For the past couples of years, Americans have lost the advantage of currency value due to rising national debt and struggling economy. Ten years ago, traveling wouldn’t hurt pockets so much because the US dollar was stronger than most foreign currencies. When that isn’t the case, like present day, there are some tricks to traveling to get the vacation you want without breaking the bank:

Enroll in Mileage/ Hotel Royalty Program
Most of these memberships do not require you to sign up for a credit card; however, you will earn benefits much faster with one. Earning miles while spending on necessities such as gas and groceries sounds like a win-win situation. Most members will at least score a domestic round trip ticket within a few months of becoming a member. For example, Citi AAdvantage will give you 30,000 miles if you spend $1000 within the first 3 months. The dollars spent and the actual miles flown will help you claim reward tickets faster than you can imagine. Your best bet is to sign up with the airline based in your city or your preferred airline.

Hotel Bidding
The idea of using a website such as Priceline.com may not appeal to many people because of the fear of ending up with an undesirable property; however, the result can surprisingly be a great deal. It is not uncommon to score a five star hotel in Las Vegas for bidding as low as $120 or a four star property in Miami during high season for just $100 (keep in mind you’ll still have to pay taxes and other applicable fees on top of your bid). These deals are so good, and you won’t find it from the hotels’ website. The downside of hotel bidding is there’s no cancellation, so it may not be a good idea if you are uncertain about taking a vacation or if you have a specific hotel in mind. What everyone should know about this bidding system is it’s not completely blindsided. You can choose the location where the hotel is located in (ie. Midtown, New York) and then you choose the star. If you select a 5 star hotel in Midtown, the website will not send you to a 3 star hotel in Brooklyn. It’s either they take your bid, or they don’t.

Know Your Choice of Transportation
Whichever transportation method you decided to go with, stick with it. For example, if you head to Europe, you may want to consider buying a rail pass and use the rail system for most of your trip. Swiss Pass, for instance, is a great buy for those going to Switzerland since it covers not only rail networks, but it also grants you free access to local transportation systems (bus, boat, trams, etc.) and more than 400 museums! Going back and fourth between car rental and rail will end up costing you unnecessary expense, plus you’re not really making the most out of anything here.

Make Your Own Itinerary
The good thing about coming up with your own itinerary, other than saving yourself some big bucks, is only seeing and doing the things you want. To get trip ideas, visit escorted tour company websites to see what their itinerary includes in terms of places and activities. After looking at a few of them, pick out the ideas that stand out to you the most.

Compare
Always shop around. Never purchase something from the first website you see, chances are you’ll see the exact same product being cheaper on another website. And once you make a changeable purchase or reservation, it’s recommended that you check back once in a while to see whether or not the price has dropped.

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As summer approaches, many thoughts come to mind, including warm weather in several locations, time off for children from school demands, flip-flops, swimming pools, cookouts and of course, that much needed vacation you’ve been waiting for.

But exactly when is the best time to travel? And when taking a vacation how do you pack appropriately to make the most of your getaway, whether it’s a tour around Europe or a relaxing week at the beach?

While many people think that the best time to travel is during the summer, that isn’t always the correct answer, because in warm destinations it is high season, and prices for air fare and hotel bookings are spiked.

According to the book, “Shoulder Season: Your Perfect Vacation,” experts recommend going on vacation during the ‘Shoulder Season,’ which is “the time between the high-season and the off-season when lodging and travel expenses are moderate and the weather is manageable.”

In addition to the shoulder season, there are several other factors to consider when determining what time of year to travel, with two of the major variables including squeezing a vacation around your work schedule and if children are involved, then their school schedule. And even if your only option is to travel during the summer, there are still ways to get around the drawbacks that could make your vacation less than you anticipated.

The book, written by financial journalist and editor, Amy Fontinelle, recommends three main pieces of advice while planning your vacation:

So, once you have decided on where to go and what you are going to do, the next thing you need to do is pack the things that you think will be the most needed for your destination.

Many people just throw everything they want into their suitcase thinking they will be able to make use of it or wear it at some point in the trip. But with the TSA cracking down on products that can pass security, and airlines limiting the number of carry-on bags and adding fees for bags that weigh over a certain limit, it’s become increasingly important to pack smart.

Rick Steves, author of “Packing Light and Traveling Smart” gives out easy and useful tips that can make your vacation much more enjoyable. Steves recommends to limit yourself to only one carry-on bag that weighs less than twenty pounds.  While that must seem impossible, keep in mind that you will be lugging or carrying this luggage around a lot, both while traveling to and from your destination.

“When you carry your own luggage, it’s less likely to get lost, broken, or stolen (some airline employees have stolen items from checked luggage). Quick, last-minute changes in flight plans become simpler. A small bag sits on your lap or under your seat on the bus, taxi, and airplane. You don’t have to worry about it, and, when you arrive, you can hit the ground running.”

Plus, with carrying your own bag, you are bound to avoid the airline fees of checking your bag. Also, leave the liquids and gels at home. Instead, opt for travel size liquids that are more compact and won’t be thrown away when passing through security.

Always leave room in your bag when leaving for your destination. You never know what you are going to find or pick up as a souvenir. Considering most of what you pack will be clothing, consider packing less items and wearing them more than once, whether you pick an article of clothing for a night out on the town or for hiking in the woods.

In order to receive more advice on traveling smart, check out the above books or check out the book, “5 Hidden Fees to Watch for on Vacation.” Lastly check out, www.JetSetter.com, which is an excellent site that is continually featuring packaged deals and discounts for every type of vacation you could imagine.

With these few tips, you are well on your way to an enjoyable vacation. Happy travels!

The article Prime Time for Vacation: Travel Lighter, Smarter and Cheaper appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In its final ranking of the most popular ski resorts for the 2011 calendar year, SkiReports.com ranks California’s Mammoth Mountain as the most popular ski resort in North America. With a total of 99,458 Facebook fans, Mammoth beat out the other top four as follows: California’s Heavenly Mountain, British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb, Colorado Resorts Vail, and Breckenridge respectively.

Mammoth CEO Rusty Gregory started as a lift ticket operator at the resort in 1978 and can now boast at being the head of the most popular resort in the world. When Mammoth became the first resort with 50,000 fans, he won a friendly wager with his Whistler Blackcomb counterpart, Intrawest CEO Bill Jensen.

Though our sources say that Gregory has yet to receive his winnings of a “spendy bottle of champagne”, he will no doubt enjoy the satisfaction of being the first resort to 100,000 fans even more.

SkiReports.com’s 10 most popular resorts:

1. Mammoth Mountain, CA (99,458 fans)
2. Heavenly Mountain, CA (93,887 fans)
3. Whistler Blackcomb, BC (87,477 fans)
4. Vail, CO (79,765 fans)
5. Breckenridge, CO (66,060 fans)
6. Jackson Hole, WY (62,088 fans)
7. Keystone, CO (56,145 fans)
8. Northstar at Tahoe, CA (49,498 fans)
9. Beaver Creek, CO (40,068 fans)
10. Mountain High, CA (39,742 fans)

At number 11 on the list, Mountain Creek in New Jersey comes in as the most popular resort on the east coast.  Only an hour’s drive from New York City, it is seven hours closer than the East Coast’s second most popular resort, Maine’s Sugarloaf Mountain. Many of Sugarloaf’s followers will tell you that its remote distance from New York lends to its unique charm and loyal following.

The East Coast’s top 5 resorts are:

1. Mountain Creek, NJ (30,715 fans)
2. Sugarloaf, ME (29,283 fans)
3. Killington, VT (27,101 fans)
4. Sunday River, ME (25,388 fans)
5. Snowshoe Mountain, WV (25,061 fans)

Though there are many ways to compare mountains, SkiReports.com focuses on total Facebook fans as a metric which incorporates total visits, mountain loyalty, and effectiveness of communication between a resort and its patrons. Mammoth’s Social Media Director, Steve Krcmar, stated, “Social media facilitates two-way communication between Mammoth and our guests.

Our visitors are a passionate bunch, and our goal is to stoke them out with videos, photos, contests, and info, as well as listening to their suggestions and remedying their complaints.”

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Now that Wisconsin and Oregon have won berths in the 2012 Rose Bowl Game, what are they going to do next? They are going to Disneyland!

The Number 10 BCS-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the Big Ten Conference, and Number 5 BCS- ranked Oregon Ducks, champions of the Pac-12 Conference, will make their first official appearances of the Rose Bowl Game week at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 27, in a ceremony at the holiday-themed Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland.

Wisconsin Head Coach, Bret Bielema, Oregon Head Coach, Chip Kelly, and members of both teams are scheduled to appear in the Castle ceremony with Disneyland Resort Vice President Jon Storbeck, Mickey Mouse, and the Disneyland Band. Among the Wisconsin players will be running back (and 2011 Heisman Trophy Finalist) Montee Ball, quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Bradie Ewing, free safety Aaron Henry, and defensive tackle Patrick Butrym.

Featured Oregon players in the ceremony will be tight end David Paulson, linebacker Josh Kaddu, defensive end Dion Jordan, and offensive linemen Mark Asper and Darrion Weems. Following the ceremony, coaches and key players will be available for media interviews in front of the Castle, and then will experience popular Disneyland attractions, such as the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Disneyland has been associated with the Tournament of Roses since 1959 and has had the honor of playing host to many teams during that time. The 98th Rose Bowl Game, played in Pasadena on Monday, January 2, 2012, will mark the second consecutive and eighth appearance all-time in the Rose Bowl Game for the Badgers (11-2).

The Ducks (also 11-2) will be making their sixth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. January 2 will mark the fifth meeting all time between Wisconsin and Oregon; it will be the first time the two meet in a Rose Bowl Game.

dashingstock / Shutterstock.com

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For tourists around the world, going to Barcelona could be a dream vacation. When they hear about the famous architect “Gaudi”, “Colon”, “La Ciutadella”, “Las Ramblas” and “Plaza Cataluña”, they will automatically think about Catalonia’s capital. Travelers get to know the city while visiting the most popular monuments, but from a local point of view getting to know the city takes longer.

Art, literature, and history are important reasons for visiting a city. However, Barcelona is not only known for cultural wonders. For football supporters, follow the Football Club Barcelona Tour. Only one ticket grants entrance to the New Camp, Barça museum or any VIP area popular among tourists.

Barcelona’s nightlife is breathtaking. There are clubs, bars, pubs or even karaoke bars for any age and style. You could find a wide range of bars and clubs:  House music, R&B, Latin music, Techno or Dance, whatever you feel like dancing.

One way to get a feel for the city is to check out a local party or tradition in town or around the city. Loriana Mitova, a Latvian girl coming from Ireland said, “The best way I could know the real lifestyle of the city was enjoying the best traditions and local parties. I also lived with a Spanish friend and that helped me to get different holidays which I have never expected to have.”

She also admits she “didn’t want to be a normal tourist. That is why I looked up the most amazing tours I could find”.

Being in Barcelona on St George’s Day is unusual for tourists. On that day, the tradition is special for couples. The girl must give a book to the boy, and the boy must get a red rose for the girl.

Because of this, the streets are full of small stores selling books and roses. The popular tradition has grown up and nowadays they even sell Barcelona Football club roses and any book that is on the market. People go crazy and look around for the best book for their boyfriends or the nicest rose for their girlfriends.

It is also very easy to keep children entertained in Barcelona, due to the amount of amusement parks in the area. “Port Aventura” stays in the memories of tourists, as well as “Tibidabo”. In summertime, aquatic parks are the best decision.

Because of the usual hot weather it is very enjoyable for kids being inside a swimming pool the whole day. Also, every family is free to go around the most beautiful beaches of “Costa Daurada” and “Costa Brava”.

In the winter, Christmas lights of “Plaza Cataluña” brighten the sky. In spring, indulge in buying books or roses for your partners on St George’s day. In the summer, the wide range of beaches offers many choices. Finally, fall is the perfect season to enjoy the different landscapes of colorful trees.

Clearly, it is not possible to visit Barcelona in one or two weeks. But if time allows, it is possible to really visit and experience the authentic life style of the city.

Being a tourist in Barcelona means following any situation that might come up without hesitation. Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall, any time of the year is perfect for a Barcelona vacation.

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Perhaps you are in search of a vacation location that meets that human natural need for the gratifying warmth of sun and the enchantment of serenity. If you haven’t already met, I’d like to introduce to a place called Nuevo Vallarta located in the Mexico in the state of Nayarit. As a Mexican resort residential area, Neuvo Vallarta is situated right near the better known Puerto Vallarta.

Having the amazing fortune of spending part of my winter break (December) in the beautiful site of Nuevo Vallarta I have a taste of what you may experience in this stunning location.

Neuvo Vallarta acts as a keeper of an almost endless list of hidden treasures; it’s a location wherein you sense an atmosphere of complete serenity and isolation yet the landscape and overall character of the resort town keeps one feeling warmth and comfort. That warmth is in large part due to the almost consistently present sun nonetheless, the people that manage the array of resorts and other locals offer an undeniable spirit of hospitality.

The eye-catching city can emit an atmosphere of calm and comfort within the resort areas or a large sense of bustle. A bus-ride-away, downtown Puerto Vallarta is home to busy streets and souvenirs galore while also presenting a vast display of dazzling artwork including sand sculptures along its beach shore.  By inhabiting one the many resorts in Neuvo Vallarta a traveller can easily find that balance between serenity and business.

Nuevo Vallarta is a destination  emulating that of an exquisite piece of artwork; the sand that meets the crystal-esque waters is breathtaking and looks as if gold were sprinkled across its surface.  It’s a place wherein you can venture through its nooks and crannies and discover the essence of simplicity and beauty.

While there with my family we traveled from the resort area along the shore only to find a small town with Mexican culture at its core. Bucerias is a small fishing town also located in the state of Nayarit. The charming town is home to cobblestone streets, various street vendors and an infectious community feel.

While there my family and I had the pleasure of stepping in a small candy shop and meeting the owner plus her spunky canine companion Chocolate. While sharing pleasant conversation, sampling sweet treats and playing with the owner’s dog it’s easy to feel at home in this gem of a town.  Nuevo Vallarta is located so well that entering upon places of hustle and bustle like Puerto Vallarta or places of a joyful peace, one can find it in convenience.

At the end of the day, my family and I would retreat to our resort home at The Villa del Palmar Flamingos Beach Resort and Spa. Each morning I looked forward to looking out at perfectly warm weather and daily resort events.  While big news within the resort town isn’t as frequent as it is in bigger areas, the daily resort activities from volleyball to salsa dancing classes offer different excitement each day.

Nuevo Vallarta, while quaint, has standout qualities that are difficult to go unrecognized once you meet the resort town.   So go ahead, if you haven’t met already, find your vacation time, hotel reservations, plane tickets and luggage for your trip to Nuevo Vallarta; the town is a unique treasure that is likely to delight you.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/artvixn/

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