Favorite Travel Photos 8.8.12

It has been a long week with a lot of new projects I’m trying to finish up as well as planning for a trip next month. Instead of talking about the Olympics, that you may also be sick of hearing about or making you cry over the end of Summer, I figured I would just post some of my favorite photos from my travels. The only tip I have for you today is that August 20th is approaching and that day you will see significant price drops on airfare. The last week of this month also will show some very good deals on vacations overall and is the best time to make reservations to save big bucks.

Does this remind you of Jurassic Park? It was filmed near here on Oahu, Hawaii.

I just love this little guy hanging out near his "big brother". At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

The view from our boat of the mangroves in Isla Roatan, Honduras.

Don't you love this view from our porch at the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge in Otavalo, Ecuador?

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

Even the crowds can't stop my love of the giant jack-o-lantern in front of the castle at Disneyland Paris.

Downtown Quito's historic charm.

Golfing for Less Green 8.4.12

Golf is expensive. I think this is a problem a lot of people encounter. How regular people can afford to go play almost every weekend is beyond me, but I know a lot of people like to do it. Well, I found some tips on how to save on such things that I’m going to share with you now, because I like that sort of thing and I think more people should get to play golf more often and not be forced to have to skip it when they go on vacation and have the chance to play new and exciting – not to mention challenging – courses. So, pack your golf shoes and some sunscreen and try using some of these techniques to hone your money-saving golf skills:

 

This photo of Golf del Sur is courtesy of TripAdvisor

• Book a less desirable tee time or less busy day to get a discounted rate.
• Buy an Entertainment Book for your vacation destination (if applicable) or use your current one to look online and find discounts on golf where you are going. They mark the books down in February and March, so you get an even better deal, plus you can get cash back on your purchase of one with Ebates (17.5%!).
• Use Expedia to book a reduced tee time rate on GolfSwitch. They have a network of golf courses worldwide where you can book ahead of time, get a good deal and, because you paid in advance, only have to worry about showing up!

 This photo of Crail Golfing Society - Balcomie and Craighead Courses is courtesy of TripAdvisor

• Many courses give discounts to residents. If you know anyone in the area that you’ll be playing in, see if you can get them to book for you.
• Rent your equipment when you get there. No sense in dragging your heavy clubs everywhere you go if you’ll only be playing one or two rounds while you’re on your trip. You’ll save by not having to pay (overweight) baggage fees each way and you won’t have your bag taking up all that space in your room. Your back will also thank you.
• Groupon! Sign up for Groupon for free and get up to 75% off dining, shopping and activities. This includes greens fees. I have seen many Groupons for lovely golf courses in the Portland area, so I have to believe that you can find equally good ones for your home area and other U.S. and international destinations (where Groupon is offered). It doesn’t hurt that you may also see Groupons for other things you may want to see and do…or eat!

What are some of your favorite ways to save on golfing?

Super Useful Travel Links 8.3.12

Can you believe it’s August already? This Summer (and year) are just flying by and it won’t be long and we will be ringing in 2013! Well, let’s not think about that right now. I’ve found a mish-mash of travel posts this week that are informative and at least one that is fun, but totally useless.

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Got a long layover, but not long enough to explore the whole city? The Time Traveler app from Yahoo! helps you create a custom itinerary on the spot that will show you what to do to make the most of the time you have in the city. The app is free in the iTunes app store and gives you maps, directions, allows you to save trips and itineraries and also share with friends and family. Fun, right?

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Sometimes you wish you could just spin the globe and point – like you did when you were a kid – to choose your vacation destination. Too bad globes are so rare these days and when you were a kid you didn’t have to worry about money. Well, Smarter Travel can help you take the guesswork out of going somewhere awesome and the grown up in you can plan a budget trip to get there. Check out the World’s Coolest Secret Tourist Attractions, which aren’t really secret, so much as overlooked. But don’t you want to go somewhere a lot of people don’t know about? Of course you do! Some of the amazing places listed are Newgrange, Ireland and Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. Now, that’s just fun to say.

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Want to learn how NOT to pack a suitcase? Obviously, it isn’t hard, but Jenna Mourey has me on floor clutching my sides with her video “How Girls Pack a Suitcase”. It doesn’t hurt that she’s super-hot and her dogs are adorable either. Tip: May contain cursing, so probably don’t turn the volume up full blast if you are at work or have small children in the room.

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I’m all about videos today. Instead of packing everything you own for a weekend trip, how about learning how to look chic on the plane, so you are both stylish and comfortable. Gadling shows you their must-have pieces for looking amazing and ready for everything. Don’t fret about the prices, because these items can be found from different brands for a fraction of the cost. I know, because I own most of them and didn’t pay $1,200 for a carry-on bag (or even all my items put together), though I’m thinking twice about those Yosi flats! I see an email from Piperlime featuring them in fun patterns.

Photo from Piperlime

Speaking of Piperlime, they have this great fall travel wardrobe that consists of 8 pieces that can be mixed and matched to make a ton of different looks Add a skirt or a dress and you are good to go for anything on a trip when it starts to get cool again. I also recommend taking this as inspiration and purchasing more affordable pieces elsewhere that won't break the bank. Old Navy has great items that are similar and are more budget-friendly.

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If you were thinking about going across the pond to get in on the Olympic celebrations in London, but thought it would be too expensive, you might be in luck. With 2 weeks left, you still have time to plan a quick trip if you can afford the airfare. With the insistence of the city claiming prices would skyrocket and crowds would be thick, it seems to have the opposite effect. Tourism in London is down. Like, really down. Travelers were afraid of the high accommodation rates and congestion, so they put off their trips. Now merchants and hotels are struggling to stay afloat this month. With only 80% fill rates in rooms, good deals can be found if you look around or even call and speak to the desk agent or the manager.

That’s it for me this week. Do you have any must-have travel pieces you’d like to share?