Taking a vacation can be expensive, yet you may be tired of the typical staycation.  Instead, consider taking a travel vacation that you can afford.  If you plan ahead you will be able to have a wonderful vacation using travel deals and discounts to keep you within budget.

Get a Deal Online

The Internet offers a great way to find some of the best prices on travel.  You can easily compare prices until you find the one that works best for you.  Keep in mind that the travel options and deals that are offered change often.  You’ll want to return to the site several times to see all that they have to offer.  Check various travel sites to find the latest special deals that are offered.

Reserve Early

There are often some good price savings to be had when you book your trip early enough.  The prices may go up but if you’ve already booked your trip you’ll be able to pay the lower rate.  Be sure that you check to see if extra charges apply for making date changes or if you cancel.  You can also pre-pay for your hotel and meals so that you’ll have fewer charges during the trip.

Wait Until the Last Minute

If you’re considering a last-minute trip you may be in luck.  You’ll often be able to find really good prices on airfare and hotel rates when you book at the last minute.  This works the best during the off season.  If the hotel is under-sold they will often try to reduce rates on the rooms to increase their occupancy.  You may be able to get a room upgrade for a lower price as well.

Look for Savings 

Good preparation will ensure that you’ll find the best deals.  For example, if you need to park at the airport consider choosing an offsite parking lot rather than the airport lot.  You’ll often be able to get a substantial savings.  If you plan your trip well, you should be able to locate several such savings options throughout your vacation.  If you have kids, consider choosing a suite hotel.  You’ll be able to save money by cooking light breakfasts and keeping snacks on hand. 

Group Savings

Traveling as part of a group is often much cheaper than going it alone.  Group travel packages are a great way to find savings on your trip.  One of the biggest areas of savings will be on airfare since groups may use a charter flight.  Of course, be cautious of any changes.  Most of these trips are for specific dates and cannot be changed or refunded.

Set a Budget

It’s always a good idea to set a travel budget.  Determine the total amount that you can spend on the trip as well as the daily spending allowance for food and incidentals.  Be aware of your budget so that you don’t overspend.  It’s very easy to end up going way over budget and spending more than you should on your trip.  Plan some activities that don’t cost anything so that you’ll be sure to save money for other activities.

We are proud to announce that we are now offering parking reservations for the following airports:

• Portland International (PDX) - Thrifty Airport Parking
• Kansas City Airport (MCI) - Thrifty Airport Parking
• Chicago Midway (MDW) - Airport Parking Express
• Chicago O'Hare (ORD) - Thrifty Airport Parking, ParkNJet, Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel and Conference
• Dayton Ohio (DAY) - Westwind Airport Valet, Park-N-Go
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) - Luxury Airport Parking, Air and Sea Valet Parking

We are currently working on more locations and we look forward to doing business with you in the future.

Ari Marcellino

Crafting a well written travel blog is an art form. Capturing the essence of the trip so others may live vicariously is no easy feat. Most travel blogs have their own focus whether it is local cuisine, photography or a unique means of travel; these particular focal points are what make one blog more attractive to their readership base than another blog. Below is a list of the 15 best travel blogs of 2009 that will continue to be fruitful reading sources well into 2010.

1. White on Rice Couple

Dianne and Todd’s blog combines a passion for photo, food, garden and travel. The daily crack section of their blog is frequently updated with parts of their photo blog that contains images from around the world. With the easy to use recipe index, your taste buds will be tempted to make your own exotic creations and maybe even join Dianne and Todd on their culinary tours in Southern California.

2. Gadling powered by Visa and AOL travel

From budget to adventure travel, this blog has it all and will tempt you to travel as well as provide entertainment. With smartly crafted article titles such as “How to tell a true dive bar from a fake”, this blog may become your favorite procrastination.

3. Intelligent Traveler by National Geographic

Following National Geographic’s mission, this blog serves to educate and tempt future world travelers. The blog consists of a consortium of writers all over the world who focus on cultural events that are unique to each city as well as offering tips for sustainable travel practices.

4. Stuck in Customs

Trey Ratcliff’s photos are stunning and will become addictive. Luckily for you, Ratcliff updates his page daily which is perfect for desktop backgrounds. Ratcliff’s photos have graced the walls of the Smithsonian, been represented by Getty and featured on the BBC. With around 350,000 views per month, it is considered #1 Travel Photography Blog.

5. Chubby Hubby: Whining, Dining and Marriage

Chubby Hubby’s photos are incredible and may tempt you to quit your job tomorrow and buy a ticket to whatever exotic location he may be exploring. Aside from the excellent recipes, the posts will inspire a more adventurous foodie in all who read it.

6. The Lost Girls

This is a girl power type of travel blog that chronicles the adventures ofHolly Corbett, Jennifer Baggett, and Amanda Pressner, three New Yorkers who left in 2006 and don’t seem to be coming back any time soon. This blog is aimed at a female readership, more specifically, “Lost Girls” which are defined on the site as girls in their 20s and 30s who are traveling as a means of learning about themselves.

7. Almost Fearless

A voice of honesty comes through in this blog. Christine Gilbert was a manger for a fortune 500 company who quit her job in July 2008 and has been traveling the world since. Her site also offers tips for others who are thinking of following in her footsteps and becoming a fulltime traveler.

8. Family on Bikes

The Vogel family has been on the go since 2008 and will continue to be for another year! They are on an epic bicycle trip traversing the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Argentina. Their goal is to give their children a tangible education. The blog chronicles the adventures of traveling with children.

9. Sugar, Tea and a Dream

Many travel blogs are focused on international travel; however Debby Lee has made 2009 a domestic travel year. Sugar, Tea and a Dream is affiliated with Wanderlust and Lipstick, your destination for women’s travel which is a hub of travel blogs devoted to women’s travel needs.

10. Vagablond

The elitist blog about everything luxurious from fashion to food, this travel blog is comprised of a team of writers from around the world. Readers may enjoy joining the Vagablond family which operates like a social networking site. Joining the Vagablond family allows users to make friends, write comments, track comments and join groups.

11. The Traveler’s Lunchbox

The way this blog is written, it feels as if you are sitting there with her when it is happening. Somewhere in a warm kitchen she is cooking you a delicious feast explaining to you the process and history of all of the ingredients. The age old saying “you are what you eat” seems to be the thought process behind this lovely blog. Delicious recipes are included.

12. Chris Around the World

Written by the former travel editor of USA TODAY, Chris Gray Faust’s blog covers a range of topics from travel tips to hilarious travel escapes. Her professional experience is palpable in that her articles are well crafted, have a particular point of view and most importantly, are always attention grabbing.

Be sure to check out both her segment titled “5 Reasons” which details why a particular location is a must see and articles tagged “2009 Travel in Review”.

13. The Longest Way Home

The writer is 33-years-old and has been traveling for over 5 years on his search to find “home”. Like clockwork, he provides a daily photograph and uploads videos of his travels. Aside from tracking his adventures, he provides insightful tips for travelers ranging from advice for those living overseas to how to prepare for long term travel plans. After looking at the site, you may notice the identity of the author seems to be a mystery and you are correct. The author wants the page to not be solely about himself, in his own words he maintains he wants “The Longest Way Home be about the Idea, the Journey and the Task” and less about himself.

14. Black Hills Travel Blog

This blog is specific to the Black Hills, a mountain range running through western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming and is written by a crew of avid mountain climbers and locals that cover events, regional culture and hiking trips. This is not a typical travel blog in that it isn’t written by newcomers to the region but rather by the experts. Reading Black Hills Travel Blog provides the same regional wisdom you would expect to hear from a caring friend.

15. Upgrade: Travel Better

This blog is written by the genius mind of Mark Ashley who is on the quest to travel frugally but in a luxurious way. The blog’s motto is what most people dream of when they travel, “Living the first class life, at coach prices.” It should be noted that this is a strictly travel advice blog.

We are pleased to announce our airport parking and travel blog.

We plan to bring you latest news on airport parking, long term airport parking, airport parking security, travel news and updates through this blog.

Thank you.