The 2015 Travel "Hot Spots"

Thank you to Travel Insured for allowing me to share this great article. Be sure to check out their blog at: 

http://blog.travelinsured.com/2015-hottest-travel-destinations/

2015 Hottest Travel Destinations

It’s that time of the year, where we all want to start planning our trips for 2015! The travel “hot spots” change from year to year based on new trends, pricing, newly introduced accommodations and activities, and where the biggest names in the industry plan on spending some time. Check out our list of the most notable destinations and the reasons why you’ll want to visit them this particular year.

Washington, D.C. – Visiting D.C. is something every American should do, but this year the city gives more reasons to do so. April marks 150 years since Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, so D.C. will commemorate the anniversary with a display of items, like his famous top hat, as well as reenactments from that era. In addition, the city is full of museums and diverse food options thanks to the high number of immigrant communities.

Nassau, Bahamas – A new resort complex called Baha Mar will be opening in the Bahamas at the end of March. This is the place to be if you are looking for luxury hotel rooms, great restaurants, and a casino. The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will also be around in the beginning of May, so Nassau is sure to be a hot destination this spring.

Tokyo, Japan – Apart from being one of the safest cities in the world, you will especially want to visit Tokyo this year before the city hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics. Some parts of Tokyo may be forever altered or demolished due to the redevelopment for the Olympics. See parts of the city now before it is changed forever!

Milan, Italy – A world exhibition, called Expo 2015, will be held here from May to October. The theme revolves around the future of food and bettering the planet. Because of this event, La Scala (a theatre) will be staying open in the summer months for the first (and possibly last) time ever for concerts, ballets, and operas. Milan is definitely a place you’ll want to visit for its innovation, history, architecture, and fashion.

Chéngdū, China - It’s hard to resist a city nicknamed “The Panda Capital of the World.” The best time to see pandas at a reserve is from June to October. However if you visit in the fall/winter, there is a chance you will see newborn pandas. And if you like tea, you’re in luck! Tea is a big part of the culture, and there are many teahouses to visit. Chéngdū recently opened a ton of new hotels as well, so you could be among the first guests to stay.

Patagonia, Chile - Americans no longer need to pay a $160 “reciprocity fee” just to visit Chile, so 2015 is a good year to consider visiting. A great activity in Patagonia is taking a hike at the W Trek for multiple days, as there is food and lodging along the circuit. The best time to go is during the off season so you won’t be hiking with a crowd of people.

Have some suggestions about where to travel this year? By all means share! YOLO!

Europe , On a Backpackers Budget

Europe has always been an expensive travel destination. Some areas are more expensive than others, but wherever you go there are some tricks you can use to help you save money.

  Europe is probably the most popular region to travel to in the world. It's popular for its impressive history, beautiful small towns, lively pubs, and easy transportation. There's a great diversity of things to see and do so if you have a limited amount of time or money, you need to pick your destinations wisely. When I traveled through Europe with my daughter it was during her spring break in March. This was a great time to travel although we had to bundle up a bit, the cost was much less for hotels and sightseeing than during the high season. This is the #1 way to keep your costs in check , so consider traveling in the shoulder or low season, generally October through April.  The weather will still be comfortable and most of the outdoor activities will still be open. The crowds will be at a minimum as well, so you can enjoy having the attractions to yourself. Another great tip, get the best rates on hotels and train tickets by making your reservations well in advance. It may take away a little of your flexibility, but in the long run it will save you a lot of money. Keep in mind that the big European cities are generally more expensive than small towns as well. If you're hoping to save even more money, head outside of the big city and look for an interesting, quaint town. You'll also have a very different experience, because in most countries, small town culture is very different than big city culture.

  Fly Open-Jaw tickets-that's into one city and out of another. I flew into London, England and out of Salzburg, Austria. This saved time and money by avoiding a needless costly return to my starting point. After I discovered Europe's highly competitive no-frills airlines such as Ryanair and Virgin Air I realized that often you can get from one city to another faster and cheaper than the train. It was important though that we understood what was and wasn't included in the price of the ticket. Some of the discount airlines fly into inconvenient airports as well, so we had to check the connections and make sure the budget option was also an efficient option. 

  Eating of course is a big part of your trip, well mine for sure anyway. A few good tricks for keeping your food budget in check is to make lunch your largest meal of the day. We discovered the big difference between a Ristorante and a Trattoria while wondering through Rome, and it was basically the cost of the meal! Trattoria: A small, family-run eatery that often serves a few choice regional dishes with many of the recipes past down from generation to generation. Mom or grandma usually cooks. Dad handles the cash register. The kids wait tables. Decor can range from neat and comfortable to a real "hole in the wall." Prices are usually much less than Ristorante: A restaurant. Here you'll find the ambiance a bit formal or at least the decor is thought out and cohesive. Tables are usually dressed in linen; tableware and china all match. Waiters are professional and knowledgeable. The menu is usually extensive and the food is often inventive, expect to pay for all this service.  Share meals as well and then you can, what we like to call, eat your way through these fantastic cities This will allow you to try the local specialties in a nice restaurant, but also keep you from spending too much. Don’t over tip, only Americans tip 15 to 20 percent in Europe. We even tip when it's already included or not expected. Ask locals for advice.Eating fresh food from a market can be a fun experience as well. Avoid touristy restaurants with "We speak English" signs and multilingual menus. Those that are filled with locals serve better food for less money. I look for a short, handwritten menu in the local language only. Go with the daily specials. Ten dollars can buy a fine picnic lunch for two anywhere in Europe. Stock your hotel room with drinks and munchies upon arrival. You can pass train rides enjoyably over a picnic meal. Many grocery stores have elegant deli sections. Know the metric system for buying produce.  Cultural chameleons drink tea in England, beer in Prague, red wine in France, and white wine on the Rhine. They eat fish in Portugal and reindeer in Norway. Going with the local specialties gets you the best quality and service for the best price.

  Europe is rich in history and has some of the best museums in the world. From the British Museum in London to the Louvre in Paris. If you're on a budget, do some research ahead of time. Many museums have a "discount" day once a week or month. Try to schedule your museum visit on that day. If you plan to visit a lot of museums and sights within one city, consider getting that city's "City Pass." Most touristy cities have them and they will often get you discount or free entrance into museums among other things. 
 
   Use ATM’s rather than traveler’s checks you’ll get your cash cheaper and faster. While ATM's give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees. Minimize these fees by making fewer and larger withdrawals. It's always a good idea to know about the money in the countries your visiting. this way when withdrawing your money, you'll know what your asking for. My daughter has a funny story about a trip to Budapest Hungary and an ATM machine, it's always an adventure. Store the cash safely in your money belt. While credit cards get you a good exchange rate, many places offering Europe's best deals like craft shops and bakeries accept only cash and when changing cash, avoid exchange bureaus that don't show both the buying and selling rate.

   Use a Guidebook, they are inexpensive and fun. Guidebooks can be a $20 tool that  pays for itself on your first day in Europe. You should see my collection! I actually read them before, during and after my trip and the words jump off the page at me in each stage so differently.

Being on a budget doesn't mean sacrificing the quality of your trip. In fact, the less you spend, the less insulated you are from the local culture. Staying in a thatched Irish farmhouse, perusing old masters in Rome or snacking your way through Spanish specialties for $2.00 a dish aren't just the tricks of the frugal traveler, they're the stuff dream vacations are made of.

YOLO! (you only live once)