The Traveler Source » Budget Travel

Dont Let Volcanic Ash Ruin Your Summer Holidays

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:56:42 +0000

Few who had to travel anywhere in Europe in May can forget the inconvenience of grounded planes after the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajoekull. While the ash produced some of the clearest skies seen in a long time in places such as London by preventing carbon dioxide emissions, it remains a serious worry for people as they start making travel arrangements for their summer holidays. Images of all the affected travellers on standby in London hotels make us all wonder: Is air travel the best option for me?

If we are reluctant to take to the skies with the birds, fearing those ominous, billowing grey clouds,
perhaps we should look to the example set by the fish. We have all heard of cruises on mammoth boats skipping from port to port, but have we all considered the positive aspects of travelling by ferry to our holiday destination or even going on holiday in a canal boat or on a long-distance sailing excursion?

Ferries are inexpensive and a relatively green travel option. Most journeys last for a couple hours and can take you to neighbouring locations that you may not have explored before. Ferries leave from the UK for all over Europe, not just France, and can cost less than 100 pounds (comparable to an Easyjet flight). They don’t involve the hassel of long queues for security or checking in baggage either. Travelling on ferries, you can take in the sights and landscapes and move about freely instead of being cramed into small plane seats like sardines in a can.

There are also many companies throughout Europe willing to lease their boats to excited individuals eager for an alternative holiday. Some holiday packages will offer an onsite crew to assist with the more complex aspects of travel, such as operating a sailing boat. Others will simply let you take their boats out on the open water, leaving you nothing but an emergency number and an instructional guide for assistance.

These trips are varied in their design and depending on what you want out of the holiday, you may end up sleeping anywhere from a cabin onboard to one of the many luxurious hotels in Rome. Best of all, this kind of trip can begin in your own country, so a quick car or train trip will get you to the port, and flying can be avoided altogether.

Robert Frost once said: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Frost’s point is clear – the journey is just as important as the destination. Early explorers such as Christopher Columbus and even travellers of the early 20th century no doubt recognised this fact, but the point has resonance for the contemporary traveller too, especially in the wake of the recent volcanic activity, which threatens to continue intermittently throughout the summer. Boats provide a less-travelled route for holidays, making the hours passed in transit just as important as those on the beach on the other side.

Enjoy!

Route 66: The Perfect American Road Trip

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:53:14 +0000

First created in the early 20th century, Route 66 has become an icon for the United States, representing the journey to prosperity and small town, middle America. The highway in addition to being recognized by the Smithsonian as one of the fifteen most endangered world treasures has been immortalized through film, music and literature.
If you are considering taking a road trip on Route 66 here are a few of the most famous locations along the highway.
The Wigwam Motel
Built in 1949, the wigwam hotel resides in San Bernardino, California. The motel was masterminded by Frank Redford whose patented wigwam design has brought him much fame. The motel complex is composed of several individual wigwams buildings. The hotel boasts BBQ facilities, a kidney shaped swimming pool and a historic experience. This is a must see if you are doing a Route 66 road tour.
The Cozy Dog Drive In
This cute place is the home of the first hot dog on a stick! The Springfield, Illinois drive in was the idea of Ed Waldmire Jr. who after receiving some interesting baking flour from a former student to batter hot dogs with decided to turn a small cooking recipe into big idea. Not only does the restaurant sell dogs on its premise but they will also send their flour mixture to those who seek to make this fairground treat at home.
Meramec Caves
These caves made are the largest caves on the west side of the Mississippi. They were made known to the wider world after the French explorer, Phillipp Renault, was shown to their entrance by the Osage native American tribe in 172. Their history is a varied and interesting one. They were filled with large potassium nitrate deposits, an essential ingredient in gun powder, and were heavily mined. In the late 19th century these caves, oddly enough, would be the site of many parties as some of the caverns were large enough to hold ballroom-sized occasions, providing a cool escape from the hot summer months. And a series of cave discoveries eventually led to the finding of Jesse James hideout and the financial success of one of America´s greatest treasures!
Foss- Ghost Town
This is one of the many ghost towns along Route 66 that grew in population to take advantage of the heyday of the highway. It cycled through population sizes, in the early 20th century boasting an opera house, but shortly died in the 30´s after the construction of the interstate highways and the loss of Air Force revenue from the neighboring installation in Burns Flat. The ghost town is near a Foss State Park which has camping grounds, hiking trails and a lake.
Route 66 has many stops, not just the ones mentioned here that are worth visiting. The highway, going from Illinois to Los Angeles County is a historic stretch of road that should be a part of any road trip adventure.

Ten Tips For Eurail Passes

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:19:30 +0000

Tip 1: What’s a Eurail pass?

A Eurail canyon is a time-limited abuse canyon which allows absolute alternation biking in Europe for a set price. You can shop for a accepted canyon or location-specific passes, such as the ones for Britain or for the Benelux region. Time periods vary, but accepted lengths are 14 or 21 days.

Tip 2: Can I get one?

If you accept lived alfresco of Europe for added than the aftermost six months afresh you can get a Eurail Pass. Well, unless you are from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia unfortunately.

If you accept an out-of-Europe abode you could try to avoid it or – added acceptable yet – shop for an Interrail canyon which will apparently be cheaper.

Tip 3: How can I get one?

You can shop for Eurail passes through online food and in absolute life. Eurail Stories has a acceptable account of altered providers about the world. It is easiest to shop for from your home country, as it is difficult and added big-ticket to shop for at a adverse already you are in Europe.

So now we apperceive area we stand, it’s time to move on to some applied tips…

Tip 4: Is it account it?

Before affairs a Eurail Canyon it helps to apperceive how abundant you would absorb on alternation biking after it. In some European countries, alternation biking is absolutely bargain and the day’s adventure adeptness amount a atom of the circadian amount of your Eurail pass: Do your homework.

Tip 5: Discounts

It’s abundant cheaper to get Eurail passes for under-26es. However, the added big-ticket passes accord you admission to aboriginal class. To save money, get your Eurailing done afore you hit the abracadabra number!

You can additionally get discounts if you’re travelling as allotment of a group, so get some accompany calm calm afore you buy.

Tip 6: Watch for bench reservations

On some services, abnormally accelerated intercity trains bench anxiety may be compulsory. Bench anxiety tend to be added accepted in the south (like Spain and Italy). These anxiety charge be bought in beforehand from a bounded admission office. Most journeys, however, don’t crave supplements or reservations. If you appetite to advancement your bench to a couchette or sleeper afresh a catch charge be fabricated and added costs paid. Sad but true.

Tip 7: Beware clandestine lines

Not all alternation curve are allotment of the system. In fact, back I was travelling in Switzerland I concluded up on a clandestine band which amount me a whopping 120 added euros. Make abiding your alternation is covered by the canyon or apprehend to pay for the consequences.

Tip 8: Documentation

Keep your authorization handy. Because the Eurail canyon is absorbed to your name and authorization number, it’s important to accumulate them both easy-to-access back you’re on the train. I had my authorization arrested about one time in bristles back I was asked to aftermath my tickets. This isn’t about bound control, it’s about admission control. It’s best to accumulate it in an centralized anorak abridged or an attainable allotment of your bag.

Tip 9: Plan a little

The Eurail Canyon gives you the adeptness to jump on and off any alternation which can advance to spontanious decisions with all-powerful results. But if it doesn’t assignment out, you adeptness get abandoned in a boondocks for a few hours added than you bargained for. Or you adeptness access in a ailing base backward at night. You don’t appetite to absorb your European leisure time admiring the alternation stations’ architecture. Or afresh again, you might. I don’t know.

Tip 10: Melancholia sales

Look for appropriate deals. Although the Eurail organisation carefully controls admission prices, they do action casual discounts. You can get bargain amount passes by befitting an eye out for melancholia sales, so your admission abettor may be able to advice you by suggesting you delay a anniversary or two at assertive times of the year.

Travel – Take a Deductible Trip You Feel Good About

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:15:59 +0000

They say we are in a accretion from the recession that about was a depression, but I haven’t alone apparent abounding signs of it nor accept best people. This agency our frugal way of activity is activity to abide for a while. Fortunately, there is a way to biking abroad, affirmation a big answer and do article acceptable with your time.

The best accepted adjustment for award a tax answer back traveling is to affirmation it as a business expense. This is usually a amusing activity area the aborigine [that would be you and me] ache and aberration to somehow absolve that cruise to a bank resort in Cancun was absolutely for austere business purposes. The purpose is generally one of those “conferences” that accept bags of signs ups, but assume to be agilely abounding back it absolutely comes to meeting!

Well, stop angle to and fro for the tax man. I am not talking about such a vacation. Instead, the leisure time we are attractive at is accepted as a “funcation”. Yes, that is what they alarm them. In these vacations, you can go a cardinal of places and do some activity. It ability be hiking through Switzerland or biking through Spain. The alone aberration is you assurance up a few accompany or families to sponsor you. The added afar you do, the added they will pay to a alms of your choice.

By axis the accident into a accommodating action, you actualize a tax deductible situation. There are a cardinal of companies alms these vacations online. The absolute amount is usually amid $2,000 and $3,000. This generally does not accommodate airfare, but accomplish abiding to analysis anniversary amalgamation available. Regardless, you do get a tax answer of about $1,000 per affidavit issued by the companies. Not bad, eh?

Traveling in 2010 ability assume a amplitude accustomed the bread-and-butter environment. It charge not be. Just booty a leisure time that produces a tax deduction!

Universal Studios Orlando Night Life – 3 Things Grown-Ups Can Do to Have Fun There

admin — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:13:01 +0000

Who says alone kids can accept fun at the Universal Studios? Definitely not! After spending the day watching over your youngsters and indulging your close adolescent with rides and attractions in the affair park, accept an agreeable developed time at the CityWalk!

Let’s face it. Sometimes actuality a ancestor can be tiring. As a mom with three boys, sometimes I get annoyed of accepting to “kid stuff” all the time. There are canicule back I would accord aggregate to accept acquaintance the night activity with my bedmate again, aloof like we acclimated afore cribs and babies afflicted our lives.

Do you apperceive how I feel? Well, if you do, I’ll let you into a abundant secret.

My ancestors and I went to Universal Studios Orlando a brace of months ago. During the night, back our kids were fast asleep, my bedmate and I would edge out of our auberge allowance to CityWalk.

What did we acquisition at the Universal for grown-ups to enjoy?

1. Brazilian Nights

Starting at 10pm every aftermost Friday of every month, Brazilian Nights promises a night of dancing, Brazil style. Learn to Samba, alcohol $3 Caipirinhas and watch Capoeira performers.

Cover allegation is $7 alone so go on and accept fun!

2. Legendary Thursdays at Bob Marley’s

If you adulation reggae, arch on to Bob Marley’s every Thursday night at 8pm onwards. You’ll get pleasure the alive reggae music, DJ and drinks. Cover allegation is $7.

3. Ladies Night at the Latin Quarter

I didn’t get to try this back I was with my bedmate but I heard that Thursday night is Ladies Night at the Latin Quarter. Ladies get in for FREE from 10 to midnight. Complimentary drinks on the house.

Warning: Kids beneath 21 are not accustomed to these events. They’re alone for you, baby mom and dad, so enjoy!