RSSAug|17|2011
Getting Bumped From a Flight Is Not that Bad
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Features, Tips, Transport, United States
These days, not too many people are flying – at least not as much in the old days. This means that airlines are offering fewer and fewer flights, even in the peak of summer. As such, it is still possible that you get bumped off your flight. Alternatively, you can also have your flight canceled. Either way, you might find yourself grounded at the airport.
Some people do not mind being bumped from their flight or having their flight cancelled. This is especially true for those who are in no particular hurry. And why not? More often than not, people in this position find themselves getting a lot of freebies. But this is not always the case. And if ever you do find yourself out of a flight or your flight gets cancelled, …
Jul|20|2011
Ideas For A Great Stay-cation
Posted by Noemi as Family, Health & Wellness, Spa, Tips
In the previous post, we were introduced to the idea of a stay-cation – at least I was. Anyhow, I got into this whole stay-cation mode and did some thinking to come up with some ideas for a great stay-cation. Here are some of those things.
Create a home spa
If you have lots of girls in the home, then this would be a perfect thing to do. Trust me, even fathers would love the idea once they have experienced pampering. So anyway, you could set up a home spa in one room in the house. Build up the mood and ambiance by decorating the room. Get some cheap scented candles and oil burners, put on nice relaxing music. You can give each other foot scrubs and massages. Of course, you might want to take …
Jul|13|2011
Finances Tight? Go On A Stay-cation
Posted by Noemi as Family, Tips
Yes, you read that right – a staycation. This is the new buzzword that is going around in the hospitality and travel industry. So what is a staycation? I think the name is pretty much self-explanatory. To give you something “official,” though, here is the definition from the Urban Dictionary:
A vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer.
Even though I live and work in New York, I don’t always get to enjoy all it has to offer, what with my work commitments, but I sure did have an awesome time here during my spring staycation.
Clear enough? I know a lot of families who have opted to go on staycations this summer because of the crazy economic situation these days. And what’s …
Jun|09|2011
How to Afford Trips in Tough Economic Times (Part 2)
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Tips
In the previous post, we took a look at 2 tips that can help you afford to go on a vacation despite the fact that money might be a little tight. To recap, the two tips are to reconsider your priorities and to consider going on a trip closer to home. Here are some more tips for you.
Always be on the lookout for special promos
Travel agencies, hotels, and airlines always have some sort of promo going on. Despite the economic problems – or maybe because of them – businesses in the travel industry seem to be giving a lot of incentives to travelers. Just last month, we were able to get free tickets to a domestic flight (round trip!). A local carrier, Cebu Pacific, gave away some 50,000 seats absolutely free – no taxes, no …
Jun|02|2011
How to Afford Trips in Tough Economic Times
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Tips
We are used to traveling at least twice a year. I guess it has become sort of a tradition for us. Traveling is the way that we are able to get away from the stresses of our daily lives and it also provides us something to look forward to. This year, however, it has been tough trying to get things together. We have not been exempt from the economic crisis that has been going on for quite some time. We were able to go to a nearby beach in May and August but have not been able to arrange anything else. I do know, however, that it is still possible to at least have one or two trips despite the tough financial times. If you are thinking about how to manage your own …
May|25|2011
Car Rental Tips
Posted by Noemi as Tips, Transport
Not too many people have great stories to tell when it comes to car rentals. With the way gas prices are today, it might not really be a good idea to drive around on your vacation. Still, if you must have a car then you might as well rent one. Here are some tips to help you save when renting a car.
Book as early as you can.
Just like with plane fares and hotel accommodations, the earlier you book, the better chances of getting a good deal. This is especially true if you are planning on traveling during peak season. The nearer your date of travel is, the higher the demand will be, and the prices will probably shoot up.
Try booking for more than a day.
Car rental companies normally give better rates for extended rental …
Apr|27|2011
Go Local
Posted by Noemi as Getaways, Tips
Lots of people profess to love traveling but if you are like most people I know there are many nearby places that you sometimes wish you’ve visited but somehow seem to never get around to actually go to. This fact is quite sad since I believe that the first places we should see and get to appreciate are the ones nearest us, the places where and near where we live. I believe this because I think that…
1. If we are more aware of our immediate surroundings then we can be better citizens. Though very idealistic and vague it rings true (at least for me ^_^) since better awareness of the immediate surroundings, tourist spots or not, will make us appreciate the beauty of our neighbourhood/town/country as well as want to change the “not so beautiful” parts. This can affect our attitude towards the environment, traveling …
Apr|14|2011
Use European City Cards to Make Some Huge Savings
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Cities, Destinations, Europe, Features, Tips
Traveling in the summer may not be that appealing to some people. In spite of the excellent weather in many places, there are just too many other tourists who pack their bags and hit the roads at this time. Still, if you do not mind the crowds, then these next couple of months is the perfect time to go visit the continent across the ocean.
Carousing around Europe is part of every traveler’s dream. However, we all know just how heavy on the pockets this could be. One critical weapon in the traveler’s arsenal is the city card. Major European cities offer these cards to visitors and locals alike, in an effort to help them make some savings. Here are some city cards that you should take a look at.
Barcelona Card
If you’re heading …
Mar|31|2011
How To Get Your Way When Traveling
Posted by Noemi as Tips
Don’t you just love it when you get your way? The problem is that it is not always possible to have things go the way you want. This is even truer when you’re traveling. We all want to have free room upgrades. We all want excellent plane seats. The list can go on forever!
If I were to tell you that there are certain things that you can do to get your way, would you be interested? I bet! Well, here are some tips that can help you do just that.
Keep calm.
Believe it or not, staying calm works wonders. Some people think that shouting and screaming does the trick, but believe me, being FIRM but CALM works even better. Try it, but don’t be surprised at how far being nice can get you.
Put yourself in the other …
Mar|24|2011
Traveling Alone
Posted by Noemi as Tips, Trends
I saw a quote the other. These may not be the exact words, but it went: “It’s better to travel alone than to travel with a bad companion.”
Traveling alone is not something that appeals to everyone. This is especially true for couples and people who are attached to their friends and family. Why should they travel alone? But what if you suddenly find yourself with idle time without anyone to spend it with? Should you stay at home and hole yourself up? I think it’s a better idea to make travel plans, even if you have to go at it alone.
Naturally, traveling alone might take a little bit more careful planning. The beauty of it, though, is that you do not have to consult anybody else with regard to what you want to …
