Episode 68 – Website Info
Air Date: Sun. Nov. 3rd, 2019
Special Guest
Anna Mills – Travel blogger and founder of AdventuresWithAnna.net
Website: https://www.adventureswithanna.net/
Social: Instagram @adventureswithanna_ & Twitter @liltravelbaby
Colleen & Catie’s Picks for Halloween Travel
Colleen
Destination: Washington DC
Accommodations: Airbnb or homeaway
Restaurants: Groupon in the place you are going, food trucks
Free/Inexpensive Activities: All the museums – Just try to go at off-season times of the year and day, otherwise it can be super crowded.
Money Saving Travel Tips:
Package bundles
check the internet for deals and promo codes
take the bus or public transit
Catie
Destination: Colorado Springs Co
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Peak Vista Inn & Suites – about $80 a night.
Restaurants: A couple of my faves in downtown Colorado Springs:
Phantom Canyon (good food, good beer, and pool upstairs! hands down one of my favorite places in C Springs).
A little further out – the Broadmoor is expensive and I’m not a big fan of their restaurants, but the Golden Bee is fun and has good pub food.
Free/Inexpensive Activities:
Hiking at Red Rock Canyons
Garden of the Gods Park – a registered National Natural Landmark
Check out their free museums like the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center and the Ghost Town Museum
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – http://www.cmzoo.org
Visit in the winter for cheaper tickets! Adults (12-64) are $14.75 and Children (3-11) are $10.75. Peak days, like in the summer, can be up to $24.95.
Money Saving Travel Tips: Visit in the winter! Not only will you save money on flights and lodging, but also on activities. Plus, you can even go winter ziplining or do a jeep tour in the winter!
Tips for traveling on a budget.
Use the Free Days. A simple tip I know but simple is always good.
Talk to the Locals to find out what’s the best value in the area for restaurants and shops
Spend More Time in Fewer Places – Take a whole day to explore the zoo or free museums. Bring granola bars, sandwiches and your own water bottles to avoid purchasing food.
Be Flexible with Your Flight Dates – You can get some great deals this way!
Adjust Your Times for Flying – Even if you don’t want to get up to make that 6am flight, it might save you a bundle.
Fly on a Midweek Day – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are usually the cheapest
Go Directly to the Airline Website to get the best value and choose your seat
Join a Frequent Flyer Program – You’ll be surprised how quickly you can earn miles
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
Upcycled Travel Gadgets
Use the plastic containers that bed sheets come in as convenient (free) packing organizers
Thread your jewelry through a straw to keep it from getting tangled
Clamp a binder clip over your razor while traveling so you don’t cut yourself when reaching for it
Purchase inexpensive, 3 oz plastic bottles to put your hair products in so you can easily pass through TSA without having to check your bag and save space in your suitcase
Use an old playing card to store all your bobby pins on
Bringing a bottle of wine on a road trip? Keep it from breaking by putting pool floaties around it
A “days of the week” pillbox can make a great storage space for your jewelry
Reuse mint tins and soap tins to hold necessities like ear swabs and bandages.
Going abroad? Pack a power strip along with a three-prong adapter. Now you can charge multiple devices at the same time.
What’s on your phone?
https://www.budgetyourtrip.com/ – Budget Calculator by Country
View typical and average travel costs for thousands of cities and hundreds of countries around the world to help you plan your next trip’s budget.This information is designed to be used as a starting point for you as you begin deciding where to go and how much you need to save. All of the average travel costs and budgets come from real travelers. You can sign up, create a trip, and track your own travel expenses, too!
What’s the tip?
Best Credit Cards for Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Flexible travel redemption options
$95 annual fee
Great if you only travel a few times a year
One-time signup bonus of 60,000 points (worth $750 in award travel)
Venture® Rewards Credit Card
2x miles on every $1 spent, regardless of the purchase.
The signup bonus is 50,000 miles (worth $500) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
The $95 annual fee is also waived for the first year.
Amex Platinum
$200 airline fee credit
Up to $200 in Uber ride credits
Complimentary access to Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club, and other lounge networks
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Automatic Gold loyalty status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
The current welcome bonus is 60,000 bonus points (worth $600 in award travel) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
