FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: travel

  • Destination: Argentina

    For this week’s feature destination we set our sights on South America and incredible travel information on Argentina.

    In case you didn’t know, FrugalMonkey has an entire section on travel to Argentina including vacation destinations outside of Buenos Aires, fun day trips, information for wine lovers and ski vacations for winter outdoorsmen.


    Check out just a few of the locations and vacations awaiting you after you take a flight to Argentina.

    One of the reasons we picked Argentina is because it is so affordable for travelers to visit this time of year. It is currently low-season for South American travel which means flight prices are lower than normal and there are less tourists in the cities and at destination hot-spots. This means hotel prices and tour prices are lower then normal, but an excellent vacation is still almost a guarantee.

    Travel Tip: Flying or traveling to places that are currently in low season is a great way to create savings on your vacation.

    If you’re a fan of snow sports, then actually, it’s high season for you. South America and Argentina specifically is home to two of the largest ski resorts in the region. Las Lenas and Bariloche are both world famous ski towns and resorts located in Argentina. Both are located some distance from the capital, Buenos Aires, but nothing a short flight can’t fix. Las Lenas is located near Mendoza, Argentina which means fitting in some wine tasting is an excellent idea if you want to combine your interest of skiing or snowboarding with a wine tasting in Argentina.

    Bariloche is near Santiago, Chile. So, you want to check out some other amazing South American vacation destinations you are near by. Plus, there is the added bonus of saying that you’ve visited Patagonia.

    Check out our full country profile on Argentina travel on FrugalMonkey and plan the perfect summer and winter vacation.

  • Our Bing Travel Review

    With so much talk about the new travel site, Bing, we were eager to try. This week we got our chance. Here is your FrugalMonkey review:

    Bing works a lot like Farecaster, an online travel auction site that pools information from various airline carriers to bring you the best flight and travel deals. One key feature is the site projects whether or not it thinks flight prices for your destination will go up, or down – thus giving you an idea of when you should buy your ticket.

    We found Bing to be very user friendly. We searched for flights to Maui and found some great deals. Bing showed us what other airlines were charging along with the price you would find on Orbitz. A price we verified and confirmed. It also suggested that we purchase our Maui flight, which we had set to leave in early July for only $365 from Seattle, weeks before departure.

    Bing is easy to use and very clear. Although it didn’t seem to offer anything more than Farecaster or some of the other travel auction websites, its clear and quick navigation system was something we liked using. Will Bing be the next thing in travel? We’ll have to wait and see.


  • Summer Flight Deals are Heating Up

    Enjoy amazing summer flight deals to some of FrugalMonkey’s favorite locations. That includes international and domestic travel to locations like Australia and Hawaii. This week we found some amazing flight deals to both these locations as airlines do their best to lure in summer travelers.

    Qantas has recently launched deals for incredibly cheap flight to Australia. To counter suit so have other airlines, meaning that you can flights from the United States to Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne for very low prices. Some as low as $588 round trip! Before booking, check out our section on Australian travel to help plan your vacation.

    People traveling to Hawaii are enjoying some of the lowest island prices in years and that includes flights. Right now you can fly to Hawaii first class from the continental United States for as low as $522. When has first class to Hawaii ever been that affordable? Fly now and fly in style as you enjoy cheap flights to the Hawaiian Islands.


  • Wine Lovers Check Out These Great International Destinations

    Wine has always lent itself to travel. Visiting new places and enjoying the local flavors is a favorite among almost any traveler.

    You don't have to break the bank either, to enjoy incredible international wine tours and travel. Check out a couple of our FrugalMonkey destinations that are perfect for those who want to wet their whistle and enjoy some of the world's finest wines. Mendoza, Argentina is making a name for itself on the world wine scene. Just a few years ago Argentina was barely on the radar for producing fine wines and now it is fifth in the world for exports. Travelers enjoy visiting Argentina because of the exciting South American culture, gorgeous landscape and fine wines and steaks. Mendoza, located in Argentina's north is the perfect destination for travelers on a budget because Argentina is one of the most affordable countries that FrugalMonkey features. Because of the favorable exchange rate, travelers from any demographic can enjoy cheap flights and hotel accommodations while combing the country for South American adventures. Known for it's world-famous Malbec varieties, travelers are flocking to Mendoza year-round to enjoy this new and exciting red wine. Wine tours, outdoors activities and excellent food await any visitor. For more information on travel to Mendoza check out our profile on travel to Argentina. Another amazing wine-destination for travelers is South Africa. South African wines are nothing new to the country, who has been experiencing cultivation since the early 1700's. Now a much more mature wine culture has emerged and travelers can enjoy extraordinary flavors and vacations while visiting South African wine country. The dry and arid regions of the country provide the perfect climate for wine growth and the excellent weather and exotic landscapes make it a favorite among travelers. For a full profile on travel to South Africa including a number of details on booking a wine-focused vacation, be sure to check out our website. Don't forget that the World Cup is coming to South Africa next year, making it an excellent time to kill two birds with one travel stone. Keep that in mind when you're making travel plans.

  • Don’t Miss Out on Mexico

    Last month the Center for Disease Control removed travel restrictions from Mexico, giving travelers the green light for sunny skies, beaches and margaritas.


    However, the recent swine flu scare is keeping travelers at an unhealthy distance, causing the tourism industry in Mexico to falter. The result? Cheap prices on travel to Mexico.

    Although travel to the region is perfectly safe, people have canceled vacations and re-booked elsewhere, causing some hotels to be as much as 70% below capacity. The swine flu scare, in addition to the economic slump has put travel on the back burner for a lot of families. This combination has been disastrous for the economy and tourism industry in Mexico and as a result, prices are very low.

    Priceline spokesmen Brian Ek states that packages available on travel auction sites like Priceline are as much as 30%-50% off, providing incredible savings to people interested in travel to Mexico. The country is so desperate to attract travelers back to their resorts, beaches and cities, that hotels, flights and vacation packages are lower than they’ve ever been. By pricing vacations so low, the Tourism Board hopes to attract summer travelers and inspire more people to visit to the area.

    Even cruises to Mexico are behind in numbers. Carnival and other cruise lines that recently cancelled trips into the area due to swine flue and are just now starting to rebook lost customers. While this is bad for the Mexican cruising industry, the result is cheap vacation deals for travelers. Cruises into Mexico are priced lower than they’ve ever been, providing an appealing package for summer travel at an amazing price.

    People interested in a fun and cheap summer vacation should certainly consider Mexico. On travel auction sites like applevacations.com, packages are 70% off. Other sites have deals like half off flights to Mexico and resort hotels for less than $100 a night. These deals include vacation packages to some of Mexico’s most famous resort towns where travelers will enjoy discounts on travel to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cancun and Acapulco.

    Check out some of these currently available deals on travel to Mexico and book your summer vacation now!

    You can enjoy three nights hotel stay in Cozumel including airfare from Houston for only $349 in July. That means amazing Fourth of July travel dates and discounts. For this vacation package search Cozumel travel deals on GoFox.com

    Other vacation packages include three nights in Cancun with airfare from San Antonio for $299.


    Or maybe you’re looking for a longer vacation. In this case take a look at the seven night Regency Cancun deal, which includes airfare from Houston through July and August for only $592 on Priceline. At Palaceresorts.com enjoy airfare discounts from $100-$400 in Cancun, Cuzmel and Nayarit. These deals will be valid from June 30 – September 30, 2009.

    We mentioned the cheap cruise deals available and we weren’t kidding. Carnival has five night cruises available from Galveston through Progreso and Cozumel for as low as $380 and seven night cruise deals in August for only $550 a person.

    Get on these incredible travel discounts now, they won’t last!

  • Destination: Crete, Greece

    Crete, Greece is one of the most beautiful of the Greek Islands in addition to being one of the biggest. Located within boating distance of other Grecian coastlines, this famous and historically rich island is a favorite among tourists. After all, Homer and Greek mythology mention the island time and time again, giving its warm waters and beautiful scenery an air of old world mystique. Museums, beach waters, hotels, restaurants, shopping, swimming, aquariums and even amusement parks are littered within this tropical paradise. A summer vacation to Greece wouldn’t be complete without stopping off for a weekend in Crete.


  • World Cup in South Africa!

    You many not have your eyes glued to online travel deals, but we do and we certainly keep an eye out for excuses to travel. Like this one – the 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa, starting June 11th! As you can probably imagine, since soccer is the most famous sport across the globe, tickets to the Cup and travel accommodations are being bought up faster than you can say, “GOAL!”

    Check out our country profile on South African travel, and our complete section on the World Cup. You’ll need this travel info because not just one city, but cities all over the country are housing teams and matches for the World Cup. This means, you’ll need to know which South African city to fly into and where to make your travel accommodations. If you’re only interested in seeing the quarter, semi or final matches, then book your tickets into Johannesburg, because all eyes will be on their stadium as the World Cup comes to a close.


  • Check out Summer Vacation Packages on The Alaskan Railroad

    Did you know that Alaska has over 6,000 miles of coastline, 3,000 rivers and over three million lakes? It’s easy to see then why a summer vacation in Alaska is such an easy choice.


    With so many outdoors activities and adventures to experience it is nearly impossible to experience all that Alaska has to offer vacationers in just one trip. The terrain in Alaska is a variety of coastline lowlands, forests and a number of mountain ranges. This makes travel between the cities of Alaska both beautiful, but challenging. Most Alaska vacationers dedicate themselves to a region or city, and come back on different vacations to experience new areas. There are a few ways however, to see Alaska as a whole while traveling. One of them is the Alaskan Railroad.

    The Alaskan Railroad began in 1903 where it started in Seward, Alaska. When it was first constructed it only extended 50 miles north. Today however, the Alaskan Railroad accesses a number of Alaskan cities such as Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Fairbanks and Whittier. The railroad is one of the only ways to see the interior of Alaska in its natural state because the railroad moves through terrain that cars and hikers cannot access. Vacationers are likely to see wildlife, gorgeous scenery and enjoy the luxuries of the railroad along the way. There are a variety of different summer vacation packages to choose from, including packages that offer outdoor excursions along different depots and guided tours.

    Take a look at some of the Alaskan Railroad summer vacation packages and book your railroad vacation now!

    Summer Deals
    Summer is the best time to visit Alaska because of the favorable weather. Some of the summer packages available from the railroad include 12 day rail tours, 11 day tours through Glacier Bay that include hunting, hiking and fishing, Alaska Highlight tours, Denali National Park tours and even some tours that include cruises! While the higher end packages can run $5000 a person, some of the smaller tours come in at just over $1500 a person.

    Check out the Alaskan Railroad tours and information online and book yourself an incredible summer vacation.

  • Destination: Bariloche, Argentina

    San Carlos de Bariloche might be a small mark on the world map, but it is a huge favorite among South American travelers. Bariloche is probably most popularly known for its incredible skiing located at Cerro Catedral, one of the South America’s largest mountains for skiers. However, it is also beloved because of the enormous lake at the base of the town. Locally made chocolates, incredible mountain hiking, charming restaurants and a wealth of summer lake activities make Bariloche popular among travelers all year round. Budget travelers will like its low-end prices in addition to the amazing exchange rate North Americans and Europeans enjoy while traveling through Argentina. Check out San Carlos de Bariloche if you’re an outdoors lover or are looking for your next destination travel location.


  • Affordable Travel Advice

    Check out this week’s affordable travel advice by FrugalMonkey!

    As summer approaches and school ends, what is largely considered the best time of the year to travel is upon us.


    So how you can you make your travel dreams come true without overspending on your travel budget? FrugalMonkey is here to share with you some tips and suggestions that will make your travel plans come to life!

    Are you a college student? Or do you work seasonally and find yourself faced with a summer off and nothing to do? Consider the many travel options at your fingertips that can either save you money or earn you money while you enjoy your summer vacation.

    First, consider working abroad or volunteering. If you have a long summer FrugalMonkey has amazing resources to help you plan your vacation. By working abroad you can teach English and make money instead of spending it all on your South American vacation. Or, think about volunteering and earn some excellent experience for your resume while enjoying cheap and educational benefits of travel.

    If you don’t have the time or aren’t interested in a summer spent too far over seas then think about working on a cruise ship or working at a resort over the summer. The tourism industry booms over the summer making it a great time to procure summer work in a place you’d normally visit for a vacation. Can you think of anything better?


    Cruise jobs and resort jobs involve some preparation, but it’s all worth it when you’re working as a lifeguard on a white sand beach or bartending for a cruise ship casino. Check out FrugalMonkey for more information on jobs of this sort.

    Now, if you simply want to travel think about looking at travel auction sites for cheap airfares this summer. Right now flights are the lowest they’ve been in years, even flights to Europe or Hawaii. Check out flight deals and book a great summer vacation now!

    For more information on budget travel and great summer vacation ideas (Alaska, Australia, South Africa, Greece, Hawaii and more!) check out FrugalMonkey’s country profiles and extended sections on cheap travel.