Vacation deals

The first time I visited Las Vegas I was in awe. It was actually before I had even traveled internationally, so I was blown away with what I could get for my money. Super-cheap meals, free drinks at the $2 bet casino tables, room prices too low to believe—it was cheapskate heaven. I returned with …

I’m in Paracas, Peru right now, which is not exactly the prettiest place in the world. A red tide swept through recently, leaving a beach already the color of concrete covered with a carpet of dead crabs. The water is the color of algae, big ships are anchored offshore past the fishing boat fleet. A …

You’re waiting in the dentist’s office, perusing the newsstand, or surfing through your RSS reader and you can’t help but be drawn in to the headlines: This Year’s It List! Our Hot List Issue! The Hot Spots for 2011! Where to Travel This Year! It’s a tactic as old as magazines themselves and it’ll probably …

I’ve said many times that as far as tourism goes, there are really two Mexicos: the American resort Mexico and the other Mexico. They’re night and day in terms of prices, atmosphere, history, and culture. While the beach resort areas often present American prices and crowds, in a place like Zacatecas you’ll find travel bargains …

It’s important to remember one key point when you are traveling: your hotel rate is negotiable. This is especially true with non-chain international hotels. Whether you are booking a hotel, a hostel, a guesthouse, or a bed and breakfast, the price you will pay for your room is probably open to bargaining.  Most backpackers figure …