Budget Travel's Blog

The latest travel news, vacation tips & advice, travel apps, and more

Archive: May 2007
may 31

Today's travel intel

A break on trips to Ireland, a Harry Potter theme park is in the works, and more great news in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
5 by Sean O'Neill Amusement and Theme Parks, Museums, Airfares & Flying
may 31

Excavation vacations

Go on a "dig for a day" program and help archaeologists search for buried treasures—you might just hit the jackpot.
Read Full Post »
3 by Sean O'Neill Volunteer Travel, Poland, Israel, Utah
may 31

On making a good impression

Last year we ran a story called "Are You the Ugly American?"—about ways not to accidentally insult the locals when you go abroad—that ticked off some readers.
Read Full Post »
6 by Erik Torkells Questions and Opinions
may 30

Instant survey on "Patient Zero"

What would you suggest officials do the next time they know that a traveler is carrying a highly contagious disease?
Read Full Post »
31 by Budget Travel Health and Hygiene, Questions and Opinions
may 30

Travel inspiration from The White Stripes

Make like a roadie this summer with The White Stripes during the Canadian leg of their tour (or with these tips, simply plan a relaxing vacation).
Read Full Post »
6 by Budget Travel Canada
may 29

10 Amazing "Small World" Encounters

You can see the 10 best "ohmygawd it's such a small world" stories.
Read Full Post »
4 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 29

Blogging is better than writing big emails home

Guest-blogger Steve Jackson's tips on the best way to write home—in today's up-to-the-minute world.
Read Full Post »
1 by Budget Travel Nicaragua
may 24

Why volunteering is better than traveling

Guest-blogger Steve Jackson's thoughts on volunteering, which he does a lot of in Granada, Nicaragua.
Read Full Post »
5 by Budget Travel Granada, Nicaragua
may 23

The duck truck takes Manhattan

You can hop abroad and hit the high seas (or just the Hudson River) in New York City's AquaBuses.
Read Full Post »
1 by Sean O'Neill Cruises, New York City, Local and Public Transportation
may 23

Today's travel intel

Fuel-friendly vacas, flying over the holidays tips, and more in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel
may 22

How I wound up living overseas

Steve Jackson, our Blog-off winner, describes his early midlife crisis and resulting move to the beautiful Nicaragua.
Read Full Post »
1 by Budget Travel Nicaragua
may 22

Today's travel intel

Memorial Day planning tips, a museum opening, and train ticket sales, all in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill
may 22

Get cash back when fares drop

Finding the cheapest airfare is a game—and often, a maddening one at that. A few websites have begun doing the searching for you.
Read Full Post »
2 by Budget Travel Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites
may 22

Meeting the Chavalos

Our Blog-Off winner reflects on his travels in Granada, Nicaragua, especially his work with young people.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Nicaragua
may 21

The 2007 "Not" List

It's all the trips we don't want to take, like an hour-long "mile high club" flight or a simulation of an illegal border crossing in Mexico.
Read Full Post »
12 by Sean O'Neill
may 21

Our man in Granada

The winner of our Blog-Off contest will write from Granada, Nicaragua—the tale of his travels starts here.
Read Full Post »
2 by Budget Travel Nicaragua
may 21

Travel Channel buys World Hum

One of the English-language's premier travel publications, online or in print, has been bought out by the TV conglomerate.
Read Full Post »
3 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites
may 18

Mexico becomes even more popular

Tourism revenues were up 14 percent over last year in this hot little country.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Mexico and Central America
may 18

North Korea puts on a show

Learn about the Arirang Festival's Mass Games, a tightly synchronized performance reenacting the country's history.
Read Full Post »
2 by Kate Appleton North Korea
may 17

What's new in Miami?

Welcome to Miami—we've got all the lowdown.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Florida, Miami, Girlfriend Getaways
may 17

Where to eat ethnic in Rome

An insider's take on the best places you don't know about ... yet.
Read Full Post »
3 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Italy, Rome
may 17

Wacky things to see worldwide

A prison museum and other crazy things you can make a pilgrimage to see.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Museums
may 17

What's your best "small world" encounter?

Remember that time you ran into someone from your past far from home? You can share it here.
Read Full Post »
114 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 16

Round-the-world deals

...and you can make it in less than 80 days! Go continent-hopping for cheaper than you'd think with these sales.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
may 15

Cruisegoers learn to love the Web

Picking a cruise itinerary used to be a hassle. But an Australian cruise company called Clean Cruising has come up with an innovation sure to sweep the U.S. cruise industry.
Read Full Post »
1 by Sean O'Neill Cruises
may 15

Fare prediction made easier

It's the crystal ball of airfare prices; Farecast came out of beta-testing today and added new features.
Read Full Post »
5 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites, Innovations
may 15

Today's travel intel

Tourist locations kick the smoking habit, and airlines' approval ratings are tanking (no surprise there). All this and more in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill
may 14

Google Earth for Middle Earth

Scouting out a trip to New Zealand just got easier, thanks to the New Zealand tourism folks, who always seem to be ahead of the rest of the industry.
Read Full Post »
1 by Sean O'Neill New Zealand, Helpful Websites
may 14

Readers react to rising national park fees

More reader feedback on the rising cost of accessing national parks.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel National Parks, State Parks, Questions and Opinions
may 14

Today's travel intel

The London fare war, a new guidebook, and more in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill
may 14

Travel trends

Flat screens in cabs, healthier food, and gambling vacations—you can plan one now.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill
may 14

City of Light...and good food

Clotilde Dusoulier tours the U.S this week—she could be in your city.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Food + Drink
may 13

7 tips for booking train tickets in Europe

Get the best deals for inter-city rail travel—the first step is to check out European websites.
Read Full Post »
7 by Sean O'Neill Train Travel
may 13

Where does the Guinness man go on vacation?

Check out our Q&A with one of eight master brewers for Guinness (his job includes visiting about 400 Irish pubs a year!)
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink
may 11

Are fees to the national parks getting too high?

Readers have reacted to This Just In's recent blog post about proposed hikes in park admission fees.
Read Full Post »
18 by Budget Travel National Parks, State Parks, Questions and Opinions
may 11

Today's travel intel

Fly to Germany for cheap, freebies, and bed and breakfast deals.
Read Full Post »
1 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Hotels
may 10

We have a winner!

You voted; now meet our champion blogger.
Read Full Post »
5 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 10

Changes at JetBlue

The discount airline booted its founder, David Neeleman, today.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
may 10

Cool lodgings

If you're bored with that old hotel, consider sleeping in a cave house, a windmill, or, heck, even your own private island.
Read Full Post »
5 by Sean O'Neill Islands, Spain, Hotels
may 09

The truth about Chattanooga

One native daughter fires back about what we missed. Read on for her favorite spots.
Read Full Post »
2 by Sean O'Neill Tennessee
may 09

What is black water rafting?

One reader shares her fantastic thrill during an adventure tour.
Read Full Post »
2 by Budget Travel Adventure, New Zealand
may 08

Today's travel intel

Readers' photography tips, media players on planes, and discounted London hotels.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill London, Travel Photography
may 08

What's new on TV

Imagine if you could leave your cubicle behind and travel the world for a year. Brook Silva-Braga did—and he has a documentary to show for it.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Pop Culture and Travel
may 07

Wonder-ful Portugal

More than 20 million people have already voted in the new Seven Wonders of the World international campaign.
Read Full Post »
72 by Kate Appleton Landmarks and Monuments, Questions and Opinions
may 07

Top 10 wackiest comments from cruisegoers

You can't say that on TV! Good think we're blogging then. We report crazy quotes from tourists aboard the new cruise ship.
Read Full Post »
3 by Budget Travel Cruises
may 07

Freebies!

A Girlfriend Getaways cozy.
Read Full Post »
7 by Budget Travel
may 07

Today's travel intel

Park entrance fee hikes, overnight train trips, and fare sales in today's edition.
Read Full Post »
6 by Sean O'Neill State Parks, Train Travel, Airfares & Flying
may 04

A record-breaking ship sets sail

Take a sneak peak at Royal Caribbean's new ship, the Liberty of the Seas.
Read Full Post »
3 by Budget Travel Cruises
may 04

Freebies!

Bank of America customers are getting a bit of free culture this month.
Read Full Post »
4 by Budget Travel
may 04

Morocco's national drink: Berber whiskey

Enjoy an anecdote from Melissa Kronenthal, of the blog Traveler's Lunchbox, from her recent visit to Morocco (hint: it's got a lot to do with alcohol).
Read Full Post »
6 by Budget Travel Morocco
may 04

All the cool kids are Zorbing

When one of our readers recently went on vacation in New Zealand, he tried out a new thrill called the Zorb, for a scary, nauseating, and thrilling ride, all at the same time.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Amusement and Theme Parks, Australia & South Pacific
may 04

British ubertramp rides the chicken bus

Nath Richards offers us a fun description of the Chicken Bus, modes of transportation that start as US school buses and gain a whole new lease of life south of the border.
Read Full Post »
1 by Budget Travel Mexico and Central America, Local and Public Transportation
may 03

The other side of Cyprus

Don't forget about the Greek side of Cyprus, which should be explored at all costs.
Read Full Post »
0 by Budget Travel Islands, Cyprus
may 03

Today's travel intel

New nonstop flights between L.A. and London, New Mexico's wacky tourism campaign, travel wonders, and more.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill United Kingdom, New Mexico, Airfares & Flying
may 03

Bermuda vacation rentals

A reader is glad we gave Bermuda one more chance.
Read Full Post »
2 by Erik Torkells Bermuda
may 03

Which of these four readers will win $500?

More than 80 of our readers have entered the Blog-Off Contest, competing for a chance to win $500 and become a guest-blogger.
Read Full Post »
16 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 03

A Gourmet Food Guide for Budget Travelers

Roselyn Sugay-Helbling, one of the blogger contest finalists, offers a list of the best places for budget travelers to eat worldwide.
Read Full Post »
51 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 03

Dear First-Time Vietnam Visitor

A 36-year old ex-pat, one of the blogger contest finalists, offers advice to budget travelers.
Read Full Post »
161 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 03

Spa Bargains for Less Than $100

Exhausted mother Kyla Kelim, one of the blogger contest finalists, learns how to find spa bargains.
Read Full Post »
38 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 03

Quest for the World's Best Beer

Nick Wusz, one of the blogger contest finalists, goes the extra mile to find one of the world's most elusive beers.
Read Full Post »
22 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Questions and Opinions
may 03

It's the final round of our Blog-Off Contest!

Here are the four finalists, based on writing quality and "informativeness."
Read Full Post »
7 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
may 02

Three mistakes for travelers to avoid

Those last-minute Southwest fares aren't always great deals.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
may 02

Bottled water: why it bugs me

There are a million little things we could all be doing to make the world greener, but if there's one that I'm particularly onboard with it's getting people to drink less bottled water.
Read Full Post »
1 by Erik Torkells
may 02

Little-known ways to fly to Italy and Germany

Eurofly and Condor, though not mainstream, are great ways to get overseas.
Read Full Post »
15 by Sean O'Neill Germany, Italy, Airfares & Flying, Airlines
may 01

Today's travel intel

Unnecessary travel products, the meanest city in the world, the most treacherous roads, and more.
Read Full Post »
14 by Sean O'Neill Travel Gear
may 01

Ireland on sale in peak season

Check out an Aer Lingus sale that ends tomorrow—it's offering some amazing fares for summer travel.
Read Full Post »
0 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
may 01

How to take better photos of your friends

The photo editors at Budget Travel have put together a bunch of tips on taking better shots.
Read Full Post »
8 by Budget Travel Travel Photography
may 01

What's better than Google?

Google mashups, of course. New mashups highlight selected locations with boxes that fly over and display addresses and phone numbers.
Read Full Post »
2 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites