3 Sep 2015

Labor day road trip? Save money - and enjoy!

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Taking a road trip this Labor Day weekend? You can save money with a few steps. For example:

Get your car checked before your trip. You can save an expensive, emergency car care expense on the road. Plus, fully inflated tires save gas.
Find apps that tell you where the cheap gas is. If you are crossing state lines, this is particularly important, as many states have added major taxes on gas. New Jersey, for example, has a $.31 tax on gas, whereas Pennsylvania has a $.70 gas tax.
Use the Google map app with 'avoid toll booths' feature turned on. However, make sure that the toll money you save does not get spent in gas for a longer trip to get around the toll booths.
Find cheaper hotels. I have found the Priceline Express deals can save significant money - if you can live with the fact that you are locked into a hotel.
Pack your own food - or buy food from the local farmer's market and heat it up in the hotel's microwave instead of using expensive restaurants.

Most of all - enjoy your trip! Often times, the free activities, like singing silly songs with your kids in the car, are the activities that make memories.

Miniature golf - in a hotel?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

The Hudson Hotel in New York City has a special surprise in it's courtyard this spring. For $10 a game, you can enjoy a go at their Putt Putt Park! It is a miniature golf course, complete with all the traditional mini golf attractions, such as the ever popular windmill. Guests can also enjoy a round of delicious food and beverage unique to the Putt Putt Park. The park's hours range from 2 pm-10 pm, and various deals through their hotel packages can help gain you access.

13 Apr 2015

Will you get the Apple Watch for your travels?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

The world is anticipating the launch of Apple's new wearable, the Watch, which will launch on April 24, 2015. Airlines, hotels and booking sites have already been busily developing apps, compatible with the new wearable and each brand is adding unique features, such as IHG's Dick Tracy-style translation app, which is similar to a successful iPhone app. Starwood has developed an app, allowing the Watch to be used as the room key.

12 Apr 2015

Will virtual travel replace real travel?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

For most of us, our desire to travel exceeds our budget. Can virtual reality replace the real thing? It would be pretty nice to paddle through a mangrove swamp or stroll along the Great Wall of China without having to negotiate time off work. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen any time soon. The smell of a tequila distillery or the fireworks at a local festival won't be coming to any headset.

11 Apr 2015

What do the Millennials want in travel?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Hipmunk, an online travel company, recently polled 1400 participants, asking about their travel habits and preferences. They noted several interesting facts about Millennials in particular.

10 Apr 2015

Don't let those old suitcases go to waste!

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Suitcases for Kids was an idea by a ten year-old foster child which is based on a simple idea: people have an attic full of unused suitcases, while foster children have a high need for suitcases, since they are constantly moving.

So, donate your old travel bags to foster children - or, women's shelters, homeless shelters or the Goodwill. Or, if the suitcases are just too old for anyone: you can recycle those old suitcases into items such as dog beds and organized storage.