AboutStephen Tanenbaum Expertise FREE GLOBAL & DOMESTIC TRAVEL which always beats discount travel. In
recent years we have enjoyed free travel to such destinations as Africa,
Israel, Australia, Brazil, France, New Zealand, Hawaii, England, Greece,
Alaska and our lower 48. Other budget travel areas include such as air
brokers, rebate travel agencies, renting a Paris/Barcelona apartments for as little as $65/night (depending on length of stay and size of apt.), sightseeing and general TIPS on travel related comfort, safey/convenience and day to day SAVINGS.
Since we travel Free 95% of the time I DO NOT OFFER ADVICE ON CHEAPEST, LOWEST PRICED AND/OR LAST MINUTE AIRLINE FARES. Such deals are best found by diligent Google research & reading the N.Y. and/or L.A. Sunday best in the U.S. Travel
sections. FREE airline deals may NOT be available to non-U.S. residents.
Experience Past/Present clients Hired by Sunnyland Tours to do a 10 minute promo film of their Crocodile Nile river cruise ship in Egypt, by VW Tours to do a ten minute promo video of their MS Vampolov cruise ship sailing on Lake Baikal in Irkutsk, Siberia and by Citadel Press to write two (Vacations & Cruising) travel guides.
Partial Travel BIO: England, Scotland, Paris-Lyon-Provence, Greek Islands, Egypt, Petra, Isreal, China, Hong Kong, Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai), Cruises including Rio to San Diego (32 days $2,089 each), Maui, Moorea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and Alaska, Canada et al.
Question Hello!
A friend and I are leaving this August to teach in Okinawa, Japan until June of 2010 through a private company (no affiliation with the military). We have to pay for our airfare home (Okinawa to Southern CA) as well as our airfare home during Christmas. I'm trying to find a way to earn points to get FREE airfare. I want to share the info I find with my family and friends so they can fly FREE to visit me in Okinawa. I am single and am a graduate student now but will not be after this May. If you could provide me with any info I would appreciate it.
Thanks so much!
Answer Dear Nikki:
Glad we think alike vis a vis nothing beats FREE travel.
On the very big ‘plus side’ you have time on your side. No last minute efforts here and that can only work in your favor. Regarding your U.S. - Okinawa quest I’ll first toss out some nuts and bolts you may well be aware of. Using our favorite American Airlines their Free RT awards are:
Off Peak season (10/1 thru 4/30) 50,000 miles for a RT ticket.
Peak season: (5/1 thru 9/30) 65,000 miles per RT ticket.
Here is the American Airlines chart for free travel tickets to Japan:
Next, before I get to specifics here are some personal LINKS that may be helpful. You may need to cut and paste the addresses.
First is the LINK our FREE travel newsletter. Be sure to check out the the text in the column to the right of the video (click ‘more). The text has LINKS to our FIVE latest newsletters and an article I wrote on FREE global travel. Or simply use the following LINK to our newsletter’s Promo video.
The far and away best Free travel promo has been run for at least the past two years by Citibank. By obtaining just two out of about six available credit cards (cards are Free of annual fee the first year) one could obtain 50,000 bonus miles ALL 100% FREE. Those miles are instantly good for RT Europe (low season) RT Hawaii, Mexico and Central America. Get a third card and one could have 70,000 miles good for RT Japan. As I suspected, likely due to the current economic crisis, Citibank seems to be cutting back. Its promotion offers less cards and may be close to ending BUT good news: It seems the promotion is ongoing thru the end of this month so that YOU or family/friends can use it.
I checked this long LINK and it worked. If for any reason it does not then Google Citibank 25,000 bonus miles.
This offer is awesome for those who have not yet used it. Get any two of these cards and you have ONE FREE RT OFF SEASON TICKET TO OKINAWA.
Citi Platinum Mastercard Citi Select American Express AAdantage
Citi Business Aavantage Mastercard
Since these are three DIFFERENT cards, meaning regular Mastercard, American Express and Business Mastercards one can likely apply for all three at once.
At the very least you can apply for one personal card and one small business card right now. Probably OK to apply for another personal card in 30 or 60 days. You can call Citibank and ask about their waiting time for multiple cards. Do not have a small business....no problem. Read my newsletters and Free travel article which explain how ANYONE can instantly qualify for SMALL BUSINESS CARDS even those who do not currently have a small business.
Assuming you can apply for the THREE cards that would cover a high season FREE RT ticket to Okinawa.
SECOND PROMO: I just found the newest United Airlines Promo page which page is copyrighted 2009 indicating the offer is CURRENT.
While United is not our favorite airline this is still a serious give-a-way promo. Here is the LINK:
Unlike the awesome Citibank promo United’s is NOT FREE meaning United does not waive fees for its card for the first year. Keeping in mind that the next best thing to Free is CHEAP this promo should be given serious consideration.
If you can snag both Mileage Plus and Mileage Plus Gold Visa cards you will get 50,000 miles at the cost of $145 for both cards. Their Platinum card is, for reasons I do not know, a whopping $140. That would amount to $285 for 70,000 miles if you obtained all three cards. Call United for their rules for applying ie. waiting periods to apply for multiple cards.
Better yet do they have Business bonus cards? Yes, United’s Platinum Business card charges $75 and give you 20,000 miles so that your total would go down to $220 for the RT ticket using two personal and one business card. Again, one can always apply for a personal and business card right now. Then later for the 3rd card. Here is the LINK: http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,39,00.html
I shall be working on our Winter ‘09 newsletter during the next few weeks and the lead article will deal with these offers as well as any other I discover. I shall also try to get a handle on any new Citibank promotions that will likely emerge on and after March 2009 when the current offer ends. That article will be available to subscribers of our free newsletter and also to any who view our promotional video which shall contain a LINK to the next newsletter.
Feel free to get back with any follow-up questions.
Good luck and have HAPPY and SAFE travels as well as exciting and rewarding experiences.
