Budget Travel's Blog

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

Archive: January 2009
jan 30

Cuba: Change travelers can believe in?

If President Obama sticks to his word, it’s likely that travel restrictions to Cuba will be eased. We highlight some expert analysis and travel tips for the Caribbean island.
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50 by Kate Appleton Art + Culture, Cuba, Questions and Opinions
jan 30

Nobody knows America's festivals better than this dude

From the World's Largest Disco street party to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Mike Guerriero has seen it all. We interview him for some tips.
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6 by Alison Rohrs Pop Culture and Travel
jan 29

London: A sneak peek at Michelin's '09 picks for affordable restaurants

The famous foodie guide doesn't just pick $400-a-meal restaurants. It also picks places offering good food at moderate prices. We mention a few upcoming picks.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink, United Kingdom, London
jan 29

Done something stupid on a trip?

In which we talk about dropping M&Ms on our seats and then sitting on them, losing treasured items we were carrying by hand, and other mishaps. Chime in with your own!
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99 by Sean O'Neill Questions and Opinions, Travel Gear
jan 29

It's hard to book those $1 room rates at LastMinuteTravel

Some tips from a spokesperson on how to book the $1 luxury hotel rooms being offered at LastMinuteTravel.com.
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18 by Sean O'Neill Questions and Opinions
jan 29

JetBlue to begin flying out of LAX

For flights to Boston and NYC, tickets will go on sale on Feb. 4.
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4 by Sean O'Neill California, Los Angeles, Boston, Airlines
jan 29

Hilton will build extended-stay hotels with $100-a-night studios

Home2 Suites is a chain opening next year as a home away from home, whether you're traveling for business or pleasure.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Hotels
jan 28

Think you understand duty-free?

Even experienced travelers may be surprised by what we discovered when researching where the duty-free deals are.
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30 by Sean O'Neill Shopping, Airfares & Flying
jan 27

This Weekend: Groundhog Day, take 122

It happens only once a year: The day we place all our hopes for good weather with a groundhog.
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2 by JD Rinne Pop Culture and Travel, Pennsylvania, Family Travel
jan 27

NYC: Classical music for less

A few strategies for finding top-drawer (and affordable) classical music in NYC.
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0 by John Rambow Art + Culture, New York City
jan 27

Where you're going in 2009

The recession isn't stopping our readers from traveling. And a few patterns in their vacation plans are clear.
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9 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
jan 26

A few good links: Finding decent food near LAX

Day trips for the business traveler, the jetting ape, and chocolate comes to Toronto's distillery district.
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1 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Toronto, California, Los Angeles
jan 26

Virginia giving away 40 free trips

A sweepstakes is giving away 40 free trips in 40 weeks to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the "Virginia Is for Lovers" tourism campaign.
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19 by Sean O'Neill Virginia, Questions and Opinions
jan 26

Boston: Street art is no oxymoron

Global guerilla-artist icon Shepard Fairey has his first museum survey at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston February 6-August 16.
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0 by Laura MacNeil Museums, Massachusetts, Boston
jan 23

Travelocity launches a "Green Directory"

A list of 250 hotels that use practices that are less destructive to the environment can now be found at Travelocity.
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4 by Thomas Berger Helpful Websites, Eco-Green
jan 23

In the future, you'll be able to "TiVo" your vacation

New, smaller photographic devices will let you capture all those fleeting moments that were so spontaneous you didn't have time to capture them on film yourself.
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6 by Sean O'Neill Pop Culture and Travel
jan 23

Previously unseen video of the Miracle on the Hudson

Videos of the successful water landing of a US Airways flight last week.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
jan 23

British Airways: NYC to London for $455 RT, taxes included

Cheap airfares to London abound. Here's one standout offer.
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4 by JD Rinne United Kingdom, London, Airfares & Flying
jan 22

Sunday in Paris: Where do I eat?

Sunday in Paris doesn't have to mean settling for a meal of fast food. With a little planning, much better options are easy to find.
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42 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, France, Paris
jan 21

New York City: A clever new trip planning website and tourist info center

This morning Mayor Michael Bloomberg debuted two new moves to help tourists plan their visits to New York City: A new tourism website and a high-tech information center.
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9 by Sean O'Neill New York City, Helpful Websites
jan 21

Short-term vacation rentals made easier

Our interview with the CEO of Zonder, a condo rental listings website.
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23 by Amy Chen Hotels
jan 21

This weekend: Celebrating National Pie Day in Maine

Four coastal inns are hosting Pies on Parade, with tastings and tours, this Sunday.
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2 by JD Rinne Maine, Rockland
jan 20

A few good links: The snow in Spain

Spanish snow, un-ignored safety announcements, distinctive destinations, the USA's changing visa rules, and finding hotel rooms for the Super Bowl.
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0 by Budget Travel
jan 20

Gladiator fights to return to Rome after nearly 2,000 years

Rome’s deputy mayor believes 2009 will be "the year of the Colosseum." The city plans to host mock gladiator fights and is revamping several ancient sites.
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10 by Kate Appleton Landmarks and Monuments, Italy, Rome
jan 16

Texas: Get face to face with U.S. presidents

It’s taken sculptor David Adickes six years to carve the giant busts destined for the new Presidential Park and Gardens at WaterLights, just south of Houston.
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0 by Kate Appleton Landmarks and Monuments, State Parks, Texas, Houston
jan 15

Video: Make your own noise-canceling headphones for $20

This is a real earful: A one-minute video explains how to take a pair of construction-site earmuffs and slip your MP3 player's earbuds inside it. Voila! Instant noise-reduction headphones!
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9 by Sean O'Neill Technology
jan 15

New York City: A gem of a hotel

The Gem Hotel, with locations in Midtown West, Soho, and Chelsea, has rooms from $139 per night.
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16 by Beth Collins New York City, Hotels
jan 15

Paris: Finding fun in the froid

There's lots to do in Paris, even when there's a chill in the air.
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10 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, Shopping, France, Paris
jan 14

Cash in those bank rewards travel points!

Reasons why you shouldn't bank those credit-card reward points for travel. If you have a stockpile of rewards points, consider redeeming them for rewards now before they are likely to be devalued.
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14 by Sean O'Neill Frequent Flier Miles
jan 14

Nominate your coolest small town

We're looking for towns with populations under 10,000 with an edge. Submit your favorite town now! It may win our competition.
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2 by Justin Bergman Questions and Opinions
jan 14

This weekend: An icy Alaskan swim is a cabin fever reliever

Alaskans young and old will jump into the chilly waters off Seward this Saturday, all to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
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0 by JD Rinne Alaska, Seward
jan 14

No recession for the cruise industry

This year may be a record year for cruise-going, despite (or because of?!) the economic downturn.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Cruises
jan 13

How many places will be worth visiting in 2016?

If present trends continue, there may be fewer than a dozen places worth visiting by 2016.
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2 by John Rambow Pop Culture and Travel
jan 13

Tourism slogan as psychological warfare

Why the Republic of Georgia's new tourism campaign tries to prove it's better than all other countries in the world.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Georgia
jan 13

Paris: How to find an affordable place to stay

Tips from a Parisian on how to book hotels and short-term apartments.
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28 by Meg Zimbeck France, Paris, Hotels
jan 12

A few good links: Going on vacation the Simpsons way

A Brutalist church, touring D.C.'s U Street, no more free theme-park beer, and the White House of Portland.
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3 by John Rambow Pop Culture and Travel, France, Washington, D.C., Oregon, Portland
jan 12

Orbitz's 7-day sale: Save 20 percent instantly

Book by Sunday for hotel stays through April 30, 2009.
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1 by JD Rinne Hotels
jan 12

Avis and Budget adding satellite TV to rental cars

For $9 a day, the kids in the backseat can be entertained with live TV.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Rental Cars
jan 12

Disney gives free tickets to our armed forces

"Disney's Armed Forces Salute" offer grants active and retired military personnel discounted hotel rates and free admission to Disney's U.S. theme parks.
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7 by Anthony Falcone Amusement and Theme Parks, Disney
jan 09

Here's some airport security that's easy to get through

Playmobil's airport security checkpoint may or may not be fun to play with, but it's definitely fun to laugh about.
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1 by John Rambow Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
jan 09

State mottos: Eureka! The People Rule!

A poster gives a new perspective on those punchy sayings states use to set themselves apart.
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3 by John Rambow Pop Culture and Travel
jan 09

Go on sale, dammit! (Why Hawaii's airfares defy gravity)

Airlines don't serve Hawaii with enough planes from the mainland U.S. because most of the passengers are redeeming frequent flier miles--which doesn't earn the airlines additional money.
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59 by Sean O'Neill Hawaii, Airfares & Flying
jan 08

How luxury travel magazines will respond to the recession

This year, the emphasis of magazine articles, TV shows, and tourism commercials is going to be on "mindful spending." This is something budget-conscious travelers have been practicing for years.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Pop Culture and Travel
jan 08

Video: Top budget travel destinations for '09

Learn about Hungary, Hawaii, and Iceland in this video.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Hungary, Budapest, Iceland, Hawaii
jan 08

Dreaming of Tuscany

A week in Tuscany studying art, architecture, or cooking, including lodging at a fancy villa, meals, and art museum admissions, for about $330 a day.
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7 by Beth Collins Italy
jan 08

New York City: Four-star restaurants on sale

Reservations are now being taken for Restaurant Week in New York City.
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51 by Alison Rohrs Food + Drink, New York City
jan 08

Pay for your flight by the minute in South Africa

A South African airline plans a new payment model: Rather than pay a set fare, passengers will buy minutes, much like a prepaid cell phone.
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1 by Liz Ozaist Africa, Airfares & Flying, Airlines
jan 07

Few, if any, true ski deals in New England, despite recession

Skiers who used to ski in the West Coast are now skiing in the East Coast, keeping prices high for lift-tickets, etc. Here are a couple of strategies for finding deals.
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7 by Sean O'Neill Skiing
jan 07

London: Bringing back the red double-decker buses

London's iconic red doubledecker, hop-on hop off buses may be staging a comeback by 2011.
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0 by Sean O'Neill London, Local and Public Transportation
jan 07

This weekend: Shop a famous Brooklyn flea market without freezing

The much-loved Brooklyn Flea is moving indoors for the winter.
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1 by JD Rinne New York City
jan 06

Soldes out: Shopping the Paris sales

It's time again for France's twice-annual sales, which are a competitive sport in Paris. Give yourself a fighting chance with our tips.
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2 by Meg Zimbeck Shopping, France, Paris
jan 06

A few good links: Hippies hate Wi-Fi

Things to do in D.C., Chicago, and Iceland; RIP airlines of 2008; readers' overrated trips; weird towel animals.
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0 by John Rambow Cruises, Iceland, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Chicago
jan 05

Obama admiration in Hawaii, D.C., and Kenya

Learn how to see Obama's old haunts in Hawaii, get a ride-share to the presidential inauguration, and plan a trip to Kenya.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Kenya, Washington, D.C., Hawaii