Beyond the Coupon

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.

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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