GoWithOh: My Secret Weapon For Finding Awesome Accommodations In Europe

Go-with-oh-florence

Our GoWithOh apartment in Florence, which was located right in the heart of the city.

[My accommodations in Venice, Florence, and Rome were complimentary courtesy of GoWithOh but the opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.  I’d recommend GoWithOh to anyone, even my own mother (in fact, I have)!]

When I travel, I’m a snob.

Not a “I want to have only the  most expensive rooms and meals” type snob.

But a “I want to have as authentic and unique an experience as possible” type snob.

I want my trip to be different.

To have special touches.

To have magic.

And while traveling has a way of doing that on it’s own, I also think that the type of places you decide to stay can play a big part in what type of experience you have.

Which is why I usually eschew chain hotels for something more local.

Something with more personality.

Something that can give me a sneak peak in to the culture of an area, and provide me with a unique and interesting experience.

And one of the best ways to do that is renting apartments for a short period of time, a trend that is taking off in recent years.

Here are a few of my favorite benefits of staying in apartments.

The Benefits of Staying in an Apartment

go-with-oh-florence-bedroom

The bedroom of our GoWithOh apartment in Florence.

Apartments provide many conveniences hotels don’t

Almost all apartments will come with a fully equipped kitchen, a huge plus, especially if you’re staying in a place for a few days.

Also, it may have a washer and dryer, which means you can easily do laundry if need be.

Apartments are bigger than hotel rooms

One of my favorite things about staying in apartments is having some room to stretch out.  I hate walking in to a hotel and having my bag and all my stuff right next to me.

In an apartment, you don’t feel like you’re right on top of everything.

Apartments can be found in unique areas of a city

Most of the bigger hotels are found clustered in one spot of a city, usually the most touristed area.

Oftentimes, you can find apartments there if you’d like, but you can also find apartments in some quieter, more local, and more authentic spots of a city.

Apartment owners are a great resource for local tips

I always pick the brain of the apartment owner when we first arrive, asking them their favorite restaurants and activities.

It’s like having a built in local guide, and it’s helped us enjoy some really amazing places we would never find in a mass produced guidebook.

You can’t beat the human element, which is what traveling is all about.

Every apartment has it’s own quirks

What may be a turn off to some is a huge plus for me.  You can never quite be sure what an apartment will be like until you get there, which is part of the fun.

In almost every instance, we’ve been pleasantly surprised, and the quirkiness of a place has helped make the experience more memorable.

Apartments come in all shapes and sizes

Renting an apartment really can be for anyone.  Couples can easily find studios and 1 bedrooms to fit their needs.

For bigger groups, like families, apartments are an excellent choice because they allow you to all be together under one roof and are typically much cheaper than getting a couple of hotel rooms.

Sold on renting an apartment for your next trip?

Great, here is my favorite resource for renting apartments in Europe!

GoWithOh- Where I “Go” For Apartments in Europe

go-with-oh-rome

Our GoWithOh apartment in Rome, which was right next to the Roman Forum.

During our trip to Italy, Heather and I stayed at apartments in Venice, Florence, and Rome that we had found through GoWithOh.

GoWithOh is a European accommodation site that has over 2,800 apartments in 17 of the major cities across Europe, including London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, among others.

It was our first time using GoWithOh and we couldn’t have had a better experience.

Here are a few of the things I particularly enjoy about GoWithOh.

The Array of Choices

As mentioned, GoWithOh has over 2,800 apartments, which means there is something for everyone.

If you want a smaller, more affordable apartment for 2 people, they’ve got that.

If you’re looking for an apartment that can fit a whole family, they’ve got that.

Or if you want a super-chic upscale place to really spoil yourself, they’ve got that as well.

The Attention to Customer Service

What really sets GoWithOh apart is that they take special care in making sure everything goes so smoothly.

While you interact directly with the apartment owner to get the keys and check-in, there are also GoWithOh staff members (who speak a total of 13 languages) constantly ready to help.

They aren’t simply a site that has you book a place through them and then puts you out on your own.

They’ll be there every step of the way, if need be.

A High Standard of Quality

GoWithOh doesn’t allow just anyone to list their apartment.

Instead, each apartment has to go through a vetting process and meet a certain standard before it can be listed.

After this, if an apartment doesn’t receive a high enough feedback rating from people who have stayed there, it will also be pulled.

This helps ensure that you’re always getting an apartment that meets a high standard of quality.

An Easy to Use Website

I love to do a ton of research before booking a place, and so using GoWithOh is like heaven.

You can set all types of filters, from number of bedrooms to price, to narrow down your search.

You can also search by map view, my favorite function, so you know exactly what area you’ll be in.

To top it off, each apartment has TONS of pictures as well as reviews of past guests.

Final Word(s)

Next time you’re traveling, I would highly recommend taking a look at renting an apartment if you’re staying in an area for a couple of days.

Apartments make very comfortable, easy, and enjoyable home bases for exploring cities and provide a unique travel experience that can’t be matched.

If you are traveling through Europe, I can’t speak highly enough about GoWithOh.

They’ve got an amazing variety of choices, and every single GoWithOh apartment I’ve stayed in, from a 2 bedroom in northwest Venice to a 1,000 year old apartment in the heart of Florence, has been phenomenal.

The personal attention and customer service they provide is incredible, and you’ll be in good hands should you choose to use them.

Have you ever stayed in an apartment before?  If so, where, and how was your experience?

To read more about traveling cheap in Italy, check out these posts:

Introducing the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast

After one year and three months, the time has come for me to expand the reach of Extra Pack of Peanuts and I’m super excited that this will come in the form of a podcast!

Does this mean that I’ll stop writing on the blog?

Of course not!

What it does mean is that now you will have yet another way to get the best travel tips, tricks, frequent flyer news, and travel inspiration that EPoP currently offers.

The podcast will be a supplement for the blog, not a replacement for it.  The material in the podcast will be distinct from what is on the blog, not a rehashing of it.

But I don’t want to talk too much about the structure of the podcast and the reasons behind it because, you guessed it, it is all discussed in the first episode!

For anyone who already knows about podcasts and wants to start listening to it right now, just click on the player at the top of this post or download Episode 1 below.

EPoP 001:  The Story Behind EPoP and Why I’m Starting a Podcast  <— right-click to download

It would also be a huge help if you would rate the podcast on iTunes, as this will really help the show’s growth.

Rate the Extra Pack of Peanuts Podcast on iTunes

If you’re unfamiliar to podcasts, or still have some questions about what they are, keep reading.  I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions below.

What is a Podcast and Other Questions…Answered!

1.  What the heck is a podcast?

A podcast is just a fancy word for a pre-recorded audio segment that you can listen to at any time, in a variety of ways, such as your computer, iPod, or iPhone.

I record myself talking and discussing various topics, I post it to my blog and to iTunes, and then you listen to it whenever you want.

Another easy way to think of it is that a podcast is to a live concert as a movie is to live tv.  You can choose when to listen to it, you can start and stop it and you have complete control over it.

2.  How can I listen to a podcast?

You can listen to a podcast a variety of ways:

  • Play it through my website- In each post, there will be a media player at the top of the post.  You simply hit play and begin listening.
  • Download it through my website- In each post, there will be a link to download it.  If you click on the link, you can save the file to your computer.  Then, you can listen to it anytime on your computer, even if you aren’t on my site.
  • Download it through iTunes- You can also download it through iTunes, and it is completely free.  To download it directly to your iPod or iPhone, you first have to download the Podcast App.  Then search for the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast and hit the “free” button all the way to the right.

It may take up to 2 days for this podcast to be available on iTunes.  I’ll post a link here as soon as it is available.

3.  Is it free?

Yes, it will always be free, no matter how you decide to listen to it.

4.  What does “subscribing to a podcast” mean?

Subscribing to a podcast is a really easy way to get all the new episodes, automatically when they are released.  If you have an iTunes account, you simply sign in, find my podcast, and hit subscribe.

Then, each time a new episode is realized, it will automatically download without you having to remember to do it.

I love the subscribe function because each time I hop in the car, I always have new episodes of my favorite podcasts to listen to, without ever having to give it any thought.

5.  Does rating the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast help?

Yes, immensely.  The more good ratings my podcast has, the higher it will rank in iTunes.  The higher it ranks, the more people who will see it when they go to iTunes, which means more listeners.

If you like the podcast and want to help support it, I’d really appreciate it if you rated it on iTunes.  Simply search for the podcast in iTunes, go to “Reviews and Ratings” and either give it a star rating or, if you’re really nice, write a review!

6.  How often will you release a podcast?

I’m planning on releasing a podcast every week or two.  I’m going to let the opinions of the EPoP community help determine how often I do a podcast vs. a written post.

7.  Why does your voice sound so good?

Lots and lots of time spent in a room alone, recording myself speaking nonsense into a microphone.

8.  Why does your voice sound so bad?

Not enough time spent in a room alone, recording myself speaking nonsense into a microphone.

9.  Do you do any other podcasts?

Actually, yes.  I just started a fantasy sports podcast as well, so if you play fantasy baseball, you may enjoy it.  The EveryMan’s Fantasy Podcast can be found here.

10.  If I have any questions about the podcast, where can I find answers?

If I haven’t answered your question above, feel free to email me at Trav at extrapackofpeanuts dot com.  I’d be more than happy to answer them, and then use them in an FAQ at a later date.

Do you currently listen to podcasts?  If so, which ones do you like?  Are you excited to start listening to the EPoP Travel Podcast?

I’d absolutely love your feedback on how I can make the podcast better, so please, leave any comments or suggestions below.

*************

A Tremendously Huge Thank You

I just wanted to thank each and every person who I received emails, Facebook messages, and comments from yesterday’s Boston Marathon post.  I was completely blown away with the amount of support and love I felt from this community.

I had real reservations about posting it, seeing as it’s a little more personal than my normal posts and I didn’t even know if my thoughts made any sense.

I left them almost completely uncensored and unedited, which is hard for someone like me who is such a perfectionist, and so I’m so glad that it was able to help so many of you.

I really, really appreciate all the kind words and the outpouring of compassion and love from the EPoP community.  It is because of this response that I’m going to do something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently but scared to do, and that is to get more personal on my blog.

Of course, you can still expect the normal free travel advice and frequent flyer knowledge, but I want to really start connecting, to build bonds, to make it a community that talks about why we travel, why it’s important, and how it impacts our lives as opposed to just how.

So once again, thank you all so much for taking something I was scared to post and turning it into an incredibly positive experience.  I really, truly appreciate it.

Cheers,

Trav

 

How to Get to the Maldives (or anywhere else in the world) Using Frequent Flyer Miles

Relaxation, personified.

Relaxation, personified.

Want to go to Hawaii, London, or Tokyo using frequent flyer miles?  No sweat.  All the alliances fly there, and fly there often.  In fact, you’ll most likely have your pick of partners.

But what about trying to get to a more remote destination, like the Maldives?

This is where using frequent flyer miles can take a bit of work and planning.

And while it might be a bit of a pain, I’m guessing it will all be worth it once you see this:

 

I’ll be using the Maldives, one of the world’s hardest spots to travel to, as an example.  However, this step by step process can be used for any destination you wish to travel to.

3a. how to get the maldives

Step 1:  Use Wikipedia to Find Out What Airlines Fly in To The Airport

We all know Wikipedia is an invaluable resource for basically anything, and it doesn’t disappoint here.  If I’m not familiar with an airport and what airlines fly there, I always first turn to Wikipedia.

Here is the list for airlines flying in and out of Male International Airport (MLE), the main airport in the Maldives.

How to Get to Male Airlines Flying In

Step 2:  Figure Out Which Airlines You Can Use

Most of the airlines on the list above aren’t of interest to us because they aren’t part of an airline alliance.

What you’ll need to do is figure out which airlines are part of one of the three major alliances:  OneWorld, Star Alliance, and Skyteam.

If you’re not a complete frequent flyer nerd (what, you don’t have them memorized?), head back to Wikipedia to see a list of all 3 airline alliance members.

Here are the airlines flying in to Male, broken down by alliance:

OneWorld:  British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar (joining late 2013), SriLankan Airlines (joining late 2013)

Star Alliance:  Austrian, Singapore Airlines, Turkish

Skyteam: Aeroflot, China Eastern Air, China Southern, KoreanAir

Step 3:  Determine How Many Frequent Flyer Miles it Will Cost

This step is easy.  Simply head to milez.biz and plug in your starting point and your destination.

Check to see if any of the carriers happen to be cheaper than the others.

For Philadelphia (PHL) to Male (MLE), United, USAirways and Delta costs 80k roundtrip in economy or 120k in business, whereas American Airlines costs 90k and 135k.

Step 4:  Take Inventory of Your Points and Consider Transfer Partners

Now that you know how much it costs for each airline to fly to your destination, you’ve got to figure out if you have enough points to get there.

Don’t forget to consider points, such as Chase, American Express, or Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG), that you can transfer to airlines.

Here’s a sweet infographic about what points transfer to what airlines:

(courtesy of idoru at Flyertalk)

(courtesy of idoru at Flyertalk)

Since I’m looking at flying using United, USAirways, AA, or Delta miles, I have the following transfer options:

Chase points –> United.

American Express points —> Delta or USAirways (if you use a work-around).

SPG points —> AA, Delta, USAirways

After considering transfers, determine which airlines you’ll have enough miles in.

Step 5:  Check for Flight Availability

Now, for the (sometimes) hard part.  Luckily, there are some good tools out there to make it easier.

The first place to start is Award Nexus, you can get a free login by using your Flyertalk login on this page.  This site is great because it allows you to search across all three alliances, but it can be a bit complicated to use

Of course, there will be plenty of times where you won’t find availability right away.

If you are not finding availability with Award Nexus, here are a few tricks to try:

1.  Search each alliance individually.  To do that, check out my guides, complete with video tutorials, on how to find OneWorld availability and how to find Star Alliance availability.

2.  For more complicated itineraries, such as PHL to MLE, you may need to search in segments.  The computer systems may not be able to handle a request with so many layovers.

In this case, if I was looking for OneWorld flights, I’d search from PHL to Kuala Lumpur (KUL), since I know Malaysia Airlines flies from KUL to MLE.  Then, I’d search separately for the KUL to MLE route.

3.  Look for routes from other close airports.  For example, I may choose to look for flights from New York (JFK, EWR, LGA) since there are many more international flights from those airports than PHL.

Check the bigger airports in your area, as they will often have a lot more availability, especially for long international flights.

Step 6:  Book Your Tickets

After finding the flights you want, write down all the information, including times, flights numbers, and the airports you are flying from and going to.

Most likely, you won’t be able to recreate the tickets on the airline’s website whose miles you are using, so you’ll have to call the airline directly and spoonfeed them the information you’ve found.

For example, the two flights I found on AwardTravelr above from PHL-MLE would not show up when I searched for them on USAirways or United’s websites.  Depending on what miles I decided to use, I’d have to call up that airline and book the tickets over the phone.

While I usually fly economy class, I would consider splurging and flying business for this trip.  With 28+ hours of total flying plus numerous layovers, the extra comfort and lounge access during the layovers would probably be worth it.

Final Word(s)

Using frequent flyer miles to get to some destinations, especially remote places like the Maldives, can sometimes be difficult.

However, if you follow the six steps above, you should be able to use your frequent flyer miles for any dream destination you have, no matter how far away it is.

What are some of the tricks you have for using frequent flyer miles to get to remote destinations?  What are some of the more obscure places you have traveled to?  Inspire us in the comments below!

(photos courtesy of marcinbaranowski, mrwallpaper)

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Things to do in Siem Reap, Cambodia

[Update:  Want the newest stuff?  Of course you do!  Check out our updated Top 10 Things to do in Siem Reap post from May 2015 that includes a professionally edited 2 minute video by clicking here. ]

1.  Angkor Wat

Like this list would start with anything else!  Usually the only thing people know about Cambodia and certainly the only reason people venture north to Siem Reap is to see this amazing wonder of the world.  And you know what?  It’s worth it!

Granted, that is a much easier statement to make if you fly in on Air Asia for $60 from Kuala Lumpur (my recommendation) than if you take the hellacious 10 hour bus ride from Bangkok (not my recommendation), but regardless of how you get there, you’ll be blown away.

I could yarn on and on about Angkor Wat, but they say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I’ll just give you two suggestions and then let the rest speak for itself.

First, definitely get up to go at sunrise.  Yes, its 4:30 am and yes that sounds crazy, but it really does make the experience that much better.

Even if the sunrise itself isn’t so great (like the day we went), being at such a sacred and majestic place that early in the morning is magical.

My second suggestion is to not dilly dally outside of the temple after the sunrise occurs.  Before you know it, the temples will be overrun with large (and noisy) Korean and Japanese tour groups, even at this early of an hour.

Sneak in to the temple right after sunrise, before the rest get mobilized, and you’ll have this amazing place all to yourself.  Those 15 quiet and peaceful minutes I had alone in the temple were hands down the best part of the trip.

2.  Rent a driver for the day

This is usually done by people who are going to see Angkor Wat, but it deserves its own special mention because you aren’t just having a person drive you around, you’re having an experience.

Our driver, Bunthy, was one of the nicest, most genuine human beings you could ever meet, and as he was ferrying us around between the ruins, we not only learned a TON about Angkor Wat itself, but also amazing information about Cambodia, it’s history, it’s current political state, Bunthy’s family, the state of education in Cambodia, a normal lifestyle for a Cambodian person, and any other question I could think to fire off to him.

This interaction is the one major advantage to renting a car for the day (prices usually start at $30, but we talked him down to $25 and then ended up giving him a $5 tip anyway!) rather than a tuk-tuk.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities for renting a tuk-tuk around town, and its definitely something you should experience, but for the day trip around Angkor Wat, you won’t be able to converse or learn near as much from your driver, seeing as you’ll be sitting in the back of a noisy, motorbike drawn carriage.

And if you go in summer, as I did, the A/C alone is worth the extra $7.

Get in touch with my good buddy Bunthy and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!  Call or WhatsApp (855)-12-972-469 or even shoot him an email at bunthyme.bm@gmail.com.

3.  Eat a frog

I’m no stranger to eating weird foods, but usually its not as enjoyable as it is comedic.  Eating a frog is completely different; it’s delicious!

And not in a “it’s delicious for a really weird food” type way, but in a legitimate “I’d love to have 3 frogs for dinner two times a week” type way.  As cliche as it sounds, it tastes like chicken, just juicier and more flavorful.

For $1?  Looks like I’ll be flying in the staff from Khmer Family Restaurant to cater my next party.  Frogs for everyone!

4.  Get a fish massage

While the idea originally started on Khao San Road in Bangkok, it has quickly moved across the border and found a foothold in Siem Reap as well.  And, believe it or not, it’s even cheaper here!

$1 will buy you 15 minutes and a free beer, so when you ask me why you should put your feet in a tank full of goldfish, my answer would be “why not?”  And if you really need a reason, just believe the men when they tell you your dead skin is feeding the gold fish.  It’ll placate the animal love in all of us!

 

5.  Eat dinner in a bathtub

Madam Beergarden Under Construction (yes, that’s its real name) is as famous for its awesome food as it is for its crazy décor, and that’s saying something!

While dining on some of the best and cheapest eats in Siem Reap you can “lounge” in a sawed in half bathtub, among other interesting objects that dot the beergarden.

Whether you come for the food or the atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed!

6.  Indulge Yourself on Pub Street

One of the good things about Pub Street and the surrounding areai is that most bars 50 cent draft beers for happy hour.  An even better thing:  Happy Hour lasts “all day” or “from open to close”, depending on which sign you choose to read!

So no matter what time you decide to prowl Pub Street, a 50 cent draft is never far away.  I can’t think of a better way to beat the heat than relaxing a street side pub and having a few drafts for less than $2!

Angkor What is the bar that started it all, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of them (I mentioned beer was 50 cents, right)?  Here’s a list and map of most of them.  And just in case you get lost, the town has now erected a neon flashing sign to point all foreigners in the right direction!

7.  Haggle in the markets

Handbags, t-shirts, bathing suits, or live chickens…whatever your fancy, the street markets of Siem Reap have it all.  And while the prices are already low by our standards, it’s fun to engage in a little friendly bargaining!

My typical starting point is half of their first asking price.  Just remember, these people could use the extra dollar much more than you, so have fun with it, but don’t push too hard.

8.  Stay at a boutique hostel

As more and more tourists flock to Angkor Wat, so do the big hotel chains;  there is even a Park Hyatt scheduled to open next year!

But with Cambodia being the 3rd most corrupt country in Asia and the gap between the rich and the poor seismic, why not do a small part in giving back by staying at a locally run guesthouse or boutique hostel?  Not only will you get a more authentic experience, but the service will be second to none and the price you’ll pay will probably be half of what you’d pay at a Western-run hotel.  It’s a win-win for everyone!

There are plenty in the area, but if you want a recommendation, head to the Golden Mango.  Sony and his staff are some of the nicest people in the world, the building and pool are really nice, and the free breakfast is both tasty and filling.

9.  Ride in a tuk-tuk

There is no more authentic Southeast Asian experience than riding in a tuk-tuk, an open air wagon pulled by a motorbike that serves as a taxi.  For traveling through town, where the roads are congested and lanes are just a suggestion, a tuk-tuk will be just as fast as a regular taxi and easily half the price.

Plus, you’ll get to enjoy all the sites, sounds, and smells that make Siem Reap Siem Reap.  And if you’re lucky, you may even witness a fistfight (see 0:33 of video below).

10.  Eat a traditional Cambodian meal

Cambodian food certainly doesn’t get the publicity that it’s neighbors do but its delicious in its own right.  Some people may even prefer it to Thai food as the flavor is more subdued and its certainly less spicy.

Two of the most popular traditional dishes are amok and lok lak.  Amok is fish covered in crushed peanuts, coconut milk, and egg, that is wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed, whereas lok lak is a marinated beef stir fry served with special Cambodian seasoning.  Both come with rice, as does most every dish in Cambodia.

There is no better place to try these dishes, and much more, than at Khmer Kitchen, a Cambodian-run restaurant right off of Pub Street that is as cheap as it is delicious.  Additionally, you’ll get a pretty good rendition of either one of these dishes at the stalls that line the area around Angkor Wat.

Final Word(s)

While Angkor Wat gets most of the publicity, and justifiably so, there are still many really cool and authentic things to do in Siem Reap.  So if you find yourself venturing to northern Cambodia to see this amazing Wonder of the World make sure to try out some of my top 10 to make your trip even that much better!

If you’ve been to Siem Reap, what suggestions do you have?  Are there things I’ve left out?  I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

And don’t forget to check out our updated list (with a much better, professionally edited video) of the top 10 things to do in Siem Reap.

The Free Flight Primer, Part Three: Finding OneWorld Award Availability

The Free Flight Primer is a series of posts which will show, step by step, how to earn and then redeem frequent flyer miles.  We’ll start at the very beginning of the process and work our way through every step, from picking a destination all the way up to booking the ticket.  In between we’ll talk about tips for figuring out how many miles are needed for a certain flight, how to earn those miles, how to find seat availability, and much more.  I’ll be providing links to tools and websites that are helpful, tons of screenshots of various steps that may prove confusing, and of course, my own thoughts and opinions on the process.  It will be broken in to multiple sections and multiple posts, which will make it easier to read and easier to use as a reference at a later date.  I’ll also be providing a real-life case study using an actual client to better illustrate the process.

Part 1: Intro and Taking Inventory of Your Points 

Part 2:  Determining Airline Routes to Your Destination

Finding OneWorld Award Availability

Today, I’ll be trying out a new format and I’d love reader feedback.  Instead of simply including screenshots of the entire process, I’ve decided to make a short 5 minute video that will show my computer screen as I walk you through the entire process of searching for OneWorld award availability.  I’ll also provide a write up as a supplement to the video, emphasizing important points I may have glossed over during the video.  I’m assuming that this video format is much more beneficial for readers, and that is why I’ve decided to give it a whirl.  But hey,  I could be totally wrong (I was certainly wrong in assuming that making a video would take less time than a posting screenshots)!  Watch the video below and let me know what you prefer for future installations of The Free Flight Primer.

Step 1:  Go to Qantas.com

Important point:  You need to be a member of Qantas’s frequent flyer program in order to search for award availability.  If you are not already a member, sign up.  It is free and takes less than 5 minutes, a small price to pay to search all OneWorld partners.  Also, you DO NOT need to have Qantas frequent flyer miles in your account to search for availability (hooray!).

Step 2:  Enter Your Preferred Itinerary

Make sure to have the tab titled “Award Bookings” highlighted and also to have selected “Qantas and Partner Classic Awards”.  This will search all OneWorld alliance members.

Insiders’ Tip:  I’ve found it easier not to select “flexible dates” even if mine are. If you choose flexible dates it bounces you back out to the calendar screen to change the date each time you want to search another date.  If you don’t choose flexible dates, you can change dates after you have a flight list up and not bounce all the way back to the calendar screen.

Case Study:  Looking for flights from Philadelphia to Rome on September 28th and from Rome to Philadelphia on October 13th gives us all British Airways tickets, not what we want at all (remember, high fuel surcharges).  Ick!

Step 3:  Enter Other Possible Itineraries

In Part Two, we already looked at possible routings for both our flight origin and destination.  Hit “start again” on the left side column and enter the other itineraries you’ve felt could work for your trip.

Case Study:  Rome is the only airport we can feasibly fly in to but instead of flying out of Philadelphia, we can fly out of New York.  There is the Iberia flight we found in Part 2 that flies from JFK to Rome via Madrid, but it has not economy availability on the 28th.  However, when I change the date to the 29th, we find an economy ticket on Iberia leaving at 6 p.m.  This is a possibility, and the only real option we’ve found so far for OneWorld.

Coming home, there are no economy flights available on Iberia on either Sat Oct. 13th or Sun Oct 14th but there is some availability on Friday Oct 12th.  Not the best option, but it is an option.

Step 4 (if necessary):  Call and Book Your Ticket

If you find the flights that you want, awesome!  Call and book your ticket.  REMEMBER, WE ARE USING QANTAS AS A SEARCH ENGINE, NOT TO ACTUALLY BOOK OUR TICKET.  Unless you are actually planning on using Qantas miles, you can not book this ticket online.  You will have to call up the airline whose miles you are planning to use and book it through them.  For our case study, it is American Airlines.  Make sure to write down all the information about the flights you want, such as all the flight numbers, the times, and the cities you’ll be flying to and from.  Then, you’ll call the airline you want to book with, tell them the information, and they should be able to pull it up and book for you.

Case study:  We did not find tickets that worked perfect for us, so for now, I’ll write down the options I’ve decided are decent (the Iberia flights) and next try searching for Star Alliance availability.

Continue to Part 4: Finding Star Alliance Award Availability

 

 

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