Review: GoCards from Smart Destinations

I love nothing more than saving money on my vacations. It makes me giddy to see how much I would have spent and the actual total for my trip getting lower and lower. I don’t care how long it takes me to find discounts, but lucky for me Smart Destinations makes it super easy to save big and do a ton on your trip. They offer GoCards (and GoCard Select) for 9 U.S. cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Oahu, Orlando, San Diego and San Francisco. They bundle a bunch of travel activities and attractions into one card to help you save money, do more and prepay for your entertainment, so you don’t have to worry about how to pay for each thing you do once you get there.

GoCards allow you to skip the ticket queues and go straight to the turnstiles at most attractions. You present your card and either are admitted entry right away or get an admission ticket to use on your way in. I was provided with 2 two-day Los Angeles GoCards and we had more than enough things to choose from on our trip. In fact, there were so many options, we had to make some decisions about what we definitely wanted to do and what we could do without.

We planned to spend one day in Hollywood and another day on the coast – in between our theme park days and other activities – so we chose attractions in both places and set out to save as much money as possible (even if these things weren’t paid for by us). The more you use the cards, the more you save. Had I not been provided promotional tickets for this review, I would have purchased the cards on my own to do these things.

Day 1 – Los Angeles/Hollywood

We drove to Hollywood early in the morning to take in breakfast at the famous Mel’s Drive-In (not really a drive-in) after reading about how many diners enjoyed the morning selections. I also had a Groupon. Then we followed it up with:

Movie Star Homes Tour by LA City Tours – These tours are great, as they are in small groups (around 10), so you have time to ask questions and also aren’t crammed in a bus with a ton of other tourists and not able to get photos of what is being talked about. Not only did we see some amazing homes of stars, like Simon Cowell’s palatial estate, but we also passed by famous Hollywood landmarks like the Viper Room and places where celebrities have been spotted, like the El Pollo Loco where Brad Pitt once worked. This tour is generally $49 per person.

Tour of the Dolby Theater (formerly the Kodak Theater) – The Dolby is the permanent home to the Emmys and, during the two months they aren’t setting up and taking apart things for that, Cirque du Soleil. Right now they are performing Isis, a movie-inspired performance. What more would you expect from a theater in Hollywood? Tickets are normally $15. The tour is 30-60 minutes long, depending on how many questions are asked, and you learn about who gets invites to the Emmy’s, security, the red carpet and VIP areas. We showed our GoCards at the box office and got two admission tickets.

Eric making a deal he can't refuse

We had afternoon tea reservations at 3:30 at the London West Hollywood and then we returned to Hollywood and Highland to visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Usually, I avoid it because it seems terrifying. I figured since it was virtually free it wouldn’t be the worst decision in the world. At first, it was scary, but then I got into it and it was really fun. Eric thought it was hilarious when I ran away from the wax figures. Regular admission fees are $30 per person and even though it was a few minutes past the 5:30 pm cut-off, they still let us use our cards.

By now it was getting dark, so we checked out the hand and footprints in front of Mann’s Chinese Theater, appreciated the lit-up front of the El Capitan Theater owned by Disney and then went back to Anaheim.

Day 2 – California Coast

Several days later we headed to the beaches, since we always skip going to them when we are in California. This time we had many, many days to fill and we felt we should do it at least this once. Our first stop was in Long Beach at the Queen Mary. We got there super early – we were so used to everything taking forever to drive to – and we had a leisurely breakfast at the café on board. When we went to get our tickets for the tour we were told that our cards didn’t work.

Unfortunately, we weren’t told that our promotional passes were only good for consecutive dates (normally they are valid for two weeks from your first use), but on the plus side, Smart Destinations’ customer service is amazing and friendly and they let me know that even though our cards were deactivated, we could still use them by calling at each destination and letting the rep talk to the ticket office. We were a bit behind schedule at this point, so we left and headed to Venice Beach. If we had stayed, the Queen Mary tour tickets would have usually been $25 each.

After a nice stroll along the Venice Canals and the beach, we headed to Santa Monica where we used our cards and customer service to get wristbands for Pacific Park. We rode the only solar-powered Ferris wheel in the world, the only West Coast steel oceanfront rollercoaster on a pier and other fun rides. Unlimited ride bracelets are generally $23.

Because there was a party at Pacific Park that night, we skipped going to the aquarium and used our GoCards and customer service to get seats on the Santa Monica Hop-on, Hop-off Bus. If you’ve been reading Shereen Travels Cheap for any amount of time, you know how I’m obsessed with these. Instead of paying $40 for each of us, our tickets were included with our cards. We got a lovely ride on an open-top double-decker bus along the coast and through Brentwood, Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. The bus has running commentary along the route and you can stop off at a number of places along the way.

Even with the misunderstanding of how the promotional cards worked, the GoCards were super easy to use and gave us quick entry into every attraction we went to. Had the traffic into Hollywood not been so slow on Day 1, we also would have squished in the Hollywood Museum, which would have run $15 for regular entry. The GoCards Los Angeles allows you to gain entry into 39 attractions in total. A two-day pass costs $110 and we used $157 worth of attractions. If things had gone as planned (as if they ever do), we would have saved $92, instead of $47, but even so we saved 30% off the regular cost of all the attractions we did.

GoCards are great budget traveler take-alongs. They help you do more on your trips and stay within your vacation allowance at the same time. Who doesn’t love that? If you’re going to any of the cities where they are offered, you should definitely look into getting them for your travel party. You can get them for children, too, at a discounted rate.

More information

Where you can buy them: SmartDestinations online

How much they cost: varied

Other specs: GoCard and GoCard Select available for Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Oahu, Orlando, San Diego and San Francisco.

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Disclosure: I was provided two GoCards for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Stress Free Sojourns: A Week in Agadir from Heathrow

Travelling slightly out of season is ideal for those who prefer a quieter time away. As the school term starts again in September and the heats of July and August cool slightly, getting away is both more calming and cost efficient. Agadir in Morocco is an excellent beach resort for a restful respite.

This photo of Travelodge Heathrow Central is courtesy of TripAdvisor

With the low cost and tranquil ambience cutting a huge amount of stress out of your stay, why not eliminate all pressures and look for Travelodge deals on Heathrow hotels. Booking into the hotel for a night before you fly can ensure you are right on the doorstep of terminal one.

When your early morning flight calls, say goodbye to last-minute packing and early morning jaunts on the motorway. Shuttle buses from Heathrow hotels take you right where you want to be in just a few moments; no more unnecessary early mornings, just an additional hour or two of rest before you head off for your flight.

Photo credit

During late September and October, you can expect temperatures in Agadir to reach into the mid-20’s degrees C. With averages hovering around 25 degrees C, sunbathing with a holiday read is definitely in the cards.

Many hotels in the resort have onsite spa facilities for that extra touch of tranquillity while you are away. Why not indulge in some treatments as well as making use of the typical spa amenities? Le Musee de l'Argan is a top spot in Agadir for massages and facials if you want to experience an authentic Moroccan spa.

This photo of Taddanga Surf School is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Surfing is a popular pursuit in Agadir. The seafront location is perfect for those who have a passion for the sport and are looking to spend their time abroad riding the curl. Complete novices are not forgotten; surf schools are on hand to offer guidance in how to master the waves.

The soft sands of Agadir Beach are met with twinkling clear waters. Those who like to laze in the sun and spend their stay rejuvenating from the humdrum of life at home will find everything they need nearby. Flit between the loungers, the watersports, and the beach side cafes.

This photo of Horse Back Riding & Camel Riding at Ranch Amodou Cheval is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Wherever you go in Agadir you are guaranteed striking landscapes. Venture outside of your hotel during your stay and make the most of the breath-taking beauty of the resort on horseback.

For under £20, Horse Back Riding at Ranch Amodou Cheval can arrange transport to and from the ranch from your hotel. Try sunset rides or swimming with the horses for a truly memorable excursion.

Bargain escapes in the sun are now online for October getaways in Agadir. Choose to travel towards the end of the season, during term time, to ensure you hit the beach during the quietest period.

Look forward to stress free sunbathing, top class accommodation and unforgettable excursions. Start your trip as you mean to go on with Travelodge deals on Heathrow hotels.  The best rates can be secured in advance online now.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post brought to you by Travelodge Hotels.

Review: Travelon RFID-Blocking Trifold Wallet

Today’s review is for the men out there (or the ladies who are looking for holiday/birthday gifts already), and it’s a good one. While I’m waiting for some brand new travel bags to come in, Travelon asked me if I’d like to choose a product to review while on my trip to Anaheim and LA. My husband is a wallet “collector”. I think mostly it’s because he never finds just the right one, but he will pore over a selection of wallets like I do with a wall of shoes. He will buy one or two and be excited about the current one for about three days and then declare he hates it and go back to his old beat-up one.

Now, I can tell you I adore 95% of the shoes I buy, so I don’t understand what it is about a wallet that makes it “unacceptable”, but I don’t have to carry it, so I don’t tell him anymore that it will probably end up in the donation box in a week. With the huge choice of items on the Travelon website, I asked if he might be interested in trying one of their RFID-blocking wallets, since he was talking about getting one before our next trip. He jumped on the opportunity and chose one that was similar to his regular wallet – a trifold jobbie with slots for plenty of cards and a separated bill compartment.

For those of you who don’t know, there are now these nifty little electronic gadgets that thieves use in large tourist areas and airports that can steal all your credit card numbers and other important info. You never know that you’ve been robbed, because all your cards are still in your wallet. Your balances can be run up while you’re on the plane or sleeping and you won’t know what happened until you go to use a card and it gets declined. Serious travel catastrophe!

Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive as to what he would think of this new wallet that, like many of the other wallets he has purchased, looks much like every billfold he’s liked, but also detested. Once it arrived, he got all excited. I wondered how long it would last. Surprisingly, we’ve been back from vacation for almost a week and he’s still using and loving it! Here’s what he says he loves about it:

Looks great – Obviously, he chose the style he did because it looks great and is sleek and classic looking. It also has super features that make it even better. It’s made of soft cowhide leather, but we both agree that it looks even better than a normal leather wallet and it appears to be much more flexible, allowing it to stretch when needed.

Peace of mind – If you (or your man) worry endlessly about almost everything, especially money, then an RFID-blocking wallet is totally something to put on your wish list. Eric is always mulling over something that may or may not be important and ruining his own good time. This gave him several things to cross off the list. He knew his information was safe and he wouldn’t have to deal with an avoidable travel disaster in the middle of our trip. 

One of the big things he worries about is having to work with people he doesn’t know to solve a problem. At home he can just pop into his local bank branch, but on vacation, we may have to talk with new customer service reps or even people he may not understand if we’re in a foreign country. If we can eliminate some stress fairly easily, I’m all for it, since his worrying can also ruin the day for me, too.

Large compartments – While this wallet is the same size (and maybe a tad smaller) than your regular wallet, the compartments are large and can hold a fair amount of money – if you’re lucky enough to have it. The section for paper money is divided into two sections, so you can use the one section for domestic bills and the other for foreign, or you can do like Eric does, and probably a lot of other men do, and use one for money and the other for receipts. He tends to collect receipts for a week to a month before he cleans it out and starts over. Look at all the paper he has in there! And it still closes just fine.

Plenty of card slots – Even I know the annoyance of not having enough slots for cards in a wallet…or having a ton that you don’t use and make your wallet too bulky if you do use them. The Travelon trifold wallet has 7 card slots. You may not think this is a lot, but it appears it’s just the right amount. The slots are just wide enough that the cards slide in and out easily – no more struggling to get your debit card or ID out every time you need them. Not only that, but you can put more than one in a slot if you need to. This doesn’t mean that they are all loose in there and your cards are going to just fall out everywhere. They are still super secure.

Eric was able to put our theme park tickets in a slot along with any FASTPASS tickets we were waiting to use and our room key. Now that he’s home, he says he will keep all of his insurance info in one slot (convenient to have it all together), but that it is also perfect to be able to put more than one of your million rewards cards in, so you aren’t using one slot for each one and then have no space for important credit cards and identification.

Overall, he has had no complaints with this wallet and loves the durability of it. The soft cowhide will last for a long time and the matte finish will not crack like those shiny leather wallets always seem to do. It’s a winner! He says he highly recommends it and is excited to find what he considers the perfect wallet [actual opinion!]. It’s compact, even when totally full and doesn’t make your pocket unusually bulgy either.

This is not the only style of RFID-blockingwallet that is available through Travelon. There is something to suit everyone’s preferences, from front-pocket styles to billfolds to cardholders with a money clip. If you’re a lady looking for a new wallet for your travels (or every day), then you can find RFID-blocking ones in all shapes and sizes as well! Again, with the holidays rapidly approaching, this is a great time to start your shopping, especially if you have a hard-to-buy-for person on your gift list. Everyone carries money and cards of some kind and, even though these are particularly great for travelers, they are not limited to them. Check out their awesome selection!

More information

Where you can buy it: Travelon online

How much it costs: $30.00

Colors it comes in: black or brown

Other specs: RFID blocking card slots, 3.5″ x 4.25″ x 0.63″ (closed), 8.74″ x 4.25″ x 0.13″ (open), soft cowhide leather.

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Disclosure: I was provided a wallet for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine or Eric’s.