Test driving the Zipcar iPhone app

by Amy Chen on

My brother got married last weekend in Los Angeles, which meant that I had to fly out Thursday night and back to New York City on Sunday. Rather than deal with getting off a long flight and renting a car from the airport — I didn’t think navigating an unfamiliar city at midnight when your body thinks it’s 3 a.m. was the best idea — I cabbed it to my hotel and retrieved a Zipcar the next morning.

I’d also been meaning to test out the Zipcar iPhone app, which lets you unlock your rental straight from the phone. This seemed like the perfect time to give it a whirl.

Here’s what I learned:

Make sure you still bring your Zipcar membership card. Once you activate the app, you need to unlock the car first with your membership card by waving it over the designated area on the windshield. Next, you have to enter your membership number into your phone. Don’t know your number? It’s on your membership card. Though these preliminary steps seem to defeat the purpose of ditching the membership card, your iPhone is now all set to start unlocking and locking your car.

Using the iPhone app to unlock the car isn’t always the most efficient. There were a few times when it took longer to unlock the car with the iPhone — as in, it was much faster for me to open my bag, dig out my wallet, and wave the key over the windshield. Once the novelty wore off, I ended up using the keycard about half the time and the iPhone app for the other half.

Zipcar isn’t necessarily the cheapest option, but it can be more convenient.
My two-day rental cost about $180, including gas and insurance. And unlike major car rental agencies where you reserve a certain vehicle class, Zipcar lets you call dibs on a specific make and model, so I knew exactly what I was getting. The last time I was in L.A., I used Zipcar to rent a Mini Cooper. Unfortunately no Minis were available on this trip, so I settled for the Toyota Prius.

Zipcar requires a $50 membership, which I auto-renew each year. Unfortunately, I’ve only used my membership once so far this year, so I haven’t yet maximized the value. If I factor in the membership cost, the two-day $180 rental increases to $230 — pricey. Tack in the $50 cab ride to and from the airport, and you’re looking at $330. But I’ve long believed that traveling on a budget isn’t always about finding the cheapest price — it’s also picking the smartest option to reduce your stress level. And since I was traveling to my brother’s wedding, I figured it was worth paying a little extra money to preserve my sanity.

The Bottom Line: Consider the Zipcar app as an alternative to your keycard, not a total replacement. I will say the app is good for at least one thing — making sure that I didn’t leave my cell phone in the car (or lose it).

[Photo by Amy Chen]

Women travelers have the world at their fingertips with Pink Pangea’s website

by Laurel Miller on

I’m usually allergic to pastels and anything labeled “women-specific,” but Pink Pangea has won me over. The new women’s travel site was launched in June, by world traveler Rachel Trager and two similar-minded female friends. The trio work for an organization that finds overseas volunteer/internship placements for young adults.

Named for the supercontinent that existed 250 million years ago, Pink Pangea is essentially a forum for women’s travel concerns, tips, experiences, and photos. As such, it contains helpful background information and advice on specific destinations and cultural mores.

Says Trager, “We were frustrated that existing travel guides presented–at best–a paragraph that dealt with women’s concerns or non-specific travel information. We know that there’s a lot more information that women need in order to have secure and fulfilling experiences abroad. The hope is for Pink Pangea to help make countries around the world more accessible to women travelers.”

Trager fell in love with travel after working on a kibbutz when she was 18. Since then, she’s traveled extensively by herself, as well as with her brother, friends, and boyfriend. It was while visiting her brother, who was studying Arabic in Egypt, that she first experienced some of the obstacles faced by female world travelers.

“In Cairo, I was scrutinized by my brother’s landlord, who was concerned I was his girlfriend, which would mean that I’d be forbidden to stay with him. In Morocco, I grew tired of the attention I got as an American woman in pants and bought a jalabiya to cover up.” Despite the frustrations that inevitably occur, Trager says, “I travel because I’m interested in seeing how and where other people live. It’s incredibly energizing to realize how large the world really is.”

Popular tags include “modesty,” “safety,” “transportation,” and “shopping.” Even I’ll admit you can’t have a site devoted to women without mentioning shopping; in this case, there are some great tips on regional-specific souvenirs, food, and bargains/rip-offs.

Because this is a public forum, the writing runs the gamut. You’ll find the odd, underage-drinking-in-foreign-country, or “I smoked too much hash in an ashram while journaling”-sounding post, but in general, entries are well-written, informative, entertaining, and often thought-provoking. Lots of cute pics, too.

Budget Stockholm: How to afford a summertime trip to Sweden

by Grant Martin on

Stockholm has an expensive reputation — those who return from a visit to this swanky Swedish capital rave about its slick design, luxurious cuisine and modern amenities. As a result, would-be travelers automatically expect it will be more expensive than other European destinations. It isn’t.

Though subtle, the capital of Sweden has a thriving and widespread budget culture – you just have to look in the right places to find it.

First off, it goes without saying that general budget travel tips hold true to this city. For example, if you want to save money it’s probably not the best idea to stay in the luxurious Grand Hotel or eat at five star restaurants every night. It also helps to pack a lunch, take the extensive public transportation and avoid tourist traps. That said, a few local tips apply well to the city, and Gadling’s ebullient and knowledgeable staff have compiled some below.

Dining

Swedes take their food very seriously, and it’s quite easy to spend one’s entire daily food budget on a simple, fresh cooked meal. Eating on a shoestring here can thus be a bit of a challenge, but there are plenty of ways to stay frugal.

Food markets are a great way to find great, fresh food at reasonable prices. Perhaps the most popular (and certainly the most hyped), Östermalms Saluhall (Östermalmstorg, 114 42) is one part tourist attraction and one part high-end food market. Among the myriad vendors, there are several tables available for taking a seat and enjoying a freshly prepared lunch, great places to sit, munch on some fresh herring and watch the commerce pass you by.

As an alternative to Saluhall, the more modest and less expensive Hötorgshallen (Hötorgshallen, 11157) is also in the center of Östermalm right next to the Hötorget metro stop. During the daytime, one can also find fresh, farmer’s market fare and the occasional flea market in the cobblestone, airy Hötorget Square.

For inexpensive restaurants, it’s best to take a few steps away from the popular downtown areas and seek out some outstanding, neighborhood digs. Though it’s still close to the city, SoFo (short for South of Folkungagatan) is a great place to explore and find a new favorite haunt. Moving west on Skanegatan street you wont get more than three blocks before you find a fantastic new restaurant, but if you want our pick, try the Urban Deli (Nytorget 4).

Recommended by several guides including TimeOut, Cliff Barnes (Norrtullsgatan 45) serves decent Swedish fare to a younger, more raucous crowd. If you stay past 11 be prepared to dance, past 11:30, prepared to dance on the tables.

On the deepest budget end of the spectrum, street food is always a possibility in Stockholm, and those open to the idea of fried onions will be pleasantly surprised by the hot dog culture here. Just north of the Medborgarhuset Metrostop on Götgatan (incidentally a huge bar area) there are plenty of options available.

Finally, if you’re interested in a bit of vegetarian fare, our good friend and Stockholm resident Doug Lansky suggests Hermans (Fjällgatan 23B) for a wide spread of delicious, all-you-can-eat, contemporary Swedish cooking.

Accommodations

Like in any destination, when demand is high (during the summer, ie) hotel prices are similarly high. Where this doesn’t regularly apply is in the private market. None of VRBO’s three (only three?!) properties host seasonal rates, and some creative Google searching will surely locate another sheaf of possible rental properties.

If hotels are your thing, however, fret not. Eurocheapo lists a variety of inexpensive hotel options scattered around the city, and a cross-reference of lowest-priced Kayak hotels against the Tripadvisor database should yield a few options inside of the city limits. Additionally, Frommer’s hosts the entirety of their hotel database online where you can reverse sort by price.

Note that while summer rates will still be high, you may be able to find a few deals during the Midsommar festival near the end of June, when many locals are out of town and when hotel loads are similarly light. Be advised, however, that you may have to deal with creative holiday schedules.

As an alternative to traditional hotel lodging, Stockholm also has a wide range of unique hostels from The Red Boat Mälaren (it’s a boat!), on Lake Mälaren to the Jumbo Hostel (it’s an airplane!) outside of Arlanda Airport.

Tourist Attractions

It might be cliché, but one of the best inexpensive tourist attractions in Stockholm is people watching. From the moment you set foot in the Stockholm airport you’ll probably notice that everyone is gorgeous, and many an hour have Gadling staff spent sitting at Muggen Cafe (Götgatan 24) in Södermalm celebrating various passers-by.

Digressions aside, the best way to tackle most of the city’s sites on a budget is with a tourist pass. Providing free access to scores of museums and attractions, The Stockholm Card is one of your best bets for universal tourist access. Prices range from $50 to $90 and if you plan on going to more than a couple of museums the cost is totally worth it. You can acquire the card prior to departure online or downstairs at the airport once you arrive.

If approaching the museum scene piecewise, make sure to keep the Vasa Museum (Djurgårdsvägen 36) near the top of your list. Centered around a painstakingly restored 17th century ship (in its entirety), the Vasa is one of the most unique attractions in the world, is multilingual and offers free admission to anyone 18 or younger. Admission for adults is $15 or free with the above Stockholm Card, and a visit here can easily last half of a day.

Another excellent and inexpensive museum is the recently opened Fotografiska (Stadsgårdshamnen 22), which currently features an outstanding Annie Leibovitz exhibit and a slightly creepier fetal photography series. Admission runs around $14.

Outside of the tourist scene, one great way to explore the region and enjoy the natural beauty of Stockholm is via the ferry system. Since everyday Swedes rely on this network to commute between downtown and the hundreds of archipelago islands, prices are relatively low and the variety of destinations quite high. Vaxholm, for example, is a bucolic, beautiful island town only an hour away from downtown Sweden and can provide a full day of exploration and socializing.

Ferries can be picked up across the city. A major hub from which tourists can get further directions is right in front of the Grand Hotel in Östermalm.

Finally, keep your surroundings in mind when planning out your frugal trip into Stockholm. Though budget options are available, the city is built upon a foundation of high quality, well-done goods and services. It’s thus best to leave a bit of wiggle room in your overall budget, even if you’re the best penny pincher in the county. Rest assured, that on a budget or a binge Stockholm will always please.

Havana Good Time: A helpful new Havana travel app

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Sutro Media has just released a very useful Cuba app for iPhone called Havana Good Time. Created by Havana-based travel journalist Conner Gorry, a Lonely Planet contributor who has lived in Cuba for eight years, Havana Good Time provides essential assistance for visitors interested in navigating the somewhat challenging Cuban capital.

All 125-plus entries were researched by Gorry herself. Restaurants, neighborhoods, bars, cafes, hotels, museums, and basic information are covered. There are recommended casas particulares in cool neighborhoods, detailed transportation tips, and tailored information for families, gay travelers, and budget travelers. There is especially careful attention to free and very cheap activities. Strewn throughout is an ongoing effort to bust a number of myths swirling around travel to and in Cuba.

There are lots of little insider tips here: a bar called Bazar 43 with whiskey shots for 50 cents; the hipster café located in the basement of the Café Teatro Bertol Brecht; a Chinatown pizza joint; and a Vedado restaurant-bar teeming with locals. There is an immediacy in these and other listings. And unlike many travel apps that feel somewhat formulaic, Havana Good Time seems like an invitation into a half-secret world.

Given the loosening of restrictions on travel by US citizens to Cuba expected to be announced soon by the Obama Administration, the timing of the release of the Havana Good Time app couldn’t be better.

Havana Good Time retails for $2.99. There is no charge for update downloads.

(Image: Flickr/malias)

The ultimate Minnesota Twins fan getaway package

by Annie Scott on


The Millennium Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, which is walkable to Target Field, has unveiled a Baseball Fever Package for die-hard Twins fans who want to stay downtown (even if they just live over in Wayzata).

The package, which includes:

  • Standard accommodations for two
  • Convenient complimentary parking in the hotel’s attached parking ramp
  • 2 Minnesota Twins t-shirts, 2 Minnesota Twins koozies and a box of Cracker Jacks
  • Two complimentary beverage vouchers for Martini’s lounge
  • Early check-in and late check-out to relish in victory

… starts at just $154 per night and is valid on any Twins home game days. This is a great way to check out the new Target Field stadium if you haven’t, or just to romance your nearest and dearest baseball fan.

Biased? Me? Never. I’m hoping other cities with great teams have hotels which will follow suit! Visit Millennium Hotel Minneapolis and use the code TWINSFAN to book.

[Photo by Annie Scott.]