Although it isn’t for everyone, a favorite souvenir to bring back with you could be one that will last forever: a tattoo!
When I was 18 I visited a friend in Chicago and we went to get our first tattoos. After that, every time I travel to a new city, I am completely tempted to get inked.
Getting different tattoos was already on my to-do list and now, not only does the tattoo itself tell a story, there is always the story of the places I’ve been and the things I’ve done.
Look, I know everyone tells you how efficiently they can pack, rolling their clothes, tucking socks into shoes, squeezing every inch of space out of their suitcase, but you’re going on vacation. The last thing you want to do is spend the last few hours of your vacation cramming everything back into a tightly packed suitcase and then figuring out that the three souvenirs you bought don’t fit.
Save yourself the trouble and pack loosely for your outbound trip so that packing for home is quick and easy.
Use the time you save on one last margarita instead.
For spring breakers, the news this year is mixed. According to data from Bing Travel and Travelocity, USA Today reports, airfares are up, but hotel rates are down. The result, of course, is a variation on the adage that there’s no free lunch. You may get a deal on one part of your trip, but you’ll inevitably pay elsewhere.
Airfares, on average, are up 9 percent relative to last year, Travelocity found, with the average domestic ticket costing around $351. Hotel prices, on the other hand, are off 3 percent year-over-year, down to $156 a night. According to Bing Travel, the most expensive travel day this spring break season is March 22 – it’s also the costliest travel day between early winter and the end of April. To pick up a deal, go with Tuesday-to-Tuesday or Wednesday-to-Wednesday plans.
Despite the averages, of course, destination does make a difference. Cancun fares are up 23 percent from last year, from $346 to $427. Hotels are cheaper down there, however, falling from $220 a night to $198. The average cost of a trip for two to Cancun for seven nights ticked up slightly from last year, from $2,231 to $2,243.
My husband and I recently took our first cruise, and one thing he was smart enough to bring along was a bright yellow highlighter. I had no idea why he would bring it along, but apparently his frequent-cruiser relatives gave him this tip.
The first day of our cruise, we sat on our balcony sipping champagne reading the daily newsletter. My husband breaks out the highlighter and goes to town, highlighting all the activities that captured his interest.
I have to admit, it was a brilliant tip. There are so many activities onboard any cruise ship, and this is a simple, practical way to organize your time.
Everyone knows about taking traveler’s checks when they travel, but what about taking prepaid travel cards? They’re easy and convenient to use, and many major credit card companies offer them now, like Visa and MasterCard.
They work just like debit cards, and you can use them the same way you use an ATM card. They also offer the same security as traveler’s checks without having to exchange them every time you go out.
Bonus: you can easily keep your expenses in check by putting a predetermined amount on the cards.