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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Alternative Spring Breaks 3.12.11

Spring Break is upon us this month and, while you may cringe at the very phrase, I know many of you are planning getaways. Maybe not for Spring Break, but certainly for Spring season or the following months. Hundreds of thousands of college students have been saving their pennies to be able to afford a trip with their friends where they can let it all hang out (literally and figuratively) and not think about school for a week or more. Of course, it's hard to think about much in an alcohol-fueled daze, but more to the point, you aren't going to want to take a nice, relaxing family vacation or romantic getaway where there is a crush of sex-crazed, drunken monsters running around. Alternative Spring Break is for you.



What IS ASB? I'm glad you asked! While beachy destinations sound fun almost any time of year, it's really not a great option when traveling in March or early April, unless it's to a more expensive destination, which, let's face it, you don't come here to learn more about unless I can make it seem much more affordable than it really is. So, Fiji is usually out, as are many all-inclusive resorts who take advantage of non-college travelers. Hawaii is on the edge of madness, but with it being on everyone's list, we'll toss that one, too. What's left? Plenty of awesome vacation spots that aren't known for doling out gallons of margaritas and Coronas per second. You can probably still get those things if you were hoping they were included in your own trip, just maybe with a different view.



If you like what you read on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog, make sure to subscribe on the right with the handy-dandy drop-down menu.
Did you get 32 emails this week with amazing deals to go to the Caribbean or Mexico in the next five weeks? Close the browser and step away from the mouse! You will honestly just be sad you wasted your hard-earned money on a trip you couldn't enjoy. You will still be able to take advantage of rock-bottom prices other times of the year, maybe even soon. If you must travel in the next month or so, let's look at some options that might not have been on your radar.


San Juan Islands, WA - Waterfront lodgings for a relaxing stay near the sea. You can fish, dive, bike, hike, whale watch, observe wildlife and more! If you just want to enjoy the landscape, that's okay, too. Use your time to go shopping and exploring new restaurants.


Boston, MA - Another seaside destination that is often overlooked. While Boston has some wonderful historic sites and museums, but it is also home to Fenway Park, an awesome aquarium and the famous Cheers bar. 
                       
Save money on sightseeing with the Boston CityPASS. Valid for 9 days from first 
use and covers the top 5 Boston attractions for just $46 per person (adult).

Like beer? Take the Samuel Adams Brewery Tour. At just a suggested donation of
$2 per person, it's likely the most affordable tour you'll ever go on.

Easter airfare now on sale with Southwest Airlines. One way fares as low as $58. Book by March 14, travel April 20-26.



Want more deals and tips everyday? “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook and follow me onTwitter. You never know what great deal will pop up! Keep up with current sales, new products and websites and get more awesome tips in between blog posts!



Hershey, PA - Are you a chocolate lover, like me? Why not visit the birthplace of the Hershey Kiss? Visit the Hershey factory, Hershey Park and eat chocolate until your heart's content.  
Visit Hershey on two consecutive weekends this Spring for Springtime in the Park
 for previews of the summer fun. This includes rides, entertainment and more!


Lake Tahoe - If you were thinking of maybe taking a trip to Vegas, think again and reconsider a trip to Lake Tahoe instead. With the high stakes of Vegas, but with the added bonus of lakeside activities, hiking trails and skiing. Depending on where you stay around the actual lake, you can have totally different experiences. New and interesting shopping and dining, as well as the option of a fantastic day drive around Lake Tahoe. 


Enjoy a lake cruise with or without dinner or check out some of the fun historical sites like Vikingsholm Castle with costs $7 to park and $5 for the tour. If you can handle
the steep 6,300 foot trail to get to the castle, this should definitely be on your list. 


Want bonus frequent flyer miles? Book a hotel stay along with your Alaska Airlines airfare and get 1,000 bonus miles if you travel by May 9. That's miles for your airfare, miles for your hotel, plus 1,000 miles. That's a few steps closer to a free flight!


Take Shereen Travels Cheap with you everywhere with Kindle! Subscribe on Amazon and get each blog post sent right to your Kindle the instant it gets published. Don't have a Kindle? That's okay, too. Download the free Kindle reading app on any of your web-enabled devices, like your iPad or Android, and it works just as good! (or you can buy yourself a brand-new fun gadget!)

Europe - Spring is a fantastic time to visit Europe. Airfare can be found for much cheaper than in the summer and tourism is down, so it's much easier to find low hotel rates and you won't have to fight the crowds, meaning you can do more in less time.


Fly American to Europe for as low as $219 each way. Book by March 31 and travel 
by April 17 to enjoy trips to cities like Manchester, Zurich, Paris and Madrid.


Take a Cruise! - While not destination-specific, right now is one of the best times to take a cruise. Rates are slashed to entice more people to book a cruise before summer. This is true whether you are looking for a Western Caribbean cruise, one that goes to New England and Canada or a Mediterranean sailing.


2-for-1 cruise blowout from Priceline! Get more fab incentives like free hotel stay, up to
$300 onboard spending, cabin upgrade, 50% off deposit, up to $1,600 air credit and
balcony upgrades! Cruises start as low as $42 per night and come with a 110% +$50
credit price guarantee! These deals are going fast, so book as soon as possible! 


Ecuador - Ecuador is a beautiful country and affordable all year round. With it's constant warm weather, friendly people and amazing history, there's no way to go wrong with a trip here. If you're not interested in a city vacation, you can travel to the beachside or stay in the cloud forest. While airfare may not be the cheapest, you will make up for it by saving on everything else. 


New Orleans, LA - Here's another destination that no one really thinks about outside of Mardi Gras. With so much interesting history, architecture, music and delicious food, New Orleans should be a must for any culture junkie. For those that don't care about culture, take a walk on the dark side with ghost tours.


Save on your trip to New Orleans with the Power Pass. Starting as low as $28 per day, 
gain entry to the must-see attractions of the city. Choose from places like the 
Musee Conti Wax Museum, Audubon Zoo, Cajun Pride Swamp Tour and 
much more! Available in 1, 2, 3 and 5 day durations. Add a 1-3 day MealTicket
to eat at awesome restaurants for one low price.


Victoria, B.C. - Technically, also by the water, Victoria offers a little bit for everyone. Whether you're interested in architecture, flowers, boating, tea or animals, Victoria will captivate you with it's beauty and charming residents. Save money on gas and ferry rides by taking Amtrak Cascades and sit back and enjoy the ride. Victoria is a very walkable city. 




Want to learn about other deals this Spring and talk to other travelers who are looking to save money on their trips? Join me on the Frugal Living Community on Tuesday (3/15) from 5-6 PST for a live chat. We'll be talking travel tips, destinations, budget ideas and answering questions. These chats are really fun and laid back. Come jump in if you want to share your opinions or get suggestions for your own travels.


Win This!!!
That's right, we have another giveaway starting. This time, it's for a travel folding blow dryer. I know a lot of you like to take your hair dryer everywhere you go, now you can take up less space in your bag with this great one from Vidal Sassoon. It has two heat settings, a cold setting, dual voltage settings (so you can take it all over the world) and has maximum wattage, for maximum effectiveness! Enter to win HERE!
You've heard me talk about Minimus.biz before and all their super cool travel-sized products. Did you know that spending money can actually help you SAVE money? Well, Minimus let me share my thoughts about this on their blog this week. Come check out my new post HERE.


Don't forget that booking travel through merchants on Ebates also saves you money with their fancy cash back program. While Travel Week is over and double cash back has come and gone, you can still get discounts on many of your favorite travel websites. If you're not signed up yet, do it now!

7 comments:

  1. Great travel advice. Can't wait to read more. New follower http://angela-mommytimeout.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Are the cruise deals the same this time of year every year? Does that make sense?

    Hey, I stopped by on the hop...but I can't find your gfc box, so I followed you on networked blogs. Am I missing it?

    I'd love to see you over at http://www.lovinangelseveryday.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. there are always amazing deals on cruises this time every year, if that's what you're asking. There are always different ones, but generally, most of the big cruiselines offer some rock-bottom deals to get people to book. Same with fall, for winter cruises.

    I'm following you on GFC now. Not sure where my box went. I better go re-ad it :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. i used to go to Hershey PA all the time as a kid! id love to take my children back some day! we arent too far away, we are in CT

    newest follower :)

    I would love a follow back
    http://bisforbeitzel.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. done! Thanks for the support :)

    I would love to get over to the East Coast to be able to do Hershey, PA, too. It looks like so much fun! (I'm just a big kid at heart!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the info about chocolate world in April! I'm thinking about taking my girls there for spring break.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Have a good time if you go Christina...and tell me how fun it was!

    ReplyDelete

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