Where the Geeks Go

If you're like me, going to a totally obvious thing at a destination can be really awesome. As a self-proclaimed geek, this list is pretty fun. I have done some on the list, but I could definitely do better and have marked some for future travel. I also like that a lot of them are totally free! Where do you stand on this bucket list? Have you been to any of these destinations already?

See original post at Cheapflights

What to Do After Fat Tuesday is Over

Mardi Gras is right around the corner and it got me thinking about Fat Tuesday celebrations. It’s all in good fun, but what to do when you aren’t partying it up and watching parades? There are actually a lot of things to do in New Orleans when there aren't drunken crowds showing their goods for beads. If you're wondering how to fill the rest of your trip around the hoopla of Mardi Gras.

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Did you know that New Orleans is a great budget destination? I didn't either! Why not take a little detour from the revelers in the street and explore these options after a big plate of beignets:

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Save on your trip to New Orleans with the Power Pass. Starting as low as $28 per day, gain entry to the must-see attractions of the city. Choose from places like the Musee Conti Wax Museum, Audubon Zoo, Cajun Pride Swamp Tour and much more! Available in 1, 2, 3 and 5 day durations. Add a 1-3 day MealTicket to eat at awesome restaurants for one low price. If you know you’ll be stuffing your face with étouffée, jambalaya and other Cajun deliciousness, this is definitely the way to go!

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You can also take advantage of OpenTable’s deals for dining. With special menus at some restaurants, you can save money, or just reserve a table that will get you points towards a free meal in the future and ensure you don’t have to wait around if the restaurant is busy.

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Here’s another fantastic way to save on meals. Fodor’s lists 10 places to eat under $10. You can’t beat that. Almost. Here’s the short list, but if you want to know more, check out the Fodor’s website for all the wheres and whys.

·         Angeli on Decatur

·         Balcony Bar & Café

·         Café du Monde

·         Clover Grill

·         The Joint

·         Juan’s Flying Burrito

·         La Peniche

·         Mimi’s in the Marigny

·         Parkway Bakery & Tavern

·         Trolley Stop Café

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Like to be scared? New Orleans has always claimed to have a rich history in the occult and creepy myths. For an hour and a half walk among the darkened streets on the New Orleans Vampire Tour for only $20 per person. Many other walks are available, but who wouldn't want to believe in the undead and the horrible things that happen in the shadows of the city? Of course, if you’re heading to Louisiana for a little romantic getaway, you might want to pick a different tour…although, this will probably give you a fantastic reason to snuggle close to your significant other, even after the walk is over.

Bringing the kids with you? Take a trip to the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Admission is $8 for everyone ($10 if you wait to purchase tickets at the door) and children 1 and under are free. They have more than 30,000 square feet of interactive exhibits to keep you and your little ones entertained for hours and hours. Learn a whole bunch of stuff while you’re having fun, so you don’t even know it’s educational!

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Hop on the Canal-Algiers Ferry for free (if on foot) and get some of the best views of New Orleans from the Mississippi. (Also, how many other times are you gonna get to travel the Mississippi?!) Before returning on the ferry, grab a bite at one of the many cafes and take a walk along the Jazz Walk of Fame.

The streetcar is a very affordable way to get from point A to point B while also giving you a city tour. It stops at a variety of attractions along the way and it only costs $1.25. Super cheap sightseeing!

Love your booze? Then take a tour of the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery. This is probably a much safer way to sample some cocktails than getting wasted on the streets with everyone else. For a whopping $10, you can tour the distillery, get free transportation there, a free rum cocktail and a tasting of all four of their rum products at the end.

If that was just too much fun for words, make you way to the Museum of the American Cocktail. Explore their collection of books, rare spirits, glasses, shakers, photos, gadgets and so much more to see how cocktails have evolved over the years. This, too, is just $10 per person. Unfortunately, all you get at the end is a trip to the gift shop, but then you can buy some fun books on vintage cocktails and go home and recreate them for friends in a funky retro party.

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These are just some of the ways you can fill your time on your visit to the Big Easy that doesn’t involve crowds of people or emptying out your wallet. Check out my Facebook page for airfare deals that are popping up all over the place in order to make your trip “cheaper” and Laissez les bons temps rouler.

Have you been to New Orleans? What are your budget tips for the city?

Plus Your Points and Maximize Your Road Trip Fun

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We rent a lot of cars when we travel. Sometimes it’s just a necessity at your destination, like to get to all the theme parks in Orlando or to get around to parts of a city that doesn’t have the best transit. Rental cars can make your vacation a lot more convenient and saves you time. In the past, we have even rented a car to take road trips. Your family car can take a rest and you can get something roomier that is more comfortable to ride in for long periods of time.

Though I generally choose the best deal I can find, my preferred rental car company is Enterprise. Their customer service can’t be beat and they have a great array of cars to choose from. Now, you can make the most of your rentals by signing up for Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Enterprise Plus loyalty program and taking advantage of the Plus Your Points promotion going on now through March 31st. This annual promotion doubles the points you earn on qualifying rentals. The more points you earn, the faster you can redeem them for free rentals – with no blackout dates!

Winter is a perfect time to take a road trip. To get more bang for your buck, popular summer destinations are less crowded in the winter and hotels offer lower rates, because they have more free rooms available. My choice would be taking a trip to Disneyland. Lines are shorter and you can do more each day than any day during the summertime. I like being able to take my time and not rush. Dining is less of a hassle, too. So many options, but no crowds of people making me wait forever for a table. With my rental car, I can also drive to other theme parks – like Universal Studios – or even the beach! It might be too cold to get in the water, but it doesn't mean I can't take a stroll along the Venice Canals or visit the Queen Mary.

Though driving can be a bit far, we’ve often made the drive to save money on airfare and stopped many places along the way to maximize our fun and not feel like we’re spending 4 days (2 there and 2 back) just sitting in the car. Some of my favorite stops along the way:

• The Oregon Vortex. It’s totally hokey, but fun and amazing. How can I be the same height as my husband who is normally 9 inches taller than me? How does water uphill? How can I walk on a wall? It’s crazy – crazy fun! (located in Gold Hill, OR)
• Pea Soup Andersen’s. Buellton, CA may not be on your radar, but if you’ve ever stopped to eat around there, you know that Pea Soup Andersen’s is THE restaurant to dine in. Besides delicious soup, they have other great food and a huge gift shop.
• Gilroy, CA. If taking the scenic route to Southern California down Highway 101, Gilroy should certainly be on your itinerary, unless you aren’t a fan of garlic. They hold a garlic festival every summer, but even if you visit during other months, the smell is very powerful even before you reach the town.

By renting a car through Enterprise, I can leave my car at home and put the mileage on a rental. If anything happens to the car on the road, Enterprise will take care of it. I can also earn points a variety of ways, so I can rent a car for free in the future and travel more budget-friendly.

Once you register for the Plus Your Points promotion, you can earn points by renting a qualifying vehicle, adding a GPS to your rental, sharing the program on Twitter, referring friends who then rent during the promotional period and more. Your points never expire as long as you rent from Enterprise at least once in each two-year period, which is so much better than many other rewards programs!

Remember, you can earn double points + bonus points now through March 31st, so register now at Enterprise Plus Your Points promotion website and start accruing. Enterprise can help make your winter road trip better than ever and also keep you on or under budget, plus make a future vacation even more affordable. You can’t beat that, right?

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