Areyto Holiday Festival

Watching a visitor enter New York City for the first time has always been the equivalent of watching a deer in the headlights. The fast pace, noise and traffic just seem to startle my friends when we go into the controlled recklessness flowing through the streets of Manhattan. Growing up right near New York it has always been my playground, and perhaps something I took for granted as I was younger. There is no question in my mind New York is the best city and offers the most and best of whatever your desire be. If great food is your forte, well the best chefs thrive in the alleys, nightlife? The city has the best you will find and you will continue to find new hot clubs, concerts? almost every artist considers New York their favorite venue, sports? Come on the Yankee’s and the Mets The Giants and the Jets? Oh, and lets not forget New York Broadway Theater, the best musicals, plays and shows anywhere!

So with so much to do it is no wonder why friends become lost and a bit overwhelmed by New York’s addicted charm, and if I was not there to guide them they would probably just sit in the car wondering where to go. Most people think a trip to New York is going to hit the wallet pretty hard, but believe it or not a great time can be had on a small budget if you are willing to go a bit off the beaten path.

My first recommendation would be a nice, safe and inexpensive place to stay. The going rate for an average hotel room in Manhattan is around 300.00, not chump change, especially when you are use to paying about 80.00 for a decent room. A couple important factors to take into account here, you want to be safe, you want a well lit area and you want to be near transportation. Lets not forget, you are a stranger in the largest city in the world, a dive in a questionable neighborhood is out of the question for a family vacation. So where in the world are we gonna find something which covers such bases? The New Yorker Hotel is my favorite place to stay, built in the 1930s the rooms have a very unique style and cost is in the 100.00 dollar range. Located near the Javis Center and Madison Square Garden you are in the heart of Manhattan entertainment. The location is close to Times Square and on top of everything you have the major connecting trains for cheap transportation to any location. Close to all the popular Theaters makes The New Yorker a great choice for Broadway junkies.

Now that we have cut the cost of your stay more then in half, what about eating? Dinner in New York must cost and arm and a leg. This is very true, if you want some of the finest cuisine from a five star restaurant you can easily head toward Central Park and eat at the touted “Tavern On The Green,” but if you are just looking for some great food at a reasonable price there is always a special to be found. The trick to eating great and keeping within budget is to travel a bit further from all the neon lights and tourist sections of the city. New Yorkers are very friendly and helpful, so asking a few questions of where to find great specials and happy hours can easily have you discovering hot happy hours with delicious half price appetizers and drinks. Barrow Street Ale House located in the West Village offers dollar fifty import drafts and a forty cent wing special, with a fun environment. The ale house may not be five star cuisine, but come on, buck fifty imports and hot wings in New York City? I cannot think of anything better I would rather do.

The perfect room, full stomach and couple drinks for under ten dollars and the night is becoming alive all of the sudden. The club scene maybe something you want to hop into for a while, the New York Deejays are the best in the world and the dancing is nothing short of spectacular. The New York nightlife provides many events as well, such as, hot sporting events like Yankee baseball, Knicks basketball and Rangers Ice Hockey, boxing at the Garden is always a popular venue. If sports are not your ticket, the music scene can host everything from a major band at Madison Square Garden to a hot local jam band at The Wetlands. Broadway Theater is one of the largest attractions for visitors, and for your first time in the city it would almost be a crime not to go and check out at least one show.

New York events can sometimes be difficult to get a ticket for, especially if it is last minute. These tips will help get you a ticket and try to save some money. The best bet is always to purchase direct from the box office, but if you missed the boat find a New York ticket broker, the tickets may cost twenty to thirty percent more, however, you will be able to choose your seat and be safe from scalping or fake tickets. An inexpensive way to get a great seat is to simply go to the will call of the venue and see if anyone has canceled last minute. Many times tickets are held for performers or stage hands and the individuals they invited were unable to attend, making a great seat available at face value last minute. Avoid scalpers in New York, they are to risky and more times then not you will pay a lot of money and never enter to see the show. Try a New York ticket broker before even thinking about buying from the risky streets of the city. The last tip for finding that hard to get ticket, hop online and find a forum dedicated to the show you want to see. For example if you want to go to a Broadway show such as “Phantom Of The Opera” and it is all sold out, post to a group that is dedicates to the show on Broadway and ask if anyone will be going with an extra ticket. Now you have just got a great seat at face value and made a new friend on your New York vacation.

 

Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so!  Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.

 

When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:

1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.

2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.

3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas. 

4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include – and don’t include.

5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.

6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.

7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.

8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.

9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.

10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!

 

On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.

 

There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.

 

 

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com

You may think back to occasions where you were playing on the beach, or simply enjoying a meal. It’s funny to think that many of the most simple aspects

of a holiday are often retained for longer in the memory. You may well note that your memories don’t often concern the expense of an individual holiday.

This comes as a surprise to many parents who might otherwise imagine that they can provide a better holiday by spending more money.

Today’s economy has left everyone feeling uptight and stressed, and you might be thinking that nobody needs a vacation more than you and your family.

But you might be worried, and thinking, “How can I afford a vacation right now?” Well, you can no matter what your budget range or what type of

vacation you are longing for. Here is a list of great, budget-friendly vacation ideas.

Ski vacations in the summer! Here’s something I bet you never thought of – hitting the slopes for some summer fun. What? That’s crazy! (I know that’s what you’re thinking.) It’s true that even though you wouldn’t be able to ski, there are lots of fun activities you can still have a great time enjoying in the mountains and with a far more affordable price. You can go hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, tubing, horseback riding and fishing. The views will be spectacular and you will have extremely discounted summer rates. Do give this some consideration.

Travel the tropics in the summer. Another great place to travel in the off season and find some amazing prices on hotels and flights is the Caribbean.

The only thing you will need to keep in mind is you may arrive during the hurricane season so check the forecast carefully before you go, and purchase

travel insurance. But honestly, you can visit really cheap during this time and save lots.

There is something for everyone at Six Flags Great America, and families can save a lot of money with Six Flags Great America coupons. Parents with small children can check out Wiggles World, Bugs Bunny National Park, and Camp Cartoon. Kids can ride on Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine or “fly” on red planes at Wiggles World. They can go round and round on the Flinestones’ Rocky Road Rescue Service.

For the budget traveler in Japan, there are a number of cities that veritably scream for attention. Tokyo remains a very popular city with tourists

thanks to its cosmopolitan culture and great vibrancy. This is the capital of Japan and it’s a city so full of life it inevitably leaves an

indelible mark on the minds of those who visit.