2006-04-11T21:00:00.001-07:00

Enjoy this free sample of:

Steve & Pat's Cheap Travel Newsletter
SPRING 2006 EDITION
(c) Tanenbaum 2006

(See last page for bargain subscription details)

New Flash: Special Free Travel Issue INSTANT FREE AIRLINE TICKETS Anywhere in the U.S. / Hawaii / Canada Caribbean / Mexico FREE or Max. $90
THIS ISSUE’S HIGHLIGHT:
* NOTHING BEATS FREE TRAVEL
* WHY RUN A SMALL BUSINESS?
* INSTANT FREE AIRLINE TICKETS
* NEXT BEST - ALMOST FREE - HAWAII FOR $90
* THE 'NEW' DINERS CLUB PROGRAM UPDATE
* POLIDENT SAYS ‘OPEN WIDE’ & YOUR COMPANION FLYS FREE
* STEVE’S GIZMO CORNER: SAVE FORTY-FIVE CENTS A GALLON!
* HOLIDAY INN OFFERS FREE NIGHT(S) TO YOU
* LAS VEGAS $$ SAVINGS - FREE SHOWS, MEALS & MORE

WHO ARE WE?
We are Steve & Pat, the Travelin' Tanenbaums. We are the Authors of The Cheapskate's Guide to Vacations and The Cheapskate's Guide to Cruises (Citadel Press).

Our CTN newsletter has published continuously since 1999. Steve is currently a 'Budget Travel' expert with AllExperts.com Aside from our books we have written national magazine articles and have made numerous radio & TV appearances. We have somehow managed to globe trot 6 months per year since we early retired from our 'day jobs' in 1999. Pure and simple, we enjoy a love of travel and do our best to share travel related comfort, convenience and money saving TIPS with our loyal readership. We always encourage and appreciate reader input.

THIS ISSUE:
The CTN often extolls the virtues of FREE airline travel. In fact, it is difficult to recall the last time we paid for an airline ticket. Our CTN issues provide scores of tips aimed at encouraging readers to follow in our FREE travel footsteps. Today, this very moment, instant FREE and almost FREE airline tickets are virtually yours for the asking. During the past two weeks we obtained TWO 100% FREE Round Trip tickets for travel anywhere in the U.S. or Canada and TWO ROUND TRIP TICKETS TO HAWAII FOR $90 EACH.

These very same deals are waiting for YOU. These tickets are good all year including Hawaii’s high Spring/Summer season when such tickets sell for upwards of $600 or more each. Did we mention that you may use the Hawaii tickets for travel to ANY Hawaiian island! By now you know we mean business when it comes to FREE travel. The only question that remains is how do YOU DO IT? Read on....

WHY RUN A SMALL BUSINESS THAT EARNS AS LITTLE AS $1.00 PER YEAR?
Ever dream of owning your own small business like like this Valdez, Alaska store that appears to sell VERY large fish? Joking aside, the mere fact that you have a small business, even one with almost no yearly earnings, may qualify you to receive a 100% FREE instant round trip ticket for travel anywhere in the continental U.S. including Canada and Alaska. All others SHOULD ALSO READ THIS ARTICLE. Caveat: Readers should include 100% accurate information when filling and and submitting any or all credit card applications mentioned in this CTN edition. When applying for the FREE Delta Gold Sky Miles card you are asked the annual income for your small business. One catagory of answer reads: $1 to $25,000. Yes, an infant small business with almost no income may qualify. KEEP THAT IN MIND.

Next. Keep in mind that the Delta Business Credit Card application does NOT require that the small business or you as a sole proprietor must provide an business license. You are ONLY required to truthfully state the name of your business, its address which may be your home address and the yearly income which can be as low as $1. Consider this example: Reader A is a wage earner. On weekends/evenings reader A knits sweaters or repairs cars or makes wood carvings or cooks that special dish. One day reader A declares “I’m now in business” Reader creates a name for his/her business and next sells that special food dish or charges someone to fix their car or sells a wood carving. No matter you start out selling to a friend or relative. That’s how Martha Stewart likely started out. If this works for your, as it does for us, fine. You may likely qualify for the FREE Business Delta Sky Miles Credit card worth 10,000 FREE MILES. And now to the nuts and bolts of that INSTANT FREE AIRLINE TICKET.

INSTANT FREE AIRLINE TICKET

There are two keys to using this awesome deal. First, you must NOT have a current personal or business Delta Gold Sky Miles Card. Second is the great news that there is a credit car ‘WAR’ of sorts and some, like the American Express Delta Sky Miles Card, are WAIVING their annual fee so that their cards are totall FREE at least for the first year. And, we are never required to keep the cards beyond the first free year.Keep in mind that as a special service to CTN readers we will provide any needed advice via email a: stevepat99@hotmail.com Here are the easy to follow steps.

STEP ONE: Each person wishing to receive his/her FREE airline ticket must open a FREE Delta Airlines Sky Miles frequent flyer account. You may open the account by going to:

https://www.delta.com/skymilesenrollment/skymiles/enrollment/index.jsp

Or you may call Delta at: 800-323-2323

STEP TWO: Apply for a Delta Gold Sky Miles American Express Card. The annual fee on the card is WAIVED for the first year which means the card it totally FREE! See the card application LINK in STEP TWO. Note: All such ‘initial fee waived’ cards can be cancelled any time prior to renewal. What if you forget to cancel, and are billed for a renewal fee? This has happened to us more than once. One phone call to the company, assuming you call ASAP after receiving the bill, will almost always result in your account being closed and the billing cancelled.

STEP THREE: This is optional since those with Business income do not need these additional bonus miles to qualify for their FREE FLIGHT. However, racking up additional Bonus miles is always a good idea. To easily obtain an additional Free 2,500 Bonus miles simply note on your Sky Miles Application that you are requesting an extra FREE card to be issued on your account in the name of any family member or even friend. You will be given 2,500 extra Bonus miles for requesting the extra FREE card. Remember, your first step was creating a Delta Frequent Flyer Account. Now you will be applying for the related credit card, an American Express Delta Sky Miles Card. Here is the LINK for the credit card application:

https://www201.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=24/14450/b/218

Upon completing and submitting your application online you next wait about 1-3 minutes for instant approval. Assuming you are granted instant approval you have just qualified to receive 15,000 or 17,500 FREE Bonus Miles. The ONLY condition is that you make one purchase on the Sky Miles Card. Once you receive and activate your Sky Miles Card simply make one purchase ASAP. There is no minimum purchase so that ever a $5 gas purchase qualifies. Then sit back and wait for 15,000-17,500 miles to be placed your new Delta Airlines Frequent Flyer.

STEP FOUR: Next, apply for and obtain a second different ‘FREE’ Delta credit Card, their Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card. As noted this card also WAIVES its fee for the first year. Upon first use of this card you will be given an additional whopping 15,000 Bonus miles. You will now have a grand total of either 30,000 or 32,500 miles. This instantly qualifies you to receive a Delta 25,000 mile Free Flight Award to any U.S./Canadian destination including Alaska. And all this without spending a dime! It does not get better than this UNLESS.....you are a couple and apply seperatlely, as we did, in which case each couple will receive miles that entitle you to TWO INSTANT 100% FREE ROUND TRIP Delta airline tickets. Here is a LINK to a list of Delta's current credit cards. Scroll down the list to find the "Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Credit Card.
http://www.indexcreditcards.com/deltaairlinescreditcards.html

YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY BUSINESS/SELF EMPLOYMENT INCOME? DO NOT DESPAIR! YOUR FREE TICKET IS CLOSE AT HAND

1) FIRST, FOLLOW STEPS ONE, TWO & THREE ABOVE AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE BE SURE TO REQUEST THAT EXTRA FREE CARD. Then, after your first use of the card you will be given 17,500 FREE Bonus Miles. You will then be very close to that FREE FLIGHT.

2) Your goal is now to pump your new Delta frequent flyer account from 15,000 or 17,500 miles to 25,000 miles which will then qualify you for the FREE FLIGHT. Keep in mind the your new Delta Sky Miles Card offers another great bonus, you get DOUBLE MILES, that is to say TWO MILES FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, at ‘stand alone’ supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations, home improvement and hardware stores. THIS MAKES REACHING YOUR GOAL EASIER. Also, keep mind that your Sky Miles Card is an American Express.

It is NOT a Visa or MasterCard so you must do your best to shop at merchants, like most supermarkets, that accept American Express cards. It is now up to YOU. Start using your Sky Miles Card whenever possible, ESPECIALLY for all supermarket, gas station and other purchases that qualify for DOUBLE miles. In a matter of weeks to several months you should have the additional miles needed to reach your 25,000 mile goal and your FREE ROUND TRIP TICKET. Want to SEE Delta’s 25,000 Free Flight Award Chart? Here is the web address. https://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_miles/award_upgrade_mileage/delta_multi
_airline_awards/us_alaska_canada/index.jsp

Congratulations on your Free Delta Flight(s) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Need more free miles? Here is a list of credit cards that offer various types of Bonus miles. Look for NO FEE or FEE WAIVED cards and determine which if any suit you. Remember, if a card is tied into an airline, such as the Citibank American AAdvantage Bronze card a free frequent miles account will be opened for your as part of the application process (assuming you do not already have an account for that airline). Beware of bank cards, such as the Chase Platinum card. I recommend AGAINST such cards because they are NOT related to an actual airline free travel program. Example: Our favorite Frequent Flyer plan is the American Airlines AAdvantage free travel program.

So, we already have AAdvantage accounts set up and we already have Citibank AAdvantage Cards. When we reviewed the above credit card list we spied the Citibank Bronze Card, a card we DID NOT HAVE. Could we use an extra FREE 5,000 miiles? Of course! So, both of us applied for the listed Citi Bronze AAdvantage Mastercard to obtain another Free 5,000 miles. Upon first use of the Bronze we each receive 5,000 Bonus miles into our American AAdvantage accounts. Imagine, another 5,000 Free miles without paying a single CENT! Not bad. Here is the helpful list of Credit Cards and related deals.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:DHtV2PmnPj0J:www.creditcards.com
/airline-miles.php+sky+miles+double+miles&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=8&lr=lang_en -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEXT BEST - ALMOST FREE HAWAII FOR $90
(OR FLY TO ANY U.S. CITY FOR THE SAME $90)

Once again we are talking about an INSTANT almost free PLANE TICKET. No waiting to accrue miles. Once you qualify the ticket is yours for the asking. How about a US Airways Round Trip ticket to any Hawaiian island from most U.S. cities for $90! Imagine only $45 each way from New York to Maui.....WE THINK THAT IS ALMOST FREE! The same ticket in high season may sell for $600 or more. Or you may choose to fly to any U.S. or Canadian destination for the same $90! Simply apply for US Airways Bank of America Signature Visa card, pay the annual $90 fee, use the card at least ONCE and receive 25,000 instant Bonus Miles that qualifies for the above U.S./Canadian Round Trip Ticket.

Note: The above picture shows Steve in a Kayak off the West Maui Coast. Steve also took the picture of the turtle, shortly after jumping from his Kayak, at a distance of about one foot. Steve merged the two pictures to create a 'two worlds' effect. There is no better way than this to enjoy a $90 ticket.

Here is the LINK to the B of A Visa Card:

http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditcards/index.cfm?template=cc_usair_sign

PREFER HAWAII FOR THE SAME $90? Once you have been approved for the above B of A Signature card at $90 apply for a second FREE NO FEE Juniper Bank US Airways Mastercard. The fee is waived for two years. After your first use of the card you will receive 15,000 absolutely Free Bonus Miles so that your total account miles FROM BOTH CARDS will be 40,000 miles, more then enough to qualify for a US Airways 35,000 miles award good for a Round Trip ticket to Hawaii. THESE SAME 40,000 miles also qualify you for a Round Trip ticket to the Caribbean, Central America or Mexico.

Another totally FREE OPTION for those who are not prepared to pay $90 for the instant Free Flight. Obtain the above Free Juniper Bank US Airways Mastercard with 15,000 free Bonus Miles. Request E-statements on the application and receive an extra 1,000 miles. Keep in mind that this card offers a bonus of 1.5 miles for every dollar spent. Start using the card until you reach the 25,000 miles needed for a free award flight. NOTE: Unlike Delta’s 25,000 miles award which includes Alaska the US Airways award is good for continental U.S. and Canada only. Here is the LINK for the Juniper US Airways Free Mastercard: http://www.lotsmoremiles.com/ Here are some more helpful links:

US AIRWAYS AWARD CHART http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/redeemingmiles/award_charts/us_hp_
award_chart.htm
US AIRWAYS PHONE NUMBER FOR REAL (hopefully) anwers to award use, partners etc. http://www.usairways.com/customers/phone_directory/
One more. the US AIRWAYS frequent flyer home page: http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/

Despite our best efforts some or all of this may range from daunting to confusing. And of course, these deals are subject to CHANGE. We offer this exclusive CTN reader service: Feel free to email us any questions at: stevepat99@hotmail.com

DINERS CLUB FREE TRAVEL PROGRAM UPDATE

In Spring 2006 Diners Club and Citibank Mastercard entered into a groundbreaking alliance with awesome possibilities. Now that the ‘dust’ has settled here are the pros and cons of the new Diners Club program.

THE GOOD NEWS: Diners Club Cards, previously accepted in only limited venues in the U.S., may now be used at more than 22 million locations worldwide where Mastercard credit cards are welcome. Also, the Diners 'CHARGE' card which required full payment each month still gives holders one mile per dollar spent.

THE BAD NEWS: There has been a major trade-off. In summary, some major airlines have refused to renew the contracts with Diners Club so that Diners lost major airline partners including United, Continental and US Airways. The Diners 'CREDIT' card which offers revolving credit offers holders only ONE MILE PER TWO DOLLARS SPENT. Diners New Ticket Purchase Option: Diners Club now offers to BUY YOUR TICKET FOR YOU ON ANY AIRLINE Ex. If you need a $400 United Airlines ticket (remember United is no longer a Partner) Diners will now cash out Diners point and buy you the needed ticket. Cash out price is 100 points per $1.25 of ticket price so that your $400 United ticket will cost you 32,000 points/miles which is NOT as good a deal as any airlines 25,000 miles domestic round trip award. For more information on the "NEW" Diners Club read these helpful articles:

http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/ed/advice.php?id=284495 http://www.webflyer.com/programs/ratings_and_reviews/program.php?key=D101

OUR ‘TAKE’ ON THE NEW DINERS CLUB: First time card holders still WIN by earning 12,000 Bonus Diners Club miles during their first year of membership. New members who make at least one purchase per month will receive 1,000 Bonus miles in each of the first 12 months. These 12,000 miles are still transferable to the American AAdvantage frequent flyer program. By this time all should have called American to open their free American AAdavantage accounts. Another plus are other Bonus miles offers. During the past 4-5 years Diners Club has offered a 50%-100% bonus for miles transferred to British Airways by an August deadline. If this program is repeated in 2007 you could transfer your 12,000 bonus miles and receive 18,000 British Airways miles. Plus you would receive the same 50% bonus for all new purchase miles you accrue during the year. By using these yearly Bonus Transfer Miles offers we have amassed over 200,000 British Airways miles without flying on British Airways.

Another option is to use FREE BONUS miles offers, like those from Delta and Hawaiian. Then transfer Diners Club miles to top off these accounts to 35,000 miles for a Hawaii Award and 50,000 miles for Europe Awards.

Whether to renew after year one is a decision each person will have to make. For the time being we are continuing to keep our Diners Club CHARGE card. If you decide to renew you should call Diners and request BONUS miles in exchange for your renewal. If you wish to cancel, forget to notify Diners Club and receive a bill for the next years renewal fee you may simply call customer service and request the card be cancelled and you will owe nothing.

POLIDENT SAYS ‘OPEN WIDE’ & SAY FREE COMPANION TICKET!

Kidding aside, this hot off the press offer runs through July 15th and ‘may’ offer you substantial savings. We say ‘may’ since you must study the program’s free companion ticket CHART to determine whether you will be saving big time. The program, called Buy 5 and Fly A Friend for Free is found at: www.polident.com/polifly.aspx

To obtain a Free Companion Airline ticket you must: Purchase Five of six listed Polident products Purchase an airline ticket, to any continental U.S. destination. The price of the paid ticket must be at least the amount set forth in their included CHART. Example: We live in California which is Zone 6 on the Chart. New York is in Zone 1. The indicates that we shall receive a Free Round Trip Companion ticket California to New York IF we pay $470 for the other ticket. Bottom line is that $470 + $10 processing fee, $480 total or $240 each is a cheapskate price to pay for a California to New York Round Trip ticket. Goo d News: While participants must apply for tickets by July 2006 the time for completion of travel extends to the Summer of 2007 (see Rules and Conditions LINK on the web site) Bad News : It seems the program collects your paid fee and selects the carrier and flights for participants trips. Do not expect non-stop prime time day flights.

STEVE’S GIZMO CORNER: SAVE FORTY CENTS A GALLON !?!?

As we go to press our local ‘cheapest of all’ major gas stations sells its ARCO regular for $2.69 and high test for $2.89. A sad California tale indeed and hopefully your prices, elsewhere, are somewhat lower. This is the exact price our local Costco charges for its gas. My unique ‘gizmo’ this time around does not run on batteries and is neither an audioi nor video related device. Rather, this rectangular piece of plastic will save us FORTY CENTS PER GALLON each and every time we buy our ARCO gas. The same can be done for other major brands like Shell, Exon and Chevron. You may have heard of 5% gas credit cards but few are aware of a whopping 15% savings that translates, per current prices, to about 40 cents per gallons. All of this is part reality and part ‘experiment. It goes like this.....

Steve found web site: www.ediscountgascards.com which offers PRE-PAID gas cards for about ten major brands of gasoline. Steve paid the optional $10 per year membership fee which entitles one the the 15% discount on all card purchases. One may use Mastercard or Visa to pay for the gas cards. And so Steve embarked on a test run by ordering a $100 Arco Pump Pass Card. Note: Arco offers super low prices but does NOT accept any credit cards and charges a fee to use Debit cards. Arco charges no fee for use of its own Pump Pass card.

Bad News: The Arco Pump Pass Card was lost in the mail.

Good News - Upon emailing Sammy at Ediscountgascards.com Steve was assured a $100 Visa Gift Card would be sent overnight. It seems the Arco Cards were sold out.

More good news - the $100 Visa Gift card arrived the very next day and has already been used.

For the past two weeks the web site showed that Arco and several other cards were SOLD OUT. Sammy had mentioned new cards would be coming soon. Today Sammy’s web site showed that Arco cards were again in stock. Having received a good faith $100 cash value Visa Gift card for our $86.50 payment ($100 less 15% plus $1.50 shipping) we stood ready to dive in big time and did so by ordering 4 X $100 Arco Pump Pass Cards. The cards are due to be delivered in 2-3 weeks. Any CTN readers who wish further confirmation of this seemingly awesome gas savings program may email Steve at: stevepat99@hotmail.com Just as soon as the cards arrive Steve will send out his smoke signal via email to confirm that all went well.

How does Sammy do it? I can confirm, from my web search, that organizations such as Churches have been buying and selling such cards at a discount as money raisers. Sammy says he too gets the cards at discounted prices. He applies the $10 club membership fees and sponsor income (his site has sponsor LINKS) to offset his discount so that he appears to be selling his cards at only slightly above his discounted cost. The fact that his site posts SOLD OUT notices and our dealings to dat bode well for a legit operation. Best will be our anticipated receipt of the four Arco Cards.

LAS VEGAS $$$$ SAVINGS - FREE SHOWS, MEALS & MORE
Another FREE BLOG for YOU!

In preperation for our upcoming four day mid-May visit to Las Vegas Steve found www.WeDoItAllVegas.com The web site offers a 400+ page Casino Guide/Coupon book plus other goodies that have the potential for substantial savings on shows, meals and gambling. We put up a BLOG article with numerous helpful LINKS and which offers our 'review' of the We Do It All Las Vegas package. In summary, we recommend the package for its numerous $$$$ SAVING deals. Check out our review and decide for yourself. The package price is $19.95 plus S/H of about $8. You will find our lengthy review which inlcudes many examples of meals, show and gambling savings at: http://lasvegasgetaway.blogspot.com/

HOLIDAY INN FREE 1-2 DAY GETAWAY

It seems to be 'raining' freebies! Just bumped into this ongoing offer from Chase & Holiday Inn. We just applied for two Chase Priority Club Reward Visa cards. Each card is Free (Fee Waived the first year). On first use each of us will receive a Bonus of 15,000 points good for ONE FREE NIGHT stay at any number of Holiday Inns and related hotel chain including Suite Hotels in the U.S. and around the world. Singles obtaining one Visa card receive ONE FREE NIGHT. Couples, obtaining two Visa cards, as we did, will receive ONE FREE NIGHT EACH which can be used for a two-free night getaway. You may also choose to use your Free night(s) stay at related hotel chains such as Candlewood Suites. Candlewood offers many amenities, such as included kitchen, and scores of U.S. locations including Orlando and Ahaheim.

Here are all the details of Holiday Inn's Free hotel night(s) offer: http://firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webcgi/webserve.cgi?partner_dir_name=priority_club_familyofcards_ic&page=cont&mkid=6E63&msc=Z0030208&cm_re_name=PCRVisa15KBanner
_ic&page=cont&mkid=6E63&msc=Z0030208&cm_re_name=PCRVisa15KBanner

Check out Candlewood Studio suites, including kitchen, at: http://candlewoodsuites.com.

ISN'T LIFE SUITE! HAPPY, SAFE TRAVELS TO ALL!

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Note: Due to our yearly travels, six months per year during the
past six years (yes, we're a bit TIRED!) issues are NOT
sent out on a precise quarterly schedule. On
occasion we may publish 'special' double editions

CTN Spring 2006 Edition