When I think about wine, I cannot help but reminisce about my time spent in Siena, the most extraordinarily beautiful hill town in Tuscany. From it's orange colored tile roofs and it's maze like medieval streets to the ever so charming trattoria's and it's angelic church bells resonating throughout the city, the place will simply win over anyone's heart. In addition to it's charm and elegance, this Tuscan hill town is blessed by it's advantageous locale. It is positioned between the Chianti region to it's north and the home of the legendary Brunello to it's south. If you are a wine connoisseur or a novice who just enjoys a nice glass of full bodied red, than you will be in heaven. The trattorias and wine bars throughout Siena offer an incredible array of choices of this ruby red elixir. From the ultra pricey Brunello di Montalcino, a glass of this impeccable wine could be one of the most spectacular and life altering experiences out there, to table wines that would make many French and California wineries green with envy, a bottle will typically set you back about five dollars U.S. One thing that you will quickly notice when you select a bottle of wine in Italy is that the names are different than in the states. In the states, we label a bottle by it's grape, ie. Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel. In Italy, wine is categorized by the region it comes from. So if you see a bottle of Chianti, then you know exactly where it came from, the grapes or at least the percentage of the different grapes in the bottle may vary, but you will essentially know what you are getting. The one exception to this is the Super Tuscans, which are a mixture of grapes that are found throughout Tuscany. These wines are more dynamic, using the best grapes from Chianti, and the areas around Montalcino and are simply divine.
One great aspect of Siena's location is how easily it is to take a day trip throughout this picturesque country side and taste some of these extraordinary wine at any number of these enchanting enteches or wineries. This will provide an opportunity to see the wine making process first hand and give you a better understanding the amount of work it takes to craft these impeccable wines. Be careful when trying these mesmerizing flavors, because they have a tendency to captivate your heart and enthral your taste buds to the point that you may never want to leave this gorgeous countryside. So the next time you visit Siena, the epicenter of Italian wine, indulge in la dolce vita, the good life, and taste these incredible and diverse wines. Cin Cin!
These are a few of the impeccable wineries in this amazing region:
www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it
www.dievole.it
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How To Get The Best Exchange Rates When Traveling Abroad
For many, traveling abroad is a life long dream. A chance to see amazing sites that they have only seen in movies or have read about in a book. An opportunity to try new foods and experience a whole new culture, but how do you pay for that pizza in Rome or take that ferry ride in Sydney? Some people pullout their debit or credit card and end up regretting it later. While others use foreign currency that they got from the airport or a traveler's check that they got from home before they left for this dream destination. There are many advantages and financial pitfalls to each of these strategies. So how do you decide what is the right way to pay for things without "being taken yo the cleaners?"
First of all, credit and debit cards are the easiest way to pay for larger purchases like hotel rooms and meals in extremely touristy restaurants. For most places you will not have much trouble using Visa or Master Card. They are universally excepted in most countries, where as American Express is much harder to use, especially in non-westernized and Discover Card is virtually useless outside the United States and Canada. In spite of the fact that using cards are exceptionally easy, there are some major drawbacks to purchasing with plastic. They regretfully come with a very hefty international transaction fee. This can be as high as 10% per transaction, depending on the bank your card is associated with. This can add up to significant amount in a hurry. Also, many smaller businesses, do not typically take credit cards. They prefer cash, because they can avoid reporting these transactions to their local governments as earned income. Besides keeping the sales off the books, small businesses owners try to avoid paying these credit card companies for the right to accept their services. Every time they swipe a card in a reader, they pay the card companies a fee. Thus, they choose not to take credit cards. If you decide to use credit cards and debit cards while you are abroad, do not forget to call your banks and let them know that you will be gone. Nothing ruins a vacation like having your bank deny your transaction and having to spend hours on a phone convincing the bank that you are really in Paris and not still in your slippers at home.
Travelers checks have very little upside when traveling abroad. If your wallet or purse is stolen while abroad, than you can cancel the checks at anytime and you can get your money back when you get back state side. Also, carrying travelers checks will give you a false sense of security by not having a large amount of cash on hand. With that said, travelers checks are by far the most difficult way to pay for things when traveling. Most places will not take them as payment, especially if they are in large denominations. Thus, you have to track down a bank that will cash them for you. Some hotels will as well, but not many. No matter who does cashes them for you, it will be at an unfavorable rate.
Now cash is the best way to make purchases abroad. Everybody takes cash. So it is definitely the way go, if you can. You can obtain better bargains when shopping with cash and many hotels will give you a reduced rate with it. So how do you get it cash when abroad? The best way is by using your debit card at a cash machine or an ATM. By using your debit card, you can obtain large sums of foreign currency for a small fee. That's why I usually withdraw larger sums of money when using these machines. It will reduce the amount of ATM fees that you will incur throughout your trip. Most ATM's will charge you on average $2 for each transaction and a 4% foreign exchange rate. So for a withdrawal of $200 you will only pay $206 for the transaction. This is so much cheaper than the airport exchange offices, because they will charge you a fee of around $8 plus an unfavorable exchange rate for your currency. Thus, you may have to pay around $20 per $100 exchanged.
With so many options available, how do you decide which option is best for you? I would mix and match the types of money you take on your trip to insure that you have no problems while abroad and give you the most flexibility possible. Personally, I take one credit card in case of emergencies, one debit card for ATM with drawls and some cash in U.S. dollars, around $200 to $300 in case there is a problem with your cards. I find that this strategy covers any unforeseen problems and greatly reduces the fee's that banks will charge. I hope this helps you save money on that dream trip abroad. Bon Voyage!
First of all, credit and debit cards are the easiest way to pay for larger purchases like hotel rooms and meals in extremely touristy restaurants. For most places you will not have much trouble using Visa or Master Card. They are universally excepted in most countries, where as American Express is much harder to use, especially in non-westernized and Discover Card is virtually useless outside the United States and Canada. In spite of the fact that using cards are exceptionally easy, there are some major drawbacks to purchasing with plastic. They regretfully come with a very hefty international transaction fee. This can be as high as 10% per transaction, depending on the bank your card is associated with. This can add up to significant amount in a hurry. Also, many smaller businesses, do not typically take credit cards. They prefer cash, because they can avoid reporting these transactions to their local governments as earned income. Besides keeping the sales off the books, small businesses owners try to avoid paying these credit card companies for the right to accept their services. Every time they swipe a card in a reader, they pay the card companies a fee. Thus, they choose not to take credit cards. If you decide to use credit cards and debit cards while you are abroad, do not forget to call your banks and let them know that you will be gone. Nothing ruins a vacation like having your bank deny your transaction and having to spend hours on a phone convincing the bank that you are really in Paris and not still in your slippers at home.
Travelers checks have very little upside when traveling abroad. If your wallet or purse is stolen while abroad, than you can cancel the checks at anytime and you can get your money back when you get back state side. Also, carrying travelers checks will give you a false sense of security by not having a large amount of cash on hand. With that said, travelers checks are by far the most difficult way to pay for things when traveling. Most places will not take them as payment, especially if they are in large denominations. Thus, you have to track down a bank that will cash them for you. Some hotels will as well, but not many. No matter who does cashes them for you, it will be at an unfavorable rate.
Now cash is the best way to make purchases abroad. Everybody takes cash. So it is definitely the way go, if you can. You can obtain better bargains when shopping with cash and many hotels will give you a reduced rate with it. So how do you get it cash when abroad? The best way is by using your debit card at a cash machine or an ATM. By using your debit card, you can obtain large sums of foreign currency for a small fee. That's why I usually withdraw larger sums of money when using these machines. It will reduce the amount of ATM fees that you will incur throughout your trip. Most ATM's will charge you on average $2 for each transaction and a 4% foreign exchange rate. So for a withdrawal of $200 you will only pay $206 for the transaction. This is so much cheaper than the airport exchange offices, because they will charge you a fee of around $8 plus an unfavorable exchange rate for your currency. Thus, you may have to pay around $20 per $100 exchanged.
With so many options available, how do you decide which option is best for you? I would mix and match the types of money you take on your trip to insure that you have no problems while abroad and give you the most flexibility possible. Personally, I take one credit card in case of emergencies, one debit card for ATM with drawls and some cash in U.S. dollars, around $200 to $300 in case there is a problem with your cards. I find that this strategy covers any unforeseen problems and greatly reduces the fee's that banks will charge. I hope this helps you save money on that dream trip abroad. Bon Voyage!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas Time In The Rockies
Here in the Colorado Rockies, many of our beloved communities really go all out to make this season truly feel special. One great example of this exuberance out pour of Christmas joy is the Victorian mountain town of Georgetown and it's legendary Christmas Market. This adorable little mountain town is located about an hours drive west of Denver and in general is a wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. During their annual Christmas Market, the place is decorated from head to toe in festive decor. The place is a menagerie of holly and bows, that would make The Griswold's proud. As you walk along the snow packed streets, carolers will pass-bye singing gleeful songs of this cherished season. While bundled up men and women meander from stall to stall looking at the plethora of handicrafts on display. They are all in search for that truly one of a kind gift, be it hand made mittens to ornaments made out of walnut shells to Native American pottery. This extremely busy market seems to have something for everyone. Oh, and did I mention the food? They have a variety of dishes, from turkey legs to green chili to funnel cakes and they even have the iconic treat of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. If you have a sweet tooth, then stop on by The Georgetown Valley Candy Company for some of the best homemade confections around. From there twenty different types of fudges to the best tasting chocolate flavored turtles anywhere. For a more mature pallet, try wassail. It is an alcoholic version of malt cider and will quickly warm up those bones from the chilly mountain air. In fact, the town boasts a wassail crawl, which involves stops throughout this lovely hamlet to giving you the chance to try a variety of receipts of this golden delight. Then there is the more family oriented activities like hay rides. For a couple of dollars, you and your little ones can get on a horse drawn wagon and take a fun filled ride through this enchanting little town. Now Christmas would not be complete without man of the hour, Father Christmas. He strolls throughout town spreading joy to all of the little boys and girls that he meets.
This may all seem like a tourist trap, designed to bring in revenue to a sleepy little mountain community, but to me it has always epitomized the best part of Christmas in the Colorado Rockies.
Check out this great video on Georgetown's Christmas Market:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAv_3DNTb8Y
For a great receipt for wassail, try this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/wassail-recipe/index.html
If you would like to try some of those incredible treats from The Georgetown Valley Candy Company:
http://www.shopgvcc.com/
This may all seem like a tourist trap, designed to bring in revenue to a sleepy little mountain community, but to me it has always epitomized the best part of Christmas in the Colorado Rockies.
Check out this great video on Georgetown's Christmas Market:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAv_3DNTb8Y
For a great receipt for wassail, try this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/wassail-recipe/index.html
If you would like to try some of those incredible treats from The Georgetown Valley Candy Company:
http://www.shopgvcc.com/
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Baggage Fee's And How To Avoid Them
One of the most frustrating problems for travelers these days is baggage fees. It seems like every time you turn around, the airlines are raising their rates to check bags and these fee's can quickly add up to a substantial amount of money. A family of four can easily pay out over $200 a trip because of these ridiculous fee's! For some families, this could make all the difference, from taking a trip or staying home. So the question is, how can you avoid getting hit with these exuberant fee's? First of all, do the research on the airline that you are planning on fighting with. Southwest Airlines and other regional carriers still offers a first bag flights free option. Other airlines like United/Continental have a one bag free on international flights deal. Definitely take these types of deals into consideration when choosing an airline. It can save you a ton money in the long run.
Other ways to save on those annoying bag fee's, is to work around them. If you can learn to pack less and only bring the essentials, you will reduce the amount of luggage necessary for your trip. For instance, it might be fun to bring that cute pair of green heels that goes so well with that sleeveless green dress. This might take care of one night on the town, but would it not be more practical and easier to bring a more versatile pair of shoes, like a pair of black flats which you can pair with several outfits. This way you can avoid bringing a whole closet worth of shoes with you and still look amazing in the process. Packing light will reduce the amount of bags that need to be checked, and ideally get you to the holy grail of packing, a single carry-on size bag of 22" X 14" x 9". If you can ever make it down to one carry-on size bag, then you are set! Besides the fact that you will save yourself a ton of money, you can avoid many of the hassles that accompany having too many bags. You will never have to wait around at the baggage carousel for your luggage again. Think how great it would be to simply leave a plane and head straight on home or to start that incredible vacation, while those poor unfortunate souls who have not learned the virtues of packing light are wasting their trip away at the airport. Let's not forget about how horrible it is to have your luggage stolen off of the carousel before you arrive to pick it up, some thief's specialize in this type of larceny, or your bags could end up in Des Monies when you are ready for some fun in the sun in Miami. I cannot reiterate this enough, Pack Light!
You might be wondering about those health and beauty aids that we all just have to have. The trick is to lay out a quart size bag and place your cosmetics next to it. If all of the bottles are less than 3 oz. and they fit in the bag then you are good to go. If not, then ask yourself, are all of these bottles and containers truly necessary? Eliminate any unnecessary items and remember that each person is allowed a quart size bag of liquids for the flight. This includes husbands, wives, and children; so spread out these beauty aids between all of the travelers in your party. This will make it easier to beat this carry-on restriction. Also, realize that when traveling in the states, you can buy any and all products for the trip. This is one great thing about the mass proliferation of Wal*Marts, Rite Aids, and Walgreen's. These 24/7 establishments are everywhere and make it easy to pick up a bottle of hairspray or some deodorant. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself is it worth paying $50 to check a bag for a $3 bottle of shampoo?
What about those really cool souvenirs you pick up along your travels? Well, if they are larger than your carry-on size bag, than have them shipped back. It will cost you less to have a Turkish rug or a didgeridoo shipped back, than to shell out $50 to have it loaded onto the plane.
What about perfumes and liquors? You can find some amazing deals on these kind of items while traveling abroad and they make wonderful reminders of your trip. If you are buying iconic brands like Jameson whiskey in Ireland, than buy it from the duty free shop at the airport. By buying duty free you can skip the bag checking process and can take it onto the plane even though it is larger than 3 oz. However, this only works if your point of entry into the United States is your final destination, otherwise you are still obligated to pay the baggage fee for the domestic flight. Thus, with non mainstream liquors and perfumes over 3 oz. you are stuck. You will have to mail the item home or pay the fee pending on your airline and their policies.
I hope this clears up any misconceived notions about baggage fee's and how they are a necessary evil that we have to mindlessly accept. We don't have to pay them! That is as long as you can work around the system. I personally have not payed a baggage fee in years. So yes it is more than possible to avoid those nasty baggage fee's!
Check out this news clip about the Chinese man who went to great lengths to avoid those enormous baggage fee's:
http://gbtimes.com/news/man-tries-avoid-excess-baggage-fee-wearing-70-clothing-items
Other ways to save on those annoying bag fee's, is to work around them. If you can learn to pack less and only bring the essentials, you will reduce the amount of luggage necessary for your trip. For instance, it might be fun to bring that cute pair of green heels that goes so well with that sleeveless green dress. This might take care of one night on the town, but would it not be more practical and easier to bring a more versatile pair of shoes, like a pair of black flats which you can pair with several outfits. This way you can avoid bringing a whole closet worth of shoes with you and still look amazing in the process. Packing light will reduce the amount of bags that need to be checked, and ideally get you to the holy grail of packing, a single carry-on size bag of 22" X 14" x 9". If you can ever make it down to one carry-on size bag, then you are set! Besides the fact that you will save yourself a ton of money, you can avoid many of the hassles that accompany having too many bags. You will never have to wait around at the baggage carousel for your luggage again. Think how great it would be to simply leave a plane and head straight on home or to start that incredible vacation, while those poor unfortunate souls who have not learned the virtues of packing light are wasting their trip away at the airport. Let's not forget about how horrible it is to have your luggage stolen off of the carousel before you arrive to pick it up, some thief's specialize in this type of larceny, or your bags could end up in Des Monies when you are ready for some fun in the sun in Miami. I cannot reiterate this enough, Pack Light!
You might be wondering about those health and beauty aids that we all just have to have. The trick is to lay out a quart size bag and place your cosmetics next to it. If all of the bottles are less than 3 oz. and they fit in the bag then you are good to go. If not, then ask yourself, are all of these bottles and containers truly necessary? Eliminate any unnecessary items and remember that each person is allowed a quart size bag of liquids for the flight. This includes husbands, wives, and children; so spread out these beauty aids between all of the travelers in your party. This will make it easier to beat this carry-on restriction. Also, realize that when traveling in the states, you can buy any and all products for the trip. This is one great thing about the mass proliferation of Wal*Marts, Rite Aids, and Walgreen's. These 24/7 establishments are everywhere and make it easy to pick up a bottle of hairspray or some deodorant. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself is it worth paying $50 to check a bag for a $3 bottle of shampoo?
What about those really cool souvenirs you pick up along your travels? Well, if they are larger than your carry-on size bag, than have them shipped back. It will cost you less to have a Turkish rug or a didgeridoo shipped back, than to shell out $50 to have it loaded onto the plane.
What about perfumes and liquors? You can find some amazing deals on these kind of items while traveling abroad and they make wonderful reminders of your trip. If you are buying iconic brands like Jameson whiskey in Ireland, than buy it from the duty free shop at the airport. By buying duty free you can skip the bag checking process and can take it onto the plane even though it is larger than 3 oz. However, this only works if your point of entry into the United States is your final destination, otherwise you are still obligated to pay the baggage fee for the domestic flight. Thus, with non mainstream liquors and perfumes over 3 oz. you are stuck. You will have to mail the item home or pay the fee pending on your airline and their policies.
I hope this clears up any misconceived notions about baggage fee's and how they are a necessary evil that we have to mindlessly accept. We don't have to pay them! That is as long as you can work around the system. I personally have not payed a baggage fee in years. So yes it is more than possible to avoid those nasty baggage fee's!
Check out this news clip about the Chinese man who went to great lengths to avoid those enormous baggage fee's:
http://gbtimes.com/news/man-tries-avoid-excess-baggage-fee-wearing-70-clothing-items
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Panforte: A Fruit Cake That Is Truly Delizioso!
Christmas is a season synonymous with many things. Fighting tooth and nail through an army of unruly shoppers for that perfect gift. Or the smell of pine irradiating from that ginormous Douglas fur in the living room. Let's not forget about that blinding display of Christmas lights illuminating from the neighbor's house. But what about the fruit cake? You know that horrendous tasting slab of cake that people have a tendency of pawning off on unsuspecting family members and coworkers. The one, that people will either re-gift and give to that one aunt that no one really likes or simply use as a door jam. I have good news for everyone who has ever encountered this neon colored abomination that only an absolute lunatic would attempt to call a pastry! I give you The Panforte, Italy's amazing version of this Christmas cliche.
The panforte or as I like to fondly think of it as Italy's most tasty pastry, is a collection of honey, nuts, dried or candied fruits and a menagerie of delightful spices that make this dense and tasty cake a mouthwatering experience, especially when it is blanketed in confectioners sugar . This circle of tasty goodness comes from the medieval town of Siena, where it is regarded as a staple of their incredible cuisine. You cannot pass by a bakery or pastry shop in town and not see humongous stacks of these delicious cakes all wrapped up in the most alluring of packages. These sweet treats are traditionally brought to someones house when invited to diner, much like Americans do with a fine bottle of wine. Now if you ask an Italian for his or her receipt for panforte, you will be thoroughly disappointed. A Sienese family will guard that receipt with more diligence, then Fort Knox with it's gold. So to truly taste this magnificent treat you might have to catch the next plane for Tuscany or try the receipt I provided at the end of this article. I hope that this new variation of a Christmas classic might give you a new perspective on fruit cake and finally prove to the world that this pastry can be delicious and not something that the dog would turn it's noses on!
If you would like to make this delicious pastry at home, I provided a link to a good receipt at food.com:
http://www.food.com/recipe/panforte-248338
If you want to see what these beautiful cakes look like check out these awesome pics:
https://www.google.com/search?q=panforte&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=VJTLUJ3REM6EygGRm4GgDg&
For some great fruit cake humor take a gander at these links!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZufy-FxK0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfWWWTE8K4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNy96wYnNsg
The panforte or as I like to fondly think of it as Italy's most tasty pastry, is a collection of honey, nuts, dried or candied fruits and a menagerie of delightful spices that make this dense and tasty cake a mouthwatering experience, especially when it is blanketed in confectioners sugar . This circle of tasty goodness comes from the medieval town of Siena, where it is regarded as a staple of their incredible cuisine. You cannot pass by a bakery or pastry shop in town and not see humongous stacks of these delicious cakes all wrapped up in the most alluring of packages. These sweet treats are traditionally brought to someones house when invited to diner, much like Americans do with a fine bottle of wine. Now if you ask an Italian for his or her receipt for panforte, you will be thoroughly disappointed. A Sienese family will guard that receipt with more diligence, then Fort Knox with it's gold. So to truly taste this magnificent treat you might have to catch the next plane for Tuscany or try the receipt I provided at the end of this article. I hope that this new variation of a Christmas classic might give you a new perspective on fruit cake and finally prove to the world that this pastry can be delicious and not something that the dog would turn it's noses on!
If you would like to make this delicious pastry at home, I provided a link to a good receipt at food.com:
http://www.food.com/recipe/panforte-248338
If you want to see what these beautiful cakes look like check out these awesome pics:
https://www.google.com/search?q=panforte&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=VJTLUJ3REM6EygGRm4GgDg&
For some great fruit cake humor take a gander at these links!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZufy-FxK0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfWWWTE8K4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNy96wYnNsg
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Saving Money On Airfare Part 2
One of the most frequent questions that people ask me is how to get a deal on airfare. In a previous article, I discussed how prices will change dramatically, depending on the day that you leave and arrive home. Did you know, that the price of your flight will also change based on the day of the week that you book your trip. I know this sounds bizarre but the rates for a given flight will fluctuate from day to day. So, if you book on one day verses another, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars or more, for the same seat. Why on earth does this happen? Simply, because an airline will typically run a deal for a couple of days, then return the rate back to it's original amount. Thus, if you want to fly round trip from Denver to Rome on Tuesday, you could pay $850 per person but on Thursday, the same seat could cost you as much as $1,020, and on Saturday it could cost a whopping $1,470. So by waiting just four days, your rate for the exact same seat could go up by as much as $620 per seat! This might seem completely nuts, but it's true.
So how does one find that lower rate on a flight? One great place to start is the Internet. The Internet is inundated with websites that specialize in travel, specifically booking flights. Sites like Kayak, Travelocity, and Orbitz, can let you know how much a flight will be, and help you figure out what a good deal might look like. You simply enter in your travel information, the where and when; and it will provide you with the rates of many of the major airlines that fly to that destination. Some smaller airlines and regional carriers do not pay these travel sites for there bookings and thus do not show up on these types of sites. For example Southwest Airlines, a major carrier in the Denver area, does not appear on any of these sites, instead you have to go to their privately owned website to book a flight with them (sneak preview to Saving Money On Airfare Part 3). Now like I said, prices do have a knack of changing daily, so do your homework. Everyday for at least a week or so, document the prices that these sites generate. This way, you will discover what a good deal for this flight you wish to take will be and what day you will want to book it on. Do not skip these steps unless you have to book a last minute flight. Otherwise, you might feel that the Lufthansa $1388 on Saturday was a great value, when on Tuesday you could have booked a flight on US Airways for $850 or on Wednesday on American for $862. Now after a week of diligent note taking, you probably will notice a weird pattern starting to occur. The prices and airlines will start to repeat themselves. The system typically works in a cyclical pattern. Thus, every Tuesday, US Airways will be the most inexpensive carrier and on Wednesdays, American Airlines will be the cheapest and so on. So the challenge is to find out which carrier is the cheapest for your trip. Keep this in mind, that this is just an example of how this cyclical pattern operates and that not always is American Airlines the cheapest on Wednesdays it could very well be Delta or United, but this pattern does occur on most domestic and international flights.
One thing that you will need to realize is that rates will fluctuate from week to week as well, but not by much. For example, American Airlines might charge $862 one week and $867 the next. In spite of these slight variations, you can get a real feel for how much to spend on that flight and when you should pull the trigger on it. One last thing you need to be careful of, is that as you approach the given date of the flight, the prices for this flight will not fluctuate as much, they will stay consistently on the higher end of the spectrum. Thus, this strategy does not work well with last minute flights, which is a flight that is less than a month out. Oh, and keep this in mind when booking a flight, always try to book early. The best rates are usually available either months out or at the last minute, but if you wait until the last minute and a plane you want to book on is near capacity than you could end up paying a premium for that seat. So buyer beware! I hope that these tips can help you find a good deal on your next flight.
www.expedia.com
www.kayak.com
www.orbitz.com
www.travelocity.com
So how does one find that lower rate on a flight? One great place to start is the Internet. The Internet is inundated with websites that specialize in travel, specifically booking flights. Sites like Kayak, Travelocity, and Orbitz, can let you know how much a flight will be, and help you figure out what a good deal might look like. You simply enter in your travel information, the where and when; and it will provide you with the rates of many of the major airlines that fly to that destination. Some smaller airlines and regional carriers do not pay these travel sites for there bookings and thus do not show up on these types of sites. For example Southwest Airlines, a major carrier in the Denver area, does not appear on any of these sites, instead you have to go to their privately owned website to book a flight with them (sneak preview to Saving Money On Airfare Part 3). Now like I said, prices do have a knack of changing daily, so do your homework. Everyday for at least a week or so, document the prices that these sites generate. This way, you will discover what a good deal for this flight you wish to take will be and what day you will want to book it on. Do not skip these steps unless you have to book a last minute flight. Otherwise, you might feel that the Lufthansa $1388 on Saturday was a great value, when on Tuesday you could have booked a flight on US Airways for $850 or on Wednesday on American for $862. Now after a week of diligent note taking, you probably will notice a weird pattern starting to occur. The prices and airlines will start to repeat themselves. The system typically works in a cyclical pattern. Thus, every Tuesday, US Airways will be the most inexpensive carrier and on Wednesdays, American Airlines will be the cheapest and so on. So the challenge is to find out which carrier is the cheapest for your trip. Keep this in mind, that this is just an example of how this cyclical pattern operates and that not always is American Airlines the cheapest on Wednesdays it could very well be Delta or United, but this pattern does occur on most domestic and international flights.
One thing that you will need to realize is that rates will fluctuate from week to week as well, but not by much. For example, American Airlines might charge $862 one week and $867 the next. In spite of these slight variations, you can get a real feel for how much to spend on that flight and when you should pull the trigger on it. One last thing you need to be careful of, is that as you approach the given date of the flight, the prices for this flight will not fluctuate as much, they will stay consistently on the higher end of the spectrum. Thus, this strategy does not work well with last minute flights, which is a flight that is less than a month out. Oh, and keep this in mind when booking a flight, always try to book early. The best rates are usually available either months out or at the last minute, but if you wait until the last minute and a plane you want to book on is near capacity than you could end up paying a premium for that seat. So buyer beware! I hope that these tips can help you find a good deal on your next flight.
www.expedia.com
www.kayak.com
www.orbitz.com
www.travelocity.com
Saturday, December 8, 2012
A Medieval Tradition That's Still Alive And Flapping
It is tragic how easily a tradition can fade away. Be it a safely guarded family receipt, like my Italian Grandmother's legendary receipt for ricotta pie, or a regional language or dialect that slowly drifts off into oblivion, like the Inuit language of the Eskimo's is endangered of becoming. Or a time honored tradition like the sea grass basket weaving of the Carolina's. The sad truth to losing these traditions, is that once they disappear, they can never be revived and countless generations will be deprived of their impact on their culture. So it is wonderful to see a culture showcasing these talents and iconic cultural elements. One of these types of traditions that have survived the test of time in the Italian region of Tuscany is the colorful and artistic tradition of flag throwing or sbandieratori as the Italian's refer to it. This sporting event derives from the middle ages and was a way to show pride for one's family or neighborhood. You can see this activity being preformed throughout modern day Siena. The medieval city of Siena is comprised of 17 different contrada's or neighborhoods. All of them with their own place of worship, market for groceries and their own mascot that represents a virtue that the neighborhood finds significant. When you stroll through this charming collection of streets, you can easily identify which contrada your in. The street lamps are designed to emulate the neighborhood mascot and you will see a plethora of the contrada's flags flying proudly. So when your in the Lupa or "she-wolf" neighborhood, you will see countless images of wolfs being displayed. So as you turn a corner and see flags with unicorns on them, then you know that you have found the Leocorno or unicorn contrada. With this much pride in their local communities, is obvious that they would like to show it off and what better way than through friendly competition.
The flag throwing competition is a mixture of ascetics (twirling and spinning these large and colorful flags) and agility (throwing them 20 feet into the air and miraculously catching them before they hit the ground). It typically consists of two to four individuals performing a routine to the rhythmic sounds of drums pounding and is informally judged by locals on it's technical precision and beauty. These competitions are usually performed during local festivals and on special occasions. If you are not lucky enough to be in Siena during one of their many festivals, the greatest is during the Palio, then keep your ears open for the loud thumping of drums as you meander through the maze of streets. This will tip you off that a neighborhood is in the middle of a practice. Almost daily can you find young adults diligently practicing to perfect their craft, and are more than willing to show off for a crowd. These practice sessions will take place in small piazza's throughout the city and are completely free. This is a great way to experience this colorful spectacle of Tuscany and a truly unique facet of Tuscan culture and tradition that dates back to the middle ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf3aAOBRE0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMNzJ9Wb-UM
The flag throwing competition is a mixture of ascetics (twirling and spinning these large and colorful flags) and agility (throwing them 20 feet into the air and miraculously catching them before they hit the ground). It typically consists of two to four individuals performing a routine to the rhythmic sounds of drums pounding and is informally judged by locals on it's technical precision and beauty. These competitions are usually performed during local festivals and on special occasions. If you are not lucky enough to be in Siena during one of their many festivals, the greatest is during the Palio, then keep your ears open for the loud thumping of drums as you meander through the maze of streets. This will tip you off that a neighborhood is in the middle of a practice. Almost daily can you find young adults diligently practicing to perfect their craft, and are more than willing to show off for a crowd. These practice sessions will take place in small piazza's throughout the city and are completely free. This is a great way to experience this colorful spectacle of Tuscany and a truly unique facet of Tuscan culture and tradition that dates back to the middle ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf3aAOBRE0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMNzJ9Wb-UM
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Cell Phones, Are They Truly Worth Taking With You?
Have you ever traveled abroad to a relaxing beach resort in the Caribbean or hiked a snow covered peak in The Andes and had the absolute trip of a life time, that is until you arrived home and saw the cell phone bill? For many, this can be an absolute nightmare, especially when their bill was thousands of dollars! The worst part is that these unfortunate individuals did not even make a call from their cell phones. Believe it or not, this situation occurs all of the time, and regretfully, you may not be able to maneuver out of these charges. Why on earth does this outrageous billing occur?
Nowadays, the hip thing is to own the newest, power fullest, and slickest cell phone on the market. These smart phones can do almost anything imaginable, from show you the latest episode of "Dancing With The Stars" to let you save the world in the newest edition of "Call of Duty". They can verbally remind you of a dentist appointment, or unlock your car from miles away. They can even translate a foreign language for you. They do it all, and can make our lives great. However, when you travel abroad, a few unexpected things happen. First of all, most U.S. cell phone carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon, usually do not pick up a signal when you are on the other side of the world. Thus, rendering these vital instruments useless. Other times you can pick up a signal from a capable cell phone company, and will be charged a very high rate to use their signal. This will typically occur without your knowledge. The worst thing that happens to smart phone users is that, when you are abroad, your cell phone will relentlessly search for an Internet signal to run all of those cool apps we all love. This incessant searching will cause your bill to be humongous.
So how can you avoid these unwanted expenditures. The best course of action is to contact your cell phone company and notify them that you are traveling abroad. This way they can enable your roaming capability and thus eliminating the your cell phone's constant need to be connected to the Internet. This alone can save the average consumer a ton on that next phone bill. Also, avoid even turning it on, unless you need to call someone in an emergency. This way your phone will not be able to charge you for using any unauthorized networks for anything. So what should you do if you need to be connected when abroad? You can always use the phone at your hotel or purchase a phone card at a local tobacco shop. This will save you some money or you could set up a temporary international phone contract with your cell phone provider. If you do this, get the details in writing, cell phone companies have a tendency of setting you up in bad contracts that you will be stuck with.
Above all, you should ask yourself before you leave on that next trip to Puket or for "The Emerald Isle", do you truly need to be connected to "the real world" or should you relax and enjoy this amazing experience?
Nowadays, the hip thing is to own the newest, power fullest, and slickest cell phone on the market. These smart phones can do almost anything imaginable, from show you the latest episode of "Dancing With The Stars" to let you save the world in the newest edition of "Call of Duty". They can verbally remind you of a dentist appointment, or unlock your car from miles away. They can even translate a foreign language for you. They do it all, and can make our lives great. However, when you travel abroad, a few unexpected things happen. First of all, most U.S. cell phone carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon, usually do not pick up a signal when you are on the other side of the world. Thus, rendering these vital instruments useless. Other times you can pick up a signal from a capable cell phone company, and will be charged a very high rate to use their signal. This will typically occur without your knowledge. The worst thing that happens to smart phone users is that, when you are abroad, your cell phone will relentlessly search for an Internet signal to run all of those cool apps we all love. This incessant searching will cause your bill to be humongous.
So how can you avoid these unwanted expenditures. The best course of action is to contact your cell phone company and notify them that you are traveling abroad. This way they can enable your roaming capability and thus eliminating the your cell phone's constant need to be connected to the Internet. This alone can save the average consumer a ton on that next phone bill. Also, avoid even turning it on, unless you need to call someone in an emergency. This way your phone will not be able to charge you for using any unauthorized networks for anything. So what should you do if you need to be connected when abroad? You can always use the phone at your hotel or purchase a phone card at a local tobacco shop. This will save you some money or you could set up a temporary international phone contract with your cell phone provider. If you do this, get the details in writing, cell phone companies have a tendency of setting you up in bad contracts that you will be stuck with.
Above all, you should ask yourself before you leave on that next trip to Puket or for "The Emerald Isle", do you truly need to be connected to "the real world" or should you relax and enjoy this amazing experience?
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Great Itineraries: Sydney Australia
Sydney is a majestic city full of incredible landmarks like the iconic Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Tower which is the tallest building in Australia and perhaps the most memorable experience of your trip, The Sydney Bridge as well as two gorgeous beaches, Bondi and Manly. Also, not to be missed is the incredible variety of wildlife on display at Taronga Zoo (do not miss the opportunity to feed the kangaroos), The Sydney Wildlife World, and the world class Sydney Aquarium which is an absolute must, if you are not planning on seeing The Great Barrier Reef on this trip. To cap it all off, is the abundance of incredible cuisine found all over town. You will encounter a vast array of cuisines, ranging from ultra fresh sea food, to exotic game (crocodile, emu, camel, and kangaroo) to the best that Asia has to offer, and trendy restaurants that fuse these concepts together into the most delicious of dishes! Throw in an enchanting ferry rides across the beautiful harbor and you have yourself one spectacular city. So what is the bast way to see such a city? I would go about it this way:
Day 1:
If you are planning on staying in Sydney longer than three days, than head out of town for the day to either The Blue Mountains for some hiking and nature or go to The Hunter Valley for some incredible wine tasting.
This itinerary might seem a bit robust for a vacation, but Sydney is bursting at the seems with activities and sites to be seen. Besides, I have included some lag time each day with either time at the beach, or a relaxing stroll through an elegant park. Each of these can easily be substituted for down time at a cafe or time spent at your hotel. Personally, I become invigorated by seeing and doing new things, but you know your own limitations. I hope that this will give you some direction towards planning your next trip to Sydney.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Sydney&qpvt=Sydney&FORM=IGRE
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
http://bridgeclimb.com/
http://bridgeclimb.com/
http://www.taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo
Day 1:
- 9:00 A.M. Take a guided tour of The Sydney Opera House
- 11:00 A.M. Do a bridge climb on The Sydney Harbor Bridge
- 2:00 P.M. Have lunch at a restaurant in Circular Quay
- 4:00 P.M. Take a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens
- 6:00 P.M. Have diner at a chic restaurant in "The Rocks"
- 8:00 A.M. Take a ferry to Darling Harbor
- 9:00 A.M. Visit the Sydney Aquarium
- 11:00 A.M. Head over to The Sydney Wildlife World for a closer look at those crocodiles
- 1:00 P.M. Take the Metro Monorail to China Town for lunch
- 3:00 P.M. Take a stroll through Hyde Park
- 4:00 P.M. Get a birds eye view from the top of Sydney Tower
- 6:00 P.M Have diner at Darling Harbor or again at The Rocks
- 8:00 P.M. Take a romantic ride on a ferry under the stars
- (You will dazzle that special someone!)
- 9:00 A.M. Pet some kangaroos at The Taronga Zoo
- 12:00 P.M. Hit the sand at either Bondi or Manly Beach for lunch a good swim
- 7:00 P.M. Diner
If you are planning on staying in Sydney longer than three days, than head out of town for the day to either The Blue Mountains for some hiking and nature or go to The Hunter Valley for some incredible wine tasting.
This itinerary might seem a bit robust for a vacation, but Sydney is bursting at the seems with activities and sites to be seen. Besides, I have included some lag time each day with either time at the beach, or a relaxing stroll through an elegant park. Each of these can easily be substituted for down time at a cafe or time spent at your hotel. Personally, I become invigorated by seeing and doing new things, but you know your own limitations. I hope that this will give you some direction towards planning your next trip to Sydney.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Sydney&qpvt=Sydney&FORM=IGRE
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
http://bridgeclimb.com/
http://bridgeclimb.com/
http://www.taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Top Of The World Or At Least The Top Of Rio
Like most travelers to Rio De Janeiro, I was excited to see the world famous " Christ The Redeemer" at the top of Corcovado. Not only is it "the site to see" in Rio but it is regarded as one of "The Seven Wonders Of The World" and it marked the third one that I have been lucky enough to see. I would have to agree with the experts, because this an amazing and memorable experience. The 100 foot Art Deco statue alone will impress most travelers, but the fact that it is perched on the edge of a 2,300 foot drop that provides the most breath taking views imaginable. The views will give you a true sense of how magnificent this city truly is. from the amazing beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema to the formidable rock formations of Pao De Acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) and Morro de Dois Irmaos (The Two Brothers) to the densely crowded urban sprawl of this city of over 16 Million people. This amalgamation of man-made and natural beauty creates the most mind boggling of experiences and will leave you lost for words.
To get to this monolith, you must first travel to the base of Corcovado or "The Hunchback". This is a very large mountain that jets up in the middle of the city, and creates a very remarkable site on it's own. from here you board The Estacao de Ferro do Corcovado, a cog wheel train designed by the Swiss tn the 1880's to get individuals to the top of this gigantic mountain. This absurdly steep climb takes about twenty minutes as you pass through the thick tropical vegetation of Floresta Da Tijuca. Here you can see a plethora of tropical plants, exotic flowers and incredibly beautiful birds. Once you reach the end of the line, there is still a climb of 220 steps to reach the summit. As you make the accent, you can start to see the legendary views that this place is renown for. By the time you summit the climb, you can gain a real appreciation of just how difficult it was in the 1930's to get this massive monolith up here. The sides of this pinnacle are thousands of feet straight down and provide the most epic of views with the statue placed at the focal point. It is truly a magnificent site to behold and once you have had the opportunity to experience it, you may never want to leave!
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=christ+the+redeemer&qpvt=christ+the+redeemer&FORM=IGRE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSgvvbCQq9c
To get to this monolith, you must first travel to the base of Corcovado or "The Hunchback". This is a very large mountain that jets up in the middle of the city, and creates a very remarkable site on it's own. from here you board The Estacao de Ferro do Corcovado, a cog wheel train designed by the Swiss tn the 1880's to get individuals to the top of this gigantic mountain. This absurdly steep climb takes about twenty minutes as you pass through the thick tropical vegetation of Floresta Da Tijuca. Here you can see a plethora of tropical plants, exotic flowers and incredibly beautiful birds. Once you reach the end of the line, there is still a climb of 220 steps to reach the summit. As you make the accent, you can start to see the legendary views that this place is renown for. By the time you summit the climb, you can gain a real appreciation of just how difficult it was in the 1930's to get this massive monolith up here. The sides of this pinnacle are thousands of feet straight down and provide the most epic of views with the statue placed at the focal point. It is truly a magnificent site to behold and once you have had the opportunity to experience it, you may never want to leave!
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=christ+the+redeemer&qpvt=christ+the+redeemer&FORM=IGRE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSgvvbCQq9c
December's Update To The Readers
To my devoted readers,
This is the season for giving thanks and counting all of those amazing blessings that we are so fortunately endowed with. I know that this is especially true for me this Holiday Season. I am truly blessed in my life. I have a kind and supportive wife who I love so very much! A family and group of friends, who are always there for me, no matter what. The luxury to travel all over the world and the opportunity to produce this blog, week after week. Above all, I am eternally grateful for my readers, because without you, this blog would never be possible. So I would like to personally say thanks to each and everyone of you for this opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences with.
This up coming month, we here at The Thrifty Adventurer will be bringing you articles from around the globe. We will take you to the top of Rio, when we visit Christ The Redeemer, indulge in Sienna's speciality panforte, a fruit cake that you will actually like and not want to use as a doorstop and celebrate Christmas in the cutest little town in The Rocky Mountains. As always, we will continue to bring you travel tips to help aid you on your next vacation and lastly, we will continue our Great Itineraries series with Sydney Australia. A city that won me over with it's exceptional charm and beauty.
So from all of us here at the Thrifty Adventurer, we hope you have a happy Holiday season and thanks for all of your support!
Christopher Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer
This is the season for giving thanks and counting all of those amazing blessings that we are so fortunately endowed with. I know that this is especially true for me this Holiday Season. I am truly blessed in my life. I have a kind and supportive wife who I love so very much! A family and group of friends, who are always there for me, no matter what. The luxury to travel all over the world and the opportunity to produce this blog, week after week. Above all, I am eternally grateful for my readers, because without you, this blog would never be possible. So I would like to personally say thanks to each and everyone of you for this opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences with.
This up coming month, we here at The Thrifty Adventurer will be bringing you articles from around the globe. We will take you to the top of Rio, when we visit Christ The Redeemer, indulge in Sienna's speciality panforte, a fruit cake that you will actually like and not want to use as a doorstop and celebrate Christmas in the cutest little town in The Rocky Mountains. As always, we will continue to bring you travel tips to help aid you on your next vacation and lastly, we will continue our Great Itineraries series with Sydney Australia. A city that won me over with it's exceptional charm and beauty.
So from all of us here at the Thrifty Adventurer, we hope you have a happy Holiday season and thanks for all of your support!
Christopher Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)