Saving Money On Presidential Library Visits For Families

I'm a nerd. I used to try and hide this fact when I was a youngster in school. Then I went to college and stayed in higher ed for a very long time. I've come to embrace my nerdiness.

That means that my kids have the good fortune (or maybe misfortune) of having a dad who likes to visit all sorts of historical museums. Alamo? Check! Louvre? Check! Various and sundry little museums off the side of random Interstates? Check! Check! and Check! This post will show you how to visit as many of the official presidential museums you can or want to visit within a given year for the low cost of $45.

Some of my favorite museum visits are related to the presidential libraries. When I was driving through Kansas a few years ago, I decided to visit the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Ike is one of my favorite presidents, so I really wanted to stop. This was my first visit to an official presidential museum.

Fast forward a couple of years, and we went to Disneyland in California for Spring Break. I saw ads in the hotel we stayed in that noted the Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon Museums. I looked at my itinerary for the day. We had nothing planned until a 7 pm game between the Lakers and the Hawks. The Lakers have been my favorite team since I was a kid--the days of Show Time with Magic, Kareem, and Worthy. Alas, the week after I bought the tickets, the team announced Kobe Bryant was out for the year. Bummer. They lost to the Hawks. Another bummer.

A Retired Air Force One at the Reagan Museum and Library

Anyways, the Reagan Museum was more strategically located for getting back to the Staples Center, so I decided that's the route we would take. Hands down, the Reagan Museum has been my favorite thus far. The Air Force One from Reagan's time in office was on display and decked out as it was back in the '80s. The Reagan Museum is also the most expensive presidential museum that I've visited. Today, if I were to take my family, it would cost a whopping $99 for my family of four. That's not cheap. I would not pay it again, nor should you. There's a pretty easy workaround.

Visit the Reagan Museum As A Family for $45

If you buy a membership to any presidential museum that's a part of the National Archives, you can get into any of them that are currently open. The Archives site shows that there are fourteen official museums tied to our nation's presidents. That's not exactly accurate, as the Obama Museum will not open for a few years. Therefore, you can get into 13 at this time.

The cheapest family membership that I've found is the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, TX. It's only $45 for two adults and any kids under 18 years of age. That's less than half of what I could buy tickets to the Reagan Museum. 

I chose to do this last Spring Break. We took a trip down to the Alamo, but stopped at the LBJ Library on the way down. I purchased the family membership for $45. On the way back home, we were able to stop at the George W. Bush Presidential Library Museum in Dallas and the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, KS. Cost for the Bush Museum--NOTHING! Cost for the Eisenhower Museum--NOTHING! The cost of visiting the LBJ Museum would have been $20 without the membership, but the higher cost was worth it because I visited the other two. 

I've now hit six of the 13 official Presidential Museums when you add the Hoover and Truman Museums. That means that I only have seven to go (eight in a couple of years). I'll be sure to check the cost to see if another membership to the LBJ will help me save some money along the way if I'm planning to see any more in the near future. Only the FDR, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, HW Bush, and Clinton remain (until the Obama opens, that is). 

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Nine Free Things to See in Jerusalem

Over my fall break this year, my family was able to spend a few days in Jerusalem. I noted in the linked post how it's possible for Americans to get to the Holy Land at an extremely discounted rate should they choose to do so.

I'm all about travel. But I'm not all about paying full price for it. If you choose to go to Israel, you can take one of the many Holy Land tours and pay for luxury accommodations and guided tours to pretty much everywhere you go. I did not choose to go that route. I decided that I wanted to go the DIY route for most of the trip so that I could save money.

Outside of transportation within the city of Jerusalem and a day trip to Bethlehem (around $200 for four people), I paid very little for visiting sites in the area. Bethlehem is located within Palestinian Authority territory, so I'd highly recommend booking a tour for that one. I also paid less than $20 for my entire family of four to explore Zedekiah's Cave and about $40 for all of us to get into the Tower of David, which is a museum of Jerusalem's history. The latter was worth the cost, as it was very interesting. The cave was pretty meh. Other than that, there are quite a few free options. Here are nine that I took advantage of.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Purported to be built on the very site that Jesus was buried for three days, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of the more significant religious sites in Jerusalem. It's a short walk from the Jaffa Gate although it can take some time depending upon the crowds that are around at any given time. The cost to enter the church is nonexistent. It's totally free, and it's a must for anyone who's interested in Christian history. 

Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Mehane Yehuda Market

This market was just a few minutes' walk from the hostel we stayed at. There are several blocks with relatively tight and crowded streets that are home to open-air stalls. You can buy all sorts of food and touristy stuff in the market. If you want to experience a Middle Eastern bazaar vibe, this is the place to do it. There is all sorts of hustle and bustle that you're sure to remember. 

Several of the vendors offer free samples of their food, including tasty dried fruit. The cost to browse? It's all free. Of course, if you buy anything in the market, the whole free thing goes out the window. It's still a cool experience. 

The Mount of Olives

I took a bus up the mountain, as it's a pretty steep trek. It's also quite a ways away from the Old City Walls. If you're adventurous, you could hike this one though. From the Mount of Olives, you can get a great view of the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock prominently displayed in the distance. 

After taking in the spectacular views, there is a Jewish cemetery a short walk down the hill. It's open for visitors. Just be sure to watch out for cars coming around the tight curves. They hug the walls and could hit you if you're not careful. From the Mount of Olives, you'll come to the next free site in a short time.

Me at the Mount of Olives

The Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations

The Garden of Gethsemane is technically near the foot of the Mount of Olives. It's a steep descent, and my calves were burning and I was a bit weak-kneed by the time I reached it. However, it is the place where the New Testament tells us Jesus prayed just before his betrayal, which also took place in Gethsemane.

The site is very peaceful and tranquil today, and it provides a great place for reflection on the events that transpired in the city nearly 2,000 years ago. The same goes with the Church of All Nations, which is within the fence around the Garden of Gethsemane. Both are free to enter, but there is a donations box in the church. I gave a bit for its upkeep, but it's not required.

The Garden of Gethsemane

The Via Delorosa

If you enter the city from the Lion Gate, you'll start on the famed Via Delorosa. This is the path that has traditionally been cited as the route that Jesus Christ took while carrying his cross to his crucifixion on Golgotha. For several of the stops, there are shields with Roman numerals on the buildings to mark specific spots that are associated with Christ's journey. The walk ends with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We had visited the inside the church the day before, so we did not go back in. However, we followed the Via Delorosa from beginning to end. 

Station Five Is Supposed to be the Spot Where St. Simon of Cyrene Took the Cross for Jesus

The Old City

There are no admission fees to just walk around the Old City. There are a number of markets, restaurants and places of religious significance throughout. There are also several gates that provide access. Unless you choose to enter a spot with an entry fee or to buy stuff or food, you can walk through the Old City for free. 

Me Fighting Crowds on David Street

The Temple Mount

While non-Muslims are not allowed to go into the Dome of the Rock, it's pretty easy to get a glimpse of the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, and the two mosques on top of the mount. The view from a distance is pretty impressive, but it's also possible to walk down several flights of steps to get a closer view of the Western Wall and see Jewish men and women praying. I'm neither Muslim, nor Jewish, so I did not get as close as some people can. Regardless, it's a significant spot for three major world religions, and taking a gander is totally free.

The Temple Mount

Yad Vashem

I'm a historian by trade, and I've done quite a bit of reading and study on the Holocaust. Yad Vashem is the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. It is a sobering place to say the least. However, it does a very good job of remembering what may be the worst case of genocide in world history without going over the top and showing graphic violence for the sake of graphic violence. Photography inside the main exhibit is prohibited, and I adhered to this policy out of respect. A visit to Yad Vashem, like the other sites listed in this report, is totally free. I did not take the kiddos, however. 

When it comes to free cultural and historical experiences, Jerusalem does not disappoint. I noted in my post on getting to Jerusalem from the US cheaply that it does not have to break the bank to get to the Holy Land.  Once you're there, it's also possible to see quite a few important sites without spending a penny. I chose to take the tram and the bus to get to most of these sites, but those without kids who are adventurous could hoof it and have no transportation costs associated with visiting them whatsoever.

If you're interested in learning how to save money on travel (domestic or international), be sure to follow the blog. I'd appreciate any support you might give. If you're interested in specific recommendations on saving money on travel, let me know in the comments. I'd be happy to help you out. 

How to Get to Israel With Minimal Out-of-Pocket Expense

A visit to Israel has long been on my bucket list. I grew up in church, and I've continued to attend my whole life. It goes without saying that most of the events in the life of Jesus Christ happened in this tiny corner of the Middle East.

Because I'm in Europe for a semester, it made this trip more feasible for my family. I'd considered going with just my wife last year, but decided to wait to take the kids too. Flights to Israel from Vilnius or Riga were both a little more than $100 each one-way. Flights back were only a slight bit more. Therefore, I decided to use some travel cash-back from recent signup bonuses that my wife and I both earned on the Capital One Venture card.

Folks back in the states do not have this option of really cheap flights to the Holy Land, but that does not mean that it's impossible to make this pilgrimage work out fairly easily. There are some pretty easy strategies that can help singles and couples achieve the goal. Families could also make the trip happen, but the process would get more involved with an increased number of children (if you decide you want to take them along--I did, or I would have gone a year before). 

Me at the Mount of Olives

First, from the US, you'll need to get flights to Tel Aviv (TLV). Few religious sites are near Tel Aviv, but it's the only airport in the country that offers international flights, so you'll have to fly into TLV. Jerusalem is a 45-minute (or so, depending on traffic) drive from the airport. Fortunately, there are many airlines that fly to Tel Aviv, including some US-based flights. 

From my experience, one of the best airlines for getting award flights is United. For my friends in the Denver area, you're in luck. You have access to a United hub. United also has flights from many airports all across the US. Delta also offers flights to Tel Aviv from the US. All three major legacy carriers in the US have partners that can get you to Israel. 

The Walls of the Old City and the Jaffa Gate

Round-trip flights from the US to the Middle East on United and their partners are 85,000 miles (42,500 one-way). Fortunately, United sometimes offers a 70,000-mile sign-up bonus for its MileagePlus Explorer card. This higher bonus usually requires $3,000 within three months. The usual bonus is 40,000 or 50,000 miles for $2,000 in spend. 

Therefore, if you normally spend at least $1,000 a month on discretionary expenses, it would pay to wait for the higher offer. Also, sometimes, if you sign up for a MileagePlus account (without applying for the credit card) and then look up a dummy booking (act like you're searching for a flight to anywhere), you'll get a higher bonus offer. Those who have the MileagePlus card also get access to additional award space, so that's another benefit.

An individual could sign up and be really close to getting a ticket. A couple could each sign up and come close to paying for two tickets. The question then comes around of how to pay for the rest. This is where the Chase Sapphire Preferred (referral link) can come in handy. 

I've already written how this is my top recommendation for people who are just getting into the travel rewards game is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You can get a 50,000-point bonus for spending $4,000 within three months. After getting points for your minimum spend, you'd have at least 54,000 points. 

These Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred straight to United pretty easily at a 1-for-1 ratio. These can also be shared between family members who live in the same household. Therefore, a husband/wife combo could double up (and get a referral bonus in the process) to get nearly 120,000 points combined. This, with one of the United cards with the higher bonus would do the trick for the airfare. 

I'd recommend purchasing one-way tickets so that you can minimize the number of points you'd have to transfer and to ensure that you can get on the same flight. For singles, it wouldn't matter. I've found plenty of options for 42,500 one-way and $5.60 on the outbound flight + $49.14 on the return flight. These costs are taxes that are not erased on reward flights. You can't avoid them easily. Basically, your out-of-pocket cost for two tickets to Israel would be a little more than $100--not bad at all. 

So, to cap this off, if both spouses got both cards (over the course of a year--spaced out at one card per quarter and assuming the max bonus on the United cards and the referral bonus on the Sapphire Preferred), they would have at least 73,000 United Miles each and nearly 120,000 Ultimate Rewards points. It would only take a transfer of 12,000 Ultimate Rewards points each to take care of a round-trip coach flight to Israel at this point. Plus, there would be nearly 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points left over. 

These could go toward hotel transfers to IHG (the parent company of Holiday Inn), which has a hotel within Jerusalem, the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem. This hotel goes for 20,000 points per night for a double occupancy room (or around $125 in cash per night if you want to go that route). 

You could transfer your Ultimate Rewards points and get nearly 5 free nights, or you could use them to go through the Ultimate Rewards portal and redeem them for 1.25 cents for travel expenses like hotels. This would mean that you could get nearly $1,250 to redeem at hotels. (Note that the 465.70 price is in New Israeli Shekels, and there are about 3.6 of those to 1 USD as of November 2018). 

All in all, a couple could sign up for four credit cards combined and get several days to explore Israel. After getting these cards, another solid option would be to look into the Capital One Venture card, which offers $560 worth of travel credit after spending $3,000 over the first three months of holding the card. 

This travel credit can offset hotels, local transportation, and tours. My wife and I doubled up on this bonus to get more than $1,200 off of our travels while in Europe (not to mention other points we used that we already had stashed).

Those who want to make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Holy Land can definitely make it happen, as long as they have good credit and avoid spending more than they would normally spend in their everyday lives (this would offset the benefits of the bonus). Hopefully, this post has given you an action plan that can help you achieve this goal.

If you decide to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can use my referral link. I'll get a bonus, and you'll get the same bonus you'd get anyway. I'd appreciate the support. 

Also, if you like learning about how to travel cheaply, I'd encourage you to sign up for updates. I love helping people achieve their travel goals.