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Use Hotels.com Promo Codes to Save Money While Traveling In Europe

turkvista_tpvr4z  Guide, Travel Deals, Uncategorized  , , , , , , , , , ,

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Traveling in Europe can be expensive, but there are ways to cut costs without sacrificing your vacation. For example, a quick Hotels.com hotel promo code can save you (potentially) thousands off of your hotel stays. Or I found this great deal for $150 off vacation packages. These five tips to save money while traveling in Europe will help you keep your expenses in check while ensuring that you have the best time on your vacation.

Use Hotels.com Coupons Wherever You Go:

Keep the Hotels.com app on your smartphone. Wherever you go, there’ll likely be a sale or promotion that you can take advantage of. On top of that, coupon code websites like CouponFeed.org collect site-wide promo codes that you can use to save money on hotels.

1) Travel With Friends

If you’re lucky enough to be going with a friend or two, then this tip is the best way to save money. When you travel with a friend, you’re able to split the bill on accommodations, food and sometimes even travel. But when you travel solo, all the expenses land on your shoulders. Save some cash and bring a friend or, if you’re extroverted, make some new friends to travel with when you arrive. Seek out places where fellow travelers congregate–hostels, tourist sites, tour groups–and start chatting.

 

2) Rent An Apartment With A Kitchen–And Get Cooking!

Renting an apartment and living like the locals is a great way to save money. Hotels can be quite pricey, and sometimes hostels aren’t the best option either, but renting an apartment allows you the freedom to keep a “home away from home” that can serve as your launch pad. Often cheaper than other accommodations, especially for extended stays, renting an apartment sticks you right in the thick of local life. Be sure your apartment has an equipped kitchen and then seek out a grocery store and bring back some fresh, local foods to cook. Be adventurous and prepare with what is locally available and you’ll experience Europe in an intimate and exciting new way. If the place you are renting has a service like Blue Apron, you can often get 2 free meals delivered.

3) Do Not Travel In The Summer

Summer is high time for travel no matter where you live and Europe is no exception. If you can travel outside of the summer, then do it. Not only will you be competing with other travelers in the summer, but you’ll also be elbow to elbow with local tourists as well. Many Europeans get extensive time off during the year and take vacations to correspond with when their kids are out of school. Add in scorching temperatures, long lines, and you’ll be suffering instead of enjoying your trip. If you can, then travel in the late spring or early fall. You’ll find that the weather is gorgeous and the throngs of people disappear, and the locals aren’t worn out from too many tourists and will likely be nicer as well.

 

4) Keep An Eye Out For Happy Hour

This tip requires you to think like a local and keep an eye open for bars and cafes that offer happy hour specials. In many major cities throughout Europe, taverns and cafes offer a special where if you purchase a drink during the evening, you get to eat snacks for free. You’ll be competing with locals for this kind of dining, but you’ll be saving money on food and will have the bonus of being able to mingle with people who are living their day-to-day lives. Keep your eyes open for sandwich boards that advertise this special, or read local menus (often placed on the outside of restaurants and bars) and see if they have happy hour specials available.

5) Take Local Transit

Traveling like a local is the best way to save money–and keep your waistline from expanding too much. Europe is very well connected, and with buses, metros, and trains, you don’t need to rent a car unless you’re going somewhere especially off the track. Plan out your trips and see how far it is between destinations–can you walk to that tourist site? One of the best ways to experience Europe (and save money) is to walk to where you need to be. Not only will you get to see offbeat sites, but you’ll discover places that locals frequent. These include restaurants that are mostly free of tourist food menus, which are typically overpriced and not very tasty.

Though European travel takes a little more planning than local vacations, you don’t have to spend an obscene amount of money to enjoy your time in Europe. With these five tips to save money while traveling in Europe, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing the vacation of a lifetime. Remember the beach is a lot of fun, super relaxing, and doesn’t cost anything! Bring a waterproof speaker (click here for the top models), a blanket, and a good book and you are all set. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

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Use Budget Car Rental Coupons and Other Tips For a Great Italian Vacation.

turkvista_tpvr4z  Travel Deals  , , , , , ,

How to Enjoy Your Italian Vacation to the Full

 Italy is well worth a visit. It has excellent food and drink and a culture backed by centuries of history. The following practical advice will help you enjoy every moment of your Italian vacation.

 

Use Budget Car Rental Coupons Whenever You Can.

Sure, you can use pretty much any travel deals app you can find to save money on your trip. But since Expedia is a world-recognized brand, they also have physical kiosks where you can book activities and excursions. And you know what? If you use an Budget coupon from their website, you can save money on your booking in real life! There are some deeply discounted room rates as well as deals on flights and activities.

Language

Before you travel, buy a phrase book or use an online translator to learn some everyday words and phrases in Italian. Examples are:

 

Good morning–buongiorno

A coffee, please–un caffè per favore

The bill, please–il conto per favore

Thank you–grazie

 

Many Italians, especially those in the tourist industry, speak English. But why not try to speak Italian? After all, it’s part of the fun of a vacation.

 

Food

Eating good food is something you can take for granted in Italy. Your choice of dishes is considerable and extends well beyond pizza and pasta. Many restaurants also account for special dietary needs. Be prepared to experiment: look for those dishes you may never have experienced at home.

 

Buget car rental coupon codes - websiteDrink

Italian wine is legendary, and deservedly so. You’ll find that the house whites and reds are always reliable. You may also wish to try regional favorites: simply ask your waiter or bartender to recommend one. But don’t forget Italian beers, which can also be excellent, and liqueurs. The latter include Amaretto, which is almond flavored; Sambuca, which tastes of anise; and Limoncello, a lemon liqueur.

 

Side-Street Restaurants and Cafés

When you go out to eat or drink in Italy, don’t restrict yourself to the restaurants and cafés along the main roads or in central locations. You can find some great places tucked away down side streets. If you’re driving, look out for restaurants and cafés in seemingly out-of-the-way locations. You can find some delightful places frequented mainly by local people.

 

Souvenirs

The range of possible souvenirs in Italy is huge. For example, you can buy relatively inexpensive small items that you can carry home with you. These include trinket boxes made from inlaid and highly polished wood. Or you can spend a great deal on items such as porcelain and furniture that you can arrange to send home. You also have a wide choice of clothing and fashion accessories. The best advice is to set your budget in advance.

 

Museums, Landmarks, Churches, and Exhibitions

Once you’re in Italy, you’ll find no shortage of churches, landmarks, museums, and exhibitions to visit. Indeed, many of the churches and landmarks such as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice are world famous. However, when you’re strolling through a city or town, also keep an eye open for local exhibitions. Posters often advertise exhibitions of art, including painting, sculpture, and photography, in local museums and churches. Time spent at these can prove as rewarding as visits to internationally renowned sights.

 

Opera

When evening falls in Italy, you may wish to experience an opera. Teatro La Scala in Milan is a popular venue, but bear in mind that Verona hosts a season of open-air operas each year in the Roman amphitheater. The Verona season starts around the end of June and ends around the beginning of September. Other areas in Italy that also host opera include Venice, Naples, Sicily, and Turin.

 

Way of Life

Do remember these tips when you go to Italy. Above all, plan ahead and prepare to immerse yourself in the country’s culture and way of life.

travel tips for women travelers

Travel Alone at Least Once

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10 Tips for Solo Adventurers, Especially Women

 

Why travel solo?

When travelling alone, all choices and planning (logistics, itineraries, who’s going to watch the luggage while you duck into a bathroom?) fall to you. This can be challenging, but it’s also freeing. You get to call the shots 100% of the time: what do you most feel like doing / seeing / eating today? Want to loll about in a sidewalk café, sipping coffee and people-watching? No prob. A zip-line adventure or a day in an art museum? Done.

Travelling alone brings you face-to-face with the culture you’re visiting. If you want conversation when you’re solo tripping, you have to talk with a stranger. Travelling solo builds great confidence (and be warned, it may whet your appetite for more). It’s something you do for yourself, the deepest kind of self-care. When a trip is finished, you proudly exclaim, “Wow! I did THAT!” 

• To travel alone takes moxie, insouciance and bravery. It’s a mindset. Because so much of the world goes 2-by-2 or in groups, travelling solo takes cheekiness. You’re thumbing your nose at convention. 

• You’re stepping out of familiar surroundings, putting yourself in situations that require awillingness to look less-than-expert (silly, even). You might have to ask questions of people who don’t speak your language. You have to be willing to ask for help sometimes, too. Pantomime might be required.

You’ll have to rely on yourself and trust your instincts. There are no opportunities for reality checks with your travelling companion. You are tasked with interpreting what you see and figuring things out all by yourself.

For the intrepid, solo travel is incredibly rewarding, a great character-builder. It jolts you, a little (or a lot) out of your comfort zone. There’s the rush that comes with overcoming fear. No heroics are required, only a willingness to be unconventional. And quite possibly, you’re too impatient to wait for would-be companions to decide.

Here are some tried-and-true tips for travelling alone:

1. If you’re a rookie, start small & simple: try a night or two alone at a hotel in town. Or book a weekend at a bed-and-breakfast in the next town over. See how it feels. As you get your ‘sea legs’, roam farther. Even a couple of nights away and alone can be life-changing.

2. Don’t expect to feel “comfortable” –not really. Even after many overseas trips, seasoned solo travelers still admit to feeling a thrill (a ‘good kind of discomfort’) at what lies ahead.

3. If possible, have a local connection at your destination, not to spend all your time with, but as a touch point. For example, one traveler asked friends who visit Bangkok annually to connect her with their hotel-manager friend there. That made visiting Bangkok much less intimidating. Another solo traveler stayed at the hostel next to the her Quito language school, so she knew one person in Quito: her tutor. In Hong Kong, a third traveler met up with a friend who lives there. Having a local connection can be a big comfort. It also offers an opportunity to dive deeper than the typical tourist experience.

4. By booking with Airbnb or VRBO rather than with big, impersonal tourist hotels, it’s easy to have a more authentic stay in a new city. Be sure to read the reviews and check in with your intuition.

5. Before you go, get an idea of local customs and dress. It’s preferable not to stick out too obviously. Try not to be that person standing on a street corner holding a big map or taking loads of photos.

6. Once you’re at your destination, sign up for day tours to get a sense of the place you’re visiting. Viator.com can get you connected with everything from local-interest tours to shuttle rides to and from airports.

7. As with any trip, don’t book yourself solid. Leave gaps for downtime and unforeseen experiences.

8. While you’re travelling solo, keep your mind clear and pay attention. If you’re going to drink alcohol, do it very lightly. If something feels off, trust your intuition. 

9. Be open to detours and diversions. Some favorite travel memories happen while being lost. Be safe, but be willing to follow your curiosity.

10. Enjoy yourself! Keep a journal, take a few pictures, eat at local restaurants, talk to locals and tourists from other countries. There are potential friends everywhere.

So give solo travel a try. Buck the fear, be insouciant and unconventional and go by yourself. While you’re there, stay out from behind your camera. Eat local foods, and immerse yourself in the sights, scents and sounds of your adventure. Your solo trip will be over all too quickly, but when you’re truly present, as you are when travelling solo, you’ll have memories to last a lifetime.

Because: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller