Posts by Brittany Jones-Cooper

Cities to get the most bang for your buck this Fourth of July

With the Brexit, all eyes are on the United Kingdom and what some are calling their “Independence Day.” But in the United States, Americans are probably more concerned with planning their own July 4 celebrations.

While some with stick to barbecues in their backyards, AAA is predicting that 43 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend (defined as Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4).

Of those travelers, 36 million are expected to drive – and can you blame them? Gas is currently $2.31 a gallon, an astounding 47 cents cheaper than last year. AAA expects most US drivers will pay the lowest Independence Day gas prices since 2005.

But road trips aren’t for everyone, and 3.3 million Americans are expected to fly to their destinations this weekend. The average price of a round-trip ticket is hovering around $207 (although you can expect to pay more if you haven’t booked already).

The remaining 3.3 million Americans will travel by train, bus or boat — with cruise bookings up 35% compared to the last Fourth of July.

Seattle skyline with space needle tower

Go America!

Here are the 10 best cities for fourth of July celebrations:

5 tips to transform your Airbnb into a money maker

People all around the world are making big money with Airbnb . In fact, the average host in the U.S. earns an extra $7,000 a year, and some of the sharing app’s most avid users are bringing in six figures. Here’s how you can make your listing into a money maker.

1. Scope the competition

Check the prices of local hotels and other Airbnb’s in the area to make sure your rate is fair and competitive. If you really want to monitor prices in your area, sign up for a site like Everbooked , which shows seasonal trends and occupancy rates in your neighborhood and city.

If you’re new to the Airbnb game, it might be a good strategy to charge less than your competitors initially – just to gain some momentum.

2. Select great photos

3. Staging is important

4. Ask for reviews

Good reviews can make or break your Airbnb listing. Leave a little welcome note and treat for your guest (like a bottle of wine or chocolate), and ask them to leave a good review if they enjoyed their stay.

5. Act as a concierge

What are your tips for running a successful Airbnb? Email us at yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com.

How a bright red vintage trailer inspired a young couple’s business

A great business starts with one idea, or in the case of Morgan Gliko, one tiny trailer.

After having their first child in 2011, Morgan and his wife Ashley fell into an exhausting routine. They were two ships passing in the night as she worked nights as an ultrasound nurse, and he worked during the day at the American Red Cross. “I would hand off our son and go to work,” he told Yahoo Finance. “We were like two single parents who never had family time until we went on vacation.”

When the couple from Mt. Juliet, Tenn. discovered they were expecting a second child, it was clear that something needed to change. Ashley’s income was enough to support the family, so Morgan decided to leave his job and stay home with the children.

In 2015, the family took their annual vacation to visit family in Montana, and decided to buy a 16-foot red Shasta Airflyte trailer for the trip. It cost $15,000, and they loved the fact that they could travel at their own pace, staying at campgrounds along the way.

“I wanted to stay in the workforce and we’ve always wanted to start our own business,” says Gliko. “We love to travel, so we thought it made sense to give people the chance to experience RV life."

Why American Airlines' new rewards program will cost you more money

Taking a long international flight may no longer be the best way to earn frequent flyer miles on American Airlines (AAL).

Starting Aug.1, the airline will officially shift its AAdvantage loyalty program to award miles based on the price of the ticket. The current system rewards travelers based on the distance flown.

The change is no doubt an effort by the airline to better compete with Delta and United, whose programs work in a similar way. They all want to draw spendthrift travelers who buy expensive first-class tickets.

Under the new system, AAdvantage members will earn 5 loyalty points for every $1 spent, with elite members earning more miles based on their status level. For instance, Gold status members will earn 7 miles for every dollar they spend, Platinum members will earn 8 miles, and Executive Platinum members will rack up 11 miles.

General members in the Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus programs also earn 5 miles for every dollar they spend. Elite members can also earn more miles based on their status.

What apps and sites do you use to save money on travel ? Email us at   yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com. 

 

3 guaranteed tips to save money on summer travel

It’s almost summer which means one thing…vacation!

But before you go ahead and book that trip, check out these three ways to save money on your summer travel.

Imoova

Did you know that you can rent a camper for just $1 a day?

The site Imoova works with companies that need campers and cars relocated from one city to another, which is where you come in. For just $1 a day, plus a $25 booking fee, you can rent a campervan for a one-way journey. Some of the current routes available are Los Angeles to Denver, Miami to Chicago, and Las Vegas to San Francisco.

Most rentals have a time limit for how long you can keep the car, but you can extend it for an additional fee. As far as insurance is concerned, the vehicles come with reduced damage coverage and you can opt for additional coverage if you like. It’s a great option to take an affordable road trip, and the best part is that most of the routes will give you a $100 fuel credit.

Skiplagged

Up next is an app called Skiplagged , which lets you save money through hidden city ticketing.

Hotel Tonight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you should know about terrorism and travel insurance

We all face one important dilemma when booking a vacation abroad: Do I need travel insurance?

After booking your hotel, flights, transportation and activities, it’s easy to want to skip on travel coverage. After all, it can tack hundreds onto your bill, and really, what are the chances you’ll actually need it? But terrorist threats are real, and travel insurance could save you thousands on a last-minute cancellation.

This week the State Department issued a Europe travel alert , warning U.S. travelers of the potential risk of terrorist attacks in European cities. The alert warns travelers of threats at major events, tourist sites, restaurants, and busy commercial and transportation centers.

The State Department also issued a specific warning about travel to Krakow, Poland, where the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day is expected to attract 2.5 million visitors between July 26 and July 31. In response, Poland plans to impose stricter border controls between July 4 and Aug. 2. Visitors will have to show their passport and submit to stricter security screenings.

1. Decide if it’s worth it.

Can't afford a summer vacation? Take a staycation

In a perfect world, we’d all have overflowing bank accounts ready to finance a long and relaxing luxury vacation at a villa in Tuscany. But in reality, most Americans don’t feel like they can actually use their vacation days, and others have issues scraping together enough dough to make the time off really worth it.

To those people we offer another option: a staycation.

The AAA reports that 35% of Americans will travel 50 miles or more this summer. That means 65% of people plan on staying close to home. Obviously this isn’t the most exciting option, but it is way more budget-friendly. In fact, American Express reports that the average person plans to spend $941 on a summer trip, which is no small expense for a family of four.

But alas, all cities are not created equal, and a new report from Wallethub pinpoints the best U.S. cities to take a stay-at-home vacation. The site compared 150 of the most populated cities in the country, analyzing food, entertainment, rest and relaxation.

1. Change your surroundings

Crazy (and creative) ways people have dodged annoying airline fees

When it comes to airline fees, passengers often feel like their backs are against the wall.

But as the following stories show, all fees are negotiable if you use a little creativity.

Take Alex Hamberger, a 30-year-old man who used his mastery of the English language to convince American Airlines to waive a $200 cancellation fee.

Hamberger planned to fly from Buffalo, N.Y., to Kansas City to visit family when he started to feel sick. He went to a doctor who advised him not to travel because he had flu-like illness that could introduce pneumonia and other dangerous illnesses to his infant niece.

Hamberger rescheduled his flight, asking the airline rep if they could waive the $200 cancellation fee. He was told that the request would have to be sent through the mail along with a doctor’s note. He wanted to ensure that his request was heard, so Hamberger formulated a witty and heartfelt letter to catch the airline’s attention.

He went on t o describe the cause of his travel setback and even used some flattery, thanking the airline for “all you do to make the travel dreams of flyers such as myself a reality.” American Airlines received his letter and miraculously decided to refund the money.

Tips to save big money on your summer travel

We all know that Memorial Day weekend is a big time for travel, but if you’re already looking ahead to summer vacation, you’re not alone.

According to American Express , 80% of Americans, or about 196 million people, plan to travel in the next couple of months — and plan to spend an average of $941 per person on travel.

With cost and safety consistently ranking as top travel concerns, 72% of Americans also revealed they plan to travel domestically this summer, compared with 15% who plan on traveling abroad.

Throwing down nearly $1,000 on a getaway is no small expense, so to ensure vacation success, here are summer travel tips to get the most bang for your buck.

Beaches

After a long slog of winter, a beach vacation is a no-brainer. So it’s no surprise that 40% of Americans plan on taking a beach vacation this summer, according to the American Express survey.

Cost:

Where to go:

While everyone else flocks to Miami to party on South Beach, consider Tampa.

Road trips

Cost:

We’ve got some good news and some bad news.

Where to go:

National Parks

Cost:

Where to go:

 

The cheapest (and most expensive) cities in the world for a weekend getaway

If you are looking for a vacation that won’t break the bank, then it’s probably best to avoid Switzerland.

For the fifth year in a row, Deutsche Bank has released its survey of global prices, which concludes that Swiss and Nordic cities are generally the most expensive in the world to visit.

For instance, the most expensive place in the world to take a weekend getaway is Zurich, Switzerland, which Deutsche Bank estimates would cost $2,475. The survey defines a weekend getaway as two nights at a standard five-star hotel, two pub meals for two, two restaurant dinners for two, a two-day car rental, two pints of beer, four liters of soft drinks/water, and a bit of shopping including a pair of jeans and sport shoes. Note the hefty price tag doesn’t even include airfare!

Sydney, Australia, was deemed the most expensive city for a weekend getaway, costing $2,320, and London, England, rounded out the top three with a projected cost of $2,226 for a weekend away.

Other note-worthy travel prices to know:

Public Transportation

Most expensive:

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