5 Affordable Destinations for Summer

Even though we are in the middle of winter, it doesn't mean that summer is any further away from us. It looks like school only has a few months to go before the kids are free to do whatever. If you still are limiting your vacation times to coincide with school breaks, then you are probably a big summer traveler. Most of us know now that summer is the most expensive time to travel, but there are some destinations that are affordable for everyone.

This photo of Enoteca De Belem is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Lisbon

Just because you're on a budget, doesn't mean you have to stay close to home. It's one of the most affordable destinations in Europe throughout the year. You can visit Portugal for around $55-70 per person per day, including dining out at some nice restaurants and staying in a decent hotel. Stay somewhere swankier and still get away with under $100/night. The busy travel season runs from mid-July to mid-September. Skip those times and end up skipping most of the crowds, higher hotel rates and the sweltering heat. The country is a water lover’s dream, with fantastic surfing, tons of seafood and one of the best and most affordable aquariums in the world, the Oceanario de Lisboa.

This photo of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Yellowstone

If your family is outdoorsy and like to see cool stuff like Old Faithful, then pay just the one-time fee for a week to get into Yellowstone. You can get yourself a permit if you are interested in doing things like fishing. You'll find that summer is a crazy busy time to visit this National Park in Wyoming, but it is still budget-friendly. You don't have to go camping here. There are a handful of hotels nearby that you can make a reservation early at and spend less than you probably anticipate. 

This photo of Casa Sanchez Boutique Hotel is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Santo Domingo

Many of us want to escape to someplace tropical on our trips. This Caribbean oasis is perfect for those that like to enjoy the nightlife, but it also offers up attractions for everyone like museums, delicious dining, shopping and historical buildings. Would you believe you can also stay in 5-star hotels for under $80/night? It's true! And if you like water activities, too, you should start brushing up on your Spanish and planning your trip now.

This photo of The Carolina Opry is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a true family-friendly destination. Don't reserve a room in a hotel on the beach and you can save a ton. There are quite a few condo communities, where you can rent a place with multiple bedrooms, giving your family their space when they get back from a long day out. You'll find a little bit of everything in Myrtle Beach, including amusement parks, hundreds of golf courses and live entertainment at popular venues like the Alabama Theatre and the Carolina Opry.

This photo of Arion Stables is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Crete

Explore ancient ruins, lay on the beach, go hiking and more in this Grecian paradise. Make note of where the majority of things you want to see are located and stay near those. You will find it hard to see everything  in one trip, but that just ensure that you'll make time to relax and maybe also plan a return trip. Not only does Crete have some amazing scenery, which will make your trip there picture-perfect, but is great for getting out and discovering all the great stuff on the island. You will find a big difference in hotel prices. You will mostly see either budget/moderately-priced rooms or completely unaffordable luxury accommodations. Make sure to book your trip as early as possible in order to stay within your budget, then spend money you saved on souvenirs and Mediterranean cuisine.

Travel Is Better When You Stay at a Boutique Hotel

When you stay at an independent boutique hotel, your experience is very different from what you would get at a large chain hotel. Smaller hotels are designed to accommodate guests in a stylish and luxurious manner. These non-chain hotels make your travels special by offering you an intimate setting that's loaded with all the amenities you need.

Boutique hotels are popping up across the world. People choose these hotels over big brand names for a couple of reasons:

Personalized Accommodations

Everyone likes to feel special when they travel; with a boutique hotel, you always get personalized service with a smile. Boutique hotels are smaller than regular chain hotels, and this allows them to pay close attention to your needs. If you need something special, they are able to do it for you; they can do this because they don't have a lot of corporate red tape to cut through.

When a person stays at a boutique hotel, they get greeted by their first name. If you want an intimate experience while traveling, then you can only get that at a boutique hotel; lots of people feel like boutique hotels are a small home away from home.

Better Management

Management at a boutique hotel does their best to anticipate your needs. Bigger hotels can't do this because there's so many people staying there at one time. When you stay at a hotel like the Rusty Parrot, you get a personalized experience; guests feel at home and comfortable knowing that management will do everything in their power to make their stay more comfortable.

Easy To Find

The Internet has changed the way people find information; today, it's easy to hop online to find the best quality boutique hotels. A quick search can bring up a huge list of hotels that have different specialties. 

Most people stay in boutique hotels for a personalized experience when on the road. Generally, people who enjoy a homelike atmosphere gravitate towards these places. When you stay at one of these hotels, you can experience your destination like a local. The staff at a boutique hotel is more likely to give you good information about what to do around town.

Staying at a boutique hotel gives you an individualized hotel stay. If you like things that are off the beaten path, then you'll love discovering just how luxurious and personalized your hotel stay can be. Travel doesn't have to be uncomfortable, and boutique hotels make sure that you always have a home away from home.

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Super Useful Travel Links

Who's over the snow and cold? I know it's not just me. Well, if you're like me, you're thinking ahead to your next vacation so you can at least have something to look forward to. This week I found you a bunch of posts for that upcoming trip, along with a story about a lady who probably is done with winter more than the rest of us. Enjoy!

Well, winter has gripped most of America and while there's not way to make it disappear, there is a way to embrace it. Travel + Leisure brings you the best American cities for winter travel. If you are hating on snow and sweaters right now, then you are not alone. Get some sun, value for your money and possibly even a tan with this list. 

It's probably warmer underground right now than a lot of places across the country. Sad maybe, but I love seeing unique attractions and am fascinated by what goes on beneath cities, because there is often some cool history there. If that's you, too, then Travel + Leisure also has the coolest underground attractions for you to visit.

I saw this post on Viral Nova (it was posted on Facebook) and it immediately took me back to my childhood. There is a house modeled after the Flintstones's house. Although it isn't quite the same, though we didn't see some parts of their house and there's no wooly mammoth shower, it is still an incredible piece of architecture carved into the side of a mountain out of rock. If I could afford it or they let you rent it out for vacations, I would certainly see if I could get some friends to scrape together the money to stay there. Cool, right?

If you need to wash that man right out of your hair or just want to go to an amazing exotic location, then check out the South Pacific. Yes, yes. You probably think it costs a fortune and I'm just being mean even suggesting it, but it turns out that it's not as expensive as you think and you maybe just can afford it.

Even if you can't make to the South Pacific, you can probably go somewhere. What would make that trip better? An upgrade, you say? Budget Travel agrees and gives you some tips on how to score an upgrade to give you a more luxurious trip.

Now, I've never been in first class, and I'm pretty sure if I ever was, I would be spoiled for life. Some agree, some disagree. Airfare Watchdog wanted to play devil's advocate and brings you the pros and cons of first class so you know why it is and isn't worth it. Maybe it will make you think twice about paying extra for the upgrade at the gate.

Airfare Watchdog knows that the majority of us are stuck in coach, which isn't always a bad thing. I mean, you don't know what you're missing up in first class if you never get to sit there. It can be said, though, that not all economy seats are created equal. If you don't believe me, they have found the best coach seats on airplanes and you can try to snag one for yourself to see the difference.

Flying can sometimes be stressful. At the very least, it can be totally unfun for many people. I tend to make the most of it and view it part of my adventure. Seriously! I am one of the few people I know that loves the airport and can't wait to get there. 3 hour layover? Fab! More time to look at everything there is there. You're probably not like me and, if you aren't, here are 5 ways to make flying easier. I totally do want in on Pre-Check.

Just trying to sneak in a weekend getaway? Aren't we all? Don't you hate it when you end up wasting time and then your escape tends to be cut short in some way? I hate it when that happens on a regular vacation, but when you only have 2-4 days to get in some fun and relaxation, you want to make the most of it. Here are 8 ways to ruin your weekend getaway, so take note and don't do them.

Have you ever wanted to get away so bad that you were willing to do just about anything? Well, me neither, but this lady in San Francisco is obviously dying to get out and planned to make it to Hawaii, for free. She wanted to go there so bad, she tried to sneak onto the plane not once, not twice, but three times. She got her getaway, in jail. Personally, I think if she's willing to go through that much effort, she almost deserves to lay on the beach in Hawaii.