FAMILIES FLY FREE Private Podcast

Kauai, Hawaii's Garden Isle, is the least visited of the Hawaiian Islands but certainly one of the most beautiful. Families Fly Free member Amylee Udell, who grew up visiting Hawaii where her family was from, will share her best tips for what to see and do in Kauai with help from Families Fly Free team member Chris Pisciotta, also a Hawaii regular.

Links:

• Alternate rental car options:
  • https://rentacarkauai.com/
  • https://kauairentacar.com/
  • https://discounthawaiicarrental.com/
• Coffee Plantation tour
• Tubing Irrigation Tours
  • https://kauaibackcountry.com/
• ATV Tours
  • https://kiputours.com/
• Recommended Guidebooks/Websites
  • https://www.revealedtravelguides.com/kauai-island/
  • https://thehawaiivacationguide.com/

What's the best way to fly to Europe? In this webinar, Lyn will outline what we recommended as the simplest and best options for your next flights across the pond. This will include using Capital One Venture miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Aer Lingus.

Links:

• WEBINAR: How to Fly a Family to Europe on Miles on Aer Lingus
• Google Flights
• Avios.com
• Chase Travel Portal
• Capital One Travel Portal

Lisa answers a variety of questions from new members.

Is London on your list? Families Fly Free member Patricia Harpring, who's visited the city multiple times for leisure and leading a school group, will share her best tips for what to see and do in London, a great spot for your first trip to Europe (they speak English!) or anytime.

Links:

AwardMapper.com

Hyatt (all 25,000 points):

• Hyatt Regency London — The Churchill, Marble Arch station (Central Line)
• Great Scotland Yard Hotel, Embankment station (Bakerloo, District, Circle, and Northern Lines)
• The Capital Hotel and Apartments, Knightsbridge station (Piccadilly Line)
• Dukes London, Green Park station (Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria Lines)

Marriott (35,000-60,000 points)

• Residence Inn London Kensington, Earls Court station (District and Piccadilly Lines)
• St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, King’s Cross St. Pancras station (Circle, Hammersmith, and Metropolitan Lines)
• London Marriott Marble Arch, Marble Arch station (Central Line) or Edgeware Road station (Circle, District, and Hammersmith Lines)
• JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, Marble Arch station (Central Line)
• Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, Green Park station (Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria Lines)

IHG (20,000+ points)

• Holiday Inn Express Newbury Park, Newbury Park station (Central Line)
• Holiday Inn London-West, North Acton station (Central Line)
• Hotel Indigo London-Kensington, Earls Court station (District and Piccadilly Lines)
• Staybridge Suites–Vauxhall, Oval station (15 minute walk, Northern Line)
• Hotel Indigo-Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus station (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines)

If you have Capital One Venture points:

Choice (16,000-25,000 points)

• Comfort Inn Westminster, Pimlico station (Victoria Line)
• Comfort Inn Hyde Park, Queensway station (Central Line) or Bayswater station (Circle and District Lines)

Premier Inn

London Walks

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Millenium Bridge

Shakespeare’s Globe Theater

Tate Modern (free)

London Eye

Hyde Park

Buckingham Palace

Harrod’s

Oxford Street (Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus stations)

Churchill War Rooms

Westminster Abbey

Trafalgar Square

National Gallery

National Portrait Gallery (temporarily closed until spring 2023)

British Museum

British Library Treasures Gallery

Covent Garden

Bryanna Royal, a blogger who's traveled in an RV with her husband and kids since 2014, shares her detailed tips for what type of RV to rent/buy, the different types of campsites, making room for what you need, navigating National Parks and more. This is from a 2021 webinar on RV travel. Find her at CrazyFamilyAdventure.com. 

This month Lyn talks about the continued craziness of summer travel, whether you need to keep your SW cards after earning your bonus, whether or not buying points is a good deal, which travel backpack she recommends and more.

Links:

Article rating backpacks

Hyatt Kaanapali

Travel Tuesday on YouTube answering the question about when to get the SW companion pass

Considering becoming a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member? We've gathered Families Fly Free members who are also DVC members to share their best tips. They explain how DVC works, the cost to get involved and the benefits, while sharing their favorite parts of being a member and their best tips and strategies to get the most out of DVC and even rent your points to others if you so choose.

Never been to Disneyland or haven't been in a long time? Lyn and Chris will fill you in on what they love about the original Disney theme park in Anaheim, California. They'll explain how the parks are laid out, ticket options, favorite rides, best places to eat and two of their favorite times to visit: Halloween and Christmas. Enjoy! 

Links:

YouTube Videos:

Grand Californian Hotel Tour

Grand Californian Double Queen Room

Grand Californian El Capitan Suite

This month Lyn discusses what foods you can take through security, best timing for earning the Companion pass, getting information about cruising, when Southwest releases their winter schedule, and more.

How can you save on accommodations in Europe? Families Fly Free to the rescue. Cami and Stephanie will guide you through all your options and some you may not have thought of, including hotels on points, vacation rentals, hostels, yurts and Vacasa cottages.

Links:

Awardmapper

Hostelworld

Hostelz

Cottages with Wyndham

Monica’s Yurt through Airbnb

Airbnb

Vrbo

Bedandbreakfast.eu

Homeexchange

Lovehomeswap

TrustedHousesitters