A resource for independent travelers
For those who are seriously interested in exploring the scenery under the sea, a scuba diving vacation is a popular option. Granted, you’ll have to put your time into the proper training first. After that however, there a number of places around the world that are worthy of your tourist time.
Developing a plan to bike to work certainly sounds simple enough in the beginning. And the fuel-saving potential is tempting indeed, particularly in this economy. Then there are the health benefits, which are significant. So why don’t more people try it? Well, the reasons vary but typically include logistical hurdles such as carrying a change [...]
Sporting competitions, weddings and other special-event trips can be challenging to pack for, particularly when items like designer gowns, tuxedos, mountain bikes and kayaks need to come along. The right packing strategies can save you money on everything from shipping to checked baggage and more. Here are my top tips for precision packing. Rent: If [...]
This image of several boats in a Marina is a quintessential example of Florida travel photography. Whether you’re kicking it on the deck of your pleasure cruiser in Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota or Longboat Key, you’ll be doing it picturesque blue water just like this.
On a girls’ getaway to Beirut, the Arabic highway signs proved challenging. My saving grace however, was the fact that French is also widely spoken throughout Lebanon. Between their bilingual street signage and my vague memories of high school foreign language class, I managed to get where I was going. Years later when my husband [...]
To enjoy as much time as possible traveling in the Middle East, I opted for an international teaching position in Kuwait. With paid utilities, complimentary housing, tax-free compensation and annual roundtrip airfare, it was a job that allowed for regional travel opportunities and additional freelance tutoring gigs for extra cash. It’s possible to make money [...]
This image of a secluded beach is motivation enough to take a high-end scuba diving vacation or hop a flight to Bermuda. Many excursionists enjoy beach travel, whether it’s to Fiji, Greece, the Bahamas or Belize.
Ocean scenes are a fun way to practice your travel photography. They also provide inspiration for beach getaways, romantic weekends and scuba diving.
An often unavoidable travel expense is the booking of rental cars. Depending on your destination, they can be critical to getting where you need to go and having the type of tourist experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Rural Tuscany, France’s Alsace region and Costa Rica’s Monte Verde Cloud Forest are all easier to explore by [...]
Canal boats are a popular way to tour Europe’s waterways and cities, including London. For those interested in purchasing their own narrow boat for remodeling, one of the most affordable countries to do so is Belgium.
Air travel can be stressful for road warriors. Whether you are stuck handling flight delays at the gate or kicking back enjoying the perks of priority pass lounges, it’s still no fun to be stuck at the airport when you’d rather be at home or enjoying your chosen destination. Productive ways to kill time include [...]
We left the hotel room with plans for an affordable romantic dinner for two. Unfortunately, our spastic, but lovable Labrador had another agenda. When affection, toys and treats failed to stop her barking, we knew it was time to regroup. Our solution? Even more affordable in-room dining. But pet travel isn’t the only reason hotel [...]
This image of a family taking a bicycle tour is a perfect example of how active travel can be incorporated into family vacations. Biking trips can be enjoyed around the world, including South America, Asia, the United States and even Scotland.
It’s no secret that incidental vacation expenses can seriously sink a travel budget. One of the biggest culprits? Parking fees. Whether you drive your own vehicle or rely exclusively on rental cars, they comprise a significant portion of ground transportation costs, and deserve full consideration when it comes to looking for ways to reduce travel [...]
This image demonstrates another popular travel photography subject, traditional architecture. When vacationing to Thailand, two of the best places to image architecture are Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
When trying to get the best bang for your vacation buck, it may pay to bear in mind that the biggest value may not come with the lowest bargain-basement price. If the lowest room rate available will still require you to dish out an additional $350 per day to cover meals, cocktails, activity fees and [...]
One fun way to practice your travel photography skills is to explore the historic churches of the various destinations you visit. This particular church was imaged in Scotland, where numerous old buildings, including various ancient castles are available for tourists to explore.
This vaporetto, or Venetian water bus, is one popular way to see Venice, Italy on a budget. It’s also a great place to practice your travel photography skills on an afternoon ride back to the train station. There are many beautiful sights to see and fun things to do in Venice, including St. Mark’s cathedral, [...]
This shore scene photographed in Hawaii is not only picturesque example of travel photography, it also displays one of the biggest cost-saving strategies for scuba vacations – shore diving. Because shore dives don’t require boat transportation to the exploration site, the cost per dive is significantly lower.
This beach scene from Hawaii exemplifies both travel photography and the allure of beach travel. Tropical vacations to places like this one are a sought-after item on the tourism belt of many excursionists.
River scenes like this one will be a common sight for those checking out the London Olympics this summer in England. The games celebration will include a number of no-cost events for travelers on a budget.
This architectural image represents many such photo opportunities in Amman, Jordan. The city is home to several sets of Roman ruins, as well a handful of notable restaurants, such as the Blue Fig.
Whether you’re driving the kids to games yourself, or sending them on a bus provided by the school, coordinating sports-related teen travel itineraries can be a logistical exercise requiring military precision. Factor in frugality concerns, and you may find yourself in need of serious assistance. Use these shoestring travel tips to successfully navigate the school [...]
This striking waterfront cityscape image was photographed in the sexy Florida city of Miami, known for its bling, celebrity spotting and exceptional Florida shopping.
My husband and I made the changing of the guard one of our top things to do in Quito, Ecuador. Afterward, when trying to decide what to do next, we found our guide book lacking in ideas. A stop at the South American city’s convention and visitor’s bureau solved the problem. They provided more detailed [...]
College students and parents of school children alike must annually consider which spring break ideas they’d like to take advantage of. Needless to say that with both categories of vacation planners, budget is an issue. Here are my top picks for money-saving spring break ideas. Pitch a tent. If you’re looking to visit someplace warm, [...]
A business trip can be as expensive as it is productive. Read on for tips on how you can control the costs while building your net worth and increasing your bottom line. Make paperwork a priority. Lost opportunities for reimbursement can derail a business trip taken in order to increase commission earnings. The costs you [...]
Seasoned vacation veterans know that the sweetest getaway deals can be obtained by planning for off-peak travel experiences. For example, my husband and I traveled from Lake Garda to Slovenia’s Lake Bled one year during what would have been Labor Day weekend back in the States. We chose this particular weekend because it allowed us [...]
Zebras are one of the most striking animal encounters one can have, and certainly worthy of sharpening up your travel photography skills for. This image in particular has me wanting to fly into Cape Town to tour South Africa and make my way to other fascinating countries on the continent.
These colorful pink birds photographed in Ecuador remind us that in addition to historic tours of Quito, Amazon wildlife spotting in Misahualli and indigenous craft shopping in Otavalo, Ecuador is also an excellent birding destination.
This woman is enjoying a golf getaway and practicing her skill set at the same time. Golf vacations are popular across a wide age range, with popular destinations including Bermuda, Florida, the Bahamas and Arizona.
It’s a common scene for those traveling with children. Parents trying to tempt their kids away from the perfectly-picturesque pool at their chosen family resort with tickets to an over-priced theme park just down the street. A theme park that may offer only slightly more in the way of water-based fun. Toss in a toddler [...]
Travel photography isn’t just big business in its own right, it’s a great way to collect free souvenirs, embrace the travel decorating scheme at home and begin to attract even more visitors to your travel blog. It’s also true that travel pictures can help you sell quite a bit more of your work if you’re [...]
We all know that developing a list of fun picnic lunch ideas is the key to using this travel food strategy to save money on the road. The problem is it can be difficult to come up with a list of picnic or tailgating menus that will be suitable for any given situation. Varying grocery [...]
This view was photographed from a castle wall near Bolzano, Italy. There are many castles in the area, as well as wineries, farm stays, ecological experiences and cultural performances. The area is also a popular destination for ski holidays in the winter.
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This Andean woman takes a break from selling her wares to socialize with tourists in Peru's Sacred Valley.
The ancient Nabatean city of Petra, Jordan provides a peek into ancient civilization and also into the local Bedouin culture, which values the social experience of drinking tea highly.
This stand of palm trees against a blue sky is located in Florida's Longboat Key, one of the islands of Sarasota. It's a popular getaway with tourists and Florida residents alike, when one wants a taste of forgotten Florida.
Exploring the world-famous archeological site of Machu Picchu takes some time. In order to make the most of your visit, it's best to arrive at Aguas Calientes an afternoon ahead of schedule and head up the mountain first thing the next morning.
This command module is part of the Saturn V rocket display at the Kennedy Space Center, which is a must-see exhibit if you only have one day at the KSC. The entire venue is right down the road from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, another fun family attraction on Florida's space coast.
This abandoned mosque in Israel lies along the shores of Lake Tiberius, otherwise known as the sea of Galilea. The view of the ancient stones and overgrown plants struck me as sort of an Indiana Jones image with a bit of Middle Eastern flair.
This resort cottage photograph was taken at the thermal hot springs resort of Papallacta, located in the mountains of Ecuador. The mist rising off of the thermal pools brings a bit of a mystical quality to the image.
