Search Results for: blog what to know before you vacation at an all inclusive resort

Stretch Your Travel Dollar Abroad

Fall is one of the cheapest seasons to travel abroad. If you have always dreamed of exploring London, Paris or Rome, but were afraid booking a trip would drain your bank account, now is the time to act. Vacations to European destinations drop substantially once kids head back to school. According to Expedia.com, round-trip airfare to London during October and November is running about $80 cheaper than just a month ago. Meanwhile, perennial fan favorites, Paris and Rome can be visited for rock-bottom prices starting the second week in November. However, the cheapest destinations of Europe remain in Germany, Ireland … Continue reading →

Post-Olympic Travel Deals

Now that Ryan Lochte is back on American soil looking for his next one-night stand, London is looking for someone to take his place. Actually, the city doesn’t care how you pick your friends (with benefits); it just wants you to fill the vacancies left behind by the throngs of sports fans that departed when the Olympic flame was extinguished. And London tourism officials aren’t the only ones hoping you’ll travel to the United Kingdom this fall. Several major airlines are slashing prices by as much as 25% in order to lure travelers to Europe. Fall is traditionally a super … Continue reading →

Save on Back-to-School Travel

Whether your child is jetting back to college or boarding school this month, you’ll want to snag the best rate before it’s too late. Fortunately, being a student can yield major travel savings. For as much as they are despised for their insane baggage fees and other crazy expenses, some commercial airlines also offer student discounts that can really help out in a pinch. For example, since 1998, AirTran Airways has featured a discount airfare program for travelers 18 to 22 years old. The reduced rates let young people fly standby for $69 on short segment flights and $99 on … Continue reading →

Save on Vacation Stays

Many travelers believe the best way to save on vacation accommodations is to bid online for the cheapest price. Turns out there are a slew of ways you can book a vacation stay without worrying about someone else’s low-ball price proposal. Farmstay: You’ve heard of housestays, where you can crash in someone’s spare bedroom during your travels, but what about farmstays? This alternative to expensive hotel rooms is one of the cheapest lodging options out there right now. Don’t let the name fool you; prior farm experience is not needed to take advantage of the affordable accommodations. In other words, … Continue reading →

Find the Best Price on All-Inclusive Trips

In a previous blog I discussed the advantages and disadvantages of all-inclusive vacations. They can be money savers provided you choose the right one. So, how do you book an all-inclusive trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank? My suggestion: Visit ResortCompete.com. The new website features a complete list of all-inclusive vacations from more than 630 resorts around the world. Getting results is very simple—just fill out an online form listing your preferences for dates, location, number of adults and children in your group, and how many rooms you want, and the computer does the rest. In the end … Continue reading →

Affordable All-Inclusive Packages to Europe

If you truly want to take a vacation–especially one that gives you a break from dealing with the logistics of booking your own airline tickets, finding a hotel, coordinating ground transportation, etc.—-then you might want to consider the following discounted package deals to popular cities in Eastern Europe. All of them offer stress-free travel options for a flat fee. PRAGUE For just $1,229 per person Virgin Vacations is selling an outstanding trip to Prague. The six-night escape includes roundtrip air from New York; lodging at a conveniently located hotel; and daily continental breakfast. You will spend a week exploring this … Continue reading →

Total Vacation Packages—Are They Worth The Money?

Websites are plastered with travel deals beckoning visitors to exotic locations. Most of them are package deals, which include airfare and hotel accommodations. Some even include rental cars and tickets to specific events (e.g. whale watching or ski lift tickets). The prices always catch my eye, but I never stop to examine the offer’s fine print. I normally assume there’s a reason (not a good one) for the prices being so (seemingly) affordable. So if you are traveling to popular destinations are these package deals the best way to go? I posed the question to my high school classmate, Ryan … Continue reading →

Traveling With Grandparents—Survival Tips

I have a friend who would rather get her toenails ripped out with a set of pliers by an angry football player than take a vacation with her parents or in-laws. I, on the other hand, grew up vacationing with my parents and grandparents and am currently in the process of planning a trip that includes my 91-year-old grandmother, my parents, myself, and my own child—four generations on the same trip… I can’t wait. I’m serious. I don’t have a problem with multi-generational family vacations. Do you? If you are like me and tend to travel with parents and grandparents … Continue reading →

Traveling With Three Generations: Where To Go With The Grandparents

In a previous blog I detailed one of our family’s favorite traditions. As a child growing up in Hawaii each Labor Day weekend our entire family (my grandparents, parents, brothers, and I) would squeeze into two vehicles for four action packed days at a resort located on the opposite side of the island. My brothers and I looked forward to the trip each year. We had the best time and the memories made during those trips remain with me today. Of course, those family trips were made decades ago. Which is why I found it interesting that a new study … Continue reading →

Travel Brochures 101

I recently wrote a blog about the misleading verbiage used by some all-inclusive resorts. Often times the descriptions are open to interpretation or only offer a partial explanation of a certain item. It got me thinking about travel brochures and how many times travelers must de-code what’s printed inside. For example, if you are on a bus tour: “See” vs. “View” vs. “Visit” Typically, “see” means the tour bus driver will cruise past the attraction so you can “see” it. “View” usually means there’s a brief stop or a chance to take photos. “Visit,” means a longer stop where you … Continue reading →