FAMILIES FLY FREE Private Podcast

In the September Q&A, Lyn discusses the following:

• How to hold a seat for your Companion until you earn your Companion Pass
• How to find new videos in the Main Hub of Kajabi
• Transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to United
• Transfer partners for AMEX points
• Getting a business card without a corporation or LLC
• Closing your Southwest card before reapplying
• Universal Studios hotels and tips
• IHG timeshare presentations to get a free hotel stay
• And more! 

If you need a rental car for a future trip, Lisa outlines the simple steps to follow to ensure you get the best possible deal whether it's with Turo, a traditional rental car company, a travel portal or something else. We show you what sites to check in what order to score maximum savings.

Use our car rental worksheet where you can make notes of the prices you find at each of our recommended methods to check to decide your best option on our Get Organized Miles & Points Toolkit.

In this webinar we're going to show you how to a) find the best deal on Southwest if you're booking in points (always book in points!) b) find the best deal on another airline in miles, flexible points or out of pocket. We'll review a few simple steps you can follow each time to make sure you've got the best deal for your goals.

Links:

• VIDEO: Why to Book Southwest in Points
• WEBINAR: How to Find the Best Deals on Flights to Europe
• VIDEO: The Hack
• VIDEO: How to Use Skyscanner to Find a Flight
• VIDEO: How to Search for a Flight Using Google Flights Explore
• Get Organized Toolkit
• Southwest Low Fare Calendar
• Southwest Route Map
• Check Southwest Hawaii Direct Flights
• Google Flights
• ITA Matrix
• Skyscanner flight search
• Momondo Flight Search
• Capital One Travel Portal
• Chase Travel Portal
• Mighty Travels
• Scott's Cheap Flights
• Dollar Flight Club

Cami outlines an easy process you can follow to make sure you're paying the fewest possible points or the least out of pocket when booking your family's next hotel room.

Links:

• How to Find Hotels You Can Book with Points via Awardmapper
• Awardmapper
• Wyndham
• IHG
• Booking.com
• Hotels.com
• Southwesthotels
• Lyn’s article on Million Mile Secrets–5 Insider Secret to Make the Most of Southwest’s Hotel Booking Site
• Expedia
• Hotelslash
• Pruvo
• OpenHotelAlert
• BetterBidding.com
• Hostelworld
• YMCA of the Rockies 2-bedroom cabin
• YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch 2-bedroom cabin
• Why You Should Consider KOA/YMCA Resorts Webinar
• VRBO
• AirBnB
• Renting Timeshares for Pennies on the Dollar With George Webinar
• Introduction to Renting Timeshares for Pennies on the Dollar With George Webinar
• Amazing Member-Recommended Timeshares Webinar

Learn how to make the most of the Marriott Bonvoy program to earn and redeem points for free hotel stays with Lyn and Katie. While Marriott is not a preferred program under our system for maximizing staying free, it does work with Chase Ultimate Rewards and we'll show you how to maximize your Marriott points.

Links:

• Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions
• Transfer Marriot Points to Airline Miles
• Marriot Brands
• Marriott Status Levels
• Uber Program
• Discover Your World (book activities & experiences to earn points)
• Cruise with Points
• Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy (dining program)
• Hertz Car Rentals
• Earn points for hosting events
• Refer a friend to Marriott Bonvoy
• Refer a friend to Chase Marriott Cards
• Cash + Points
• Points Advance

In this portion of How to Stay Free in Hotels, Lisa explains how to use the IHG One Rewards program to maximize staying free in InterContinental Hotels Group (Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, InterContinental, Hotel Indigo & Kimpton) hotels, one of our favorite chains for staying free.

Links:

• Earn up to 500 points on food delivery when you order from Grubhub (https://www.ihg.com/trip-extras/us/en/restaurants/delivery)
• https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/reservation
• https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/
• https://www.ihg.com/armyhotels/hotels/us/en/reservation
• https://ihgrewardsdineandearn.rewardsnetwork.com/
• https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/partner-offers/dining
• https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnresorts/hotels/us/en/montego-bay/mbjrh/hoteldetail
• https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnresorts/hotels/us/en/ixtapa-zihuatanejo/zihha/hoteldetail

Chris reviews the Hilton Honors program and explains the best ways to redeem points for free hotel stays at Hilton. Please note, Hilton is not our preferred chain to maximize staying free under our system, but we will show you how to get the most out of your Hilton points if you prefer Hilton.

Links:

• Join Hilton Honors
• Sign up for Hilton Honors Card
• Sign up for Hilton Honors Surpass Card
• Sign up for Hilton Honors Aspire Card
• Sign up for Hilton Honors Business Card
• Hilton Honors Member Benefits by Tier
• How to Earn and Use Hilton Honors Points
• Hilton Honors Special Offers
• Hilton Brands
• Hilton Travel Ideas

In August's Q&A, Lyn chats with a member about accommodations for a Disney World trip 3 months away, explains when to close a Southwest card before reopening it, and discusses IHG's book 3 nights, get 1 free offer. She also:

1. Answers if both spouses can get 5 cards in 24 months per Chase
2. Discusses Capital One Venture X's Priority Pass and the option to bring unlimited guests with you
3. Explains why she became a member of Disney Vacation Club

Links:

• Disney Vacation Club $500 off
• Rent FFF Members' DVC points
• DVC Rental Store (rent DVC points)

Cami shows you how to use the World of Hyatt program to earn and redeem points for free hotel nights AND all-inclusive stays in Mexico and the Caribbean, one of their best redemptions! Hyatt is one of our preferred programs that allows you to get the most free stays.

Links:
Sign up for World of Hyatt
Sign up for a World of Hyatt Personal Credit Card
Sign up for a World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Tiers and Benefits of World of Hyatt
Earn Points and Rewards
Redeem Points and Rewards
Free Nights and Upgrades
Hyatt Special Offers and Promotions
Hyatt Brands and Brand Explorer Awards
MGM M life partnership
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Avis
Linblad Expeditions
FIND Experiences

This is an overview of how to use points to book hotels at ANY chain following our travel-free formula, as well as how to stay at vacation rentals and non-chain hotels free. Lyn will also share how to find the best hotel deal across multiple brands and options.