Super Useful Travel Links

Happy Friday! It's been a long few weeks for people with bad weather and travel delays of all kinds. I hope you're back home safe and sound and looking forward to a warm getaway. I know I am. Unfortunately, I'm going to be waiting a while, but maybe something unexpected will come up. While everyone has been snowed in, I have been looking for links to help you travel better when you get back out there.

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Before I moved to the great Northwest, I used to enjoy going camping a lot. Of course, we didn't always have much money, so camping was a great way to get away from home and also get in some fantastic family time. It saved us money that we could spend on a real vacation later. When we moved here, we tried to go camping and there were so many camp sites that we just had to guess which would be a good place to go. Our blind choice was not the best. Boo for us.  Has this happened to you? Wish there were campsite reviews? Bam! You're welcome! 

I love going to different markets wen I travel. Portobello Market was a dream of mine that I realized when I went to London, but what to buy? If you want to pick up souvenirs that are specific to your destination, then Budget Travel has a post for you on hidden gems at markets around the world. And if you don't care about what you should buy, it's a great list of markets to check out when you travel.

It's been realized that Americans don't take all their travel days, don't stay long enough at their destination to really relax and spend way too much time working. William Chalmers looks at how we travel in general and ask the question "Are we doing it wrong?" There may be no right or wrong answer, or the answer could be yes. What do you think?

Did you fly airlines in the past that don't exist anymore? Maybe you loved Pan Am or Northwest Airlines. At least they were good airlines which made sense (and actually flew). Thrillist rounded up a short list of defunct airlines that were doomed from the start. How many have you heard of?

Planning a trip overseas? I'm not going this year, but I just came back, so I can't complain. I've got plans to go next year, though not sure just where yet. If you are, Huffington Post has some of the stupidest things people do overseas. We like to break out of that rut of the Ugly American (even if you're from a different nation, you aren't always immune). Try to travel more consciously of your actions, because what we do at home is not always acceptable in other cultures.

Some stupid things you do could get you in real hot water, so make sure you know the laws in your destination before you go and totally make a fool of yourself, or something worse. Here are some strange laws that can land you in the Clink, from Gadling.

I love seeing things from a different perspective. I'm a fan of taking photos from the airplane of the place you just left landing in, but Gray Malin takes it to a whole other level. Check out how cool beaches around the world look from above.

If wearing shorts and those zip-off pants are an absolute no-no for you, perhaps you'd be interested in visiting 12 of the most fashionable cities. Believe it or not, you can pack light and still fit in! Find out how here.

Another thing I'm a fan of is things turning into other things, like a jail-turned-restaurant or a monastery-turned-hostel, and if this were a little more affordable, it just might make my wish list. While looking for weather at a destination city, I came across this former sea fort that was refurbished and turned into a luxury hotel. It's like being on a cruise ship, but not going anywhere. You can only reach it by boat and is one-mile from land. Maybe on a future trip to the UK, I can splurge on a night or two for a mini romantic getaway.

From one cool building to many, the site Bored Panda has 33 of the world's strangest buildings. I am totally into strange, interesting and abandoned places, but you have to admit these are pretty awesome.

Have you found any cool, useful or interesting travel-related posts lately? If so, share them below! 

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?