Enjoying Travel Blog

I recently came across a family travel blog that I am really enjoying. It’s called Travels with Children and it’s by an author who calls herself Minnemom. Here’s a brief look at why I like this blog so much:

• Frugal travel section. There is a section of this blog devoted to providing information about frugal travel. Some of the tips here are pretty obvious to us budget travelers. However, others are a bit unique or have their own slant on them. I like this section.
• Great insights. For example, a fairly recent post discussed the way that the family experienced driving through Texas. It was all about how the highways there would be a benefit to Minnesota if they were transplanted there. This is a bit of a strange insight for a travel blog. I like it.
• The family travels with four young children. The kids are all under the age of seven. I just find this to be totally inspirational. It’s tough to travel with kids (although it’s also wonderful). It’s tough to figure out budgeting for traveling with a family of this size. I love to see real people who are making it happen.
• They go to off-the-wall places. This isn’t one of those family travel blogs where you’re going to read about Disneyland in every other post. This family goes to off-the-beaten-path museums and farms and other attractions. It’s really enjoyable to read about these things. And it inspires my own travel scrapbook with ideas for future travel plans!
• Nice, informative pictures. The posts are supplemented with photos of the places that the family visits. These aren’t high-quality amazing photographs but instead are revealing travel photos that are clearly in the family’s own albums.
• Very down-to-earth. Ultimately I just really love the tone of this travel blog. It’s very down-to-earth. I can relate to it. And I feel like I’m getting to know the author through her posts which is what I think makes a really great blog. This makes it fun to read.

What’s your favorite family travel blog?
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Check Out This Awesome Site Redesign

What do you look for in a good travel website? There are a handful of things that I think should all come together to make a great website for the person who is interested in budget travel. The most important features of a travel website for me are:

• Great deals. I want to use a website that will offer the best hotel deals and best airfare.
• Ease-of-use. I definitely want to make sure that any website that I use is going to be one that is really user-friendly. No glitches; no tough-to-read text, etc.
• Lots of information and reviews. I don’t just want to know about the latest hotel specials; I want to know about what makes each hotel special!
• Personality. I’d like to see the personality shine through the site as I’m reading it. This makes it easy to get a feel for whether or not a recommended deal would be right for me.
• Variety. A website that offers the same deals over and over again is boring. A website that offers new stuff all of the time is going to keep me interested.

It doesn’t matter to me whether a travel website is an independent site or one that’s produced by a chain company. What matters to me is the content and the quality of that content.

I want to check out travel websites that are going to really be useful to me. Let’s face it; we all have a limited amount of time that we’re able to spend online. I don’t want to waste mine on travel websites that aren’t the best websites.

One of the websites that I’m really excited about right now is the Choice Hotels website. This website was already a good website by the above standards. However it’s recently undergone a site redesign that makes it even more appealing to me as a reader. Features of the new site include:

• New advanced search bar. They’ve made it a lot easier to search for good hotel deals close to the destinations that you want to visit.
• Rate comparison tool. I love that they’ve made it possible to easily compare the costs and features of different rooms that are available. You can easily look at photos of the room as well as package deals that might make it cheaper.
• Look for deals within certain interests. A cool new feature lets you look for the best deals in certain categories such as romantic vacations. That makes for easy planning!

What do you think?
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Update on my Houston Travel Plans

Some of you follow this blog and read it regularly. (Thanks!) A few of you have asked me what’s going on with my travel plans for Houston.

You see, awhile back I made an online friend from Houston through this blog. I didn’t make any specific travel plans to go to Houston but I did start thinking about all of the things that I might want to do there if I do get the chance to go. Well, I’ve been chatting online with my Houston friend again a bit lately and I’ve decided that I do really want to check Houston out this year.

I haven’t yet made my travel plans but I’ve got a solid To Do list going about what I need to do to make it to Houston this year and enjoy the trip. The list includes:

• Figure out if we should drive or fly. I think that we’re probably going to do this trip in the early fall and it will be a short trip if we do. In that case, we are most likely going to fly there. However, since the whole family is going, it is probably more cost-effective to drive so I still have to look at the options more closely.
• See if my husband really wants to go. I say that the whole family is going but the truth is that I only know for sure that I’m going with the kids. My husband might want to skip this trip. One of the ways that we save money on family trips is by having just one adult go with the kids to avoid the price of a second adult admission everywhere we visit.
• Look for a cheap hotel. It looks like there are some good discount hotels in Houston so this shouldn’t be a problem.
• Make an itinerary. I don’t want to have a full itinerary of what we’ll be doing every minute of the day, of course. However, I do want to make sure I make some plans in advance so that I know what to budget for the trip. We’re going to have to re-work some of other travel plans this year to fit in this not-really-planned trip so I need to make sure that we’re really organized about the whole thing.
• Ask my online friend from Houston if there’s anything else I should know! I’ll keep you updated about what she has to say. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions for a first time cheap family trip to Houston, I’d love to hear them.

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Home Stays Make International Travel Affordable

One of the New Years goals I have for 2010 is to try to take my family out of the country this year. I would really love to go to Buenos Aires but I just don’t know if it’s going to be financially feasible. Right now what I’m working on doing is learning everything that I can about how to make international travel affordable for us.

The main thing that I’m learning about right now is how to save money on hotels. When I first started looking at traveling to Buenos Aires I was trying to find economy hotels that would be affordable for my family. However I couldn’t seem to find anything that I was happy about.

I was complaining about this to a friend who reminded me about the possibility of doing a home stay in Buenos Aires. This is where you actually stay in the home of someone who is a resident of the city. They may rent the home to you at a really low cost or they may even rent the room to you for free depending on the way that you set up the home stay.

To get a free stay in Buenos Aires I would probably need to actually pay to join a site that is designed to connect people who are interested in traveling this way. Since I don’t plan to use this method of travel often, I don’t think that it would be worth the cost to travel this way. Instead, I think I will look at using free sites to set up an affordable home stay.

There are two choices with home stays: staying with the resident or staying in their home when they are not there. I think it would be best to stay with the resident because then he or she could provide us with additional information about how to make our trip more affordable while we are there. Plus this would allow us better insight into the culture of the area.

Has anyone else tried home stays in the past? Do you have any tips on how to use them effectively in order to save money? Are there any safety issues that I should be concerned about when traveling with my family this way?
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How Smartphones Have Changed Travel

I just recently came across a really interesting article about how much different travel is now that we have smartphones. Some of the points made in the article about what people do differently now that they have these gadgets include:

• No more paper tickets. These days, people get their flight confirmation emailed to them. They can access this email from their smartphones. In fact, in many places, you can use a barcode on the email to check in to your flight and pass through security so that you don’t need to print anything else out at all.
• Stay up to date on flight delays and changes. You can use the mobile web to check in on this information. You can also sometimes have airlines send those changes to you via text message.
• No more carrying maps around with you at your new destination. Why carry around a map when your phone’s GPS will provide turn-by-turn directions for you?
• Stop asking for recommendations. You no longer have to ask locals for recommendations on the best restaurants or stores to shop in. Just sign on to your phone and check the reviews on sites like Yelp.

I can definitely see how some of these things are really good changes for travelers. I think GPS is a great feature especially for families that are trying to get around with impatient kids. However, I don’t think that we should go overboard with stuff like this.

I’d still rather get recommendations about local places from the people who I run into on my travels. And I’d prefer to do my research into hotel deals before I go on a trip rather than relying on location-based deals to pop up on my phone. I think it’s just a matter of balance.

Do you use phone apps or the mobile web to assist you in your travel? Have your travel experiences changed a lot in recent years as a result?
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5 Features of Great Travel Booking Websites

What websites do you use in order to book your travel plans? Smart travelers will shop around online to try to get the best rates for their trips, of course. However, you usually end up finding one or two travel booking sites that you like best. You then use those sites as your go-to sites when doing travel planning.

What you’ve likely noticed recently (or at least what I’ve noticed) is that these travel booking websites are changing. Some of them are starting to aggregate information from more locations. Others are providing more information and options than in the past. Still others are offering new user interface options.

I spend a lot of time planning imaginary trips using travel booking websites. What can I say – I enjoy the planning as much as the trips themselves sometimes! What I’ve found to be the best features of today’s most up-to-date travel booking sites are:

1. Great mobile version of the site. These days you want to be able to access, review and update your travel plans from your mobile phone. The best travel booking sites have great websites that are also good in their mobile versions. The inclusion of free helpful travel apps is an extra plus.
2. Total pricing information. One of the most important things for me is that the website have true and accurate pricing information. I want to get the best price for my trips. This includes knowing about baggage fees, taxes and any other extras that I may be charged. Sites that don’t provide this complete information just aren’t up to par these days.
3. Based on search engines. There are two types of travel booking sites today. First are those that are more like travel agencies that aggregate information from a select set of service providers and book the trip for you. Then there are those that function more like search engines to find the best current deals for you from around the web and allow you to then book the flight yourself. I tend to prefer the sites that are based on search engines. They usually provide more information and lower rates.
4. Excellent filtering options. I want to be able to choose the exact type of travel that I’m looking for and get only information that suits my needs. The best travel booking sites have great options for filtering out everything from too-early flights to flights that won’t take my credit card rewards miles.
5. Images, videos, tips and reviews. Today’s travel booking websites provide a lot of information for the traveler who wants to make a smart choice. I want to be able to see pictures of budget hotels, read reviews about the experiences people have had on different airlines and pick up some tips for my type of travel.

What do you look for in a good travel booking website?
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10 Etsy Items That Are Great for Travel

I love the Etsy site. I love to browse through the vintage and handmade items that are there. I love to see what creative people are doing. And I love the fact that if I do decide to buy something from here I’m supporting independent artists.

Usually I wait to find a good deal on Etsy before I buy anything but even if I splurge I feel like it’s a good shopping decision if I made my buy on Etsy. Plus since I’m usually great at getting good deals on hotels and flights I feel like it’s sometimes okay to spend a bit more on things that are going to be really useful for travel.

There are a lot of cool things that you can get on Etsy for traveling. Here are ten that caught my interest.

1. Vintage Luggage. You say it’s old and banged up. I say it’s beautiful. We don’t have to agree but I’d love to win you over to my side of the argument. What do you think?

2. Binoculars. I’m not a bird watcher but these goggles make me want to become one on my next vacation!

3. Handmade Eye Pillows. These are perfect for making sure that you get enough rest during your trip. Use them in the car, on the plane or just in your hotel room.

4. Vintage Pajamas, Nighties and Bloomers. I would love to say that I wear things like this all of the time to sleep but of course that would be a lie. I’m more of a sweatpants kind of mom. Still, I would like to own a few of these fun pieces on vacations when I get away from my own life for a little bit!

5. Urban Toolbelt. Okay, so I’m probably giving up any cool points that I’ve earned since this item is sneakingly similar to the fanny pack but it’s so practical for travel and I think it’s cute!

6. Handmade Coffee Cuff. At home I usually drink coffee from my own pot. If I do go to a coffee shop, I take my trusty refillable mug with me. However, on vacation, I’m known to frequent coffee shops and to get their disposable cups. I don’t want to drag my mug along with but I could be at least a little bit green by bringing my own traveling coffee cuff.

7. Handmade Coin Purse. Who doesn’t need a coin purse when they travel? You just don’t know when you’ll need change for a meter or a bus or something else in your destination city. Why not have a cute one that’s practical too?

8. Traveling Notepad. I would love a little pocketed notepad that could hold stationery, stamps, passports, pens and a puzzle book. That’s about all I need for myself when I’m traveling!

9. Children’s Backpacks. I may not need much on a trip but the kids end up needing tons of snacks and whatnot. I like to have them each carry their own little bag of what they need. Handmade backpacks would be a cute new way to do this.

10. Multi-purpose Shoe Bags. These can hold shoes at home but I can also see them holding toothpaste and things like that when we travel. And they’re so cute!

Do you shop on Etsy?
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Why Not to Go to Hawaii In Summer

Hawaii is an ideal summer vacation destination, isn’t it? It’s a place where you can go to enjoy wonderful beaches and activities on the water. That’s what everyone wants to indulge in during the summer months. However, that’s the problem. Everyone wants to take their Hawaiian vacation during the summer. The crowds and popularity mean that it’s expensive to travel to Hawaii in the summer. Smart frugal travelers will skip Hawaii summer travel and choose a cheaper alternative instead.
What are some good alternatives to a Hawaii vacation? Here’s a few:

• Galveston Island, Texas. The beach here is wonderfully warm since it’s on the Gulf of Mexico. Getting here is much more affordable than getting to Hawaii, especially if you live close enough to drive. Plus you can get terrific Houston hotel deals and Houston is only a short drive away from this beach.
• The Outer Banks of North Carolina. The beaches of North Carolina often get overlooked by travelers. People who head to the warm Atlantic waters of this region often choose to go to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina instead. However, North Carolina has amazing beaches. Compared to other beach destinations, this is a really affordable place for a terrific summer vacation.
• San Luis Obispo, California. The water here isn’t quite as nice as some of the other places you can visit but you can enjoy affordable activities on the water (such as boating). You can get great ocean views from cheap hotels here, too.
• Local lakes throughout the United States. Lakes are warm enough to swim in. They often have boat rentals or jet ski rentals. You can enjoy some fishing. Larger lakes even have some waves to enjoy. And since these lakes are often not in high-tourist-traffic areas, they are very affordable to visit.

I definitely think Hawaii is a place you should visit. However, go in spring, fall or even winter. The weather is still nice there, the beaches are still wonderful and the cost is a lot lower!
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Top 5 Walking Cities to Visit

I am supposed to be doing a bunch of things other than blogging right now. However I have to admit that I’m snuggled up in my bed with my laptop on instead of doing any of the other things that I am supposed to be doing. I’ve been here for awhile, browsing through different travel deals. It’s my favorite form of fantasy.

What I’m daydreaming most about right now is traveling to a warm destination on a sunny day. That’s because it’s cold and rainy out right now where I am. I want to escape that cold and be outside in the sun.

This whole daydream has got me thinking about my favorite cheap travel activity: walking.
I absolutely love walking around and seeing all that there is to see in a new destination. I think that getting lost on foot is probably the best way to get to know a new place.

It’s the way to see all of the things that there are to see when you travel. Unfortunately not all cities are good for traveling on foot. On the other hand, there are some cities that are ideal for it.

The top five cities that I would go walking in today if it were a sunny day and I could just hop on a plane and get there would be:

1. New York City. Walking here isn’t necessarily easy. It’s crowded and there are a lot of people who are determinedly walking quickly who don’t want your meandering self to get in the way. Nevertheless, everyone walks here and it’s a terrific place for people-watching!
2. San Francisco. This city has just as many things (and interesting people) to see on foot and yet it’s a lot easier to walk around here than it is in New York City. The pace is a bit slower and the sights are arguably more beautiful. It’s easy to walk here with the whole family.
3. Paris. Ah, to be lost in the alleys of Paris right now … I wish …
4. Buenos Aires. This is one city that has been on my list for a long time now. I haven’t made it there yet because I can never find cheap tickets to get there (or else timing hasn’t worked out for me). I’ve heard it’s a great walking city though. And since it’s summer there it would be terrific if I could go right now!
5. Mexico City. Some people would argue with me that this isn’t a top five city for walking. Most people would’ve put London on the list instead. However I’ve walked here and loved it so I had to include it!

Do you have a favorite walking city?
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Top 5 San Diego Beaches

There are many different reasons that San Diego appeals to me as a family travel destination. One of those reasons is because of the city’s beaches. There are so many different beaches in San Diego. I think you could spend a whole trip just going from beach to beach.

Here is a look at the top five San Diego beaches:
1. Mission Beach. This is one of the best San Diego beaches for kids. It has an old amusement park. It has a boardwalk that you can walk along. It is full of life and activity and fun things to do. It’s pretty and clean. And it’s even got places where older kids can play volleyball.

2. Imperial Beach. I know about this beach because I love sandcastles. It happens to be a place where there is a big annual sandcastle competition. I’d love to see that in person. And even if that’s not going on, the beach has a special place in my heart because it’s home to such a cool event.

3. La Jolla Cove and Beach. You can take the kids here to check out tide pools. This is also a good place to launch a family water adventure such as kayaking through the La Jolla coves. What a fun place to spend your San Diego vacation! There’s also a children’s swimming pool in this area.

4. Moonlight Beach. This beach in nearby Encinitas tricks a lot of people with its name. You would think it’s a place for romantic couples to spend a San Diego vacation. Actually, there are a bunch of fire pits and picnic tables here so it’s an ideal place to take the whole family for an afternoon at the beach.

5. Coronado Silver Strand. A lot of people like this beach because of the fact that it is a shallow beach with an easy slope to the sand. This makes it very safe for children compared to some of the other beaches in San Diego. Hotels in this area are expensive, though, so unless you can find good San Diego hotel deals in the area, you might want to stick to one of the other four beaches.
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Guide to the Best Texas Beaches

One of my favorite types of travel is beach travel. The beach is just ideal for any type of travel – a solo trip, a family vacation, a honeymoon or even a reunion trip. The beach can suit any mood from calming to invigorating. Previously on this blog I’ve done my research into some of the best beaches in San Diego and North Carolina. Right now the beaches that interest me most are the ones that are in Texas.
Texas beaches are wonderful for me because the water is warm. I know it’s hot out in the summer but I still prefer a warm ocean to a cold one. The Gulf of Mexico provides water that is just the right temperature. And, of course, the beaches themselves are also nice. The top beaches to visit in Texas are:

• Stewart Beach. This Galveston, Texas beach is a popular place with families. It offers picnic areas, children’s playgrounds and other fun things that make it great for people of all ages. There is an admission fee to get into this beach, unfortunately, but it’s a low per-car price that is reportedly worth the charge.
• Port Aransas. This beach is a fun one because you need to take a ferry ride to get there. That’s always a nice little experience for a vacation. This one tends to have lower-key activities like fishing and sunbathing so I’d say it’s better for couples traveling without the kids but definitely one to put on the list.
• Boca Chica Beach. I just love the sound of the name of this beach although I find it a little odd because my rusty Spanish says that it translates to “mouth girl beach”. In any case, it’s supposed to be the most beautiful beach in Texas and one I’d love to get a chance to explore. If I was going to do a solo trip to Texas then I might check this one out!
• Padre Island National Seashore. This area of beach stretches for over seventy miles. (Gosh, things are so big in Texas!) It offers everything from fishing to surfing depending on where you decide to stop. It also obviously offers a great opportunity for a beach-side scenic drive.
• South Padre Island Beach. This is probably the beach than most people already know about in Texas. It is tourist-friendly and offers everything that you could possibly want from a beach. Dolphin watching and boat rentals are some of the things I’d splurge on here. The one thing I would say, though, is that it’s known as a Spring Break destination so if you’re going with young kids then you might want to skip traveling there during that time of year.

What is your favorite Texas beach?
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Guide to the Best North Carolina Beaches

North Carolina is one of my favorite states. It’s kind of a surprising state to people who haven’t been there because it offers so much in the way of entertainment and yet you never hear that much about it. Because it’s not a big tourist attraction, it’s fairly cheap to travel there. And you can enjoy a day full of cheap fun by taking advantages of the state’s beaches.
Some of the best beaches in North Carolina have got to be:

• Okracoke.This is the most luxurious beach in North Carolina. It’s at the very southern tip of the state and actually requires that you take a ferry from another southern beach to reach it. It’s certainly worth the beautiful ferry ride to get this really relaxing white sand beach where your whole family can just chill out together.
• Hatteras. This beach is also located in the southern part of the state and also has beautiful beaches. The main thing that you would do here, though, is go fishing. Kids who haven’t done so always kind of find it to be a neat vacation novelty to fish in the ocean. You may also get to see marine life, like whales, from the coast of this North Carolina beach.
• Bofort. This is a historic town on the coast with a white sandy beach that is definitely family-friendly. There are numerous summer festivals here including costumed events that relay the history of North Carolina. It’s always a lot of fun and the weather here is great.
• Emerald Isle. How could you not enjoy a beach with a name as pretty as this one? And yes, the waters are as pretty as the name itself. This beach is comfortable and fun with long stretches of sand that make it idyllic for pitching a daytime tent or playing a game of Frisbee.
• Holden. This beach is one of the most popular beaches for families in North Carolina so you can expect it to be busy when you go to visit. That makes it even more fun, though, as there are a lot of activities for tourists. At night you can take the kids out and if you’re lucky you’ll get to see turtles hatching on this beach!

What other North Carolina beaches would you recommend to someone who wants to travel there with the family this summer?
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10 Cheap but Amazing National Parks

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

I recently came across a Yahoo! Travel article about the least-visited national parks in the United States. I had never thought too much before about how many national parks there are and how few of them I had visited. I also never considered the fact that some of the least-visited national parks may also be the cheapest to visit. They are still amazing to see but they are much more affordable than places like Yellowstone and Yosemite.

The ten parks listed in the article were:

1. Biscayne National Park in Florida.
2. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado.
3. Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.
4. Channel Islands National Park in California.
5. Congaree National Park in South Carolina.
6. Great Basin National Park in Nevada.
7. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.
8. North Cascades National Park in Washington.
9. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
10. Wrangell-St.Elias National Park in Alaska.

These national parks seem to be much more affordable than the most popular parks that people visit. For example, the entrance fee for Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is only $3 per person or $5 per vehicle (and the vehicle pass is good for a full week). In contrast, many of the nation’s most popular national parks costs $20 per vehicle for single-day-use only.

It’s understandable why the big national parks cost so much. With hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, they have to charge fees to keep the area clean and pristine. Plus the prices deter some people from visiting which is sad but does help control the problem of overcrowding. It’s nice to know, though, that there are some really amazing parks to visit that are still very affordable for families on a budget.

Of course, some of these are going to be more affordable than others for families to visit. For example, a family living on the East Coast may find it much cheaper to travel to Florida or South Carolina than to get to Alaska. Also, lodging may be cheaper in some areas than others if you’re going to need to find a hotel near the parks. Nevertheless, these are all stunning places that really seem worth looking into more carefully.

Have you ever been to any of these national parks? Would you recommend them for family travel?
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Summer Vacation Ideas

Sometime, life is so bored doing so much daily routines and activities without know how it will end. Many people believes that working hard will gain so much money and can have anything you can effort. Individual who are ware about this, sometime get stuck with so much problem in their life, such as customer complain, being not productive because having so much target, do not know how to handle kids who has many problem in their life too, and many other things. Facing this problem, many people has right decision to do some vacation with small budget travel or big budget travel. If you like, I will give you some summer vacation ideas for free.

Choosing your summer vacation is very easy. Here are some summer vacation ideas you can do :

1. Swimming.Swimming is wet sport. By doing swimming, you can feel your body fresh like from refrigerators
2. Hiking.Hiking is walking sport. By doing hiking, you can feel being one part of nature. Nature is one of resource we have in this earth. Hiking is one of the most nature sport.
3. Jogging.Jogging is running sport. By doing jogging, you can shake all of your body from leg to head. After working with so many pressure, this can help you release all the bad feeling.
4. Traveling.Traveling is one of expensive vacation ideas. Having vacations is nice, but need extra money to do it. If your budget travel is limited, go to somewhere that will not burn your money.

There are a lot of summer vacation ideas out there. In this beginning my budget travel blog, I begin with little ideas that might be help you choosing the right way for your summer vacations with little budget travel.
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5 Stay-Safe Hotel Rules I Don’t Follow

I tend to be fairly adventurous. However, I have gotten more cautious with age. Whereas I used to stay recklessly at any hotel that I came across in my travels, I now choose my hotels in advance so that I stay at places that seem safe. Still, there are some hotel safety and health rules that I choose to ignore even though I know better.
Rules that I break are:

• Staying off of the bed. The bed of a hotel room is supposedly not very hygienic compared to the rest of the room. Many people say that you should pack your own sheets, wear long pajamas and stay off the bed as much as possible. This helps to keep you clean and germ-free. I don’t care; I trust the hotels I stay in enough to chance it.
• Check the bed for bedbugs. Maybe I’ll start following this rule if I ever become a victim of bedbugs at my hotel. I’ve heard it’s an awful experience. But it’s never happened to me and I’ve traveled quite a bit so I never bother checking. Do you?
• Wear flip flops in the shower and around the pool. It’s true that it’s easy to catch fungal infections when you’re going barefoot around common areas that are wet like this. I’ve also never had this problem, though. And I like to go barefoot on vacation!
• Avoid the hot tub. Yes, I know, it’s filled with germs. I don’t care. I love the way that it feels. I only get to enjoy it on vacation. I’m going for it!
• Get a room on a higher floor. Your room is supposed to be more prone to break-ins if it’s on the first or second floor of a hotel. I don’t always follow this rule, though. Sometimes it’s convenient to stay on the same floor as the hotel lobby!

I do, however, follow common sense about staying healthy and safe during any hotel stay. What do you do in this area?
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5 Niche Hotels I Wouldn’t Stay At

Last month I wrote a post about 5 super-cool hotel types that I would like to try staying at some day. (For example, I’d love to find an affordable underwater hotel to stay at for a night!) However I am not one of those adventurous people who wants to try staying at all of the different types of hotels that exist. In fact, there are quite a few popular niche hotels that just don’t interest me at all.
5 types of hotels I wouldn’t ever want to stay at:

1. Prison Hotels. There are several old prisons around the world that have been converted into hotels. Some are nice hotels in old prisons. Others actually give you a prison-like experience complete with bread and water for dinner. Creepy.
2. Haunted Hotels. There are a lot of people who love to stay in hotels that are supposedly haunted. They want to see if they can get up close and personal with the ghosts. I’ll let them be, thanks. Besides, the popularity of these types of hotels makes them really pricey and I always try to travel on a budget.
3. Crane Hotels. Yes, people actually get into hotels that are hoisted into the air on huge cranes. I think I’ll pass on that experience. Treetop hotels are high enough for me!
4. Moving Hotels (like Exploranter). There is definitely something appealing about basically staying in an RV that someone else is driving. Still I don’t think that this is actually a hotel experience I’d really like.
5. Grain Silo Hotels. I’m glad that there are people who are interested in staying in a grain silo that has been converted into a hotel. It’s great because it makes use of a building that otherwise would just sit there unused. Nevertheless, I’m not the kind of person who wants to stay in a grain silo. I’d rather camp out.

What type of hotels would you have absolutely no desire to stay in? Are there weird hotels that you’ve stayed in at some point during the past that you would never want to stay at again?
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New Year’s Eve at Times Square

I’ve developed a wonderful online friendship with someone who had read this blog and written to me. She had originally written to let me know about some good discount hotels in Houston. Although I didn’t particularly need that information right now, I really liked the woman and we’ve been talking about travel online ever since. She just wrote to me to ask me what I thought about doing New Year’s Eve at Times Square. What a great question!

I have to confess that I’ve never done any Eve at Times Square. It’s not something that I want to do with my kids and I like to be with them at the holidays so it’s not a trip that I’ll be taking any time soon. However I’ve known people who have done this. Some of them loved it and some of them hated it. Some did it frugally and others spent way more money than they wanted to. Based on what they have told me, the tips I’d have for doing New Year’s Eve at Times Square include:

• Book a cheap Times Square Hotel in advance. You have to book in advance to even get a room let alone to get a cheap room. It’s best to get a room right at Times Square because it saves you the cost and hassle of transportation to the event.
• Make the New Year’s Eve event the big deal event. You shouldn’t try to fit in a lot of other touristy stuff during this quick trip to New York. The event itself is free so focus just on that and do other New York stuff on a different trip.
• Do some pre-drinking at your hotel. If you’re a New Year’s Eve drinker then you’ll want to plan on only getting one drink at the bars near Times Square. Before that you should do your drinking at the hotel with beverages purchased at a local grocery store. It’s a lot cheaper that way.
• Bundle up. A lot of people that I know worry about wearing beautiful clothes to this event. Don’t spend the money on something special. It’s going to be cold out anyway so just put on your cutest jacket and scarf over whatever you feel comfy in.

Have a safe new year whether it’s in New York or elsewhere!
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Best July 4th Fireworks Shows

It’s not too long until 4th of July will be here. A lot of people will stay home, have a BBQ and enjoy the local fireworks show or festivals. That’s a great way to spend 4th of July. But if you want to take your family on vacation for Independence Day this year then you should think about heading to the places that will have the best fireworks. After all, fireworks are what this particular holiday is all about!

Washington DC Fireworks
Washington DC is a great family-friendly city that is ideal for budget travelers since there are so many free museums and activities to take advantage of. They also have a terrific Independence Day celebration since it is, after all, the nation’s capital. And of course that includes wonderful fireworks displays.

Philadelphia Fireworks
DC may be the nation’s capital but Philadelphia played a huge role in the formation of this country and they certainly remember it with a big Fourth of July celebration. Their celebration actually lasts a whole week long. Getting a good hotel room might be tough this late in the game but if you can find something cheap then it’s worth it because there are plenty of free and cheap activities once you’re there. And it all culminates with a great fireworks show.

Chicago Fireworks
This great city is beautiful in the summertime. Book yourself a cheap hotel in downtown Chicago and you can take advantage of a number of different Fourth of July activities with your family. Baseball games and music events are among the daytime activities you can enjoy here. And at night there is the fireworks.

San Diego Fireworks
There is absolutely nothing that can beat a fireworks show on the beach. San Diego offers some terrific activities for families that can be enjoyed at a low cost – like just hanging out at the beach all day and enjoying the fact that it is summertime. Wrap it up with fireworks during weather warm enough to enjoy without a jacket.
Where are you going to watch the fireworks this year?
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5 Great St. Patrick’s Day Destinations

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. Most families don’t seem to think about traveling for this holiday. However, it can actually be a perfect time to take a little family trip. It’s off-season for many places so you can easily find good deals on hotels. Destinations aren’t too crowded. And you can see some things that you wouldn’t normally see on family trips.
Five terrific places to think about visiting for St. Patrick’s Day this year are:

1. Ireland. This would, of course, be the ideal St. Patrick’s Day destination. It’s not easy to find budget flights to Ireland at the last minute but if you can swing it then it would surely be an experience to remember.
2. San Francisco. Believe it or not, this is a terrific city for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. There is a very cool historic green church which is, of course, St. Patrick’s church. There are also great Irish restaurants and other fun activities to enjoy in this big city during St. Patrick’s Day.
3. New York City. Many people love to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. What better time to see this landmark than during St. Patrick’s Day? Get a cheap Times Square hotel room and make a whole weekend out of it!
4. Chicago. Another major city where you can see a lot of fun events and also visit a St. Patrick’s church is Chicago. The church here is also well-known and fun to spend time at with your family.
5. Boston. If the thing that you are most interested in is a great St. Patrick’s Day parade then look no further than South Boston. Over half a million people attend this event, though, so be sure to keep an eye on the little ones!

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5 Easy Ways to Make Economy Hotels calm for a calm Day

I recently wrote here on the blog about my ideas for affordable calm travel. One of the things that I think is a great thing to do for calm  day is to spend the night away from home in a local hotel. It feels like a nice little getaway, someone else makes the bed and you get a new place to experience some calm.

Unfortunately, it can be a lot easier to find deals on hotels than it is to find hotels that are worth it. Luckily, it’s really not that difficult to spruce up a budget hotel room to make it a whole lot more peaceful .

Here are five easy ways to make economy hotels more peaceful for calm  Day:

1. Bring your own sheets. Do you have really wonderful, luxurious sheets at home? Bring them with you to your budget hotel. Sure it means that you need to make the bed yourself but it also means that you’ll enjoy it a lot more.
2. Light some candles. All rooms are more peaceful when you turn out the overhead lights and use candles to give a glow to the space. This is a really frugal way to make your hotel night getaway a special one.
3. Add ambience with your iPod. If you have an mp3 player and a set of speakers then you can create a more peaceful mood in your hotel room just by playing some great music for you and your partner.
4. Pack a picnic. It’s so tempting to go out to eat nearby when you stay in a hotel. But why waste your money? Pack yourself a terrific picnic instead. Spread out on the hotel room floor with a blanket, wine and chocolates and rekindle the peaceful in your relationship.
5. Keep the television off. Nothing kills the calm mood like the TV. Keep it off during your in-town getaway.

These are cheap things that you can do to make it peaceful to stay at a budget hotel in your city for calm Day. Is there anything else that you’d recommend?
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Pros and Cons of Multi-Generational Road Trips

When I was younger, my family used to all pile into the car and take off on long road trips together. This is something that we now do with our own children as well. Although there are drawbacks to road trips, I generally think that they’re a a great way to travel. They’re fun, educational and slowed-down compared to flight-based trips.

My siblings and I have been tossing around the idea of re-living some of our great old memories by taking a road trip together. We’ve even been talking about the option of including Mom and Dad. If we did this, we’d be taking four generations of the family (us, our kids, our parents and one great-grandchild).

In some ways, this sounds overwhelming. Mom and Dad aren’t exactly the spry young things that they once were. They don’t have the health or stamina to take a very long road trip. We aren’t as patient with them as we’d like to be. Between the grandparents and the children, we’d have to stop frequently.

And of course, there’s always the hassle of choosing destinations and restaurants and activities when you’ve got a big group of people on a trip. What we always loved about road trips was the spontaneity of them. We’d pull off to roadside signs and see what there was to see. We do this with our kids, too. However, taking so many people out on one trip means that coming to decisions about these things might be tougher.

Despite these drawbacks, I think it could be an amazing trip. We’d be able to relive some really great memories while creating new ones. It won’t be long before Mom and Dad can’t do these types of trips at all. I’d love to let the grandkids travel with them like this while they can.

I think that the key to doing this (if we decide to do so) is going to be good planning. We’ll need to make it a relatively short trip and plan some of our stops in advance so that there isn’t a lot of bickering and frustration on the road. I also think it’s wise to take multiple vehicles so that we can alter our pace as needed for the different people in the family.

Has anyone out there tried a multi-generational family road trip like this? Any thoughts or tips?
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Pros and Cons of Multi-Generational Road Trips

When I was younger, my family used to all pile into the car and take off on long road trips together. This is something that we now do with our own children as well. Although there are drawbacks to road trips, I generally think that they’re a a great way to travel. They’re fun, educational and slowed-down compared to flight-based trips.

My siblings and I have been tossing around the idea of re-living some of our great old memories by taking a road trip together. We’ve even been talking about the option of including Mom and Dad. If we did this, we’d be taking four generations of the family (us, our kids, our parents and one great-grandchild).

In some ways, this sounds overwhelming. Mom and Dad aren’t exactly the spry young things that they once were. They don’t have the health or stamina to take a very long road trip. We aren’t as patient with them as we’d like to be. Between the grandparents and the children, we’d have to stop frequently.

And of course, there’s always the hassle of choosing destinations and restaurants and activities when you’ve got a big group of people on a trip. What we always loved about road trips was the spontaneity of them. We’d pull off to roadside signs and see what there was to see. We do this with our kids, too. However, taking so many people out on one trip means that coming to decisions about these things might be tougher.

Despite these drawbacks, I think it could be an amazing trip. We’d be able to relive some really great memories while creating new ones. It won’t be long before Mom and Dad can’t do these types of trips at all. I’d love to let the grandkids travel with them like this while they can.

I think that the key to doing this (if we decide to do so) is going to be good planning. We’ll need to make it a relatively short trip and plan some of our stops in advance so that there isn’t a lot of bickering and frustration on the road. I also think it’s wise to take multiple vehicles so that we can alter our pace as needed for the different people in the family.

Has anyone out there tried a multi-generational family road trip like this? Any thoughts or tips?
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Pros and Cons of Multi-Generational Road Trips

When I was younger, my family used to all pile into the car and take off on long road trips together. This is something that we now do with our own children as well. Although there are drawbacks to road trips, I generally think that they’re a a great way to travel. They’re fun, educational and slowed-down compared to flight-based trips.

My siblings and I have been tossing around the idea of re-living some of our great old memories by taking a road trip together. We’ve even been talking about the option of including Mom and Dad. If we did this, we’d be taking four generations of the family (us, our kids, our parents and one great-grandchild).

In some ways, this sounds overwhelming. Mom and Dad aren’t exactly the spry young things that they once were. They don’t have the health or stamina to take a very long road trip. We aren’t as patient with them as we’d like to be. Between the grandparents and the children, we’d have to stop frequently.

And of course, there’s always the hassle of choosing destinations and restaurants and activities when you’ve got a big group of people on a trip. What we always loved about road trips was the spontaneity of them. We’d pull off to roadside signs and see what there was to see. We do this with our kids, too. However, taking so many people out on one trip means that coming to decisions about these things might be tougher.

Despite these drawbacks, I think it could be an amazing trip. We’d be able to relive some really great memories while creating new ones. It won’t be long before Mom and Dad can’t do these types of trips at all. I’d love to let the grandkids travel with them like this while they can.

I think that the key to doing this (if we decide to do so) is going to be good planning. We’ll need to make it a relatively short trip and plan some of our stops in advance so that there isn’t a lot of bickering and frustration on the road. I also think it’s wise to take multiple vehicles so that we can alter our pace as needed for the different people in the family.

Has anyone out there tried a multi-generational family road trip like this? Any thoughts or tips?
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Crocheting During Summer Travel | Budget Travel Blog

One of the goals that I have this month is to start teaching my children how to crochet. I think it’s a fun craft activity that they will enjoy. More importantly, I think it’s a craft that will be very useful during summer travel.
Why crochet is great for summer travel:

• It’s inexpensive. Crochet can be a very inexpensive hobby. The crochet hooks don’t cost much at all. And you can buy inexpensive yarn especially for kids’ projects. Any craft that is a cheap craft is good in my book!
• Crochet travels well. Crochet projects are really easy to take with you anywhere that you’re going. They fit into bags and backpacks. They don’t cause any problems or require a lot of equipment. This is definitely something to look for in a traveling craft.
• Can be done in a car. Unlike many other crafts, it’s easy to do crochet in a moving vehicle or on a bumpy airplane ride. This makes it very convenient for traveling.
• The supplies are generally welcome everywhere. Many crafts require scissors or needles that aren’t allowed in some places when you’re traveling. Crochet hooks rarely cause a problem on airplanes or anywhere else.
• It’s simple but can be skilled. Crochet is really easy to learn in terms of the basics. However, it also has a lot of advanced things that can be learned. This means the kids won’t get bored with it easily. I hope!

Some great summer crochet craft projects for kids:

• Jewelry. Kids love to make things like friendship bracelets. This is easy to do with crochet and it doesn’t use up a lot of yarn.
• Toys and stuffed animals. There are a lot of great simple patterns for kids’ toys and stuffed animals.
• Pillows. The kids can start a pillow at the beginning of a trip and have it ready to lay down on for the ride back home!
• Tote bags. Who doesn’t need more of these for trekking around during travels? Letting kids make their own is a great summer activity.

And of course I love the idea of getting a chance to do some of my own crocheting during with the kids during a trip!
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10 Animals to Look for This Summer when you Travel

Animals are always the subject of a child’s interest. Pass one by that they’ve never seen before and they’re sure to want to know more about it. Even animals that they see every day, like their own cats and dogs, are able to get their attention when you can’t.

This is something that’s great to keep in mind when you’re traveling during the summer. As soon as the kids start to complain that they are bored, you can remind to have them keep an eye out for the animals that will entertain them. Here are ten animals to look out for while you travel this summer:

1. Butterflies and moths. They’re out almost everywhere that you might go. They’re magical and kids love to watch them.
2. Birds. Challenge the kids to keep track of how many different types of birds they see on your trip.
3. Cows. If you’re taking a road trip then one of the animals you’re most likely to see on the side of the road is a cow. Also look out for horses.
4. Fish. Maybe you’re actually going fishing or perhaps you just want to see if the kids can spot the fish in the water at ponds and rivers that you visit.
5. Lightning bugs. These summer critters are getting harder and harder to find but the kids will still enjoy spending the evening hours searching for them.
6. Frogs. Kids can also easily waste a few hours out of the day looking for frogs if you’re near the water. They may also try to catch crawdads. This provides free entertainment for at least a little while.
7. Whales. Take the kids out on the ocean and do some amateur whale watching. You can also look for dolphins, otters and sea lions. Kids love to see these things.
8. Squirrels. Animals like squirrels might not be as exciting as whales or lightning bugs but they are an option if you’re going to be in a city or state park.
9. Bugs. You might not love to catch bugs but your kids can enjoy this activity. Or watch an ant colony for a little while to see what hard workers they are.
10. Zoo animals. If all else fails, you can always head to the zoo this summer to see some animals with the kids. Skip the zoos at major cities and go for the smaller, cheaper zoos instead.

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Top 10 Places to Get Budget Travel Tips

I love everything about budget travel. I love the experience of it. I love getting better and better at it as time goes on. And I love learning as much as I can about how to save money on traveling by getting advice from people who are even better at it than I am.
I get budget travel advice from a wide range of different sources. The ten best places that I’ve found for getting budget travel tips are:

1. My friends and family. I tend to surround myself with people who also enjoy traveling and who also need to save money. The conversations that I have with these people are my favorite source for new budget travel ideas.
2. Budget travel blogs. I specifically look for blogs that are related to budget travel. There are great general travel blogs and great blogs on frugality. There are also great specific blogs on niche topics like hotel specials. However, the blogs that are about the whole general topic of traveling frugally are the best resource for this information.
3. Travel news sources. I go to standard news sources like CNN and Yahoo! News and scour the stories there for hints on budget travel. These news sources have been particularly helpful regarding budget travel since the recession began.
4. Twitter. I love Twitter! It’s a great source for getting up-to-date budget travel tips. You have to find the right people to follow on the site but that’s getting easier and easier as the site improves. Look for existing Twitter lists related to budget travel and just follow those!
5. Travel Booking Sites. I don’t necessarily book all of my travel through these sites but they’re a great resource for getting information and tips about reducing the cost of travel. This is one of the best resources I’ve found for getting tips about getting good deals on hotels.
6. Travel magazines and women’s magazines. These two types of magazines both frequently feature articles about budget travel. Hint: Look at back issues in the library for tips instead of paying for the latest issue at the newsstands.
7. Travel guides. There are several publishers that put out budget travel guides for specific locations. These books are a great source of low-cost travel information to specific destinations.
8. Forums. To be honest I have a lot of trouble finding the best forums for this topic but I know that they’re out there. I think forums are a great way to connect with other people about all types of topics so I continue looking for the right ones about this topic.
9. Facebook. Whenever I have a question about budget travel I always ask my Facebook friends. They never fail to give me some kind of creative answer.
10. My own brain. Staying in touch with myself and using common sense have really helped me learn more about budget travel as I go.

Where do you get the best information about budget travel?
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Tips for Saving Money on a Trip to San Diego

I started thinking about taking a trip to San Diego and now I can’t stop thinking about it. San Diego is just such a great destination. It’s good for couples, solo trips and family travel. It’s particularly great because there are a lot of free and cheap things to do in San Diego.
I’m not actually going to get the chance to go to San Diego right now but it doesn’t hurt to plan a trip there for whenever I do get the chance to do. I like to keep tabs on the cheapest ways to travel to destinations that interest me. Based on my research so far, I’d say that these are the best ways to save money on a trip to San Diego:

• Don’t plan too far in advance. I keep getting information about great travel deals for San Diego. This looks like the kind of destination where you can plan a last minute trip and save money.
• Save money with economy hotels. I have seen terrific online hotel reviews for a large number of San Diego budget hotels. Of course, there are a lot of expensive hotels, especially in the Gaslamp Quarter, but I think you can stay at a really nice place in San Diego without spending a lot of money on your room.
• Get a cheap rental car. It looks like San Diego is a city where you really need a car to get around. It’s just not feasible to use public transportation here as a visitor from what I can see. I think it’s worth it to get a rental car that’s affordable for this trip.
• Do a lot of people watching. It seems like the best cheap activities in San Diego are things that let you just walk, window shop and people watch. Hanging out at the beach, walking through the Gaslamp District and sitting outside at a cheap outdoor cafe are all great ways to spend a day in San Diego.
• Spend a day at Old Town San Diego. This is a popular attraction and yet it doesn’t cost any money. You can see all of these neat historic things and you get to enjoy a famous place in the city but you don’t have to spend a fortune. That’s the way I like to travel!
• See things at Balboa Park other than the San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo is amazing but it costs a lot of money. It’s located inside of Balboa Park where there are a lot of other things to do that are free or cheap. The museums here, the botanical gardens, the outdoor concerts and the Japanese Tea Gardens are all much more affordable to do and just as fun for the whole family.

That’s what I’ve learned so far about saving money on a trip to San Diego. I’m sure I’ll keep researching this in case I get to go someday so I’ll keep you posted as to what I learn. And any tips that you have about this are welcome!
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People Are Traveling Again | Budget Travel Blog

I love paying attention to travel news, don’t you? Unfortunately, that news has been a little bit depressing ever since the recession started. Sure, there have been a lot of great articles about how to save money on travel and which destinations are cheapest but those are mostly coming from blogs. The real media headlines seem to keep reporting that people just can’t afford to travel. I’m happy to say that this trend seems to be changing.
Two different news articles caught my attention that both seem to indicate that travel is ramping up again:

1. 21% Increase in Travel Searches on Google. This means that quite a lot more people are at least thinking about traveling this year than last year. The most frequent searches were for car rental and hotels. Interestingly, people aren’t just looking for budget travel anymore; the number of people looking into luxury travel options is also on the rise. I’d say it’s smarter to stick with looking for budget travel information, though, wouldn’t you? It’s not as though the recession is over yet!
2. Asia’s Budget Airlines Prospering. This article indicates that growth in travel isn’t just a Western thing. Things are getting back on track in Asia, too, although the emphasis there seems to still be on budget travel. Specifically, there is expected to be a lot of growth in the budget airline sector in Asia. The one concern is that high fuel prices may limit this growth.

These news headlines seem to say something important which is that we’re not in the clear yet as far as this recession goes but we can start thinking about doing more fun stuff again. Travel isn’t just fun; it’s also important. Travel helps us to expand our experiences and to better understand the world around us. We may need to stick with looking into budget travel for now but we can certainly be looking. With good planning and a keen eye for deals it’s definitely possible for us to do some traveling this year!
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5 Tips for Finding Last Minute Summer Travel Deals

If you haven’t made your summer travel plans yet then you may be starting to worry that you’re not going to get to take the family anywhere this summer. It’s true that waiting until the last minute during the peak travel season can mean that your price for travel goes up. However, it’s still possible to find good travel deals even at the last minute.

Here are five tips to help you find last minute summer travel deals right now:

1. Look for package deals instead of one-off deals. It’s often smart to get good separate deals for air fare, car rental, etc. However, that’s not the case at this point during the summer. Instead, you want to look at packages that offer these things all bundled for one low cost. That’s because package deals are often negotiated a season or even a year in advance when prices might be lower whereas one-off deals are being set right now at higher prices.
2. Use your social networks to get a good deal. Start checking out Twitter and Facebook for good offers on deals for travel. You may be able to find the actual deals advertised on these sites. Or you may just be able to get great travel deal suggestions and info from your online friends.
3. Look for a good deal on an unusual transportation option. Trains are always cheaper than planes and they’re particularly inexpensive right now when planes are charging so many different fees just to fly on them. Cruises are also cheap this summer compared to flight and hotel deals.
4. Consider booking your trip for the very end of the summer. Most families have kids that are going back to school at the end of August. If your kids are on a different schedule or happen to be homeschooled then you can hold off and get really great deals in late August. It’s still summer everywhere but the whole trip will be a lot cheaper.
5. Work with individual people and ask directly for deals. Instead of staying at a chain hotel, go stay at a mom-and-pop place. Ask them directly if you can get a deal on your room. If you’re willing to barter or lend a hand then they might give you a deal. The personal touch can go a long way this summer!

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10 Important Instead-Ofs for Budget Travelers

One of the most popular phrases in my personal budget travel handbook is “instead of”. You can use this phrase to make some really great choices that allow you to travel at a lower cost. You aren’t saying that you won’t travel just because you want to save money. You’re saying that you will travel one way “instead of” another way to cut costs.

Here are ten examples of “instead of” options if you want to save money on travel:

1. Choose to stay at economy hotels INSTEAD OF more expensive hotels. Better yet, choose to stay at hostels instead of hotels to save even more money.
2. Opt to visit small local museums INSTEAD OF major museums or costly landmarks.
3. Pack your own food or shop at grocery stores along the way INSTEAD OF spending the extra money to purchase meals at restaurants or fast food chains.
4. Visit local swimming pools, watering holes and small creeks INSTEAD OF going to water parks to cool off with the kids while you are on vacation.
5. Get library books before you leave to read while you’re on the road INSTEAD OF investing in video games, DVDs and other more expensive forms of road trip entertainment.
6. Find out what types of festivals and events you can attend for free at your destination INSTEAD OF going to costly attractions or more expensive events.
7. Look for deals and promotions INSTEAD OF paying full price. It’s always great if you can do exactly the kind of trip that you want to do but pay less for it because you took the time to look for a deal.
8. Always pay cash INSTEAD OF using a credit card so you don’t accrue interest charges for your vacation costs. Better yet, use a cash back rewards credit card INSTEAD OF cash and pay it off immediately before any interest is added.
9. Set a budget for your trip in advance INSTEAD OF trying to figure out after the trip how you’re going to make up for all that money that you spent while you were on vacation.
10. Visit friends and family in smaller destination cities INSTEAD OF traveling to the more expensive hot spots.

These are just a few of the most basic ideas for travel alternatives that will save you money. I’m sure that you could make an entire list of your own. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments!
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10 Budget Travel Tweeps to Check Out

I recently decided that it was finally time for me to go ahead and try this Twitter thing. I am not really sure if I have it down yet. However, I am enjoying sharing links and thoughts about budget travel through the site. If you’re interested, you can follow me here.
Since I’m enjoying my experience on Twitter, I thought I’d share some of the people that have Tweets I like to read. Here are 10 that are great for anyone interested in budget travel:

1. @BudTravel. This tweep links to a lot of great travel deals. What I love is that there are a lot of RTs here so I get to see what people are posting even though I’m not following them yet.
2. @AboutBudgetTrav. Great links to travel deals. Also great links to stories about budget travel which is what I really like!
3. @SoulTravelers3. So glad I found this one. It’s updates from a family of 3 that’s been traveling the world for about 4 years. So fun to read!
4. @AlmostFearless. This woman quit her job to travel. I’m a little bit jealous!
5. @CruiseLog. I don’t really do cruises much but it’s still fun to read about the deals on them that are out there. Do you cruise?
6. @ExoticFamTravel. Fun posts and questions about travel dreams.
7. @TravelMamas. Great tips for parents who want to travel with their children in a way that’s fun and affordable.
8. @TravelAnswerMan. This guys has visited over 100 countries so he definitely has a lot of interesting tips and thoughts to share.
9. @TravelDudes. My scrapbook of places I’d like to visit has grown considerably since I started following this Twitter account!
10. @GoGreenTraveler. I admit that I don’t know nearly as much about eco-conscious travel as I probably ought to. Following this Twitter account seems like a great way to start learning, though.

Who do you follow on Twitter? Are you posting about budget travel stuff there? If so, let me know!
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