For a unique way to mark the Royal Wedding, see the third item below.
Ready, set, SAVE on flights, hotels and car rentals
These days everyone is looking to save a few dollars when traveling. Here are some tips on cutting costs for hotels, car rentals and flights. First up is Robin Korman an executive with Wyndham Rewards., who proffers this advice:
Ring up a better deal. Call the front desk and ask the clerk about an extra night's stay free, a discounted rate or free upgrade – even if the hotel isn't currently advertising one. When you call, say something like, "I already have a reservation at another hotel at a cheaper rate, but I'll book with you if I can get a third night free." (What’s the worst that can happen? The clerk says no?)
Check your insurance. Rather than paying the insurance that travel sites and car rental companies offer for a supplemental fee, check your own insurance policy. Often, your plan will include a travel clause that you may be unaware of. Particularly with rental car companies, this can save travelers over $30 a day.
Get to know the locals: No one knows a destination better than the people who live there year round. Ask for their advice on great affordable eating, fun sites and little known hot spots.
Avoid the ATM. Try to eliminate the need for ATM visits. You don’t want to spend all your time looking for an ATM from your bank any more than you want to spend money on ATM surcharges. By purchasing traveler’s checks, using a card whenever possible or bringing enough cash, you can avoid visits to the ATM.
Clip coupons. Take advantage of coupons. Whether it is for lodging, food, or attractions – coupons save money! And can be found virtually everywhere -- online, in local newspapers, at convenience stores, hotels, etc. Always read the fine print carefully for terms.
Here is the advice of Justin Soffer of Fly.com:
Pick your day carefully. Since airfare sales normally run Tuesday – Thursday, those are often the best days to book. Plan to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays as these are typically the least expensive days to fly.
Don’t wait to book car rentals. Rental car reservations rarely require a deposit and are normally cancellable without additional charges (the reservation cancels automatically when one doesn’t pick up the car), and so travelers can make (multiple, if necessary) reservations before finalizing air and hotel reservations. Reserve early and then keep an eye out for better prices, as rental prices can often drop as travel dates approach.
Pack less. Do laundry at the hotel or nearby cleaners rather than paying additional checked baggage fees. (This means less baggage to haul around as well.). Also make sure to research baggage fee information ahead of time to avoid unexpected expenses at the beginning and end of a trip. Fly.com recently launched an application that provides this information.
Capture the power of social media. Sites such as -- tat-da! -- Fly.com often offer real-time Twitter fare (@Fly_com) and Facebook alerts (www.facebook.com/fly) for flights everywhere. Travelers who are flexible with their departure and return dates will find the best rates with “Fare Calendars” (click here for an example). Calendars, when available, displays flight costs for each day of the month.
Trivial question
What two South American countries lack a seacoast? (Answer somewhere below.)
Celebrate the royal wedding -- in Colorado
So you didn’t get an invite to the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29. You can still feel like royalty with the Royal Wedding Package at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek. The offer includes accommodations in a for the night of April 28th, a souvenir Royal Tote Bag filled with glossy magazines featuring Wills & Kate, champagne and strawberries to toast the happy couple and a $25 credit for either room service or a meal at Second Home Kitchen + Bar. And to ensure that you don’t miss the historic event - which starts at 4 a.m. mountain time -- the hotel will provide a cheery wake-up call at 3:45 a.m. The price starts at $329 per night. Call 866-706-7814 or visit www.jwmarriottdenver.com. Use Rate Code: UY7.
For Toronto hotel package, just add water
The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto is hoping guests dive into the Water Exploration Package, featuring tickets to “Water: The Exhibition” at the Royal Ontario Museum. This new package features one night at The Fairmont Royal York and tickets to the new exhibit , showing now until Sunday, May 4. The package starts at about $195 U.S. and includes a one-night stay, two tickets to the museum and its water exhibit and, so you’ll feel good about yourself, a $10 donation to the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper charity. But what’s so special about an exhibit on water? Well, this one uses cutting-edge technologies, multimedia installations, hands-on exhibits, live animals and cultural artifacts. For reservations, call 800-441-1414, or visit http://www.fairmont.com/royalyork/HotelPackages/discovery/waterexploration.
Worth quoting
“And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.” -- Dave Barry
There’s mayhem in Manhattan …. of a different kind
"Mayhem in Manhattan: NYC Horror Weekend Getaway" is being planned by Tours of Terror for Friday-Sunday, July 29-31. The three-day ghoulish getaway includes hotel accommodations; a group orientation party, tickets to the new Off-Broadway thriller "Play Dead" (www.playdeadnyc.com) created by Teller of Penn & Teller, a Scream Queen Soiree at the Jekyll & Hyde restaurant/club (www.jekyllandhydeclub.com); the "Edgar Allan Poe & his Grisly Friends" Haunted New York City Experience; the "Peter Stuyvesant & his Ghostly Friends" Greenwich Village Ghost Walk; theater tickets to "The Addams Family" or another option; and a "Mad Monsters Friends & Fiends" farewell party. All guests will receive a souvenir ghostly goodie gift swag bag. The organizers expect to add a surprise or two, and the group will be joined by a surprise celebrity horror guest star. The weekend cost is $299 per person for all activities/events/admissions/parties or $499 per person including all of the above plus the hotel accommodations. The weekend is open to all ages but limited to 20 spots. Call 203-795-4737 or email ToursofTerror@aol.com. The website is www.toursandevents.com.
Fascinating fact
You can visit Samoa, Dublin, London, Mecca and Delhi without leaving California. All are communities in that state.
Trivial answer
Bolivia and Paraguay are the South American nations with no coast.
