Travel Tips : Booking Award Travel

February 18, 2015

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Earlier this week, I booked one way tickets for Nick and I to fly from Portland to LA, then LA on to Sydney, Australia for our trip in November for 42,000 Alaska miles and $40 to fly on Qantas. Granted it’s only in Economy class, but still, that is such an incredible deal I couldn’t quite believe it until it was all done and booked. As I was booking it, I thought to myself, I should definitely write a blog post about this topic, booking award travel, since it does usually come with some headaches and it’s helpful to know some of the ins and outs of how to do it effectively. There are lots of other website that have way more information and tips on this like The Points Guy, one of my favorites, but here are a few tips and tricks that I’ve come across when booking award travel, which I’m doing more and more of as of late.

Websites don’t always show how many award tickets are available – so call the airlines.

Websites of the various airlines are supposed to show how many award seats are left or available, but they don’t always actually come through on this. It’s important if you’re traveling with someone else or multiple people, to call and verify how many actual award seats there are. This happened to me booking our Australia flights, as I was booking for Nick and I in premium economy and got to the very end when it finally said there was actually only 1 premium economy seat. So I ended up calling Alaska and having them book us together in economy instead where there was availability.

Using credit cards not tied to Airlines can often be more worthwhile.

One of the things that drives me crazy about booking award travel on certain airlines is that they have hardly any availability and prices can often still be expensive even when using miles. One of my favorite ways to get around this obstacle is using credit card points that aren’t tied to a specific airline, like my Chase points that I earn on my Sapphire Preferred card (which by the way, if anyone is interested in signing up for this card, I have a special targeted email that can get you more points if you email me) and my Business Ink Plus card, both of which I would highly recommend. My points from various cards can be combined and used toward travel on any airline or travel expense anywhere and often the points needed are less than going through specific airlines for specific routes. You can also do the cash + miles option with Chase points, which can be incredibly lucrative and save you lots of money in the long run.

A little side note on using my Chase points as well, you get the mileage from those flight segments in your airline account since it’s booked through a third party, which is fantastic since usually booking through airlines themselves, you won’t accrue that mileage and help you get to elite status.

Book short flights using miles that are hard to use on long hauls.

I’ve talked before about how much I love my BA visa card, but the problem with BA is that there is hardly any availability usually when booking award travel through them and on top of that, their fuel and surcharges are way higher than most other airlines. You might end up paying a bunch of points + $1000’s in fees sometimes depending on where you’re flying, but the trick is, using those BA points on smaller, shorter flights can be a great use. I used a bunch of BA points for our upcoming trip through London, Spain and Portugal for flights in between cities, some even in business class for a steal. Knowing when and where to use your miles is a really important thing to get the most out of them, so do your research.

8 Steps to Take Right Now In Order to Travel

February 17, 2015

One of the most common things I hear from people is that even though they might want to, they can’t travel as much as I do for whatever reason. I always hear all the reasons why they can’t, but the truth is, I hardly ever hear the ways people are making a lifestyle with lots of travel work if they want to. We tend to look at traveling in the States like it’s something we’d like to do, but not something that is very attainable. But here’s the thing, it totally is if you do it right. Whether it’s international travel or domestic, adding more travel to your life is all about making it work and examining your priorities. If you want to travel more, here’s what you can do right now to work toward it!

PS… I also want to add that a lifestyle with lots of travel definitely doesn’t come easy and it takes a lot of hard work, but it’s oh so worth it!

1. Determine Your Priorities. The single most important part of being able to add more travel to your life are your priorities. Many people don’t want to give up other things in their lives to be able to travel and that’s totally fine, but if you really want to travel, it’s important to note that will have to sacrifice other things. Determining what your priorities are, how they affect your daily lives and what you’re actually willing to sacrifice is a great first step.

2. Start a Savings Account. Travel costs money, there just really is no way around that. You can definitely learn ways to cut costs while traveling but you can help yourself out first by starting a savings account. I have multiple savings accounts going all the time, named for specific trips or specific upcoming events and I add to them as I can. This can really help focus your saving and make you want to put more money away.

3. Set up Automatic Transfers. It’s also helpful to set up auto transfers from your paychecks, even if it’s a small amount, it can really help you to save for your travels. Another great option is that most large banks now have systems you can sign up for that rounds your purchases up to the nearest dollar and adds whatever that amount is into your savings account. I personally use the Way2Save program with Wells Fargo that adds a dollar to every purchase made with your debit card and transfers it into your savings account and I’m always amazed at how much it adds up to.

4. Set Up Loyalty Accounts. Loyalty accounts with hotels and airlines are a great way to help save on cost when traveling. Take a few minutes and set up loyalty accounts on your most frequented travel brands so you don’t miss out on points and such while you travel.

5. Apply for Travel Credit Cards. While I always caution using credit cards for obvious reasons, if you can control your spending, travel credit cards can be an incredible help in letting you travel more. Sign up bonus, mileage bonuses and added perks like free checked bags and such, travel credit cards have a lot to offer!

6. Cut out Miscellaneous Costs. Look around at your daily life and see where you can cut cost. Do you often order multiple drinks at a restaurant? Do you spend money on a gym membership that you don’t use? Do you have a closet full of clothes you don’t wear anymore? How many Starbucks coffees do you have per week? All of these questions and more that apply to your daily life can often show you where you can cut back on cost and put that toward travel. What people don’t often realize with Nick and I is that we don’t drink very often, we sell anything we don’t use and we don’t spend a lot on our daily costs at home. That money is then set aside for travel.

7. Plan Ahead. It’s amazing how much more travel you can do both with days off and financially if you plan ahead. We plan our year out at the beginning of the year, so we can do lots of research and find good deals as well as plan for our time off of work. Look ahead and you’ll be able to travel a lot more!

8. Find a Second Income. Finding a second income source is super helpful when it comes to adding more travel to your life. Nick and I both work multiple jobs (at companies and on our own as well) to cover our travel expenses and putting your skills to use can also be a great fulfilling experience.

You Know You’re a Third Culture Kid When…

February 16, 2015

I haven’t written anything for a while on my childhood in the Middle East, though for numerous reasons as of late it’s been on my mind a lot. Sometimes I wonder how my life would have been different had I not been born in Saudi Arabia and every time that I think about it, I can’t help but be so thankful for that experience and for my parents choosing that life. It has completely shaped who I am, created in me a passion for this planet, a belief in equal rights and in respecting each and every person for who they are and where they come from. But it has also brought some interesting and often awkward moments throughout my life. Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at reactions from people and situations my childhood abroad have put me in, but nonetheless, it’s part of who I am and something I’m proud of.

Not familiar with what the term Third culture kid means? I wrote about it here.

You know you’re a Third Culture Kid when…

+People ask you where you’re from and you question if you should give the real answer or make something up.

+You give the real answer to the question about where you’re from and it takes 10+ minutes to explain, followed by a round of questions that take even longer.

+Your birthplace is an interesting topic of conversation.

+You grow up knowing you probably won’t be able to drive by your childhood home as an adult or go back for holidays.

+You spent years not fitting into your “home” country.

+You feel as if the world is your home, not one particular place.

+Living with people of different religions, different ethnicities, and different beliefs isn’t a bad thing, it’s wonderful.

+You crave the food of your birth country on a regular basis…. like schwarmas and will go any length to get them.

+Your memories of childhood revolve around travels to exotic countries, near and far.

+People you meet later in life will never fully understand the way you grew up.

+You are met with a round of questions going through Immigration booths around the world asking why you were born in _____________.

+That melancholy feeling you can’t quite shake about missing that home you had as a child never quite goes away.

+The world becomes your passion and your instincts are to help make it better.

Interested in reading more about my childhood in Saudi Arabia?

See all of my posts on the country!

The Best Valentine’s Day Escapes

February 13, 2015

With tomorrow being Valentine’s Day and romance on our minds, what better way to spend time with that person you love than escaping the everyday and heading out of town to celebrate? Though we’ll be at home this year, I love splurging on special Valentine’s Day plans and with so many amazing, romantic places to choose from in the world, here’s my top spots for that romantic escape with your love. And while it may be too late to book these spots for this year’s celebration, keep them in mind to surprise you partner next year!

The entire country of Ireland and its neighbor to the North, Northern Ireland are magical at all times of the year with gorgeous countrysides and fantastic cities. Consider spending time with someone special at a little inn in the Irish countryside.

Romantic tip: Book a room at the adorable Bushmills Inn in Northern Ireland, rent a car and spend your days driving around the Northern Irish countryside OR make Dublin your destination and spend your days wandering the city streets taking in the quintessential Irish charm.

Staying closer to home in the US, there is perhaps not many more romantic places in the US than the Napa Valley, with great wine, fantastic restaurants and hotels, spending a weekend in this area is pure romance.

Romantic Tip: Base yourself in Sacramento, rent a car and roam wine country for days on end taking in the gorgeous scenery.

No where does romance like Paris and for any romantic escape, the French capitol is a wonderful choice. Spend your days wandering arm in arm with your partner, taking in all the French wine and pastries you can!

Romantic Tip: Stay at Le Notre Dame Hotel on the banks of the Seine with views of Notre Dame and head up to the top of the Tour Montparnasse at sunset to take in gorgeous 360 degree views of Paris.

For an Asian escape, Udaipur, India is one of the romantic and picturesque places I’ve ever been. Set on a lake with mountains surrounding, this gorgeous Indian location will take your breath away.

Romantic Tip: Stay at the Oberoi Udaivilas and spend your days eating the most delicious Indian food and watching sunsets over Lake Pichola.

Where else is more romantic than celebrating love in the city that is famous for the home of Romeo and Juliet? Verona is a quaint little Italian city with lots of charm and some incredible food. Grab your love and wander around Verona for a while, complete with stops for lasagna and gelato (and maybe not necessarily in that order!)

Romantic Tip: Verona is a quick 1.5 hour train ride from Milan, so you can easily do it as a day trip. Arrive mid-morning, grab a fantastic Italian espresso and then stop for lunch later on to enjoy some of Northern Italy’s delicacies, followed by Gelato and you can be back in Milan by dinner to have a romantic meal as the Duomo in Milan lights up at night.

One of the most romantic things in my opinion is just spending time with that person you love watching the sun rise or set. There is something about the way the world seems to stop and put on a show of color and beauty always makes me want my love by my side. And where else in the world is better for that than the islands of Hawaii?

Romantic Tip: Splurge on a hotel with views of the beach, you’ll see some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Bandon : Shore Acres State Park

February 11, 2015

As beautiful as the Oregon Coast is in clear, blue-sky weather, there is also something so rugged and stunning about seeing the cliffsides of the Oregon Coast on a stormy grey morning. On Sunday a week ago, before we headed back to Portland, we stopped at Shore Acres State Park which is about 40 minutes North of Bandon on windy, back roads through forests, before you finally arrive and find yourself literally on the edge of a cliff with the roaring ocean below. Shore Acres is a great spot to stop when in the Bandon area and while the area was pretty stormy the day we were there, we’ve heard the waves we saw were nothing compared to other times when the ocean rises up 70-100 feet against the cliffside at this spot.

Standing above the ocean though, looking out at the stunning coastline in front of me made me so thankful for beauty like this in the world and for the beauty that my own home State has to offer. I’m not much of a beach person but give me a stunning cliffy coastline and a roaring ocean, with rain falling around me and that is what I find truly breathtaking.

One tip if you head to Shore Acres – there is no cell reception for most of the way there and most of the way back to the 101, so load your maps and directions on your phone for both directions before you go!

Photos by Nick Nieto Photography

Bandon : Sunset at Wizard’s Hat Rock

February 10, 2015

When we started looking into our trip to Bandon on the Southern Oregon Coast, Nick was immediately drawn to one stretch of beach in town which housed some really incredibly shaped large rocks on the beach. This stretch of beach happens to be where the well known “Face Rock” is located which looks like the silhouette of a human face, but of more interest to us, was the nearby Wizard’s Hat Rock. A large cylinder-shaped rock directly on the beach literally looks just like a wizard’s hat straight out of Harry Potter.

We spent the twilight hours wandering the beach as we made our way to Wizard’s Hat. After a gorgeous afternoon, as the sun fell, so did the temperatures, so we bundled up for an evening on the beach while the sun was starting to set. I was really glad to have Moon Cats Grey Button gloves for the evening (which have special material on the thumb and forefinger so you can still use your phone, as evidenced by my amount of Instagrams that evening!) and as the temperatures dropped and the twilight hours turned into a lovely sunset, we watched colors streak across the sky behind Wizards Hat Rock. There is nothing quite like winter sunsets on the Oregon Coast and they are one of my favorite things to experience this time of year; a color streaked sky behind one of the most stunning places I’ve seen.

Photos by Nick Nieto Photography

I absolutely loved my Moon Cats gloves which the company so generously gifted me and I know I’ll wear them often, so if you want to check out some of the other items the company offers like scarves and hats for your own upcoming trips, the company is offering my readers 30% off with code TRUECOLORS30OFF. So head on over to their website and take a look!

Bandon : The Most Stunning Part of the Oregon Coast

February 9, 2015

I’ve lived in Oregon now for years and I’ve been fortunate enough to see much of my State’s gorgeous coastline, one of the most beautiful in the world in my opinion, but I can honestly say, a week ago I found the absolutely most stunning spot on the Oregon Coast: Bandon. Cannon Beach is lovely, the cliffsides of Lincoln City and Newport are beautiful, the inlets in Astoria are wonderful, but Bandon is a part of the coast that is beyond stunning. We spent the weekend exploring this area on the Southern Oregon Coast, with vistas looking out over incredible backdrops of beach with strange shaped rocks and ocean waves beating against gorgeous old textures rock-hewed cliffs.

The scenery on the coast near Bandon is more in line with what I’d expect to see from the coastlines of Scotland or Ireland, the incredible colors of the cliffside in the area more of what I’ve seen similar in Iceland. The Southern Oregon Coast is truly a special spot in my beautiful State and I’m so glad we got to explore more of the area. Nick and I spent the majority of Saturday just driving around the area, stopping to take in the stunning views, enjoying some local treats at the Face Rock Creamery and exploring the town. It didn’t hurt that it was a gorgeous blue sky day but I can’t wait to see more of this part of the Oregon Coast and it’s definitely a not-to-be-missed spot if you’re exploring Oregon.

Photos by Nick Nieto Photography

A Quick Guide to Honolulu

February 5, 2015

I spend a lot of time in Honolulu and lived there for a couple years as well, so when I head to Hawaii, I’m spending most of my time in the local areas of this well known city. While Waikiki and North Shore are great to see and experience, the lesser known spots in Honolulu are some of my favorites. If you’re headed to Hawaii in the near future, don’t miss out on some of my favorite spots!

How to Get Around: Car is the easiest form of transportation in the city as it does sprawl a pretty great distance in every direction. I would recommend renting a car for your time in the city, unless all you plan to do is sticking in one of the tourist areas on the beach, then you can walk everywhere.

Where to Go for What: Honolulu is both a big city and a small town at the same time. Everyone knowns everyone, everyone seems to be related to everyone and while there is lots to do and see, it is a small island after all. Waikiki is where you’re going to find the nice hotels and all the tourists. Ala Moana Mall is where all the great shopping is. Ward Center is where the locals go for food and entertainment. Downtown is really only alive during the weekdays when everyone is at work. Manoa is where many locals live and heads up into the mountains. The University of Hawaii sprawls through the center of town with its campus and the H1 freeway dissects Honolulu running East and West.

Where to Eat: Over the years I’ve come up with some of my favorite spots around the city, some local spots, some chains, and some in the tourist areas. For a great steak dinner, Hy’s is old school and always spot on. For awesome Chinese food, go to Asia Manoa. For a special lunch or dinner, I love Mariposa at Neimen Marcus. Longhi’s is famous for being an old time Hawaiian spot. For a good spot in Waikiki, The Cheesecake Factory there is one of the best of the chain (but be prepared for a long wait). For a little Irish charm in the heart of the city, Murphy’s has great pub style food.

The Best Beaches: I’m not a big beach person but over the years I’ve found some favorites of mine. I like to go early in the morning before they get crowded with tourists but here are some of my favorites. Waikiki Beach towards the Ala Moana Surfrider hotel and Diamond Head can get really crowded during the day, but go at sunrise and it’s lovely. The beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great spot towards the Eastern end of Waikiki and is usually not nearly as crowded as the other spots in the tourist areas. For a quiet local view of the water, Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island offer some nice stretches of beach and are filled with more locals than tourists. And while not in Honolulu, but on the other side of the island, I have to say one of my favorite beaches on Oahu is at Lanikai Beach, which is worth mentioning in Kailua. Go here at sunrise and you won’t be disappointed!

Morning Light on Oahu’s Eastern Shore

February 4, 2015

In case you missed the name change and update on where this blog is going, you can read all about how True Colours is now Land of Marvels here. And to celebrate, now through the end of February all my ad spots will be 25% off with code “landofmarvels” so head on over and get yours now!

After watching the sun rise and spill incredible color across the sky at Lanikai Beach in Kailua, we headed back towards Honolulu but instead of taking the Pali Highway directly into the city, we opted for the more scenic drive around the Eastern Shore of Oahu. We drove the 45 minute or so drive alongside the cliffs that inhabit this part of the island and ventured on towards Hawaii Kai and then finally jumped on the H1 to head back into the city. I’ve always loved this drive and this part of Oahu; it feels like you’re not really in Hawaii, like the beaches have disappeared and the highways curve around the cliffsides. It’s such a hallmark to the Hawaiian islands for how many different landscapes are available even on just each island. Because I visit so often, I often forget how beautiful these little islands are but it’s mornings like we had on this last trip that remind me why people love to visit and why it’s really a kind of “paradise on Earth.”

Headed to Hawaii?

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Sunrise at Lanikai Beach

February 3, 2015

On our final morning in Hawaii, we got up bright and early and ventured out to catch the sunrise on the Eastern end of Oahu. Since we had left so early and had a while left before the sun was rising, we decided to drive all the way to Kailua and stopped at Lanikai Beach. I had visited this little strip of beautiful beach years ago but after watching the sunrise here, I understand now why it’s such a popular spot on the island.

With turquoise water, golden sandy beach and easy parking, Lanikai beach is a for sure not-to-miss spot on Oahu. Lanikai means “heavenly sea” in Hawaii and I can see why after watching the sun rise here, creating an incredible pastel sky above the teal water. It was a gorgeous spot at the break of day, before the crowds settle on the beaches and the perfect place to spend our last morning in the Islands.