Budget Travel's Blog

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

Archive: January 2012
jan 31

New Site "We Met on a Plane" Reconnects Fliers for Romance

Romance is in mid-air, thanks to WeMetonaPlane.com, a site that helps travelers reconnect if they had chemistry during a flight yet failed to swap numbers.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Romance, Airlines, Helpful Websites, Technology
jan 31

Where do You Turn for Off-The-Radar Restaurant Recommendations?

Skip the guidebooks and concierges. Here are the top tips for finding the best off-the-path restaurants wherever you travel.
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5 by Nicholas DeRenzo Art + Culture, Food + Drink, Pop Culture and Travel, Food + Drink
jan 31

What Happens When Your Flight Reservation Doesn't Exist?

One of our editors recently found out, proving that even the experts run into travel trouble from time to time. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending—and some advice for fellow road warriors.
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2 by Budget Travel Airfares & Flying, Airlines
jan 30

4 Easy Ways to Save on Ski Trips

Skiing has a reputation as a pricey, perhaps even snobby sport. But even if some skiers seem to have their noses raised in the air, there's no reason to pay through the nose to ski.
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1 by Brad Tuttle Professional Sports, Skiing, Colorado, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont
jan 30

The Tweets That Got Two Tourists Barred from the US

U.K. tourist was barred from the U.S. for tweeting that he was going to "destroy America," during a riff on a joke about the TV sitcom "Family Guy."
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2 by Sean O'Neill United Kingdom, Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
jan 30

Which of America's Towns Will be Crowned "The Coolest" in 2012?

Competition for Coolest Small Town of 2012 is getting fierce.
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0 by Kaeli Conforti Coolest Small Towns, Questions and Opinions
jan 27

Are Electric Car-Charging Stations the New Must-Have Hotel Amenity?

Hotels and resorts all over the country are adding electric car–charging stations. See where to re–charge while you relax.
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5 by Valerie Rains Hotels, Technology
jan 27

Why Don’t Americans Take More Vacation?

According to a recent study, the U.S. ranks among the most vacation deprived nations in the world.
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3 by Michelle Baran
jan 26

Chinese New Year: A surprisingly Affordable Time to Visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s biggest festival is also one of the cheapest times of the year to visit.
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0 by Nicholas DeRenzo Art + Culture, Festivals, Pop Culture and Travel, China, Hong Kong
jan 26

3 New Ways to Locate Hotels Based On Travel Time To Major Attractions

Never get lost or waste time again by using these free tools from Google and other helpful websites.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Hotels, Online Travel Agencies
jan 25

Where To Go For Snow

It may have been a slow start to the ski season, but things are starting to look up for avid skiers and snowboarders.
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3 by Michelle Baran Skiing
jan 25

Disney Worker Beard Ban Finally Gets Clipped

For nearly 60 years, Disney employees haven't been allowed to grow beards or goatees. Soon, though, "Cast Members" won't have to be clean-shaven.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Amusement and Theme Parks, Disney
jan 25

The Six-Week Rule for Finding the Cheapest Flights

When's the best time to make travel bookings? Six weeks before a flight, on average.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying
jan 25

Is There an Easy Way to Get Through Security With a Little One?

It's this BT editor's first airplane trip with a newborn and she could use all the help she can get. Do you have any tried-and-true advice for navigating security with a baby?
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19 by Danielle Contray Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in, Questions and Opinions, Safety and Security
jan 24

Feds to Airlines: Stop Hiding Ticket Fees and Taxes

On Thursday, ticket prices may appear to jump as new federal rules force airlines to advertise airfares that include government taxes and mandatory fees.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Local and Public Transportation
jan 24

Good Luck Scoring a Cheap Flight for the Superbowl

It's no surprise that prices for flights to Indianapolis over Superbowl weekend are soaring. What IS surprising is just how expensive they have become—almost overnight.
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2 by Kaeli Conforti Festivals, Professional Sports, Airfares & Flying
jan 20

Obama Wants Foreign Tourists to Feel More Welcome

President Barack Obama unveiled a plan to ease visa restrictions as part of a larger effort to increase the number of foreign visitors to the U.S.
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1 by Michelle Baran Passports and Customs
jan 20

France Plans a Napoleonland Theme Park

Mon Dieu! A Napoleon Bonaparte-themed amusement park is being planned for a location slightly south of Paris. It may rival Disneyland Paris in size.
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3 by Sean O'Neill Amusement and Theme Parks, Historical Travel, France, Trip Ideas, Family Travel
jan 19

Pondering the Muslim Brotherhood’s Effect On Travel To Egypt

As the Muslim Brotherhood gained considerable ground in Egypt's parliamentary elections, questions remain about how the group's Islamist stance will impact the country's allure as a tourist destination.
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0 by Michelle Baran Egypt
jan 19

How Come Fewer and Fewer Americans Are Going Camping?

Most Americans can find the money to go camping. The problem, though, appears to be that we can't find the time.
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1 by Brad Tuttle Camping, National Parks, Trip Ideas
jan 18

New Trend: Booking "Afternoon-Only" Rooms at Luxury Hotels

A new site books rooms in boutique hotels for daytime sessions of 3 to 7 hours. Already popular in Europe, Dayuse-Hotels comes to New York City in February.
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8 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Hotels, Innovations
jan 18

Are you Less Likely to Cruise?

Will the news of the Costa Concordia catastrophe affect your decision to book a cruise vacation in the future?
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28 by Fran Golden Cruises, Safety and Security
jan 17

How to Avoid Airport Taxi Scams

Many taxi cab drivers will try to rip off travelers. Getting nicked for a few bucks isn’t a big deal, but here are tips on how to avoid getting conned by a cabbie.
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15 by Sean O'Neill Local and Public Transportation, Safety and Security
jan 13

Does Coach America’s Bankruptcy Indicate Bus Travel Woes?

One of the largest bus operators in the U.S. filed for Chapter 11 this month, so what does that mean for the future of bus travel in this country?
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10 by Michelle Baran Local and Public Transportation
jan 13

Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Becoming Reality: A First Look

Our writer gets an exclusive look at Disney's newest cruise ship.
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2 by Fran Golden Cruises, Disney, Travel Photography, Trip Ideas
jan 12

So What's That "Sale" Flight Really Going to Cost Me?

Soon, you won't have to ask that question, because airfare ads will have to include all mandatory taxes and fees.
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2 by Brad Tuttle Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Local and Public Transportation
jan 12

Nonstop Flights Increasingly Make Unplanned Stops

Stronger-than-normal winds led to the diversion of 43 of 1,100 United Continental flights headed to Newark and Washington's Dulles Airport in December. The airline has been using smaller planes that don't have enough jet fuel.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines
jan 11

Would You Travel To North Korea Post Kim Jong Il?

The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il last month may have actually helped the reclusive country’s allure as a travel destination.
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0 by Michelle Baran North Korea
jan 11

Six Major Hotel Chains Launch Disappointing Room Search Engine

Room Key aims to provide a way to comparison-shop for hotel rooms from the major brands and then be directed to the hotels' own sites for booking.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Real Deals, Helpful Websites, Hotels, Innovations
jan 10

Bummer! Japan Won't Be Giving Away Free Flights After All

Here's more proof that there's no such thing as a free lunch, let alone free airfare.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Japan, Airfares & Flying
jan 10

Airlines Add "Carbon Fee" for Passengers Between U.S. and Europe

Delta, United, American, and US Airways have added a $6 round-trip surcharge for flights as a anti-pollution fix.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines
jan 10

Free Admission to National Parks This Weekend

Visit our national parks for free from January 14-16 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
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1 by Kaeli Conforti National Parks, Trip Ideas, Family Travel
jan 09

PBS's "Downton Abbey" Returns, and Travelers Plan Their Trips to England

The good news is that the house where the award-winning series Downton Abbey was filmed is within striking distance of London, and is open to visitors.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Pop Culture and Travel
jan 06

Busted for Bringing Cupcakes and Bagels Through TSA Checkpoints?

Among the latest revelations from TSA confrontations: You can't bring a tub of cream cheese through a checkpoint. Spread it on bagels, though, and there's no problem.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in
jan 05

Archaeologists Reveal America's Oldest City

Newly discovered artifacts and remains in St. Louis reveal that the site was the largest city in North America more than 10,000 years ago.
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7 by Sean O'Neill Historical Travel, Nature Appreciation, State Parks, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, St. Louis
jan 04

Disney Parks to Stay Open 24 Hours in a Row on February 29

If you've ever dreamed of riding Space Mountain or Pirates of the Caribbean at 3 in the morning, here's your chance.
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3 by Brad Tuttle Amusement and Theme Parks, Disney