FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: hotels

  • 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!

  • Berlin (Germany) on a Budget

    A haven for writers, artists and other creative types, Berlin is one of the most financially accessible cities in Europe. As a result of the city’s political instability over the last decade, there are many areas in Berlin where it is possible to find cheap places to stay, eat and visit.


    As is typical when artists enter an area, developers have already started the gentrification process in certain neighborhoods. So visit soon for the best deals! Also, see our piece about eating cheaply in Paris, which was published last week. How to get around: Between the buses and the underground, Berlin’s public transportation system is excellent. Bus Number 100 makes takes a large circular route that hits most of the city's major tourist sites. Berlin's U-bahn/S-bahn lines are very efficient and inexpensive. There are a variety of City Tour Cards or City Passes that allow you unlimited travel on Berlin’s public transit for a specified amount of time (from 48-hours to 1 month, depending on the pass). These can be purchased throughout the city, but the easiest place to buy yours is right at the airport when you arrive. If the weather’s nice, consider renting a bike to transport you around the city (Berlin is an incredibly biker-friendly place). What to eat (heaven for foodies on a budget): [caption id="attachment_4357" align="alignright" width="300" caption="From street food to free entertainment, I describe how to take a budget-friendly trip to Berlin."]travel to germany picture[/caption] There are few places with as many excellent street food choices as Berlin. Stick with street foods like puddingbrezels (a sweet pretzel filled in with custard and sprinkled with rock sugar) or the “national dish” currywurst (sliced, hot pork sausage--“wurst” in German--covered with a combination of ketchup or tomato paste mixed with curry and served with a crusty roll or fries). Berlin is home to one of the world's largest Turkish populations outside of Turkey itself. Look for food stands marked with the sign "Imbiss" where you can get gyro-like sandwiches for low, low prices. Another delicious option is one or several kebabs (“kebap” in Turkish) covered with fresh greens and spiced sauce. Another way to enjoy your kebab is in a thick pita with greens and yogurt sauce (this more portable option is called a döner kebap). Of course, you’ll need something to wash down all of these delicious eats. Beer would be the obvious choice, but give Gluhwein a try as well. It’s a hot, spiced red wine, typically prepared with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, orange peel and sugar. Fruit wines such as blueberry wine and cherry wine are sometimes used instead of grape wine. I like mine best “mit rum” (with a shot of rum). Where to stay: Berlin boasts a variety of economical hotels, hostels and rooms for rent. There are literally hundreds of smaller boutique hotels that offer comfortable accommodations and breakfast for less than 80 euros a night. If you know people living in Berlin, ask them for ideas. It’s relatively easy to find someone willing to rent you a room in their home for a few weeks. What to buy: Berlin’s fashion boutique culture has grown considerably in the past ten years. Though it’s fun to browse in these shops, stocking up on gifts and souvenirs here will surely empty your pockets. For unique, handmade or vintage finds, consider checking out one of Berlin’s many flea markets (flohmarkts). You can find more than just “old stuff” at Berlin’s flea markets; this is also where artisans and craftspeople come to sell their wares. Here are some of the most popular: Flohmarkt am Mauerpark  market is open each Sunday and located near to the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Stadion M10 tram stop (formerly Oderberger Straße) and is a short walk from the U2’s Eberswalder Straße (Station). Euroflohmarkt is open daily (9am – 6pm; Wed. 3pm – 6pm). Located in Pankow. Nearest U-Bahn station: Vinetastraße (U2); Tram: M1, M13 (Bornholmer Straße / Schönhauser Allee). Straße des 17. Juni Flohmarkt's opening hours are Sat. – Sun. 11am – 7pm. The closest U-bahn stop is Tiergarten. Flohmarkt am Arkonaplatz is open Sun. 10am – 5pm; in winter until 4pm. The closest U-bahn stop is Bernauer Strasse. Another good option for shopping is the cultural market at Alexanderplatz or the weekly artist market on Museum Island. If you’re there during Christmas market season, then you’re in luck. There is a huge one at Alexanderplatz where you’ll be able to stock up on holiday goods from the last weekend in October- December.
    What to do: There is plenty of free entertainment available in Berlin. I suggest heading to the parks. For example, musicians and artists fill the expansive Tiergarten park near the city center. Grab the fixin’s for a picnic lunch and enjoy the lovely scenery and, if you’re lucky, live music. Many of Berlin’s historical sites and memorials are free as well. Explore one neighborhood at a time (on foot) and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all of the things you find to do on the cheap.

  • Destination: Sydney, Australia

    It’s hard to image that any trip to Australia is complete without a visit to one of its most famous cities, Sydney. Visiting Sydney is simply a must see for travelers who come to Australia. The famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge are two of the most photographed landmarks in the entire country and thousands of tourists each year come to see these Australian icons for themselves. Additionally, the abundance of outdoors activities and sea life that is available for visitors makes this historically and culturally rich city, a haven for the adventuresome traveler. With restaurants, shopping, beaches, zoos, theaters and more it’s a wonder that people ever leave this gorgeous and incredible heart of Australia. Check out our information on traveling to Sydney. Fully equipped with info on purchasing hotel stays and local restaurants to visit.