Deals

I stumbled on this tune while looking around for a soundtrack for a video. I use a great service called “Music Alley” by Mevio.com . In the process, I discovered (trans: “fell in love with”) the lovely, talented Canadienne,  Cat Jahnke. She has a new album out called “Oh Night Devine” . Here is one of the tunes: Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow by Cat Jahnke

There are several other wonderful Christmas tunes on the album. Check out her site and discover the tight harmonies and lilting melodies…heck, I’ve been singing these tunes all night! Photo (right) by Rod Hiebert.

Watch for Alaska travel updates all over, including these outlets:

a. Alaska Dispatch. This is the hot, new online news site where all of my fellow Anchorage Daily News alumni are posting: Heather Lende, Craig Medred, Peter Dunlap-Shohl, Seth Kantner–among others. Typically, I post travel news on Tuesday mornings. www.alaskadispatch.com

b. Coast Magazine. This is a free publication you’ll find at coffee shops and grocery stores around town. I started writing for them a few months ago. A new issue comes out each month. My editor, John Woodbury, tells me the November issue should be out today.

c. KTVA-TV. Channel 11 here in Anchorage. Each Wednesday, Big Dave Stroh and Andrea Gusty at CBS News invite me to chatter about travel during the 5:00pm newscast. Tune in. We always have a great time.

d. Twitter. When there’s a hot deal, you’ll see it here first. It’s easy to type out a headline and a link while we’re working on the full story. Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alaskatravelgrm .

I am not kidding. This is a monster promotion from British Airways and Chase bank. CLICK HERE to apply for their Visa card. It’s a $75 fee per year.

After you’re approved and you make your first purchase, you get 50,000 British Air miles. That’s enough for a free ticket from ALASKA to “Zone 1″ in Europe. That includes London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and a couple of other cities. Under the terms of the award, you can fly Alaska Airlines to Seattle, then connect with British’s nonstop flight to Heathrow (LHR). I double-checked this with my international expert, Penny Lampl with USTravel in Kodiak (907-486-3232).

After you spend at least $2,000 in three months on the charge card, you receive an additional 50,000 bonus miles.

Folks, that’s two free tickets to Europe.

My travel-hacker friends are having a blast with this. Spend at least $30,000 in a year and you’ll get a companion ticket on British. The companion ticket is ONLY good on  British Airways iron, so you have to pay your way to Seattle to pick up the flight. STILL–it’s a great deal.

I applied this evening. The email said Chase would get back to me in 15-30 days. Jeez. HURRY UP.

I’m just curious. Are you headed to Seward for the big Mt. Marathon race? How about Seldovia, across the bay from Homer? I hear they have a great  parade? Below, our friends Tammy and Alicia were having a snowball fight atop Chilkoot Pass…they celebrated both Independence Day and Canada Day!!

One of my favorite destinations is Dawson City–up in the Yukon. They combine their Canada Day celebration on July 1 with an Independence Day party for the visiting Yankees (we’re everywhere, y’know!).

Other friends of mine always head back to McCarthy, in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Oh–they’re tough, too. They camp out. Here, we camped at the foot of a glacier deep in the park. FUN! Big shout-out to St. Elias Alpine Guides and to Wrangell Mountain Air.

Wherever you go–take some pictures and send me some of the best ones, along with a description of what’s going on.

My wish for July 4 travel? Heck, that’s easy. I wanted a slot to go check out the USS John C. Stennis. My friend Randy got to go spend the night on the ship–he promised to send me some snaps–I’ll post ‘em when I get ‘em.

Don’t be bashful–share some of your great travel experiences with the class. The world wants to know what a great time we’re having in Alaska! Be a real evangelist. It’s fun!!

Our friends at Laughing Lotus are taking their yoga on the road with them! I can promise you: Yoga makes me a more flexible flyer–in more ways than one!

NOTE: You do NOT have to do the pose above in order to participate. For illustration only!! HAHA! (more…)