How To Book Your Casa Particular In Cuba - Easy!

Yes, you can travel to Cuba on your own. It's easy and cheap. In Cuba, airbnb.com (if you use this link, you will get a $40 credit towards your first booking) is operating and these types of accommodations are called casa particulares. 



They are rooms inside private homes. They can be hosted or more like an apartment. They cost approximately $20-$30 per night and consist of a private room with a private or shared bathroom. The host will provide towels and linens. Some have air conditioning. 
I highly recommend hosted casa particulares. Why? What I love about casa particulares is that the host will serve you breakfast for $4-$5 and dinner for approximately $10. 

Here's a look at lobster dinner. YUM! Breakfast included eggs, coffee, fruit, fresh juice and even a pancake. 

The hosts vary, but we found both of our hosts very hospitable and eager to talk and share their story with us. And isn't that what traveling is all about? Our hosts also arranged shared taxis, rides to and from the airport and even a horseback ride to a waterfall in Trinidad. 
Next blog post, a day in the Cuban countryside. 

Finally, Some Good News From Marriott/SPG

Finally, some good news out of the merger between Marriott and Starwood. One of the perks of the old program was that you could transfer points to dozens of airlines AND get a 5,000 mile bonus when you transferred 20,000 points. 
But United Airlines was one of the few that didn't participate. In fact, under the old Starwood program, the transfer rate was actually 2:1. Boo! 
But now under the new program, United Airlines is actually rewarding you with an additional 10% bonus when you transfer points to miles. 
For example, if you transfer 60,000 points (remember when the merger occurred, all points were tripled so this is the same 20,000 points from the old program), you get a bonus of 15,000 points (same 5,000 bonus from before) AND a 10% extra bonus. That's another 2,500 miles. 

Marriott/SPG 60,000 points + 15,000 bonus + 10% United bonus = 27,500 United miles

Now that's finally some good news! My old trick was transferring Starwood points to Singapore Airlines to book a United flight. But sometimes Singapore Airlines can get you on the taxes. United does not charge the same taxes AND you get the 10% bonus. Woohoo! That's how we do it at almostFREEfamilytravel! 

Southwest California Sale Ends Today!

Southwest is promoting a sale just for California, but it ends tonight! $39 one way fares connecting San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Burbank. 

There are blackout dates around the holidays, but if you want to swing up to SF for some chowder or to SD for some tacos, you may want to hop on this one! 

If you have the companion pass, it makes it a no-brainer. 

Hurry! Southwest Priority Bonus Ends Tomorrow

Southwest launched the new Priority credit card about a month ago and they are saying that the lucrative offer will end August 22nd. The lucrative bonus offer includes 65,000 points which count towards the companion pass (40,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months and 25,000 points when you spend $15,000 in the first year), 4 upgraded boarding passes, $75 Southwest travel credit, 7,500 points on your anniversary and no foreign transaction fees. The card earns 2x points on Southwest and 1x on everything else. 
The annual fee is $149, but you get the $75 credit so it actually costs less than the Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card. 
The offer is pretty sweet especially if you can swing the extra $15,000 spend in the first year. 
One other catch, if you currently have a Southwest personal credit card OR have received the bonus in the past 24 months, you are not eligible for this card. 
Depending on what the new offer is on this card, I may cancel my personal Southwest Premier card and apply for this one. I will time it so I get the bonus in early 2019 to qualify for the companion pass. The companion pass is a buy one, get one FREE on Southwest flights. It is good for the year you earn it and the following year. Amazing perk! 
I'll keep you posted. 

Everything You Need To Know To Travel Well In Cuba!

Cuba is surprisingly easy to travel IF you plan ahead. So I'm going to help you with the details that could make or break your trip to this fascinating country. 

1. Money. 

American credit cards are not accepted in Cuba. Your ATM card and your debit card will also not work in Cuba. So you need to take cash and enough cash to last you the entire trip. 

First, try to pay as much as you can before you arrive in Cuba. You can pay for your airbnb.com when you book. You can pay for some tours online before you arrive. If you plan to visit the Tropicana, you can buy your tickets online before you arrive. Depending on your spending habits, you can plan for about $50 per day. Breakfast costs 4-5 CUC. Dinner costs 10-15 CUC. Transportation is expensive in Cuba. Taxi to the airport is 30 CUC. Shared taxi to Trinidad is 30 CUC. Taxi from the Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabana to the main plaza in Havana Vieja costs 10 CUC. 

There are two types of currency in Cuba: one for tourists CUC and one for locals CUP. 

CUC have monuments on them so check your change. You will not be able to spend CUP. 

Every cambio/bank in Cuba charges the same exchange rate and commission so go ahead and change your money at the airport. There is a change booth inside the Southwest terminal that has a smaller line than the one outside. 

Besides the exchange rate, there is a 10% commission charged so, for example, we changed $500 and received 432 CUC (less $50 commission and an exchange rate of 89 CUC per $1). 

I would recommend changing a substantial amount at a time because banks close at different times each day and there are lines at all of them. 

  

2. WIFI

If you can't live without WIFI, you may not want to travel to Cuba right now. The WIFI system is not great. Here's how it works. You have to buy a WIFI card good for 1 hour for 1-3 CUC. You can buy the cards from the Telefonica for 1 CUC, but you will wait in line for about 30 minutes OR you can buy them in any local park or plaza for 2 CUC. Your Airbnb may also sell them for 3 CUC.  Then you log onto the network and enter the pin off your card. You have to remember to turn off WIFI access after you are done or your clock will keep ticking on your card. 

Sometimes the WIFI just stops working altogether and you just have to wait. 

3. Transport 

Transportation in Cuba is expensive. However, there are a few things you can do to save money on taxis. The best thing to do is find a shared taxi. This means that instead of a taxi just taking you or you and a friend, the driver will find two more people to fill the taxi. Now the cost is shared by four people instead of two. Your Airbnb host can call a shared taxi for you. You can use these to get to Trinidad from Havana or to Vinales or anywhere else you may want to go. 

4. Water and Food 

Do not drink the water in Cuba! You can either buy a Lifestraw from Amazon which will filter the water for you. OR you will need to buy bottled water. Most places will sell big bottles of water for 2 CUC. However, if you can find a water or grocery store, they will sell a bottle for .80 CUC so stock up. The rule on food is if the restaurant looks clean, it probably is. If it looks gross, don't eat there. 

Next post: FREE walking tours and the best place to buy souvenirs

Take The Kids To Portugal For 50% Off

The Azores off the coast of Portugal are quickly becoming a popular vacation destination for those seeking outdoor beauty. And according to our friends at The Points Guy, starting August 20th, you can take the kids ages 2-11 for 50% off. Nice!
The deal is being offered by Azores Airlines starting August 20th from Boston (BOS) to Sao Miguel (PDL). You must book your tickets between August 20th and September 9th for travel Nov. 1 - Dec. 18 or Jan. 10 - April 30. You must book directly with Azores Airlines through the website or by phone.  

Marriott Warning About Possible System Outages

The day has finally arrived....the merger of Marriott and Starwood reward programs. In advance of the merging of the reservation systems, Marriott is warning about possible system-wide outages August 15-19.
In addition, any outstanding Marriott vacation package certificates will be on hold temporarily until the new guidelines are announced.
Just a fyi, if you are trying to use the system.