Cheap Vacations - Travel Deals

I have been known to suffer from some pretty serious post-travel blues. Despite the fact that almost no one will ever feel sorry for you after you return from a long and fabulous vacation and head back to work, it can be really tough dealing with being back from you adventures and sitting back in a desk chair. This is why I often find myself needing little weekend vacations peppered throughout my year to tied me over until the next big trip (one of the great suggestions in the article 10 Tips on Beating the Post-Travel Blues). Especially with 3-day flight and hotel packages for less than $300, you can also totally afford these little getaways while still saving for the next adventure. Flight+3 Night Hotel Vacations from $299

Some people are of the opinion that once you have children you no longer can travel. Kids cost a lot of money and they are a lot of extra work. Travel just isn’t the same with them in toe, so they say.

They are right, of course. Travel isn’t the same when you have children along. It can, in fact, be even better. There is no better way for a family to bond together than to hit the road for a vacation. Taking yourself out of your normal environment leads to challenging situation and these challenges are what help to bring people together and to form lasting memories. Getting stranded in airports together, staying in crappy hotels, watching dad puke from food poisoning…this is the essence of travel and it is something your kids will enjoy (at least when it is over).

That said, finding vacation destinations that will hold the interest of children and parents alike is always the great challenge. Finding destinations that meet these requirements and are affordable requires even more thought. Or at least a pop over to the Orbitz Web site where you can find information on 25 family friendly vacations. If you book one of the vacations right now, you can save $100.

Money doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to. When I was a kid you could buy an entire city for a nickel. I also had to walk five miles uphill in the snow just to use a restroom. Those were the days.

With money in tight demand and the prices on things like gas on the rise, it is time to look at the vacation spots where you can get the most bang for your buck. Based on bang alone, you would think that a trip to a fireworks warehouse would make the cut, but it did not.

Here are the top 10 destinations that offer the best value according to Hotwire:

1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
3. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
4. Orlando-Daytona Beach, Florida
5. Kansas City, Missouri
6. Denver, Colorado
7. Los Angeles, California
8. Chicago, Illinois
9. Cleveland, Ohio
10. Washington, DC

Quite the list, isn’t it? I happen to disagree with Chicago and Los Angeles offering value. Great cities, yes. Cheap cities, not by a country mile. The inclusion of Kansas City also is interesting since it is a city that is reputed to be less than interesting. Maybe its value is that you won’t have anything to spend money on while you are there. Just kidding. There is a great jazz in K.C. Go there. Love it. Enjoy the value.

Remember when Baltimore, Maryland was just about the only city in the United States trying to make its downtown area a desirable place to visit? I sure do. My parents dragged me there all the time and made sure to tell me all about the city’s urban planning revival over and over and over again.

I have a greater appreciation for this nowadays as cities across the United States follow Baltimore’s lead through downtown revitalization projects. Even after all these years, Baltimore is still a cool place to visit, especially for families looking for a quick day trip or a weekend getaway.

The Baltimore Winter Waterfront Pass provides admission to four of the city’s most popular attractions, all perfect for a winter weekend of exploration, including access to the National Aquarium in Baltimore; Maryland Science Center; Port Discovery, the Children’s Museum in Baltimore and Top of the World Observation Deck. The Baltimore Winter Waterfront Pass is $39 for adults (25 percent savings off retail) and $29 for children (21 percent savings off retail) and is valid for 30 days from first use or until March 31, 2007.

Get yourself to the city and see what it is all about. If nothing else you will be able to munch on some wonderful Maryland crab cakes and to bore your own kids with talk of urban planning.

Affordable Hotels in Baltimore

For an island that is merely 30 miles long and 10 miles wide and with the highest natural point a mere 15 meters above seas level, Cozumel has a lot to offer. The popular vacation destination located off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula has an incredible amount of biodiversity and some of the best scuba diving you can find anywhere in the world.

Jacques Cousteau made the waters of Cozumel famous in the 1960s and as a result there was an explosion of scuba diving around its legendary coral reefs. In 1996, the government of Mexico also established the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, forbidding anyone from touching or removing any marine life within the park boundaries.

In addition to the fun you can have underwater, Cozumel offers some beautiful beaches and an active nightlife geared tourists those looking to party while on holiday.

Travelocity is offering a vacation package that is a tremendous value. You can fly to Cozumel and stay at the three-star El Cozumeleno Beach Resort for three nights for about the same as you would normally pay just for an airplane ticket. The resort is located on the northern hotel zone of Cozumel and is just five minutes from downtown and it is right across the street from an 18-hole golf course.

What more could you ask for?

All Inclusive Vacations: Flight + 3 Nights Hotel From $637

The Bahamas are a great destination for just about anyone. For those looking for a quick getaway, their proximity to the United States can make a three-day holiday escape a reality. For those looking to soak up some sun, I don’t think you need me to tell you that the Bahamas are a sun worshipper’s paradise. For those looking to get a glimpse at a foreign culture, the people of the Bahamas have their own traditions and their own way of life that they are happy to share with guests. And for those looking for a holiday for the entire family, the Bahamas is an affordable destination where there is enough to see and do to keep even the most restless children entertained.

Now is the ideal time to scoop up a great deal on a vacation to the Bahamas. The various airlines and travel companies are falling over one another in an attempt to offer you the best deal. Vacation Outlet has a unique promotion. Not only do they offer unreal rates on vacation packages to the Bahamas, but if you sign up to stay at one of their many listed resorts you can get reimbursement for up to 4 new passports.

Passports aren’t cheap these days so this offer has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars on something you need anyway. While you are at, you might want to think about picking up some travel insurance just in case.

The airlines and various travel sites have transitioned from holiday mode to Spring Break and winter getaway mode. Take a look around and you’ll find plenty of offers on vacations that involve sunshine in warm weather locales. One of the niftiest deals around comes courtesy of Travelocity. They are offering a fourth night free at the Riu Ocho Rios resort in Jamaica.

This offer is tempting for a few reasons. For one thing, Jamaica is not very far away from most places in the U.S. so it is possible to get there without spending a whole day in transit. A four-day trip vacation is also an ideal way to recharge the batteries without wasting away valuable vacation days you’ll want to take later in the year. The deal also is an all-inclusive package and by all accounts the Riu Ocho Rios resort is an excellent value for the price.

Finally, we are talking about Jamaica here. The island is beautiful, the beaches are alluring, the water is pure and the attitude is laid back. What more could you want?

Head on over to the cheap international plane tickets search and get yourself a seat on a plane to Jamaica pronto. That is an order.

Here is a deal for those of you who are itching to get away but who can’t afford to take too much time off from work. British Airways is offering up a tasty 3-night Spirit of London winter package. The promotion includes round-trip airfare from New York to London, 3 nights in a hotel and you even get to feast on some scones during high tea. All of this is priced at a remarkable $550. The only hitch is that you have to book the package before December 22, 2006 and travel sometime between November 9, 2006 and January 17, 2007.

For what to see and do while in London, check out the one and only London Logue for the lowdown.

The word is starting to get out that Whistler is one of the best ski resorts in North America. Located north of the wonderful city of Vancouver, Whistler will be the center of the sports universe when it hosts the downhill races at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest and as we like to say around here, rain in the valleys means snow in the mountains. Whistler gets plenty of the white stuff each winter and with a bevy of slopes it offers unparalleled skiing opportunities.

Alaska Airlines is running some excellent promotions on ski packages at Whistler this winter. The earlier you book, the more you save.

The election season is upon us here in the United States and if you are not careful you might just see a campaign commercial on television. The focus is, of course, on Washington, DC, a city that will likely be losing some residents come November, while gaining some new ones as well.

Even if you aren’t a politician, you should make an effort to visit our nation’s capital. The city has excellent museums, great restaurants, fun neighborhoods like Georgetown and Adam’s Morgan, and much, much more.

Cheap Tickets has a pretty good deal for the taking right now on flights and hotel stays in Washington, DC. Take advantage of the sale now and remember to do your patriotic duty by voting the first Tuesday in November.

For more on flights, hotels and sights in Washington, DC and cities across the United States, check out BootsnAll.