{"id":564,"date":"2011-08-03T07:44:22","date_gmt":"2011-08-03T13:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=564"},"modified":"2014-08-04T11:33:33","modified_gmt":"2014-08-04T17:33:33","slug":"credit-card-rewards-to-explore-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=564","title":{"rendered":"Use Credit Card Rewards to Explore Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you daydream about medieval castles?<\/p>\n

Does your heart ache to see the canals of Venice?<\/p>\n

Will your life feel incomplete until you’ve pondered the Swiss Alps?<\/p>\n

If so, you are a fellow Wanderluster, and if you’ll stick around for a few paragraphs, we’ll show you how you can\u00a0make Europe your playground by signing up for two credit cards<\/strong> (and maybe a third if you’d like to bring someone else along).<\/p>\n

The first credit card I ever signed up for offered a white Visa\u00a0T-shirt as a bonus. \u00a0I wasn’t exactly thrilled, but I wasn’t disappointed, either. \u00a0My how I shortchanged myself. \u00a0In today’s day of customer-thirsty banking, credit card sign-up bonuses are as good as they’ve ever been. \u00a0In fact, I’m still marveling at the fact that this is even possible.<\/p>\n

The Citi Platinum Select Visa<\/a> card will give you 50k AA points after spending $3000 in the first three months. \u00a0If you book a trip to Europe with points between Oct 15 and May 15, and avoid flying on British Airways as a partner, you’ll pay only 40k points and a miniscule amount in taxes.<\/p>\n

If you thought that was good, this one’s even better: The offer on the\u00a0Starwood Preferred Guest\u00ae Credit Card from American Express\u00a0is great. Here comes the shocker – those points will get you eight nights at various European hotels to complete an epic journey through Northern Italy, Bavarian Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prepare to be awestruck as you see how this plays out.<\/p>\n

We’ll use Venice, Italy as our launching point because it’s sort of a popular place. Depending on where you’re at, plane tickets would normally run somewhere between $600 and $1200…\u00a0yet you don’t have to buy them because you are a frequent flier mile pro<\/a>, and you’re paying nothing more than the taxes on your flight thanks to the miles or points you’ve earned\u00a0as credit card reward bonuses.<\/p>\n

Now for the fun part… from Venice, your adventure begins:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll very likely arrive at the Venice airport early in the day. \u00a0Be sure you’ve adjusted your biological clock because you’ll be off and running right from the start. \u00a0First you’ll pick up your rental car. \u00a0Having your own transportation will give you ultimate freedom and allow you to customize your trip to do exactly what you’d like. \u00a0I just did a search on Expedia.com and for the dates I chose we’re looking at about $345.<\/p>\n

Day 1: Venice\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We won’t attempt to capture the highlights of Venice in a single, measly paragraph.\u00a0 But suffice it to say that you will not lack for entertainment in the floating city.<\/p>\n

Tonight you’ll stay in Padova, Italy, outside the city\u00a0an on your way\u00a0to more adventure. Padova Sheraton<\/a>\u00a03-4,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 2: Verona and Trient<\/p>\n

Today’s journey will take you through a city made famous by its star-crossed lovers: Verona.\u00a0 You may want to recreate a scene at Juliet’s Balcony, see the\u00a0Roman\u00a0Arena, or skip straight to Trient where you can visit the 13th century Buonconsiglio Castle.<\/p>\n

Overnighting in Bolzano, Italy at the\u00a0Four Points by Sheraton Bolzano<\/a>.\u00a03,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 3: Innsbruck and Lenggries<\/p>\n

Crossing through the alps, you’ll make a stop in Innsbruck, Austria, where you can opt for\u00a0the Nordketten\u00a0cable-car ride to the top of a mountain, or one of many scenic nature trails that will awe and inspire your.<\/p>\n

From there, it’s off to Lenggries, Germany, where you’ll\u00a0stay in the uniquely Bavarian\u00a0Four Points by Sheraton Brauneck<\/a>.\u00a03,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 4: Neuschwanstein Castle<\/p>\n

Straight from a fairy-tale, Newschwanstein Castle just happens to be on your route today.\u00a0 Marvel at what is easily the most idyllic of all the castles on earth.\u00a0 I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve yet to take my wife there.<\/p>\n

When you’ve had all you can handle, head to the\u00a0Dornbirn, Austria Four Points by Sheraton Dornbirn<\/a>.\u00a03,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 5: Zurich, Switzerland<\/p>\n

A loop through Switzerland to Zurich will occupy your time. \u00a0You may want to see the Zurich Opera House, the Swiss National Museum, or indulge in more than your fair share of Swiss chocolate.<\/p>\n

Maybe\u00a0you’d like to stop in and see Rhine Falls -the largest in Europe before your return to the\u00a0Four Points by Sheraton Dornbirn<\/a>.\u00a03,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 6: By Milan to Genoa<\/p>\n

Back into Italy, you’ll spend a little time driving today, but not so much that you won’t be able to enjoy a portside pesto pasta by candlelight.\u00a0 The history buff can also see what is purported to be the home in which Christopher Colombus was born.<\/p>\n

Genoa, Italy –\u00a0Genova Sheraton<\/a>\u00a03,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Day 7: Along the coast through Pisa<\/p>\n

Say it isn’t so, there’s no way this epic journey could also include the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa? Oh yes, yes it can.\u00a0 Can you envision a better way to enjoy an afternoon than scaling the 293 step spiral staircase of this white marble tower?<\/p>\n

As if that weren’t enough, you’ll spend the night in the “cradle of the Renaissance,” Florence, Italy, at the\u00a0Firenze Sheraton<\/a>. 7,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 8: Florence<\/p>\n

Even the most amateur art afficionado can appreciate the works of the Italian masters, to include Michelangelo.\u00a0 If you’re\u00a0that or anything more, you’ll have more than you can handle with the\u00a0museums, galleries, and public places.<\/p>\n

When you’ve had your fill, you’ll head to Bologna, Italy where you stay at the\u00a0Bologna Sheraton<\/a>.\u00a04,000 Starwood points<\/p>\n

Day 9: Relax<\/p>\n

Sleep in.\u00a0 You’ve made some memories.\u00a0 You’ve seen four countries, and a small corner of the wonders of Europe.\u00a0 Wherever home is, it will never be enough again.\u00a0 You’re hooked.\u00a0 You’ve got the wanderlust.\u00a0 When you tell the stories and show the pictures, you won’t be able to recapture the awe that you felt when you were there.\u00a0 Start daydreaming of where you’ll go next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you daydream about medieval castles? Does your heart ache to see the canals of Venice? Will your life feel incomplete until you’ve pondered the Swiss Alps? If so, you are a fellow Wanderluster, and if you’ll stick around for … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[605,24,372],"tags":[983,677,982,523,984,809,73,75,442],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1DhXV-96","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}