3 posts from July 2009

A while ago a good friend of mine told me “what [insert not-so-nice words] was I thinking to book my honeymoon in the middle of summer in Las Vegas?” She was probably thinking the same thing as I am: Las Vegas is cheap during summer although you need to be prepared for a hot experience (and yes, I’m talking about the weather…well, mostly!)

Vegas travel guide  can surely shad some light when it comes to planning your trip. Do make sure to read about the weather. While the temperatures can easily get over 100F, there is no humidity so you will be able to walk from place to place. Which is great, isn’t it?

Now let’s tackle the getting to Vegas part. As you probably know, when you search for airfare to Las Vegas  you’ll be bombarded with all sorts of deals which include the accommodation as well. If you are tempted, go ahead and have a look. After all vacation packages in Las Vegas  can often save both time and money.

Now that you have the flight figured out, it’s time to find where to stay in Vegas  . This is both an easy and daunting task. There are hotels, motels and resorts everywhere you look. For the sake of convenience you should start your search with the Las Vegas Strip Hotels  . You are in the middle of everything and you will be able to walk from place to place (so no need to get a rental car). And yes, there are cheap hotels on the Strip as well. For example Circus Circus Las Vegas is both affordable and family friendly.

A trip to Las Vegas is not complete without seeing one of the popular shows  . There are plenty to choose from but make sure to get the tickets in advance especially if you want to watch one of popular production shows. And yes, most of them are family friendly but you can find adults only shows as well.  

And speaking about family friendly destination, the near-by Grand Canyon  is the perfect place to explore on your vacation. On the way to the canyon you’ll be passing over Hoover Dam  , a stunning piece of engineering and definitely a place worth visiting. You can easily plan to tackle both places during a day trip from Las Vegas. It’s advisable to avoid the weekends as both are very popular places to visit and they do tend to get over-crowded.

The Niagara Falls lie on the border between US and Canada. Each side offers a different perspective of the beautiful waterfall, so it would be nice to get a chance to visit both parts. The Canadian side tends to be more popular among tourists thanks to the many attractions and plentiful accommodation.

There are four airports serving the falls, two on each side. On the US side, the closest is Buffalo airport, located at just 30-40 min drive from the falls. Niagara Falls has its own airport but it’s small and served only by one carrier. On the Canadian side, the closest airport is John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, located about 1 h drive from the falls. Another choice is Toronto Pearson International Airport but it’s further away and you also have to consider dealing with the Toronto traffic on the way to the falls.

Niagra Falls hotels come in different sizes and for pretty much any budget. There are both cheap hotels and luxury ones to choose from on both sides. And the best part is that even cheap hotels offer at least some rooms with a good view.

You can easily get around the city without a car, so bring a good pair of walking shoes. Access to the falls is free and accessible. Of course there are also a number of tour boats which offer interesting experiences, including going to the bottom of the falls (and getting soaking wet). There are also several museums to check out if free time allows for that.

I have always been a fan of city break vacations. Whether short or long, city break vacations can shed a new light upon destinations we don’t always see as romantic or a quick getaway. Recently, with the continuous shift in currency rating and with the crisis looming over the tourism industry, it has become more and more affordable to visit places such as London.

Firstly, let’s talk about the airfare  . The airlines are fighting over finding new ways to promote their tickets – although they seem to be doing quite a nice job at adding new fees as well (but that’s another story). Over the past months, airfare to Europe  has become more affordable. Airlines now offer special discounts and promotions which last for months, making it easier to book a ticket to one of the incredible European cities.

One of the most popular European travel destinations is London. Visitors flock here for the nightlife, culture or shopping opportunities. Affordable tickets to London are easy to find, especially if you are flying from another European city and look for a low-cost carrier serving the city.

After the airfare, the accommodation is usually giving us goose bumps when we plan the budget. But the continent, and London makes no difference, is famous for the many Europe hostels  offering great location and excellent services. It’s possible now to stay in hostels even if you do want some privacy – that’s why the private rooms exist. Then, many hostels offer free wi-fi – at least in the lobby - , common kitchen and even laundry room. All in all, you really don’t need to look for a hotel when you can spend a lovely time in London hostels.

It’s important though to read reviews about the place you want to stay at. And a good place to do so is Hostel Blog  : whether you have any answered questions about the hostelling world, this is the place to find the answers.

Of course no visit to London is complete without checking out the city. And it doesn’t take too much money to fall in love with it. For example, there are free things  you can experience, such as spending time in Trafalgar Square, watching the changing of the guards or visiting British Museum.