Megabus branches out to Cape Cod

by Libby Zay on

If you’re still planning a summer escape and want to save some gas money, here’s some good news: Megabus will now send some of its blue, double-decker buses to Cape Cod. Known for offering fares as low as $1 and having free Wi-Fi onboard, Megabus will now make two daily round trips from New York to the Ocean Street Docks in Hyannis, Massachusetts (with a stop in Providence along the way). From the docks, travelers can hit a nearby beach, find sailing and fishing charters, or connect to island ferries for trips to places such as Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.

Fares are still up for grabs as low as $5 in July, but the cheap seats probably won’t last long. Travelers who don’t live in New York can connect to the hub from locations all along the East Coast and in some Midwestern and Southern states – just be prepared for a potentially long road trip (the route from New York to Providence alone takes over five hours).

If taking to the skies is a better option, JetBlue also began seasonal service between New York and Martha’s Vineyard last week. The airline will send up to five weekly roundtrip flights on the route throughout the summer, with roundtrip fares being offered for as low as $147.

[Photo by Laura Padgett / Flickr]

Floatels: not your mother’s cruise ship

by Chris Owen on
Cruise ships have so many onboard amenities that they have been called “floating hotels” by some. Carrying over 3000 guests along with fine restaurants, health spas and more, that’s probably not totally inaccurate. A new concept called “Floatels” launched recently and involves renting luxury houseboats that remain securely docked.
“Floatels are an ideal choice for families, multi-generational groups, gatherings of friends or couples seeking lake accommodations and an introduction to the houseboating experience,” says Forever Resorts in a press release.

Each 67-foot Floatel sleeps ten guests, is climate controlled, includes a living area, fully equipped kitchen, four bedrooms, a sleeper sofa, TV/DVD player, outdoor barbecue grill and a top-level sun deck featuring a wet bar and hot tub.

They make it sound good too and far from a cruise ship experience. “Houseboat vacations are all about charting your own course. Your schedule is quickly reduced to the calm quiet of sunrise, and the colorful sunset over the lake. Days again become your own. Night skies return to the way we all remember them away from the cities – glittering with stars and inky black

Introductory prices for Floatel rentals start at $190 per night for the first four passengers.
Additional passengers are $20 per person up to 10 total passengers. Pets are welcome; a $10 per night pet fee will apply. Contact Echo Bay Marina at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s for more information.

Bingo not available.

Photo: Forever Resorts

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Kids travel free on Utah summer rafting trip

by Kraig Becker on

Yesterday we told you that 2011 is shaping up to be an epic year for whitewater rafting and kayaking in the U.S., thanks in large part to the record amounts of snow that hit the western states this past winter. Now that the warm spring weather has started melting all of that snow, rafting companies are gearing up for what should be a very busy season, and some are offering great deals in an effort to lure adventurous travelers their way.

Take for example Dvorak Expeditions, which is offering a fantastic promotion for families who want to take a rafting trip this year. The company is running a “Kids Go Free” option that allows one child (ages 5-12), per paying adult, to travel for free on one of their week-long rafting trips this summer. That means a family of four only have to pay for mom and dad, and the two kids get to come along at no extra cost.

The six day, five night, trip runs the legendary Green River, located in Utah. It is one of the most spectacular and scenic paddles in the entire U.S., and a top draw for paddlers the wold over. River guides will lead the family through miles of unspoiled wilderness that passes by two Native American Indian reservations and through the deepest canyon in the entire state. The trip offers excellent meals along the way, plenty of off the water entertainment, and a number of day hikes that reveal ancient petroglyphs, hidden rock grottos, and outlaw hideouts from a bygone era when Butch and Sundance led their “Wild Bunch” through this very region.

But the real highlight of the trip is the Green River itself. Stretching 84 miles in length, the waterway is typically considered one of the best beginner and intermediate rafting spots in the U.S. This year however, it should exceed all of those expectations, as the extra snow will likely add an unexpected punch to what is already a great river experience.

If you’re wondering what to do with the kids on your summer vacation, consider taking them on a Dvorak rafting adventure. 2011 will be the prefect year for just such an excursion, and it is likely to generate memories for a lifetime.

[Photo credit: Jerry Magnum Porsbjer via WikiMedia]

Memorial Day savings for military members

by Chris Owen on

Memorial Day sometimes gets all mixed up with picnics, road trips, events and festivals to the point were we forget what it’s really all about: a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Its only appropriate that military members and their families are afforded special recognition and savings too and this year a bunch of companies and organizations are making that possible. Let’s take a look at some of the special offers out there for those who do so much for the rest of us.Museums in the United States are offering free admission to active military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.The Blue Star Museums initiative is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 1,000 museums across America.

The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, is offering free admission to all U.S. military personnel, both active and retired, May 29-31.

Southwest Airlines – Receive one-way tickets as low as $51 for military personnel and their family members. You must call Southwest Airline’s customer service hotline to receive the discount.

Hidden Valley Ski Area – Enjoy a $5 lift ticket and $5 rental with a valid Military ID. Your dependants also can receive up to 50% off on their visit.

Clarion Hotels – Military discounts are available for $59 or $69 per night with a free breakfast buffet. This offer is subject to availability.

Princess Cruises – active or retired military members receive onboard credit by submitting proof of their service prior to sailing

Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is waiving entrance fees for current and retired service members and their families May 29-31.

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How to Save Money While Traveling

by Chris Owen on

Planning some business travel, a summer vacation or road trip? Using some common sense guidelines and social media tools can add up to big savings both before and during travel and make traveling a better experience.

“It’s about tradeoffs. It’s the little sacrifices we make so our money can stretch to cover the things we value most. It isn’t easy, but I’ll be happy when I’m sitting beachside without worrying that I emptied my savings account or put everything on credit to get there.” says Justine Rivero Credit Advisor for Credit Karma in Forbes.

Rivero recommends having a savings fund and a travel fund, finding a travel tradeoff (like bringing lunch to work rather than going out) and sticking to it as well as budgeting to enjoy by considering expenses when we arrive at our destination.Readily available social media tools can work very nicely into a common-sense strategy that can add to our travel fund, help with the budget and help control expenses while we travel too.

  1. Save now, travel later- money-saving offers from a variety of sources can be yours via social media platforms like DealTaker.com where by following @CouponBot on Twitter delivers instant coupons & deals by tweeting @CouponBot with a store name right after it. I got money-saving coupons by tweeting @Couponbot Delta Airlines. Airlines, Hotels, Car Rentals, Luggage, Travel Accessories and even vacation packages are also available.
  2. Follow companies on Twitter. Many offer exclusive, limited-time-only deals to their followers. I got a free case of Chobani Yogurt , delivered to my front door, by following @ChobaniNikki and signed up for even more free stuff at ILoveFreeThings.com. Tip: set up another email address just for this kind of thing to keep from getting your regular email box overloaded with offers/spam.
  3. Don’t go it alone- Knowing ahead of time what to expect in an area you are unfamiliar with is made easy with FindMeetGo where we can get in touch with other travelers from around the world, explore different trip plans, or let people know about your own future adventures. The goal: to find other open-minded travelers, such as yourself, to meet up and share costs with.
  4. Unlock deals– Using location based apps such as FourSquare and Facebook, unlock deals to save money for an upcoming trip or save while traveling. On the horizon, recent news suggests daily deal king Groupon and Foursquare are reportedly working on a partnership that would offer targeted deals based off of a users’ check-ins. That could be huge.
  5. Check In to hotels via social media to earn bonus points-Members of Best Western’s global loyalty program, Best Western Rewards, are now able to earn bonus rewards points redeemable for travel, gift cards, merchandise and more just for using the popular social media platform Topguest. Other hotel chains and loyalty programs offer this added incentive as well.

Flickr photo by katerha

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