Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

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Admit it: You’re 100% guilty of vacation shopping. You’re supposed to be checking email but, oops, you’re on the cruise line website again. Or you’re checking the “interested” box for that African safari deal. A super sweet beach vacation in Bali? Yes, please.

Surprising your active duty spouse with a special trip after deployment or for your 10th wedding anniversary is an exciting idea. But before you pay, pump the brakes.

Your service member may be prevented from going to certain locations or even whole countries.

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

Every so often, these kinds of questions pop up on military spouse Facebook groups. Someone will ask about booking a vacation to (insert any country) and another member will chime in that it might be off-limits. Then the debate inevitably begins.

One family went to the country in question without issue. Another couple got denied leave to that same location. What’s a vacation-planning military family to do?

U.S. Military Sets Travel Requirements

First, get the facts. There are several guiding documents and websites that military families should consult before planning any foreign travel.

Have your service member talk with their chain of command. There are often specific off-limits areas based on the unit or command. For example, many SoCal units have designated Tijuana, Mexico, as a no-go zone.

There are regional combatant commands located around the world, with each one covering a different geographic region. Each geographic region-specific command also sets travel requirements.

For example, PACOM in the Asia-Pacific region has set the travel requirements for locations in their region of authority. Right now, North Korea and certain parts of the Philippines are off-limits.

Additionally, each unit or command will also have access to the official Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG). This “for official use only” document outlines the travel requirements for countries and regions around the world. The FCG is a DoD-wide guiding document.

Unfortunately, this is truly an FOUO website. The Foreign Clearance Guide website requires a DoD login to access.

U.S. State Department Guidelines

In addition to the DoD, the State Department also issues travel warnings for U.S. citizens. For the average citizen, these warnings might help them to select a safe place to vacation.

However, DoD travel regulations and the State Department travel warnings are closely linked. Based on these documents, regional commands or specific units can declare any location off-limits to troops.

Even if your dream travel destination is categorized as an elevated risk, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s off-limits. However, there might be a few more hoops to jump through.

Submit Your Package Before You Leave

It’s so tempting to just hop a plane and jet to a cool location. Being totally spur of the moment like that is a limited option for active duty troops. It’s even more complicated than just clearing leave dates with the CO too.

When planning overseas travel, it’s important for your service member to get their chain of command involved.

Getting your preferred leave dates approved is the first step. Your spouse’s chain of command should be in the loop about your exact travel destination and itinerary.

There is an official travel package that service members must fill out in order to travel overseas. The Travel Tracker and Individual Antiterrorism Plan (TT/IATP) and Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance Service (APACS) should be filled out prior to travel.

Related: 8 Cruise Lines that Offer Military Discounts

Certain locations also have additional training or knowledge requirements. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) ask military personnel to complete an additional brief before travel. If you’re heading to Jamaica, you’ll need to meet the training requirements for the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. European Command (EUCOM) have similar training requirements before troops are allowed to proceed on leave.

Individual units might have briefs or trainings that need to be completed before traveling. Or there might be unit-specific paperwork that must be approved.

Keeping the chain of command involved during travel planning can ensure that all boxes have been checked before you leave.

Keep Up with Alerts

Even after all the paperwork has been submitted, approved and tickets have been booked, your trip could still be derailed. Stay on top of the news or at least the State Department travel warnings in your destination as you prep for your trip. Changes in safety could create a chain reaction that restricts travel to locations.

Because of this possibility, particularly in more volatile regions, it’s important to consider travel insurance. In the event of a forced cancellation, you might be able to recoup some of your money. Check with your specific travel insurance provider for plan options and specifics.

Additionally, travelers can alert local U.S. embassies and consulates of their trip. The State Department’s STEP program allows users to register their foreign travel. This could allow local U.S. officials to assist you in the event of an emergency.

Can My Service Member Go on a Cruise to Mexico?

Long story short, they probably can go on the cruise. However, your spouse will need to fulfill all the SOUTHCOM travel requirements, complete travel paperwork and get approval from the chain of command.

As long as your service member remembers to keep their command in the loop, and do their due diligence with paperwork, you should be in the clear!

Collette offers more than 150 tours around the world. Mention your Military Shoppers benefit when booking your next vacation.

10 Military Discounts for When You’re Stationed in SoCal

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Welcome to glowing sunsets, mountain hikes and seemingly endless summer! Sunny Southern California can be a dream duty station for those lucky enough to get assigned here.

With beaches and wineries and, let’s be honest, Disneyland so close by, you’re going to want to go everywhere and do everything. But checking items off your SoCal bucket list can get a little pricey.

Keep costs down and hit the tourist hot spots with these military discounts.

10 Military Discounts for When You’re Stationed in SoCal

1. San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

The San Diego Zoo has been a leader in zoos and wildlife conservation for more than 100 years. Visit the historic zoo, located in Balboa Park or head to the Safari Park in Escondido for a day of adventure. With military discounts, service members and their families can save a little bit on their trip!

Active duty troops get complimentary access to both parks with their DoD ID. Military dependents can claim 10% off their daily admission fees too. There are no limits on how often troops and their families can use these discounted tickets.

Veterans and non-active duty reserve troops are not offered a discount at the gate. Tickets with discounted pricing are offered through ITT or MWR offices at military bases throughout Southern California.

2. SeaWorld San Diego

You’re sure to have a whale of a good time at SeaWorld San Diego! Head down to San Diego’s bay area for a fun-filled day of thrilling rides, entertaining animals shows and learning about our oceans.

Active duty troops and their dependents can spend a day at the park for free, thanks to the Waves of Honor military salute! This deal expires on December 31, 2018, but is typically renewed annually.

Through September 30, 2018, veterans and up to three guests can go to SeaWorld for free!

3. Hornblower Cruises

It’s fair winds and following seas for deploying service members with a dinner cruise package from Hornblower Cruises! They’ve included special extras to help make this often stressful time a little more enjoyable.

Military personnel and their families can enjoy discounted Hornblower cruises anytime when they purchase tickets through their base ITT or MWR office.

4. San Diego Padres

Take your family to the ballgame with discounted tickets! Attend a military salute game for cheaper. Going on a Sunday gets you a bigger discount too.

Make sure to bring a little extra for Cracker Jack and a drink. Maybe you’ll even catch a foul ball!

5. Legoland California

Get your brick on at Legoland and SeaLife Aquarium! Spend the day at Legoland with a 25% discount or hop between the theme park, water park and aquarium with a combo ticket. Combo tickets up the value with increased discounts and free days!

If you’re going spur of the moment, claim up to 10% off at the gate with your military ID. When you visit ITT or MWR, you can even grab discounted annual passes!

6. Temecula Wineries

Enjoy a staycation in Temecula with discounted hotel rates and winery tastings. Head to Old Town for a taste of the old west or stay at a winery resort for an immersive experience. Grab discounted tasting coupons to local wineries through 2018 to celebrate the valley’s 50 year anniversary.

Related: 30 Military-Friendly Wineries and Breweries You’ll Want to Sample

Many wineries are child-friendly, with open lawns and occasionally a playground! Bring a picnic and make a day of your adventure to the Inland Empire.

7. USS Midway

Check out the Navy of the past with a visit to the USS Midway on San Diego’s Embarcadero. Active duty military can board for free! Veterans can also claim a discount on tickets.

Stroll the decks and reminisce about the quality of chipped beef on toast at the cafe. Military kids will love to peek at the bunkrooms and see where the racks are on board.

8. Old Town Trolley Tours

Dip your toes into all San Diego has to offer with a fun hop-on hop-off trolley tour. From Old Town to Coronado, you’ll learn all about the history of this wonderful city. Head to ITT and MWR for discounted tickets.

In November, military personnel and veterans can hitch a ride for free!

9. Knott’s Berry Farm

Brave the big drops and loop-the-loops on some giant roller coasters at a discount! Military troops and their families can grab cheaper admission every day when you show your ID at the gate. However, military personnel need to be present to qualify for the discount.

While you’re there, say “hi” to Snoopy, Charlie Brown and friends. Grab a chicken dinner and make sure you leave room for dessert!

10. Disneyland and California Adventure

It’s not SoCal without a visit to Mickey and company! Now you can go to the Happiest Place on Earth with a sizeable discount.

Grab multi-day passes with the Military Salute ticket packages. Some packages offer options to hop between Disneyland and California Adventure! You are limited to six tickets per military family per year. This deal is also only for active duty troops and their dependents.

When you buy military tickets, you’ll also qualify for a discounted PhotoPass.

If you’ve already used your Military Salute tickets, discounted passes are available at ITT and MWR offices nationwide. Make a total vacation of it and stay at Disneyland with a military discount. Call the resort or book online to qualify.

What are your favorite SoCal military discounts or special offers? Share your top spots in the comments!

How to Prevent Conflict When Your In-Laws Visit You

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Many military couples host their in-laws, friends and extended family members during the summer months. Afterall, what’s the point of being stationed in Hawaii, if your house doesn’t become a revolving door for cousins who want to spend time with you, but also enjoy having you as their tour guide and your house as a free hotel room. You are happy to host them as your guests until you realize you are spending way more money on groceries when they are staying with you.

How to Prevent Conflict When Your In-Laws Visit You

Are hosting guests a financial strain on your budget? Can you ask your parents to buy the groceries when they are staying with you? Will your father-in-law watch your kids for date night?

What happens where you as the host feel like you can’t afford (or don’t want) to pay the costs associated with guests. This conflict over who pays seems like a source of unspoken frustration among military spouses.

A military spouse posted this question in a Facebook group:

When your relatives come to visit you, who pays for stuff? You or them? Can you ask them to help out around the house when they are staying with you?

Some military spouses responded saying they believe that guests shouldn’t pay or chip in with housework, ever. Your guests are on vacation and might have dropped serious cash to get there. The hosts should pick up the tab along with the extra work.

Others were firmly on the opposite end of the spectrum. Visitors are getting free lodging so assisting with cooking, cleaning, child care or groceries is a fair trade.

Most military spouses agreed that every situation is unique. Cost of travel and budget were factors that everyone considered. Others talked about the frequency of visits and reciprocity of the expectations when the host/guest roles are reversed.

Where is the disconnect?

Almost everyone agreed that family visits can be a huge source of conflict, especially when the in-laws are involved.

The heart of these might be a lack of shared cultural, familial history. It could be that your mother-in-law comes from a family where hosts have historically paid for everything. Maybe this is how it worked with her own mother-in-law!

When the visit or your guest’s expectations don’t go as you thought, it can cause frustration. Over time, with visit after visit, the frustration turns to anger which turns to resentment.

How can you prevent family vacation conflicts?

It all comes down to communication! If things are going well, you’re probably on the same wavelength. When you’re feeling frustrated during a family visit, it’s time to have a friendly sit-down.

First, decide what you are comfortable doing as a host. What makes you frustrated or upset? Is it having to do all the cooking, cleaning, shopping and paying? Are you comfortable with splitting things in different ways? What do you want your guests to help, or not help, with?

Be very clear with yourself and your spouse. Knowing where you are willing to compromise is just as important as your hard limits.

Solve family visit conflicts

Start neutrally:

“What do you want to do tomorrow?”

Share a few different activities that everyone can enjoy and bring out brochures. Talk about price and ask if this activity is in their budget. You could do this with any part of your trip from tourist attractions to meal planning to paying for gas.

Sit down with your visitors to plot out the events and meals that will happen during the vacation. Ask about which activities fit their budget. Share unique eating experiences in your area at a variety of price points and ask which ones they think will best suit them. Invite them to go grocery shopping with you.

For slightly more complicated situations, you might need to be more to the point. Request politely and kindly that your guest helps you.

You could try:

  • While I cook the main course, could you prep the salad?
  • Please feel free to bring your favorite drinks with you, as we mostly drink water.
  • Would you be able to step in with the kids while I (go for a run, head to the store, do this chore)?

Another route is giving praise for desired actions:

  • Thanks so much for putting on the coffee! I so appreciate having hot coffee when I woke up today!
  • The kids love spending time with you, especially since we live so far apart. I know they’re over the moon to just be with you!
  • You make such good (food item)! We’d love to share this special meal with you! Could we make it together?
  • It’s so nice to have your help (sorting the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, walking the dog)! Thanks!

Often it could just take a nudge or gentle push to move your guests to help you, if that’s what you want.

What happens in a stand-off?

You might find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You’re super uncomfortable in your own home and stretched beyond your limits.

The first conversation should be with your spouse. Decompress and share your frustrations with him or her. Explain what would make this visit better or at least slightly easier. Then create a plan of action to find a solution. You and your spouse should take this on as a team.

If your conflict is with a member of your own family, you should handle it. For in-law issues, your spouse should take the lead. Yes, these conversations will be awkward and uncomfortable, but they need to happen. Not talking about it is a recipe for more anger and resentment in the future.

Start small and use lots of “I feel” statements.

“I feel very tired after working all day and taking care of the kids. It’s overwhelming for me to cook dinner by myself for everyone every night.”

Talk about the good points of the visit, too. Share fun experiences that you’ve done together or how much their visit means to your kids. Then make your big ask. What is it that would make the visit more enjoyable for you as the host?

“I love spending time with you, but doing all the cooking and then all the cleaning makes it hard to do that. Would you be willing to dry if I wash?”

If your concern is financial, be upfront about that, too.

“We love going to all these great places, but we are really watching our bottom line right now. We cannot afford to pay for everyone in our group to go. Can we find another solution?”

Your guests might be genuinely surprised to hear your frustrations!

While it might be really uncomfortable, you could find solutions that work for everyone. Even if things aren’t 100% better, at the very least, you’ve shared your feelings.

If things remain at a stand-off, consider ways to meet on neutral territory. You could pick a location in the middle where you can both stay in hotels or shorten their visits, if possible.

How do you have handled host/guest conflicts? Share your best tips in the comments!

4 Tips for Booking Your Spring Break Vacation

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What is your family doing for spring break this year? If your spring break includes a family trip, using the new Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards program can save you time and money.

There are more than 700,000 hotels on the site with discounts as well as 3,000 family resorts. If you want to fly somewhere during your spring break, the site has domestic and international flight discounts. Don’t forget about booking the fun activities that you’ll want to do once you get to your destination. There are many discounts for these activities listed on the site.

This program was designed for active duty, retired service members, National Guard and reserves. With the Travel & Rewards site, you get special military discounts from patriotic companies. You’ll find affordable travel options with them. There is a free membership option as well as 2 paid options that provide even more benefits.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a smart way to get great discounts for your family’s spring break. These discounts apply toward resort stays, flights and car rentals. If you choose one of the paid benefit programs, there is a point reward system that you can use for future spring break vacations or other travel plans. You can find out more about the different membership programs here.

Ready to book your vacation? Here are 4 tips to consider when planning your spring break.

Make your reservations now. Many people count down the days until spring break. They book their vacation early to get the best deals and you should too.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservations. Many resorts and hotels fill up quickly.

Buy your plane tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. There are great deals for flights 21 days out, two weeks prior and sometimes there are even last-minute deals. It’s a big risk to wait until the last minute to get a good price on a flight for your spring break though. If you are flying as a group, you might not get seats together on a flight if you wait too long to book.

Decide on activities. What do you want to do on spring break? If you simply want to lie on the beach, then you don’t have to worry too much. That is, unless you want to reserve an umbrella.

If your spring break is focused around going to a major theme park, such as DisneyWorld, you’ll want to buy your tickets before you get there. Don’t waste time standing in line to buy tickets at the gate. You will also want to take advance of all the military discounts available for a Disney vacation.

You can find specific military discount travel agents that will help you plan your Disney vacation for free. I have a friend that does that. Using someone like her is a great option. It will save you a lot of time.

Shop around. You don’t have to make reservations with the first company you contact. Spend a little time shopping around. You can also use the official airline or hotel website to book directly from them. Some companies offer different prices for the same flight or room depending on how you book. It might be worth it to call and not just click reserve online.

It’s already February. When is your spring break? If you are counting down the days, you should also be planning your family vacation. Start doing your research. Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a great place to start.

Click here to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards today.

Military Discounts to Use When Visiting State Parks

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When most of us think about the great outdoors, we immediately think of camping, hiking, hunting and maybe even whitewater rafting.

One of the best places to do all of these great outdoorsy things is at national parks, but what if you don’t want to trek all the way to a national park? While places like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are worth the hike, chances are you don’t have to take a road trip to explore all of the wonders that mother nature has to offer.

Your next great camping trip might just be up the road at any one of the more than 10,000 state parks.

Every state in the union, from Florida to Alaska and Maine to Hawaii has their fair share of gorgeous state parks. Encompassing more than 18 million acres, state parks have something to offer everyone. Whether you’re a ski fanatic, a hobby fisherman or just want to find a quiet place to commune with nature, chances there’s a state park that offers the perfect day off.

And many state parks offer military and veteran discounts.

Most state parks offer day and annual passes, as well as licenses for fishing, hunting and boating. Some require special passes depending on the activities you plan on engaging in at the park (i.e., primitive camping or RV stays).

And almost every park we researched offered a free annual pass for wounded warrior residents of the state, though the percentage of disability required for the annual pass varied by state.

Military Discounts to Use When Visiting State Parks

Did you know that West Virginia state parks offer a 10% military discount? Plan your next hiking adventure at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia.

For the rest of us, active duty and veterans, the military discounts vary by state and often are offered at each individual park and for limited time periods or only to residents of that state. When in doubt, contact the individual park.

Here are 4 states we found that offer discounts at their state parks:

Georgia State Parks

Georgia offers dozens of state parks, including Fort Yargo, with its 260-acre lake, multiple RV sites and even lakefront yurts for a little weekend glamping. Active duty and retired military — who are Georgia residents — are entitled to a 25% discount on the daily or annual parks pass. A current military or retiree ID must be shown at time of purchase.

Florida State Parks

With over 150 state parks to choose from, if you crave the sun, you’ll find it here. Florida’s state parks include miles of beaches and all kinds of interesting trails including the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad trail, with options for hiking, biking and even horseback riding. Active duty military, National Guard and reservists and retirees can received a 25% discount on all Florida state park entrance fees.

However the passes cannot be purchased online.

Maryland State Parks

Maryland culture has long revolved around the water. Dozens of Maryland state parks offer the chance to experience a landscape rich with marine wildlife and ocean views, including Janes Island State Park where visitors can fish and crab to their heart’s content. With a valid military ID all Maryland state park daily fees are waived. Find out more about this park and many others at Maryland.gov.

West Virginia State Parks

With over 50 state parks, West Virginia is a camping and hunting enthusiast paradise. Included in its many offerings is Seneca State Forest, home to rivers, lakes, miles of trails and its famous 65-foot fire tower that offers an incredible bird’s-eye view of the lush forest and woodland.

Best of all, all West Virginia state parks and services offer active duty and veteran personnel a 10% discount.

Looking for another state or a specific state park? Find links to it all by visiting www.stateparks.org.

Have you sign up for Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards community? It’s a free way to save money on your next family vacation.

Military Shoppers Offers Free Money-Saving Travel Website to Its Members

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My family loves to travel together. But we have different things that we love to do during our family vacations.

Traveling for me means finding restaurants featuring delicious local cuisine. Traveling for my children means visiting a children’s museum or science center, jumping on the hotel beds and swimming in the hotel pool.

Traveling for my husband means a break from military life. When we’re on vacation, he isn’t thinking about work. He’s focused on spending quality time with his family, far, far away from his military base.

But as much as I love traveling, planning a weekend getaway isn’t easy.

In fact, planning a vacation stresses me out.

And there’s the dreaded family vacation budget to consider.

There are so many cities that I want to visit, but many times I find myself asking “can we afford this vacation?”

According to American Express, the average vacation expense per person in the United States is $1,145 or $4,580 for a family of four. That’s nearly $5,000 for 1 family vacation!

There has to be a better way. I don’t want to cancel our family vacation because of sticker shock.

Free Membership for Military Families in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards

MilitaryShoppers.com, a community that delivers money-saving tips to military families, is expanding their services. Starting November 2017, MilitaryShoppers’ members are entitled to a free membership in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards lists special discounts that have been arranged exclusively for MilitaryShoppers members.

How does Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards work?

Hotels and resorts often have unsold room nights that they can’t offer to the general public at such low rates but they can do it as a special military discount through MilitaryShoppers Travel & Rewards.

These incredibly low rates are not available on any other travel booking website. Members are encouraged to compare the Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards discounted rates with other public websites and military travel “clubs.” Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards said “you’ll find these are the lowest hotel and resort rates available anywhere!”

Since the cost of our hotel room is the most expensive part of our family vacations, I’m excited to book a discounted rate for a quality hotel. Knowing that we’re saving money on our hotel room encourages me to plan more family vacations in the future.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members have access to a wide range of benefits and services that are designed to save military families money. Members earn points that they can use for extra discounts and fun activities.

Every free blue membership is preloaded with $100 in points that members can use immediately.

What’s the cost to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards?

This money-saving travel website for members of the military community is free. Members won’t pay an annual membership fee or be required to buy anything.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is similar to using a travel website to book your hotel room. It offers the same convenience, except with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members will book their hotel rooms at much lower rates.

How do I sign up?

Members can sign up for free access to their benefits online at MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

If you are already a member of the MilitaryShoppers’ community, check your email. You automatically received access through that membership. In your email, it will explain how to log in to MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

As I said earlier, I love traveling. I love the adventure of it. I love retelling the stories of our adventures to our neighbors, family members and friends. But most of all, I love traveling as a family. Family vacations are when memories are made.

The only thing I love more than a family vacation is a family vacation where we enjoy ourselves without spending all the money in our savings account.

You don’t have to choose between your family vacation and monthly budget. You can have both with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards. Sign up today!