It feels like forever since I've been able to get away for a vacation. And it's going to be even longer!
I've been planning my cruise to Australia for over 3 years now. You may say, what you put a deposit on a cruise 3 years ago? Well, yes I did but this girl has done a lot more than that! The spreadsheet was created all those years ago when I was comparing cruise and finding the one that worked the best for me!
Once I chose a cruise, tabs were added to the spreadsheet for the various ports so I could figure out what I wanted to do when I visited.
In addition, reminders were set up on my calendar to check cruise prices and offers. Yes, my friends, if you check cruise prices on a regular basis, you can sometimes find a lower price and have your cruise re-fared. Once you've made final payment, all bet are off though.
But if you deposit cruises early, like I do, you are sometimes lucky enough to get several reductions or even be able to re-fare to an offer that has things like on-board credit or a beverage package. It pays to check! Unfortunately, my cruise has done nothing but increase in price. Although that bodes well for me because I obviously got the lowest price. Things could change though (doubtful), but I still check!
Having decided 3 years ago where I was going, I also decided which reward credit cards would help me get there in the most economical matter. Yes, folks, I am a bit of a points wh*re!!! I don't churn points like some of the bloggers do, but I do sign up for credit cards for the points offers.
The first thing I got was an Alaska Airlines credit card. What? Alaska airlines you say. Well, not that I would use them to fly most places but they do have valuable points AND each year when you renew your card you get a free companion certificate! But I digress. The reason I chose Alaska Air was because of their Travel Partners and the cost of the awards -- points wise. They partner with other airlines like Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airlines to name a few. All of those carriers have routes in and around Sydney and the Far East.
I had an American Airlines card that I used to help finance my trip to Tahiti several years ago. But this card remains in my wallet because I fly American quite a bit. So, I had a ton of points with them.
I buy absolutely everything I purchase with a credit card. So when I was trying to bulk up my points, not only did I do that, but they also have a shopping portal where you can get extra points for stuff you were going to buy anyway. Think Christmas shopping, birthdays or every day things you need at places like Home Depot, Staples etc. And the points grew and grew.
I also have an IHG credit card. I love that card. Each year when you renew, you get a certificate to use at almost any of their family of hotels all over the world. (Places like Tahiti for example) I stay at Holiday Inns or Crowne Plaza usually and they also run specials every so often allowing you to earn fairly large numbers of points for completing a group of things. Like, download their app, stay 2 nights, stay in two different brands of hotels. Things like that. I didn't use the card a lot outside of hotel related things but still the points added up.
A Hilton card is also another hotel card I have and their sign-up is fairly decent. I used the card for a few months fairly recently to top off my miles so I can use them on this trip for a hotel room.
And finally, one of the other cards in my arsenal, a cash back on travel card. This card gives you a huge bonus for spending a couple of thousand dollars in a three month period. Not difficult to do if you plan ahead and know your high spending months. The bonus is 50,000 points which translates to $500 off travel related expenses. Plus, you continue to earn points for every dollar you spend. Depending on the category earning 2-3-4-5 times the points. All you do is when a travel charge posts to your account, you apply your points and BAM your charge is reduced based on the points you've earned.
If you've followed along this far, you may wonder where all this is leading. Well, it's this: I am going on a trip where if I paid cash would cost me over twenty one thousand dollars..............but I am not paying nearly that much.
Here is how the trip breaks down, Fares and rates are as of today!
October 17th Flight from Tampa to Honolulu 1st class $2045 My Cost $0
I chose an overnight layover to break up the trip and I am hoping to meet my cousins for a late dinner! Then I can sleep at a hotel and begin the next part of my trip refreshed and hopefully not jet lagged!
Overnight at Crowne Plaza Seatac $205 My Cost: $0 (no taxes or resort fees with a free night!)
Once in Honolulu, I am looking at staying at a Hilton Property on or near Waikiki Beach. I've not booked this yet because I am trying to get more points in my account (like 5x for groceries or gas) so I can use a points and cash option as I don't have a lot of these points.
Hilton Waikiki Beach is where I will probably stay for 2 nights before the cruise
Partial Ocean View room: $604.51 My Cost: $336.83 based on the points I have now.
Holland America 19 night cruise from Honolulu to Sydney:
Inside Cabin for 1: $3618.00 My Cost: $2800.00 based on the points I have now plus what I expect to add.
I also have some decent on board credit for the ship: Probably about $400 to buy drinks of the day!
This is in part because I have 100 shares of Carnival Stock. A cruise this long nets $150 in on board credit. And you can get credit as many times during the year as you like. !!!!!!
Once I get to Sydney, I will only be there for 3 nights but I am hoping to get a ton of sight-seeing done! I already have my room booked at the Holiday Inn Rocks!
Holiday Inn Rocks 3 nights: $789.54 My Cost: $00
And finally, the long journey back to the United States.
Cathay Pacific 1st Class one way from Sydney: $13,986.00 My Cost: $139.42 for taxes
So there you have it folks. An average person with average spending habits managed to save for a trip that costs $21,248.05 and paid $3306.25. I will still have some charges for the excursions on the cruise and my meals and any tours I take in Sydney or Honolulu--but Groupon is your friend!
And the most important thing--I paid my credit cards off EVERY month!
My advice to you is figure out where you want to go and then match yourself with the credit cards that can get you there for little money!
'Good Luck and Happy Travelling!
jilly
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Just a Brief Update
I was going to post a 'year in review' sort of thing, but if you've been following along, you already know how my year has gone.
One thing I did not blog about was the loss of my beloved Dad. He was a pretty healthy man of 86 with a mind that was still sharp. He did however, have problems with his balance. And a fall ended up beginning the awful chain of events that eventually led to his death.
I will say, that he left this world on his terms, mind still sharp. The only good thing to come of this was that he was able to talk to all of us, and share his thoughts, hopes and dreams for us. Less than 12 hours after he spoke to the last person, he left this world at home, in his own bed, early in the morning, on November 11th, 2018
I truly believe his soul resides with all his loved ones that passed before him. He visits me in dreams now and again. I find that very comforting.
His led his life with honor, integrity & loyalty. A Dad that never shirked responsibility and worked very hard to provide his family with life's necessities. His example showed me how to live my own life.
While I am sad that he is gone, he will forever live on in my heart and mind. He will not be forgotten.
One thing I did not blog about was the loss of my beloved Dad. He was a pretty healthy man of 86 with a mind that was still sharp. He did however, have problems with his balance. And a fall ended up beginning the awful chain of events that eventually led to his death.
I will say, that he left this world on his terms, mind still sharp. The only good thing to come of this was that he was able to talk to all of us, and share his thoughts, hopes and dreams for us. Less than 12 hours after he spoke to the last person, he left this world at home, in his own bed, early in the morning, on November 11th, 2018
I truly believe his soul resides with all his loved ones that passed before him. He visits me in dreams now and again. I find that very comforting.
His led his life with honor, integrity & loyalty. A Dad that never shirked responsibility and worked very hard to provide his family with life's necessities. His example showed me how to live my own life.
While I am sad that he is gone, he will forever live on in my heart and mind. He will not be forgotten.
Another Week in Paradise
The settling in continues as I prepare to get rid of even more stuff! I'm loving this minimalist thing I have going. It's so much easier to clean without tons of dust catchers around. Plus my condo is not that large and what I can display, I want it to be things that have meaning to me.
Work is going great. I am becoming more immersed in the work done in my unit and I just love it.
My Team members have been great--showing me around the various sites I need to complete my work. And my manager seems to really take in interest in my work and what's going on in my life.
Whichever planet was retrograding, I hope its gone direct now. I think it was Mercury. This week has put a hurting on my charge cards. First, my home computer died so I replaced that -- Hello VISA-
Then I kept seeing water on my lanai and could not figure out where it was coming from. I kept hearing water somewhere but couldn't pinpoint it. I called a plumber because it got worse in a HURRY. VISA once again.
Plumber says my pipes to the water heater are bone dry but believes the leak is in the slab. WHAT?
So I call this company called IFINDLEAKS (really) and they come out with their sonar/ultrasound equipment and shortly thereafter inform me that the leak is definitely in the slab and it's underneath the water heater. GREAT. Here's my VISA and today it is not everywhere I want to be.
I was forced to turn off the water completely or the lanai would have flooded into the next condo's bedroom. So, I would turn it on, dash around like a maniac and take care of my water needs and then rush back out to turn it off. So fun.
The plumber gets the ultrasound report and shows up Friday morning with 2 helpers carrying a jackhammer and some other large equipment. OMG They first tried jackhammering the concrete near the water heater. But that didn't work because the leak was too far under it. Of course, it was. So they proceed to cut the copper pipe, drain the water heater and remove it. Then more jackhammering. They got painfully close to the outside wall of my house but finally located it. As they turned the water off and on to locate it, they told me it was spraying out of the pipe like a garden hose.
Now the hole in the pipe could not have been more than 1/8th of an inch. They thought at one point a small piece of concrete had been resting on that little piece of pipe. AND if concrete touches copper pipes it will wear the copper away. Who knew?
New pipe installed, slab cementing complete, water heater moved back in, pipes re-soldered and water reconnected. Next step: VISA sigh. I know it could have been a lot worse and the leak could have been inside my house, but still....... I also was told that overall the pipes are in great shape and that this was not expected to be a recurring event.
So, I finished my day at work and joined my new neighbors at a local establishment for adult beverages--several and a great dinner of steamed clams and blackened grouper. YUM Once again--VISA--but this happened to be a place I wanted to be.
Hopefully, I can put the Visa away for a long, long time.
Here's hoping the planets are now aligned properly and next week is much better for my finances.
jilly
Work is going great. I am becoming more immersed in the work done in my unit and I just love it.
My Team members have been great--showing me around the various sites I need to complete my work. And my manager seems to really take in interest in my work and what's going on in my life.
Whichever planet was retrograding, I hope its gone direct now. I think it was Mercury. This week has put a hurting on my charge cards. First, my home computer died so I replaced that -- Hello VISA-
Then I kept seeing water on my lanai and could not figure out where it was coming from. I kept hearing water somewhere but couldn't pinpoint it. I called a plumber because it got worse in a HURRY. VISA once again.
Plumber says my pipes to the water heater are bone dry but believes the leak is in the slab. WHAT?
So I call this company called IFINDLEAKS (really) and they come out with their sonar/ultrasound equipment and shortly thereafter inform me that the leak is definitely in the slab and it's underneath the water heater. GREAT. Here's my VISA and today it is not everywhere I want to be.
I was forced to turn off the water completely or the lanai would have flooded into the next condo's bedroom. So, I would turn it on, dash around like a maniac and take care of my water needs and then rush back out to turn it off. So fun.
The plumber gets the ultrasound report and shows up Friday morning with 2 helpers carrying a jackhammer and some other large equipment. OMG They first tried jackhammering the concrete near the water heater. But that didn't work because the leak was too far under it. Of course, it was. So they proceed to cut the copper pipe, drain the water heater and remove it. Then more jackhammering. They got painfully close to the outside wall of my house but finally located it. As they turned the water off and on to locate it, they told me it was spraying out of the pipe like a garden hose.
Now the hole in the pipe could not have been more than 1/8th of an inch. They thought at one point a small piece of concrete had been resting on that little piece of pipe. AND if concrete touches copper pipes it will wear the copper away. Who knew?
New pipe installed, slab cementing complete, water heater moved back in, pipes re-soldered and water reconnected. Next step: VISA sigh. I know it could have been a lot worse and the leak could have been inside my house, but still....... I also was told that overall the pipes are in great shape and that this was not expected to be a recurring event.
So, I finished my day at work and joined my new neighbors at a local establishment for adult beverages--several and a great dinner of steamed clams and blackened grouper. YUM Once again--VISA--but this happened to be a place I wanted to be.
Hopefully, I can put the Visa away for a long, long time.
Here's hoping the planets are now aligned properly and next week is much better for my finances.
jilly
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