5 Smart May Travel Tips

The travel bug is in the air. May is the perfect time to get out and spend some time abroad, go on a family vacation, or take a road trip. Whatever the occasion, winter is over and it is time to adventure. Read up on your smart May travel tips and purchase Discount airline gift cards that will save you money on your next ticket purchase and get planning!

adventure

1. Go abroad

May is the perfect month to plan your tourist vacation. The summer weather hasn’t hit yet, crowds are still manageable, there are plenty of spring festivals, and everything that closed for the winter has had time to reopen. Use Adioso.com to find a last minute destination for an affordable price!

2. Get a international friendly credit card

If you do enough traveling to make signing up for a credit card, with no international fees, worthwhile, check out Chase Ink Plus or Chase Sapphire Preferred. Many credit cards charge a 3% fee for foreign purchases, while the alternative is to pay an annual fee, it could be worth looking into.

3. Never pack more than 2 bags

no matter what the size of the bags, packing more than two is a recipe for disaster. Keeping track of all your backs and hauling them around will not be your idea of fun when you get to your destination.

4. Be Flexible

If you are flying on memorial weekend, beat the crowd and find cheaper tickets by flying out on Saturday and returning on Tuesday. This will probably be your last chance to get away before the summer airline prices increase in June.

5. Get your phone ready

Never leave the country without checking with your phone carrier about foreign rates. You could get yourself in a mountain of data charges and international texting fees. Most carriers have inexpensive options that allow international travelers to have access to their phones for a small increase in price.

[…] May is the time to get away before the summer prices and tourists hit your favorite destination hotspot. Need a little escape without breaking your bank account? Discounted airline and gas gift cards for up to 5% OFF will make vacations under 100 dollars per night easier than ever! HuffingtonPost tells us 5 best vacations under 100 dollars per night. MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Why we love it: This is a gorgeous, warm American beach that’s a road trip away for most Easter Coasters. What to do: Relax! Miles of warm sand and gentle surf are perfect for families or girlfriend getaways. Nightlife includes oceanfront seafood buffets, local micro-brews, and boardwalk rides (like the Twist ‘n Shout roller coaster) that turn grownups into kids. Where to stay: Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort includes beach access, a heated pool, and a kids-eat-free policy (from $75/night). 7-DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE ON THE NORWEGIAN GETAWAY Why we love it: A super-stylish new Norwegian Cruise Line mega-ship is hitting knockout destinations like St. Maarten and St. Thomas — and you can totally afford it. What to do: The brand-new mega ship Norwegian Getaway (featuring chic Miami-themed food, entertainment, and decor!) departs from Miami and leaves plenty of time for you to explore the beaches, open-air markets, and shops of St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau. Bottom line: This seven-day cruise starts at $449 (that’s less than $65/day!). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: IBEROSTAR COSTA DORADA ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT Why we love it: “All-inclusive” means you may not have to reach for your purse the entire stay! And unlike some resorts, this place pours top-shelf cocktails for no extra charge! What to do: Hang a do-not-disturb sign on the door of your thatched-roof lodgings! Or indulge in cuisine that includes Brazilian, Mexican, and international menus. Lounge on the beach or beside the massive pool, or get adventurous with kayaking or diving lessons in a tropical paradise. Bottom line: The Iberostar Costa Dorada, just 10 minutes from Puerto Plata, completely renovated its 500+ rooms in 2011. All-inclusive lodging, three a la carte restaurants, and top-shelf drinks from $75 per person per night based on double occupancy. CHICAGO Why we love it: With world-class food, theater, and art, the Windy City is second to none in style! What to do: Enjoy the peerless art collection at the Chicago Art Institute (including Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte”); see a great play at Steppenwolf Theater; have a ball on the classic Navy Pier (one of Budget Travel’s“most awesome boardwalks in America”); take a cruise on the Chicago River; explore some of America’s most noteworthy architecture (including some of the highest observation decks in the world!); and take your pick of cuisine — from heaped-high hot dogs to an under-$30 lunch at the fantastic Café des Architectes restaurant. Where to stay: Hotel Blake is in a lovely 19th-century building a short walk from the upscale shops and boutiques of State Street, from $95/night when booked via Expedia. ATLANTIC CANADA Why we love it: Step back in time in an 18th century fishing village. Enjoy the friendly locals, freshest seafood EVER, and a European feel right here in North America! What to do: Old Town Lunenburg is a lovely 18th-century century heritage site in Nova Scotia. Stroll past brightly colored wood-framed houses painstakingly preserved by Lunenberg’s citizens. Buy a $10 ticket to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and its wharves to behold floating replicas of famous trawlers and schooners. Grab an amazing bowl of chowder and traditional Lunenburg fish cakes at local favorite, The Knot Pub. Where to Stay: Quaint and cozy, the Smugglers Cove Inn is right by the docks. For $5 a night, you can even rent a Beta fish, which the hotel calls “a free ‘therapy’ session to help you relax.” (From $99/night) […]

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Vacations Under 100 Dollars Per Night | michaelwarford2014 says:

May 5, 2014 at 8:23 am

[…] May is the time to get away before the summer prices and tourists hit your favorite destination hotspot. Need a little escape without breaking your bank account? Discounted airline and gas gift cards for up to 5% OFF will make vacations under 100 dollars per night easier than ever! HuffingtonPost tells us 5 best vacations under 100 dollars per night. MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Why we love it: This is a gorgeous, warm American beach that’s a road trip away for most Easter Coasters. What to do: Relax! Miles of warm sand and gentle surf are perfect for families or girlfriend getaways. Nightlife includes oceanfront seafood buffets, local micro-brews, and boardwalk rides (like the Twist ‘n Shout roller coaster) that turn grownups into kids. Where to stay: Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort includes beach access, a heated pool, and a kids-eat-free policy (from $75/night). 7-DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE ON THE NORWEGIAN GETAWAY Why we love it: A super-stylish new Norwegian Cruise Line mega-ship is hitting knockout destinations like St. Maarten and St. Thomas — and you can totally afford it. What to do: The brand-new mega ship Norwegian Getaway (featuring chic Miami-themed food, entertainment, and decor!) departs from Miami and leaves plenty of time for you to explore the beaches, open-air markets, and shops of St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau. Bottom line: This seven-day cruise starts at $449 (that’s less than $65/day!). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: IBEROSTAR COSTA DORADA ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT Why we love it: “All-inclusive” means you may not have to reach for your purse the entire stay! And unlike some resorts, this place pours top-shelf cocktails for no extra charge! What to do: Hang a do-not-disturb sign on the door of your thatched-roof lodgings! Or indulge in cuisine that includes Brazilian, Mexican, and international menus. Lounge on the beach or beside the massive pool, or get adventurous with kayaking or diving lessons in a tropical paradise. Bottom line: The Iberostar Costa Dorada, just 10 minutes from Puerto Plata, completely renovated its 500+ rooms in 2011. All-inclusive lodging, three a la carte restaurants, and top-shelf drinks from $75 per person per night based on double occupancy. CHICAGO Why we love it: With world-class food, theater, and art, the Windy City is second to none in style! What to do: Enjoy the peerless art collection at the Chicago Art Institute (including Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte”); see a great play at Steppenwolf Theater; have a ball on the classic Navy Pier (one of Budget Travel’s“most awesome boardwalks in America”); take a cruise on the Chicago River; explore some of America’s most noteworthy architecture (including some of the highest observation decks in the world!); and take your pick of cuisine — from heaped-high hot dogs to an under-$30 lunch at the fantastic Café des Architectes restaurant. Where to stay: Hotel Blake is in a lovely 19th-century building a short walk from the upscale shops and boutiques of State Street, from $95/night when booked via Expedia. ATLANTIC CANADA Why we love it: Step back in time in an 18th century fishing village. Enjoy the friendly locals, freshest seafood EVER, and a European feel right here in North America! What to do: Old Town Lunenburg is a lovely 18th-century century heritage site in Nova Scotia. Stroll past brightly colored wood-framed houses painstakingly preserved by Lunenberg’s citizens. Buy a $10 ticket to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and its wharves to behold floating replicas of famous trawlers and schooners. Grab an amazing bowl of chowder and traditional Lunenburg fish cakes at local favorite, The Knot Pub. Where to Stay: Quaint and cozy, the Smugglers Cove Inn is right by the docks. For $5 a night, you can even rent a Beta fish, which the hotel calls “a free ‘therapy’ session to help you relax.” (From $99/night) […]