News and Tips #10 - Monday, February 23, 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

In this issue:
-Siesta Beach Named Best Beach in The United States By TripAdvisor - HuffingtonPost
-Haiti is Open for Business - Gone - Medium
-Nine Places That Are Surprisingly Cheap This Year - SmarterTravel.com
-Cruisers' choice: Best cruise ships of 2015 - CNN.com
-10 Pre Car Checks Before Your Road Trip - Travel.Food.Film
-Packing Light: 15 Tips From Travel Experts - Almost Landing

Siesta Beach Named Best Beach in The United States by TripAdvisor - HuffingtonPost

Sure Hawaii and the Caribbean have beautiful, swoon-worthy beaches, but if you're looking to escape the cold -- your #1 beach destination is within the continental United States.  TripAdvisor's annual ranking for the '25 Best Beaches in the US' just came out, and Siesta Beach, Florida claimed the top spot.
Read more...





Haiti is Open for Business - Gone - Medium

Hispaniola, the land mass that Haiti shares with its neighbour to the East, the Dominican Republic, is the second largest island in the Caribbean after Cuba. It's less that four hours by air from New York, yet worlds away in terms of its culture and history.

Arriving from chilly Manhattan in November, the view from the air is at once breathtaking and serene, a picture postcard of tropical delights.
Read more...


Nine Places That Are Surprisingly Cheap This Year - SmarterTravel.com

Call it the year of the bucket list. A strong dollar in destinations around the world is making this an amazing time to go farther and do more for much, much less in 2015. Find great value around the globe-from usually pricey destinations like Japan and France to even better details in affordable spots like Mexico and Eastern Europe-and make 2015 a year to remember.
Read more...



Cruisers' choice: Best cruise ships of 2015 - CNN.com

While Disneyland has long been known as the 'happiest place on Earth,' Disney's cruise ships sound like they're also cheerful spots to vacation.

At least that's what the 2015 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, announced Monday, are indicating. Disney Cruise Line dominated this year's awards, winning in 12 categories.

Disney Cruise Line won the coveted "best overall" cruise line award for the third year...
Read more...


10 Pre Car Checks Before Your Road Trip - Travel.Food.Film

So you've planned your road trip. You know where you're heading and you've stocked the car with enough food to last you for a year, but sometimes it's easy to get that excited about your holiday that you forget whether the car is up for driving long distances.  So, before you take off on that wild adventure, you should do a few pre car checks to make sure your car is in good condition and running smoothly, thus helping you get to your final destination safely...
Read more...







Packing Light: 15 Tips From Travel Experts - Almost Landing

I didn't always pack light. My first trip overseas I bought the biggest bag I thought I could manage and I packed everything I thought I would need, who knew Thailand had shampoo? Truth is, I was scared. I had no idea what to expect or what I could find. So, I pack everything, just in case. And those three little words "just in case", are enough to make you upsize your bag and unzip the expandable section.
Read more...

http://almostlanding.com/packing-light-bloggers-tips/

News and Tips - #4 (February 8, 2015)

February 8, 2015

In this issue:
1. How to Score Free Tickets to TV's Top 5 Shows
2. Long Layover? These Airports Offer Free City Tours While You Wait - Airfarewatchdog
3. 15 Packing Tips That Will Forever Change Your Toiletry Bag
4. Cheap destinations - how to live in foreign countries
5. 6 Ways to Travel Endlessly

How to Score Free Tickets to TV Tapings in Los Angeles and New York

In case you’ve been out of the loop regarding the success of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the storied late-night program has been scoring with viewers since it returned to its New York City roots almost a year ago thanks to sketches, parodies, and of course, celebrity interviews. With the wry and ever-giddy Fallon at the helm (not to mention his stellar backing band, The Roots), the show promises something for veteran viewers and youngsters* alike. In short, it’s the perfect addition to any tourist’s NYC itinerary. Read more


Long Layover? These Airports Offer Free City Tours While You Wait - Airfarewatchdog

If you're planning a trip anywhere in Europe, it pays to look at Turkish Airlines' fares, since they often beat other airlines by hundreds of dollars. The catch is that you'll connect in Istanbul, and your layover might be eight hours or more, or even overnight. But is that so bad? Not if you like two-for-one deals. Not only do you get Rome or Paris, but you also get a free tour of Istanbul. And a free lunch.  

Several airports, tourist boards or airlines, in order to promote tourism, offer free airport layover tours.  Read more 




15 Packing Tips That Will Forever Change Your Toiletry Bag

We're always in for a good packing hack, whether it's the lazy way to stockpile shampoo or the brilliant carry-on bag that feels like you're carrying nothing at all.

One of the biggest packing headaches we face is, well, the stuff for our face (and hair, and nails...).  Read more



Cheap destinations - how to live in a foreign country

Everyone at one time or another has wanted to get away from it all and beach/ski/paraglide-bum it in some foreign land.  Small problem: that's very expensive. Or is it? (That's our sweet rhetorical way of saying maybe not.) Check this list of 12 shockingly affordable paradises you can live in for peanuts... though you'll probably be packed and out the door by number seven. Read more


6 Ways to Travel Endlessly

Traveling the way most people do it isn't enough. Saving all year long at a job for just two weeks a year won't let you see the world they way you want to see it.

So you find someone to take care of your stuff while you travel the world. You're all set to see everything you ever wanted for as long as you want. Then you realize something: you don't have enough money to do it. So what should you do? Here are six ways to see the world long term on the
cheap.  Read more

News and Tips - #3 (February 6, 2015)

February 6, 2015

In this issue:
1. 25 Things Every Budget Traveler Must Know
2. Paris on a budget - Lonely Planet
3. 7 Ways to Travel Financially Smart: Tips for Travelers
4. What's new in Athens - Tourism in Greece (Conde Nast Traveller)
5. Southwest Transforms Airplane Seats into Handbags - Have Tips, Will Travel

25 Things Every Budget Traveler Must Know

Want the best prices on flights, hotel rooms, cruises, and rental cars? Free upgrades? The fastest way through airport security? The smartest way to "do" major cities, national parks, and romantic islands? Congrats! You're a Budget Traveler like us. Here, in a nutshell, is our manifesto! Read more

Paris on a budget - Lonely Planet

It's no secret that Paris, by its very nature as a capital, can be pricey and often stars on the 'World's Most Expensive Cities' lists. But with savvy planning and know-how, you can indulge in the city without blowing the budget. Sleep cheaply in historic mansions, fill up on gourmet cuisine, freewheel along the Seine and be surprised by just how affordable Paris can be for budget travellers. Read more






7 Ways to Travel Financially Smart: Tips for Travelers 

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, be on the alert for opportunities that identity thieves may try to take advantage of:

• Receipts – Do not leave credit card receipts on the table at restaurants; sign them and hand them directly back to the server. Keep your copy of all receipts. Read more

What's new in Athens - Tourism in Greece (Conde Nast Traveller)

It's been a bumpy few years for Athens.  Grinding austerity has sparked riots, strikes and political turbulence, bringing tourism in the city to a shuddering halt.  But as Greece makes tentative steps towards recovery, Athenians are championing the capital's revival with creative start-ups that focus on the affordable and authentic.  Read more






Southwest Transforms Airplane Seats into Handbags - Have Tips, Will Travel

Southwest Airlines, long known for its inexpensive fares, unassigned seating, free checked bags and singing flight attendants, is now jumping into the world of fashion. Partnering with an Oregon-based company, the airline has turned scrap leather from its airplane seats into high-end handbags.
Read more

Flight to Europe $144! And other deals.... (Jan. 12/15)

In the effort to find good travel deals to Europe here are a few current ones.

The $144 airfare on Norwegian Airlines in incredible.

Check out the other deals too.  Five amazing travel deals to Europe including a 144 flight. Really.

Luxury vs budget travel

Luxury vs budget travel is a matter of personal taste and let's be honest your pocketbook.

Some people cannot be comfortable travelling unless they know that they will be staying in a 5-star hotel at their destination.  For them the comforts of home, or even comforts greater than home are essential.  For others, sleeping on a rock under the stars is not a problem.  It is all part of the experience of travel.

Jasper Park Lodge

I tend to travel more on the budget side.  I find that it allows me to better experience my destination.  More importantly, it allows me to stretch my travel dollar further.  When I want to upgrade my accommodation at some point then I will.  Perhaps there is a hotel where I am going that in itself is part of the travel experience in the area.  Two examples I would suggest are the Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Alberta or the Ice Hotel in Quebec City.  Other times if I have just completed some heavy travelling I may want to really sleep on a comfy bed and pillow.  If I want to dine at a finer restaurant at some point, I will, but in general  eating with the locals is fine with me.  Sometimes it will allow you to strike up conversations with them and get to know more about where you are at - sights, events, history.

What it all comes down to, is what you, the traveller, find to be most comfortable.  You are doing the travelling and need to ensure you have set things in place to enjoy the experience.

The attached article considers both approaches to travel.

Luxury vs budget travel