You’re Just Like a Movie Star…Sort of. 12.4.10

Do you ever watch a movie or TV show and say “Hey! That looks familiar!” or see a place that looks so amazing that you want to go there? I think we all must do this. If you’re lucky, you might be somewhere when things are being filmed. If you’re luckier than me, you’ll actually stop and see something happening with the actual film star. I have been privileged enough to be in London during the filming of a Bourne movie with Matt Damon, but my husband and I were on our way to the aquarium and didn’t stop. Had we done so, we may have seen the actor running through Waterloo Station, instead of kicking ourselves months later when we saw Bourne Ultimatum and realized he was right where we were standing.

London has been the setting for many movies. One of the most popular film locations is Portabello Road Market. With hundreds of stalls, you can find almost anything you want there, from produce to antiques, and the memory of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the movie Notting Hill.

• Let Travelocity take you to London with their advance purchase packages, including airfare and hotel, starting at just $908 per person. If you’d rather you’re your own airfare, just make hotel reservations.
• You can find amazing airfare prices to Europe with Lufthansa, including London, from just $211 each way. Book by December 8 and complete your travel by April 30, 2011.  

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My family and I took a trip to Las Vegas in 2000 and saw a film crew at the old Desert Inn on The Strip. When we asked what was going on, they said they were setting up for an action scene in Rush Hour 2, where the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker jump out of a window and slide down a wire with Chinese lanterns on it. Unfortunately, we stood watching for quite a long time and nothing happened, so we wandered off to do some gambling. The next year we saw the actual scene when the movie came out. Take yourself on a tour of Vegas hot spots where movies like What Happens in Vegas, The Hangover, Oceans Eleven, Casino and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and TV shows including Las Vegas and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation were shot.

• Right now you can’t throw a rock without hitting a deal for Las Vegas, so it’s definitely the time to book a trip. Get amazing package deals from BookIt for all the major hotels.Aand if you need a rental car for your trip there, check out Hotwire’s Hot Rates that start at just $9.95 per day.

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It seems like every other movie you see is filmed in New York, from When Harry Met Sally to Sex and the City and Date Night. Do you have an inner “big city” personality itching to get out? Well, you can do it up Big Apple style with 40% off of Amsterdam Court near Times Square. You’ll be right down the street from Rockefeller Center, too. Rates start at just $125 per night for stays in January and February and you’ll be right in the heart of the city, which easy access to the Subway or a short walk to NYC iconic sites like Radio City Music Hall. You can even enjoy a complimentary espresso in the hotel lounge to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Book by December 8 for this amazing deal.

• After you’ve played Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston on Friends) at Barneys, drag your carrier bags to nearby Mon Petit Café and enjoy a French dinner for two for just $49, including a glass of wine for you and your dinner partner. Rated 4-stars by diners on Yelp, Mon Petit Café has been serving delicious food on the Upper East Side for over 25 years. Choose any two entrees and any two appetizers or desserts, 2 glasses of house wine and coffee or tea for this deal. Normally, it would cost you around $100, but if you purchase this deal by December 9, you get up to half off! Certificate is valid for a year from purchase.

I’m not a big Woody Allen fan (please don’t stone me to death), but I did enjoy his latest film with Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. Vicky Christina Barcelona definitely had an interesting story, but even more so it had a beautiful backdrop for a setting in Spain. Take advantage of the beautiful scenery, people and food by going on a 6-night trip to Barcelona, including RT airfare, accommodations and daily continental breakfast from $849 per person. Make your own itinerary where you can visit the beaches, admire the architecture and find amazing restaurants. Add the Barcelona Card and/or the Gothic Quarter Walking Tour for an added cost to your package.

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The Northwest is getting some love from films and TV as well. We’ve had films like Sleepless in Seattle, Mr. Holland’s Opus,Burn After Reading, The Ring and Swordfish and shows including Leverage (I can drive downtown and see them setting up for shots) and Portlandia. Why not come check out what else Portland, Seattle and everything in between has to offer with Hyatt Place Holiday offer and stay for as little as $79/night. Spend 2 nights and get the 3rd at 50% off! You must stay by January 17 and stay on consecutive nights. Plus, with their Best Rate Guarantee, you’ll never have to look elsewhere to see if the price is cheaper. If you DO find a cheaper rate on another site for the same room on the same travel date(s), call Hyatt and they will beat that lower price by 20%.

Want to find more places you can go that you saw in movies? Check out these cool books that give you location information for movies. Get all three for less than $40. Excellent gift for yourself, the traveler or movie buff on your holiday list. Get free super saver shipping with your purchase of $25 or more or upgrade to quicker shipping for not much more if you are still searching for a Hanukkah gift.

   

 

Don’t forget to take pictures to capture your movie memories after you’ve gone back home. You can make an entire “movie” scrapbook of all the places you’ve been and pull it out to show others when you watch movies! Or maybe NOT be a nerd, but still, in order to get those priceless memories, you’ll need a good camera. I recommend the Fuji Finepix that is good for everything! It's waterproof (not just resistant) and has 12MP with 5x optical zoom. It has a built-in instruction manual. When you scroll through the menu, each option gives you a description right on the screen. No more guessing which setting to use.

 

Here's another great gift idea, for yourself or another traveler on your list: Pack-It gift sets from Eagle Creek and TravelSmith. Pack like a pro with little effort. Both sets under $30. There's still time to get your gifts for Hanukkah if you upgrade to express shipping...and don't forget to use Ebates for cashback!

Don't forget to check the Ebates blog tomorrow for a special Shereen Travels Cheap post. And you can also view other articles I've done on these great websites below.

An Apple a Day 12.1.10

An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away. While I’m not sure if that’s true, I do know that many of us like to partake in a tasty apple every now and then and also in the many forms of apple-ism, like pie, butter, jelly, cobbler, juice and cider. December 1st is Eat a Red Apple Day, so in honor of that, I have come up with some fun facts about apples and traveling to the regions where you can sample different varieties and enjoy a fun holiday.

Lorikeets Love Apples

Washington State is the largest apple producing state and accounts for 55% of the U.S.'s total apples. Other "apple" states are New England, New York, Michigan, California and Pennsylvania. 

Alaska Airlines is happy to fly you to any of these states (and more!) from only $50 each way with their Hot Deals On Ice sale in honor of their sponsoring of the Apolo Ohno "Zero Regrets" Book Tour.

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Southwest wants to get in on the action, too, and fly you between U.S. destinations with their Winter Travel Sale. Fly each way from only $59 between selected cities (of which there are many). Purchase by December 13 and travel January 4 – March 9. Remember, Southwest still lets you check a bag for free, so if you find you’ve overpacked or just don’t want to drag your carry-on through the airport, you’re covered. I like to use it as a backup solution to my buying too much on my trip and check my regular bag back and take the extra bag I packed as my carry-on.

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Southwest wants to get in on the action, too, and fly you between U.S. destinations with their Winter Travel Sale. Fly each way from only $59 between selected cities (of which there are many). Purchase by December 13 and travel January 4 – March 9. Remember, Southwest still lets you check a bag for free, so if you find you’ve overpacked or just don’t want to drag your carry-on through the airport, you’re covered. I like to use it as a backup solution to my buying too much on my trip and check my regular bag back and take the extra bag I packed as my carry-on.


And AirTran! Book by December 9th and travel through March 16.  Rates start at just $44 each way between select cities. Travel on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday for the lowest prices.

Where can you find apple varieties in your travels, besides grocery stores? Check out the local farmers markets. They are likely to have many types of the fruit as well as jam/jellies, sauces and other things made with them for you to sample and take home. The product will usually be fresher than the produce section and you can converse with locals.

• The Cliffs Resort at Pismo Beach is offering over 55% off their rack rate of $259/night. Book by Dec 7 for stays through February 2011 and pay just $89/night! Add just $10 for breakfast for 2. What does Pismo Beach have to offer, you ask? Beautiful coastline, more wineries than you can shake a sick at, golf courses and more. The Cliffs has a Latin-themed restaurant, oceanfront heated pool, complimentary shuttle to/from the airport and train station, 24-hour fitness center, WiFi and spa. Upgrade to a suite for $40 more and be rewarded with even better views of the landscape.

• China is number one in apple production, but they are also the U.S.’s number one source for concentrated apple juice. How would you like to sample some of their many varieties while on a 10-night tour? For just $1499 per person (around $1000 less than similar packages) you will take RT airfare to Beijing, spend 3 nights in the Doubletree Hilton Beijing, 2 nights at the Grand Nobel Xian, 3 nights aboard the Victoria Star for a Yangtze river cruise, 2 nights at the Crown Plaza Shanghai Fudan, receive most of your meals, all airport transfers and intra-China flights and English-speaking tour guides. Must book by December 7 for selected travel dates in February and March.

• India is big on apples, but their stock mostly stays in their own country to feed their large population. Go get your share by taking the Golden Triangle Tour. 6 nights and 7 days takes you on a whirlwind tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The tour itself starts at $420 per person, but you can add air as well. You will be staying in 3- and 4-star accommodations, which are recommended by both GEts Holidays employees and TripAdvisor. I love the tour information on this site. It makes it sound like you will be staying in palaces and eating the finest foods off of gold platters. I doubt this is true, but even so, it sounds like an awesome itinerary.

• Visit The Big Apple and taste some apples…or at least have an appletini. If you can get away any time between December 12 and February 28, you can save 40% MAve Hotel NYC in New York. It’s a 5-minute walk to Macy’s and Mario Batali’s new restaurant called Eataly. From $139/night, you can enjoy your complimentary continental breakfast and then hit the shops or walk down the street to the Empire State Building or Madison Square Garden. You really can’t ask for a better location. Think of the money you’ll save on cab/subway fare when everything is within walking distance. Upgrade your room for an extra $60/night and get your 3rd night free! (Your nightly rate would then be even less than the original deal!) Complimentary WiFi, gym access and USA Today also included in your stay. Book by December 7.

• Not really city folk? How about a staying in a 4-star hotel at Niagra Falls instead? Only $106/night at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel & Conference Centre. 3 different packages to choose from including:**Family Skating Package - City view room, skating and skate rental for 2 adults & 2 children, buffet breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children. **Dinner and Movie Package - City view room, $39 dinner voucher and one in-room movie. or **Romance Package - City view room, bottle of Peller red or white wine, cheese and cracker plate for two. [Each package includes one night at the above rate; however, you can purchase multiple nights and pick different packages for each if you want. Book by December 13 for stays through January 2011.]

• Chile is one of America’s apple importers for off-season stocking of apples in our stores. Spend 3 nights in Santiago at the Novotel Santiago Vitacura for $1380 per person, including RT LAN flight through Lima and daily breakfast. The hotel is located in the middle of the city center and close to many tourist spots as well as delicious restaurants, art galleries and public transport. Prices good for travel in January.
• Here’s a big one: 4 nights in Mendoza, Argentina in a modern apartment hotel with continental breakfast and facilities to do all the rest of your cooking, should you choose to do so. Includes your RT airfare on LAN, if you can spare $3,498pp and travel in December, you’ll save 25%.

Not able to travel to any of these places or any of the following top apple-producing countries? Chile, New Zealand,Germany, Italy, Poland, France, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, Australia or Iran. How about running to the store (or farmers market) and picking up some delicious apples to make this wonderful Apfelstrudel recipe from Germany, courtesy of Epicurian.com! (that’s apple strudel for you Yanks.)

Ingredients:

6 c Apples; Tart, Sliced
1 T Lemon Rind; Grated
2 t Cinnamon
8 oz Fillo Leaves; 1/2 Box,Thawed OR make strudel dough - recipe follows
1 c Bread Crumbs; Finely Crushed
3/4 c Raisins
3/4 c Sugar
3/4 c Almonds; Ground
1 3/4 c Butter;(No Margarine),Melted

Directions:

Mix apples with raisins, lemon rind, sugar, cinnamon, and almonds. Set aside. Place 1 fillo leaf on a kitchen towel and brush with melted butter. Place a second leaf on top and brush with butter again. Repeat until 5 leaves have been used, using about 1/2 c of butter. Cook and stir bread crumbs with 1/4 c of butter until lightly browned. Sprinkle 3/4 cup crumbs on the layered fillo leaves. Mound 1/2 of the filling in a 3-inch strip along the narrow end of the fillo, leaving a 2-inch border. Lift towel, using it to roll leaves over apples, jelly roll fashion. Brush top of the strudel with butter and sprinkle with 2 T crumbs. Repeat the entire procedure for the second strudle. Bake the strudels at 400 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes, until browned.
STRUDEL DOUGH
Servings: 12
4 c Flour, (preferably bread flour)
2 t Salt
2 ea Large eggs
2-1/2 c Water
8 T Butter (unsalted), melted
1 t White vinegar or lemon juice

Sift the flour and salt onto a board or into a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Lightly beat the eggs with a fork, then beat in the water and half of the melted butter. Add the vinegar or lemon juice, if desired. Pour the egg mixture into the well in the flour. Stir until all of the flour is incorporated into the egg mixture and the dough is smooth. On a floured board, knead the dough for at LEAST 10 minutes; or until it is smooth, shiny and blistered on the surface. Brush the dough generously with melted butter, place it in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes. Cover a large table completely with a floured cloth. Place the dough in the center of the cloth and, working in all directions, roll out the dough as thin as possible. Spread a little melted butter over the dough, and stretch it with your hands--CAREFULLY working all around the table to avoid tearing the dough--until it is very thin and almost transparent. As you stretch, brush the dough with more butter as necessary. Cut off any thick edges, then let the dough rest for about 15 minutes before using it. NOTE: The 2 lbs of dough produced by this recipe can be stretched into a sheet about 6 feet square--enough for two 3-foot strudels. Any excess dough can be restretched. With practice in stretching the dough, you may be able to make a 6-foot square out of 1 pound of dough.

Makes 2 strudels, 6 to 8 servings each.

Do you love TripAdvisor like I do? Get the free mobile app! If you’ve got an iPhone, Android or Ovi, use the app to get the best TripAdvisor has to offer. If you don’t, you can still visit TripAdvisor.com on your mobile device. Here are all the reasons to download it if you do!

• Browse millions of reviews and opinions of hotels, restaurants and attractions and add your own!
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Want to get through airport security fast? See the 8 most suspicious, everyday things that you’ll get stopped for by TSAwith this great article in Budget Travel Magazine.

This just in: Shereen Travels Cheap will be featured on the Ebates blog on December 7th! Be sure to check out the blog other times, too, for great ideas on how to save with and without Ebates! 

You can also see other featured posts of mine on the following websites: 

The Little (Hotel Search) Engines That Could

London For Less (So You Can Buy More Shoes)

What's For Dinner?

How To Be a Frugal Foodie on Vacation

Pack Light. Look Great. Save Money.

How To Be a Travel Wine-o 11.27.10

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend everyone! The blog today will be short and sweet, because I’m off enjoying this time with my family.

You enjoy a glass of wine with dinner and anytime you dine out and belong to a wine club, sign up for wine-tasting classes and make frequent trips to the local winery…or local liquor store, because that’s as close to grape-squashing as you can get. Obviously, you’re well on your way to becoming a proper wine-o and only need to take that next step and plan your wine-centric vacation. While it may only be a weekend trip, don’t hesitate to plan something longer. There are a variety of trips that can accommodate all levels of wine-loving, from “just-discovered wine”-lovers to “Can’t go a day without it”-lovers (although if this is you, you might have a problem).

Save up to $90 on similar hotels and book now to stay at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma, California between now and March 15, 2011. For only $99 per night, you get upgraded to a deluxe oceanview room. This rate is available every day through March 15, including weekends and holidays. That is crazy and will probably never happen again, so you better book as soon as possible to get your room. You’ll also get two paSsses to visit a local Sonoma winery. Vineyards are only a 20 minute drive to Sonoma and 45 minute drive to Napa. The drive is beautiful, with rolling hills and picturesque views, so the time will fly by. And when you’re tired of wine-ing, drive 29 miles to the fun coastal town of Bodega Bay (where they filmed Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds) and enjoy shopping, amazing restaurants, golf and more!

Spend 2 nights in a Sonoma Wine Country Villa for 50% off. Book by November 30 through Living Social and for just $210 receive a package with 2 nights in the Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa in Bodega, CA, daily breakfast, two glasses of wine and 2 $20 spa credits. 

Stay in Napa Valley and get 50% off your third night at Vino Bello Resort between now and March 1.  Vino Bello is Californiawine country’s newest luxury resort, featuring old world Tuscan design, luxurious condominium accommodations, upscale amenities and more. Must book by January 31.

Tuscany in Spring - 6 nights, including RT airfare, car rental and two-bedroom apartment villa from only $899 per person. Bring your family or some friends, because this price is based on a group of 4 (you can get discounted pricing for fewer travelers though). Add wine and cheese tastings for $99 per person. You will stay at the 4-star Fattoria degli Usignoli, which is just a short 25 minute drive to Florence and offers a bowling green, tennis courts, horseback riding and a gourmet restaurant with an original wine cellar. Book by December 3 for travel in March and April.

Make sure to have a designated driver or take a cab if you're planning on having some drinks. Nothing ruins a vacation more than a DUI.

You can find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter! If you want more amazing deals and budget travel tips, choose a medium!

On my growing community of Facebook you can ask my questions and comment on posts, where I will respond if needed. Want to know if I’ve found a deal on trips to Bermuda or Romania or Spain? Message me or post on the wall and I’ll let you know right away! Also, there is a fun giveaway going on. Win free and awesome travel bags from Travelon. You can also get your friends in on it by suggesting they “like” Shereen Travels Cheap, too. They have a chance to win and if they do, then you’ll win an equally awesome travel item for referring them…so the more friends you get to join, the more chances YOU have to win. I might be seeing an iGo in someone’s future. The drawing for prizes will start when we reach 500 fans, so suggest, share posts, beg. Do whatever you have to do to get as many of your friends to join!

My Twitter followers are growing by leaps and bounds every day! If you prefer your deals and tips in a bite-size version, then Shereentrvlschp is where it’s at! While there’s no contest happening on Twitter yet, I DO have a plan for when we get closer to 2,000, so if you’re a fellow tweeter, jump on board now.

Want to get something funky to take on your trip or to buy for the fellow wine-o for Christmas, check out these fun and functional gifts.

Packable Wine Glasses 

Made of virtually indestructible BPA-free plastic, the stem unscrews from the bowl, and both stash in a handy travel pouch for easy packing.

Wine Journal

Sampling local wines is one of the great joys of travel, and with this stylish journal, recording the details of your favorites has never been easier. Each page allows space to list the wine name, variety and producer, and there's also a rating key, terminology guide, and notes section. It tucks into its smart, passport-sized faux leather cover for easy access anywhere, and comes with one extra journal.

Essential Wine Tasting Guide

The size of a credit card, this fold-out guide stores in your wallet and provides a detailed listing of every wine varietal, along with color-coded flavor descriptors, a color chart, scoring table, and temperature serving guide. It's the perfect way to become familiar with wine terminology and make wine-tasting trips even more enjoyable.

Label Lift

What better way to keep track of those special bottles of wine you discover along the way than by taking the label with you? Label Lift sheets separate the top printed layer of a wine label from its adhesive backing. Just apply the clear sticky sheet to the label and peel away the printed surface, leaving the backing still attached to the bottle. This clever process simultaneously removes and laminates the label so you can keep it as a memento of your dining experience.

Wine Skin

WineSkin protects wine bottles from the rigors of travel. An interior layer of bubble wrap provides protective padding, and two sticky seals prevent wine from leaking into your suitcase (in case rough handling leads to breakage).

This short post not doing it for you? Check out some of my guest posts on the following websites.