Travel Tips

Frugal Travel Tips For Los Angeles

2011-09-02T01:19:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, home of Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, is not the first city travelers may associate with free and frugal attractions. However for the thrifty traveler, the deals are plentiful.

The Getty

Hosting one of the best collections of art on the west coast, the Getty has such a huge catalogue of work that they've split the gallery into two separate sites.

The Getty Center in Los Angeles contains the collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present. The building is a modern masterpiece and the views fantastic.

The Getty Villa in Malibu is my favorite of the two, dedicated to the study of arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. The building is truly a Roman inspired villa surrounded by wonderful gardens.

Admission to both J. Paul Getty Museums are free but there is an $8 charge for parking.

Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier consists of amusement parks, restaurants, vendor carts, and other street entertainment. One of the top attractions is a beautiful carousel with hand painted horses. A great place to people watch, entrance to the Santa Monica Pier is free.

Chicken Dinner At Knott's Berry Farms

Imagine a chicken dinner so good that a theme park was built around it and you have the chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farms. The dinner comes with buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes and veggies. End the meal with a mouth watering boysenberry pie. All at very reasonable family style prices.

The Dash

Los Angeles is definitely a city with a dominant car culture but renting a car is not the only option. The local transit called the Dash is one of the least expensive of all the big cities. Full fare is $0.25 and yes, there is a senior's discount available.

The Walk Of Fame

Walking along The Walk Of Fame between Hollywood Blvd and Vine is a must for the first time visitor. Along the walk is the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre where stars such as Marilyn Monroe left imprints of their hands and feet. It remains a favorite location for movie premieres so the lucky traveler could have a star spotting.

Borrowing a bit of that Hollywood glamour in L.A. doesn't have to be an expensive prospect. There are plenty free or frugal attractions, transportation, and food.

Travel Tips For Cruises

2011-07-07T03:03:00.000-07:00

Cruises are one of my favorite ways to see the world. I love falling asleep in one country and waking up in another, not having to pack and unpack. Cruise lines run the range of prices from value to super expensive. For frugal travelers, here are some tips to cut expenses.

Consider All Itineraries

When most people think of cruises, they think of the Carribbean, the Mediterrian, and perhaps Alaska. However, name an ocean port and there is likely a cruise sailing into it. And some of these itineraries can not be only bargains but a pleasant surprise. We once booked a 12 day Baltic cruise from London to St. Petersburg and return for less than the airfare from New York to London. It remains one of our favorite cruises.

Bring Your Own Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Food is normally included in the price of a cruise (except for dining at the exclusive restaurants). However, beverage other than water, coffee, tea, and if lucky iced tea come with an additional cost. So what we do is buy non-alcoholic beverages in ports (allowable - for alcoholic drinks, there is often a corking charge) and then pour them into glasses.

Make Your Own Tour

We've been on over a dozen cruises all over the world and have only done one ship organized tour (on our first cruise). They are expensive, move forward at the pace of the slowest traveler, and restrictive. For a well organized traveler, making their own arrangements is preferable.

One trick that we use is to look at the sights the ship tours cover and include those in our "tour."

Note: Tour Directors will often tell of horror stories about passengers not getting back to the ship on time. The solution? Leave some extra time and do the far away venues first.

Big Breakfast, Late Dinner

For the frugal traveler, maximizing the time in port is a must. That means if possible choosing the late seating at dinner. Also we tend not to eat large lunches (if at all). Instead we eat a large breakfast on the ship (where the breakfast is free), snack on bits and bites of local food while on shore, and then top the day off with a leisurely late dinner.

Cruising is one of the favorite ways for this frugal traveler to see the world. And by using these tips, it is one luxury that can fit into a traveler's budget.

How to Hire a Limousine Service

2011-06-23T12:09:00.003-07:00

If you want to impress your love one, family and guest in a special gathering; you should hire limousine service to pick them up. There are things you should know before you hire limousine service. Consider the color and type of limousine you like, how big is the limousine and how many guest you were expecting?

Compare the rate from different limousine renting company. This will give you idea where you can get best deal for your money. The price vary depend on the model, accessories, size of the limousine and number of your expected guest. Ask for discount and what other freebies you can get in hiring their limousine. There are website online for limousine hiring service you can select from. Compare their prices on renting, the model you prefer and if you can get additional discount. You can also request if you prefer lady chauffer for your love one and family.

It is ideal to hire limousine in any social occasions like birthday, wedding, or VIP guest transportation. Just imagine the smile you could put on someone face by picking them up with limousine. It is a great way to celebrate a memorable occasion. It is tradition now a day for wedding occasion to use limousine. Rolls Royce is usually used to escort newly wed. It is a once in a time occasion to celebrate it in style and luxury.

Big companies used limousine for VIP guest. They usually used to pick up guest from airport to hotel and to their business meeting. They use this to make their guest more comfortable. Even executive travelers used to hire limousine service. They feel it is more convenient because limousine service takes care of their hotel reservation and luggage as well.

Limousine hiring service can offer you different service which you can enjoy. There are some limousine company; makes special agreement with different night clubs. So they can transport you from nightclub to nightclub. Or you can enjoy wine tour with friends on hired limousine service. For a little stress relief you can travel from winery to winery, tasting their finest wine while riding in a luxurious limousine.

You can also hire limousine for sightseeing. It is the perfect way to have fun seeing beautiful tourist spot. Or to impress your date on your prom night by picking her up with limousine you hire.

If you want to hire for you can surf online. There are different companies for hiring limousine service. You can compare their price on renting depending on the model of limousine you prefer. You can also select the color and size of limousine you like. This will give more idea whom you will hire. You can even select the chauffer, if you prefer lady chauffer. Their price vary depends on the service you want. They either charge you by the hour depending on your agreement. This will give you the best deal for you money. Or you can use the yellow page to inquire.

Benefits of Limousines

2011-06-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

There is an appropriate vehicle in any occasion or event that we are attending and different vehicle to suits the need of every people. If you are like an adventurous person and want to stroll on a deserted area where wild animals are seen, you may want to ride in a 4x4 truck that will help you travel all over the place. You can also ride a yacht if you want to explore the sea and have a romantic dinner while watching fireworks up in the sky.

It is really cool to know that there are different vehicles that are being used to a different event or adventure you want to have. It can be in land, air or water there will always be an appropriate transportation mode you can use.

On of the famous vehicle that is usually use to attend parties and other special occasion is a limousine. You can always see a limo used by famous people who are attending a party or awarding ceremonies. It is also best for those people who will be attending conference and meetings. The luxury that it can bring is really amazing.

Because of its fashion and stylistic look, limousine is a demand for almost all occasion. It is best for a couple who will have a date in a romantic place. And using a limo will give a good impression to the man's date. Typically a limousine is a long vehicle that can occupy less than 4 people. And as years goes by, a lot of limousine that are produced can have a maximum of 30 passengers.

This is great for a group of friends who want to have an experience to ride in a limo together and can have a car party inside the limo. It is also suitable for those who have big family who will travel around the city and want to be intact with each other.

Limousine can also save time especially for business man, you can conduct meeting inside a limo while traveling. Because of its spacey feature you can have at least 5 passengers in a single limousine. It is also used by known people like president of a country, where limousine are made to secure people because there are limousines that are built to have a bullet proof window and body. So any plot of assassination can be secure the person who rides on it.

Knowing all this things about limo, we can have a ride of a limo even if you don't have one. There are lots of company out there that offers airport limousine service in affordable price and give you an opportunity to have a limo ride.