Bargain Biatch

Top Cheap Travel Destinations: I'll Take The Balkans For $1000

Ack!!! Get me outta here.  The start and stop bathroom renovation and the exterior brick and repointing work taking place outside my windows which is basically hours of jack-hammering is going to drive me crazy.  Must leave this dusty hovel and I  came across an enticing  article about the cheapest places to travel.  The list named quite a few places I’ve visited including Argentina, Egypt, Morocco, Mexico (duh), Indonesia and Iceland (which I visited before it went bankrupt so it wasn’t cheap).  There’s also one US spot, Vegas Baby, which can be cheap with lots of discount packages.  From all the other picks I think my next trip might try Bulgaria.  Loaded with antiquity and famous for geo thermal springs I think these stiff joints could use a soak.  And with very low travel costs, the Balkans beckon.

Southwest Airlines To Charge For Carry On? Thanks No, I'll Try Voyage Prive

Just when I thought that flying had gotten as expensive and unpleasant as possible, Southwest Airlines has proven me wrong.  They’ve just announced that in addition to paying extra for checked luggage, they’re gonna charge you for carry on items, and not a nominal fee, 45 bucks a bag.  What Next? A surcharge for the air in the cabin, more if you’re a mouth breather.  Thanks and I Will NOT be booking flight on SouthWest, on general principal alone.  There are still travel deals to be had and I just joined Voyage Prive, which launched earlier this year in the US.  It’s a site French travel site that’s been operating in Europe for about three years and specializes in upscale travel packages. It’s experienced tremendous growth and is now looking to muscle in on the American market and the seemingly endless number of people who are drawn to the luxury ideal (at a bargain) It’s operates a lot like Rue La La and holds limited time sales and in fact, Rue La La has recently branched out and in addition to clothes and merchandise, has had a few boutique for exotic travel and upscale cruises.   I checked out some of the preview sales at Prive and the prices were fairly low for what you got and the destinations were to places you'd actually want to go.  And the packages allow for flexibility and you can upgrade, purchase add ons or book additional days.  You have to sign up but membership is free and I’m going to keep my eye out for my next vacation. 

Travel Deals If You’re Young at Heart

Even if you haven’t seen the inside of a classroom since the Reagan era you can still take advantage of student travel deals.  Perhaps to sell seats and do some sort of intergenerational exposure, student travel agencies are beginning to seek out non-students and older travelers and offer them the same deep discounts.  A hand full of these student travel agencies have quietly been doing this for years like Student City which specializes in vacation packages for high school and college students.  Although they don’t advertise it, the deals aren’t restricted by age. And now companies are starting to actively promote the open door policy.  For example STA Travel has added a “Flights For Everyone” section on their home page highlighting sales and negotiated discounts. The prices are typically better than you’d find with a regular search engine and the accommodations don’t totally suck.  Probably not four star properties but way better then the backpacking hostel staying couch surfing arrangements.  I haven’t tried this yet but I will tell my mom about the deal. And if those 20 year old slackers want to keep up with my spry and fly (almost) 80 year mother, they better be rested and ready.

 

Let Me Go: Cheap Lodging without the final (disappointing) reveal

Just heard about a new discount travel site called Let Me Go. It was started by two Latin guys and I think the name is a riff on amigo (a me go).  Let Me Go works as a kind of reverse auction where the consumer sets the parameters and providers are the bidders. You start by entering a destination, travel dates, the type of lodging you want, star rating, ambiance, budget and any other special requests.  Then you set a time frame like 48 or 72 hours.  Once you enter your info the bidding starts and you sit back and wait for offers and unlike a lot of other comparison-shopping sites, this one is more transparent.  Each offer (with specs and pics) is visible to other bidders so it encourages a real competitive auction.  And another big plus is that you can pick from a wide range of lodging options from hotel, motel, villa or yurt.  I’ve yet to try the service but I’ll be watching for ratings and reviews.

 

Viva Mexico or Anywhere Else Warm

This week’s top travel deals are to Mexico and as I’m watching the wind whip the foot of snow around outside my window, Margaritas on the beach in Cabo sound just right.  Booking Buddy has scoured the travel sites and rounded up over 2 dozen great deals starting at under $500 for 4 nights with air and hotel.  Pretty unbeatable from where I sit shivering under a blanket of snow. Some of the best include Beachfront Villas in Cabo or a spa in Tulum.  Just choose your preferred from of luxury then go work on your tan.

 

And sticking with the travel theme, not only can you find online discount coupons for retailers, you can also find them for travel.  I was looking at hotels for my trip later this month to LA and decided to try the same coupon search for travel sites. In addition to some of my go-to sites like retailmenot and coupon cabin when I searched specifically for travel, and I found an Orbitz coupon for an additional 5% off the total.  I was already getting rate and saving 20% percent by accepting a no change, pay in full deal so a the end to the day, my 4 star hotel in Downtown Los Angeles came to $120 a night. Tiny Ka-Ching!

Cheap Travel For 2010

Taking a BIG BITE off a New York Times travel article about the top ways to cut your travel costs this year.  You can see the full article but here are my tops picks and a few of my own.

 

Sign up for a Twitter account.  An increasing number of travel companies are using Twitter for marketing and besides following the nauseating updates of people you don’t give a shit about, you’ll have access to last minute discounts and bargains. And if you’re serious about hunting for bargains sign up for everything, when you join travels sites you’ll get all of the insider deals and steals.

 

Consider nearby airports.  I’ve done this when flying to Miami on JetBlue.  Sometimes it’s cheaper to route yourself through a less popular destination.  Most search engines let your check fares at “nearby” airports with a click of the mouse.

 

Shrug your shoulders.  Fly off peak or shoulder season, just bit before or a bit after peak season.  So check out warm weather destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean you can find great values traveling in late fall and early spring.

 

Rent.  This was definitely the good move when I went to Buenos Aires.  They have a very well managed apartment rental system with several reputable agencies to choose from.  By renting you can get a centrally located, well-appointed apartment that’s cheaper and nicer than a standard hotel.

 

Picnic:  It’s fantastic money saver, particularly for lunch. It’s easy to grab fresh local produce and make a fancy feast on the cheap.

 

Take Public Transportation.  Being a New Yorker I find always like to test out the public transportation system and I’ve typically found it to be a viable option.  Be it bus, or train with a map and some change it can be cost effective and at time adventurous addition.

 

Or Walk:  May as well since you’ll probably overindulging on local delicacies so using your own two feet to get around will ensure that you’ll fit into your clothes when you get back.  And you can see a lot of a city by strolling and taking your time.

Book For Two And Save On Jet Blue

A couple of short travel posts if you need to get outta this icebox. First a 2-fer offered by JetBlue.  Credit this to my friend Adrina. She travels regularly to Fort Lauderdale with her boyfriend to visit his dad.  This time when she was surfing Jet Blue for cheapest fares she found she found she could get a discount for booking 2 people on the same itinerary. Individual tickets were $149 each way, still not bad fare, but when she put in 2 passengers the fare dropped to $99.  Big savings and I guess it pays to have a travel partner. I haven’t seen any other airlines offer this kind of deal but better believe that if I’m booking for two, it’ll be Jet Blue….NOT!.... if I’m going with someone else, I will not be the one paying.

And Booking Buddy is advertising some great cruise deals through Direct Line Cruises that leave from NY so no airfare required.  There are deals as low as $449 pp for 7 nights to the Bahamas. There are also deals to Bermuda and Canada.  You have to book by January 10^th but travel is good till September.  And fares do vary depending on when you travel.

Support The Local Economy and Buy (Booze) Duty Free

When it comes to bargain liquor I’ve got 2 words….Duty free.  Yeah baby it’s the total bomb for cheap alcohol.  But not all duty free shops are created equal and some “bargains” aren’t. You better know the regular prices before going in so you don’t overpay for things you can get on sale in the US. It’s kind of like the clothing outlets that you have to hunt for the real deals. For example the DF in Peru is fantastic and good to stock up on Pisco and good cognac.  Argentina has cheap wine and other high-end spirits that are just over half of what you’d pay stateside.  The good thing is that you can bring back 5 liters per person.  The catch is that if you have multiple stopovers you can only buy at the last one before your final destination.  For me that was Chile.  The shopping wasn’t great but I know to go for the special promos.  They had a special on mid range 12 yr old rum, 2 ltrs for $32 and a mix and max 3 for $30 where you could choose from Alize, Campari and Tia Maria. So re-stock your bar and get a few gifts at random airports throughout the world.

Buenos Aires or Bust: Argentina...Meat and Wine on the Cheap

Back from BA…Buenos Aires of course and feeling a bit over served after massive amounts of red meat and the red wine. So here’s the very sluggish Bargain Biatch Post about Argentina.

First if you go, definitely book on Taca.  They treat you like a real human being, who needs food to survive and travels with more than a tiny carry on.  You can check 2 bags for free and I saw families literally moving with all of their possessions stuffed in suitcases.  Then on board, they feed you.  Whatever the time of day you get food, and with lunch and dinner, free drinks, and I don’t mean soda and water, Liquor mi amore,  cocktails, beer and wine.  And do take a stopover.  You can plan your trip to Argentina by way of Costa Rica, Chile, Peru or other South American destinations and take a few days to see another country at no extra charge.

 

Then once you get to BA, skip the overpriced and not great hotels and rent an apartment.  I found a lovely 1 bdrm in Recoleta, famous for the incredible cemetery that houses the remains of Eva Peron.  It had a full kitchen and washer dryer for under $100 per day, longer stays are cheaper.  There are several reputable agencies but I went through Buenos Aires Habitat.  On arrival they met me at the apartment as promised and didn’t flinch when I said I needed a check out time of 4 am to catch my 6:45 return flight.  Once you’re there, things are cheap, great food, $1 empanadas, dulce de leche everything from helado (ice cream) and pastries.  And of course, fabulous $5 a bottles wine and tons of meat.  Stock up on gifts at the craft fairs in Recoletta and Soho Palermo, buy one of a kind belts and jewelry for under 25 bucks a pop. And don’t forget to Tango!

Don't Cry For Me Argentina...La La La

So If you're reading this No estoy alla'.  I'm off on my fabulous vacation to Peru and Argentina,  So this will probably be the last post till after December 15th since internet is sketchy and I plan to be high on red wine and red meat and quite incoherent.  So the bargains of the day start with Taca Airlines.  My flight, not exactly direct but I needed the stopovers to include Peru on my way to Argentina.  The layovers are very short and the grand total $760 roundtrip. And the amazing thing was that Taca still treats you like a human.  You could check 2 bags for free, meals were also gratis and totally decent and there's no charge for cocktails.  My seatmate was hammered on scotch and I admit to being a bit tipsy myself.  And things are VERY cheap in Peru, meals, taxis etc... I hope things go as well in Buenos Aires but so far good Bargain Biatch fun.