Budget Travel's Blog

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

Archive: February 2012
feb 29

Water Parks as a Way to Escape the Cold?

Indoor water parks serve up 80-degree weather year-round—but is a visit to one enough to help you make it through the winter?
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10 by Laura Michonski
feb 29

France to Require Breathalyzers in All Cars, Including Rentals

Starting in July, all motorists in France, including American visitors renting cars, will be required by the government to have a breathalyzer in their car.
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11 by Sean O'Neill France, Rental Cars, Safety and Security
feb 28

Expert Tips For A Fear–Less Flight

If you've ever thought that the airplane seatback safety information card just wasn't long enough, Sandra M. Pollino's 256–page Flying Fear Free is the book for you.
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2 by Valerie Rains Literary Travel, Airfares & Flying, Airlines
feb 28

READERS' CHOICE: What Is Your Favorite Cruise Line?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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136 by Budget Travel
feb 28

Reader Tips on How to Avoid Being Pickpocketed

We spotlight the most memorable advice readers kindly shared for avoiding pickpockets, with plenty of their real-life examples.
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2 by Sean O'Neill Safety and Security
feb 27

Is Renting Out a Bedroom to Random Strangers for You?

Airbnb.com is encouraging more people to "Live a Richer Life." How so? Naturally, by inviting strangers to crash on your couch or spare bedroom.
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2 by Brad Tuttle Helpful Websites, Vacation Rentals
feb 27

Flickr Freshens Up, But Is It Still Tops for Travel Photos?

Websites and smart phone apps are innovating like mad to become your main digital method of showing off and storing photos.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Photography, Travel Photography
feb 27

READERS' CHOICE: What Is Your Favorite Ski Area?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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5 by Budget Travel
feb 24

4 Ways to Find The Best Views for Travel Photos

We all know how to find restaurant recommendations and hotel picks, but where do you go to find the most amazing views when you hit a new city?
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0 by Nicholas DeRenzo Arizona, Photography, Travel Photography
feb 24

How a New Movie May Make You Reconsider a Clothing-Free 'Nakation'

Will Jennifer Aniston's new film "Wanderlust" do for nudist vacations what "The Lord of the Rings" did for New Zealand?
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0 by Brad Tuttle Road Trips, Georgia
feb 24

Rental Cars May Soon Be Safer Thanks to an Angry Mom

This week, Enterprise and Hertz caved into activists, an online petition signed by more than 130,000 consumers, and one very determined mother.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Rental Cars, Safety and Security, Technology
feb 24

READERS' CHOICE: What Is Your Favorite Under-The-Radar Girlfriend Getaway?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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10 by Budget Travel
feb 24

The Website Where Cool Hotels and Poetry Meet

At HotelHaiku.com, everything you need to know about a hotel is described in 17 syllables.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Japan, Sweden, Helpful Websites, Hotels
feb 23

READERS' CHOICE: Which Airline Has The Nicest Flight Attendants?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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99 by Budget Travel
feb 23

How Much Time Do You Spend Obligation Traveling?

Weddings, reunions, graduations, new babies, business trips. Are you taking fewer leisure vacations because of the time and money you devote to obligation travel?
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1 by Michelle Baran
feb 23

3 Ways to Use Facebook to Travel Smarter

Booking flights and hotels has gotten more social in the past six months thanks to a few new tools powered by Facebook.
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17 by Sean O'Neill Apps, Helpful Websites, Innovations, Technology
feb 23

Do High Gas Prices Mean the End of Road Trips?

With gas prices on the rise, will people choose to skip road trips, or is the journey worth a few more dollars at the pump?
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3 by Danielle Contray Road Trips, Local and Public Transportation, Trip Ideas
feb 22

READERS' CHOICE: Which City Has The Most User-Friendly Public Transportation System?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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37 by Budget Travel
feb 22

New Apps Let You Create Animated Photos

Two new apps allow capture a two-second video and make a photo where only part of the scenery moves. Check out the cool images!
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1 by Sean O'Neill Apps, Cell Phones and PDAs, Innovations, Photography, Travel Photography
feb 21

Stevens Pass Avalanche: This Air Bag Backpack Saved a Life

Sales are blowing up for the ABS TwinBag backpack that apparently saved a skiers life in the avalanche in Washington State this past Sunday.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Mountains, Skiing, Emergencies, Innovations, Safety and Security, Technology, Travel Gear
feb 21

READERS' CHOICE: What Is Your Favorite Rental Car Company?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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31 by Budget Travel
feb 21

How Do You Avoid Stomach Upset on the Road?

Montezuma's Revenge, Delhi Belly—no matter what you call it, getting sick while you're abroad puts a serious damper on your vacation (and it's more common than you might think).
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6 by Fran Golden Food + Drink, Health and Hygiene
feb 20

Avoid Being Pickpocketed with These Tips

Pickpockets are everywhere, from suburban Michigan to Naples, Italy. Here are some tips for dodging the thieves.
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20 by Sean O'Neill Safety and Security, Travel Video
feb 17

Tips For Taking The Kids To Mardi Gras This Year

Will you make Mardi Gras a family affair this year? If so, here are some tips to make the affair a safe, enjoyable experience.
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1 by Kaeli Conforti Art + Culture, Festivals, Historical Travel, New Orleans, Family Travel
feb 17

Poll: What's The Most You Would Pay To Fly To Europe?

With rising fuel costs and airfares, what is your mental cap for how much you'll pay to hop the pod this summer?
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1 by Michelle Baran Warm Weather, Europe, France, Italy, Airfares & Flying
feb 17

READERS' CHOICE: What Is Your Favorite Historical Spot In America?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.
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28 by Budget Travel
feb 17

TripAdvisor Reviews Now Available On Kayak

When searching for a hotel on Kayak, you can now filter the hotel listings by their TripAdvisor ratings.
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4 by Michelle Baran Helpful Websites
feb 17

This Spring, Get a Second Night Free at KOA Campgrounds

For one weekend this spring, when you pay for campsite or cabin on Friday night, Saturday night is tossed in for free.
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0 by Brad Tuttle Camping, California, Colorado, Florida, Real Deals
feb 17

Travel Product Concepts We're Rooting For

Innovators have developed prototypes of new travel products designed to help travelers have better vacations. Here are three worth noting.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Innovations, Travel Gear
feb 17

Should You Travel to Myanmar?

Is Myanmar on it's way to becoming a major tourist destination?
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1 by Budget Travel Myanmar, Safety and Security, Trip Ideas
feb 16

Keep Your Miles Alive Without Flying

Stop your airline from deleting your frequent flier miles after 18 months of account inactivity by shopping through the airlines' online malls.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airlines, Frequent Flier Miles, Loyalty Programs
feb 16

READERS' CHOICE: Which Airport Features The Best Food?

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it's your turn.
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9 by Budget Travel
feb 15

Cruise Industry Changes Safety Drills

The safety drill rules change is the first result of an industry-wide Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, put together by the cruise line marketing organizations in the wake of the Concordia sinking.
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4 by Fran Golden Cruises, Safety and Security
feb 14

Budget Travel’s 3rd Annual Readers’ Choice Contest

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it's your turn.
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90 by Budget Travel
feb 14

Back-From-the-Dead Airline May Bring $128 Fares to East Coast

A new airline with a name that evokes the early days of the low-fare, no-frills airline business hopes to launch this summer and succeed by flying to cities that are underserved after industry consolidation.
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1 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Innovations
feb 13

Obama Plans $32 Billion in Air Traveler Fees to Cut Debt

Travelers to be billed $32 billion for TSA putdowns. Most of the money will go for debt reduction, not services that benefit air travelers.
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4 by Sean O'Neill Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in, Safety and Security
feb 13

15 Places Kids Should See Before 15: Nominate Now!

Which places do you think every child should see before they turn 15? Nominate your favorites by Tuesday, February 21st.
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10 by Kaeli Conforti Landmarks and Monuments, Museums, National Parks, Questions and Opinions, Family Travel
feb 13

A Surprising Trend in Affordable Luggage

Luggage makers are seeing a surprising boom in sales of hard sided cases made from ultralightweight yet durable polycarbonate resin.
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6 by Sean O'Neill Airport Check-in, Innovations, Luggage, Travel Gear
feb 10

Coming Soon To an Airport Near You: Skipping the Passport Line

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced a rule that would allow the Global Entry program to expand to more international airports.
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0 by Michelle Baran Passports and Customs, Safety and Security
feb 08

Are Airlines Cracking Down on "Airplane Mode"?

We’ve recently heard rumblings of airlines cracking down on cell phone use, even in airplane mode, and we want to know—how many of you have experienced this?
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44 by Budget Travel Airfares & Flying, Airlines, Apps, Cell Phones and PDAs, Technology
feb 07

A More Comfortable Hotel Stay? There's an App for That

There are plenty of apps on the market to help you find a hotel. Now there's an app to make your stay better, too.
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1 by Kaeli Conforti Hotels, Technology
feb 07

Gulf Coast Beaches Recovering In BP Aftermath

Environmental inspection teams analyze the coastlines impacted by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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4 by Michelle Baran Florida, New Orleans, Mississippi, Emergencies
feb 07

Best Reader Tips for Flying with an Infant

Thanks to some great advice from readers, my first flight with our son was a breeze.
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2 by Danielle Contray Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in, Family Travel
feb 06

Using Pinterest for Travel Inspiration

Pinterest is a visual social network that organizes images by topic and lets you reshare with just one click. It's a fantastic source for photo-driven travel inspiration. Fun!
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1 by Sean O'Neill Helpful Websites, Innovations, Photography, Technology, Travel Photography, Trip Ideas
feb 06

Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!

Dickens's 200th birthday takes place tomorrow, February 7. Celebrate by visiting one of these London locales.
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2 by Budget Travel Food + Drink, Historical Travel, Landmarks and Monuments, Literary Travel, Museums, London
feb 03

Plenty Of Hotels Just Opened Up for London 2012

More than 120,000 additional room nights at more than 200 hotels are now available to be booked by travelers still planning on hopping the pond for the Olympic Games this summer.
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0 by Michelle Baran Professional Sports, London, Hotels
feb 03

4 Vacations Facebook's New Millionaires Should Take

Where should the newly-minted millionaires of Facebook go on vacation?
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3 by Sean O'Neill Dream Trips, Technology, Trip Ideas
feb 02

Cruise Lines Address Safety Standards In Concordia Aftermath

In an attempt to calm wary cruisers, cruise lines provide insight into their captain training requirements and other safety measures.
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6 by Michelle Baran Cruises
feb 01

Stock Up on Free E-books Before Your Trip

Free, public domain books mostly classics and popular romances and thrillers can be snagged in popular formats. They're great for light vacation reading.
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0 by Sean O'Neill Literary Travel, Cell Phones and PDAs, Helpful Websites, Technology, Travel Gear
feb 01

Budget Travel's Coolest Small Town Results 2012? It’s a Tie!

In this season of elections and campaigns the closest contest of all may well have been Budget Travel magazine’s 7th "Coolest Small Towns." It was so close, in fact, that Budget Travel editors have declared a tie between Beaufort, N.C, and Hammondsport, N.Y.
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488 by Budget Travel Coolest Small Towns, Questions and Opinions