NEW: Guides to Affordable Getaways
Check out these picks at TripAdvisor.com for your best local getaways, all under a gas tank away. Just tell em’ how far you want to travel, and they’ll show you all the top places to eat, sleep and play!
VERY COOL!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Spend your holidays with The Moorings and save $2000* on a crewed yacht charter departing from the British Virgin Islands December 19 or 20, 2008 on their Signature 6200 Catamaran - the ultimate in luxury. Four luxurious passenger cabins with queen size mattresses and en suite lavatories with showers provide accommodations for up to 8 guests. A grand saloon provides completely separate lounging and dining areas, as well as a full entertainment center and cocktail bar. Your private yacht is your personal all-inclusive resort, so sit back, relax, and enjoy! To take advantage of this special offer, book by November 30th.
*New full yacht bookings of 6 days or longer. Subject to availability. $2000 off 6200 catamaran only. Book by Nov. 30, 2008 - not combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. Please contact your Moorings Vacation Planning Specialist for additional details. 800-437-7880; http://www.mooringscrewed.com/
Source: The Moorings
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Island Vacations – Easy on the Pocketbook
See a National Wildlife Refuge
When vacationers think of islands, many envision far-off and expensive destinations. Yet, the National Wildlife Refuge System – a network of public lands that spans about 97 million acres – offers a range of island destinations. From Alaska’s remotest islands in the Arctic Ocean to the subtropical “Spanish Virgin Islands” of Puerto Rico – as well as others scattered across the country — the Refuge System’s islands provide essential habitat for a vast array of birds and other wildlife. They offer enhancement to visitors who venture off the beaten path to experience them. The National Wildlife Refuge System is composed of 548 national wildlife refuges, with at least one in every state.
Ohio River Islands Refuge, Pennsylvania
It’s only 35 miles from Pittsburgh, but a world apart. Phillis Island, in Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, is a popular stopping place for recreational boaters to picnic on the sandy beach, fish for bass or simply watch the river go by. In fall, hunters pursue waterfowl or archery hunt for deer that swim to the island.
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge stretches 362 miles of the upper Ohio River, from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, with 22 scattered islands and three mainland properties. While most of the islands are accessible only by boat, Middle Island, near St. Marys, WV, has a bridge with road access. This is the most commonly visited island in the refuge, and the largest at 235 acres.
The refuge, created in 1990, aims to “protect the Wild Ohio” by conserving habitat for migratory birds, freshwater mussels and other wildlife along the river. “The Ohio River has been regarded as a resource for industry, not so much a resource for wildlife. Now we see it has multiple dimensions,” says Visitor Services Manager Janet Butler. The Clean Water Act of 1972 improved the Ohio River’s water quality, reviving wildlife populations on and along the river, and making it more appealing for recreation, she says.
The islands of Ohio River Islands Refuge are among thousands within the National Wildlife Refuge System. For more information about the Ohio River Islands Refuge see http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=51660
Here is a sampling of some of the Refuge System’s other island jewels:
Oregon’s Spectacular Coast
From nearly every viewpoint on the Oregon coast, colossal rocks jut out of the Pacific Ocean creating postcard images. These rocks are protected as part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge includes 1,854 rocks, reefs and islands and two headland areas spanning 320 miles of the Oregon coast.
From April to August, the rocks and islands are covered with birds. The majority of Oregon’s estimated 1.2 million seabirds, including 13 different species, breed on the refuge. “They pack on any available space during breeding season,” says Visitor Services Manager Dawn Grafe. Seals and sea lions also use the rocks as “haulout” sites for resting and pupping. Simpson Reef near Charleston frequently hosts 6,000 seals and sea lions.
The birds and marine mammals found on the offshore rocks, reefs and islands are extremely susceptible to human disturbance, so the rocks are closed to the public year-round. But visitors get phenomenal views of the refuge and its wildlife from many state parks and other open spaces along the mainland. Mainland sites with viewing decks overlooking seabird colonies include Ecola State Park, Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint, and Harris Beach State Park. Coquille Point, a unit of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, is also open to visitors.
One unit of the Oregon Island Refuge that is open to visitors is Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, where people can see one of the few remaining stands of coastal old growth forest in Oregon and the state’s largest Sitka spruce, estimated to be 700 to 800 years old. Visit Cape Meares Refuge between April and June each year, and see the fastest animal in the world – the peregrine falcon – raising chicks along the rocky headland. A pair of peregrine falcons has nested on the refuge since 1987. Hikers can enjoy several trails that wind through the headland and old-growth forest.
Also open to visitors is Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, the best known island of Oregon Islands Refuge, which juts 235-foot out into the ocean. At low tide, visitors can nearly walk up to it and explore nearby tidepools while tufted puffins fly overhead. Spotting scopes are available so visitors can get close-up views of the puffins.
For more about Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, see: http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/oregonislands/index.htm.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
NEW LODGING & LEARNING PROGRAM “OLD FAITHFUL WINTER EXPEDITION”
The Yellowstone Association Institute and park concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts have added the new “Old Faithful Winter Expedition” to their line-up of popular Lodging & Learning programs this year.
Lodging & Learning programs offer the expertise of Yellowstone Association Institute naturalists/guide during the day and the comfort of park lodges at night. Each program includes accommodations, some meals and Xanterra’s “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and select retail items.
“We consistently hear from participants that the instructors’ knowledge and enthusiasm about the park create experiences that could not be achieved on a self-guided tour,” said Jeff Brown, director of education for the Yellowstone Association. “The interior of Yellowstone in winter offers so much, especially for groups seeking an in-depth view.”
The Old Faithful Winter Expedition features two nights each at the only Yellowstone lodging open during the winter – the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Under the guidance of an Institute instructor, stops throughout the park will include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone Lake and various geyser basins. Available Saturday through Tuesday beginning Dec. 27, 2008 and Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, 2009, this program features four nights of lodging, breakfasts, lunches, welcome gift, in-park transportation, snowshoes, one-hour hot tub usage, unlimited ice skating and optional evening programs. Rates start at $929 per person, plus tax, based on double occupancy and $1,163 for single occupancy.
The activity level of this program is easy. The class is limited to 12 persons.
This winter the two organizations will also offer Lodging & Learning programs with the titles “Winter Rendezvous,” “Family Winter Holiday,” “Winter Wildlife Expedition,” “Yellowstone on Skis,” “Winter Wolf Discovery” and “Winter in Wonderland.”
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Save money and change your travel life for the better with these 25 tips from the editors at Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine.
- There are companies that will ship your luggage (or your skis or your golf gear…) so you don’t have to schelp them to and from airports. Here’s the thing: Most simply ship via FedEx or a similar service. You’ll save half - or even more - by going directly to FedEx.
- When booking a hotel room, never mention your membership discount privileges (AAA, AARP, military, government, etc.) until after you’ve been told the room rate.
- If you arrive in Orlando without a hotel reservation, go to the Official Visitor Center of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (8723 International Drive, corner of Austrian Row). Ask for the “Black Book,” a list of cut-rate offers phoned in by frantic area hotels with vacancies for that evening. Orlando’s Official Visitor Center is open every day of the year except Christmas.
- Upscale hotels charge for just about everything: Telephone calls, Internet, breakfast, sometimes the gym…. Most of their guests are traveling on expense accounts and don’t put up a fuss. But mid-range hotels tend to include that stuff for free. When you’re not sure, ask before it’s too late.
- If you can round up at least two other couples to share the cost, you can rent a luxurious villa in the tropics. Unusual Villa & Island Rentals (800/846-7280 or 804/288-2823, www.unusualviallrentals.com ) has a large inventory of multibedroom homes; rented by at least three couples together, they cost as little as $800 per couple per week, or $400 per person per week.
- Swapping your home or apartment for one in another city is always the least expensive way for large families to enjoy a vacation. Companies arranging swaps include HomeLink International (800/638-3841, www.homelink.org), Intervac (800/756-4663, www.intervac.com), and HomeExchange.com (800/877-8723, www.homeexchange.com).
- Tour operators that book packages with charter flights (such as Vacation Express, Funjet, and Apple Vacations) also sell just the flights - for far cheaper than regularly scheduled ones. The potential downside is that charter flights usually go weekly, and if you miss your flight or the plane conks out, you’re stuck. Consolidators, which sell discounted fares on regular airlines, are another resource. The best ones, like 1800FlyEurope.com and India specialist HariWorld.com, work out deals with the airlines that fly to a certain area.
- By joining the free Playbill Club at Playbill.com, you can find half-price theater tickets in New York and other U.S. cities without standing in line at a theater kiosk or waiting to buy tickets on the day of performance.
- Before you leave home, buy the sunscreen you’ll need at your local pharmacy, where it costs half the price charged at most resort gift shops. Invest in some basic snorkel gear, too, so you can avoid being overcharged for rentals.
- If you’re booked on an early-morning flight, look into the Park and Fly packages offered by airport hotels. Most include a one-night stay and free parking for up to seven days. The total cost is often less than what you’d pay for a week in the airport lot.
- It’s often cheaper to buy a ticket to London and then fly onward to other European destinations via a regional low-cost airline like EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) and Bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com).
- Prices for car rentals and hotels fluctuate, so never give up sniffing out a better deal. When you locate one, snap it up - and cancel the old reservation. Just make sure the cancellation policy won’t bit you in the rear.
- Bid low, score big! While Priceline is now a full-fledged booking engine, it’s most valuable for its bidding system. We like it for hotels in cities, but be wary of two-start hotels and below, and research neighborhoods in advance. BiddingForTravel.com has examples of successful bids. The law of supply and demand means you’ll do better at business hotels on weekends, at resort towns on weekdays, and anywhere off-season.
- When renting a car, photograph any damage the car may have before leaving the rental agency; a digital camera records the date and time of each picture. The documentation will end any debate over responsibility when you return the car.
- Be sure to check baggage weight limits before you leave home. Low-cost airlines like Ryanair charge $8 per pound or more for excess baggage - a particularly nasty surprise when you probably spent less than half that amount on the airline tickets themselves.
- So, you’re halfway through your vacation and your digital camera’s memory card is full. Now what? Go to an Internet café and upload your pictures to smugmug.com. The site offers unlimited photo-storage space for $40 per year.
- Local specialty foods make great souvenirs, and grocery stores are the best and least expensive place to find them. Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts from Hawaii, beautiful tins of tea from England, pots of mustard from France, and bottles of infused olive oil from Italy are just a few examples.
- Before you book a room over the phone, check the hotel’s site for its “Web-only” rate. It’s often cheaper than the best quote you’ll get by calling reservations because you’re paying for the room up front and the cancellation policies are more rigid.
- If you’re traveling overseas, be sure to check the fine print concerning passports before you leave home (go online or call the country’s embassy). To enter Tahiti, your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your date of departure; South Africa requires at least two blank (unstamped) pages for entry.
- Don’t assume that because you rented a four-wheel-drive SUV, you’re free to go anywhere you want. Most rental agreements do not cover dirt roads and if you get stuck, you’ll have to pay for towing and any damage done to the vehicle.
- On your computer, delete your cookies occasionally. If you look for flights one day and then go back a few weeks later to see if prices have gone down, the cookies stored in your system may direct the site to go back to the original search (and price) rather than starting again from scratch. Deleting your coolies makes the website think you’re a new visitor.
- Make a color copy of your passport and laminate it. Tucked in a book, purse, or paperback, a copy of the first page of your passport is tremendously useful when completing forms or registering at hotels. If it’s lost or stolen, no big deal. You still have the real McCoy safely stored away.
- Bring a cooler on road trips. Collapsible ones can be packed in the outside pocket of your checked suitcase; hard-sided ones can be filled with clothing and used as an additional piece of luggage. Stocked with ice, drinks, snacks, and picnic items, the cooler will save you time and money on the trip.
- Palm Beach (PBI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Miami (MIA) are a short drive from one another, yet the fares to reach them can be dramatically different. Before booking a flight, research all area airports. For New York, try LaGuardia (LGA), Kennedy (JFK), Newark (EWR), and Islip (ISP). For Los Angeles, try Burbank (BUR), L.A. International (LAX), Long Beach (LGB), and Ontario (ONT).
- All cruise lines offer shore excursions, but you can book directly with the tour companies ahead of time and save money. Unlike with ship-sponsored excursions, however, the ship will leave without you if you’re not back onboard in time.
Source: Arther Frommer’s Budget Travel
Stumble It!
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Late summer and fall bring great deals and savings at WildlandWild Discounts and Extras on Costa Rica and Galapagos Adventures!
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• When: Offer good on travel now through September 30, 2008
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Travel with Austin-Lehman this Fall and Enjoy Savings on Your Transportation Expenses.
Austin Lehman Adventures understands your frustration, which is why theye’re
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Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 28, 2008, Oct 05, 2008, & Oct 12, 2008
Price: $1,898
Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 07, 2008 & Sep 14, 2008
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Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".