Bad Travel Advice

Budget Travel recently asked its readers to submit the worst travel advice they’ve ever received.  The interesting submissions ranged from “take traveler’s checks with you” to “skip the Eiffel Tower in Paris.”  From personal experience, however, I wouldn’t characterize “don’t eat the street food” as advice that is bad, just cautious.  As with all opinions, they must be coupled with common sense – and research.  I can’t remember ever receiving travel advice that could be described as bad;  though a trip or two would have been better if I had heeded some good advice (don’t go to Disney the day after Christmas!!).  Many times, however, less than perfect undertakings can make one a well-seasoned traveler and make great learning experiences!  To read other bad advice that travelers have received visit Budget Travel’s blog.  

Avoid Old Travel Mistakes

Have you ever won a FREE cruise to the Bahamas?  Yes, me, too!  It cost me over $300!  This mistake is a common one, according to travel expert and consumer advocate Christopher Elliot.    He writes about this and the other most oft  travel mistakes and how to avoid them in his article, Know Your Erroneous Zones, published in the August/September issue of National Geographic Traveler.  What is the biggest travel mistake that you’ve made?

Horsing Around on Your Next Vacation

Have you ever wanted to be a cowboy or girl?  Love the outdoors?  Do you REALLY want to get away from your electronic life for a bit?  If so, then a week on a Dude Ranch might just be the type of vacation you’re looking for!  Marcaroni Kid’s August travel newsletter highlights several family-friendly Dude Ranches as well as a few tips to help you get the most out of a Dude Ranch vacation.  So get along little doggies!

Autumn Get-Aways

The travel editors of National Geographic have compiled their list of the Best Fall Trips for 2012.  Picks range from the  International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico to swimming in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls in Zambia.  Where would you like to go?

 

San Diego, California is on the Best Fall Trips for 2012 list

When Is the Best Time to Buy Airline Tickets?

When is the best time of the year to purchase airline tickets?   Now, according to LifeHacker.  Airlines reduce prices on tickets in late August/early September because this is the time when travel starts to drop off.  So even if you plan to travel next spring or summer, it might be worthwhile to check out fares now.  Read what they have to say here.

The Time is Now for London

Now that the Olympics are over the Smart Money blog reports that now is a good time to visit London.  Hotels are reducing their rates to fill now-empty rooms.  You can read what they have to say here, Cheering Post-Olympic Travel to London.

 

In addition financial guru, Clark Howard,  just returning from a London/Paris trip reports that the deals are there, now.  Here is what he says.

10 Great Destinations in 10 Cities

On August 13 the Daily Beast published the Perfect 100, a list of ten great cities and ten great things to do in them, along with photo galleries.

Cities on the list include Chicago, Rome, Bangkok, Mexico City, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Sydney, and Capetown.  Take a look and see if you agree!

 

Hutong tour by pedicab, part of the Perfect 100

Germany, Autumn, and Wine!

A reminder from the German National Tourist Office about some upcoming wine festivals:

Winzerfest Freyburg                                                      September 7 – 10
Duerkheimer Wurstmarkt  Wine Festival          September 7 – 11, 14 – 17
Ingelheimer Rotwein Festival                                September 29 – October 7
Weinlesefest Neustadt                                                  October 5 – 15
Federweissenfest Cochem  Wine Festival           November 2 – 4, 9 – 10

 

And while we’re on the subject of Germany,  a new UNESCO World Heritage Site has been named there:  the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth in southern Germany. (However, unfortunately the opera house is going to close in October 2012 for renovation.)