Hey there,

Kia ora from stunning New Zealand!

I'm writing to you from the spectacular South Island, where I'm currently living out my 30th birthday dream on a 2.5-week road trip. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and I can't wait to share more of this adventure with you. (Keep an eye on my Instagram or Facebook for daily doses of New Zealand magic!)

Remember last week when I talked about the power of planning ahead? Well, this trip is the perfect example of how advance planning and smart travel tools can make bucket list dreams actually happen.

Here's the story: My husband and I had been dreaming about New Zealand for years, but those $1,000+ flight prices from the east coast? Yikes. They almost made us shelve the idea completely.

Then came a total game-changer.

Last July, while I was working from home, my phone lit up with a notification from FareDrop (now Daily Drop Pro). My jaw literally dropped - round-trip tickets from Boston to Auckland for just $700. In peak New Zealand summer. During my 30th birthday year. Talk about perfect timing.

The best part? I wasn't even actively searching for these flights. All I had done was set Boston Logan as my home airport in the app. That's it.

Why I'm obsessed with Daily Drop Pro:

• Their flight alerts have consistently saved me hundreds on international flights. Beyond my New Zealand score, I've seen deals like east coast to Europe for $300.
• Their points and miles search tool is powerful. Instead of juggling multiple airline websites, you can search award availability across different programs in one place.
• The community feature feels like having a team of travel experts in your pocket. I've learned so many booking tricks from other members who are always willing to share their strategies.
• Their digital wallet feature helps you track all your travel rewards in one place, no more spreadsheets or forgotten points!
• Plus, they throw in a free Lonely Planet guide (which came in super handy for planning this New Zealand road trip).
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Ready to Try It? Start Free! The Limited Plan costs nothing and includes:

✈️ 3 deals a week from your home airport

✈️ 5 flight award searches

✈️ 5 hotel award searches
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If you want even more deals than that, you can go Pro! Why not try it out for free? See for yourself if it saves you some travel planning time (and MONEY) now!

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This Week's Top Travel Resources & News

• ​New Zealand now allows digital nomads to work remotely for 90 days 👀
• Travel guru Brian Kelly (The Points Guy founder) just released How to Win at Travel – packed with practical tips on scoring deals and upgrades.
• ​Heads up - U.S. appeals court blocked a proposed rule requiring airlines to disclose fees upfront (all the more reason to use tools that help you compare costs!).

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Want to follow along on my New Zealand adventure? I'll be sharing my favorite spots and travel tips over the next few weeks. Stay tuned on socials!

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Happy travels!

Michelle

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P.S. Missed last week's newsletter about advance trip planning? Catch up HERE!

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P.P.S. Know someone who’d love to save money on travel? Go ahead and forward them this email - sharing is caring!

Got this email from a friend and want in on the savings? Heck yeah! Click here to join my email list and get weekly budget-friendly travel tips straight to your inbox!

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​sandmanntravels.com​