Attend the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Celebration

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is almost upon us once more, and the city of Chicago is one of the best places in the world to celebrate this holiday. Some of the most memorable images of St. Patrick’s Day across the entire country come out of the great city of Chicago Illinois. Every year the city sponsors an official dying of the Chicago River a shade of green, and this year is no different. This year the official dying commences at 10:45am on Saturday March 14th, 2009. As a little aside, this dying of the Chicago River is a 40 year tradition that happened by accident when an area plumber was asked how his white coveralls had turned a perfect emerald green. He realized that the dye he, and numerous other plumbers, used to detect leaks into the river was the exact color of the emerald green hills and landscape of Ireland itself. A tradition was born.

Well following the official dying ceremony, the official Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12 noon. Scheduled to appear and participate in the parade are area marching bands, civic organizations and numerous other groups and special celebrity appearances.

The Hilton Chicago Hotel has been the overwhelming recommendation for accommodations if and when you were planning on attending this event. The hotel is located at 720 South Michigan Avenue and rates for March 13th to March 15th range from $99 to $179 per night. You won’t beat that anywhere.

So make plans to attend this great event that only happens once a year, especially at prices you may never see again.

Cruise Vacations - Now Affordable for Everyone

There was a time not so long ago that the idea of a cruise seemed out of reach for many. Either people would have visions in their heads of being on steerage from the movie Titanic, or thinking of modern times, they would just be priced out of the market place to purchase such tickets. Well today is a new day and a quality ticket for going on a cruise is within reach for many.

Let’s take a look at some actual offers that the major cruise lines are making right now. How about starting with a seven night cruise for less than $300 a person for double occupancy state rooms? That’s a reality. We’ve also seen incredible deals for price tags of cruises under $400 where you’ll get an ocean cruise and for less than $600 you get all of this and a balcony. No don’t look around, you’re not in the bizzzaro world, you’re in a major economic decline and this is reality.

Let’s take a look a one specific cruise line that has a great brand and name associated with it, Norwegian Cruise Lines. This company is currently offering an eleven-night cruise across the Atlantic Ocean at an average rate of $474 per person, and this includes $100 in shopping credit on the boat !!!You start off in Miami Florida and head across the seas toward Spain and finally end up in Dover England.

There are plenty more of these types of deals out there, just check out the searches for “cruise specials” and “budget cruise travel” and you’ll see many show up.

Spring Break in Mexico - Budget Travel has Never Been More Available

As legions of collegians await the next few weeks to venture off on a right of passage, Spring Break, many are still not sure where they want to go, or better yet, what they can afford. Word on the street is that Mexico and it's many destinations and all-inclusive resorts may be the best value in terms of price and fun. 

We have several cities to choose from where there are great values. Let us begin.

Cancun Mexico is the creme de la creme of spring break destinations. Coined the hottest party place in the world, what could go better than a trip to this magnificent vacation spot. We have a few great hotels to choose from that should maximize your trip and minimize your expenses. First we have the Club Carrousel Cancun which offers an all inclusive package. The average rate for the package is $250 a night and comes with full meals, drinks and equipment to enjoy the entire resort. What does that mean? How about snorkeling, tennis, kayaking and water skiing all included. 

Sometimes it makes sense to avoid the big crowds of a destination resort like Cancun, so why not try an equally fun resort but one that maybe doesn't have all the people to jam it up. Why not try Los Cabos Mexico. We came upon a great site offering terrific deals for spring break to the Los Cabos area and the packages are incredible. One such package offer for $599 a complete package of accommodations, flight to and from the resort, and up to $250 in drinks while you stay there. Not to mention the bevy of planned parties and activities that are organized by the group.

So get your groove on and head south of the border, Mexico way to enjoy a great spring break at incredible discounts. Your generation may be the first to really enjoy a quality spring break with real budget prices. 

Budget Travel - A few Inside Tips

I've surveyed the internet to find out what some other experts have offered up in terms of budget and discount travel solutions. There is certainly no shortage of these types of plans now a days, but I will tell you this, there still are some great little tid bits of valuable advise I've found. I came across advise on when to get the best discount airfare at the airport, how to eat out for less and the best destinations that offer the most value in travel.

Ok to begin how about getting great airfare discounts? Well you're not going to believe it but the advise is just so simple. After reading several blogs and web sites by authority travel experts each said that the best way to get the biggest discounts is to just take the time to sign up for several of the big third party airfare consolidators alerts. These include sites like AirfareWatch.com and Cheapflights.com. The discounts are sometimes incredible. 

If you're looking for the top destinations to visit but aren't sure which ones offer the best value, how about this for advise. Three top destinations we came across are Ireland, Riviera Nayarit, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico. Combined for the same reason, Ireland and the United Kingdom are great for Americans due to favorable drop in exchange rates and airfares. Why not get over to one of the British Isles while the prices are so low. Puerto Rico is very US friendly and due to the downturn of the economy many in the tourism and travel industry of Puerto Rico are offering incredible deals never seen before. Last is Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, which is currently suffering from the same ills as Puerto Rico. Rates for hotels are being seen, even on the weekends for under $100 a night !!

We will do much to post more information about other great discount and budget travel suggestions. Just keep coming back to the Discount Traveler Blog Post tomorrow. 

St Patrick's Day Parade - Dallas 2009

When one things of St. Patrick's Day, at least from my leap of logic, cities and destinations that come to mind are Chicago and Boston. You know what? What about celebrating the Holiday of the Patron Saint of Ireland in the State of Texas !! Dallas Texas that is. 

Ok, I know, not probably in the top 10 of cities you'd think about, but Dallas Texas is celebrating it's 30th Anniversary St. Patrick's Day Parade this year. 

The Dallas Texas St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes it’s stoll down Greenville Avenue on Saturday March 14th 2009. This party and event has been dubbed the equivalent of the energy and excitement of Mardi Gras in New Orelans, of course only being one day. This year’s parade is expected to be the largest parade, with over 1500 participants, in the history of the event. Expect to see some great events within the event such as contests with celebrity judges.

Find great discount airfare for getting into dallas for the event go to Orbitz where rates coming into Dallas are around $95 each way from most major hubs and cities. Also, the featured hotel for your stay with arrival and check in for Friday March 15th, 2009 is the wonderful Hotel Polomar Dallas, rates come in for $229 a night. This is an upscale and stylish hotel but also not over the top in extravance. You’ll find rooms with flat screen televisions, great restaurants and an onsite spa.

So make plans to see the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Great State of Texas. An event that is big enough to bare the name of the largest state in the Union. 

Jazz Fest 2009 - Enjoy a New Orleans Vacation at a Discount Rate

This year celebrates the 40th annual festival and celebration event held in New Orleans that pays homage to a true American original, jazz. The event is aptly called, Jazz Fest, and each year some of the most famous and greatest musicians you could think of have graced the stages and venues that serve as the pulpit and altar to one of the best musical events to be produced. Jazz Fest 2009 is scheduled to run over two consecutive weekends, beginning the first weekend on April 24th to April 26th and then picking up the following weekend April 30th to May 3rd. 

This year the docket of performers and entertainers slated to include jazz legends such as New Orleans' native son Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, and Doc Johnson. The list of legends doesn't end there though. World class performers such as Neil Young, James Taylor, the Neville Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire and many more are all scheduled to perform on one of the dates during the two weekend festival. For a complete list of tentative entertainers and performers scheduled to perform and the dates they are slated to play check out the Jazz Fest Music Schedule here. 

What's so wonderful about this festival is that many discounts for New Orleans Hotels are available making Jazz Fest 2009 a realistic option for an affordable vacation. There are also several packages available for tickets to the event that are really worth looking into.

If jazz is in your blood, or if you're just interested in checking out something unique and entertaining, the New Orleans Jazz Fest definitely fits the bill. 

Casinos Offer Discount Vacation Packages

This must be the place to discuss these issues, because since I've focused the majority of my posts on really finding deals for travel I've had many, many, many, emails. Of the many, people want to get back to the glitz and fun of the casinos, so as I'm obliged to listen to my public, here's one that I've found.

Let's take Las Vegas for instance. Vegas is about 10% down from 2008 during the same time of the year. We also have to remember that times were getting tight last year this time also, so any more drop and things are starting to look catastrophic. What are the issues that caused this. The main driving force behind casino vacation packages has been to get the people there to gamble, but the bulk of the price came in the form of the exclusive rooms. Now with the economy so frail, or actually better yet, starting over a year ago with a soft market, the price of these packages taking into account the full retail of the rooms, you have many people and potential gamblers being priced out of the market. 

So go to the web sites of these great Casinos in Las Vegas and check out the great specials below. You may never be able to get deals like these on rooms any time soon.

At the MGM Grand there are rates for rooms at $75.

If you look at the Mandalay Bay room rates are posted for $89.

How about getting real ridiculous? Circus Circus of Las Vegas is offering rooms at rates of $25 !!!

As you can see discounts and rates for a visit to Las Vegas. Check out rates for these casinos in the coming weeks, because as I stated it appears that rates will continue to drop, but who knows for how long. 

Philadelphia Budget Travel

Philadelphia Pennsylvania is the embodiment of history and metropolitan pinache as there could be in any one city. Yeah, sure New York City and Boston have there hats thrown in on this argument, but I'm a Phillies, 76er's and Eagels fan and I'm writing this post. 

Now one great argument for talking about Philadelphia as a great budget travel destination to visit is the fact that unlike NYC and Boston, Philly offers a lot of great free tours. Yep I said it, free tours. Then there's the relatively cheap travel. The transportation system of Philadelphia is called SEPTA and a lot of the traveling is per ride is actually about $2. Again, yes I said it, $2 per ride. You won't find deals like that in other major cities. If we had to offer the best way to do a tour of the city we've found out about a touring bus called Phlash. Again, you pay about $2 per ride, but you also can tour for the entire day for $5. 

Then there's the number of great historic spots that either offer the free tours or something like $10 to $15 a tour. We're talking about Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and other great places to name a few.

Ok, let's not forget about the great Philadelphia Hotels that are available. If you look for hotel vacancies in other major cities across the United States you'll see rates like $250 to $350 a night. In Philadelphia you'll see some great quality hotels for like $95.00 to $149.00 a night and that's including weekends. 

So don't pass up on the opportunity for a great trip and a a chance to take on a little history during a vacation to the city of Philadelphia.

Portland Oregon Travel

There are some areas of the United States that aren't always thought to be great choices in terms of travel or vacations. Some, however, offer a unique twist of fun and because they may not be the premium places to visit in the eyes of the consumer can offer would be travelers great savings with a great vacation. Portland Oregon is one such city.

Set in the great North West of the United States Portland Oregon is rich in history and really a beautiful part of our great country. If you take a look at a random Portland Travel Guide you can see the many options available should one be so inclined to take a vacation or plan a trip. Portland is Oregon's official metropolis so it offers all of the great things you'd expect to find in the big city. You'll find great arts and culture, fantastic dining, a hip nightlife and of course be privy to things that are just unique to Portland that other big cities just don't have. One such area is the ability to enjoy the great outdoors. 

As is always the case, should we not lose site of our goals on this blog, you can see and enjoy Portland Oregon without great expense. Now showing is the 2009 Portland Jazz Festival. The Festival is being sponsored by Alaskan Airlines and Horizon Air and starts today February 13th and will continue through and up to February 22nd. Tickets to attend the event are $21 per night !! There are also some great hotel rates right now for rooms that are starting at around $70. Call 1-800-950-1363 to inquire about vacancies in any number of hotels. Of course why not try out the local fare with a visit to one of Portland's most acclaimed restaurants by checking out the Portland Spirit. Why is this so unique? The Portland Spirit is a dinner cruise that takes you down the Willamette River. 

So for a great trip consider Portland Oregon.  

US Airways Vacations - Discount Travel to Las Vegas

Every day it seems like one more big time name or brand in the travel industry is doing their “little” thing to respond to the declining economic situation. We've had a few posts in the past few days mentioning some big names like Priceline, Orbitz and Travelocity. US Airways Vacations officially adds their name to the discount travel game with their current promotion for Las Vegas Vacation Packages. The deal, quite simple. US Airways is giving away tickets to shows in Las Vegas when customers book a Las Vegas Vacation Package.

The Las Vegas Vacation Packages are fantastic too. They come with a basic plan that includes a four night stay at any number of top Las Vegas Hotels and include round trip flight to and from Las Vegas to your destination. Obviously not all packages are priced the same based on the fact that so many different types of hotels can be booked. That is, customers to US Airways Vacations can choose from highly rated hotels to moderately rated hotels. Pricing and hotel room rates are relative to the price.

What's the catch? From every thing we've investigated there doesn't seem to be one, and what's more the shows are top headlines. Tickets to shows include Criss Angel's Believe, Love, Zumanity and O. Oh, I'm sorry, there does seem to be one catch, but it's not bad. All Las Vegas vacation packages must be booked by February 20th, 2009 and the trip must take place and be finished by June 1st, 2009. Is that such a catch? I don't think so and from a business perspective deals like this with definitive and tangible time lines seem to be working.

There is no doubt that discount traveling and vacations priced like this and offering such incredible premiums can't be permanent or continuous, but at least it shows that companies are responding in a positive way.

Orbitz Price Assurance Guarantee

Another in a long line of major travel web sites that are throwing their hat in, as it were, to the response to the bad economy is Orbitz travel.  The official name of the company is Orbitz Worldwide, that according to a statement on the website the official framing of the company mission is "using innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products". Ok, that is pretty vague, so why not offer a little more of a laymen's explanation is that the company owns several global consumer brands in travel and aggregates suppliers inventory for hotels and airfare. Originally it was a cooperative between several of the major airlines, but as the travel industry has grown and matured so has the company. 

Well back to Orbitz Price Assurance Guarantee. Orbitz is doing something a little different in response to the economic down turn. Many of the web sites I've posted about offer a nebulous 50% or more discount to regular rates. I've always kind of found that difficult to try and gauge. Orbitz, however, is kind of putting their money where their mouth is. The price assurance is actually very simple concept. Stepping back on their technology, Orbitz tracks the purchases made by their customers. Once a customer makes a purchase Orbitz will track it to see if any other customer of their makes a purchase for a flight or hotel room, and if the subsequent price is less than what the original customer paid a refund for the difference will be made. 

This is some pretty good stuff and I'm banking we'll see some great innovative discounts in the travel industry as we all navigate through these troubled economic times. 

Deep Discounts for Destination Travel.

The economy is swirling down the proverbial toilet and the world of travel is responding with deep discounts. From zoo's, aquariums, museums and theme parks to the marketing of major cities and states, the word is out....Discounts !!!

Recently a report surfaced that not every sector in this bleak economy is doing so terrible. In fact, the sector of retail dedicated to offering wholesale discounts to consumers is doing quite well. In turn, the travel sector, on masse, has seemed to copy this strategy and every day it appears that more and more travel related or industries dependent on travel and tourism are adopting this specific focus. 

How glaringly obvious are some of these trends and how wide spread between type and geography? Well in Orlando you have the World famous Disney World Theme Park offering free night stays. Actually one specific deal is offering  $400 off the price of a seven night stay if the package is booked for dates between February through the end of June 2009. In Pennsylvania Hershey Park is offering coupons for $15 entrance fees at the gate. Finally, at the world's largest aquarium in Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium has stepped back entrance fees to last years prices, which is $27.  As a matter of fact the Georgia Aquarium is offering an additional incentive, whereby if you visit once they will give you what is called a "bounce pass" which you can come back to the aquarium for the price of $15. 

As you can see drastic times call for drastic measures. The deals keep popping up, and we'll keep our eye out for more and more of them as they develop. 

Discount Ski Vacations in Aspen.

Surprisingly enough it's already February and we haven't done a post for ski vacations yet. The ski season is in high gear across the country, well at least in the destinations where you can ski. I thought it would be novel to do a post on Aspen Colorado and talk about some discount ski vacations that are being offered to this beautiful destination.

I'm not a big time skier so when I went to what I thought is an expert website on the subject, aspen.ski.com. Actually just reading through the site has made me truly consider taking a trip to Aspen. What a beautiful place. Wow !!

So I looked around and found some great deals. Yes, they may be pricey but Aspen is definitely not for the budget minded. The thing is and as this blog's title states we're all about discount traveling. So here we go with a few discount ski vacations to the beautiful area of Aspen.

The deal actually is coming to a close come February 11, 2009, but for a measly $2090 per person you get one hell of a vacation in luxurious accommodations. The package is for Little Nell, where you get 4 nights of lodging in an upscale hotel. Also enjoy 3 days of the best skiing you'll find anywhere on the glob. But wait, as they say on infomercials, there's more. This package offers $250 towards shipped luggage or airline luggage fees, free demo ski or snowboard rental each day and a whole log more. The hotel features an outdoor pool and outdoor hot tub, a steam room spa services, dry cleaning services, the works. Then your room comes with incredible views of the surrounding area and the option of getting an executive suite down to a junior suite. Obviously the price mentioned will take into account these accommodation changes.

Hotel Savings at 50% Discounts.

It seems like everyone these days is reacting to the world wide storm that has fallen upon the economy. The big boys of internet travel are doing the same. 

With hundreds of thousands of employees being laid off or having to deal with major cutbacks that include furloughs or work stoppage money is very tight. How these businesses react NOW will effect the how we all weather through the storm. Not doing so will have a domino effect that can be catastrophic.

So with all the doom and gloom out of the way let's get to the good news. There are some tremendous deals out there being offered by great companies.

Let's begin with Travelocity's Silver Lining Sale. If you go to their site the promotion offers several featured destinations with hotel rate discounted up to 50%. The deal is only temporary and the promotion actually ends February 16th. The other issue with this promotion is that if you go to the site or other marketing posts about this deal they make a statement that many of the deals may no longer be available. I've come across several people that have found this to be frustrating but a deals a deal and it it definitely worth looking at the deals this company has.

Not to be left behind Priceline, heralded by famous actor, singer and poet James Shaffner, is upping the ante by pushing it's own 50% savings program. The only issue is Priceline has been pushing the fact that they offer 50% savings with their unique pricing program anyway. That being said, as with Travelocity several deals of quality area available.

Another smaller site Reserve Vacations, which recently launched in the fall of 2008, has been offering some unique rates for accommodations that also come with add ons known as premiums. Premiums are the extras provided with a vacation package which may include such things as free tickets to area shows, rounds of golf or restaurants. Now the rates for these packages are ridiculously low. There is a little caveat to these packages also. The low discounts are provided in an effort to get travelers to the properties to hear sales presentations for timeshare opportunities. 

Keep your eye out because there are many deals out there and many more companies are finding new and inventive ways to maintain a share in the current declining market.