Super Useful Travel Links

Are you freaking out that it’s already November? Have you booked your travel yet for the holidays? Whether you’re visiting family and friends or going on a real vacation, the sooner the better. This is something that I wrote about in my last newsletter – you can read it here and also sign up for future issues here – and I know a lot of people struggle with. I’m not going to talk about where to go and what to do on your trips, because that’s not what this series is about, but we are going to talk about some new things happening in the travel world that could make your holidays (and all your other trips) better and/or cheaper.

Would you book a flight to an unknown destination if you could get a great deal? The folks at FlyRoulette think you will and will give you enough notice to pack your carry-on with the right items and will even give you a rockin’ deal on a hotel. This is not the type of travel for everyone, but budget travelers with a sense of adventure may find this to be the new way to see the world.

Shorter lines at the airport might just be around the corner. Does it feel like sometimes security takes  F O R E V E R  to get through? Let me tell you, I once came back to Portland through Miami and because we were flying internationally, we had to leave security, get our luggage and wait in line to go back through security and we must have been in that line for a good hour. Worst set-up ever. It didn’t help that every single person who worked at the airport (with the exception of two awesome ones – TSA agent who checks your ID against your real-life face and customs agent who stamped my passport) was the grumpiest person who ever walked the earth. I will never fly through that airport again if I can help it, even if lines get massively shorter. The USTA is fighting for this reality. Dare we dream?

Speaking of awful airports – *cough* LAX *cough* – some are just better at things than others…like actually getting you somewhere on time. I guess not every airport prides itself on having flights that leave when they say they will or having a layout that is conducive to getting to your next gate. If you have to get from Gate A1 to Gate D45 (God, help you) for a connecting flight, you should not have to rent a Vespa to get you there in a reasonable amount of time. Check out the gate-to-gate convenience and on-time records of the best and worst connecting airports as reported by eTurbo News.

photo credit

Getting around in a new city can be hard, even if you’ve studied the map so much that it’s embedded in your brain. Just because you know where Main Street and 234th Avenue meet doesn’t mean you know how to get there or navigate public transportation efficiently. Gitana Stark has 9 tips to get you around that make you say “Duh! Why didn’t I think of that?”

I love gadgets! Not that I need more for traveling, but that doesn’t mean I won’t buy any anyway. Real Simple has compiled a list of 10 things that will not only make your travel easier, but also more fun! Who doesn’t want to get excited just by planning a trip?

This is free!

Have I mentioned how much I love Lonely Planet? I do. I really, really do. Not only do they cater to travelers who don’t have an unlimited travel budget – looking at you, Frommers – and are fun to read, but they are crazy-informative. Hardly a trip goes planned that I don’t hit up their website (or books. I still buy those!) for suggestions on what to do, where to eat, how to act at my chosen destination. If you start to hyperventilate before the planning is over, then they have some tips for you on how to deal with travel anxiety.

Let's do this!

Apparently, I’m not the only one who wishes a plane was more like a bus. Not in the stinky weirdos sitting next to you, trying to smell your hair kind of way, but the multiple door boarding kind of way. Why must we lowly coach passengers have to march through the first-class cabin getting sour looks from those fancy people who pay thousands of dollars to have some extra legroom? Obviously, they don’t like us doing it either, especially when we accidentally whack them in the shoulder with our carry-on and send their free champagne into their lap. Yep, that was an accident. Anyway, back to what I was saying about planes being like buses. Alaska is trying the two-door boarding technique. If it works out, then probably it will do it on all their flights and maybe more airlines will do it too. But, what about paying for priority boarding? Would you do that? FareCompare also shows us some other options as well as why traditional boarding sucks for everyone.

Like me, most of you are stuck riding coach. It can’t be helped for the budget-traveler, unless you amass billions of frequent flyer miles and get that coveted business class or first class seat. I feel as if this somehow ever happened to me, I would be ruined for coach travel for life and be sad every time I stepped aboard a plane from that point on. It’s better for me to not know what I’m missing. So, for those of us that never get upgraded and aren’t willing to pay gazillions of dollars to get a free hot towel and meal served with real metal utensils – I can just pack my own – then check out Skift’s post on airlines with the most “extra legroom” seats and how much it’ll cost you to snag one.

So, what do you think? Is this making your holiday travel look more promising? If you’ve found a great travel link in your perusing of the interwebz this week, please feel free to share it in the comments so we can all be enlightened! Until next time, or as the French say: Jusqu’à la prochaine fois! {I’m guessing.}

Infographic: Which Hotels Have the Best Rewards?

You always want to get the most out your travel dollar, so when you can also use a travel reward program to help you earn more travel, that's a great thing. It seems like everyone and their mother has a rewards program of some sort. In fact, maybe your mother has one, too - do chores for 10 desserts, get one on the house. Might be a new fun way to get  your kids to do the dishes and clean their rooms. Of course, those sweets aren't going to get you closer to a free hotel room or a fancy upgrade, but these reward programs will, though some are definitely better than others. 

Hotel Rewards Points: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet infographic by NerdWallet.

Do you have a favorite hotel rewards program? Or a favorite hotel chain? I am partial to Accor and La Quinta.

5 (more) Affordable European Getaways

I'm back with another five destinations in Europe that will help you keep some money in your bank account. If you missed the first five, check them out here. I love Europe and hope to get to more countries in the near future. On our short list is Spain, Greece and Germany, some of which are on this list of affordable getaways. Of course, if you plan ahead and do your research, almost all trips can be more budget-friendly. So, check out these options to add to your own short list.

This photo of Vienna is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Vienna, Austria – Got a sweet tooth and also think ice skating sounds like fun? Vienna, Austria just opened a huge free ice rink. You just pay to rent skates. If you’re already in Europe, RyanAir has some fantastic flight deals. When you get there, strap on your skates and get some exercise, then put back the calories you just burned off with a dessert buffet. Try famous Viennese sweets like Sachertorte, Palatschinken, Knödel and grab a quick bag of Maroni on the streets (those are hot chestnuts). Vienna is a great place to buy “street food”. There are many types of sausages available at street vendors and you can visit the Naschmarkt that sells stalls full of local and international foods. If you need to warm up, try some of the local wine, as Vienna is one of few world capital cities that has its own vineyard. 

This photo of Prague is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Prague, Czech Republic – Prague is a winter wonderland in December, plus there is so much to do for super cheap or even free! Some of those awesome free things include the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. These destinations are popular with tourists for a reason. You can save a little more and avoid crowds by sightseeing in the suburbs. Žižkov, Vinohrady, Smíchov and Holešovice are all great to explore with their parks, bars, museums and historical architecture. Street food abounds, too, which is easy to eat on-the-go and doesn’t leave your wallet empty.

This photo of Berlin Wall Museum (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie) is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Germany – The site of both World Wars, Germany has a lot of history, much of which was bloody. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany has become a wonderful tourist destination. The whole country is rich with culture and cool things to see and do. Save on ticket prices by purchasing airfare to Frankfurt via Reykjavik on Iceland Air. Add Iceland as a stopover for as long as you want for no extra cost! Purchase a city pass for major German cities like Frankfurt and Berlin and save big on attractions on your trip. Get discounts on museums, gardens, transportation, restaurants and more.

Paris, France – Paris can be very spendy if you don’t plan out your trip ahead of time. And don’t let the fact that Euros sound cheaper than British pounds fool you. Spring, fall and winter are good times to travel to France. Anytime, but summer, really. Fall and winter are going to be the least expensive times and also the least crowded. While shops and museums may be open shorter hours, you will be able to do more than you would in summer, since tourists are scarse. If you plan to do any real sightseeing in Paris, you should get yourself a Paris Pass. Gain entry to 55 museums and monuments (unfortunately, the Eiffel Tower is not included), amazing attractions like the Seine River Cruise, unlimited travel on the metro, buses and RER within Central Paris, an awesome guidebook and coupons for dining and shopping. Just looking to take a few relaxing days out wandering the streets? Well, that’s a great way to save money, especially since there are so many things to walk around and see without having to pay entrance fees. Stroll the Champs de Elysee, take pictures of the Arc and the outside of Notre Dame, cross the bridges over the Seine, buy a baguette or crepe from a street vendor, enjoy the sculptures outside of the Louvre and on and on. 

This photo of Reykjavik is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Reykjavik, Iceland – Iceland is #1 in cod production in the world. They fish extensively for it and create amazing dishes with it, too. Not only that, some Icelandic restaurants use geothermal vents for power and cook exclusively with the steam produced by these natural wonders. Amazingly, the heat from the vents can start water boiling in about eight seconds. Way to use the earth for economical and eco-friendly energy! While the restaurants may be on the expensive side, you can find lodging for relatively cheap and you can walk all over the city. You can always rent an apartment or house and save on your food budget and just go out for lunch or dinner each day. That way, you’ll be able to do more things than expected and also try the local cuisine without breaking the bank. Other great frugal activities include viewing the Northern Lights, soaking in hot springs and looking for the elusive Iceland elves.

Telling all your friends that you’ll be taking off for Europe will make you look wealthy and exotic, even if you only spend a fraction of what everyone expects you will. Between city pass cards that save you on attractions and yummy street food that enables you to spend the majority of your food budget on fancy lunches or dinners, your bank account can still sustain a longer trip at another time of the year or just extend this trip to a week or more. Bed and breakfasts or hotels that offer meals in their rates can save you even more. A trip to Europe can be within your reach and you don’t have to scrimp on the important aspects of your trip to make it happen. Plus, a weekend trip allows you to pack light to save baggage fees. Au revoir!