Category Archives: Sweet Deals

Destinations, General, Sweet Deals, Turkey

How to Fly to Turkey for Free…(well, almost free)

Photo from rasktravel.com

Photo from rasktravel.com

About a week ago, Rob and I booked an 11 night travel package in Turkey and we got a really great deal. While the price of the package is quite amazing considering all that is included, the price tag on our airfare is even sweeter! Two non-stop, round-trip tickets to Istanbul for…wait for it….$140 total! How is that possible you ask? By getting in on the credit card deals that offer big perks for travel.

I started to learn about the credit cards that offer huge mileage/points sign-on bonuses about 18 months ago and I immediately knew that I needed to get in on the action! I quickly cashed in on deals earning me 50,000 points with one company, 75,000 miles with another, etc. I started to follow The Points Guy for tips and tricks on how to maximize the most out of all these credit cards and find out which ones were worth the effort and which ones were not. For someone with a passion for travel like myself, these credit cards were just the ticket (pun intended).

In the last 18 months, Rob and I have used our miles/points for a variety of different flights. For example, we flew to Colorado for free using my Southwest points (I had earned 50,000 Rapid Rewards points for signing up for the Chase Southwest Premier credit card). We flew to Nicaragua using my American Airlines miles and only had to pay $65 in taxes (I had earned 75,000 bonus miles for signing up for the Citi Platinum AAdvantage credit card). And just yesterday, I purchased our tickets to Istanbul for only $140 using my Chase Ultimate Rewards points (I had earned 50,000 bonus points for signing up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card). These flights should have cost us about $1,600, but my points covered almost all of the hefty bill. It was somewhat disheartening to watch all of my Ultimate Rewards points vanish in one fell swoop, but what would be the purpose of earning all those points just to watch the number grow and never use them?  No, this chick will continue to wipe out her rewards balances to make her travel dreams come true!

Offers like these could make your travel dreams a reality too!  However, these offers change often, so be sure to stay on top of the best deals by following sites like The Points Guy.

Standard
Sweet Deals

3 Continent Cruise Mega-Deal

Would anyone like to knock out three continents on just one cruise? This amazing deal from Travelzoo offers you the chance to do just that and for an incredible price! Hop aboard Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas in Dubai and then set sail for stops in Jordan, Egypt and Italy. This 15 night cruise is being advertised for $399, but the actual cost is $649 including taxes (still a steal!). The sale price is only valid for the April 19th departure. Of course, I can’t travel in April…but maybe you can!

In addition to the standard inclusions on any cruise, this deal also includes:

One spa treatment ($100 value)
Specialty dinner for two ($60 value)
Free cabin upgrade

20130227-153804.jpg
Photo courtesy of Travelzoo.

Standard
Sweet Deals

Hot, Hot, Hot, Winter Cruise Deal

Looking for a great deal this winter to get out of the cold and into the sun? Well, look no further. Depart Fort Lauderdale on February 23 or March 9 on a 7 night cruise to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and the Bahamas for only $299!! This is definitely one of the best cruise offers I have ever seen. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to travel on these dates, but I hope it might work for some of you. Happy Travels!

7 Night Winter Caribbean Cruise

Standard
Sweet Deals

National Geographic Traveler

If you are a fellow travel junkie, you should definitely check out this deal!  TravelZoo is offering a one year subscription to National Geographic Traveler magazine for only $8!  (A $40 value if purchased at a newsstand.)  These publications are filled with travel ideas, tips and expert advice on the world’s most exciting destinations, sure to please the inner wanderer in anyone.

This deal would also make an excellent gift for your travel junkie loved ones!  Click here to take advantage of this deal.

Photo from nationalgeographic.com

Photo from nationalgeographic.com

Standard
Sweet Deals

Win a Trip to Atlantis for 10 People

Everyone knows that I love a great travel deal, and you can never beat FREE! Enter this contest to win a trip to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas for 10 people!

Enter here to win: Atlantis Sweepstakes

The Grand Prize includes:

– 10 free air tickets compliments of Copa Airlines. Enjoy a flight like no other!
– Enjoy 6 days and 5 nights of incredible luxury in the Bahamas compliments of the Royal Towers of the Atlantis Hotel.
– Travel to and from the airports in ultimate luxury.
– Enjoy an unparalleled experience when swimming with dolphins in their habitat.
– Complimentary meals included for all throughout your stay. A tasty culinary experience!

Good luck! And if you end up winning, I sure hope I am one of the 10 people that join you! ; )

Standard
Sweet Deals

Ireland Castle Vacation in Spring

My husband and I traveled to Ireland this past summer and we had a wonderful time! We booked a really great vacation package through Sceptre Tours at an amazing price. Here is another deal from Sceptre Tours for a trip to Ireland in spring. This trip includes roundtrip airfare from New York, 6 nights in luxurious castles, as well as a rental car with unlimited miles…all for only $999!! As much as I love Ireland, I know I won’t be getting back there as early as next spring. But because I can vouch for the quality of this tour company, I thought I should share this deal. Ireland Castle Vacation

Standard
Sweet Deals

Croatia & Slovenia Travel Deal

Croatia is considered one of Europe’s best hidden gems, but it is quickly becoming a popular travel destination. It is definitely on my Top Ten Wish List and I really wish that I could take advantage of this deal. However, with Iceland and Nicaragua already on the books for this November and January, Croatia will have to wait…

If your vacation calendar is open you should definitely check out this deal. This vacation package includes airfare and 9 nights at 4 star hotels in Croatia and Slovenia for only $1699. Additionally, the package includes several meals, all transportation and several guided tours.

Standard
Sweet Deals

Cruise to Turkey & Greece

This is a fabulous deal on a 10 day cruise to Greece and Turkey from Rome for only $399!! Greece and Turkey are both on my Top Ten List of places I want to visit, but unfortunately the timing of this cruise doesn’t work for me. This price is only available for an October 31st departure which doesn’t jive with my work schedule. But if anyone else has flexibility around that time, this is a fantastic deal! Of course airfare is not included, but maybe you could find a great deal on that too.

Standard
Sweet Deals

Travel to Turkey (I wish I could)

Turkey is very high on the list of places I want to go and this is a fabulous deal! This travel package includes airfare, 11 nights in 7 different cities, guided tours and many meals for only $1300. Rob and I actually just booked a winter vacation elsewhere, so we have to take a pass on this one. But if you are looking to travel between November – March, you should definitely check out this deal. 11 Night Turkey Vacation

Standard
Sweet Deals

Prague – Vienna – Budapest Deal

I have already been to all 3 of these cities, but if you have never been, this package might be the one for you. For $1200 you get roundtrip airfare, 2 nights in each city, and train transfers between cities.
This package is specially priced for arrival on November 22. Sounds like a great way to spend Thanksgiving if you ask me!

Prague-Vienna-Budapest Deal

Standard