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What's your favorite travel "secret" that other flyertalk members don't know?

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What's your favorite travel "secret" that other flyertalk members don't know?

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Old Sep 1, 2014, 2:32 pm
  #46  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, British Airways, Alaska
Posts: 249
You can buy a used timeshare and stay in beautiful $800 a night 2 bedroom condos for $700 per week.

After lurking around the TUG - Timeshare User Group forums (http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?) I purchased several timeshares for cheap.

Over the past few years I have stayed in Hawaii, Phuket, France, Spain, Mexico and Scottsdale in beautiful rooms for a fraction of the rack rate.

We love the full kitchens and in-room laundry compared to staying in hotels. Perfect for family vacation travel.

Be warned, if you spend a lot of time lurking around flyertalk forums, TUG can be equally addicting.
Sean22mac is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2014, 11:44 am
  #47  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
Originally Posted by jg3
I fly with tools pretty often.
As do I. The worst are the ones that can't seem to deadlift their 200 lb. roller bag into the overhead.
nineworldseries is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2014, 3:48 pm
  #48  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: IHG PC, Marriott, SWA A-List Preferred with Companion Pass
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by Sean22mac
You can buy a used timeshare and stay in beautiful $800 a night 2 bedroom condos for $700 per week.

After lurking around the TUG - Timeshare User Group forums (http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?) I purchased several timeshares for cheap.

Over the past few years I have stayed in Hawaii, Phuket, France, Spain, Mexico and Scottsdale in beautiful rooms for a fraction of the rack rate.

We love the full kitchens and in-room laundry compared to staying in hotels. Perfect for family vacation travel.

Be warned, if you spend a lot of time lurking around flyertalk forums, TUG can be equally addicting.
Wow - very interesting. I rented a condo in FWB some years ago, but that was through a rental agency - it was very nice having separate bedrooms and a kitchen. Getting the rental directly from the owner should save some money too. thanks!
Mr. Style is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2014, 4:41 pm
  #49  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
Originally Posted by gobluetwo
Nice, so you do get a receipt you can submit for reimbursement. Given the free $5 thing they have going on right now, I just may sign up for this. I generally only ever buy anything at Starbucks when I'm traveling for business, so your suggestion should work for me. Thanks!
one of the things that irks me about SB's is even if you order 5 drinks, you only get credit for one..unless you order them all separately and pay for them separately-occcassionally I have ordered 2 drinks and when I ask to ring them up separately Im told the store is "too busy" for that.....its not really that big of a deal, but it just irks me, lol
nlkm9 is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2014, 5:21 pm
  #50  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 184
Originally Posted by Sean22mac
You can buy a used timeshare and stay in beautiful $800 a night 2 bedroom condos for $700 per week.

After lurking around the TUG - Timeshare User Group forums (http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?) I purchased several timeshares for cheap.

Over the past few years I have stayed in Hawaii, Phuket, France, Spain, Mexico and Scottsdale in beautiful rooms for a fraction of the rack

Be warned, if you spend a lot of time lurking around flyertalk forums, TUG can be equally addicting.
Deleted. Wrong thread !
TRVLUPGD is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 4:54 am
  #51  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
Originally Posted by jerry305

Quiet space:
Every airport has a chapel. Some airports, it's the only place where you can sit without the din of CNN Headline News in the background.
Maybe not all airports. http://national.deseretnews.com/arti...chaplains.html

This isn't a secret, but I'm always really nice to the agents when they have to change or fix something. I NEVER interrupt them while they're typing and working to fix whatever might be wrong. They seem to really appreciate my being quiet and patient and things usually work out just fine.
tmorse6570 is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 3:11 pm
  #52  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 215
Originally Posted by nlkm9
one of the things that irks me about SB's is even if you order 5 drinks, you only get credit for one..unless you order them all separately and pay for them separately-occcassionally I have ordered 2 drinks and when I ask to ring them up separately Im told the store is "too busy" for that.....its not really that big of a deal, but it just irks me, lol
I use a second card for that. I carry both my initial ordinary card and my gold card with me. When I get two items I charge the coffee to card #1 and the sandwich (or whatever) to card #2. The cashiers don't bother me about that and I don't feel like I'm asking them for extra work or a favor. Both cards are associated with the same starbucks account so I get "stars" regardless of which is used.
WCT3U is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 3:35 pm
  #53  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 506
My "secret" is packing less than I did on my last trip.

I have about reached the point where this is becoming
a real challenge, so I may need to purchase a smaller
bag to add some enforcement to the issue.

On a serious note I find I enjoy my trips more with less
in tow. Long gone are the days of packing "just in case".
Paul56 is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 5:09 pm
  #54  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
Originally Posted by Paul56
My "secret" is packing less than I did on my last trip.

I have about reached the point where this is becoming
a real challenge, so I may need to purchase a smaller
bag to add some enforcement to the issue.

On a serious note I find I enjoy my trips more with less
in tow. Long gone are the days of packing "just in case".
I actually have 2 Cpaps and 2 sets of makeup- so the suitcase and Cpap is mostly always packed--- I have all the toiletries , etc and all I have to do each week is add my clothes. I also have a packing cube with sneakers and workout gear that I replace when I get home. All this just makes my life easier
nlkm9 is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 5:10 pm
  #55  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
Originally Posted by WCT3U
I use a second card for that. I carry both my initial ordinary card and my gold card with me. When I get two items I charge the coffee to card #1 and the sandwich (or whatever) to card #2. The cashiers don't bother me about that and I don't feel like I'm asking them for extra work or a favor. Both cards are associated with the same starbucks account so I get "stars" regardless of which is used.
Oh- I didn't realiZe if you had another card on acct you got stars for it...
nlkm9 is offline  
Old Sep 8, 2014, 6:36 pm
  #56  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 130
Originally Posted by Paul56
My "secret" is packing less than I did on my last trip.

I have about reached the point where this is becoming
a real challenge, so I may need to purchase a smaller
bag to add some enforcement to the issue.

On a serious note I find I enjoy my trips more with less
in tow. Long gone are the days of packing "just in case".
This is the best "secret". I have found it to be extremely liberating being able to pack less and less. It most certainly makes my trips more enjoyable.
jhartley15 is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2014, 12:06 am
  #57  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
Here are mine. BTW How can it be a secrete if you want us to reveal them here?

I shall call these tips not secretes.

1 Before travel day if its possible I'll go to the airport and scout it out to see where things are at. Whether doing a practice run to find the rental car or return or public transportation route, where the ticket counters are, closest security checkpoints and do some plane spotting. You never know if you are delayed getting to the airport so its nice to know the layout before hand. I do this at my local airport too just for kicks sans looking for the rental car return lot.

2. For international flights I have a mantra"Passports Boarding Passes, Priority Pass(Lounge Access Card)Wallet Credit Cards, Foreign Currency Emergency(Contacts) Cell Phones, Car Service. Never forgot an item once(it works). If you catch me repeating it don't be scared.

3. I will go on the website of the airport I'm flying out of to look at the terminal maps, print them out and use their feature if they have it for how to connected between one concourse and the next(sort of like a Google Map). Then I'll look for local restaurants to eat at and read Yelp Reviews to see which one is good on a layover.

4. I use my cellphone for the Basic WiFi and not touch my laptop unless I really need to look at documents for an extensive amount of time while at the airport or on the flight.

5. I setup flight staus updates on my phone and via e-mail 48 hours before the flight leaves. In addition I forward them to the proper parties meeting my flight etc.

6. For the long flight I will make sure I have a amenity kit I saved from Delta with eyeshades, socks, toothbrush toothpaste and comb.

7. What to cruise for less? Then take a Trans Atlantic Repositioning Cruise off season?

8. Off season travel in Europe is fun and you can really experience Europe like a local while saving money. Stay in that luxury hotel where the prices can be lower than going on season.

So these are my tips(:
danielonn is offline  
Old Oct 21, 2014, 6:41 pm
  #58  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Originally Posted by tylerf
You can get into airport lounges for free.
Buy a refundable ticket when you get to the airport, go in, call and get a refund.
You have to check in to get into the lounge. The airline won't issue a refund that quickly if you've checked in.
Tchiowa is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2014, 12:10 pm
  #59  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 870
When you are traveling internationally, call any US number from your gmail for free.
leonidas is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2014, 1:05 pm
  #60  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM; *A FO. UG since(1/1/15): 11/14
Posts: 683
Originally Posted by Tchiowa
You have to check in to get into the lounge. The airline won't issue a refund that quickly if you've checked in.
You check in with the ticket you actually travel on, you buy (and refund) another ticket to get lounge access.
Ben and Jerry is offline  


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