Author Archives: Shelli

About Shelli

Shelli Stein is a health and fitness entrepreneur who travels the world in search of culture, food, and fun! Besides contributing to Travel with Grant, you can find her at Joy in Movement.

a close up of stamps

Which Credit Cards Offer Free (or Almost Free) Companion Tickets?

There are many choices when it comes to increasing our miles and points so we can travel more for less. Recently, however, when using my companion passes and free tickets from credit cards, my friend Carrie asked how that worked and which credit cards came with that perk. Good question!  There are many credit cards that come with free bags or priority boarding. Along with those benefits, these three credit cards also provide a free (or almost free) companion ticket benefit.

Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card

The Alaska Airlines credit card is one I’ve had for many years and I never miss using the Companion Fare. Essentially, this annual benefit is a free buy-one-get-one ticket in economy class. The primary traveler must pay the fare, but the companion pays just $99 plus taxes and fees. I always get more than the annual fee of $75 in value per year using this fare. I’ve used it for trips across the US and most recently to Seattle. The certificate is easy to apply to your fare and more than worth the annual fee.

Click here to learn more Continue reading

a close up of stamps

What Tour Guides Never Tell You

Group dynamics are tricky. And group dynamics when we travel…….well, they can be super tricky. Friends of mine just came back from an African safari and were telling me stories about the group dynamics on their tour. I’ve never been on a tour of any kind, or even on a cruise where you get off at ports and take tours. I guess I’m more of an independent style traveler. However, I do find group dynamics and whether or not people enjoy tours a fascinating topic.

The day after hearing the saga of my friend’s safari trip, I came across this article. So interesting to read about what tour guides have to share from their side of the tour experience. Though some of what guides mention seems like common sense, I often think common sense isn’t too common!

If you’ve ever taken a tour or plan to, it’s a fun, easy read. See what you think.

 

a close up of stamps

Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and AAdvantage Points Sale–Expiring Starting Tomorrow!

Seems to me hotel and airline loyalty program points fall into a few different categories. Some points you know you’ll put to great use, and some points you’ll likely use and even have a general travel plan for. And some hotel and airline points you scratch your head and wonder how the heck you’ll use them! Whether or not to buy hotel and airline points when promotions are running depends on which of these three categories the loyalty program falls into. When it comes to Hyatt points, Hilton points, and IHG points, I always have a plan for them!

We have a few hotel points sales going on right now with Hyatt, Hilton, and IHG. The sales expire soon, so take a look if you’re planning some hotel stays and can use these points at a discount. We also have an American Airlines AAdvantage sale going on right now, as well. It’s not the best offer ever. But if you’re tapped out of AA miles like I am after using a huge stash of my miles for my trip to Spain, and need some AA miles for trips you’re planning, a discount, even a small one, is better than paying full price when you need to top off your account. Continue reading

a blue sign with white text

10% Rebate on Redeemed Hyatt Points (Promotion Ends September 30)

Got Hyatt hotel nights booked? Are they now through the end of September? If so, make sure you’re registered for this promo and get 10% of your redeemed points back! Doesn’t matter whether you’re using all points or points and cash. It’s been a while since this promo was offered by Hyatt. Last time it ran, the night before the promo started I had just checked out of a Hyatt hotel stay……bummer. And wouldn’t you know it, even though I’ve already stayed over 90 nights at Hyatt properties this year, right now I don’t have a single Hyatt stay planned for September. But if YOU DO, make sure to get in on this deal. And if you need some points to top off your Hyatt account for those points rebate nights, right now you can buy Hyatt points with up to a 40% bonus right now.

a screenshot of a hotel

a close up of stamps

Big News in the World of Beer!

Big news in the world of beer! It’s time to grin and beer it :) Guinness is famous for making stout beer, and this week, the Irish company opened a new brewery in Maryland. It’s the first time Guinness has had a brewery in the U.S. in more than 60 years. But…….Guinness will NOT be brewing its famous stout in America. You can read all about it here.

two glasses of beer on a table

Image source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/14/577654344/behind-the-genius-of-guinness-irelands-most-popular-tourist-attraction