Budget Travel Tips

Bali for Romantic Beach Vacations

2009-05-12T21:35:00.002Z

Bali for Romantic vacations is a beautiful Indonesian island situated on the western side of Lesser Sunda Islands, in between Lombak and Java lying east and west side, respectively.

Taman Ayun Temple Taman Ayun (beautiful garden) is a magnificent tourist spot built over a high table enclosed and bordered by ponds. The whole pond surrounding gives this temple a floating look, which attracts many tourist and visitors holidaying in Bali. The inside of the temple has merus, shrines and bales.

This indonesian island is one of the major and highly favourite tourist destinations, with its culture, beauty, beaches, music, paintings and rich art work.

Beach Holiday

2009-03-01T09:41:00.000Z

I Love Touring Italy - Southern Calabria

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Calabria region of southern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea. Calabria is the toe of the Italian boot. There are excellent tourist attractions, and you won't have to fight crowds, but you may have to fight hot, hot summers. With a little luck you'll avoid tourist traps, and come back home with the feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines tourist attractions in southern Calabria. Be sure to read our companion article on northern Calabria.

We begin our tour of southern Calabria at Pizzo on the western Tyrrhenian coast. We proceed south and west along the coast to Tropea. Then we continue mostly south along the coast to the capital, Reggio di Calabria. We leave the coast to visit the Aspromonte mountains and then continue east and north to Locri on the eastern Ionian coast. We head inland to Gerace and then go and west along the coast before finishing our tour a bit inland at Stilo. As always in this part of the world directions are approximate; you have to go where the roads go.

Pizzo, population about eight thousand, is a seaport and resort situated on a steep cliff overlooking the Gulf of Santa Eufemia. Its main attractions are the Baroque Church of San Giorgio (St. George's Church) and the Castle in which the French general Murat, an ex-king of Naples, was killed in 1815 after attempting to rouse the populace against the Bourbon kings.

Tropea, population about seven thousand, is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Calabria. It lies between the gulfs of Sant' Eufemia and Gioa overlooking the sea. And yet it is still relatively undiscovered. You'll love its untamed white sandy beaches, which remind me of the sandy white stretches of the beaches in the Hamptons. Also the old houses, and ancient churches. Its Norman Cathedral has a special feature, unexploded U.S. bombs from the Second World War, each bearing a note of thanks to the Madonna. Near the main square is the medieval Santa Maria della Isola church and monastery, remodeled in Gothic style and touched up a bit after an earthquake slightly over one hundred years ago. If you fall in love with the town you may want to sign up for some Italian language classes. And don't forget the onions, the local onions are so good that Italians call red onions Cipolla di Tropea (Tropea Onion).

The city's most famous citizen, Umberto Anastasio, was born in 1902 but left for New York City about 1919. There he lived under the name Alberto Anastasia, a leader of Murder, Incorporated. He died in a hotel barbershop in a hail of bullets. Anastasia's fictionalized story was a part of the Oscar winning movie On The Waterfront.

Reggio di Calabria, population about two hundred thousand, is the oldest and largest city in Calabria. It sits at the base of a long mountain range running through the center of the region. Over the centuries the area has been subjected to multiple several earthquakes and tsunamis. Furthermore, the soil is difficult to work. The city was founded by Greek settlers in the Eighth Century B. C. and passed from one hand to another over the centuries. Interestingly enough it was home to the first dated Hebrew book, printed in 1475. The worst earthquakes were in 1783 and then in 1908 when an estimated 80% of its buildings collapsed and thousands of people were killed. It took a full generation for the city to recover.

Reggio di Calabria contains many interesting sights. We will start with arguably the most unexpected one, the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia (The National Museum of Greater Greece), a very important archeological museum. Make sure to see the two Bronzi di Riace (Riace Bronze) statues of bearded warriors whose origin is subject to debate among the experts. While they were discovered by an amateur scuba diver in 1972, they didn't go on display for almost ten years.

The famous poet Gabriele D'Annunzio called the Falcomata promenade by the sea the most beautiful kilometer in Italy, and, believe me, it has a lot of competition. The old city is proud of its Greek walls; the section near the promenade dates back to the Fourth Century B.C. There are also Roman baths. Other sights include the church of Saint Gaetano Catanoso, named for the first saint from Calabria in five hundred years, and the Byzantine-Norman Chiesa degli Ottimati (Church of the Optimates) initially destroyed by the Saracens towards the end of the Sixteenth Century. Make sure to see the Venetian-style Villa Zerbi and the Pinoteco Comunale (Town Art Gallery).

The mile-high (actually more, about two kilometer-high) Aspromonte mountain range provides a real change of pace from the Calabria seacoasts. What a view. The name means "sour mountains." As you may well imagine its steep terrain and rocky soil are difficult to cultivate. You can find a ski resort at Gambarie east of Reggio di Calabria and an absolutely spectacular sanctuary Madonna di Polsi with an annual fair in late August and early September. Would you believe that some locals still speak a Greek dialect? Perhaps not surprisingly the local grape is Greco. Accompanied by some three thousand volunteers the hero of the struggle for Italian unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi, was defeated and captured in 1862 in the Battle of Aspromonte. But he had the last laugh a few years later.

Locri, population thirteen thousand, was founded about twenty-seven hundred years ago by a Greek tribe. Its famous lawmaker was the first to devise the written Greek code of law. He suggested that whoever proposed changing a law should do so with a noose about his or her neck, and be hanged if the amendment failed to pass. Talk about a sense of justice. The original city was abandoned in the Fifth Century and later destroyed. You can see some of the city walls and ruins of a Greek theater.

Gerace, population three thousand, sits on a hill composed of sixty-million-year old fossils from the sea. The site has probably been populated for about ten thousand years. Believe it or not, this little town once contained more than one hundred twenty churches. Among those remaining churches are the Norman Cathedral, the largest church in Calabria includes the Eleventh Century Prison of the Five Martyrs of Gerace, the Thirteenth Century Church of St. Francis with a beautiful Baroque altar, and the Tenth Century San Giovannello (Little St. John). You'll enjoy Gerace's medieval town and the remains of an old castle, probably dating from the Tenth Century.

Stilo, population three thousand, was founded by the Greeks. In 1940 the area was the site of the Battle of Calabria, also called the Battle of Punta Stilo, one of the biggest naval encounters of World War II. The Italian navy and the combined forces of the British and Australian navies both claimed victory but the battle was considered to be a draw.

This town's most impressive sight is the Ninth Century Byzantine Cattolica di Stilo which is really beautiful inside and out. Other churches include the Cathedral, the Church of San Domenico, and the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino. And don't forget to see the Norman Castle and the Fountain of the Dolphins.

What about food? There's lots of it in Calabria. Reggio di Calabria 's best gelateria, Tonino in the Corso, makes a red onion ice cream (as well as others based on squid ink and nduja, the local spicy salami). Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Spaghetti al Ragu di Totano (Spaghetti with Squid and Tomato Sauce). Then try Cinghiale all'aspromonte (Wild boar Aspromonte style). For dessert indulge yourself with Passulate (Spicy Nut and Sultana Biscuits.) Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We'll conclude with a quick look at Calabria wine. Calabria devotes about sixty thousand acres to grapevines; it ranks 13th among the 20 Italian regions for the acreage devoted to wine grapes. About 91% of its wine is red or rosé, leaving 9% for white. The region produces twelve DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Only 2.4% of Calabria wine carries the DOC designation.

Most Calabria wine comes from the northern part of the region. If you can find it, you should try the sweet Greco di Bianco DOC wine grown from a southern Calabria version of the Greco grape, and the similar non-DOC Greco di Gerace.

------------------------

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but he prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and people. He knows about dieting but now eats and drinks what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website http://www.travelitalytravel.com which focuses on local wine and food.

Cheap Travel Ideas

2008-06-13T11:53:00.005Z

Find out about cheap travel options or how to take more vacations when you have a tight budget. How can you find somewhere to stay that does not cost a lot. When is the best time to book a hotel room in hotel chains and get the cheapest room rate. Barcelona city break.

Dog friendly hotels norfolk

2007-11-01T08:49:00.001Z

Lately the choice of dog friendly bed and breakfast, for dog owners visiting Norfolk is a lot better. There is a really dog friendly hotel in one of the most attractive Norfolk coastal villages, Cley: Your dog can even come into the restaurant area. You will also find you can stay in the larger town of Wells Next the Sea. Or a small country hotel near King's Lynn, in its own grounds offering fishing rods and a rowing boat free of charge from the hotel. Dogs are very welcome here and the hotel is close to a pub in the nearby village.

Dog Friendly Hotels Wales

2007-10-08T17:45:00.000Z

reviews of dog friendly hotels and restaurants with rooms in the Wales countryside. Find HOTEL WITH AN EXCELLENT RESTAURANT USING FRESH LOCAL FOOD close to Snowdonia and within easy reach of the city of Chester.

Pet Friendly Hotels in Wales

2007-09-16T11:13:00.000Z

Find Reviews of Dog Friendly Country House Hotels in Powys, Wales. Hotels situated in rolling acres of grounds with plenty of space for you and you dog to roam and enjoy. These hotels welcome dogs and their owners, often at no charge for the dog. There is even a romantic country house hotel that is dog friendly - must see! Find the best dog friendly hotels for you and your pet in Wales. travel blogging,

Country House Hotels in Yorkshire

2007-09-05T13:54:00.000Z

Yorkshire is a county that possesses some beautiful countryside and wide sandy beaches - just the place to travel with your dog. The county starts from the urban sprawl of South Yorks, up to the wild beauty of the North York Moors and the East Riding coastal bays. There are some very good dog friendly country house hotels with free Internet access in all rooms.

Dog Friendly Hotel - Torquay, Devon

2007-09-01T13:42:00.000Z

A dog friendly hotel with Wifi Internet access in all rooms, the Hillcroft Hotel in Torquay, Devon, is also gay friendly and caters for special diets. In short, this is a laid back hotel where nobody gets stressed. In fact the hotel also offers a range of massage, Reiki and Hopi Ear candle treatments to guests. This is a well situated base for exploring the other resorts in Torbay and South Devon.

Business Hotel with WiFi where pets are welcome

2007-07-18T11:21:00.000Z

If you like to find a hotel with Internet Access for business travel or for your vacation, and if you take your dog with you, here is good news. We have found some pet friendly hotels where you and your dog will be welcomed and you can also keep in touch online during your stay. Have a look at these pet friendly hotels with WiFi. These country house hotels are in Gloucestershire, a rural English county with Royal connections. For visitors seeking the classic English landscape and views, this is a top destination.

Budget Travel Website

2007-05-14T20:39:00.000Z

Get the best advice on where to stay on your next vacation - did you know you can save as much as 60% off the room rates at major hotel chains worldwide? But you have to know how to make your bid: find out how to get the lowest hotel rates possible

Budget Travel Tips Ezine 6 February

2007-02-06T16:52:00.000Z

Welcome to the 6 February 2007 edition of Budget travel worldwide eZine.
Flora presents 'Explore Florida on a Budget' posted at Florida Road Trip, saying 'the sunshine state need not break the bank'.
Will Chen presents Why Holiday Travel got such a bad rap posted at Wisebread, saying, "Fitch shares travel tips and talks about his latest holiday travel adventures."
Stormy Peters presents Travel tip: Why is one itinerary so important? posted at Stormy's Corner.
Will Chen presents 55 ways young couples can save money for their wedding posted at Wisebread, saying, "Here are some great ways to save money on your honeymoon and make it one of the most memorable trips of your life.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of budget travel worldwide using our carnival submission form Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: budget travel worldwide,travel, blogging, news,

Budget Travel Tips Weekly eZine

2007-01-22T00:02:00.000Z

Welcome to Budget Travel Worldwide ezine for 22 January 2007. For this week's edition we have four timely travel articles from top authors around the world.
Flora Earl presents Get Your Hotel Room at the Best Rate Possible posted at Budget Travel Worldwide, saying "Book your room at the best rate possible, and be sure to get the most from the deal by avoiding the hidden costs that suckers pay."

Melissa Petri presents Helsinki Budget Tips posted at Europe String.

Michelle Mitchell presents Our Homer Odyssey posted at scribbit, saying, "This describes an inexpensive place we stayed as a family in Homer, Alaska."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Walking In A Winter Wonderland For $1,300 posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "This post has a different twist to offering budget travel tips"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of budget travel worldwide using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Tags:travel, blogging, news, budget travel worldwide,

Budget Travel Tips Ezine

2007-01-14T17:58:00.000Z

The next edition of the Budget Travel Tips ezine will be published here on Monday 22 january. Look out for the latest news on airport security, luggage restrictions, airport taxes and much more.
Tags:travel blogging, news,

Package Trips or Independent Travel - which is cheapest?

2006-12-22T17:21:00.000Z

Budget travelers often ask whether it is better to book each part of your trip independently, with separate airline and hotel reservations, or choose a package vacation which covers all the basics for a set price. The answer is not simple, as the advantage of each travel options depends on where you travel to, and the season or time of year. If you are traveling on vacation to the main European cities it is generally cheaper to book yourself, particularly in low season..

2006-12-07T10:55:00.000Z

Agriturismo Olivello in Tuscany

"Agriturismos in Italy, Gîtes in France, and Ferienwohnungen in Germany offer the chance to step away from the intensity of city life and into the earthy elegance of the countryside. These rural B & Bs—typically on working farms—provide a great home base, ideal for couples or families traveling by car.

Some agriturismos are simple and rustic, while others are downright luxurious, offering amenities such as swimming pools and riding stables. The quality of the rooms varies, but they are always clean and comfortable. Most places serve tasty homegrown food. Some are vegetarian or organic. Others are gourmet. You may sit down at the table with your host family or cook up your own dinner in your kitchenette. You’ll find agriturismos that offer cooking classes or horseback riding lessons and those that simply set you free on the surrounding hiking trails. It’s up to you to sort out how much action you want and to find the place that suits your style.

Listings on the Web typically fall into three categories: catalog listings from established rental agencies, local or regional listings from cooperating property owners, and individual owners listing single properties. Each source has merits. Established agencies often offer more choices. They check out the properties and provide ratings and reviews and often allow easier payment options such as credit cards. But if you deal directly with the owners you’ll probably pay less.

WiFi in Budget Hotel Chains

2006-11-28T12:53:00.000Z

Best hotel WiFi in the world: whatever rate you are paying for your hotel room, you can still get access to all the facilities. At least you will not have to spend your precious travel budget at Internet Cafes.

Kimpton Hotels top the list as the undisputed hotel WiFi kings. The brand improved their now legendary free WiFi service in the last couple of years, by extending their fast, reliable WiFi network to your upstairs room, at many hotels. At most Kimpton hotels you can actually sack out with your computer on the bed wireless and happy. This scenario is oft-advertised by other hotel chains, but hardly ever a reality. Kimpton don't count on their lobby WiFi network to reach the top floors of their buildings, instead, at the hotels we visited, Kimpton actually had two separate WiFi networks - one for the lobby and the other for the guest rooms. Both networks are easily accessible by clicking on a standard terms and conditions. Furthermore, during our Kimpton visits, friendly staffers went out of their way to ask us if we were getting a good reliable WiFi signal in both the lobby and our room, and guess what? We were. Kimpton Hotels tend to appeal to business travelers, hip leisure travelers, and globe-trotting bloggers."
from Boing boing
travel budget at Internet Cafes.

Vacation Packing Tips for Christmas Trips

2006-11-16T19:09:00.000Z

Packing the baggage for the whole family on vacation needs good organization. Here is an idea that will help the kids get dressed on vacation. Assemble a complete outfit together - top, pants or skirt, underwear, socks or tights. Keep the largest piece outside and put the rest of the clothes on top, then roll into a bundle. This way, even your youngest can find their own oufit every morning of the vacation, all ready to get dressed. Well, that is the theory ...
Tags: travel christmas vacation, news

Europe's Online Travel Deals: Cheap Flights, Budget Hotels

2006-10-17T11:46:00.000Z

Europe's Online Travel Deals: Cheap Flights, Budget Hotels: "Today, thanks to deregulation, EU reforms, and the takeoff of aggressive no-frills airlines, airfares within Europe are cheaper than ever before. Even a few of the major carriers offer discounts (or air passes) for flights within Europe to their transatlantic customers. Once you've finalized your itinerary, check with your travel agent (or the airlines' Web sites) to compare the cost of flying with rail and car travel. You might be surprised - find out more on the top cheapest fares in Europe.

Tags: travel blogging, news,

Plan Your Thanksgiving Trip Now - Make the Most of the Thanksgiving Public Holiday

2006-10-11T17:49:00.000Z

Thanksgiving Day comes on the fourth Thursday in November. It is a legal holiday celebrated throughout the United States. People of all faiths celebrate on this day and give thanks for the many good things in their lives. This is a family holiday and many families come together from near and far. Turkey with stuffing is the main traditional dish. It is served with sweet potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Apple cider is the drink of the day...

Or you can take advantage of the Public Thanksgiving Holiday and take a Thanksgiving Trip to give you a boost for the winter months. Find out how to plan a Thanksgiving Trip that will not Break the Budget.
Tags:thanksgiving, thanksgiving+trip,>

Naive Travelers Subsidize Hotel Rates - Be a Smart Traveler withThese Tips

2006-10-06T10:00:00.000Z

Economists study how naïve people subsidize cut rate hotels.
The New York Times has an interesting article about the work of two university professors from Harvard and MIT/Princeton who say savvy people take advantage of good deals by avoiding the hidden costs that suckers pay.

The smartest strategy, they say, is for the sophisticated consumer to choose the service with the most hidden charges and highest add-on prices, but then avoid paying those added costs. “The sophisticated consumer takes advantage of that, the naïve pay all the fees.”

For example, you see an offer for a hotel room for $75 (which costs the hotel $100 to provide). The guy checking in behind you also rents a room, but will rack up $70 in fees from the minibar, the phone and garage parking (all of which cost the hotel $20 to provide). You, on the other hand, were not tempted by the minibar, used your cellphone for calls and took public transportation to the hotel. The other guy subsidized your room."
Boing Boing

Follow our Process to secure Your Hotel Room at The Lowest Available Price

Tags:
travel, hotel+rates,
hotel+deals

Thanksgiving Trips - Get a Travel Bargain

2006-09-28T13:59:00.000Z

Finding a
Thanksgiving Trip travel deal on a limited budget can be a big challenge. Millions of US travelers want to get away for the same few days in November. But there are three main ways you can win in the search for an affordable budget break. First: if you fly, book off-peak days or times. Second: go to a resort that is less busy at Thanksgiving. Third: travel to Europe.

Off-peak flights
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest times to fly during the year; finding any seat, let alone an affordable one, can be difficult on the peak travel days: the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 22), and the Sunday after (November 26). If you have the flexibility, you are more likely to find cheaper flights and have a less hectic airport experience if you can depart on the days before or after peak dates, or even on the holiday itself.

To demonstrate how much you can save by avoiding the peak travel dates, we priced peak and off-peak flight dates for Thanksgiving travel on two routes. For peak travel dates we tested flights that depart November 22 and return November 26; for off-peak travel we tested flights that depart November 21 and return on November 27. Prices include taxes and fees.
Route Peak Off-peak savings
Los Angeles to Chicago $401 $341 $60
New York to Memphis $429 $307 $122

Whatever day you fly, you should book Thanksgiving flights sooner rather than later. There's very little chance you'll find last-minute deals.

Stay at a resort in an off-peak destination
Because Thanksgiving occurs during the fall, an off-peak season for many popular US destinations, it isn't hard to find discounted rates and special packages for Thanksgiving stays at upscale hotel and resorts that might normally be out of your price range. Seaside resorts in particular are good place to look for deals. To attract guests, many resorts offer special holiday activities and lavish Thanksgiving feasts in addition to affordable rates. Here's a sampling of some of the deals we found:

* The classic New England resort Ocean Edge in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has a three-night "Thanksgiving Package" for two adults and two kids that includes accommodations, breakfast each day at the Ocean Grill, Thanksgiving dinner, and kids' activities throughout the weekend. Rates start at $555 ($185 per night for three nights). In contrast, we found room-only rates for peak summer stays starting at $367 per night.
* The luxurious Hotel del Coronado is offering a "Holiday Escape Package" for stays over Thanksgiving week that includes accommodations, a $20 daily dining or shopping credit, and a holiday ornament. Prices start at $209 per night, a good price considering that published rates in July start at $355 per night. During your stay, you can partake in a holiday buffet dinner at one of three venues and skate at an outdoor rink overlooking the Pacific Ocean for an extra charge. Other activities include holiday craft-making, kids' camp, and Victorian Tea.
* At the Amelia Island Plantation located off the northeast coast of Florida, holiday rates start at $170 per night. You can join in a Thanksgiving Day feast for an extra charge and participate in free holiday games and activities throughout the weekend.

Go to Europe
November is the beginning of the low season in much of Europe, and because Europeans don't celebrate Thanksgiving, you can take advantage of discount airfare and packages. Prices for goods and services in Europe are high all-around and airport taxes and fees are expensive, so don't expect a Thanksgiving trip there to be a total bargain. However, if you want to visit a European city like London or Paris, you may pay less for travel over Thanksgiving week than if you wait until spring or summer.

Planning an affordable Thanksgiving Trip will be good practice for finding your Christmas and New Year's travel deals. Keep an eye on the Budget Travel Tips Homepage where we will post the latest deals for December holiday trips.

Get Peace and Quiet on a Cheap Flight

2006-09-23T05:23:00.000Z

If you are like me and hate listening to other people's phone conversations you might like this:"Airline attendant attempts to trick passengers into turning off cell phones.
Stephen D. Levitt, co-author of the excellent book Freakanomics, says he was on a flight a few days ago, and before the plane was about to take off, the flight attendant announced:

“According to the reading on my equipment up front, there is still one cell phone turned on, so please check that you have turned yours off.”

Obviously, she has no equipment for detecting this, but you should have seen the passengers scramble to check their bags. Still, brilliant on the part of the flight attendant, although I think it would have been more convincing coming from the pilot."

Guest House or Bed and Breakfast

2006-09-16T07:14:00.000Z

I was asked recently about the difference between a Guest House or Bed and Breakfast (sometimes called B and B) in the UK. Guest House and B and B are really the same - you pay for a room and breakfast, other meals may be served but are optional.

'Guest House' is not a fashionable term - you are most likely to find guest houses at large traditional seaside resorts, whereas Bed and Breakfast is now quite trendy. The prices can vary enormously as there are now some luxury B and Bs competing with hotels, especially in London.

Book Your Hotel Room Under Half Price

2006-09-15T09:25:00.000Z

Here is a step by step process for booking a hotel room at the lowest rate

1. Research hotels on Orbitz (or whatever traditional booking system you prefer: Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc. I will use Orbitz as the example for simplicity).
2. Next, go to Hotwire.com (US only) to see if there is a nicely priced property in comparison to what you found on Orbitz. Hotwire does not show you the property name, but it does give you the price, the general location, star rating, and amenities. The prices on hotwire are sometimes as much as 40% off the best price you will find elsewhere. If you are outside the US go to Step Three.. Yesterday, I booked a hotel in Denver. The best price on Orbitz was $86. I got it for $57 on Hotwire. That’s a 30% discount. Not bad.
3. But don’t stop there. Read the full story

Eat Well on Vacation, on a Budget

2006-09-14T17:32:00.000Z

Eating well on a budget holiday can seem difficult. After all you are on holiday and the food you eat is part of the overall experience. It is easy to find good food to suit your travel budget as long as you are open to doing things slightly out of your normal routine when you are on vacation. Also you often need to do a little research before diving into the first cafe or restaurant that you see. Drinks and snacks can be the biggest cost, and are not easily available in smaller resorts.

Half Term Breaks for the Best Travel Deal

2006-09-14T13:03:00.000Z

Autumn is the season when we realize the year is moving rapidly to its close and the budget minded traveler wants to grab a short break without busting the travel budget. The smart budget traveler realizes this is a great time to get a bargain trip because the school term has started so the destinations are chasing smaller crowds until half term. This makes the Fall an excellent time to head for your favorite resort and save cash on room prices, airfares, car rental and eating out.

half term break

Budget Travel Airport Security Tips

2006-09-10T16:22:00.000Z

Budget Travel and Security Tips: The US Travel and Tourism Board report has asked for Hospitality to be included in the goals of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report goes on to say 'The steps to exclude potential terrorists .. may have created the impression the impression that the USA does not welcome international visitors'.

Book Your Hotel at the Best Rate - Up to 60% Off

2006-09-06T12:26:00.000Z

Here is Stephen Shapiro's process for booking a hotel at the best rate

1. First research hotels on Orbitz (or whatever traditional booking system you prefer: Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc. I will use Orbitz as the example for simplicity).
2. Next, go to Hotwire.com (US only) to see if there is a nicely priced property in comparison to what you found on Orbitz. Hotwire does not show you the property name, but it does give you the price, the general location, star rating, and amenities. The prices on hotwire are sometimes as much as 40% off the best price you will find elsewhere. Unfortunately, the savings can be close to nothing. Yesterday, I booked a hotel in Denver. The best price on Orbitz was $86. I got it for $57 on Hotwire. That’s a 30% discount. Not bad.
3. But don’t stop there. Read the full story