For a summer travel bargain, head to Honduras
Staycation, schmaycation! Sure, flight prices are going up all over and this is probably not a good year to take a summer trip to Europe. But in Honduras, the travel bargains are as plentiful as tropical fish on a coral reef. Tim Leffel has the details.
More thrills per dollar at regional amusement parks
Take a family of four to one of the big corporate theme parks for a weekend and you could easily be looking at a tab of $700 before you even factor in gas and lodging. Tim Leffel says you don’t have to spend the equivalent of two car payments just to ride some roller coasters and hit the Tilt-a-Whirl.
Cycling in Europe for the dollar-impaired visitor: the long and the short of it
Pedaling through vineyards, riding past 300 year-old mansions, stopping along the way for wine tastings and hearty lunches — it doesn’t have to be as expensive as it sounds. Tim Leffel points us to places where seeing Europe at a bicycle’s pace is more reasonable, just a little bit to the east.
Traveling in your own backyard
Your next flight is liable to be canceled or delayed, and the price of airline tickets seems to go up every month. Gasoline prices are off the chart and so are hotel rates. Tim Leffel says this might be a good summer to make your family’s summer vacation a local affair.
Travel bargains in The Other Mexico
If you have visited one of the well-known Mexican beach resort areas recently, you’ve probably noticed two things: huge crowds and prices that don’t seem much different from those at home. Tim Leffel says you can still find a Mexican travel bargain, but you will have to visit “The Other Mexico”.
Touring Europe’s unheralded wine regions
That trip through the Bordeaux region of France or the Piedmont region of Italy is going to cost more than ever this year. Tim Leffel suggests looking beyond the tried and true to European wine regions with lower costs and smaller crowds.
Time to check out your neighbors: Mexico and Central America
Every month seems to bring a new low point for the dollar against the euro, and flight prices keep rising in tandem with fuel costs. Tim Leffel says this would be a good year to check out the exotic lands just to the south, from Mexico down through Panama.
Beating the crowds to Panama
Panama is a place of many distinctions, including the Panama hat, the Panama Canal and one of the world’s best-known palindromes: “A man, a plan, a canal — Panama!” Best of all, it is one of those few remaining destinations where prices are good, tour buses are few, and there’s enough to keep you occupied for weeks — without big sacrifices in comfort. Tim Leffel takes you there.
5 ways to find a shoulder-season deal
High season means premium prices, but low season can mean bad weather, boarded-up shops or even hurricanes. To find the perfect pairing of good conditions and low prices, Tim Leffel guides you to the magic time known as the “shoulder season.”
Tourist discount cards: Deal or no deal?
Visit a tourism bureau Web site for a popular city, and you’ll probably see a prominent offer for a discounted museum pass or other attractions card. Is it a deal? Not necessarily. Tim Leffel runs the numbers.