Back to School Bonus

Time flies when you're having fun. Summer is nearing its end, and just like that, the kiddies are soon heading back to school.

Getting ready for the new school year is all the buzz. New outfits and school supplies are in high demand this time of year. But parents gearing up for the school year and big kids alike can benefit from the AAdvantage® "Back to School" bonus offer starting today through 08/21/16 at 11:59:59 pm ET.  

If you shop for qualifying purchases during the back-to-school bonus period, you can earn up to 1,500 bonus miles in addition to the standard miles earned from shopping online at stores like Apple, ebags, Staples and Kohl's via the AAdvantage® eShopping mall. 

Here's how to earn: 

• Spend $350, Earn 700 bonus miles 
• Spend $700, Earn 1,500 bonus miles

Get more info on the AAdvantage® back to school bonus.

Shop for back-to-school now through 8/21 and earn up to 1,500 bonus mil

Bali: "A Living Postcard"

According to Trip Advisor, Bali, the "Island of the Gods" is a "living postcard" that brings fantasy to life.  Since Bali was one of my bucket list destinations I had to see for myself!  

This summer, my husband and I wanted a romantic destination to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary and Bali was it!  I can second Trip Advisor's description of Bali.  There is literally something for everyone to enjoy  -- unique Balinese culture, beaches, great food, sightseeing, nature.  To date, our visit to Bali has been one of the best vacations ever.  

If you're on the fence about Bali, get off.  Go!  With such a long bucket list, I rarely return to a destination, but Bali is definitely on the short list of places I'd return in a heartbeat.

Bali seems exotic and expensive, but it can really be affordable!  We are not rich folks, by any means.  Remember, I'm the wanderlust traveler who loves a good deal.  Though I usually use miles to cover travel expenses, whenever I travel halfway around the world, I'd rather earn than burn miles. 

I called several travel agents and found that packages for two that met the amenities we wanted smashed our budget. I received quotes for $9000 and $15,000 for air, hotel and tours and some didn't include accommodations for the whole duration!  Is it too much to ask for four or five star accommodations with airport transfers, butler service, privacy, daily breakfast, private plunge pool, on or near the beach for 10 days at an affordable price?? Not to me.

Enter in BJ's travel.  Yes, you read that right.  BJ's Wholesale Club has worldwide travel services at a great discount!  BJ's packages fell right within our $5000 to $6500 budget. In addition, to the reasonable flight and hotel for two, we received a $200 BJ's gift card upon our return.  We were able to travel to Bali with overnight layover in Hong Kong (Bonus!!) and stay at the fantastic Kayumanis Nusa Dua Private Villas & Spa which met and exceeded our wish list.  

Kayumanis offered such personalized, high-quality service -- including complimentary shuttle service, a welcome drink and complimentary massage.  On day one we had such a warm greeting.  By the second day, they knew us by name.  The Kayumanis resort offered ultimate relaxation with a well appointed villa influenced by traditional Balinese design.  Butlers delivered breakfast to our villa daily or on the beach to watch the sunrise. We enjoyed afternoon tea and typical Balinese sweets each day. Without fail, we were greeted with a smile and hello from every last member of the Kayumanis team.  It felt like home away from home.  But that seemed to be the theme across Bali. The Balinese people were just warm and inviting everywhere we went.


We booked private tours with guides who showed us Bali through native eyes.  We found the companies via Trip Advisor and they were very punctual, friendly and inexpensive.  We drove from Nusa Dua to various sights across Bali enjoying cultural dances, gorgeous sunsets at beautiful temples like Tanah Lot, seeing waterfalls, visiting the Monkey forest, taking an authentic Balinese cooking class and more! 

To top off such an amazing experience,  I earned more than 20K frequent flyer miles for air travel to Hong Kong/Bali. Then another 400+ for staying at a Marriott property in Hong Kong. These additional miles were the icing on the cake getting me even closer to my next status level and even more travel opportunities.  

Stay tuned! 

Cyber Monday is here!

The Monday after Thanksgiving is a special day for mileage/points junkies.   Earning rewards at great prices  at your favorite online retailers, like Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Groupon, Nike, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Kohl's etc.,is a win for everyone!  Not only do you get great savings and often free shipping on Cyber Monday, opportunities for bonus miles will get you even closer to your next vacation. I'm ALWAYS ready for the next vacation!

If you plan to put a dent in your holiday shopping today, don't forget to take that extra step and visit your reward program's online shopping portal to earn miles or points for all your purchases! (I have my favorite shopping portals bookmarked and saved as my homepage.) Several coupon codes are floating around for even more savings. You can find a coupon code by visiting www.evreward.com or www.retailmenot.com. 

Happy shopping! And, happy Mileage Junkie Day!! Enjoy.

Online Shopping Portals:

• American Airlines Aadvantage:  Advantage eshopping
• United Mileage Plus:  Mileage Plus Shopping
• US Airways: Dividend Miles Storefront
• Delta: SkyMiles Shopping
• Southwest: Rapid Rewards Shopping
• JetBlue: ShopTrue

Take a vacation from all your holiday shopping

I know it's been a while, but there's no better time to boost your miles than the holidays.  I mean it. Take a vacation from all your holiday shopping when you use the AAdvantage eshopping mall. A gift for your self, friends and loved ones, can help you get a little closer to that dream vacation.  Now through December 22, you can get up to 3,000 bonus miles in addition to the miles per dollar you earn when you purchase items from your favorite retailers on the AAdvantage eshopping.
 

Purchases made at FTD.com through the AAdvantage eShopping mall, returns, shipping, taxes, gift card purchases, and certain products are not eligible for the bonus; please see site for coupon code or usage restrictions. It will take about 8-10 weeks from the end of promotional period for bonus miles to post to your account.

Happy holidays! And Happy Shopping!

One of My Favorite Things...Cyber Monday

You can keep the raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens... one of my favorite things is earning miles.

Today, is one of my FAVORITE days of the year.  Yep.  Cyber Monday! An opportunity to get great deals, free shipping and MILES for buying a little something for friends, family and of course, a little somethin' somethin' for myself.  After all, I've managed to get on Santa's "Nice" list this year! (Major Accomplishment)

I encourage you to visit your frequent flyer program's online shopping site to earn miles -- in some cases, double miles-- for your holiday purchases at a variety of online retailers like Target, Macys, Best Buy, Walmart, Nordstrom, Brookstone, Home Depot and the Apple Store. You will find great gifts for the people on your list, regardless of price point.   I plan to rack up on deals and miles for electronics, apparel, winterwear and more.

Don't miss out on an opportunity to earn miles through your frequent flyer or rewards program online shopping sites like Aadvantageeshopping, US Airways Dividend Miles Storefront, Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping or SkyMiles Shopping not just on Cyber Monday but throughout the holiday season.

Avoid lines in the stores and enjoy the benefit of earning miles from your couch and having your holiday purchases delivered right to your front door!  That's one of my favorite perks of being Santa's little helper...convenience! :)

Happy Holidays!

Miles for Cupcakes? Sweet!

This diva loves miles-- and cupcakes (in moderation, of course)! If I told you that eating cupcakes can get you closer to your dream vacation, would you believe me?  Well, it's true!

 I recently discovered that earning miles is even sweeter.  If  you're in the Washington, DC area or plan to visit in the near future, be sure to check out one of my favorite local cupcake shops: Red Velvet Cupcakery! With delicious flavors and beautiful presentation, Red Velvet provides great cupcakes to indulge your sweet tooth or sweet treats for the next special occasion.  They even offer vegan, gluten and sugar free cupcakes.

You can earn miles for every dollar you spend at the Washington, DC, Penn Quarter and Reston, Virginia Red Velvet locations through the Rewards Network dining program.  Choose from their wonderful daily menu and their weekly featured flavor with all rich, delicious wholesome ingredients.

So, if you haven't already, sign up for your frequent flyer program's dining rewards program and register your debit/credit card(s) to make sure you earn miles for your sweet purchases and other dining experiences at participating eateries!

Hey Mortimer... I'm Back!

I know I've been MIA for a while, but the Mileage Diva has still got her eye on the target. I'm determined as ever to get back to the 100K mile mark and knock a dream vacation off my bucket list. 

Last December, when I got back from my Costa Rican vacation (purchased with frequent flyer miles), I had 2,566 miles.  

I've been indulging my guilty pleasures of shopping on AAdvantage eshopping mall, dining out with the Dining Rewards Network, and traveling to reach my goal.  As of today, I have 31,507 Aadvantage miles, enough for a free flight in the continental U.S. At this rate, I should be ready for my bucket list trip in another year or so.  

I'll be keeping my eye open for extra bonus mile opportunities and you know I'll be sharing what I find.

Check out these cool summer sweepstakes for the chance to earn lots of miles:

· MasterCard Priceless Vineyard Experience Sweepstakes: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/specials/promotions/mcpriceless.html 

· AAdvantage 500K Miles
Sweepstakes: https://www.aadvantageeshopping.com/summersweeps.aspx

Mileage Pays Off...Costa Rica Here I Come!

I often go on and on about my quest for frequent flyer miles and great deals; but this mileage diva is putting a twist on things. In addition to sharing helpful tips and ideas to build up your frequent flyer mileage, I will provide a little more insight into how I redeem miles to highlight your options for using mileage.  

After building up more than 90,000 miles, I decided to cash in for a wonderful 6 day adventure to beautiful Costa Rica. I've never been to Central America and I am SO excited to combine adrenaline-filled, Eco-friendly experiences like zip lining in the rain forest with much-needed relaxation of the spa and beach.

I used frequent flyer mileage to book my flights and hotel accommodations at a 4-star beach resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica for practically nothing!  I saved over $1,100 on my vacation by using miles. All I paid was the difference for the hotel that my miles didn't cover and the taxes on the flight.  Did I mention I'm flying first class??  I can't wait!!

I'll be sure to share my photos and videos from Costa Rica. Hopefully, they will inspire you to ramp up your mileage efforts towards your next vacation.  Stay tuned.

Tracking Your Miles? There's an app for that too.

Heads up all smartphone users (Android, Blackberry, iPhone).  If you're like me, your phone is like an AmEx, you "don't leave home without it."
 
Getting and tracking frequent flyer miles is literally at your fingertips.  In my pursuit of frequent flyer miles and my love for technology, I discovered when looking for or tracking my frequent flier mileage or any other loyalty program on the go, "there's an app for that."  No matter which smartphone you use, you can find a free app that allows you to track all your loyalty and mileage programs and avoid having your points or miles expire.  (They will expire if you have no activity in your account by a certain date.)

You can also use the rewards network app to quickly locate restaurants that participate in your frequent flyer dining rewards program so you can get miles for each dollar you spend including tax and gratuity.

These are the top three no-cost apps that come to mind.  They are worth checking out:

mileBlaster - Award Wallet- Rewards Network Dining

Visit your smartphone app store today, and download these or similar apps to help you get and stay on top of your frequent flyer miles.