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Tag: vacation

How to Travel for Spring Break on a Budget

Posted on by shopkick

Spring break has always offered the first hint of the warmer weather to come, which is why I have a longstanding love for spring break travel. From elementary school through college, my family typically opted to go on a getaway even if we only actually spent a few nights away from home. Our goal was always simple: travel to a destination that did not have snow in the forecast. Even now with many years separating me from the time I spent as a student, March is spring break season in the same way that September signals back to school.

As much as I have always enjoyed the trips I have taken in March, I have always completely understood two of the most common problems that prevent others from taking a trip themselves: where to travel and how to keep the trip budget-friendly. Both aspects can easily become quite daunting; however, I have discovered two wonderful workarounds: Shopkick’s travel wheel and Booking.com and Hotels.com!

Spin the Travel Wheel:

Whenever I used to feel indecisive, I would sometimes find my Magic 8 Ball. I knew it didn’t have any true powers, but I knew how to best solve a problem if I found myself hoping it would say a particular answer as I shook it. Spinning Shopkick’s travel wheel offers the same type of feeling, but I think we can all agree solving where to travel on your next vacation is a fun “problem” to have!

The wheel has plenty of great destinations throughout the United States for trips of all kinds. From areas you can easily drive to throughout the South, like Charleston, Walt Disney World, and New Orleans, to places that are only a flight away, like San Diego, Yosemite, and even Mexico, there are plenty of locations (and ideas about what you can experience) right here. Where will the wheel tell you to travel to?

Book Your Trip with Booking.com or Hotels.com:

Once you decide on your spring break destination, make sure to hop over to Booking.com and Hotels.com from your Shopkick app! You will want to make sure to book through the app because you can earn 10 kicks/$1 spent between now and Sunday, March 10, for all of the spring break travel you book. It’s like earning 4% back in kicks! Both websites have incredible budget friendly options for all of the destinations we’ve mentioned. And, the great news is you can redeem your kicks for a gift card to use during your vacation. What could be better?

Now that we’ve solved two of the most common spring break problems together – where to travel and how to save money – tell us: Where will you travel during your spring break? Where is your favorite spring break destination from past trips? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Make sure to join our social media fun too because you will discover a whole community of passionate Shopkickers just like you.

How to Take a Budget Friendly Beach Vacation

Posted on by shopkick

Whether it’s due to the below freezing temperatures or our ever-present wanderlust, we always find we’re ready to start planning a getaway (or two!) in January. And, today we’re dreaming of the place that allows all of us to enjoy sun, sand, and relaxation mixed with a hint (or more!) of adventure – the beach!

The beach is meant to act as a true escape, and we know one of the keys to relaxation is making sure to remain within your budget. We’re thrilled to announce for a limited time, you can book your next beach vacation with Booking.com and Hotels.com with Shopkick to earn 10 kicks per $1 spent! The best news? You can book trips now to take throughout the year – there aren’t any blackout dates! Plus, you can cash in your kicks for gift cards to use while you travel.

Now that you’re excited to plan, let’s start talking about beaches to visit. Up first? The United States!

There are miles upon miles of coastlines to explore throughout the world, and the United States has quite a number of incredible spots on its own. If you’re interested in seeing rocky coastlines mixed with classic coastal architecture in New England, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are three beautiful spots to consider. Perhaps Southern charm is in order, in which case places like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head, and Savannah are all perfect spots to mix sand and history. Florida’s Panhandle has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the country, and Alabama and Texas offer plenty of relaxation. If surf culture is your thing, head west to cities spanning from Baja California to just outside of Los Angeles, jet to Hawaii, and don’t forget to consider traveling north to Oregon and Washington.

There are plenty of amazing beaches to experience outside of the United States too, which is why we would be remiss not to mention Mexico. Located just outside of Cancun, Riviera Maya stuns with its pristine stretches of sand, all-inclusive resorts, and plethora of adventure. Swim with whale sharks, snorkel, explore cenotes, or simply lounge on the beach with a great book – you will love your experience. Plus, Cancun’s international airport offers a direct destination for many airlines. Across the country, both Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas offer unparalleled experiences on Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Be prepared for rockier coastlines, incredible sunrises and sunsets, culture, and plenty of time to relax.

Lastly, the Caribbean is brimming with beaches to explore! The Bahamas are some of the closest Caribbean islands to the United States, and each island offers a different colorful flavor and feel. We have only ever heard rave reviews of Turks and Caicos, the Virgin Islands, Curacao, Grand Cayman, and Aruba. All offer dining, history, diving, snorkeling, and some of the most beautiful water to swim in.

Wherever your adventure takes you, isn’t it time to stop dreaming and start booking your complete budget friendly beach vacation? We think so too! Booking.com and Hotels.com to the rescue! But, remember to book prior to 1/27 with Shopkick in order to take advantage of the big kicks.

Let us know where your travels will take you in the comments!

Make sure to download Shopkick for free, and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more shopping inspiration!

How to Travel, Save, and Earn Kicks with Hotwire

Posted on by shopkick

What destinations are on your travel bucket list? If you were to ask us that question, we could easily (and quickly!) name multiple destinations in the United States, Caribbean, and beyond.

There are so many cultures, sights, and cuisines we would love to experience, and we have found traveling is one of the best ways to do all three. Plus, we always feel relaxed and reinvigorated after an adventure to a new place whether it’s an hours long plane ride or a quick drive away.

The decision to travel is never a difficult one to make, but how to find the best rates, when to go, where to stay, and what to see always gives us pause. It’s easy to spend hours upon hours researching your destination, and sometimes that research takes away from the fun. But, we think we’ve uncovered one of the best kept travel secrets: Hotwire!

We once thought Hotwire was simply a site to price compare hotels and flights, but we’ve uncovered there is so much more to the site and brand that makes traveling seem that much more attainable. From saving you time to saving you money, we’re sharing our three favorite Hotwire features below. Get ready to earn kicks with Shopkick while planning your next trip!

Tripstarter:

Having an open mind while traveling always serves us well, and the same philosophy will serve you well while planning your vacation with Hotwire through Shopkick. One of the mysteries of traveling are the questions you’re always anxious to answer: When are flights the most reasonable? When are the best rates available at hotels? What is there to see, do, and eat? What about the weather; when is it the best? By opting to use Hotwire’s TripStarter feature, all of your questions will be answered quickly, easily, clearly, and on one website.

When you visit the TripStarter page, enter in your starting airport followed by your destination. Once you enter both pieces of information and search, TripStarter will begin loading information for you. You will be provided with a chart that details the cost trends for hotels, and when you click the tab at the top you will also be able to see cost trends for flights. Temperature details are always available, as well as the average weather patterns (i.e.: average rainfall). When to save, where to stay, and preferred activities to experience are also listed in a sidebar. You can even see the best deals for the next 30 days! Once you decide on your destination with help from Hotwire’s TripStarter feature, you can continue booking from the same screen.

The best way to keep traveling fun is by limiting how much you need to research, and Hotwire’s TripStarter feature makes sure you’re on your way to enjoying your trip without any hassle!

Hot Rates:

Wherever your travels take you, choosing where to stay can feel like one of the most arduous decisions to make. There are seemingly endless reviews available online, plenty of areas to explore, and multiple places to check for rates. However, Hotwire answers all of these questions (and more!) with their Hot Rates feature!

To use the feature, simply enter your travel dates, destination, and number of guests staying in the room. Once you submit your query, Hotwire immediately loads a number of results at the top of your search that are marked as Hot Rates. The Hot Rates indication means the hotel is discounted by up to 60%. You are still able to see how many reviews the hotel has received from other customers (Hotwire shows reviews from trusted source, TripAdvisor), and you can also see where the hotel is located to make sure it’s in line with the areas in which you hope to explore.

Part of the reason Hotwire can offer the rates at such a discount is because they don’t reveal the name of the hotel until after you book. However, if you click on the listing, there is a feature where Hotwire will reveal that your potential hotel is one of four options. At this point, the names of the hotels are featured for you to click on and explore, and they are always four star hotels!

If you’re willing to be slightly adventurous, Hotwire’s Hot Rates feature is a fantastic way to save without losing an ounce of luxury while traveling! Don’t forget to book through Shopkick’s app in order to earn kicks and gift cards for your trip.

Same Day Arrival:

When was the last time you booked a spontaneous getaway? They’re fun because they feel like an unexpected adventure! In order to keep your spirits high as you embark on your surprise, we highly recommend Hotwire.

The myth about booking a getaway, particularly a hotel, at the last minute is you won’t be able to save any money. However, Hotwire teams up with some of the most desirable hotels in any given city to offer you the best rates. Whether they’re one of the most popular hotels or it’s simply an off time to travel, many hotels and resorts frequently don’t sell all of their rooms for a given night. In order to continue to sell, these same resorts sell their rooms through Hotwire at a discount!

We recommend exploring Same Day Arrival rates on Hotwire through Shopkick. Enter your travel dates, destination, and guest count on Hotwire’s homepage. Then see what rates result in your search. You can also pair your Same Day Arrival rate search with Hotwire’s Hot Rates feature to save even more. Plus, you will earn kicks when you book!

Hotwire, Shopkick, travel, and savings has to be one of the best combinations! We cannot wait to hear about the kicks you earn and which gift card you choose to redeem to use on your next adventure. Where will your travels take you?