American Food Around the World 3.3.12

Don't forget to enter to win $100 from Ebates!

When my husband and I visit the UK or Europe, we find that we miss some of the things we take for granted here in America. One of these things is unlimited drink refills. Another is having enough ice in a beverage to make it cold. Having the ice melt from the warmth of your drink before it even hits the table can be frustrating, especially when you pay up to $4 for a soda or ice tea. When we need a bit of home, we hit up the place we know will be the same everywhere we go, whether it’s in San Diego, London, Paris or Rio de Janeiro. The setting may be different and the restaurant may be a different size with different décor, but Hard Rock Café is always on our list of dining venues.

As much as I love trying new cuisines and unique foods, there’s something to be said for having the opportunity at hand to enjoy something familiar. It’s not just the giant icy soft drinks that can be had a the Hard Rock, but the music videos, the cheeseburgers, the wait staff. Everything about it spells comfort for us and we know it can give us a bit of home. The food isn’t haute cuisine, but it is delicious and flavorful, as well as budget-friendly. No matter where in the world you visit Hard Rock, the prices are pretty similar, as is the menu. There are some of the same items on every Hard Rock menu and then their twist on local favorites. Americanized, if you will.

Eric is SO happy with his gigantic icy soda

In Hawaii, we were treated to one of the locally caught fish as a yummy sandwich and you can get local specials at ever café from South America to Asia, making it a great stop for travelers and locals alike. Get something you are accustomed to or try something you’ve never heard of before. The portions are hearty, too, so if you aren’t starving when you get there, split an entrée. It’s certainly not uncommon to see diners sharing dinner and a dessert.

Everywhere we travel that a Hard Rock is available. We make a point to visit for lunch or dinner. In fact, in our travels, we've dined in the smallest Hard Rock - Cozumel - and the world's largest - Orlando. I’ve even joined the All-Access Pass membership. It enables us to earn points on dining and Rock Shop purchases, as well as priority seating with your membership card. You pay to join, but you also receive a credit on your card of almost the same value that you can use in the rock shop, the café or the online store. Many locations have live music as well. Find out everything you need to know, including the address and menu options on Hard Rock Café online.

Shereen Travels Cheap UK Official Launch!

Don't forget to enter to win $100 from Ebates!

Cheers! It’s been a long time in the making and now it’s finally here. For those that live in or have plans to visit the UK, Shereen Travels Cheap has a whole blog dedicated to traveling on a budget in some of the most expensive cities in the world. Learn about great activities, products and money-saving tips that can help you make the most of your dollars/pounds/euros on your trip or even just discover what more there is to see in your own “neighborhood”.

I hope this will help me discover more hidden gems as well and I look forward to my next vacation to London (and Paris) to take some fun pictures and see and do more things I can recommend to you. Everyone knows that the London Eye is a big tourist attraction, but what about those out of the way places like Chislehurst Caves or Eltham Palace? And food! What places are worth a second look (and taste!) and which can save you big bucks when dining out and spending a week or two traveling.

Please take a look at the new blog and make sure to subscribe to the email or RSS feed if the UK is of interest to you. It’s going to be a little different than Shereen Travels Cheap original, in that the posts will be shorter, but there will be at least three per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday for sure).

Ebates Giveaway - Win $100!

A new month brings a new contest here. Ebates is celebrating Mommy Madness with double cash back from amazing stores for the next two weeks. Not only will you save huge this month on some of your favorite online merchants, but they are offering one lucky STC reader a $100 credit on their Ebates account. Use it for anything you like. It will be included in your next Big Fat Check! (Just in time for summer vacations.) And if you aren't signed up yet, don't worry. You can quickly sign up for free (actually, they pay YOU to sign up) and start making money on all your purchases. Need to know more about how it works? Read my blog post on Ebates.

Get double cash back March 2 - 13 at the following stores (along with how much you can get back):

• Blue Nile  (5%)
• Drugstore.com (12%)
• HP Home  (5%)
• JCPenney  (6%)
• Lands End* (6%)
• Philosophy* (10%)
• Sephora* (8%)
• The Children's Place (5%)
• Vitacost (8%)
• You'll also get two times the cash back at various stores with the Daily Double

*fantastic places to get travel-related items

Enter to win below, now through March 15th. Good luck!