Christmas at Copshaholm – The Oliver Mansion

We have toured the Oliver Mansion in South Bend around Christmas time in previous year.  The decorations and the lights add to the beauty of this historic house.  This year they are adding themed holiday dates to their tour line up.   The holiday tours are $15 for adults.

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Oliver Mansion

A post shared by Stretchingittotravel (@stretchingittotravel) on Dec 21, 2016 at 7:05pm PST

From the History Museums website:

Christmas at Copshaholm: It’s a Wonderful Life

Friday, November 30, 2018

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 

Christmas at Copshaholm: Finding the Magic of Frozen

Sunday, December 2, 2018

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Christmas at Copshaholm: A Fun Christmas Story

Friday, December 14, 2018

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 

How the Grinch Found Christmas at Copshaholm

Sunday, December 16, 2018

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

And they are offering a holiday tea time this year in the carriage house.  The cost is $25 for adults.

 

Yuletide Tea: Snow Queen

Sunday, December 2, 2018

2:00 p.m.

 

Yuletide Tea: Time for Little Women

Sunday, December 16, 2018

2:00 p.m.

 

More information and tickets can be found here: https://historymuseumsb.org/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets/

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Oliver Mansion

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Sometimes Buying Points is the Better Deal

As a rule it usually is NOT in your favor to purchase points for a hotel stay.  Hotel and airline groups will swamp you with offers to purchase points.  Generally paying for the hotel is cheaper than buying points to cover the stay unless you are close to having enough points. BUT this week I came across a situation where it is much cheaper to purchase the points than to pay for the stay.

Choice Privileges is having a “members only madness week”. This week members can purchase points for 25% off.  Usually this is still not enough to encourage me to purchase except I remembered when looking for my next hotel stay that I had seen a Choice Hotel that was only 8,000 points for a weekend night this winter.  With this sale 8,000 points would only cost me $66.  The hotel I was looking at was going to cost me $220.83 total for the one night stay in a two queen room.

Also in the same city was the option for a hotel for 12,000 points that was a tick closer to the train station.  Those points this week would be $99 instead of $132 with the 25% off deal.  This hotel if you paid for it would be $282.78 for the date I need.  The 8,000 point hotel had good reviews and I am willing to walk the extra block or two to be at my destination so I went with that option.

Few people really want to brave the Midwest in cold temps so point values are down which can make for great redemption opportunities.

Choice Privileges® Reward Night Redemption

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Nov 11, 2018 – Nov 30, 2018:

Sun – Thu 8000 /room

Fri – Sat 8000 /room

Dec 1, 2018 – Jan 31, 2019:

Sun – Thu 12000 /room

Fri – Sat 12000 /room

Feb 1, 2019 – Apr 15, 2019:

Sun – Thu 20000 /room

Fri – Sat 20000 /room

 

 

 

Best Western Free Night for 10,000 Points Promo

Best Western is again offering a promo where any hotel redemption is 10,000 points.  We were able to use this promotion last year for a stay in Crystal River at the last minute.  This year the promotion is a little different, it is only valid for stays Sunday through Thursday.

Get a FREE Night for only 10,000 Points!

Best Western Rewards^® members enjoy your exclusive offer. Best Western Members can redeem 10,000 points (or less) for a FREE night. Redemption offer runs between November 15, 2018 and January 15, 2019. The discounted FREE night offer is valid for stays at Best Western branded hotels in the U.S. or Canada, Sunday through Thursday only. Registration not required. Exclusions apply*.

More information can be found on their website here:West Western Promotion