Posted by Nick on August 24, 2010
If you are on a budget and want to name your own price for a flight, there is only one place you can do that - Priceline.com
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According to Priceline, when you name your own price for a flight you can save as much as 40%. So, what’s the catch? The catch is that you have to blindly purchase that flight. You will not know your flight times or airline until after you pay.You can even end up with a lengthy layover.
Before placing your bid to name your own price for a flight, you need to do a little research. You need to see what the lowest fair available is so that you have a baseline for your bidding. You definitely want to check Hotwire’s limited rate fares and make sure you do not bid higher than that.
When you place your bid, you have to enter in your payment information and wait to see if your bid is accepted. It only takes a few seconds to come back and tell you if it is accepted or not. If not accepted, you have to wait 24 hours to bid again if you are bidding on the exact same flight details.
If you have a winning bid, you do not get to select your seat. This means if you are traveling with someone that you may be split up on the plane.
It is important to remember when purchasing airline tickets on Priceline.com that they are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Posted by Nick on August 8, 2010
There are two instances when you would need to exchange currency in the US. You are either preparing to go abroad or you have just returned from abroad. This means you either need to exchange US dollars for a foreign currency or you need to exchange a foreign currency for US dollars.
Preparing to go abroad
Use an online currency converter to see what the exchange rate is and how much US dollars it will take for the amount of foreign currency that you need. I am a fan of the currency converter at XE.com but there are many other available as well.
Returning from abroad
Separate out your foreign coins from your foreign bills. Why? Because no currency exchange counters in the US will accept foreign coins for exchange - just foreign bills. In fact, it is in your best interest to try to use up the coins before leaving the foreign country. I like to use mine to buy snacks at the airport.
Where to exchange currency in the US
There are a variety of places where you can exchange foreign currency in the US. The fees vary from place to place, which is why the best idea is to do your currency exchange at the place with the lowest fees. You can universally count on airports and hotels to offer the worst exchange rates, or the most fees.
Here are other places you can exchange foreign currency in the US:
- Banks
- Travel agencies
- AAA Auto Club offices
- American Express Travel Agencies
- TravelEx locations
- Currency exchange counters that are in some large shopping malls
Other ways to look for places to exchange your foreign currency is by using Yelp.com or asking on a travel forum. In fact, Yelp is how I found the best place for foreign currency exchange in Los Angeles - at a place that offers no fees!
Posted by Nick on July 28, 2010
Taking your pets with you on vacation? If so, here are some pet-friendly places to stay. Check them out and see if any of them are available at your destination.
Kimpton Hotels
This is a nationwide pet-friendly hotel chain. They also pride themselves on being hip. When you check-in with your dog, you will be presented with a bag of gourmet treats and a chew toy for the animal. Complimentary pet beds and bowls are offered at all locations. Dog-walking services can also be arranged. Other services vary by hotel, with the Muse Hotel in New York providing pet massage services for a fee. You can even get massaged at the same time. See kimptonhotels.com for locations.
Motel 6
While it’s not exactly hip and luxurious, Motel 6 is also a nationwide hotel chain that is pet-friendly. As a bonus, American Kennel Club members get a discount of 10 percent. Check out motel6.com for locations.
Kampgrounds of America
If you are into camping, keep your eyes open for the yellow KOA logo of Kampgrounds of America. The KOA campgrounds are pet-friendly, clean and some even have dog agility courses and dog meadows. Humans can also enjoy showers, RV hookups, tent lots and log cabins. Visit koa.com for locations and rates.
Posted by Nick on July 27, 2010
It is no secret that booking a vacation rental by owner can be a lot cheaper than booking a hotel room on your vacation.
With vacation rentals, you book someone’s condo, townhouse, apartment or home instead of booking a hotel room. Other than being cheaper in the long run, you also get more space, a kitchen to cook in and a chance to mix in with the locals.
Usually a vacation rental by owner has a minimum stay period, which is anywhere from 3 nights to one week. You typically have to put down a deposit on the booking and pay a cleaning fee when you leave.
Vacation rentals vary in quality. You can find everything from a tiny little studio apartment to a luxury villa.
Some vacation rentals offer nightly rates and weekly rates. Some even offer monthly rates. Obviously, vacation rentals make the most sense if you are going to be staying in the same place for an extended period.
There are plenty of places on the web to find and book vacation rentals. Here are some of the top vacation rental websites:
Once you find a vacation rental that you are interested in, use the contact button on the webpage to contact the owner about booking the rental. Before booking, ask about any additional fees that may not be listed on the booking page.
Posted by Nick on July 25, 2010
U.S. News and World Report recently released a list of inexpensive places you can retire abroad. How cheap? Cheap enough that you can live well on just social security payments alone. Keep in mind that the average social security check is $1,200 a month.
Boquete, Panama. - You’ll live nicely on your $1,200 check and enjoy resident retiree benefits.
Granada, Nicaragua. - Just $900 a month will allow you to live in luxury.
Hangzou, China. - Just $1,000 a month will give you a comfortable lifestyle.
Morelia, Mexico. - Just $1,000 a month will give you a comfortable lifestyle.
Cuenca, Ecuador. - Just $1,200 gives you a nice lifestyle in the large expat community.
