Activities: By arranging to have your winter destination wedding at a location loaded with amenities and activities options, you’re relieved of the stress related to coordinating entertainment for your wedding party. Guests can enjoy the resort’s hot tubs and snowshoeing trails for free, and other amenities are there to be experienced at their leisure. Samantha Goldberg, a celebrity event designer in New York City agrees, pointing to the Poconos and Vermont as popular choices. Her top pick for winter wedding favors? Ski lift tickets from your event’s venue.

Extras: Many resorts are willing to toss in a few extras if you are booking their venue for your entire event, so it pays to ask the coordinator what they are willing to include. Book your wedding at the Edgewood Tahoe this winter for instance, and your guests will enjoy all house wine, champagne and beer for free during the entire event. Who doesn’t love an open bar? Similarly, the Mountain Magnolia Inn in Hot Springs, North Carolina includes breakfast the next morning for your overnight wedding guests.

Decorations: Most destination resorts splurge on elaborate decorations for the winter holidays. This means a little extra greenery with candlelight on the tables could be all you need, depending on where you hold the ceremony. Scenery is also a serious money saver. By booking a venue overlooking something spectacular, your decorating needs are drastically reduced. For example, at Vail Cascade – a resort in Vail, Colorado – winter wedding guests overlook a serene, partially-frozen creek which makes for dramatic photos and adds to the frozen wonderland theme.

Transportation: The resort also offers package deals which include airline tickets for the bride and groom, and other establishments offer similar perks for couples booking destination weddings. Additionally, by scheduling the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception all at the same location, you eliminate the expenses of limousines, guest parking and possibly rental cars if the hotel offers a free shuttle service.

Photo Credit: Sarah Elvin Photography

Freebies:

Many ski venues offer no-cost lift tickets to entice travelers. For example, Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, British Columbia allows children younger than 5 to ski, tube and skate for free all season. Complimentary mountain tours with experienced snow hosts are also offered every morning and afternoon to familiarize skiers with the resort’s trails. Similarly, Mt. Bachelor near Bend, Oregon permits children up to eighteen years of age to ski for free all season with the purchase of one adult multi-day ticket. Big Tupper in the New York Adirondacks lets active duty military members ski for free all season.

Location:

Booking lodging away from the slopes is a huge money-saving strategy. Ski instructor Kathy Bechtel of Italia Outdoors, an adventure tour company, agrees. Bechtel points to the town of Bolzano in Italy’s Trento-Alto Adige region as offering off-mountain accommodation value along with culture and charm. Traveler Leonard Lee uses a similar strategy for ski getaways to Salt Lake City, Utah where affordable urban motels offer significant savings compared to higher-priced resorts in the mountains.

Outerwear:

Vacationer Lori Lenz recently started planning her first ski trip. Her main hurdle? The specialized clothing necessary for a comfortable ski experience. Determined to get the best prices possible, Lenz is using several online savings strategies. For example, she saved $170 on a quality-brand ski jacket by purchasing it in gently-used condition on Ebay. Steepandcheap.com is another must-check resource, according to Lenz. The site offers daily discounts on many ski-specific gear items such as sunglasses, insulated pants and more.

Policies:

Booking months in advance to get the best deal leaves you susceptible to the whims of Mother Nature. When unpredictable snowfall impacts ski conditions, it pays to know your resort’s refund policies. ResortQuest.com for example, has a snow guarantee program which allows travelers to check the projected ski conditions at their chosen venue prior to departure. If it looks iffy, they’ll transfer your lodging reservations to a comparable participating resort, based on availability. Since the program includes several resorts in Colorado, planning your getaway to that state makes it possible to travel between venues with your rental car, skipping air fare change fees altogether.

Photo Credit: Skistar Trysil

This antique clock tower was photographed in the seaside town of Jaffa, Israel, which has been in existence since around the time of Noah. The town is a pleasant stroll from the city of Tel Aviv, and home to several great seafood restaurants and artists’ shops.

Transportation: There’s no driving in Venice, so getting around the city will take some getting used to. While gondola rides and motorized water taxis are certainly available, they tend to be a bit pricey. Walking and taking the public water bus are always my methods of choice. Take the first bridge to your left after exiting the train station, and make your way by foot for free to the Rialto and Basilica di San Marco. Take the time to enjoy the sites and attractions along the way. Hopping an affordable, mid-afternoon vaporetto from St. Mark’s Square back to the train station will provide you with the best photo opportunities of the Grand Canal.

Dining: Coffee for four with a view of the Rialto Bridge can sink you an easy 40 bucks. It’s best to wander a few streets away from all of the major attractions before searching out a local trattoria. Using this strategy, you will spend significantly fewer Euros than you would dining within sight of the city’s more famous attractions. If you don’t mind a more casual meal, there are a number of affordable panini shops near the train station suitable for starting or ending your day in Venice.

Activities: It’s definitely possible to drop a large amount of cash during a day in Venice. However, there are many free and affordable things to do in this historic city, along with a few worth-the-money splurges. St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the most impressive religious structures in the world, is free to enter and explore. For a nominal fee, you can purchase small bag of bird seed to feed the pigeons prevalent in the piazza. Strolling the streets is a free architectural and art tour, and can also result in glass-blowing demonstrations at local shops. Must-see attractions include the exquisite Palazzo Ducale, the Peggy Guggenheim collection and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which is sure to take your breath away. If the timing is right, consider checking out the Venice carnival during your visit, which is known around the world for its colorful and elaborate costumes.

Photo Credit: The image in this article was photographed by the Trek Hound team, and has been made available for your linking pleasure through a creative commons agreement with our sister site, Pictures of Travel Places.

From a planning perspective, food and shelter will likely be the most expensive pieces of the trip. Worry not, Cape Town is rife with choices.  While there are luxury resorts in Cape Town, there are also several hostels well situated throughout the city that can run as low as $20 a night. Thus two nights will only set you back about $40, leaving you with plenty for food and sights.

In terms of restaurants, food and drink in Cape Town is an eclectic mix and you can be as daring as you like.  You can try springbok (think antelope), ostrich, or even some crocodile. Check out the Neighbour Goods Market, held Saturdays from 9-2. This market is host to over 100 traders of food, wine, and local produce. Take advantage of the samples, which give you the chance to try wines, cheeses and other delicious local morsels. South Africa is pretty well regarded in terms of wine and many vineyards close to the city offer free tastings for those so inclined.

Don’t forget to take advantage of discounts and deals at restaurants, many of which can be found online, especially in the winter when tourism hits a lull.  There is so much to see in Cape Town, and many things can be experienced for no cost. Upon arrival, one of the first things you’ll notice is Table Mountain- it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city making it hard to miss. Gorgeous views of Cape Town and ocean abound from the upper reaches of Table Mountain.  Plus, it’s easily accessible; you can strap on your sneakers, the no cost alternative, or ride up via cable car.

Another worthwhile and beautiful outdoor adventure is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.  If you head to Cape Town during the right season, you can catch one of the Sunday night concerts at the gardens. Make sure you bring your picnic basket. Admission is approximately $5 with discounts for students and children.

The Victoria and Albert Waterfront, aka the V&A, is also a hot spot to see.  At the foot of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront is in Cape Town’s working harbor and lined with shops, entertainment options, and plenty of restaurants. It’s worth the stroll if only for the people watching.

Located at the V&A is the Shimansky diamond and jewelry workshop, which offers free tours of its facilities.  Whatiftheworld Gallery is also part of the free club. The Gallery showcases work from contemporary artists at its Argyle Street location and is a pleasant way to spend a few hours when you need a break from the great outdoors.

If you are traveling with kids, make your way to Boulders Beach in Simonstown. African penguins have set up camp here and prove to be a favorite of the younger crowd who spy on the birds from the safety of the rocks.  All in all a trip to Cape Town offers up a little something for every traveler, whether you want to climb mountains or museum hop. The best part is, it can all be done within a reasonable budget.

M.E. Reidy is a freelance travel writer for My Destination.

On the Road in ’68, by Tom Leech

Essentially a published travel journal accented with historical event lists from both then and now, On the Road in ’68 covers the year-long journey of two friends that took place during a tumultuous time in world history.

The Best Women’s Travel Writing of 2011

Edited by Lavinia Spalding, The Best Women’s Travel Writing of 2011 is a compilation of short, nonfiction travel stories from writers such as Erin Van Rheenan, Bonnie Stewart and Abbie Kozolchyk.

Wild with Child: Adventures of Families in the Great Outdoors

Those enthusiastic about family travel, and the hilarious adventures that can come along with it, should get a kick out of Wild with Child. A collection of travel tales focused specifically on vacation getways involving the whole family, this title includes tales of snow camping with the kids by Mark Jenkins, Grand Canyon exploring with Michael Quinn Patton and bush planning to an Alaskan island courtesy of Leslie Leyland Field.

One Hand Does Not Catch a Buffalo (Volume One: Africa)

If you’ve always wondered about the adventures of serving in the Peace Corps, then chances are you’ll enjoy One Hand Does Not Catch a Buffalo. Volume one of a collection of over 50 years of Peace Corps stories, the titles was edited by Aaron Barlow and includes entries by Robert Klein, Robert E. Gribbin and Sera Arcaro among others. Tales hail from such African destinations as Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Senegal, providing a diverse representation of this exotic continent.

The Best Travel Writing of 2011

With an introduction by Pico Iyer, The Best Travel Writing of 2011 showcases top travel writing works by a variety of authors such as Debra Taffa, Cameron McPherson Smith and Sabine Bergmann. Story settings include Iceland, Idaho, Bolivia and Belarus.

What travel titles made it to your reading shelf this year?

Photo Credit: iStock

Clothing: Tunic dresses worn over leggings can be covered with warm sweaters in colder weather, and fly solo as vacation attire when you arrive at the beach. Separately, the leggings can serve as a base layer under lighter slacks or jeans, and fitness attire at your hotel’s gym, provided laundry facilities are available. Consider a tankini swimsuit for additional fashion functionality. Swimming pools are typically accessible in hotels at both ends of the climate spectrum, so packing a suit is a great way to take full advantage of free amenities. Additionally, the top portion of the suit can serve as a camisole under a sheer blouse when visiting balmy destinations such as the Bermuda, and provide extra warmth if you’re heading out on a cold-weather ski vacation to Aspen.

Footwear: Wear heavier footwear on days you’ll be traveling to or from a warmer climate. This will save luggage room for souvenirs and work-from-the-road gear like digital cameras, laptop computers and tablet devices. Dress boots are my personal go-to form of footwear, while my husband favors casual dress shoes with plenty of tread to handle snowy parking lots with hidden patches of ice.  Beachy flip- flops for the warmer end of the trip pack easily for both men and women, as do a variety of soft adventure sandals.

Health: Changing climates drastically can put you at extra risk for a case of the sniffles. Stay nourished and prepared by using hot water to mix up cups of miso soup, herbal tea, or even a packet of Theraflu if necessary. Hot water is a standard free amenity at hotel hospitality bars, and packets of your favorite beverages and soups take up minimal suitcase space.

Activities: Save luggage space and extra checked baggage fees by renting activity equipment where possible. For example, while packing your own ski boots is recommended for the most comfortable fit, the actual skis and poles are easily rented from the resort. Similarly, bicycles and snorkeling gear are typically available for rent in warmer destinations such as the Bahamas.

Photo Credits: Lorna Watt

While riding a Segway does offer many perks, it clearly pays to be prepared. Especially for your first time. When it came time to gather tips and advice for having a successful Segway experience, I turned to the pros at The Electric Experience, in Delray Beach, Florida for a bit of training. Our guide Zachary broke down the basics before we were ever allowed on the road.

HOW TO RIDE A SEGWAY

Whether you’re planning on riding a Segway to work in Manhattan, or simply want to squeeze in a quick tour as part of your family road trip, taking the time to develop a proper skill set is recommended.

1 – Subtlety rules.

The first thing you need to know about how to ride a Segway is that smaller, subtle movements will produce the smoothest Segway experience. For example, in order to steer left or right, a light lean in either direction is all that’s needed. Move too quickly or severely, and you may find yourself shooting out into traffic or worse. The good news? It doesn’t take long to get a feel for these machines. A short training session and a few turns around a parking lot or two, and I felt much more comfortable with my skill set than I ever thought I would.

2 – Pay attention to your foot placement.

The first few minutes of my training looked a bit like a Three Stooges routine. I wobbled and twitched, and generally didn’t feel like I was the best candidate to turn loose on the streets of Delray Beach. That’s when Zach from The Electric Experience suggested I shift my feet a little further forward on the foot boards. It made all the difference for me, so I can definitely attest to the fact that when it comes to riding a Segway, it’s best to keep your foot placement precise.

3 – Don’t panic, or your machine will too!

Remember what I said about subtle movements being all that were necessary? And the part about rapid, severe movements resulting in an equally swift reaction from your machine while you are riding a Segway? Well, when we panic we tend to react quickly, and with strong movements away from whatever is making us nervous. I’ll leave you to ponder the various lessons with a relatively steep learning curve I received during my Segway experience with whatever degree of humor you deem appropriate. Suffice it to say, it pays to keep your cool during any Segway adventure.

4 – The handles may look like a motorcycle, but they work quite differently.

Personally, I went into my Segway experience expecting the handle bars to serve some function besides balance and stability. They don’t. While at first glance they may look remarkably like the handles on your motorcycle or ATV, you don’t actually accelerate or break with them at all. They’re used for mounting, dismounting and maintaining the proper body position on the machine (Yes, ON the machine is the operative term here.) while you’re moving.

5 – Slowing or stopping requires a backward lean and weight shift.

As with the other skills required for a safe Segway adventure, it pays to practice this one in the parking lot first. Remember, leaning too far backwards can throw off your center of gravity and result in one of those unfortunate flips featured in the video above. What I learned from the folks at The Electric Experience was to focus only slightly on the full body lean and more on shifting my weight to the heels of my feet. As with any mechanized vehicle, stopping won’t necessarily occur at the same speed with which you can snap your fingers. Factors such as speed and the strength you put behind your weight shift will enter into the equation. Practice in large parking lots at different speeds and inclines in order to get your “sea legs”, so to speak.

6 – Acceleration requires a slight forward lean and the shifting of your weight as well.

The first few times you do this, chances are you’ll feel like you’re learning to drive a stick shift. At least that’s how it went down for me. Choppy and jerky are the adjectives I would use for my first few tries. Practice makes perfect however, and I definitely got smoother as my training progressed and I had more time to practice. In essence, take the skills and techniques required for slowing and stopping, and apply them to the front balls of your feet when you lean and shift your weight forward. A few trips around the parking lot, and you’ll feel more confident.

7 – Staying stationary is a matter of balance.

Having your feet too far forward or backward can leave you feeling “tippier” than you’d like, and result in a more severe angle of body placement on the machine. Speaking for myself (and at least one other person who was on our tour), this is far from the most confident position for a positive Segway experience. Try placing each foot firmly in the middle of the step area and using the balls and heels of your feet to shift your weight. Basically, you’re combining your skills from tip numbers five and six into something you can use to control when you stop and start the machine during your Segway adventure. It’s sort of like using a clutch on a manual transmission vehicle (one of my favorite universal travel skills). You may rock back and forth slightly, but you’ll pretty much be able to stay put.

8 – Mounting and dismounting should be done with care.

The same concerns that apply to tip number three (Don’t panic.) apply here. Subtle and swift motions are best, as are mounting and dismounting one side of your body at a time. During our training, Zachary prompted us to go with our left foot on the step plate and left hand on the handle bar first, followed by the swift ascent to the machine with both of our right limbs. The trick is to not put any of your weight on that first foot until you’re ready to step up with your side. You use the same technique in reverse when dismounting. You can certainly start with your right side first as well. The point is to complete your on or off motions before the machine can “misinterpret” them. Again, see tip number three. When all else fails, wait for your guide or trainer, and make sure you have perfected this skill before you start riding a Segway to work on a busy city street. I’m just sayin’.

9 – Know your limits.

The average Segway top speed is between 11 – 12 miles per hour. You’ll know when you’ve reached that limit, because the handle bars will press back towards your waist, indicating that you are now operating at maximum warp. At least as far as Segways are concerned. There’s nothing wrong with going this speed, provided your skill set and the traffic conditions fit the situation. Common sense and good safety judgement are the keys here.

10 – Plan your take along items.

Most Segways have room for a small pack that attaches just underneath the handlebars. This is the perfect place to tuck a bottle of flavored water, a smartphone with your favorite travel apps and a few healthy road trip snacks to get you by if you’re going to be riding a Segway for any length of time.

11 – Know where you are.

When learning how to ride a Segway, it’s definitely important to remember where you are. This is, after all, a mechanized vehicle that you’ll be taking on the road. A road populated with pedestrians, bikers, cars and canines on leashes. Keep your eyes on the road and practice basic courtesy. Of course, a smile and a wave never hurt either.

When all is said and done, most people find it more than possible to enjoy a successful Segway experience. The trick is to master the skill set, know your boundaries and practice reasonable safety protocols. For a peek inside just how extreme you can get with a Segway adventure, check out this movie trailer about some folks who embraced a cross-country tour on their Segways.

Sort of puts those daily commute concerns into perspective, doesn’t it? Have you ever ridden on a Segway for a family travel activity or used one to get to work? Share your tips and experiences with us below.

Photo Credit: Robert Hornung

This whimsical clown quilt was photographed at the Virginia Quilt Museum, one of many interesting things to do in Harrisonburg, Va.

Live Locations:

Live Olympic events coverage will be provided on large, outdoor screens in more than 20 urban locations throughout the United Kingdom, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and others. Sports fans looking to combine a bit of tourism with their Olympic visit will be able to keep tabs on the games while exploring a bit of history at the same time. Further information regarding these live sites and the community events they will be hosting can be found at www.london2012.com.

Ticketless Events:

While tickets for stadium-style competitions can be steep, there are a number of ticketless events that London locals and visitors alike will be able to witness for free. For example, the road cycling course will travel by some of London’s premier locations including Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace and the natural history museum. Similarly, the marathon route makes its way past other famous London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Admiralty Arch and the houses of parliament. Nature fans on the other hand should head to Hyde Park, which will host both the Olympic triathlon and the 10 km open water swim. For further information about no-cost, ticketless event times, visit www.londonandpartners.com.

Free Festivals:

Olympic fans unable to score tickets will still be able to experience their fair share of excitement through a number of free outdoor festivals scheduled for places like Trafalgar Square and Victoria Park, in Bow. In addition to large live event screens and other activities, complimentary concert performances by top acts will also be part and parcel of the party experience.

Budget Accommodations:

Open to an urban camping excursion? The Camping and Caravanning Club will be operating several temporary camp sites just minutes away from the Olympic action, with rates as low as £7.50 per person per night. Partner with friends to share equipment, and prepare your own food on site for even greater savings.

Photo Credit: TJ Morris