As many of you know, we have been a big fan of Delta Air Lines for the most part. There have been times when they have nearly pushed us over to another airline, but we've stayed loyal and for the most part felt like Delta rewarded our loyalty. Not anymore!
Lately, I have been amazed at the miles inflation they have been engaged in. Flights that used to be 50K to 60K have been 180K to 200K. Every once and a while you might find a flight where you that the miles made sense, but it was very rare. We just booked our flights into Tel Aviv and out of Rome. They wanted 280K miles for a main cabin seat. That's insane, that used to be a 90K miles flight. I checked with United and they only wanted 78K for the same flights dates and time.
Now the kicker... Their frequent flyer program is no longer a miles program. It is a, "how much money will you give us" program.
As I have said, I've been a loyal delta customer for nearly 25 years much of that time I've bounced between Diamond and Platinum Medallion status and am getting closer to my 2M mile mark.
Under Delta's new program, if it was in place this year, I might make it to silver and yet I will have flown over 80K miles. This is by far the dumbest move Delta has ever made. My recommendation will be for everyone to find another airline to "status match" while you have status and jump ship. Nothing about this new program makes any sense. RUN!
Good to know! Thanks
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.We stayed for 3 days at Mercy International years ago and worked at their orphanage. What a pleasure it was getting to know them and the kids!
Your donations to them will be put to good use in behalf of these kids!
Consider donating today!
Cancun is so beautiful!!!💕
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Who is up for a sailing adventure?
Join our friends who love adventure and will make sure you have a trip of a lifetime!🏝️
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Here is a great article on how to save up to 25% on kids flights using Blue award tickets.
thriftytraveler.com/deals/points/discounted-flying-blue-award-tickets-for-kids/?utm_source=Active...👪+Family+Travel+Tip%3A+Save+25++on+Award+Tickets+with+this+Airline&utm_campaign=Daily+Beat+-+8%2F12%2F2023
And more of our recent adventures!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Are you planning a trip to any of these countries in 2024?
The legal procedures to pass the ETIAS which started in 2016, is expected to be fully operational in 2024. This means you will need to apply for a ETIAS “Visa” (not really a visa but similar) From the US if traveling to:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The ETIAS application is expected to take about 10 minutes to fill out. It does Cost €7 and approval usually is within minutes. However if there is an issue with the approval, it could take up to 30 days to resolve it, so apply well before your travel date.
To use the ETIAS authorization correctly, you must first pass through the first country you stated in your application. If you were planning to go through Germany, Belgium, and Austria, and you stated in your application that the first country you will visit is Germany, you must go through it before you visit Belgium and Austria. After you enter your first country, you can visit any other country in the Schengen Zone for 90 days.
ETIAS Application - How to Apply for an ETIAS?
www.schengenvisainfo.com
Tourists from countries with visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area will have to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which is an online travel authorization. The application procedure for ETIAS is pretty quick and simple, so the whole process will only take ...This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.There's 2 types. Those who pack 10 days in advance before the trip & those who wake up the day of the trip & decide to do it all last minute. These people will marry each other.
😂
Debbi + Jackson ❤️
I make lists…..what clothes to take, how many shoes…..this list will start probably 2 months out from trip. Hanging clothes will be pulled out and hung on the back of the door; unders will be packed a month in advance. You think I’m joking? I will be attending a VFW Convention next July (2024); my list is already started as well as a budget plan; what foods I will be taking (I’m towing my travel trailer from south of Atlanta to Louisville KY rather than paying close to $200 a night at a hotel). I’m really not OCD.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Looks so fun. Very busy and happy kids!💜💜
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.What a wonderful trip! 💕
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Gorgeous!
Beautiful sky!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.We have been to France many time and we never made it to Mont St Michel. We finally made it this year. Such an amazing place.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Paris City, France😍😍
Paris, the City of Light, is renowned for its timeless beauty and romantic charm. From the iconic Eiffel Tower to the picturesque streets of Montmartre, Paris captivates with its stunning architecture, world-class museums, and exquisite cuisine. Stroll along the Seine River, explore the grand boulevards, and indulge in the city's rich history and cultural treasures.
We have traveled all over the world and found who travels better as far as jet lag.
It is not me! Dale always adjusts better.
After living 18 hours ahead in Australia for a few months, it literally took me 3 months to get back to normal!😳
That is too long!
I wish we had this hack then!!
We are headed to France soon and I will be using this for our flights!
##dorerra
Who has ever wanted to stay in #hobbithousehouse?
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Our summer trip itinerary...
Fly into Paris, rent a car and drive to Amboise in the Lorie Valley.
3 nights in Amboise, exploring the most amazing castles and seeing where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years.
Drive to Mont St Michel and stay 3 nights in the shadow of this amazing fortis Abby. From there we will visit Saint Malo and Normandy.
Drive to Versailles via Caen, Rouen and Giverny. 4 night in Versailles/Paris and live the Parisian life.
Drive to Bruges the birthplace of fries. 3 night exploring Bruges, Ghant, Brussels and some of Europe's most delicious chocolate.
Our final stop will be Amsterdam where we will spend 4 nights exploring as much of this amazing country as we can. Gouda, Alblasserdam, Zaanse Schansdam, Hoorn, Haarlem and so much more.
Sounds great. Enjoy your trip
Forget the rest and just stay in Bruges!! Chocolate, tapestry, lace, repeat….do the canals at least twice.
Sounds amazing!
Even though it is snowing right now, we swear it is spring somewhere! It time to seriously consider your summer vacation. Airfares are up over 26% and try and use your miles and you will find that in most cases they have increased over 100% for similar point value flights 2 years ago. So it is time to get creative! We will be joining friends who sold everything and moved their entire family to Europe to world school.
Our trip will fly into Paris and out of Amsterdam and will be a total of 3 weeks. Over the next few months as we put this trip together, will will share with you how we are reducing the cost as much as possible! Currently, airfare is right around $1900 per person and miles are 172,000 for main cabin. In a typical year airfare would be around $1200 and miles would range between 60,000 and 90,000. So you can see how much things have gone up. Our goal is to completely eliminate the airfare but this trip we were only able to drastically reduce it to and average of just over $700 a person. In our next post we will show you what we did.
This only takes place every 5 years. The last one in 2020 was canceled and the next will take place in 2025 which is also the 750th anniversary of the founding of Amsterdam. Bucket list anyone?
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Spring is coming and Japan is back open to travel. Nothing is more beautiful than the blossoms of Japan… planning a trip? Tell us about it.
DRAGON’S EYE, border of Arizona and Utah.
I just think this is cool ~ wild rose 🌹
www.aaronreedphotography.com/photo/white-pocket-sleeping-dragon/
Norway!!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Thank you for sharing!!😊🙏
We were talking about animals and habitats in Nate's school. They all giggled when I shared this video in the Amazon Jungle with Marissa holding a Sloth!
What do you think? Would you stay there?Amazing witch house deep into the forest … Ireland
We made it!!! Not so sunny but still so good!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.What to do when your there!?
When you save more upfront, you have more to spend on the fun stuff. The stuff that builds the memories. Keep in mind, some of the free and least expensive things also creates the best memories!
On this trip the kids wanted to go to one of the big attractions so we did some research. Sea World has really changed over the years so unless you’ve been recently, look at the reviews.
With a 5 and 8 year old in tow, we opted to spend a day at LEGOLAND. A weekday (Monday- Thursday) ticket on their site are $89 and weekend are $104. However, through our Simplified Homeschooling site you can use our Funex account (discount code) for discounts at hundreds of attractions around the country. Weekday and Weekend rates there are $84 for adult and $78 for kids. We found this company after we bought our tickets for Legoland!
We will know for next time and so will you!!!
We also used the site for our other adventure to the USS Midway. Normal price is $31 for adult and $21 for kids. Funex price is $24 and $15.
Our other adventures ranged from very inexpensive to free. The first day we spent in La Jolla, exploring the beach, getting up and close to seals. Despite the chilly water, the kids had fun!
That evening we walked around Little Italy, enjoyed pizza and called it a day. One of our other free days was spent exploring San Diego Old Town. We did a lot of dodging rain drops but over all, there were plenty of dry periods to have plenty of fun.
We also rode the local trains and scooters around town. The memories made this trip will stay with these two little ones for a long time. We’ve enjoyed making so many with them.
How to stay cheap. On this trip we used some Marriott points which paid for the entire stay.
When we travel for business, or if we are paying for a night or two we choose Marriott as our hotel chain of choice. We just let any points add up until we have enough for our “shorter” trips. Then we look for the best location and point value.
In this case we choose the Little Italy district of San Diego. It was close to shops, lots of wonderful restaurants and what kid doesn’t love pasta? We are close to the water and most importantly, it had a pool.
Keep in mind, everything is negotiable. We have a rental car so often in these locations they charge for parking. We asked and they cut that price in half. Only $15 a night. $90 for the stay.
We also asked for an upgrade and got moved into a 2 bedroom suite. Additionally, we chose the Marriott Residence Inn because of the points and the fact that they have a great free breakfast and a kitchenette in the room. This room option for the time we booked was $409 a night. It was free for us.
With a kitchenette, we are able to get some additional items and cook, instead of always going out. We also were able to grab a few more items at breakfast as snacks for the kids during the day.
All of this adds up to huge savings.
There are other options if you don’t have points. If planned early enough, home exchange might be an option. VRBO, Airbnb are also options but be careful of the overnight rate and the fees they add on.
Depending how long you stay, it could be a more expensive option. Fees can be as much as $300-$400 per stay. For three nights that adds an extra $00-$125 a night. If you are staying 10 nights then it only adds $30-$40 a night. This is why we’ve moved away from Airbnb. Their fees are getting out of hand.
There are a lot of other ways to save on accommodations in our book, “Amazing Travel- Incredibly Cheap”. Let us know if you are interested in a copy.
Once you’ve used our first two hacks, you have much more money to play. Our next post will all be about the fun we had. Some costing nothing and others were a bit of a splurge.
How to get FREE Flights!!
We are on our way to San Diego tomorrow. We added another passenger, our granddaughter but her flight added an extra $0 to the cost of the trip. Our total cost out of pocket for the 5 RT flights, SLC to SAN is $0.
Regular Delta tickets for 5 to San Diego - $1,846.00 but our cost was- $0 .
Originally we thought it would be $238.40 but we forgot that the card we used to pay for them had a $300 travel credit which they gave us. Regular Delta tickets for 5 to San Diego - $1,846.00 but our cost was- $0
So how did we do we travel so cheap? In this post we are just going to look at the airfare, this one gets a little more complicated but is very doable if you use your travel assets correctly.
We have a personal AMEX delta card and a Business AMEX Delta Card. Each of them provide us with a free Delta companion ticket. We used both of these, (They were also expiring next month) that brought our cost down to $738.40 for 4 tickets or $184.60 each. Then over our travels last year Delta had given me $300 in credit and Michelle $200.
These credits were for flights being delayed or other issues we had during our flights and were about to expire. When an issue on a flight comes up, it is always best to notify Delta and they will in most cases offer you $100 or 10,000 miles for your troubles.
That brought the total cost down to $238.40 and since we paid with our Chase Sapphire card, they gave us that back in credits. For the additional grandchild who booked after we did, we used points plus $12 which again we put on the Chase card and got reimbursed.
The big trick is to look at all of your options and make sure to use the best option for your flights. Because the companion tickets were going to expire, and because we had the other travel credits, it was a better option than just using Delta Miles for all of us.
Originally that would have cost us 175,000 miles for all 5 of us. Later we were able to get our granddaughter's ticket for 24,000 miles, which made the most sense. We were able to save all those miles and we still got free flights!
In our next post we will talk about how we got a 2 bedroom suite at a Marriott in downtown San Diego, 5 nights for FREE.... Normal price for 5 nights for this room - $2,030 So far we've saved nearly $4,000. That gives us a lot more playing money when we get there.
Can you post this to Simplified Homeschooling?
When you think of abandoned castles, you think of the first picture. But, in Burj Al Babas, there is a $200 million housing development, located near Mudurnu, in northwestern Turkey, roughly midway between Istanbul and Ankara.
When the developers, Sarot Property Group, fell into recession-fueled financial difficulty in 2018, the hundreds of castle-style villas were abandoned, mid-construction, the AFP news agency reported.
If they finished then, would you buy one?
Happy New Year! One of our favorite adventures was watching the fireworks in Sydney Australia on New Years Eve. We hope you and your family will have amazing adventures in 2023!!!
Want to find out how you save 84% off a trip to San Diego?
It's been a while since we compared our way of travel vs. regular travel. We are heading to San Diego for 5 days and here is the breakdown of our cost before flight.
Airfare - Normal 4 people $1232.80 Following our tips, $238.40
Hotel - Marriott Old Town San Diego - 5 night with tax $1053.70 Following our tips - FREE
Car Rental - Midsize National all taxes and fees $794.02 Following our tips $251.85
So if you just went online and book this trip without food and fun would cost $3080.52. After using the tips we provide in "Amazing Travel - Incredibly Cheap" - $490.25 That's an 84% savings. If you follow our adventure while there, we will share how we drastically reduce the food and fun costs too.
The beauty of travel is that you get to see that over time, things may not be as different as we think they are.
The world is breathtaking in so many ways!Dead Horse Point State Park In Utah!!!
Be It A Long Or Short Flight, Here Are 45 Hacks To Make Any Trip More Comfortable - more hackz
morehackz.com
While some people absolutely love flying, others are tremendously terrified of it. No matter which category you fall into, you probably hope and wish your flight be as peaceful and comfortable as possible every time. From finding ways to block out unwanted noise from your fellow passengers to nifty....Happy Thanksgiving!!🦃
Because I didn't feel well today we missed having all the kids and grandkids over!! Not how I imagined this holiday.
I am most thankful for my family... especially when I can't spend time with them!
We ended the night with the Netflicks debuts of the 'Noel Diary' by Richard Paul Evans. You won't want to miss it!!!
So grateful for good health and good people in our lives.❤️
bit.ly/3EeNXYP?fbclid=IwAR3TvXkfIrTLNFnMrnjVSz1GR-QKHo5E5Jim5QAlbvDn_xmIFo8aM2srdpk
$599 for unlimited flights on Frontier? This deal wants to get you going
bit.ly
Frontier Airlines introduces a new all-you-can-fly pass, starting at $599 for the first year.The Altenburg is a castle that sits on the tallest of the seven hills of Bamberg, Bayern (Bavaria)
@magictiron IG
apple.news/ATWxsEh9hQMqWId60zvpZYw
apple.news
The study found Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport the biggest culprit for missing bags.www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2022/10/24/play-norse-atlantic-transatlantic-low-cost-...
Play and Norse Atlantic: A head-to-head review of trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers
www.usatoday.com
We flight tested two new trans-Atlantic low-cost airlines: Play via Iceland and Norse Atlantic on the way back. How did they stack up?apple.news/A2_Grhmq2TN6iakY9Q280Fg
apple.news
Expedia just released its annual Air Travel Hacks report with great tips on how to save on travel in the coming year.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Have you ever wanted to stay on a farm?
We have exchange students that worked on farms in New Zealand and Australia for a few months at a time.
Would you do that for a vacation?
Who is ready for an EPIC adventure? A definite... once in a lifetime!!
www.legacytoursandtravel.com/legacy-tours-and-travel/custom-sailing-adventures-with-the-awesome-f...
Tell them Traveling U sent you!! 🚤
Tour Includes:
Private charter sailboat
Captain & Chef (Erik + Emily)
Navigator Framework life design experience
Private cabin with “queen” bed
Private bathroom, toilet, sink & shower
Shared kitchen and dining area with fridge, freezer, stove, oven and microwave, etc.
All meals aboard: breakfast, lunch and dinner
1 restaurant meal ashore
Introductory sailing instruction
Shared sea kayak
Personal snorkel fins
Not Included:
Travel to British Virgin Islands
Taxis, Bag fees, entry/exit tax: $50-$100 pp
Travel Insurance
www.johnnyjet.com/the-travel-hack-hotels-dont-want-guests-to-know-about/?fbclid=IwAR3FmKtBgP22UJk...
The Travel Hack Hotels Don't Want Guests to Know About - JohnnyJet.com
www.johnnyjet.com
If you find yourself in a hotel room that can never get cold enough to your liking, it's most likely because the hotel set the thermostat to save money.This content isn't available right now
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.There's a Secret Archaeological Site Under the Trevi Fountain in Rome — and You Can Visit
There's a Secret Archaeological Site Under the Trevi Fountain in Rome — and You Can Visit
www.travelandleisure.com
www.travelandleisure.com/qantas-empty-seat-pay-program-6543243
This Airline Will Allow Passengers to Purchase the Empty Seat Next to Them for As Low As $20
www.travelandleisure.com
Australian airline Qantas is allowing customers to guarantee they won’t have a seatmate by purchasing the empty seat next to them — for a price.As the world mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, National Geographic remembers her life and legacy through the eyes of our photographers—including rare images that have never been published.
on.natgeo.com/3cXJlge
Fly the friendly skies… 🤔 ✈️⛅️
“Major US airlines have updated their customer service agreements to offer meals and hotels when flights are canceled. Carriers tweaked their policies after receiving pressure from the Biden administration to step up consumer rights in the wake of a summer plagued by flight cancellations and delays. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest have all published updates to their customer service policies this week. The updates come on the eve of the Labor Day weekend travel rush and as airlines have canceled more than 45,000 flights since the start of June, according to data from FlightAware.”
Which airports can you use Global Entry at in the US and abroad? - The Points Guy
Which airports can you use Global Entry at in the US and abroad? - The Points Guy
trib.al
Editor's note: This post was updated with additional detail.For those who are in Utah join us as we help celebrate the launch of this amazing book. We will also be there and selling our book, ‘Amazing Travel, Incredibly Cheap’. This Tuesday from 4-7. Details below.
This will be a great opportunity....
www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2022/07/13/airline-flight-delay-compensation/10028630002/
If your flight is delayed, you may be eligible for compensation from your airline
www.usatoday.com
Delay compensation policies vary by airline, and some are a lot more passenger-friendly than others.