My husband is a music junkie and likes some of the most obscure stuff that would put music journalists to shame. He even belongs to an endearing nerd group that discusses their favorite albums and songs of the previous year, complete with an 8-hour presentation schedule. No girls are allowed.
However, I've found because of his adventurous musical depths, my own tastes have become eclectic and tangled between the preferences I grew up with, what I've discovered as an adult, and what I've been exposed to since getting hitched. It can only best be described as a mix of everything popular and un -- a nonsensical list that simply gives me a strong reaction whether melancholy, energized, introspective, giddy, dreamy, etc.
And so, Here's my latest Nonsensical Travel Play List for Car Trip Driving:
(in no particular order)
Guided By Voices
The Ironman Rally Song
Guided By Voices
Bulldog Skin
Aimee Man
Wise Up
Dinosaur Junior
Get Me
Dinosaur Junior
Wagon
The Rolling Stones
Monkey Man
Weezer
Jamie
Arcade Fire
Cold Wind
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Cities in Dust
Erykah Badu
Bag Lady
John Lennon
Oh Yoko
The Faces
Oh La La
Fiona Apple
Universe
Sufjan Stevens
Flint
Royal Trux
Pound for Pound
Pas/Cal
The Bronzed Bleach Boys
Badly Drawn Boy
You Were Right
The Kinks
Picture Book
Johnny Cash
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
Big Pun
Still Not a Player
What do you guys like to listen to in the car, air, or otherwise?
A Travel Playlist
Reno - Not Just Divorces and Casinos
When I was in Reno on my press trip, I was amused to learn the city had largely been built up around their divorce trade. People moved in for about a month, took lodging in hotels and homes, and waited for their divorce to become official. Over the years, as casinos and gaming arenas have dotted the city, Reno got the wrap for being a bastardized version of Las Vegas without the quality glitz and glam of Celine Dion, Circus Soleil, and its local lounge lizards and card sharks.
But what Reno offers that few bother to mention in their travelogues is a plethora of outdoor resources among a backdrop of snow-peaked mountaintops. Just 30-40 minutes from Tahoe, there's plenty of skiing, snowboarding, doglsedding, snowmobiling, concerts, and water sports abounding. My favorite find was the city's free kayaking park, running right downtown on the Truckee River. The $1.5 million investment offers Class 2 and 3 rapids with plenty of guided tours and classes including the beginner's Never Ever. The man-made rapids were impressive, almost as impressive as kayakers in wet suits showing off on a cold January day.
Wingfield Park is the hub of the activity where kayakers, tubers, water races, and completions take place year-round. There's also a free amphitheater and festivals that draw in thousands. We didn't have time for our own kayaking expedition, nor did I have any desire to brave the frigid waters. Regardless, I'd like to go back for a visit in warmer climate and test my skills all while taking in a unique tour of Reno's downtown.
Take the Guess Work Out of Picking the Best Seat
The last time we took the red-eye to Europe, I was so uncomfortable in my seat I cut the circulation off to my legs, and what felt like my head, after being twisted into a pile of knotted limbs and blankets. I kept waking up nauseaus and miserable, wishing for the whole experience to be over. Somehow we had managed to sit in a row of 5 seats and were smack in the middle of it all.
I wish I had known about Seat Guru back then and avoided my fate. I recently stumbled upon it and was intrigued by their tag-line: "The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information." This handy site gives you the run-down on all the major, and even not so major, airlines and reviews of their seats. This includes leg room, in-seat power port locations, in-depth specific comments, mis-aligned window map, detailed seat map graphics and much more. The site relies heavily on customer reviews and supportive airline staff to identify coveted 'green' seats from dreaded 'red'.
But more than just seat reviews, this site also gives passengers the skinny on carry-on and checked-bag allowances, overweight fees, minors, infants, pets, phone numbers, and general information. This lets you find everything you need in one easy to navigate place.
Unfortunately, Seat Guru can't tell you if you'll be sitting near crying babies, neurotic passengers, and drunk seat-mates.
Innovative Jazz on the Vine Festival
I usually don't post press releases, but thought this vacation was especially innovative. Thought you guys might be interested in checking it out... ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN – Cool jazz, fine wines and farmhouse cheeses are a perfect combo. So are such pairings as pampering treatments at a state-of-the-art destination health spa and cocooning in luxurious guestrooms with cozy fireplaces. The common denominator for these pleasures—and more—is The Osthoff Resort, a Triple-A Four-Diamond property nestled alongside a pure spring-fed lake in southeast Wisconsin. They come together for The Osthoff’s sixth annual “Jazz on the Vine” festival (Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11). It’s a spectacular weekend of wine and music, featuring an array of more than 100 wines from three continents, including domestic wines from California, Washington and Oregon. Guests at the luxury resort enjoy sipping rare wines, sampling fine cuisine and listening to the musical styling of talented jazz musicians. A line-up of internationally known performers include R&B vocalist Ryan Shaw, currently nominated for a Grammy award, and Jesse J, named by Jazz Trax Fest as the “Best New Artist” of 2007. This year’s program of talented jazz musicians features: Joyce Cooling, May 9, 5:30-6:45 pm.This guitarist is a multiple award winner, including a 1999 Gibson Guitar Award as “Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year.” In 2002, her CD “Third Wish” earned her a California Music Award nomination as “Best Jazz Artist” and nominations at the Smooth Jazz Awards as “Best Female Artist” and “Best Guitarist.” Her CD, “This Girl’s Got to Play,” climbed to the Top 10 of the Billboard charts. Cooling has performed with such jazz giants as Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Kim Waters, May 9, 7:30-8:45 pm. “Simply one of the planet’s best saxophonists.” So declared Jazz Times Magazine of the performer who ranks among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz. For close to two decades this saxophonist, composer and producer has been one of the premier architects of “Urban Smooth Jazz” and a consummate hit maker. Jesse Cook, May 9, 9:30-11.30 pm. Paris-born, Toronto-based, this virtuoso guitarist explores the outer limits of popular music. His sixth studio album, “Frontiers,” ranges from moody and introspective, to joyous and fiery. Jessy J, May 10, 2-3:30 pm. At age 26, Jessica Spinella (AKA Jessy J) already has worked professionally with such popular artists as Jessica Simpson, Michael Buble, Burt Bacharach and The Temptations. She has toured with jazz orchestras and with Michael Bolton—playing sax and singing backup vocals. She also was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall for an event featuring “tomorrow’s star musicians.” 3rd Force, May 10, 4:15-5:45 pm. This smooth-jazz ensemble, founded in 1994, exploded on the scene with a self-titled release that presented an extraordinary collection of seductive grooves and single melodies. The long-anticipated release of “Driving Force,” the band’s seventh recording, debuts a bigger sound that honors vintage Motor City funk and the original 70s urban cool. Ryan Shaw, May 10, 6:45-8:15 pm. This singer/songwriter is reviving for a new generation the passion and soul of the Golden Age of Rhythm & Blues (1960-1972). His background includes performing in gospel musicals and in New York clubs (rendering Detroit soul favorites by the Four Tops and Marvin Gay—plus fifties and sixties tunes that audiences could dance to, including favorites by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Dion and the Belmonts). Paul Brown’s Guitar Night featuring Kenny Rankin and Marc Antoine, May 10, 9-10:30 pm. Two-time Grammy Award winner Paul Brown jams with guests Kenny Rankin and Marc Antoine. Kenny Rankin is songwriter, guitarist and world-class singer (a guest on the “Tonight Show” more than 20 times). In 1995, Marc Antoine was R&R’s “Best New Artist of the Year.” His trademark style blends Mediterranean romance, vibrant melodies and infectious beats. Carmen & Kostia, May 11, 10:00 am-4:30 pm. This duo will entertain during a sumptuous Sunday brunch. After making a name for herself on the Los Angeles music scene, singer/songwriter Carmen Nickerson has worked with many Wisconsin-area bands including The Eddie Butts Band, Hot Sauce, and The Bystanders. Kostia Efimov, trained as a concert pianist in Russia, came to America to record with Narada Records. He blends a wide range of styles into his playing, including classical, jazz and pop. Except for Sunday’s brunch event, all performances are held (rain or shine) tented on the grounds of The Osthoff Resort. Early reservations are recommended. Wine samplings are included with the purchase of concert tickets. Tickets are priced at $65 per person, plus tax, for Friday evening (May 9) and $65 per person, plus tax, for Saturday afternoon and evening (May 10). A two-day ticket is $110 per person, plus tax; limited preferred seating available at $150 per person, plus tax. The “Jazz Brunch,” offered on Sunday, May 11, is priced at $24.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. This bountiful buffet includes smoked Atlantic salmon with traditional condiments, shrimp cocktail and Osthoff signature pâtè and terrines, plus a wide choice of salads and egg dishes. Also offered is peppercorn-crusted prime rib, slow roasted bone-in ham, herb-marinated grilled chicken breast, seared Atlantic salmon and orecchiette pasta with pecorino. The resort offers 245 spacious suites and guest rooms. One-, two- and three-bedroom suites range in size up to 2,300 square feet and feature a kitchen or kitchenette, dining and living room, TV, fireplace and private balcony. Guest rooms feature a king-size bed, private balcony, two-person whirlpool bath, wet bar and TV. The Osthoff also offers perfect getaways for couples. You can reserve a private suite at Aspira, Osthoff’s destination health and beauty spa, and invite its pampering staff to brings treatment and meals to you in the privacy of your own quarters. Or book a table alongside the picture windows of Lola’s on the Lake, Osthoff’s upscale dining room with dramatic views of Elkhart Lake and the wooded hills that surround it. A talented kitchen produces regional cuisine that incorporates local organic ingredients. Lola’s has a companionable bar with comfortable sofa seating. The Osthoff Resort is just an hour north of Milwaukee, less than two hours from Madison and about three hours from Chicago. For more information contact The Osthoff Resort, 101 Osthoff Avenue, Elkhart Lake, WI 53020-0151, 800-876-3399—or check the Web site at www.osthoff.com.
Snowboarding Bruises
I was pretty psyched to try skiing and snowboarding while in the Tahoe area, thinking I would prefer the latter. I envisioned those days on my brother's skateboard as an omen of what was to come - gliding, sailing, and face-planting. But I was surprised to find skiing felt more intuitive and exhilarating, whereas snowboarding felt awkward and oddly captive. I didn't particularly enjoy having my body planted on a board, facing sideways.
On skis, I wasn't afraid to fall face first into a blanket of fresh powder at out of control speeds, nor did I hesitate to launch from the ski lift with giddy abandon. Yet I detested dragging my foot around on a snowboard, instinctively wondering where my ski poles were and how to stand up after falling. Skiing gave me a certain confidence, whereas snowboarding left me feeling melancholy and craving a sense of place.
I did manage to continuously nail my leg on my borrowed snowboard over and over again until I developed the most brilliant black and blue bruises that were larger than my entire hand. Their presence was my war wound, proof that I had braved the elements and had not retreated into defeat. I showed them off to my fellow travel writers with pride, never hesitating to hike up my pant leg regardless of the situation or environment. Dinner? A tour of a state building? A fancy lodge? Bruises abound. Finally, I found myself hiking up my jeans at a casino at 2:30am while looking for a slice of pizza and another beer.
My whole lackluster performance at snowboarding probably wasn't helped by the fact that I had a touch of altitude sickness which caused acute insomnia. I showed up at my snowboarding lesson at Heavenly in Tahoe on no sleep and with the sun beating down on us. I stripped off my husband's water-resistant coat (which I had borrowed, lest slide down the mountain in a black belted trench coat) and my hat during the first ten minutes.
Our snowboarding instructor Shep was very patient and managed to get me through the lesson without breaking a leg. Despite his good graces, I found myself intimidated by his lifestyle, living in Tahoe for 6 months and New Zealand the rest of the year. I wondered what it did to a person to live one long continuous winter with a snowboard attached to your feet. While I tried to maneuver around on my board without hitting innocent bystanders, I took in the views from the top, wishing for both sleep and longevity. I never wanted to leave. And then inevitably I would fall into a bed of packed snow and hear my leg slam against my board, grinning at the new bruise sure to come.
I went to bed those nights with my legs aching and the thrill of skiing down a mountain fresh in my mind. My lungs swelled and felt raw and twisted from the day's events. But despite our 17 hour days of touring the area, I never got more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night, no matter how exhausted I was or banged up. But lack of sleep does something interesting to your brain, forces a spontaneous bonding experience with those around you. I came home, breaking my John Denver Rocky Mountain High streak with a luxurious 10 hours of sleep, leaving me more aware of how discontent I am in NYC and the lack of nature's fresh powder along the Gowanus.
Reno or Bust
There's much to say, including skiing vs. snowboarding and some gnarly bruises I earned, but for now I must catch up on forgotten deadlines and of course sleep!
Robert Beckmann - Body of a House
I'm in the Denver airport killing time before my flight to Reno. I just had some very uninspired pizza from Pizza Hut. Ray's Pizza it is not. It was largely an uneventful flight. Now, I don't want you to get jealous, but instead of The Jane Austen Book Club, which was suppose to air, we got to watch Rush Hour not 1, not 2, but 3! It went down great with a soda and mini pretzels. I slept through 95% of it. But I'm assuming the best part of the film was the credits anyway. And what's up with the show Monk? It seems like every flight I've been on in the last 2 years on features the entire season in full.
Usually I don't say much to my seat-mates. I always offer a hello and am happy to chat if that person takes the lead. Otherwise, I tend to assume they want to be left alone. But saying 'hi' is important. It establishes a precident. What if you're first to evacuate? Do you want to just blurt out "I hope we don't die!" Or what if the first thing you say is "Can you move so I can go to the bathroom?" It's just good airline manners to greet the person you're sitting with.
So after saying hi, my seat-mate made small talk which lead to a fascinating conversation about art. His name is Robert Beckmann, an accomplished painter and muralist, with his work Body of a House permanently displayed in the Nevada Museum of Art. I'm looking forward to seeing it on my press tour and putting a name to the painting. Body of a House depicts the rapid disintegration of a house on a nuclear test site and encompasses 8 large canvases. He's lived in and visited dozens of places that would make any seasoned traveler green with jealousy.
I never considered how much a professional artist would have to travel between artist in residencies, commissioned work, and tours. And I left the flight wondering about the connection between travel and passion. I wonder how different that kind of intimate traveling is compared to my own. Makes me wish I traveled more for just the sake of travel. I've often wondered if travel means more to the person who is evoking his/her creativity and spirit into the experience. Does going on a press trip where I'm being shown attractions and sites to slant my view on the area mean as much as someone who goes for self-discovery and exploration? Or does my passion for travel and writing make up for the fact that it is in fact an organized press trip? Is work just work no matter where you are?
Where does Traveling With Meaning fit into the travel industry?
Motion Sickness - Tricks of the Trade
As you know, my father is a retired pilot, and my brother currently flies for Airtran. They could fly upside down, through turbulence, and without any ventilation and feel just peachy. I, on the other hand, break into a sweat at the first signs of bumps. Thus the flying gene somehow skipped over me.
Motion sickness is caused when your inner ear perceives movement but your vision doesn't. It creates an inner disagreement that can cause nausea, increased heartbeat, sweats, and a myriad of other nasty side-effects. I've experienced all of them, and it's not fun.
Although I love the thrill of being somewhere new, exploring a foreign culture, and the euphoria of stumbling upon a great travel deal - I can't stand the process of getting from A to B. The stress of packing, getting to the airport, fighting crowds, security lines, and flight delays are bad enough. But stepping onto a hot, stuffy plane with a funky stomach is the worst fate. I've tossed my cookies before on a flight, but not since I was a little kid. Over the years I learned a few tips and tricks that have gotten me through many an upchuck potential situation.
Medicate - You might want to try some Dramamine (make sure it's non-drowsy or you'll be out for half the day) before a flight. However, few, if any, drugs truly take away the motion sickness feeling completely. I've personally found Dramamine at least takes the edge off. An episode of Myth Busters on Discovery Channel tested various anti-nausea drugs by being blind-folded and being spun around in chairs until they puked. However, ginger pills seemed to be the only remedy that actually worked for them. My neighbor also swears by them and starts taking ginger a week before her annual cruise.
Eat light - My mother-in-law is both Midwestern and 100% Italian and loves to feed us. Once she made chili and ribs for lunch, shortly before a flight. I ate light, but my husband indulged and paid the price. He nearly lost his lunch numerous times. Instead, opt for something small and somewhat bland. A simple sandwich can do wonders.
Rethink 'Bad' Foods - Often a small bag of simple chips or plain crackers will soothe my stomach while onboard. I avoid any juices, fruits, or veggies that have the potential to create an acidic or gassy environment in my stomach.
Stay Cool - For most people, staying cool can acutely reduce nausea. Crank up your vents and always ask for ice in your drink. In a pinch you can wrap an ice cube or two in your napkin and place it behind your neck.
Don't panic - It's easy to feel like the world will end when you're rockin' an upset stomach. What's the worst that will happen? You'll puke. The end. Instead, focus on something else and clear you're head. I like to take deep breaths and eye the tray table latch in front of me, clearing my head completely. If I'm feeling especially bad, I let my husband or travel companion know I need a minute. That allows me to just focus and stay calm.
Go to Sleep - I'm not very good at sleeping just anywhere, but I've learned to put myself into at least a snooze when I'm feeling ill. In fact, it's usually the only time I can fall asleep on the plane. I just close my eyes, force my thoughts away, and focus on sleep.
Reverse the Symptoms - NASA did a study with its astronauts (who are also prone to motion sickness) that showed you can greatly reduce the symptoms on your own. If you're heart is racing, take deep breaths and focus on calming down. If you're burning up, turn on the vents and suck on some ice. Visualize your body relaxing and returning to normal.
Don't Be Afraid to Sport the Bag - There's no shame in using a barf bag, friends. If you're prone to nausea, always check the seat back in front of you when you first sit-down and make sure there's a bag there. If not, swipe one or ask the flight attendant for a spare. If you're feeling the grumblings and can't go to the bathroom, don't fight that not so friendly feeling too long. My pilot brother pointed out that many people are too embarrassed to get out the bag and end up puking on the floor, or worse, their neighbor. Interestingly, this sets off a chain reaction and other passengers start to feel ill and begin their own puke fest. If you use the bag, it can easily be disposed of and the event is over.
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The Good Mood "Diet" and Travel
Like most travelers, I tend to over-indulge, have that extra cocktail (or 3), nibble on cookies and order the basket of fries with a Guinness while on vacation. It's easy to forget that being away from your "real life" doesn't mean you won't face the consequences of indulgence once you get back to that "real life". Too bad my travel isn't done on one of those virtual worlds like Second Life, then I'd never gain weight. Of course, I'd only get to see the sites through a computer screen, too.
But weight gain isn't really the problem, a few days at the gym and lots of water usually reverses whatever I've done to celebrate my vacation (room service, candy bars, Scottish beers). It's more the feeling sluggish, bouts of low energy, and overall blue feeling when I return home to Brooklyn. This feeling tends to also sprout up after a stressful week at work, a round of taxes (cringe), non-stop fighting of the neighbors upstairs, or trying to track down clients who owe me a check.
I'd actually been looking for a 'diet' that would elevate my mood and keep me feeling balanced. I don't really care about the weight loss, though like most people, I could easily stand to loose 5-10 pounds. I was primarily concerned about boosting my energy without going on an actual diet. Diets suck, and I'm not a fan. At all. In fact, they rank up there with sitting around in airports all day and being stuck in the middle seat on a plane with no ventilation. Yet I couldn't find any eating plan that matched my desire until I read an article about The Good Mood Diet written by Susan Kleiner and Bob Condor. Like any good frugal blogger trying to save money for travel, I bought it on ebay.
The Good Mood Diet talks alot about eggs and fish. They love their fish. And luckily, I love it. But they also let you have chocolate and some alcohol within reason. Intrigued, I skipped around the book to get a better look at the menus and braced myself for the worst. Turns out, I'll have to figure out where to buy flaxseed, which was the only annoying thing I saw on the plan. The diet provides weeks worth of menu suggestions including lean turkey, fruits and veggies, skim milk, strong coffee, green tea, olive oil, yogurt, soy, edamame (yum), peanut butter, hamburgers, pizza, pasta and of course the fish and eggs. Their 'bad foods' list is refreshingly short and features refined sugars, too much caffeine, alcohol... all the usual suspects.
The author has worked with a lot of athletes, including one with hankering for dove ice cream bars and cartons of ice cream. Eventually, all he wanted was healthy snacks on this new plan. You know, because he just felt so good. The authors suggest eliminating all "bad foods" on their list the first two weeks, but mainly to prove how good you'll feel and show you that you won't want the booze and candy bars by week three. I still think I might want a Bellhaven, but they make allowances for occasional alcohol. Honestly, I think any diet would eliminate your carvings for booze and sugar by week three (but not without a psychotic break-down). But this diet claims that you won't miss any of your favorite junk foods because you'll feel so good without them.
Makes sense. Most people eat to feel good on some level whether it's to relax, feel satisfied, alleviate stress, cope with depression, or just out of boredom. But unlike most diets that make you feel too weak to function or so guilty you're eventually convinced that you're responsible for the state of the world, there's no guilt complex here. The authors really don't give a crap if you just ate an entire cake before reading this book, they just want you to try their green tea or skim milk and cocoa suggestions afterwards. They take comfort in knowing you won't care about the next cake if you're feeling good.
A good deal of this diet is common sense. Don't eat sugar, it's a downer. Or drink alcohol. We all know these rules as fact... and do it anyway. But there was a lot in this book I didn't think I'd ever see on any diet. Caffeinated sodas (they try to convince you to try coffee and tea instead, but reluctantly allow it if you must), glasses of skim milk, burgers, cheese, whole wheat pastas and pizza crusts. Hell, the fact that bread is on here at all is enough reason for abandoned celebration. It also reminds you to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid hunger and creative recipes for seemingly yummy smoothies and sweet tooth alternatives.
So I'm going to give it a shot and see how it works. The book claims you'll feel different after the first day. Again, my goal is to feel energized and feel better, primarily while traveling. I have a press trip next week in Nevada and would love to have the energy to feel confident doing my job and speaking to media reps. I won't be able to bring flaxseed with me, but this day in age, I bet any resort features it somewhere on their menu to keep up with the hoards of healthy-spa-seeking-travelers. But tomorrow it's wheat toast, eggs, coffee, and yogurt for breakfast. Considering I usually only eat candy masquerading as Sweet and Salty breakfast bars each morning, it should be interesting to see how this all works out.
Would love to hear your comments!
Battling the Winter Blues
Anyone else having trouble re-adjusting after the holiday travel madness? We went from a restful week in Georgia and New Year's in the Hamptons to utter chaos. We live in Brooklyn, NY and our upstairs neighbors are an elderly couple who have lived there for 50 years. That's right, 50! They raised 4 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment and their bizarre 50-something year old daughter still lives with them. They're also very loud, negative, abrasive, fight constantly, and wear what sounds like steel toed boots all hours of the day and night. Our landlord's wife ran off with the baker down the street and our neighbor tries to order us to do her errands. Did I mention the old ladies don't speak to me, only my husband, and the old men on the block sweet talk me and ignore my husband? Oh, and we live next door to a mafia restaurant. No one's every eating there, yet people are always coming out of the back. It's like living in a bad Brooklyn movie.
How have I been coping? Well, I've been eating Honey Maid Mini S'mores while looking at my latest travel plans and watching the Travel Channel. I find the combination of both does wonders to improve my mood. (But not my waistline). I have a press trip in Reno/Lake Tahoe next week and am going to try to see my grandmother in Illinois shortly after that. I've never been skiing or snowboarding, so I'm looking forward to trying something new. I've actually never even been to Nevada before and was eager to get some warm gear for my trip. Luckily I waited until after Christmas to buy ski pants at a steal - $15 from Modell's.
If you're dying for a winter escape, you're not alone. Wonder what January travel say about you? Statistics and research on seasonal disorders show that January 24th (my Mom's birthday) is considered the worst day of the year. It all has to do with post-holiday blues, bills coming in, newly broken New Year's resolutions, and cold weather. It's also one of the most popular days of the year to book a trip. And why not? Who wouldn't want to escape feeling like utter hell with a trip to the Bahamas, Mexico, or Hawaii?
Travel also happens to be one of the most accepted forms of escape. You don't need to booze it up, act irresponsibly, or quit your job to change your life. You only need a change of scenery to feel like a new person once in awhile. In fact, it's more socially unacceptable not to take a vacation than to splurge on one once in awhile. But we don't promote expensive travel here at The Innovative Traveler. We encourage you to travel smart... and cheap.
Right now Norwegian Cruise lines is offering a 5-night cruise from Miami, Cozumel, George Town, and back to Miami for $429. Depart on January 20th and miss that dreaded January 24th. Looking for something a little cheaper? Try a 4-night cruise on Carnival fromLos Angeles, Catalina Island; Ensenada, Mexico, and back to LA. Total cost for an inside cabin? Just $199. Leave on January 21st or the 28th.
To take advantage of these last minute savings or to see more winter deals, visit Expedia.
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