Top Things To See And Do In Vinales, Cuba

 Vinales, Cuba is beautiful. A small town just 3 hours outside of Havana, but it could be another world. Tall mountains, caves, country living at its finest.
If you have time to spend a few days here, I recommend it. If you only have time for a day trip, it's well worth it.

We only had time for a day trip from Havana. I would recommend taking a shared taxi from Havana and then hiring a guide and car to take you to the caves, the mural, a tobacco farm and to a farm for lunch. If you have time, there are dozens of airbnb.com in Vinales. Most are located along the main street in town. 

Amazing organic lunch....this is the original farm to table right here. Ask Cuban farmers what they do with their food rations from the government and they will tell you they feed it to the animals. Be sure to try eating Ropa Vieja while in Cuba. 

The Cuban people are warm and welcoming. We enjoyed talking to them about life in Cuba. 

Even though it was not tobacco growing season, this man showed us how the leaves should look and how to roll cigars. They will try to sell you cigars or coffee at every demonstration like this one. The government allows them to sell 10% of their crop. They usually sell their wares at a good price and it's good quality. 

The famous mural de la prehistoria in Vinales. It took 18 people 4 years to complete. 

The bar located on the grounds of the mural has the best pina coladas anywhere. I highly recommend taking a break and enjoying. Next post: Trinidad, Cuba. 

Earn United Miles When You Shop Groupon

United Mileage Plus is teaming up with Groupon! For every dollar you spend on Groupon local, you will earn 5 miles on United Mileage Plus.  You will earn 4 miles per dollars on Groupon Getaways and 3 miles per dollar on Groupon Goods.  Just add your Mileage plus account number to your Groupon account. 

And if you are new to Groupon, you will get 1,000 miles with your first purchase over $30.  You must register your Mileage Plus account number with Groupon and then enter the code United in checkout. United is part of the Star Alliance which includes dozens of airlines. We flew to Europe last summer using United miles on Austrian Airlines booked through Singapore Air. Crazy, but all 5 plane tickets were FREE. That's how we do it here at almostFREEfamilytravel! 

How To Get Around Baggage Fees

Paying for checked baggage when you fly is a total bummer. This week, Jet Blue announced it is raising the price to check a bag. American Airlines and United followed the lead and raised their baggage fees by $5. 

But there's hope. You can work around the baggage fees with a bit of planning. 

1. First, the easiest workaround is to pack light. You really don't need more than a week's worth of clothes for any trip. When we were in Peru for 3 weeks, we stayed at an Airbnb halfway through the trip that had a washing machine.  In Prague, we found a laundromat which was an adventure in itself.  Plus take travel sizes of your toiletries and you are all set. 

2.  Sometimes, you have to check a bag like when we went to Cuba. We needed lots of sunscreens and weren't sure we could buy it there. So check one bag for the family and carry the rest of the suitcases on. Now at least you are only paying for one. 

3. If you have a Citi American Advantage Platinum Select, Platinum Select World Elite, and Executive World Elite credit card or the United Explorer credit card, you get a FREE checked bag. So take advantage of the perks of the credit card. Some cards offer credits for incidentals like baggage fees. So be sure you know which card you have offers that and pay for your incidentals with it so you can get credit back. 

4. If you have a Capital One credit card or Barclays Arrival Plus, you may be able to "erase" the baggage fee if it is coded as travel. 

Paying for checked bags is a drag and definitely not the way we do it at almostfreefamilytravel! 

Chase FREEDOM Q4 Bonus Categories Announced

Chase just announced 4th quarter bonus categories for the Chase Freedom credit card. The categories rotate each quarter and earn 5% cash back. If you max it out, you can earn $1,500 cash back each quarter. Wow! 
For October-December, you will earn 5% cash back in Wholesale Clubs like Costco and Sams (gas is not included), Department Stores (think holiday shopping) and Chase Pay. 
The fine details of this bonus are the $1,500 is a combined cash back not all in one category. And not all department stores are included. Click here to check the list of participating merchants.  Note that Target and Walmart are NOT included. 
Now since Chase Pay is a 4th quarter bonus category, you could pay at any merchant with Chase Pay and earn 5% cash back. 
You must activate your credit card by Dec. 14, 2018. 

Top 5 Things To See And Do In Havana, Cuba

Havana, Cuba used to be the playground for the rich and you can still experience that celebration at the famous Tropicana. I put the Tropicana on my top 5 list, but only so you can make the decision about whether or not you want to partake. Tickets cost $90 each and you can buy them online before you arrive. You can add dinner at the restaurant for an additional $30 per ticket. Dinner is nice and if you eat dinner there, you cut the line to get in. You can also buy VIP tickets so you can sit closer to the stage. Personally, every seat in the house is good so I don't see a point to paying more. When you enter, they will ask you to pay $5 so you can take photos. We paid, but no one ever checked and I saw lots of people taking photos and video. FYI, a taxi from Havana to the Tropicana will cost about 30 CUC each way. 

Back to the top things to see in Havana:

1. FREE Walking Tour - this was amazing! Our guide walked and talked for 4 hours. He showed us Hemingway's bars, the museums, the plaza, the capital, the classic cars, the architecture, the history, the murals and more. You can make a reservation online before you go. This is a FREE walking tour so be sure to tip your guide. 

2. Museum de la Revolucion - this museum traces the history of the revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro. It really helps to give you perspective and to hear some of the propaganda told to the Cubans about the west. Fidel Castro's boat, Gramma, is housed here. Admission costs 8 CUC. 

3. Cannon Ceremony at Castillo de San Carlos de la Cabana - This ceremony happens every evening at 9pm and is not to be missed. You can take the ferry from Old Havana to the Cristo and walk for 1 CUC or you can take a taxi for 10 CUC. Admission to the fortress is 8 CUC so go early. Starting at 8:45pm, the soldiers parade and then ready a real cannon. At exactly 9pm, they shoot the cannon to symbol the end of the day. 

4. Hemingways Haunts - So if you are an Earnest Hemingway fan, then you won't want to miss his room in the Hotel Ambos Mundos, Floridita Bar and La Bodequita Del Medio. In Hotel Ambos Mundos, you should buy a ticket for 5 CUC to check out Hemingway's room #511. Just the ride in the elevator is pretty cool. The rooftop bar is also worth checking out. FYI, this hotel is on Trump's list of hotels to avoid so you may not want to stay there.  Floridita Bar is packed and features a statue of the writer. La Bodequita Del Medio cannot be missed due to the graffiti on the wall and the music blaring out of it. Apparently, Hemingway drank one drink at this bar one time, but tourists flock to it. 

5. Ride in a classic car to Fusterlandia - Here's a twofer for you. Choose a classic car in the main plaza and rent it for 2 hours. Each hour should cost about 30-35 CUC. Have the driver take you on the Malecon to Fusterlandia. The Malecon is a beautiful stretch of highway that runs along the ocean. You will see the Hotel Nacional (it is worth checking out the lobby and hall of fame) and the closed US Embassy. Fusterlandia is a Gaudi like town that is just plain crazy. Spend 15-20 minutes walking through the gallery. Don't buy souvenirs here instead buy them in Trinidad. On the way back, the driver should take you through the park and next to the cemetery. Great tour and bang for your buck. 

How I Saved $750 On Flights To Panama

Every time I score 5 FREE flights to some faraway place, I jump for joy just like in this photo! 

And now I have done it again! So I have to share the how with you so you can do it too. Everyone can do this. Travel does not need to be expensive!  

This latest coup is scoring 5 FREE round-trip flights from LAX to Panama City, Panama over the holidays. Now I must tell you getting saver award tickets over the holidays is not easy and getting 5, wow! 

So here's what I did. First, I found that Copa Airlines and United Airlines offered the most direct flights to Panama City.  I started checking them every day about 300 days out. Yes, that's 300 days out. I finally found saver availability from LAX to Panama City, Panama and then return to Houston. But the last leg back to LAX wouldn't open up. 

Since United and Copa do not offer good transfers from Starwood, my trick is to transfer Starwood points to Singapore Airlines and then use Kris Flyer points to book on United. 

I always call Singapore Airlines first to confirm availability. Sometimes, they will put a hold on the seats while the points transfer. In this case, they would not hold them so I took a chance. 

I transferred 140,000 Starwood points to my Kris Flyer account at Singapore Airlines. The points transfer 20,000 Starwood points for 25,000 Kris Flyer points. Starwood to United transfers at 2:1 so that's not a good deal. Transferring to Kris Flyer, you actually get a 5,000 point bonus. 

I needed 175,000 Kris Flyer points so I transferred 140,000 Starwood points. That's essentially like getting one round-trip flight FREE. 

Now here's a word of warning, once you transfer to Kris Flyer, you cannot get the points back. 

Once the points transfer which can take a few days, I call Singapore Airlines and book the flights. 

The last leg still had no availability so I booked the other three legs for 35,000 points each. You still have to pay the taxes which totaled $425.  I put the taxes on my Capital One Venture card and erased them using points. (See my previous posts on how this works)

Now, here's the kicker. I found flights from Houston to LAX for $147 each so I booked those, paid for them with Capital One Venture card and erased them too.  Essentially, I just got 5 FREE round-trip tickets, but wait it gets better. 

Yesterday, I receive a change notice for our flights from Houston to LAX. They pushed the flight two hours earlier which usually would be great. But now our flight is departing Houston as our flight from Panama City is arriving. Hmmm, that's not going to work. 

I check United and bam, now you can book an award ticket all the way from Panama City to LAX for 17,500 miles. I call Singapore Airlines and they are willing to make the adjustment as long as I pay the additional airline taxes approximately $425. I call United about the change of notice and get a $916 refund for the tickets. 

The bottom line is it pays to keep checking even after you book your tickets to see if you can get a better deal. Hope you could follow that. If you need any help, feel free to email me or comment below. That's how we do it at almost FREE family travel. 

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.