It’s Warm In The Southern Hemisphere 11.13.10

That’s right. Fall and winter for us “Northerners” is spring and summer for those below the Equator. That means now is the ideal time to escape the chilly weather and pack shorts and other warm-weather clothes for a trip to somewhere where the sun shining is not an optical illusion. There’s nothing I hate more than having to go outside with a knit cap on and sunglasses. Good thing we don’t have many cold, sunny days in Oregon, but they still happen. Let’s talk about some of your winter choices for summer weather. Just think: the smaller the clothes you need, the less packing space you use!

The Caribbean is always beautiful. Let Carnival take you on a cruise from $169 and up. Book by November 14 for onboard credits. Other incentives include: 20% off with early booking, stateroom upgrade, reduced airfare from Europe, 10% off shore excursions (though you can usually book these yourself and save much more) and percent off for military personnel and family. Look at these amazing deals and book quickly to take advantage of them.

Princess Cruises also has a wonderful Caribbean sale. 7 nights from Ft. Lauderdale, you’ll dock in Princess Cays (Bahamas), St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. For only $519 per person aboard the Ruby Princess for an inside cabin, $619 for an outside cabin and $739 for a balcony cabin. Enjoy fine dining, nightly shows, daily entertainment and more.  Sale ends Monday at midnight. (Voyage Prive is invitation only. If you're not a member, become one HERE.)

I challenge all my readers to help us to make it to 500 page members by December 15! Join me on Facebook and get even more travel deals and money-saving tips! We even have a great giveaway going, which every member is eligible to win. “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap and get entered instantly! You do not have to be a US resident to win, so sign up and tell all your friends. See the Promos tab on the page for more details.

Princess Cruises would like to take you to Brazil, too! Take a 14-night cruise down the Amazon for less than $100 a day per person! Spend Christmas and New Years in South America. You’ll depart from Ft. Lauderdale and stop at nine ports of call, including St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Santarem and Manaus. With 10 dining options, a casino, caberet lounge and multiple bars, you’ll never be bored. (If you aren't a member of Voyage Prive, click HERE for an invitation.)

Looking for a bit more adventure? How about a Kenyan Safari? Save 34% off regular prices and take a 10 night safari inKenya from as little as $4,579 per person. There are prices for both east coast and west coast travelers. Visit amazing locations like Nairobi, Masai Mara and Amboseli National Park and stay in breathtaking accommodations, many of which are situated in the heart of wildlife. This is truly one to cross off your “bucket-list”. (Not a member of Voyage Prive? Click HERE.)

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Take a 6-night escorted tour of Machu Picchu in Peru from just $999 per person, including RT international aifare, intra-Peru flights, 3-star accommodations, daily breakfast, transfers, tours and more. You’ll spend 3 nights in Cuzco and another 3 nights in Lima, with a full-day tour of Machu Picchu and a guided tour of Lima. Book by November 23.

For something a little less expensive, I recommend Ecuador. It’s on the Equator, which means the weather is nice all year. While it’s not always super cheap to get there, it’s amazingly affordable to stay, eat and play there. We went several years ago and stayed in Quito for 5 nights, another 2 nights in Otavalo in a mountain lodge and 1 night in Mindo in an eco-lodge in the cloud forest. While the lodges were a bit spendy, the cost for all of our accommodations were still about the cost of a mid-range hotel anywhere in America. We would have saved $300, if we had spent the whole time in Quito, and still spent less than $300 on those accommodations.

Food was delicious and super cheap compared to anywhere we’ve ever traveled. In fact, we saved so much on our trip that we bought Christmas presents for everyone back home and also treated ourselves to a set of matching wedding bands. If you’re looking for jewelry of any kind, you’ll find a gazillion shops in Quito and the perfect piece just for you. Prices are probably ¼ of what you would find elsewhere and everything is stamped if it’s authentic. On top of that, the shop owners are super nice, even if you are not so good with your Spanish. Most do not accept credit cards though, so you might have to make a trip to the ATM.

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• So, you have your winter escape planned out and need to start packing? Don’t forget that even though it’s warm where you’re going, it’ll still be cold at home. Wear a pair of jeans or warm pants and a fleece or sweater over a t-shirt to the airport, so you have something to wear on the way home that won’t cause you to ask  “OMG, what was I thinking!?” when the pilot tells you it’s 38 degrees in your hometown. This happened to me on a trip to Arizona. I came back to 58 degree weather and was wearing a halter top and shorts, because in Phoenix it was 113.
• Aside from flip-flops, which pack anywhere and I don’t consider shoes, take two pair of shoes per person. I like to wear my walking shoes on the plane, because they are heavier and take up more room. Then I throw in a pair of nicer shoes that I can wear out to dinner, but are still comfortable should I want to sightsee in them or go out dancing.
• Pack neutrals! I tend to like neutral bottoms and then I can wear almost anything on top, but if you’d rather pack neutral tops, go for it! Make sure all your neutrals are in the same color palette, like tans/browns or grays/blacks, that way you can pack shoes that match with everything and eliminate unnecessary overpacking.
• Make a packing list. Seriously, this is the most important part of packing. It keeps you from adding extra items you don’t really need and then keeping track of everything you take with you. Once it’s all checked off and packed, put your list in with your other important travel papers. That way, when you’re headed back home, you know you have everything with you. (Adding anything you bought along the way to it is also really helpful with filling out those customs forms.)

Feel like you’re not getting enough out of Shereen Travels Cheap? Fill out the following survey, so I know what kind of entries you’re most interested in and can write what my readers what to know about!

For more packing help, see my article on the CRAVE blog: Pack Lighter. Look Great. Save Money. 

You can find more travel advice on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog’s previous entries and also on my guest posts elsewhere:

TheSavalots – The Little (Hotel Search) Engines That Could [Hotel search engines that can save you money and offer incentives for current and   future travel.]

DoHop – What’s For Dinner? [Saving money on your food budget      anywhere you travel.]

Jetsetera – London For Less (So You Can Buy More Shoes!) [You can travel to London and not spend an arm and a leg.]

CheapLikeMeBlog - How to Be A Frugal Foodie on Vacation [More ways to save on your food budget while traveling.]

And soon on: My Itchy Travel Feet and Ebates

I found a great article on Gadling for those of you looking for a suitable, inexpensive extra bag for when you need some extra room for your vacation purchases.

Harry Potter and The Journey Around The World 11.10.10

With the excitement of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows coming out next week, I wanted to dedicate my blog to the many wonders and sites of the Harry Potter world. Of course, this does not mean my whole blog will be about London, especially since many people may not have the funds to visit there, even if they want to go. If you are new here, take a minute to subscribe to my blog on the right, for instant updates!

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What’s your favorite Harry Potter memory? Well, I have several, but one of my favorite things is the Knight Bus. Invisible to muggle eyes, the triple-decker bus weaves through traffic and crosses the English countryside super fast. While it doesn’t exist and we can’t actually ride on it – not to mention that there is no such thing as a triple-decker bus – you can take a double-decker bus tour almost anywhere you live. (Just Google: double-decker bus tour and the city you are interested in.) Most are hop-on, hop-off tours, where they have multiple stops and you can get off and get back on at your leisure. These can be as little as only $20 per person.

Another awesome thing going around the country (and probably to other countries soon) is Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Now at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle until the end of January, it will be making its way to other locations. Sign up for their newsletter to get information. The Exhibition brings real props from the movies, including Hagrid’s hut, wardrobe and the Hogwart’s Express. People who have seen it say that it’s amazing and shouldn’t be missed by a true Harry Potter fan, which if you can’t tell, I am. I’ll be heading up in January to set my eyes on this amazing exhibit and get all giddy over being so close to a part of the last decade of movie history.

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Too excited to wait to see the Harry Potter Exhibit? Why not make a trip to Orlando? Visit Universal Islands of Adventure and experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Stroll the town of Hogsmeade, visit Hogwarts on your way to the front of the line on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, meet Buckbeak on Flight of the Hippogriff, have a wand choose you with a visit to Ollivander’s, stop for a pumpkin juice and Cornish pasties in the Three Broomsticks and grab a frozen butterbeer (so much better than the cold butterbeer, in my opinion) on your way to the Triwizard Tournament’s Dueling Dragons. Sadly, there are only three rides, a few very short shows and only a handful of shops, but if you love Harry Potter, it is worth the trip to immerse yourself in all things magical. Get yourself a wand and practice your spells on other park patrons when you wait in line for other rides, like The Hulk and Spiderman.

Now’s the time to visit Orlando, because tourism is down with the kids in school. If you travel over the Winter break, try to hit up Islands of Adventure on a weekday. The lines will be much shorter and you’ll be able to get to everything without needing to spend money on a front of the line pass (which doesn’t work on HP and the Forbidden Journey anyway, the new most popular ride in the whole park).

Purchase the Eatandplaycard for Orlando and get discounts off car rentals (which is a must), dining and shopping.

Stay at the amazing Quality Inn Royale Parc Suites for as little as $62/night. All rooms are suites and have a lot of space. The bedroom is far from the sitting room, so if someone is still awake, they won’t disturb anyone trying to sleep, free park shuttles (though they don’t run all day, like you would expect…and this is true for all Orlando hotels in the area.), flat-screen TVs, free breakfast, rooms have a nice dining area and kitchen to help save some on your food budget, and are close to restaurants and other things, like Walgreens and miniature golf! The pool is beautiful, they have “cocktail” hour, a convenient store and BBQ grills available for guest use. Book by 11/14 for travel through May 2011.

Fall and Winter is also a great time to make a trip to Europe. Hermione went on a ski vacation with her parents over Christmas vacation there and you can find the Beauxbaton School of Witchcraft somewhere in France. While you probably won’t encounter any Veela, you will encounter breathtaking scenery and amazing food. If you are going to visit Paris, make sure you purchase a Paris Pass. It’s the best sightseeing card out there and can save you a bundle on Parisian attractions like museums, river cruises and wine tasting. It comes with a fantastic guidebook, lets you skip box office lines and includes unlimited Metro, RER and bus travel within the city.

Ron and the rest of the Weasley clan live on the outskirts of a wizarding town called Ottery St. Catchpole. Sad as I am to find out this town doesn’t really exist, I did find that Devon (the county in which the non-existent town supposedly resides) is an amazing place to visit. It’s the only place in England to have two coasts. Many famous names have come from Devon, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Agatha Christie, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Joss Stone. You can visit to see the Jurassic Coast, which consists of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous cliffs. There are also lovely beaches to visit, where you can surf, dive, kitesurf and boat. There’s hiking, tour Darthmouth Castle right on the water, visit Pennywell Farm with their miniature pigs and, of course, there’s always shopping.

There are many places to stay in Devon, including a wide selection of apartments and vacation homes where you can cook your own meals and come and go as you please. Check out affordable options like the Atlantis Holiday Apartments, Garway Lodge Guest House and Barramore Holiday Apartments HERE. There are also amazingly affordable options on Superbreak…starting at less than $15/per person per night.


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Viktor Krum, world famous Quidditch player, and the rest of the Durmstrang students can be found in Russia…maybe. Though it’s not quite clear, because they like to keep their school secrets, well, secret. Have a great time tromping through Moscow and St. Petersburg and watching the sky for any escaping Romanian dragons on this 6 night vacation that includes RT airfare, hotel accommodations, flight between Moscow and St. Petersburg, daily breakfast and taxes. From only $1126 per person, this a must for anyone hoping to make it to Russia soon. This price is good for travel in February 2011, but other dates are available.

Hermione modified her parents’ memories in between Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, so they would go into hiding in Australia without knowing what they were doing and not remember they had a daughter in case something happened while she was hunting horcruxes to defeat You-Know-Who with Harry and Ron. Luckily, you are safe from the Dark Lord, but if your lifelong ambition is also to go to Australia, you can do so a lot less expensively than before! Find round-trip flights for as little as $750 on Virgin Atlantic or bid on Australia vacation packages through SkyAuction for huge discounts!

This month is British Appreciation Month. For those hoping to get some insight into London, please view my guest post on Jetsetera.net on how to save money traveling to and around the city. Soon, you will also be able to catch a similar, but completely different, article on My Itchy Travel Feet. Stay tuned for news on that. You can also see my other guest posting ventures on the following sites:

    

              

Want more of a certain topic on Shereen Travels Cheap? Take our poll and let us know!

For those of you still waiting for my budget travel book to hit shelves, please don’t be discouraged. I am still trying to find just the right publisher/agent to take my work and give it the final push to publishing. I’ve got some good responses, but no takers yet. I’ll keep you updated!

Giving The Gift of Travel 11.6.10

The holidays are coming up quickly and, sometimes, it can be difficult to figure out what to buy for everyone on your list. Well, how many people on your list like to travel? Almost all of them, right? Your gift options just got easier! Give the gift of travel these holidays and your recipients will thank you all year long. Not only will your gift be useful, but they can use it to go wherever they want!


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So, now you want to give the gift of travel, but you need to know how? Luckily, since I brought it up, I'm going to give you some excellent suggestions. There is a huge selection of travel gifts you can give, ranging from luggage to miles, making it easy to fit a great travel gift fit into your budget and work for the person you're giving it to.


Frequent Flyer Miles. If your recipient has a favorite airline, this is a good addition to their already accumulating account. There are many airlines right now who have incentives for you, perfect for the holidays:

• Buy Delta miles by November 30 and get 50% more miles as a bonus! This is also good for gifting miles and transferring miles. You must buy, gift, transfer in increments of 2,000 miles, but you will look like an even bigger gifter with this deal.
• Alaska Airlines would like to give you 25% bonus miles when you buy, gift or transfer by Decmber 31st. You must purchase, gift or transfer in increments of 1,000 miles. 
• American Airlines wants to give YOU a gift for each one you buy for others. For every 6,000 miles you buy/gift by November 30, you will receive 2,000 bonus miles for yourself. You can earn up to 20,000 bonus miles. That's enough for a free ticket! You must buy in increments of 1,000 miles.
• JetBlue is getting in on the gifting action, too. If you buy/gift TrueBlue points by January 15, 2011, you will get an additional 25%. You have to have a JetBlue account to buy or gift.

Think frequent flyer miles are a little bit impersonal? Well, you can always buy an airline gift card! Each airline has these in all denominations (usually $50 or more) and they are just as easy to use as a credit card when purchasing travel. Whether your giftee travels frugally on Southwest or internationally on Lufthansa, you'll find just the right fit for them.

You have a Disney-lover on your list. This one is super easy. You have three choices for this person. 

• You can get them an all-purpose Disney gift card (buy online or at any Disney Store location). They can use this in the Disney Store, on the Disney Store online or for anything Disneyland or Disney World, including park tickets, dining and shopping. 
• Another other option is for the receiver who makes a trip to Disney regularly. You can help them out by buying Park Hopper tickets to Disneyland or Disney World. Disneyland tickets are also available at Disney Store locations and Disney online and or for a discount at your local AAA travel store and Costco's website. (You must be a member of either of these to get the discount.) These tickets are good for an entire year from purchase.
• CityPASS is another great idea, as it includes a 3-day park hopper pass to both Disneyland and California Adventure and 1-day general admission to Universal Hollywood, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park. 

Give the gift of a good night's sleep. I'm not talking about a new bed, but sort of. Buy hotel gift cards from their favorite hotel or hotel chain. You can gift them any denomination that feels comfortable for you, whether it's the equivalent of one night or one week. Everyone enjoys when their travel bill gets a little lighter.

Give the gift of organization. If you have a novice or intermediate traveler on your list, you can help them pack easier and lighter with some of these fun items.

New carry-on luggage is always a welcome gift, especially when it's as useful as this Delsey Heluim bag. It meets carry-on restrictions, holds a ton, is lightweight (even when full), rolls smoothly and fits perfectly in the overhead bin. It comes in black and blue and it's my choice of rolling carry-on. In fact, I'm in the market for a second one, so this is on MY Christmas list as well.

Pack-it cubes are all the rage. They keep your clothes neat and organized and easily packable. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, making packing with them like a big puzzle...except less confusing.

The Travelon Pack Flat Back Up Bag is a nifty gift for those that travel to shop. It folds to practically nothing, fits right inside your regular bag and then unzips into a full-size carry-on when purchased souvenirs take up more space than you came with.




Using those kitchen zip-top bags as your 3-1-1 bag is fine, but they are rarely reusable and aren't really all that user-friendly for your toiletry bottles. This great plastic quart-size bag has a sturdy zipper and a flat bottom. Your liquids will fit better and you can fit MORE in one of these. Even if something in your bag decides it needs to be freed from the confines of its bottle or tube, it will all remain inside this bag, instead of everything else in your carry-on bag. You'll wonder why someone didn't think of it sooner.






Help your fellow traveler plan the vacation of a lifetime with the Knock Knock Travel Organizer. This binder is the best accessory I own, because it holds itineraries, packing lists, budget estimates, receipts and more! Whatever you need this to do, it does. There's even a fun map in the back with stickers to mark where you've been and where you want to go.

I came across this funky map and knew it needed to go on my wishlist. It's call the Scratch Off Where You've Been Map. It uses the "technology" of scratcher tickets and is a fun alternative to those boring pin maps. You scratch off all the countries you've been to and continue to scratch each time you travel. Cool, no?










Do you want these things for yourself? If, like me, you are the traveler and you want any of these things for your own holiday list, go to Kaboodle and start your list now. You can easily add anything on the internet to it with just the click of a button! I love it and have made various lists. What's even better is that you can email a link to your list to everyone who will be buying you a gift this year (or next or two years from now) and they can shop directly off of it, getting you exactly what you want! Add to it all year and be set for your birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Kwanzaa, Bonfire Day...whenever!

So, what's new with Shereen Travels Cheap? Guest blogging, that's what! In an attempt to spread my blogging net far and wide, I've had the privilege of submitting articles to a few places and having them put up for all eyes to see. Here's what's out there, should you be interested in reading more of what I have to say on various budget travel subjects. Click on the logos to go straight to the article.

Next week you'll see me on 

And possibly

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