Hawaii on Sale

If you are looking for a deal in paradise try the off season. I have travel to Hawaii in both February and October and the weather was great. It will also be less crowded. Its the perfect time to go. If you want to know what the weather will be like checkout weather.com for average temps and rain fall. Here is an example of 1 deal:

The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel - Oahu
Best Kept Secret on Oahu! 5th Night Free at Charming Boutique Hotel!

From $740
Starting from $740 per person/double occupancy with Roundtrip Air from Los Angeles & 5 Night Hotel including All Taxes Pay for 4 Nights, stay for Five! at one of the best kept secrets on Oahu, the 3-Star New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. This hidden gem is located at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, across the street from the beautiful 500-acre Kapiolani Park and just a short walk to Waikiki shopping, dining and night life. The 125-room hotel sits on one of the best beaches in the area, frequented mainly by local residents and a great place for snorkeling with it's living reef off the beach. Now you can take advantage of their great every 5th Night Free special (up to 10 Nights!), adding one extra day and night to your vacation in Paradise at no extra cost! Price valid for travel from September 5 to November 10, 2008. Package includes roundtrip airfare on Hawaiian Airlines and 5 night hotel with 5th Night Free. ALL TAXES are included. Prices are higher during holidays. Promotion valid until December 23, 2008, with prices varied. Prices subject to change without notice. Based on availability. Restrictions apply

Cruise Sales

Here are the latest cruise deals:
Go to cruisecritic.com for more deals.

3 to 4 Day Cruises
4-Nt. Summer Baja Mexico Sailing from $299 + SBC & Free Gifts
RCI's Monarch of the Seas
08/25/08
Seven Seas Travel

Alaska
$649 7-Night Alaska Cruise on Celebrity Cruises + Free Coupon Book
Celebrity Millennium
08/22/08
America's Vacation Center

7-Nt. July Alaska Cruise from $999 + Free Travel Insurance or Prepaid Gratuities
Celebrity Mercury
07/27/08
Cruise Value Center

Bahamas
3-Nt. NCL Bahamas from $199 Plus Free Upgrades
NCL's Norwegian Sky
10/31/08
Expedia

3-Nt. Summer Bahamas from $284 (Kids from $199) + SBC & Free Gifts
RCI's Majesty of the Seas
08/22/08
Seven Seas Travel

Caribbean
10-Nt. HAL Caribbean from $799 + $50 SBC & Free Meal for Two at Pinnacle Grill
HAL's Noordam
10/28/08
Expedia

$1,799 15-Nt. S. America & Caribbean w/ Air from Select Cities + Bonus
RCI's Mariner of the Seas
01/04/09
CruCon

Eastern Caribbean
$599 Balcony 7-Nt. E. Caribbean RT Miami + Bonus
Carnival Liberty
11/29/08
CruCon

7-Nt. E. Caribbean from NYC from $431 + Reduced Deposit, SBC & More
Caribbean Princess
10/26/08
Cruise Value Center

7-Nt. Summer E. Caribbean Sailing from $799 + SBC & More!
RCI's Freedom of the Seas
08/24/08
Seven Seas Travel

Eastern Mediterranean
12-Nt. E. Mediterranean from $1,199 Plus Free Travel Insurance or Prepaid Gratuities
Carnival Freedom
09/07/08
Cruise Value Center

12-Day E. Mediterranean w/ Air from Select Cities & Transfers from $1,799 ($2,399 Balcony)
NCL's Norwegian Jade
11/30/08
Seven Seas Travel

12-Nt. RCI E. Mediterranean from $999 + $200 SBC & Upgrades
RCI's Brilliance of the Seas
11/25/08
Expedia
European River Cruises

$1,693 8-Night Uniworld Europe River Cruise + Complimentary Shore Excursions
Uniworld's River Ambassador
03/28/09
America's Vacation Center

Mexican Riviera
$699 Balcony 7-Nt. Mexican Riviera RT Long Beach + Bonus
Carnival Pride
02/08/09
CruCon

$599 Balcony 7-Nt. Mexican Riviera RT Long Beach + Bonus
Carnival Pride
11/30/08
CruCon

7-Nt. NCL Mexico from $499 Plus Free Upgrades
NCL's Norwegian Star
10/04/08
Expedia

$549 Exclusive Savings on 7-Night Mexico Cruise on NCL
NCL's Norwegian Star
02/21/09
America's Vacation Center

4-Nt. RCI Mexico from $229
RCI's Monarch of the Seas
09/15/08
Expedia

$1,699 16-Nt. S. America & Mexican Riviera w/ Air from Select Gateways + Bonus
RCI's Mariner of the Seas
02/03/09
CruCon

Northern Europe
13-Nt. August Northern Europe Cruise from $1,059 Plus Free Travel Insurance
NCL's Norwegian Jade
08/23/08
Cruise Value Center

South America/Antarctica
14-Nt. S. America from $2,349 ($2,699 Oceanview) w/ Air from Select Cities & Transfers!
NCL's Norwegian Sun
11/23/08
Seven Seas Travel

Western Caribbean
$469 Exclusive Savings on 7-Nt. W. Caribbean Carnival Cruise
Carnival Conquest
11/02/08
America's Vacation Center

7-Nt. Western Caribbean from $629 Plus Free Travel Insurance or Prepaid Gratuities
RCI's Mariner of the Seas
09/21/08
Cruise Value Center

Western Mediterranean
$499 7-Night W. Mediterranean Cruise w/ Exclusive Savings
RCI's Voyager of the Seas
11/08/08
America's Vacation Center

All About England

England is one of my all time favorite places to visit. Its filled with history, its very easy to get around, and they speak English (sort of). If you are planning a trip to England here are a couple of cool sites to check out:

Sites for the budget traveler -
www.london-discount-hotel.com
www.britainusa.com
www.royal.gov.uk
www.londondowntown.com
www.britishcouncil.org/usa
www.bbcamerica.com


Antique Shopping
www.ayrshirecraftfaire.co.uk
www.oakleighfairs.co.uk
www.yorkshirefairs.co.uk
www.b2bevents.info
www.dmgantiquefairs.com/fairs/newark

United Economy Plus

United is now offering what they call "economy plus." The plus being 5 extra inches of leg room. There is an extra charge buts its pretty reasonable. Here are some example of the charges:

Sample one-way prices for an Economy Plus seat option*:
San Francisco to Los Angeles: $14
Washington–Dulles to New York–LaGuardia: $14
Denver to Seattle: $39
Chicago to London: $89
Los Angeles to Tokyo: $109

Cruise Insurance

If you are going to be taking a cruise, cancellation insurance is always recommended. But before you purchase insurance from the cruise line make you know what it does and doesn't cover. They will only refund your money in certain circumstances and even then you won't get all your money back. You might want to consider purchasing cruise insurance from an outside company. Their policies usually cover more situations and offer better refunds. So shop around a little before you purchase cruise line insurance.

Getting Your Dollars Worth

With the falling value of the US dollar, traveling to Europe can be very expensive. Especially if you are traveling to Great Britain. One way to get the most out of your dollars is to pay for as much as you can in American dollars before you leave the States. Don't forget credit card companies charge a foreign transaction fee's for purchases made in other countries. Try booking a package deal. Some packages include not only airfare and hotel but also some or all meals, airport transfers and sightseeing.

Hurrican Season 2008

The experts are predicting an active hurricane season this year. Hurricane season runs from June through the end of November. They believe there will be 6 to 9 hurricanes this year. They also recommend the following precautions if you will be traveling to the Atlantic, Caribbean or Mexican Rivera:

Traveler’s Checklist:
* Prior to leaving the United States, register your travel plans on the State Department’s
travel registration website or at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

* Check with your tour operator, airline, or charter flight company (as appropriate) regarding
travel services back to the U.S. in the event of a hurricane, and the possibility of early
return if a storm is forecasted for your region.

* Obtain travel insurance prior to your trip to cover unexpected expenses in the event of an
emergency.

* Research the region you’re visiting and be familiar with local medical facilities, public
transportation, travel agents, and other emergency resources.

* Pack a first-aid kit and water treatment purification tablets.

* Keep extra bottled water and non-perishable food items on hand.

* Keep an up-to-date list of local emergency phone numbers, as well as contact numbers for the
nearest U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Consular Agency.

* Protect your vital travel documents from potential water damage by placing them in a
waterproof container.

* Pack a portable, hand-crank or battery-powered weather radio and flashlight with fresh
batteries.

* Obtain a cell phone that works internationally to stay in regular contact with family and
friends in the U.S. and advise them of your whereabouts.

* Leave a detailed itinerary and your local contact information with a friend or family member
in the U.S.

Carnival Cruise Secrets

Carnival Cruises
Here are a few little secrets if you are sailing on a Carnival cruise. * If you want a post card of the ship go to the pursers desk, they will give you one for free. * On some ships you can also get a deck of cards with the Carnival logo on them at the pursers desk. * In the casino they will punch a hole in your S&S card and give you a lanyard, one of those things you wear around your neck with a latch on the end to attach your card. Its a great way to carry your card. You won't have to dig for it every time you need to swipe it. * Normally you are charged for espresso or cappuccino on board but in the dining room they will ask you if you want coffee after dinner, ask for an espresso or cappuccino. They normally won't charge you for it. * In your cabin you will find a book about your ship, if you ask your room steward he will let you keep it for free.

Luggage fee's

Its hard to believe but its true, we will now be charged for bringing cloths with us by the airlines. Some airlines will let you bring 1 bag, per person, for free while others are charging $15 your first bag (wait for it...EACH WAY!), your second bag will cost you $25 each way and $100 each way for your third bag. And that's not the only extra fee's you will be paying. There's fuel surcharges, airport taxes, 9/11 taxes and sometimes a departure fee. What is a departure fee! When I purchase a airline ticket I don't think I should have to pay them extra to actually depart! And if all of that is not bad enough, half the time you won't get any food and the other half you wish you hadn't. These airlines are nickel and diming us to death. Where does it end?

Back in "the day" travelers use to take a extra empty suitcase with them so they would have something to bring back items in they purchased while abroad. But with these luggage fee's travelers will have to get creative on ways to save on these fee's. If we only bring one bag where will we put all the stuff we buy? Here is our solution: before you leave go to a second hand store and buy some nice, but cheap cloths to wear on your trip. Leave those cloths and fill your suit case with the things you bought while on vacation.