Need a coin?

My niece sent me information on this new way to manage credit cards and I think it is fantastic.  I constantly am changing credit cards trying to get the best deals.  The problem is I can only carry so many cards at once.  This new 'coin" solves that problem along with the problem of never leaving your credit card at a store or restaurant.  Check out this video and tell me what you think.  If you are interested in pre-ordering a"coin" please use this coin link.

Even if you don't have that many credit cards or managing them is not a problem this is a short video that is definitely worth watching.

For Rent: 1 Bedroom Las Vegas Marriott Timeshare - $40 a night

I have the following timeshare for rent.  There are no taxes. The price you see is the price in full.  You can't beat $40 a night for a one bedroom (this is not a studio).

·       Marriott Grand Chateau Las Vegas

November 19 to 22 (4 days/3 nights) $120.00 ($40 night)

Or Nov. 18 to 22 (5 days/4 nights) $160.00

If you go to the Marriott website this rents for $399 for 4 nights or $533 for 5 nights. This is a one bedroom with a King bed and a sleeper sofa. It has a full kitchen.  It is near the strip. The location has a rooftop pool. Check it out at the below website address.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lasvg-marriotts-grand-chateau/

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 For further questions send your email to: starttravelingforless@earthlink.net

Save $100 off a two night stay at Hyatt (Expires 1/13/14)

I have a certificate that gives $100 off a two night stay at a Hyatt located in the USA, Canada or the Caribbean.  Advance reservations are required.  This coupon expires on 1/13/2014.

Unfortunately there are some restrictions- The rate cannot be below $120 a night at Hyatt hotels or $180 a night at Hyatt Resorts

This coupon is not valid at Park Hyatt, Andaz, AVIA, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Summerfield, Hyatt House, Hotel Sierra, Hyatt Residence Club and locations outside the US, Canada and Caribbean.

You must physically have this coupon in your possession so only email me if you can use it and I will mail it to you. Also, provide me with the name of the Hyatt hotel you will be staying at so I can guarantee it is on the list of qualified hotels.

If you can use this coupon email me at travelforless@earthlink.net

FREE United Airlines Discount Codes (Expire 09-30-13) (CODES ARE GONE)

I have two free United Airlines discount codes.  You can save:

• $25 off a ticket that costs between $175 and $274. 
• $50 off a ticket priced between $275 and $399
• $100 off a ticket priced $400 or more

These promo codes expire on September 30th, 2013.  If you know for sure you can use these codes please email me at travelforless@earthlink.net and I will provide you with the promo codes.

Marriott Timeshares for rent

I have three different timeshares for rent. Pick one (or more) and have fun traveling at a great price! There are no parking fees or taxes.  The price you see is the price in full. 

·      Marriott Desert Springs Villas 1 in Palm Desert. There are two choices in renting this 2 br/2ba unit.

o   Sept. 2 to 9  (8 days/7 nights)  $400 ($29 nt/per room)

                       or

o   Sept. 5 to 9 (5 days/4 nights)  $250 ($31 nt./per room)

If you go to the Marriott website you will see the timeshares are very nicely furnished and close to the Marriott hotel where you have full use of the spa midweek. If you book this unit through Marriott it would cost you $4338.34 (that is not a typo) for the full week. Click on the link below and check out the location, description and photos. 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ctdds-marriotts-desert-springs-villas-i/

This timeshare is a two bedroom/ 2 bath.  There is a king in the master, 2 doubles in the second bedroom and a sleeper sofa in the living room.  The timeshare is just under 1700 sq. feet.  It has a full kitchen and dining room. It also has a washer/dryer.  

·      Marriott Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert.

September 15 to 22 (8 days/7 nights) $175.00 ($25 night)

If you go to the Marriott website you will find this resort is nicely furnished.  It is only a studio.  It has a king bed and a sleeper sofa. It does not have a full kitchen but just a small bar refrigerator and microwave.  The location has some great pools.  This is a very kid friendly resort with lots of activities. You may be worried about taking a week off of work, but at $25 a night even if you don’t stay the whole time it is a steal. If you book this through Marriott it is $705 for the week. I like this location and stay here often.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/travel/ctdsr-marriotts-shadow-ridge-i-the-villages/

·      Marriott Grand Chateau Las Vegas

November 19 to 22 (4 days/3 nights) $120.00 ($40 night)

If you go to the Marriott website this rents for $399. This is a one bedroom with a King bed and a sleeper sofa..  It is near the strip. The location has a rooftop pool. Check it out at the below website address.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lasvg-marriotts-grand-chateau/

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

As you can tell I like Marriott timeshares.  I have stayed at numerous timeshares and I know that Marriott provides a quality timeshare. Unfortunately, the listed dates are not flexible. For further questions email travelforless@earthlink.net.  Just remember I get to keep the Marriott points.

Take a hike

Entrance fees to National Parks are waived during National Park Week, April 22-26.  Next week go take a hike, or two.

FREE Los Angeles Dodger Tickets

If you live in the Los Angeles area here is a quick and easy way to get two FREE Dodger tickets.  All you have to do is get a fast, free car insurance quote from Mercury Insurance.  There is no obligation to buy anything.  Just go to: Mercuryinsurance.com/dodgers and enter the promotion code: Dodgers.  The quote must be completed by 5-31-13 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Not all games are eligible for the two free tickets but hey FREE is still a great deal.  I did this last year (See September 5, 2012 blog) and had a fun time at the game.

Uggg...It's Tax Day. So What's So Sweet About It?

No one likes tax day but Cinnabon just made it a little sweeter.  From 6 PM to 8PM Cinnabon is giving out two free Cinnabon Bites.  Enjoy!

Global Scavenger Hunt Begins

Today starts the Global Scavenger Hunt that I have previously blogged about.  I will be traveling to 10 countries in 23 days.  I just don't know what countries I will be traveling to.  I have packed everything I need into a carry-on travel bag by Eagle Creek.  I found this bag on sale at a local sports store.  The regular cost was $315 but this luggage was reduced to $134.  The best part is it has the "No Matter What" warranty. I previously talked about this warranty in the August 6, 2012 blog.  I had to use the warranty recently when TSA broke the handle off my suitcase. Without this type of warranty the damage would not have been repaired.  Even if you have a lifetime warranty this does not cover "normal wear and tear" or damage by TSA. On a Monday I dropped my luggage off to be repaired at Eagle Creek, by Tuesday the company had repaired and returned my luggage to my house. I figure I want some very sturdy luggage for this adventure.

Unfortunately, I will not be blogging during my trip so thanks to all those who donated!

The Numbers Game

American Airlines flight 7525, Alaska Airlines 3456 and Delta 9257 all have something in common.  All three airlines fly from Portland to Burbank and all three are the very same flight.  This is what is known as codeshare. A codeshare agreement, sometimes simply codeshare, is an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight. A seat can be purchased on one airline but is actually operated by a cooperating airline under a different flight number or code. Why is this important?  I picked a random date in the future, May 12th, and checked the prices that all three airlines offered a ticket from Portland to Burbank.  Now remember this is the very same flight for all three airlines. Below are the prices showing on each airline's respective website:

AMERICAN PRICE= $318

DELTA PRICE=$117.90

ALASKA PRICE=$117.90

Do you want to pay $318 when you book on the American website or $118 when you book on the Alaska or Delta website to fly on the same plane?
Moral of the story-do your homework.

FREE Luggage and More

I am just a few days from my 10 country, 23 day around the world trip.  While the trip is going to be a great adventure I truly love that the organization responsible for organizing this adventure, the Great Escape Foundation, also incorporates the gift of giving back to worthy causes. 

The Great Escape Foundation has partnered with Travelpro, the makers of great luggage.  Anyone who donates a minimum of $25 will be entered to win a set of Travelpro luggage or some great travel gift certificates to exotic locations.  Click Here to donate online. Donations will be accepted until May 5, 2013 (the day our scavenger hunt ends).

For those who have already donated a minimum of $25 to this cause via the link on my web page you are already entered to win the luggage but don't let that stop you from donating again and increasing your chances of winning.

Get Skinny.....Save Money

An article in the Los Angeles Times shows that losing weight can save you money when you travel.  In January, Samoa Airlines debuted its pay-by-the-kilo policy.  This has resulted in an international controversy about fat discrimination.

The airline's chief executive, Chris Langton, stated, “Booking a flight with us (Samoa Airlines) is as easy as inputting your approximate weight into our online booking engine (don't worry, we will weigh you again at the airport)… Take as many or as few bags as you wish - and avoid the exorbitant excess baggage fees! With Samoa Air, you are the master of how much (or little!) your air ticket will cost.”

One bright note to this policy: Families with small children, who often feel persecuted when they travel, stand to benefit most from this policy. Since Samoa no longer charges by the seat, it will cost them a lot less to fly than it did before.

Predictably,  the news about Samoa Air, which flies in only a fraction of the world (Samoa, American Samoa, French Polynesia), has received a lot of attention.

Turtle Soup, Stir-fry Mouse or Barbequed Rattlesnake?

We are less than two weeks out from the Global Scavenger Hunt.  When we initially spoke with the organizers we had been told that we get to pick which challenges we want to do out of a list of challenges.  We are very excited and look forward to doing the charity challenges and anything else that sounds interesting.  I am very competitive.  I like the idea of coming in first and winning.  The prize for first place is a free trip the following year.  But this trip is going to be different and I am willing to put my competitiveness on hold.  Maria and I have decided the most important thing is to have this trip bring us a lifetime of memories versus blisters, sore muscles and lack of sleep.  We are willing to do challenges that may not have the highest point values but sound interesting to us.

While Maria felt the Scavenger Hunt would be fun she was really hoping there would be no food challenges. We read a blog of last year's trip and found that some challenges are mandatory while others are optional.  There are even some mandatory food challenges.  Last year in Taiwan one of the food challenges was turtle soup, stir fry mouse or BBQ rattlesnake.  I think I would have chosen the rattle snake. What would you chose?

We still need help with charity donations to the Great Escape Foundation. Below is an excerpt of   my February 18th blog.  Your donation also helps me to reaffirm that you benefit from this blog, as I am asking for a $4 donation if you read this blog and have ever benefited.

February 18, 2013 blog: The Global Scavenger Hunt™is going to be leaving from Los Angeles. This is the exciting travel adventure competition that is going to take us around-the-world in April 2013.  Well, in addition to all the fun we are going to have competing for The World’s Greatest Travelers™ crown, we have joined forces with the events organizers to help focus on issues that affect our Global Village with the GreatEscape Foundation.

The GreatEscape Foundation -- a 501(c)(3) California tax-exempt non-profit corporation -- is a global charitable organization designed to have a lasting impact on thousands of lives over the coming years. In conjunction with the GreatEscape2013 travel adventure competition, it is the goal of all competitors to raise $1 million through the GreatEscape Foundation for great noble causes such as: Doctors without Borders, KIVA, Partners in Health, Free the Children, the Nomad Foundation, and the World Monuments Fund, among others. Each one a great cause that achieves wonderful things in the world.

We appreciate the fact that you are personally inundated with requests from many worthwhile organizations, and that you must decide where you feel your contributions will have the greatest impact. By supporting us and the GreatEscape Foundation, you would be sharing in our deep personal commitment and philosophy of life, that giving back to our community is a critically important aspect of being both decent citizens and in sharing with those less fortunate our own personal successes. 

I know in these difficult financial times it is hard for some of you to give to others when you are struggling yourself.  So here is what I suggest.  If you have benefited from this blog, even if it was only once, how about sponsoring us for a $.0001 a kilometer ($.0001 = $4) based on our team completing the estimated 40,000 kilometer around-the-world competition.  Of course if you could spare a donation of .001 a kilometer for a $40 donation it would be greatly appreciated.  For my friends who want a really large tax write-off a donation of $.01 a kilometer = $400 will earn you one free United Airline lounge pass.   The GreatEscape Foundation has grand and noble aspirations, but it can’t achieve its goals without the help of people like you and me helping it grow and expand. 

You might not think $4 would help but if every reader donated we could do great things. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.  For my readers from countries outside the United States, who knows, we might be visiting you in April. Please click on the donate button on the right side of the blogstarttravelingforless.blogspot.com or click here.

IRS # 95-4831064

FREE United Airlines Miles

My friend Russ has decided he likes the benefits of status and is going to try for the first time to earn United Airlines status.  So Russ make sure you pay attention to this blog!

Thanks to blogger, Miles Momma:

Here is a great offer for 350 Free United miles when you join E-miles.  Here are the details.

WHAT TO DO:

• Click on offer link here: 
• Enroll - 350 United miles will post in 6 – 8 weeks
• Earn an additional 100 E-miles after you complete your profile

 OFFER EXPIRES 4/15/2013 – So act now!

Terms and conditions: Miles accrued, awards, and benefits issued are subject to change and are subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus® program. Please allow 6-8 weeks after completed qualifying activity for bonus miles to post to your account. United® may change the MileagePlus program including, but not limited to, rules, regulations, travel awards and special offers or terminate the MileagePlus program at any time and without notice. Bonus award miles, award miles and any other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count or qualify for Premier® status unless expressly stated otherwise. United and its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents are not responsible for any products and services of other participating companies and partners. Taxes and fees related to award travel are the responsibility of the member. The accumulation of mileage or Premier or other status does not entitle members to any vested rights with respect to the program. United and MileagePlus are registered service marks. For complete details about the MileagePlus program, go to united.com. See additional MileagePlus terms and conditions.

Zoom Zoom

Yesterday I got an email from my brother-in-law regarding a free two day weekend car rental from Avis. Note-there may be some taxes, fees and/or surcharges.  Also, be aware there is no cancellation fee if you choose "Pay Later."  The coupon is not valid in Alaska, the New York Metro area, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

1. Click here to make a reservation for the weekend.
2. Enter coupon code TUEA002
3. Select a car size from compact to full-size
4. During check out select Pay Later and the discount should appear.

Thanks to Bruce and Slick Deals for this information.

How to Get to Hawaii

Even if you can afford the hotel, airfare to Hawaii is expensive that is why I recommend the Alaska Airlines Visa.  Each year you get a travel companion certificate for $99.  Thus, when I pay $500 for my flight my companion pays only $99.  Thereby, making the tickets only $300 each.  If you are a family of four both parents can have their own separate credit cards and four people would travel for $1200.

Finally, I previously mentioned I am switching from my American Platinum status and shooting for status with Alaska Airlines this year.  I like Alaska because they are partners with American (One World) and Delta (Sky Team).  Alaska is the only airline I am aware of that belongs to more than one alliance. This means when I fly American, Delta or Alaska I can have all my miles go towards my Alaska status and trust me......status matters.  Flying home from Hawaii in first class when I paid for coach using the companion ticket makes me want to maintain my status for 2013.