Book accommodations that have a kitchen.  Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses.  With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping in mind that no one should have to cook every meal of every day – that’s not much of a vacation for the cook.  Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, stocking up on some cereal, milk, juice, coffee, and other snacks can help pare down this expense by many dollars each day.

Fill up at an all-you-can-eat buffet

Buy food at the local farmers’ market.  Many cities have these, and shopping there will give you a chance to mingle with the locals in addition to getting some fresh food.  Pick up bread and sandwich fixings for the room and pack yourself a picnic.  Try a local delicacy in a small quantity instead of spending big bucks to try it in a restaurant.  If there’s no farmers’ market, find a local supermarket.  Picking up some snacks to throw in your purse or a backpack will keep you from overspending while you’re sightseeing.

If you can’t get accommodations with a kitchen, look for a hotel that offers free breakfasts and/or afternoon or evening happy hours.  Eliminating breakfast can be a big savings, especially if you’re traveling with a family.  Even if it’s not a full cook-to-order meal, grabbing cereal, fruit, juice and coffee will give you some nourishment to face a full day of vacation activities.  Many hotels are offering complimentary “manager receptions” with reduced or free alcoholic beverages and light appetizers.  If you’ve got plans for the evening, this can be a way to get something light to eat, along with a cheap cocktail, before heading out.

Get take out or delivery service.  Picking up a to-go meal, or ordering in pizza, will get you fed without tempting you to overspend with all the other items on the menu.  You can drink the beverages you have chilling in the refrigerator, and save even more.  Ask for suggestions as the front desk, as most will be able to help give you some recommendations.

Consider the early bird specials.  Many a Seinfeld joke has been made on this topic, but restaurants offer discounts to get people in before (and sometimes after) the dinner rush.  Sometimes it will be a special (and often limited) menu, sometimes a 2 for 1, or maybe just a coupon for dollars off, but it generally represents a good value.  It’s not just for seniors either!  If you’ve had a hectic day, don’t pass up the chance to eat early and have a relaxing evening in your room.  And save money, too!

Make lunch your main meal.  Prices are usually cheaper at lunch, and you can eat somewhere fab for less.
Restaurant Happy Hours can save money on drinks and food.  Happy Hour discounts very between discounts for food, drinks, or both, so you may have to do some scouting around to find the best money saving deals.

Look for kids and senior meals.  Many restaurants offer special deals to these two important groups of guests, and some restaurants offer a kids eat free program.  Don’t be afraid to ask for a senior or kids specials if you don’t see it listed on the menu.  A restaurant may not offer a special menu, but may offer a half portion.  Ask.

Consider an all-you-can-eat buffet.  I’m not a fan of these type of buffets, as I rarely the food is very tasty.  Still, if your short on funds and long on hunger, squeezing this into the day may give you the budget relief needed to eat well another day.  And they’re usually great for families.  Consider making it a lunch buffet and you’ll usually save even more.

Look for a local restaurant rather than a chain.  These can be hard to find sometimes, so you may need to ask at the front desk or other people you meet.  Try asking where they go to eat, rather than for a recommendation.  A little hole-in-the wall place that locals go to will usually be budget friendly.

Use coupons.  From AAA to your hotel to those found in a newspaper or magazine, there are lots of coupons available.  Use common sense though.  It’s not a deal if you’re getting something that you don’t like or if you’re spending more than you normally would to use the benefit.

Have appetizers as an entree or share a meal.  You’ll need to be careful here as some restaurants have a minimum person order or will charge a plate fee to split a meal.  A salad and appetizer, though, can be enough if you’re not super hungry, and is a great way to check out a restaurant that you’re dying to try – and without breaking the bank.

All of these tips won’t work all of the time, and some may just not be your cup of tea.  So pick and choose the ones you can use, and let me know of any others that work for you.

Photo credit:   SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

So what are you going to do?  Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach!

Manhattan Beach Pier

There are several stops along Century Boulevard, so you can pick up a stop near the airport or near your hotel if your stuck without a car.  The airport is a very big place, and you’ll need to walk out to Century Boulevard, so check at one of the information centers in the airport to get directions from whatever terminal you’re in.  Here are the stops in the general LAX area:

• 5249 West Century Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Concourse Way
• 5757 West Century Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Airport Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Avian Way
• Century Boulevard & Vicksburg Drive

The shuttle costs $3 round trip.  If you’re near at airport hotel, you can buy a ticket from the hotel front desk or concierge.  If you’re coming from the airport, you can buy a ticket when you get onboard.  Cash only, although the driver can typically make change.

The shuttle operates in a loop, and it will take about a half hour to get to the beach.  Make sure that you calculate your return, allowing yourself plenty of time walk back into the airport, clear security and get to your gate.

If your staying at an airport hotel, as I was last week, Ocean Express is a great way to see a little of the sights without the need for a rental car. 

I caught a shuttle around 1 pm and headed to the beach, getting off at the Manhattan Pier stop.  From there, I grabbed a quick late lunch, and then walked along the beach until I got to Hermosa Beach.  It was a bit of a walk, but nothing too strenuous, and a great way to enjoy a few hours.  After exploring Hermosa Beach, I walked back, and jumped on the trolley for a return to my hotel.  A GREAT way to spend an afternoon away from the airport!

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Today’s questions comes from Joan, who asks:

Q.  How much would a flight to Italy be?  Before I go ahead, is there any pointers you might have?  Please point me in the right direction.  Thank you very much.

A.  First of all, I want to make it very clear that I don’t claim to be a guru of the air fare wars.  I am just as frustrated as everyone else with the nutty way of pricing that the airlines seem to have.  I may work in the industry, but that’s not to say I agree with the pricing model.  I want to know the full cost of a ticket, including all the taxes and special fees.  Don’t tempt me with superficially low fees, and then make me feel like I’ve been conned when I get to the part where I pay the bill.

I’m a fan of two sites that I use for every booking decision that I make – Kayak and Fare Compare.  While they may not work for everyone, and I have lots of friends who swear by other options, these are the ones that work for me.  I used Fare Compare and Kayak to watch prices for a trip to Italy last spring, and I also used my standard price checking process to make sure that I got the best deal.

For my trip to Italy this year (that’s where I am now), I used points to travel First/Business Class, which is an entirely different process.

The best advice that I can give is to do your homework, try to be as flexible as you can, and not lose sleep over $100.  I would never let the fact that I could have gotten a cheaper air fare ruin a wonderful vacation in Italy.

Buongiorno!

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

I’m generally a fan of these approaches, being of the mind that travel can offer something for everyone.  I’m just a little concerned with what time of day some of these offers are made.

On a recent trip, I found myself awake rather early.  Since I was up early, and it was supposed to be paradise, I figured a beach walk at dawn would be a good idea.  The walk soon was lovely, and soon turned into breakfast — because I couldn’t pass up macadamia pancakes.  It was probably close to 8 am when I finally got back to my room. 

To find my message light blinking.  Which, at that time of the morning, was a very disturbing thing.

I rang up for my messages, and to my surprise, it was from the concierge desk, reminding me of the various activities and tours they suggested and could book for me.  They even offered a discount if I would call or come down and book right away.

Now, I actually think this is a pretty good idea.  They suggested some things that I hadn’t thought of, and a discount made it attractive.  But for crying out loud – why would you call and leave a message in someone’s room before 8 am?!

I happened to be awake, but I would not have been happy to have been awakened by a sales call like this.  Someone suggested that perhaps it wasn’t really a call, just a voice mail message that then activated the blinking message light.  Perhaps.  But I wouldn’t have been in a much better mood if it had been a blinking light that had woken me up instead!  At a vacation destination, I this that is too darned early for a call.

I’m all for creative marketing and promotions – just do it at respectable hour of the day.  What do you think is a reasonable time for a hotel to make a marketing call to your room?  Is it okay to just leave a voice mail?

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

No more toting around your guide book, all you have to do is download via iTunes are from the App Store on your phone or iTouch, and 160,000 discount locations are literally at your fingertips.

So let’s give it a test drive!

I downloaded the App to my iPhone, and figured I’d check out to see what discounts were available in my home area.  Oh dear – first pass shows no discounts close to home.  But – I’m given the option to expand the search area, and what do you know – there’s a drug store down the street that offers a discount to AAA members.  I wanted to expand to a little bit broader area, but once it expanded to find one discount location it didn’t give me the opportunity to expand further.

You can choose a route map to get you to the location, or pull up listed directions.  If you’re looking for a specific type of business (shopping, entertainments, dining, etc.) you can filter narrowly for only your preferences.  If you enter your AAA membership number you can open up additional functions, including a direct click to call for Roadside Assistance.

So far, it looks like a handy little app.  I never remember where I can take an advantage of a AAA discount, and now I’ll probably check a little more often.  I’ll look forward to trying it a bit more in depth when I’m on the road, but saving a few buck here and there all adds up.

Photo credit:  AAA

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The tourism office will be full of information about places to stay, cultural events, special packages, maps, restaurants, history, and odds and ends of local color.  If you’re researching an international destination, you’ll find information about visa requirements, language, and currency information.

Tourism offices offer tons of information on their website, and most will be happy to mail you out information as well.  Keep in mind, though, that the job of the tourism office is to “sell” themselves to potential travelers.  While information will be accurate, it will be “spun” in a positive light and will not necessarily be unbiased.

Many sites offer newsletters, so you can sign up for regular delivery of news, current events, and lots of happenings going on in your vacation location.

You can locate a tourism office by looking up your destination in the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory.  The directory list countries and states, and you can then narrow down your search to larger cities as needed.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for that FREE hotel room upgrade:

1. Manners are everything.  You’ll find a front desk clerk will be more likely to pass on an upgrade if you are polite, gracious, and engage in a bit of small talk.  A polite good afternoon, how are you will go a long way to starting the conversation off on the right foot.
2. If there’s a line up a mile long, your chances for an upgrade are not as good as if it’s a quiet time and you can engage in a little conversation.
3. Mention if it’s a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, or if it’s a return trip to the place of your honeymoon.  But be realistic and don’t oversell it — this tip is becoming a bit overused, and an experienced front desk clerk can sniff out a ruse a mile away.
4. If you’ve just been through a grueling day, the flight from hell, had a child throw up on you on the plane, or have been through a harrowing travel day, laughingly share the experience with the front desk clerk.  Mention how great it’s going to feel to get some peace and quiet, or how much you want to take a shower and get cleaned up.  If you can face the difficulties, and come out of it with your humor intact, you are the exact kind of person they want to reward with an upgrade.
5. If the hotel is oversold, there may be less room for the clerk to offer you an upgrade as those room may have been sold at a premium price.
6. It there is a large convention group at the property, the clerk may not be able to upgrade you to a suite (they are often booked for meetings or conference social events), but you may get an upgrade to a better floor or location.  Group room blocks are often at lower prices, leaving premium room available.
7. If you are a member of the hotel’s frequent guest program you may be entitled to a guaranteed upgrade.
8. If the hotel is not your usual hotel of choice, mention that – adding that you’ve heard good things about this property and are thinking that it might be time for a change in your booking habits.  Letting people know that your business loyalty is up for grabs may attract attention.  “I’ve always used your competitor across town, but decided it was time to shop my business around.  I like what I’ve seen here so far.”
9. Just ask.  A big sigh and a gracious inquiry can often lead to an upgrade.  “I’ve had a really difficult day.  Is there a chance you can help me salvage it by helping me out with an upgrade.”
10. If this answer is no let it go.  Often times something will come up before the check in process is complete, and you don’t want to blow your chances by being an ugly blowhard.

I think the easiest upgrade I got was checking into a local hotel.  I was on a super-deep discounted rate, one that should never have seen the glimmer of a chance at an upgrade.  At check in, I greeted the woman at the front desk and engaged in some minor small talk.  She offered me a choice of two different rooms (both of which were boring, I’m certain), and asked which I’d prefer.  I smiled and told her that since I was unfamiliar with her property, that I trust her judgment, and asked her to select the room she’d choose.  There was some tapping away at the keys, and then she handed me my room packet.  As she did, she smiled and said, “I’d prefer a suite – so enjoy!”

And I did!

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

There are some great general travel magazines that I get every month, and additionally, if I know that I will be traveling to one particularly destination, I also like to subscribe to that city’s regional magazine.  It’s an easy way to get current information about what’s going on, new restaurant openings (that you won’t find in a guide book), current events, festivals, etc.  For a relatively small investment, you can learn a lot. 

And the small investment required just a got easier, with a special promotion from Amazon.

Through March 31st, Amazon is offering $5 and $10 bonus certificates with the purchase of selected magazine subscriptions.

There is a pretty good list of travel and regional magazines to consider, so take a look:

• Conde Nast Traveler
• Travel + Leisure
• Sunset
• Texas Monthly
• Los Angeles Magazine
• Coastal Living
• Atlanta Magazine
• Midwest Living
• Orange Coast
• Southern Living
• Indianapolis Monthly
• Cincinnati Magazine

Check out the full list of magazines offering bonuses to see if there’s something that’s just right for you.  This is cheap research!

Image credit:  Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Thanks to a program sponsored by the Spanish Government and the Vaughan Systems, there may be an affordable and fun way for you to visit the Spanish countryside.

The program is looking for volunteer English language teachers to live and teach in Spain for two months.  You’ll work as a teaching assistant helping pre-schoolers and early elementary school kids (ages 3-8) learn English using a curriculum quite similar to what is used in primary education here in the U.S.  Classrooms sizes are between 25-35 kids.What do you get out of the program?

You’ll need to get to Madrid on your own, and then transportation to your town, your housing (a single, shared apartment, or with a host family), insurance, and a small monthly stipend are covered.  You’ll also have opportunities for some weekend activities and trips.  Most important of all, you’ll have the opportunity to live and work in Spain for up to three months (longer stays require a residence visa).

Towns where opportunities are available are in the Castile-Leon area, home of conquistador El Cid.

Vaughan Systems has hosted a variety of English language program, but this one for younger kids is a pilot program that starts April 13th, 2009.  Space is limited, so if you’re interested you’ll want to act immediately.

Photo credit:  flickr

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

People may be used to seeing 747’s on the runways, but this is one plane that is neither landing nor taking off.  Instead, it’s a unique destination hostel, which opened just a few days ago, and is permanently anchored at the entrance to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport.

It is a REAL 747!  And now it’s also a REAL hostel!

There are 25 rooms and 85 beds onboard onboard in different room categories.  All rooms have flat screen televisions, including a flight departure screen, and there is access to wi-fi throughout the plane.  With the exception of the suite, all rooms offer a shower and toilet in the corridor.

A sampling of room types and pricing:

• A luxury suite in the converted cockpit offers a panoramic view of the airport – just like the pilots must have had.  It has a private shower and toilet facilities.  The suite is priced at approximately $406 per night, based on current conversion rates from Swedish Kroner to US Dollars.  (In photo below.)
• A private twin bed room sleeps two adults and is priced at approximately $148 per night.
• A bed in one of the dorm rooms, a more typical hostel stay, is priced at approximately $44 per night.

Their is cafe onboard (see photo above) where you can purchase breakfast, coffee, cookies and basic meals, as well as a microwave for any meals that you may have brought with you.  The cafe is open to the general public as well.

To learn a little more about how this crazy idea became a reality, as well as to get a few more glimpses at the interior, take a lunch at this video:

As an adult, I’ve never been that attracted to staying at a hostel.  The Jumbo Hostel has changed my mind!  I think this is pretty cool!

How about you?  Would you stay in a 747?

Images:  Used with permission of Jumbo Hostel

Post from: Fly Away Cafe