I am excited to partner with American Express and Hilton for this sponsored opportunity to make my family travel goals and summer trip to Orlando happen.
Most of us are happy to travel to different places. Maybe you just love to travel back to your childhood hometown. Maybe you love to travel the world. One obstacle for many folks is the cost of travel, especially when you are looking at the cost for parents plus children…it adds up quickly. We always are on the lookout for more ways to do the things we enjoy with our family, and travel is something that we DO enjoy together.
We’ve begun to set some family travel goals for ourselves. I don’t view it as a bucket list, but…
Family Travel Goals
Goal 1:
Take as many opportunities if not all opportunities to travel.
Goal 2:
Take risks and go new places when traveling. There’s nothing wrong with going to the same vacation spots over and over again, but every so often, turn left, not right. Head north, not south. West, not east.
Goal 3:
Travel with friends.
Goal 4:
Don’t plan every moment of the trip ahead of time. This one is my weakness, because I tend to like to know what’s going to happen ahead of time. But I feel like we could easily miss out on some amazing adventures and so this is a goal.
Goal 5:
Go to beloved amusement parks when the occasion arises. You’re never too old for old fashioned fun (even when it’s hightech!)
Goal 6:
Get creative with funding travel opportunities. We aren’t billionaires, and sadly, we can’t seem to get a money tree that’ll actually grow money for us. So we work hard and spend carefully, as always.
One of our favorite ways to spend carefully (and smart!) is to use a credit card for any and all purchases we are able to every month. Gas. Groceries. Cable bill. Clothes. Activities. If it can go on a card that gives us rewards for spending, we use it as much as possible. Then we pay it off at the end of the month. If we can’t afford to pay it off, we don’t buy/spend it on the card. Period. That way, we’re paying zero interest on purchases, but accruing rewards like Hilton HHonors™ Points daily or close to it. We just got our cobranded Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express (there’s also a Hilton HHonors™ Surpass® Card from American Express) so that every dollar we spend earns us Points towards our next vacation adventure!
And right now (ending tomorrow, May 4th), there is a fantastic limited time offer from our friends at Hilton HHonors and American Express—their best one yet. If you spend $1000 in your first three months as a Hilton HHonors Card cardholder, you’ll get 75,000 bonus Hilton HHonors Points . 75,000. Those Points accrue even when you are on a trip! Start planning your next adventure, my friends.
Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express
•Get 75,000 HHonors Bonus Points with the Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express after you spend $1,000 within the first three months of Card membership. Offer ends 5/4/2016
Maximize Your Hilton HHonors Bonus Points
•Earn 7X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
•Earn 5X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: at U.S. restaurants, U.S supermarkets and U. S gas stations
•Earn 3X Hilton HHonors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
•No Annual Fee
What are your family travel goals?
Marielle Altenor says
I’ve been telling my SO that we need to travel with the kids more but he doesn’t like traveling!
Alicia Gonzalez says
These are great tips! Traveling can be so fun, but it can be difficult with the wrong approach. I love the part about not planning every moment. That’s important!
Alicia Gonzalez says
These are great tips! Traveling can be so fun, but it can be difficult with the wrong approach. I love the part about not planning every moment. That’s so important!
Camesha | Mama Motivator says
Traveling more is definitely one of our goals. Taking trips that aren’t the norm are on the list too. We’re planning a camping trip soon!
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
We set a goal every year for big vacation. Disney is a family fave we’ve been there 3 times and we’re planning on going back!
Up Run For Life says
I would love to be able to go on vacation this year. Its not looking promising but you just never know. 🙂
Nancy L says
We have this card too and I love it! We have been HH members for as long as I can remember. Must be close to 15 years now (maybe longer – time flies). Love the photo from Disney! 🙂
Kathy says
I love traveling, but I don’t travel often. I think this is great for those that travel often though. I would definitely get on this program if I traveled more often.
Jennifer Medeiros says
This is a great idea for the addicted traveler. My favorite part of any vacation is that part where I’m planning the next adventure.
Heather Pfingsten says
I absolutely love your goals! We have been working on creating goals for travel but the first one would just be to START. I also love partnering with great companies, especially when it can help us save. Great tips!
ricci says
I have a huge travel bucket list and it sounds like I need to sign up to be a Hilton HHonrors Member!! Great post!!
Miles L. says
I love your goals! It’s great to travel as a family once in a while. We’re planning our next trip.
OurFamilyWorld says
I always make sure that my family travels at least once a year. This is a great rewards program.
Jamie says
Traveling both with and without my kids is a goal of mine. I definitely use rewards points as much as I can to help reduce costs and make travel possible.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This sounds like a great rewards program. I travel often, so anything that will let me get a little something back is great.
mary says
My travel goals? Travel as MUCH as possible for the rest of my life. lol. We aren’t billionaires either..and with 4 kiddos it can get pricey. I love hearing about these reward programs! Thanks!
Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
I would love to adapt some of those same goals for my family. I think the part about not planning everything ahead would be difficult for me!
Amy Desrosiers says
We have never had the blessing to go to Florida! Looks like your kids are smiling ear to ear and I do not blame them–amazing!
dawn says
i havent taken a vacaa this year. last year i did a lot of traveling so i am feeling like it could be time.
Janeane Davis says
Travel is such an important family activity. Travel helps us learn more about the world and ourselves. It is a thing not to be missed.
Patty says
Right now I’d just like to be able to go on a vacation with my husband! But with the goats we can’t go away together. someday…..Farm life has it’s big pluses but some awful big minuses too
Dawn Lopez says
Our goals are just to take a vacation! 😉 All kidding aside, we have learned the value of not planning too much to do and leaving more spare time for relaxing. A vacation shouldn’t feel stressful!
Meagan says
I would love to take my kids to Disneyland! I seriously just live for family vacations!
Kathy says
My family and I haven’t been able to really travel much. With the cost of everything it’s just not in our budget at this time. We’re hoping that this winter we can take a nice vacation though. Sounds like the Hiltons program would be a nice option to check out.
Melissa Ann says
This sounds like an amazing program! We love to travel, so earning bonus points is always welcome!
Elizabeth Lampman says
I am working hard this year so that we will be able to go on a few trips next year. I think it is important to travel with your kids as often as you can. They can learn so much on a trip.
Jeanette says
We travel every year with another family. It is really fun to go with friends as long as you both have the same general idea in mind of what you want to do vacation. I have not been to Hilton quite a long time I’ll have to check out their program again.
Jeni Hawkins says
I love Hilton! I remember growing up, we would always stop at a Hilton with my family. Our trips were always awesome!
Tara says
I really like your travel goals. We are seasoned travellers and always on the go, we sure love taking in new and exciting places.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
We just got back from DC and are going back to Disney again this summer 🙂
Shauna says
You know, some of my most-favorite memories are traveling with my dad. That is why no matter what, whether we have two days or seven, we try to travel with the kids. Those are memories that will live together.
Roxanne Morrison says
Great travel thoughts are always much appreciated by this homebody. I love hearing all of Hiltons programs… They’re always well thought out & consistently executed. Thank You