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| Europe is hot 🔥 |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Hi everyone,
I’m just back from three weeks in Europe, and I’ve got a few tips and hot takes for you.
But first, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the highest-ever 100,000-point offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card officially ends at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 30.
Last chance: Earn 100,000 bonus points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The bonus is worth $1,000 in travel when booked directly in the Chase Travel℠ portal — making this one of the most lucrative offers we’ve seen on a $95-annual-fee card, which is why I recommend it over and over for beginners and experts alike — so don’t miss out.
Europe’s hottest ticket (literally)
Europe is more popular and more accessible than ever. Now, I know we all love a great European vacation, and summertime sounds like a great time to go … until you realize that airports are crowded and landlocked cities like Madrid and Paris were not meant to endure heat waves of 100-plus degrees. Plus, many places in Europe lack air conditioning.
I spent a few days in Tuscany, which I love, but I know it would be more enjoyable in the shoulder season, like fall or spring. Because of the ongoing heat wave, I decided to cancel Paris at the last minute and head north to London for a few days in the city (which was also hot) before spending a glorious few days in the English countryside at the Four Seasons Hampshire, which I booked through Chase Travel℠ with Points Boost.
Here are a few of my travel tips to help you weather your next European trip with ease:- Consider using VIP arrival or departure services to avoid long lines at entry or exit points into or out of the EU. With the EES system still slowing down many airports, you don’t want to risk missing a flight. Airlines are even urging leaders to suspend the new system until after peak summer travel.
- Mitigate heat waves by being prepared. Check to make sure your hotel or accommodation has air conditioning (some don’t), stay hydrated, plan to sightsee earlier in the day before the heat ramps up, and consider traveling with a small handheld travel fan.
- Consider the time of year and location. As I mentioned, I pivoted from Paris and went north instead. “Coolcations” are definitely a trend as summers heat up.
- Don’t forget to check your Global Entry membership before your trip so you can arrive back in the U.S. as seamlessly and as quickly as possible.
Haven’t taken a summer trip yet?
It’s not too late! In fact, late summer is the time of year when you can sometimes find deals once school starts up again. I use Seats.aero and point.me for searches. I recently found business-class award availability at 60,000 Flying Blue miles each way. Recently, there was also economy award availability at 25,000 miles each way, for flexible dates later this summer. This means that if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to book.
Just remember to book with a credit card that has travel protections — even if you are only paying taxes and fees on an award ticket, you’ll be covered.
Bottom line
With a combination of strategic travel planning and the right travel gear, you will be well on your way to a great trip.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: EMILIA WRONSKI/THE POINTS GUY. |
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