Taking My Wife on her First International Trip

Posted on May 16, 2012 by wpengine

Shae and I were married in May of 2008. On Thursday we will celebrate our fourth anniversary together. I always tease her and tell her that they have been four L-O-N-G years, but it is only teasing as these years have been incredible. We’ve had many adventures, and can’t wait for more. Last year we welcomed our little boy Max into our family and it has been incredible.

For those who know me all know that I’m a very frugal person. I also love traveling. Most people would probably say that those two don’t mix, but I have been able to prove them wrong. When I first met Shae I told her that she needed to have a passport in order to be married to me. 🙂

Our honeymoon was a quick trip to Vegas, but we hadn’t been home from our honeymoon for two weeks before we spotted an amazing fare to Panama. I had never been there, but the $230 round trip fare was something that I couldn’t resist. I had previously promised that we would take an international trip within our first year of marriage and this was the chance to deliver.

Brad posted yesterday about Eight Great Things to do in Panama. He posted about some of the amazing things that we did while we were on our trip in June of 2008.

The locks at the Panama Canal were amazing.  Although it is millions of gallons of water they only take a couple of minutes to fill up.

They also taught us that the water is slowly leaving the canal and going into the ocean  each time the gates open.  This could cause problems in the future if they don’t come up with new ideas.

Currency

Even though Panama is a foreign country they still use the US dollar for their currency.  Shae’s first trip outside of the country and she didn’t even get to deal in another type of currency.  Although it can be stressful looking into exchange rates, finding ATM’s, and banks it can be fun.  There is nothing like having your wallet full of Dong, Rubles, or Colones.

Hotels

Most of our trip was planned out before we left, but we hadn’t booked any hotels.  Places like Isla Grande don’t have any Marriotts.  For Shae it was quite an experience staying in small hotels with mosquito nets.  She also had her first run in with hotels that didn’t even have a heated shower.  Luckily Panama isn’t short of heat, so a cold shower felt nice.

The snorkeling was great and the lobster for lunch was incredible.  Prices were very reasonable and our lunch was on a pier.  Shae was experiencing small town travel.  Most hotels had hammocks outside so you could lounge in the shade and enjoy a cold Coke.  Those are two of my favorite activities when traveling to other countries.

Food

I’m usually not much of a fish eater, but when I’m close to fresh fish I’m much more likely to eat fish.  They usually pair the fish or chicken with beans and rice.  Those are staples in the central american countries.  The Coca Cola is incredible too.  You can find that stuff almost anywhere in the world.  Shae definitely wasn’t accustomed to that food, but it did grow on her as the time went on.

San Blas Islands

Brad already talked to you about how cool these islands were, but it still won’t do justice until you’ve been there.  Our trek out there was definitely an adventure.  When we showed up in El Porvenir, Panama we were expecting quite a few commercial boats that could take us to the islands.  What we found was something quite different.  It was a very small fishing town with one restaurant.  My wife thought we were crazy when we convinced a fisherman to take us in a small fishing boat out to the islands.

Once we arrived at the islands she was convinced it was a good idea. The water was crystal clear and the beaches had white sand.  It was quite different than the California beach, which she had only seen twice.  The warm Caribbean sun was so inviting and the water was very refreshing.  She was hooked.

Our Panamanian experience was unforgettable.  When the rates dropped the other day to $330, we knew it was time to go back.  We also knew that it was time to take our little boy to Central America too.  If only he could somehow remember it, but we know that pictures will be our only evidence.

Today

Since Panama I’ve taken Shae to 20 countries.  She has been bit by the travel bug.  When traveling to other countries you might have to shrug off a few small things, but for the most part things are the same.  Seeing people who live different lives is very interesting to me.  I love to partake of their culture, eat their foods, and shop in their grocery stores. This sometimes gives you a feel for what it is like to live in that country.

Shae used to feel a bit nervous about international travel, but now it excites her.  The fear has subsided and the excitement has taken over.  This is worldwanderlusting: Enjoying and experiencing other cultures.  If you’ve ever had the desire to do these things, don’t hesitate.  You can register for the Club Carlson Promotion to help you build up an arsenal of hotel points, which will in turn save you $$ to make your trips both more affordable, but more importantly more often.

 

 

Posted in American Airlines, Fun Travel Stories | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

188,000 Club Carlson Hotel Points – No Credit Card

Posted on May 14, 2012 by wpengine

If you’ve been wanderlusting with us since last December, you know that we hooked you up with an opportunity with Club Carlson to lock down as many as 5 free nights in a hotel with a single night stay purchase – something many of you opted into for yourself, as well as for your spouse.

Deals like that just don’t come around very often, but we are beyond excited that this same promo is back in action for the first 100k people to register!

If you would love to stay at any of these hotels then this is your chance.  It’s very simple, so do it right now, and ask questions later.  You’re not risking anything at all to register.

  1. Sign up for the Club Carlson Loyalty Program 
  2. Register now for this amazing Radisson promotion.
  3. Register now for this amazing Country Inns and Suites promotion.

After registering for this promotion, stay a night at a Radisson Hotel between May 15th and July 15th and receive the 50,000 Club Carlson points.  Also stay in a Country Inn and Suites hotel to get 44,000 more Club Carlson points.  Do this for your spouse as well and you’ll have to buy 4 nights in hotels for roughly $80 each ($320), and then you’ll have 188,000 Club Carlson Points – enough for 20 nights at the lowest redemption level.

Keep wanderlusting with us, because about a week from now, Park Inn Hotels will be doing the same kind of promotion.  Click here to see their countdown page.  We’ll also be showing you some super-amazing itineraries with your treasure trove of points!

 

Posted in Hotels | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Eight Great Things to do in Panama

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Brad Christensen

I remember it like it was yesterday… it was April of 2008 and we were driving back from Boise.  Sheldon called me up as we were crossing the Arco desert.  “Dude, I ju——————kets to  Panam——————— American Air———-June for $230!!!” Those long dashes aren’t  mistakes, they’re my phone cutting out (I have AT&T).  I started to respond to probe for more details and I dropped the phone call altogether.  I looked over at Nicole with a sly grin as I held my phone up to try for a better signal. “I think my brother’s trying to tell me that he found insanely cheap tickets to Panama…”

She knew exactly what that meant… and by nightfall they were booked.  June isn’t optimal for leaving Idaho, but a nasty snow flurry bid us farewell and we had an amazing adventure through Panama for 9 days.

Now this was pre-WorldWanderlusting days when we actually had to pay for plane tickets – but that was a I price that I was glad to pay – the kind that just doesn’t come around very often.  In fact, I’m not sure we’ll ever see a deal like that again, but we are seeing something comparable at this exact moment – and there’s no telling how long it will last.

We always fly out of SLC, but if you live near an American Airlines-serviced airport, you may be able to swing something as good.

If you’re ready to go, get this puppy booked and then tell us about it.  My plan is to use Chase Ultimate Reward Points – Does that mean the 50k UR points you got from the Ink Bold® Business Card equate to 2 RT tickets to Costa Rica? Ummm, yes.

If you’re thinking, “What would I do in Panama?,  boy, I have a treat for you!

Things to do in Panama

Miraflores Locks – the Panama Canal

Yes, the marvel that is the Panama Canal.  Few people know that the engineering marvel is more God than man, more lake than it is canal.  Yes, it’s still among the most impressive human feats in history, but it wouldn’t be possible without the lakes and the locks – the means of getting boats into the lakes.  To watch it in action is simply amazing.  Massive ships like this Disney Cruise ship in this video are lifted some 25 feet in a matter of minutes.

San Blas Islands

This experience is quite literally just as “don’t miss” as the canal itself.  Nowhere on earth have I felt so transposed as on the 365 islands that compose the San Blas Archipelago.  The Kuna Yala indian people are unique in the maintenance of their culture despite globalization.  Only the fact that they expect a dollar for every photo you take betrays their modern tendencies.  White sand. Turquoise water. Uninhabited islands so close you can swim between them. Yes.

Portobelo

Before there was the Panama Canal, there was the Golden Road – the footpath whereby the Spanish carried Peruvian gold and silver across the narrow isthmus to send back to the old world.  The footpath ended in Portobelo bay, where cannons protected ships as they were loaded.  Sir Francis Drake so loved the place that he was buried in a lead casket there. I think you may just end up feeling the same. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve raved about Portobelo before.

Parque Metropolitano

Just outside Panama City lies a wildlife preserve where I discovered one of my true-loves in life: vine-swinging.  Yes, there’s a little bit of Tarzan in me – and Parque Metropolitano is a great place to let it out.  Once you reach the top, you’ll have a breathtaking view of the city on one side, and a thick jungle on the other side – the only exception being the spire of the LDS temple rising from the lush greenery.

San Felipe District – Panama City

Courtesy: www.miaminice.com

You won’t find me recommending much in the city – not that it’s not great, just that I’m not a city kinda guy, but you must see the old city – the “casco viejo.”  It’s a taste of what used to be… colonial architecture, remnants of what was a pivotal city in the history of the world.

El Puente de las Americas

With the forgivable exception of stalling out in the thick of the Darien Jungle, the Inter-American highway stretches from the northernmost parts of Alaska to the southernmost parts of Argentina.  North and South America join at the Puente de las Americas – a bridge that I’m regretting not having put into my post on the most amazing bridges in the world.  See it.  Love it.  Tell the story.

Peacock Bass Fishing

I am not a fisherman.  There are few things I find less amusing than waiting for fish to bite.  But from what I understand, Peacock Bass fishing is a little bit of a different story.  They are as aggressive as fish come, and come in a splash of rainbow colors that evokes their name.  Gatun Lake is chock full of them and they are there for the taking.

Chagres National Park

Chagres is home to an astounding amout of wildlife – including various species of monkeys, Tapirs, Sloths, Crocodiles, Jaguars, and other jungle inhabitants.  There are lush mountains, whitewater rivers, and the Embera Indian tribe – all impressive in their own right.  If those aren’t enough re-trace Camino Real with Ancon Expeditions.

I hope you’re inspired.  If you’re still unconvinced, browse through the other pictures I just felt like I had to upload to help tell the Panama story.

As I mentioned, I’m booking my Panama flights with Ultimate Rewards like the 50k you can get with the Ink Plus® Business Card.  We hope you enjoy wanderlusting with us.  Please remember to use our links when you finally do get to the point to where you can’t take it anymore and you must start booking some of this sweet action.

See also: Eight Great Days in Costa Rica

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted in American Airlines, Central America, Chase Ultimate Reward Points, Eight Great, Fun Travel Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Return of the Radisson Big Night Giveaway

Posted on May 8, 2012 by wpengine

The absolute best hotel promotion that ended in December is making a surprise comeback.  Somehow they are going to be doing this again and I can’t wait to get my paws on this deal.

All of the details are still unconfirmed, last time you could scoop up an EASY 50,000 Club Carlson points for a single night’s stay in any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel.  Our quick weekend trip to Salt Lake City was a great success as we stayed two nights in the Salt Lake City Airport Radisson on North Temple.

Countdown!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This promotion doesn’t even require a credit check of any kind.  All of our Wanderlusters out there should sign up for this promotion and then make it happen that they get their 50,000 to cheapen their next vacation.

How To Score

1. Sign up for a new account with Club Carlson.  More than likely you haven’t heard of this loyalty program, but it includes Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn, and Country Inns and Suites.  They have locations all across the US and many hotels in other countries as well.

2. Register using the RadissonBigNightGiveaway link after 12:01 CDT on May 15th.

3.  Stay a night in a Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel between May 16th and July 15th.  You must pay for this hotel, but hopefully your Radisson is a reasonably priced room so you can make the most of this offer.  Depending on where you would like to stay this thing can be worth three free nights in a category 2 hotel or four free nights in a category 1 hotel.  Even if you end up getting two free nights out of this deal it is still worth it.  You essentially pay for one night and get two free.  That is a bargain!

Also remember that you can register for yourself, and register for a spouse.  Last time this offer came around we both booked a room night after night.  In the morning I checked out and my wife checked into the very same room.  We were both able to pay for one night and get 100,000 Club Carlson Gold Points.

How it Worked for Me

Park Inn Zurich Airport

As you well know we took an unforgettable trip to Europe at the end of April.  I’m still sad that I didn’t get more time to soak in the experience, but you have to come down from a high at some point, right?  When we were looking for a hotel in Zurich we found that they all ran about $200 per night.  Ouch!

Because I had a few Club Carlson Gold Points stashed away from my previous Big Night Giveaway we found a Park Inn by Radisson right by the airport that would use 38,00 of my Gold Points.  Obviously it was a bummer to use up so many points in on stay, but it did save me $200.

Not only did it save me $200, but I still have about 15,000 points left so I can get one more hotel that is a Category 2 hotel for free on points as well.  So I turned $68 from the Salt Lake Radisson into another $300 probably.  Talk about pulling a bunny out of a hat!

I’m really looking forward to this promotion from Club Carlson.  Like I previously mentioned it is one of the most lucrative non credit-card wanderlusting activities that you can do.  Having a fun weekend getaway at the hotel can be fun anyway.  Swimming in the pool and sitting in the hot tub are always favorites of the kids.  Although most Radisson’s don’t include breakfast, you can usually find an Egg McMuffin close by.

So, are you going to score an easy 50,000 Club Carlson Gold Points this time around?

Get your own 100,000 British Airways Avios by Chase. Offer expires June 7th 2012.

Posted in Hotels | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Music for the Wanderluster: Jimmy Buffett

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Brad Christensen

I’ve tried to diagnose the source of my wanderlust a number of times.  It certainly wasn’t that my childhood was flush with intriguing experiences.  I could count on one hand the number of times we left a 500 mile radius around Idaho Falls, ID.

Somewhere, though, along the way, I got a subscription to Backpacker magazine… and then I decided that I wanted to learn how to scuba dive.  I guess I’m not sure why I share that because I don’t know how they factor in, but I can say with authority that having a Jimmy Buffett CD in my stereo opened my mind to a world I wanted to know about.

“Changes in Latitudes,” “One Particular Harbor,” “Last Mango in Paris,” and “Come Monday.”  Every one of them invoked a feeling of discomfort not knowing what wonderful things I was missing out on.  For the most part, the only sand I knew was in dunes, not on beaches.  For me, a “change in latitude” meant going no further than 10 parallels from the 43rd.

But on summer days, with Jimmy’s live music blaring, I was transported to the life I dreamed of.

I tell you all this so you’ll understand just how pleased I was when we disembarked from the Norwegian Spirit in New Orleans last month and saw that Jimmy would be playing a free concert that very night.

We spent the entire day touring downtown New Orleans – taking the trolley down St. Charles Avenue, strolling through Audobon park, voyeuring along Bourbon Street.  We had bignons at Cafe Du Monde and admired Old Hickory atop his horse in Jackson Square.  And when the time came, we elbowed our way to the front row of the concert area along the Mississippi River.

Jimmy treated us to all of my favorites and a few more… a brilliant surprise to what had already been a memorable Caribbean escapade.

Read more about our cruise, the ATM Cave, and other activities.

Posted in About us | Leave a comment

My Review of the Kelty Kids Pathfinder 3.0

Posted on May 4, 2012 by wpengine

Getting the Bag

As we were preparing for our trip to Europe we knew that we would need some way to transport our son as we saw some of the sites. We brought along his car seat as it was necessary for the drive, and a small stroller in which his car seat could click into, but that wouldn’t work in all of our locations. We looked at quite a few child carriers, but finally decided on a closeout product from Kelty called the FC 3.0.

We purchased the bag from a local retailer and were excited to test it out. As I read more about it online I saw that many people had been complaining because it has an adjustable waist strap that would slip, thereby putting all of the weight of the pack on your shoulders and not on the waist. As you could imagine this would be rather bothersome. We purchased it well in advance of our trip so we could test it out and make sure that everything would work out great. Well, in our second time trying it out the waist strap slipped twice. I knew that this wouldn’t be acceptable for our long journey, so I called Kelty and reported the problem to them.

The customer service representative was VERY helpful. He addressed that the FC 3.0 was having some issues with a slipping waist strap and asked for me to send him a few pictures identifying the backpack. Once that had been completed he requested that I cut the shoulder straps (thereby ruining the bag completely) and he would send me the more updated model of their backpack called the Kelty Kids Pathfinder 3.0.

Max in the Pack

The day that I cut the straps, he sent out the new backpack. When it arrived I was excited to see its features. I looked over the bag and noticed that almost everything was the same. It did have some changes from the previous model, but for the most part it was the same. I watched a Youtube video that talked about the features of this bag.

Before we set off on our voyage my wife conducted a little bit of surgery as the new model had added a pouch for a camelback, but at the same time had severely decreased the amount of foot room that our little guy had from the previous model.  This gave him the chance to still keep his legs inside the backpack, yet didn’t force him into a small space.

The Pack in Action

The backpack was a lifesaver.  Max was so happy in the backpack and it was nice for him to get a change from just the car seat.  We already had planned a good amount of driving, so any chance we could get him out of his car seat and into the backpack we took the opportunity.

In Venice you are constantly going over bridges and down stairs as you walk across the island.  Although I did see a few strollers, that is a complete nightmare lifting the stroller up and down every set of stairs on the island.  It was really simple to have Max in the backpack and to carry him everywhere.  It also helped me burn off a few more calories from all of the pizza and gelato that I ate.  (More to come on this)  I really didn’t mind carrying him in the backpack, and Max really enjoyed it.

Max Snoozing

In fact, there were times that he was able to snooze in the pack as we walked.  When you’re tired and the gentle sway of each step might be soothing to you.  When we were up late one night in Venice he just slept in the bag and quite enjoyed it.  He didn’t hold his neck after waking up, but some people tell me that kids are made out of rubber.

Overall

I am not sure that I’d pay the retail $249 for this pack, but it has some great features that make it very useful.  We are excited to put this bag into action with some day hikes this summer, and hopefully in the future with more trips.

It was a bummer to burn a checked bag with this carrier, but it saved us from having an angry child.  Carrying the pack was much easier for the castles that weren’t ADA friendly.

I would totally recommend it to anyone who travels to places where strollers are inconvenient.

Get your own British Airways card that can help you take your family to Los Angeles.

Posted in Fun Travel Stories | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Train Travel Trifecta

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Brad Christensen

This is our second guest post in our series on Budget Utah Travel Excursions – something fairly localized, but you may be able to do something similar wherever you live.

Round two, everyone. We’re glad you enjoyed our first post about how a family of five could enjoy a vacation for less than $1000. We took you through Canyonlands, under Arches, and got you reminiscing about days when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Now we’ll see what we can do about getting  you out from behind the wheel of your car. Heaven knows that the last  thing you need for “vacation” is a roadtrip with your kids. Obviously,  this idea will involve some driving, but not near as much as last time,  and involve another, more unique form of transportation – riding the  rails.

We’ve always subscribed to a system of travel that includes  education – it makes the experience that much richer. Before our last  little loop, we watched a Netflix video on erosion. We took the kids to the library and checked out books on  dinosaurs, and our Easter gifts were themed for the journey – an  archaeologist kit, a “build your own volcano,” and a butterfly net. For my own purposes, I watched “127 Hours.” Nothing makes a trip more  rewarding than being able to anticipate things you’ve read about.

Now, I’d urge you to start playing “Ticket to Ride” on family  nights, DVR “Thomas the Train,” and go out and pick up a copy of Steven  Ambrose’s “Nothing Like it in the World: The Men who Built the  Transcontinental Railroad.” (Amazon.com has it for a penny before shipping) Between 1863 and 1869, the United States transitioned its focus from  preserving North/South unity to establishing East/West unity. People  knew that such a connection would unbridle economic growth on an  inimaginable scale – and that’s exactly what it did. In order to make it happen, two companies set out to build. The Central Pacific Railroad  started from California headed East, and the Union Pacific worked its  way West from Nebraska. In a monumental effort that put progress at a  greater premium than cost and even life, they sometimes laid as many as  8-10 miles of rail per day (most days I don’t even walk a quarter of  that).

Interesting, but why do I have you reading all that? Because as  those two teams worked (and competed), the inevitable point of  connection became the state of Utah. With Mormon pioneers contracted  for labor grading and tunneling through Weber River Canyon, the eventual junction became Promontory Point, and on May 10th, 1869, they drove  four golden spikes in a ceremony that was broadcast via telegraph – the  click of the pounding of the spike being the message in itself. East/West journeys were reduced from six months of toil and danger to  one week of relative comfort.  If the thought of seeing this in reality is intriguing, wait till I tell you that they reenact it every Saturday starting the first of May. It’s $7 a vehicle, or free if you picked up the NPS Annual Pass on our last little jaunt.

Now, it just wouldn’t be right to get this enthusiastic about trains and then not take the opportunity to get aboard. Luckily, Heber Valley Railroad has 16 distinct excursions, one of which is bound to fit your family. For  the little ones, you could opt for the “Day out with Thomas.” If your  kids are a little older, maybe you’d want to do the “Reins and Trains,”  which also includes a horseback ride. These trips aren’t exactly a  bargain but every once in a while, they offer gift certificates for 50%  off.

Now, to complete this train-travel-trifecta, make a visit to the Union  Pacific Depot Building at Gateway Mall in Salt Lake City. Chances are that you’ve seen the historic building on your trips to the Gateway before City Creek turned it into a ghost town, but now that you’re a train aficionado you’ll  have a greater appreciation for the history contained within this building. All of the sudden, the ceiling mural depicting the driving of the Golden Spike has much more meaning to you.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the second in our series of Utah budget family vacations. If you’re a cost-conscientious world wanderluster in need of travel tips, please bookmark our site and visit us often. If we’ve inspired you further and you’re curious about using travel points to book with Amtrak, check in on this other post and wanderlust with us.

Posted in Travel Itineraries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment