropping $15,000 on a family trip to Tahiti? Just ask, and I'll share all the details!

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Now, let's talk strategy. This card opens up a world of possibilities with its transfer partners. You can move your points to various airlines and hotel chains, giving you ultimate flexibility for your family's travel dreams.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind with this offer:

• You'll need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the bonus.
• You can only earn a bonus on a Sapphire card once every four years.
• You can only hold one Chase Sapphire card at a time (either the Preferred or the Reserve).

Amazing Bonus From One Of Our Favorite Cards

Want to make sure this card aligns perfectly with your family's travel plans? Let's chat!

Book a one-on-one session with me, or join our Travel Coaching Program for even more insights. You'll learn all about maximizing points and miles, get a personalized credit card tracker, and join our monthly live coaching sessions.

Don't let this opportunity slip away – we never know how long these amazing offers will last. Let's start planning your next almost-free family adventure today!