Hey Newbies. I've just wrote a great post on my blog about how you can earn a free vacation for your family. This is a step by step detailed guide for a family size of 5 - 2 adults - 3 kiddos.
If you are new in the frequent flyer miles/points world and want to learn how to quickly and easily earn a truly free family vacation come check out my post. Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Note:
Obviously this post is not for you savvy expert FT'ers. You probably haven't even click on this anyway. And yes, I am trying to get the word out about my blog and draw readers. My audience is the leisure non business traveler. My posts are all about earning miles & points from your home or local business area - no travel required. I am a SAHM. Most deals I post about are free or close to it. My blog is basically for the average guy or gal. No fancy lingo or terms to figure out. Just basic simple straight forward directions to follow to the deal or promo.

unfortunately your plan has one problem: according to chase you cannot receive the bonus for both CO and UA cards anymore. This was stopped when the new explorer card came out.

here the details from the application terms of the explorer card:

United MileagePlus Explorer cardmembers will only receive one 25,000 bonus miles award if they apply for both the United Explorer Card and the Continental OnePass Plus Card after 7/19/2011.

Although this would still be a pretty bad redemption. If one wanted to use their UR points for hotels, the better option would be to redeem it through UR due to the 25% discount, rather than redeeming for cash.

I think applying for 2 AA cards with the 2 browser trick, bringing in 100k AA miles per person might be a better card to apply for depending on location & destination. It would be a better risk to take than with Chase since many of us have successfully applied for 2 Citi cards during the 75k promo. Even applying for a BA card seems logical in your situation due to the recent changes in redemption for short haul fights within North America (Although one should wait for a better promo).

Also... Why "pack of gum"??

I think that is because the pack of gum is the first use of card, hence "pack of gum."

And the only problemo with the Citigold is - that particular account isn't for everyone. To the best of my knowledge it carries a $30/month service fee. Fee may be waived for first 2 months (I'm just reading over the terms quickly, mind you). One must keep like - $50grand in the account to avoid the fees. If you don't have that kind of money, then it isn't such a simple deal. Keeping the account for 10 months will cost you $300 to get those $400 worth of gift cards.

"No fancy lingo or terms to figure out."

ALWAYS read the terms and conditions - that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good point Billy. Maybe the 20,000 pt offer for only $200 would be easier for those folks - like myself.
Maybe better to just get another Cash bonus card for your spending money.
I'll be thinking on these ideas and come up with some other good options.
Thanks for sharing!

This is my little phrase for the easiest credit card offers. No annual fee, first use bonus, no minimum spend. Just buy a pack of gum and put it in the drawer. Gotta love it!!!

Thanks for your input. I have called Chase's line to apply and they indicated that you could receive both offer bonuses. But I have feeling they don't know their own rules. I was not aware that was put in the terms and conditions. Thank you for informing me. With this information, I have change the master guide to reflect an safe plan which I think is even better. Don't want to complicate things for a newbie. I do think you can get both offers but don't want a newbie to stress!
So check out the new plan I've devised.
Thanks for your input!

Nice advice for newer people with a family.

That plan will work, but I think it would be very difficult (if even possible) to get all those Chase cards in a short time period. May be better replacing the Marriott with the Hilton AMEX (or some other non-Chase card)

I agree. Three Chase cards in a few months? Yeah that's going to require a lot of persuasion when it comes to the reconsideration line. I'd say stick with a non-Chase CC for hotels as nic3456 mentioned like the Hilton AMEX and/or the Bank of American Hawaiian Air card that can be transferred to HHonors points.

Isn't the consensus that the Citi checking accounts - in addition to having terrible interest rates and minimums - will likely issue 1099s for points issued? If you're going to put together a post for newbies, this is exactly the kind of thing they shouldn't have to worry about.

But the plan says to apply for just one UA card. (She says that two people should apply for the card (e.g., husband and wife), not that one person should apply for two cards.)

This is a helpful post for newbies. There are some of us who are looking for high-value redemptions like international long haul first class. But many families just want to get their kids to Disney World , or whatever, and this is helpful in that regard.

Thanks all for your feedback and comments on the plan. I here your thoughts with all cards being from only Chase. This may be a problem for some but not a problem for others. When I a chance, I'll add in a PLAN B with gives secondary options is the first PLAN A doesn't work. I was originally going to do this but got tired and decide to just put it out as is. My feeling though is that you can not stretch the Hilton Honors points very far like you can stretch the Marriott Rewards points. Points redemption with Hilton Honors has really increased drastically recently especially for rooms that accommodate families which are usually family rooms or junior suites. I am really BIG into stretching points. As a young family we are not always looking for luxury but just FREE nights. My blog is written to meet the needs of the leisure traveler, families with children and just the average Joe. People like myself are usually pretty content with Category 1, 2, 3, 4...... and don't require high end properties for redemption. We are just pleased to go and travel for free or close to it. Once and awhile splurging with miles/points is nice but most of the time stretching your miles/points affords your family many more adventures. I am planning one such trip to the East Coast and using the 70k Marriott score to stay for 11 nights free with my family. You can't beat that for a "pack of gum"!
That all being said, I'll post some other options if the newbie runs into trouble with the Chase approves but I would recommend trying this route. Two of the three credit cards you need to get to accomplish your goal are what I like to call "pack of gum" offers - first use purchase receives the miles/points (no min. spend) and free first year. This is as easy and free as it comes. I rarely want to pay for my miles/points. I love them FREE!
Please post more suggestions if you have them. They are great!

Regarding the Citibank checking and 1099's
There are plenty of thread about that subject which I have been apart of in the past. I have done several checking accounts with Citibank and have never received a 1099. I do think that it has happened on a few reports. I'm just not 100% sure on that. My experience is that I haven't received them, so I just can't say.

Mind sharing with us how much you're being paid for each credit card referral?

How is this post anything other than spam? This poster spams her blog links nonstop on here and milepoint. It would be nice if she would take a 5-second break and contribute to the forum instead of trying to redirect traffic to her site.