Super Useful Travel Links

Happy Friday! I’m a little excited to be jetting off to Vegas for three days next month. Sadly, I think my list of things I want to see and do exceeds the hours I will be there – unless I decide not to sleep! As much as I love that Vegas is a 24-hour place, attractions aren’t open all day and all night and I once got there and didn’t have a room until the next day, so stayed awake all night and into the late afternoon and it was not pretty. I went straight to my room and look a nice long nap! After a while, the tireds get you more than the excitement of the slots and lights.

When you’re too tired to think straight, that is not the time to be wandering the streets or areas where you could get taken advantage of. New travel scams seem to pop up every day. It’s impressive how inventive crooks can be, but it just proves you need to be just as smart to keep from getting swindled. Here are 10 new scams to look out for. (Don’t most waiters need to take your card out of sight to swipe it at their station? I’m guessing this is a tip for less metropolitan cities.)

Planet Hollywood- Las Vegas, NV USA by Michael Miloserdoff

Again, I’m using Groupon to save on my trip. So far I’ve got a 2-for-1 certificate for a lunch buffet at the Spice Market Buffet in Planet Hollywood which is going to save us over $30. The other thing I’ve done to get discounts and freebies is to start playing MyVEGAS games on Facebook. Earn points when you play that you can turn into free comps. I traded mine in for two tickets to the Circus Circus Adventuredome and a free dinner and show at Excalibur’s Tournament of Kings. Eric is now playing, too, to earn a second ticket to Tournament of Kings, while I’m working on enough points for a fancy buffet for two. Between the freebies available in town and the freebies we’re earning, our trip is going to be even more affordable, making it really easy to splurge on ziplining on Fremont Street, entry to the Mob Museum and picking out some fun souvenirs to bring home.

This photo of Portobello Road Market is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Sometimes the best things you find at a vacation destinations isn’t something found in a gift shop, but something that has history. Where can you find such things at reasonable prices? Flea markets! Here are 17 of the world’s most awesome flea markets according to AFAR Magazine.

This photo of Pyramids of Giza is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Has the Lost City of Atlantis been lost all these years because it’s located in the Bermuda Triangle? Some scientists think they have found the city off the coast of Cuba, including giant pyramids and sphinxes. It’s possible it just wasn’t ready to be found until now, or those that found it previously have mysteriously disappeared! This may or may not be the real thing, but either way it sure would be a fun diving adventure for those into such a thing.



Plane On Runway by PHIL DOWNS



While it may be too late to book anything for this long weekend, FareCompare has some money-saving tips for your next long weekend getaway. Learn when to book, when to shop, where to go and more.

And if you’re one of those last-minute packers and are going somewhere fun this weekend, here are some tips to pack light:

• Shoes: Wear a pair, pack a pair (and make sure they’re comfortable).
• Clothes: Mix and match. For three days, you can get away with two tops, a pair of pants (the ones you’re wearing on the plane can be reworn), a pair of shorts, a dress and a jacket.
• Toiletries: Three days is hardly long enough to use much of anything. This is the time to dig out those samples of shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, sunscreen and anything else you have lying around and toss it in your 3-1-1 bag to save major space. If you’re lucky, you can throw away the empty containers before you come home.
• Electronics: You’ll barely have time for much. Bring your phone and one multi-functional item, like your iPad mini. You can use it to check email, play games, listen to music, watch videos and update your blog. This also minimizes cords you need to pack, unless you have an iGo charger and only bring one in the first place, which is always a useful thing to have.
• For more tips, check out my post on YouQueen.

Have a fantastic Memorial Weekend and if you have a few moments, I sure would love it if you took the time to do my reader survey!

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48 Hours of Fun on a Budget in Tucson

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.

Before I moved to Portland, I lived my whole school age years in Tucson, Arizona. It’s been a while since I’ve been back and I’m contemplating a trip in the next few years to visit friends and “family”. I’m totally happy I moved, but there are people and things I miss, plus Eric has never been, so he won’t be all “again?” when I want to eat somewhere I’ve been a million times. Tucson is actually an amazing budget travel destination where you will find unique things to do, plus the weather is lovely almost year-round, especially if you love the desert heat. Here’s what I would do on a two-day trip.

This photo of Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 1

We’ll assume you got in last night, which means you have time to get up bright and early and grab breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. Brawley’s is one of those places where folks line up outside to get a table and will wait around until one is available, because the food is plentiful and delicious, service is amazing and your bill will be much less than expected. Two can eat for less than $20, including a tip, and you may even meet some awesome locals. Brawley's has closed and my life may never be the same. I have it on good authority that a good substitute is Bobo's Restaurant. It's a little hidden gem that offers great food and great service at an equally great price. You can spend a comparable amount her as you would at Brawley's. $20 for 2.

This photo of Old Tucson Studios is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Get in the car and drive 15 minutes outside the city to Old Tucson. This is where all the old westerns were filmed and even some new ones. Wander through the Wild West and witness stunt shows, gunfights and musical revues, and take a tour of the city while learning about movies that were shot there and also the old ways of the Native Americans. It’s a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Admission is only $16.95.

Grab lunch at Big Jake’s Bar-B-Q before heading back out to see more of the park. While you’re there, try your hand with a rifle at the shooting gallery and ride the train through the desert landscape, where you might get a bit of a surprise. And don’t forget to get your photo done as a gunslinger or saloon girl. It’s a fun souvenir.

This photo of Magpies Gourmet Pizza is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Head back to town and make your way to Fourth Avenue downtown, where you can find some very cool boutique shops and the best pizza you may have had in a long time. Magpies has been voted best pizza in Tucson for the past two decades. You can’t argue with those kinds of stats! Kick back with a huge pie loaded with delicious toppings and you will love that you ended your night so simply.

Day 2

It’s breakfast time again! Head back to downtown and make a bee line to the B Line Restaurant. It’s a fantastic Mexican restaurant that is casual – you order and pay at the counter and grab a table where you will be served – and has amazing reviews, most for their yumtastic desserts, but also for their super-affordable entrees that are made with locally-sourced, and some fair-trade, ingredients. Everything on the menu is $10 or less.

This photo of Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Is it time for animals? I think it is! I love a good zoo, which Tucson has, but they also have one of my favorite places to go: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Slather on your sunscreen and strap on your walking shoes, because you’re going to be checking out all the wild and wacky, furry and scaly animals you’ll find in the Southwest. Say hello to gila monsters, javelinas, owls and more animals that thrive in the desert atmosphere. Very cool. Admission rates are just $14.50, unless you go during the hottest part of the year, when it is only $12.

After all that walking, you’re probably famished. You have to stop into one of the many Eegee’s locations around the city. If you like a Slurpee, you’re going to love Eegee’s! I have withdrawals still. They were a staple at every party we ever had. Choose from strawberry, piña colada, lemon or the flavor of the month! After making that tough decision, order a sub sandwich or salad and dig in. My favorite is the turkey sub, because it goes with any Eegee flavor.

This photo of Golf N' Stuff Family Fun Center is courtesy of TripAdvisor

It’s time for some fun! Head over to one of the funnest mini golf courses. Golf n’ Stuff is housed in a giant castle and you can chose from two different 18-hole themed courses, cool off inside playing arcade games or laser tag, test your luck at the batting cages or attack all your travel companions in a bumper boat. Get an all-park pass for just $22. I spent many, many hours over the summers here.

This photo of Little Anthony's Diner is courtesy of TripAdvisor

End your day with a huge meal of all your favorite diner classics at Little Anthony’s Diner. A hoppin’ 50’s diner where you can get a huge cheeseburger, chili cheese fries, meatloaf sandwiches and ever flavor malted you’ve ever dreamed of! As much as I love a good dessert, after a meal here, it’s almost crazy to think about ordering one, but you can do it! Tell your waitress you want the World’s Smallest Sundae. At less than a dollar and only a few bites, it’s the perfect ending to your short trip!

Obviously, there’s a ton of other stuff to do in Tucson, including a day trip to Tombstone, hiking and ghost tours. You may need a longer trip or plan to come back to see and do everything you want…and eat all the yummy food there. If you do everything I've listed, including meals, you'll have spent less than $300 for two people. Have you been to Tucson? What was your favorite thing to do?