Category Archives: Travel

From how to travel comfortably with children to how to plan a world tour, you’ll likely find it all here.

Hotels: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

Hotel rooms aren’t cheap.  Adding insult to injury is the fact that many properties are now moving back check-in times, so by the time you are forced to check-out you’ve barely been in the place for 18 hours. How do you justify forking over $200 for a room you aren’t given the opportunity to be in for 24 hours?  Or worse, consider having to park yourself in the hotel’s lobby after a long flight simply because you arrived prior to the set check-in time. What a waste of time; precious time that you can’t put a price tag on. To … Continue reading →

Summer Sailing Sale

If sailing off into a stunning summer sunset without sinking your entire vacation budget seems too good to be true, think again. For a limited time, Princess Cruises is offering a summer clearance sale on voyages to Alaska and Europe.  The promotion features savings of up to 50% off rack rates on more than 200 summer sailings.  It also includes on-board credits of $25 to $100 depending on the type of accommodations you book.  For example, if you book an interior or ocean-view cabin on sailings of up to nine days, you will receive $25 in credit. However, if you … Continue reading →

Make the Most of Theme Cruises

Theme cruises are more popular now than ever before.  What started off as a way for like-minded travelers to bond at sea has turned into a multi-million dollar niche; however, cruise companies aren’t the only ones benefitting from these unique voyages.  Passengers also gain in more ways than one when booking a theme cruise.  Not only do guests enjoy all the services and amenities associated with a regular cruise, they also get the added bonus of partaking in a specific passion, be it music, cooking, writing or scrapbooking. Helping stretch passengers dollars at sea is Holland America.  The cruise company … Continue reading →

How to Avoid Soaring Flight Costs

Penny-pinching travelers beware:  those airlines that have been nickel-and-diming you to death are not changing their tune any time soon.  In fact, two commercial carriers recently announced amendments to their current policies that may put a real dent in your wallet. Discount airline Southwest will no longer accommodate passengers who fail to show up on their given departure date.  The carrier is launching a new “no show” policy that forces travelers to forfeit their fares if they fail to show up for a flight.  Southwest officials say they instituted the change so that planes are not taking off with empty … Continue reading →

Why It Pays To Read the Fine Print

There’s nothing worse than losing money when you don’t have to. Traveling doesn’t come cheap, so when it’s time to take flight, hit the road or ride the rails it’s a good idea to read the fine print before you fork over your hard-earned cash. For example, many jet-setting travelers think they are scoring big time by signing up for airlines’ frequent flyer credit cards.  However, unless you read all the details associated with the enrollment process, becoming a member may end up costing you more than you bargained for.  Sure, you’re earning bonus miles each time you use the … Continue reading →

Getting More Bang for Your Cruise Buck

Passengers on Disney’s oldest cruise ship will soon get more bang for their buck thanks to a huge renovation project.  The 15-year-old floating city is getting fitted with a series of phenomenal deck-top attractions, including a massive water slide called the AquaDunk. The Disney Magic’s newest attraction is being built to please passengers looking for thrills and chills at sea.  The water slide will be situated on the ship’s forward funnel and features a translucent tube and trap door where passengers wait a near-vertical free fall. When the door opens, riders drop nearly 40 feet before being shot through a … Continue reading →

Save on the Souvenir Experience

When budgeting for a dream vacation, don’t forget to include the cost of souvenirs.  After all, you want to take home at least one tangible memory of your ultimate getaway… and hopefully, it’s not just the toiletries from your hotel. These days several properties are making it easier and more affordable for guests to leave their favorite vacation destinations with souvenirs that will last longer than a plastic dashboard hula dancer.  The select hotels are offering guests a chance to make their own souvenirs via classes, workshops, and other creative hands-on programs. Some of the most popular include: The Viceroy … Continue reading →

Can You Afford Room Service?

If you don’t mind forking over $16 for three strips of bacon, then room service may be a no-brainer for your morning, noon or late-night meals. The saying, “If you have to ask price, you can’t afford it,” takes on new meaning when you are traveling.  After all, we have to eat to survive, but we certainly don’t have to opt for the $20 chicken salad sandwich, plus the 18% gratuity tacked on because we’re too lazy to eat somewhere other than our hotel room. With the economy still in the dumpster, can anyone afford the high cost of hotel … Continue reading →

Flying Fees Add Up Fast

Think you have enough money saved to fly to your niece’s upcoming college graduation?   Add up the litany of airline fees and you may be forced to drive to the commencement ceremonies. These days the cost of an airline seat is only part of what you will likely have to pay before you take flight.  Most carriers are making a killing by charging hefty baggage fees on domestic flights.  On average, you can expect to fork over $25 each way for your first checked bag and between $30 and $35 for the second.  Think about how deep you have to … Continue reading →

Spring Fling Without the Cha-Ching!

April showers bring May flowers… in your hotel room. It’s not often that you hear of hotels giving guests something for nothing, but this spring, the Hyatt Century City in Los Angeles is gifting visitors with the sweet smell of seasonal blossoms—for free. The popular L.A. lodging recently installed a flower cart beside its front desk. Upon check-in, guests are given a small vase and told they can design their own floral arrangement to bring up to their room, at no extra charge.  Blossoms range from tulips, daisies, and irises to chrysanthemums, sunflowers and carnations.  According to Hyatt staff, the … Continue reading →