Shereen Travels Cheap

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

No Passport Required 2.23.11

I love my passport. I get excited every time I have to pull it out to get stamped by a customs agent. If they would let me get a new stamp for each state I visited, too, I'd whip it out all over the place. Alas, they don't give you validation for visiting Vermont. Of course, that's good for people who don't have a passport or need to renew. With the last fee hike on passports, it's no wonder many people didn't apply for one. It seems like I've gotten a lot of requests asking for passport-free locations lately. The great thing is that you don't have to leave the country to go somewhere cool. If you DO want to leave the country and not require a passport, you're in luck! You can travel to both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands without one if you're a U.S. resident.

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Not only is Puerto Rico a territory of the United States, but the currency is the U.S. dollar, you can dial the phone just like you do at home and English is spoken widely, along with Spanish. So, what cool stuff is there to do in Puerto Rico? With 55% off the country consisting of water, there is no shortage of water-related activities to choose from. The majority of the land is mountainous, making it perfect for hiking and the temperature is tropical at an average of 82 degrees all year long. There is an excellent transportation system that serves the metropolitan area. There are plenty of museums and historical sites to visit, golf courses to play on, sporting events to watch, restaurants to try and nightclubs to drink and dance in. The beaches are purely Caribbean: fine, white sand and beautiful for sunbathing, swimming, surfing or any other number of beach activities.

CheapTickets offers a great package deal on 3-5 night vacations, including RT airfare and accommodations. Some packages are eligible for up to a $100 hotel credit. Packages start at just $650 per person.

Book just your hotel and still save with nightly rates from $88 at fantastic, conveniently-located hotels all over the country, including oceanfront.

You can also book your hotel or vacation package through BookIt with rates as low as $99/night. You can use BookIt’s great BillMeLater option to book now and pay later (valid with credit approval on purchases over $250).

You can find Shereen Travels Cheap on both Facebook and Twitter. Please join me for even more deals, suggestions, travel tips, etc.

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Every time I hear of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI for short), I imagine picturesque tropical islands, with white sandy beaches and hammocks strung between leaning palm trees. Maybe that’s just me, since I’ve never been there and, until today, hadn’t really seen any photos or info on the islands themselves. Well, I wasn’t far off and if you love the beach and anything having to do with scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, windsurfing and other water sports, you’re going to love the USVI. It also has the same benefits of English being the official language and the official currency being the U.S. dollar.

While they aren’t “cheap” by any means, you can find some fairly good deals. Look for vacation rentals. With the added bonus of a kitchen, even if you’re spending a little more to stay in one, you can also save on your food by cooking some of your own meals and being able to bring back and reheat any leftovers you end up with on your dining adventures. You can also save big bucks with all-inclusives.

BookIt brings you amazing deals from as little as $67 per night per person. Receive freebies, like hotel and airport transfers and resort or spa credits. Book a condo, all-inclusive or resort. Whichever works for your budget and travel-type.

Don’t want to go quite that far for a vacation, but still want to enjoy the feeling of getting away from it all? Check out Panama City Beach, Florida. In fact, you can book a condo right on the beach for the low, low price of $79/night (not per person, per NIGHT), be within walking distance of many cool things, receive two free dining cards and more! Great if you’re taking your kids or going as a group.

Not really looking for a tropical getaway? Well, not everyone is. What about a Mediterranean one? Stay at the Miramonte Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, California from just $115/night and feel like you’re in the heart of Tuscany. Just 30 minutes from Palm Springs, but a world away from America! Miramonte sits on 11 acres with olive trees, citrus groves, gardens, 2 pools, an Italian restaurant on-site, spa, free Wi-Fi, fitness studio, golf courses and more! Book by Monday 2/28 to experience Mediterranean luxury close to home. (If you don't have a SniqueAway account, get an invitation on the top of the sidebar.)

Want to take Shereen Travels Cheap everywhere you travel? You can! Join other subscribers on Amazon and read me on your Kindle? Don’t have a Kindle? That’s okay, too. Download the FREE Kindle Reading App for your web enabled device (i.e. iPhone, iPad, blackberry, android…) and get instant updates as soon as new posts are published. Easy!

I'm giving you two today. While not technically "gadgets", the following products are super duper useful on your travels, especially if you'll be going somewhere tropical or beachy.

Don't forget your sunscreen again! With these awesome UV SunSense bracelets, you'll always be reminded to reapply. Put on before going out, apply your sunscreen on your skin and the bracelet. When the bracelet changes color, it's time to reapply or get out of the sun. Once they're used, you can recycle the whole bracelet, so no waste!

Sometimes you can't keep away from the bugs. Instead of taking up space in your 3-1-1 bag with a big bottle of bug repellent, pack these great insect repellent wipes in your carry-on and you can have one handy in your pocket or day bag at all times. Smells pretty good and biodegradable!

You can’t beat a free vacation! Why not sign up for one of these fantastic giveaways. The worst thing that can happen is you won’t win and have to plan and pay for your own vacation. If you win, you’ll get a trip of a lifetime…and you better send me a postcard! With the money you save, you can go on a rockin’ vacation next year. Good luck!

Win a 7 day/6 night trip for two to your choice of Maui, Bangkok, Auckland or Rio de Janeiro from Febreze. This grand prize includes RT airfare, 6 nights’ hotel accommodation and $5,000 spending money! If you only win the FIRST prize, you probably won’t cry, because it includes a 7 night/6 day trip for two to Auckland, New Zealand (RT air and hotel) and $3,000 spending money. One of each prize will be given away, along with daily prizes of coupons for a free bottle of Febreze. You must be 18 years of age or older and a U.S. resident or a Canadian resident of legal age for your province/territory.

“Escape to Maui” with Ready Made and this trip worth over $4,200. If you win, you’ll receive a 6 day/5 night trip for two to Maui which includes RT airfare, compact car rental for 6 days and 5 nights at the Royal Lahaina Resort. You must be a legal U.S. resident over the age of 21 to enter and win. You can enter once per day through March 22.

Win a spa trip for two to Thailand from So Delicious and their 100 Days of Change Giveaway. You’ll receive a trip for two to Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa in Thailand for 14 nights in a sea view suite, RT airfare, hotel and airport transfers and Detox package for two. There are also many other prizes you can win along the way.

Win a 6 night trip for two to Greece, including RT airfare and 3 nights in Athens and a 3 night cruise of the Grecian islands from Travel Channel. Just enter you email address and take a quick quiz. If you answer correctly, you double your chances of winning! Must be a legal U.S. resident, age 18 or older.

Need more Frequent Flyer miles? Get free American Airlines miles with the Mystery Miles Giveaway on Facebook. Just enter your AAdvantage number and receive anywhere from 100-100,000 miles.

And don't forget, just 5 more days to "Like" Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook (and get your friends to join) to win our Travelon bags and referral prizes.

This is the spot to look for new, cool stuff in the Shereen Travels Cheap world. In case you’ve missed the last couple of weeks, links to older guest posts have been moved to the sidebar on the right and there is also a nice list of links to my favorite sites that are super useful to travelers and money-savers. Makes it much easier to find what you may have read about in a previous blog post, but can’t quite remember the name. I hope this is more user-friendly for you.

Yesterday Ebates kicked off Travel Week and they asked me to help start it with a blog post on budget travel. Who am I to say “no” to such an attractive offer? Read it HERE and you can check out their other awesome money-saving suggestions on the rest of their blog.

Last week I was given the honor of working with Independent Traveler and sharing with their readers my tips on how to beat the a la carte fees that are now the norm when it comes to air travel. I’ve given my most handy tips on saving on baggage fees, airplane food and more! Independent Traveler is a super great resource for people who book all their travel on their own and can help you find excellent deals on all your trips.

If you have a travel or money-saving blog/website that you would like me to write a post for, I am always happy to do so. Contact me HERE with details.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Save Money With The Frugal Living Community 2.22.11

I have been invited to become one of ten Community Leaders on the Blog Frog Frugal Living Community (brought to you by Ebates) and I invite you to join me in learning how to spend less and get more out of all aspects of life, including my favorite: TRAVEL. In fact Travel Week starts today and is powered by Ebates, my favorite cash back site that can save you on almost everything you purchase online. Sign up for a free account and browse the participating online merchants on their site. Easily click through Ebates to purchase merchandise or travel and automatically have a percentage of your purchase come back to you as cash back. If you don't use Ebates, you are losing money. Not only is Ebates free to join, but they actually GIVE you $5 just to join!

What is Blog Frog? Blog Frog brings bloggers and their readers together in a community setting where you can interact with your favorite bloggers, their readers and also find other blogs to follow and love. Instead of only interacting through comments on blog posts, Blog Frog creates a social network between those with the same interests. You can even participate in live chats. Blog Frog is free to join! If you have a desire to meet other people online and learn how to save more on everyday things, join me and over 3500 others on the Frugal Living Community.

Aside from being able to get in on some fun discussions, there will be a big travel giveaway announced this week from Ebates. Here are just a few of the discussion you can participate in while you're waiting:

Stay tuned for more information on Shereen Travels Cheap discussions and more. After you sign up for the Frugal Living Community, make sure to head over to Ebates to read my guest post on Budget Travel Planning.

Disclosure: As a Frugal Living Community leader I’m being compensated for my time in the community. My thoughts are 100% my own and are not edited or written by anyone else. Read more about my disclosure policy.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

May the Luck of the Irish Be With You 2.19.11

Céad míle fáilte, or ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’ to Shereen Travels Cheap. Saint Patrick’s Day is bearing down on us in a few short weeks and you know what that means? Green beer and stupid hats? Maybe, but that’s really only if you’re an American and can turn any holiday, traditional or obscure, into a reason to get drunk and cause a ruckus. At least you’re fun and know how to party! In Ireland, you will likely find NO green beer, shamrock sunglasses or green felt leprechaun hats, unless it is marketed solely to tourists. In fact, inIreland Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday to commemorate the day that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland (Supposedly, though I suspect there weren’t any there in the first place. Easy task!)

With the holiday in Ireland becoming more secular and less celebrated came a brilliant idea from the government! Giant festivities to get people worldwide interested in traveling to Ireland to join the parties and soak up the culture! Meaning MORE tourism. Amazingly, the first festival to be held in Ireland didn't occur until 1996 and it was only one day. Since then, it has grown into a week-long celebration of all things Irish that draws hundreds of thousand of visitors every year who come to party, join parades, watch concerts, witness fireworks, attend sporting events, take in theater performances and, of course, to drink beer.

Are you a Shereen Travels Cheap Subscriber yet? If not, please take a moment to do so by entering your email over on the right. (Please tell your friends where they can find me, too.)

It might take a bit of luck to find a great deal on travel, but if you know what you’re doing – or you have me! – then it’s not so much luck as it is brains. Leprechauns are known to be crafty little guys, but you can outsmart them by turning the tables and not letting them find your pot of gold. In other words, don’t part with everything in your wallet trying to find them. Instead, find big savings at the end of the rainbow!

St. Patrick’s Day, unlike other holiday times, doesn’t seem to be a drain on your wallet. Actually, it seems to be CHEAPER to travel to Ireland during the festivities than other times. For example, you can book a great tour package with Celtic Tours World Vacations for under $1000 per person. 9 days/7 nights Go-As-You-Please vacation package includes RT airfare, 5 day car rental, accommodations, hotel to airport transfer, full Irish breakfast daily, Hop-on Hop-off Dublin Bus pass, phone card and 25% off discount to the Shannon Region. You may buy the land and air package, but if you find a better airfare, you can buy just the land package and save some money on your trip. For an additional fee, you can add tours to your itinerary, such as the Ring of Kerry tour.

Speaking of airfare deals, American Airlines has its European Fare Sale going on right now and you can fly round-trip from just $425. That’s a big savings over regular rates. Book by March 3rd and travel by April 17th. That works perfectly for any Saint Patrick’s Day travel you have planned. You know what’s even BETTER? Dublin is a listed end destination! Convenient!

Here are some useful links to get the most out of American Airlines and be the first to know about their super sales:

Download DealFinder

Become a fan on Facebook

Awesome Fact: Witness the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the whole world in Dripsey, Ireland ofCounty Cork. The parade lasts just 100 yards and travels between the village's two pubs.

Get yourself a Dublin Pass. As always, I am recommending the city pass for those visiting Dublin. Not only is it a great deal if you plan to do a fair amount of sightseeing on the Emerald Isle, but it also it lets you skip the queues at the ticket booths. Your Dublin pass comes with an airport-city center transfer, entrance to over 30 top attractions, the Croke Park Experience (for those of you who are sports lovers), discounts on dining, shopping, etc. and even unlimited public transportation! Purchase online before you go to save 20% off. Your Dublin pass is valid for 12 months from purchase and “activates” upon your first use.

My Goodness My Guinness! Do you love Guinness like I do? How would you like a FREE pint? If you’re in Ireland, take a walk through the Guinness Factory and see how it’s made, enjoy a free pint at the end of your tour and take in all of Dublin from the 360 degree view in the Gravity Bar on top of the factory. Before you leave, make sure to stop into the visitor centre and museum to view old adverts and pick up some souvenirs. Here’s a good tip: purchase your entry ticket(s) online to bypass long queues and get 10% off (the not-so-cheap admission price of 14 Euros) or use a Dublin Pass that includes admission.

Do you prefer Jameson whiskey? You can take a distillery tour of their factory as well! Again, your tour ends with a good size “sample”. You can volunteer to do a taste-test, and if you are chosen it includes 3 Irish whiskeys, a Scotch whiskey and an American Whiskey and then a fancy diploma saying you took the taste test. Take a trip through the gift shop and buy a nice bottle for the rest of your trip or send some home for you, family or friends. The tour lasts about an hour and the distillery is open 7 days a week, but you can make reservations online and save 15% off the admission price of 13.5 Euros.

Both tours were highly recommended by those that took one or both of them.

You can find Shereen Travels Cheap on both Facebook and Twitter. Please join me for even more deals, suggestions, travel tips, etc.

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Obviously, no matter where you are, you are bound to be near some St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17th. Almost every city has an Irish pub that throws a huge party where everyone gets rip-roaring drunk, pretends their Irish, wears crazy stuff and takes a cab home (hopefully) in the wee hours of the morning to sleep it off. In Portland, that party can go on for many nights, depending what day St. Patrick’s Day falls on. Our popular restaurant called Kells takes up an entire city block with tents full of vendors and music and all things Irish and people have been known to take days off of work, just so they can start their weekend partying early. A great way to find such celebrations is your local paper’s entertainment or local section and online. What’s On When has listings for entertainment and goings on in most cities worldwide.

And if you’d like to at least see a bit of Ireland even if you can’t visit, check out some of these movies to enjoy the rolling green countryside and Irish lilt:

Angela’s Ashes

Boy Eats Girl (kitchy rom-zom movie)

Braveheart

The Crying Game

Darby O’Gill and the Little People

Far and Away

The Informer

Laws of Attraction

Leap Day (best sightseeing in a movie, by far)

Michael Collins

P.S. I Love You (my pick for 2^nd best sightseeing movie)

The Secret of Roan Inish

Tristan & Isolde

Waking Ned Devine

This is by no means all of them, just ones that I know are probably available through Blockbuster, Netflix, Redbox or your own DVD collection. Find a more complete list HERE.

I hope that with these deals and tips, you can enjoy Saint Patrick's Day and Ireland to the fullest. Drink responsibly and may the wind be ever at your back! Cheers!

In the coming weeks I’d like to answer some reader questions on budget travel, or just travel in general, as I find that there are many people out there that have similar questions and this could be helpful to a lot of you. If you have a question, please feel free to leave a comment below and I will work on getting them answered in the following blog posts. And, of course, you can always post questions on my Facebook page, which will be answered as quickly as possible.

I love this travel bag! It's perfect for those that like to cruise and need to bring "formal wear", since it can take up so much space. The SkyRoll Garment Bag conforms to carry-on regulations and can fit under the airplane seat. Since most cruises go to tropical locales, it can be easy to pack two people's travelwear in a regular carry-on and also share the SkyRoll for one-two formal outfits each and shoes. I was told that an ex-Marine officer was able to pack theirs in such a way that they fit 4 suits, 8 shirts and accessories in his SkyRoll. While most travelers won't need that much, it does say something for the capacity of this compact bag. It has room for suits and dresses and has zipper pockets for tops and other clothing and a separate zipper pocket for ties and socks. The inside cylinder is perfect for shoes, belts, toiletries and anything else you might need. The structure of the bag helps to eliminate wrinkles. It is easy to carry, with a padded strap, and has self-repairing zippers. It would make a great addition to any traveler's bag collection.

Next week, Ebates will be kicking off Travel Week and they asked me to help start it with a blog post on budget travel. Who am I to say “no” to such an attractive offer? Stay tuned for a link to my guest post and in the meantime, you can check out their other awesome money-saving suggestions on their blog.

THIS week, I was given the honor of working with Independent Traveler and sharing with their readers my tips on how to beat the a la carte fees that are now the norm when it comes to air travel. I’ve given my most handy tips on saving on baggage fees, airplane food and more! Independent Traveler is a super great resource for people who book all their travel on their own and can help you find excellent deals on all your trips.