This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer; a time when most families hit the road in search of sun and fun. Whether you are heading to the Jersey Shore, making tracks to Florida’s coastal communities or cruising to California, you can experience sun, sand, and surf without sacrificing your entire summer travel budget. The trick is to take advantage of the free activities and amenities offered at your vacation destination. For example, if you are planning to travel to San Diego this summer, there are a slew of family-friendly options that won’t cost you a dime to enjoy, including: … Continue reading →
Ah, summer; a time to bond with your loved ones in the great outdoors. Whether you cherish trips to the beach, enjoy hiking at area parks or prefer barbecuing in your own backyard, the season of sun allows for a ton of fun. The key to making the most of summer vacation is to find activities that fit your family’s budget. Whether you are pinching pennies or have some extra cash to burn, top tourist destinations are hoping you will spend some time in their neck of the woods. For example, San Diego is pulling out all the stops to … Continue reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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