For the last several years, we have made it a priority to go to Disneyland for my birthday and this year was no exception. The atmosphere at Disneyland just taps into my soul. The minute I walk through the turnstile, I am instantly happier.
My favorite thing to do there is people watch and window shop. Yes, I enjoy the rides too, but for me it's not about the rides. It's about the ambiance. It's the joy and fun and hope that Disney elicits.
It's actually a great workout too as I average between 15,000 and 20,000 steps per day!
This year we actually went to Disney World and got a heck of a trip for nearly free. We used air miles for travel, are staying in a timeshare for free and got half price off the car rental. Using Groupon.com for a Go Orlando Pass (entrance into 5 attractions for no additional charge) and using UndercoverTourist.com to buy discounted Disney park hoppers, really saved a bundle.
There are so many great ways to save on travel. We belong to several notification groups for discounted flights. Check out NextVacay.com for one and we always check Groupon before booking activities no matter where we go because invariably there are big discounts on all sorts of attractions.
If you have enough discipline to pay off your credit card charges every month, you can tie your card to an air mile rewards program to receive lots of air miles for doing nothing extra.
Travel can be affordable, if you plan and do your due diligence. Even checking out different travel days can save you a ridiculous amount on flights. Travel on a Tues or Weds for the best deals. And the farther out or earlier you can book your travel, the better the price.
And check out nearby airports for some steep discounts as well. Flying out of Ontario or John Wayne or even Burbank can be far cheaper than Palm Springs
and even LAX has great deals but they have to be big enough to offset the cost of spending the night before the flight in a hotel. No one needs the stress of navigating traffic on the way to LAX!
Years ago, one of my employees would go to Europe every summer. She found the best way to go was via Condor out of Las Vegas. Because Condor and other airlines 'ferry' passengers from Europe to gamble in Vegas, often the flights are dirt cheap.
We love to travel, but in order to do it and not break the bank, one must make the time to really find the best deals. And there are lots out there. Yes, it can be overwhelming at times and sometimes it does make better sense (and is so much easier) to work with a travel agent, but if you have the time and you enjoy the hunt, then doing the research can pay off handsomely!
Here are some other travel tips:
--Notify your bank and credit card companies before you go. Even domestic charges will be flagged as potential fraud if the bank doesn't know you're going to Nashville or New York or somewhere in between
--Plan what to take and cut it in half. You really do not need that many clothes. If you find yourself running short, buy something if you really need it.
--Don't carry more than one credit card and $50 on you during the day when sightseeing. Lock up the rest of your money in the hotel safe. That way if you get pickpocketed or lose your backpack, you'll still be ok.
--Always carry photo evidence of your passport and any other important documents. We have every sort of travel pre-check available for both foreign and domestic including TSA PreCheck, passports, Global Entry, REAL ID and an air ambulance policy (super affordable). Get travel insurance too, just in case.
--Check out flights for alternative arrival destinations on the other end too. Sometimes it's more affordable to fly into Gatwick than London for example. Then you can take a train or bus or a rental car to your final destination.
--When going through security lines, look for business travelers. They are road warriors and know how to navigate quickly (I used to be one!). Being behind families, as lovely as they are, takes forever.
--Try new foods, eat in fancy restaurants for lunch instead of dinner, do not partake of restaurants close to attractions. Trying new foods may surprise you. Dan, my fiancé who refuses all vegetables except potatoes, loved baba ghanoush much to my shock and amazement. Fancy restaurants offer lighter versions and less expensive lunches of their same dinner foods. And anything away from a tourist spot will cost less.
--Always carry an external phone charger. Staples has one for just $14.99 that has two charges. Works great and is ultra-light.
--Wear Sunscreen -- don't force me to show you pictures of Dan's skin cancer removals. They are scary!
My travel bucket list is long. Someday we'll get to all those places. Right now I'm trying to find a deal for a honeymoon. Any ideas? A few years back we got a NextVacay.com alert to go to South Africa right near Kruger National Park.
We could have gone to Africa for $1500 round trip (yes for TWO OF US)! We didn't because the timing was bad for us, but gosh, I keep watching for that same opportunity because I would snap it up now!
That's what I mean -- there are tons of discounts and opportunities to travel all over the world. You too can do this. You just have to do some work.
Until next time, Hakuna Matata and remember: Just three more years to Medicare! Hooray!
