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Let’s see more of the world… for less! Obernai, France.In a previous Jet with Jay, we shared some of the best travel hacks for traveling with kids and Tri-State parents had some [excellent advice](https://www.cvgairport.com/blogs/item/the-14-things-youve-gotta-pack-when-traveling-with-kids/).But what about the rest of the family, especially the person putting the whole trip together?So we’re back with ten more of my favorite ways to travel better.1. Google Flights is Your FriendYou’ve probably seen [Google Flights](https://www.google.com/travel/flights) mentioned at least a dozen times over the past five years on Jet with Jay and there’s a good reason: it’s one of the best ways to score great deals on flights! You can search by specific dates you need to travel or for the best deals, use the “Anywhere” option and choose “1-week Trip in the next 6 months” as your date and use the map tool. Using this tool, we often pay around $450 - $550 for flights to Europe and recently enjoyed $386 roundtrip flights to Paris! I also frequently find roundtrip flights under $150 around the US.Heading toward the Eiffel Tower to enjoy a sunset.2. Airline Reward Miles are ValuableA great way to earn free flights for future trips is by utilizing credit cards offered by each airline or travel cards from major credit card companies. The biggest boost to your airline rewards account comes from the sign-up bonuses, some can be as high as 70,000 - 80,000 miles for personal cards and 100,000+ miles for business accounts. I’ve been able to enjoy hundreds of thousands of free airline miles just from signing up for credit cards and paying large purchases I was going to spend money on anyway like insurance, car repairs, home improvements, etc. When redeeming miles, be on the lookout for flight sales and discounts by being a card user (United and Delta both offer reduced miles for certain flights for card holders.)Greetings from Strasbourg, France!3. AARP is A-OK… Even if You Aren’t RetiredThere are benefits to joining AARP, and you can still be gainfully employed! Anyone over the age of 50 is eligible for full membership while anyone over 18 can purchase a limited membership. A few of the current [travel deals](https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/travel/) available:- $65-$200 Off roundtrip flights on British Airways through January 2026.- An extra 5%-10% off many major hotel chains- Discounts on rental cars- Travel planning assistance(Deals subject to change)London is always a lovely choice4. Being Nice = Being (Sometimes) UpgradedTraveling can be stressful, but packing patience, kindness, and the occasional cash tip can go a long way in making your trip memorable. Being nice to the person behind a check-in desk at a hotel or rental car facility is not just the right thing to do, it has resulted in some nice upgrades on trips we’ve taken. A few examples:- During a conversation with a flight attendant while grabbing a snack, I mentioned we were on our honeymoon. A little while later she popped back to our seats with a big smile and a bottle of champagne. - While renting a car in San Francisco, the vehicle we were given wasn’t properly cleaned. I kindly asked to swap to another vehicle without making a big deal. The manager appreciated my friendly approach and we wer upgraded to a BMW SUV from a regular sedan. - During a mid-week visit to a casino hotel in Arizona, we mentioned it was our first time visiting. A $20 tip and a casual mention of “are there any upgrades available tonight?” found us enjoying the penthouse suite complete with floor to ceiling windows, a jacuzzi, and a TV that popped out of the foot of the bed. Any closer on this flight to Belize City and we’d be in the co-pilot seat.5. Volunteering For a New Flight Means Free Travel AheadEver heard one of those announcements in the gate area asking for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for cash or flight vouchers? They can be a great way to enjoy free travel in the future if your flight plans are flexible. Airlines have become more proactive in their approach, sending notifications and emails to travelers well ahead of boarding asking them how much they’d accept in free flights in exchange for switching their flights. Some airlines will even offer travelers cash in addition to new flights in some circumstances. Rescheduling can have benefits6. Book a Week Instead of Six Nights to SaveWhen booking vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO (as well as some private listings and even a few hotels), you can often save money by staying just a bit longer. For example, booking for seven nights on Airbnb often automatically triggers a weekly discount. Sometimes this discount can be substantial and result in being cheaper than staying for six nights. The same goes for longer term travel, booking for 28 or more nights may trigger a monthly rate that would be less expensive than a shorter stay.Go on, stay an extra day!7. Ask a FriendIt’s a bit of an old-school approach, but putting the word out amongst friends, neighbors, and colleagues during the planning stage of your trip could help find you a new or unique destination or place to stay. Making a social media post about your travel planning is a great way to get recommendations from trusted friends who have visited local eateries and attractions. Who knows, you might even find someone with a cabin or vacation property that you could rent directly and save.Traveling with Good Friends is More Fun!8. Shop Around and Stack Rental Car Codes for More SavingsThere’s no “right way” to book a rental car for the best deal. Sites like [Hotwire](https://www.hotwire.com/) and [Priceline](https://www.priceline.com/) are a good place to start as they offer an aggregation of all rental car companies and filters for car type and whether or not the car is on-site or requires a shuttle to the rental lot. I sometimes go a step further by using a coupon code site like [RetailMeNot](https://www.retailmenot.com/) to find additional deals for specific rental brands. On top of a coupon code, some companies allow you to use more than one discount, known as stacking. For example, you could use an AARP or AAA discount rate along with a coupon.Tough to beat this parking lot view in Pebble Beach, CA9. Use Delivery and Pickup Services to Save Time on VacationI love visiting local grocery stores when on vacation but if you’d rather spend more time on the beach, a great way to save time is to use grocery pickup or delivery services. You can even connect to in-flight wifi and do your shopping while on the way to your destination. Then just pick up your groceries and head to your vacation rental. If you already pay for a grocery delivery membership, check to see if it’s offered where you’re headed to save even more time. You can also do some grocery shopping on the flight home so your fridge is ready to be stocked when you return.Curbside pickup is a great way to plan meals during your trip10. Rent Kids Items (Or Buy When You Arrive)A number of baby and toddler equipment rental companies have popped up in recent years offering cribs, pack-and-plays, strollers, high chairs, and everything else you need to take your little one on a trip. These are a convenient way to pack light while enjoying the comforts of home. Another option is to buy what you need at your destination and then donate it to a local charity or shelter on the last day of your trip. It can sometimes be the same price or cheaper than paying to check extra luggage each way.Consider NOT packing the pack-and-play!Got a great travel hack or tip to add to the list? You can reach me at @JayKruzOfficial on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JayKruzOfficial), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jaykruzofficial/), and [X](https://twitter.com/jaykruzofficial).-Jay

Beer, bourbon, and black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream. These Cincy region staples are becoming standouts at CVG through the airport’s partnerships with locally owned Braxton Brewing Company, Cork ‘n Bottle, and Graeter’s Ice Cream. These establishments bring local flavor to passengers from around the world.Braxton Brewing CompanyA large greenery wall and window for up-close plane viewing greet travelers as they walk into Braxton’s taproom in Concourse A, along with a bar, televisions, and rows of tables that allow customers, including families, to enjoy meals before or after flights. This taproom, which opened in spring 2023, is Braxton’s first full-service restaurant.“Food is very important to the overall experience, and our location at CVG is helping us lead the way on what having food at all our locations looks like,” says Braxton co-founder and chief executive officer Jake Rouse.Rouse and his team worked with CVG to establish a food menu that caters to a crowd who is looking for a quick bite to eat, especially during the airport’s busiest time: the mornings.The brewery adapted its existing Taco Fuerte menu to feature breakfast tacos and burritos, breakfast nachos, eggs and tots, and more signature items. “People are really loving the menu, the flexibility, and the quickness. We are getting good feedback on the beer as well,” says Rouse.Braxton has not yet used CVG to test new products, although that is something the company may tap into. For now, Braxton’s business is taking advantage of the airport’s captive audience.“We are opening our brand up to so many more customers and potential customers who could go buy our beer at the thousands of locations that sell it across Cincinnati." Down the way from Braxton is long-established Cincinnati sweet shop, Graeter’s. The family-owned, handcrafted ice cream business has been dishing out delicious treats to locals in the Cincy region since 1870 and has been serving travelers from around the world at CVG since 2013. The company started with a smaller scoop of the airport experience when it opened two kiosks: one in Concourse A and one in B.Passengers proved they were craving Graeter’s flavors while on the go, and the sweet shop worked with CVG to replace both kiosks with an inline store in Concourse A. Graeter’s chief of retail operations, Chip Graeter, says this decision was icing on the cake.“What really cemented us in the airport was when we opened our inline store in 2016. I was very proud and excited to be a part of that store,” says Graeter.The fourth-generation owner and operator of the business says starting the store at CVG was an easy process thanks to their relationship with the airport, contractors, and his highly reliable team. The airport store showcases its most popular items across three product lines: ice cream, candy, and baked goods. The busy mornings at CVG allow Graeter’s to serve delicious donuts and comforting coffees to thousands of travelers who fly out of the airport daily."We have the ability to reach people who would never see our store otherwise. They might have heard about Graeter’s in a publication or book, and they can experience it themselves without leaving the airport,” says Graeter.The chief of retail operations is proud to operate a business that brings joy to all. His family’s treats are a great way to sweeten a flight out of CVG and provide a taste of home to those returning.Another taste of home at CVG, especially for Kentucky travelers, can be found at Cork ‘n Bottle. Hundreds of bourbons, including rare varieties, wines, and spirits can be tasted and/or purchased at two locations: an inline store in Concourse B and a kiosk in Concourse A. Later in 2023, the kiosk in Concourse A will be replaced with a second inline store.“We are constantly looking for different business formats. We have found the CVG relationship to be very strong, and we think it’s because of the breadth of customer exposure that the airport provides,” says Tom Neyer, owner of Cork ‘n Bottle. “Being able to introduce Kentucky’s finest spirits to the global audience is good for Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati region.”Cork ‘n Bottle took a similar flight path to Graeter’s and launched its business at CVG as a kiosk in 2018. After two years of successful business, the beverage shop opened its first inline location at the start of the pandemic. Cork ‘n Bottle persevered through its partnership with the airport.“CVG has been \[a\] transparent and constructive business partner,” says Neyer. “The people involved \[from\] top to bottom have been even-handed, fair minded, and are looking for a win-win.” Neyer says his stores at the airport are perfect for travelers looking to grab a bottle to enjoy once they arrive at their destination, or for travelers who want to relax before their flight and try some of the best locally made beverages. Either way, Cork ‘n Bottle’s locations are sure to lift spirits.CVG is always looking to bring more local businesses and flavors to the airport to provide a unique Cincy experience to the more than 7.8 million passengers it serves annually; this includes food, beverage, and retail store concepts. In mid-August 2023, the airport will be open for new business solicitations in these areas. If you’d like more information on how to start doing business at CVG, please [email procurement@cvgairport.com](mailto:procurement@cvgairport.com).

Simon Wood, Director of Air Service Development, CVG / October 29, 2024This article was written for the European American Chamber of Commerce.Transatlantic air service is critical for global business and economic growth in the Cincinnati region. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) currently offers two nonstop flights to Europe: one to London, United Kingdom (LHR), with British Airways, and the other to Paris, France (CDG), with Delta Air Lines. These flights are not just about travel; they connect the region to key European markets, investors, and global supply chains. Now is the time for local businesses to leverage these nonstop routes to unlock the full potential of transatlantic trade.[FULL STORY HERE](https://business.eacc-cincy.com/news/details/thought-leadership-cvg)