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Articles Los Angeles

Travel to LA for NBA All-Star Weekend

Basketball fans have one more reason to visit Los Angeles this winter. This year, the city is hosting the NBA All-Star Weekend, a festival of basketball-related events, celebrity games and slam-dunk contests. Even if you aren’t a fan, it’s a weekend of sports, fun, and celebrities, and it’s a great excuse to plan a visit to sunny Los Angeles.

As always, airlines tend to raise prices to any destination hosting a special event, so you may find flights to Los Angeles cost more than they normally do during this time. But there are still some NBA All-Star Weekend travel deals out there that can help you bring down the cost of indulging in your favorite sports obsession.

Hotels close to the venues may still be available and those that are will be eager to offer incentives to fill rooms. Cheap hotels in LA that are farther away from the festivities may also be a good budget option, just be aware that the city is notorious for its traffic, so the savings may not be worth it once you factor in the extra time spent in the car.

If basketball just isn’t your passion, there’s still plenty of reason to visit LA. While the sports nut in your life is off watching the games, get out to sightsee in the city. Check out the Hollywood sign and Walk of Fame, shop on Rodeo Drive, visit Santa Monica, or just stake out all your favorite celebrities.

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Articles Portugal

Add the Azores to Your Portugal Trip

The Azores are among the most undisturbed and isolated islands in Europe. Located nearly 1000 miles from the mainland of Portugal the islands are serviced with regular flights to Lisbon (and New York) and ferry services from Europe, yet they remain largely untouristed and uncommon island getaways.

With a subtropical climate, rolling vineyards, orchards and a stunningly beautiful and rugged coast, the nine major islands that make up the Azores are largely supported by farming and fishing. Because they remained so isolated for some long, the culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions of each island actually varies quite a bit, but the main language is Portuguese throughout.

The main activities in the Azores involve the beautiful nature of the islands and include biking, whale-watching, hiking, and sailing. You won’t find too many museums and monuments too keep you busy, nor will you find the throngs of tourists found on other European islands.

The Azores may be more expensive to get to thanks to their remote location, but once there, you’ll find them quite affordable. Cheap hotels are easy to come by, with average accommodations going for around $100 per night. Of course, you can also find more inexpensive lodging at family run pensions and bed and breakfasts throughout the islands. And finding inexpensive, fresh fish is never a problem.  With the low prices and lack of crowds, it’s only a matter of time before the secret is out about the beautiful islands of the Azores.

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Argentina Articles

Make Argentina Your Budget Destination

Though the rock-bottom prices of the early 2000’s have gone up considerably Argentina still regularly tops the lists of best cheap countries to visit, thanks to a very favorable dollar to peso exchange rate.  One US dollar will get your nearly four pesos, making the average price for a decent bottle of wine around $4 US and a heaping platter of tender, juicy beef will run you between ten and fifteen bucks.

It’s easy to be put off by the initial cost of traveling to Argentina. Flights to Buenos Aires are not cheap; expect to pay anywhere from $700-$1500 per person, depending on where in the US you’re coming from. But, the extra cost of flights is easily made up once you are on the group. Living large in Argentina on a small budget it quite easy. Cheap Buenos Aires hotels will only cost $25-30 per night for a double room, while slightly more upscale accommodations can be had for under $100. If you’re fine with a dorm bed in a hostel, you can even get by on under $15 per night.

Of course, Buenos Aires is one of the most expensive places in Argentina, seeing as it’s the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the country. In other areas, you can spend even less, though you’ll sacrifice some of the European flavor, low-cost luxury shopping and decadent nightlife present in the capital. For those who want to indulge in fine food, fantastic wine and luxurious accommodations and shopping, Buenos Aires is an ideal destination that allows you to indulge without the high price tag.

Photo by Johnny Shaw

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Articles Turkey

Turkey Beyond Istanbul

Turkey, I think, falls into the same trap that the Netherlands, England, France, and a few others countries do. When it comes to tourism, people think of one city and don’t really consider visiting any other places within that country. So while many people are perfectly content to spend a week in Amsterdam or London, only venturing out for a few days trips and neglecting the rest of the country, so too do far too many people seem to accept that it makes sense to visit Turkey and only visit Istanbul.

While Istanbul is a treasure-trove of a city worth spending significant time in, it’s not the only place in Turkey that holds appeal for tourists. The highlights of Turkey stretch across the country, from the Mediterranean coast to the valleys and mountains of the Asian side, from big cities and small towns to rural and deserted settlements.  Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, Mount Nemrut, the ghost town of Kayaköy, and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and you’ll see just how far from Istanbul – both literally and figuratively – you can get withing Turkey.

Istanbul certainly deserves a large portion of your trip (especially as most cheap flights to Turkey arrive there), but it will also eat up more of your budget. Cheap Istanbul hotels are available, but dining, drinking, transport and sightseeing will cost you more in a major city, where the cost of living is simply higher than in more rural areas. By expanding your travels to the lesser-known regions of Turkey, you’ll gain a richer experience, without being much poorer for it.

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Articles

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Iceland

Iceland was recently rated as one of the best places to spend Christmas, much to the surprise of many Icelanders. It’s not that the Icelandic people don’t get festive during the Christmas holidays – they certainly do. But most Icelanders celebrate the Christmas holiday in the comfort of their own homes, and many shops, restaurants and public services shut down completely over December 24 and 25. A better holiday on which to visit Iceland is New Year’s Eve.

If you thought Reykjavik partied hard on the average Friday or Saturday night…well, you haven’t seen anything yet. On New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik, many people dine with family, while others book a table at one of the city’s best restaurants. Then, at midnight, it seems the whole town lights off fireworks at the same time. During the rest of the year, average folks need a special permit to light fireworks off on their property. This is the one night of the year they are free to go wild with the fireworks, and they certainly do! Looking out over the city at midnight is a magical sight to behold, as seemingly thousands of fireworks shoot up into the night sky Once the fireworks have fizzled out, partiers take to the clubs, dancing and drinking the night away, often until 5am the next day.

I don’t know about you, but I’m dreaming of going back to Iceland, and New Year’s Eve sounds like the perfect time  to go. With cheap flights in Europe so readily available, it’s easy to plan a budget trip to Iceland, especially during winter off season when prices are even lower.  And who wouldn’t want to ring in the New Year away from home? Forget the stress and annoyance of throwing the perfect party for your friends or spending hours trying to secure the perfect dinner reservation. In Iceland the party is right there in the streets, and the big fireworks show costs nothing to watch.  Ringing in the New Year in Iceland, your biggest concerns will be what to wear in Reykjavik…and maybe how many Icelandic hot dogs is too many at 5am.

Photo by Kristin Sig

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Articles Croatia

Explore the Undiscovered Mediterranean

Greece and Italy may get all the love when it comes to countries on the Mediterranean Sea, but Croatia shouldn’t be neglected. With beautiful landscapes and national parks, ancient walled cities, pristine beaches, rolling vineyards, fresh seafood and friendly people, Croatia charms visitors with its relaxed paces of live and inexpensive luxury.

Croatia is growing in popularity (with celebs like Zane Lamprey singing its praises), but for now it’s still relatively off the radar, which means fewer crowds and lower prices. Hotels in Croatia can be  much cheaper than their Greek and Italian counterparts, and the cost food, drinks, and activities is lower as well. Cheap flights to Dubrovnik, the main arrival gateway for most visitors, can be expensive, but you can lower costs by flying to another major city in Europe and then connecting to Croatia on a low-cost carrier.

Croatia’s at its best during summer, but high season does see larger crowds and higher prices. For a more relaxed, budget-friendly experience, visit during late spring or early fall.

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Articles

Spend New Years in Amsterdam

The other days I was talking to my friends about our (non-existent) holiday plans. Typically, Christmas means spending time with the family and friends and New Years usually revolves around a party…or two. But this year, I want something special and I was thinking about spending New Years in Amsterdam .

Since December is knocking on our doors already, now it’s the right time to look for New Years travel deals . Of course, finding cheap flights and affordable accommodation means you have to be flexible, plan your vacation in advance and don’t overlook the low-cost carriers.

Depending on how many days off you’ve got for New Years – New Year’s Day is a Saturday, by the way – you should consider flying on December 28 (Tuesday), 29 (Wednesday) or 31 (Friday) and back home on January 1 (Saturday), 4 (Tuesday) or 5 (Wednesday).

When it comes to finding cheap tickets to Amsterdam from Sweden, the bad part is that there aren’t that many low-cost carriers serving the routes between the two countries. If you fly from Stockholm on December 31 and get back home on January 4, expect to pay €178 for the return flight on KLM.

Don’t forget to book the accommodation ahead of time as well. Private rooms in hostels start at €15 per night (Marnix Hotel and Hostel, located in the heart of Amsterdam). If you are after the hot night life, choose one of the party hostels or one located close to the hot spots. After all, the whole idea of traveling for New Years is to attend fabulous parties in fabulous cities!

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Articles

Spend New Year’s Eve in France

New Year’s Eve is, for some, one of the craziest party nights of the year. Others see it as a more romantic holiday, a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the new year with a loved one. No matter which stance you prefer, France can be an ideal New Year’s holiday destination.

Go dancing and clubbing with friends, of hit the street parties at the Champs-Elysees and Montmarte if you’re with a group.  Check out the large crowds and midnight fireworks around the Eiffel Tower or head to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral plaza in Montmarte for a more laid back street party.  Looking for a more romantic experience for your New Year’s Eve in France? Book early and snag a table at the perfect candlelit bistro and you can be clinking champagne glasses with your lover at midnight.

France is December is cold, but the holiday lights make the city beautiful no matter what the temperature. Prices aren’t exactly low around the holidays though. If you can’t quite swing the cost, check out some French gift ideas for the Francophile in your life and then plan a trip once the holiday rush is over.

Photo by stevec77

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Articles Los Angeles

Plan Your Escape from LA for the Holidays

Los Angeles is one of those polarizing places; people who live there tend to love it, while those who visit either fall madly in lover, or can’t wait to escape the city. Even if Los Angeles is your heaven on earth, there comes a time when you want to leave. And if you’re family is elsewhere, that time is probably around the holidays.

If you you’re still looking for your holiday flights, you can still find some deals from Los Angeles, you just need to be patient and flexible. You may not get your first choice of flights, so consider altering your travel plans slightly and you could save.  Be sure to check flights on Christmas and Christmas Eve, as well’ often people don’t want to travel on these days, so you might find an unexpected discount, especially on red eye flights.

And don’t count out other forms of transportation, especially if your destination isn’t that far away. Once you add in the time it’ll take you to battle LA traffic, find airport parking at LAX, and then wait in the security line, you might have been able to reach your destination driving there. And you wouldn’t have had to endure any x-ray screenings or invasive pat-downs!

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Articles Turkey

Visiting a Hammam in Turkey

For many people, much of the joy of traveling can be found in discovering new things – new foods, new cultural customs, and new experiences that just can’t be had at home. Most times, those experiences turn out just as you’d hoped: your eyes are opened to something new, and you walk away with a lovely memory or having gained a great understanding of a local culture.

But sometimes, in order to get to that place, you have to be a little nervous, a little uncomfortable, maybe even a little embarrassed. You might need to need to step out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to feel a little awkward, you may need to eat something you normally wouldn’t….or you may need to get naked in front of strangers.

Wait what? Well, imagine the scenario. You’ve found cheap flights to Turkey and have looked at some cheap Istanbul hotels. You’ve researched the many things you want to do, sites you want to see, and delicious local delicacies you want to eat. Then you arrive and find out that one thing you shouldn’t miss out on is a visit to a hammam. So you find one recommended by other travelers and arrive to find out that engaging in this local practice means showing off some of your private parts in a not so private setting….

In countries like Turkey and Morocco, visiting a hammam, or Turkish bath, is a part of everyday life. Hammams are bathhouses that contain three chambers: a hot room to steam, a warm room to scrub, and a cooler room to relax. Not all hammams have the same layout, but they all involve a hot marble steam room where patrons can soak in the sweltering heat, and an area where you can get scrubbed down by a professional (or do it yourself). Most larger hammams are divided by gender, with separate sides for men and women, but within each side, partial nakedness (you’ll wear underpants, but going topless) is the norm.

A little skeeved out? Don’t be. Just check out our guide to Turkish baths to learn how to blend in and minimize your own embarrassment – and really that’s the key. While you may feel completely exposed and as though you’re living your worst nightmare (you know..the one where you’re in a crowded room with no clothes on), no one else cares. They’re there to relax, and (if their an uncomfortable foreigner too) chances are they are more worried about their own comfort level than they are checking out the bodies of other people. It may seem awkward at first, but rest assured the experience is worth a few moments of blushing. So trip down, lather up, and enjoy.

Photo by dreamiurg