Tag / travel-tips

by Kelly Mattei

Ways to Keep Vacation Costs Down

Ways to keep vacation costs down.

It’s no secret that I love a vacation. I always have. Just say the word “vacation,” and I immediately start singing a song from the 80s by the GoGos: Vacation. I’m a firm believer that we can get a lot of joy from experiencing something different…a culture, a destination, food, and even new people. Some people, apparently, think my husband and I spend a lot of money on travel, and while we enjoy hopping on a plane as much as anyone can, we have learned some ways to take those vacations without paying premium prices. I was a flight attendant for a while after graduating from college and then worked in the travel business, so I know a little bit about travel and keeping costs down. Do I always take inexpensive vacations? No, some of them are more “posh” than others, but I don’t always pay the highest prices, either. I know how to find a deal. I do great research.

Often, people ask me about our trips, and I always remind them that lots of my trips are with friends who split the costs. Yes, splitting costs is the #1 way to keep travel costs down. Take for instance, trips to California, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, New York, Palm Springs, Mexico City, and more…all shared costs with friends who love to travel too. Yes, we purchased individual airline tickets, but by sharing a house or a hotel room, we are able to cut that cost in half. Lots of people do it, and if you’re not doing that, you might be spending too much money. My friend, Jennifer, from Ohio, and I have vacationed together countless times…with our daughters and without. We have shared hotel rooms with our daughters and gotten adjoining rooms for them, but we always have a great time. We also travel with our husbands…sharing a house in the Caribbean. My friend, Mary Ann, and I travel together too, and the two of us simply share a hotel room, keeping costs down. Trust me when I say there are very few people with whom I can travel, but when we do, we split the costs. Renting a house somewhere with a friend or with another family? That cuts rental cost by 50%.

Also, when we travel, I keep my eyes open for future places to stay. I make notes in my phone, so if/when we decide to return to the same destination, I know where hotels/rentals are located, and I can check prices accordingly. For example, there is a place we enjoy visiting regularly, and the first time we went and stayed at a big property, I looked at all the properties nearby. The next time we went, I told my husband I would actually prefer to stay in the smaller, less expensive rentals nearby. They were quieter, with a great pool and beautiful beach, and the visitors seemed less nosy. Now, whenever we return there, we stay in the less expensive villas nearby…and they are so inexpensive that they almost feel free! I actually prefer them over the more crowded resort area we visited first, and we love the villa we rent!

Another way to cut travel costs? Make sure you get your hotel points and airline miles every single time you travel. Also, most airlines now have credit cards that help you accumulate miles more quickly. Use those miles for free tickets, and use your hotel points for free rooms. Huge savings every time! Even if you don’t have a credit card with the airlines, and you only travel by car, you can have a credit card that kicks off cash for everything you purchase. For example, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card will give you cash back, as do credit cards from Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank, and more. Personally, when that accumulates in the account, we use it for a “free” vacation. It adds up more quickly than you think it will. Years ago, I finally convinced my husband he was leaving money on the table by not using credit cards that offered good rewards like airline miles or cash back, and now, he sings my praises for it. Also, airlines sometimes offer promotions that increase the number of miles you receive. If you’re a member of a frequent flyer program, watch for email with special deals on flights. I once took a very expensive seven-night vacation for free, simply because I used the cash back from a credit card, free flights using miles, and a hotel stay using hotel points. I was so proud of myself!

Hotels often offer special deals too. Countless times, I have booked hotels that had “stay for three and get the fourth night free” deals. And some hotel frequent traveler programs offer the 5th night free if you use points to book four nights. Marriott and Hilton both offer this, so if you have a lot of points with Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, look into it. I have actually used this with both hotel chains. With hotel pricing and specials, it’s a matter of checking and double-checking. Don’t just book it and forget it. Every single time I book a hotel room, I continue to check almost daily to see if I see better deals. If I do, I rebook. I have saved thousands of dollars over the years doing this. I once saved over $1500 on one five night trip, simply because I kept watching to see if the rates went down, and when they did, I took advantage of it. Also, some hotel deals might include breakfast or a $150 daily hotel credit. On the surface, it doesn’t look like much, but at a nice hotel, you could spent $100 or more on breakfast. If it’s included and you stay for five nights, that’s $500 savings! The daily hotel credit adds up too!

Another way to save? Because I primarily fly American Airlines, sometimes, I book my hotels through their Advantage Hotels program. When I do, I often receive between 15,000 and 30,000 loyalty points and miles with American…a huge bonus for status with the airline and for miles I can use toward a ticket. Those miles can be a real money-saver. For example, our daughter will be flying next week, and I booked her ticket in coach using miles. I then upgraded her for just $97, and I booked her hotel using my Hilton points. Her trip is practically free!

Also, often, we plan our travel around the best prices for the destination. Don’t travel to destinations during high season. For example, if you can stand it, travel to Phoenix or Palm Springs in late spring or summer. Sure, it is guaranteed to be 100+ degrees, but if you have a pool to lounge in, who cares? Plan a trip to the Caribbean during hurricane season, so you get the very best rates. Always get the travel insurance, so if something happens, and you can’t travel, you can get a full refund. You don’t want to lose your money because a hurricane comes through. Wanna go to Europe and save? Often traveling during the low season (Nov-Mar) will yield considerably better hotel rates. Before you plan a trip, if you want to save money, check online to see when the low season is for that destination.

If you love cruises, you can often get a real deal on cruises. I have known people who went on cruises, and it would have cost them more to stay home! With the food included, cruises are often a bargain. I’m not much of a cruiser, simply because I like to go somewhere and spend time in a place, but I know lots of folks who absolutely love it.

And don’t forget the “ask for a discount” option. For example, if you rent the same vacation home regularly, remind the management company that “this is our fifth time renting this house” and ask for a discount. All they can say is “no.” Even my husband, who used to hate to ask for a discount, will do it now.

So if you look at me and think I spend a lot of money on travel, you should know I vacation a lot, but I don’t always spend a lot of money. You should probably just call me for some hints on how to travel less expensively. Yes, occasionally, we have a more posh vacation, but not always. If you’re always paying full price, you’re doing it wrong. It is very rare that I pay full price. You can also follow different travel sites online like The Points Guy. He has lots of great ideas on how to save. Now get busy saving and planning for that next vacation. Everybody needs some joy in their lives!

***Feature photo from The GoGos album, Vacation***

by Kelly Mattei

The Carry-On with Removable Wheels

The Carry-On with Removable Wheels…

Recently, I had some lingering back issues. I love to hop on an airplane as much as anyone, but because of said back issues, I can no longer carry a heavy backpack or anything over five pounds for any distance. I’m simply afraid I will mess up the back again. Therefore, I need wheels on my carry-on, and I must have a carry-on, because I have some prescriptions I like to take with me when I travel. Therefore, I bought the cutest, tiny, wheeled carry-on that will fit under almost any airplane seat. I don’t say it will fit under any airplane seat, simply because there could be exceptions. However, I have flown several different aircraft with it, and it fit.

And then I ran into a problem when I was returning home from a wedding in April. I had flown into Montgomery, Alabama, for the wedding, and when I left Charlotte on the American Eagle Embraer RJ145, the gate agents and flight crew took no issue with my very small (14″) bag. In Montgomery, on the return, I walked down the jetbridge, and just as I was about to step onto the aircraft, an employee started to tag my bag. I simply said, “You’re not taking my bag. It fits under the seat.” “They told me to take anything with wheels.” “I don’t care. You’re not taking my bag. I will DRIVE back to Charlotte before I let you take it, because I know it fits under the seat. I came down on this aircraft a few days ago. This bag has my meds in it, and I will not let you take it.” He wasn’t happy about it, but he gave in once I said my meds were in it, and just as I said, it fit perfectly underneath the seat in front of me. I saw numerous people board behind me with much larger bags, but since they didn’t have wheels, they were acceptable. Whatever…

The next time I flew on a small aircraft, I was traveling with my husband, and I just packed a small duffel bag for my carry-on, because I knew he would carry it. As soon as we arrived at the airport, he complained, “Why didn’t you bring your little wheeled carry-on bag?” I explained to him that I wasn’t going to have that argument again with another agent.

When we returned home a week later, I went straight to Amazon to find a small carry-on bag with removable wheels, and I found exactly what I was looking for! At 18″, it’s a little bigger than my tiny carry-on, but it fits the dimensions of a carry-on, and I can remove the wheels! So I ordered one, and I guess it will be my carry-on when I fly on smaller planes. The wheels pop off with the touch of a button. Reattaching the wheels is pretty easy too! I promise you I will take it the next time I fly to/from Montgomery, and when that same guy tries to take my bag from the jetbridge, I will pop off the wheels, stick them in my handbag, and say, “No dice!”

This bag is great for travel and would make a great gift for anyone going to college!

You can purchase the bag with the removable wheels here.

Happy Shopping!

*As an Amazon associate, I receive commission on items purchased through my links.*

by Kelly Mattei

Great Buys to Make Life Easier

Great buys to make life easier…

***I receive commission for items purchased through my links.***

I just got back from a quick trip to the Bahamas with my husband. We were only there for about five nights, but we welcomed the short break. We go to smaller islands when we go to the Bahamas, and they are wonderfully peaceful. Here are some things that made my life easier on the way there, while we were there, and even now that we are home:

  • Arctic Air. I know y’all have seen this advertised before and dismissed it. It’s a fan/personal air cooler. I even use it at home every night. Here’s something I really loved when I had it with me in the Bahamas. If a storm rolls through, it’s not unusual for the power to go out on the smaller islands. If the power went out, I could attach this to my portable charger (see below), and it would continue to work with that. As soon as I heard the power come back on, I plugged it back into the wall. It’s a little bulky for travel, but I just put it in my big, checked bag, between some clothes to protect it when the bag is jostled around. Purchase for under $40 here.

  • Portable Charger. Everybody needs one, whether you travel or not. If you have a power outage at home, this can keep your electronics (like your phone!) running for quite a while. This one is my favorite because it’s more lightweight than some of the other large portable chargers, and it has a flashlight and has solar-charging capabilities. I haven’t tested the solar charging, but I have used the flashlight, and I have definitely carried it in my carry-on for travel. I highly recommend this one. Purchase for under $26 here.

  • Baboon to the Moon Mini Go Bag. I know I have sung the praises of this bag several times, but I’m not kidding, y’all. This is my favorite travel carry-on. It fits under seats. Its water resistant. Its durable. It can be a backpack or a duffle. It’s cute! Even I think it’s easy to carry; I carry it as a backpack through the airport, and because it doesn’t have wheels, you don’t have to gate-check it when you enter a small aircraft. There’s a small zipper pocket under one of the side handles, so that’s where I keep passports. And it holds a lot more than you think. I get lots of compliments on this bag, and people always ask me about this bag when I’m traveling. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth the money. The Lime Breeze one is on sale right now (at time of writing) for under $130! Purchase here.

  • Passport Holder with Airtag. You think you won’t ever lose your passport, but it happens…trust me. An unnamed family member lost his in the airport in June. After that, I ordered passport holders with Airtags for everyone in the family. I also stuck a giant card inside the passport holder that says “If found, please call IMMEDIATELY” with our phone numbers. These are inexpensive and can give you peace of mind when traveling. They come in a variety of colors. I got blue for my husband, pink for our daughter, and purple for me. Airtags sold separately. Purchase the holder here. And purchase Airtags here.

  • Pill/Medication Organizer. Whether you take prescription or not, it’s a good idea to travel with some medications. Pain relievers, cold meds, digestive aids, and more can help keep your vacation running smoothly. I always have anti-nausea meds, cold meds, ear drops, eye drops, and pain relievers, so it’s easiest for me to carry them in an organizer. I used to throw everything in a clear gallon-sized bag, but travel is much easier with an organizer. I found a great one on Amazon, and I’ve shared it before. You can purchase it here.

I wanted to share those while they are fresh in my mind. Every trip is different, and I might have more to recommend after the next one! Also, the items above make great gifts for travelers, college students, or just about anyone!

by Kelly Mattei

The Best Pill Bottle Organizer for Travel and Home

The best pill bottle organizer for travel and home (and it makes a great graduation gift!).

This week, I found the best pill bottle organizer bag for home and travel! I know there are lots of people who don’t have any regular prescriptions, but a pill bottle organizer bag is great for essential over-the-counter meds too! Just recently, at spring break, my college-age daughter found herself feeling ill, but she had not taken any pain or nausea medications with her! I couldn’t believe she was traveling without essentials like her Zofran prescription, but she was. That’s when I first thought about a pill bottle organizer…one for her and one for me. Anyone who is a mom knows it’s always up to us to provide the meds for our families at home and when traveling.

For years, I have carried all those pill bottles (my prescriptions and over-the-counter meds) in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. I always put that big Ziploc bag in my carry-on bag when I travel, because who wants an airline losing their medications?! On a recent trip, though, I realized that’s probably not the best way to carry my meds and vitamins. I was at a hotel, and one of my prescriptions had fallen out of the Ziploc bag into my carry-on bag. I panicked when I didn’t see it in the Ziploc, but I found it when I looked in my carry-on, and I realized I must have left an opening in the Ziploc in my haste. I needed to do something different.

When I returned home, I went online to Amazon to look for a pill bottle organizer bag. In fact, I wish I had thought of this sooner for me and my daughter! It would make a great graduation gift! I know young ladies don’t think they need to carry medications with them, but they do need to carry the essentials when they travel, and they need to have them in their dorm rooms and apartments! I wanted something soft that had slots for medications but wouldn’t take up too much room in my carry-on bag. Of course, Amazon had exactly what I needed! In fact, I have already put my medications in it, so I’m ready for a trip! I’m leaving the meds in the organizer all the time, so I can use it at home and just zip it closed when it’s time to travel.

You can see the one I purchased here, and I highly recommend it! It’s soft-sided, and it won’t take up a lot of room in my carry-on bag, but it has plenty of room for my essential meds and extras like Tylenol, Advil, nausea meds, vitamins, seasonal allergy meds, eye drops, and more. Yes, I actually carry anything I can think of, because who wants to try to find a pharmacy when you’re traveling? I like to try to have everything on hand. This particular “organizer” comes in two colors: Misty Rose and Black. I opted for the Misty Rose, because in a dark carry-on, it’s easier for my 57-yr-old eyes to see something lighter.

I like using it at home, and I am leaving town tomorrow, so it will be my first trip with my new pill organizer!


I highly recommend purchasing this pill bottle organizer here for yourself and anyone on your list for graduation gifts! At under $30, it’s a deal! To give it to someone graduating from high school, you can add some essentials: Tylenol, Advil, antacids, over-the-counter seasonal allergy meds, and maybe a pill cutter. (Purchase a pill cutter here.)

***As an Amazon Associate, I receive commissions on items purchased through my links.***