Visiting Anaheim GardenWalk 11.10.12

Win awesome travel prizes in the BEST OF THE BEST HOLIDAY TRAVEL GIVEAWAY!

I’ve always been a big fan of shopping malls, but when I moved to Portland where the climate isn’t a million degrees 98% of the year, I was able to full appreciate shopping outside. Collections of stores coming together without a roof overhead that aren’t outlet stores have become more and more popular in Oregon. Being able to appreciate the weather while getting to window shop or getting in a bit of retail therapy. Our vacation rental in Anaheim was right across the street Anaheim GardenWalk, which thrilled me to no end, because it had restaurants, shops and entertainment all in one spot. We found ourselves there on at least three occasions.

Even though we were just a short drive from Disneyland and it could have everything you want in terms of entertainment and food, the parks close at some point and you can’t find discounts to dining establishments there and you always feel compelled to be on the move. Since we travel during the shoulder season, attractions aren’t open as long as they are during the summer and holidays. Because of this, we found ourselves with a bit more downtime than we could have had. This gave us a chance to try out some new restaurants, browse in stores we don’t have at home and get in a movie or two.

Our first trip to GardenWalk found us having dinner at Bubba Gump. Even though it’s a chain, we never get a chance to eat there. The last time we dined at Bubba Gump, we were in Cancun celebrating getting engaged, so it has been a while. (Portland really needs some of those great chains like Hard Rock and Chili’s.) We grabbed a coupon for a free appetizer from our lobby and then ordered coconut shrimp – how can you NOT? – and a chipotle chicken salad. The free app turned out to be their signature dip and chips that was worth $10.50. Score!

The next time we headed over to GardenWalk, we were going expressly to see a movie, so we showed up a bit early to grab a bite to eat. We weren’t starving and we had decided to split an entrée somewhere. We chose Bar Louie, since it was close to the theaters, had a simple menu and, being a bar, seemed to have fairly fast service. We split a yummy turkey and brie sandwich with some fries and then went up to the third floor to the UltraLuxe Cinemas.

UltraLuxe movies don’t start until mid-afternoon, but go late into the night. It may not be in Hollywood, but they make you feel like a celebrity. When you purchase your tickets, you pick the seats you want to sit in, almost like going to a live production. You see what’s available and choose your seats on the touch screen. UltraLux theaters are also the only ones to have special theaters with seats that move! If you’ve gone to a theme park 4D production, like Captain EO, Shrek 4D or Star Tours, you’ve enjoyed these seats before. You don’t get things sprayed at you, but your seat moves in reaction to things happening on the screen. We went to see Hotel Transylvania, which was not in the moving seat theater, but I was able to test out the seats in the lobby with a preview of Frankenweenie. It was pretty awesome, though I’m not sure 2 hours of that would be all that fun after a while.

Our last night in Anaheim found us at GardenWalk again. We decided to live it up with a trip to Fire + Ice. If you’ve eaten at a Mongolian Grill, you know how it works. You choose the meat, veggies and other toppings, along with a sauce and the chefs cook it up for you on a giant round flat top while you watch and wait. It’s great, because you can choose everything that goes into your meal. The downside is that it takes quite a while to get your food and if you don’t step up the grill with your party, you may not end up eating together at all. I enjoyed a great salad and several plates of different combinations. (Yes, there’s no mystery as to where my extra weight came from on my vacation.)

Other cool stuff in Anaheim GardenWalk includes a gym, bowling alley, fountains and murals done by local artists. While we were there, there was also a haunted house (with it being Halloween time and all). Even if you buy nothing while you’re there, you can still browse at unique shops – Fresh Produce and Hello Tokyo – and your favorite brand shops – LUSH Cosmetics and Skechers.

If you visit the Anaheim area, GardenWalk can be a great way to spend some time and also save some money on dining over the theme parks.

What do you think would be the most beneficial part of having GardenWalk so close to the theme parks?

Best of the Best Holiday Travel Giveaway

OMG! Can you believe this year is coming quickly to a close? Where did the time go? It seems like we were just ringing in 2012 and in just a few short weeks it’s going to be Thanksgiving. If you just read that and went “Eek! I haven’t even started my holiday shopping yet!” you probably aren’t alone. Lucky for you guys, I’m helping you to get a jump on your gift list by reviewing my best picks of the year. Not only that, but some of my favorite travel companies have been super generous in sponsoring this giveaway to give you a chance to win fabulous items for your own travels or to gift to a friend or family member who loves to travel.

he giveaway will go through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so you will be notified before your holiday dinner and save a few bucks if you win. If you don’t win, it will give you a chance to jump on any sales happening between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Yep, I thought of everything for you! And we’re adding a new feature to our giveaway! Share the giveaway with your friends and get extra entries!

So, let’s look at some of the best travel goodies we’ve reviewed over the last 12 months:

Photo courtesy of CarryOn Free

CarryOn Free – If you like to pack light or you are a frequent Spirit Airlines traveler, CarryOn Free has developed a bag that fits the exact specifications of a free carry-on bag. You didn’t know you could bring a carry-on aboard Spirit for free, you say? You’re not alone. Spirit buries that info deep in their site. With this bag that fits under their unusually small seat space you won’t have to pay $30, $45 or that new $100 fee for a checked bag. You can get a ton of stuff in this bag with some strategic packing and there are new colors and patterns now! Check out my CarryOn Free post to see how I got more than two days’ worth of packing in it.

Photo courtesy of CityPASS Facebook page



CityPASS attraction cards – Everyone wants to do more on their vacation, but they don’t want to spend a ton and go broke in the process. CityPASS cards are super easy to use and allow you to do almost twice as much as you would get to do with the same budget. Skip the lines, keep your wallet in your pocket/purse and save time, too! Read my CityPASS review here. Win it! A pair of CityPASS cards in your choice of city (excluding Southern California).


Photo courtesy of Conair

Conair – Toting around all your hair care appliances can really throw a wrench in your packing light plans. Conair makes wonderful products that translate just as well when they mini-fy them for your travel bag. I’ve had a chance to test three of the MiniPRO appliances: 3-in-1 Ceramic Styler, Cordless Curling Iron and Ceramic Straightener. All worked as well or better than current full-size products I use (or have used) and took up only half the space in my carry-on bag. This is perfect when trying to make room for other necessities and still look my best on vacation. Want to know more? Read my Conair review here.  Win it! Two new items: the MiniPRO dryer and the MiniPRO Deep Wave Iron (so jealous!). 

Photo courtesy of Footzyrolls

Footzyrolls – Shoes take up a ton of space in a bag and you don’t always want to be wearing your clumpy walking shoes on the plane when you have such little personal space the way it is. Footzyrolls are easy to pack and perfect for travel. Keep your feet happy, and still look put together, with a pair of Footzyrolls folding flats. They come in so many styles and colors, plus fit in your pocket. Once on the plane, take off those shoes you wore to save valuable carry-on space and slip your feet into a pair of Footzyrolls. It’s like being barefoot, but looks and feels better. They are also great at your destination, because they go with darn near everything and are a dream after a long day of walking, too. Mine totally saved my aching feet on my last trip when I needed to go to the lobby, but looking at my shoes made me cringe. Why wouldn’t you buy a pair (or seven)? Read my Footzyrolls review here.

Photo courtesy of GoLite

GoLite – You know you’re going to probably be traveling between now and the end of the year and taking a ton of bulky sweaters and pants to keep warm is going to make your travel bag very full and very heavy. Earlier this year, I reviewed the reversible Cayambe dress. It’s great for on-the-go and can be dressed up or down. It’s easy to wear and stretches with you (in case you eat one too many pieces of pie). Right now, you can get it for 70% off at GoLite, as they are transitioning to a new fabric and colors for Spring. Score! If you’re looking for something more casual and winter-y, GoLite makes awesome sweater and pullovers. They are attractive and super comfy and warm. I need more! Learn more about the Cayambe dress and my other GoLite purchases here.

Photo courtesy of Magellan's

Magellan’s – Who hates packing dressy pieces, because they seem to bulk up and take up all the room in your bag where you want to put jeans and tee shirts? Yup, me too! But, it’s the holiday season and you need to look good, whether it’s Turkey Day at your in-laws or an out-of-town business meeting. Magellan’s has taken the guesswork out of what to wear with their Matte Jersey Collection. From the faux wrap dress to separates, the pieces are comfortable, flattering and work with other pieces in your wardrobe. Did I mention they are wrinkle-resistant, have convenient pockets and don’t take up much space in your bag? You’ll love them. Read my review of the wrap dress here and the separates here. What's even better is they are all on discount right now!

Revlon – Going on a tropical vacation this holiday season, or just love to get to those warmer climates where you might be swimming or exposed to humidity or excessive rain (hello Portland!)? The Revlon Ultrasonic Conditioning Ceramic Straightener should be on your list – or for someone who sounds just like that. My hair is not straight when I come out of the shower, pool, ocean or monsoon. As much as I would like to let it dry au naturale and have it look as good as it did before it got wet, it just ain’t happening. This straightener will take your hair from wet to dry and beautiful in minutes. You can also use it on dry hair or sad, unmanageable hair to give it some oomph. Find out how in my Revlon review.

Photo courtesy of Runnur

RUNNUR – Tired of lugging around a day bag with you when you are trying to do activities where you would like your hands free? I know I do. With RUNNUR, you can take everything with you without really carrying anything. It’s awesome because you wear it like a seatbelt and it holds everything. Need a place to put your keys? Check. Need somewhere to put money? Check. Don’t want to keep holding onto that water bottle? Check! For real. The stylish RUNNUR works for men and women and is awesome for active travelers, plus, it looks really cool and futuristic. Want to see all the stuff I crammed in mine? Of course you do! See the RUNNUR review here. Win it! Your choice of size and color RUNNUR mini backpack.

Skyroll – And here we are again with the challenge of packing good looking clothing without taking a full-blown suitcase that you will have to check and pay for. Skyroll makes it easy to pack a lot in a little space. It’s the perfect companion for cruisers and business travelers, but also a bag you’ll want to keep around for romantic weekends and when you have to go to your brother’s third wedding. It’s a garment bag that rolls around a cylinder, which also holds the rest of your necessities. (I saw a business man at the airport with one on a recent trip and almost chased him down to talk to him about it.) Ever tried to pack a prom dress or a bunch of suits in a carry-on? Well, now you can actually accomplish that! See how in my Skyroll review. Win it! Get your very own Skyroll carry-on garment bag…in black!

Smart Destinations – When I go on vacation, I’m happy to do as little as possible to achieve my sightseeing goals. Since I’ve spent so much time planning my trip, I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor. That includes not having to pull out a wad of entry tickets or fishing around for correct change to pay for admissions. With Smart Destinations’ GoCards, you don’t have to. You have one card and it gets you into a ton of attractions by just letting the ticket-taker scan your card. It also saves you a ton of money. You can save up to 50% off. The more you use it, the more you save. See how I used mine in Los Angeles with my Smart Destinations review. Win it! A pair of 2-Day GoCards to San Diego.

Travelon Bags – Travelon has been a wonderful review partner over the last year. It’s no surprise that I love their bags and other products. They are well-made, look great and are made for both men and women to carry. Over the last 12 months I’ve reviewed the Anti-Theft React Weekender (which can hold almost a week’s worth of stuff!), the Anti-Theft Urban Tour Bag (my husband’s new favorite accessory) and the RFID Blocking Trifold Wallet (also a favorite of Eric’s). Not only do these items all look awesome, but they have a high degree of safety. You’ll be a hero if you gift a Travelon product this holiday. Win it! An Anti-Theft React Small Messenger with slash-proof construction. (shown above)

I would not endorse these products once, let alone many times, if I didn’t fully believe in them. We’ll be talking more about travel gifts as the holidays get closer, but I urge you to take another look at the items I’ve reviewed, as they are high-quality products that would make a great addition to your travel bag or for that hard-to-please traveler on your list.

Enter below to win one of the 6 giveaway items/packages. Enter once to be eligible to win any of them. All you HAVE to do is “Like” Shereen Travels Cheap on Facebook to be qualified. We have a new addition this time, too. Share the giveaway on Facebook or on a friend’s wall (from the post on our Facebook page) and gain extra entries. It’s unlimited, so share as much as you want – you know how much is too much – to up your chances. Winners will be chosen on November 21st and notified on that day. You’ll have until the end of the 24th to respond to your congratulatory email with shipping info before a new name is drawn and your prize is given to them, so make sure you check your email in case you have won. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to those residing in the U.S. Good luck!

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How to Eat Vegetarian on Your Travels 11.7.12

Whether you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, finding things to order when you eat out can be difficult and there usually isn’t much variety either. At least you can go home and whip something up to make you happy. Unfortunately, when you’re traveling, it can be even more inconvenient to find something healthy and tasty several times a day to satisfy your hunger that still sticks to your food ethics. You aren’t the only one that has problems finding dining resources. There are also those with food allergies, gluten allergies, lactose intolerance…and those that just plain don’t like certain things. Restaurants are beginning to branch out and make a broader range of food selections that can satisfy more food restrictions, all while being a bit healthier.

Many vegan experts suggest packing your own snacks, like peanut butter and soy nuts. Happily, you can get specialty food items in almost all destinations, so you can save room in your travel bag for things you actually WANT to pack, like clothes. You also save checked baggage fees, because you don’t need to bring those items at all. With a little more education on the subject, and chatting with a few vegetarian friends, I’ve now learned quite a bit about what you can and can’t eat and the different vegan substitute products on the market. I’ve even purchased some myself, in an effort to save money and eat better. And yes, you can save money by buying and using some of these products, like egg substitute, which you can use in your baking. It saves you money, because it last so much longer than a carton of eggs and it doesn’t go bad. But enough of my frugal shopping habits.

As a vegetarian, you aren’t just looking for foods to eat at your destination, but on the way as well. I found a great list of dining establishments found in most airports that cater to your needs, so you can eat before your flights and on layovers without having to live on the baggie of carrot sticks you packed in your carry-on.

On the Ground

Argo Tea

• Chickpea Salad (vegan)
• Garden Lentil Salad (vegan)
• Parfaits: Acai Banana, Green Tea, Mixed Berry
• Ruggelah: Apricot Pecan, Raspberry Almond
• Signature Muffins: Banana Nut, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppyseed
• Spinach Tomato Pesto Panini
• Tea Bite: Roasted Tomato Cheddar
• Tomato Garden Vegetable Salad

Au Bon Pain

• Apple Strudel (vegan)
• Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Chickpea & Tomato Cucumber Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Curried Rice & Lentil Soup (vegan)
• French Moroccan Tomato Lentil Soup (vegan)
• Green Bean & Beet Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Portabello & Goat Cheese sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Vegetarian Chili (vegan)
• Vegetarian Lentil Soup (vegan)

Auntie Anne’s

• Pretzels: Cinnamon Sugar, Garlic, Glazin’ Raisin, Jalapeño, Original, Whole Wheat (vegan without butter)

Charley’s

• Delight Grilled Vegetable Plate
• Philly Veggie (vegan without cheese or mayo)

Caribou Coffee

• Bagels: Cinnamon Raisin, Multi Grain
• Banana Bread – reduced fat
• Chewy Granola Bar
• Cinnamon Coffeecake
• Oatmeal: Classic, 7-Grain (vegan)
• Muffin: Better Morning, Blueberry, Cinnamon Streusel, Double Chocolate Chip, French Toast, Mountain Berry
• Pumpkin Pecan Bread
• Scone: Cinnamon Chip, Cranberry, Cranberry Orange, Lemon Blueberry, Maple Oatmeal
• Southwestern Black Bean Salad (vegan)
• Veggie Daybreaker Breakfast Sandwich
• Yogurt Parfait – low-fat

Einstein Bros. Bagels

• Bagel: Sundried Tomato (vegan)
• Bistro Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Chipotle Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Fruit Salad (vegan)
• Kettle Chips Classic (vegan)

Jamba Juice

• Any Drink

Moe’s Southwest Grill

• Burritos: Made to Order (can be vegan)
• Chips (vegan)
• Personal Trainer Salad (vegan without cheese)
• Tacos: Made to Order (can be vegan)

National Coney Island

• Hummus Veggie Sandwich/Wrap
• Vegetarian Pita with Fries
• Vegetarian Tuna

Panera Bread

• Bagels: Blueberry, Everything, Plain, Sesame, Sweet Onion Poppy Seed, Whole Grain (vegan)
• Classic Café Salad (vegan)
• Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean Soup (vegan)
• Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich (vegan without cheese)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (vegan)
• Sourdough Bread Bowl (vegan)

Starbucks

• Cranberry Flax Muffin (vegan)
• Fruit Cup (vegan)
• Hummus Plate (vegan)
• Multigrain Bagel
• Oatmeal (vegan)
• Organic Fruit Scone with Pecans (vegan)
• Plain Bagel
• Protein Plate
• Raspberry Bran Scone (vegan)
• Ratatouille Sandwich/Roasted Vegetable Panini
• Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich

In the Air

Cibo Express offers over 1,000 packaged, ready-to-go menu items that you can grab to eat on the plane. Many are vegetarian or vegan and are fresh and organic.

Most airlines don’t serve real meals anymore, but they do offer snack boxes. The airlines that offer vegan/vegetarian options are as follows:

American Airlines (vegan)

Continental Airlines (vegan)

Delta Airlines (vegan)

United Airlines (vegan)

US Airways (vegan)

Air Canada

British Airways

Aer Lingus (vegan)

Virgin Atlantic

Lufthansa

Air Malta (vegan)

Turkish Airlines

Qantas Airways (vegan)

Air New Zealand (vegan)

Indian Airlines

Cathay Pacific (vegan)

Malaysia Airlines (vegan)

Qatar Airways (vegan)

Singapore Airlines

Vietnam Airlines (vegan)

Unless you’re on an international flight, chances are you’ll be paying for these in-flight meals and snacks, so you may be better off bringing your own to begin with from Cibo Express or from one of the many other dining establishments above. If you don’t mind paying for a meal, make sure you request a vegetarian or vegan entrée well ahead of your flight to ensure the meal actually makes it onboard for you. Usually, you can choose food options when you book your flights. If that is a choice when booking, make sure you order it then, because some airlines will not let you change it later once your reservation is in the system.

Are you a traveling vegetarian? Have you found other food options at popular airport restaurants and delis? Had a good or bad experience with the meals on airlines? Let us know, so you can help your fellow trip-takers have smoother and more delicious travels!