Category: Travel Tips Travel Hacks Packing Tips

Free United Airlines Flights - United Explorer Card Sign Up Bonus

4/11/2025

United Airlines has boosted the sign up bonus for their United Mileage Plus Explorer Credit Card for a limited time.

That means you can get FREE flights!

How to get free flights

If you want to get free flights on United Airlines , the easiest way is to take advantage of this 80,000 bonus mile offer for opening a new United Mileage Plus Explorer Card.

I always keep this card in my arsenal as it offers free checked luggage, priority boarding, and free United Club passes (2 passes each year) which are great for long layovers.

Fly to europe for free!

Dreaming of a Mediterranean Cruise this summer?

With 80,000 bonus United Miles you can book saver award tickets from the US to Europe and make your travel dreams come true! ;)

How To Do It:
Open the card, pay for your cruise with the new card, earn the sign up bonus, and book your free flights!

Easy peasy!

Best United Card Sign Up Bonus

This is the best bonus we've seen on a United Card with a $0 annual fee for the first year, in a loooong time.

Strike while the iron is hot!

I want free flights!

need More Flexibility?

Check This Out:
• Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonus For Travel - 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points - LIMITED TIME OFFER!

Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonus For Travel!

4/11/2025

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The best credit card sign up bonus for travel that we have seen in years is here!

Best Chase Sapphire Sign Up Bonus - 100k!

Our favorite travel credit card, Chase Sapphire, is offering the hugest bonus we have ever seen on their Chase Sapphire Preferred Card - 100,000 bonus points!

Unbelievable 100k sign up bonus on Chase Sapphire Preferred!

How to get 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

For a very limited amount of time (they can pull this offer at any moment) Chase is giving new account sign ups one hundred thousand chase ultimate rewards points!

That is insane!

Apply Now!

With this many points you can fly round trip to just about anywhere for free (just pay tax) when you book saver awards!

You can also use these points for hotel stays or straight up cash back.

Got a Big Purchase Coming UP?

Planning a trip? Buying a big ticket item? New phone? Need surgery? (ha.)

These are prime times to strategically open a new card and get the benefits of the card including generous sign up bonuses for money you were already going to spend anyways!

Please Don't Miss this Bonus!

Please don't miss this bonus. It brings me so much joy to see friends and family getting free hotel stays, flights, and more by taking advantage of these offers. If you have questions let me know!

GET YOUR SIGN UP BONUS TODAY!

Can I get the Chase Sapphire Sign Up Bonus more than once?
Yes. However, if you have received a new card sign up bonus for Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred in the past 48 months you may not be eligible for this offer.

Looking for another way to get free flights?

Free United Flights - Earn 80,000 United Bonus Miles Today!

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How To Do Laundry On A Cruise

3/7/2025

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How To Do Laundry On A Cruise

We always travel carry-on only these days and that means that there is a good chance we will need to do laundry at some point on a cruise.

Pay per bag of laundry

Every cruise line has laundry options where you can send a bag of laundry out and have it returned washed, pressed, folded and hung for a set rate. This can run from $15-30 per bag (stuff that bag people!).

Different cruise lines may also offer discounts at various loyalty levels with the line.

In This Post:

How To Do Laundry On A Cruise:
- Pay Per Bag
- Onboard Laundromat
- Free Laundry For Some
- DIY Laundry

What If Clothes Aren't Drying Fast Enough

Free Laundry on Princess Cruises

On our 15th anniversary Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise , we were soo happy to have laundry included in our fare as we were granted elite status on the line.

Sun Princess Deluxe Balcony Tour

Is there a laundromat on board?

Princess and Cunard are among the very few lines to have self-service laundry available to guests.

How To DIY Laundry On A Cruise

Aside from our Sun Princess Cruise (review here), we always do laundry in our stateroom. It's easy.

We always bring this Wash & Stain Bar and brush and wash clothes in the sink!

Shop on Amazon: Wash & Stain Bar + The Laundress Brush

You will find that some cruise cabins have a line to dry clothes, but others do not. Therefore we always bring a portable clothes line.

This particular one has clips on either end, but can also be tied around an anchoring point as needed. The portable clothes line is durable and braided, so you don't need clothes pins to hang your clothes. Rather, you pull down on a loop of the braid and feed a piece of your clothing in that way!

This is a very small item to toss in your luggage and it can come in handy if you need to do laundry on your cruise!

If it's safe in your cabin type, you may wish to leave the shower door open as well as the bathroom door while clothes are drying to help things along.

Do be careful of leaving loose items outside on your balcony as they can fly away when the winds pick up.

What to do if the clothes aren't drying fast enough

I hear you, I hear you. You ran out of undies and now you're in a bit of a situation as the ones you washed earlier are not quite dry and it's time for formal night dinner. What to do, what to do?!

Easy. Grab the hair dryer, folks!

Rather than blowdrying from the outside of the garment, try to find a way to close off the openings of the garment so the hairdryer can fill the garment with air from the inside and essentially be drying in all directions simultaneously.

A simple example is to put the tip of the hairdryer inside a sock. The sock balloons out and is dry in a really short amount of time.

Try the same trick with other clothing items if possible to reduce dry times in a pinch!

While none of this is exactly a stroke of genius revelation, maybe some of the points above are things you hadn't thought of before and will help you out on your next cruise!

Happy sailing!

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Hilton Free Night Certificate

9/3/2024

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Everything you need to know about Hilton Free Reward Night Certificates:
how to get them, how to redeem them, where you can redeem them, and what to do if yours is about to expire!

Post by: Travel Agent Marissa Books Travel

Conrade Algarve by Hilton

• Stay at Conrad Algarve in Portugal •

What to do when your hilton free night certificate is expiring

Last year I opened a Hilton Honors credit card and earned a great sign up bonus of 70,000 Hilton Honors Points as well as a Hilton free night certificate.

Hilton Honors Sign Up Bonus

Do hilton honors points expire?

While Hilton points do expire within 24 months of inactivity, I was more concerned about when my free night certificate would expire.

How to keep hilton honors points from expiring

To stop your Hilton Points from expiring you can simply use your Hilton Credit Card, stay at a Hilton Hotel, Redeem Hilton Points, Buy or Donate Hilton Points, or even just signing up for a Hilton promotion. When in doubt, buy a pack of gum with your card every so often. :)

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

• Stay at Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam •

How long are hilton free night certificates good for?

Hilton certificates are good for 12 months from the issue date. My certificate was issued on September 5th. I had a daily reminder on my calendar to use this free night for the past year and here we are on September 3rd and time is up!

What to do if you free reward night is about to expire?

I have great news for you! If your free hotel night is about to expire you can actually contact Hilton for an extension. I logged into my Hilton account, chatted with a lovely agent, and was able to get a one-time extension of 14 days for my Hilton free night certificate!!

Travel Credit Cards:

Where is my hilton free night certificate?

Once a Hilton free night certificate has been awarded to you, whether as a credit card sign up bonus or for your brand loyalty in some other way, you will receive an email from Hilton Honors (mine was from [email protected]) with instructions on how to redeem.

What is the hilton honors customer care phone number?

Call Hilton Honors Customer Care at 1-800-446-6677

Can i redeem my hilton free night reward online?

While you currently cannot redeem the free night by yourself on the website, there is a way to redeem it online.

Hilton Free Night Email

Log into your Hilton account and utilizing the Hilton Chat you will be able to redeem your reward night with the chat agent. Just type "redeem Hilton free night certificate - chat with agent" into the chat box!

Free Hilton Award Nights

Are there exclusions with the hilton free reward nights?

Surprisingly, Hilton has very few restrictions and exclusions on using these certificates. There are no black out dates and you can book any night of the week. You can get a free night at any Hilton property (standard room, double occupancy) with the exception of these properties.

What is the value of a hilton free night certificate?

You may be wondering what a free Hilton award night is actually worth. The truth is, it varies. You can use this (foolishly) on a cheap hotel night costing $50 or you can take advantage of the opportunity to use it for a hotel like Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam that would normally cost upwards of $900 a night!

Where CAn I see my hilton free night CERTIFICATE in my account?

Log in to your Hilton Honors account.

Click near your name at the top right of the page.

Next click Account as shown here.

Scroll down past the section "Manage your stay" and the section about your loyalty status with Hilton.

Hilton Account

Here in your Hilton Account you will see your Free Night Reward(s), the last 4 digits of the certificate number, and their expiration dates.

Hilton Free Night Award

Hilton Best Welcome Bonus

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay

• Stay at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay •

do i have to travel before the expiration date or just make the reservation in time?

I asked the Hilton Chat representative the very question and she gave such a helpful, clear answer.

"The checkout date must be before expiration or till the expiration date"

"If your coupon is expiring on September 04, then you can make the booking with check out date of September 04"

Hilton Chat

can someone else use my hilton free night certificate?

Yes and no. So the Free Night Reward is not transferable to another person. You can't send the certificate to another Hilton Honors account. But what you can do is contact Hilton and redeem free night award certificates for someone else. Simply have them book the stay in the other person's name. A free night at a nice hotel can be a great gift!

Get the Hilton Honors Card

Hotel Reviews:

Hilton Distinctive Properties List

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Portugal Travel tips: 9 things to know when eating at a restaurant in Portugal

8/4/2024

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Portuguese Steak with Fried Egg, Rice, and French Fries | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

In addition to historical castles, charming villages, and spectacular cliff beaches, eating out in Portugal is going to be a highlight of your trip to Portugal, for sure.

If it's your first time visiting Portugal, you may be wondering things:

How to order food in a restaurant in Portuguese
How much should you tip?
Can I use credit cards in Portugal?

I'm going to help you navigate your first restaurant experience with a few insights that should prove helpful!

In this post:

Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:

1. The bread is not free.

If you're an American, you are used to a lot of freebies.

When you go to a restaurant, if there is bread and butter on the table it is complimentary. In fact, you can often get free refills on the free bread and butter at a restaurant.

If that is your background and you arrive at a restaurant in Portugal to see a lovely display of bread, butter, olives, and the like at your table, you will naturally assume it is complimentary.

It isn't.

This is called the Couvert and it may be on your table when you arrive or presented to you shortly after seating. The idea is to provide you with some little bites right away while you peruse the menu and then wait for your food.

The price for each item will be shown in the menu and you may be surprised at how it is itemized. Literally each pad of butter has a set price. To an American this can be a bit jarring the first time, but it really does promote a more intentional way of eating and less waste.

What if i don't want the Couvert?

If the couvert set is already on your table when you arrive just let the waitstaff know right away you don't want it and they will take it away and not charge you for it. (But please double check your bill at the end because it can be accidentally added)

If you've already taken some bites, I'm sorry to tell you that you will be charged for the entirety even if you thought it was free. Tourist Tax. :)

The good news is it's usually only a few dollars and in a region known for bread and olives you're more than likely going to love it! Some areas will also include things like sardine pate or algarvian cenouras (carrots).

If you want the olives but not the sardine paste, just let them know and they will remove it and charge you just for the items you want.

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2. How to get a glass of water at a restaurant in portugal

If you're not a pop (soda) person, you may be accustomed to just requesting a glass of water in a restaurant. The wait staff will bring you an ice water and regularly refill it. In some cases they will set a pitcher right on your table!

This practice is not common in Portugal. In some cases you may be able to request and receive "Tap water"[in Portuguese: "Um copo de água da torneira, por favor" meaning "a cup of water from the faucet, please".

However, generally speaking water is served here in bottles. You can order a large bottle for sharing or smaller bottles and you will always be asked "com gás?" In Portugal, sparkling mineral water is very Popular so if you want one you ask for "agua com gás" and if you want regular still water you say "agua sem gás"

Portuguese Lesson :
Agua means "water"
Com means "with"
Sem means "without"

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3. How to order a beer in portugal?

Sagres Beer in Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

There are craft breweries in Portugal, but the most popular national beers of Portugal are Sagres and Super Bock. Both are refreshing after a day at the beach under the blazing sun or to wash down a hearty francesinha in the cooler months.

There are a few ways to order beer in Portugal.

You can simply ask for a "Sagres" or a "Super Bock". Think of it like asking for "Coke" or "Pepsi". You may have a personal preference for Coca-cola, but some establishments only carry Pepsi. If you order a Sagres and the restaurant doesn't carry it they may just reply "Super Bock?" and you can say "Sim" for "yes" or nod and say, "Está bom", as if to say "it's good!"

Beer goes great with a Bifana | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog

By the way, a bifana is a simple sandwich of thin slices of pork on a super soft roll. In case you were wondering "what is a bifana?!"

Beer Sizes in Portugal

By the way, you may want to know how to say beer in Portuguese. The Portuguese word for beer is "cerveja", pronounced, sir-vay-juh. (vay as in va-cation)

If you're ordering a draft you can get a Caneca (mug) or my favorite, an imperial, which is a 20 cl beer. For me it's the perfect size to cool down and you can drink it before it gets warm in one of the 300+ days of sun in Portugal. Apparently in Porto this is also known as fino.

How much is a small beer in portugal?

Often you can order one of these small beers, imperial, in Portugal for a little over a euro. =)
Needless to say if you are at a fancy restaurant or you're at a cafe on the beach prices will be higher, but still feel like a great value for most Americans.

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4. How to avoid blood in Portuguese food

A number of Portuguese dishes can contain blood. This may not be something you think about before your trip to Portugal, but for those who choose not to eat blood (Genesis 9:4; Acts 15:29) here are some dishes to look out for:

Portuguese Feijoada is a pork and bean stew that sometimes includes blood sausage
Morcela is Portuguese Blood Sausage
Cabidela or arroz de cabidela is typical of Minho in the north of Portugal and is a rice dish made with blood.

These are just a few examples of Portuguese food that contain blood. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

If you are unsure, it's a good idea to ask if a dish has blood in it before ordering. The Portuguese word for blood is "sangue".

You could ask something like "isso tem sangue?" meaning "does this have blood?"
You can clarify your concern by adding "I do not eat blood" - "eu não como sangue"

Of course in the end you can say thank you with the word "Obrigado" for guys and "Obrigada" for girls.

Side note: We have noticed some other food products containing blood in the grocery. So do take a moment to scan the ingredients of any sausage or chouriço whether whole or sliced and especially if the color is dark, as well as pasta sauce! Yes you read that correctly. We have actually seen sangue, blood, as an ingredient in pre-made tomato sauce. It's not common, but it happens. So if it's important to you, just keep your eyes peeled. =)

Bacalhau com Grão | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog

A blood-free and very Portuguese dish, bacalhau com grão is a dish featuring salted cod and chick peas!
PSA: watch for bones!

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5. Prato do dia Lunch deals in portugal

A great way to save money during your trip to Portugal and eat a hearty meal is the take advantage of the Prato do Dia (plate of the day) that many restaurants offer.

Typically these set menus are offered on week days during lunch so the Portuguese can have an economical, well rounded, and "efficient" meal during their work day.

What is included in prato do dia?

Prato do Dia in Portugal May Include Dessert and Coffee | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

At this point it varies wildly based on region and the individual restaurant, but o menu (the menu, as in the set menu for the day) could include all of the following: bread, butter, olives, soup, main dish like grilled piri-piri chicken or sardines (sardinhas), a drink (uma bebida) which can be a jarred drink like water, juice or pop, or it can be beer or a glass (sometimes pitcher) of wine, dessert (sobremesa), coffee (um café) and sometimes even a shot of liquor at the end for anywhere between 10-15 euros per person.

Again it varies a lot. You may find a place offering all of this for under 10 euros in a smaller town or you may find Prato do dia under 10 euros that is more simple like one main dish, one drink, and a coffee a the end, but no matter how you slice it these are almost always an excellent value and way to try Portuguese fare along side locals for an authentic experience.

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6. you don't have to rush in portugal

In America the dining experience tends to be rushed. There are lines and servers need to turn tables fast because their livelihood depends on the tips they get. More tables = more tips = hurry up, eat fast, leave asap.

This is soooo different in Portugal. The pace of life in many ways is a lot slower than the US and dining out is included. Aside from a few popular restaurants that imply (but idk if they truly enforce) a table limit like this great pizza place in Lisbon, you are welcome to take your time at a restaurant.

This is time to relax and enjoy both the food and the company who you have chosen to be around the table with. In many cases you will need to ask for the bill to signal you are ready to leave.

Relevant side note: Do keep in mind that many restaurants in Portugal will close at 3 and re-open for dinner anytime between 5 and 7 pm. So be sure to get in to a restaurant before 3 or you will have to wait a few hours and hangry scaries can set in fast...

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7. How to ask for the bill in portuguese

There are many ways to ask for the bill after eating a meal at a restaurant in Portugal. One common expression is "A conta, por favor" or "The bill, please".

You can also say "Queria pagar" for "I would like to pay"

To sound even more Portuguese, and informal, you can simply say "a continha" (con-teen-yah).

If the restaurant is loud and busy you can also gesture in the air as if you're writing with a pen and they will know you want the check.

On some occasions a bill will be left on your table sooner, but you do not need to take it as a hint to leave. It's more for convenience and you can then take it to the till to pay when you're ready.

Cafe with a view Ohlos d'Agua Algarve Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

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8. Tipping culture in Portugal

America is a tipping culture especially in the restaurant industry where workers are barely paid two nickels an hour which is absolutely insane. In Portugal workers in restaurants are paid an actual wage, so tipping here is not necessary.

In some cases it could be offensive, I'm told. In most cases a small rounding up to the nearest bill would be welcomed and appreciated. Overall, however, tipping at a restaurant is not expected. If you have the means and someone did something great, go for it! But at the same time, not leaving a tip in Portugal is not seen as rude, cheap, unappreciative, or ripping off the staff. I know it's hard to wrap your head around, but remember this is a different culture.

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9. Can you use credit cards in portugal?

Pastelaria Versailles in Lisbon accepts Credit Cards | Traveling Through Food Blog Portugal Travel Blog

One final and important tip about eating out in Portugal. You may be wondering if you can use your credit card in Portugal.

It depends.

Portugal overall is a cash culture. but if you are spending time in touristy areas like Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve, for example, it is most likely that many places will accept credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than American Express.

You'll want to look at the door of the restaurant. If it says "Multibanco" with an X through it, that means they do not accept card. If they accept cards you will usually see on the door which cards they accept (Visa, etc) See the photo above for an example. The arrow points to the "Visa" logo on the door of Pastelaria Versailles in Lisbon. (PS they have one of the best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, and all of Portugal in our opinion so far!)

How to ask if you can pay with a credit card in portuguese

You can say "Posso pagar com cartão?" for "May I pay with card"

Usually they will bring the card reader right to your seat and you can use tap to pay in Portugal right from your phone.

Be sure to use a card that has no foreign transaction fees.

When the machine asks you if you want the bill to be charged in USD or Euro, always pick Euro!! When you choose Euro (the local currency) your credit card company will do the conversion at a better rate. When you choose USD then the establishment can mark up the conversion and your end bill can be more than expected. This applies in any country, by the way.

-> Our recommended travel cards <-

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Enjoy your meal!

I hope these tips help you while you eat out in Portugal! Don't worry, in most major cities where you are likely to visit you will be able to get by in English. If you want to have a more interesting and enriching experience I invite you to to try some of the Portuguese phrases in this article!

Book a cruise to portugal!

Belem Tower, Lisbon Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog

Are you ready to come to Portugal and eat all the delicious foods?!

Did you know you can stop in Lisbon, Porto, or Algarve on a cruise?

Tap below and ask for Portugal Cruise Deals!

More info please!

eating out in portugal
Portugal restaurant etiquette
Portugal restaurant tipping
Portugal restaurant menu
Portugal restaurant reservations
how to order food in portuguese
how to order a beer in portuguese

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How to transfer chase points to united to get free flights | Marissa books travel blog

7/8/2024

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So you've earned enough Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a free flight and you're ready to transfer them to United to get it booked - congratulations! Few things are more exciting than getting free travel.

It really is not difficult to send your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to your United MileagePlus Account. In this simple tutorial I will show you one of the ways to do this!

-> Current Free Travel Bonuses <-

Step One: Log into your Chase Account and Click "Ultimate Rewards Points"

On a desktop you will see it at the top right of your log in page.

Step two: Select Which card you want to see

In this case since we are transferring to travel partners we need to select the Chase Sapphire Card

Step Three: Select Transfer points to partners

At the top of the page you will see the drop down menu under travel. Select "Transfer points to partners"

Step four: Scroll down to select united airlines

Scroll down to select the travel partner of your choice - in this case United Airlines.

Step five: Click transfer points

Step six: Confirm Your Mileageplus account

You will need to enter your United MileagePlus Account Number here. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for one for free here. Then click next.

Step seven: Confirm how many points

You'll go ahead and type in how many points you want to transfer. Please note, you can only transfer in increments of 1,000.

Example: If you need 38,500 points you will need to round up and transfer 39,000 points.

Click next on the bottom right when you're ready.

Step eight: Confirm details and submit

Take a moment to confirm the details of your transfer. On the left side you will see your Chase card, how many points you are moving and how many you will have left. On the right side you will see the travel partner, in this case United MileagePlus, and how many points that account will be receiving. When you're sure the values are what you need for your trip, click submit! :)

How long will it take for my chase points to show in my united account?

As you can see by the fine print on the image above, officially "most point transfers process by the next business day, but may take up to 7 business days."

In my personal experience, the points have shown up nearly instantaneously - it's amazing! If you are logged into your United account you will need to log out and then log back in to see the points.

You may have a different experience, but all I can do is share what has happened to me 100% of the time in the past 8+ years doing this. I hope you have the same experience I have had so far! :)

Tips for transferring chase UR points to United

I always recommend transferring your chase points directly to a travel partner like United as opposed to booking through their travel platform. You are almost always going to get a better value from your points that way :)
Wait until you're sure you will be booking United flights and know exactly how many points you will need to transfer. Once you make a transfer it is final and you're locked in to that travel partner (airline, hotel etc) so I always do it right before I'm ready to book my flight! :)

how do i get these amazing points for free flights?

Easy peasy lemon squeezy! You just need a Sapphire Card or if you already have one, get the United Card. With both you will get a really great sign up bonus. Bonuses are linked on the Best Travel Credit Cards Page

Are travel agents worth it?

... with tips like these, is it even a question? ;)

Pin for later:

Share this with a friend or save it to your Pinterest Travel Board for later - you're going to need it when all your Chase Points start rolling in ;)

Filed Under:

• Travel Credit cards
• united airline miles
• Marissa books travel
• Technical writing
• travel hacks
• TRAVEL TUTORIAL
• Chase Cards
• are travel agents worth it?

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Helping My Alaska Cruise Clients (& you!) Get Free Flights | Marissa Books Travel Blog

5/26/2024

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Post By: Marissa Books Travel

your visit to this page made me smile! ｡◕‿◕｡

Over the past month I have had the privilege to work with a lovely family on a very special Alaska cruise to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary - isn't that amazing?!

What a great way to honor such a landmark and truly inspirational example of working hard to preserve this sacred union. :)

While the cruise is still more than a year out and it's too early to book flights, I decided to take a proactive peak at what the prevailing rates were for this year so I could match my clients with a money-saving strategy that worked for them.

I quickly realized that Southwest Airlines does not fly into Anchorage, where their cruise will depart. However, my old standby United sure does! ;)

As you can see below, I did a search paying with miles instead of money and there is potentially for flights at 15k + 5.60 taxes/fees. :)

Filed Under:

Travel Deals
Alaska Cruise
Princess Cruises
JW Travel Agent
Travel Tips + Travel Hacks
Marissa Books Travel

^ Tap to explore more of what interest you! :)

United Award Flights Nashville to Anchorage 15,000 miles

Since my client has 5 travelers, at 15k per person we need 75k miles or corresponding points to get them free flights from Nashville to Anchorage Alaska (BNA - ANC) for their Alaska Anniversary Cruise!

The United card is one I highly recommend, but in this case I recommended it along with an alternative (actually my top favorite travel card!) because there is a limited time offer of a 75,000 point sign up bonus with this card right now. It's rare to see the bonus tip over 60k so this is perfect timing! These universal travel points can be transferred to United at a 1:1 ratio. Meaning my clients have a very real potential of getting all 5 of their flights free if they choose to take advantage of this offer!

•> SEE OUR CURRENT TRAVEL BONUS RECOMMENDATIONS HERE! <•

How Much My Clients Can Save

The cash price of these flights was $354 so multiply that by 5 people and my clients have the potential to save +/- $1770 on their flights one way! Of course they do have a flight home to think about. And guess what? They could take advantage of another bonus to cover that one too ;)

This is a huge advantage of booking travel early. You have time to take advantage of these opportunities at a reasonable pace. ;) This is also the advantage of booking with a travel agent who loves travel and can help you find out-of-the-box ways to save on your trip! :)

Related timeless Wisdom

Who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, he might lay its foundation but not be able to finish it, and all the onlookers would start to ridicule him, saying: ‘This man started to build but was not able to finish. (Proverbs 22:7)
The borrower is slave to the lender. (Proverbs 21:17)

Basically, taking advantage of these opportunities requires planning and responsible credit card use. If you cannot meet the threshold to receive the bonus, or you cannot pay the balance of your card each month then it's not wise to try this because the amount of fees you will incur will far outweigh the "benefits".

However, if you are in a position to leverage these opportunities financially it can really open up opportunities for you to enjoy both "a handful of rest" and display a "Here I Am! Send Me!" spirit. ;)

•> See our current travel bonus recommendations here! <•

Pin For Later & Share With a Friend!

Airplane wing seen from window inside plane

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United Mileageplus - 60,000 MILEs - Best Travel Credit Card sign-up bonuses

11/18/2023

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One of my favorite ways to make travel more accessible is leveraging credit card rewards for travel.
I want you to travel for free too. So I'm sharing this sign up bonus on a card I personally use!

tap to compare cards

For a limited time United Airlines Explorer Mileage Plus is offering a bonus of 60,000 bonus miles at sign up! The bonus is often set at 50k so you'll get an extra 10k!

sweet deal.

How many flights can 60,000 airline miles get you?

Every airline's program works differently and values points differently. But since we are talking about united airlines, let me give you a first hand example.

I recently booked 2 flights between the US and Europe for 58,000 United Miles

So it is reasonable that you can find flights to Europe and back with your sign up bonus, let alone domestic flights! Slick, right?

Check Current United Airlines Sign Up Bonus

tap to get free flights!

My favorite benefit of the United Explorer Card is that the sign up bonus lets me travel roundtrip to Europe for free lol.

Beyond that, you will enjoy a free checked bag on United flights, 2 free passes to United Club lounges at the airport (airport lounges are so great) and some other benefits you can read about.

But let's be honest, you're here for free flights and the lounge access is a bonus. :)

United actually has several travel credit cards available so you may want to compare them to see what suits your needs best at this time. Each has its own unique perks and sign up bonuses.

Check them out below!

Compare United Card Bonuses

What's your favorite travel credit card?

Our favorite travel credit cards can be found on our Best Travel Credit Cards page. But when we aren't eligible for those bonuses, we always have a Chase United Card because the miles go far internationally!

We would love to hear what your favorite travel credit card is or your favorite trip where you got free flights from a travel credit card! :)

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Best United Card Sign Up Bonus

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See Also:

Best Chase Sapphire Sign Up Bonus - 100k!

​How to get 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Got a Big Purchase Coming UP?

​​Please Don't Miss this Bonus!

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-> Our recommended travel cards <-

Enjoy your meal!

Book a cruise to portugal!

Step One: Log into your Chase Account and Click "Ultimate Rewards Points"

Step two: Select Which card you want to see

Step Three: Select Transfer points to partners

Step four: Scroll down to select united airlines

Step five: Click transfer points

Step six: Confirm Your Mileageplus account

Step seven: Confirm how many points

Step eight: Confirm details and submit

How long will it take for my chase points to show in my united account?

Tips for transferring chase UR points to United

how do i get these amazing points for free flights?

Read Next: HELPING MY ALASKA CRUISE CLIENTS (& YOU!) GET FREE FLIGHTS | MARISSA BOOKS TRAVEL BLOG READ NEXT: Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1

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Filed Under: ​• Travel Credit cards ​• united airline miles ​• Marissa books travel ​• Technical writing ​• travel hacks• TRAVEL TUTORIAL• Chase Cards ​• are travel agents worth it?

•> SEE OUR CURRENT TRAVEL BONUS RECOMMENDATIONS HERE! <•

How Much My Clients Can Save

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How many flights can 60,000 airline miles get you?

What's your favorite travel credit card?

Oh, Hey!

​Check out this recent cruise post:

​Check out this recent Restaurant Review:

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How to get 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Please Don't Miss this Bonus!

Is there a laundromat on board?

Do hilton honors points expire?

Are there exclusions with the hilton free reward nights?

Where CAn I see my hilton free night CERTIFICATE in my account?

do i have to travel before the expiration date or just make the reservation in time?

Hotel Reviews:

2. How to get a glass of water at a restaurant in portugal

4. How to avoid blood in Portuguese food

What is included in prato do dia?

6. you don't have to rush in portugal

8. Tipping culture in Portugal

Read Next: HELPING MY ALASKA CRUISE CLIENTS (& YOU!) GET FREE FLIGHTS | MARISSA BOOKS TRAVEL BLOG

READ NEXT: Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1

Filed Under:

• Travel Credit cards
• united airline miles
• Marissa books travel
• Technical writing
• travel hacks
• TRAVEL TUTORIAL
• Chase Cards
• are travel agents worth it?

Check out this recent cruise post:

Check out this recent Restaurant Review:

Travel Blog
Destinations

Reviews