FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: deals

  • Six Books for Frugal Travelers

    In the world of digital media in which most of us live, some may have forgotten about the power of a good old-fashioned book. Some of the best frugal travel advice I’ve collected over the years has been found between the covers of the six books listed here, all published within the last 10 years (and yes, you can get some of them on your Kindle, Nook or iPad). All six would make great additions to your travel library.

    The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel by Terrance Zepke (Infinity Publishing, 2002)

    This comprehensive reference serves as a guide to over 1,000 travel companies, consolidators, agencies, and resources. Advice on planning bargain-priced trips ranging from general sightseeing tours to extreme adventures is also included. It highlights ways to find and book alternative accommodations and how to avoid travel scams. Even though it was published in 2002, much of the information is still very relevant and useful.

    In addition to using the Web, don't forget to consult good old-fashioned books when planning a trip. You may be surprised by what you find.

    The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money is Worth a Fortune, 3rd Edition by Tim Leffel (Booklocker.com, Inc, 2009)

    This budget travel guide provides key information on the best bargain-priced international destinations, complete with sample prices and key attractions in each country. The countries that are included here were selected for more than just their price. Each country is “traveler friendly” in that it has an infrastructure able to serve tourists as well as attractions that make it an engaging place to visit on a budget.

    Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts (Villard Books, 2002)

    Author Rolf Potts believes that anyone can take extended time away from their “real life” to travel the world in a cost-efficient manner. The guide includes key information on financing ones travel time, determining destinations and itineraries, adjusting psychologically and physically to time on the road, working and volunteering overseas, managing difficult travel situations, and re-assimilating into ordinary life at the end of your adventure.

    How to Travel Practically Anywhere by Susan Stellin (Mariner Books, 2006)

    Written in an engaging style, How to Travel Practically Anywhere by New York Times contributor Susan Stellin is a useful resource for planning trips and managing problems that arise on the road. This comprehensive guidebook also includes down-to-earth advice on the most useful travel websites, techniques for finding the best deals on and off line, and resources to help you decide where and when to go on your trip.

    Work Your Way Around the World: A Fresh and Fully Up-to-Date Guide for the Modern Working Traveler, 13th Edition by Susan Griffith (Crimson Publishing, 2009)

    The thirteenth edition of this guide for working travelers provides tips on how to find temporary work around the world both before you leave for your trip and while you’re on the road. Organized by country, the guide also includes multiple first-hand accounts from people who have had a variety of experiences working their way around the world—from selling ice cream in Cape Town to working as a film extra in Bangkok. Whether you’re interested in working in the tourist industry, farming, teaching English, childcare or volunteer work, this will be a useful guide for planning your adventures.

    The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World by Edward Hasbrouck (Avalon Travel Publishing, 2007)

    Hasbrouck’s handbook for world travelers focuses on independent adventure how to really get to know a location and its inhabitants. This comprehensive guide includes tips on getting discounted airfares, choosing a destination, types of transportation, what to pack, sample budgets, and dealing with culture shock and things to keep in mind when you come back

  • LivingSocial and Groupon Offer Great Travel Deals

    Searching for cheap travel deals can be daunting. Luckily, there are some great travel deal websites to help you out.

    Another option is to subscribe to a “deals” list like LivingSocial or Groupon. Both of these sites offer city-specific discounts on various goods and services as well as travel opportunities at amazingly reduced prices. For example, when I opened my email inbox yesterday, I found a travel deal notification from LivingSocial for 6 days, 5 nights at an all-inclusive resort on Grand Cayman for $550. Sound too good to be true? You’ll just have to sign up at one or both of these sites and find out for yourself. As I mentioned above, both Groupon and LivingSocial are city-specific, meaning you’ll only receive deals in the cities you sign up for (except for travel packages, they are offered to everyone). If I’ve already booked a flight somewhere, I always sign up for the Groupon or LivingSocial list in that city. For example, when I visited L.A. last fall, I signed up for the Los Angeles Groupon before I left and was able to score several half-priced meals and 75% off massages for both my travel companion and myself. [caption id="attachment_5202" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Check out Groupon and LivingSocial for great deals on destinations like Grand Cayman."]grand cayman waterfront photo[/caption] How each site works: Groupon With over 35 million users, Groupon serves more than 150 cities in North America and 100 cities in Europe, Asia and South America. The site launched in 2008. Recently, they have begun offering travel packages as a part of their daily deals program. Most travel packages are advertised for a week at a time (as opposed to the daily deals that must be committed to within 24-hours). 1.     Go to www.groupon.com and register for as many cities as you would like. 2.     When you see a deal that you’re interested in, commit to buying it. If enough customers commit to buying the same deal, it’s a go. 3.     Watch for an email from Groupon with your coupon/deal information. 4.     Redeem your deal and enjoy! LivingSocial Similar to Groupon, LivingSocial offers daily, city-specific deals and is an international social buying company. As of September 22, 2010, LivingSocial was serving 89 cities around the world. Lately, they have begun offering travel packages as a part of their daily deals program. Although daily deals are usually only available for 24-hours, the travel “escapes” (as LivingSocial calls them) are available for a week at a time, giving you ample opportunity to discuss with your travel partners. 1. Go to www.livingsocial.com and register for as many cities as you would like. 2. When you see a deal you’re interested in, commit to buying it. As mentioned above you have a bit more time with the travel deals, so find a few people to do it with you. A perk that’s specific to LivingSocial is that if three people book the same deal (this applies to both daily deals and travel), your deal is free. 3. After you purchase your deal, you will be given a link that you can share on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site you use. If three people purchase the same deal (no matter what the price) through your link, your deal is free. That could mean a free vacation! 4. Watch for an email from LivingSocial for information about your deal. 5. Redeem your deal and enjoy!

    1. Best iPhone/iPad Apps for Budget Travel

      If you already own an iPhone or iPad, you probably know that you have one of the best budget travel tools on the market.


      Haven’t taken the plunge and purchased your iToy yet? Not to worry. Many international tourist agencies (mostly in Europe) are renting out iPhones or iPads to help you make the most of your visit (if you're heading to Paris in the near future you can rent an iPad near the Eiffel Tower). Here is a list of “must have” iPhone/iPad apps for frugal travelers. What’s even better is that most of them are free! Best Free Apps TripAdvisor (Free) If you rely on the TripAdvisor website for booking hotels, choosing a restaurant, etc. then you will get a lot of use out of the TripAdvisor app (which is quite a bit simpler to navigate than the site). Listings are filtered by price or neighborhood. Priceline Hotel Negotiator (Free) Priceline’s Hotel Negotiator app will help you find travel deals galore. Simply enter a preferred star rating and your ideal rate and watch the search engine lock in a room that meets your criteria. The app uses GPS, which is great for finding last minute accommodations when you miss your train out of Bruges. Mint (Free) [caption id="attachment_4440" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Photo credit: Glenn Fleishman"][/caption] Mint is the perfect way to track your finances while you’re on the way to the airport or sipping a cappuccino at an Italian café. With a mint.com account, you are able to track multiple bank accounts (even from different banks) all on the same page. There’s also a budgeting feature that allows you to set a budget for your trip and see bar graphs that track your spending as you globetrot. Skype (Free) As I addressed in a prior post about how to travel inexpensively, cell phone use abroad can get pretty spendy due to roaming charges and international call upcharges. With a Skype account, you can call for free to another Skype account, anywhere in the world. All you need is a wireless Internet connection. You can also call for extremely reduced rates from your Skype account to a land line. Now you can tell the long version of your travel tales to anyone who will listen without draining your travel budget. Free Wifi (Free) Need to find free Wifi so you can Skype to your heart’s content? The Free Wifi app will help you locate the closest free hotspot, even if you’re not online (thanks to their offline database option). Sudoku (Free) I know, the connection between Sudoku and budget travel may not seem obvious at first blush. Think of it this way: when you’re waiting for your flight, the free Sudoko app allows you to exercise your brain instead of giving your wallet a workout in the duty free store. Currency Pad (Free) Trying to figure out the UDS equivalent of 12,000 Japanese Yen has never been easier than with the Currency Pad. The user-friendly interface and direct links to Wikipedia articles on each currency (for background info) makes this app a must have for budget travelers. AroundMe (Free) A great app for at home or abroad, AroundMe assists you in locating things to do, movie theaters, stores, restaurants, etc. close to your current location.
      GateGuru (Free) The GateGuru app is comprised of searchable directories for 92 U.S. airports and international hubs. Scroll down to find an ATM, a cup of coffee, or a decent meal that won’t break the bank. HazelMail (Free) If you’re like me and normally wind up mailing your postcards after you get home from a trip, then HazelMail is your new best friend. This nifty app transforms your own photo into an actual paper card, adds your custom message and sends it off within two business days. At $1 per card, it’s cheaper than mailing it yourself. Best Inexpensive Apps FlightTrack ($4.99) Whether you’re trying to catch a plane or waiting for your friend to arrive at the airport, FlightTrack’s simple interface will help you arrive on time. Lonely Planet’s1000 Ultimate Experiences ($4.00) I’ll admit it, this app is far from a budget travel necessity, but it is pretty wonderful for the price. It gives you images and brief information about 1000 of the world’s most intriguing places. Like the Soduko app, it will keep you busy in the airport or on the plane so that you don’t end up frittering away your cash on cheesy souvenirs or duty-free merchandise.

    2. Browse for Travel Deals Online: Top 5 Travel Deal Websites

      With flight prices on the rise and areas dependent on tourist revenue trying to recuperate costs during this economic downtown, it can be hard to find travel deals. If you’re hankering for an adventure but only have a limited budget, have no fear. There are still many deals to be had, you just have to know where to look. In general, it is easier to find deals if you are somewhat flexible in terms of possible travel dates or are up for a last minute trip. The key is staying aware of what’s out there and booking when the time is right (i.e. least expensive).

      To help you find the best travel deals on the web, here is our “frugal guide” to vacation shopping online. Our advice: use these sites as a good starting point for your research. Take a look at all of them to see what kinds of deals are out there are then, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, start to filter your searches by location and price.

      OneTravel.com: #1 in Travel Deals (www.onetravel.com)

      OneTravel offers comprehensive search engines for domestic and international flights, hotels, car rentals and package sites. A great feature on their site for bargain hunters is the “featured deals” section where you can choose between various categories on the drop-down menu (flights under $200, travel by theme, travel coupons, etc.). Top travel news, featured destinations and travel deals are publicized on in daily blog posts.

      Travel Zoo: The Travel Experts (www.travelzoo.com)

      Travel Zoo helps frugal travelers located reasonably priced flights, vacation packages, car rentals and accommodations in the continental U.S. and abroad. Their “local deals” section is perfect for quick, inexpensive getaways in your region. They also specialize in cruise deals in Mexico and the Caribbean.

      San Juan, Puerto Rico

      Hotwire.com (www.hotwire.com)

      Hotwire allows thrifty travelers to search their comprehensive flight, vacation package, car rental and hotel databases. Many people are away of Hotwire’s unconventional hotel booking system. If you aren’t here’s how it works. You enter the city in which you’d like to book a hotel room (depending on the city, Hotwire might ask you to enter a neighborhood as well). Then, Hotwire shows you the available hotels in that area. Sounds pretty standard, right? Here’s the specifics: although Hotwire tells you the number of stars the property has been rated and the basic amenities, it does not tell you the hotel name until after you pay. I have known many people who have booked hotels using Hotwire and most have been pleasantly surprised by the value.

      Priceline.com (www.priceline.com)

      Priceline has many resources for frugal travelers, including thousands of listings for hotel, car, vacation packages, rentals, and activities. Check out the last minute “pricebreaker deals” for flights and vacation packages that are reduced up to 70%. The “name your own price” feature is good for thrifty travelers who are flexible in terms of travel dates and itinerary. Essentially, you set your price for flights, hotels and car rental (or any combination thereof) and the “negotiator” search engine presents you with a  variety of options. Similar to Hotwire.com, some of the hotels and airlines are not named until after you pay.

      Vayama: International Travel Solved (http://www.vayama.com/)

      If you’re looking for international travel deals, head to Vayama. Their flight, hotel, car and “travel extras” (tours, etc.) search engines will help you discover what’s out there and narrow down your choices based on price. Since they have always focused specifically on international travel, Vayama has a variety of resources and connections to help you get great deals in exotic international destinations.

      Happy deal hunting!

    3. Last Minute Deals for July Fourth

      travel savings image
      Although the 4th of July is a holiday that lends itself to more local travel, nearly 37.1 million people will travel 50 miles or more for the long weekend. In anticipation of all this, airlines, hotels and car rental agencies have lowered the bar on travel prices hoping to entice vacationers. Although the holiday is just days away, there are some great last minute travel deals ripe for the taking. Consider this bit of information: AAA spokesmen Michael Geeser says that flights are 16% lower than they were just last year.

      Right now Cape Cod’s Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is offering low 4th of July discounts for travelers. As little as $169 a night for this world famous resort. Other deals include extraordinarily cheap airfares to Mexico for the upcoming weekend, which can be found on Worry-Free vacations for pennies ($120 round trip).  For help planning an extended family vacation to Mexico, check our section on Mexico travel. Adventure activities in Acapulco like cliff jumping is just one of our highlighted pages.


    4. Fly As Cheap As $37 With American Airlines

      American Airlines is slashing prices in a nationwide promotion that means you could be booking domestic flights for as little as $37. With so much pressure on the airlines to fill seats, prices are being cut dramatically. Therefore, if you have the desire to do some domestic traveling, you can be on your way for practically pennies. The discounts do have some stipulations. You have to book your flights before their blackout date in March and you have complete your travel before May 20, 2009. Yet, if you have some relatives to visit, a spring break vacation to enjoy or simply want a getaway, now is the time to do so. You can also find cheap hotel prices through American Airlines and through various online travel auction websites. With the number of people flying at an all time low, hotels have to lower their prices as well. Book your travel plans now and fly at extraordinarily low costs.


    5. Travel Cheap With Rail Passes

      When most travelers hear the word Rail Pass, they think of the Euro Rail. The Euro Rail is one of the most popular travel discount strategies when backpacking Europe. It allows travelers to purchase trip packages so that travel is possible between many countries, without having to buy individual tickets. Buying a Euro Rail pass remains one of the most popular tools for cheap travel when you’re visiting and traveling within Europe.


      What most people don’t know is, is that there are rail passes available for other countries that can help backpackers travel cheaply all over the world as well.

      Amtrak is the most popular series of railroads and buses in the United States. It provides travelers with unlimited travel for thirty days when a pass is purchased. Traveling to Alaska is possible via the Alaskan Railroad, although this trip is not typically included in a normal Amtrak pass. If you’re vacationing in Japan, you can buy rail passes for a 7, 14 or 21 days depending on your vacation plans. Vacationers can access almost every popularly traveled part of Japan through this intricate and well-traveled railway system. There are even Australia rail passes for travelers, to help them commute within the country more affordably. Since Australia is so large and the cities so far apart Rail Australia most commonly provides access to only western Australia cities.

      Purchasing a rail pass is a great way to save on transportation costs. You avoid the expenses of renting a car and the large expense of trying to purchase flights to travel longer distances. Most people enjoy traveling by bus or via the railway system. You are able to watch the countryside turn over, relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that you have saved money by traveling in such an efficient and user-friendly way. The next time you’re taking a vacation, think about traveling using a rail pass to save money.

    6. Cheap Flights Into Mexico

      Now is an excellent time to fly into Mexico and the Caribbean from the States. Right now through Travelocity you can find one-way tickets into Mexico and the Caribbean for as low as $99 each way. Most major airline carriers that access US cities such as NY, Boston, San Diego, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Detroit, Miami and more are all eligible for the deal. This means you have to book your flight now for your Mexico trip for it to be as affordable as you can make it. Never before have there been so many flight deals through travel auction sites and major airlines carriers. Now is the perfect time to be booking vacations into the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Australia, South Africa and South America. With flights coming in at such low prices, you can spend the money you save on other aspects of your spring break, Mexican vacation. Check it out!


    7. Great Deal On Alaskan Cruises Now!

      Norwegian Cruise Line just posted a week long cruise to Alaska for just $419 a person! You could be sailing the gorgeous coastlines of The Last Frontier, visiting Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka – enjoying a week off from your stressful life back home. The cruise sails from Los Angeles on April 25 so you have plenty of time to make your Alaskan vacation plans. Alaska is one of the largest vacation spots for North Americans and you won’t be able to find cheaper deals than this.

      The cruise sails from Los Angeles, and ports at Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver B.C and then ports back in LA. This time of year the cool, clear air will be exquisite as you take in the views of the Alaskan coast. Check out Orbitz or Norwegian Cruise Line for details now.


    8. Travel The World With FrugalMonkey’s Country Guides

      Check out our country guides and travel advice made perfect for vacation planning.

      If you’re trying to visit Greece, go on a Mexican getaway, take a cruise to Alaska, plan a last minute second honeymoon to Australia or even a trip to South America, then check out FrugalMonkey’s country profiles.

      FrugalMonkey’s travel guides have up to date and current information on some of the worlds most popular travel destinations.


      With full country profiles that include information on the history of the country, travel advice for the region, popular sights, country facts and insider information, it provides you with all pertinent travel information in one easy to find place. It also provides tips on how to find cheap airfare, where to look when booking last minute vacations in addition to providing advice on Euro Rail passes, volunteer work and working abroad. If there is something you need to know about international travel, FrugalMonkey is the place to look.

      Country Profiles are helpful when researching travel plans because it helps you gain a sense of the type of vacation you are likely to find when traveling. For example, our guide on Hawaiian travel provides information on Hawaii interisland flights, activities you will enjoy in Hawaii, where to stay, information on the different islands, hotels, reports on tourism in Hawaii as well as cruises that are available.

      If you want to travel to South Africa, our profile will show you exactly where to find South Africa’s different wine regions and explains how each of those regions differ in the varieties that grow there. Scuba diving, shark cage diving, whale watching, golfing, travel throughout the country and African safaris are among some of the more in depth information you will find on our country profile for South Africa as well. Not to mention the best hotels and day trips from Cape Town or Johannesburg.

      Alaskan travel is at its peak in the summer months and is an enormous tourist destination for hoards of travelers each year. We offer links to Alaskan summer jobs, excursions, whitewater rafting, camping, sights, lodging at the different Alaskan cities and flight information into Alaska.


      FrugalMonkey is a premier resource when it comes to Alaskan travel and work opportunities in Alaska. Yet we offer a wealth of information on our other country profiles, including but not limited to: Greece, Argentina, Mexico and Australia. If there’s anywhere in the world you’re eager to see – we’ve got the information to help you plan that vacation accordingly.

      What is so great about being able to access information about each of these countries is that in addition to relevant travel data about the region we also offer information, tips and advice on booking trips to those places at the last minute. We also have information on where students can find flight discounts, purchase Euro Rail passes, get travel gear and so more! Additionally after finding information on where you want to go, you can then book your flight after only just a few clicks from our site. FrugalMonkey wants you to be able to find the cheapest and best travel for your budget, but doesn’t want you to miss out on the vacation of a lifetime. Your flight to Australia, beach trip to Mexico or scuba diving excursion in Hawaii is only just a click away when you research vacations on FrugalMonkey.