Budget Travel's Blog

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

Archive: March 2009
mar 31

Airlines: American is adding in-flight Wi-Fi on half of its fleet

American Airlines will expand its Gogo in-flight Internet service to more than 300 domestic aircraft over the next two years.
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16 by Sean O'Neill Airlines
mar 31

London: The first Slow Down Festival arrives soon

A series of activities and lectures will encourage Londoners to "stop and smell the flowers." It'll be a great time to rub shoulders with the locals.
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2 by Sean O'Neill United Kingdom, London
mar 30

Congress eyes lifting the travel ban on Cuba

Tomorrow, 18 senators will introduce a bill to remove restrictions on travel to Cuba. The Washington Post says there is bipartisan support in both houses of Congress for the change.
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31 by Sean O'Neill Cuba
mar 30

A few good links: Lady Liberty to reopen for America's 233rd B-day

And other news from the travel world this week.
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0 by JD Rinne New York City
mar 30

Mexico: The elusive truth about safety

TV reports make it sound like Mexico is being split apart by the war against drug traffickers. But the U.S. State Department says that tourist areas are safe. What do you think?
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293 by Tom Foster Pop Culture and Travel, Mexico and Central America
mar 27

Hotels: Hyatt is the latest chain on sale

The 20 percent off sale launched today.
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1 by JD Rinne Hotels
mar 26

Going there: A squat toilet in a first-class train car

See the photo, and then learn how to submit your own True Story on the road for a chance to win a three-night, all-inclusive vacation to Los Cabos, Mexico.
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7 by Sean O'Neill Train Travel, Thailand, Questions and Opinions
mar 26

Affordable Paris: French cuisine on sale now

Some of Paris's finest restaurants are running great deals right now, but you have to know where to look.
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4 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, France, Paris
mar 26

A footnote to "Drink Like a Local in 6 Beer Cities"

Brooklyn Brewery is open on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m., and beers are $4, or six for $20. (Those are great prices for New York City.)
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0 by Thomas Berger Brooklyn, New York City
mar 26

Happy Birthday, Boltbus!

Boltbus, a spinoff of Greyhound in the northeast, continues to offer free WiFi and cheap fares.
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3 by Budget Travel Local and Public Transportation
mar 25

Video: The MagShoe means shoes stay on at airport security

The device provides a quick scan while your shoes are still on.
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5 by JD Rinne Safety and Security
mar 25

A few good links: The Sahara's 3-foot beer tower, furbies, West Side Story, and more

Only in Vegas: the Beer Tower holds 15 beers.
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0 by Budget Travel Las Vegas, New York City
mar 25

Hotels: Orbitz's biggest sale ever

Huge discounts are yours for the taking. Save 30 percent or more on hotel room booked through the end of May.
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0 by Budget Travel Hotels
mar 24

This weekend: Suh-weet! N.H.'s maple syrup celebration

More than 65 sugarhouses will open their doors to the public this weekend.
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1 by JD Rinne Food + Drink, New Hampshire
mar 24

Is TravelPost the "TripAdvisor Killer?" A hotel reviews site with big ambitions

Kayak recently bought TravelPost and gave it a more powerful search engine. Its goal is to replace TripAdvisor as the most visited site for hotel reviews and rates.
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24 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Hotels, Innovations
mar 23

Breaking news: Scarlett Johansson loves Roadfood.com

She dishes to The Daily Beast. We tell you why she's a smart cookie.
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0 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Pop Culture and Travel
mar 23

Comic reliefs in Brussels

The Capital of the Comic Strip honors its animated heritage with a new museum and a walking tour.
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0 by Sara Morrow Museums, Pop Culture and Travel, Walking Tours, Belgium, Brussels
mar 20

Fare sale! Major airlines slash the cost of summer flights

An incredible nationwide sale fare by Southwest (with a maximum fare of $200 roundtrip) has been matched by other major airlines. Everybody: Start booking flights, through this summer.
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22 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines
mar 20

Napa Valley: The CIA's new cooking classes

The Culinary Institute of America's new cooking and wine classes at its Napa Valley branch.
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10 by JD Rinne Food + Drink, Wine, California, Napa
mar 20

10 hotel chains on sale: Book 2 nights, get 1 night free

Book a two-night stay at one of 1,500 hotels nationwide by April 30, and you can redeem a free night's stay at any of those hotels by December 2011.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Hotels
mar 20

Hotels: Get a lower price when rates drop (by using Yapta)

Yapta is the first service to let you track changes in the rates of a specific hotel.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Hotels
mar 19

Tell us about your last-minute trips

Travel is all about the last minute these days. Tell us about your spur-of-the-moment trips planned for the next couple of weeks.
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24 by Sara Morrow
mar 19

Airfares: What's the deal with Fly.com?

Fly.com's the new kid on the block when it comes to airfare metasearch. The site hasn't started advertising yet, but you'll be soon hearing a lot more about it.
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30 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites, Innovations
mar 19

5 recession travel tips

Cash in those bank rewards travel points, save big money on fancy dinners, and other tips.
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1 by Sean O'Neill
mar 19

London prices are coming down

Deals to London are on the way.
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1 by Sean O'Neill United Kingdom, London
mar 19

Tonight in Oahu: Talking surfing with star Rabbit Kekai

The legends of surfing come out to talk about the sport.
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0 by Beth Collins Pop Culture and Travel, Hawaii, Oahu
mar 19

Using Twitter to ask if Google will buy Expedia

What's Twitter, and how can you make the most of it? To help explain, we look at this case study: Why did Expedia's stock mysteriously jump yesterday?
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8 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites
mar 18

Pick the top theme park ride..."March Madness"-style

Theme Park Insider is having it own tournament to determine the Best Ride in North America.
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1 by Anthony Falcone Amusement and Theme Parks, Pop Culture and Travel
mar 18

Suggestions for an editor going to Paris?

I'm off to Paris and looking to you to help me find some of the city's gems.
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68 by Laura MacNeil France, Paris, Questions and Opinions
mar 18

Hotel: Tax-relief packages for April

With April 15 around the corner, a couple of top hotel chains are offering several tax-themed discounts.
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1 by Amy Chen Hotels
mar 18

Video: The rappin' Southwest flight attendant

Listen to a pre-flight boarding announcement delivered in rhyme.
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7 by Sean O'Neill Pop Culture and Travel, Airlines
mar 18

This weekend: Charleston opens 150 lovely historic homes

The month-long Festival of Houses and Gardens lets you see inside private colonial homes.
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2 by JD Rinne Art + Culture, South Carolina, Charleston
mar 18

Great (but not yet free) fares to Australia

The land Down Under needs your tourism dollars.
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2 by JD Rinne Australia & South Pacific, Airfares & Flying
mar 17

Philly's Alexander Inn hotel for $1 a night

The #2 rated hotel according to TripAdvisor is practically giving away its rooms. Here's the offer.
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4 by Budget Travel Hotels
mar 17

Not like home at all: Crazy tourist complaints

Tourists often have lots of legitimate reasons to complain about vacations. But these ain't them.
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22 by John Rambow Pop Culture and Travel, Travel Photography
mar 17

Travelocity joins Expedia in dropping airfare-booking fees

Today Travelocity is getting rid of its booking fees on plane tickets sold through May 31, matching a move last week by Expedia.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
mar 16

Security: The TSA is adding a twist to passenger screening

You'll soon have to give your full name, birth date, and gender in order to purchase airplane tickets. The TSA is taking over the watchlist monitoring program from the airlines.
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37 by Sean O'Neill Airlines, Safety and Security
mar 16

A few good links: Stripping naked for Aer Lingus

Immigrant origins, making restaurant reservations online, conquering your fear of flying, and getting to Australia for free.
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1 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, New York City, Airfares & Flying, Airlines
mar 16

Slimming down the lunch bill at Paris restaurants

You can get out of most Paris restaurants for around €10 a head, but it'll take a bit of planning.
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12 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, France, Paris
mar 13

Questions for an editor going to Rome?

I'm off to Rome in a week. Anything you'd like to know? Ask now!
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82 by Kate Appleton Italy, Rome, Questions and Opinions
mar 13

Readers' best Ireland photos

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a look at your gorgeous shots of the Irish countryside and castles.
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18 by Budget Travel Ireland
mar 13

Kenya slashes visa fees

Kenya will chop tourist visa fees in half to $25, starting April 1 for the rest of 2010. The country is also waiving visa fees for children under age 16.
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2 by Budget Travel Africa, Kenya
mar 13

Speakeasy Paris: The underground restaurant scene

For those who like to get their cuisine in secret.
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2 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, France, Paris
mar 13

Dining in the dark: Cool novelty or tacky gimmick?

A half-dozen European restaurants simulate what it's like to be blind by serving you meals in an all-dark setting.
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24 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink
mar 12

Sunny destinations look to put spring breakers back on the beach

Hotspots that once tried to forget about the college scene would really like some of their cash these days.
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5 by JD Rinne Hotels, Student Travel
mar 12

Hip-yet-affordable hotels: What makes Aloft special

Alofts, Andazs, Indigos, and Elements: Oh My! Our editor in chief explores the new range of hip/affordable lodging chains, which come with amenities such as self-service check-in kiosks and a touch-screen concierge.
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6 by Nina Willdorf Hotels
mar 11

What's your dream trip?

Yes, even in these scary economic times, you can still afford to take a big-deal trip. Where do you hope to visit and why?
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90 by Budget Travel
mar 11

5 editors share their dream trips

After publishing our most recent list of dream trips, we thought it would be fun to find out more about where a few of our coworkers hope to travel themselves.
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1 by Budget Travel Questions and Opinions
mar 11

This weekend: Orchids make their spring debut in Coral Gables

More than 10,000 of these exotic flowers, including some rarities, will be on display.
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0 by JD Rinne Florida, Coral Gables
mar 11

As airlines cut their service to Europe, how to save on fares?

Save hundred of dollars on your next trip to Europe by booking two tickets: a round-trip ticket to Dublin and a second round-trip ticket on low-cost carrier Ryanair between Dublin and your final destination.
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10 by Sean O'Neill Ireland, Dublin, Airfares & Flying
mar 11

This adventure travel company gives discounts to its toughest critics

A Madrid-based adventure travel company now invites past customers to go on in-the-making expeditions and help shape the itinerary.
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2 by Beth Collins Adventure, Innovations
mar 10

Customer service: How to get someone on the phone

A pair of websites, ContactHelp and GetHuman, can help you figure out the best way to get someone on the phone to provide you with customer service at companies in the travel industry.
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17 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites
mar 10

Paris: A Grand Palais in the wee hours

Most people don't turn to the arts when they're looking for late-night action. Paris's national gallery is out to change that.
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1 by Meg Zimbeck Art + Culture, Museums, Pop Culture and Travel, Europe, France, Paris
mar 09

Kayak responds to mimicry by TripAdvisor and Fly.com

Kayak.com CEO Steve Hafner dishes about the travel industry, copycat designs, and his company's plans to take on TripAdvisor in the hotel-reviewing game.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites, Innovations
mar 09

Best Westerns on sale this week

Today's theme: Spring Break destinations.
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3 by JD Rinne Hotels
mar 09

Disney: Wait times still high, despite the recession

Wait times are still long at the major theme parks.
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14 by Sean O'Neill Amusement and Theme Parks, Disney
mar 09

A few good links: Penguin madness

Heart-attack toast, cross-country train trips, money-saving flight advice, and the best Customs confiscations.
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1 by Budget Travel Pop Culture and Travel, Airport Check-in
mar 06

Fire sales! How cheap can travel go?

Take a look at some of the stunning deals available right now, and share the ones you've found yourself.
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12 by Budget Travel Airfares & Flying, Hotels
mar 06

Kudos to TripAdvisor for including fees in its new fare search tool

Having the fee info included in fare quotes makes it easier for travelers to make apples-to-apples comparisons.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites, Innovations
mar 06

Paris: Quick, cheap lunches are becoming easier to find

It's becoming cheaper and quicker to find a bite to eat for lunch in Paris. Look for these up-and-coming spots for the best in sandwiches, the latest culinary rage.
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5 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, Europe, France, Paris
mar 06

NYC & DC: Pretend you're in Hungary

Tap into Hungarian culture without leaving our shores by visiting a series of free events this year.
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0 by Alison Rohrs Museums, Washington, D.C., New York City
mar 06

Google and Flickr are each showing travel images in fresh ways

Google's Street View now shows you user-generated photos for richer views of landmarks, while Flickr's new Clock feature creatively presents user-generated videos worldwide.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Innovations, Travel Photography
mar 05

Paris: Michelin restaurants for the rest of us

The famous foodie guide doesn't just pick $300-a-meal restaurants. It also recommends places offering good food at moderate prices. Our Paris blogger notes a few of her favorites on the list.
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2 by Meg Zimbeck Food + Drink, Europe, France, Paris
mar 05

New York City: A revered concert hall is showing off its modern makeover

Alice Tully Hall, a famous venue for performances by orchestras and dance troupes, re-opened in recent weeks with a striking new look.
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0 by JD Rinne Art + Culture, Landmarks and Monuments, New York City
mar 04

Paris: Take a chance on a chanson performance

A fine way to experience authentic French culture is to catch a performance of modern ballads, called chanson. Luckily, the shows are affordable.
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4 by Meg Zimbeck Pop Culture and Travel, France, Paris
mar 04

This weekend: Meet the mushers in Alaska's Iditarod

This Saturday, 67 mushers will compete in the Iditarod, Alaska's 1,131-mile dog-sled race, where temperatures could drop well below zero.
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0 by JD Rinne Adventure, Alaska, Anchorage
mar 04

The most beautiful airport in the world?

There's never been a nicer airport to get stranded in.
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10 by Sean O'Neill Thailand, Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in
mar 03

Biking in Montreal: A new program makes it simple and cheap

Rentable bikes make the city's loads of bike paths a lot easier for tourists to experience.
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2 by Alison Rohrs Canada, Montréal
mar 03

JetBlue's recession-related deals

Lose your job, not your fare.
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0 by Justin Bergman Airfares & Flying, Airlines
mar 02

A few good links: United's planes go cashless, and other news

You soon won't be able to use cash on United's flights, mapping L.A.'s 87 neighborhoods, and free bevs on US Airways once again.
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0 by Budget Travel Laos, California, Los Angeles, Airlines, Hotels