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.

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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.

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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.

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Eight Great Things to do on a Free Trip from SLC to LAX

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Brad Christensen

We’ve found a way to get your family of five from SLC to LAX(Los Angeles) for $95. No, not $95 each – $95 total! Now, before you drift off in thoughts of Disneyland, Hollywood, and the beach, let me explain how this is possible.

The British Airways Credit Card will give you a bonus of 50,000 Avios points upon approval. You might be thinking“British Airways, flying to Los Angeles from SLC, is this guy crazy?,” but British Airways is a partner for American Airlines, which means you can use those miles to fly on an American Airlines flight. Flying direct from Salt Lake to Los Angeles only requires 9000 Avios Miles round trip! You could easily load up the entire family, only spending 45,000 of your miles. This credit card does require you to pay a $95 annual fee, and you must pay it for at least the first year. To make it even sweeter, for a limited time, you’ll get 25k more Avios if you spend $10k in the first year on the card, and 25k more if you spend a total of $20k. That means it’s possible to have a total of 11 free flights from SLC to LAX.

(Please remember that an individual who has applied for Chase credit card within the past thirty days will likely not be approved for a second card).

Pack everything tight in a few carry on bags and avoid paying the ridiculous $25 each way to check a bag. Plus you’ll want to pack light to fit in a more affordable option for your rental car – something you can pick up for as little as $20 per day since LAX is such a popular hub.

Autoslash.com is a great website to use for booking a car rental. You tell them where you’ll be renting the car and the book you the lowest rate available. If for some reason the rates drop or a coupon comes out they automatically rebook your car rental at the cheaper rate. I just saved $60 last week when they emailed me and told me the rate for my tour of Alpine Europe had dropped.

So we’ve covered the airfare for five people and a car rental and you’ve only spent $300, if that. Add a tank of gas and you’re still only kicking up around $360. That leave plenty of money to eat out a few times, find some affordable hotels, and see some of the sites.

Here are Eight Great things to do in LA:

1. Disneyland

This is always the obvious answer of what your three children probably want to do in Southern California. Somehow Disney’s subliminal messages control all children and encourages them to beg their parents to make the pilgrimage to the land of Mickey Mouse. Look on www.Craigslist.org to find discount park-hopper passes, but, as always when dealing with Craigslist, watch out for scams.

2. Solvang, CA: Denmark in the USA

This is as close as you can get to visiting Denmark without actually flying across the Atlantic. If you have a Danish heritage in your family then this place is a must-visit. This town is designed architecturally and culturally like a piece of Denmark itself. It is located about 140 miles north of Los Angeles – it could be part of a great beach and mountains loop through Malibu and Santa Barbara.

Courtesy Solvangusa.com

The list of activities in this city is endless. Enjoy the culture of the Danish people, eat unique foods, be transported to a different world. There are over 150 shops you can visit and see products that are made by Danish people. Your children will really have a great cultural experience.

3. Watch a Sitcom (not from your couch)

“Audiences Unlimited” can get you more tickets to a greater variety of TV show tapings than any other single source – over different 60 shows. They can get you tickets to almost every situation comedy made, plus a number of talk shows and game shows. If you’re looking for tickets to any particular TV show, this is usually the place to call first.”

Visit their website to learn more about how you can attend the taping of your favorite TV show for FREE. There is no cost, but the tickets are usually in high demand and the supply is limited. Watching a live taping of your favorite TV show could be part of a memorable vacation to Southern California. Most shows require that the attendees be over 16, but shows like “Figure It Out” by Nickelodeon only requires a minimum age of 10. Look through the available shows to find one for you and your children. Plan ahead because the tickets are free and they go quickly.

4. Take a short Cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico

Ok, this might push you over $1000 on your vacation, but just might be what you’re looking for. Carnival has a short three-day cruise that visits Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. Although neither of these sights are breathtaking, being on a cruise is a very fun experience. It isn’t that often that everyone dresses up fancy to eat dinner. Once you’ve paid for your cruise tickets you can get by with very few other expenses. You’ve never had such good customer service anywhere else. Three words: endless ice cream.

Once you arrive on Catalina Island you can explore almost the entire island by renting a golf cart. Drive up the steep hills to see the breathtaking views of Avalon, or visit the home of Mr. William Wrigley who purchased almost the entire island in 1919. Golfing is also a popular activity on the island, but can get rather expensive too, so if you’re on the budget you can opt for snorkeling if you bring your own gear or just a romantic stroll down the streets with pretty colored homes.

Ensenada is not the most scenic destination in Mexico, but offers some fun activities. We opted for a rental car where we loaded up the entire family and visited two destinations in one. Many people opt for “The Blowhole, or in Spanish it is known as “La Bufadora.” It is overran with locals trying to sell you everything from tacos to banjos. Go for some delicious tacos and try the churros while you’re there too. The blowhole isn’t anything spectacular, but it is a fun place to visit. Many other visitors choose to see the famous wineries. Most will give free tours of their grounds and explain how the wines are made. Even if you don’t drink alcohol it is interesting to learn how things are made.

5. Hollywood Walk of Fame

For all of the movie star buffs, this is a great location to visit. There are over 2400 stars whose names have been immortalized by the bronze stars that cover the 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard. You can see the entire list of stars on the Wikipedia page about the Walk of Fame.

You will find mostly actors and actresses, but there are cartoon characters, astronauts, directors, and others who are spread among the other movie stars. So whether it’s Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, or Mickey Mouse you’re looking for, this is a free activity that the entire family can enjoy.

6. Take me out to the Ballgame

Being in Southern California, you will always be able to find a sports game on. Book your trip around the Anaheim Angels and watch them play against the Detroit Tigers. Your beloved Kobe Bryant is still playing for the Lakers, or who doesn’t love College Football?

Most sporting events have economical tickets even if you have to sit in the nosebleed seats. Scalping tickets is easier and cheaper than most people think. Always compare the tickets with others to make sure they aren’t fabricated. One time I purchased a box seat from a scalper for $10. You better believe I was in the box above home plate eating free hot dogs, nachos, and caramel apples.

7. Visit the Beach

It doesn’t matter whether you’re at Redonodo Beach, Huntington Beach, or Venice Beach they’re all a piece of paradise. This is usually a low-cost activity that requires some snacks, swimming suits, and a good book. Let the kids play in the ocean while you sip your ice-cold lemonade and enjoy a good book. Your next vacation doesn’t feel too far away now, does it?

Purchase a couple of pails and create a sandcastle with the whole family. Try out surfing for the first time, or spend some time on the boogie board. Don’t forget the sunblock!

 8. Visit the Getty Center

Although entrance to this museum is free, you still have to pay a $15 parking fee. This is a museum that has beautiful gardens, a collection of amazing paintings from artists like Van Gough, Monet, and many more. Once you park, a small tram takes you up to the site, which feels like being transported to a completely different place. The gardens are peaceful and the architecture is astounding.

Tripadvisor.com is a great place to use when doing research on a particular destination. It allows travelers to write reviews of places they’ve been and things they’ve seen. Approximately 800 or so have reviewed the Getty Center, 642 have given it five stars.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas.  If you’ve ever considered making a trip like this happen, now is the time. When else will you be able to exploit credit card rewards to take your family of five to Los Angeles? If you’ve enjoyed this post and you’d like to keep up with us, Follow us on Facebook. Feel free to email us with any questions about how to put some of these things together. We would love to explain how to make this trip happen more clearly. If you have more questions, comment and we’ll elaborate.

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Transfer Ultimate Rewards to Amtrak

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Brad Christensen

I just happen to have about 159,600 Chase Ultimate Rewards, and I’ve been playing with them the same way I used to count the nickels in my piggy bank as a child.  One of my little daydreams involves a train ride from SLC to Vancouver, with a one-way flight on return.

Let’s face it, train travel in the United States isn’t exactly the luxury it once was.  It isn’t quick, either.  Yet, there’s a place for it and if you’ve got a few of Chase’s Ultimate Rewards lying around,  it may be a nice complement to a trip you’re planning.

Transferring points to Amtrak is as simple as you could imagine. There are no complicated calculations because they transfer 1:1.  You’ll have to set up an Amtrak Guest Rewards account first, and make sure you’re ready to book before you move them over, because there’s no transferring them back.

Redeeming points to book Amtrak tickets is also relatively simple.  They’ve divided their route map into 3 distinct zones.  Stay within a single zone and your one-way coach ticket is 5,500 points (4,000 if you stay within the northeastern sub-zone from Virginia Beach to Montreal).  If your trip will take you into a second zone, you’ll be looking at 8,000 points and a third elevates the cost to 10,500.  All of those options still present quite the value proposition, though, when you consider that your UR points generally worth about .0125.

Essentially what that means is that you could travel from New Mexico to Washington or from Texas to Michigan for the equivalent of $69 in point value.  Now, being  Wanderlusters, you are used to shockingly cheap deals, but this is for real, ladies and gentlemen.

Does that sound like too long in coach? Splurge and spend 15,000 points on a roomette, where you’ll enjoy meals included, climate control, reclining seats and fold-down beds. When you’re talking about a couple of 15+ hour travel days, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

I could go on and on about some of the dreamy itineraries you could work up with these options – Boston to Virginia Beach, San Francisco to Glacier National Park (Montana), or Detroit to New Orleans. We’ll  have to save those for another post.  If you’re one of those poor souls who doesn’t have a single Ultimate Reward Point to your name, take a look at one of these credit cards with UR bonuses and see if there is one that makes sense for you.  Thanks for train-wanderlusting with us.

How could you scrape together 40,000 Ultimate Reward points? I’m glad you asked, because it’s relatively simple.  Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and meet the minimum spending requirement of $3000 in the first three months, and all 40,000 of them will show up in your account – you’ll be well on your way.
If you have a business and could spend $10,000 on a card in the next three months, you might also want to look at the Chase Ink Bold card which will get you 50,000 bonus points and multiple-point-earning capabilities that make this the best travel-rewards business credit card available.

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Hyatt Two Free Nights Credit Card

Posted on April 19, 2012 by wpengine

We’d love to spotlight a new Hotel Credit Card that you’re going to love.

Name of Card:Hyatt Credit Card issued by Chase Bank

Bonus: The Hyatt Two FREE Nights Credit Card offers two nights at any Hyatt property.  This is best used if you are visiting a city that is very expensive like Paris, Tokyo, Zurich, or Hong Kong.  The Park Hyatt Tokyo runs about $550 per night, so you would feel like an absolute king or queen for two nights.  The Park Hyatt Paris would cost an absurd $700 per night.  You could technically get $1400 of value from this credit card.

Extra Bonus: One free night per year that you pay the annual fee.  This must be a hotel that is in categories 1-4.  You definitely won’t be able to stay at the Park Hyatt Paris, but you still can get great value each year by having this card.

As a perk of having the Hyatt Credit Card by Chase you will also joy in immediate Gold Platinum Membership Passport.  This feature allows free in-room Internet at all Hyatt properties.  You will also receive a 15% bonus on points for rooms purchased with dollars.

Spending Requirement: None.  This card offers you the two free nights at any Hyatt upon approval.

Point Earning: 1 Hyatt point per dollar spent will be credited to your Hyatt account for most expenses.  You will receive 3 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels.  

Point Using: Your Hyatt points can be redeemed at Hyatt.com.  Below you will find a redemption scale to see how many points you will need to have a free night at each category.  You can search to see how many points are required for your favorite Hyatt hotel by using their Hyatt Hotel Redemption Search.

Redemption Scale


Point Expiration: The points don’t expire, but you have to use them before you cancel the card.  So make sure you  plan on using them within the first or second year.

Annual Fee: $75 per year

Foreign Transaction Fees: None.  As another benefit of having the Hyatt card it is a Smart Chip Card, which can be very useful when using the card in locations like Europe and Asia. 

Card Type: Visa Signature.  The Visa Signature has additional benefits here.

Card Issuer: Chase Bank.  Chase has been getting almost all of the new cards.  They have had the hottest offers and seem rather reasonable to deal with.

Summary:  This card is amazing for someone who has been planning a trip to Europe, and wants to stay two nights in Paris, but isn’t willing to part with $600 for two nights.  Why not just pay $75 instead?  This card is even great for the family who stays at Hyatt properties often.  I really recommend this card and the annual fee is virtually refunded when you stay one night in a Hyatt property each year.  I think this is an amazing deal.

 

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Inspired by National Geographic Traveler

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Brad Christensen

A few months ago, I posted about how I used a few frequent flyer miles and $2 to get a subscription to National Geographic Traveler – some kindling to spark new travel ideas.  I’ve gotten a couple of issues and been less than impressed, but something changed in the May edition.

The first article that piqued my interest was an annual feature on “2012 50 Tours of a Lifetime.” By the time I had read the first two, I was already adding to my wanderlustbank.  They feature guided tours around the world, all of which were intriguing – some of which were downright necessary.

I found myself inspired to start building my own list – a list of self-guided trips that we, budget-minded travelers could focus in on.  Look for some posts to that effect in the future.

If that was the only “goodie” in the magazine, it would have been enough, but the next one that caught my eye was entitled, “Cheating Death” by Edward Readicker-Henderson.  In some of the finest travel prose I’ve ever read, Ed tells us how he was told that he needed to bid the world farewell, as he had a terminal illness that would take his life.  He set out to bid farewell in his own way, “Whoever created the world went to a whole lot of trouble.  It would be downright rude not to go out and see as much of it as possible.”

Twenty years later, he’s still traveling – new experiences, people and places, his life-support. Inspiring.

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