A resource for independent travelers
A cooking class taken with a friend while traveling in Chiang Mai, Thailand took place in a serene nature setting. Slowly grinding spices for curry under the instruction of a well-known local chef was a nice break from the traditional tourist scene. It’s possible to embark on a global food tour without spending a fortune [...]
Free of automobiles and reachable by Shepler’s Ferry for a mere $22 per round-trip ticket, Michigan’s Mackinac Island is the epitome of time travel on a budget. Horse-drawn carriage taxis and delivery carts, picture-perfect period buildings and bicycle liveries abound, making for a couple’s or multigenerational family getaway you won’t soon forget. Fun: The island’s [...]
A hidden gem of the British Columbia tourism experience lies in a picturesque wonderland known as the Okanagan Valley. A myriad of boutique wineries and charming bed and breakfast establishments, combined with a noteworthy culinary scene make this a travel destination to take seriously. Here are just some of the ways this Canadian travel pearl [...]
After months of shopping for an affordable tow-behind recreational vehicle to use for family camping and North American exploration, a manufacturer of custom cargo trailers caught our eye. When David and I pulled in to see if the cargo trailers could be modified for RV use, the business owner gave us a bargain tour. The [...]
Afraid that recent price increases in critical budget areas will cramp your warm-weather travel style? Relax. With these simple saving strategies, your summer fun is in the bag. Weekends: If taking a few weeks off isn’t in your work schedule, cheer up. Chances are you can have a wider range of travel opportunities by taking [...]
Children aren’t the only ones who can have a good time while vacationing at the world’s theme parks. Many of the larger venues around the world offer a multitude of entertainment options that adults can enjoy too. Indulgence: Many theme parks offer spa access. For example, Hershey Park in Pennsylvania boasts a chocolate spa with [...]
After a typhoon on Guam, I struck up a conversation with a fellow world traveler on the beach. Her itinerary? Disaster recovery as a volunteer with the Red Cross. Retired and liberated from traditional employment, she was able to respond to international disasters quickly. In exchange for assisting locals with relief paperwork every morning, her transportation [...]
Hitting the highlights and attractions is all well and good, but for those who want an actual sense of the place they’re visiting it pays to take the time to pick up the local vibe. Here are five fab ways to soak up local culture. Festivals: We love seeing the sights in Venice for free [...]
We all enjoy a little pampering, but dropping the equivalent of a second mortgage every time we want a spa getaway can get a bit pricey. Here’s how to save some serious dough when the urge to indulge is a bit more than you can resist. Location: Countries known for their vacation affordability often have [...]
If you’d rather not worry about coupons and restaurant specials, these elegant food and beverage choices are almost always a safe money-saving bet. Sushi: Chic, sophisticated and downright sexy, sushi bars represent a remarkably affordable culinary indulgence. One example? The Buddha Sky Bar in Delray Beach, Florida. The hip urban atmosphere makes a fabulous backdrop [...]
Known for its glitz, glamour and cha-ching price tag, Las Vegas tempts many a traveler to its world-famous collection of dinner shows, spas, restaurants and shopping venues. Hoping to experience Sin City on the cheap? Try these tips. Food: Happy hour deals offer a source of cheap eats for Vegas visitors. Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and [...]
The old city portion of Jerusalem is one of many interesting places to visit on a national tour of Israel.
Market experiences are among the many fun things to do in Israel, including spending time in Tel Aviv, exploring the cultural scene in Haifa and hanging out along Lake Tiberius.
Depending on how many people need to come along on your family road trips, you may be able to get by with a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. These days, it’s important to choose a few travel apps to make your trip as easy as possible.
Vintage may be enjoyable for history buffs, but they are also fun to take on scenic drives with a special someone. Consider one the next time you are booking a rental car.
This image of a scenic train ride reminds me of the one I used to take frequently between Verona, Italy and Lake Garda.
The POTUS may have the ultimate private car, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy similar comfort in your own rental cars.
There are many fun and interesting things to experience throughout Germany, including Oktoberfest in Munich, beautiful castles and the museums of Berlin.
The upcoming London Olympics have many searching for sportier vacations. Park City, Utah, home to numerous high-altitude competitions during the Salt Lake games, offers a world-class getaway with an authentic Olympic vibe. Activities: Ready to relax? Align Spa’s atmosphere is part Zen garden, part Bohemian loft. Their $35 Ski Boot Revenge treatment includes a foot [...]
This picture is a fun example of travel photography because it leaves no doubt as to the subject of the image. Two people having an intimate moment before a picnic lunch is something many people think of when they think about visiting Paris.
The Big Apple is a fun place to visit, but the price tag can be more than a little cha-ching if you want to do your vacation up right. It pays to research ways to save money on things like ground transportation and hotel accommodations ahead of time.
When travelers want a great ski vacation, they head for mountains similar to the one shown in this photo. Locations like this are also fantastic for winter destination weddings and snowshoeing.
Arlington National Cemetery is a popular stop for tourists visiting Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia. Other nearby vacation options include Shenandoah National Park and Harrisonburg, Virginia.
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.
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.
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 [...]
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 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.
