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Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Use Your New Duty Station to Choose the Best Cruise

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Cruising is a very popular vacation and each year the cruise lines up their game with new ships launching each season. While very popular it can be a pricey option for travel especially as military families we can rarely plan a year out to get all the great free offers. So how can you snag the best deals?

 The first thing to do is…

Plan your trip based on where you live.

You want to pick a cruise that leaves from a port within driving distance of your home. This saves a fortune on airfare especially if you are traveling as a family. There used to just be a few U.S. departure ports but now there are so many choices. When you are stationed on the East Coast, this is when you want to travel to Bermuda, the Bahamas or the Caribbean. You can depart from New York, Bayonne, New Jersey, Boston, or Baltimore.  In the southern states try Charleston, or five different cities in Florida. For Caribbean, Mexico and South America you can depart from Tampa, New Orleans or Galveston, Texas. From the West Coast you can cruise to South America, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska. Departure ports include San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.  All these departure ports are within driving distance of many military installations.

Photo Credit: © ffly/Adobe Stock

For many military families your only option is to book last minute. This can help you end up with some great deals. Living near Seattle I watched cruise prices to Alaska for 2 years and leaped when I found a great deal three weeks out from the departure date. Track the prices on cruises you are interested in so you know a good deal when you see it.

People often book the lowest priced inside cabin but often the last minute deals will give you upgraded cabins as the less expensive sell out first. For me a balcony cabin is worth it as I like to get away from all the people and have some privacy. Other people I know book the cheapest cabin as all they do is sleep in the cabin spending all their time using the ships amenities.

Also, don’t forget to book with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards. The savings are undeniable and the points add up quick. You can read more about the travel program here.

 A few insider tips. Make sure you have the proper documents. Every time I have cruised I have seen people turned away because they don’t have the proper documentation. This often occurs when only one parent is traveling with their children. Plan to arrive at the port of departure as early as you can. Ships typically depart around 5 p.m. but processing begins as early as 11 a.m. You won’t be able to board right away but the lines are usually shorter and you can get your bags packed. Make sure to put swimsuits and sunscreen in a carry on bag for warmer trips. This will give you almost a ½ day more on your cruise. Once you board around 1 p.m. you can have lunch and explore the ship before it departs. Many of the amenities and often the pools will be open.

I want to take a cruise to Mexico out of San Diego. Where is your dream cruise destination?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Get a Sweet Deal for Spring Break with Military Shoppers

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After a long, cold winter (for most of the US), it’s finally spring! Which means flowers, sunshine and fun spring break vacations for military families all over the world.

But…where to go? There are so many options, often right in your own back yard. It can be super hard to choose just one cool thing to explore!

Discover cool options near and far with the Military Shoppers Travel Rewards program! With flexible search options, you’ll be getting a sweet deal for spring break adventures into the bargain.

Get a Sweet Deal for Spring Break with Military Shoppers

I spend so much time searching online for ideal vacations, reading review sites and playing with different dates or lengths. Even then, I’m not quite sure what I’m getting myself into sometimes.

Flexible Searches for Tons of Destinations

I love that I can search by weeks and change the dates super easily. Plus, I can make my search as wide or narrow as I’d like. From searching the whole US to looking just in the New Hampshire mountains, it’s simple to check out a ton of options. There are international options, too!

I’m able to price compare dates at one hotel or between hotels to find the best price with the best amenities. Then I can try to tailor my vacation to the lowest prices across flights and lodging.

I loved that I could search throughout a whole state, like Virginia, or narrow it down by city or region, like inland or coastal. Again, keeping it flexible in terms of where we’ll be traveling because military life.

Best of all, the lodgings, activities, air and cars are all sourced from major retailers. And members can leave reviews to share their experiences. It’s so helpful when you’re stuck between hotels or even two different destinations.

Military Shoppers Travel program does require that you sign up for the service. The entry level is free and, best of all, earns points with every booking you complete through the website. To earn more points with each vacation, you can level up your account with paid memberships.

When you book, you can redeem points to decrease the cost of your trip. Each point takes one dollar off the final total.

Spring Break Locations on Military Shoppers

Spring break is coming up and that means you’re likely shopping for a great trip. To help you prep, we scouted a few great options for you to check out in prime vacation destinations.

  • Virginia Beach, VA: Check-in to a beach-side resort and enjoy the start of summer in style! Hotels start at $39/night and many offers pools or other amenities. Enjoy local attractions like the Virginia Beach Aquarium, the Cape Henry Lighthouse and Neptune’s Park.
  • Cape Cod, MA: It might be a smidge chilly in early spring, but it’s the perfect way to miss the summer crowds while enjoying all the fun – except maybe ocean swimming! Hotels start at $70/night and are often located near area attractions. Wander along the Cape Cod National Seashore, eat all the seafood and poke through local boutique shops.
  • San Diego, CA: It’s a year-round vacation destination, and a top military hub! Enjoy sun, surf and an amazing food scene, with hotels starting from $58/night. You’ll love exploring the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and the USS Midway.
  • Aspen, CO: Enjoy some spring powder in the Rockies! Ski or snowboard with your families, with rooms starting at $90/night. Rent your board or skis, try a ghost tour or explore Aspen’s history!
Photo Credit: © Dmitry Sunagatov/Adobe Stock

Year-Round Travel with Military Shoppers

We’ve had a great time traveling around Asia for the last three years, but we’re ready to explore the US with our family! Luckily, Military Shoppers has connections to amazing hotels and resorts around the States.

There are so many great ways to use Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards:

  • PCS Hotel Stays: Locked out of on-base TLF? Use the Military Shoppers program to scout extended stay hotels near your next duty station! Make your search super specific to include your desired amenities, like kitchenettes or multiple bedrooms.
  • Family Vacations: We love to check out different vacation spots near and far. I love that I can check options by the week and within a large date range – up to 60 days! It helps with finding a location that’s great for kids and is at a price point that work for our budget.
  • Girl’s Trips: I’ve been plotting ways to get my friends together for fun adventures, without spouses or kids. With options to search in cool locations, like Charleston, New Orleans or Savannah, it looks like my next weekend getaway with friends is coming sooner rather than later!
  • Holiday Travel: We’d love to be able to visit family during or around the holidays, but it can be tough to gauge the best prices and times to travel. I’m excited to use Military Shoppers to help make our holiday travel more affordable!

Do you use Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards program? Share your stories and tips with us!

100% Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space – A

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By Marguerite Cleveland

As of August 18, 2018, 100% Disabled Veterans are now authorized to Fly Space-A   under H.R. 5515 – the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act.  The Veteran must have a permanent service-connected disability and have a DD Form 2765, Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (TAN).  Veterans are only authorized to fly within the continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories. This new benefit comes with a catch. It will be extremely difficult to use for a veteran with severe mobility issues.

Space-A travel is like a lottery ticket, you sign up and hope your number gets called. Veterans will be in the last Space Available Travel Priority of Category VI. Being in the last category means you are the last to be called for a flight. With the uncertainty of whether you will get a flight or not, many veterans may find this challenging.

For those Veterans requiring the assistance of another person to help them when traveling will find Space – A travel is not an option. Dependent family members of Veterans are not eligible to use Space-A travel. Crewman and staff at the passenger terminal can provide limited assistance but a veteran should plan to not have assistance. They can travel with those that have the status and documents to fly Space-A

 The Air Mobility Command (AMC) published AMC Boarding Requirements – August 2018 which details the requirements to board and disembark AMC aircraft. There are many physical challenges to fly on a military plane. You must be able to climb ladders and move within the aircraft as well as be able to exit in the event of an emergency. If slides are used you must be able to physically stop yourself before reaching the ground without assistance. You must also be able to climb from 14 to 36 steps to board the aircraft.

So while 100% Disabled Veterans can now use Space-A travel it may be challenging for them to actually use this new “Benefit”. Do you think Veterans should be able to travel with a caregiver?

For more information contact your local Passenger Terminal for further details. Many now have Facebook pages. You can also review travel information found on the AMC Travel Website for specific details on the Space Available Travel at www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/ .

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.WanderWordsWine.com


Photo Credit: © Natalie Schorr/Adobe Stock

Enjoy a December Staycation in Sunny SoCal!

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SoCal is practically vacation land. And it’s all right outside your front door. Whether you’re stationed in Coronado, MCAS Miramar or way up north in the San Onofre region, there is always something to do.

While you’re celebrating the holidays San Diego-style, consider making it a full staycation by exploring all that SoCal has to offer!

Enjoy a December Staycation in Sunny SoCal!

Try our three day San Diego-area staycation itinerary for a long weekend’s worth of fun and sun!

Hang onto your hats because we are going to fit a whole lot of fun and excitement into just a few days.

Day 1: San Diego

Planning to live up your staycation starting the night before? Try to book into the Navy Lodge on Coronado Island, just over the bay from downtown San Diego. If you can’t book a room at this specific location, there are options. San Diego is a major hub for the Navy and USMC. Many bases offer DOD lodging for recreation at reasonable rates.

Start your day at The Broken Yolk, a top San Diego breakfast chain. There are several convenient locations throughout San Diego and the surrounding communities. Pick a yummy breakfast burrito or go for classic pancakes. There are no bad choices.

After you fill up, get your thrill on at SeaWorld! Use your Waves of Honor tickets to score free entry. Enjoy exciting roller coasters, fun dolphin shows, and even connect with your favorite Sesame Street characters. Enjoy some heavy snacks and head out in the early afternoon for your next location.

Go to Balboa Park, in the heart of San Diego, for a relaxing late lunch or early dinner at The Prado. They decorate for the season and always feature fresh, locally inspired cuisine. Rumor has it that they make a margarita to die for!

Once you’re full, walk over to the iconic San Diego Zoo. While you have a little daylight left, take the gondolas (free with a standard ticket purchase) to the back of the zoo. Check out the elephants, lions, and other animals while you stroll back toward the front. As the sun goes down, the lights will pop on and Jungle Bells will start! Enjoy holiday music with a SoCal spin, animal encounters, and checking out select animals at night.

The zoo closes at 8 pm. If you’re still looking for a little fun, go to the Gaslamp District for a light dinner and drinks. You can find something for everyone, including children, in this happening neighborhood. From little hole in the wall local spots to bigger national chains, there are plenty of options! Plus, it’s exciting to wander around under the Christmas lights.

Day 2: Disneyland

It wouldn’t be a SoCal staycation if we ignored the main mouse: Mickey! Get up early, if you can, and head to Anaheim. It’s just about two hours from San Diego by car.

If you go purchase your tickets by December 16, and go before December 19, you can still take advantage of the 2018 Military Salute pricing. Check with ITT for details or to purchase tickets. If you’d like to stay near the park and squeeze every last bit of fun from your day, there are tons of great hotel options nearby.

You’ll be spending your whole day at Disney, so relax and enjoy! Disneyland and California Adventure do Christmas in a major way. Look for special snacks and souvenirs at shops throughout the park. Maybe pick out an ornament to remember your magical December SoCal staycation?

You could do just one park all day, or hop between the parks. Remember to specify which option you’d prefer when you purchase your tickets.

Stay until the fireworks show.

Day 3: Temecula

It’s the last day of your staycation. You’re probably absolutely wiped right now. Perfect, it’s time to unwind in wine country!

First up, enjoy breakfast in Old Town Temecula. There are a few small town-type diners here that serve up classics, like scrambled eggs and corned beef hash.

Next, head to SouthCoast Winery. No, the wine bar isn’t open yet. You’re going to the spa for some rest and relaxation. After a few hours of pampering, connect with your wine tour for a day of tasting! Best of all, you’ll have a safe ride. Just make sure you’ve also booked a local room, too. There are plenty of hotel options at a variety of price points! Be sure to use Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards to book your stay for additional savings.

Sip yummy Temecula wines. Some popular wineries include:

  • Wiens: sample their orange infused sparkling wine, Amour de l’Orange
  • Callaway: try a pour of Zinfandel
  • SouthCoast: their wine menu is extensive and it’s hard to pick even a few favorites!
  • Robert Renzoni: known for their big, jammy red wines

Temecula is a super laid back, casual tasting experience that the whole family can enjoy. If you’re bringing the kids along, skip the wine tour and spend the day at a kid-friendly winery. Wiens has a wide lawn where children can romp. Wilson Creek even has a whole wooden playset for kids to enjoy. It’s set back from the main winery.

Whatever your tasting choice, make sure you designate a driver or call a cab.

After your tasting, enjoy a quiet dinner in Temecula’s Old Town. There are several SoCal style Mexican restaurants, as well as BBQ and upscale dining options.

In the morning, head back to your home base, exhausted and happy.

What are your favorite SoCal or San Diego staycation ideas? Share your top tips in the comments!

Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Love to travel but prices cramping your style? Did you know Militaryshoppers.com has a travel club that you can join for free?  The Military Shoppers Travel Club is a program you sign up for online and you can use to receive discounts on all kinds of travel, including resort stays, flights, car rentals and activities. It allows travel businesses to show their appreciation to Active Duty military, those retired and the Guard and Reserves of all branches by providing special military discounts. In addition, the club offers contests, sweepstakes and prize drawings.

Score discounts at over 700,000 hotels in 198 countries worldwide.  More than 3000 family resorts in some of the hottest vacation destinations offer discounted 7 night stays. Top names in car rentals and flight participate in the program. View the activities section to get ideas for fun things to do on your next trip.

The stunning Skamania Lodge located on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is one of more than 700,000 hotels and resorts offering discounts through Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards Program.                      Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

The travel club works on a point system. Each point is worth $1 towards a travel discount off the public rate. The amount of points you can use varies based on the property, flight etc. Each time you book through the club you earn points towards your next travel.  There are three levels, Blue, Silver and Gold. The first level is Blue which is free.  This level starts you out with 100 points worth $100 USD. This is a complimentary annual award. At this level you receive discounts off Hotel nightly stays, tours, flights, car rentals, and save up to $50 off weekly stays.  You will earn 10 points for every $100 you spend.

If you travel more frequently a premium membership might be of greater value.  The Silver Level is $4.99 per month or $49.99 a year.  This gives you similar benefits to the Blue level but at a higher reward level.  Your complementary annual award points are 250 which equates to $250 USD. You will earn 15 points per $100 spent and you will get a discount of up to $100 towards a weekly stay. Shopping is added to the discounts you will receive.

Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

The best value is the Gold premium value which is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.  This level gets you 500 complimentary annual award points for a $500 USD value.  You will earn 20 points per $100 spent. The weekly stay discount is up to $200 USD. This level adds cruise discounts and a concierge service.

Visit www.militaryshopperstravel.com or click the link on the www.Militaryshoppers.com site to learn more about the travel club. With the Blue level a free option, you can sign up with your email address and look around the site to see what discounts can benefit you and your family.

 

 

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.WanderWordsWine.com

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

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Admit it: You’re 100% guilty of vacation shopping. You’re supposed to be checking email but, oops, you’re on the cruise line website again. Or you’re checking the “interested” box for that African safari deal. A super sweet beach vacation in Bali? Yes, please.

Surprising your active duty spouse with a special trip after deployment or for your 10th wedding anniversary is an exciting idea. But before you pay, pump the brakes.

Your service member may be prevented from going to certain locations or even whole countries.

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

Every so often, these kinds of questions pop up on military spouse Facebook groups. Someone will ask about booking a vacation to (insert any country) and another member will chime in that it might be off-limits. Then the debate inevitably begins.

One family went to the country in question without issue. Another couple got denied leave to that same location. What’s a vacation-planning military family to do?

U.S. Military Sets Travel Requirements

First, get the facts. There are several guiding documents and websites that military families should consult before planning any foreign travel.

Have your service member talk with their chain of command. There are often specific off-limits areas based on the unit or command. For example, many SoCal units have designated Tijuana, Mexico, as a no-go zone.

There are regional combatant commands located around the world, with each one covering a different geographic region. Each geographic region-specific command also sets travel requirements.

For example, PACOM in the Asia-Pacific region has set the travel requirements for locations in their region of authority. Right now, North Korea and certain parts of the Philippines are off-limits.

Additionally, each unit or command will also have access to the official Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG). This “for official use only” document outlines the travel requirements for countries and regions around the world. The FCG is a DoD-wide guiding document.

Unfortunately, this is truly an FOUO website. The Foreign Clearance Guide website requires a DoD login to access.

U.S. State Department Guidelines

In addition to the DoD, the State Department also issues travel warnings for U.S. citizens. For the average citizen, these warnings might help them to select a safe place to vacation.

However, DoD travel regulations and the State Department travel warnings are closely linked. Based on these documents, regional commands or specific units can declare any location off-limits to troops.

Even if your dream travel destination is categorized as an elevated risk, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s off-limits. However, there might be a few more hoops to jump through.

Submit Your Package Before You Leave

It’s so tempting to just hop a plane and jet to a cool location. Being totally spur of the moment like that is a limited option for active duty troops. It’s even more complicated than just clearing leave dates with the CO too.

When planning overseas travel, it’s important for your service member to get their chain of command involved.

Getting your preferred leave dates approved is the first step. Your spouse’s chain of command should be in the loop about your exact travel destination and itinerary.

There is an official travel package that service members must fill out in order to travel overseas. The Travel Tracker and Individual Antiterrorism Plan (TT/IATP) and Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance Service (APACS) should be filled out prior to travel.

Related: 8 Cruise Lines that Offer Military Discounts

Certain locations also have additional training or knowledge requirements. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) ask military personnel to complete an additional brief before travel. If you’re heading to Jamaica, you’ll need to meet the training requirements for the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. European Command (EUCOM) have similar training requirements before troops are allowed to proceed on leave.

Individual units might have briefs or trainings that need to be completed before traveling. Or there might be unit-specific paperwork that must be approved.

Keeping the chain of command involved during travel planning can ensure that all boxes have been checked before you leave.

Keep Up with Alerts

Even after all the paperwork has been submitted, approved and tickets have been booked, your trip could still be derailed. Stay on top of the news or at least the State Department travel warnings in your destination as you prep for your trip. Changes in safety could create a chain reaction that restricts travel to locations.

Because of this possibility, particularly in more volatile regions, it’s important to consider travel insurance. In the event of a forced cancellation, you might be able to recoup some of your money. Check with your specific travel insurance provider for plan options and specifics.

Additionally, travelers can alert local U.S. embassies and consulates of their trip. The State Department’s STEP program allows users to register their foreign travel. This could allow local U.S. officials to assist you in the event of an emergency.

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

Long story short, they probably can go on the cruise. However, your spouse will need to fulfill all the SOUTHCOM travel requirements, complete travel paperwork and get approval from the chain of command.

As long as your service member remembers to keep their command in the loop, and do their due diligence with paperwork, you should be in the clear!

Collette offers more than 150 tours around the world. Mention your Military Shoppers benefit when booking your next vacation.

Do Military Retirees Qualify for Free TSA PreCheck?

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Have you heard of TSA PreCheck? This is a program that the Transportation Security Administration offers for a fee to allow expedited security clearance at airports around the country. Any U.S. citizen can apply for it and pay $85 for a 5-year program membership.

When applying for the TSA PreCheck program, applicants pay the $85 fee, fill out an application online and then have to travel to an enrollment center for an interview, background check and finger printing. It takes a lot of time to do all that, especially if you don’t live near one of their enrollment centers. TSA PreCheck can be worth the hassle if you fly often and want to avoid standing in long security lines.

All active duty service members are granted TSA PreCheck and don’t have to go through that process. In fact, all they need to do is enter their DoD ID number in the known traveler number (KTN) field and their boarding pass will have the TSA Pre✓® mark on it.

Retirees do not have this same benefit though.

Why are active duty service members granted TSA PreCheck but retirees are not?

Their fingerprints are already on file and background checks have been made for many. If a service member flies using their DoD ID number in March for example and then retires a month later, they lose their TSA PreCheck membership but nothing has happened to make the person less credible. Shouldn’t they be grandfathered in?

Does TSA consider a service member trustworthy while on active duty but not once they retire?

What could have changed that makes TSA no longer offer them the same free membership?

Of course TSA PreCheck is a privilege, not a right, but it’s hard to understand why TSA chooses to take away the benefit when the member retires.

Money is a reason that comes to mind. That $85 membership fee is only supposed to cover background checks and administrative costs though. The background checks are contracted out however. There are no discounts available for retirees or for anyone at all.

If TSA isn’t willing to give military retirees free membership, shouldn’t they consider providing a discount?

I’m not the first person to question this.

In 2016 Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey urged TSA to lower the membership fee for all veterans if they weren’t willing to exempt them from it. TSA started the PreCheck program in October 2011. All of this time has gone by and still there is no answer.

Some veterans groups are asking TSA to “do the right thing.” These groups include: Wounded Warriors Family Support, the American Legion, Marine Corps League, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Retired Military Officers Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Hopefully together they will be able to influence TSA into providing some sort of exemption for retirees.

It seems like a lot of fuss over something small, but if you travel a lot being able to go past the long security lines can be extremely helpful. There are over 5 million members in this program and that says something about its usefulness.

It works too. In February 2018 93% of members said that they waited less than 5 minutes to get through security at the airport. That’s a lot of time and frustration saved.

Have you paid for TSA PreCheck? Why did you do it? Was it worth the money?

4 Tips for Booking Your Spring Break Vacation

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What is your family doing for spring break this year? If your spring break includes a family trip, using the new Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards program can save you time and money.

There are more than 700,000 hotels on the site with discounts as well as 3,000 family resorts. If you want to fly somewhere during your spring break, the site has domestic and international flight discounts. Don’t forget about booking the fun activities that you’ll want to do once you get to your destination. There are many discounts for these activities listed on the site.

This program was designed for active duty, retired service members, National Guard and reserves. With the Travel & Rewards site, you get special military discounts from patriotic companies. You’ll find affordable travel options with them. There is a free membership option as well as 2 paid options that provide even more benefits.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a smart way to get great discounts for your family’s spring break. These discounts apply toward resort stays, flights and car rentals. If you choose one of the paid benefit programs, there is a point reward system that you can use for future spring break vacations or other travel plans. You can find out more about the different membership programs here.

Ready to book your vacation? Here are 4 tips to consider when planning your spring break.

Make your reservations now. Many people count down the days until spring break. They book their vacation early to get the best deals and you should too.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservations. Many resorts and hotels fill up quickly.

Buy your plane tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. There are great deals for flights 21 days out, two weeks prior and sometimes there are even last-minute deals. It’s a big risk to wait until the last minute to get a good price on a flight for your spring break though. If you are flying as a group, you might not get seats together on a flight if you wait too long to book.

Decide on activities. What do you want to do on spring break? If you simply want to lie on the beach, then you don’t have to worry too much. That is, unless you want to reserve an umbrella.

If your spring break is focused around going to a major theme park, such as DisneyWorld, you’ll want to buy your tickets before you get there. Don’t waste time standing in line to buy tickets at the gate. You will also want to take advance of all the military discounts available for a Disney vacation.

You can find specific military discount travel agents that will help you plan your Disney vacation for free. I have a friend that does that. Using someone like her is a great option. It will save you a lot of time.

Shop around. You don’t have to make reservations with the first company you contact. Spend a little time shopping around. You can also use the official airline or hotel website to book directly from them. Some companies offer different prices for the same flight or room depending on how you book. It might be worth it to call and not just click reserve online.

It’s already February. When is your spring break? If you are counting down the days, you should also be planning your family vacation. Start doing your research. Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a great place to start.

Click here to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards today.

Military Shoppers Offers Free Money-Saving Travel Website to Its Members

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My family loves to travel together. But we have different things that we love to do during our family vacations.

Traveling for me means finding restaurants featuring delicious local cuisine. Traveling for my children means visiting a children’s museum or science center, jumping on the hotel beds and swimming in the hotel pool.

Traveling for my husband means a break from military life. When we’re on vacation, he isn’t thinking about work. He’s focused on spending quality time with his family, far, far away from his military base.

But as much as I love traveling, planning a weekend getaway isn’t easy.

In fact, planning a vacation stresses me out.

And there’s the dreaded family vacation budget to consider.

There are so many cities that I want to visit, but many times I find myself asking “can we afford this vacation?”

According to American Express, the average vacation expense per person in the United States is $1,145 or $4,580 for a family of four. That’s nearly $5,000 for 1 family vacation!

There has to be a better way. I don’t want to cancel our family vacation because of sticker shock.

Free Membership for Military Families in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards

MilitaryShoppers.com, a community that delivers money-saving tips to military families, is expanding their services. Starting November 2017, MilitaryShoppers’ members are entitled to a free membership in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards lists special discounts that have been arranged exclusively for MilitaryShoppers members.

How does Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards work?

Hotels and resorts often have unsold room nights that they can’t offer to the general public at such low rates but they can do it as a special military discount through MilitaryShoppers Travel & Rewards.

These incredibly low rates are not available on any other travel booking website. Members are encouraged to compare the Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards discounted rates with other public websites and military travel “clubs.” Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards said “you’ll find these are the lowest hotel and resort rates available anywhere!”

Since the cost of our hotel room is the most expensive part of our family vacations, I’m excited to book a discounted rate for a quality hotel. Knowing that we’re saving money on our hotel room encourages me to plan more family vacations in the future.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members have access to a wide range of benefits and services that are designed to save military families money. Members earn points that they can use for extra discounts and fun activities.

Every free blue membership is preloaded with $100 in points that members can use immediately.

What’s the cost to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards?

This money-saving travel website for members of the military community is free. Members won’t pay an annual membership fee or be required to buy anything.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is similar to using a travel website to book your hotel room. It offers the same convenience, except with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members will book their hotel rooms at much lower rates.

How do I sign up?

Members can sign up for free access to their benefits online at MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

If you are already a member of the MilitaryShoppers’ community, check your email. You automatically received access through that membership. In your email, it will explain how to log in to MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

As I said earlier, I love traveling. I love the adventure of it. I love retelling the stories of our adventures to our neighbors, family members and friends. But most of all, I love traveling as a family. Family vacations are when memories are made.

The only thing I love more than a family vacation is a family vacation where we enjoy ourselves without spending all the money in our savings account.

You don’t have to choose between your family vacation and monthly budget. You can have both with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards. Sign up today!

Why I Don’t Travel Home for the Holidays

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If things were perfect, I would be the first one to raise my hand for a family-filled holiday season. I grew up in a large family filled with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Every holiday was an excellent reason to spend time together, enjoying delicious food and creating memories.

Things aren’t perfect, however. As much as I would love to have those same gut-busting, house-filled-to-the-brim holidays for my children, it’s not our reality.

Why I Don’t Travel Home for the Holidays

Children are not great travel buddies.

Did I mention I have a toddler and an infant right now? If you’ve ever tried to take young children anywhere, you know it can be a recipe for disaster. Everything can go up in smoke at any second and it stresses me out.

First, there are the planning logistics. We need to figure out how many seats to buy for that long-haul flight home. There is so much math involved to figure out if buying the baby a seat makes sense that my head hurts.

Then there are the car seats. We could buy a spare set to keep in our hometown, but then we have to figure out seating on the plane. There’s always the gamble of bringing the baby’s seat on the plane hoping against hope for an empty spot in our row. However, we could end up gate checking it at the last minute.

Checking the kids’ car seats is a whole other situation. We’ve been burned before by car seats that were damaged in cargo.

If we drive, there are the endless hours in the car. Our oldest is potty trained but often needs a bathroom on short notice. Both kids have limited attention spans, so movies are not going to cut it for the whole trip. There are only so many times I can listen to the “Moana” soundtrack.

Doing this with children is, clearly, not ideal. But if this were the only roadblock or the distance were shorter, it could be doable.

We’re not exactly next door.

The closest we have ever been stationed to our home state was an 8- to 10-hour drive under ideal road, weather and traffic conditions. Mess with any of those factors and that drive is looking much longer.

Have you ever tried to cross the George Washington Bridge in the snow the day before Thanksgiving? It is not fun. Inevitably, someone would need to use a bathroom while we were stuck in the middle of the bridge.

We made it before children arrived and when we had just one in diapers. With two, making that drive with literally every other person in the region would be terrible. There is very little anyone could say that would entice me to spend so long in a car, in traffic, listening to a 3 year old scream about needing a potty right now. Sorry, kid, we’re on a bridge and the next rest stop is 2 hours away.

Right now, we live half a world away. Driving home for the holidays isn’t an option. Our flights would make that car ride seem like a trip to Disney. And the prices would make our credit cards shrink with fear.

Even at non-holiday times, round trips top $1,500 per person. We would need at least 3 seats. I’ve never done more than a quick look at the holiday season pricing. It terrifies me. There would be no presents for anyone for Christmas. Not even Santa’s magic would be able to make that work.

Financially, we would not be able to swing traveling home for the holidays unless we were within driving distance. Even then, I would emerge from that car looking like the bride of Frankenstein with the temper of a junkyard dog.

No room at the inn.

Or in this case, the house. We both have families that would gladly put us up, but we run into complications.

There is the endless rearranging of bedrooms and sleeping spaces. So much so that I feel a little guilty about visiting and kicking someone out of their cozy bed! Neither of our families has palatial homes, but everyone who lives there permanently makes it work well.

When we roll up, adding 4 more bodies, things get tight very quickly. Of course, everyone says it’s no big deal and that they love to have us stay. Having hosted large family visits, I know the sigh of exhausted relief when you finally collapse into your own bed again. I know.

Then there is the childproofing. Not everyone in our extended families has child safe homes. Again, their homes work for them, and not everyone has curious children getting into the fine china.

Instead of being able to kick back, sing carols and enjoy dessert, I’m stuck chasing down Junior and preventing another tree accident.

Having so much togetherness, especially in the winter, can be challenging. There is no outside to escape to where we are from unless you enjoy freezing temperatures. So everyone is stuck inside. That’s a lot of together time in tight quarters. Luckily, we love our family, but I’m not sure they would feel as kindly toward us after the visit.

We won’t be traveling home for the holidays this year.

It might not even happen anytime soon, depending on where we move next. This year, our families haven’t even asked. I think they just know it’s not going to happen.

In the past, we’ve always explained about the cost and stress of traveling at such a busy time with such little people.

So far, they have all been understanding. We also try to visit during the non-holiday season and invite family to visit our home as well.

For family or friends looking to escape their usual holiday routine, our door is open and the guest bed is ready. Although we understand if you don’t want to brave the rigors of holiday travel either.

Do you have times when you don’t want to travel or visit your family?