Beyond the Coupon

Vacations Under 100 Dollars Per Night

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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)

5 Smart May Travel Tips

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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.

12 Unconventional Ways to Spend Your Tax Return

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You have extra cash in the bank! And if you found all the ways to increase your tax refund you received a nice hunk of play cash. While saving it all might sound like the best option, try one of these ways to spend your tax return this year that ChaCha suggests. If you plan to take a vacation with your extra money, purchase discounted airline gift cards for a cheaper vacation.

fireworks

 1. Fly Your Own Plane

You don’t need a whole flight school to fly a plane. There are many smaller airports that offer quick lessons and single flights where you get a chance to take over the controls.

2. Rent a Private Island

Don’t tell your accountant about this one! All across the United States, you can rent an island for a day, a week, or however long you can afford. The islands vary, offering banquet halls, pure wilderness and your own private beach.

3. Bobsled Racing

Don’t let the Winter Olympians have all the fun! There are many tracks in the United States and Canada that offer Bobsled racing for tourists. The tracks are fast and your time is accurately clocked on every round.

4. Drive a Sports Car

Your online tax filing may not get you enough back to own a sports car, but you can definitely get behind the wheel of one. With sports car experiences, you get to drive over 100 MPH in luxury sports cars and enjoy the full speed and power.

5. Wilderness Survival Course

Portion that tax money and learn to survive with as little as possible during a wilderness survival course. Cook. Build. Eat. Explore nature the way it should be.

6. Helicopter Tours

New York. Las Vegas. The Grand Canyon. See the United States in a whole new perspective with a helicopter tour. Fly high and close in these amazing machines that offer a completely different experience than a regular plane.

7. Go Sandboarding

Sandbaording is a new craze that’s gaining steam. If you love the thrills of snowboarding, but hate the cold then you will love the thrill of sand beneath your feet.

8. Mystery Dinner Cruise

Don’t just go out to dinner; go to dinner on the water… and with a murder involved. They may seem cheesy, but a Mystery Dinner Cruise is actually a lot of fun. You enjoy a great meal, get to witness the live events and make a whole night out of the fun.

9. Shark Diving

An aquarium is very limited with a shark experience. When diving down in a cage, you can see the animals act naturally, feed them and watch in awe as they swim at you.

10. Zorbing

Relive the glory days of rolling down a giant hill, but now you have the protection of a giant plastic ball. It makes look silly on the outside, but the Zorbing craze is huge and you can take trips all over the United States.

11. Food & Wine Tours

Enough of the fast food. Use that extra cash to splurge on the finest dining and drinking you can have. With a food or wine tour, you have the ability to eat and drink at multiple locations all within a couple of days.

12. Tandem Hang Gliding

Skydiving is too dangerous for many, but there’s a safer alternative that will get you cruising off the ground. With tandem hang gliding, a professional instructor takes you up in the air, glides around, and often lets you control the flight to your liking.

Top 10 Earth Friendly Cities

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In celebration of Earth Day

Care2 has given the top 10 earth friendly cities. As we go  through life, seemingly insubstantial things we do to the Earth add up. Taking effort to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint is crucial for the improvement of our planet. Some ways that you can do your part are: Reuse products, re purpose unneeded objects into useful products, compost everything organic, fix things that are broken opposed to buying new, don’t use disposable products, don’t support companies that aren’t eco friendly.

1. San Francisco, CA

 

weheartit.com

weheartit.com

2. Oakland, CA

3. San Jose, CA

 

4. Las Vegas, NV

5. Raleigh, NC

6. Columbus, OH

7. Seattle, WA

8. Kansas City, MO

9. Denver, CO

10. San Diego, CA

5 Tips to Eat More Vegetables from Greeks

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The Mediterranean diet is said to be one of the healthiest in the world. As the obesity rate in the United States continues to rise, learning how to eat correctly is an important tool that can get obesity under control. The recommended serving of fruit and vegetables per day is 7-9 servings and most Americans do not get the nutrients they need.With these useful tips from HuffPost, you can obtain all the nutrients you need without even noticing that you are eating more vegetables! If you argue that to eat more vegetables, would increase your grocery bill, try purchasing discounted gift cards for stores such as Whole Foods and other popular grocery stores. You might be surprised that cutting meat out of every meal will actually save you more!

Mediterranean diet

 

1. Greeks eat cooked vegetables as a main course

This is probably the most important thing you can do to increase your intake of vegetables drastically without really noticing. As I’ve mentioned before, I always found it ineffective the way Western diets try to increase vegetable intake by either trying to persuade us to eat boiled or steamed vegetables with some butter or loaded with melted chees

e. That is not the way to go, for the simple reason you need tons of butter and cheese to make these boring vegetables tasty, which defeats the purpose. Instead, you can try cooking vegetables such as green beans, peas, eggplant, zucchini, okra, cauliflower with olive oil, onion, tomatoes and herbs in a pot or in the oven. These dishes are often called lathera, from the Greek word for oil, “lathi,” and we ate a plate of this vegetable casserole along with some feta cheese and a slice of bread. When we make vegetables this way, an average adult serving usually corresponds to ½ pound of vegetables, that is about four servings of vegetables in one sitting.

2. Greeks eat seasonal salads with every meal
It’s not enough that we eat vegetables as a main course; a seasonal salad was always in the middle of the table regardless of what the main course was. However, it is important to note that the salads are made from seasonal vegetables. So, in the summer months you’ll see the famous Greek salad, or more often what we call aggourodomata (which means cucumber-tomato all in one word), along with some olive oil and oregano. In the winter and spring months, the salads at the table are cabbage and carrot with a bit of olive oil and vinegar or lemon or a “prasini” — green salad as we call it — made with romaine lettuce and spring onion. While in restaurants you will find Greek salads with tomato in the winter, they are generally tasteless, but consumers often ask for them perhaps not understanding that tomatoes are not in season in the winter and don’t taste all that great.

3. Greeks eat weeds and other wild greens
Yes, these weeds are also known as horta. You have probably heard stories or witnessed this if you are a Greek-something: grandmothers picking dandelion weeds from the backyard. This was common in our household too, although my mom did this, and of course our neighbors found this strange. But this dietary habit is the secret to the famous Greek-Mediterranean Diet. While in the U.S. they recently discovered the wonder of leafy greens, in Greece these greens have been the basis of the diet because it was accessible to all and free — anybody can pick them. They have very few calories, rich in antioxidants and are filling. We lightly boil them and eat them with olive oil, lemon and cheese. In Crete, they have over 150 varieties of greens and edible plants.

4. Greeks add tomato to everything
Tomato is a vegetable, and tomato sauce or canned chopped tomatoes also count as a vegetable, and in Greek recipes tomato is added everywhere, even in meat dishes. In the vegetable casserole mentioned above, tomato is added to make the sauce, so you are getting another serving of vegetables there. This is the case with meat as well. We make our chicken, beef, lamb and many other meals with plenty of tomatoes. Just one more way to get vegetables, plus tomato is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that may protect from certain types of cancer.

5. Greeks eat a lot of vegetable pies
What are vegetable pies you say? Spanakopita is a famous Greek vegetable pie. We call them pites, not like pita bread. Pita also means something wrapped in phyllo. Phyllo can be thin, like the one best known you often find frozen in super markets, but also thick, homemade phyllo, made with olive oil. Basically, pites would be made with a variety of vegetables and greens such as spinach, leeks, greens, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, and the list goes on and on. Basically, anything in season. These pies were either vegan, especially during the fasting periods, so they were made with vegetables, herbs and olive oil. Or during non-fasting days, cheese and egg may be added. This is the original Greek fast food, because these were easy to carry with you and did not require refrigeration. Today, you find pites everywhere in Greece. They can easily make a filling lunch, plus it is another easy way to eat vegetables.

7 Healthy Gas Station Foods

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Eating healthy while traveling is a pain. Here are a few healthy gas station foods that will make eating on the go less problematic.

nuts

Seeds- If you can find raw seeds, these have the most nutritional value. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds can be found at most gas stations and provide a good source of many essential nutrients. Sunflower seeds are a great source of vitamin E and 100 grams of pumpkin seeds provide 54% of the daily requirements of protein.

 Nuts– Almonds and Walnuts are the best nuts to incorporate into your diet because comparatively speaking they have the least number of calories. If you are trying to find a cheaper alternative, peanuts are high in folate, an essential brain development nutrient.

Cereal – Available at many gas stations, cereal is a good healthy alternative to chips or other snacking products. Find a cereal low in sugar as one of your best options. It is great for having a continuous snack.

Fresh Fruit- If the fruit looks edible, fruit is a great healthy option.

Trail Mix- If you are having a little chocolate craving. Trail mix usually has a combination of nuts and dried fruit, sometimes chocolate pieces are mixed in to add a little sweet treat. You just have to make sure you stick to your portions.

Hard-Boiled Eggs-For only 70 calories, eggs are very rich in nutrients. Packed with protein, phosphorus, vitamin B12, vitamin A and more, hard boiled eggs are a perfect healthy gas station food.

Dried Fruit- Some dried fruit can be more nutritious than the natural version. The most nutritious way to eat apricot is dried. A good source of fiber, they also contain vitamin A, C and Iron. Dried cranberries have higher levels of antioxidants than a lot of other fruits. Mango, fig, and raisin are other fruits you can find dried at the gas station.

To save on your gas and snack check out GiftCardRescue.com’s discounted gas cards before you go on your next trip.

Top 15 Countries The US Dollar Is Worth More

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Double your money on vacation!

You want to go on a nice vacation, but don’t have the money to do so? Traveling to a place where the US dollar is worth more could be your saving grace. We think the conversion rates to these countries are ideal, and to save you even more on your traveling experience check out discounted airline gift cards! You can save money on your flight and your US dollar is worth more at your destination. What is stopping you?

1.Vietnam 

Vietnam might not be the first place you think of when you picture vacation, but what you might not know is that the backdrop for the Vietnam war was actually a really beautiful country. And exchange rates in our favor mean that you can stay in bed and breakfasts for as little as $15 a night. Then later, while you are out and about on the town you can get meals from street vendors for about a dollar. Other bargains to pick up in Vietnam are silk scarves for about $5 or silk jackets for $20.

2. Mexico 

Mexico has several advantages when it comes to stretching a few dollars. First of all, it is closer, so you won’t have to spend as much on airfare. Second, prices are inherently cheap in Mexico and thirdly, the peso is becoming encreasingly weak compared to the dollar even compared to a few years ago. All of that means that you can spend less and buy more when you go there! Depending on where you go, you can even find hostels or bed and breakfasts for as low as $10 a night! Just be careful to stay somewhere safe as there are still pockets of violence around the country.

3.Indonesia 

Who knew that you could find a little slice of heaven like Bali in an affordable price range? Thanks to an increase in the exchange rate between the dollar and the Indonesian currency, you can actually vacation in paradise for less that you would think. You can even find luxury 4 star hotels in Bali for around $50! If you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of luxury for even further savings, you can still find decent hotels for around $20. And who cares what your room looks like because you’ll be spending most of your time at the beach anyway!

4. Peru 

Peru is home to one of the most beautiful sites in the world, Machu Picchu, and you can see it all for much less than you would think. You can stay at a hostel in nearby Cuzco for less than $10 a night and taxi rides are only a dollar or two to get you where you need to go. Peru is also home to great food that can be found for excellent deals.

5. Romania 

Do you want to visit Europe but can’t afford the expensive hotspots like London and Paris? Why not try a lesser know but still beautiful country in Eastern Europe like Romania that you might actually be able to afford? Regular hotels will cost around $30 a night while hostels are even cheaper at around $15. Spend your days exploring the medieval architecture and music festivals. Don’t forget to sample the local cuisine where your strong dollar buys you a lot of food for not a lot of bucks!

6. India 

The dollar has always been strong in India but it only keeps getting stronger. It has increased by another 30 percent just over the last few years. That means deals such as basic hotels for under $10 American dollars a night and luxury hotels for not much more! Indian food is wonderful and you can get it for very cheap at street vendors. And many deals can be made at the myriad street markets found all around India.

7. Guatemala 

via marte

via marte

Guatemala is a beautiful Central American country that you can visit for quite cheap! If you are willing to stay in a hostel, you can spend as little as $7 a night while resorts that often include meals start as low as $40. Travel while in country is cheap to, such as small boats that take you from town to town for around 1 to 4 dollars.

8. Morocco 

Want to visit the home of Casablanca? You can do it for cheaper than you might think! Hostels are a little more expensive than some of the other locations listed but still a good deal at $25 and they are quite nice, offering free breakfast, Wi-Fi and all day tea! You could get a real hotel for about $65 but with that kind of service, who needs it? Then you can spend your days haggling at the markets for the myriad cheap but quality goods such as cell phones, spices and ceramics.

9. Iceland 

via Dalia

via Dalia

If you think Iceland and you think it is just all ice, think again! It is actually home to a lot of really breathtaking scenery, including tons of waterfalls, geysers and lava fields, most of which you can view for free. The exchange rate in the country highly favors the American dollar due to Iceland’s recent economic collapse. That is bad for them, but good for American visitors who can view all of this splendor for pennies. Stay the night for around $30 to $40 a night and then spend the day taking in the sights for free!

10. Laos 

via Rocío

via Rocío

Laos is a good country to visit on a budget when you just want to relax. The whole country seems intent on making sure you relax to, even offering massages for around $3 to $6. For just a few bucks more, around $10, you can get a hotel room! Meals are cheap in Laos as well, from $1 dinners in noodle shops to $20 per person at the fanciest restaurants in town!

Continue the list on ChaCha

10 Caribbean Destinations You Can Afford

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Whether you are looking for a cultural enriching get away or a relaxing beach retreat, the Caribbean is never disappointing.  Your next Caribbean vacation is more affordable then you think. Get the sunscreen and flip flops ready. Here is a list of 10 perfect Caribbean destinations for those looking for fun in the sun, on a budget.

Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

 Leave it to a Rockefeller to turn an unassuming patch of land into the Caribbean’s priciest island. When the financier Laurance Rockefeller opened the Little Dix resort on Virgin Gorda in the 1960s, he set a tone of luxurious seclusion that’s still prized on the island. With an average nightly rate of $321 per night for a double room, Virgin Gorda is no one’s idea of a bargain getaway. But you can still find a great place to stay for much less.

The key to keeping costs down on Virgin Gorda is to think beyond the resort walls. The hundreds of vacation-rental options listed on sites like VRBO and TripAdvisoroffer excellent value. For instance, the Coffee & Tea Absolute Beachfront Cottages has a five-out-of-five rating on TripAdvisor and rates from $171 per night. There’s also the popular and affordable Guavaberry Spring Bay Vacation Homes, a cluster of ocean-view one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with rates starting at $160 per night in spring and summer and $250 during the winter high season.

Anguilla

From the caress of the powdery white sand underfoot to the sea’s constantly shifting kaleidoscope of azures, there’s a delight for every sense on Anguilla. It’s a place that shrugs off the high-rise beach-vacation vibe in favor of simple relaxed elegance. But that unpretentious polish can come with a high price tag. And while the average nightly rate of $315 delivers some pretty special experiences—think watching the sun set over the ocean from your balcony’s private plunge pool at the Viceroy Anguilla or savoring a towel-side delivery of sorbet on the beach at Cap Juluca—the rarefied pleasures of the island don’t have to be expensive.

Dotting the island are smaller and locally owned properties, many of them on some of the island’s best beaches—where you can expect to pay significantly less than you would at Anguilla’s famed upscale resorts. Rooms are sometimes modest and amenities simple, but you’ll still have perfect proximity to the real reason for being there: gorgeous stretches of beach; warm, clear water; and plenty of island charm. At the intimate Anacaona Boutique Hotel, April rates start at $160 per night. And a recent Expedia search uncovered April rates of around $202 per night at the Anguilla Great House, which offers rooms just steps from the beach on magnificent Rendezvous Bay. Browse the Anguilla Tourist Board’s list of small hotels for more affordable inspiration.

Additional Savings Tip: Even if you don’t stay at a fancy resort, you can still sample the high life. Book a spa treatment or go to dinner at a resort, and then make extra time to enjoy the vibe, the views, and the grounds.

Additional Savings Tip: Famous for its natural beauty, many of the best things to do on Virgin Gorda are either free or dazzlingly inexpensive. For instance, entry into The Baths National Park, a collection of sea pools created by massive granite boulders, is just $3 per person.

For more ways to save money on vacations, consider purchasing discounted gift cards available at GiftCardRescue.com and make that dream vacation a reality.

Read the full list at HuffingtonPost

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