Your (Vegan) Summer Travel Guide 6.2.12

Summer is unofficially here and that means that everyone will be trying to travel soon. It’s estimated that approximately 74% of Americans have plans to vacation this summer and I’m positive that a good portion of them are vegetarian or vegan. With this in mind, I set out to find some great resources for vegan travelers that can help them find destinations to travel to and find easier eats on-the-go. Obviously, if you plan to road trip it, then you can easily bring food stuffs with you to fill in the gaps where you just can’t find a suitable dining establishment along your way, but if you are flying, it can be a little tougher to pack your bags with food for meals, and even harder if you aren’t staying in a place that has a kitchen.

Some of the best places to travel this summer in the U.S. to save a buck are probably not destinations you would have considered, but not only are they affordable, but it’s super easy to find vegetarian and vegan fare in America almost anywhere. Look at locations in the Midwest (Branson, anyone?), the Southern States, Las Vegas and the Gulf Coast. South Carolina has had some spectacularly low rates on condo rentals right on the beach. You can afford $50 per night for a 2-bedroom condo, right? Plus, you have built-in entertainment for a good portion of your trip with the ocean right there.

Other things to look for in these areas to save your pennies:

• Hotels that offer free WiFi, breakfast and parking. You can save a bundle by having breakfast taken care of each morning and also by not having to pay to check your email. 
• Galveston, Texas has a new theme park opening called Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier  with a crazy coaster that goes 100 feet straight up and whips you around at up to 50 mph.
•  Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a great offbeat theme park that adds a new ride every year it is open and this year they have unveiled a new “winged” coaster.
• Disney World says goodbye to Snow White’s Scary Adventures and expands Fantasyland. They are adding Dumbo’s Storybook Circus, which opens in July. 
• Universal Orlando has brought Despicable Me to life with an interactive, multi-platform ride/show/party called the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
• Sea World Orlando has opened Turtle Trek, a brand new habitat for fresh and saltwater turtles (and other sea creatures, like manatees).
•  Wisconsin Dells’ Noah’s Ark Waterpark is the largest waterpark in the Midwest. Race three other people on the new Quadzilla water ride!

VegNews loves travel and they bring you the top 10 Vegan Travel Essentials, though I think it’s a pretty universal list for all travelers, as they are things that will help anyone out on a trip.

Looking for somewhere more exotic to travel that is vegan- and eco-friendly? Here’s a list of non-U.S. destinations for you:

• Bahamas – Nassau is very popular, but affordable. For a less touristy location, check out Exuma Cays. Perfect for snorkeling and diving and avoiding hoards of people.   
• Belize – Beautiful and lush, you will find many eco-lodges here and locally grown produce everywhere you go.
• Berlin, Germany – Berlin has become a mecca for so many things. Not only is it becoming the hot new vacation destination for families, but now for vegans, too! VegNews recommends visiting Vöner, Chipps, and Lucky Leek.
• British Columbia – The Pacific Northwest is chock full of vegan dining spots and BC is no exception. VegNews recommends visiting Gorilla Food, Edible Flours, and Grub.
• Costa Rica – South America has so many amazing fruits and veggies that grow on the land that you almost can’t avoid eating some vegetarian meals.
• Ecuador/Galapagos – Another South American treasure. Try those yummy potato balls and other delicious produce that they grow everywhere while you’re observing the colorful wildlife.
• Greece – The economy is in ruins – just like many of the tourist attractions, ha! – so your dollar will go pretty far. Make sure you carry plenty of small bills, since if you pay in larger bills, you may not enough change back and could end up paying twice as much.
• India – Did you know that about a third of the country is vegetarian? Now you do! Make sure you ask about ghee, creams and cheeses in dishes before ordering. 
• Kenya – Even though you’re surrounded by wildlife, it’s still easy to find eco-lodges that specialize in vegetarian food. It would be hard to go on safari if you ate all the animals!
• London – Hotel rates are slipping and it’s always more convenient to explain your food preferences when people speak your language. VegNews recommends visiting Saf, Inspiral, and Manna Cuisine. 
• Thailand – Like India, Thailand is super easy to find non-meat cuisine. 
• Vietnam – Pack your lightest clothes, because it is hot and humid here. The economy lends itself to a meat-free diet, so you won’t have any problem finding a place to dine here.

Do you have a favorite vegan food destination that you’ve found on your travels?

Super Useful Travel Links 6.1.12

Having just come back from a mini-vacation that included a bit of a shopping spree (very little, mind you), I got to thinking about shopping on travels and how you can make the most of your money, but still come back with some pretty cool finds. I love to shop like the next gal, but I realize that if I spend $200 on some fancy shoes, then I probably won’t be able to eat the next day or go see that production/concert/attraction I’d really rather experience more than a pair of shoes I don’t actually need. I can probably find something similar – and so much more affordable – if I shop around and then just have to eat lunch somewhere cheap, instead of having to eat PB&J sandwiches for the next 6 meals. Markets are a travelers dream, because not only can you get handmade awesomeness that is made locally, but you can also save a bunch of money by haggling. Maybe you’ll even meet some fantastic people while you’re at it. In Ecuador, everybody we bought something from was super friendly and somehow had a connection to Portland. We loved it!

Have you been thinking about taking a trip to Paris? I would definitely recommend it, but it can get spendy if you don’t plan ahead (just like almost anywhere). If you’re looking for a more unique trip – with offbeat gems to bring home – then check out Bonjour Paris’ post on Markets of Paris. Outdoor, indoor, linens, antique tchotchkes, jewelry, art. You will find something to suit any shopping experience you hope to have and find some fabulous items in the process. 

Do you love shopping so much that you can get lost in it for hours? Have you ever been to a “mega-market”? If browsing for half the day until you have no idea how to get out of the market is your idea of heaven (or you’re just super picky and need a HUGE selection of items for sale to choose something), then you will want to read up on these 6 Mega-Markets from Nile Guide. You will find one for whatever part of the globe you are headed to and can get everything from handmade alpaca sweaters in Ecuador to crazy weird food and drink in Thailand.

I am a sucker for outdoor markets, flea markets, farmers’ markets and the words “Gift Shop”. I can look at things I don’t need or want for half the day, because it’s fun and because it is usually different from what I can buy or find at home. While in Bend this past holiday weekend, we hit up the “Saturday Market” and had a good laugh. It had maybe 30 booths and was held in a parking lot. One of Portland’s festivals – and even ones in the suburbs – has at least three to four times as many vendors. There was a good representation of everything one could want from a market: wooden toys, handmade scarves and hats, fancy soaps and lotions, healthy snacks, jewelry, jewelry and more jewelry and some guy who made electric guitars from recycled wood and cigar boxes. Amazing! We whiled away about 45 minutes and then headed off in search of other things on our itinerary.

Did you know that some ways of trying to get cheap airfare just don’t work anymore? Shocking, right? As times change, so do some of the old tried and true practices of travel planning. You don’t need to book 9 months in advance or stay over a weekend to catch yourself a deal. In fact, some ideas that used to be standard – like you can always choose your seat for free – are changing. Check out FareCompare’s 10 Old Rules That Said Goodbye and be a smarter traveler for the modern age.

If heading to London for the Olympics was on your to-do list for the summer, you’ll be happy to know that hotel rates have fallen an average of $20 per night. Everyone was so afraid of high prices that bookings have been slim and hotels are scratching their heads over it. While the Olympics seem to be really popular, staying in traditional hotels…not so much. So, you can expect a bit of a price break on stays in the capital now, especially if you’ve waited this long to make a reservation. And if you’ve booked already, see if you can’t possibly cancel and rebook for a better price. Unless you are charged a cancellation fee, you may end up with a screaming deal.

I usually don’t add my own links to this list, but this week I’d like to point you toward a post I did for FareCompare on travel apps. There are, like, a bazillion out there and some are just the suck, right? I’ve whittled down to a list of five of what I think are some of the most useful apps out there right now that can organize your travel and also help you get through the airport efficiently. You’ll spend zero dollars to make this happen, too. Just download and go!

Have you come across any great or interesting travel-related news or articles that you’d like to share?

Last-Minute Vacations for Less

Sometimes you just don’t have the time to plan your vacation, or you just find such a good deal that you have to book it and figure out the specifics while you’re packing your bags. When you have the luxury to travel in 90 days or less, then you can really find some great bargains. There’s no better way to travel on a budget than to find a package (or hotel) at a deep, deep discount.

Lastminute.com.au is the Australian site for LastMinute.com and has all the same great deals for last-minute hotels, last-minute flights and trip packages. How can they offer such good rates? LastMinute sells the last rooms and plane seats available in order to make the airlines and hotels money. They get customers and you get to save a bunch of money. Score!

I’m all for a site that can save me money to do things that I love. It’s also awesome when families want to get away, but their budget is tight and any savings can help them take their kids somewhere fun and not go into debt doing it. Whether they want to travel to other parts of Australia or want to explore the rest of the world, LastMinute has got them covered, and you if you want to travel to and stay in an affordable hotel in Australia. In fact, you can find hotels from the mid-$50s.

Have you ever wanted to fly on the fancy SingaporeAirlines or Qantas? You can do it for less! Save even more by booking on discount airlines like Jetstar and Virgin Blue. LastMinute has something to fit any budget, whether you are taking your annual vacation or need to fly last-minute for emergency or business. Make sure it’s your first stop for booking your trip.

LastMinute.com.au doesn’t just deal in quickly planned travel either. You can also book further in advance and still find money-saving flights, rooms and packages. This gives you more time to plan the finer points of your trip, like where you’re going to eat and what you’re going to do! You can find some excellent competitive rates, and for those of you who aren’t in or want to vacation in Australia, you can go to the main site and check out LastMinute for your country for airfare deals from where you live.

This sponsored post was brought to you by Lastminute.com.au.