Great Getaways and Giveaways! 4.6.11

I often see such great deals on trips and travel accessories that I just can’t keep them to myself. While I would love to post them all on Facebook and Twitter, I’m sure I’d soon find myself with less and less followers, so I save them to post here each week. I also have several giveaway announcements that I would like to tell you about, too. Let’s start with those and then we can talk about all the fun places you can go!

Let’s make it to 50 readers on this blog!

Shereen Travels Cheap has several fantastic and fun prizes to give away, but I’d like to make them goal-oriented. I know there are a lot of readers that come by each week to read the new content here, which is great! What would be even better is if you guys would also subscribe to the blog – either on Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs – so I know how many of you are repeat customers. Once the total between the two reaches 50 readers, I’ll be giving away some great wine-related travel products. Being able to ship back or bring back your favorite wines from your travels in your checked luggage make a nice souvenir for yourself and others that weren’t lucky enough to go on your trip with you. This giveaway will be a perfect solution to that! The faster we get to 50, the faster we can start giving away prizes! We will do another one at 100, 150 and so on.

iGo goes everywhere you go.

You all know how much I love my iGo. It even has accessories! I’ve done away with all my wall adapters when I travel. I take my iGo and all my corresponding tips in a small bag and leave all the others at home, except for my netbook charger. I have a splitter to charge two devices at once and a USB plug to charge something while playing on my computer.

You want to get your very own, don’t you? Free would be even better, too, so listen up. Go to my Facebook page to enter to win one of three sets. These sets will get you on your way to being a more space-saving and efficient traveler and packer. Each set includes a wall adapter, a car adapter (for road trips and rental cars) and 3 tips – mini USB, micro USB and Apple for your iPod, iPhone, etc. – to get you started. If you have other electronic devices that you take with you, like your Nintendo DS, Kindle and other mobile phone, you can purchase additional tips for those. You can purchase at your local Radio Shack or you can search Amazon for tips. I find they have many more available at sale prices on Amazon, and it’s the only place you can buy the tip for Kindle. This giveaway ends on April 14 and the winners will be chosen on April 15 and given 48 hours to respond before I pick someone else.

Knock! Knock! Cool travel items are here!

On April 15^th, we’ll be starting a new giveaway sponsored by Knock Knock going through the end of the month, ending just in time to receive it for Mother’s Day. Of course, you don’t have to give it to your mother, but if she loves to travel, this will be another one to get in on and the easiest gift on your wallet that you’ve given her since you made homemade cards. Remember: if you sign up to follow Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook, you will know about these giveaways as soon as they start. 

Enter to win one of thirteen trips from Expedia on Facebook. Choose 5 friends to enter with you to win a FriendTrip. Choose from a European cruise worth $100,000, a trip to South Korea worth $52,000, a trip to South Africa worth $85,000 and more! You can enter to win every day! If you don't win a trip, you could still win a $250 Expedia gift card every day you enter, Good luck!

Win 1 of 100 pairs of tickets on Qatar Airlines. Enter now and get more chances to win by referring friends and sharing on Facebook! Drawing takes place on April 18th. If you live in the U.S. you will have to choose New York as your preferred departure airport, but I think if you win 2 free airline tickets, flying to NYC is a small price to pay to go anywhere in the world.

And now, for ME! I am entered into a competition to win $500 for the most liked blog on the site BlogSynergy. If you could take a moment to go THERE and click the “like” button, I would be forever grateful. I’ll thank you in advance, because I know you guys are awesome! (You don’t have to be a member of the BlogSynergy site, but you do have to be a member of Facebook. If you don’t already like me there, too, just pop on over and do it now…then you can get back to reading.)

Did you know you can subscribe to the Shereen Travels Cheap blog on your Kindle? No? Well, you can! Take Shereen Travels Cheap everywhere you go, get real-time updates when new posts are published, so you can read and enjoy STC at home, at work, on the train, in France! Don’t have a Kindle? You can still use that fancy Kindle reading app, which is FREE, by the way, to read on your other web-enabled devices (iPad, Blackberry, Android, etc.).

It's been a while since I just posted some really good deals here instead of mostly tips, so today is the day. I found some great trips and other travel sales, which is hard to do right about now with Summer coming and the prices for all kinds of travel going up every day.

US Airways Vacations has Mexican & Caribbean all-inclusive packages including RT air and lodgings from $820 per person. Just bring money for your purchases and the spa, because your airfare, lodgings, meals and most entertainment/activities are paid for! Book by April 25th and travel through November 15th. Book a 5- or 6-night trip and save $100. Book 7+ nights and save $200 off your vacation. (This is a great way to save on your overall trip if you are traveling with your whole family.)

Book a flight on AirTran by April 14th and get in on the airfare sale from $43 each way. Travel through November 2nd. Check the fine print for blackout dates

Travel to Hawaii and stay for 5-nights from just $575 per person! With Pleasant Holidays' Hawaii Spring Sale your package includes round-trip airfare, hotel for 5 nights and car rental. 

Take a trip to Aruba (book by midnight on Friday) for over 60% off. Book a hotel on BookIt from $70/night. You can also add airfare to make a package deal.

Is Europe more to your liking? Find a deal on FareCompare for airfare. It'll be one of your best bets for finding the cheapest Summer airfare. If you aren't flying until Fall, wait to look for airfare near the end of July.

Need some extra help on planning your next vacation? FareCompare brings you 5 Ways to Screw Up Your Chance of Getting Cheap Airline Tickets This Summer.

I saw this travel bag the other day and I knew I had to have it. Not only does it look functional, it has fun pockets, spinner wheels and a funky pattern - though you can get it in two plain colors - that will compliment my current carry-on bag. Well, now this beautiful bag is on its way to my house and will be ready for me to pack away travel gear for my next vacation! It also comes as a set! Not only does it include a 21" spinner carry-on, which will fit down the airplane aisle super easy and can go right in the overhead, but it also comes with a matching 16" boarding bag that you can toss your snacks and entertainment in and put under the seat in front of you. Two bags at a great price! (Also comes in red and olive solids.)

Here's a bonus "gadget" for you. If you're going to be packing light and traveling all over in style, don't forget that you might need to do some laundry. Most places have laundry facilities or are close to a laundromat. For those lodgings, you can't go wrong with Purex Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets. They take up almost no room in your bag and can be used as a detergent and fabric softener in both the washer and dryer. I've used these on vacation more than once with awesome results. They are super easy and you don't have to waste time buying detergent when you get to your destination or waste space in your 3-1-1 that could be used by other necessities. 

Get Frugal This Spring! 4.5.11

It’s Spring and, even though it’s not really believable here in the Northwest, I am ready for some new beginnings. I’m pulling out and wearing all my Spring and Summer shoes, got a brand new hair style and cut, doing a bit of gardening and looking at new ways to save! I’m still saving on travel, but for all those things that aren’t travel-related that I might not always know about, I turn to the awesome members and community leaders in the Frugal Living Community at BlogFrog that is sponsored by Ebates.

My awesome new wedges from Shoedazzle!

No more curls!

They really know their stuff! From couponing to great fashion finds, you can seriously learn how to save on almost anything. Start a new discussion (if you’re curious about the answer to something or want to get some outside perspective) or join in current ones. Joining BlogFrog is free and you can participate as much or as little as you want. Follow me, too! I have my own Shereen Travels Cheap community and I’m also a Frugal Living community leader, giving out advice, helping others find ways to travel on a budget and getting people excited about traveling, too!

Make joining the Frugal Living Community YOUR new beginning this Spring. Almost every week there is a live chat on various topics. I hosted one on Spring Travel and will do another one soon on a different travel topic. This week, there was one on frugal landscaping and on Thursday at 5pm PST there will be one on Spring organization (for all of you looking forward to Spring Cleaning!).

Why join BlogFrog and the Frugal Living Community? Besides learning about new ways to save and get the most out of your budget, you can also find new blogs to follow, make new friends, tell people about your own blog (if you have one) and win fun prizes! My fellow community leaders are always giving something away on their blogs or within a live chat to participants. That’s pretty awesome, right?

You can even learn how to make the most of your Ebates membership. Don’t have one yet? What are you waiting for? There’s no better way to save money on things you buy online than with the Ebates cash back rewards program. You sign up for free, use their links (and awesome coupon codes) to go to a participating merchant – of which there are many – and get cash back for your entire purchase! Ebates sends out rebates quarterly, which you can ask to be sent to you by mailed check or via Paypal (my personal favorite, because it’s FAST!). You don’t even have to do anything beside use the link, buy your stuff and make sure you use the same email address you used to sign up for Ebates. Super duper easy! Trust me: You’re LOSING money by not having an account!

Aside from free money, you can make even more money and win prizes by referring friends to sign up and buy. Does an iPad sound cool? Or cash? Yeah, I thought so. Plus, Ebates gives you $5 just for signing up! 

Traveling With Kids and Carry-Ons

Almost everyone I know that has kids barely travels. They say they can't afford it and only go on short trips close to home. Little do they know (until I tell them) that they can spend just a bit more - and in some cases less - and go on a "real" great vacation. I know kids are expensive and so is travel, but if you know where to cut your costs and alter your vacation strategies, then it can be very affordable and fun! I have tips for kids of any age, so your vacation can recharge you instead of making you worry the whole time that you are spending more than you have. It might even bring your family closer together, because it's so much easier to bond when you are doing things you all like. Check out some of these ways to save on all your family trips!

Travel in the off-season or during winter break. If you have smaller children, you have the luxury of traveling all year long. With this in mind, avoid traveling in the summer. Summer is easily the busiest and most expensive time to plan a vacation. If a beach or other warm-weather location is your destination of choice, plan a trip in the spring. Springtime is always less crowded and one of the best times to find sales on both airfare and hotel rates. If your children are in school, wait until Christmas break to make your journey. If you fly on Christmas Day, you can get rock-bottom airfare, since most travelers want to be at their destination by that day and it’s one of the lightest travel days of the year.

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.

Trade in the ocean for the lake. If you are longing for a beach getaway, you can do many of the same activities at a lakeside destination as you can oceanfront, but with the upside of vast savings off your vacation total. You can still build sandcastles, go boating, snorkeling, diving, fishing, parasailing and more, but at a lower cost.

Buy souvenirs ahead of time. If an amusement park is your final destination, chances are your kids are going to want shirts and toys and anything else they see for sale. These items can add up quickly and bust your budget. Many theme parks, like Disney, have a lot of surrounding stores with discounted items. Local grocery stores, Target and special souvenir shops can be a lifesaver. Purchase many items for the price of one and then either dole them out before you head out to the parks or secretly pack them in your day bag to give to children throughout the day when they start to get cranky or having a case of the “I wants”.

Rent baby equipment at your destination. This doesn’t sound money-saving at all, but it can be. Dragging around a stroller and other cumbersome products can be hard, cost you checked baggage fees and may even damage your own items in the process. Sites like BabiesTravelLite have lists for worldwide locations that rent baby equipment from strollers to baby baths. These places often rent equipment for an entire week for less than you would pay to rent them for a day at amusement parks and other places. You can pick them up on your way to your hotel or vacation rental and then drop them off on your way to the airport. You don’t have to juggle extra things at the airport and you won’t have to worry about damage to any of your own gear.

Did you know you can subscribe to the Shereen Travels Cheap blog on your Kindle? No? Well, you can! Take Shereen Travels Cheap everywhere you go, get real-time updates when new posts are published, so you can read and enjoy STC at home, at work, on the train, in France! Don’t have a Kindle? You can still use that fancy Kindle reading app, which is FREE, by the way, to read on your other web-enabled devices (iPad, Blackberry, Android, etc.).

Rent an apartment, condo or house. When you travel with your whole family, even if it’s just four of you, a hotel room can feel claustrophobic. Hotels rarely offer more than just one room and an attached bathroom, so if you’re planning to be in your room for more than just sleeping and changing clothes, nobody has any personal space. Check sites like HomeAway and FlipKey to reserve a vacation rental for your stay. Not only will you have more room to spread out, but you’ll also save money over a bigger hotel room and have a kitchen, where you can make some of your own meals reduce your dining budget.

Avoid ordering off the kids’ menu. When you go out to eat, almost all restaurants have the dreaded kids’ menu that usually has the same five food items to choose from. Sometimes your kids are just not going to be happy with anything but chicken nuggets, but for the rest of the time you’re out, you can be more frugal and get your children to try new foods (and eat some vegetables!) by splitting an entree with them or between children. They will have options that are more nutritious than pizza and hot dogs and if they don’t finish what’s on their plate, you haven’t wasted money on a separate dish.

Purchase a City Pass. Many cities worldwide offer what is called a city pass. You pay one price for a pass that includes many different activities and attractions and it enables you to bypass the ticket lines and go straight to the front gate. Not only does this cut your entertainment costs, it is also very convenient and enables you to do more things on the same budget.

Join me over on Facebook! I'm giving away

several sets of iGos to fans. Just click the “like”
button and fill out the short form by April 15.

Use your zoo membership. Almost every family I know has invested in a zoo membership, because for one price, they can go to the zoo and aquarium all year long. This helps when money is tight and they have to get out of the house, and I don’t know any kid that doesn’t love fish and other animals. If you have a membership, you can use it to visit other zoos and aquariums across the country and, in some cases, in other parts of the world. It can be fun for kids to feel like the day is totally about them and they can learn about new animals in different parts of the world that your zoo might not have.

Traveling with kids can give you a whole different view of your vacation destination and cause you to be more creative in planning and traveling around each day. Children can be great world travelers, if given a chance, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about new cultures, food and countries. 

Pack light. I know that with kids it’s hard to do this, but it’s not impossible. Each of your children can bring their own carry-on for the plane and help spread around the weight. Whether it’s a small rolling bag that can fit under the seat or a backpack they can wear, they can share the load. While their clothes can be fairly lightweight, everything they want to take from home may not be. Pack as much of their clothes as you can in your own carry-on (Spacebags or Pack-It cubes may help) and then have them carry any spillover and a few things from home in their own bag. This may be a few (or a combination of) small toys, a coloring book and some snacks. Anything that will make traveling less of a chore. If there is more than one adult in your party, this may be done more easily, and you will have everything with you when you land, saving you checked baggage fees and time waiting for your bags on the carrousel.

Europe in the Fall. I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t want to go to Europe and, despite what you may think, most European destinations are really kid-friendly. There are so many things to do and see that even the most fidgety child will be entertained. As long as you make time for resting and you aren’t go-go-go the whole time, you will all get a lot out of a trip there. Fall is by far the least expensive time to travel to Europe and is less crowded, meaning you can get to a lot more things in less time. This is awesome, because attractions and shops keep shorter hours, but that also means you can’t run your kids off their feet if your day isn’t as long and you’re forced to sleep or rest more than you would normally.

Visit developing countries. I think this is one of the best tips for everyone, not just those with families, because developing countries have lower economies and come with super affordable price tags for your entire vacation. You don’t have to cut costs if you don’t want to, because accommodations, dining and entertainment are all so much cheaper than at home. You’re also helping a country that depends on tourism to survive and finding an entirely new vacation experience. Countries like Ecuador, Belize and Peru are great examples, and if you want to go further, India or Morocco can be budget-friendly destinations, too.  These trips can be a total immersion for you and your family. This is a nice option if you have kids who like to try new things and meet people.

It might take a little extra effort and planning to travel with children, but it can be very rewarding in the end. It’s possible to save on many parts of your trip, making it just as affordable as before having kids when you didn’t worry (as much) about your budget. Your destinations are as open as ever and kids can only add to the fun of a new place with their excitement over things you may have long forgotten were exciting. Discovering the world with your family doesn't have to mean discovering more debt. Your little travelers can also fit into your small budget. So, pack your bags and have a great time!

I am entered into a competition to win $500 for the most liked blog on the site BlogSynergy. If you could take a moment to go THERE and click the “like” button, I would be forever grateful. I’ll thank you in advance, because I know you guys are awesome! (You don’t have to be a member of the BlogSynergy site, but you do have to be a member of Facebook. If you don’t already like me there, too, just pop on over and do it now…then you can get back to reading.)

So, as I said above, Ebates is sponsoring “man week”. What does that mean for you? Besides fun topics on golf, couponing, gadgets and other things men like, they are offering double cash back on some of your favorite online retailers! One of my favorites,Backcountry.com, is on the list this week for 8% cash back. They sell a wide range of travel clothing and accessories for men, women and children! Got some outdoor things you want to do and need supplies? Backcountry is sure to have it. Man Week ends on Monday though, so make sure you order by then.

Come over to the Frugal Living Community and join in money-saving discussions with me and my other frugal friends. You can join other discussions, too, and learn how to save money on fashion, groceries, travel and more! Blog Frog is a fantastic site that is comprised of bloggers and blog readers who share the same interests. In addition to joining different communities (Frugal Living is NOT the only one, just the one where I am a community leader and share most of my money-saving ideas), you can find other blogs that interest you, interact with other bloggers/readers and make new friends.