Perfecting The Packing List 3.9.11

There are many “musts” on my list of travel which I share with you all. One of those that we’ve touched on, but haven’t gone into depth with is the Art of the Packing List. Sure, we’ve talked about packing light and what you could pack in you bag, but we’ve never gone over the actual packing list. The more you travel, the better you get at it, especially if packing light is your new goal in life. It can be hard at first, but with some of the tips you’ve learned from me and your own experience you’ll soon find it’s very easy to figure out what needs to be packed and what things are “optional”, that you will eventually just leave at home.

There are several things to consider when making your packing list, but your basics will remain the same, making it that much easier to work on that grab-and-go travel bag we talked about before. I keep a copy of my generic packing list with the things I always bring (even if they’re already in my carry-on) in a Word doc on my computer, so I can add to it as I think of things before I actually start packing.  Keeping a packing list is instrumental in packing efficiently and keeps you on track, so you don’t just give up and throw a big pile of stuff into your bag and quit. I’ve been there and I didn’t wear a large percentage of what I brought, had too many shoes and my bag weighed a ton. If you can’t lift your own bag, there’s probably too much in it!

If you like what you read on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog, make sure to subscribe on the right with the handy-dandy drop-down menu.

This is probably the number one question to ask yourself before starting your list. Is it cold? Will you need a number of sweaters or a jacket? Is it warm? Can you just get buy on shorts and short-sleeve tops? The answer to this will determine how much more strategic your packing will have to be. Between my husband and I, we only take a large rolling carry-on and small rolling carry-on. Of course, I also bring my purse, which counts as my personal item and also gets to be home to a few snacks, boarding passes, itinerary, passports, tickets, magazines, card games and electronics that are in immediate demand (Nintendo DS, iPod, Kindle, etc.) So, if there are two of you and you don’t think you can possibly get all of your things in 1 ½ carry-ons, just get 2 big ones. I like that one can go in the overhead and the other can go under the seat, but if you must pack two bigger ones, make sure you pack the essentials for the ride in your purse or pack them in a tote bag that can go under the seat.

Convertible dress. Wear hundreds of ways!

I pretty much pack the same way for warm or cold weather:

• 5 tops
• 4 bottoms
• 1 “just in case” dress or skirt (change this to dress shirt and tie for men)
• 2 pair of shoes (one dressier option that can still be good to walk in)

If all your above items all fall in the same color scheme (which is a big hint that they should), you can mix and match everything you brought and make many more outfits than you think. It also won’t look like you wore the same 3 outfits over the course of 2 weeks, even if they are the same 9 pieces.  With this limited wardrobe selection, it should be very easy to pack, but you have 20+ outfit combinations, plus whatever you’ve worn on the plane to throw into the mix. I try to layer on the plane, because you never know if it’ll be hot or cold. Throwing a matching cardigan over your top can be a lifesaver on a plane and can also be great to carry in your day bag at your destination, in case it gets chilly.

Want more deals and tips everyday? “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook and follow me onTwitter. You never know what great deal will pop up! Keep up with current sales, new products and websites and get more awesome tips in between blog posts!

Obviously, it’s going to be easier to pack a dozen things in your carry-on if they are smaller, like shorts and t-shirts. Don’t let this give you the idea that you should bring more, because there is space in your luggage for more. Bring a selection of clothes that you’re comfortable in. Maybe one of your bottoms can be a pair of lightweight long pants, in case the weather turns and you need the extra coverage.

I also look for lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing (which can easily be found at Columbia, TravelSmith, ExOfficio, Lucy and other stores that specialize in “activewear”). Don’t think that just because they sell “travel clothes” that they will look like travel clothes. We own many pieces of travelwear that look just like our everyday clothing, except it doesn’t hold in odor, washes easily and dries super quick. Very convenient for when you do a quick load of laundry in the evening. Creating a good travel wardrobe is a must.

So, depending on how cold the weather is where you’re going, you might want to add a set of base layers to your packing list. If you’ll be outside a lot in snowy weather, these lightweight pieces can be worn under your regular clothes and keep in your body heat. You are also going to want a nice warm jacket, but look for one that is “packable”, which means it can moosh down to almost nothing in your travel bag. Even if you wear it on the plane, you still don’t want to walk around with a parka that’s going to take up more room than you are. Look for jackets that have PrimaLoft and other synthetic fillers that are easily compressed. Columbia, The North Face and Mountain Hardwear are just some of the brands that carry such awesome jackets.

You can save room in your luggage by layering clothing. Take some lightweight pieces and then a few warmer outer layers, like fleece, that you can wear over things each day. Not only will it keep you warmer, but when you get inside and the heaters are blasting, you can remove a layer and still be comfortable.

Looking for sweaters that don’t take up your whole suitcase? Again, look for lightweight, yet still warm pieces from outdoor stores, likeREI, Columbia, ExOfficio. Their clothing offers the technology of using different fibers that are less bulky, but offer the same characteristics of your regular winter wardrobe. These key pieces can spare you more packing space, which you’ll need for your other essentials.

 

Shoes are another item that can cause a big issue when it comes to keeping your feet warm. If you are happy with thick socks inside your regular walking shoes, that’s great. If you are also looking for something that has more protection, look for weatherproof (waterproof, snowproof and insulated) boots that are “packable”. You can find these many places, such as LL Bean and TravelSmith. I have a great pair of brown ones that I received as a gift that offer flat, slip-resistant soles, weatherproof construction and can be rolled up in your suitcase to save space and don’t lose their shape. Mine are from Hushpuppies, but again, you can find many different brands and styles for one that suits you and your travel wardrobe. I try to wear my bulkiest pair of shoes on the plane, since this also allows me more room to pack toiletries, electronics, etc.

 

Take Shereen Travels Cheap with you everywhere with Kindle! Subscribe on Amazon and get each blog post sent right to your Kindle the instant it gets published. Don't have a Kindle? That's okay, too. Download the free Kindle reading app on any of your web-enabled devices, like your iPad or Android, and it works just as good! (or you can buy yourself a brand-new fun gadget!)

Okay, so you have your dozen key pieces to pack for wherever you’re going, what else needs to be on your packing list?

• Underwear – Unless you’re averse to wearing such things, undergarments are a must. Look for ones that have soy or bamboo fibers, or ones that are quick-drying. They make for comfortable travel companions and don’t hold odor or moisture. You know why this is important.
• Socks – Usually, you are going to need a few pairs of these. If all you’ve packed is sandals and flip flops to hang out on the beach, still throw an emergency pair into the bag. You never know when they might come in handy (or how hard they are to find when you actually NEED them).
• Packable rain jacket – This is a must anywhere I’m going, unless I know it’s going to be really cold and might rain and I’m bringing a really warm jacket with a hood. The rain jacket is great in that it packs into its own pocket, will fit just about any crevice present in your travel bag and also doubles as a lightweight jacket.
• Toiletries – You know what you use most often. Try to pare it down to JUST the essentials if you can. Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, sunscreen, lotion. If you are a makeup wearer, pack as little as possible. I tend to travel with my basic beauty routine: moisturizer, foundation, concealer, powder, lip balm and blush…and then I throw in a trial size mascara and a fun eye shadow, just in case I go out and want to primp. I don’t really need more than that, and I find that I’m so excited to run out and do things that I don’t take the time to do more than my basic routine anyway. Remember: The less you bring, the more room you’ll have in your 3-1-1 bag for essentials. You remember the dreaded 3-1-1 bag, right? If not, here’s another quick reminder.  Get yourself a nice compact toiletry bag, so it limits what you can fit in there. When it’s full, you’re done. Don’t forget any medication you take regularly!
• Random useful items can include: tweezers, nail clippers, nail file, sewing kit, back-up contacts and condoms (you never know).
• Electronics – I know you’re not going to go anywhere without some gadgety thing. List your must have electronics (Kindle, netbook, iPod, mobile) and anything that needs to go with it, like a charger. Nothing worse than getting to your destination and then not being able to use your iPod, because you forgot the charger at home (yes, this happened to me). Better yet, invest in an iGo multi-charger and then you only ever have to take the one plug and tips and you can keep that in your travel bag all the time.
• Important paperwork – Besides having your picture ID and/or your passport with you, you’re going to want to keep your itinerary (with your confirmations and important addresses and phone numbers) somewhere, along with your boarding pass(es), so you can grab it all and be ready when you get to the airport and your destination. You would think this is a given, but I always put it on my packing list.

Still need help with your packing list? Don't despair. Get some great ideas on how to write you list, or just steal someone else's, with these sites:

• TravelSmith
• ExOfficio
• Independent Traveler
• Packinglist Online
• Travellers Point
• Pack &Go App for your iPod, iPad or iPhone

Bringing home more than you started with can be a problem, but one that can be prepared for with this awesome pack-flat back-up bag by Travelon. I have this bag and LOVE IT. It packs flat and takes up very little room in your travel bag. When you've purchased more than your bag will hold, whip out this little baby and unzip it to reveal a full-size carry-on that has a nice padded strap and fits easily under the airplane seat. This thing is crazy durable, too. You'll want to buy them as gifts for all your traveling friends!

Don't forget to join me on the Frugal Living Community on BlogFrog, brought to you by Ebates. There are some great discussions going on, including the one I've started on budget travel tips. I bet you've learned a thing or two from me, but it doesn't mean you can't learn from others, too, or give others your favorite tips. After you put in your two cents, join in some other discussions on frugal living. Learn better ways to coupon, where to find budget fashion pieces, how to cut back on everyday expenses and more!

And don't forget to join Ebates and take advantage of double cash back on awesome travel merchants. Even normal cash back is a deal, because it's dollars and cents off your purchase, meaning you saved MORE money. Add that to your travel fund or use it to pay of vacation debt. You can't go wrong with free money. And don't forget that you can use Ebates to get cash back on everyday purchases, too! 

I've been contacted to do some other guest posts for budget and travel sites. Do you want me to write for your page? Please feel free to contact me with information HERE!

Oh Disney, How I Love Thee! 3.5.11

Okay, so I’m actually not currently planning a trip of any kind to Disney (for once), but I know a lot of you are or are thinking about it, so this one’s for you. I have gone to a Disney the majority of years between age 14 and now, even if it was part of another trip. So, it’s pretty normal to think I know what I’m doing when it comes to planning a trip, because I’ve almost always got a trip to Disney coming up, whether it’s Disneyland, Walt Disney World, EuroDisney in Paris or my distant thoughts of and of the Disney Asia theme parks. I’m a true Disney lover at heart and just a big kid. As soon as I get to the front gates, I want to run down Main Street with a big smile on my face and get on every ride at once. Since I’m aware it’s impossible and I’ve been there a million times, I walk like a normal person down Main Street and take in all the happy faces of children who might be there for the first time. That’s truly the magic of Disney.

Today, I’d like to talk about getting the most out of your money on your Disneyland adventure, making the most of your time in the parks and share with you some rockin’ deals to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Even though I know Disneyland the best, I can’t fault anyone for choosing WDW, with their massive amounts of parks and new variety of rides, shows and parades. Please keep your arms, legs and hands inside the blog at all times. Remain seated until the blog comes to a complete stop. Thank you.

If you like what you read on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog, make sure to subscribe on the right with the handy-dandy drop-down menu.

Disneyland may not be a huge entity in size, but it makes up for it in awesomeness. With over 50 rides and attractions between Disneyland and California Adventure, there’s no shortage of things to hold your attention for several days at a time. It’s also great that they are within throwing distance of one another and if you feel yourself dying of hunger on that long 100 yard walk between the two, you can veer into Downtown Disney to sit and refresh before journeying on.

As far as acreage goes, Disneyland Paris (formerly known as EuroDisney) is very similar to Disneyland in California. They have some different rides and different takes on the same rides, like Space Mountain: Mission 2 where you actually go upside down. You get Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, which is also converted into a roller coaster (and awesome!) and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, which is mostly the same, except for the giant animatronic dragon that breathes fire in the dungeon!

Instead of California Adventure and Downtown Disney, they have equivalents called Walt Disney Studios Park and Disney Village. Walt Disney Studios is more “Hollywood” themed and is closer to the feel of Hollywood Studios in Orlando. The rides and shows are a mash-up between Hollywood Studios and California Adventure and are enough to keep you entertained for most, if not all, of the day.

We weren’t sure if we would get the same experience at Disneyland Paris, but I will say that we were pleasantly surprised. I do wish we had more time, so we plan a return trip in the future, where we will stay at one of the Disney resorts that offers a great package plan and includes shuttle service throughout the day. In fact, the packages they offer are hard to pass up, because in between the hotel locations, free transportation to and from the parks and discount by bundling the hotel and park tickets together, you would be LOSING money if you stayed in Paris and took the Metro in each day, even if you had a rockin’ deal at a hotel in the city. Normally, I’m not one to jump on the Disney hotel package bandwagon, but Disneyland Paris is really the exception. The exchange rate doesn’t impede on the bargain either and, since most resort rooms are equipped with bunk beds, it’s even better if you go as a family.  Now, if only Disney properties in the States could figure out how to make their rates work to our advantage…It probably helps that Disneyland Paris is located in a town in the French countryside, a 30 minute train ride outside of Paris, called Marne-Le-Vallee.

Take Shereen Travels Cheap with you everywhere with Kindle! Subscribe on Amazon and get each blog post sent right to your Kindle the instant it gets published. Don't have a Kindle? That's okay, too. Download the free Kindle reading app on any of your web-enabled devices, like your iPad or Android, and it works just as good! (or you can buy yourself a brand-new fun gadget!)


Walt Disney World is a city unto itself. It claims to reside in Orlando, but in reality, Walt bought a plot of land so large that all of the resorts and theme parks belong to a “city” called Lake Buena Vista. It is virtually impossible to get around between the different parks and any non-Disney-owned hotels without a car here. I wish it wasn’t true, but I’ve now done Orlando both with a car and without and without was a right nightmare. While there are free shuttles to the parks from each outlying hotel, they aren’t hotel operated and they only travel from each hotel once (or maybe) twice a day and come back the same amount. Once you get to the parks, you can use Disney transportation to go in between the parks and it is very easy. Now, I don’t know if the shuttles operate more frequently in the on-season (namely: Summer), but any other time, when it is cheaper to travel and less crowded, you are stuck to the schedule of each shuttle…and don’t get me started on the city bus trying to go anywhere off the main street. If you plan to leave before each park opens each morning and spend the entire day there and then leave right after closing, then the shuttles will work for you. If you have something else planned, or are planning on visiting any of the Orlando theme parks that aren’t Disney, get a rental car. It will also end up saving you money over the cab/shuttle fee to and from the airport in the end.

So, how else can you save besides getting a rental car and buying a Paris package?

·        Purchase a park-hopper ticket. These can save you money over buying individual day tickets and you can use the same one over the course of your visit. They just scan your fingerprint now, instead of the old school way they did it before where you needed to sign the back of the ticket and present ID each day. Much quicker. You still need your ticket for them to swipe and also to be able to use the FastPASS machines.

·        Save time by buying your tickets ahead of time. Don’t waste time in the ticket queue, when you can go straight to the gate queue! Like you really want to wait in one more line anyway. You can save money by buying your tickets online at various locations. Search online for promo codes, too. I prefer to buy my tickets through the local AAA travel store, because I find they have the best deals, but you can also get Disneyland park hopper tickets through Costco and many credit unions sell discounted ones as well.

·        Use FastPASS. This can also save you much time and get you on more rides. We generally get one for Big Thunder Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Rock’n Roller Coaster, Midway Mania or Buzz Lightyear. These are the big rides that always have a line. Go first thing when you enter the park and get a FastPASS, even if there isn’t a line, for any of these attractions (I recommend Midway Mania or Space Mountain, because the FastPASSes go quickly). If there isn’t a line, get on the ride, go do some other rides and then come back at your designated FastPASS time and do it again. If there IS a long line, go off and do some less packed stuff and then come back. This works awesome with rides like Big Thunder Railroad in the middle of the day, because even though the line isn’t humungous, there are a bunch of other rides to do that normally have shorter lines, and you can get to three other ones, come back and get right onto BTR and then head to another part of the park.

·        Get to the parks thirty minutes before opening. What’s the point? Well, there won’t be hoards of people waiting to get in yet and you’ll get first pick of the big rides when the gates open, freeing you up to do less popular rides in the middle of the day.

·        Make food reservations. While this won’t save you any money, it WILL save you time waiting in line somewhere. Disney has a designated dining reservation number for each park (or you can do it online) to book a table anywhere that has waited tables. You can book up to 90 days in advance. This is especially important if you are dying to eat a specific restaurant, because reserved tables get served before walk-ins, which means if you want to eat at Blue Bayou without waiting 45-50 minutes (when you could be doing other park activities), it’s best to make a reservation ahead of time. Try to book your dining a little earlier than regular dining times, like lunch between 11-12 and dinner between 5-6. This will help you avoid the crowds, both while waiting to be seated and when you finish dining, because everyone will have realized they are hungry, too, and flee to a dining establishment. Woohoo! Shorter lines for you!

·        Carry snacks. You know I always recommend bringing snacks everywhere you go. Disney doesn’t mind. As long as whatever you bring isn’t in a glass container or alcohol, it’s okay by them. Bring in your own bottled water, too, and save $9 by not having to buy their souvenir cups.

·        Use public transportation. Obviously, I mean for Disneyland only. Their shuttle busses are great and are much cheaper than the $12-14 it now costs to park in the Disney parking lot. Unless you have four or more people in your group, save the cash and gas. The shuttles leave every 15 minutes throughout the day until at least an hour before the park closes. There’s also the option of just walking, since there are so many hotels right across the street from the parks and main gate.

·        Avoid “Extra Magic Hour”. In Orlando, guests staying at a Disney resort are entitled to the EMH each day at different designated parks. They get in an hour before the park officially opens to the public or get to stay and extra hour after the park closes to the public. With a bit of planning, you can avoid these days and go to other parks instead and avoid the massive crowds at the EMH parks. This worked wonderful for us and we found that each park we hit up that day was almost empty until around noon time. I don’t know how that will work in the on-peak season, but in the fall, it was spectacular and we barely waited in line for anything for the first four hours we were in each park. You can find the EMH parks listed on the online Disney schedules or invest in a membership to TourGuideMike, which will give you all these tips and more well ahead of the actual online schedule.

·         Go in the middle of the week. There will be fewer parades and you'll have to schedule your day around things like Fantasmic, that only play on certain weekday nights, but Disney will certainly be less crowded during the week than on the weekends and you'll have shorter lines and be able to do more.

·         Bring your own souvenirs. Yes, I know this sounds weird, but if you have little ones, they are going to want toys and shirts and balloons and candy. You can try to evade some of these costs by stopping at one of the grocery or discount stores around Disney and stock up on some inexpensive souvenirs (many of which you will find at the parks for much more) and dole out a bit each day before you leave. Or keep them in your bag until the kids are getting restless and cranky. You're sure to make some happy faces.

Please exit the blog to your right and watch your step. Thank you for choosing Shereen Travels Cheap and have a magical day.

Want more deals and tips everyday? “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook and follow me onTwitter. You never know what great deal will pop up! Keep up with current sales, new products and websites and get more awesome tips in between blog posts!

Stay in an Orlando resort and get a free room upgrade on BookIt. Add a 3-day park-hopper per traveler and get upgraded to 7-day park hoppers. Valid on Spring and early Summer travel. Add airfare and save even more!

Find a great deal on an Anaheim hotel near Disneyland and get free parking, big discounts or kids stay/eat free. You can also get 3-day park tickets for the price of 2 with participating hotel reservations.

Once you make it to Disney, you're going to want something to capture all those magical moments with Goofy and Mickey. For that, you're going to need a great camera. My favorite, and the one I own and use currently, is the Fuji Finepix XP10. It takes awesome pictures, has a 5x optical zoom, comes in funky colors, is super easy to use, it's compact with a large screen and it's even waterproof for when you MUST take pictures of your group getting drenched on Grizzly River Run. I love this camera and take it everywhere with me. I have the lime green, but it also comes in black, pink, blue and silver. You never have to guess at your setting choice, because when you change it in the menu, you can read the function of each setting right on the screen and, believe me, you really can't go wrong. Whether you're shooting in snow, a sporting event or taking nighttime shots of Cinderella's castle, your pictures will always turn out great.

Ebates is giving away a 7-day trip to an all-inclusive Club Med resort. Join me in submitting one of your travel stories by March 7th and you might win a trip for 2! Open to Ebates members only, so if you haven't signed up yet, do it now for FREE. Use Ebates links to get cashback on all your purchases at your favorite online merchants, including many travel merchants like Hotwire, Avis and American Airlines.

Do you have travel questions or want to join other bloggers and readers in a community setting? Join me and others over at the Frugal Living Community on Blog Frog, provided by Ebates. You can ask me and the other community leaders (or any other member) ask questions directly about frugal travel, couponing, discount fashions and more! Contribute to Frugal Living discussions, including my latest discussion about your favorite "budget" travel destinations. Mine is Ecuador. What's yours?

Local vs. Big Brand 3.2.11

In other words, should you stay, dine or shop local or stick with brand names you know? When traveling outside of your own country – and sometimes just out of your own city/state – this is always the question. You KNOW you like Chili’s and Best Western, but does that mean you should seek them out when you travel or try something new? When faced with lists of new restaurants, stores and hotels, it’s sometimes hard to not gravitate toward familiar names that you already frequent, but travel is a great way to break the habit of familiarity and get you out of your immediate comfort zone. That doesn’t mean you’ll be anxious and freaked out the whole time you’re away. Likely, it will be the opposite. You’ll find that one-off accommodations, dining venues and shopping experiences can be very comforting and rewarding, too. In many places, chains or “big brands” can save you money, but I find that it simply isn’t true if you travel widely. You also don’t get the feel of the country as much if you stick close to home with your choices.

So, what’s the advantage to choosing local? There are so many, it’s hard to list them all, but I’ll definitely give you the biggest ones. See how it can save you money and immerse your in a new culture. When faced with new names and new places, I get a jolt of excitement, because I love new things. I want to stay somewhere cool and unlike other places I’ve stayed, eat new, delicious food and shop in family-owned stores that have totally unique merchandise. I know I’m much more adventurous than a lot of other people, but I think if you make the commitment to travel to new and exotic places and want to have a whole new experience, cut your ties with your normal life and psyche yourself up for doing something different and potentially life-changing.

If you like what you read on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog, make sure to subscribe on the right with the handy-dandy drop-down menu.

I bring my comforts of home with me (travel blanket, Kindle, iPod, netbook), so if I need to just get back in my own familiar mode for a bit, I totally can when I get back to my room at the end of the day. Not sure you’ll love the food in a foreign land? That’s okay. Nobody else is either. Throw some snacks in your bag, like granola bars or cookies, just in case. It also helps when you’re walking around getting all that exercise and start to get a bit hungry in between meals. This happens to me all the time on vacation and I tend to want to eat all day long, so keeping a stash of goodies in my day bag is a good idea wherever I am.

Shop Local. I’m sure you hear this all the time where you live. Shop local and support your local farmers, other workers and economy.  Makes sense. Shopping where you live can be beneficial to yourself and others in your community. Well, the same goes for travel. Shop local grocers, farmers markets and family-owned shops. Not only will you be helping the local economy thrive, but you’re also going to get better deals on local foods, engage with the locals, find authentic merchandise that is likely handmade or, at the very least, made in the area and go home with memories of the quaint stores you shopped in, instead of memories of wandering the endless aisles of a Wal-Mart (or similar).

Take Shereen Travels Cheap with you everywhere with Kindle! Subscribe on Amazon and get each blog post sent right to your Kindle the instant it gets published. Don't have a Kindle? That's okay, too. Download the free Kindle reading app on any of your web-enabled devices, like your iPad or Android, and it works just as good! (or you can buy yourself a brand-new fun gadget!)

Eat Local. With the same premise as shopping local, eating local is even better. When you go out to have a nice meal, ask the people who live in the area that you come in contact with where they recommend. They aren’t going to point your towards McDonalds. Likely, they will send you to one of their favorite dining destinations that has local and, likely, more affordable fare. When people come to Portland and ask where a nice place to have dinner is, I don’t point them immediately to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, even though it’s delicious. I can’t afford to eat there, though, so I give them directions to places that I love to eat at and can do so without having to save for three weeks. Travelers always appreciate suggestions for restaurants that are tasty and they don’t have at home. And just like with shopping, the food will probably be much more authentic than those that you see on the main street that cater to tourists.

Eating local also ensures that you find new and different foods. Those restaurants that have the local cuisine are going to be less expensive than others that have to order their food from other regions. If you’re visiting Germany, you’re always going to get a better price on German cuisine than if you went hunting for an Italian eatery. It just makes sense.

Check out TopTable for listings of restaurants in the area you’ll be traveling. You can read reviews, book a table and get big discounts. You can also check out TripAdvisor and find diner reviews on hundreds of thousands of eateries worldwide.

Stay Local. I know this sounds odd, since you’re obviously going to stay local, but the point is that many chain hotels are still owned by other countries. You can also save money by not staying at big brand hotels, because the smaller ones have really competitive rates. Plus, many are more “traditional” to where they are located and can offer more personal service. While you probably won’t get a hotel with conference rooms and a gym, how many times have you ever used those things on vacation anyway? They still offer breakfasts, WiFi, pools and many other amenities you’re used to and will actually take advantage of.

The employees of any hotel should be able to give you tips on where to eat, play and shop, but locally-owned hotels can give you the inside scoop and don’t get kick-backs for their suggestions. (Not all hotels do this, but many brand name hotels often get comped in some way for pointing hotel guests to certain establishments. Make sure to ask hotel workers that don’t work the front desk or concierge for their ideas, because they don’t have any affiliations.)

Choose carefully, just as you would any other lodging. You aren’t going in blindly, though. There are so many review sites to read up on hotels worldwide that it’s almost impossible to not find any reviews of almost any accommodation. Ask your friends and extended social network where they stayed when they went and then check out sites like TripAdvisor, Venere and Travelocity for traveler’s comments.

Want more deals and tips everyday? “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook and follow me onTwitter. You never know what great deal will pop up! Keep up with current sales, new products and websites and get more awesome tips in between blog posts!

So, we’ve covered the basics:

• Help the economy
• Get to know the locals
• Find more authentic food and merchandise
• Get immersed in the culture
• Try new things and find new favorites
• Get out of your “comfort zone”
• Eat where the locals do
• And, as always, save money

Some of our best memories have come from doing something on vacation that we would never normally do at home. I think with those experiences, it has helped us grow, taught us about different cultures and human nature and has enabled us to try new and different things around our own city. My husband and I are pretty adventurous by nature, so we’re game for almost anything. If we don’t like it, at least we can say we did it and have a story when we come home.

• Eucalyptus ice cream? Not good, but we tried it.
• Dancing with strangers? Surprisingly fun.
• Perusing the animal market in Otavalo, Ecuador? A total once-in-a-lifetime must-do experience.
• Taking the city bus from Disney/Orlando area to Universal City Walk? A complete time-drainer and SO not recommended.
• Getting lunch during a hurricane watch? If you can find a place that’s open, that’s the place to be!

So, learn a new language (or at least important phrases), stay in a quaint hotel, eat exotic food, buy some handmade souvenirs and check out some off the beaten track activities. You’ll have a great time and see a whole different version of your chosen destination than others do. That’s the great thing about travel – if you plan it yourself, you’ll never have the same trip as someone else. It’s personal and fun and creates amazing memories. If something goes wrong, as it inevitably does, you’ll have a more amusing story to tell when you get home.

Ever find yourself in an awesome setting and have no one around to take a picture of you in it? Then you need the Quikpod Tripod. It has a telescoping handle, so you can attach your camera to it, hold it out at arm's length and get a photo of yourself (and travel companion) in a lovely shot for lasting memories when you get home. My husband and I have this and have taken some fantastic pictures of ourselves, including the ones below. Not only do you get some nice pictures of yourself with background, but it's also super easy to use, stashes easily in your bag and is heavy-duty, in case you need to use it as a weapon (kidding...sort of).

So, you have probably already noticed the new clean look of the site, with useful links to travel sites and my guest posts over on the sidebar now. Other than that, this space will be used for mentioning new Shereen Travels Cheap happenings and any new/upcoming guest posts or articles.

Ebates Travel Week Continues with  a Twitter Party on Thursday, March 3rd at 7-8pm EST. Learn more budget travel tips, win prizes and more! Also enter a travel story of your own to win an all-inclusive Club Med 7 day vacation for two! If you aren’t a member of the Frugal Living Community on BlogFrog (provided by Ebates), you can join me right now HERE. And if you missed the live travel chat on Tuesday, you can still catch up on any tips and suggestions HERE.