The fastest way to rack up miles is with a branded credit card.  All the major domestic airlines offer credit cards which usually offer large welcome bonuses after meeting a minimum spending threshold.   For example, I have seen offers as high as 85,000 SkyMiles after spending $4000 on purchases during the first six months with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card.  They also offer Gold and Reserve cards with different benefits for each card and also different annual fees.

A word of caution, credit cards are serious business and if you aren’t careful, you can easily find yourself in debt.  Your “free trips” quickly become expensive if you are paying interest every month.

You will earn additional miles every time you use the card to make a purchase.  Usually, you will get a different number of miles per dollar spent depending on the category.  Keeping with our SkyMiles Platinum Card example, you will earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.  To bump your miles total, you should also link your SkyMiles loyalty account with Delta’s partners like Lyft and Starbucks.  Use your SkyMiles card to buy your morning Latte and you will receive one mile from the card and one mile from buying Starbucks.

You can also compound your miles by using a shopping portal when shopping online.  Delta and American Airlines both have shopping portals.  You log in through the portal and shop at hundreds of major stores and earn additional miles with each purchase.  Shop at lululemon or Levi’s and earn an additional 1.5 miles per dollar by using Delta’s SkyMiles Shopping.  I have found that you usually get more miles through American’s AAdvantageeshopping portal.  Both American and Delta have Chrome plug-ins which will alert you whenever you visit a partner site.  If you have both plug-ins, you will get a pop up from each and you can choose the better offer.

The downside to racking up a lot of airline miles is that you can only use them on that airline.  Having 196,000 Delta SkyMiles won’t help if Aer Lingus is having a great deal to Ireland.  This is where points come into play.  American Express, Chase and Capital One all offer credit cards which earn points instead of miles.  The points can then be transferred to partner airlines and hotels or spent through their own booking sites.  American Express has seventeen airline partners and three hotel brands that allow you to transfer your points into their loyalty programs.  Chase has eleven airlines and three hotels while Capital One has sixteen airlines and two hotels.  There is an overlap between them.  For instance, both Chase and Amex are partnered with Aer Lingus.  The caution here is that if you transfer points to a partner, you can’t transfer them back.  Make sure that seats are available on an award flight before you transfer the points.  Usually, transfers are instantaneous.

If you are just getting started with travel cards, I would suggest looking at the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the American Express Gold cards.  I am not saying that these are the best cards for you, but these are a good place to begin your research.  If you are a loyal customer of a certain airline, look into their cards as well since you get benefits like priority boarding and your first checked bag free.

Each company offers multiple cards with different benefits and annual fees.  Look at how you intend to use your card and if you will use the benefits when you travel.  Sometimes the card with the higher fee will be the better card for you.  Recently, I upgraded from the American Express Gold card, $250 annual fee, to the Platinum card with its $695 fee.  I am able to use the additional benefits like a $240 annual streaming credit for Hulu, a Walmart+ membership credit and an additional $80 per year in Uber cash. Those are in addition to getting one of the best airport lounge networks of any card.  The additional benefits more than covered the increased fee.

I will not pretend to be an expert on all of the ways to maximize the points and miles that you can earn.  I don’t have the time to devote to studying all of the intricacies of every card.  There are some great websites that specialize in that like Thrifty Traveler, The Points Guy and the 10x Travel group on Facebook. 

I’m on a quest to see a game in every major league baseball stadium.  We’ve been able to use points and miles to stretch our travel budget by getting free flights to several cities. This allows us to catch a game that would have been cost prohibitive if we had to buy plane tickets.

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One of our favorites are the cenotes.  Millions of years ago, this area was part of a coral reef.  When sea levels lowered, the reef was exposed and eventually became limestone. Water dissolved the underlying rock causing it to collapse.  These holes filled with water to form the cenotes.  It is estimated that there may be as many as 10,000 cenotes in the region with many unknown and hidden by the jungle.  They are the only source of fresh water in the Yucatan as there are no rivers.  It is believed that all of the cenotes are interconnected by underground rivers.

Cenotes are Mexico’s hidden wonders. The waters are incredibly clear as there is actually very little exposed surface area and great effort goes into protecting them from pollution.  

Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are the activities that take place in the cenotes.   Access is through private ownership so fees do apply.  Before entering the cenotes, you are required to shower to remove any chemicals, oils and sweat from your body.   You can not use any sunscreen or chemical mask defogger if snorkeling or diving.  There is limited life in the cenotes. There are only a few species of fish and bats found there although beautiful tropical birds can be found near the entrances. The real highlights are the caverns with their stalactites, stalagmites and columns.  Before diving, expect your guide to check your buoyancy skills to be sure that you won’t damage the stalactites by unexpectedly hitting them with your tank.

During our recent trip, we visited four different cenotes.  Two were diving and two were swimming only.

We did two dives in the Cenote Dos Ojos called the Batcave and Barbie Line. Both were full of amazing formations and shimmering walls of light where air bells had formed when the cavern roof collapsed exposing the sky above.  These cenotes are classified as caverns rather than caves even though you are underground because of the relatively short distances to areas where you can surface in an emergency.  For this reason, the cave diving certification is not required. The Batcave features a huge cavern with a small hole to above ground where you can surface to see the stalactites and the bats which give it its name. You will need lights during your dives.  We used The Cenote Guy out of Playa del Carmen as our guide. René did a fantastic job and provided a great experience.

Swimming is the order of the day at both Cenote Choo-Ha near Coba and Cenote Saamal near Chichen Itza. Both require you to climb down a long set of stairs to reach the water. You will want some type of water shoe or sandals to protect your feet and keep from slipping on the stairs.  Choo-Ha is inside of a large cavern which is lighted.  Life jackets are available to rent.  Saamal is in a deep pit which features a small waterfall, hanging vines and tropical birds.  At Saamal, it is required that you rent a life jacket because the water is over 150 feet deep.  There are also a couple of restaurants here.  Lockers are also available to rent.  Both of these sites were included with tours we took to the Mayan ruins at Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza.

Adventures await you in the Riviera Maya region if you are willing to go out and experience them.

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I still get anxious before trips, but it’s nothing that keeps me up at night.  The key is doing research about where you are going and the things you want to do.  Part of your trip preparation is making sure that you do the things that you need to do before your trip, whether that is as big as making sure that you have a valid passport or as small as purchasing tickets to an attraction like the Anne Frank house which usually sell out the day they become available.

As a first-time traveler, there are a few key things you should keep in mind to make your trip go smoothly:

1. Passport and visas: Make sure you have a valid passport and any necessary visas before you travel. Check the expiration date of your passport and make sure it will be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. If you need to apply for a new passport, don’t wait until the last minute as it may take several months for you to receive your new passport.  Starting in 2024, many of the popular European destinations like Italy, France and Spain will require travelers to register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

2. Travel insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself in case of lost or stolen luggage, trip cancellations, or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage available. Although it is more expensive, we always get the plan that allows us to cancel for any reason. Consider the activities that you are going to participate in, you may want to use a specialty insurance.  If you are planning a scuba diving trip, you might want a policy with a company like DAN which has doctors familiar with the unique medical needs of divers and covers hyperbaric chambers if needed.

3. Budgeting: Set a budget for your trip and stick to it as much as possible. Consider the cost of transportation, accommodations, food, activities, and any other expenses you may incur. A little research before you go will give you an idea of what you need.  Some countries like Egypt have a cash based economy and you may not be able to use your credit card in some places. Egypt also has a developed tipping culture called Backsheesh so you will need to carry smaller denominations.

4. Packing: Make a list of what you need to pack and stick to it. Make sure you have all necessary travel documents, such as your passport, boarding pass, and travel insurance information. Be sure to research what weather to expect and bring appropriate clothing.  A coworker’s daughter planned a wedding on a mountain in Colorado and wore her heels only to discover that the mountain was snow covered and she had to wear snowshoes to reach the spot where the ceremony was performed.

Related: 15 Things You Should Have in Your Carry On, 15 things I have in my purse/travel bag when I’m traveling

5. Safety: Research the safety and security situation of your destination and take the necessary precautions. For US residents traveling abroad, be sure to register your trip with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  You can receive alerts about any safety concerns that arise. We received text warnings about protests in Lima, Peru and strikes in Brazil. You also need to be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded tourist areas, and keep your valuables safe. I wear a money belt, keep my money and credit cards in my front pocket and carry a ”dummy wallet” with a few small bills in case I get pickpocketed. Don’t put valuables in the cargo pockets of your pants. I had a friend have his passport pickpocketed during a trip. Women should use a cross strap style purse.

6. Communication: Make sure you have a way to communicate with family and friends back home, such as a phone plan that works overseas or a messaging app like WhatsApp. Verizon has an international plan called Travel Pass and AT&T has one called International Day Pass; both allow unlimited talk, text and data for $10 per day.

7. Culture: Research the cultural norms and customs of your destination and make an effort to respect them. There are often dress codes for religious settings such as head coverings for women or removing your shoes.  Try to learn a few basic phrases in the local language to help you navigate and communicate with locals.  At a very minimum, learn please, thank you and bathroom.  Google Translate is a huge help and you may want to try a language app like Duolingo.

8. Patience: Travel can be stressful, and things don’t always go as planned. Try to stay calm and patient and remember to take breaks and enjoy the experience. Be prepared with a plan B in case things don’t work out.  We once had the opportunity to spend a night in Zurich because our flight out of Lisbon was delayed and we missed our connection to Chicago.  After checking into a hotel, we hopped a train to the downtown and walked along the river, did some sightseeing, marveled at the Christmas lights and decorations and enjoyed a mug of gluhwein.  What many would find exasperating, became a great experience because we were prepared to take advantage of the opportunity when it occurred.

It’s natural to worry about upcoming travel, especially if it is your first major travel experience, but with some preparations you can ease your mind about the major concerns.  The key is to do some research on your destination as soon as you decide where you want to go.  If this seems overwhelming to you, you may want to consult a travel advisor who can help you through these steps and take care of the details of your trip.

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Upon Arrival

As a US citizen, when you fly into Cairo, Egypt, you can get a Visa on Arrival. Your first stop needs to be at the Egyptian National Bank booth where you will pay for your visa, which costs $25.  You have to pay cash in US dollars. You will receive a sticker that you must put into your passport before you go to Immigration. 

As soon as you clear Immigration, you’ll be at the baggage terminals and someone will probably meet you and offer to get you a car. You can find a cheaper car by going out by the exit. There will be an area marked Airport Limousine and there’s a lot of people there. Everybody wants to give you a ride so you can bargain with them to get your best deal. The person who met us as we passed Immigration quoted us $30 US, but the taxi quote we got was approximately $15 or $16 which would be 350 pounds Egyptian. Be prepared to walk away from the first offer that the taxis make and they will come back to you with a lower price. The airport is approximately 40 minutes from central downtown.

Money Matters

Egypt has a cash based economy.  Many places, including restaurants and stores, will not accept credit cards.  Most places will accept either Egyptian Pounds or US Dollars.  We were told that Egyptian banks are fussy about accepting hard currencies like the dollar or Euro which are damaged or dirty.  The damage can be very minor in the eyes of US citizens, like small tears or writing on the bills, but Egyptians may not want to accept them.  They will not accept coins because they can’t exchange them at the banks.

Something that you need to be aware of is the practice of Baksheesh or tipping.  This is an act of showing appreciation and thanking someone for helping you.  Most service workers do a great job and expect you to acknowledge this with a tip.  This includes the hotel workers, drivers and restaurant staff.  Please don’t confuse this with those who are simply begging, especially children.  They may pull at your heartstrings, but giving money to children who are begging encourages them to turn begging into a business and to not attend school.

Getting Around

Unlike many cities in Europe, Cairo is not a pedestrian friendly city.  The sites are not close together.  Uber is available.  At most of the sites, there are cars offering to drive you.  The drivers will quote you a price, but they are willing to bargain.  For a drive from the Citadel to our hotel, we paid a quarter of the initial quote.  Be prepared for the driver to ask for additional money because of the heavy traffic.  Hold firm to the agreed upon price.  The white taxis are the only ones with meters.  Check with your hotel to get an idea of how much your trip should cost.

Scams

We went to Giza to see the pyramids and the Sphinx on our recent visit.  You can walk around the Great Pyramid and over to the others.  Once you pass through the entry gate, you do not need to show your ticket to anyone. There are a number of men around the Great Pyramid who look official, with name tags and some with whistles, who will ask to see your ticket.  They are attempting to find out if you are with a group or not. They may tell you that your ticket doesn’t allow you to be where you are and ask for additional money.  Some will offer to show you the best spots to take pictures and offer to take them for you. Then they ask for money, usually in US dollars.  You can pay them if you like, but be prepared for them to ask for more.  Remember that you can say no, put the money back in your pocket and walk away.  

Another common scam is for someone to approach you on the street and say that they work at your hotel and recognize you.  After gaining your confidence, they will offer to take you to a shop, restaurant or attraction in an attempt to get your money.  Usually, just asking which hotel is enough to discourage them.

Crime

Crime is not very common because of a heavy police presence.  You do need to be aware that there are pickpockets around the major attractions and in the bazaars, just like there are in almost every major city in the world.  Only take with you what you need for the day so that if the unfortunate happens, you are only out a small amount.  Keep the rest in the safe in your hotel room.

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Eating Local–We try to eat the local foods. Some go down easier than others. Cuy (pronounced Coo-ee) in Peru and tripe in Florence are two that we can say that we tried it and never have to eat it again. Two of our favorite dining experiences were in Lima, Peru and Athens, Greece. Both times we got lost looking for restaurants recommended to us and ended up in different ones. No one spoke English in either restaurant. In Lima, Colleen knew that she wanted Ceviche and with my very limited Spanish, I knew that pollo meant chicken so I pointed at the menu and crossed my fingers. In Athens, we just picked something off the menu. We knew what gyros were, but Central Wisconsin isn’t known for Greek dining so we were adventurous. We ended up going back there several nights during our stay. The food was fantastic in both restaurants. These were restaurants where the locals ate so we had authentic dining experiences, not meals that were adapted to cater to tourists’ tastes. I also like to sample the local beers when traveling and have found some great craft beers like the Donkey beers by Santorini Brewing in Santorini, Greece or Wawel in Krakow, Poland.

International Culture–We’ve attended Flamenco dancing performances in Spain and Fado singing in Lisbon. We always visit art museums and UNESCO World Heritage sites. As a history major, historical locations and museums are a part of almost all of our trips. Many of these sites are seeing heavy tourist traffic. Please, please, be considerate of the sites when you visit. If there are chains up, they’re there for a reason; to protect something. Don’t cross them even if the perfect selfie is on the other side. Don’t take anything other than pictures and don’t write on or otherwise deface the site.

Below are some of our favorite pictures that we have taken on our trips along with travel quotes that inspire us. We hope that they inspire you to go someplace new.

Colleen and I have taken all of the pictures that we use on our website and our Facebook posts.. Be sure to check back as we will continue to add pictures from our travels.

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Eventually, it will happen; you’re standing at the luggage carousel watching it go around and around and your bag doesn’t appear.  What now?  Most major airlines have a baggage service desk near the baggage claim area.  Go there immediately to report your lost bags and they will contact you when your bags arrive.  If it happens when you’re returning home, it’s probably not a big problem, but what if it happens when you arrive at your destination?  Hopefully, your bags will arrive in a couple of hours, but I did once have to wait two days.  What are your options?  You can cross your fingers and hope that your luggage shows up in a couple of hours or pull out your credit card and go shopping or use what you have in your carry on and enjoy your vacation.  Except for some budget and economy flights, most of the airlines allow you one carry-on and one personal item such as a purse or backpack.  Note: There has been a trend recently where the airlines are asking you to check your roller bags at the gate.  For this reason, I carry as much as possible in my backpack.  Here are the 15 things that I always put in my carry on.

1. Medicine  Always make sure that you have your prescription medicine with you.  If it is a short trip, I’ll use a small pill caddy.  For longer trips, I use small plastic bags that I label am or pm for each day of the trip.  I put all of the little bags in a larger Ziploc style bag and that takes up very little room.  I always pack for an extra day in case of a cancellation or better yet, a bump.  Some recommend taking all of your medicines in their original containers, but I have never had any problems.
2. A change (or two) of clothes  You’ll want to adjust this to fit your itinerary, but I usually just pack an extra pair of socks, underwear, and a T-shirt.  You may want to pack a second shirt.  You can wear a pair of pants a second day if needed.
3. Toiletries  It’s nice to be able to brush your teeth and clean up a bit after a long flight.  I always carry my liquids in my backpack in an outside pocket where I can easily get them if needed.  Remember that liquids are required to be in 3oz or smaller bottles and fit in a quart bag.
4. Contact case and solution  If your luggage is delayed overnight or you develop eye irritation, you’ll be glad that you have this with you.
5. Phone Charger  This is especially true if you use a smartphone.  You use it for directions, taking pictures, finding transportation and of course you’ll need a way to be contacted when the airline calls to let you know that your luggage has finally arrived.  
6. Earbuds  These really aren’t necessary, but they don’t take up much room and I prefer having my own to the ones provided by the airline.
7. Computer  If you take a computer or tablet, you want it with you so that you can keep track of it and make sure that it doesn’t get damaged.
8. Masks  For the most part, mask mandates are a thing of the past, but you may run into one.  If you test positive, current guidelines call for wearing a mask.  
9. Writing materials  I always carry a couple of pens and mechanical pencils and a notebook in my backpack.  I scribble down my thoughts about where we visited, things that we might consider doing differently or just a list of things that I need to remember to do. 
10. A color copy of your passport  This is important if you are traveling internationally.  Ideally, you should laminate it so it holds up to the rigors of travel.
11. A copy of your itinerary  When we travel, Colleen always makes up packets that includes flight, hotel and rental car information along with a daily schedule of activities with contact information for tour guides.  We each carry one in our carry-ons and we give a copy to our sons in case they need to contact us.
12. Toilet paper  You can’t always count on there being some.  This is an emergency supply; just put a partial roll in a Ziplock style bag.  We were recently at a restaurant, while in Europe, and discovered that there was no toilet paper.  I mentioned it to the bartender and she informed me that their supplies wouldn’t be there until the next day.  Colleen pulled a partial roll out of her purse and saved the day for our group.
13. Safety pins  Safety pins are small and can be used for a multitude of travel needs.  Colleen puts a small baggie in her purse or backpack whenever we travel, they take up little to no room!  To be honest I rarely need them but when I do they are worth their weight in gold.  On a trip to Venice the strap to Colleen’s purse suddenly broke.  Without a large safety pin she would have had to hold on to her purse in her hand for the rest of the day.  Knowing her, that might have meant setting it down somewhere and losing it forever!  Safety pins can also be used for broken bra straps, rips in pants or zipper handles. 
14. Water bottle  After you’re through security at the airport, you can fill it up so you’re not paying exorbitant airport prices for water.  We always carry them with us when we are out and about each day.
15. Metal Straw  Again, not necessary, but we don’t like paper straws.

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Plan Your Trip

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Welcome to our blog.  We are Colleen and Mike.  We love to travel, and we both have backgrounds in education.  Colleen is a kindergarten teacher and travel advisor and I now work with Buildings and Grounds.  Many people wonder how we are able to travel as much as we do on school employee salaries.

Colleen and I both had a desire to travel and see the world, but we were held back by fear and uncertainty, not to mention the lack of funds to cover what we thought it would cost.  Our goal is to help take the fear and mystery out of travel and assure new and less experienced travelers that they can have fantastic experiences for less than they might have imagined.

Between us, we have visited twenty-eight countries and thirty-nine states.  We’ve added goals of seeing games in all the major league baseball stadiums and visiting all of the US National Parks.  COVID has limited our travel to primarily the continental US.  We did visit twelve National Parks in 2021, as well as taking a trip to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.  In 2022, we ventured out internationally with trips to Greece, Germany and Poland. We still have trips where the unexpected happens and we have to come up with a Plan B on the fly.

When we talk to others, we often get questions about how we learned to do something or hear tales of trips that didn’t turn out the way they had hoped. We often hear concerns that keep people from traveling like not knowing a foreign language, safety concerns, how to get around or the cost.  In addition to sharing our experiences in some great locations, our goal is to share our tips, tricks, and knowledge to take the fear out of traveling and encourage people to venture forth and see something new.  We will include our strategies for planning and booking our trips and how we organize all of the elements that go into a successful trip.  We’ll also share some of our favorite destinations and things to do.

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn.  Climb that goddamn mountain.”-Jack Kerouac

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