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Dear Americans: How to Find the Best Credit Cards for FREE Travel!
We often joke that I married my husband for the credit card rewards. He’s American, I’m Australian, and a definite perk of our marriage was that it came with a Chase Sapphire Preferred card! Don’t get me wrong, we have credit card rewards programs in Australia, but when compared to the rest of the world, the free travel offered by American credit cards is on steroids.
American credit cards offer an insane amount of rewards points which can be redeemed for free travel, and not only do these points accrue as you go about your normal spending, most cards offer particularly ridiculous sign up bonuses. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for instance, gives you a sign up bonus of 60,000 rewards points which equates to $1,000 of free travel just for signing up. Our Marriott card gives us free hotel stays just for being a member.
Travel hacking through credit card rewards is a real thing, and you can literally travel for nothing. But the trick is knowing which cards to get.
And for that? We use Travel Freely; a free app that lets you organize your credit cards, track rewards points, and makes personalized recommendations, telling you exactly which credit cards are the best for free travel! It’s seriously amazing.
read more5 Reasons to Choose Uganda for Your African Safari
❝ I’ve been blessed to have had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
It was a meet and greet experience between us and our closest relative in the jungle. I was with my friends, a group of 5 girls, afraid of the wild jungle but who took the risk for the chance to stand face to face with gorillas in the wild.
We had only walked for an hour or so before we saw it; a baby gorilla swinging freely from tree to tree. We agreed that none of us had ever seen anything so full of life as he had been.
But this was just the beginning. It wasn’t long before we saw another, and then another, with not a care as to our presence in the jungle. Of the warmest sight, a mother gorilla carrying her baby; the epitome of love.” – Chris Amutuhaire
Many of us dream of taking an African safari, but most people don’t realize that there are many more options beyond classic jeep tours in popular countries like Kenya and Tanzania.
There are in fact, some 15+ countries which offer their own unique take on an African safari, though from gorilla trekking to exploring landscapes that include rainforests, volcanoes, savannas, and the River Nile, the following are 5 reasons you should choose Uganda.
read moreProspect House Private Hotel: A Luxury Experience in an 1830’s Colonial Manor
Travelers to Tasmania have the chance to step back in history, and if it’s history that you’re after, there’s no better place to immerse yourself than the small town of Richmond. Built mostly by the hands of early convicts at the start of the 1800’s, the town’s many historic sandstone buildings remain on display to this day.
There has never been a more exciting time to explore Richmond’s fascinating sandstone heritage, and, for the first time in almost a decade, the town’s most exquisite historic estate is now open to the public.
Offering 12 contemporary-styled rooms on a property with many tales to tell, Prospect House Private Hotel has quickly become one of the most unique luxury hotel experiences in the State.
Having been blown away by the uniqueness of the experience, let me introduce you to a little of the history of Richmond and Prospect House, and why you should include both on your next visit to Tasmania.
read moreHow to Have a Luxury New York City Vacation without Breaking the Bank
Also known as the Big Apple and the City that Never Sleeps, New York City is a prime vacation destination for millions of people every year. But it is also one of the world’s most expensive cities.
With museums, Broadway, Fifth Avenue shopping, and so much more, it’s hard not to spend a fortune when visiting NYC. But, w’ere here to tell you that it is completely possible to have a luxury-style vacation without breaking the bank!
Enjoying the glitz and glamour of New York on a budget starts with planning and a little creativity. Ready to learn more? Keep reading!
read moreEssential Clothing for Traveling in Extremely Cold Weather
Traveling is a fun and exhilarating activity, however if you’re not prepared for the weather, you might find that you’ve effectively ruined your trip.
The weather is the single factor most likely to positively or negatively affect your travels, though it’s also one of the things most travelers take for granted, and people quite often find themselves caught off guard.
Checking the weather forecast for your destination before you leave is essential to ensuring you are packing appropriate clothes, and you shouldn’t make assumptions as to what you believe the weather is going to be.
I mean it’s always going to be warm in Australia right?
Always check.
If you’re traveling during winter, or to destinations that experience extremely cold weather conditions, make sure you have the following items of clothing with you.
read more5 of Our Favorite Experiences to Have in Thailand
Heading to Thailand?
This glorious, mysterious, and (at times) ridiculous country is a smorgasbord when it comes to things to do, places to visit, and experiences to be had. Expect a rich depth of culture. Expect a deep history and yes, expect great food!
While the country is relatively small in area, it’s impossible to take advantage of all it has to offer in a short vacation stay. As such, it’s important to narrow down your list!
Regardless of whether you’re visiting Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, or Phuket, the following are some of our favorite experiences to have in Thailand. Apply these to any Thai destination, regardless of where you head!
read moreTop Skiing Destinations Around the World For the Adventurer in You
Admiring the picturesque mountain views and landscapes atop a ski-lift, feeling the cold winds nipping your skin, experiencing the adrenaline rush to start skiing – there’s nothing more exciting than a day on the slopes.
Quickly outgrowing its exclusivity of being an adventure sport for intrepid mountain junkies, skiing has now become a mainstream activity. Moreover, ski resorts around the world have kept up with the increasing demand, adding resorts, entertainment centers and all sorts of outdoor and indoor recreational activities.
So, if you’re a lover of riding down the mountain slopes and wondering where to go, here is a list of places that are world ranked for both off-piste and on-piste activities.
read moreWhat to Pack for a Trip to Latin America
Latin America is a HUGE region with many different climates and ecosystems that neighbor each other, so we don’t blame you if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the impossibility of what to pack.
One day you could be sunbathing in Colombia and the next trekking through a rainforest in Peru – with 20 different states and territories, Latin America makes up nearly 13% of the Earth’s total land surface area!
So, how can you pack for such a diverse continent in one backpack? Read on for our top packing tips for your upcoming Latin / South America trip.
read moreTop Places to Experience Nature and Wildlife in Turkey
When it comes to most popular countries, Turkey consistently ranks in the top ten most visited every year. Last year saw nearly 50 million tourists alone, many of whom centered their visits around the many treasures of Istanbul.
Though while the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the thousands of stalls that make up the Grand Baazar receive most of the tourist hype, sadly, much of country’s natural landscapes go overlooked.
Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey boasts one of the world’s most important natural biodiversity hotspots. Rich in flora and fauna, the country is home to bears, wolves, hyenas, and the highest number of threatened European bird species.
So, on your next trip to Turkey, why not go beyond the bustling cities and beautiful coastline to explore its floodplain forests, mountains, crater lakes, rivers, canyons, and waterfalls?
You’ll find important wetlands, dozens of national parks, and a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Check out these top places to experience Turkey’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.
read moreHow Japan in the 1960’s Inspired a Songwriter
Besides family and music, my other great passion in life is travel. I have been blessed to have travelled the world, either with my family or touring with bands, and it has enriched my heart and soul and provided so much fuel for the fire when it comes to writing songs.
So many of my songs are based on stories and experiences borne out of globe-trotting – travel is a constant source of joy and inspiration.
Some of these tales I have shared in the liner notes of my albums, but believe me, that just scratches the surface. There is so much more to tell.
To get things started I am going to talk about a country that is a place of complete intrigue for me – the Land of the Rising Sun.
These are my stories – memories from Japan in the 1960’s, and how this fascinating country inspired my songs.
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