World Traveler

Budget Airlines in Europe are great value and you can get to so many places for as little as £1 one way (excluding tax). There are loads of budget airlines to choose from as well, giving you a wealth of choice for price and destination. There are quite a few airlines that do budget flights, the main ones that pop to mind are Easy Jet (www.easyjet.com) and Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com), just between these two airlines, there are flights all over Europe, to anywhere that you might possibly want to go. I generally find that Ryan Air’s flights are cheaper but they fly to random places that you haven’t really heard of rather than capital. Cities.

If you are visiting Europe its actually really low cost to take a quick visit to another country while you are there. Flights can be booked online or over the phone and an e-ticket is issued so you don’t need to have tickets delivered to a postal address. There are always special deals available and last minute options too. Both the above airlines also offer not quite as low cost options for hotels, hire cars, insurance and airport transfers. Skiing deals are also available and generally you can read about the area you are thinking about going to on these websites too, to help you get a better idea of where to go and when.

I have flown with Easy Jet plenty of times, flights are generally on time, there is no free food on-board but you can buy food. There is only a small selection of things available like sandwiches and cakes - watch out for the prices of these as they often cost more than the flight did!

More travel deals…

I found out about Air Asia when I was travelling around South East Asia and although I was on the smallest budget ever imaginable its a very economical way of getting about. Air Asia is one of the few budget airlines operating in Asia and is a great way to travel around Asia cheaply.

With flights between Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore it connects you with ease to the whole of South East Asia. Flights are as cheap as chips, literally, with many flights as low as $10 USD including taxes! When I was travelling Asia I often found it was actually cheaper to fly than to get a long distance bus or train - that makes a change and its certainly an easier way of getting around, rather than on a bus with random children and chickens on your lap!

Air Asia has now introduced a new route that links Australia’s Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur, hopefully there are more routes to come connecting Asia to other parts of the world at very low prices. Flights are quick and easy to book with either online or telephone booking facilities. Some travel agents also book Air Asia flights but at a slightly increased cost. The website is really user friendly and its also available in a few different languages and has currency converters etc. There are usually special deals on flights and regular sales for even bigger bargains. The website is www.airasia.com

I have flown with Air Asia plenty of times and generally flights leave and arrive when they should do and the staff are generally very helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend them, although I haven’t yet flown with them long haul.

More travel deals….

Hotel reward programs, initially developed to reward travelers for hotel loyalty, have increased in value for both business and pleasure travelers as the cost of a good hotel room has risen steadily. Over the last 5 years, average rates for US hotels have risen by almost 20 percent; in some larger cities, rates have climbed by over 30% (survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers). With this forced increase in consumer popularity, more and more hotel chains have create their own programs; in addition, many credit cards and even airlines allow points accrued through one method to still be redeemed for hotel stays. With such significant changes in a relatively short period of time, the pros and cons of hotel reward programs can be confusing. Here are few tips to getting all you can out of your points:

Special perks during your stay.
Many chains allow travelers to redeem points for all sorts of services. For example, the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts President’s Club offers different ‘benefits and privileges’ such as free high-speed internet access, free local calls, 500 airlines miles per stay, and complimentary daily newspapers. Platinum members can get upgrades to suites, access to in-house spas, and even restaurant credit.

Unique Events or Experiences
Some hotels allow you to trade points for different events or experiences. For instance, Starwood Preferred Guests can use points to bid on ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ or ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences. Some of their most recent point auctions include a Giants Game Day Package, VIP Movie Premieres, tickets to international tennis tournaments, and backstage passes to John Mayer’s tour.

Shopping with Rewards
Most hotel companies allow you to spend points shopping at select stores and retailers. Marriott has spearheaded this movement with the Marriot Rewards Mall. The Mall lets you both spend and earn points while shopping, and some retailers like Harry & David or Land’s End allow shoppers to earn double points. Points can even be redeemed for gift certificates for friends.

As with any points program, try to stick to the same one or two hotel chains to maximize your points account and to reach elite status!

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My husband’s family comes from the opposite side of the country to my family. This means that every so often, Memorial Day weekend means a trip. Now, many people take advantage of the long weekend to go on vacation, and many of them choose a destination based on where the family came from. I find that visiting graves and learning about the history of my family, and the history of my husband’s family, is a very rewarding way to plan a short vacation. And it will help my son gain a knowledge of where he comes from.

Right now, you can find travel deals for Memorial Day weekend to just about anywhere. Side Step is offering some travel deals for the weekend, and you can find plenty of great family travel ideas at About’s Travel with Kids page. And, as always, a jaunt to the Family Trip Deals site can help you plan a vacation that is kid-friendly. No matter where your family comes from, remember it right. And you can get a mini family vacation in as well.

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CNN Travel offers this interesting look at business travel:

On a recent business trip to San Diego, California, Kurt Barrett took his family to Sea World.

Between the banquet dinners and panel discussions on agricultural policy, he also took his 5-month-old daughter swimming for the first time in the hotel pool. Another day, they strolled through the humid botanical gardens in Balboa Park.

“It was like being at home. I got done with work, then enjoyed spending time with my wife and child,” said Barrett, a 30-year-old general manager for a rice distributor in Williams, California.

This fits right in the idea of a rise in family travel. And it shows how you can balance work with family, even when traveling, just as you do every day in real life. You usually get to go for free, and you can find travel deals for the rest of your family. And you don’t have to take vacation days to do it!

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In our overworked society, family travel is becoming more important. Indeed, family travel is on the rise as parents (and grandparents too!) seek to spend more time with children. Because many households have parents that both work, family travel is seen as the wasy for families to spend quality time together. The Chicago Tribune reports on family travel:

Singles and couples normally can vacation at almost any time. For families, summer is the time, especially for those with school-age children. Family travel, not surprisingly, is on the rise.

“Family travel [and that includes grandparents] this year will continue to grow faster than all other forms of leisure travel,” [Peter] Yesawich said in a follow-up phone interview.

Family travel can be a rewarding experience, but it does take some planning. After all, family travel can also get expensive. But there are ways to cut back on costs so that you save more and still have all the fun. You can find family travel deals and other information on family travel by visiting the Family Trip Deals Web site.

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I love JetBlue. So cheap, and relatively comfortable. And you get a certain measure of personalized options for your airline travel when you go with JetBlue. Even with recent snags with customer service (which JetBlue has been trying to set right, going above and beyond what most other airlines would do), JetBlue is still one of the best airline travel deals around. And the company services several destinations that you would actually want to fly to.

Right now, JetBlue is offering some killer travel deals on airline travel between certain destinations. And these are cool destinations, like Boston to Vegas ($119 each way) and Boston and Bermuda ($99 each way — escape from the return of winter!). So if you are looking for a last minute travel deal for a weekend getaway, check out JetBlue’s offerings. You won’t regret it, and you may find the inspiration for a weekend away.

For more travels deals, check out family trip deals.

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Rosie’s famous cruise for gay and lesbian families is a fun way for homosexuals and their families to enjoy a nourishing environment. However, three years ago when the cruise stopped at the Bahamas, the cruise was greeted by a protest of angry church groups protesting the gay and lesbian families. In response, the cruise company operating the tour, R Family Vacations, decided to cut Bermuda, which also has a strong church group base. MSNBC reports:

In the statement, the company said Bermuda’s prime minister had assured them they would be welcome as tourists and they had also received hundreds of supportive e-mails from people who live in the wealthy British enclave.

Still, organizers felt they could not be certain there would be no protesters greeting them upon arrival. “We feel that our cruise would be more enjoyable with an alternate itinerary to ports where we know we are welcome by everyone.�

Rosie’s gay cruise is expected to sell out this summer, with 2,000 tickets. The stop will include ports of call in Florida and on a private island instead of Bermuda.

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This week, the Washington Post has compiled some of the best travel deals around. These are great travel deals that include trips to stay at the Chesapeake Bay Resort (great family travel!) or head to a South African game reserve. But the Washington Post doesn’t stop there; great travel deals by sea are also available on cruises. Even great airfares are listed among these travel deals. Even though there are several travel deals to choose from, the Washington Post reports on my favorite package travel deal, the Greek Islands:

European Destinations has a package deal to the Greek Islands for travel in May. The Best of Greece deal to Athens, Paros Island, Santorini Island and Crete starts at about $1,355 per person double and includes round-trip air from Washington Dulles to Athens, with return from Heraklion; eight nights’ hotel in four different locations; and hydrofoil transportation between destinations. Priced separately, the deal would cost about $1,763. Book at 877-267-2247, www.europeandestinations.com.

So, no matter what you’re looking for, from family travel to a complete getaway, you can find some great travel deals by paying a visit to the Washington Post!

Find more travel deals on Family Trip Deals.

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Convent hotels offer a safe and fairly inexpensive place to stay when traveling abroad in Europe. One of the places that offers these convent hotels is none other than Rome, the Eternal City. CNN Travel offers this look at how convent hotels came to be in Rome:

Sister Milena, who helps run the 40-guest Fraterna Domus inn a few blocks from Piazza Navona, said the Missionaries of the Fraterna Domus (Latin for “brotherly house”) was among the first to have lodgings for tourists and pilgrims.

“Now everybody does it,” said Sister Milena. “We carry out the charisma of hospitality.”

Many of the convents started opening their doors to paying guests in the run-up to the Holy Year in 2000, when the religious and millennium celebrations drew 25 million visitors to Rome.

Worried about a shortage of hotel rooms, the government offered low-cost mortgages and remodeling loans to convents and monasteries.

So, if you are looking for a safe place to stay while viewing the sights of Rome, and you are on a budget, consider convent hotels. After all, they are often close to the action as well.

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Many people like to go on quick weekend getaways. This can be a great opportunity to enjoy a spur of the moment trip, see a relative, or just get away from home for a few days. And one of the best ways to do that is to look for last minute travel deals.

Last minute travel deals work when airlines and hotels discover that they haven’t quite filled their facilities to capacity. They then offer discounts in order to get people in seats on airplanes and beds in hotels. However, you should be aware of the caveats that accompany last minute travel deals. You may have to take red-eye flights, and you may not get the amenities you want. After all, beggars can’t be choosers. But if you are willing to take a chance, you can save a great deal of money and enjoy last minute travel deals.

One of my favorite Web sites for last minute travel deals is Site 59.

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As more and more single women have a desire to see the world, the idea of solo travel is becoming more appealing. However, it can be dangerous and somewhat nerve-wracking for a solo woman traveler. Although I’ve never regretted my solo wandering before marriage, I do wish there had been some guides to help me prepare beforehand. USA Today offers a look at guides for solo women travelers. My favorite? Wanderlust and Liptstick.

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo by Beth Whitman (Globe Trekker Press, $17.95)

In a nutshell: A pep talk for the timid and the indecisive — a sort of you-can-do-it! primer for the gal who hasn’t been out much — with or without companions. Advice ranges from basic booking strategies to health considerations.

Author’s creds: A veteran solo traveler who teaches workshops on the topic.

Sample advice: “To stave off unwanted advances from men, wear a wedding ring (fake, if need be) …”

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Every year my husband’s aunt and uncle take their family to Cape Cod. This looks like a great family vacation opportunity, full of fun and sparkle and opportunities for great family moments. It seems strange to me that with all of the traveling I have done, that I have never been on a Cape Cod vacation. However, I expect that this will change soon. Here is what Cape Cod has to offer:

• Swimming at bay beaches that are calm enough for family fun
• Bird watching at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (also available at the Sanctuary: canoeing and hiking)
• Whale watching out on the ocean
• Sand dunes at the Cape Cod National Seashore
• Biking trails (mostly gentle) past cranberry bogs and other sights
• Clam bakes with fresh clams from the clam flats

And that’s really not all a Cape Cod family vacation has to offer. It is also only 71 miles from Boston, so if you want to take a day trip to see Beantown, that is well within the realm of possibility. There are cabins available, and many of them are in relatively secluded spots (although you will pay more for privacy).

For more on family travel, visit Family Trip Deals.

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Get away for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend with a little help from great travel deals this weekend. There are plenty of St. Patty’s festivities all over the country, from Boston to Chicago to New York to San Francisco. Indeed, St. Patrick’s Day has a rich cultural heritage in America.

Travelocity (and probably other discount travel Web sites as well) is offering specials that start from $199 to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in the ultimate American tradition. You can go to New York and enjoy the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country, or head to Boston for some green beer. And there’s always a party going on for whatever reason in San Francisco.

There are even a few travel deals for trips to Ireland (but it’s hardly worth a weekend, and it’s much more expensive than just heading to Chicago).

There’s no reason to stay home this weekend. And now you have a perfect (and inexpensive!) reason to go.

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A European ski vacation is uniquely romantic and charming. However, skiing in the Swiss Alps, or even the Austrian Alps, can get a little pricey. If you are looking for a good ski vacation travel deal, you might try Romania. It isn’t too late for a Romanian Ski vacation, and you can enjoy the scenic Carpathian Mountains. These mountains are little known extensions of the Alps, and offer great skiing at a fraction of the price.

Right now, the ski season is winding down across the non-Arctic world, so it is possible to find some good ski vacation travel deal opportunities. There are three main Romanian ski vacation destinations: Poiana Brasov, Sinaia and Predeal. Any of these can offer you a world class ski vacation, but Sinaia offers the added bonus of a visit to Peles Palace, and Poiana Brasov offers European city life. You can also enjoy mountain cabanas for privacy, some of them quite luxurious.

Visit Go Romania Tours for more information on other Romania tours.

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