Where is destination for travel?

Here are just a few tips we suggest you follow when planning your trip and saving money!!

1. Figure out where you are going & what you must do while there. There are many great destinations in Florida from the Panhandle, to the Gulf coast, Atlantic Coast, Orlando, or the Keys. They also offer so many things to do, that it’s a good idea to plan ahead of time some activities.

2. Sign up for online e-zines: These are online magazines or newsletters that you sign up for and receive on a regular basis. Make sure they have an opt-in and opt-out policy and don’t share your information.

3. Are you going as a family, with friends, or for romance? How you get there, where you stay, what activities you want to plan will revolve around whom you travel with. There are locations in Florida set up for different types of vacations.

4. Get coupons & Ask for deals. I don’t care how much money you have. Traveling with coupons and discount sources only saves you money on your travels. Even if you go more luxurious, you can save money with these two tips. Ask to get bumped, ask for first class, ask for off-season specials, ask for senior citizens discounts, etc. Just ask.

5. Do your homework and shop around. We have found literally hundreds of online travel sites. Use the well known ones that are recommended. Read consumer reviews, be patient, and make sure you read all the terms and conditions, whether you book online of offline.

6. Join groups such as AAA or AARP. You can also save money by obtaining a frequent flyer credit card and earning points through spending. Just be smart with your credit and don’t go overboard.

7. Rent from an owner. Yes, there are options other than staying in a huge chain. Sometimes, the best deals and nicest places are from someone who is renting out their vacation home.

8. Travel in the off-season. Book early, book late, and name your own price at travel auction sites.

9. Referrals are the oldest, and in my opinion, the best way to do anything. There are people who will recommend hotels, things to do, places to go, that you would have never found otherwise.

10. Using credit cards can save you money and free up cash for other adventures. There is a right way and a wrong way to use them. A vacation is a necessity, not a luxury.

Also, prepare a budget, get all your necessities ahead of time and shop for them, and have fun while planning your trip. Yes, there are a few things you need to take into account, but if you follow a system of steps, planning will be easy. In addition, be realistic about prices, but don’t think you can’t get great deals on your vacations to Florida.

Discount Florida Vacations is a total Florida vacation guide. It offers fun, sun, tips, ideas, resources, recommendations, and experiences for anyone looking to travel to Florida.
For more info. or help with planning your trip, visit us at
http://www.discount-florida-vacations.com

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So you have done all of the ordinary stuff. You have been to the local art museum, you have been to the space center and you have even been o see the Astrodome. Now maybe you want to do something a little different. But what can you do? Why not visit the National Museum of Funeral History. The Museum of Funeral History is owned by a funeral company and has the biggest collection of funeral artifacts in the world. It sounds like a weird place but you will probably find it quite interesting and will probably give you a few weird stories to tell when you get home. So what all is in this museum?

For starters, you can find a civil war embalming exhibit. See how Dr. Thomas Holmes practiced embalming on the battle field and how he helped make it a common procedure in America.

Next check out the Hall of Fame. It honors industry leader who have made advancements or improvements to the funeral industry.

Another attraction is a 1921 Rockfalls motorized hearse. This hearse weighs over 4500 pounds and is 8 feet tall and 19 feet long. Powered by a 29 horsepower engine and composed of 6 different kinds of wood, this restored hearse is a magnificent sight.

If you think that you might like to visit the museum when you are in Houston you should call the information line at 281-876-3063 for current hours of operation. It is located at 415 Barren Springs Dr in Houston. It may not be the most normal of attractions but it will definitely give you something to talk about.

The authors website has information on Houston Texas Carpet Cleaning. Learn about protecting and cleaning for your carpets and upholstery in the city of Houston.

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Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, it takes more effort to save money on the
road, but when you are a hard working gal with dreams of hoofing it across
continents, sometimes those pennies saved can mean the difference between out on
the road or broke at home. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for less
while your seeing the world.

Get that AAA membership. It may sound like something your mom would tell you to
do, but it’s worth every penny. For about $45 a year, you get free help if your car
breaks down and serious discounts on hotels, motels and museums. You even get a
discount on Amtrak. I recently took my mom to the beach, and the cash my AAA
card saved me on hotels for that one trip more than paid for the membership fee.

Bring a friend. Not only is it safer and more fun to travel with a friend, it’s cheaper.
You can split the cost of gas and hotels, making travel almost half the price of going
solo.

Food Smarts. Eating out costs a pretty penny. If you’re going to eat out, do lunch
then eat dinner in your hotel room. Lunch is always cheaper. When you go out, ask
around and find out where the locals eat, or look for mom and pop diners or ethnic
neighborhoods full of authentic and inexpensive cuisine.

Buy bottles of water and snacks at the local grocery store before heading out to
sightsee. The same stuff will cost you half as much as it will in tourist areas or
convenience stores. You may want to keep a handy dandy cooler packed with sodas,
water and fruits in your car. Fill it up with treats before you hit the road and just
refill the ice from the hotel ice machine.

The best food is often local food. Locate the farmer’s market and the local bakeries.
Stop at the bakery for some bread, then stop by the farmer’s market for fresh
veggies and cheese and soon you’ll have the fixins for a healthy, fresh lunch for
much less than the cost of eating in a restaurant.

Hotels/motels. If you can, stop by a truck stop or travel center on your way into
town. They always have racks of free coupon magazines that can save you a few on
accommodations. And they usually contain a map of the area too.

At Roomsavers.com, you can also download coupons for hotels. Of course, traveling
during the week instead of on weekends will save you on your hotel bill, too.

If you decide to stay in the locally owned, non-chain motel ( which will usually be a
better deal) ask to see the room before you pay for it. You don’t want to stay
somewhere too icky or unsafe just to save a few bucks. When you do find a place,
work that AAA discount.

Remember there’s always a hostel. Hostels are almost always the cheapest way to
go for single travelers. Sometimes it can be cheaper than a motel for two people.

Another new option is house swapping. If you live in a reasonably interesting place,
chances are pretty good you can trade apartments with someone in another city for
a week or two. Check Craigslist or one of the many house-swapping organizations
for more information and to see if it’s right for you.

And if you have tent, will travel. You can park your tent on a spot with water and
electricity for as little as $10 a night. Throw an air mattress in there and you can
camp like a queen!

There are usually state parks, private campgrounds and national parks with camp
sites near most major cities and along major highways, making them a convenient
lodging option. Many parks have cabins with kitchenettes, where you can sleep up
to eight people for as little as $20 a night.

Travel during the off times
The best way to stretch your travel dollar is to travel during off-peak times. That
means when schools are in session and not during three day holiday weekends,
when the legions of people tied to 9 to 5 jobs maximize vacation days.

You’ll always get a better deal if you travel during the week, not on weekends, or
during a city’s slow tourism season. For instance, the beach will be cheaper in May
and September than June through August. New Orleans and Las Vegas are cheaper
during the summer because their high season is winter.

Remember, hotels raise their rates on Friday and Saturday nights. Some rates nearly
double. Travel Sunday to Thursday if you can. You’ll save serious money on lodging.
You’ll also avoid long lines and crowds at local attractions, and maybe save a few
cents a gallon on gasoline.

Summer is universally the peak season, and prices for rooms, shows, gas, airfare
and just about everything else are higher from May through August. If you can travel
from September to April, you’ll save a lot more money. If you’re considering a
European trip, you’ll cut your airfare in half and will have your pick of inexpensive
lodging, entertainment and transportation.

Book early
In most cases, you can get primo rates and first pick when you book early and
you’re more likely to lock in the best airfare and hotel rates. You also may have the
option of putting down a deposit and paying your trip off in installments instead of
putting it on a credit card and paying interest.

Use the Web
Many times, booking rental cars, hotel rooms and airline flights on the Web, directly
through the hotels or airline’s Web sites will net you the best deal. Always try to
book directly first, rather than through a broker, then try Priceline , Travelocity or
Orbitz to see which has the best deal. You may also try your hand at
BiddingforTravel.com, a Priceline message board designed to help you get the best
possible deals for travel.

Denise Trowbridge is an award-winning journalist residing in Ohio. Her work has
appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States, as well as on her
site http://www.DeniseTrowbridge.com
Denise is also the editor of the women’s Web magazine,
http://www.PussycatMagazine.com.

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