Dream Italian Vacation: Instructions to make it happen

Posted on January 18, 2013 by wpengine

Since our World History in the USA is primarily focused on the Western World, every student grows up with the knowledge of the Romans, Greeks, and the conquest of Christianity. Ever since my days of learning about the volcano at Pompeii, the Roman Colosseum, and the ancient Roman Road, I’ve had desires to explore this portion of the world. It doesn’t matter if your dream vacation is a boat ride in Venice, a view of Michelangelo’s works in Florence, a visit to the Cinque Terre, or getting to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa, it all might be closer than you can imagine. Let me show you how to make a dream Italian vacation come true.

 

Italian Dream Vacation

Incredible Italian Dream Vacation Loop

For this sample itinerary, I’d recommend you fly into Milan, Italy or MXP. This airport is quite a ways out of town, as it is on the northwest corner Milan, but that makes it easier to get around. You might want to visit our Flight Resources page to see how many miles it will take you to get there with Delta, American, etc.  I’d recommend you score yourself 40,000 AAdvantage miles and go in April, as that is one of the best redemption options around to help you get along on your Italian Vacation.

On this trip you’ll be visiting some incredible parts of Italy, and the best part is that all of your hotels will be covered thanks to the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.

First stop on Italian Vacation: Genoa

Italian Vacation Gelato

Italian Gelato Smile

Welcome to the birthplace of Christopher Columbus!  Wait a minute…did you think he was Spanish?  This seafaring man was actually born in Italy in this port town of Genoa.  It was Spain who first granted him the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria, not his motherland of Italy.  This port town is rather quaint, and you’ll enjoy watching the ships glide into the harbor as you enjoy your first (and definitely not the last) cup of delicious Italian Gelato.  I recommend the canela (cinnamon).  My wife would tell you to get cioccolato.

Go ahead and indulge in your first cuatro formaggi pizza, you’ll love it.  The next day will get you just as excited as this first one.

Tonight you’ll be staying at the Sheraton Genova Hotel.  Of course it’s on the house, as long as you apply for the  Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card and use our links on this page!  Remember not to spend too much time here because there is much more to see outside of the hotel than you can see on the inside.  Get up early and watch the sunrise over the harbor and watch the ships roll in.

Italian Vacation Stop 2: Pisa, Cinque Terre, and Sienna

Manarola from the north

Manarola from the north (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re on the trip with the love of your life, this will be one of the most romantic places of the vacation.  The idyllic Cinque Terre will be the perfect spot to profess your undying love for the one that you’re with.  Plan to spend a day or two enjoying the beautiful countryside, and you’ll love the trip back and forth each day as you stay at your free hotel in either Florence or Genoa.  It’s about 40 miles of breathtaking scenery from the Genova hotel.

The leaning tower of Pisa is a simple building, and it probably wouldn’t be very cool if it stood straight up, but as you know, it leans…  Make sure this is included in  your itinerary.  Take the always required picture of you pushing the tower to get it back up straight again.  You will be the only one who takes that picture ;).

I’ve got an aunt who has spent quite a bit of time in Sienna, and declares it to be the most beautiful place on Mother Earth.  That is quite a statement coming from someone who has traveled quite a bit.  This is all part of Tuscany, so plan on spending some time learning how to cook while you’re here.  You can take cooking classes (that aren’t cheap) because you’re saving so much on your hotels.  Remember that the whole reason we use the points is so we can do the unforgettable adventures.  Remember, this is a dream Italian Vacation -one that comes true!

Dream Italian Vacation Part 3: Florence

Savonarola's preaching attracted huge crowds t...

Savonarola’s preaching attracted huge crowds to Florence Cathedral – like much of the city, Botticelli had come under his sway. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Of course this place needs its own category.  Firenze, as it is known in Italian, at one point was the center of arts and architecture.  Michelangelo did the impossible when he put the dome on the Duomo in the Florence.  Not only was he architecturally skilled, but he also was an incredible sculptor.  You will also pay a visit to your friend David (who slew Goliath) that stands 17 feet tall.

Also while you’re in Florence you’ll need to continue eating more gelato. Remember that when you get home the ice cream just won’t be the same.  The pizzas, pastas, and fish will fill your belly with happiness at each meal.  You should never go hungry, and don’t even try dieting.  You can do that at home, but when you’re here, remember it is a vacation.  Kick back and enjoy the food.  If you’re a wine drinker, this is a great place.  You’ll be passing vineyards all along the drive or train ride.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve chosen to drive or ride the train when it comes to the scenery.  Just make sure you’re looking out the window.  You’ll never forget the moments of this awe-inspiring trip.  Tonight you’ll kick back at the Sheraton Firenze Hotel.  Don’t forget that you won’t be paying for this hotel either, so make sure you order another gelato.  Go ahead…try another flavor.  You probably won’t be back for a while, so make sure you enjoy it now!

This is going to be continued and we’ll show you how to complete the rest of the loop.  Start now by applying for the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. This card will help your dreams to come true, and for the Italian Vacation to become a reality.

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Puerto Rico for the Adrenaline Junkie

Posted on January 16, 2013 by wpengine

If your ideal vacation requires death-defying adventures and adrenaline pumping action, Puerto Rico offers a variety of activities that will get your heart racing. From zip lining and mountain climbing to scuba diving and surfing, explore the exhilarating Puerto Rico activities that are anything but dull.

Zip lines

Death slide, flying fox, aerial runway – call it what you will, a zip-line is a guaranteed rush. Using a system of pulleys and cables, a zip-line will allow you to start at the top of a cable and move to the bottom using the force of gravity. You’ll be attached to the cable with your pulley and harness. With zip lines as high as 100 feet in the air, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of Puerto Rico’s lush foliage. Many zip lines are part of an outdoor adventure tour and many include a ropes course. The country has many zip lines, including Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park which offers 15 zip lines.

Mountain Climbing

No matter your skill level – beginner, intermediate or advanced, there are several rock climbing opportunities scattered across Puerto Rico for any rock climbing enthusiast. In fact, many people say Puerto Rico offers the most beautiful climbing opportunities in the Caribbean. A volcanic island, Puerto Rico offers unique topography with a rugged mountain range across its center. The Caribbean National Forest is only a 45 minute drive from San Juan and offers both climbing and hiking opportunities. In western Puerto Rico, Maricao State, is a lesser known area for visitors looking to get off the beaten path. There are also several protected forest and land areas that are ideal for hiking and climbing including Toro Negro Forest Reserve, Carite Forest Reserve, Guánica State Forest and Río Camuy Cave Park.

Scuba Diving

Puerto Rico Scuba

Photo by jwilde on http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwilde/4173534716/

In clear, beautiful Caribbean waters, Puerto Rico is surrounded by a continental shelf that provides trenches, coral reefs, caves and sea walls for divers to explore. If you are staying near San Juan, the Condado reef is a convenient diving area featuring lava reefs, caverns, tunnels and a variety of tropical fish. Mona Island in western Puerto Rico has some of the cleanest waters in Puerto Rico. Home to 270 fish species, you’ll also see larger marine animals including sea turtles, whales, dolphins and marlins. This diving area offers underwater caverns, deep vertical walls and more. Concierges or front desk staff at the many Puerto Rico hotels can offer local insight about nearby scuba diving opportunities.

Surfing

If you plan on surfing in Puerto Rico, your best bet is to check out Playa Higüero. The beach, referred to as “Little Malibu” by surfing aficionados, offers waves as high as 16-feet from November to April. The beach also hosts several international surfing contests. In West Puerto Rico, the beaches of Isabela, Aguadilla and Rincon offer excellent surfing opportunities. You’ll find beaches throughout the country that offer surfboard rental, surf schools and surf lessons geared towards your specific skill level.

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United MileagePlus to South Asia

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Brad Christensen

I’d like to introduce you to one of the best value propositions in all of frequent flyerdom: the United Airlines 65,000 mile Economy Saver Award flight to South Asia.  Think about it like this – a Saver Award flight to Europe on United is going to cost you 60,000 United MileagePlus miles.  For only 5k more miles, you can get a flight that would normally cost double what it costs to fly to Europe.  I know there are variations, but this is an intriguing opportunity and one that you should look into when planning your next amazing getaway.

Rather than exhaust the possibilities, I’ll profile three potential destinations and then show you how to get yourself those 65k miles.  Lick your lips because you’re about to feast on a cornucopia of wanderlust.

The Philippines

philippines

Photo Courtesy El Nido Resorts

More specifically, within the Philippines, you’re going to want to get to the El Nido area of Palawan island.  This will require some logistics from Cebu or Manila, but it will be worth it.  Guaranteed.  Incredible diving, sea kayaking in a turquoise champagne, and beaches meant for relaxation.  The world has little better to offer than what you’ll find here.

Borneo

BorneoBorneo is a name that stands out in my mind as one signaling adventure.  I instantly begin to think of the most exotic species of plants and animals and the densest jungle I can imagine.  You can fly to Borneo by way of the sultanate of Brunei – a destination in and of itself.  If you really want to tease yourself, check out this post on a trek in the Borneo jungle.

Vietnam

If you hear “Vietnam,” and think only of the war, you have much to learn about.  Vietnam, while certainly a theater for much suffering and sadness in the past, is today an incredible destination.  If you see nothing more than Ha Long Bay, it alone will warrant the 12-hour flight to get there.  You must discover the treasures of Vietnam.

Vietnam Travel

Now, believe it or not, we’ve given you three fantastic destinations in South Asia without even touching on Thailand or Cambodia.  You’re now dying to get your hands on 65,000 United miles.

Getting United MileagePlus Miles

There’s always flying… but odds are that you won’t be flying 65k miles in the next 5 years, let alone in the next 5 months.  You could get yourself the United MileagePlus Explorer card – which will give you a nice bonus of 30k miles, and then begin earning 1 mile per dollar spent.  But how long will it take you to spend $35k in your regular habits?  That leaves another option – the combo.

Go ahead and get yourself that United MileagePlus Explorer card.  That gets you almost half way.  Then look at any of these Chase Ultimate Reward-producing cards.  The Ultimate Rewards program allows you to transfer points to United at a 1:1 ratio.

With these cards fetching you between 40-50k Ultimate Rewards once you meet the spending requirement, you’ll be well on your way to South Asia!

Thanks for Wanderlusting with us!

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How to Visit British Columbia

Posted on January 9, 2013 by wpengine
Panorama of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, the...

Panorama of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let’s face it.  You’ve definitely considered visiting the wonderful land of British Columbia.  Since childhood I remember hearing about Whistler Blackcomb and seeing the forests of BC.  It doesn’t matter whether or not you ski, snowboard, or neither, this place is beautiful.  I know Canadians always say that the best part of the Rockies can be found in Canada, and I might be lying if I didn’t think that was true.  Many people want to visit British Columbia, but they don’t know where to stay, etc.

My only personal experience of BC isn’t in Vancouver or Victoria, but I’m telling you that the best motorcycle ride of my life was done through parts of BC.  You can read about our BAR(Big Awesome Ride) 2011, Part 1 and Part 2.  The feeling is often called motophoria, and is basically indescribable, but if I were to describe it it would be peaceful.  There just isn’t much like riding your bike a dusk as you cruise alongside a running river.  The mountains in the background glisten like gold as the sun reflects off of the massive granite peaks and their reflection is seen in the water.  With your music cranked up loud taking the curves of the river in a band of other bikes is unlike anything else.

You can obviously tell that my only experience with British Columbia was defintely a positive one.  Next time I want to make it over to Victoria to see the bay, the mountains, and hopefully hit the slopes sometime.  With the Canadian dollar basically at parity with our failing currency you’ll notice that things are rather expensive.  Most things feel about 20-30% more expensive in BC than they do in the states.  This goes for hotels as well.  Back in 2011 when we stayed in Cranbrook, BC we paid $140 USD for one night in a Days Inn.  Heading to a bigger city like Vancouver would only increase the price.

How to Pay for Hotels in Vancouver, BC

Paying $140 for a hotel is way more than I like to pay.  In fact, I prefer to pay nothing.  That is exactly what I’d like to show you, is how you can pay nothing for up to eight nights  at one of these three hotels in the Vancouver area.  Sound too good to be true?  Saddle up, and you decide.

The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express offers 25,000 Bonus Starpoints once you’ve spent $5000 within the first six months of card membership.  All three of these hotels will only cost you 3000-4000 Starpoints per night as they fall into the Starwood Preferred Guest Category 2 hotels.

Where to stay visit british columbia

Three Hotel Starwood Locations

These are not Days Inn hotels.  Believe me, I’m still wishing that I never would have swam in their “pool.”  It was more like a swamp than a pool. Yuck.  With these three locations we are talking absolute luxury hotels on your vacation to BC that will definitely shave on your overall trip costs.  Your sweetheart will never forget the time that you actually picked an “expensive” hotel, but little will he or she know that it was free ;).

What would you do when you visit British Columbia?

  • Jasper-Banff-  I realize that Banff is in Alberta, but it is very close to BC.  The mountains in this corridor are amongst the best in the world.  Some people refer to them as the Alps of the Americas.
  • VanDusen Botanical Gardens– 199 Reviews on TripAdvisor and 4.5 stars is good enough for me.
  • Stanley Park-  This is the third most visited park in North America.
  • Eat some Asian Food- There is a large population of Asians in BC, and they know how to cook.
  • If you’re visiting BC and spending time in buildings you’re missing the best part of BC. It doesn’t matter whether your taking a drive, or going for a walk, it is awesome.
  • Spend time on Victoria
  • Check out the totem poles made by the natives
  • See some flower gardens
  • Much, Much, More

How to Get to British Columbia

You’ve really got two options.  Flying into Seattle, and making the drive will save on the taxes of the flight.  Making the flight an international flight will make your taxes more expensive.  You can basically fly anyone into SEA.

Flying into YVR, or Vancouver International Airport is also a much closer airport, so if you’re only going for the weekend, you should fly into here.  The major carriers are all going to make the flight, so find the cheapest one, or use some of your frequent flyer miles to lower the cost of your trip once again.

This is one of the earliest inhabited parts of the Pacific Northwest.  It’s mountains will stun you.  You’ve gotta go visit British Columbia.

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Eight Great Free Honeymoon Nights at Resort in Indonesia

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Brad Christensen

Let’s say you’re planning to be married. You’re about to embark on an exciting life together. You’re not exactly flush with cash, but flush with hopes for the future. You’d like a little bit of rest and relaxation together but also a little adventure.  Hang with me for a few paragraphs and we’ll do what we do at WorldWanderlusting – we’ll show you how to spend eight incredible honeymoon nights at a resort in Indonesia.

Isn’t it, like, dangerous in Indonesia?

To say that Indonesia is dangerous would be like saying that Illinois is fraught with violence due to the fact that there are some sketchy neighborhoods in Chicago. Steer clear of some particular areas, and it will feel like a very sterilized, safe experience.  You’ll likely spend your entire honeymoon in places which are safer than some parts of your hometown.

Wait, but you said “free nights.” There’s nothing that’s really free…

Ah, but there is.  I know, I was in the “too good to believe” camp, too… Once I thought so, too… Then I discovered credit-card travel bonuses.  I won’t say it doesn’t require responsibility – that it does, but if you have $1000/month in naturally occurring credit-cardable expenses, and you can responsibly use a card to make only purchases that you would otherwise make, you’re about to get really excited.

You see, our friends at American Express really want you to use their services – they want it so bad, that they’re going to offer you a very sweet incentive to get one of their cards.  They have a partnership with Starwood Hotels (Four Points by Sheraton, Weston, Le Meridien), with whom they team up to offer the brilliant gift to wanderlusters like us, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express.

If you sign up and are approved you can earn up to 25k bonus Starpoints – 10k after your first purchase and another 15k after you spend $5k in purchases on the card within the first 6 months.

Haha… that sounds cool, but any resort I can stay at for free is going to be a dive…

Au contraire… I think you’ll quite like the Sheraton Sangigi Beach Resort, and the area it’s in.

Indonesia Hotel

Pool at the Sheraton Sangigi Beach Resort

If all you ever did was hang out at this pool, I think you could call the vacation a success, but there’s so much more than that.  This resort is in an area of Indonesia known as West Lombok.  When, or if, you ever tire of this pool, you can walk down to the beach and spend some time snorkeling in the crystal waters.  Had enough of the water?  Hire a car to take you to Pura Batu Bolong – a Hindu temple where an empty chair sits as a representation of the god of creation: Brahma.

Pura Batu Bolong

Pura Batu Bolong in the Sunset

Not into Hindu gods?  Go for a hike on Rinjani Mountain, a volcano which may erupt at any moment, by the way… And when you have had enough of that, there’s always the market where you can shop for locally-made handicrafts.

Rinjani

Rinjani Crater – Photo Courtesy Vacationsidea.com

Is that a tear in your eye?

But Brad, I’ll never be able to afford the airfare…

You’re right, with no flexibility and creativity, you’d spend a lifetime saving for those flights – like, at least $1300 just to get to Jakarta, or Bali. Go to a travel agent and they’ll just smile and reach deep into your wallet and take out every dollar you have and a lot that you don’t.  But let’s get creative. If you can get to Jakarta JKT or Bali DPS, you can make it to LOP for as little as $40-90 each way.

Now, let’s get you to Indonesia. At the lowest level, it’s going to cost you 80k Delta Skymiles, or as little as 65k United MileagePlus miles for a roundtrip flight from the US. I’m hoping you already have some of these puppies… but if you don’t, it may be time to get some.  You can start with either of these cards (used responsibly to acquire bonus points).

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

United MileagePlus Explorer Card

Sounds great, but I’m not all that exotic… what other honeymoons could I do?

Check out these other posts:

Thanks for wanderlusting with us!

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Travel Tips from Blane Bachelor – Girls Who Get Around

Posted on January 4, 2013 by wpengine

Our Interview with Blane

This week we’ve interviewed Blane Bachelor. Get to know her travel tips and stories. Among other accomplishments, she is the co-founder of Girls Who Get Around. We encourage you to follow her as she has some amazing experiences to share.

Newfoundland fishing

Catching Cod in Newfoundland

Tell us about yourself — how did you catch the wanderlust?

I think I was born with it. My dad was in the Air Force and we lived in London when I was a small kid, which was an experience I remember vividly. But I really got turned onto travel as an adult when I flew, literally, around the world, to visit friends in London, Italy, and then my dad on a work trip in Australia, and then home. I’ve been to almost 30 countries total.

How do you save for/pay for your travel?

I’m a freelance writer/journalist, so one of the best perks of the job is that I get to travel fairly often, and usually on someone else’s dime. But I’m still a very frugal traveler. I use frequent flyer miles whenever I can, and I watch the little things, too. I hate paying for bottled water, for example, so I always carry a reusable bottle with me, and when necessary, I have no problem doing laundry in my hotel sink.

What resources do you use in planning your trip?

First, I go to an established travel outlet like Fodors (full disclosure: I write for them) to get an idea of the destination. Then, I’ll do a general Google search to turn up more info – Google News is especially helpful for recent updates.

Barcelona Cathedral

Interior of the Barcelona Cathedral

What is the cheapest/best value experience you’ve had traveling?

Visiting my friend Josh while he was working for the Peace Corps in Jamaica was a memorable one. He borrowed a friend’s Jeep and we crashed on his friends’ couches across the island. I also find that South America in general is a wonderfully affordable destination.

Describe your favorite foreign food encounter.

I lived in Barcelona for a year and became good friends with a local and her family, the Piqués. I learned a lot about Spanish and Catalan food from my friend’s mom, Rosa. She taught me how to make tortilla española, a quiche-like dish that I still love. And I’ll never forget the seafood paella she made us while on a weekend away in the tiny fishing village of Palamós.

Share with us your most interesting/nerve-wracking/epic travel experience.

It’s hard to count the highs, but a few of my favorites are marching, or “playing mas,” at Trinidad & Tobago Carnival, cruising in a circa-1952 taxi along Havana’s waterfront, and my now-husband’s proposal at a beautiful music hall in Barcelona. As for the most nerve-wracking, swimming with stingrays in Belize a few hours after learning Steve Irwin was killed by one and 40-plus hours of traveling to arrive in Australia rank right up there.

Cuba Cars

Classic Cars in Havana

What is the best beach on earth?

I’ve been to plenty, but I’m from Florida originally, so I’m a bit biased. In my book, nothing tops the sugar-white sand and emerald water of Destin and Santa Rosa in the Florida Panhandle. It’s not the most culturally diverse place – it’s nicknamed the Redneck Riviera, after all – but it’s still pretty magical, especially in the offseason.

What book(s) have you read that really provoke the wanderlust?

I’m a huge fan of J Maarten Troost. He’s written three books, and their titles alone – The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Getting Stoned with Savages, and Lost on Planet China – tell you that you’re in for a treat. He’s a hilarious, fabulous storyteller of his misadventures in far-flung places like the South Pacific and China.

Do you have any legendary travel souvenirs?

I have a collection of small, hollowed-out gourds that are used to drink a tea called maté in places like Argentina and Uruguay. You pour the tea and pass around the gourd, and sip out of a metal straw. It’s all about sharing and camaraderie, and though I’m not a huge fan of the tea itself, I think it’s just a really neat cultural experience. You can buy the tea in the States now, but I’ve never seen the gourds themselves. Mine are a cherished reminder of my travels and the people I’ve met along the way.

Blane Bachelor is a San Francisco-based freelance writer/journalist and a regular contributor to Fodors.com, Foxnews.com, and Sherman’s Travel. She’s also the co-founder of the travel site Girls Who Get Around. Visit her personal website at www.blanebachelor.com, or follow her on Twitter at @blanebachelor.

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Has WorldWanderlusting Inspired You?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Brad Christensen

2012 was a great year for WorldWanderlusting.  We more than doubled our traffic, and shared tips with thousands of travel-thirsty friends.  We helped people plan incredible journeys and unexpected experiences – all at a fraction of a fraction of what they thought they’d have to pay.

This is something we’ll do this year and every year, as long as our followers keep growing and encouraging us with their desire to see the world.

We’ll continue to pipe you in to amazing opportunities, that we’ll always do. You can count on WorldWanderlusting to help you see the world out there.  That’s our true passion.

We’re thankful to every visitor and we appreciate the opportunity to be your wanderlust-opium-dealers.

Keep on wanderlusting with us.

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