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Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

As a traveler, I am firmly team carry-on and will very rarely check a bag, while some of my colleagues prefer to always check a bag.

Even if you insist on checking a bag, certain items should always go in your carry-on.

Here are 10 items to never check, according to our TPG travel team.

Identification documents

This one should go without saying since your identifying documents, such as a passport or valid driver’s license, are among the most important items for a traveler to keep close, especially if you’re traveling abroad.

If you’re traveling domestically and don’t need a passport, all travelers age 18 and older still need a driver’s license or other state photo identification card from their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) to pass through security at U.S. airports. A full list of Transportation Security Administration-accepted forms of identification is available here.

Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll likely need to show some form of ID to check into a hotel or rent a car. If traveling abroad, we recommend carrying a picture of your passport with you while keeping your passport (and other valuables) securely locked in your room (in a hotel safe, if available).

Additionally, consider printing your travel itinerary and other important documents in case something happens to your phone or you can’t access Wi-Fi, says Erica Silverstein, TPG senior cruise editor.

Phone and charger

A phone is among the most helpful tools when traveling, especially if you have a plan that allows you to use your data internationally.

From navigating and figuring out directions in a new place to visiting cities you’ve visited before, your phone can be a lifeline when traveling. This also means frequently having to charge your phone, which is only possible if you’ve brought the right charger and any converters to be able to use the plugs (if applicable).

Keep all of your electronics and chargers in a carry-on for easy access on the plane, where you can also use the in-seat charging portal. Charging inflight ensures your phone is fully charged before exiting the plane, minimizing the chance of a dead battery en route to your hotel or other accommodations since your room may or may not be available for check-in when you arrive.

This is also helpful if you have a lengthy layover between flights since you can’t guarantee you’ll find access to a charging station at an airport.

As a female traveler who sometimes travels solo, a working phone is crucial. All travelers, solo or not, should pack a portable charger in their carry-on and always bring that with them when they go out and about.

Headphones and electronics

In addition to your phone, some travel with other Apple products, such as an iPad and Apple Watch, requiring separate chargers. If you’re like me, you’ll never travel without two sets of headphones (one wireless and one not) since wireless ones may run out of battery.

This is also courteous for your fellow passengers since most airlines prohibit flyers from listening to shows or music out loud while also potentially providing you with headphones, depending on the airline and route.

Keep your headphones and AirPods within easy reach at all times.

If you happen to travel with a suitcase with a battery pack for charging, such as those from Away, remember that these must be carried on per TSA rules.

A change of clothes

PABLO JEFFS MUNIZAGA-FOTOTREKKING/GETTY IMAGES

Per my earlier comment, the last time I checked a bag, it was a huge mistake. I missed my connecting flight due to inclement weather and my luggage was sent without me to my final destination. That left me spending the night in an airport hotel in Miami with just my backpack and the clothing I had been wearing for almost an entire day.

I’m not alone in this experience.

“I always keep at least one change of clothes for myself and each of my kids in my carry-on, even if I am checking a bag,” said Tarah Chieffi, TPG travel news reporter. “If our checked luggage is delayed or lost, or if inflight accidents occur, we always have a fresh change of clothes.”

This scenario is exactly why it’s important to pack at least one spare outfit in your carry-on item.

She also recommends throwing in a grocery bag or large zip-close bag for dirty clothes in your suitcase. Some suitcases even come with a reusable laundry bag.

You’ll likely appreciate having a fresh change of clothes, especially on long-haul flights and those with long layovers. You might even be able to access an airport lounge or an aircraft with showers, which is even better for freshening up.

Even if your flight is short and direct, it’s still helpful to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your baggage gets delayed.

Reusable water bottle

Another item we recommend traveling with is a reusable water bottle. Just make sure the bottle is empty before you pass through airport security since most airports limit the number of liquids you can take through security.

Once you head to your gate in the post-security area, you’ll likely find free water refill stations where you can fill up your reusable bottle, including some with filtered water.

During your flight, request water and then pour that water into your bottle so it’s full at all times. Just remember to take your water bottle (along with your other items) off the plane when you disembark. I’ve lost two Hydro Flasks this way.

Also, flying can dehydrate you, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. It’s important to pay attention to your water consumption on travel days and make sure you are getting enough.

Considering how much airport stores charge for water and other items, bringing your own water bottle saves money — and eliminates single-use plastic.

Snacks

Not unlike the water, don’t rely on the airport or inflight snacks since food options when traveling may not be available or open when you need them.

“I always bring snacks, which are especially helpful if your flight is unexpectedly delayed while you’re on the plane with no option to get off,” said Senitra Horbrook, TPG credit cards editor.

Prescriptions and other medications

If you take medication daily, it’s wise to pack any prescriptions into your carry-on luggage along with any over-the-counter medications you take frequently or might need, such as pain relievers or allergy medicine.

For example, I always bring several days’ worth of Tylenol, Benadryl, vitamins, probiotics, etc., as well as a few extra supplements of my daily medicine in case I end up staying longer than anticipated.

I also pack a few extra pairs of contact lenses. I wear dailies and prefer them over wearing my glasses, though I bring my glasses as a backup. I also bring adhesive bandages, just in case.

Assistance items

For senior travelers or those who require assistance, do not keep any assistive/medical device item, such as a walking stick or handicapped placard, out of reach.

A good rule of thumb — if it’s anything you can’t live without for half a day or more, put it in your carry-on, says Erica.

Hand sanitizer, wipes, paper towels and tissues

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many travel with hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes to wipe off seats, tray tables, seat belts, etc., upon boarding.

These items are small and can easily fit in your carry-on item. Just ensure your hand sanitizer does not exceed 12 ounces, which is an allowance specifically for hand sanitizer that the TSA implemented during the pandemic. All other liquids must still meet the 3.4 ounces or 100-milliliter size requirement.

Other items to consider bringing in your carry-on are paper towels and a washcloth in case of spills or other situations where you need to dry your hands.

You might be able to find tissues and band-aids at airports and on planes, though they’re likely not going to be great quality. Tissues are small enough to pack a few in your carry-on in case of unforeseen circumstances, from the sniffles to a paper cut.

Valuables

Beyond your phone and important travel documents such as your passport, keep your most important items close to you while traveling, including jewelry.

These items would fall under the “hard to replace if not irreplaceable” category, depending on how sentimental they are to you.

Bottom line

Once you’ve decided on the items most essential for your carry-on, be sure to decide what carry-on item makes the most sense for them to go in.

For example, if you have two carry-on bags, one smaller one that fits underneath the seat in front of you or one suitable for the overhead bin, think about what items you might need most often throughout the flight and position those in your smaller bag.

For everything else, you can always get up and retrieve items from your larger bag from the overhead bin.

Related reading:

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Downsizing can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to transitioning to a smaller living space. The decision to downsize often comes with a myriad of motivations. Some may be seeking to downsize their home to free up time, money, and energy for other pursuits, such as travel or hobbies. Others may be empty nesters looking to rightsize their living space after their children have left home. Still, some individuals may be approaching retirement or transitioning to a different stage of life, where smaller and more manageable living arrangements become appealing.

Whatever your reasons for downsizing, it’s crucial to approach the process with a clear vision of what you hope to achieve. Downsizing offers an opportunity to shed the unnecessary and create a living space that truly supports your lifestyle and values. Whether you’re moving to a smaller house, a condo, an apartment or exploring the options offered by tiny homes or senior living communities, these tips will help you make informed decisions and create a space that feels like home.

By following the tips in this article, you can make the downsizing journey smoother and create a comfortable, fulfilling living environment.

1. Evaluate your needs and priorities:

Before starting the downsizing process, evaluating your needs and priorities is essential. Consider factors such as location, amenities, proximity to healthcare facilities, social opportunities, and your desired lifestyle. Knowing what is most important to you will help you make informed decisions throughout the downsizing process.

2.Declutter and organize:

Downsizing is the perfect opportunity to declutter and streamline your belongings, letting go of some of your accumulated possessions over the years. Take the time to declutter and organize, separating items into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard. This process can be emotionally challenging, but remember that downsizing allows for a fresh start and a chance to focus on what truly matters.

3. Maximize space:

In smaller living spaces, efficient space utilization is crucial. Look for furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as storage ottomans or beds with built-in drawers. Utilize vertical space with wall shelves or hanging organizers. Make sure to measure the new space to ensure your existing furniture will fit appropriately and leave room for comfortable movement.

4. Consider accessibility:

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to consider accessibility features in our living environment. Look for homes or communities that offer step-free entrances, bathroom grab bars, wide doorways, and other accommodations promoting safety and independence. Prioritizing accessibility can provide peace of mind and enhance your overall quality of living as you age in your new home.

5. Research independent senior living communities:

If you are of age to do so, consider independent senior living communities. Look for communities that align with your needs and interests. Consider factors such as the range of activities and amenities available, the community’s reputation, the quality of healthcare services offered, and the level of social interaction. Visiting the communities in person and talking to current residents can provide valuable insights.

6. Plan your budget:

Downsizing can have financial implications, so planning your budget is crucial. Consider the costs associated with the move itself, potential renovations or repairs, and ongoing expenses in your new home. Having a clear budget in place will ensure a smooth transition and help you make sound financial decisions.

7. Seek support:

Downsizing can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. Don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professional organizers who can assist with the process. Their assistance and guidance can make the downsizing journey much more manageable.

Additionally, if you are moving into an independent senior living community, you can reach out to local senior support organizations that offer resources and guidance specifically tailored to downsizing as an older adult.

Downsizing your home is a significant change, but with proper planning and consideration, it can be an exciting opportunity for a fresh start. By evaluating your needs, decluttering, maximizing space, considering accessibility and future needs, planning your budget, and seeking support, you can navigate the downsizing process successfully. So embrace the possibilities that come with downsizing and create a comfortable and efficient living environment that suits your lifestyle!

Jennifer Bell is a carer for two aging parents, tiny home lover, and writer for senior living communities in Philadelphia.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Rental providers will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government.

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Source: blog.apartminty.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 1, 2023 by Brett Tams

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

The American Express® Gold Card and the American Express® Green Card are two of the most iconic credit cards offered — the Amex Green alone has been around for more than 50 years.

But classic doesn’t mean outdated, as these cards have both received dramatic makeovers in recent years, resulting in two competitive products aimed at different market segments. The Amex Green is more focused on travel, while the Amex Gold is better suited for everyday spending on groceries and eating out.

Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the features and benefits of these two products and see which one might be the better fit for you.

Comparison of benefits

Benefit detail	American Express Green Card	American Express Gold Card
Annual fee	$150 (see rates & fees).	$250 (see rates & fees).
Welcome bonus	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points and 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first six months of cardmembership (up to $200 back) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of cardmembership.
Earning categories	3 points per dollar on travel (including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours and ridesharing services). 3 points per dollar at restaurants. 1 point on all other purchases. Terms apply.	4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 spent per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar). 4 points per dollar at restaurants. 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Travel benefits	Up to $189 annual credit for Clear Plus. Up to $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit. Car rental loss and damage.* Baggage insurance. Trip delay insurance.*	Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually ($10 monthly credits) for U.S. services. Must add card to Uber app to receive benefit. $100 experience credit for your stay of at least two nights at The Hotel Collection. Car rental loss and damage.* Baggage insurance. Trip delay insurance.*
Additional benefits	ShopRunner free 2-day shipping on eligible items. Enrollment is required. Purchase protection. Extended warranty protection. Entertainment access. No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees).	Up to $120 annual dining credit at select restaurants (up to $10 per month) per calendar year. Enrollment is required. ShopRunner free 2-day shipping on eligible items. Enrollment is required. Purchase protection. Extended warranty protection. Entertainment access. No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees).

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Welcome offer

Both cards have an attractive welcome offer.

The Amex Green currently offers 60,000 Membership Rewards points and 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first six months of cardmembership (up to $200 back) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of cardmembership. This is the best offer we’ve seen available to the public.

The Amex Gold, on the other hand, offers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months.

Because TPG currently values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, both points bonuses are worth $1,200. But you can get up to an additional $200 back with the Amex Green bonus.

Sometimes, the cards have offered higher targeted welcome offers through the CardMatch Tool (offer subject to change at any time), so be sure to check this tool before applying for a card.

Note that if you’ve held either of these cards before, you’re almost certainly ineligible for a welcome offer. Despite the revamps both cards have received in the past few years, they’re still considered the same products. In addition, American Express also considers other factors to determine welcome-bonus eligibility, though it should notify you of your status before you submit your application and face a hard inquiry.

Winner: Given the additional 20% back on travel and transit purchases as part of its welcome offer, the Amex Green comes out ahead in this category.

Related: Ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Earning categories and bonuses

The Amex Green offers 3 points per dollar on travel — including transit purchases such as taxis and ride-hailing services. You also earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants around the world and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The Amex Gold Card offers 4 points per dollar at restaurants and on purchases of up to $25,000 spent each calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar). You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airline or through Amex Travel. For all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar.

When you compare these rates, the Amex Gold offers you 33% more points at restaurants than the Amex Green, and it also offers 4 points per dollar when you buy groceries (or anything else) from a supermarket in the U.S (up to $25k in purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar.)

And although they both offer 3 points per dollar on select travel purchases, the Amex Green Card opens up the bonus points to all travel-related purchases. This means anything coded as “travel” on your monthly statement will receive the bonus points.

For the Amex Gold Card, you’ll only earn 3 points per dollar on a limited number of airline-specific purchases, which includes purchasing airfare from the airline directly (not an online travel agency) or through Amex Travel. This means you’ll only earn 1 point per dollar for hotels, cruises, transit and many other travel-related purchases.

Winner: If you’re a commuter or a frequent traveler (and don’t spend much at U.S. supermarkets) and don’t have another card that offers you bonuses for travel spending, then the Amex Green has a strong advantage. Otherwise, the Amex Gold Card will likely offer more points for most people’s spending.

Related: What counts as travel on the Amex Green card?

Travel benefits

A standout benefit of the Amex Green is its up to $189 annual credit toward a Clear Plus membership, which is enough to fully cover the cost of one adult membership.

Clear machines SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

The Amex Green Card also offers an annual up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit, which can be applied to the admission fee for hundreds of lounges worldwide. This could be somewhat valuable to those who don’t already have a Priority Pass Select benefit from a different credit card. Enrollment is required.

The Amex Gold Card offers up to $120 in Uber Cash. With this benefit, you’ll receive up to $10 monthly in Uber Cash credit, which can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. The fact that you can use these credits on takeout means card members should have no problem using the cash — which puts a full $120 value on the perk.

Both cards offer car rental loss and damage coverage (secondary coverage)*, baggage insurance** and trip delay protection.*** However, the Amex Gold also provides access to benefits and discounts when booking accommodations through The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay required).

The trip delay protection is typically the most valuable to many cardholders since you’ll be reimbursed up to $300 per eligible trip if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours. This will cover unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, such as meals, lodging and personal use items.

Winner: Given that both cards offer the same travel protections, the Amex Green comes out ahead with its valuable Clear and LoungeBuddy credits.

Related: What your card’s trip protection covers

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Shopping benefits

The Amex Gold Card has an up to $120 annual restaurant credit at select establishments, including The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. If none of those appeal to you, you can apply that credit to delivery or takeout orders from Grubhub. Because it’s so easy to use, most cardholders can get the full $120 value from this benefit. Enrollment is required.

You’ll also notice that both cards offers purchase protection* and extended warranty benefits* — an important card feature to have for many purchases (especially those that can break easily). The Amex Gold Card comes out slightly ahead in this department since the purchase protection perk covers your purchase up to 90 days from the day of purchase, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

While the Amex Green Card also includes the same 90-day benefit, you’re capped at $1,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. For an expensive purchase, the Amex Gold Card is preferable, but most cardmembers will find the maximum to be more than sufficient with the Amex Green Card.

Additionally, both cards come with free ShopRunner two-day delivery from select online merchants and the American Express Entertainment Access program that gives you preferred access to shows and sporting events.

Winner: With its dining credit and more valuable purchase protection coverage, the Amex Gold easily comes out ahead in this category.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: Complete guide to the Amex Gold dining credit

Bottom line

Although the American Express Green Card has much to offer, its more upscale sibling — the American Express Gold Card — is still a better fit for most.

Using the Amex Gold Card to earn more at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets is likely more attractive to most people than the Amex Green’s bonus earning on a wider range of travel purchases. In addition, the higher annual fee of the Amex Gold is offset by up to $240 in annual credits.

Still, with a lower annual fee, useful travel credits and broad bonus categories, the Amex Green is a solid option.

No matter which you choose, you can rest assured you’re adding a great card to your wallet.

For more details, check out our full reviews of the Amex Green and Amex Gold.

Official application link: Amex Gold Card with a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 within your first six months of cardmembership.

Official application link: Amex Green Card with a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points and 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first six months of cardmembership (up to $200 back) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of cardmembership.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green, please click here.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Benét J. Wilson and Jason Steele

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

One important distinction between advanced award travelers and those newer to the world of points and miles is how each group searches for award space.

Those with experience earning and burning points and miles will carefully study various partner award charts, looking at where to transfer their flexible points and what sweet spots they can utilize. Meanwhile, beginners may log into their United MileagePlus or American Airlines AAdvantage account, search for the destination they want to visit and book the first award they see regardless of price or convenience.

While anyone can accrue a good amount of points by earning welcome bonuses on top travel credit cards, this difference in redemption strategies is huge. Using the right partner program to book your award could save you as much as 50%, depending on the carrier and route.

With major programs switching to dynamic pricing and 500,000 miles for one-way business-class flights to Europe becoming increasingly common, it’s more important than ever to know the best ways to maximize your points and miles.

Today, we’ll look at some of the best value sweet spot award redemptions. While this list is not exhaustive, if you plan to travel to one of these destinations and have points at your disposal, these are surefire ways to get an excellent redemption value every time. If you’re new to the world of points and miles and any of these destinations interest you, you can use this as a road map to instant success.

ANA premium cabins to Japan with Virgin Atlantic points

Virgin Atlantic’s partner award chart for ANA is one of the best sweet spots out there. While availability can be hard to come by, and the first-class rates recently increased, this remains an incredible use of Virgin points.

The sweet spot

For this sweet spot, it’s important to know that the prices differ if you’re flying from the West Coast versus the central and eastern U.S. You can also book one-way flights for half the round-trip prices noted below.

ANA’s new business class is called “The Room,” and its new first class is referred to as “The Suite.” Both are excellent products that we are big fans of here at TPG — and flying in either means you can visit the always-popular Japan.

You’re allowed an open-jaw routing as long as you stay within the same region of the U.S. (West or Central/East). This means you can mix and match airports wherever you find award space.

For example, flying from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and then returning from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) would be a valid itinerary, costing only 95,000 points in business or 170,000 points in first class.

Availability can be scarce — you will have the best luck booking 12 months in advance (as soon as the seats are loaded) or last minute (less than 14 days before departure when unsold seats are often loaded for awards). Your best bet for finding availability is to search for it using the United MileagePlus website and call Virgin’s Flying Club to book.

Related: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo

Earning Virgin Atlantic miles

Virgin Atlantic miles are among the easiest to earn. You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Club. Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses from Amex or Citi that could drop your costs even further.

Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value

Iberia business class to Spain with Avios

Iberia Avios can unlock one of the cheapest ways to fly to Europe in business class.

The sweet spot

The key to this sweet spot is to fly a nonstop, Iberia-operated flight of 3,001 to 4,000 miles on off-peak dates (check Iberia’s peak and off-peak calendar). This is because Iberia uses a distance-based award chart for its flights.

Iberia operates several transatlantic flights that fall into the 3,001- to 4,000-mile distance band. As such, you can book Iberia flights between the following city pairs for just 34,000 Avios, plus modest taxes and fees:

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).
BOS to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
JFK to MAD.
JFK to BCN.
IAD to MAD.

While flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to MAD are slightly outside this range, they also price at 34,000 Avios one-way in business class.

Earning Avios

There are three primary ways for U.S.-based travelers to earn Iberia Avios:

Related: 4 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Iberia and British Airways

Qatar Airways Qsuite business class to the Middle East or Africa with AAdvantage miles

Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for its innovative Qsuite business-class product, regarded as one of the world’s best business-class experiences.

The sweet spot

If you don’t live near a Qatar Airways gateway, you may be able to find an itinerary that allows you to connect domestically in the U.S. for the same cost.

You can search for award availability online, even if you don’t have the necessary miles. Just note that award space may be difficult to come by, so check back regularly if you can’t find flights on your desired route.

Earning AAdvantage miles

There are a few American Airlines cobranded cards you can use to quickly accrue AAdvantage miles.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 3:1 transfer ratio. Additionally, if you pay your rent with Bilt Rewards or spend on the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can transfer your points 1:1 to AAdvantage. Points transfer from Bilt to AAdvantage instantly.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles

Cathay Pacific business class to Asia or Africa with Alaska miles

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan used to be one of our favorite airline programs, as the program once offered some incredible award flight sweet spots. Sadly, Alaska has removed many of its award deals, but Cathay Pacific is one of the remaining Mileage Plan sweet spots that you should book before it disappears.

The sweet spot

Flying with Cathay Pacific from the West Coast to its Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) hub will cost 30,000 miles each way in economy. If you can find available seats in premium cabins (which is difficult), you’ll pay 50,000 miles per person in business class and 70,000 miles per person in first class.

You can also continue on to several points in Asia, such as various destinations in India and Dubai International Airport (DXB), paying just 50,000 miles per person for a one-way flight in economy. Expect to pay 62,500 miles for a one-way business-class ticket and 70,000 miles for a first-class ticket.

Unfortunately, Cathay Pacific’s premium cabin seats are extremely tough to find. If you find availability, we recommend booking immediately. If you need to cancel your ticket later, Alaska will redeposit the miles and refund the taxes and fees without penalty.

Earning Alaska miles

Alaska miles aren’t the easiest to earn, as they are not linked to any major transferable program. Thankfully, Alaska’s broad list of airline partners means you can earn when flying with many different airlines.

Alaska Airlines also has two cobranded credit cards with Bank of America.

Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card: Get a $100 statement credit, 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card: Get 50,000 bonus miles, a $100 statement credit and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?

Short-haul flights on British Airways with Avios

With dynamic pricing in some programs showing up to 100,000 miles for a single flight in economy, British Airways is a good alternative. The Executive Club program offers low prices on short flights.

The sweet spot

British Airways only charges 4,750 Avios each way for off-peak flights it operates from London to destinations up to 600 miles away. This includes destinations in Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Italy. Taxes will set you back just $31 (this can vary depending on current exchange rates), though you also have the option to reduce this to $1 by redeeming 9,250 Avios.

Award flights include full-size cabin baggage and checked baggage.

Earning British Airways Avios

The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios for everyday spending is by applying for the British Airways Visa Signature Card. You’ll earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, making the full bonus worth $1,125.

The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per dollar spent.

British Airways is also a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.

Points transfer from Capital One, Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

Related: 5 reasons why you should care about British Airways Avios

Air France-KLM Flying Blue promo awards

From paid ticket sales to redemption promotions, there are endless opportunities to book travel at a discount. However, few sales are as reliable as the Promo Rewards we see each month from Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

With Flying Blue adopting dynamic pricing with highly variable rates in all classes, this monthly offer is an excellent way to save on award travel.

The sweet spot

These monthly Promo Rewards regularly appear on the Flying Blue website and offer discounts on flights to and from select cities or region pairs. All discounts are only bookable through the end of the month, and there’s a set travel window.

Each month, the destinations, discounts and classes change, so keep an eye out for what is currently available. In the past, we have seen deals like:

39,000 miles in business class from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), flying KLM.
22,500 miles in premium economy class from IAD to Munich Airport (MUC), flying Air France.
11,250 miles in economy from ORD to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), flying Air France.

Earning Flying Blue miles

Boosting your Flying Blue balance is easy since the program partners with all major transferable points currencies.

You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Based on our tests, Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Citi transfers should post almost instantly. However, that wasn’t the case with our test transfer from Marriott, which took three days to arrive in our Flying Blue account.

Related: Is KLM premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?

Domestic United flights with Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles

United’s dynamic pricing means you won’t find a set price for flights booked via the MileagePlus program. However, when there is saver-level inventory (the X fare class for economy or the I fare class for business), Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles becomes one of the best options available.

The sweet spot

For any domestic flight in the U.S., including to or from Hawaii, Turkish requires just 7,500 miles each way in economy. If you’re lucky enough to find domestic first class, those award tickets only cost 12,500 miles each way.

For example, we found a round-trip ticket in economy from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) that only requires 15,000 Turkish miles plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.

This exact same flight would be 25,800 United miles.

The key to this sweet spot is finding saver-level inventory. You can search for these fares on United.com, though note that award tickets in any fare class other than X for economy and I for business class are not bookable through partner programs.

Earning Turkish miles

Miles&Smiles partners with a trio of programs: Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Bilt Rewards. You can transfer rewards from any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio, and our tests indicate that transfers should process instantly.

Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards

Bottom line

When it comes to making award reservations, you need certain stars to align. A little bit of flexibility is required to make the process run smoothly, and that might mean changing the dates of your trip a bit or opting for a destination with more plentiful award space. If these three things fall into place, you’ll have a solid award flight.

However, there’s a fourth element to the equation: value. If you can score one of the above sweet spots, you’re essentially guaranteed to get incredible value from your redemption.

Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh and Ethan Steinberg.

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.

See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

A cruise can satisfy the greatest wanderlust, satisfy your favorite (and newfound) food cravings and open new horizons and interests you never thought possible. But you can also fall for tourist traps or miss the authentic culture of the places you visit.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you’ve never cruised, talk to others who have more firsthand insights. Their perspective can shed even more light on the experience you can expect.

Going on a cruise has pros and cons, and it may be worth reviewing them before your next sailing. Let’s look at the pros and cons of cruises.

Pros

A good deal

Cruises can be costly, but you get more than just a great view of the ocean. Cruise bookings often include your:

Accommodations.
Some drinks.
Entertainment.
Recreational amenities like pools and waterslides.
Other onboard activities.

You can step aboard the ship and not spend a penny if you play your cards right.

There are plenty of ways for cruises to pull more money out of your pocket on board (think: spa, specialty restaurants, upgraded drink packages, shore excursions, shops and casino), but you can still have plenty of fun without spending an additional dime.

Cruise lines are reinventing their onboard options, and specialty restaurants tap in to the talents of well-known chefs and restaurateurs. This can take some of the boredom away from the same dining rooms, but it comes at a cost.

For the most part, however, if you find a good price on the cabin, the number of inclusions that come with it can quickly drive down the cost of an overall vacation. Of course, the more you spend on the cabin (some of those luxury suites, for example), the lower the bargain you’ll get.

Entertainment and education galore

You read that right — you can learn something educational on a cruise.

Many cruises have port talks, destination immersion lectures covering the history and culture of a place, art galleries and trivia games. You can learn something on board, and then when you’re ashore, you can explore the destinations you visit.

Cruises are a great way to learn more about the world, meet new people and learn from them, too.

And there is more entertainment than you can shake a stick at on board and ashore. From musical performances to game shows and cinemas, you can easily fill up your schedule.

Every ship is different, so it is important to review what is available on your sailing if staying busy is your goal. Otherwise, bring a book and watch the world float by from the deck.

On sea days (when the ship is traveling between ports), it’s like having your own resort with pools and activities included in the overall cost of your vacation.

Maximize your time

A cruise can introduce you to many places at once without your worrying about unpacking and repacking between destinations or paying for transportation between cities.

You unpack once and then are on your way, with all of the details handled for you — from immigration protocols to where to go and when.

The cost of a cruise includes a preplanned journey to some of the most popular points within a region and your transportation between them.

For example, your itinerary may have multiple Mediterranean cities or several European capitals.

There’s something quite relaxing about waking up each morning in a new city. And when you return after a day of exploring, housekeeping has cleaned your room.

A cruise may be a great option for less-frequent travelers because the cruise line is essentially “holding your hand” along the way.

Even better, some stops may be hard to reach by land — like many Alaskan ports — or expensive to reach independently, like some Greek islands or pricy ports in the Caribbean like St. Barts.

Family and group travel come easy

Cruises are an easy option for groups traveling together. Unlike on land, where it can be hard to find restaurant reservations for large groups or find one activity that suits every interest, cruises have something for everyone.

People can branch off to do what they like on the ship and then meet back up an hour later without worrying about traffic or safety issues for kids.

Cons

Lots of people

While this varies by ship — some enormous ships have so much space that there are plenty of areas where you’ll be one of only a few people — crowds may flood popular areas.

For example, people vying for their moment in the sun may swarm the pool deck and families may descend on the water park area simultaneously.

Lines can form at popular buffets or restaurants at meal times, and when it’s time to go ashore (or disembark after the cruise), you’ll be one of many waiting in line.

Repetition

If you’re not willing to pay for specialty venues or you’re on a smaller ship that doesn’t have many free dining options, you may find that the dining rooms become repetitive. Menus change daily, but the setting does not. The window views at dinner will vary by destination, though, adding a bit of pizzazz.

If you make an effort, it is possible to find different things to do each day on almost all larger ships. River cruises, on the other hand, are much smaller and tend to feel more repetitive.

The same premise appears with the destinations for repeat cruisers. Because the cruise line plans itineraries, you may visit places you have been to multiple times if you sail often enough. It becomes harder to exclusively visit “new-to-you” places.

If it’s the latter you’re after, planning your own trip may be a better option.

One price is not always just one price

If you loosen your purse strings easily, spending more than you realize aboard a ship is possible.

A few cocktails by the pool each day, an extra tour or specialty restaurant dinner another, and before you know it, you’ve paid twice as much as you thought. It’s wise to board a ship with a budget in mind and plan your sailing accordingly so you don’t overspend without realizing it.

Tourist traps

Cruise lines are often important economic engines for destinations. You may find yourself dealing with tourist traps, such as shops by the port, and beginner tours organized by the cruise line.

If you want the most authentic experience, it might be worth studying local guides and tour options online in advance to find something more authentic without falling for what’s waiting for you right at the port.

If you’re going on a shore excursion through the cruise line, you can count on being carted to places designed for large groups rather than hidden gems. Many tours often include a stop at a local shop or business that may be presented as authentic, but locals will tell you it is not.

This trend is amplified because travelers usually have only one day at each destination. As a result, time is of the essence to visit the most important sights without wasting it at tourist traps.

Frequent cruisers, however, will tell you that you should use a cruise to determine places you want to return to by using it as a sampler to explore many destinations. They also suggest planning what you want to do so you can hit the ground running.

Exploring independently or with a local guide (not booked through the ship) can often be your best bet. It also has the added benefit of directly supporting a local business or guide rather than funneling that cash through the cruise line.

The pros and cons of cruises, recapped

It’s unfair to decide how you feel about a cruise without trying one. Even those who insist they wouldn’t like one may end up having a good time.

Perception is not always reality, and you can be better prepared by considering all of the pros and cons of a cruise in advance. Talk with people on either side to get answers to your questions.

Not every type of travel is for everyone, but the ever-expanding cruise industry keeps adding amenities, perks and destinations. That alone speaks for itself.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Okay – your flight’s booked, you’ve requested time off from work, and your family knows you’re going. The bare essentials for going on your trip are done.

Even so, you have this nagging feeling like there’s some more… adulting to do before you leave.

Indeed, there are definitely a few additional steps you’ll want to take before your big trip to ensure your personal finances stay taught and tidy while you’re adventuring abroad.

(P.S. I traveled to 41 countries in my 20s, so please enjoy learning from my mistakes!)

What’s Ahead:

1. Let your bank and credit card company know that you’re traveling

Setting a “travel notice” with your bank is a quick win and can be done in a single phone call. Some banks will even let you do it from your online dashboard.

When you set a travel notice, you’re essentially telling your bank: “hey, I’ll be in Bolivia in August – so if you see a charge from a hostel in La Paz, that’s not fraud – that’s just me.”

Without a travel notice, your bank will typically block your account until they hear confirmation that it’s just you. This could leave you in a sticky situation – you may be unable to withdraw cash, buy food, or check into your accommodations until you call your bank.

So, be sure to set a travel notice so your bank doesn’t flip out when you try to buy your first cuñape.

2. Download banking and payment apps

After visiting 41 countries, I’ve learned one universal truth about group travel: money changes hands between you like the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Restaurant tabs and outdoor market negotiations quickly devolve into a humbling frenzy of open wallets, wads of cash, and grown adults counting on their fingers.

“Oh, shoot – can anyone spot me twenty Euros?”

“I’ve got plenty of pesos if anyone needs any.”

“Does anyone have an extra 5,000 Yen for the tip?”

At the end of the day, sipping Sopporo at the hostel, you’ll need to settle your tab with your cohorts – and that’s when having your banking and payment apps pre-installed is a godsend. Not only do Zelle and PayPal automatically convert to the recipient’s currency, but they also save you a nighttime trip to the ATM – which can be expensive and dangerous.

Read more: Make Paying Easier With The 10 Best Payment Apps

3. Get a budgeting app to help you stay on track

In addition to a payment app, it’s helpful to have a budgeting app while you travel so you can stay on track with your financial goals.

On a more personal note, establishing a budget before your trip and sticking to it takes a ton of the stress and guilt out of travel. Take it from me, when you’re traveling on a budget, without a budget, every nonessential expense can come with a heaping side of guilt.

Another five euro beer in Bavaria? I probably shouldn’t.
This beautiful painting of Ha Long Bay that’s only $30? Ehhh…. not when I’m between jobs.

Not knowing how much you’re allowed to spend when you’re traveling can be a huge buzzkill. But conversely, once you set a budget, your mindset shifts and you feel much more confident and relaxed in your spending:

I can safely afford three craft beers tonight.
Even if I buy this beautiful painting, I’ll still have $220 left in my art budget!

So I passionately suggest establishing a budget before you head overseas – it’s low-key the #1 stress reliever before a big journey!

Read more: 9 Best Budgeting Apps To Take Control Of Your Finances

4. See what travel perks and insurance you already get with your rewards card

Sure, 2% cash back rewards are great – but did you know that your credit card might also include up to $25,000 worth of trip insurance?

It’s a lesser-known perk of many rewards cards, but yes – many credit cards these days include travel-related insurance and coverage including:

Trip Delay Reimbursement. Delay coverage would reimburse you for extra expenses due to a delay, like hotels/meals after a canceled flight.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption. This is the big one; if you or even just someone in your family misses a trip due to sickness, a death in the family, severe weather, or even jury duty, your card could cover your trip for up to $25,000.
Baggage Delay. If your bag is delayed by at least 12 hours, your credit card company will actually reimburse you for typically around $150 of clothes and toiletries to get through the day.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement. If your bag never arrives, your card company could cover the replacement cost of your luggage plus contents, usually up to $500 or $1,000. You should know, however, that by law airlines are required to reimburse you for up to $3,500 for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. Stuck in a foreign country with a canceled flight? It may not be your first impulse, but calling your card issuer can actually save the day. Many credit card companies have 24/7 travel concierges that can help you make emergency travel plans.
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage. Finally, and this one became more common during the pandemic, if you incur hotel/transportation costs during an emergency evacuation, your credit card may cover it.

Head online and read your credit card’s cardholder agreement, top to bottom. That’ll give you an idea of the perks included, which could save you tens of thousands of dollars under the right (unfortunate) circumstances.

5. Get traveler’s insurance

Whether or not your card includes some trip insurance, you’ll still want to consider plugging any sensitive gaps. Travel insurance is cheap, relieves a ton of stress, and some consider it to be essential.

There are three types of travel insurance:

Financial travel insurance covers your trip itself, and may already be covered by your credit card. It includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage, baggage delay reimbursement, and more.
Medical travel insurance covers you during your trip and includes your medical bills for emergency evacuation, basic healthcare, etc. Even if you’re traveling to a country with affordable out-of-pocket healthcare, the U.S. State Department reminds us that medical transportation costs can reach $100,000 alone.
Comprehensive travel insurance quite simply includes both Financial and Medical travel insurance.

I know, when you’re budgeting for a trip, purchasing $50 to $300 or so worth of insurance that you might not even use feels like a frustrating tax.

But think of it this way – even if you never end up using it, travel insurance still has a tangible benefit – every day, it removes stress from your trip. For a couple of hundred bucks, it prevents any interruption in your goal to achieve financial freedom.

6. Bring a travel rewards card

Depending on where you’re going and for how long, you might consider applying for a travel rewards card to bring with you.

Now, the credit card companies would have you believe that getting a new credit card is as simple and straightforward as ordering a burrito.

It’s not, and there are some hidden caveats/drawbacks for you to seriously consider before applying:

Credit card applications hurt your credit score. When you apply for a new credit card, the company will make a hard pull of your credit, causing an immediate drop of five to seven points.
Travel rewards cards typically require excellent credit. Because travel cards are “lifestyle cards” that encourage high spending, the card companies want to know that they can trust you to pay your bill when you’re back home. Therefore, they typically require a credit score of 750 or higher
The best travel cards charge an annual fee. The best travel cards almost always charge a $95 annual fee (or higher). Granted, they also tend to have generous signup bonuses ($500+) if you spend enough within your first three months.

The best time to get a travel rewards card is before you book your trip. That way, you can put your trip on your new card for extra cash back and to make progress on earning your signup bonus.

Aside from getting trip insurance, better cash back on travel expenses, and a signup bonus, the final perk to bring a travel rewards card is zero foreign transaction fees. Most non-travel cards will charge a 3% fee on every purchase you make overseas, making your cash back rewards null and void.

If you plan to go shopping abroad, a travel card (or at least one with no foreign transaction fees) is an excellent companion.

Read more: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

7. Turn on notifications for every single transaction

Circling back to my very first point, you definitely should still give your bank a travel notice so they don’t immediately freeze your account as soon as you try to make a purchase overseas.

That being said, I recommend you still set up alerts for every single transaction made on your card while you’re traveling.

What if you’re in Bolivia, but that charge at the hostel in La Paz wasn’t you? Now, the roles have reversed – your bank probably thinks it’s OK, but you obviously don’t.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have your bank ping a notification to your phone every time there’s a transaction on your account. Yes, you may get eleven pings a day, but I promise – it’s all worth it for that one ping that makes you go: hol’ up.

8. Prepare to use card lock

Let’s say you do get an alert for a fraudulent charge. Or maybe, you’ve simply lost your credit card and want to prevent any bad guys from using it.

What now? Do you call up Chase and cancel your card?

Hold the phone, because canceling a credit card could have seriously negative consequences on your personal finances. To start, every merchant you have on autopay will experience a missed payment, which could lead to a disruption in subscription services and even a dip in your credit score.

Plus, and I’m pulling from personal experience here, canceling a credit card abroad means that card is donezo. Six feet under. In most circumstances, your card issuer won’t be able to get you another physical card until you’re back home.

Besides, what if you find your card behind the hostel bar right after you cancel it?

That’s why card lock is such an essential feature for travelers. Card lock is a simple toggle in your banking app that lets you block any new transactions on your card. Pre-authorized transactions are allowed, but the bad guys won’t be able to charge anything new. They’ll probably assume you already canceled it and toss it in the trash.

Card lock is also a no-brainer if you’re searching for a lost card, or you do know where it is and just need a few hours to retrieve it.

9. Automate your bills

Speaking of pre-authorized transactions, another key step in ensuring a smooth trip (financially speaking) is to ensure that you won’t come home to any delinquent bills.

You’ll be glad you set up autopay for your rent, utilities, etc. if you haven’t already. It’s not just decidedly unfun to return from Bali to a pile of bills – it can also be expensive and hurt your credit score.

Some less patient merchants (notably utility providers) keep their fingers on the trigger, and as soon as you miss a payment they’ll ambush you with late fees and report your delinquent payment to the credit bureaus.

So, be sure that all of your bills, rent, etc. are set on autopay so you don’t get in trouble while you’re gone. And TBH, just keep everything on autopay so you don’t miss any payments in the future!

Read more: Automatic Payments Explained – Everything You Need To Know About AutoPay

10. Suspend your paid subscriptions

Conversely, if you’ll be gone for more than a month, you might even consider canceling some of your subscriptions until you’re back. This is a frugal life hack that I’ve used to save hundreds during my overseas adventures.

For example, you may want to consider canceling the following services (and more) if you won’t be using them while overseas:

Hulu.
Disney+.
Peloton.
HBO Max.
Spotify.
Netflix.

After all, these services let you reactivate on a whim, so you might as well suspend your subscription and save $20, $40, even $100 during each month you’re gone.

Not only is it effortless to re-subscribe – they’ll often give you promos for it (e.g. reactivate now to save 20% off your next three months).

Now, if it’s a subscription to a small business, like a local gym or a life coach, I’d encourage you to continue supporting them even while you’re overseas.

But Disney? They’ll be fine.

11. Remember to skip your meal deliveries

I’m giving this one its own header because it caused me a surprising amount of stress on my recent jaunt to the Bahamas.

While I was checking my email in Nassau, I got a notification that my Freshly box was out for delivery.

Oops.

Now, if it were just a regular package I could’ve rolled the dice and let it sit on my porch. If I were feeling paranoid, I probably could’ve gotten a pal to swing by within a few days and hide it.

But fresh meals? They had hours before they expired and I lost $100 worth of meal prep (and created tons of food waste).

For an undisclosed amount of bribery, I finally got my up-the-street neighbor to rescue my meals and keep them in her fridge for five days, but lesson learned – skip any fresh meal deliveries while you’re overseas.

12. Have a plan for your mail and packages

On a similar note, it pays (literally) to have your mail and packages taken care of while you’re gone.

If you go online, you can typically redirect UPS and FedEx packages for delivery to the nearest brick-and-mortar store for complimentary safe-keeping – even if the package is already in transit.

USPS offers a service called USPS Hold Mail® that, as the name subtly implies, will hold your mail at the nearest post office for up to 30 days. You can set it up online by creating a USPS account.

(Fun fact – you can also opt-out of junk mail for $2).

13. Freeze your credit report

This is a newer travel tip that some would consider extreme, while others consider it 100% necessary. I’ll let you be the judge.

Remember card lock, which prevents your credit card from being used? Well, there’s a more intense version of that where you can actually prevent your entire credit report from being used.

When you travel abroad and use your credit card in more places, the threat of identity theft naturally rises. Then, the usual first step in identity theft is that the bad guy will start applying for loans in your name.

At this stage, the lender sends a request to the credit bureaus to release your credit report, and when they see you have good credit, they give the bad guy whatever he wants.

But if you freeze your credit report, it stops the bad guy right in his tracks.

To freeze your credit report, you have to call up each of the three credit bureaus:

Equifax (1-800-349-9960).
TransUnion (1-888-909-8872).
Experian (1-888-397-3742).

They’ll ask you for a password to release it again – be sure to get it tattooed on your arm (or your friend’s arm) because you won’t want to lose it. Then, all you have to do is unfreeze it again when you apply for your next loan or line of credit.

14. Sublet your apartment

If your lease allows it, subletting your apartment while you’re gone could cover the cost of your trip!

When you sublet, you’re essentially letting a renter stay in your space while you’re gone. You’re effectively a landlord for a few weeks/months during your trip, and you’ll have to issue a lease of your own and collect rent.

You’ll likely want to collect a security deposit, too, to cover any potential theft or damages to your property.

Subletting makes the most sense if your renter is someone you trust – a friend, colleague, family member, etc. A total stranger might squat in your space, refuse to pay rent, and simply disappear before you return (with your stuff).

For that reason, subletting isn’t for everyone; but if you have a renter in mind and could get a lot for your space, it’s definitely worth investigating!

Read more: How to Sublet Your Apartment Safely

15. Make sure you don’t pay for data roaming

There’s a scene from An Idiot Abroad where Ricky Gervais knows Karl gets charged 70 pence every time he receives a text message in Egypt so he keeps texting him this:

Even if your data carrier says they include data roaming in your monthly bill, don’t believe them. T-Mobile claims they include unlimited data roaming and a “low rate ceiling” for global travelers, and yet felt justified charged a family $13,470.19 while they traveled – $1 per megabyte.

Here’s the crazy thing – the family’s phones were on airplane mode the entire time – but apparently, certain apps these days can shrug off airplane mode and vampire data regardless.

So, the key to avoiding roaming charges is to either:

Go into Airplane Mode Settings and ensure that Cellular Data is disabled.
Prepay for roaming data, if it’s essential.

Only then will you ensure that you never pay 70p for a text from Ricky Gervais again (actually, that might be worth it).

Read more: Should You Buy An International SIM Card For Your Next Trip?

16. Download a VPN

My final travel tip for safeguarding your finances is to download and start using a virtual private network, or VPN.

VPNs are essential travel tools because, among other things, they scramble your data while you browse the web. You’re going to be using a lot of public WiFi while you’re traveling, especially in airports, and that’s precisely when you’re the most vulnerable to having your data stolen (ID, bank passcodes, etc.)

Thankfully, even the cheapest VPN (~$3 a month) can protect you and ensure your sensitive financial data stays invisible.

Plus, VPNs can also help you circumvent national firewalls and download region-locked content. Want to download a movie only available on Netflix Canada? Want to visit Western social media while you’re in China? VPN.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, they’re super easy to download and use – so be sure to pick one and tinker with it before you depart!

Summary

Money is a serious consideration for every big trip, but if you plan it well and implement a few key travel hacks, I guarantee you’ll have a less stressful (and more lucrative) adventure overseas.

Source: moneyunder30.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

Las Vegas is known for many things, typically its world-famous casinos and that legendary nightlife. There’s a reason they say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

For some people, those features of Las Vegas are exactly what they want. But not everyone loves to play the slot machines, try their luck at roulette, or sip those fancy cocktails. The good news is you don’t have to: There are countless things to do in Las Vegas, and only a small fraction involve drinking and gambling.

Here, learn about the best things to do when visiting Las Vegas because this Nevada town has a lot going on!

Best Times to Go to Las Vegas

The best times to visit Las Vegas can depend on your personal preferences. What do you want to do while you are there? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Weather: Las Vegas can be very hot if you opt for summer travel. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during that time. So, if you prefer not to be covered in sweat, the best time to visit in terms of weather is usually in the fall (September to November) or spring (March to May), when temperatures are milder. However, if you are planning a visit that involves nothing but casino time, seeing shows, and hitting the pool, you can travel pretty much whenever.

• Events: Las Vegas hosts many events and festivals throughout the year, including the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival in May, the World Series of Poker in the summer, and the National Finals Rodeo in December. If there is a particular event you want to attend, that could influence when you decide to go.

• Crowds: Las Vegas is a popular destination all year, but certain times of year tend to be busier than others. The winter holidays and New Year’s Eve are typically the busiest times, while weekdays in the summer can be quieter.

Generally, the best time to visit Las Vegas depends on what you want to do and see. If you want to avoid crowds and extreme heat, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. If you want to attend a specific event, plan your trip around that. Also, consider travel insurance to give yourself peace of mind in case you hit any obstacles before or during your trip.

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Recommended: Apply for an Unlimited Cash Back Credit Card

Bad Times to Go to Las Vegas

Again, the bad times to visit Las Vegas are subjective and depend on your preferences. For most people, though, here are times of the year that might be less enjoyable:

• Summer: As mentioned, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. That could make it an uncomfortable time to visit for many.

• Major holidays: Las Vegas is a popular destination on many major holidays, including New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. During these times, hotels and attractions can be crowded, and prices might be higher than usual.

• Convention weekends: Las Vegas is a popular destination for business conferences and conventions, and hotel rates can be higher during these times. You might also find that the city is more crowded than usual.

As you can see, the worst times to visit Las Vegas also depend on your personal inclinations. If you want to avoid crowds and high prices, it’s best to avoid major holidays and conventions. If you can’t handle the heat, staying away during the summer is best.

Average Cost of a Las Vegas Vacation

The cost of a Las Vegas vacation can vary widely depending on factors such as the time of year, duration of your visit, accommodations, dining and entertainment options, and your budget for spending. It might help if you already have a travel fund, but it depends on how much you will spend. Here is a general breakdown of common expenses for a one-person and couple’s vacation:

One-Person Vacation:

• Accommodations: A mid-range hotel room can cost around $100-$200 per night; luxury hotels in Vegas will of course typically be more, but you may be able to use hacks that will lower that cost and help you save money on hotels.

• Flights: Round-trip flights generally cost around $200-$500, depending on the departure city and time of year.

• Transportation: Taxis, Ubers, and public transportation can add up to around $50-$100 or more. Of course, they might cost you more money depending on how often you use them.

• Food and drink: Meals can cost around $20-$50 per day, depending on where and what you eat, plus drinks and snacks can add another $20-$50 per day.

• Entertainment: Shows, attractions, and activities can range from free to several hundred dollars per person. Tickets to those high-profile residencies can get quite pricey.

Total: A one-person vacation to Las Vegas can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 or more, depending on the above factors. Also consider things like traveling with pets, which will increase your costs as hotels typically add a charge and you might have additional transportation costs getting to pet-friendly parks.

Couple’s Vacation:

• Hotels: A mid-range hotel room can cost around $100-$200 per night or more for a luxury hotel.

• Flights: Round-trip flights can cost around $400-$1,000, depending on the departure city and time of year. However, you can save money or get extra perks with an airline credit card or cash back rewards credit card.

• Transportation: Taxis, Ubers, and public transportation can add up to around $100-$200. Again, it depends in part on how much you use them.

• Food and drink: Meals can cost around $40-$100 per day for two people, depending on where and what you eat. Drinks and snacks might add another $40-$100 per day.

• Entertainment: Shows, attractions, and activities can range from free to several hundred dollars per person.

Total: A couple’s vacation to Las Vegas might cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 or more, depending on the above factors. Naturally, how much you can afford will have an effect on your budget.

10 Fun Must-Dos in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the best places in the country for all kinds of entertainment. Whether young or old, you are never more than a few steps away from something interesting. This list of the best things to do in Vegas is culled from top-rated attractions on popular review sites, as well as insider intel from savvy travelers.

The good thing about taking a trip to Las Vegas is that the Strip is generally the focal point. So, if you stay near the Strip, you are sure to find many attractions that are accessible. Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as traversing the Strip takes more steps than you might realize.

1. Visit the Las Vegas Strip

As the main attraction in Vegas, the Strip has numerous shops, restaurants, and shows. Of course, you can visit the casinos if you prefer, but even the Strip has plenty to do that doesn’t involve gambling. Admire the Bellagio’s fountains and the artwork inside the casino, or visit the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. Visit the city’s museums, or enjoy some performances by the city’s various street performers. The Strip offers endless entertainment for all kinds of people. visitlasvegas.com/las-vegas-strip/

2. See a Live Show

Seeing a live show is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas. The city is home to many spectacular shows, including Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, and magic shows. All the best shows are usually on the Strip, so catching a show is convenient, too.

3. Explore Fremont Street

This is the old downtown area of Las Vegas, with vintage casinos, bars, and the famous light show on the overhead canopy. While the Strip is generally the main attraction in Last Vegas these days, many people insist Fremont Street is the “real” Vegas experience. Today, Fremont Street is home to unbeatable experiences like the Viva Vision Light Show, an indoor zip line, and the vintage Golden Nugget casino. vegasexperience.com/

4. Ride the High Roller

Even if you aren’t a high roller in the casinos, you can feel like one in the High Roller observation wheel. This 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel is the world’s tallest observation wheel, offering a stunning view of the Las Vegas skyline. Because the High Roller is so tall, the seats are completely enclosed in glass to keep passengers safe. The High Roller is located in the heart of the Strip, on the property of the LINQ Hotel and Casino. Daytime tickets for a 30-minute ride are typically $8.50 for youth; $23.50 for adults; nighttime is $17.50 for youth, $34.75 for adults. caesars.com/linq/things-to-do/attractions/high-roller

5. Visit the Hoover Dam

Las Vegas has endless things to do, but sometimes, you just need an escape. Located just outside Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is a marvel of engineering and a great place for a day trip. You can reach the Hoover Dam in about one hour by car from the Strip, so getting there isn’t too time-consuming. It was built between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. It serves several purposes, including controlling flooding of the Colorado River, irrigating over 1,500,000 acres of land, and providing water to 16,000,000 people. Tickets are $10 for a self-guided tour; $30 for a guided tour. usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/

6. Go Shopping

If you’re a shopping fiend, few places are better than Las Vegas. The city is home to many high-end shopping destinations, including the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Fashion Show Mall. There are also indie shops, other malls on the Strip, and outlets. That includes Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, where you’ll find deals on designer brands like Versace, Paige, and Michael Kors. This could also be a great opportunity to earn credit card rewards.

7. Visit the Neon Museum

Be sure to check out The Neon Museum Las Vegas to see a visual representation of Vegas’s history. This outdoor museum is located just north of the Strip and showcases vintage neon signs from Las Vegas’s past. The museum provides guided tours of signs from Vegas, some of which are from famous landmarks from the 1930s to today. General admission is $10 for children, $20 for adults, and tours are available. neonmuseum.org/

8. Play Miniature Golf

Adults and children of all ages can enjoy some amazing mini-golf courses in Las Vegas. The city has several miniature golf courses, including the Twilight Zone by Monster Mini Golf and KISS World featuring KISS Mini Golf. Both courses feature mesmerizing glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. Las Vegas is undoubtedly one of the coolest places to play mini-golf, so be sure to check these out.

9. Go on a Helicopter Tour

Experience the stunning views of Las Vegas and its surrounding areas from above with a thrilling helicopter tour. Several helicopter tour options are available in Las Vegas, ranging from short sightseeing flights to longer tours that take you to nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. Some helicopter tours are as brief as 10 minutes, while some can last several hours. Keep in mind that helicopter tours in Las Vegas can be expensive, ranging from around $100 to several hundred dollars per person. The cost depends on the length of the tour and the attractions included. Book now, pay later travel can help, though these services can have caveats, including incurring high-interest debt.

10. Visit the SkyPod

Visiting the Skypod at the Strat Hotel and Casino is a must-do activity when you’re in Las Vegas. This iconic tower offers stunning views of Las Vegas and an array of thrilling rides, including the SkyJump and Insanity. You can also see the surrounding mountains and desert from the observation deck. The tower stands 1,149 feet tall, making it the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. There are several dining options, including the award-winning Top of the World restaurant, which is located on the 106th floor of the tower and offers 360-degree views of the city while you dine. thestrat.com/attractions

Getting Around Town

Las Vegas doesn’t have a wide array of public transit options, but it does have the Las Vegas Monorail that runs along the strip. Unfortunately, the Monorail isn’t exactly cheap, but a 7-day pass might save a bit if you use it multiple times daily. There is also the Las Vegas Loop to transport you between convention halls. Tickets are a reasonable $4.50 per day. Renting a car is always an option as well.

Dining Details

Las Vegas is a great food city. The hotels are packed with amazing options from household-name chefs. You can also stray from the Strip and find local favorites offering affordable tacos, BBQ, and more. Research your favorite kinds of foods, and then let your tastebuds guide you.

The Takeaway

Las Vegas is known for its casinos, but there is much more to Vegas than just gambling. With world-class live performances, incredible dining, fantastic museums, and mesmerizing mini-golf, there is something for everyone in Las Vegas.

SoFi Travel is a new service exclusively for SoFi members. Through a partnership with Expedia, we make it easy to find the lowest rates and book your reservations — for flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, and more — all in one place. Earn 2x rewards when booking with your SoFi Mastercard or debit card. And when you redeem your SoFi rewards for travel, you get a 25% bonus: $100 of reward points are worth $125.

Wherever you’re going, get there with SoFi Travel.

FAQ

How do I get the most out of my Vegas vacation?

You can do many things to get the most out of your Vegas vacation. For example, you can stay on the Strip or at least nearby so you are centrally located and can easily move between destinations. You should also wear comfortable shoes and enjoy free things to do in Las Vegas, like the fountain shows at the Bellagio.

What is Las Vegas best for?

There are many things Las Vegas is great for, including the Strip, Fremont Street, live performances, and museums. Obviously, there are great shows, gambling, and all kinds of delicious dining options, too.

How much money should you take to Vegas?

How much money you should take to Vegas depends in large part on what you plan to do. An individual on a tight budget might be able to skate by on as little as $500 for a week-long stay. But a couple planning a luxury vacation might need as much as $4,000 or perhaps more.

Photo credit: iStock/f11photo

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May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

The average person probably wants to learn how to get rich.

The average person wants to learn how to get rich. If that's you, read more here so that you can learn how to become rich with no money, at any age, etc. Read this if you want to learn how to get rich quick and fast, make more money, learn new ideas, how to get rich young, my best tips, and more! While many think figuring how to get rich may be impossible, I’m here to tell you that it isn’t. And no, you don’t need to win the lottery or become a professional athlete.

The meaning of wealth and being rich means something different to everyone. For some, it means having lots of money, for others it may mean having a positive net worth, and for others it may be to retire one day.

Whatever your definition of “rich” is, everyone has the potential to build and improve their financial situation.

If you want to be rich one day, then you’ll have to form good financial habits now, work hard, and reach outside of the norm.

Learning how to get rich won’t be easy – but what good things come easy anyways?

For many people, learning how to get rich may seem impossible and completely unattainable, but that’s simply not true.

Building wealth and learning how to get rich is about your mindset, and figuring out how to get rich now is better than waiting any longer.

Related posts about how to get rich:

Here’s how to get rich– for anyone and at any age.

Don’t wait until tomorrow to learn how to get rich.

Instead of thinking that you’re invincible and that you have all the time in the world to improve your finances, you should stop procrastinating and learn how to build your wealth now.

Many people push things off and/or spend their money carelessly because they think they can start tomorrow, start next month, and so on. However, for everyday that you push off improving your finances the further away and harder you’ll have to work towards your goal.

Stop wasting time and take control of your financial situation now.

Related tip: I recommend looking into Digit if you want to trick yourself into saving more money. Digit is a service that looks at your spending and transfers money to a savings account for you. Digit makes everything easy so that you can start saving money with very little effort.

Be better than average if you want to learn how to get rich.

If you want to build your wealth, whatever that might mean to you, then you’re going to have to go outside the norm, be better than the average, and do new things.

When learning how to get rich, you should always strive to do your best as sometimes “average” is not good enough for you to build wealth. Keep in mind that the average person is not the greatest with money, and many are wrecked with stress and hardship due to their unfortunate financial situation.

68% of people live paycheck to paycheck.
26% have no emergency savings.
The median amount saved for retirement is less than $60,000.
The average household has $7,283 in credit card debt.
The average student loan debt is $32,264.

To be better than average, you’ll have to work hard, learn how to manage your money better, and perhaps take some risks (such as starting a business or applying for your dream job) as well.

Give yourself great goals.

Those who set goals are much more likely to be successful than those who do not. Due to that, if you want to be rich, you’ll want to start setting goals for yourself.

Setting goals is important because without a goal, how do you know where you’re heading? Goals can keep you motivated and striving for your best.

When building your wealth, you should always make sure that any goal you set is SMART.

A SMART goal is:

Specific – What is your goal? Is it specific enough or is it too broad? What needs to be done for you to achieve your goal? Why do you want to reach your goal?
Measurable – How can you measure your progress? How will you know if you’re on track?
Attainable – Is this a goal that can be achieved?
Realistic/relevant – Can you achieve your goal? Is the goal worth it?
Time – What’s your time frame for reaching your goal?

To reach your financial goals and learn how to get rich, you’ll want to:

Write down your goals and objectives.
Create a plan to reach your life goals.
Break your goal apart into smaller goals.
Keep track of your goal setting progress and make changes (if needed).
Find small ways to stick to your goal.
Find ways to motivate yourself when setting goals.
Make reaching your goal a friendly competition.

Read further at The Best Way To Set Goals And Reach Success in 2017.

Create a realistic budget.

To learn how to get rich, you’ll want to create a budget. Yes, even the rich have budgets!

The average person has a lot of financial stress and may be dealing with student loans, credit card debt, a mortgage, car loans, and sometimes even other forms of debt.

However, not many people have a budget. In fact, more than 60% of households in the U.S. do not have a budget.

Budgets are great, because they keep you mindful of your income and expenses. With a monthly budget, you will know exactly how much you can spend in a category each month, how much you have to work with, what spending areas need to be evaluated, among other things.

Remember, even those with high incomes have a budget. The rich stay rich because they have learned how to manage their money better than the average person, which includes being aware of your spending and saving.

When creating your budget, be sure to include all of your income and expenses.

Here are some expenses you may want to include when creating a budget, but don’t forget any expenses you have that aren’t listed:

Home – House payment, rent, maintenance, utilities, insurance, property taxes, etc.
Car – Monthly car payment, gas, maintenance, insurance, license plate fees, and so on.
Television, cable, Netflix, Hulu, etc.
Cell phone.
Internet.
Food – Groceries, restaurant spending, snacks, etc.
Clothing.
Entertainment – Entertainment can include many things, such as going to the movies, going out for drinks, concert tickets, sports, and so on.
Charity – If you regularly donate to charity, then this should be an area you budget for.
Savings funds – This can be for your retirement fund, wedding, travel, etc.
Taxes – If you are self-employed, then taxes may consist of a large part of your budget.
Health insurance.
Miscellaneous – Pet expenses, fees, childcare, school, gifts, etc.

You can get a free budget printable by signing up below.

Realize that a good life can be affordable.

As you all know, I really dislike the myth that people who save money are boring. That’s not true at all.

I believe that you can balance living a good life along with saving a comfortable amount of money.

There are plenty of ways to live an awesome life while saving money. Yes, you can still see your friends, have fun with your loved ones, go on vacations, and more, all while staying on a realistic budget.

Here’s a list of some great early retirees who are leading great lives. I definitely recommend reading about them:

If you want to learn how to get rich, then learning how to be happy with yourself and figuring out affordable ways to enjoy life are key.

Related: How To Become Rich – It’s More Than Millions In The Bank

Pay off your debt if you want to learn how to get rich.

If you want to learn how to get rich, then you’ll most likely want to figure out how to eliminate any debt that is preventing you from reaching your financial goals. For the average person, this probably means any high interest debt, any debt that’s causing you stress, and so on.

Paying off your debt can lessen your stress levels, allow you to have more money to put towards something else (such as retirement), stop paying interest fees, and more.

The first step to eliminating debt is to realize why you have debt in the first place. I believe that if you don’t understand where your problem with debt stems from, then it would be hard to make a positive change.

Yes, it is great to just start attacking your debt, but you also don’t want to fall into the same cycle of going into debt over and over again.

After you realize why you are in debt (or why you keep going back into debt), the next step is to figure out how you will eliminate it. There are many different ways to attack your debt, and I prefer a mixture of everything.

To pay off your debt and learn how to get rich, you should:

Quit adding more debt to your life. You may want to cancel or freeze your credit card, think harder before your next purchase, and avoid spending temptations like the mall.
Be realistic with your income and spending. If you have debt, then you either have an income or spending problem. You may need to start earning more money and/or start spending less if you want to learn how to become wealthy.
Decrease your spending and expenses. Depending on how quickly you want to get rid of your debt, there are different things that you may want to cut out. You could cut out Starbucks (I know, I know), lower your restaurant spending, find a cheaper way to workout, sell your car for something cheaper/more affordable, cook from scratch, and so on.
Make more money. The extra money that you earn can be put towards your debt to help you pay it off more quickly.
Pay more than the minimum. If you have debt, you should always be paying more than the minimum so that you can lower the amount you are paying towards interest.
Put little amounts toward your debt. For example, whenever you get an extra $25 (such as by selling something), then you should just throw that extra money (that you won’t even miss!) towards your debt.

Related: How To Take A 10 Day Trip To Hawaii For $22.40 – Flights & Accommodations Included

Start investing as one of the ways to get rich.

One of the best ways to figure out how to get rich is to start investing. After all, you need to have your money work for you!

The sooner you start saving, the more it becomes a habit and the easier it becomes. By investing money now, you will learn good investing habits that will help you well into the future.

I always say that the first thing you need to do if you want to start investing is to just jump in. However, what if you don’t even know how to start investing?

If you are like many out there, you may not know how to start investing your money.

Investing your money can be a scary, stressful, and overwhelming topic to tackle. You want to invest so that you can:

Retire one day.
Prepare for unexpected events in the future.
Allow your money to grow over time.
Learn how to get rich.

Remember, time is on your side, and due to the powerful impact of compound interest it can change your life. This means the sooner you invest, the more you will earn.

Compound interest is when your interest is earning interest. This can turn the amount of money you have saved into a much larger amount years later.

This is important to note because $100 today will not be worth $100 in the future if you just let it sit under a mattress or in a checking account. However, if you invest, then you can actually turn your $100 into something more. When you invest, your money is working for you and hopefully earning you income.

For example: If you put $1,000 into a retirement account that has an annual 8% return, 40 years later that would turn into $21,724. If you started with that same $1,000 and put an extra $1,000 in it for the next 40 years at an annual 8% return, that would then turn into $301,505. If you started with $10,000 and put an extra $10,000 in it for the next 40 years at an annual 8% return, that would then turn into $3,015,055.

A great article that explains the power of compound interest is Mr. Money Mustache’s The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement.

Here are the easy steps to take so that you can start investing your money:

Start saving your money. In order to invest your money, you need to start setting aside money specifically for it. The amount of money you save for investing is entirely up to you, but in general, the more the better.
Do your research. Before you start dumping your money into the stock market and other investments, it’s a good idea to know what you’re putting your money towards. Reading about various investment-related tips and research will help you become more informed about your investing decisions, which will then help you make better decisions well into the future.
Find an online brokerage or someone to manage your investments. There are two main ways to invest your money. You can either invest your money yourself through a brokerage or you can find someone to manage your investment portfolio for you. You will need to take part in one of these options to actually start investing your money. Personally, I like to do everything myself through Vanguard.
Decide how you will invest. Now that you’ve opened an investment account, you will want to decide where you will put your investments. How you invest depends on your risk tolerance, the time period for which you are investing (when will you retire?), and more. Generally, the sooner you need your funds the less risk you will take on, whereas the longer your time period is, then the more risk you may be willing to take on.
Track your investment portfolio. The next step when learning how to get rich by investing is to regularly track the things you have invested in. This is important because you may eventually have to change what you are invested in, put more money towards your investments, and so on.
Continue the steps above over and over again. To invest for years and years to come, you will want to continue the steps above over and over again. Now that you know the steps it takes to invest your money, it only gets easier.

Related tip: I recommend using Motif Investing if you are looking to invest your money. Motif Investing allows individuals to invest affordably. This approachable investing platform makes it easy to buy a portfolio of up to 30 stocks, bonds or ETFs for just $9.95 total commission.

Start making more money.

Figuring out how to get rich usually means that you’ll have to find ways to make more money than you currently do.

On Making Sense of Cents, I talk a lot about how to make extra income because I believe that earning extra income can completely change your life. You can stop living paycheck to paycheck, you can pay off your debt, and more- all by learning about the many different ways to make money.

Trust me when I say that making more money is important. I was able to pay off $38,000 in student loans within 7 months, I was able to leave my day job in order to pursue my passion, travel full-time, and more!

The great thing about finding ways to make more money is that your income potential is unlimited. There’s no cap on how much money you can make- it all depends on what you decide to do and how much time you plan on devoting to it.

Making more money can change your life in great ways, such as:

You can pay off your debt.
Save for big purchases, such as a vacation.
Stop living paycheck to paycheck.
Reach retirement sooner.
Become more diversified with your income sources.

Whether you have just one free hour a day or if you are willing to work 40 to 50 hours a week on top of your full-time job, there are many options when it comes to earning more money. Finding ways to make more money will only help you as you learn how to become rich.

Some ways to make more money include:

Find a part-time job.
Make money online such as creating a blog, becoming a virtual assistant, etc.
Become an Uber or Lyft driver – Spending your spare time driving others around can be a great money maker. Read more about this in my post How To Become An Uber Or Lyft Driver. Click here to join Uber and start making money ASAP.
Maintain and clean yards. You can make money by mowing lawns, killing/removing weeds, cleaning gutters, raking leaves, and so on.
Answer surveys. Survey companies I recommend include Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Clear Voice Surveys, VIP Voice, Pinecone Research, Opinion Outpost, Survey Spot, and Harris Poll Online. They’re free to join and free to use! You get paid to answer surveys and to test products. It’s best to sign up for as many as you can as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.
Move furniture and find jobs on Craigslist. Movers can earn a broad range when it comes to hourly pay, but it’s usually somewhere around $50 an hour if you run your own business.
If you love animals, then you may want to look into how to make extra money by walking dogs or pet sitting. With this side hustle, you may be going over to your client’s home to check in a few times a day, you may be staying at their house, or the animals may be staying with you. Rover is a great company to sign up with in order to become a dog walker and pet sitter. Learn more about this at Rover – A Great Way To Make Money And Play With Animals.
Babysit and/or nanny children.
Sell your stuff.
Rent a spare room in your home to someone else.

As you can see, the list is endless when it comes to making more money.

Related posts on how to make extra money:

Diversify your income streams to learn how to be rich.

One thing that separates the rich from those who aren’t is that the rich and successful tend to have many different forms of income streams.

They may have a day job, a business, rental properties, dividend income, and more. This allows them to bring in more money.

They also do this because the rich know that one source of income may not last forever, and they are also able to lessen their risk by having multiple income streams.

So, if you want to learn how to get rich, then you may want to add more income streams to your life.

If you ever feel too reliant on one source of income, then you know how important this is. Maybe you are afraid that one day you will lose your job or that something will happen to your main source of income.

If you work towards building up multiple income streams and diversifying your income, then you won’t have to worry as much if something happens to one of your income streams.

By diversifying your income with multiple income streams you will have a backup plan, you may be able to retire easier, you will learn how to get rich, and so on.

Note: I recommend that you check out Personal Capital (a free service) if you are interested in gaining control of your financial situation. Personal Capital is very similar to Mint.com, but 100 times better as it allows you to gain control of your investment and retirement accounts, whereas Mint.com does not. Personal Capital allows you to aggregate your financial accounts so that you can easily see your financial situation, your cash flow, detailed graphs, and more. You can connect accounts such as your mortgage, bank accounts, credit card accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and more, and it’s FREE.

Even the rich find ways to save money.

Finding ways to save more money may allow you to pay off your debt a little faster, improve your financial habits, help you reach your dream sooner, and more.

And yes, even the rich find ways to save money.

Sure, there are stories about rich people who spend their money like crazy and end up in bankruptcy. But surprisingly, the average millionaire is frugal, and they know how to manage their money well.

Don’t believe me? Here are some examples of millionaires and billionaires who still find ways to save money:

Warren Buffett lives in a house that he bought in 1958 for around $30,000.
Mark Zuckerberg drives an Acura.
John Caudwell (worth $2.7 billion) rides his bike 14 miles to work every day and even cuts his own hair.
Jim C. Walton (son of Walmart founder) drives an old truck with no air conditioning.

Another interesting statistic is that the average couponer is someone who earns over $100,000 a year. Surprisingly, those who earn less than $100,000 a year rarely use coupons compared to those with high incomes!

By finding ways to save money, you’ll be able to keep more of your money, learn how to get rich, add more to your investments, and so on. You worked hard for your money, so you may as well find ways to keep more of it!

Find ways to save money at 30+ Ways To Save Money Each Month.

Stop trying to impress others.

When was the last time you bought something that was mainly purchased to impress someone else?

Sadly, this is something that the average person does quite often.

If you want to start building wealth and understand how to get rich, then you’ll want to stop trying to impress others and start living your own life.

The rich tend to live below their means. Yes, many of them still spend money extravagantly, but many aren’t living paycheck to paycheck in order to do so. Many millionaires buy items used, they drive “normal” cars like Toyotas, and they aren’t buying things with the sole purpose of impressing others.

This is drastically different from those who aren’t rich.

Many people try to keep up with others and fall for lifestyle inflation, which can prevent a person from being a good money manager.

When trying to keep up with the Joneses, you might spend money you do not have. You might put expenses on credit cards so that you can (in a pretend world) “afford” things. You might buy things that you do not care about. The problems can go on and on.

Instead, you should focus on what you want and need. This will help you to save more money, be more realistic with your income and spending, and to build wealth.

Do you want to learn how to get rich? What does “rich” mean to you?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Last year, an average of over one in five flights were delayed, and about 2% were canceled. While that means most flights went out on time, millions and millions of travelers still found themselves not flying when they hoped.

Another busy travel season is upon us. When flight delays and cancellations do happen, there may not be a ton of additional seats available to simply hop on the next flight in some situations.

Here are tips on how to decrease your chances of getting stuck and increase your chances of arriving at your destination as quickly as possible, even if you get the unwelcome news that you are facing a flight delay — or worse.

How to find out if your flight might be delayed

In the current era of full flights and easily available information, don’t wait for the airline to tell you there is a problem.

You can keep an eye on general flight trends across the country on FlightAware, which gives you a good overview of how a day in the sky looks.

This page focuses on delays. Manually check the status of your flight on your airline’s website in the 24 hours leading up to travel. Also, check where the plane is coming from, if possible.

Also, opt in to flight notifications with your airline and download the carrier’s app on your phone. Here are details on that process with American Airlines and United Airlines. You’ll likely have more up-to-date flight departure information from your airline’s mobile app than what’s reflected on the airport departure and arrival boards.

You can also get flight status updates sent directly from FlightAware.

When to arrive at the airport if your flight is delayed

This can be a tricky one. If your flight is still listed as “on time” when you check the app, leave for the airport according to the original schedule.

Even if your flight shows as delayed in the app, it can be subject to change. It’s best to be at the airport ready to go at the originally scheduled time in most cases. We’ve certainly heard stories where the flight is suddenly ready to go sooner than expected, leaving some passengers behind. Sometimes you’ll receive confirmation well in advance that the flight will be significantly delayed. However, it’s safer to be at the airport, just in case.

Bad weather will sometimes cause a temporary ground stop at the airport. As soon as the weather gets better, the stop is lifted, and airlines try to get their flights off the ground ASAP.

Related: 3 things to do if your flight is delayed

What to do if there is bad weather

Monitor weather patterns starting a few days before your flight to see if any major systems are anticipated. It’s then vital to check the forecast on the night before and the day of travel to see how any issues could affect your departure and arrival airports.

Again, be sure to opt in for updates on your flight’s status. If you know bad weather is coming later in the day, ask for an earlier flight if you can. Alternatively, if you leave the night before, that’s a good idea, too.

More and more airlines are allowing travelers to change plans with no fare difference prior to severe weather problems, like impending blizzards, ice storms or even heavy thunderstorms. Some will even proactively change your flight for you.

If you know bad weather is on the horizon, either go to your airline’s website and look for an advisory notice or call the airline to talk about options. If an airline gets ahead of weather issues, you may be able to reschedule your flight by a few days in either direction with no fees. Additionally, you can try asking for a nonstop flight if the weather is putting your connecting flight in jeopardy.

However, if the airline hasn’t issued its own advisory, you could have to pay out of pocket for any fare differences if you really need to get where you are going.

Related: How the weather affects your flight — the atmosphere and winds

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

If a flight delay happens and you want an alternative to waiting it out, check the airline’s app or in-airport kiosk for rebooking options. You don’t have to stand in line to talk to a real person in many cases, as you can self-service the rebooking with most major airlines. In fact, it may be faster to do it online or at a kiosk in the airport — and speed matters. You may be able to rebook at a new flight time or even to a new “nearby” origin or destination city.

There are times when automated rebooking systems are not your best option, though. Sometimes, the only automated option is for a red-eye flight or a future flight heading to your destination more than two days later. That’s especially true with flights as full as they are right now.

If you can’t find what you need online, find an airline employee who knows how to work the ticketing desk. Look at their uniforms and name tags to ensure you get a ticket agent and not a baggage handler or similarly outsourced contractor.

If the U.S. call center has a long hold time (which happens during widespread issues), you can try dialing an international number for faster service. You might also find success reaching out to an airline on Twitter, via chat or other social media channels when customer service lines are busy.

For example, when the first leg of an American Airlines flight from New York City to Arkansas just before Christmas was delayed, TPG editor Madison Blancaflor missed her connection.

She reached out to American Airlines on Twitter to help ensure she was rebooked on the earliest possible flight. She still had to endure a long layover in Charlotte, but it was better (and less stressful) than rushing to the customer service desk to try and rebook upon arrival in Charlotte.

If there are no reasonable booking options left with your carrier, ask if there are options on another airline. If the delay is weather-related, and you are on a basic-economy ticket or are flying on a low-cost carrier, there might not be other airline options at your fingertips. Still, it’s worth asking and — if possible — presenting available options you have researched yourself.

Related: Top tips to get through to airline customer service faster

Retreat to a lounge

If you have airline club access at a United Club, Delta Sky Club or similar, you can head there for help from experienced agents with potentially shorter lines. Use it as a spot to gather your thoughts, charge your phone and make level-headed decisions. The agents there might be able to help you change or track your flight.

In third-party lounges, such as an American Express Centurion Lounge, you won’t be able to get that type of airline-specific assistance, but you’re still probably in a better spot to wait out the storm than in a crowded terminal.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Rebook your flight

Sometimes, if you really need to get home, you may need to do the work and layout for the expenditure for a new flight yourself.

During a delay while traveling from Orlando to Houston when my original carrier couldn’t get me home for more than 24 hours after my initial flight was canceled, I found a nonstop Southwest Airlines flight with one last seat available for $463.

Even though rebooking yourself will not typically be covered by any insurance or carrier, I went for the Southwest option and got my original United ticket refunded, which at least offset some of the pain of a new ticket. In my case, it was worth controlling my own destiny and not being stuck.

Your credit card’s built-in trip delay or trip cancellation coverage can help with many unexpected expenses in the face of delays and cancellations, but a brand-new flight home isn’t likely to be one of them. Still, in some cases, it may be the only way home for a while, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.

Related: When to buy travel insurance vs. when to rely on credit card protections

Check airport hotels

While thinking through what to do in case of a flight delay or cancellation, consider your options at airport hotels, which can fill up if there are major delays and cancellations. Sometimes, it is best to pull the plug on getting home that day, get some good rest and try again in the morning.

Airport hotels are generally pretty affordable on points, although cash rates can skyrocket when demand surges. Accommodations are typically covered by trip delay protection, offered by cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express.*

* Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Show up early for standby flights

If you know in advance that your flight is canceled or delayed, heading to the airport early could score you a same-day standby flight that gets you to your destination early.

For example, a TPG staffer was able to use this strategy to avoid getting stuck overnight when a hiccup with his flight from Austin to New York City would have caused him to miss a connection in Dallas. Since he had A-List status with Southwest, he showed up at the airport a bit earlier and did a free same-day standby onto an earlier flight that connected to a different city. His A-List status bumped him to the top of the standby list and onto the flight.

Getting on the standby list isn’t a foolproof method, especially if the earlier flight is almost full. This is a case where having elite status can help since you’ll have priority over non-elite travelers. Additionally, some airlines charge a fee for non-elite travelers to get on the standby list for an earlier flight.

Related: Best credit cards for airline elite status

How to get a refund or flight compensation

If you decide not to fly your originally scheduled flight in light of major delays and cancellations, get your money or points back. Do not settle for an airline voucher that may be hard to use and eventually expire.

You may have a cancel-and-refund option available to you online or in the airline’s app. If not, you can ask an airline employee for assistance in person or over the phone. Just be sure to cancel your original flight before its eventual departure so you can get the money or miles (hopefully) returned.

Know your rights and take stock of your credit card protections. You’ll have to read some fine print, but you may be entitled to accommodations, credits or expense reimbursement by the airline or from your credit card (usually depending on the length of your delay and the reason for delay or cancellation).

Many travel credit cards offer trip delay insurance that can save you money when you’re stuck somewhere. While it won’t help you avoid cancellations or delays, it could help you cover expenses while you wait for your flight.

Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t

Cards that provide travel protection

There are many rewards credit cards that help confer valuable travel protections when you do have a delayed or canceled flight (if you used them to book your flight). Below are just a few examples of cards that provide some built-in coverage:

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Provides a $300 annual travel credit, up to $20,000 in trip cancellation coverage, up to $75,000 in car rental coverage, trip delay benefits of up to $500 per person that kick in starting at a six-hour delay and more.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, emergency assistance services and more.

American Express Platinum: In addition to the extensive lounge benefits and up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, the Platinum card also provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance for up to $20,000 of a covered trip and incident.

Make a decision

Last but not least, we don’t recommend being too indecisive in the face of delays and cancellations. If you are, expect your options to dwindle. Once you finally decide to wait it out or try and switch flights, you will be at the mercy of whatever options the airline has to offer … which may not be great.

As you wait, flight options are likely to disappear as hundreds (or thousands) of other passengers beat you to rebooking. Weigh your realistic options and make a quick decision if you want to keep some control of your schedule.

If you’re OK getting stuck somewhere for a bit or taking a creative route home, waiting for the airline to direct you is a feasible option. Just don’t stress about your decision once you make it.

Your credit card’s built-in travel protections may cover unexpected expenses not covered by the airline (such as a hotel for an overnight weather delay, though not a new flight) if you get stuck during your journey.

In my Orlando example, my original flight was stuck in Denver with a five-hour weather delay, so the odds of that flight getting me where I needed to be that day didn’t seem great. When I didn’t clear standby on the other United flight to Houston from Orlando that night, I made a decision and stuck with it.

I left the terminal and headed to my new Southwest flight in another terminal (Clear and PreCheck helped with that quick transition). Yes, that choice cost me a new flight home, but I had to make that call right then or roll the dice on my United flight making it out that day.

I wasn’t in a gambling mood when it came to getting home, and I understood the out-of-pocket implications.

Bottom line

Most of the time, your flight will get you where you need to be close to when you want to be there. Still, flight delays and cancellations happen.

If your flight is delayed by an hour or two, there’s not usually much to do other than be patient. However, when facing a long delay or cancellation, it’s good to have a plan to reduce the odds of getting stuck.

Given the common theme of full passenger loads on flights these days, acting quickly, researching options and making a speedy decision will put you ahead of the pack.

Related: Best credit cards that offer trip delay reimbursement

Additional reporting by Melissa Klurman, Kristy Tolley, Victoria Walker, Madison Blancaflor, Benji Stawski and Benét J. Wilson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

Calling all Civil War buffs and travel bucket-listers: If you’ve ever wanted to explore the war between the North and the South in great detail or check a bunch of states off your list in one trip, American Cruise Lines has a cruise for you. It’s a monthlong sailing to nearly all the major battlefields across 12 states and the District of Columbia.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

On May 4, 2024, passengers will set sail from New Orleans on the line’s Civil War Battlefields Cruise, a 34-day sailing that winds along the Mississippi, Tennessee and Potomac rivers; the Intracoastal Waterway; and the Chesapeake Bay.

Along the way, the itinerary includes calls on destinations in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., before ending on June 6, 2024, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Stops offer a chance to visit key locations such as Fort Sumter, Antietam National Battlefield and Bull Run.

The itinerary for American Cruise Lines’ 34-day Civil War cruise. AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

Cruisers will begin their journey on American Melody and transfer to two other ships — American Symphony and American Eagle — throughout the trip, allowing them to access additional locations that were key to the war. Transportation between ships and waterways is provided for free.

The onboard experience on each ship will be equally themed, featuring expert speakers who will discuss both sides of the war. Led by Bertram Hayes-Davis, the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, who served as the president of the Confederacy, the sailing will offer a rare perspective.

“This cruise is one of the most wholistic views of the Civil War ever offered,” Hayes-Davis said in a statement from American Cruise Lines. “Guests will experience the people, places and events of the war as they visit the battlefields and stand where history was made. This is a unique opportunity to see the entire scope of the battles of the Civil War and put them in context to each other and the entire conflict.”

The voyage is currently open for booking, with fares starting from $24,700 per person. Prices include accommodations, onboard entertainment and lectures, all meals, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, a daily cocktail hour, Wi-Fi, daily shore excursions, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay (stretching the trip to 35 days), transportation and any necessary hotels when transferring to other ships, crew gratuities, and taxes and fees.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Source: thepointsguy.com