Want to save a little money on your cruise this year? Holding out for just the right last-minute cruise deals? I don't blame you. While cruising can be an economical way to travel (if you go lightly on the shore excursions), it's still a hefty amount of money to plunk down per person. I know my Alaska cruise last year was about $1300 per person for a room with a balcony. Now, we didn't have to buy our meals, but, still, it's a lot of money.

Anyway, I just received some late cruise deals for you to check out. Some expire the beginning of May, some the end of May, so do check out the expiration date.

Expires 5/5/2008

Receive Up To $750 Onboard Credit When You Book With Azamara Cruises! (Expires 5/5/08)

Expires 5/11/2008

Spring For It Sale: Get Upgrades, Onboard Credit and More with Norwegian Cruise Lines!

Expires 5/29/2008

Spring For It Sale: Get Upgrades, Onboard Credit and More with Norwegian Cruise Lines!

Receive up to $100 Onboard Credit with Royal Caribbean!

Expires 5/31/2008

Celebrity: Spring Clearance on Close-in Alaska, Caribbean, and Europe Cruises!

Explore the New Ships on the Block - Cruises From $399!


Just FYI, the $399 cruise deal above is for an inside stateroom on a 3-Night, round-trip Bahamas cruise leaving from Ft. Lauderdale on the Holland America cruise ship Eurodam, with stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Holland America's Half Moon Cay. With this special an ocean view room will run you $449 and a room with a balcony goes for $599. That's all per person.

There are other really cheap cruise deals as well with the $399 link, like the 6-Night round-trip Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Freedom out of Ft. Lauderdale, starting at $419 per person. And, there are cheaper Alaska cruises as well, like the 7-Night round-trip Norwegian Pearl Alaska cruise out of Seattle starting at $699.

Whichever cruise you choose, have fun!

        

Taking a weekend getaway between now and June 30, 2008? Then you'll be happy to know you can save 50% on your weekend car rental at Budget Rental Car with this handy link:

Save 50% on Weekend Rentals with Budget Rental Car!

I've rented with Budget before and have always found them to have good prices and decent cars. My other favorite car rental company is Enterprise.   But, alas, no dollars off coupon from them.  But, when I get one, you'll be the first to know.

Another savings I can offer is a weekly compact car from Budget from $119 a week. But, this link expires May 21, 2008.  But, if you need a car by then, go ahead and use this link:

Small is Beautiful! Rent a Compact Car w/ Budget From $119/ Week!

        

Notice the sky above you getting clearer? That's because more and more flights keep getting canceled. American Airlines has canceled another 1,000 flights because it is reinspecting their fleet of MD-80 jets. MSNBC News Services reports that this could leave 100,000 travelers looking for new flights.

Add these cancellations to the recent cancellations of airlines going bankrupt (Aloha, ATA and Skybus) and you have the makings of some anxiety going into the busy summer vacation season.

What can you do with all these cancellations and bankruptcies?

Consider purchasing travel insurance, particularly with a company which will cover you if the airline you chose goes out of business. While an airlines which cancels a flight will put you on another flight, there's not always a guarantee that another airline will honor your ticket on an airline which goes bankrupt. With travel insurance at least you don't lose the money you spent on your tickets. And, I wouldn't assume the bankrupted airline will give you a refund. It’s not likely that will happen, since they’re filing bankruptcy for a reason.

        

Still haven't made your reservations for a cruise vacation this summer? What are you waiting for?

If you're waiting for a better deal on your cruise, then here are some savings you might like, as well as onboard credits to be used with spa services as well as shore excursions, which, if you don't already know, can add up.

If you haven't already taken a cruise vacation to Alaska I would highly recommend it, especially before there are no more glaciers left to see (okay, realistically, the glaciers aren't disappearing that fast). But, an Alaskan cruise really does take you to places that are very difficult to get to otherwise. And the scenery is spectacular.

Anyway, these deals expire on April 30, 2008, so do go and check them out.

Receive up to $100 Onboard Credit with Princess Cruises!

Get Premium Cruising & up to $100 Onboard Credit with Holland America!

Get Up to $200 Onboard Credit with Royal Caribbean Europe Cruisetours!

Royal Caribbean Offer: Get up to $100 of onboard cruise credit. Use for spa services, shore excursions and more!

Celebrity Cruise Offer: Set sail in style and save now with great fares + get up to $100 onboard credit!

Spring Clearance on Cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe with Celebrity!

        

Are you interested in visiting wine country this year? Deciding where can be pretty tough: California, New York, Washington? Or, maybe somewhere in France or Italy? Once you've narrowed it down to a particular region or appellation, you have to decide which wineries to choose. More tough decisions. Then you have to decide if you're going to go with guided tours or set out on your own. Will the decisions never end?

In future posts I can help you decide which wineries to visit. But, right now, I'm going to discuss guided wine tours vs. self-guided tours.

Why You May Want a Guided Wine Tour

1) Automatic Designated Driver

This is an important factor that many do not take into consideration right away. Many people think they'll just have a few sips here and there, what's to worry about? Well, for many people, a few sips of wine can quickly add up.

2) You Get to See the Countryside

When you're driving around looking for the winery, you aren't as able to look around at the beautiful countryside. With a tour bus or van (or even a tour limo) you get to see so much more than when you're the one driving.

3) The Planning's all Done for You

If you don't know the area or the wineries, it may be tough to decide which ones to visit. If you choose a guided wine tour, all that decision-making has been done for you.

Why You May Want a Self-Guided Wine Tour

1) Self-Guided Tours can be Cheaper

With guided wine tours you have to pay the company much more than you would if you just drove around yourself.

2) There's More Freedom of Choice

When you choose a guided tour you have to go to the places they take you to. There's no freedom to visit some small label that's off the tour. While not having to decide which wineries to visit may appeal to some people, many people want to read up on certain labels and plan their tour accordingly.

3) You Don't Get Stuck with Jerks

There's nothing worse than being stuck for a few hours with obnoxious people who just see the wineries as one big bar. When you choose a self-guided tour you can escape those obnoxious people.

Whichever tour you decide, remember to have fun but be responsible. If you're taking your own self-guided tour, you might want to designate one person who will have very little or no wine. And, if you're in a guided tour, remember that many people visit wineries to sample wines, not to get drunk. Again, there's nothing more obnoxious than someone puking right outside the tour bus in front of the tasting room.

        

I took an Alaska cruise this past summer and noticed there was a shore excursion riding a zipline. I have this love/fear relationship with ziplines. I really want to go on one, but am totally terrified to. Anyway, while checking out some YouTube videos, I discovered this video on the World's Fastest Zipline. No, it's not in Alaska. It's in Sun City, South Africa and it reaches a top speed of 100 mph. It looked pretty cool (and scary) so I thought I'd share it.

There are, of course, many different spots in the world for great zipline rides and canopy tours, like Alaska, Costa Rica, Kauai, Puerto Vallarta and Belize. If your a zipline fanatic, you're going to have to add South Africa to your list.

        

What to do with a weekend in Northern California? Oh, heck, there are so many things. But, if you're looking for a few choice ideas, here are some California getaway weekend ideas sure to please:

San Francisco

San Francisco's one of my favorite cities. To visit. I tried living there and found I loved my car too much. But, I love going back for a visit over and over again.

The thing about a getaway in the San Francisco Bay area is that each getaway can be different. One weekend can focus on shopping in Union Square, while another weekend can be hiking Angel Island. And, if you've never taken a ferry to Angel Island to walk or hike around, then you really should make that a priority on your next visit to San Francisco.

You can also take in the tourist sites of Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf, which every tourist ought to do at least once. If you've ever lived in San Francisco, however, the tourist spots aren't places you're like to gravitate to, so I tend to stay away.

Golden Gate Park is also a spot which can take up a day's visit, with walking through the Park, maybe taking a peddle boat ride on the lake, then leaving the Park for shopping on Haight Street.

Of course, San Francisco's a city of walking, and there are plenty of walking tours you can take, some free, some with a small fee. Do take a walking tour to Coit Tower if you want a little history.

Wine Country

Napa Valley, north of San Francisco, is the most-often visited of the "wine countries" of California. But, it's not the only wine country there is in Northern California. There's also neighboring Sonoma County, which includes the quaint town of Sonoma, as well as the Russian River town of Guerneville, which is always a fun little getaway. Just north of Napa you'll want to discover Lake County with it's numerous wineries, as well as Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California and, some say, the oldest lake in North america.

North of Lake County lies Mendocino County, with many spectacular wineries to visit, and home of one of my favorite wines, Lolonis.

When deciding which wineries you will visit, it's a good idea to research the different areas and wineries before setting out on a wine tour on your own. Get a wine map which shows which wineries are open to the public, their hours, as well as their fees. Some, though not many, pour wine samples for free. Others charge a small fee. A map can really help you organize your time, so you're not just driving down country rodes in hopes of spotting a winery sign.

There's also the option of joining a tour bus, though, to be honest, some wine tour buses have bad reputations because the tourists arrive drunk at the wineries and can get quite loud and unruly. Just be respectful when visiting a winery, and don't treat it like it's a bar. For a fun wine adventure, you can also take the Napa Valley Wine Train, which, according to Sherman's Travel, is one of the Top Ten Train Trips in the world.

Monterey Bay

Montery Bay is a couple hours south of San Francisco, and includes the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. While there you'll want to do the 17-mile drive, which allows you to see some of the most spectacular scenery on the California coast. There is a slight per-charge fee to make the drive, but it's certainly worth the money, which I think is about $8.50 per car. There are numerous turnouts so you can get out and take pictures.

Other must-sees in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf, which is pretty touristy, but, again, if you're a tourist you have to do some touristy things, right? For less touristy things, go to neighboring Pacific Grove and, in the winter and spring, watch the Gray Whales migrate, or, if you're there between October and March, watch the Monarch Butterflies congregate.

Visit a Ghost Town

Okay, this might be a bit out of the way (located northeast of Yosemite), but I liked it so much when I visited that I'm including it among Northern California getaway weekends. It's called Bodie State Historical Park, and it's home to the ghost town of Bodie, one of the largest, and certainly most preserved, ghost town in America. It's kept in a state of "arrested decay," meaning it won't deteriorate any further. There are numerous streets with buildings as they were when they were deserted; you can look inside and see things left as they were.

In it's heyday as a gold rush town, Bodie was such a lawless place that many feared going there, in particular one little girl who wrote in her diary after learning her family was moving to Bodie: "Goodbye God," she wrote, "I'm going to Bodie."

        

When is the best time to go to Disney World? Definitely during the off season, which is around early January to mid February, or after Labor Day through mid December, with the exception of Thanksgiving week, which can be busier. During off season, there are less people, less congestion and less headaches. What’s more, it rarely gets cold in Florida, even during winter season, and it gets swelteringly hot and humid during summer. So, winter really is the time to go.

Some say the two weeks before Christmas is a great time to go to Disney World, as most people are busy with Christmas. If increased Christmas activity isn't an issue for you, then definitely consider this time as a perfect time to visit Disney World.

Some additional thoughts on Disney World:

Stay Inside or Outside the Park?

Although it is cheaper to stay in hotels outside of Disney World, the extra cash you’ll have to cough up if you stay inside is more than made up for by the comfort and convenience of an inside stay.

Imagine traveling from your room, then going through the 47 square mile area that is Disney World, then traveling back to your hotel… exhausting isn’t it?

What the Kids Will Want to See in the Magic Kingdom

Must-sees for kids are Cinderella’s Castle, FantasyLand and Mickey’s Toon Town.

Best Rides for Adults or Teens in the Magic Kingdom

You'll like the rides in FrontierLand -- Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, as well as TomorrowLand's Space Mountain (my favorite). There's also great arcades in FrontierLand - the FrontierLand Shootin' Arcade.

Best Rides for Everyone in the Magic Kingdom

Without a doubt, Haunted Manion and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Best Food

Let's face it, you go to Disney World for the attractions, right? But, there's still some good food, like Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Shula's Steakhouse at the Walt Disney World Dolphin.

        

Are your kids into dinosaurs? Depending on their age, the answer is probably "yes." Instead of, or in addition to, the usual theme-park getaway this year, you might want to consider taking the family to one of the many dinosaur museums in the United States.

A number of museums classify themselves as “true,” dinosaur museums, or "themed museums" as their main focus tends to be on dinosaurs and their history. In addition to themed dinosaur museums, many science and natural life museums also have a number of dinosaur exhibits and displays. However, if you are interested in taking your child to a “true,” dinosaur museum, you will want to consider a few highly-rated dinosaur museums below.

Museum of Western Colorado
Fruita, Colorado

Dinosaur Journey

Located in Fruita, Colorado is the Dinosaur Journey, operated by the Museum of Western Colorado. When visiting the Dinosaur Journey you and your family can view full-scale dinosaur displays, learn other interesting facts about dinosaurs, and much more.

Dino Digs Tours

The Museum of Western Colorado is also known for their Dino Digs Tours. These tours allow you and your family to dig for dinosaur bones. They have day digging tours, as well as extended ones for avid diggers and dinosaur enthusiasts. Should you and your family be interested in doing so, it is advised that you make your reservations well in advance. The Dino Digs Tours are well-known attractions in Colorado and Wyoming and their reservations often fill up quickly.


Dinosaur Walk Museums
Riverhead, New York
Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

The Dinosaur Walk Museum is another must-visit for dinosaur enthusiasts. What is nice about the Dinosaur Walk Museum is that they have two locations, one being in Riverhead, New York and the other being in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Each facility is ideal for adults and children alike. Instead of visiting a dinosaur museum filled with bones, you are able to see life-size sculptures. Both dinosaur museums have high-definition movie theaters, fossil digs for children, and much more. You and your family could easily spend a whole day at one of the Dinosaur Walk Museum locations.


Dakota Dinosaur Museum
Dickinson, North Dakota

If you reside in or around the area of Dickinson, North Dakota or if you are able to visit the area, you will want to stop by the Dakota Dinosaur Museum. The Dakota Dinosaur Museum is well-known for their 14 full-scale dinosaur exhibits. The Dakota Dinosaur Museum is closed yearly from Labor Day to April of the following year.

        

Hey, hey, thought you all would like to know that TripAdvisor has come out with their "Dirtiest Hotels" list based on user responses.

And, they are -- DRUM ROLL, PLEASE

Dirtiest Hotels - U.S.

* Hotel Carter, New York, NY
* Ramada Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, NY (Hotel now closed)
* Nashville - Days Inn Vanderbilt / Music Row, Nashville, TN
* Red Carpet Inn, Fort Lauderdale, FL
* Regency Inn & Suites, New York, NY
* St. Augustine Beachfront Resort, Saint Augustine, FL
* Travel Inn Civic/Medical Center, Miami, FL
* Eden Roc Motel, Wildwood, NJ
* Days Inn Lancaster, Lancaster, PA
* Pacific Sands Motel, Santa Monica, CA


Dirtiest Hotels - U.K.

* Nanford Guest House, Oxford, England
* Manor Court Hotel, London, England
* Britannia Hotel Stockport, Stockport, England
* Europa Gatwick, Crawley, England
* Whiteleaf Hotel, London, England
* Park Hotel, London, England
* County Hotel, Carlisle, England
* Britannia Hotel Birmingham, Birmingham, England
* Eden Plaza Hotel, London, England
* Britannia Country House Hotel, Manchester, England


Okay, so what do you do when you get a filthy hotel room? COMPLAIN. Instantly. Make it clear you will not stay in that room. Either get a new room, or have the cleaning staff clean it completely for you. Also, demand a discount in your bill, even if you are moved or they clean your existing room. You were inconvenienced.

I remember staying at the Hyatt Union Square. Clean place, right? Normally, yes, but one year we got a crappy room. We didn't feel it was cleaned properly, and several things in the room were broken. We complained and were given a much better room, AND a discount. We will go back there. Why? Because they took our complaints seriously and compensated us for our time in dealing with the crappy room.

Anyway, make good use of the list.