Budget Travel's Blog

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

Archive: September 2011
sep 30

Are You Going To Or Avoiding London 2012?

Whether you want to attend the London 2012 Olympic Games or not, Britain wants you to know there are plenty of reasons for everyone to hop the pond next year.
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3 by Michelle Baran Professional Sports, London
sep 30

European Lodging: 3 Cool Options for Fall

Planning a trip to Europe? There are countless fantastic places to stay. Here are three of our top favorites.
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0 by Budget Travel Venice, Spain, United Kingdom, Hotels
sep 30

Book Europe Like a Local: 3 Super Sites for Reservations

For the best search results (and deals), swap your favorite U.S.-based booking site for a European counterpart.
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6 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Europe, Airfares & Flying, Rental Cars
sep 29

Are You a Hotel Loyalist?

I just learned that Hilton has been quietly investing in its Honors rewards program, making it easier for guests to redeem points at their properties. Now I'm wondering—how much does earning points factor into your decision on where to stay on vacation?
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1 by Laura Michonski
sep 29

Fresh-Air Fun in Europe: 3 New Outdoor Sights

Lately, European destinations have found novel ways to make the great outdoors more accessible for their citizens—and, by extension, for visitors. Here are three recent examples of outdoorsy ingenuity.
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0 by Budget Travel Beaches, Biking, Hiking and Climbing, Rivers and Lakes, State Parks, Airport Check-in
sep 28

Gap Adventures Ends Legal Standoff with Clothing Giant Gap Inc.

What happens when your travel company happens to have the same name as one of the world's largest clothing retailers? You change it.
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0 by Michelle Baran
sep 28

3 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Camera

When you’re shopping for the perfect point-and-shoot, don’t be fooled by flashy specs. In some cases, all you’re paying for is a number. Here are three key features to reconsider.
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1 by Budget Travel Technology, Travel Photography
sep 27

How do other countries stack up to the U.S. in airport security?

Security procedures vary depending on where in the world you are. What's the most surprising thing you've noticed about going through security in a foreign country?
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18 by Kaeli Conforti Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Airport Check-in
sep 26

Your take: The most important historic places of the new millennium

TIME’s upcoming Great Places of History—Civilization’s 100 Most Important Sites is the kind of coffee table book that will have you polishing up your bucket list and booking flights to far-flung locales.
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0 by Nicholas DeRenzo Art + Culture, Nature Appreciation, China, Norway, Egypt, New Orleans, New York City
sep 26

Has your trip ever been saved by a stranger?

One woman's solo walk across America shows just how far some people are willing to go to help others reach their destinations.
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7 by Andrea Minarcek Local and Public Transportation
sep 23

4 best travel chargers to throw in your bag

Leave dead batteries (and tangled cords) behind with these streamlined, portable power sources.
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5 by Valerie Rains
sep 23

Preview your next trip with a virtual tour

Surprises are great—sometimes. But when it comes to booking the best room in a hotel or making a beeline for a beloved landmark, taking a virtual-tour test-run can be a savvy traveler’s best strategy. Here are three new ways to get a sneak peek of your next trip.
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0 by Valerie Rains Helpful Websites
sep 22

Disney is bringing Avatar to life in its parks

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is teaming up with James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to create theme park attractions based on the blockbuster film Avatar.
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1 by Michelle Baran Disney
sep 22

Best hotel rate guarantee ever?

The world's largest hotel company says no one can beat the prices on its website: Find a cheaper rate elsewhere, and your first night is free.
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7 by Brad Tuttle Hotels
sep 22

What you need to know about staying safe at our nation's parks

At more popular Yellowstone National Park alone, 17 people have died so far this year. How safe are the parks for hiking?
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1 by Sean O'Neill Hiking and Climbing, National Parks, Nature Appreciation, Safety and Security
sep 21

Introducing the $450 checked baggage fee

And you thought $25 checked luggage fees and charges for carry-ons were bad.
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14 by Brad Tuttle Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Airport Check-in, Luggage
sep 21

Frequent flier: United Continental reveals merged mileage plan

The biggest change will affect members of Continental's OnePass program: Miles in the combined program will expire after a year and a half.
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5 by Sean O'Neill Airlines, Airport Check-in, Frequent Flier Miles, Loyalty Programs
sep 20

8 delicious beers from around the world

These born-in-Europe beer styles taste unlike anything you can get at your average neighborhood bar. And their backstories are pretty frothy, too.
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0 by Nicholas DeRenzo Food + Drink
sep 20

London: Heathrow Airport uses driverless pods

Passengers at Heathrow's Terminal 5 can now hop driverless pods to zoom to a parking lot along trackways. If successful, the tiny pods may replace shuttle buses.
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0 by Sean O'Neill United Kingdom, London, Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Airport Check-in, Innovations, Technology, Eco-Green
sep 19

Save the date: free museum admission this Saturday, Sept. 24th

More than 1,300 museums across the country will waive admission fees for one day only this Saturday!
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3 by Andrea Minarcek Museums
sep 19

Four trip planning services often overlooked

From itinerary-planning services to guardian-angel protection when your flight is canceled, here are a few fee-based services worth your money.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Guidebooks, Helpful Websites, Online Travel Agencies
sep 16

5 last-minute leaf-peeping deals

All across North America autumn has arrived, and there are still deals to be had that make for great weekend getaways. Here are five ways to peep your local leaves while they're still alight.
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2 by Jess Holl
sep 16

U.S. cities where travelers are taxed the most

In 18 major U.S. cities, the average visitor coughs up more than $30 per day in taxes related to their trip.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Food + Drink, Airfares & Flying, Hotels, Rental Cars
sep 16

Vocre iPhone app is a voice-powered translator

Parlez-vous Francais? A new app turns an iPhone into a fast universal speech translator.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Language Acquisition, Apps
sep 15

It's named what!?! The worst names for restaurants ever

B.A.D Sushi, Poo Restaurant, Rat's. What's your pick for the world's worst named restaurant?
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5 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink, Questions and Opinions
sep 14

The Budget Travel Convert: Reporting from...Tuscany

Hobart Fowlkes dishes on a recent trip to Tuscany's Versilian Coast.
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4 by Hobart Fowlkes Italy, Florence, Hotels
sep 14

Car rentals for $10 a day every weekend through next spring

The latest car rental deal from Enterprise is a doozy, with daily rates of just $9.99 at more than 6,000 U.S. locations.
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1 by Brad Tuttle Rental Cars
sep 14

Honeymoon travel: How to find an overwater bungalow bargain

Overwater bungalows are barefoot escape fantasies made real, with water lapping underfoot. A new site spotlights some affordable huts worldwide.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Islands, Romance, Australia & South Pacific, Dream Trips, Helpful Websites, Hotels
sep 13

News for Solo Cruisers: NCL Building More Singles Cabins

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1 by Fran Golden
sep 13

Travel: Google cheap flights faster with new fare search

Google launched its Google Travel product, Flight Search, at google.com/flights this afternoon.
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15 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Helpful Websites, Online Travel Agencies
sep 13

Statue of Liberty to close for a year of renovations

Just in time for the Statue of Liberty's 125th birthday on October 28th, the National Park Service is gearing up to give the aging structure some much needed TLC.
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0 by Kaeli Conforti Landmarks and Monuments, New York City
sep 12

Sign-up bonuses juice up dining miles cards

Sign-up bonuses are making free dining cards a more attractive way to build up flier miles without actually flying.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Food + Drink, Airlines, Frequent Flier Miles
sep 12

Culture Fix: 3 unique museums from around the world

Meet three museums that outclass more general museums using old-school attention to detail.
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1 by Budget Travel Museums
sep 09

Q&A: How to travel the world without paying a penny

Meet the man who swears almost anyone can travel all over the world "on the other guy's dime."
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0 by Brad Tuttle Kenya, Bhutan, Mongolia
sep 09

Passing through security with shoes on, imagine that!

A world in which we can pass through airport security without having to untie and retie our laces may not be far off, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
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10 by Michelle Baran Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
sep 09

Beware of fake "direct" flights

On a "fake" direct flight, you have to get off the plane, go to a new gate, and board a new plane. Even if the flight number stays the same.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airport Check-in, Online Travel Agencies
sep 08

When pigs fly: traveling with pets

This week, a 49-pound miniature potbellied pig named Bosley flew from Florida to New York on Pet Airways. Weird, sure, but pet travel isn't just a novelty. Here's what you need to know if you plan on bringing Fido along on vacation.
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1 by Nicholas DeRenzo Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Pet-Friendly
sep 08

How safe is your hotel room safe?

You might want to reconsider where you store your valuables the next time you travel.
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6 by Kaeli Conforti Hotels, Safety and Security
sep 08

Play these mind games for a better vacation

Scientists know why the trip home usually feels shorter than the initial trip, plus other secrets.
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0 by Sean O'Neill
sep 07

Green Day incident spurs question: Should airlines enforce dress codes?

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight for wearing saggy pants. Were his rights violated? Tell us what you think.
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52 by Fran Golden Airfares & Flying, Airlines
sep 07

Which travel rewards program has the most valuable points?

A new study does the math on the value of points for major travel loyalty programs. Long story short: You'll be especially happy if you've been amassing points with Starwood or Southwest.
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2 by Brad Tuttle Airlines, Hotels, Loyalty Programs
sep 07

Commonly mispronounced places around the world

Picking up a foreign language can be tough, but sometimes, even mastering the name of a place you're visiting can be a challenge. Here is a list of commonly botched name pronunciations.
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4 by Rachel Mosely
sep 06

Get discounted travel by buying gift cards

Save between 6 and 35 percent on travel by buying secondhand travel gift cards on auction sites.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Before the Trip, Helpful Websites
sep 06

Trip Coach: We want to know your thoughts on medical tourism

By all accounts, medical tourism, also known as medical vacations, is a rapidly growing business.
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9 by Fran Golden Health and Hygiene
sep 02

Breaking down Italy's slew of new hotel taxes

This year, at least eight cities in Italy have added a hotel tax of between $1.40 and $7 per person, per night.
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0 by Michelle Baran Italy, Rome, Florence, Venice, Hotels
sep 02

Video: the best way to board airplanes

It took a rocket scientist to design a better way to get people on planes.
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12 by Budget Travel Airfares & Flying, Airlines
sep 02

On safari, learning the wisdom of paying less

African safaris don't come cheap. But if you think paying more guarantees a more enjoyable trip, think again.
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2 by Brad Tuttle Safaris, Africa, Kenya, Tanzania
sep 01

How much would you pay to have Mickey take your family on vacation?

Adventures by Disney has eliminated its lower-priced Gateway Collection for 2012.
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0 by Michelle Baran Disney
sep 01

Look to Bermuda for fall vacation savings

Air service from discount carriers – including JetBlue and AirTran – special island-wide promotions, an increasing number of guesthouses and bargain-priced cruises are bringing Britain's oldest colony within reach of many travelers, especially this fall.
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0 by Fran Golden Beaches, Cruises, Islands, Bermuda, Real Deals