Vacation Silvanaparedes

The fall period offers some excellent opportunities to score excellent cheap cruise deals with the colder months approaching. Cruise lines will ramp up their marketing efforts during this time and offer great opportunities for people to get on a cruise ship cheap.

However, this article is not about where you can go to get a great deal, it’s about letting you know that your cheap cruise may not be the great bargain you thought it was if you are sailing for the first time and unaware of on ship costs.

For example, the marketing to get people on ships is very attractive; 7 day cruises through the Eastern Caribbean for less than $500 is hard to resist however, there’s an old saying which goes something like…”if they don’t get you on the roundabouts they’ll get you on the swings.”

The On Board Cost Factor

In other words, while your initial cost will include some onboard privileges, the cost of staying on a ship for any length of time can be expensive. That’s not detracting at all from the experience because there is little to compare with a cruise but many holidaymakers will have suffered temporary high blood pressure levels when it comes time to square up at the end of the trip.

Let’s take a look at some of the expenses you could be faced with which can blow your cheap cruise experience into an expensive one:

1. Drinking is one of the biggest expenses on a cruise ship. Just be aware, if you like a drink then be prepared to pay for it. Souvenir drinks are attractive; that is, drinks which come in specially designed glasses which you get to keep afterwards but how many souvenir glasses do you want to end up with?

2. Photos can be a brutal expense. Photographs are a great way to savor wonderful memories and there will be on board photographic services which will be happy to snap your picture everyday. But be warned they are not cheap. If you have your own camera then make sure you pack it.

3. Many inexperienced travelers will often think on shore excursions which are organized are part of the cruise experience but this is not usually the case. This is something you need to check with your travel professional before making your booking.

4. Entertainment is great on board a ship and most of it is free however, if you like to indulge in a little gambling and have a “soft spot” for slot machines be prepared to play the larger denomination machines because the smaller 1 and 2 cent machines can be hard to find.

5. On board staff and generally fantastic and it’s hard to beat the service you get on a ship. Again, it can come at a cost via gratuities and this is fair enough however, if you are from a place where tipping is foreign, just be prepared.

6. Some on board services are not included as part of the initial cheap cruise price. These include grooming and beauty services.

7. Likewise, medical services will cost you extra should you need attention on your trip.

Last month due to my project work, I was sent to Sydney. As I was busy with my project work, I dint find any time to go out and visit the places. Once I am done with my work, I took time to visit few places in and around Sydney to make myself free out of the tensions. Now my problem is how to visit all these places and I was thinking about the best way to visit all the places. An idea struck me. I thought of hiring a car as I felt public transportation would not be much comfortable and I decided to go with the car hire. I researched on the web and asked my friends if there were any well known companies that I can hire a car from.
They asked me to try with www.australiarentals.com.au. I went through this web site and found this to be the most reliable one. This web site offered its services through many car hire companies like the Carder Mar, eRentals, Argus Carhire, 121carhire.com and many more. The site is very interesting and very easy to navigate. You should just enter few of the details like the locations to pick up and drop, dates to pick up and drop, age of the driver should also be entered. Then click on search and your booking is done within no time.
The car was at my room the next day at the right time and we started off our journey. The driver was very polite and he spoke very kindly. I was really happy with this service. I enjoyed my stay in Sydney. Thanks to this wonderful site as it made my trip memorable.

Times are tough and money’s tight—but that’s even more reason to schedule a vacation getaway from the stress and struggles of daily living.  While many of us will be relegated to just a “day-cation” or maybe a “stay-cation,” there is a still travel destination where you can still get a really big bang for your buck.

Las Vegas.

Once upon a time Las Vegas was known as “Sin City”–famous for its casinos and show girls.  But today’s Vegas has much more to offer:  shows, shopping and plenty of family-friendly activities as well.  And you don’t need to be a high-roller to enjoy what Las Vegas has to offer; a Las Vegas vacation can be done on the cheap!

So put away the inflatable pool and pack your bags–here’s a list of tips for saving money in Las Vegas:

1. Look for Las Vegas Travel Deals

Las Vegas is a popular place for tourists so travel sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia often feature Las Vegas package deals.  I’ve seen Las Vegas hotel deals for as little as $70 per night for luxury accommodations.  You can find information about these packages–and make them even more affordable with Las Vegas coupons–at sites that specialize in deals like Savings.com.

2.  Plan in advance

Check out the Las Vegas Official Tourism Web Site for ideas on where to stay and what to see in Las Vegas.  Booking in advance can get you the best rates and making reservations for off-season or mid-week dates rather than for weekends or during holidays can save you a bundle of cash.  Also, make sure to research what shows will be in town when scheduling your vacation to help you avoid being stuck with tickets to Wayne Newton when you’re jonesing to see Bon Jovi.

3.  Don’t Gamble

…or at least set a limit and stick to it.  I know gambling has a powerful appeal to many people, although I’ve never understood the thrill of it.  Personally if I’m dropping a wad of cash, I want there to be something leather in my closet to show for it.  There are plenty of things to do in Las Vegas other than gamble–no need to spend all your time in a Las Vegas casino!

4.  Free Admission

While it will cost you a chunk of change to see Cirque de Soleil or the Blue Man Group perform, there’s a veritable wealth of amazing things to see in Las Vegas for free.  The spectacular Bellagio Fountains, the talking statues at Caesars Palace and the Shark Tank at the Mirage cost nothing and make for some great entertainment.  Maybe not quite as enchanting as Cirque de Soleil, but definitely more amusing than a Carrot Top stand-up show.  

For other cost-free forms of Las Vegas entertainment, you can have fun people-watching and window shopping–or check out this more comprehensive list of free Las Vegas attractions on About.com

5.  Deals on Meals

If you fill up at one of Las Vegas’ many all-you-can-eat buffets, you can cut down on your food costs.  One meal big meal vs. three moderate ones can save you some real money.  You can also buy deeply discounted gift certificates in advance for Las Vegas restaurants at restaurant.com.  

And, while there is no such thing as a free lunch, there are free drinks at the Las Vegas casinos–if you’re gambling.  So you can sit yourself down at a nickel slot machine and if you tip the waitress well, she’ll keep the drinks coming.  The logic behind this largess, however, is that an inebriated customer will gamble longer and lose more money.  So know your limits–for your body as well as your budget!

A Las Vegas vacation has something for everyone–from wedding chapels to art museums, shows and shopping, golfing and gambling.  By doing some research for Las Vegas packages, Las Vegas travel deals or Las Vegas coupons, you can make that Las Vegas vacation extremely affordable.  So the secret to a “winning” Las Vegas getaway is:  plan in advance, stick to your budget and never double down when the dealer has a ten or an ace!