Magdalen
Forum Replies Created
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When we traveled with our grandkids, we always took a form that allowed them to travel with us and receive medical care if necessary.
It included our names and passport numbers as well as the kids’ names and passport numbers and dates of birth.
Both parents notarized it.
Ironically, we never had trouble taking them out of the country but we were always asked for the form and the kids were questioned on our return to the US.
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No, they do not take 15 days.
It’s usually instant but may take a few days if it’s your first time.
Aeroplan miles will go back to Aeroplan.
But there may be high cancellation fees depending on the award fare you purchased so double check if it’s worth it.
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We bought an annual policy from GeoBlue (Blue Cross Blue Shield).
It covers medical expenses and evacuation while we travel.
I haven’t needed to use it yet (thankfully), but it includes an app that shows information on local doctors and hospitals anywhere in the world.
The app also offers telehealth, lists medicine equivalents in different countries, and provides medical translation.
The picture is a screenshot of our benefits.
Our annual premium for the two of us is $390.
This gives us peace of mind while traveling!
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When do you plan to travel?
If you’re only traveling within the US until October, I’d suggest waiting because a new fee structure comes into play on Oct. 1, which eliminates Global Entry fees for minors whose parents have or are applying for Global Entry.
If you already have TSA PreCheck, your minor children can go through PreCheck with you without needing their own, so that should cover you for domestic flights.
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AWAY has been my trusty companion for several years now – countless business trips, cruises, and trips abroad.
My only suggestion is to get a darker color.
I have a light pink and it scuffs easy.
They sent me a sponge thing but I’m inherently lazy.
My husband’s dark navy doesn’t show scuffs.
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Using Ultimate Rewards for a cruise is bad redemption on points!
I go on 4-6 cruises a year.
I meet sign up bonus by paying cash for the cruises & then use the Chase points for hotel / airfare to get there.
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I paid for pro version of Seats.Aero and it helped me book our first business class flights.
Then, it helped me save 36,000 points on those same flights by rebooking when the points price went down.
However, Pointsyeah is free and shows you which programs you can use to pay for each flight.
So, if Pointsyeah doesn’t help you, then try Seats.Aero.
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Yes and no.
Singapore Airlines is bookable via Star Alliance partners.
However, the reality is that they reserve those award seats for their own KrisFlyer program more often than not.
You would have to be extremely lucky…….
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Athenaeum Intercontinental in Athens was very nice and pretty good location too.
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I’ve been watching for this too!
I heard you can use Virgin Atlantic points to redeem for Virgin Voyages cruises.
Apparently, if you download the Virgin Red app, they have European Virgin cruises.
It’s under the Spend tab and search for Voyages.
I have not seen any since last year when it was first offered.
I believe it was 80,000 points or 80,000 per room, but it was quite a deal because Virgin Cruises are all-inclusive.
Ultimate Rewards points also sometimes have a transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic, so you can potentially get an amazing deal on a wonderful Mediterranean cruise.
I have been watching the Virgin app like a hawk, but have not seen them offered since the ones they offered last year.
virginvoyages.com
Ahoy Sailor! Our adult only cruise ships redefine luxury cruise vacations to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, and beyond.
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Fly into Lisbon for 3 days with a full day in Sintra and a stop in Cascais.
Rent a car and drive to Obidos for a quick visit. Head to Costa Nova and see the striped houses and grab some lunch.
Continue on to Nazare and spend two nights.
Drive to Aviero and stop for lunch.
On to Porto.
Do a day trip to the Douro Valley.
Make sure to go to at least one Port house.
Fly home from Porto.
You don’t have enough time to go down to the Algarve if you want to go north to Porto.
Driving is safe and simple over there, or public transit is very easy.
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Yes, tickets booked with Lifemiles can be canceled same day without a fee as long as it’s canceled by 8 pm Colombian time.
This has happened to me several times and this actually saved my husband 180k life miles and $600 today 🙂.
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Anything over 50 pounds (more exactly 23 kilograms) requires 2 baggage handlers to lift it, according to labor regulations.
Thus, standard baggage weight must be under 50 pounds.
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Thanks Ava!
I ended up signing up for the free version of FareDrop to see how good it was and got an alert for Southwest so I ended up booking that but grateful to hear about your real review of FareDrop.
Maybe next time FareDrop has a sale, I will splurge on Premium.
I also signed up for Going’s Cheap Flight Emails and those have been good too!
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I did this exact route from YVR to SEA on Amtrak 10 years ago.
Honestly, it is pretty slow.
I think took 5 hours as there is only 1 track.
Quite a few times we went forward, and then the train had to back up to let another train pass.
Also US Customs boards the train and that takes a while.
Maybe if there is a bus, I would do that.
Probably faster.