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So I'm asked all the time how do I get the best deals on travel? Well, I shop around & do research. So here a few of the sites I use. For booking flights in USA 1. My "Go to site" for everything is Hotwire 2. Then Actual airline home page. 3. Then Hotwire again! Because they will let you check up to 6 sites at a go. Also prices can change quickly. Update that screen & watch the fair go up. Have Hotwire email you when prices change (before you book) it's free: just make an account. Also I have tried many other sites. For instance, there is 1 that emails you great deals, but every time I follow link the fare is never correct, that just wastes my time. Hotwire is the best, (I have found.) If you know of a better one email me. Now miles & me.. It's the same thing everyone says, but it is true. If you know you want to fly then sign up for miles. Get everything your already buy adding to your miles. I think 1800flowers (or is it the other one?) Will offer miles for $ spent, as do a lot of other merchants you may already be shopping with. Also watch when airlines offer miles on special. This is when you can transfer or purchase miles for little or no service charge. But also realize if you want to get miles for say 2 tickets to Hawaii from Denver - it's going to take a while; like maybe years to accumulate that many miles. (Especially if you’re buying just Starbucks and flowers. LOL) So as I said get other things adding to your miles, but also don't go crazy, because if you get a new credit card & max it to get miles & have trouble paying it down- then it's not a savings. Savvy? I also think that frequent flier miles can be over rated. If you compare flights & your saving $50 each way or more going with another airlines then, (depending on your situation) which is the better deal? Say 300 miles or $100 more in your pocket, right? If you or loved one is racking up the miles through work or what have you, great use them. But if not don't expect to fly 2 times & pick up a free ticket. So anyway, I use Hotwire, check to see if where I want to go is even possible. (Yes, really) and then find the best deal. I then go to airline website & check them. Usually Hotwire is cheaper. It may only be $5 but that $5 I put in my pocket. I have never had a problem from a flight booking on Hotwire & that's saying a lot. Now I've had a hiccup or 2 on hotels, but it's been the hotels fault not Hotwire. Usually all you have to do is say, "lets call them" & the hotel staff will straighten up. But once again follow the procedure - have picture id, make sure person who is listed as reserving room is with you, & have a cc for the hotel to put tax or incidentals on. Hotwire tells you all this when you book, but ppl forget. Also they (Hotwire) purchase/pay for room with their card & it shows their SF address, hotel system becomes confused (for whatever reason) & clerk makes frown face & reports, ”Your card failed.” Meaning hotwire is not paying for your incidentals. You need new (personal card) for this. Easy peasy fixed. (Translate= Room paid in advance via you to Hotwire. New charges your own your own mate!) Most often the hotel has given me wrong bed type or something similar. Nothing big. But if I pay for a twin, I want a twin. Right? So also keep in mind hotwire may NOT be the cheapest site for hotels. (We are talking FLYING right now, sorry I got off track.) But keep in mind when booking FLIGHTS: • If you are booking far in advance buy the insurance. Really. Also know what changes can be made & the cost. Now. Before. You. Need. To Make Them. • Check fares on Wednesday • Refresh screen & jump on the good deals fast. They do change in a matter of minutes. Good luck & happy flying. I'll talk about overseas booking next if anyone is interested? I was super excited to be back in New Orleans! So I flew into Louisiana from Texas. It's a short flight, actually I usually drive, but I wasn't able to take off as long as I had hoped, so flew in to make the most of my time. BUT- it takes approx. 8 hours to drive..it took me 8 hours from the time I left the house until I reached the Hotel? WTF?? There was a storm that delayed the flight, then we had to fly way around and over the gulf to reach NOLA. There was flooding (nothing unusual there) and a tornado warning. BUT it was over in a few hours after I reached the hotel. Thank Goodness! My friends that are not familiar with where/what I'm talking about I have added a few maps. (If you know, then just keep scrolling, K?) Cause I HATE: when I read about some cool place I want to go in YOUR BLOGS and there is no map and I have to google and do not even know if I'm in the right country. WYF?! So bloggers include a map, for me, Please- Heavy Picture Post- don't say I didn't warn you! I have stayed all over the city & surrounding towns. (Super hard to get a room during Mardi Gras. Book 1 year ahead if you want to be on the Parade route or close by) But my favorite place to stay is the French Quarter. It's one of the oldest areas in the U. S. Pat O'Briens less the rain. So this is one of the hotels I stayed in, (Pictures below.) I had to change because I was trying to book a condo and they could only accommodate 3 days, but then by the time I got the hotel booked for the earlier dates it was booked, so I needed up in yet another hotel for the rest of my stay. #FML But really it all worked out for the best though, I guess. My friends all asked me to stay with them, but I do not want to impose. *shy* Aren't these awesome? These are REAL FLOWERS and there is more on the piano. Nice Bar area. They offered FREE high Speed WIFI and also had this cute business center. Have a drink and check your email! My room was actually big for the Quarter. Remember that if you stay there, you don't go to stay in the room, you go to party, see the sights and listen to great music. I booked all the hotels through HOTWIRE and all was fine, as usual. Each wanted about $100.USD for extras..I gave them cash and they returned the cash when I checked out. There was no other charges added. So I knew going in what my stay was going to cost and how much I could BS away. I can't tell you anything about the cable, TV, etc. I didn't even turn it on... If you follow me on GETGLUE you know I suck at watching TV, but WTF I do have a pretty fun life. Big ass Bed, comfy too- And outside is pretty nice too. This is right after the storm, so keep that in mind. Meeting friends in the bar and then WE ARE OFF! Much talking, laughing and catching up later... :) Ended up really late and we just had Little Caesars Pizza! Hahaha Sinful, but really good! LOL I had been up like 36 + hours by this time and was ready to just sleep. Jazz Fest was about to start and people were pouring in from everywhere. Met quite a few over Breakfast, LOL. It was really nice & FREE at the hotel the next morning. Forgot to take pictures (told you am NOT a foodie) Checked into another Hotel & then me and a buddy went out for... :X Can't remember which I posted so here are both, LOL. There were tons of people at Cafe Du Monde. So this was like our brunch. This is the FULL Menu. Thats all you need though- lol #bestfoodever See random People everywhere in Cafe Du Monde Forgot we went to the Jazz Park 1st. It was by the hotel I checked out of and across the Quarter from Cafe Du Monde. It was redone after Katrina and the city really made a BIG DEAL about it, so I wanted to see it. It was really pretty, but no one was there (it was 10:30 or so a.m.) The mant. people saw us, but locked the gate on us..We did get out (well duh) but had to walk around a bit to find an open exit. (I'm telling you everyday is an adventure..) Roses took a beating from all that heavy rain. :( Maybe we can escape through here? It became overcast again and looked like rain, but then ended up clearing off...WTF like Texas weather?! Wanted to get closer, but everything was really wet...Figured I sink down to my knees in mud...Not cool in High heel boots! Another locked gate, WTF? We ended up going over 2 bridges, but did get out. Too funny!
Anyway, there is soo much more and so many more photos. Jazz Cruise, Shopping, The Quarter at night, etc.. Wil work on posts. Catch you later~ I sorta took the day off today. I did billing, returned emails, calls, etc. But also tried to get the last minute details cleared out for the Austin trip & began packing. Also did manage to catch a good sale via Hotwire on hotels in New Orleans. This Austin trip is my 1st using Groupon. I see their awesome deals all the time but hesitate to try. Heard some really horrible stories via the business end from merchants being overrun with coupons and loosing their shirts. My profit margin is too close to even consider such, WTF! But one of my buddies uses them all the time and swears by it, so am going to give it a go. But actually we are off to a bad start. I purchased this deal in Feb and booked and had to reschedule due to work. (I really can’t just take off whenever I want regardless of what you may have heard. The boss works the hardest of all) But to their credit the hotel was friendly and made a change no problem. But the next days I wanted where in their blackout dates, uh oh--but they honored the coupon after the closing date. (not blackout) But we shall see when I am there. I try to prepare for things when I travel, but also expect the best too. CYA and all will be well. Till then… |
Ms One~🌍 Welcome to My Adventures! 🌱 Foto Friday's
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