Last-Minute Summer Travel Deals 8.1.12

Don't forget to enter to win yourself a pair of Footzyrolls foldable flats.

So, August is upon us and some of you, I know, haven’t taken a vacation yet this Summer. If that’s because you’re saving for your Fall vacation, like me, that’s cool. If you wanted to take a trip, but couldn’t figure out how it would fit into your budget, what with the crazy high airfares and stupid long lines for everything, then I’m here to give you some tips on trips that are still doable and also affordable. If you can drive you will save more, but if you have to fly, there are a lot of airfare sales going right now that you might be able to take advantage of. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to see them all as they come up.

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Only a few weeks until the kids are back in school, so if you have them, you better start planning your trip yesterday! Just kidding, but really, get on it so you actually have TIME to go there before they are putting on their backpacks and you’re fixing their lunches.

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San Francisco – Yes, the city can be expensive if you don’t plan your outings properly, but there are lots of ways to save. One of the smartest things you can do when heading to a city that has expensive hotels and food is to stay outside the city. You can take public transportation or even rent a car. With the difference in hotel prices between San Francisco and, say, Oakland, Albany or Richmond, you’ll see how this could potentially save you hundreds off a vacation. Here are more ideas:

• Golden Gate Bridge – No trip to San Francisco is complete without at least driving across this beautiful bridge, but it is also open to pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours. At almost 2 miles long, it’s a great way to get exercise while also seeing amazing views of the city. Take a break to browse the gift shop and visitor’s center on the southeast side. There is a $6 toll coming back into the city though.
• City Guides – Local volunteers take tourists on free walking tours of the city. Find locations and schedules of tours online, by just searching for “free San Francisco walking tours”.
• Exploratorium – This is another hands-on science museum that teaches young and old alike about electricity and other scientific principles. Admission is free the first Wed of every month and it can take up around 4 hours of your day, or more, depending on how fun you find it.
• California Academy of Sciences – Free admission is available on the third Wednesday of every month. Explore exhibits at the academy, including the African Hall, Swamp exhibit, T-Rex skeleton and aquarium. You can also get to the CAS through Golden Gate Park. Parking is free on nearby streets if you drive yourself.
• Cable Car Museum – Just what it claims to be, you can plan to spend about an hour and a half in this free museum. Learn the history of cable cars while observing full-size cars and photos. Spend some bucks that you saved on admission on funky souvenirs made from cable car tracks.
• Boudin Demonstration Bakery – Almost everyone enjoys some good sourdough bread, and San Francisco is famous for it. Watch bread being made through observation windows and right upstairs from the bakery is a free museum that gives you the history of sourdough in the Bay Area.
• San Francisco Botanical Garden – Located in Golden Gate Park, spend an hour or two in the garden that’s open all year long. There is also a library and bookstore to browse after you’ve taken in all 55 acres of more than 7,500 plants. Every day, there are free guided tours at 1:30 as well. If you’re looking for something to take home, you can purchase plants at the nursery every Saturday. They claim there is a $7 entry fee for non-residents, but no one will ask if you just walk in.
• Lost Canyon Winery – In nearby Oakland, taste some of California’s best wines for free Friday and Saturdays from 1-6pm.
• San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club – Sure this is obscure, but it’s also fun. Get free lessons from club members in Golden Gate Park every Wednesday at noon.

This photo of The Alamo is courtesy of TripAdvisor

San Antonio has some awesome affordable sightseeing, which I wrote about here.

This photo of Pike Place Market is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Seattle is the birthplace of grunge rock, Starbucks, Nordstrom and Microsoft. Seattle is steeped in history and tradition, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll go broke visiting. Do some of the offbeat tourist attractions for a whole different view of The Emerald City. It isn’t full of convenient freebies, but you can do it for cheaper if you plan – and if you can’t visit on any of the following days look into getting a Seattle CityPASS for a big discount:

• Seattle Art Museum – Thursday is a great day to visit some awesome free venues in Seattle, including the Art Museum. The first Thursday of every month, SAM is free to visitors.
• Experience Music Project (known as EMP) – This interactive museum of music is free from 5-8pm on first Thursdays.
• Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame – The first museum devoted to Science Fiction shares a building with EMP and also has free admission on first Thursday from 5-8pm.
• Pike Place Market – The market is one of the oldest in the country and is fun to shop or simply walk around and marvel at the stalls, especially the “flying fish” at the fish stall.
• Coast Guard Museum – Located at Pier 36, explore the free museum of Coast Guard memorabilia.
• Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery – While you’ll have to pay for a ferry ride (which can be super fun) across the Puget Sound, you can take a free guided tour of the vineyards every Sunday at 2pm.
• Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyards is a short 15 mile drive from Seattle and offers a free wine tour and sampling.
• Redhook Brewery – For the beer-lovers among you, take a short drive northeast to Woodinville and take a brewery tour with 3-4 samples. You only pay $1 for a souvenir tasting glass.
• Freeway Park – This amazing park in downtown Seattle sits on 5 acres, overlooks the city, free Wi-Fi, a walking loop and in the summer offers free concerts and theater.

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Las Vegas is also a great money-saving option in August. You can read more about affordable options in my last Sin City post.

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If Los Angeles is on your list of must-visit destinations, you can look forward to a post on that on the 11th. I’ll be giving you my ideas for a fun 2-day trip in the next 48 Fun Hours on a Budget post.

Do you have a favorite budget travel location for the end of Summer?

48 Fun Hours on a Budget in New Orleans

In this blog series I show you how easy it is to budget travel anywhere and I also give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-hour itinerary.

When people think of New Orleans, I’m pretty sure they must think the city is all partying all the time. Mardi Gras isn’t an all-year occurrence, despite what those Zatarain’s commercials will lead you to believe. Of course, it’s still a city of jazz-loving, creole-cooking, beignet-eating folks, so a vacation there can probably take on a festive feel any time you visit. I begged a friend of mine (Lissa) for some insider tips on what to do and where to eat, since she piped up with this suggestion and loved her trip there so much, I think she’s planning many more.

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Between her choices and my own, I think you’ll find that New Orleans isn’t all beads and crazy Cajuns, but sometimes that’s what makes it a spectacular place to visit. The city itself can be spendy if you don’t plan ahead, too, so a weekend trip could add up to a pretty penny. Let’s see how much southern fun we can get in 2 days. I mean, it’s not called The Big Easy for nothin’. Now, I strongly suggest purchasing a Power Pass for the city, so you can save a bunch on your sightseeing. You’ll see why $95 for a 2-day pass is such a bargain when you add up each individual cost.

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Day 1 

We’ll assume you got in last night and can start the day off right with a “nutritious” breakfast of NOLA staples. Beignets at the famous Café du Monde with a café au lait made with chicory. You can eat here as early or as late as you want, because they’re open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with the exception of Christmas Day.

Head to the waterfront and stroll through Woldenberg Riverfront Park and take in the sites of the city along the Mississippi River, while enjoying street music and artists. If you want to bring home some authentic New Orleans souvenirs, keep some five- and ten-dollar bills in your pocket to purchase CDs and trinkets.



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If you have children with you – or just love some underwater views – spend a few hours of your day at the Aquarium of Americas. Run by the Audubon Society, you can walk through a Caribbean ref, touch stingrays, explore a rainforest, check out creatures from the Gulf of Mexico and much more. If you’re a member of the Audubon Society, admission is free, otherwise you’ll pay $21 for adults and $14 for children 2-12. Or you can use your Power Pass.

If you DON’T have children with you and would rather skip the aquarium, book yourself a French Quarter walking tour through Grayline and take to the streets for a few hours and learn about what makes the city so cool. The tours are run by locals and know everything there is to make it worth your while. Regular price for these tours run between $40 and $45, but one of your choice is included with your Power Pass.

Grab lunch at Café Pontalba and your wallet will thank you. Get traditional Cajun eats for affordable prices. While there, make sure to tip back an Abita beer, which is locally made and, so I’m told, a must-try. You can get away for as little as $8 per person here, but if you are looking to try seafood ad a beer, you can expect to pay more around $20-25. I’d be all over the shrimp po’boy, which would save you money and also give you a taste of the local fare.

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Climb on board an authentic sternwheeler! Cruise up and down the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez while you enjoy jazz, the engine room and maybe a cocktail on this two-hour tour. It’s guaranteed to give you some amazing views. This is another activity included with your Power Pass, but you could pay separately for it and it would cost you $25/$12.25 (children 6-12). [cheap alternative: Hop on the Canal-Algiers Ferry for free (if on foot) and get some of the best views of New Orleans from the Mississippi.]

Get an affordable and yumtastic dinner at Angeli On Decatur near the French Quarter for a twist on traditional Italian or check out Mimi’s in the Marigny where you can choose from a variety of hot or cold tapas. Plates run about $8 each, so if you chose four to share between two of you, you’ll come out even on what you would have spent on pasta goodness at Angeli’s.

This photo of Stella! is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Hit up Stella! for dessert. The lunch and dinner menu is quite pricey, but can be well worth the price if you’re up for a splurge. If not, make reservations through OpenTable for dessert and order the carrot cake. It comes with rum raisin ice cream and cream cheese sauce. Lissa says it’s so good, she can’t stop thinking about it.

This photo of Cafe Beignet is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 2

If you’re up early, cruise over to Café Beignet on Royal Street or Bourbon Street for a light nibble and coffee to tide you over until brunch. Everything on the menu is under $10. They even offer lunch if you like what they have to offer by way of affordable eats.

Feel like a little drink in the morning? Head over to Frenchman Street and take a tour of the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery. For just $10 you get transportation to the distillery, a tour, a rum cocktail and tastes of their four rum products. Unfortunately, this is not on your Power Pass, but you can’t beat a ten spot for five drinks.

Not sure that 9am is a great time to be getting your drink on? Then maybe spend some time trying on costumes and learning everything there is to know about Mardi Gras. Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World builds the floats for the celebration and is full of props, costumes and sculptures, too. You can get picked up by their free shuttle and get in on a tour that starts every 30 minutes. This attraction is included with your Power Pass, or you can fork out $19.95 for each adult or $12.95 for children under 12.

This photo of Commander's Palace is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Splurge on a jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace. It’s a little out of the way, sitting in the Lower Garden District, but the service is amazing, the food is delicious, the view unbeatable and diners claim you feel like a super star when you eat there. What else can you ask for? Not much. You get what you pay for here…and then some. Look to spend around $30-40 per person on your meal, but it will stick to your ribs and it comes with a live music performance.

Head over to a piece of Louisiana history and take a tour of the Cabildo house which was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer and the victim of political and racial feuding that caused it to be subjected to gunfire on three separate occasions. Now it holds 200 years of history and you can tour it to learn more about the city and see how it was once a city hall, courthouse and prison. Admission fees are $6 for adults and free for 12 and under. Get 10% off with AAA membership or 20% off if you purchase admission for more than one museum with it. They are closed on Mondays. This is a Power Pass attraction. If you don’t buy one, entrance fees are $6.



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You can’t visit Nawlins without experiencing a swamp, now can you? Your Power Pass gets you a 90 minute boat tour with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Because the animals see these boats every day, they are unafraid and will hang out right in the open, letting you see more than you imagined. You can arrange for your own transportation or without a Power Pass, get picked up and dropped off for $49/$25 with tour. If you purchase online, you can drop that down to $42/$21.

Lissa suggests heading over to Royal Street to see if you can’t catch a street show by Tuba Skinny. They specialize in traditional jazz and from the 20s and 30s. You can also see them at various venues around town.

It’s time to grab a bite to eat for dinner. Since you spent so much on brunch, you can give your wallet a break and try red beans and rice or any number of delicious seafood dishes, including oysters done a variety of ways, at Acme Oyster and Seafood Restaurant in the French Quarter. You may have to wait in line for a while to get in and get your food, but Fodor’s highly recommends the wait, as must many locals. You can certainly make it out of their spending under $20 per person.

This photo of Haunted History Tours of New Orleans is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Another must is to take either a ghost or vampire tour. With all the voodoo talk and its haunted past, New Orleans has some fantastic tours if you aren’t afraid of the dark (or even if you are and like a good scare). Haunted History Tours offers a variety of tours to suit your preferences and, at just $20 per person, you can join a small group for 90 minutes and get all shivery.

Make sure to pack your bags before you fall into bed.



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So, while New Orleans isn’t the most budget option of destinations, you can still do a lot of things in a short amount of time for not a fortune. If you choose to purchase the Power Pass and eat at the suggested restaurants, then you will spend an average of $240 per person. If you choose to pay for entrance fees as you go along, you will spend an average of $300 with or without kids. A $60 savings per each traveler is pretty darn good. Obviously, your children will not cost as much as an adult, so factor that into each cost as well. I hope this gives you a great start on your trip to The Big Easy.

What are your favorite things to do on a budget in Cajun Country?

Review and Giveaway: Footzyrolls Foldable Flats

Ballet flats are all the rage right now, as is any shoe that will give your achy feet a break and also look stylish. Footzyrolls is a company formed by two sisters that were tired of having no cute options for when their heels made their feet hurt like nothing else. When you just can’t walk any further, you definitely don’t want to rip your shoes off and go barefoot. Well, you do, but not really outside. You don’t know what kinds of germs lurk out there. So, the sisters put their heads together and came up with shoes that you could throw in your purse that fold up to nearly nothing and really give your feet that comfy feeling of being barefoot, but still giving them a bit of support and a lot of style.

Of course I jumped at the chance to review something that is both on-trend and also a fantastic option to throw in your travel bag that won’t take up much room. My first thought for these foldable, rollable shoes was for long plane rides. I don’t know about you, but I’m the first that wants to kick off their shoes and settle in. People will give you dirty looks when you do it, and walking down the aisle to the bathroom in socks or nothing isn’t a particularly appealing option either. You aren’t at home, after all, and sometimes that bathroom linoleum can feel like a movie theater floor. Ick! Cue, Footzyrolls! Ditch your shoes and slip your feet into an attractive pair of flats. You’ll feel like you’re wearing your favorite slippers, but still look put together.

I was able to test out a pair of the white Boston style of the Luxe line. With the basket-weave look, they are quite striking and would go with almost any outfit you wanted to wear them with in the spring and summer…and if you throw caution to the wind and break all rules about white in the winter months, you could wear them the rest of the year, too, though probably not if you’ll be hiking through the snow.

 Look! Great with a dress or shorts, too.

They are well-constructed and also have a bit of a cushioned foot bed, which I was surprised at for this kind of shoe. Many I’ve seen have no padding, except on the bottoms, so you can wear them outside. This is nice, because it gives you a bit of support and doesn’t make you feel like you are walking on rocks. In fact, I wore them out to dinner and strolling down the street was a pleasant experience, making me think that if you wanted to wear these out sightseeing, they would be a great choice.

They come in this handy pouch!

If you’ll be doing some serious walking around town, you may want to test these out before you leave home, but they would be fabulous for going out and making you look great whether you have on slacks or a dress. They also will take up way less space in a bag than heels or wedges and won’t torture your feet after a long day out walking.

Fold 'em!

Roll 'em!

I’m loving these as an alternative to flip flops, as they look a lot better and don’t make noises when you walk. They go with everything, be it shorts or a frilly skirt. No matter what you do to them, they won’t lose their shape either, so stuff them in your travel bag or toss them in your day bag for when you need a break from your other shoes. They fit snugly and come in size ranges, so if your feet swell while in flight – or after walking 6 miles at the theme park – they will still slip right on and off. You can sport delicate looking Footzyrolls, loafer-esque styles, sporty ones or even cozy, lined winter flats.

3 more styles I'm jonesing for: Komfyz, Hamptons and Gigi

  

Additional information

Where you can buy them: On the Footzyrolls website.

How much they cost: $22-45 - and they ship internationally!

Colors they comes in: All the colors of the rainbow…and some fun patterns, like gingham and animal print.

Sizes they come in: Select from Small up to Extra Large. Footzyrolls fit ladies US sizes 5 to 11.5.


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Disclosure: I was given a pair of Footzyrolls for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are my own.