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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