Tag Archives: Trip Planning

80K Barclay Arrival Miles + $1,825.88= Trip for 4 to Iceland

Trip Reports,
iceland
image: google maps

On the evening that school ended (in NYC), the Michael W Travels family headed off to Iceland. This would be the first trip to the island nation for all of us.

Kim and I have wanted to visit Iceland for years but put it off for one reason or another. When I saw what I felt was a great deal on a flight there, I immediately booked it.

With 8 days/7 nights for our trip, we needed to decide whether or not it made sense to drive the full ring road. Rather than rush around, we decided to focus on sites around the south. Continue reading 80K Barclay Arrival Miles + $1,825.88= Trip for 4 to Iceland →

240,000 AA miles + $193.68 in Hotels.com Credits + $734.14= Trip for 4 to Argentina & Uruguay

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Argentina
image: googlemaps

The Michael W Travels family is currently in South America over Spring Break. This is the first time to the region for Lucas and Theo, Kim and I have been here a bunch of times before.

We’ve been wanting to visit Argentina for years and we could never find the right deal for a flight so I was pretty psyched when I found award availability. Regardless, we still had some tough decisions to make when it came to planning. Continue reading 240,000 AA miles + $193.68 in Hotels.com Credits + $734.14= Trip for 4 to Argentina & Uruguay →

156,672 miles + 2 IHG Free Nights + $1,172.24= Trip for 4 to South Korea

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south korea

Over Spring Break the Michael W Travels family went on a trip to South Korea. This was our first trip back to Asia since we visited Myanmar in spring 2015. It would also be our first visit to the region as a family of 4!

So why did we pick South Korea for our Spring trip? There were a bunch of good reasons! Continue reading 156,672 miles + 2 IHG Free Nights + $1,172.24= Trip for 4 to South Korea →

$1,381.48 + 57,722 Points=Trip for 4 to Ireland

Family Travel, Trip Reports, ,
ireland
image: googlemaps

Over the winter break, the Michael W Travels family took our first international trip as a family of 4. Our destination was Costa Rica.

The trip went really well and now we couldn’t wait until our next trip.

During President’s Week, we went on a quick trip to Ireland! Continue reading $1,381.48 + 57,722 Points=Trip for 4 to Ireland →

153,128 points + 1 IHG Free Night + $1027.80= Trip for 4 to Costa Rica

Trip Reports, ,
costa rica
image: Google Maps

On Christmas Eve the Michael W Travels family left on our final trip of 2016.

This would actually be Kim’s first international trip since we visited Cuba at end of 2015 (the trip ended in early 2016). It would also be the first international trip for Theo.

Picking our destination was based on a couple of things: Continue reading 153,128 points + 1 IHG Free Night + $1027.80= Trip for 4 to Costa Rica →

40,154 Southwest points + $310.60= Trip for 4 to Portland, Oregon

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Portland Oregon

Kim, Lucas, Theo & I recently got back from a quick trip to Portland, Oregon.

While we only had a few days there, it was still a really fun visit and the first time we all stepped foot in the state of Oregon. The trip was also Theo’s first time flying on a plane! (Lots of firsts!)

Here are the details that went into planning our trip to Portland, Oregon. Continue reading 40,154 Southwest points + $310.60= Trip for 4 to Portland, Oregon →

25,967 Points + Club Carlson Free Night + $315.98= Trip for 2 to Indianapolis

Trip Reports, ,
a map with a location pin
image: googlemaps

This summer was one of the odder ones for travel for the Michael W Travels family.

With Kim grounded from flying until Baby W Travels arrives, Lucas and I set off on three little adventures. The way it worked was that for three weeks in a row, we flew on a Monday morning and got back home early Friday evening.

We basically came home each week to visit Kim for the weekend!

Our first trip was to Cancun, Mexico– a destination I wouldn’t have picked but for the price, how could I turn the trip down! For our second trip, we headed to Boise, Idaho.

Our third and final summer escape was to Indianapolis, Indiana. Continue reading 25,967 Points + Club Carlson Free Night + $315.98= Trip for 2 to Indianapolis →

47,280 Southwest Points + $485.39= Trip for 2 to Boise, Idaho

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Boise Idaho
image: Google Maps

Lucas and I recently got back from a fun and quick trip to Cancun, Mexico.

With Kim not flying until after Baby W Travels arrives, I planned three weeks of travel for Lucas and I. We’re not traveling for three straight weeks, just three straight weekdays, so we’re home on the weekends.

For the second summer trip, I planned a quick visit to Boise Idaho! Continue reading 47,280 Southwest Points + $485.39= Trip for 2 to Boise, Idaho →

200,000 AA Miles + $563.45 + Club Carlson E-Cert= Trip for 2 to Poland

Family Travel, Trip Reports,
Poland
image: Google Maps

I recently had to cancel an AA award flight to Fiji and Vanuatu for a very good reason.

With Kim grounded from flying while pregnant with Baby W Travels, a family trip to the Pacific won’t be happening but Lucas & I are going on our first father son trip!

When the idea came up, I figured visiting Europe would be a good idea. I also wanted to visit a country that I haven’t made it to before so when I found award availability to Poland, I pulled the trigger. Continue reading 200,000 AA Miles + $563.45 + Club Carlson E-Cert= Trip for 2 to Poland →

Plan Trips from Mobile with Google Destinations Feature

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Google Destinations
image: screen capture from Google video

Google wants to help us plan trips from our mobile devices.

According to the official Google Blog, they noticed “a whopping 50 percent increase in travel-related questions on mobile phones“. I’ve done lots of travel searches from my iPhone but I haven’t done a whole lot of bookings. (I think I booked one hotel night that I can recall.)

Now they want to make it easier to book travel through mobile with Google Destinations. Continue reading Plan Trips from Mobile with Google Destinations Feature →