Save Cash Flying Into These Alternative US Airports

My personal addition to this list would be to fly into the Sanford International Airport (SFB) in stead of the Orlando's main airport (MCO). As I have mentioned in a previous post, I like to fly with Allegiant Airlines which has its' largest East-Coast Hub at SFB. You can use the airport code "ORL" to get results for both SFB and MCO on most flight search engines.

Also, this works for others cities with multiple airports. Example: For New York City, USA and London, UK area airports you can simply enter "NYC" and "LON" respectively.

-Save Cash Flying Into These Alternative US Airports-

"Traveling is so much better when you can make it both cheap and easy. And sometimes all you have to do to kill both birds with the same stone is fly into an airport that’s near where you really want to go. We’ve looked at some of the biggest cities in the United States to see what airports you should fly into, and some of the information might surprise you." See the list here!

New Orleans, 10 Years After Katrina | The New York Times

VIDEO: New Orleans, 10 Years After Katrina | The New York Times



I remember when Hurricane Katrina hit. I was in Asheville, NC at the time but, I still stayed with family in Mobile, AL every year during the winter months. No one in my family thought that Katrina would be that bad, after all we had slept through Hurricane Ivan the year before, which directly hit Mobile, AL, I remember the calm as the "Eye" went over us.



Upon returning to the Gulf Coast, I could tell that there was going to be a LONG road to recovery. To be frank, New Orleans' recovery has not only been a long one but, it is still in recovery. However, the spirit of the people there is strong and I still love visiting that city whenever I can. Though I have not visited NOLA since my family moved to FL back in 2011, I miss our almost monthly visits. The sights, smells and sounds of NOLA are amazing. I strongly encourage anyone who has not yet been there to visit NOLA, you will not forget it!

River Cruising: The Danube - By: Sabrina Toth

Imagine cruising down a river while you watch and experience the inner sights of a country. River cruising is a great option for those looking to have a more intimate adventure while still getting a new travel experience. It allows cruisers to get to the heart of the countries they have the fortune to sail through. One of the best river cruise experience for a first time river cruiser is sailing on the Danube.

The Danube is a lovely river that starts in the Black Forest of Germany and streams down to the Black Sea for about 1,370 miles. Along the way, travelers can go through places in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and even Slovakia. Each river cruise company has their own itinerary but some highlights can include Budapest, Vienna, and Nuremberg.

When in Budapest, or the Pearl of the Danube, one can see the four stately bridges that divide the two cities of Buda and Pest. Disembark and visit both sides for two completely different experiences. Stroll down Andrassy Avenue where you can view sights like the National Opera House and the Parliament Building. If castles are what you seek, Buda's Castle District is where you need to be.

Next along the way is Vienna, Austria. Enjoy the imperial city of music, whether it's to take in an opera or a local band in a coffee shop. There are also sights that one should never miss while in Vienna. For starters, there's the Hofburg Theater and St. Stephan's Cathedral with its catacombs and towers.

End your journey in Nuremberg and see the Palace of Justice. Here is where so many faced the world and answered for their war crimes in the famous post-War World II trials. Walk around the Main Market Square in Nuremberg's Old Town area or see the Albrecht Durer House on your way there.

Between Budapest and Nuremberg, travelers can also enjoy other cities like Melk, Bratislava, Durnstein, Regensburg, and Passau all of course depending on the itinerary of the river cruise chosen. If one times it right, you can go on a tour of the Danube and the holiday markets along the way.

At the end of your Danube river cruise, you can make it an even longer trip by staying on at the last city. It gives you a chance to explore and relax even more before going back. You'll go back appreciating the smaller and more intimate setting that a river cruise offers.

Contact Sabrina Toth at Sabrina@tothinternational.com to book your next river cruise or to get more information on a it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8987834

Seniors Living Abroad - 3 Top Tips for Living Comfortable Outside of The United States - By: Carrie T Roberts

One of the best kept secrets in the elderly community is seniors living abroad. In addition to spicing up their lives, seniors are discovering that living overseas can also be cheaper than living in the U.S.

The Social Security Administration estimates that there are over 350,000 American seniors, who receive their Social Security benefits outside of the United States. There are more and more seniors living abroad today, because of the ongoing recession and sluggish American economy.

Seniors Living Abroad - Living the Life of a Senior Expat

An expat, also known as an expatriate, is defined as a person who lives in another country full or part-time. Seniors can expect to benefit from other languages and cultures. For seniors who want an easier approach to living abroad, there are usually large expat communities in more popular locations in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama in Central America. Or, you can also find good-sized expatriate communities in larger cities and popular tourist destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, or South America.

Retirees can get more bang for their U.S. pension bucks when they are spending their money in economies where the cost of living is cheaper than the United States. Even though many senior expats live in Mexico or Canada, there are many spots in the world where they can comfortably live for less than $1000 dollars a month.

Although, there are some challenges, most U.S. retirees who have lived overseas would tell you that they are enjoying life much more in the places that they are, compared to their lives in the United States.

3 Top Tips for American Seniors Living Abroad

• American Friendly - Naturally, you don't want to live in a country that is hostile towards the United States. However, you also don't want to live in a place where people are only friendly, because of your money. This is where expat communities come in handy. You can find places where you can live in comfort without locals constantly touting you for money.

• Safety - Remember all of those movies and nightly news reports you've seen about Americans being kidnapped and held for hostage?

Well, there are some locations in the world where that does happen, but for the most part, most countries are much safer than living in the United States.

The same rules that apply when traveling or living in the United States, should apply when you are living abroad. You should never flash your money around, and you shouldn't walk around the town with expensive jewelry. You should also not hang around at night in places that you are not familiar with, and you are always safer in numbers.

• Steady Income - You don't need a lot of money to live in many foreign locations, but it is always a good idea to make sure you have a steady income, and that you have enough money to go there in the first place. This is not usually an issue for most seniors, because they receive their Social Security benefits, as well as other retirement funds.

The nicest part about this is that some countries give seniors special retirement visas, or visas that allow you to live as a resident in those countries if you have a guaranteed minimum income set by each country. This means that you don't need to leave the country every couple of months to apply for a new visa, but can stay there for a year or two before applying again, or you can even receive permanent residency or citizenship.

Seniors Living Abroad - Conclusion

Of course you need to find some countries that you feel comfortable living. You can scour the Internet to find out about other countries and cultures. The next step should be to visit those countries to get a better feel about them. While you are there, talk to some other seniors who have lived in the country for some time, and even hook up with other expats to learn more.

There are many advantages for seniors living abroad, and you might find that it is something for you.

To find out more about seniors living abroad [http://www.universalseniorliving.com] and important tips for seniors in their every day life, ============>>> Click Here [http://www.universalseniorliving.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7286783

The 14 Longest Non-stop Flights in The World

These are some long flights. At about 9.5 hrs, my flight from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Frankfurt, Germany, was probably my longest flight. But that is nothing compared to these!

"Flying from one end of the world to the other takes a long time, but luckily for passengers it is taking much less time with the introduction of non-stop flights. What used to be a two-day journey from New York to Hong Kong can now be done in just about 16 hours. 

Engineers have worked hard over the years to come up with innovative ways to make airplanes go faster and longer distances, without having to stop. Although these 16 hour journeys may take a long time, there are plenty of on-board amenities to keep passengers happy. Discover 14 of the longest non-stop flights in the world, and why flying long distance is easier than ever."  - http://www.escapehere.com/

Rio de Janeiro - By: Marcus Peterson

For a vacationer looking for a city to holiday in that offers unparalleled pleasure, the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is one of the best choices. The city of Rio de Janeiro is a melting pot of races, colors and creeds. Rio de Janeiro is a Portuguese term meaning, River of January.

Rio was the country's capital until 1960 and is the second largest city in Brazil after Sao Paolo. The residents of the city are known as Cariocas. They have made extensive contributions in the fields of history, culture, music and literature, particularly when Rio de Janeiro was the federal capital and the hub of Brazilian growth.

Rio is famous for its hotel-lined tourist beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. The best way to enjoy in the city is by organizing a trip to Sugar Loaf Mountain or Pão de Açúcar. The mountain offers a spectacular view of Rio and Guanabara Bay and is a paradise for rock climbers. It also has the biggest forest found inside an urban region, called Floresta da Tijuca, or 'Tijuca Forest'.

Christo Redentor, the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, is a 38-meter statue of Jesus overlooking the city of Rio. The statue has become a symbol of the city and reflects the warmth of the Brazilian people.

Perhaps, at no time is the city's festive reputation better displayed than during the annual carnival, which enlivens the city for 4 whole days with music, singing, parties, balls and street parades of brilliantly costumed samba dancers.

For a true football fan, a visit to the Maracana Stadium carries the importance of going a pilgrimage. They can lay their feet in the imprints of football greats like Pele and other Brazilian legends.

Rio's unique landscape, with a magnificent bay and dazzling beaches on one side and a rising mountain range on the other, justifies its title of Cidade Maravilhosa, or 'Marvelous City'. With its world famous beaches, splendid bay and wonderful climate, Rio de Janeiro has achieved a reputation as a great tourist destination.

Rio De Janeiro [http://www.WetPluto.com/Beaches-In-Rio-De-Janeiro.html] provides detailed information on Rio De Janeiro, Beaches In Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro Hotels, Rio De Janeiro Carnival and more. Rio De Janeiro is affiliated with Caracas Venezuela [http://www.z-Venezuela.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson

The Shire in SPAIN?

A new Lord of the Rings theme park is being built in Southern Spain. Not like all out Middle Earth but, just the Shire part. Do I like the idea? YES, Absolutely! But, I have been to Malaga, Spain. Nothing about the local geography there reminds me of The Shire! LOL

See storyhere: http://bit.ly/1AR78Rw

New Sailings From NCL!

Today is the day that my favorite cruise line (NCL) releases all of its' new list of expanded sailings. While I am not rushing out and booking any new cruises at this moment, I have been looking over the offerings, and I am liking what I see.

Their Asia, Australia & New Zealand, and Rio based cruises are at the top of my list!

Check them out!

14 of the Worlds Most Colorful Cities

WOW! Amazing!

http://www.thebeautyoftravel.com/14-of-the-worlds-most-colorful-cities

Back to Ohio

Next month I will be traveling up to Ohio for Heart Camp, as I usually do every September. I have been attending Heart Camp every year (excluding years 2012 and 2013 due to other travels) since I was 7 years old, first as a "Camper" then as a "Counselor" when I turned 15.

While Heart Camp and family/friends are the reason I want to go up, Allegiant Air is the reason I can go up. Allegiant Air is my favorite domestic airline as I am always able to get REALLY cheap flights. Their main East-Coast hub is about an 1hr north of me in Sanford, FL (SFB). They have direct flights from SFB to Asheville, NC (AVL) and Columbus, OH via the Rickenbacker Airport (LCK).

The key to keeping costs low while flying on Allegiant Air, is to NOT use any of their paid features. Such as, skip their online seat selection (I let the computer assign me at check-in), do not have any checked or carry-on bags (I only use a school sized backpack which they consider my free "personal item"), skip priority boarding (a really pointless waste of money) and most recently check-in online via their phone app to get a digital boarding pass or online via a link they send to your e-mail and print out your boarding pass (they now charge $5 for check-ins as the airport and boarding pass print outs). Oh, I almost forgot, use a debit card! They will charge a fee for credit cards and even with a good rewards card it is NOT worth it. Also, I guess this does not need to be said but, I will say it anyway: DON'T buy snacks and drinks on the plane, so NOT worth the costs. They will give you a free cup of ice if you ask though.

So, those are some tips for saving money on airfare. I strongly suggest that you see if Allegiant Air flies to an airport near you. Do remember that they do not do connecting flights, only direct flights.

My New Store!

Got my Sam's World Wide Travel Store up an running a couple of days ago!

Check it out!

My Favorite City!

This is probably not what many of you, who don't know, might be expecting. You probably think that with all of my travels, my favorite city in the world is some far off exotic destination. Well, not exactly.

My favorite city is Asheville, North Carolina. I had lived in the area for a good portion of my life. And though I am hanging my hat in the Orlando, Florida area right now, my heart is still truly in Asheville.

I do fly up to visit Asheville at least once a year sometimes more, Allegiant Air has direct flights, I will post about them later. However for the time being, I have not planned-out a "return to the promise land" strategy.

Here is a YouTube video that will help you see part of the reason why I just love Asheville so much. You might just decide to live there yourself!

#florida
florida
carolina
#carolina
#pathers
pathers

Top Five Airlines Around the World

So, I was trolling Ezine Articles for some good content to add to my blog. I came across this article and was like, "BINGO!"

Just to throw my 2-cents in, the only airline here that I have flown with is Lufthansa. I LOVED IT! Seriously, I am sitting in Economy-Class, as usual, and they come down the isle with warm towelettes! Obviously I excite easily but, seriously that was great!

After you read about these amazing airlines, which I have heard great things about long before I found the article, you will NEED to read my blog post about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (Click Here)! You can transfer miles from that card at a 1:1 value to Singapore Airlines and United Airlines. Why does United Airlines get mentioned here? Because they are partners with Lufthansa and All Nippon Airways via the StarAlliance network. So, depending upon the destination, travel dates and time of booking you might be able get a free flight (minus taxes and fees) on one of these highly regarded partner airlines. I should also mention British Airways has a 1:1 point transfer agreement with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and they are partnered with Qatar Airways via the OneWorld Alliance. However, I am not too familiar with OneWorld so, I will withhold further comment.

Anyway, I will quite yapping now and let you read the article:

Top Five Airlines Around the World

By: Kunal Sutar

Are you a frequent flyer? Does the flight experience matter to you as much as reaching the destination? Do you keep up with the latest innovations & services in the aviation industry? If the answer to all the questions is yes, look no further. In this post, we bring you the top five airlines in the world.

Emirates, UAE
In the previous decade, the U.A.E's national carrier has managed to secure a place as one of the world's premier long haul carriers. Flying to over 140 destinations over six continents, Emirates flies aircraft exclusively out of its central hub at the Dubai International Airport. The in-flight entertainment system boasts of a wide array of video & audio channels to choose from, making it the winner of Skytrax's award for best in-flight entertainment nine years running.

Lufthansa, Germany
Despite going through several budget cuts, the largest European carrier, Lufthansa's quality of service is still exceptional. Lufthansa makes it to our list as it continues to innovate with new products & services. Try to board one of the newly acquired A380 super jumbos & 748-8 Intercontinentals for a special treat in flying experience.

Qatar Airways, Qatar
In-flight entertainment & seat comfort get full points for Qatar Airways. Even economy class passengers can connect their tablet & smartphones to their personal screens. Flying to over 125 destinations, Qatar Airways is currently expanding its network by 50 additional destinations. Although it has a delayed arrival record, the service is definitely worth the wait.

All Nippon Airways, Japan
The largest international carrier of Japan & owner of the largest fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, All Nippon Airways makes it to our list because of cleanliness, service & safety. Even economy class passengers get full power & USB connectivity in their seats. A lot of All Nippon Airways' planes have slide-forward-style reclining seats that increase overall privacy.

Singapore Airlines, Singapore
Singapore Airlines has won awards the world over for its exceptional service & commitment to quality. It topped Skytrax's charts when it came to cabin cleanliness, in-flight entertainment, service efficiency, and on-time arrival. Economy passengers get to enjoy perks such as hot towels & personal television with a wide range of entertainment options. The flight attendants are trained to treat guests with extreme care & modesty. Plush seats & toilets with plenty of accessories greet passenger aboard the aircraft.

You can build a high-flying career as a cabin crew member on any of these airlines. All you need is the right training from a reputed institute, who will not only provide you the required skills but also help you enhance your personality.

For more Information - http://www.aptechaviationacademy.com/courses/airport-management-customer-care

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kunal_Sutar

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9130383

13 Affordable Countries That Are Perfect For Budget Travelers (BuzzFeed)

A friend of mine shared this link on FB. Most of the countries listed are in South East Asia, a part of the world I have been dying to visit. Hopefully soon I will get the chance, from here on the East Coast, Condor and Norwegian Air Shuttle seem to have some cheap flights to Bangkok, Thailand.

13 Affordable Countries That Are Perfect For Budget Travelers (BuzzFeed)

Sam's Travel Memories: #2 - Surviving Madrid!

On a warm mid-July evening back in 2012, I was in Madrid, Spain for an International Convocation with my church, the CEC (Charismatic Episcopal Church). This was the second night of the convocation and the night service had just let out so, some of the youth group invited me to go out with them for dinner.

The original group was going to be much larger than the group I ended-up setting out with. The larger group of youth were taking too long so we told them to meet-up with us later. So, I set off with 5 others, a guy from Paris, France, two girls from Bonn, Germany another girl from Orlando, USA and one girl from Madrid, Spain who was our local guide for the night.

To be honest, I had NO idea where we were going, I just knew that food would be involved at some point soon. Even though, I was not even really that hungry, I was just eager to hangout with my new friends.

Once we got to the Goya Metro Station, the closest station to the hotel we were at (Hotel Convencion) I was filled-in on the fact that we were taking the Metro (Subway) to the the Sol Metro Station as the place we were going to eat at was near the Puerta Del Sol Plaza (location of City Hall). Now we had, as an entire youth group as well, as some of the clergy and non-clergy adults took the same trip earlier in the day for a multinational Pro-Life rally organized by our church. I eventually found out that the reason we did that rally during mid-day in the Madrid heat was because our leadership was told that there was going to be another rally in the evening which we should avoid. This information was conveniently not passed on to any of the youth to tell us to avoid that area later on.

The Metro ride was boringly uneventful and we were happy to have reached our terminating station. We made our way through the large underground plaza before exiting up onto the Puerta Del Sol Plaza. Once we got out the exit, I knew things were off kilter... really off. To the right of the exit there was some riot police in gear guiding their vans into a parking area at the edge of the plaza. The plaza was packed with people, not uncommon considering the Spanish night culture and there was obviously a large protest going on in the middle of the plaza. My friends and I made a Conga Train (myself at the back) as we made our way through the less densely packed outer edges of the Plaza past smaller circles of protesters and pot-smoking hippies.

As we made out way through, I told my friends, though I am not sure they heard me, “Something is happening that should not be happening.” I knew in my Spirit that things were not as peacefully loud as it may have seemed. For the first time in my life I fully understood the term, “You can cut the tension with a knife.” I could physically feel the tension in the air. Then part way through the plaza, I looked to my right at the mass of backs as the people faced city hall, then my mind flashed to a thoughtful vision, “What if these people turned on us?” Thinking in terms of a stampede away from the direction of City Hall, not to attack us directly.

Needless to say, my vision came true no more than 30 seconds later as a loud BOOM to our right caused a deafening silence to fall over the plaza. Then as people in the center, who I could not really see, began to turn and run the rippled reaction outward of the crowd was swift. To our horror we were facing a stampede of about a thousand souls rushing towards us.

My group, at least I thought at the time, turned to the left and ran from the crowd. I could have sworn I saw our local guide run in-front of me, something that was not the case. However it is a good thing I did think that, because it caused me to noticed the girl from Orlando. I recognized her dark blue cardigan flash in front of me as I was running to get next to the nearest wall in an effort to avoid being trampled. I was able to grab my friend's arm and we made it to the wall.

Once we got to the wall we were able to stop but, only for a second. Though many people were still running, some had started to fight back against the police by throwing rocks and beer cans at them. The loud cannon like booms that seemed to have triggered the stampede in the first place were still ringing strong. Police had started shooting teargas and other crowd dispersents into the crowd. It felt like we were sitting ducks at the wall so we turned the corner down a side street and ended up running into an El Corte Ingles department store. The store's security rushed to the doors to stop the rioters from coming in however, we were able to duck under some clothing racks near the entrance to get into the store past the guards.

Once in the store, I realized that my friend had gotten hurt. Twice her foot got stepped on leaving her big toe bleeding with the nail barely holding on. NO ONE in store spoke English! I thought, “We are on the sales floor of a major department store, in a major tourist district, in a major European city and no one speaks English.” Wow! I found out that when it comes to finding English speakers in Spain, one will find that it is not very common compared to the number of English speakers in say France, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, etc,. So, we had no way to ask what was going on with the riots and we were only really assisted when my friend showed her bleeding toe. While the lady was willing to help, my friend was too afraid to have anyone touch it and we made our way out of the store, which was soon to close anyway.

Now, were were not dumb enough to exit the same way we came in. While we had no idea where exactly we were, we certainly were NOT going to head back to the Plaza. Even though that was the location of the only metro station we knew of. Afterwards, looking at a map I found that we were not far from Sol Metro Station at all. But, the thought of accidentally getting pushed onto the tracks by crazy rioters crossed both our minds.

Anyway, once out of the store we found some people who spoke English. However, they were college-age South African tourists who were as clueless of the day's events as we were. They offered to show us the video that they had taken but, after already being an extra in the production I was not really interested in seeing it.

Finally a local lady with a stroller over heard us and came up. She pushed a stroller in one hand and held Kindle device in the other. She, could not tell us how to get “home” (as we refereed to our hotel) but, she told us that we needed to get back to our hotel/home as it was not safe right now. Her advice offered us little comfort to say the least.

We decided to try and find a taxi as the lady let us know that Sol was the only Metro Station around. We start walking down the street directly in front of the door we used to get out of the department store. As we walked, we came upon two ladies sitting on a bench resting and they had the familiar protest signs next to them. The white signs were like “No Smoking” signs but with a pair of black scissors instead of a cigarette. Asking them for insight as to the cause of all this madness, they in broken English said that it was because the government was going to cut Miner's Benefits and the signs meant “No Cuts!”

Ever since we left the store, the side we exited on was strangely quiet, too quiet. As were were finishing up our nice conversation with the friendly locals, the booms started again and the crowd that had been on the other side of the store poured through the alleyway towards us... again! DE JA VU!!!

Ladies told us to run and we hesitated not! We ran a little further down the street we were already on and decided to take cover in an underground parking garage. Now, while I was going to take the steps like a normal person, my scared friend jumped a small retaining wall and ran down the exit ramp. I followed, though I simply turn back slightly ran down the ramp, her jump was actually unnecessary. So, despite the obvious dangers of running down a blind cruved exit ramp, we were both in this together at this point. Thank GOD that there were no cars coming though 30 seconds later, there would have been as one was paying and ready to exit.

Everyone there was surprised to see a couple crazy English speakers show up via an exit ramp for cars only. I let my now sobbing friend do the explaining, actually I had no choice. The lady who was in the car that was getting ready to exit was a God send and decided to help. Though she could not speak good English she had school aged daughters who were learning English. She pulled to the side and asked the garage attendants to phone our hotel. As I should have remembered from the night before, the number on our hotel key-card was not even an active number. The lady then said, get in the car I will try to take you to your hotel. Though both my friend and I had been told, “NEVER GET INTO A CAR WITH A STRANGER!” we felt it was our best option. She really had no idea where our hotel was as she lived on another side of the city but, was willing to help us anyway. In the end she took us to a line of taxis and after much thanks we got out and took a taxi back to our hotel.

While in the taxi, we passed a line of ambulances loading up injured people. Some were bloodied with torn-up clothing. Needless to say, we were worried about our friends. While we had not forgotten them we had previously been very preoccupied and after seeing the ambulances we feared the worst.

Once we got to the hotel I started to get money out to cover the ride but, my friend beat me to by practically throwing the money at the driver telling him thanks and that he could keep the change. We were so glad to get back to the hotel, only to find that none of the other youth had even left yet. We walked up just as they were departing and warned them not to go and asked that they phone our friends.

 

After telling the whole incident multiple times over that still young night we finally went out to eat with an American friend to a pizza place across the street. Oddly enough, as it turned-out, my friend was looking for her parents who we passed twice at an out-door table on the way to and from the pizza place. Her mom was nurse and my friend wanted her to take care of her foot but, she ended up letting the waiter at the restaurant bandage her toe right there as we waited for our pizza. He sure earned his tip!

So, to finish the story, we did not see any of our friends until the next morning at the last day of the convocation. As it turns out, they simply huddled together while the crowd ran around them. After the one guy got hit by a police club they said they were really tourists and were allowed behind police lines. They got some ice-cream and headed to their respective dwellings 30 minutes later when the Sol Metro Station was re-opened.

I did not go back to my room until after my friend was reunited with her parents at the table we past twice. My mom was relived to finally see me as apparently she had been watching the riots on TV. While this whole incident left my mind a little jumpy at crowds for a while I have since gotten over it and have moved on to new adventures. While I hope that I never have to live through such an incident again, I would NEVER give up this experience. I look back and laugh at it and think, “Wow! That was actually kind of fun!” :D

My Absolute FAVORITE Travel Credit Card!

A month ago today I received an email from Chase Sapphire letting me know that they had, an “Invite A Friend” promotion for their Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Mostly ignored the email as I did not really know anyone who might be interested however, now a month later, a light bulb finally came on in my head. I though, “Hey, I can share this on my Travel Blog!” After all this is probably the BEST travel card out there, at least the best I have ever had which has been a good number of them.

I LOVE this card, for many reasons. One of my favorite things about this card is just how many rewards programs you can transfer your points to at a 1:1 exchange rate: United Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, South West Airlines, Amtrak, Hilton, Marriott, and more.

Recently, my mom and I took a train from Portland, OR to San Jose California. We decided to get a roomette so we could sleep better on the 19+ hour ride, plus Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Lunch, Dinner then Breakfast in our case) was included. While I do not remember the exact dollar figure at the time, it was between $450 and $500. However, it would only cost 11000 Amtrak Rewards points for that trip. As neither of us had ever been on Amtrak before, we would have had NO rearwards points to cash-in... if we did not have our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. It took less than 10 minutes for our point to show-up our previously set-up Amtrak Rewards accounts. Note: Amtrak leaves the program December 7th 2015

Other quick points that I like about this card:

#1: NO FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES! While this feature is becoming more common among credit cards, it is a very convenient feature for big international travelers like myself. Saving about 3% per-transaction. That adds-up fast!

#2: Has An EMV-Chip! America is finally catching on to this but, Europe (the UK especially) has been using this for a while now. Back in 2013, when I was in the UK, I had LOTS of trouble being able to make purchases with my EMV-Chipless card.

#3: Amazing Costumer Service! I think that says it all. They promise to answer before the 3rd ring, or something like that. I have only had to wait once for an agent to come on the line. Every other time, they pick-up immediately.

If you are interested in this card, CLICK HERE! #sponsored

Disclosure: As a card holder participating in Chase's “Invite a Friend” promotion, I will be rewarded with a set number of points for each person who clicks my referral link, applies for, and is subsequently approved for the credit card. While I try my best to make sure all info which I post about this card is accurate, policies could change. I do NOT work for Chase Bank.

The Big 100!

YEAY!!!

As of today, August 9th 2015, I finally reached 100 page views! Time to Celebrate!

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Now, where did that wine bottle run off to?

Exciting Travel News!

On the day that NCL released this amazing news (August 3rd 2015), I was trolling around their website and noticed their new "NORWEGIANS SAIL TO ASIA AND AUSTRALIA" background on the home page. I was like, "WHOA! I can't believe it!" Apparently the rumors which I had been hearing from workers on their ships are true!

I have been on a total of 4 cruises and spent a total of 45 days cruising. All the cruises I have done have been with NCL. Though I have thought about doing cruises on other ships, that was only because NCL did not sail to the other places I was interested in, Asia mostly. However, according to this press release, that is about to change... much to my excitement.

Why do I love NCL so much? On word: FREESTYLE!!! While I know other ships are now offering similar ideologies, NCL won my heart first.

One thing that I am really excited about, which I did not see until I read the whole press release was that they are now adding the port of Rio de Janiero, Brazil to their South American cruise offerings. I really want to visit Rio and considering that taking a cruise in my FAVORITE way to travel it just make me that much more excited to visit.

Read NCL's full August 03rd Press Release Here!