I stumbled upon Freetravel.com today which boasts a free newsletter and information on wholesale travel. Right now they're offering a 3 night stay at a variety of hotels for $29.00, subject to availability.
Other travel deals of the week:
Orbitz.com
Las Vegas to San Francisco - $128
San Diego to San Francisco - $109
Travelocity.com
Holiday Inn Sunspree Montego Bay - $613 per person for 4 nights +flight
7-Night Mexican Riviera on Royal Caribbean - $459
Hotels.com
Hotel Belleclaire, New York City - $109
WooGo Central Park - Tempo Apartments - $109
Bookit.com
Oasis Palm Beach Resort & Spa Cancun - All Inclusive - $85/N
Majestic Colonial Punta Cana - All Inclusive - $85/N
The Ridge Tahoe: South Lake Tahoe - $135/n plus 4th night free
EuropePros.com
9-day classic Greece vacation with Turkey - $1119
9-nt Rome & Amalfi coast combo w/Capri & Naples - $1399
Travel Alert
Travel Preparation
Most people think booking airfare, a hotel, and a rental car is the only travel preparation necessary, spending the rest of the time dreaming of pina coladas on the beach. But you've probably found there's nothing more stressful than waking up the day of your trip and scrambling to pull together two weeks worth of your life crammed into a suitcase. As a result, it's nearly impossible not to over-pack or under-pack. To combat the last-minute travel stressers, here's a packing and preparation list to get you started:
10 Day Vacation
Clothes:
Dress pants
Dressy outfit
2-3 pairs of jeans
6 wrinkle-resistant shirts
10 pairs of underwear
8 pairs of socks
Walking shoes
Comfortable 'going out' shoes
Dressy shoes
Swim suit (if applicable)
A work-out outfit or T-shirt for bed (save on space, only bring one)
Tips: Pack wrinkle-resistant clothes whenever possible and include a Tide Stick for unexpected spills and stains
Bathroom Accessories:
Toothbrush
Travel toothpaste
Floss
Travel-sized Cetaphyl Cleanser (Perfect for make-up removal and works as a cleanser or leave on as a moisturizer. Also acceptable for men)
Travel-sized Contact Cleanser and case
Travel-sized Shaving Cream
Disposable Razor
Make-up
Hair tie (or Hat)
Medication
2 Quart Sized ziplock bags (if you're checking your luggage, use the 2nd as a spare, they rip)
Tips: Always opt for travel-sized items, whether you plan to check your bag or not. It will save room. I prefer just sucking it up and using soaps and shampoos from the hotels to save on space. If you like your own bath products, pour them into travel-sized containers
Accessories:
Cell phone charger
If traveling with computer - power cord
For women - any jewelry (nothing expensive!), an all-purpose handbag, evening bag
Light-weight sweater or sweatshirt
Backpack or other bag big enough for a day out
Tips: Keep accessories to a minimum to save on space. You won't care about how many purses you have by day 3 when you're lugging luggage
Emergency Supplies:
Tylenol or other pain relievers
Travel-sized Sunscreen - even in winter
Chapstick or lip balm (chapped lips can surprisingly cause a lot of discomfort and distract from your vacation)
Copy of your driver's lisence or passport
Emergency contact numbers
$100 in traveler's checks in case your debit or credit card is lost or stolen
Extra pair of contacts or old pair of glasses
If traveling with medication, number of pharmacist in case you need them replaced or refilled
If traveling out of the country, number of the American embassy, an international phone card, travel insurance with legal counsel option
Now that your bag is packed, don't forget about some last minute tips to make your trip go more smoothly.
Call a car service the night before, a friend taking you to the airport, or make sure your car has gas.
Confirm your travel plans and print out boarding passes and itineraries.
Throw out any perishable foods. (Makes for a very unpleasant surprise if you don't) At the same time, keep a few non-perishable items for when you get home so there's food in the house.
Clean your house or apartment. There's nothing more refreshing than coming home after a long trip to a clean house and clean sheets on your bed.
Pay your bills early so you don't have to worry about them while on vacation or the moment
you get home.
Make sure you're well rested! It'll start your vacation on the right foot.
Tips: Resolve stressers in your life like a difficult project at work, a small house repair, or unfinished business before your trip. Without burdens to pull you down, you'll feel light as air!
Thoughts:
Now, I'm sure some people will balk at my clothing list, but I'm a light packer. The point of beign on vacation or traveling is to be free and experience new things. I find it difficult to achieve this if I'm being weighted down, literally, by my suitcase. I only pack what fits into one suitcase and one carry-on. Try it, you'll love the freedom it allows!
I received an insightful comment about packing light and the environment... see An Afterthought to Travel Preparation for more...
A Travel Playlist
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?
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