[Part 1] The 30 Cheapest Places To Travel In 2017

Time to start packing your bags: 2017 is shaping up to be a banner year for budget travel. The dollar is enjoying historic highs — meaning your money goes much further in many destinations around the globe — and according to an American Express Global Business Travel report, airfares are expected to fall in 2017.

So where should you go on your next trip?

1.     Mazatlan, Mexico

Chosen By: Holly Johnson, founder of Club Thrifty, a website with tips on travel savings whose motto is “Stop spending. Start living”

Why: The current exchange rate ($1 = 20.69 Mexican pesos) makes Mexico one of the most affordable destinations. For the frugal traveler who wants to enjoy more culture than they might in the Riviera Maya, my top pick is Mazatlan. As the shrimp capital of Mexico and a foodie paradise, Mazatlan is teeming with awesome eateries and fresh, interesting dishes. Hotels (including all-inclusive properties) are extremely inexpensive and authentic since most aren't part of the huge chains. El Cid Marina has awesome pools that are perfect for families, great food and huge rooms. (Rates are as low as $100 for a family of four.) You can also enjoy superb dining at a top-notch restaurant like Casa 46 for less than half what you'd pay in the United States. Side note: Sinaloa (the state where Mazatlan resides) grows the bulk of produce in Mexico, so Mazatlan produce is unbelievably cheap as a result. You see this reflected in top restaurants all the way down to street markets.

2.   South Africa

Chosen By: Michaela Guzy, founder of Oh The People You Meet, a global collaborative of contributors who create content for travelers, foodies and philanthropists seeking authentic local connections

Why: In South Africa, the exchange rate is in our favor, but so is the fact that it's a developed tourist destination with a solid infrastructure. In spending a month in Cape Town earlier this year and relying on Uber to get me to and from meetings, activities and lunches, I averaged under $20 in transportation per day — a major win. Hotels are cheaper, too: Take a standard room at Taj Hotels & Resorts in New York, and you are out about $786 a night, whereas in Cape Town, a room at a similar luxury property costs $266. Remember, South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, so seasons are the opposite: Consider going in low season (our summer) when hotels and safari lodges are even less expensive. Airbnb and private villa rentals are also reliable and cheap options in the major cities. Travelers should also consider booking domestic airfare in advance for the greatest cost savings, since flights on South African Airways can sell out quickly. The best value of all is the wine: Travelers can order a glass of one of the best locally produced varietals for less than the cost of a can of soda. For more information on travel in South Africa, watch "Michaela's Map: First Timers' Guide to Southern Africa."

3.   San Juan, Puerto Rico

Chosen By: Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, founder of Jet Set Sarah, where travel and shopping meet

Why: The best way to get a deal in the Caribbean is to travel during the low season (end of April through mid-December) to destinations that have direct and frequent fights from your gateway; plenty of hotel inventory; and economies that aren't euro-based. Puerto Rico fits the bill, and I'm a big fan of San Juan, which I think is seriously underrated as an easy and affordable getaway, especially for visitors from the East Coast of the U.S. Old San Juan oozes charm, and if you stay within the old city's two-square-mile radius you won't need a car rental to access great restaurants, sightseeing and shopping. U.S. citizens can save themselves the cost of a passport since it's not required to visit, and since the U.S. dollar is the legal tender, there's no money lost on currency exchange. Hotel Casa Blanca and Villa Herencia are two of my favorite high-style/low-cost boutique hotels.

4.   Chile

Chosen By: Annie Fitzsimmons, digital editor at Virtuoso and editor-at-large at National Geographic

Why: Europe is on everyone's list of value-added trips this year and for good reason — the exchange rate is more favorable for American travelers than it has been in years. But the destinations I most dream about and long to return to are in South America, a destination that has long given travelers great value for money. In Chile, I love Santiago for its vibrant food and wine scene — think tucked-away wine bars, delicious tapas and hip hotels in a beautifully chaotic city. For a lesser-known and truly special corner of the world, I love the small lakeside town of Puerto Varas. It is part of the lakes district in Chile and the northern start of Patagonia. It is easy (and cheap!) to rent a car and explore this area. There is a surprising German heritage, so you'll see signs for "kuchen" (cake). With Puerto Varas as a hub, you can explore great places within a two-hour drive from the city: going to the top of a volcano, exploring waterfalls, finding the best cakes and food. This area sees very few American visitors and everything is CHEAP. It's one of those places I almost want to keep to myself, but it's so special that I can't. 

5.    Crete

Chosen By: Meagen Collins, co-founder of Food Fun Travel, traveling the world in search of the ultimate foodie vacation experiences and discovering food worth traveling for in 85+ countries and counting

Why: With the U.S. dollar strong against the euro right now and the economic crisis in Greece keeping prices lower than other parts of Europe, it’s the perfect time to visit the beautiful island of Crete. Crete is a foodie dream come true. A place where farm-to-table isn’t a new fad, it’s a way of life. The people here often live to be well over 100 years old so they must be doing something right! With truly stunning natural beauty (like Balos beach) and locals that welcome tourists with open arms, you are bound to have the trip of a lifetime and save a few dollars at the same time. For more, see Fun Food Travel's "Crete Food."

6.   Morocco

Chosen By: Lucie Josma, a full-time photographer, content creator and social media manager specializing in travel and tourism.

Why: For many, Morocco is the ultimate dream trip, and yet cost tends to keep most from visiting. But what you might not know is that it's one of the most affordable African countries, particularly when comparing flight costs. Reaching Marrakech from cities such as Lisbon, Madrid and Paris may only set you back $40 to $100 roundtrip with many budget airlines. And this past Black Friday, flights from New York were a mere $400 roundtrip. Food is by far my main reason for visiting as often as I do, and typical meals can range from $2.50 to $15 for two, which includes appetizers, entree and unlimited mint tea. For vegetarians and vegans, the country is especially great, as veggies are cheaper than meat and fresh fruit smoothies are barely $1. Souvenir shopping can get a bit intense when you realize leather goods such as wallets, handbags and weekenders run from $5 to $60. (A shopaholics dream!) When it comes to accommodations there's something to fit everyone's budget, my favorite being Riad Yasmine (only $80-$160 per night). For those looking for Moroccan luxury while still on a budget, my go-to is Riad Kheirredine, which will have you living like a queen without breaking the bank and even provides a cell phone during your stay to ensure guest safety.

7.    Belize

Chosen By: Shereen Rayle, founder of ShereenTravelsCheap.com, which shows you how to go farther and do more for less without sacrificing comfort or fun

Why: Modern conveniences and history collide in Belize. It's a perfect place to take a budget romantic vacation. Many of the four-star hotels offer extras, like bicycle rentals, included in their low rates, as well as Belize's excellent local wines. Some affordable resorts to check out are George Hardie's Las Vegas Hotel in Corozal(Northern Belize) and the oceanside Royal Caribbean Resort in San Pedro along Ambergris Caye. Both can be booked for under $100 per night. Meals are also crazy cheap, but delicious. Two can eat at an upscale restaurant for less than $30, and much less at an everyday venue.

8.   Vietnam

Chosen By: Marybeth Bond, National Geographic writer, author, adventurer and founder of The Gutsy Traveler

Why: Affordable upscale accommodations, cheap and remarkably healthy food and beautiful sights make Vietnam a standout among budget-friendly South Asian destinations. Eat your way through historic Hanoi, kayak in the emerald waters of Halong Bay or relax in ancient Hoi An and the nearby beaches. There are clean, safe accommodations to fit everyone's wallet. In Hanoi, my favorite is the Tirant Hotel, near the old town, where you can bag a room for less than $70 a night. Don't miss the Hanoi street food tour: For just $20 per person, a guide will lead you on foot or by scooter through backstreets, markets and footpaths. You will eat like the locals and learn the names and ingredients in the dishes so you can order them again. And be sure to take the time to sip a bowl of steaming "pho" noodle soup in restaurants, push carts and food stalls, where a street meal and a beer can cost the same as a caramel macchiato at Starbucks.

9.   Costa Rica  

Chosen By: Stephanie Parker, founder of Big World Small Pockets, created to showcase the highs and lows of happy, healthy budget travel. Its motto: Spend Less, Travel More!

Why: Costa Rica is the one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and to be able to see this on a shoestring is an incredible opportunity. There's a ton of national parks to explore, for instance, that only cost a few dollars to enter. Once there, you can then enjoy free self-guided walks that won't cost you a cent, but will deliver some great encounters with amazing wildlife like tapirs, monkeys, sloths and macaws. Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks are two of the best. Public transport is also super cheap in Costa Rica, with buses generally less than $10, even for an eight-hour ride. This makes traveling between destinations in this compact country very affordable and means you can see a lot in a short amount of time. In addition, budget accommodation in Costa Rica — even at some of the best surf beaches — can be as little as $6 per person. And a "plato tipico" (local dish) can be enjoyed anywhere for as little as $2-3.

10.                       Portugal

Chosen By: Jackie Nourse, founder of TheBudgetMindedTraveler.com, which inspires and equips Americans to get into the world of travel in a realistic, affordable, and most of all rewarding way

Why: Portugal is a pocket of affordable travel in contrast to the rest of Western Europe, especially if you get off the highways and take the back roads (where you can also avoid tolls). A bottle of delicious port and a plate of the day with a glass of wine can be found for around €5 each. Nowhere else in the world can its "California Highway 1 meets Tuscany" landscapes be enjoyed on such a budget, especially now that the dollar is strong against the euro.

Read More

[Part 3] Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time and Money in 2017

For the Airport

Pre-order a meal at the airport.

Use the Grab app to pre-order a meal of your choice at the airport, and have it ready for you when you arrive. The app allows you to search restaurants that are nearby your terminal, as well as those on the way to your gate. It's available at more than 40 airports in the U.S.

Freeze your water.

You know you can't bring a bottle of water through airport security—unless you freeze it.

Easily access Wi-Fi.

If you want Wi-Fi on the flight (and your airline doesn't offer it for free, like JetBlue or Virgin America), buy it before you board. You'll save money and make a more rational decision on what you can and should pay for internet access.

Also take advantage of this handy map with Wi-Fi information from airports around the world, created by travel blogger and computer security engineer Anil Polat.

Ask for free in-flight items to keep the kids entertained.

Traveling with children can be tough, but airlines—thankfully!—have an array of free games and activities for kids. These freebies range from items like coloring books and puzzles aboard Lufthansa to ukuleles on select Hawaiian Airlines flights.

Get a complimentary drink.

Several airlines, believe it or not, continue to offer complimentary alcoholic beverages for economy passengers. Consider flying with Air Canada, which offers a selection of spirits on international flights, Etihad Airways, which offers, wines, and spirits, and KLM, among others.

Easily rebook a delayed or canceled flight.

Dealing with canceled or delayed flights can be a headache. That’s where Freebird comes in, offering travelers a free and quick travel protection option. For a flat fee of $19 for one-way flights and $34 for round-trip flights, travelers will be alerted if their flights is delayed or canceled. When that happens, Freebird delivers options to book another available flight, which can be done on mobile without ever waiting in line.

Read More

[Part 2] Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time and Money in 2017

For Packing

 Keep instant oatmeal in a bag for an easy breakfast.

Grace Antipala, who has been a flight attendant with Hawaiian Airlines since 2011, recommends keeping instant oatmeal in a Ziploc bag along with your preferred toppings (dried fruit, nuts, brown sugar). During meal service, ask your flight attendant for hot water and prepare your healthy meal in a coffee cup.

Try peppermint essential oil.

Antipala also carries a small bottle of peppermint essential oil with her on flights. She told T+L the oil is "great for nausea during a flight, freshen[s] your breath, and helps with odors from the flight." Antipala will also dab a few drops onto a napkin and take a sniff to clear her sinuses.

Stay organized with collapsing laundry bags.

Taking a collapsible laundry bag can help you keep dirty clothes organized during your trip—and separated from other items on the way back. You can also opt for a waterproof version, which is perfect for stowing a damp bathing suit after a last minute run to the beach on your way to the airport.

Carry a hydrating face spray.

Another product Antipala regularly takes on flights is the AmorePacific face spray ($35), which comes in a TSA-approved 2.7 ounce bottle.

“The first ingredient in it isn't water, but bamboo sap, so there are more essential oils to keep you hydrated and moisturized throughout your flight,” said Antipala.

Ship your packages beforehand.

To avoid having a longer wait time at airport security and using precious storage space for gifts, ship your luggage out before flying.

Invest in a multi-purpose jacket.

Antipala also recommends packing a light jacket, like the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka($80).

This thin-yet-cozy, water-resistant coat squishes easily into an included pouch. “I use it as a pillow,” said Antipala, “and always pack in no matter where I go since there can be cold snaps.”

Read More

[Part 1] Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time and Money in 2017

It's National Plan For Vacation Day. So what are you waiting for?

Expert travelers like flight attendants and frequent fliers know that foreign transaction fees, the dreaded middle seat, and flight delays can put a damper even on an otherwise perfectly planned vacation.

To help you travel better in 2017, we've compiled our favorite travel hacks we learned this year. You'll navigate airports masterfully, save money on trip changes and cancelations, uncover real-time hotel discounts, and find yourself with more time (and money) when you finally arrive.

For Booking Flights

Set up price alerts.

If you know where you want to go, and you are at least a few months out, now may not be the best time to buy. Download the Hopper app and do a search on Google Flights, and if the price isn't yet right, set an alert. This is also a reminder to Always Be Planning.)

Sign up for airline emails.

Sign up from airlines newsletters: JetBlue, for examle, frequently sends out flash sale emails. Similarly, following airlines on social media can help you stay in the loop with quick sales and promotions. Also, websites like Airfarewatchdog are great for finding top-notch flight prices, thanks to flight-tracker alerts that notify you when prices drop.

Take advantage of free stopovers.

Free stopovers give you the chance to get two trips out of one vacation: without paying twice as much for flights. A number of airlines offer stopover programs, though one of the best known is Icelandair. You can extend your layover in Iceland for up to seven days (at no additional cost) and the airline will even pair you up with a complimentary Stopover Buddy to take you to the best local spots in town.

With Finnair, you can spend up to five nights doing everything from chasing the Northern Lights to exploring the city's food scene, while stopovers in Singapore from Singapore Airlines include a night's hotel stay and airport transfer for just $60.

Get the perfect seat.

Where you sit on a flight can make all the difference. SeatGuru helps savvy travelers examine every detail of an airplane seat before it's too late to make a change. Find out whether you'll be close to a bathroom, if you can count on power outlets, what the seat pitch is, or if that seat will recline. There are user reviews so you can get a sense of what the experience was like for other travelers.

Use the 24-hour rule.

Take advantage of the 24-hour rule, which allows travelers to cancel tickets on most airlines without a fee within 24 hours of booking. In 2017, check one last time for a better price, or jump on a flash airfare sale—even if you still need to ask your boss for time off.

Read More

Travel Safety

Authorities emphasize the importance of taking precautions to ensure travel safety. When traveling abroad, the odds favor a safe and incident-free trip, however, travelers can be subject to difficulties, crime and violence. Some safety considerations include being aware of one's surroundings, avoiding being the target of a crime, leaving copies of one's passport and itinerary information with trusted people, obtaining medical insurance valid in the country being visited and registering with one's national embassy when arriving in a foreign country. 

Many countries do not recognize drivers' licenses from other countries; however most countries accept international driving permits. Automobile insurance policies issued in one's own country are often invalid in foreign countries, and it is often a requirement to obtain temporary auto insurance valid in the country being visited. It is also advisable to become oriented with the driving-rules and -regulations of destination countries. Wearing a seat belt is highly advisable for safety reasons; many countries have penalties for violating seatbelt laws.

There are three main statistics which may be used to compare the safety of various forms of travel (based on a DETR survey in October 2000):

Mode	Deaths per billion
	Journeys	Hours	Kilometers
Bus	4.3	11.1	0.4
Rail	20	30	0.6
Air	117	30.8	0.05
Ship	90	50	2.6
Van	20	60	1.2
Car	40	130	3.1
Walking	40	220	54
Bicycle	170	550	45
Motorcycle	1640	4840	109

Read More

About Travel

Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.

The origin of the word "travel" is most likely lost to history. The term "travel" may originate from the Old French word travail, which means 'work'. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the first known use of the word travel was in the 14th century. It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive, journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil). In English we still occasionally use the words "travail", which means struggle. According to Simon Winchester in his book The Best Travelers' Tales (2004), the words "travel" and "travail" both share an even more ancient root: a Roman instrument of torture called the tripalium (in Latin it means "three stakes", as in to impale). This link may reflect the extreme difficulty of travel in ancient times. Today, travel may or may not be much easier depending upon the destination you choose (e.g. Mt. Everest, the Amazon rainforest), how you plan to get there (tour bus, cruise ship, or oxcart), and whether you decide to "rough it" (see extreme tourism and adventure travel). "There's a big difference between simply being a tourist and being a true world traveler", notes travel writer Michael Kasum. This is, however, a contested distinction as academic work on the cultures and sociology of travel has noted.

Reasons for traveling include recreation, tourism or vacationing, research travel the gathering of information, visiting people, volunteer travel for charity, migration to begin life somewhere else, religious pilgrimages and mission trips, business travel, trade,commuting, and other reasons, such as to obtain health care or waging or fleeing war or for the enjoyment of traveling. Travellers may use human-powered transport such as walking or bicycling; or vehicles, such as public transport, automobiles, trains and airplanes.

Motives for travel include:

·         pleasure

·         relaxation

·         discovery and exploration,

·         getting to know other cultures

·         taking personal time for building interpersonal relationships

Read More