The Best Winter Travel Packages - Forbes

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• The Best Winter Travel Packages - Forbes
• 50 Reasons To Travel This Fall - Forbes
• Scoring Cheap Airfare With Scott Keyes - Kiplinger's Personal Finance

The Best Winter Travel Packages - Forbes Posted: 06 Sep 2019 08:00 AM PDT This story was written in collaboration with Forbes Finds. Forbes Finds covers products we think you'll love. Featured products are independently selected and linked to for your convenience. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale. From the beaches of Hawaii to the mountains of Montana, winter getaway deals for every kind of traveler. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel There are two types of winter travelers. Those who head north to enjoy the activities associated with fresh mountain air, such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and even dog sledding. Then there are the snowbirds, people who fly south at the first sign of winter in search of sandy beaches and endless sunshine. Regardless of your preference, resorts and hotels often offer specially discounted packages designed to entice guests to their doors. Here are some of the best winter travel packages: Whiteface Lodge (Lake Placid, New York) Whiteface Lodge offers discerning travelers an exceptional experience. Whiteface Lodge Whiteface Lodge's value-packed Ski. Soak. Eat. Repeat offer includes two free lift tickets to Whiteface Mountain and complimentary breakfast each morning to fuel skiers down the slopes. Guests also receive a resort accommodations credit of $50 per night for one-bedroom suites, $75 per night for two-bedroom suites, and $100 per night for three-bedroom suites. To soothe aching muscles, skiers and boarders should consider the resort's selection of "Alpine Athlete" spa services, taking advantage of a 25% savings on all therapies at The Spa through the package. Book Now Ka'anapali Beach Hotel (Lahaina, Maui)    Kā'anapali Beach Hotel offers the Pacific Ocean at your doorsteps. Kā'anapali Beach Hotel Set along the Pacific, Kā'anapali Beach Hotel invites you to spend a few days basking in the warm Maui sun and golden sand with the Sunny Side Up Package which saves you $274. Included are ocean-view room accommodations (for four nights), a buffet breakfast for two on one morning, lunch for two and choice of either snorkel gear or a chaise with an umbrella. The travel dates end on December 22, 2019. Book Now Curtain Bluff  (Antigua)     A visit to Curtain Bluff helps beat the winter blues. Curtain Bluff Curtain Bluff's BRR 20% Off Special is the ideal way to escape the winter blues. With all gourmet meals and top-shelf drinks included in the rate, guests can enjoy additional on-property activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving (for certified divers only), sailing, waterskiing, SUP paddle-boarding, sailing, tennis, yoga and more. This inviting Caribbean deal includes 20% off for bookings made for stays between January 3 to 31, 2020 (five-night minimum stay). Book Now Pebble Beach Resorts (Pebble Beach, California) Pebble Beach offers exceptional accommodations. Pebble Beach For golf lovers, a winter getaway to the legendary Pebble Beach Resorts is sure to top the list. The two-night Winter Stay & Play Package includes two rounds of golf, one on Pebble Beach Golf Links and the other on a choice of Spyglass Hill Golf Course or The Links at Spanish Bay, plus a $100 resort credit. Guests can choose to stay at The Inn at Spanish Bay or The Lodge at Pebble Beach. There's also an option to book a third and/or fourth night at 20% off. This Pebble Beach offer is valid from November 24 to March 31, 2020. Book Now Twin Farms (Barnard, Vermont) Twin Farms is hosting Art of a Vermont Winter Series. Twin Farms An all-inclusive Relais & Châteaux property, Twin Farms serves as the ultimate winter escape, offering the best of seasonal activities amidst the 300 acres of snow, in addition to the unique bespoke programming offered as a part of the Art of a Vermont Winter Series. In hosting this series over the past two years, Twin Farms has brought together the best talent for programming and curated partnerships spanning culinary, culture, adventure, arts, music and entertainment, with guest-chef hosted dinners, intimate cooking classes and furniture workshops in which guests actually make their own table. Book Now The Resort at Paws Up (Greenough, Montana) The Resort at Paws Up hosts a winter fest event. The Resort at Paws Up When the blankets of snow start to fall over the mountains of Montana, Paws Up turns into its own private Winter Wonderland. The resort offers countless seasonal adventures, including dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow tubing and sleigh rides. Rates for Winter Travel Packages start from $523 per person per night and are available January 1 through March 1. Included are all daily meals, nonalcoholic beverages and a selection of beer, wine and well spirits. The package also includes one activity credit of $100 per person. Book Now The Lodge at Blue Sky (Wanship, Utah) Heli Skiing can take you to previously undiscovered places. The Lodge at Blue Sky Why head south when the Wasatch and Uintas Mountain Ranges await? Through a partnership with helicopter outfitter Powderbird, guests of the Lodge at Blue Sky can depart directly from the property on a ten-minute flight to enjoy heli-skiing in the majestic peaks outside of Park City, Utah. The untouched high alpine terrain consists of over 200,000 acres of alpine bowls, steep chutes and glades all blanketed by some of the greatest snow on earth. The accommodations include Sky Lodge, Earth Suites or Creek Houses. Book Now Steamboat Ski Resort (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) Unlike many major ski resorts, Steamboat offers night skiing. Steamboat Ski Resort Best if booked by August 29 (after that you can still receive 25% off—and 10% during holidays—until mid-October), Steamboat's VIP (SVIP) Program offers 30% off packages with lift tickets, lodging, ski school, rentals, dining and activities. It also offers free activities including night skiing & riding, first tracks, equipment demos, guided snowshoe tours and passes to Steamboat's famous hot springs. Valid for stays November 23 through April 12, 2020 (there is a 15% discount for holiday period of December 21- January 4, 2020). There are also spa and dining discounts during the same period. Book Now Marigot Bay Resort & Marina (Saint Lucia) Marigot Bay Resort offers a wide variety of accommodations. Marigot Bay Resort Take advantage of shoulder-season flight fares to St. Lucia where travelers can find sunny weather and stunning Caribbean scenery without hordes of tourists. Set on the Caribbean's most scenic harbor, Marigot Bay Resort features locally infused dining experiences and affordable packages such as its 7 Experiences in 7 Days offer, a package that indulges guests in a slew of culturally infused and curated activities such as a cooking demo followed by a body scrub workshop. Book now through September 3, 2020 and get a free seventh night. Book Now Playa Cativo Lodge (Costa Rica) Playa Cativo Lodge features accommodations in true harmony with nature. Playa Cativo Lodge Located in the center of Costa Rica's rainforest and accessible exclusively by boat, Playa Cativo is an upscale beachfront eco-lodge offering stunning accommodations in true harmony with nature. This luxurious hideaway is complete with a new Lotus Spa wellness haven and 18 open-air casitas. Straight from the on-property farm, the lodge offers two multi-sensory dining experiences. The Playa Cativo Essentials Package allows jet-setters to plan the ultimate winter getaway. This four-night package includes local air transfers, a four-night stay, round-trip scenic boat transfers, three à la carte, multi-course meals per day and more. Book Now

50 Reasons To Travel This Fall - Forbes Posted: 06 Sep 2019 10:16 AM PDT The Dolder Grand The Dolder Grand Autumn sometimes gets lost in the seasonal shuffle. It doesn't tempt with beach vacations like summer or tantalize with snow-filled winter holidays, so it can be easy to discount it as the subdued time surrounding Thanksgiving. But we've discovered places around the globe that see the span between September and December a little differently. They see champagne sunsets and cashmere trails, fishing trips and off-roading expeditions — and they want you to be a part of it all. From Miami to Munich, these are the destinations embracing the calendar not just for its foliage and football but for its festivals and outdoor fun, too. Go Nordic Walking Witness fall's colors with scenic Nordic walking tours through Zurich's Adlisberg forest with The Dolder Grand. The sport uses ski-like poles for a low-impact workout that engages 90 percent of your muscles. Wynn Las Vegas Barbara Kraft Play Golf on the Strip Being considered one of the finest golf courses along the Vegas Strip would be enough for most resorts. But "fine" has never been Wynn Las Vegas' game. Instead, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star treasure is introducing a newly redesigned, 130-acre layout (new water features, elevation changes and freshly planted flora) on October 11. Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach Explore the UAE Journey through Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the help of Four Seasons. The trip includes a two-hour spa treatment at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, a personal shopping experience with Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Finance Centre and a VIP Louvre Abu Dhabi tour with Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, along with stays at all three hotels. The Grand Canyon Jasper Van Der Meij See the Grand Canyon Trek to the famous national park for its centennial. To celebrate the milestone, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, a Phoenix resort steeped in the local Gila River Indian Community's culture, offers up to 15 percent off. Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dine with Star Chefs Partake in cooking demonstrations, oceanfront dinners and wine tastings at the exclusive Culinary Getaway (Oct. 10-13) from Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and decorated chef José Andrés. You'll join notable toques like Ludo Lefebvre, Tyler Florence and Lorena Garcia at the Puerto Rico hotel. The Clement Hotel The Clement Hotel Catch a Game in Style Some college football pundits insist the Pac-12 conference is destined for another ho-hum season. Don't tell that to the Stanford Cardinal, a squad that hopes to prove its mettle in upcoming home tilts versus Oregon (Sept. 21), Washington (Oct. 5) and UCLA (Oct. 17). After the games, sprint a few hundred yards over to The Clement Hotel, a stay with all-star accommodations (spacious suites) and amenities (all-inclusive meals, rooftop pool deck). Uncle Nearest Distillery Uncle Nearest Distillery Try a Tennessee Tipple Uncle Nearest Whiskey, a label honoring Nearest Green, the African American master distiller who taught Jack Daniel the tools of the trade, is opening its first distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on September 14. With its historical significance and unique onsite experiences, the hour-drive from Nashville will prove more than worth it. When you return to the city, toast to the day over an Old Fashioned at Five-Star The Hermitage Hotel's Oak Bar. Casa Angelina Casa Angelina Search for Squid In the Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina will send you on a nighttime boat excursion for some of the world's best squid fishing. Bring your catch back to the hotel to learn how to make the traditional totani e patate ("squid and potatoes") Beijing Magda Ehler Fly a Kite in Beijing It's believed that kites originated in China thousands of years ago. Let The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street's concierge plan a visit to Three Stones Kite Company to buy a handmade creation and then point you to places like Tiananmen Square to let it fly. Rolls-Royce Cullinan James Lipman and The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hit the Road in a Rolls-Royce No stranger to opulence, Five-Star The Peninsula Beverly Hills is putting things into another gear with its Peninsula Academy Road Trip, a program that allows you to drive a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV up the Pacific Coast Highway, through a vineyard and onto Pismo Beach. Once you pry yourself away from the steering wheel, hop on a private plane for a one-way flight back to L.A. South Beach Seafood Festival LALAN Feast in South Florida There's a lot to love about South Beach Seafood Week: a cocktail-pairing dinner (Oct. 23); a lavish seafood spread with 20 pop-up cafés (Oct. 26); and its location just two miles from your The Miami Beach EDITION room. Ironically though, the event we're most looking forward to, a silent disco aboard the all-new Celebrity Edge, has nothing to do with food. The Raphael Hotel The Raphael Hotel Get Jazzed Up for Kansas City Jazz lovers appreciate Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Raphael Hotel for its monthly entertainment calendar (Lonnie McFadden Trio, the Mengel Brothers Duo). That it's almost within earshot of Kansas City's Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, a world-class facility welcoming The Kingdom Choir (Oct. 1), Boyz II Men (Oct. 2) and the Indigo Girls (Nov. 19) soon, doesn't hurt. Gurney's Newport Resort and Marina Gurney's Newport Resort and Marina Marvel at New England Mansions If you think the old naval station that composes Gurney's Newport Resort and Marina is something to see (and, trust us, it is), just wait until you take one of the coastal Rhode Island city's mansion tours. A few hours walking around Rosecliff or The Breakers (both close for the season on Oct. 14) will leave you in awe. Seven Stars Resort and Spa Seven Stars Resort and Spa Take to the Seas in T&C Though Turks and Caicos' only heated saltwater pool could be enough reason to stay on property this coming season, Four-Star Seven Stars Resort and Spa provides so many water pursuits — everything from three-hour sunset cruises to snorkeling near the world's third-largest coral reef — that you can't help but go with the flow. Scottish Style The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel Cozy Up to Cashmere You may love your cashmere scarves, but until you've witnessed how they're made, you may not fully appreciate the craftsmanship behind them. On The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel's Cashmere, Tartan & Tweed Trail, textiles expert Kitty MacKenzie will be by your side as you're chauffeured an hour south of Edinburgh for private tours of the 1797-established Johnstons of Elgin and some of Scotland's other prized mills. Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Take an Instagram Tour of Marina Bay Singapore's striking Marina Bay ranks as one of the world's most Instagram-worthy destinations. Mandarin Oriental, Singapore will give you a curated area map and selfie stick, and an influencer will offer tips to help you nail the perfect shot. Rosewood London Rosewood London Embark on a Treasure Hunt Solve a series of puzzles at Rosewood London for a chance to win an upgraded suite stay, an in-suite dinner with a mixologist and band, massages and more starting in November. Clarendon Games helped devise the Room Hunt challenges, some of which are experiential. The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel Up Your Golf Game Hone your skills at The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel's immersive three-day golf school in Charlotte. The certified LPGA and PGA instructors will help advanced beginners and beyond on everything from short game skills to handling trouble shots. Wunder Garten Wunder Garten Drink in D.C.'s Beer Gardens Munich isn't the only place with beer gardens. D.C. boasts its own scene with spots like Wunder Garten and Dacha Beer Garden serving top-notch brews and a great vibe. For a more upscale sampling, Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. does private beer tastings. Grand Velas Riviera Maya Velas Resorts Take Mexico to the Extreme Velas Resorts is recognizing the woman who can do everything with its Alpha Female Adventure Getaways. From power hikes through the Sierra Madres (Grand Velas Los Cabos) to tequila tastings with a side of crickets (Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta) to diving expeditions with bull sharks (Grand Velas Riviera Maya), thrill-seeking besties need apply. Edward Hopper's "Western Motel." Western Motel, 1957, Edward Hopper (American, 1882-1967), oil on canvas. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Bequest of Stephen C. Clark, B.A., 1903. ©2019 Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY Sample the Arts in Virginia "Edward Hopper and the American Hotel" is an exceptional look at the 20th-century artist's take on hospitality settings showing at Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Oct. 26-Feb. 23). It makes sense then that The Jefferson Hotel, one of the state's only Five-Star properties, would offer an overnight package to help you to fully enjoy the expansive exhibition. Oktoberfest Fun Tommy Loesch Do Oktoberfest the Right Way Thanks to Mandarin Oriental, Munich's Celebrate Oktoberfest package, you can commemorate the world's largest beer festival (Sept. 21-Oct. 6) in style. In addition to Five-Star accommodations, you'll receive Bavarian treats at arrival, a vintage bus ride to the big event and special access to the iconic Schützen-Festzelt tent. Robuchon au Dôme Grand Lisboa Hotel Sip Magnums in Macau Carrying 17,000 labels, Grand Lisboa Hotel impresses with its wine collection. Through December, taste some of the best pours as the Macau hotel pairs magnums with dishes at its top restaurants, including Robuchon au Dôme and The Eight. Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake Tour a UNESCO World Heritage Site Glide through UNESCO World Heritage Site West Lake on a boat ride with Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. Afterward, go on a limousine tour of the city and attend a Chinese tea ceremony, both also courtesy of the hotel. Garden Of Earthly Delights' "Melting Memories" by Refik Anadol Wynn Encounter Earthly Artistic Delights The exhibit "Wynn – Garden of Earthly Delights" debuted as part of Art Macao, the city's first big arts event. Inspired by Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, the show features modern and contemporary works through Oct. 6. Stay at the all-suite Encore Macau, which wows with its bold red and gold décor. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago Attend a Show in Chicago It doesn't matter if you're hungry for a thorough art show (Expo Chicago, Sept.19-22) or a quick bite (Chicago Gourmet, Sept. 24-29), the Windy City is where you'll want to be this autumn. And because of its great location and whatever-you-might-need service culture, Four-Star Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is where you'll want to be when it's time to recharge after all of the walking. Whiteface Lodge Whiteface Lodge Fawn over Lake Placid's Foliage There's fall foliage season and then there's the explosion of rich reds, bold oranges and brilliant golds found in the Adirondacks. Bask in nature's plentiful palette this September and October during a stay at Whiteface Lodge, a Four-Star beauty that's enveloped in Northern white cedars, black spruces and red pines. Wanda Reign on the Bund Wanda Reign on the Bund Savor a Shanghainese Delicacy  Fall is hairy crab season in Shanghai, where the rare culinary delight becomes a menu staple for two brief months. Check into Four-Star Wanda Reign on the Bund to savor the specialty alongside skyline vistas and Shanghainese art. Taipei Marriott Hotel Taipei Marriott Hotel Celebrate Like a Local There's no better time to visit Taipei than during Double Tenth Day, Taiwan's October 10 national holiday. After catching the presidential palace parade and pyrotechnics display, rest your head at Four-Star Taipei Marriott Hotel, where stunning downtown views come standard. Horseback Riding at Sorrel River Ranch Resort Sorrel River Ranch Resort Explore More of Moab With cooler temperatures and thinner crowds, fall is a great time to horseback ride, canyoneer (canyon exploring) or mountain bike through Moab, Utah's red rocks. The desert adventures are all available at Sorrel River Ranch Resort. Gateway Canyons Resort's Impressive Wheels Gateway Canyons Resort Drive Through the Desert Cruise through Western Colorado with Gateway Canyons Resort's Driven Experience. Rent a rugged Jeep Wrangler or a sleek Bentley for a leaf-peeping adventure through the canyons — the state's golden aspens are particularly picturesque.   Wequassett Resort and Golf Club Wequassett Resort and Golf Club Whale Watch on the Cape September and October are prime time for whale watching in Cape Cod. Opt for an excursion or charter your own boat at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club before returning to the Five-Star property for a seafood feast at Four-Star Twenty-Eight Atlantic. Osaka Castle in Fall Osaka Government Tourism Bureau/JNTO Leaf-Peep in Osaka For impressive leaf-peeping photos, visit Osaka Castle Park, where the greenspace's namesake structure will be perfectly framed by golden gingko foliage come fall. Afterward, head for Imperial Hotel, Osaka to toast the autumn-hued sunset at The Rainbow Lounge. Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel Become a Chocolatier Learn the secrets of Swiss sweets during a tour of Geneva chocolate maker Stettler's workshop. Craft confections like caramel salted butter and a classic chocolate bar before heading back to Four-Star Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel for a cozy sugar crash. Mandarin Oriental, Milan Mandarin Oriental, Milan Linger in Italian Luxury Live the high life in Italy this autumn with the One Trip, Two Destinations offer from Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Milan. Spend two nights in the country's fashion capital followed by two evenings at Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como with plenty of culinary delights in between. W Doha Hotel & Residences' E WOW Suite Marriott International Inc. Cruise Qatar's Dunes Head for the desert for a dune-bashing adventure in Doha. The local pastime involves careening through the sands in a 4x4 vehicle at high speeds for a unique heart-pumping thrill. Cool off with a swim in W Doha Hotel & Residences' mosaic-tiled pool. Singapore Grand Prix Season Singapore Gear Up for Grand Prix Season Singapore Get revved up for the Singapore Grand Prix excitement (Sept. 20-22) with the Formula 1 race, the four precinct parties and other events. Pan Pacific Singapore has a special Singapore Night Race offer that will give you track-facing accommodations. Culinary Stars at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Grab a Gourmet Getaway Prepare for the meals of your life at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi's second annual Culinary Stars (Oct. 6-13). Eighteen renowned chefs will collaborate on foodie events, including a dinner in which each course focuses on a different spice and is paired with spice wines, and a showdown where chefs go head-to-head in a cook-off. The Lodge at Glendorn The Lodge at Glendorn Ride Horses Amid the Leaves Pennsylvania's rural woodlands are bursting with colors in the autumn. Meander among the trees with a horseback riding excursion at The Lodge at Glendorn. The rides run through late fall. Eden Roc Cap Cana Eden Roc Cap Cana Soar Above Punta Cana Take your Caribbean vacation to new heights with Four-Star Eden Roc Cap Cana's curated aerial excursions. Explore historic Santo Domingo, visit isolated Bahia de las Aguilas beach or discover El Salto del Limón waterfall, all with the luxe Dominican Republic retreat as your home base. Chatham Inn Chatham Inn See the Sunset in Cape Cod Cozy up with the Cape Romance package at quaint Four-Star Chatham Inn this fall. Sip champagne during a private sunset cruise, followed by a five-course feast and a post-dinner soak in your oversized tub back at the boutique hotel.  1881 Napa Wine History Museum & Tasting Salon 1881 Napa Wine History Museum & Tasting Salon Get a Taste of History Pop into the newly opened 1881 Napa Wine History Museum & Tasting Salon to sip on NorCal cabernets while browsing a collection of winemaking artifacts and antiques. Continue your vino visit with a wine peel facial at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Napa River Inn. Pub in the Park Will Bailey Attend Food Festivals in the English Countryside Retreat to the English countryside for fall festivals like Pub in the Park St Albans (Sept. 13-15), St Albans Food and Drink Festival (Sept. 25-Oct. 7) and George Street Gin & Jazz (Oct. 4). Walk off those calories among bucolic Sopwell House's 12 verdant acres. Portrait Roma-Lungarno Collection Lungarno Alberghi Sr Stargaze in Rome See the stars (Ian McKellen, Bill Murray, Wes Anderson) shine in the Eternal City during the 14th Rome Film Fest (Oct. 17-27). Enjoy A-list digs between screenings at chic Five-Star Portrait Roma—Lungarno Collection. Lady Gaga Kevin Mazur Go Gaga in Vegas If you've had your fill of illusionists and '90s pop stars, you may like who Park MGM's Park Theater has headlining. Nine-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga takes up residency (various dates from October through May 2020) at the venue with two shows, the electric Enigma and more restrained Jazz & Piano. With Four-Star Vdara Hotel & Spa only a short walk from the stage, you can wail "I'll Never Love Again" without worrying about how you'll get home. Falcon Fun Woodstock Inn & Resort Learn the Ancient Sport of Kings There's a reason nature enthusiasts who stop by Southern Vermont's Woodstock Inn & Resort for its prime leaf-peeping opportunities say the place has gone to the birds. New to the Four-Star property, the Introductory Falconry Package grants you a 45-minute session with a trained hawk, breakfast for two and elegant accommodations. Hiking in Boulder Boulder CVB Hike and Bike Through Boulder Take advantage of fall's cooling weather and hit the 200 miles of hiking and biking trails around Boulder, Colorado. Afterward, treat your muscles to a CBD-enhanced massage at downtown's Four-Star St Julien Hotel & Spa. Erna's Elderberry House at Château du Sureau Château du Sureau Prep for the Holidays Fine-tune your culinary skills ahead of the holidays with half-day cooking classes at Yosemite's Four-Star Château du Sureau. Learn to brine a turkey or plate hors d'oeuvres before spending the afternoon strolling the estate's whimsical nine-acre grounds. Rock Bar The Villas at AYANA Resort, BALI Toast to a Bali Sunset Savor Bali's sun-streaked skies with Five-Star The Villas at AYANA Resort, BALI's Rock Bar VIP Villa package. Get priority access to the popular Rock Bar, which sits on rocks against the coast. Take in the up-close ocean view with a complimentary sundowner. The Old Nassau Rum Fashioned The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas Show Your Support for the Bahamas The best way to help the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian is pay the island nation a visit. Nassau properties like The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas remain relatively unscathed and continue to welcome visitors. In fact, the colonial-inspired escape recently unveiled a menu of artisan cocktails (try the Old Nassau Rum Fashioned) featuring local J.A.B botanical spirits. Grab a tipple and feel good knowing that your tourism dollars are helping the destination rebuild.

Scoring Cheap Airfare With Scott Keyes - Kiplinger's Personal Finance Posted: 09 Sep 2019 03:26 PM PDT The founder of Scott's Cheap Flights newsletter joins the show with strategies you can use to save on travel. Also, our hosts Ryan Ermey and Sandra Block talk streaming options for those thinking of ditching their cable service. Episode Length: 00:29:36 | Links and resources mentioned in this episode SUBSCRIBE: Apple Google Play Spotify Overcast RSS Listen to more Your Money's Worth Podcasts Ryan Ermey: We know you're already thinking about going home for the holidays and on a fabulous vacation in the spring, and because we know you want to save on airfare, we went straight to the source. Scott Keyes, founder of the popular email newsletter Scott's Cheap Flights joins us for our main segment. Listen to More Your Money's Worth Podcasts Ryan Ermey: On today's show, Sandy and I discuss strategies for ditching your cable provider and delve back into our wackiest PR pitches. That's all ahead on this episode of Your Money's Worth. Stick around. Ryan Ermey: Welcome to Your Money's Worth. I'm Kiplinger's Associate Editor, Ryan Ermey, joined as always by senior editor Sandy Block. Sandy, are you ready for some football? Sandy Block: No, Ryan, because I am still getting high on baseball. The Nationals are hot, so I'm not ready for football yet. I'm all about baseball right now. Advertisement Ryan Ermey: My beloved Phillies are less than hot, but maybe they will have turned things around by the time this comes out. Of course, by the time this comes out, football season, NFL football season will have commenced and this will be coming out simultaneously with "Monday Night Football," hence the question. Ryan Ermey: And to me, football season is all about enduring hundreds of advertisements for Fox and CBS's fall lineups. So I tend to think of fall as the new season for TV. And we just wrote about something that we've really been covering for years at Kiplinger's, which is this idea of cutting the cord. Sandy Block: That's right. The idea that you no longer have to rely on cable to get all the programs that you need, and that you can save a lot of money by looking for other alternatives. Ryan Ermey: And really in the not so old days, cutting your cable, you ended up with sort of very limited streaming options, but now there are dozens of services to choose from and people are coming up with ways to watch only the content they want, perhaps for cheaper than paying for the big cable package. Advertisement Sandy Block: Because that was always one of the biggest complaints about cable is that you got stuck. You ended up paying for all these channels that you didn't want. They would say, "Lucky you. We've added the golf and tennis channels for just an additional $10 a month," and you don't play golf or tennis and you don't care. Ryan Ermey: Very popular channels in my parents' households, both avid tennis players and golfers, but the point stands. And the average household using pay TV spends about $105 a month on cable. SEE ALSO: Drowning in Streaming Fees Ryan Ermey: Now, some companies, some cable companies I should say are offering sort of more narrow packages for cheaper to try to retain customers that are otherwise fleeing to streaming services, for say around $50, but then you're still locked into a contract. Ryan Ermey: You are still hit with fees, and you're still subject to rate hikes when whatever introductory offer that you inevitably take expires. Now before we get into where you might want to do your streaming, it should be mentioned that a lot of times people bundle their cable and internet- Advertisement Sandy Block: And phone. Ryan Ermey: ... and phone, and at least in D.C. it's like if you wanted to drop the cable and the phone and just do internet, it's probably not that much cheaper. You're probably still paying a lot of money. And then to add a streaming service on top of it might be more expensive. Ryan Ermey: So you're going to have to do some comparison shopping, and what you should do and what our colleague Kaitlin Pitsker recommends doing is start by making a list of networks and programs that you watch. There's a website that helps you to do this, justwatch.com, where you can see where your favorite or soon to be favorite... I always have a list of 10 to 15 shows that people tell me I just have to be watching it. Ryan Ermey: I'm like, "What am I doing?" And just to see where they're offered. And like I mentioned before, you are going to need to hang onto your internet, probably a speedy one and a streaming device. So you'll need an Amazon Fire, Roku, Chromecast, which is Google's product, or some kind of Smart TV. Advertisement Ryan Ermey: And you're going to have to weigh whether you care about having live TV in addition to on-demand programs. For a long time not having cable and going 100% streaming was not a viable option for me because I need live sports. Sandy Block: Right. Sports was always the wild card here, if you wanted to... Same way with us with baseball. There wasn't really... You didn't have cable, you'd have to listen to it on the radio. Ryan Ermey: So one of the things that we've recommended from the very beginning is seeing what you can get in terms of an antenna. Now the connectivity isn't going to be the same everywhere, but in certain places you'll be able to get more than you could get with basic cable for a onetime cost. You pay for the antenna, which is relatively cheap. We have a couple that we recommend. Ryan Ermey: One kind of a cheaper one, one on the high-end range, but even the high-end range is like less than 200 bucks, and you pay one time and then you [get] broadcast to just like you did with your old rabbit ears. Sandy Block: Yeah, old school. Ryan Ermey: Yeah. Otherwise the prices for these streaming services vary. Among the ones that offer live TV, you have AT&T, TVNow, which is formerly DirecTV. Now that's 50 to 70 bucks a month. Hulu + Live TV, if you've seen my guy Joel Embiid who plays for the Sixers, Hulu has live sports. SEE ALSO: Save Big by Getting Rid of Your Cable TV Ryan Ermey: That's $45 a month, Sling TV, $25 to $40 a month. YouTube TV, $50 a month. Now they come with add-ons for certain channels, so you're going to have to look around and see what is out there. Like for instance, I need TNT, because I watch the NBA and they're one of the major broadcasters of the NBA. Ryan Ermey: You might have to pay extra for that at one place and not at another. And then you have the on-demand TV and movie services. Now, do you have any of these? Sandy Block: No. Well, we have Amazon Prime and we have Netflix. Ryan Ermey: Well, that's is two of them. Sandy Block: One thing I really like about all of these streaming services, particularly since there's so many choices, is unlike cable, you pay them by the month. And a lot of them will let you try them out for free, but even if you subscribe, you could only have TNT during basketball season. Sandy Block: One thing I've thought about doing and haven't done, but I mean to next year, is just suspending Netflix in the summertime because I'm not around, I don't watch TV in the summer. You could just suspend it for the summer months and pick it back up once the snow starts to fall. So I think you have a lot more flexibility with these streaming services and it does give you the option of trying them out to see if you like them. Ryan Ermey: So, as always, the advice is to see what you like, see what fits into not only your budget, but into your household's watching habits. Another thing to consider is how many simultaneous streams they'll let you have, how many users they'll let you be on there. I mean I know people using all of their parents'. Sandy Block: I know people have more people on Netflix than we got in the office right now. But yeah, definitely. Ryan Ermey: So that's worth checking out. And the last thing that I wanted to note is that there are a few of these streaming services that are free, and why not see what's on there? You have Hoopla and Kanopy with a K, because obviously you can't have it... Sandy Block: It's cool. SEE ALSO: New Strategies to Cut the Cable Cord Ryan Ermey: You have to have some sort of- Sandy Block: Because it's cool with the K. Ryan Ermey: Yeah. But it's especially cool because they're both offered through your public library. Sandy Block: There you go. Ryan Ermey: And they have movies, TV shows, music, audio books, eBooks, and that's all free. And so, I mean, is it going to be the brand new "Avengers," whatever, for free? Probably not. But you may find a movie on there that is good enough for your Friday date night. Sony Crackle, IMDb TV, Pluto TV and Tubi. That's a little... T-U-B-I. Sandy Block: Who makes this stuff up? Ryan Ermey: Also have free stuff, but you'll have to watch commercials along the way. Now for people like you and me who grew up watching TV with commercials, that's no problem. My nephew who's 10 years old cannot abide a commercial. Sandy Block: There'll be none of this. I guess he never has to go to the bathroom. Ryan Ermey: No. Maybe like a YouTube ad. I mean for me it's like if a movie's on TV and this is like the... If a movie's on TV with commercials it's going to be like a third longer. It's also something I can probably stream or get online or whatever. Ryan Ermey: But there's something fun about flipping around and like catching it halfway through and then watching all the way through with the commercials. Now the nice thing about the commercials is exactly, you can get up, go to the bathroom, go throw a load of laundry in, or you decide, "All right, next commercial break, I'll go outside and do yard work." Ryan Ermey: So anyway folks, make sure to check out Kaitlin's entire story. It's in the October 2019 issue of Kiplinger's personal finance magazine on newsstands now... Coming to you soon folks. If you don't have it, get it and see all of the great things that she talks about there and we'll be sure to put it up in the show notes as well. SEE ALSO: 34 Best Travel Websites to Save You Money Ryan Ermey: All right, we are back and we are here with Scott Keyes, who is the founder of the, I would say ubiquitous, cheap flights newsletter, Scott's Cheap Flights. Scott, thank you so much for coming on. Scott Keyes: Thank you so much for having me. Ryan Ermey: So we actually, we did a Q&A, you and I, in the magazine a few years ago. And at the time you said that flexibility was really the key to finding good deals on airfare. Why is that? Scott Keyes: Yeah, I like to say flexibility is really your friend and here's why. The way that most people go about searching for flights is a three step process. Step one, they decide where they want to go. Step two, they decide when they want to go, and only on step three do they look at what are the flight prices like. Scott Keyes: And by setting price, by setting airfare as the third order priority, they end up getting not very good flights. So if you're someone like me who really has dozens of places they would love to go and really wants to make sure they get a cheap flight doing it, what I recommend is actually flip that search process on its head. Scott Keyes: Set the first order of priority, where are there cheap flights, and then in step two and three decide, of the places where there are cheap flights, where do I want to go and when do I want to be there, and when are there available cheap dates that I can go there? Scott Keyes: Do any of those work with my schedule? If so. Great. And so to give you a concrete example, I sent out a deal just yesterday that had availability from all over the U.S. to Amsterdam nonstop for 477 bucks round trip. If you had searched on those exact dates to London rather than Amsterdam, fares where 927 bucks round trip. Scott Keyes: And so if you had had just your head like sort of narrowly focused on London, you would have ended up paying 450 bucks more than if you had said, "I'll go somewhere where it's cheap in Europe." And even if you're really set on getting to London, buy that $477 flight to Amsterdam and then just book a train, or book a cheap flight from Amsterdam to London. Sandy Block: So Scott, we're not that far out from the holidays and sometimes people really do have a specific destination, they don't have any choice. So what's the ideal window for buying airline tickets? I mean, for example, how far in advance should you start searching for a flight? Scott Keyes: What I recommend for folks is that if you're searching for domestic flights, kind of one to three months ahead of time, if you're looking at international flights, two to eight months ahead of time. That's the window when cheap flights are most likely to pop up. So you don't want to book just any old fare during that window. Scott Keyes: You just want to know that that is when cheap flights are most likely to pop up, and when I should anticipate getting ready to book. If you're looking to travel during a peak holiday period, so right around Christmas, New Year's, or domestically for Thanksgiving or even in the middle of summer, I would add a couple of months to those recommendations as well, because it's that much tougher to find cheap flights during the holidays or peak travel periods. Ryan Ermey: And so I also seem to remember talking with you about using a tool such as Google Flights that can expand the number of departure and arrival destinations, as well as sort of look at a range of dates. Scott Keyes: That's right. That's right. And this goes back to what I mentioned about flexibility, where on Google Flights you can put in up to seven airports at once. And by doing that I can say, "Okay, from my home airport, what is the cheapest to fly to Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Frankfurt and London?" SEE ALSO: 21 Ways to Get Luxury Travel for Less Scott Keyes: And it'll tell me instantly, "Okay, you've those seven cities, the cheapest is Rome for 305 bucks round trip on September 8th through 15th," or something like that. Like it'll tell you that quickly and that instantly what is your best bet among all those options? Scott Keyes: And then you can decide for yourself, "Hey, does that sound like a good place to go? Do I have that time off in my schedule?" and whatnot. But at least having that knowledge of when the cheap flights are available I think tends to be really valuable information for the cheap flight aficionados among us. Sandy Block: So Scott, every time any of us budget travelers get on a plane, we walk past the people in first class or business class or even premium, and just envy those people and we go back in the back and sit in the tiny seats. Are there certain times that it might be easier to find good rates on those nice seats? Scott Keyes: In terms of trying to find the cheapest premium seats, whether it's a premium economy or business or even first class, the fares typically tend to behave similarly to economy fares, but just in order of magnitude higher. Scott Keyes: So you're still going to want a book well in advance, not wait until the last minute. You're going to typically find better premium fares if you're flying on a more uniformly leisure route than one where there might be a bunch of business travelers. Scott Keyes: So if you're flying from New York to London, that business class seat is almost certainly going to cost more than one from New York to Honolulu. You're not competing with all the corporations who don't care what the price is, they're going to put their executives in those business class seats. Scott Keyes: And so I would think about it less in terms of timing and more in terms of routes, which ones are most likely to see a drop, and the more leisure your destination, the better your chances of getting a good fare there. Ryan Ermey: You mentioned business travelers and I seem to remember that because of business travelers it's sort of a myth that you can get a deal if you book at the last second. Are there any deals to be had if you're booking last minute? Scott Keyes: That's right. A couple of decades ago there were, it was a common thing that airlines would try to slash their fares in the days leading up to a flight because they made the calculation that look, as soon as you close the airline doors, any unfilled seat is just lost potential revenues. Scott Keyes: So how do you fill as many seats as possible? You slash the price. I was actually reading an academic paper that really changed the trajectory of this, where they surmised that look, maybe we shouldn't be optimizing for trying to fill the number of seats, and this is from the airline's perspective, maybe we should be trying to optimize for the amount of revenue we make. SEE ALSO: The Travel Tipping Quiz Scott Keyes: And so they went back and looked, who is it that's booking the last minute seats? It's the business travelers. It's the folks who don't know their plans until late and also they don't care what the price is, they're completely price insensitive. Scott Keyes: Whereas the leisure travelers, vacationers, we book months in advance and we are very sensitive to the price. So the airlines decided rather than slashing the price in the last week or two, they were going to jack up the price to make sure they could get as much money as possible from the business travelers. So, word of advice, don't wait until the last minute hoping for a last minute deal because they're just not going to come anymore I'm afraid. Ryan Ermey: Okay. So listen, we're going to let you go here soon. A couple quick things. One, let the people know where they can sign up for your newsletter and what it's all about. And you've been doing this for a while now, we'd love to know what's the best deal on a flight that you've ever come across? Scott Keyes: Yeah, so I'll take that second question first. The best deal I've ever found is still the one that started Scott's Cheap Flights all those years ago, was nonstop from New York City to Milan for 130 bucks round trip. Just the most absurd deal I've ever gotten. I still can't believe it to this day. Scott Keyes: So if you're interested in deals like those, if you want to be alerted as soon as a cheap flight pops up from your home airport, we would love to be able to send it to you. Our website is scottscheapflights.com. No apostrophes, no underscores, no nothing. Just scottscheapflights.com. Scott Keyes: This is what we love to do, spend our days searching for those cheap flights and helping people be able to travel places they didn't think they could afford. Ryan Ermey: Well, I'm a long-time subscriber, Scott, and I'm going to continue to be. Thank you very much for coming on, and folks, be sure to go check out Scott's site. Sandy Block: Thanks, Scott. Scott Keyes: Thank you so much for having me. Ryan Ermey: Is it really worth it to buy shares in Pokemon cards? Wild pitches is next. So probably not. SEE ALSO: Pitfalls and Profits of Collecting Cars, Wine, Art Ryan Ermey: We're back and before we go, a segment that we haven't done in a little while and it's certainly our favorite to research, and that would be wild pitches, more tails from our wackiest PR pitches. And Sandy, why don't you go ahead? Sandy Block: Okay. Mine comes from someone who calls himself the Zen Millionaire and I'm sure that millionaire ranks high on SEO because I'm always getting pitches from like the millionaire mom, the millionaire motorcyclists. Sandy Block: Well, this is the Zen Millionaire and this individual basically views himself as sort of the Marie Kondo of money. And basically what he says is that if you treated friends like you treat your money, would they still be around? And his whole pitch is that you should imagine money is a person. He says, "Now that might sound strange." Yes, it does. Ryan Ermey: It sure does. Sandy Block: But imagine for a moment that money is a person. Would this person want to be around you if you are filled with dread, stress and worry every time you're with them? Would they stick around if you treat them with cold detachment? Of course not. And money is the same way. So the pitch is that if you treat money with respect you'll have more of it. Sandy Block: And this is kind of a genre that we get a lot. Basically all you need to do to make more money or get rich is to change the way you think, just embrace money or make friends with money or shake hands with money or something like that. And when I think it gets away from is managing money is hard. That's why we have a whole magazine devoted to it. Sandy Block: You have to figure out how to invest, how much you can afford to save, what your budget is, and many, many decisions you have to make. Buy or rent, these are hard decisions that oftentimes they involve math really. Just sitting down with a calculator and figuring out what you can afford, how much you're going to earn, and no matter how you feel about money, whether you make friends with it or not, you have to do these things to get more of it and to save more and have a secure retirement. Sandy Block: And I think just basically trying to tell people that if they make friends with their money, they're going to be fine overlooks the hard work that most of us have to do. Ryan Ermey: Yeah, you don't have to break out your spreadsheets when deciding whether you want to go get drinks with your friends. You can just go. It is fun. Spend time with them and being good with your money is being disciplined with your money. Sandy Block: Right. Ryan Ermey: So I've received several pitches and I'm not sure if it's like this time a year or a lot of people out of the office, late August pitches, all the mutual fund guys. As I found out reporting my other stories, it seems like all of Wall Street goes to the Hamptons in August. SEE ALSO: Myths Keeping You From Getting Rid of Your Stuff Ryan Ermey: So maybe these are the investing pitches that make it into my inbox. But I've gotten several that are about investing in fractional shares of collectable or antique, I guess not antique, but collectible things with intrinsic value. So this says... Headline is, investors are buying stock in old comics and Pokemon cards. Ryan Ermey: Most of us probably know an 11 year old who blew their whole allowance on a pack of Pokemon back in the day, but boiling stacks of cash on Pokemon cards isn't just for preteens anymore. Sandy Block: No, it's for dumb adults. Ryan Ermey: You can do it too. Well, we have another one. Have you ever predicted a rookie quarterback would be way better than everyone else expected? Sandy Block: No. Ryan Ermey: Now what if you could turn that knowledge into real money? A fantasy-sports-driven stock exchange, and look, all right, so I looked into into one of these and I'm not going to say the name of it because I don't want to blow up their spot, but they've raised $2 million in funding and they want to expand their market place of rare collectibles. And recently for just $45, investors can purchase a piece of a Magic The Gathering card that's worth $90,000, or so they say. Sandy Block: So they say. Ryan Ermey: And that's the first edition, the alpha edition, Black Lotus. I used to play Magic cards. I know all about Magic. Sandy Block: I'll take your word for it, man. Ryan Ermey: Although didn't play far enough back to have given myself a chance at the Black Lotus. But the deal is this, if you have 500 shares of Amazon or Walmart or McDonald's, I mean the value of your share is going to fluctuate based on what investors think of the company and the value of the company is driven by things like earnings, underlying fundamentals. Ryan Ermey: What a Magic card is worth, I mean, you're just being told it's worth $90,000 and all of us have watched "Pawn Stars" or "Antiques Roadshow." Someone comes in and says, "I was told this was worth $10,000," and even the appraiser might tell you it's worth $10,000, but it's not worth $10,000 unless someone is willing to buy it for that. Ryan Ermey: And so the huge issue with this is that they say that they're going to be able to, once they have all of these shares, if this magic card sold, they're going to create like a secondary market for people to trade shares of it. But that, I mean, what we're talking about here is such a lack of liquidity. SEE ALSO: Money-Smart Ways to Get Rid of Your Stuff Sandy Block: Right, or transparency, because how do you know that it's worth what they say that is worth? There's no stock exchange to go to, no annual report to look at to figure out whether this is actually what the item that you're buying a fractional part of is worth. Ryan Ermey: And once again, watch "Antiques Roadshow" and they'll tell you this piece of Japanese art, anything that's rare and collectible, this piece of Japanese art or these Nike sneakers from 2006, I mean they say, "It's worth $10,000 now, but 10 years ago you could've gotten $30,000 for it." Ryan Ermey: And the reason is that what people are willing to pay for certain collectibles, it changes completely and it's not like these things are going to appreciate forever. Like investing broadly in the stock market, in the U.S. stock market has meant that that's going to go up over the long term forever, as far as we know. Ryan Ermey: That is not the case with Pokemon cards. I remember thinking that I had some very valuable Pokemon and Magic cards when I owned them, and I think I sold them all for a song. So normally with these situations I say, don't invest any amount of money that you're not completely willing to lose. Ryan Ermey: In this case, stay away from this one, please. Just don't put your money in Magic cards unless you're a professional, maybe that's the caveat, if you're a professional dealer in Magic cards or Pokemon cards and you know for a fact what these things are or worth- Sandy Block: Then why would you need a middle man? Ryan Ermey: Right, exactly. Just don't do it folks. Okay? There's so many other things. That's it for this episode of Your Money's Worth. For show notes and more great Kiplinger content on the topics we discussed on today's show, visit kiplinger.com/links/podcasts. SEE ALSO: 31 Cheapest U.S. Cities for Early Retirement Ryan Ermey: You can stay connected with us on Twitter @kiplinger, on Facebook at Facebook.com./Kiplingerpersonalfinance, or by emailing us at podcast@kiplinger.com, and if you like the show, please remember to rate, review and subscribe to Your Money's Worth wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening. Links and resources mentioned in this episode

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