travel Archives - PF Simplified https://add-vodka.com/tag/travel/ When Life Gives You Lemons => ADD VODKA Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:04:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://add-vodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cropped-pf_logog-32x32.png travel Archives - PF Simplified https://add-vodka.com/tag/travel/ 32 32 Craving for History? Top 5 Historical Locations of Lucknow https://add-vodka.com/craving-history-top-5-historical-locations-lucknow/ Fri, 30 Jun 2017 16:16:27 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=8887 Lucknow is the city of Nawabs and their palaces. The language is also very king like maybe just because of the history. So, if you have a quest for history, have a look at Indigo flight booking page and book your flight to Lucknow. Shahi Baoli It is a prominent place in Lucknow.The reason behind …

Craving for History? Top 5 Historical Locations of Lucknow is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Lucknow is the city of Nawabs and their palaces. The language is also very king like maybe just because of the history. So, if you have a quest for history, have a look at Indigo flight booking page and book your flight to Lucknow.

Shahi Baoli

It is a prominent place in Lucknow.The reason behind its fame is due to the name of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah.He was the fourth Nawab and the man behind shifting the capital Faizabad to Lucknow in the year 1775. Machchhi Bhawan is  a five-storeyed small building situated in old Lucknow. Now the palace is known as Panch Mahala and there situated a Masjid named Tilewali Masjid which was built by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb.

The Shahi Baoli performed as the crowning place for Mirza Ali alias Wazir Ali, the fifth Nawab. He was the son of Asaf-ud-Daulah who was removed by the British after a ruling of just four months. Later at this palace became the residence of Tat Mahal, who was a widow of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan. When she was removed from the Farhat Bakhsh palace due to the rule of her stepson and the then ruler, Ghazi-ud-din Haider.

Mahabir Temple

The Nawabs of Awadh had a non-religious approach towards the opinion of the majority of their issues, and several historical accounts support the point that in spite of allegiance to their religious practices and beliefs. An immediate historian of Asaf-ud-DaulatVs rule, Mirza Abu Talib Isphahani, this in a record that he spent around six lakhs to celebrate Holi. The Hindu temple of Suraj Kund was the place of a fair and Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah reconstructed this worn out tank for the comfort of people.

Baradari at Banarsi bagh

Baradari, the term usually means covered building without walls, windows, and doors which allow the unbounded flow of air. The word dar means doorways and the term Bara means twelve. So, the meaning is a building with twelve doorways and has openings in each of the four sides.

There is a Zoological garden situated at Banarsi Bagh, and people come to spend their holidays or for picnics. It is a nice spot for picnics. It has a big lawn and most of the time filled with visitors. Most of the people are unaware of its historical importance.

One more example of Baradari is the Nageene wali in the Banarsi Bagh.

Constantia House

The present area or place of the La Martinière College was known as the Constantia House

The building is situated on a balcony like the location which was a lake at some point of the time. The design of the building is a mixed style that combines the various expertise of Italian architecture. The institution is one of the only educational institutions to receive a battle honor because of its role at the time of the Seige of Lucknow. If you are eager to see the beauty, then go to Indigo flight booking and book your tickets.

Lucknow Museum

If you try to consider historical things in Lucknow, you will get 100,000 antiquities, but the oldest and the largest museum in the state of UP is the Lucknow State Museum. You can find artifacts, pottery, tools and weapons, manuscripts, etc. in vast numbers starting from the Gupta period.

Craving for History? Top 5 Historical Locations of Lucknow is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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5 Reasons to Live in Salt Lake City https://add-vodka.com/5-reasons-live-salt-lake-city/ Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:34:43 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=8625 The year just ended and it feels like it’s time to make some changes. You want to start fresh once the new year hits, and part of you thinks that might require moving to a new locale. Have you ever thought about Salt Lake City? With its stunning views, low unemployment rate and an average …

5 Reasons to Live in Salt Lake City is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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The year just ended and it feels like it’s time to make some changes. You want to start fresh once the new year hits, and part of you thinks that might require moving to a new locale.

Have you ever thought about Salt Lake City? With its stunning views, low unemployment rate and an average commute time of only 21 minutes, could you really ask for anything more? Let’s take a look at just how much Salt Lake City has to offer and why it would be a great city to call your new home!

Outdoor Winter Sports

Utah boast 14 ski resorts, and that’s not all! Your winter sports fun isn’t relegated to just skiing and snowboarding. Adventurers can snowshoe, go snowmobiling, go bobsledding, scale a frozen waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls or take a long hot soak on a geothermal cave at Homestead Crater.

The Sundance Film Festival

If you’re a movie buff and can’t get enough of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood or the spirit and grit of independent films, Salt Lake City is the city to be. Founded by the actor Robert Redford in 1978, The Sundance Film Festival is an annual festival hosted in Park City that celebrates and showcases the year’s extraordinary work in feature, independent and documentary films.

Open to the public, the Sundance Film Festival brings creatives, business types and amateurs all together to sit back and enjoy this year’s on-screen magic.

Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs

Unemployment in Salt Lake City is at a low of 2.9 percent, compare that with 4.6 unemployment rate of the country as whole. When the unemployment rate of a city is less than the national average, you know it’s doing something right.

Salt Lake City is one of Forbes Magazine’s Best Cities for tech jobs and has been listed as one of the best places for businesses and careers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, (a think tank with a primary focus on the economic conditions of low and middle-income single Americans and families) the cost of living for the average nuclear American family (two parents, two children) is $62,003 a year. For the same family living in San Francisco, it costs $91,785. That’s a difference of nearly $30,000!

With the price of housing, groceries and even Utah auto insurance found to be lower than in other states, who wouldn’t want to move to an area where they would be better able to provide for their family?

One of the Friendliest Places in the States

If your neighbors are a pain in the neck, you might not be able to enjoy living in your neighborhood all that much. If it seems that everyone you run into at the grocery store or the local arts and crafts shop are just too much and over the top, making a move to Salt Lake City could be just what you need to remind yourself there are still good people in the world.

Salt Lake City ranks number 2 as one of the Friendliest Cities in America, coming in just behind Nashville for the top spot. Strangers will greet you and give a nod or hello and Salt Lake City residents everywhere will stop and lend a hand should you need one. How many people can you say that about living in New York or New Jersey?

Living the Night Light Life

It’s commonly assumed that because Salt Lake City is the Mormon capital of world that night life entertainment is lacking. That’s not the case. Every summer at Pioneer Park the Twilight Concert Series plays a number of shows that are all for free.

Plus, with good food downtown and a happy hour that serves delicious and experimental cocktails, you won’t be missing out on anything.

So what are you waiting for? Go out and explore; find your happy place!

5 Reasons to Live in Salt Lake City is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Should You Drive or Fly To Save The Most Money on a Long Trip? https://add-vodka.com/drive-fly-long-trip/ https://add-vodka.com/drive-fly-long-trip/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2016 11:00:33 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=8478 A long trip can be the best the way to recharge and get away from the routine of everyday life. You could be taking a relaxing vacation or going to see family. You might even get to go somewhere far for a business trip or conference, like Aaron and I did last week. Now-a-days there …

Should You Drive or Fly To Save The Most Money on a Long Trip? is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Should You Drive or Fly To Save The Most Money on a Long Trip?

A long trip can be the best the way to recharge and get away from the routine of everyday life. You could be taking a relaxing vacation or going to see family. You might even get to go somewhere far for a business trip or conference, like Aaron and I did last week.

Now-a-days there are many ways to go about getting to where to you need to go, especially within the United States. One can travel by train, car, plane, and even bike across this country.

When talking about traveling for leisure or business the question often asked is, should you drive or should you fly? Depending on a variety of factors driving or flying or both can save you money or be very costly. Here are some factors in making your car versus plane decision.

Time Commitment

The first thing you should ask yourself is how much time do you have? If you live say in Kansas and want to go visit the Atlantic Ocean, it’s going to take you a good day or two to drive, when you could be there within a few hours if you flew. Do you have time to add four days of travel (there and back) to your itinerary?

Time Spent at the Airport vs. Time in the Car

At a previous place of business there was a salesman who lived a three hour drive away from headquarters. Every time he had to come into headquarters he would fly. It’s only a one-hour flight but if you include arriving two hours early to the airport, any delays,  getting into a rental car and the drive from the airport to headquarters, it just about equals out. For him it was easier and he didn’t have to sit there and drive. Time spent at the airport and in the air can be about the same as driving it yourself. If you don’t mind driving the mileage might be cheaper than purchasing a round-trip ticket.

Cost of a Long Trip

Gas prices have been pretty steady lately, staying at about $2.09/gallon. (Disclaimer it is probably more in the urban coastal cities than in the Midwest.) To decide travel costs, look at what it would cost you in gas, then look at how much mileage would be added to your vehicle and then add in hotels, food, attraction fares, etc.

Then look at how much an airplane ticket would cost you round trip. Don’t forget to add fees for checking baggage, parking lot fees, rental car costs and other things for a long trip. Keep in mind travel expenses increase during holiday season, spring break, and summer. Sometimes it could be more cost effective to fly rather than drive on short distances.

Jet Lag After a Long Trip

When you think of jet lag you think of losing sleep from traveling overseas on a long trip. You can experience jet lag flying across the U.S. Traveling wears you out not matter what mode of transportation you take. Driving for five hours takes as much energy as it does fighting security and maneuvering massive airports (not to mention cramped quarters and many, many more passengers). If you need to be fresh for a business meeting, flying could be better as you can relax and sleep on the plane, where you can’t when you drive.

There are many more factors to think of when deciding between flying and driving for a long trip. It the end it comes down to cost, mileage, and level of weariness. Not everyone is a road warrior who can drive hours at a time day after day. Research the best times to purchase airfare and look around for flight and hotel deals.

If you want to drive for a long trip, it might be just as cheap to rent a car and drive it to save mileage on your own vehicle. In the end it’s about the experiences and memories created when traveling, either by yourself or with your loved ones.

Should You Drive or Fly To Save The Most Money on a Long Trip? is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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4 Travel Hacks that’ll Help You Save Money https://add-vodka.com/4-travel-hacks-thatll-help-save-money/ https://add-vodka.com/4-travel-hacks-thatll-help-save-money/#comments Thu, 19 May 2016 12:00:58 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=8294 Traveling for leisure is supposed to relax you, but sometimes the simple act of traveling can be stressful. Crowds, noise, flight delays, lost luggage, and unaccounted for expenses…you get the picture. You may not be able to do anything about some of these annoyances, but proper planning can rid you of some others. Now that …

4 Travel Hacks that’ll Help You Save Money is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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travel hacksTraveling for leisure is supposed to relax you, but sometimes the simple act of traveling can be stressful.

Crowds, noise, flight delays, lost luggage, and unaccounted for expenses…you get the picture.

You may not be able to do anything about some of these annoyances, but proper planning can rid you of some others. Now that I’ve been doing some more traveling since I became self-employed, I’ve learned a few things that help my trips be less stressful, and to help me save money along the way. Here are 4 travel hacks, some of which I’ve used, that you can implement to help you save money.

Consider Your Currency

Once you know your travel destination, check the exchange rates ahead of time if you will be traveling abroad. You may be able to save some money by getting a better rate than if you wait until closer to your departure date.

Another of the travel hacks I’ve used to help me save money is keeping currency in a secure place, like a money belt. This is especially important if you are traveling through an area with a high crime rate. Store some money in more than one place if possible, to prevent a thief from leaving you penniless should they get their hands on your money.

Clothing and Packing

Quick dry clothing is essential if you’re traveling overseas or on a longer trip because you can wash and hang it in your room, doing away with the need to take along as much clothing. Don’t forget to take along some powdered detergent in a bag (I would double bag it in case it leaks) as well as a drain plug and a clothes line. Toss in a couple of plastic bags for damp or soiled clothing. Also, invest in a couple of vacuum sealed space bags to help you get more items into your suitcase, and remember to stuff socks inside of any packed shoes to take advantage of this otherwise unused space.

Travel hacks like this may help you pack light enough to fit everything into a carry-on and eliminate the need to check a bag, which usually costs extra money when you fly.

Technology

These days, cell phones hold a wealth of valuable information that you don’t want to lose, so bring along a plastic zip-lock bag large enough to hold your cell phone in case you end up near water or a beach. It could be an expensive lesson if you don’t.

In addition, pack an external battery to charge your phone while on the go, and if traveling by car, bring a car charger so you don’t have to buy these along the way. They are usually more expensive at gas stations and other travel stops than at your local Walmart.

Check your electronics ahead of time, if traveling to abroad, to determine whether or not you need an adapter, converter, or transformer. Having these items with you may save you from buying them when you arrive.

Safety

Purchase a phrase book if you are planning on spending time on foreign soil and you aren’t familiar with the local language. Additionally, you should take a photo of your passport and email it to yourself. If you lose your real one, it might aid you in getting a new one.

Lastly, ask about crime rate before getting into a bad situation where you fear for your own or a travel companion’s safety. Any one of these situations could cause you to accept the aid of someone who might take financial advantage of you.

Even when traveling domestically, you should send your flight, hotel, and other travel information to a trusted friend or family member so someone knows where you’ll be in case of an emergency.

We can all agree that traveling can be a fun and rewarding experience, but doing so safely and economically is a priority that shouldn’t be ignored. There are lots of travel hacks you can use to help you save on your next trip.

Do you have other ideas for travel hacks that could help you save money?

4 Travel Hacks that’ll Help You Save Money is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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6 Budget-Friendly Spring Getaways https://add-vodka.com/6-budget-friendly-spring-getaways/ https://add-vodka.com/6-budget-friendly-spring-getaways/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:00:36 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=8101 Spring is in the air and so is the itch to spring clean, or maybe to take a vacation instead. 🙂 But just because you want to get away and let your hair down, doesn’t mean you have to empty your bank account. If your budget is limited, you can still take a spring break …

6 Budget-Friendly Spring Getaways is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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getawaysSpring is in the air and so is the itch to spring clean, or maybe to take a vacation instead. 🙂 But just because you want to get away and let your hair down, doesn’t mean you have to empty your bank account. If your budget is limited, you can still take a spring break vacation without going broke. Here are 6 budget friendly spring getaways to consider.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Travelling out of the U.S. doesn’t have to be expensive. During my search for a beach vacation, one website advertised an all-inclusive vacay of 4 nights, with airfare for $399.00. Plus, they boasted of sandy beaches and beautiful scenery. There are many activities you can pay just a little extra for, such as a half day dune buggy adventure, zip lining, catamaran cruise, night clubs and more. This is a great beach vacation destination.

Puerto Rico

If you long to see the rainforest, this is the spot for you. You can find lots of travel deals for Puerto Rico. A quick search I did showed a 4 night, airfare included getaway listed for $499.00. Snorkeling, Kayaking, and Segway tours are a few of the fun things to do at this beautiful, sunny spot.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Don’t want to deal with a passport? Myrtle Beach might be for you. You can rent a room for as low as $50.00 a night at some hotels in this area. Myrtle Beach is known for having great concerts, an amusement park, shows and good eats as well as many more activities to choose from.

New Orleans, LA

The French Quarter is another interesting destination you might find that fits your budget. Hotels can go for as low as $100.00 per night depending on when you travel, and there are plenty of activities to fill your time. Take a dinner cruise or an airboat ride. You could also visit a plantation and take in some history while you’re visiting this beautiful city. Make sure you take the time to sightsee!

Disney, CA

Hotels near the Walt Disney Theme Park can be found for around $100.00 per night. You won’t have any trouble finding things to do here. Just go to the Disney Theme Park and you’re set!

Yellowstone, MT

If you’re a nature buff, you might want to go north. Do your homework and you can find rooms here for around $100.00 per night, or even less. Beautiful scenery is one of the main attractions, so be sure to take it all in. There’s also good food, plenty of souvenir shops, hiking, boating, horseback riding, and much more. And don’t forget to visit Old Faithful!

If you want to keep your expenses down and keep a little more in your pocket for food and souvenirs, try to take your trip during the week to avoid peak days. This should make hotel room rates and airfare cheaper. You should also consider a red-eye flight. For transportation while at your destination, do your research. Maybe the activities you are going to engage in are within walking distance. If not, is public transportation an option? This is typically a much more affordable option than renting a car or even taking an Uber. There are definitely ways to make spring getaways more affordable.

Are you taking planning any spring getaways?

6 Budget-Friendly Spring Getaways is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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5 Saving Tips for Summer Vacation https://add-vodka.com/5-saving-tips-for-summer-vacation/ https://add-vodka.com/5-saving-tips-for-summer-vacation/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2015 12:35:18 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=7221 Summer is going kind of slow around here, resulting in less work, fewer posts and an almost too-relaxed vibe. But at least we’re busy getting ready for summer vacation. Here are five saving tips for summer vacation that we’re using in full force this year: 1. Plan ahead Some things shouldn’t be put off if …

5 Saving Tips for Summer Vacation is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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summer vacationSummer is going kind of slow around here, resulting in less work, fewer posts and an almost too-relaxed vibe. But at least we’re busy getting ready for summer vacation.

Here are five saving tips for summer vacation that we’re using in full force this year:

1. Plan ahead

Some things shouldn’t be put off if you want the best prices, starting with travel and everything that goes into getting there. For flights, rental cars and accommodations, we booked most of our summer vacation in January for the best prices. Booking early also helped get available rooms at our destination because we quickly discovered that a convention or some sort of big gathering is taking up a lot of rooms there.

One thing I don’t like about planning ahead for a vacation is the lousy feeling in your wallet when prices drop. This is rare, but sometimes airplane seats, hotel rooms and rental cars are underbooked, and prices drop for last-minute shoppers.

To avoid this, most of our hotel reservations can be canceled within 24 hours of arrival, and Southwest Airlines has a good rebooking policy if you find a better price. The rental car can also be changed without taking a financial hit.

2. No car for a few days

Rental car prices can be crazy during the summer. We’re flying in to one city and flying out of another, so picking up a rental car at one airport and returning it at another was expensive for two weeks.

I even looked into what Auto Slash offered, which wasn’t a deal. The great thing about the site is after you’ve booked through it, it will send you email updates if prices change and will automatically reserve a car for you at the lower price after searching multiple vendors.

Even with that prospective savings, it still hasn’t found a cheaper price than what we found by going without a rental car for the first few days of our trip and then renting one.

Our plan is to take a taxi to a nearby hotel for the first night because we arrive at night via airplane — so we really wouldn’t use a rental car much anyway that first night. The next few days we plan to get around town with Lyft, Uber or taxi. Then we’ll rent a car, saving at least $300 in rental car fees by not having it for two full weeks.

3. Groupon and other coupon sites

I’m still searching on Groupon and elsewhere for coupons for tours, food, drinks, and activities at our summer vacation destination, and I expect to find something to save some serious cash during the trip. I did this on a meal out last summer and saved 50 percent.

4. Credit card perks

We pay off our credit card each month and use the collected points for free hotel stays. I try to hoard the points for summer vacation, resulting in five free nights this summer in one of our favorite cities.

5. Other summer vacation accommodations

In addition to the free hotel rooms, we’re saving on accommodations by renting a house through VRBO, one of the many vacation home rental sites out there that can save families money by renting a home together and splitting the cost.

We’re also using Airbnb for a few nights, saving at least 50 percent on what a hotel room would cost us. It will be the first time I’ve ever used Airbnb, so I’ll report back after summer vacation on how it went.

Until then, take all of these steps for your summer vacation, and let us know how it goes.

summer vacation

5 Saving Tips for Summer Vacation is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Planning a Vacation is Worth the Cost https://add-vodka.com/planning-a-vacation-is-worth-the-cost/ https://add-vodka.com/planning-a-vacation-is-worth-the-cost/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:09:52 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=7129 A vacation can do a lot to increase your happiness. Planning a vacation, it turns out, can be a lot more fun. From relaxing on the beach to a hike in the woods or however you enjoy your time off, a vacation can be a great break from work and a time to relax. Part …

Planning a Vacation is Worth the Cost is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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planning a vacationA vacation can do a lot to increase your happiness. Planning a vacation, it turns out, can be a lot more fun.

From relaxing on the beach to a hike in the woods or however you enjoy your time off, a vacation can be a great break from work and a time to relax. Part of the fun — as I’ve found in planning my own vacations, and from reading published studies on the topic — is in planning a vacation.

In a study on overall happiness from a vacation and how long the happiness lasts, researchers in the Netherlands found that the biggest boost comes from planning a vacation. Anticipating a vacation increased happiness for eight weeks.

After the vacation, most travelers reported that their happiness levels dropped back down to baseline levels, according to the study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life in 2010.

Cost of planning a vacation

The study didn’t say if planning a vacation makes it worth the cost of the trip, but in my view, it’s a worthwhile expense.

I don’t think a vacation is worth going into debt over, but with careful planning and saving for it, a great vacation can be done on even a frugal budget. It’s something that the whole family can get involved in — from picking a place to visit to lodging, activities, travel arrangements and people and places to visit during a trip.

Even if planning a vacation does take you a little off your budget, it can be a worthwhile time together as a family that children will remember forever.

A few years ago, my family took a trip to Australia to visit my brother and his family. The trip cost a lot of money, but we pulled money out of our savings because we thought it would be a great experience for all of us.

Our daughter and my brother’s daughter — both girls are about the same age — giggled like crazy one afternoon when he took us on his boat to a nearly deserted island and they saw crabs run along the beach that they went on to catch. It was a sound I’ll never forget, and made the trip worth the cost.

Planning a vacation this summer

I try to plan ahead so that we can save as much money as possible during a vacation. This summer, we’re visiting relatives in an area with a lot of water parks. It’s a trip my daughter has been anticipating for months.

We’re visiting a few cities, so we nee a few lodging options. We’re trying various ways to save, including renting a house through VRBO, using Airbnb for a few nights, and using credit card rewards to stay for free at a hotel during the last part of our trip.

Through all of this planning, which included paying for the flights and most of the lodging ahead of time, I think the happiness hit all of us well before the eight weeks of happiness cited by researchers in the Netherlands for people planning a vacation. So far it has been worth the cost just in the planning alone.

The study didn’t find any relationship between the length of a vacation and increased happiness. Most of the happiness comes from planning and anticipation, which could translate into more happiness if more, smaller trips were planned instead of one big vacation.

All of the happiness during a vacation can make the costs worthwhile, but planning a vacation can be more rewarding. Think about that the next time your boss piles extra work on your desk and you’re looking for a reason to goof off online for a few minutes as you plan your next vacation. It might even convince you to move to a vacation spot.

Planning a Vacation is Worth the Cost is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Budget Travel Tips for China https://add-vodka.com/budget-travel-tips-for-china/ Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:01:17 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=7123 Many people resist the urge to go half way (or all the way) around the planet to visit China out of worry that the trip might break their back, or they think to themselves “Why would I travel around the world just to be poor?” – and it doesn’t get any more naïve than that. …

Budget Travel Tips for China is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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China
Dennis Jarvis/Flickr

Many people resist the urge to go half way (or all the way) around the planet to visit China out of worry that the trip might break their back, or they think to themselves “Why would I travel around the world just to be poor?” – and it doesn’t get any more naïve than that.

I’m not going to preach on the values of travel, or the philosophical definition of what rich really is — or should be. Instead I’m just going to lay down some of the best cheap China tours 2016 travel tips I know of for those who get it. After all, the more people who think traveling on a budget is a bad idea, the shorter the lines for my bone soup.

1. Eat street food. Why is it that so many people go to another country to experience the culture and then hide out in expensive Western palaces and eat Western foods? When you eat at McDonalds, it sure had better be about nostalgia!

2. Spend less time in crowded cities. Yes, you must go and see the main attractions. That means spending time in Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. However, you’ll get more bang for your buck (and a more authentic Chinese travel experience) if you take your chance on rural areas. “Rural” is definitely something different in Asia from what it is back home.

3. Don’t fly. Flights are great if you’re in a hurry to get someplace but if you’re on a vacation or just backpacking around, may I suggest a train? Taking a railway through China can deliver some of the most rewarding scenery you’ve ever laid eyes on. Throw in a handful of epic sunsets and sunrises, and you’ll be glad you bought a train ticket over a flight, any day. To save additional money you can also travel overnight and you’ll just even more out of your travel expenses (and you save on lodging for the night).

4. Water bottle refilling stations. If you find a reverse-osmosis water bottle refilling station, stock up and save around a dollar per bottle of water.

Austronesian Expeditions/Flickr
Austronesian Expeditions/Flickr

5. Rent a motorbike. If you find you take a lot of taxis and you’re feeling brave or you’ve been around the block, so to speak, then rent a bike and save money by not taking taxi’s around town.

6. Wear colored clothing. It’s hot out and you’re probably terrible with chopsticks. Enough said. Wear darker clothing to hide your food faux pas and other misdeeds. You’ll feel less like a slob, and no one will be the wiser.

7. Air Asia ASEAN pass. Air Asia has a prepaid ticket option called the “ASEAN Pass.” Travelling with one of these can shave a few hundos off your travel budget.

8. Haggle. After nicely asking the price on an object, come back with a reasonable counter offer. You’d be surprised how many go for it after some eye contact and sizing one another up. Keep it playful, but not too playful. Turn the gaze serious at the right time and you’ll be surprized you ever paid full price for anything you’ve ever purchased before.

9. Live like a local. Staying a little longer? Trade the hotel for a guest house or a hostel, eat at places with no English on the menu, and take apartments that aren’t the Ritz. It’s liberating, and doesn’t suck. Trust me.

10. Geo-arbitrage. Make money in your home country online, travel forever. Pure and simple! A lot of travel bloggers will make it seem harder than it really is, but the truth is, it’s never been easier. All you need is an escape plan!

Budget Travel Tips for China is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Where to Draw the Line When Your Employer is Paying https://add-vodka.com/where-to-draw-the-line-when-your-employer-is-paying/ https://add-vodka.com/where-to-draw-the-line-when-your-employer-is-paying/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:00:16 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=7110 I’m out of town on business for my full-time job this week and things have been pretty hectic. In addition to the regular 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. training for my employer, the group I’m with has been socializing a lot in the evenings, which means my blogging and freelancing work has been difficult to …

Where to Draw the Line When Your Employer is Paying is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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employerI’m out of town on business for my full-time job this week and things have been pretty hectic. In addition to the regular 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. training for my employer, the group I’m with has been socializing a lot in the evenings, which means my blogging and freelancing work has been difficult to complete.

It’s a good thing the training has been interesting thus far, otherwise I think I’d be in a world of hurt due to a lack of sleep and an abundance of caffeine. 🙂

Whenever I go out of town for business, I find myself wondering where exactly to draw the line with my spending. Questions like: “Do I pay for that or does my employer?” “How much should I spend on meals?” are often on my mind. Compounding these questions is the fact that my employer’s policy is unclear and the president of the organization has scolded people for things and then turned around and done the exact same thing when it comes to spending on our work account.

In the past, I’ve traveled with more experienced co-workers who pretty well knew what was appropriate and not appropriate to charge to our employer. But on this trip, I’m the experienced employee as the other two I’m travelling with have only been with the company for a year or less.

I don’t know that it’s 100% right, but here’s where I’ve drawn the line and why.

Hotel, Gas, and Transportation

Our employers obviously pay for things like our conference fees, hotel rooms, gasoline, and any other transportation costs, like flights for far-away events. This is a given with our organization.

We even have the opportunity to use the company car to travel to evening entertainment events “within reason” according to our company policy and per a conversation I had with my supervisor when I started with the company 3 years ago.

Meals, Drinks, and Snacks

This is the area where things get a little gray for me. Obviously breakfast, lunch, and dinner are paid for by my employer as these costs would not be incurred if I weren’t travelling for work purposes. But what is appropriate to spend on meals, and should you try to cut dining out costs where possible?

Typically I try to eat at middle-of-the-road restaurants rather than 5 star places. At the same time, I don’t want to eat only fast food either. Most of my meals are around $45-50 or less (obviously dinner is the most expensive).

When it comes to alcoholic beverages being paid for by my employer, I don’t agree with the precedent that’s been set on past trips I’ve taken. My superiors and even our president seem fine with charging not only drinks with dinner to our company, but also social drinks all evening long. Personally, I don’t find this ethical and therefore I usually pay for my own beverages if I’m going to participate.

Occasionally I find myself needing a snack between meals or in the evening after an early dinner. Once again, I believe these are items that I should pay for myself rather than charging them to the company.

I know that every employer, budget, and situation is different. So I’m curious, where do you draw the line when your employer is paying?

Where to Draw the Line When Your Employer is Paying is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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Should I Get a Travel Credit Card? https://add-vodka.com/should-i-get-a-travel-credit-card/ https://add-vodka.com/should-i-get-a-travel-credit-card/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:15:47 +0000 http://add-vodka.com/?p=7030 Travel credit cards are just like regular credit cards, but they offer travel-related rewards, like airline miles, instead of traditional rewards like cash back. They are popular, of course, among people who travel frequently, like business people, students studying away from home or anyone trying to collect travel-related rewards for a vacation at the end …

Should I Get a Travel Credit Card? is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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travel credit card

Travel credit cards are just like regular credit cards, but they offer travel-related rewards, like airline miles, instead of traditional rewards like cash back. They are popular, of course, among people who travel frequently, like business people, students studying away from home or anyone trying to collect travel-related rewards for a vacation at the end of the year.

So for many people, the question is, should I get a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards come with benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to find the card that matches your needs, lifestyle and habits.

Should You Get a Travel Credit Card?

That depends, first and foremost, on what kinds of rewards you want.

“A travel credit card differs from a traditional credit card mainly in the type of rewards earned,” said Matilda Geroulis, co-writer for The Travel Sisters. “Instead of cash back, which a lot of traditional credit cards earn, travel credit cards earn miles, hotel points, points that can be used for both hotels or free flights, or for free hotel nights. Different credit cards offer other rewards, such as lounge access, priority boarding, free checked baggage, hotel elite status, no foreign exchange fees and more, depending on the card.”

Your credit card payment habits are also a major consideration. “Travel credit cards are best for people who pay off their credit card balance every month,” Geroulis said. “Usually these cards charge a higher APR for carrying a balance.”

ValuePenguin research analyst and Huffington Post Money and Financial Education contributor Robert Harrow agrees. “Travel credit cards have, on average, 17.89% APR, which is slightly higher than the overall credit card average of 15%,” Harrow said.

Rewards and APR are the two biggest concerns, but there are other considerations, as well.

Related: 9 Best Travel Apps to Get Before Your Trip

Watch Out for Overseas Fees

“A foreign transaction fee is a 2.7-3 percent fee you pay your bank for every overseas card transaction,” said Alex Gerard, founder of Cards Mix. “When choosing a travel card, get yourself a card that doesn’t charge this fee.”

According to Bank of America, many credit cards charge an overseas transaction fee every time you use your card in a foreign country. The bank recommends using your credit card for big purchases but paying for smaller purchases, like coffee, in cash. This way you can avoid racking up a lot of overseas fees, but you can also avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Even better, look for a card that doesn’t charge overseas fees.

Read: 37 Cheap Travel Tips for Millennials

Double-Check Overseas Acceptance

“Despite an overwhelming number of supported countries and points of sales that AmEx and Discover claim in their reports, you will have more peace of mind with Visa or MasterCard,” Gerard said. “These cards are truly accepted everywhere. Another thing to keep in mind, in many places overseas you will not be able to pay with your American credit card if it doesn’t have an EMV chip on it. Particularly in Europe, you will definitely have problems when buying tickets and paying a toll in automated booth and vending machines. The good news that most travel cards today are issued with an EMV chip.”

CNBC reports that for many travelers, the ability to use credit cards abroad is inconsistent at best. The reason is EMV smart-chip technology is quickly becoming the worldwide standard because it is difficult to counterfeit. But because of the technology’s high cost compared to traditional magnetic strips, card issuers in the United States are lagging behind in putting EMV chips in their cards. If your card doesn’t have an EMV chip, expect to have the most trouble at automated kiosks, such as ticket machines in parking garages.

Watch Out for High Annual Fees

“Some travel credit cards have no annual fee, and some travel credit cards have an annual fee as high as $450 a year,” Geroulis said. “However, even if a travel credit card has an annual fee, sometimes it can be waived for the first year.”

Travel Credit Cards and Your Credit

“Building credit isn’t easier or harder with travel cards,” Harrow said. “However, travel credit cards are generally more difficult to get over non-rewards credit cards. You generally need a FICO score of 720+ in order to qualify for a decent travel rewards credit card.”

“Most travel credit cards require a good credit history (good credit score, free from bankruptcies etc.),” Geroulis said. “Many of the best travel credit cards require a credit score of 700 or above, but it depends on the card. There are travel credit cards that are easier to be approved for that one can start with. If someone has a bad or no credit history, they should work on fixing that first before applying for travel credit cards.”

Related: Jeff Yeager’s 10 Ways to Save Money on Travel

What Card Should I Get? A Travel Credit Card Comparison

According to Scott Smith, president of CreditRepair, these are the best three travel credit card offers for 2015:

Best points: American Express Platinum

  • 40,000-point bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
  • Annual $200 credit against airline fees, free concierge services, special travel packages and services, VIP airport club access, a cruise privileges program and more. Double points when booking at AmExTravel.com.
  • $450 annual fee.

Best miles: Chase Sapphire Preferred

  • 40,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first three months.
  • Double points on all travel and dining purchases. Points are worth 25 percent more if redeemed for travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
  • Annual fee: $0, then $95 after the first year.

Best $0 annual fee: BankAmericard Travel Rewards

  • Online-only signup bonus of 10,000 bonus points if you spend $500 in the first 90 days.
  • 1.5 points on every $1 spent. Points can be redeemed for hotels, flights, rental cars and more.
  • No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees. EMV chip technology.

Travel credit cards can be a great financial tool for some travelers, but they are not for everyone. They can help travelers accumulate airline miles, hotel points and other perks, but they generally come with higher APRs and require very good credit. Take inventory of your payment habits and your rewards preferences, and be sure to weigh any annual fees against the perks you will gain.

Your rewards preferences and payment habits should be the first consideration when deciding if a travel credit card is right for you. Weigh rewards against fees, go for the biggest possible sign-up bonus and work to achieve excellent credit before you apply.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Should I Get a Travel Credit Card?

This article by Andrew Lisa first appeared on GoBankingRates.com and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.


Source

Should I Get a Travel Credit Card? is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

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