IDEA118: Plan Your Next Trip with 5 of Our Favorite Travel Booking Sites

"We want to go somewhere tropical and luxurious.... any ideas?" Mu-Hsien asked me the other day.

"When?"

"Beginning of August."

"WHAT!? And only now you're asking for IDEAS?" I'm a super planner, at the moment I'm thinking about a weekend away next March, so clearly I was shocked and appalled at this nonchalant treatment of the most sacred thing on earth...travel.

In a knee jerk reaction I immediately invited Mu to my favorite sites for booking travel. 

After a day of browsing Mu-Hsien dismissed Caribbean as being to risky for stormy weather in August, Asia as being simply too far for an impromptu week-long escape, California and Florida as not "exotic" enough, Canada not tropical enough, and Hawaii a tad over the budget for the uber sexy and romantic accommodation that she envisioned.  

Dilemma seems to have only intensified and Mu-Hsien once again proved that she really should have been born a princess. 

I told her that there is only one place where someone like her can be helped... and that is at a travel agency.  

"A travel agency!?" exclaimed Mu-Hsien amused. "Do those still exist?" 

While Mu-Hsien is seeking wisdom and guidance at a Travel Agency, I thought I'd share with you all my favorite sites for travel booking and inspiration in hopes that you never to get caught without a travel idea and perhaps help you unleash that travel buying trigger finger!

1. Booking.com

This is my absolute first stop when I look for any accommodation. Booking.com, a Dutch company, lists not only hotels, but also B&B's, design hotels, villas and apartments from all over the world. The real gem however is in the reviews. For most accommodations you are likely to find hundreds of reviews. You can even filter reviewers by families, mature or young couples, single travelers or groups. I use Booking.com to book just about all of my accommodation if where I'm going does not require me buying a plane ride.        

2. Expedia.com

Everyone is familiar with expedia. I use it in situation when I need a simple flight + hotel combination. Many times I have concluded that the price on expedia really can't be beat any other way. I've even used it for some far away business trips. This is also great for last minute getaways and when you're flexible about your destination. TIP: If you're outside of the US, expedia will automatically redirect you to the local site with local currency. Be sure to click back to expedia.com and purchase in USD. For some reason listings in USD prices are almost always LESS EXPENSIVE.  

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The next three picks are member sites. Sort of your Rue La La but for travel. There you'll find unbelievable discounts on super luxurious hotels, resorts and trips. Yes, I'd put most of these into the splurge category but if used wisely they could really lead you to a STEAL. I use these as follows: 

•  Sexy hotel night stay right in your own city - you know, for celebrating something special, or just for a quicky romantic get away without traveling far.

• When booking a week or longer holiday I always like to include at least few indulgent hotel nights either to start or end your vacation with. If you're booking via another site, or a travel agent you can always exclude a few nights of hotel bookings and reserve something extravagant on your own.  

• Inspiration!!! These sites really give you a nice bite sized introduction to some non-mainstream travel destinations or simply places that might not be on your radar. Many times the deals on these sites are still a bit over my budget but supplied with some inspiration I simply looks for a different option in the same area. Besides, you do know that most of these incredible resorts and hotels can be enjoyed for the day? That's right! Sleep next door at a more 'realistically priced' place and in the morning simply stroll on over to spend the day at the grandiose pool of the neighboring resort. Sometimes you'll have to pay for a day pass, and sometimes just having breakfast or lunch there will get you in for the whole day! I know, I know, you love me... 

3. Jetsetter.com 

I absolutely love LOVE! their online magazine. With features like "72 hours in...",  "Your Hot Summer in...", "Top Ten..." you'll be feverishly scribbling all over your travel list.  

4. Tablethotels.com 

This site has some really unbelievable deals not only on famous large hotels, but also on really gorgeous small design hotels. You can also see reviews from other members that have stayed there. 

5. Vacationist.com and Familygetaway.com 

This is really three sites in one, presented by Travel+Leisure. I particularly find Family Getaway very interesting because it makes it easy to book trips specifically with kids in mind. The site already takes into account that you'll need those fun extras like cots, Kids clubs with furry characters, pools with slides and so on. You can also bid on vacations and see if you can get even a bigger discount.  

Here Are Your Personal Invites!

Jetsetter -  [Invitation] 
Tablet Hotels - [Invitation] 
The Vacationist - [Invitation]  
Family Getaway - [Invitation] 

*When you sign-up you can spread the love by inviting your friends and receive a nifty little bonus if your friends book travel.

Booking.com 
Expedia.com  

Happy travels! 

• • •    WHAT ABOUT YOU?    • • •

What's your favorite travel booking website? 
Do you also have a travel agent on speed dial?

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is to post a comment, like below or pin on Pinterest! ~ For more ways to Live Like You're Traveling, follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

IDEA113: See the Best *Sights* in Costa Rica

When traveling the best sights are not the ones you find in a guide book but the insights you discover about yourself and your travel companion.    

Canyoneering Tour in Arenal, Costa Rica

Mu-Hsien may look delicate, but I saw nothing delicate about her while she fearlessly scaled down a 120 foot waterfall.  My cautious suggestion the day before that we should perhaps skip this unnecessary endangerment of our lives was met with "I'm booking it for us tomorrow morning."  

• • • 

 Baldi Hot Springs in Arenal, Costa Rica

She never likes to be the center of attention, but in Costa Rica she totally left Volcano Arenal fuming in the background as she proceeded to steal the show by acting like a lounging "Bali Princess".  

• • • 

Olga's Cafe in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Alla is rarely calm! Except strangely enough, when in stressful situations such as finding us a hotel room in a fully booked town during Christmas...or when she's eating. Like a wild animal, she must not be disturbed. Especially during our *wow-this-must-be-what-real-fruit-tastes-like* morning ritual.  

• • • 

Guanacaste coast, Costa Rica

While on a rough ride through the Guanacaste coast Mu-Hsien took artsy snaps of beautiful flora and fauna, while Alla excitedly pointed out large private villas in the distance.

• • • 

ATV Adventure in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

At least we both agree that there are few sights that eclipse the magnificence of a radiant sunset overlooking golden rolling hills, undiscovered beaches and a friendship beyond borders.

What's the most surprising thing you've ever discovered about a travel companion? Have you ever acted out of character while traveling?

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is by posting a comment, like below or pin it on Pinterest! ~ For More ways Live Like You're Traveling follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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Do What You Love...Right Now.

about 11 years ago

IDEA111 : Find Fairytales in Scotland

Europe can be so many different things depending on where you're standing at the moment. I thought about what it means to me...and that's when I was transported to an outdoor summer lounger at the family dacha back in good ol' Ukraine circa 1986.  The only way I could sustain myself during the most boring hour of the day, after lunch when all the adults and my cousins snoozed, was with a good adventure book full of pirates, sword fights, castles and elaborate princess dresses.  This is the hour I spent in the company of gentlemen such as Robert Luis Stevenson, Alexandre Dumas and Jules Verne. I dreamed to visit the world they described one day.  A bit silly of course since events in these books took place a few centuries earlier...  

Fast forward to current day.  I now live in Europe (after about 18 years in the US) and have been enthusiastically fulfilling my travel dreams connected with this continent.  I have roamed the streets of London, sat in cafes in Paris and went castle hopping in the Loire Valley...  While I found it all extremely impressive and beyond beautiful I had yet to visit the Europe I read about in my adventure books.  Alas, it must not exist, I thought. Until last summer when we went to the Scottish Highlands.  At once I was precisely in the places described by Robert Louis Stevenson in one of my favorite novels "Kidnapped". I was smelling the same salty breathe, seeing the same castle ruins as young David had a couple of hundred years ago. Scotland delivered the mystery, the stillness and the landscapes that I have imagined as a child. Somehow there were never hordes of tourists and many times we'd have the sites all to ourselves.  The nature was so abundant that you forgot that you're in the over populated Europe. The lonely old castles perched on the rocks right at the sea, the empty stretches of north sea beaches with turquoise waters and white sand, the tiny villages with stone cottages. It does exist, and I have finally found the magical, mysterious Europe of my dreams. Don't you just love happy endings? 

 

Where have you traveled that surprised you the most? Have you visited a new place and found it just as you always imagined?

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is by posting a comment, like below or pin it on Pinterest! ~ For More ways Live Like You're Traveling follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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IDEA102: Use this 3 Step-Approach to Get the Best Tips from a Local

Asking someone for dining advice seems like an easy way to be in the know about the best places to eat are, but in practice it’s a bit tricky. When giving advice, locals tend to tell you to eat where they think a TOURIST would enjoy eating.

Like that tacky cafe right in the main square. Or that old fashioned place that supposedly serves typical food but really is only frequented by tour bus crowds. Locals may have the best intention when giving you their advice, thinking you would not be interested in their neighborhood restaurant with a very casual vibe, packed every night and with great food and cozy atmosphere. Yes! This is exactly what we are interested in!

Fear not! we have perfected a 3-step approach to getting someone to tell you all about their favorite spots. To illustrate let’s reminisce over my first time in Nice, France.  I was there for a work conference with Vito joining me for the weekend. I knew that we’ll be packing in lots of sightseeing and after a full day of walking around you don’t want to take chances on not finding the perfect place to cozy up for dinner. Nice however, is full of restaurants, so how do you pick the right place?

I did not have much time during the conference to understand the lay of the land, so I marched over to the concierge, a charming man in his fifties, and asked him for a restaurant recommendation. I explained that I’ll be taking some clients out for dinner and if he can recommend: “Something nice, butnot too fancy.” He wrote the name of the place down for me without missing a beat. This was probably a pick from his list of restaurants to recommend to hotel patrons.  I then asked him for a second recommendation. This time I leaned in and told him that my guy was coming for the weekend and I wanted to go where you eat really well and not pay a lot. The Concierge looked up puzzled, I could see he understood that I did not want a restaurant from the “list,”  I was looking for something really special. “What is your favorite place to eat?”  I added to really drive the point home.

I’m not sure if it just seemed that way, but he gave a quick glance around the room as if making sure no one was watching him break a rule. He then looked at me and said in a lowered voice: “Well, here is a place you should try. It’s a bit out of the way, but the food is great.”  He wrote it down for me, then added:  “I go here with my girlfriend.”  The way he said it sounded like he was either asking me not to tell anyone about this restaurant, or not to tell his wife about his girlfriend.  (Though before I go spreading vicious rumors about the nice concierge, just for the record, I did glance at his hands and there was definitely no wedding band so probably he was not married after all.)

• • •

So here is the 3-part approach to getting a local to give you the best recommendation:

1 – Bait and Switch
Ask them a question, let them answer you then give them a different scenario and ask for one more recommendation.

2 – Magic combination: I want to eat GREAT FOOD and NOT PAY A LOT.
This particular one works really well in Italy, Spain, Greece…well pretty much all of Mediterranean and the Middle East, where getting a good deal for high quality is a sport.)

3 – Ask them what their favorite place is.
Now in case you’re dying to know what that secret place in Nice was, I have to confess that I don’t remember the name! This was after all five years ago and it is possible that the place may not even exist anymore. This is my point exactly, ask a local for the most up to date special location!

But we’ll hold your hand a little bit, just this once, and give you three restaurants that fit the perfect dinner location after a day of frolicking in Nice…authentic, cozy and romantic. But don’t take our word for it, ask a local yourself!

• Chat Noir Chat Blanc, 20 Rue Barillerie
• La Merenda, 4 Rue Raoul Bosio
• Le Maquis, 7 Rue de l’Abbaye

 

• • •   LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Spontaneous romance requires meticulous planning.

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is to post a comment, like below or pin it on Pinterest! ~ For more ways Live Like You're Traveling, follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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