The Fun Doesn’t End With The Plane Ride! 10.23.10

What’s the best part of any trip? Getting there, of course! You don’t travel to just sit on an airplane and then go home, do you? I mean, I enjoy the flying part, too. I think it’s exciting, because it means I’m going somewhere new (probably) and exciting (hopefully). Actually getting to my destination and exploring is even better. I spend 90% of my vacation preparation deciding what to do and where we will eat when we get there. And, as a friend pointed out: It’s better than sitting in your hotel all day watching porn. While someone might disagree with that statement, they can’t argue that it is definitely cheaper to get out of your hotel room if choosing between the two scenarios. Besides, don’t you want to do something you can’t do at home? Sure, you do!

Just like me, many of you are probably on a budget. Obviously this is the case, or else you wouldn’t come back twice a week to read my blog and see what new tips and deals I have to save you money. There are a lot of ways to not break the bank on activities, though, and many times you can do even more than you planned on and still come out ahead. Let’s talk about some.

“Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook! Not only will you get multiple daily tips and deals, you’ll also be entered to win one of two great Travelon bags for your travels! Suggest STC to all your Facebook friends (and even those not on Facebook) and if they join and win, you’ll still win! We have two fun travel prizes for those that referred the winners of our Road to 500 Fans contest. The more friends you get to join the more chances you’ll have to win.!

• Do you like to golf? Reserve your tee times on Expedia and get a discount off course rates! They offer 250 courses across the world thru GolfSwitch. These aren’t generic courses either. They’re top rated and include some of the most sought after courses, like St. Andrews in Scotland! Search for available tee times at your leisure and choose one that best fits with your day’s activities. You can even read reviews from other golfers, cancel/change your tee time right online and sign up for Tee Time Alerts, which brings specials and promotions right to your inbox.
• If you want to save money on checked bag fees and only plan to play a few rounds, consider leaving your clubs at home and renting them at your destination. This could save you significant money. Spend some of that savings on lunch at the clubhouse instead.

Follow me on Twitter! Same awesome deals, just in a smaller package!

Want to do something unusual? I don’t know about you, but I love sites like eBay and Craigslist. You can get things for a fraction of the price and it’s practically new or IS new, you can sell stuff, sign up for a class on jewelry-making or find a job! Well, Ooh.com is kinda like both of these websites combined. Individuals or small companies list tours, classes and other activities on a public “bulletin board” along with details, pictures or videos and pricing and you can browse what’s available and pick from the myriad choices available where you’re headed. Ooh.com is based in the UK, so most of the listings are going to be in that area, but they are branching out and you can now find activity listings in the U.S. and the rest of the world, too! It’s free to use and reviews from other participants are readily available. You can book right online using Paypal, so everything is secure and easy to track. Take anything from a walking tour to dance lessons to a class learning to reupholster furniture! One thing’s for sure, you won’t find many of these listings anywhere else.

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Everyone likes to eat…and you gotta do it on vacation, just like you do at home. The only difference is that eating on vacation makes mealtimes seem way more special. It doesn’t have to send you to the poorhouse though. If you haven’t signed up for Groupon yet, put your browser in that direction and do it already! Groupon is a worldwide source of coupons for almost any touristy spot you can think of! Get daily deals delivered to your mailbox for anywhere fromPhoenix to Paris. Save HUGE on spa services, dining, tours and more. Many of the dining certificates take a significant amount off your bill. Sometimes as much at 50-60%. How many other times will you be able to eat for half price?

Turns out, you can do it a lot! Click HERE to sign up for TopTable and make reservations for dining online for participating restaurants in the UK and Europe. There are always discounts of up to 50% off many dining options in your area. Plus, the more you book, the more you save. Each time you complete a reservation (it’s easy: book online, show up and give them the name on your reservation), you get dining points. Earn enough points and trade them in for a certificate for free dining! It’s like I just gave you a secret code to get half your vacation meals for FREE! You’re welcome!

With all the stuff you’ll be doing, you need a place to keep track of it all. I have just the thing! The Knock Knock Travel Organizer is a binder with all the things you need to organize all your travel forever. Okay, maybe not forever. You might need to replace it after some years, but it’s so useful that it’ll be a sad day when I need to get a new one. The binder has 7 double pocket dividers, a place to work out your budget, write down all your important numbers and information, a pad of forms for planning each trip you take and for making a packing list. You also get labels for your dividers to keep everything in some sort of order. I use the first one to keep all my confirmations and itinerary and use others for upcoming trips. I have a pocket in the back for ideas on trips that I will eventually take, like restaurants, activities and destinations ideas. Use the arrow stickers to mark places on the included map that you want to go or have already been.

Keep yourself hydrated. First of all, having to buy a bunch of drinks throughout the day can really add up. Second, soda really isn’t going to give you better energy. The Platypus collapsible water bottle is amazing. Fill it up, put it in the fridge (if you have one) for a while and then take it out and put it in your daypack. As you drink throughout the day, it shrinks. When it’s empty, you can roll it up and not have a bulky bottle in your bag. It’s soft-sided and reusable, so it saves space and you are saving the environment one bottle at a time! They come in a variety of sizes and are convenient to tote around, even if you have more than one. Everyone can carry their own and then roll them up and put them in their pocket until they fill them up again!

Bring a bag for all the stuff you buy! Sure, maybe you aren’t expecting to buy anything, but that doesn’t mean you won’t. Those plastic bags they give you can make you grouchy, because they cut into your hands or make them sweat after carrying them around a while. Get a cloth bag that folds up to almost nothing, then unfolds into a very convenient (and comfortable) shopping tote. It’ll hold almost anything you buy, from new shoes to groceries you decide you need on the way back to your room at night. Travelon makes a great one that also doubles as a backpack to keep your hands free while traveling. Another great use: toting dirty clothes to the laundry facilities and back.

  

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You read it right. FREE MONEY! Okay, just like everything else, there’s a catch, but it counts as free if it’s something you planned on doing anyway and you get money for doing it. American Airlines wants to give you a gift for choosing them for all your travel needs. Between now and December 15th, book travel on American Airline’s website and pay with your Mastercard and receive a Mastercard gift card for up to $50. The more you book, the more you earn! Packages can be cheaper anyway, so you might as well get what the most for your money. If free dinner or shoes or theater tickets (whatever you choose to spend it on) sounds good to you, register now!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t just days to get amazing discounts on merchandise, they are also days were you can fly for low, low prices! Skip the mall or online shopping this year and jump on a plane instead.

• CheapOAir wants you to get the best airfare rates with them. They offer sales on both Black Friday (get an instant $10 off already reduced prices and another $10 off with their online coupon code) and Cyber Monday (again, get instant $10 savings and another $10 off rates with their discount code right on the site!). Book by Nov 26th and Nov 29th, respectively. $10 savings codes are good for both airfare or hotels booked through the site.

Celebrate Veterans Day By Taking a Vacation 10.20.10

This year is just flying by. Veterans Day is 11/11. Also known as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, it’s a day to honor those who have fought for our country. What better way to do that then to visit memorials where they served and spread a little “economic stimulus” around.

                                          

Just a few reminders:

• Join me on Facebook and help me reach 500 fans by December. "Like" Shereen Travels Cheap and tell all your friends to "like" it, too. When we reach the magic number, we have some great travel items to give away. See the Promos tab for more details. Winners don't have to live in the U.S., so everyone is entered!
• Subscribe to my blog via Networked Blogs on the right. You can also get posts on Kindle through Amazon and get instant updates when new posts are published!

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought over 3 hot July days in 1863. Over 7,000 soldiers died there and another 30,000 wounded. It is one of the most visited battle sites in the nation. At night, people have said they’ve heard screaming and gunshots and others have seen soldiers on the field that resides in Pennsylvania. After touring the grounds and cemetery, you can visit the Gettysburg museum and gift shop to learn more about what happened there.

Stay near the battlefield or visit on a day trip and fly into Baltimore, which is a short 75 miles away. Be sure to pack for cold weather, as in the winter months it can get down to 20 degrees.  

• While you’re in the area, why not make a stop in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Just a short drive away in Southeastern PA is a thriving Amish community. See how Americans lived before electricity and crafted everything by hand, from horseshoes to quilts.
• If you have the kids with you, there’s something to amuse them, too. Jaunt over to Hershey and surround yourself in chocolate. From candy to amusement parks, if everyone in your party isn’t happy, there’s no pleasing them. Visit the Hershey factory and then head to Hersheypark and ZOOAMERICA. Two adjoining parks that offer both amusement park rides and zoo animals.  
• Little kids might be more interested in Dutch Wonderland. It has 34 rides and an attached waterpark called Duke’s Lagoon. It features shows and games for children, like Thomas and Friends Live with Thomas the Tank Engine. It’ll make the trip to historical sites a bit more bearable.

Located in Virginia, Williamsburg reminds me of my childhood. Every summer we would travel to this historical site and visit the memorials, Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. Williamsburg was an important post of the American Revolutionary War and saw combat during the Civil War in what was to be known as the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862.

• Package deals are available for around $300 per person, not including airfare through VisitWilliamsburg. All your attraction tickets, breakfast and hotel are included.
• Fly into Richmond International Airport for the best rates and stay in Jamestown or Williamsburg for close proximity to everything in the historical district. Renting a car here is going to be essential for getting to everything: American Airlines can get you 35% off rental rates on Avis and you can earn up to 3,000 frequent flyer miles, making free travel that much more within reach.
• American Airlines also offers discount tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg or you can buy a "Bounce Ticket" that allows you to get into Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg for a big discount.
• For a more adult vacation activity, check out the Williamsburg Winery. The makers of over a dozen varieties of wine, take a tour of the vineyard and have a tasting and lunch combo. Get a tasting and lunch for the same price as a tasting if you book online.  

It’s a great time to travel to Hawaii now. With hotel rates dipping and new, cheaper flights, it’s never been more budget friendly to go there. The weather is beautiful and the beaches are always open. While there, travel to Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor and see the USS Arizona.

• Stay at a four-star mystery Waikiki boutique hotel from only $105 per night. That's over 50% listed prices. Rates you can only get on BookIt. Book by midnight October 22 for travel before December 8.

The site of both World Wars, Germany has a lot of history, much of which was bloody. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany has become a wonderful tourist city. the whole country is rich with culture and cool things to see and do.

• Save on airfare by purchasing airfare to Frankfurt via Reykjavik on Icelandair. Add Iceland as a stopover for as long as you want for no extra cost!
• Purchase a city pass for major German cities like Frankfurt and Berlin and save big on attractions on your trip. Get discounts on museums, gardens, transportation, restaurants and more.

There are plenty packing tips I can give you for any of these trips, but the biggest one that matters is to buy good walking shoes. You'll be doing a lot of it, so treat your feet to comfort and get the best ones you can. You don't want your trip to be ruined by ouchy feet. This goes for everyone in your travel group. 

• Aerosoles has up to 35% off all their boots. Great new styles and colors to go with every travel wardrobe. Choose from tall, short or ankle boots that will keep your feet comfortable all day long.
• Patagonia offers many boot styles to keep your tootsies warm and dry. They may be expensive, but will give you your money's worth in the long run. 
• You can probably find an L.L. Bean close to where you live. they have many quality fall and winter footwear options for men, women and children. Again, they can be spendy, but your feet will thank you. 

• Got a desire to visit Japan or China? Fly round-trip to Tokyo or Okinawa from the west coast starting at $789 per person, including taxes. Book by October 28 for these excellent deals. Save over $500 on regular fares. You can use that money to visit Tokyo Disney! (China destinations start at $985)
• Wow! Stay 4-nights in Guatemala for only $399 per person. Tours and air are included. This is $400 off regular rates! Book by November 3rd for travel on select dates of 2011. 
• Lucky you! Ireland awaits from only $599 per person. 6 magical nights, including airfare B&B and castle accommodations, most breakfasts and rental car. Save almost $800 off similar packages. Book by October 29th for travel between December 1 and February 20. 

Let's Talk Turkey 10.16.10

I know it’s not even Halloween yet and people are talking about visiting family and buying turkeys. Holiday dinner can really break your budget, since you buy and eat two week’s worth of food over a long weekend. While you can have turkey sandwiches for another week of lunches, you still got to make that budget stretch, unless you will be a visitor instead of a host, but then your budget may be even tighter, because plane tickets cost more than a turkey dinner. I’m all about Orbitz this fine Saturday, because they have some of the best deals across the board for travel this month. They offer discounts on airfare, hotels, car rental, cruises, packages and you can even book activities and entertainment through their site! I love sites that have one-stop shopping.

• We are slowly making it to our goal of 500 fans on Facebook. Get daily tips and deals and a chance to win one of these two fabulous bags from Travelon or one of two referral gifts if someone you refer joins Shereen Travels Cheap and wins.Remember, you don’t have to live in the U.S. to win, so suggest the page to everyone you know. Travel tips and deals are usable worldwide, too! If we can reach 500 by the middle of December (hopefully sooner), you can use these for your holiday travel or for gifts for the travelers on your list. I know you have at least one!
• Follow me on Twitter for a shortened version of my daily tips and deals. Smaller posts, same big savings!
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But you say, “Shereen Travels Cheap doesn’t have anything for ME.” Let me know! Comment on this blog post, on the Shereen Travels Cheap Facebook page, on ShereenTravelsCheap.com, by direct message on Twitter or take the Facebook poll. I’m listening and I want to be as helpful to my readers as possible. Let me know what you would like more of or if you are traveling somewhere specific and I’ll do my best to address some posts towards that.

• Fly for under $200 with Orbitz. Orbitz also has great rates for across the U.S. and also awesome package deals.
• While you may only see your family once or twice a year, that still doesn’t mean you want to spend every waking moment with them. Staying with them can be cheap and save you a lot of money, but maybe you need to have your own space and be able to get away should any family drama occur. Orbitz has you covered for now and future travel! Book a participating hotel by October 18th and get up to 40% off, free nights and two $250 vouchers towards future travel that you can use between Oct 21st and April 15, 2011. That means you can visit family for Thanksgiving AND Christmas! Or take yourself somewhere else with your free money.  (Don’t worry, I have plenty of suggestions below.)

• Having a house full of family is not always easy. Tensions get high, fights break out, too much wine is consumed, dishes get broken. If you aren’t lucky enough to have family that wants to stay in a hotel, you can always get out some frustration and energy by taking them all out for the day. Sounds expensive, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be. One of my favorite things that can last through Thanksgiving is a cornfield maze.  The kids can run all over, you can get lost apart from your family for hours and end up with some unexpected alone time that just allows you to breathe. Plus, fresh air is always a good thing. Most corn mazes are a short drive out of the city and fairly reasonable costwise. Usually less than $10 per person, which is a small price for half a day of activity and your sanity. Take a ride through the pumpkin patch, get lost in corn, pet some animals, have a hot chocolate, buy some pumpkins and go home and have everyone help make pumpkin pie.

• Don’t cook every meal and still save money. Buy gift certificates through Restaurant.com and get a $25 credit for only $10. They come in bigger denominations based on the restaurant you choose, but it’s a major savings on meals. And if someone else offers to split the bill with you, it makes your half a LOT smaller.
• Look for dining and entertainment deals for your area with Groupon. This daily deal site is awesome and has saved us a bundle just on eating out. Each day you’ll get an email with the day’s featured Groupon that can be up to 60% off regular price. One day it might be for a discounted mani/pedi (which you can use to relax after everyone’s gone) the next it could be for half off a great restaurant and the next it could be for super discounted bowling. You never know what you’re going to get, but the deals are always awesome and it’s a sure bet you’ll find at least one thing to satisfy your family. Maybe buy several of those spa certificates and have a girl’s day while the guys watch football.

• Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade outside on the streets of New York instead of on your TV at home with commercial breaks. Save 40% off hotels in New York if you book by the end of October. 

• Take Norwegian Cruise Lines to someplace you don’t have to wear a coat to. Book by the end of the year to get up to $300 in onboard spending, 50% off your deposit, reduced airfare, cabin upgrades, Nickelodeon entertainment and more! Interior cabins on a 7 night cruise start at just $299 per person. 

• Save up to 50% off all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, including resorts in Barbados and Jamaica. Break out your bathing suit, sip on a cocktail and soak up the sun. Book with Orbitz by the end of the month and receive resort credits, free nights and other incentives. Winter is the high season for the Caribbean, but you wouldn’t know it by the killer deals available. 

• Walt Disney World is 40% off with Orbitz. Stay on Disney property and enjoy the freedom of the Disney transportation system that will take you to any all Disney resorts, parks, Downtown Disney and Disney water parks. It’s so convenient that unless you want to visit other locations in Kissimmee or Orlando, you can forgo a rental car and use that money for eating at great Disney Dining locations in the parks. (Don’t forget to make reservations, either online or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.) You can even purchase your park tickets through Orbitz and save even more money off box office prices. You’ll have everything you need to just whiz through the lines at the gate and start your day as soon as you get there. (See my last blog entry for more ways to save money and time at the parks.) Book by October 20 for these great rates.

• Whisk the family off to Paris for four or more nights. At 40% off and free daily breakfast, the Novotel Paris Vaugirard Montparnasse in Paris is the way to go. With spacious rooms, attentive staff and huge buffet breakfasts you can’t go wrong. If you think so, just look out the window and see the beautiful sites of Paris outside to rid yourself of that feeling. After a day of sightseeing, a baguette, a ride on the Metro and a chocolate crepe, you will wonder why you didn’t go sooner. Good on bookings through year end. [If you DO go to Paris, buy a Paris Pass for each member in your party and get entry into over 60 attractions for one low price. Skip the lines and go straight to the gate everywhere you go. It saves you a ton of time and money. Order by 10/18 and get 10% off each pass you purchase.]

Capture your fall vacation memories and make a fun photo book with Photoworks. Get 25% off through Nov 3rd with the code: OCTOBERBOOKS If you've never used Photoworks before, sign up and get free shipping on your first order with the code MYFIRSTORDER. It is really easy to use and uploading your photos is simple and fast. 

  

Don’t forget to enter to win a week-long New Year’s Eve trip to London! This trip includes round-trip airfare for 2, airport transfers, 6 night’s accommodations in a luxury catered apartment, plus much more! Good luck. London is beautiful at holiday time. Take in the sites and then watch fireworks over the Thames and ring in the New Year with your chosen guest. An amazing once in a lifetime trip!