[I receive no compensation from National for running this blog giveaway.]
National Car Rental is, very graciously, offering Million Mile Secrets readers the chance to win ~$500 in prizes as well as 1 paid-day credit in their One Two FREE promotion.
Up to January 31, 2013, National Car Rental has a One Two FREE promotion, where you get 1 free rental day after 2 paid rentals of 2 or more days each in a mid-size or larger car.
You can use these free days between September 10, 2012 and June 15, 2013. The free car-rental day can be used for a 1-way rental (where you pick up the car in one location, but drop it off at another location) as well, which could save you money because 1-way car rentals usually cost much more than regular car rentals.
I used to love visiting the National Emerald Aisle (when National was my employer’s preferred car rental agency) because I could pick any car on the aisle and drive it off the lot! That saved me a lot of time and provided a bit of excitement to start off the work week.
You can also refer folks to National Car Rental via email, Facebook, or Twitter and get 1 free day credit (10 days maximum) for folks who sign-up though your link. Feel free to leave your referral link in the comments below for others to use!
Traveler Truth
National is compiling a list of Top 10 Business Traveler Truths. The winner will get a special prize from National and his or her tip will be shared on the National Facebook page.
Here’s my travel truth - Plan a buffer in case of traffic delays en route to the airport. And don’t eat into that buffer by doing inconsequential things (just 1 more email!). I did that a few weeks ago and missed the first flight of my second honeymoon to Paradise! Fortunately, it was a domestic Southwest flight and we managed to make it to Los Angeles in time for our international flight to Tahiti. 
Million Mile Secrets Blog giveaway
National Car Rental is offering ~$500 worth of goodies for Million Mile Secrets readers. There are 3 separate prizes for readers!
- One Swiss Army WT Wheeled Tote
- One Swiss Army WT Deluxe Garment Sleeve
- One $100 AMEX Gift Card
Here’s how to take part in the blog giveaway & earn 1-paid day credit:
- Share one “truth” about traveling in the comments below
- Take a screenshot (click here for instructions on how to take a screenshot) of your comment and paste or attach it in an email to OneTwoFree@ehi.com
- Mention, in the email, that you posted the comment on Million Mile Secrets.
- Include your Emerald Club membership number in the email to get 1 paid-day car rental credit
You can get 1 paid-day rental credit just by following steps 1 to 4 above and another paid-day rental credit by having someone sign-up for the National One Two Free promotion via your referral link. That’s one free car rental day because you need 2 paid-day credits for 1 free day!
We’ll select 3 winners after the giveaway closes at 11:59 CST on Saturday, September 29, 2012. Good Luck!
I have earned and redeemed millions of airline miles and hotel points to travel the world for free. Now I'm blogging to help more people do the same! 
Redeeming miles for U.S. domestic travel is a really bad value!
E.g. SFO – NYC = 300 USD / 25k Miles forgoing 5k, effectively 1c per mile.
When you’re in a hurry, the TSA line seems to go even slower. Heading out early for vacation? You’ll breeze through in no time!
Travel is not always as glamorous as it’s made to be.
Being polite will get you much further with an airline or hotel employee.
Always ask for an upgrade to a seat (window, aisle, bulkhead) as soon as gate agents clear first class.
Always make a note of where you parked your car at the airport! (or take a picture with your phone)
Keep an eye out and sign up for promos, it’s a great way to earn extra points for future travel.
National Referral Link: http://goo.gl/BjXTk
Pre-plan and be organized so you can relax along the way.
When traveling in the winter, don’t choose a layover that’s more than 2 hours.
When you’re affected by IRROPS or any other type of delay, always call while in line to talk with an agent. You can always hop out of line if you get someone who can fix your problem on the phone.
Tweeting an airline or hotel when you’re in a bind can really help you out
Plan your itinerary by neighborhood, so you’re not spending too much time traveling.
When traveling internationally and using 2 or more airlines to get to your destination, book connections of 2 hours or more to give you a cushion in case you have a flight delay.
Don’t forget to take pictures. Lots of pictures. At the end of the day no matter how luxurious and extended the travel was at the end of the day, picture is the only lasting memory.
Download handy phone apps about the location you are traveling to – saves you hassle and you get good tips too!
The TSA will pick the least convenient time for you to receive extra screening.
Please use my link, I will really appreciate it, THANKS
http://goo.gl/vLHpN
Travel plans need to be flexible. Weather and IRROPS can easily ruin a well planned trip if it’s on an extremely tight schedule. Build buffer days in your plan.
In my opinion national is the best car rental company, with their emerald club aisles, and even better with the executive aisles, I always rent National.
Reading travel blogs is the key to staying on top of all promotions, deals, and travel suggestions. They take care of the work for you!
Redeeming miles for international business class is the best value! Just redeemed 330,000 miles for 3 business class tickets to Asia. Retail cost – $21,000!
Tweet at customer service if you have a problem and your hotel will not respond.
Always travel with insurance that covers electronics. After ipod and camera was stolen, I didn’t feel that guilty throughout the trip as the insurance gave me back what was worth. Pictures, you can meet new friends to add you on facebook and tag you ;P Less pictures, but you get to be in the moment and enjoy as well.
Iphone apps can provide really good local info
Always know flight times to your destination after your original flight time so if there are any delays you can be knowledgable and proactive about giving the gate agent suggestions for moving you to a different flight
When returning a rental car, remember to fill up gas at a station near your hotel or home, before you get to the airport / car return location. The gas station will always be more expensive near the airport and you are much more likely to end up at the car return having forgotten to fill up.
I always bring an aux cable to use in the rental car to listen to music from my iphone
twitter is very powerful in helping with flights & hotels!
Doing a little (or a lot!) of research before a trip can save you time and money as well as give you the one-of-a-kind experience you were looking for!
Always bring cash when you travel aboard! Haggling becomes easier when you can negotiate with cold hard cash!
It is a good idea to have a recharging station or vehicle charger with you for your phone/tablet/laptop. Power tends to run out just when you need it most. Just don’t forget it in the rental car!
Work towards packing efficiency…one bag should be enough for any trip. See http://www.onebag.com/
If your flight is cancelled and no later flights for 4+ hours, try to get airline to move you to a flight to a nearby airport and rent a one way rental car (National does this well) to your destination.
Sometimes, less is more! When driving along the coast in warm heat of summer, a convertible without that pesky roof is essential to really taking it all in.
Print out your confirmations for airlines, hotels, rental cars, etc before you travel just in case!
Plan ahead! Write down your travel plan and time schedule so that you know what to do/where to go next!
There is *always* room in the carry-on luggage for a few pairs of earplugs. You (and sometimes the people you share them with) will be grateful you packed them!
You don’t need to pack as many clothes as you think you do.
Make sure you have back-ups to everything from photocopies of your passport to extra money because you never know what will happen.
If I need to check a bag in, I will always carry extra clothes in my backpack or carry on in case my checked baggage gets lost.
Photograph your passport, insurance cards, driver’s license, travelers check info, and other important documents, then email these to yourself before you travel. That way you’ll always have these copies available anywhere, should something happen to your originals.
The more messed up your travel plans get, the more opportunity there is to luck into finding the best airline/car rental agent ever! I recently flew to Jamaica to be a part of my best friend’s wedding party, and an American Airlines ticketing agent re-booked me TWICE on another airline when our plane had mechanical problems! All because I was nice to her, and she took pity on me. The worse the situation is, the more opportunity there is for someone to really shine in their job.
Printout and carry with you airplane boarding passes, hotel reservation confirmations, and car rental confirmations. It helps keep things organized, and when a reservation is lost or can’t be found, a paper copy can be invaluable.
Never book the last flight of the day, leave at least one subsequent flight in case you miss as earlier one or get delayed
Remember to always be courteous to your fellow travelers, for you would like for them to act the same way to you.
My referral link: http://goo.gl/aQxjo
While deplaning, allowing those seated in front of you to exit first is courteous and the right thing to do.
For longer trips a neck pillow can come handy.
If you only have a small carry-on luggage, there is no need to board early. The seat at the waiting area at the gate is MUCH MORE comfortable than the airplane seats, especially if you’re in economy.
A truth about travel; packing in an organized manner will save you so much time otherwise spent trying to find in what pocket that suddenly essential item has been placed.
If you have a delayed flight (thus your arrival will be after the car company closes) and you are renting with National, let them know that you are arriving late so you can avoid being stranded outside the store all night!
Always bring some extra entertainment to keep you occupied. The TV in your seat might not be working; you may end up using your laptop prior to your flight and find all the plugs to recharge it are in use; your flight could get delayed. An extra item of “lightweight” entertainment always fits into a carry-on.
Always book a backup car rental reservation just in case!!
Plan at least 2+ hour layover for domestic/international layover when you’re oversea. I was flying to BKK from HKG by CX, and heading to Koh Samui by Bangkok Airway on separate ticket. Didn’t know we have to clear custom before flying to Koh Samui, almost almost miss my flight…
Be open to adventure and the unexpected!
You need to carry a power strip and an adapter on international trips
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Complaining about your rental car to the garage agent will usually get you upgraded…my favorite is complaining about the smell of their industrial cleaners or smoke.
When on a tropical vaction take half the clothes you think you need and twice the money!
The best things to pack are low or no expectations. The best vacations we’ve ever had were to places where we weren’t sure what to expect and didn’t go in feeling like it was going to be the Most Amazing Vacation Ever.
Make sure you bring @ the very least 3 days worth of extra prescription medications with you. You could get stranded somewhere.
Here’s my referral link: http://goo.gl/bMsxn
If you don’t ask, you don’t get
or
Those who ask not, haveth not.
“Travel can be free and free of trouble when you carry the right credit card and book your travel through the right company!”
Always plan ahead and check your travel site for the best price, early birds get the worms. And then confirm all your travels before you arrive for a stress free traveling.
Here’s my referral link
http://goo.gl/KXRvc
If you count on a meal or snack, even if it says you will get one, you will probably not. Take granola bars, dried fruit, and nuts to eat on the plane; or in the hotel room if you are lucky and get a snack!
Be polite… it breeds travel rewards many times over!!!!
My travel truth is “Respect the Culture”. You can do this by taking some time to learn the basic customs, traditions, and ways of the place you are visiting. Learning not only a couple key phrases in their language, but taking it a step further and becoming familiar with some of their other ways of communication will provide you a better travel experience. For example, while a “thumb’s up” in the U.S. is considered a positive expression, it is extremely offensive in parts of South America and the Middle East. Showing sincere interest and respect usually results in you having a better travel experience.
If you have a credit card that doesn’t charge international transaction fees, when travelling abroad make sure the merchant processes your payment in local currency. If they convert the amount to US dollars, you will pay more as a result of foreign exchange fees included in the calculation.
Always read travel blogs like Million Mile Secrets before heading out on the road to find out what great promotions are out there.. always!
Buy a spare phone charger just for your suitcase/travel bag. And if you leave it somewhere by accident, ask the front desk if they have a spare that was left by someone else.
Here’s my link: http://goo.gl/ie0cA
Thanks!
Always bring spare batteries for your camera!
Enroll here! To enter the “One Two FREE” promotion, simply click this link: http://goo.gl/kSIQc
Roll your clothes, rather fold them not only to save space but to prevent your clothes from wrinkling! And Shout Wipes are great for getting out stains with limited access to washer/dryer.
Bring a small power cord so you can always share power in airports that don’t have many outlets.
Check in for your flight right at the 24-hour mark for the best chance at getting ideal seats.
Always take a litter bag in your car. It doesn’t take up much room, and if it gets full you can just toss it out the window.
Marry a miles/points junkie and have them book all your travel. Then enjoy the benefits: upgrades, status, free travel, etc. !
My travel truth is that it’s always colder on the plane than I think it will be! I always pack layers including a wrap when I’m flying.
Make sure to check for promotions that surface at the last minute before you commence your travel. You could earn a lot of bonuses for your hotel stays and/or airline trips by registering for those
Always pack a change of clothes, and two pairs of underwear and socks in your carryon! Delayed luggage or unexpected overnights are much more comfortable with clean clothes!
Thanks to anyone who uses my link: http://goo.gl/99aij
If you are in a hurry, lines will be long. If you show up early, you’ll cruise through security.
Connect in southern cities in the winter to minimize snow delays, and connected in northern cities in the summer to minimize thunderstorm delays.
My travel advice is never be afraid to call the airline for assistance in changing reservations or looking up options for different flights, even after departure. Recently on a trip to Europe, United helped me create my round trip flight into an open-jaw flight so I could see more places. Most good agents are trained in finding the best/all options available.
Pack a Voltage Converter when traveling internationally.
Do not rely soley on your electronic gadgets. Print everything! All reservations,directions & recommendations. Keep it all handy in an easy to reach folder.
Don’t forget to check the status of your flight before you head out to the airport.
When redeeming Delta miles for international travel look for flights from a HUB city (ATL, MSP, DTW, CVG, JFK, MEM) and if you find low availability book that and then look for domestic availability by calling in. Your fare should not go up as long as the availability bands are the same, but the website has a hard time with domestic connections to international.
Book the window and isle when traveling with someone on a single isle plane. That middle seat has more likelihood of not being booked and would give you a row to yourselves.
Always have a backup travel plan. Never make travel plans so inflexible that you can’t tolerate a couple hours delay.
Scan your travel documents and email to yourself just in case.
I try to remind people to pack a change of clothes in their carryon–I’ve learned the hard way to never rely entirely on what’s in your checked luggage.
If you’re traveling with others and planning to check bags, pack half your stuff into each bag so that if one gets lost, you’ll still have clothes until you (hopefully) get your second bag back.
Take snacks on the road. If something takes longer than you expect, there’s something nice about pulling out a power bar to get you thru the line/connection/roadblock – and keeps your stress levels down.
Here’s my awesome link to sign up for Emerald Club:
http://goo.gl/jG5Dv
Speedy WiFi and not having to wait in a rental car lines will save tons of time and even more sanity!
Don’t be afraid to ask for upgrades!
Things are never so bad that they can’t get worse…
be nice to the agents/CSRs. You never know when an unexpected upgrade/perk will occur.
Always use itinerary apps like Tripit or Kayak that will store all of your travel reservations and notify you of gate changes, delays, etc.
Checked bags always weigh more than you think. If you’re paying for a checked bag, be sure to travel with a small luggage scale or fish scale to check your bag for the return trip. Saves reshuffeling items at the airport!
Always plan for the worst while traveling so that you make a thorough plan.
It has helped me always when surprises happen