tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55899548192559560282024-02-19T04:13:50.663-06:00GlobeDiva TravelsStop in for a little laid-back travel talk before you move on to your daily grind. Feel free to email me if you'd like me to research something or someplace specific.Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-54126583183587904722009-12-21T22:38:00.001-06:002009-12-21T22:38:52.514-06:00I've Moved!On the off chance than anyone lands here wondering why there are no new posts lately, please go to <a href="http://globedivatravels.com/">GlobeDiva Travels</a> (http://globedivatravels.com) and visit my newly, self-hosted blog!<br />
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I appreciated your checking-in!<br />
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MonicaMonica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-32599887298968650692009-12-15T19:30:00.001-06:002009-12-16T09:18:01.112-06:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 4 (Lodging-Agriturismi)<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Continuing my series on How to Budget for your Vacation, we've been discussing all the very different forms of lodging for travelers. We've talked about </span><a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html" id="eu.e" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank" title="hostels">hostels</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/10/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html" id="na36" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank" title="bed & breaksfasts">bed & breaksfasts</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/11/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html" id="dv:h" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank" title="local vs. chain hotels">local vs. chain hotels</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, and today we'll be focusing on </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Agriturismi</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv66KAjsS92ly_mF6UGQ2P17cOkem6_c6zSKAfNFOTZANEhGtQA6nDI_vwFVC9amn-t-90UIt9jrkbUUuL39saqecXoco0-gvO8HFDO3Ho2Rj-PwFIBNmBG9mIKWPU-pM6v3uhPk8-0g/s1600-h/dreamstime_6232723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv66KAjsS92ly_mF6UGQ2P17cOkem6_c6zSKAfNFOTZANEhGtQA6nDI_vwFVC9amn-t-90UIt9jrkbUUuL39saqecXoco0-gvO8HFDO3Ho2Rj-PwFIBNmBG9mIKWPU-pM6v3uhPk8-0g/s640/dreamstime_6232723.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An agriturismo (the singular ends with an "o" and the plural ends with an "i") by definition is a combination of the words "agriculture" and "tourism" in Italian and is what might be referred to as "farm holidays" or "vacation farms" in other countries. For the sake of simplicity, in this post, I'll be referring to the Italian </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">agriturismo</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> but with the awareness that other countries offer the same, or similar, types of vacations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The positives and negatives regarding a stay at an agriturismo need to be weighed out as you're planning your vacation. Because this form of lodging is on a farm, it is typically in a somewhat rural location that has to be arrived at by car so if you're planning on using nothing but public transportation for your European vacation, you should take that into consideration. Having said that, there are some agriturismi out there that might be willing to make arrangements to meet you at the local train station upon arrival. However, realize that without a car, if you're planning on seeing some of the local sights, unless you are within walking distance of the nearest village, you will be "stuck" at your agriturismo until it's time to leave. Of course if this leg of your vacation is strictly for rest and relaxation, you've chosen the right place in which to be "stuck"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Agriturismi offer a wide variety of venues suitable for every type of traveler. Solo travel or family vacations, rustic or luxurious locations, romantic or girlfriend getaways, there are agriturismi for every type of traveler. There are even some hostels set up in family farmhouses or barns in Italy as well as other countries. On the whole, agriturismi are family-owned, family-run businesses that allow the owners to subsidize the income from their farm through the agriturismo thus allowing the traveler, YOU, to experience what life is like in the rural part of the country that you are visiting. This is the perfect way to rejuvenate during your frantic, "have to see everything" European vacation. The whole point of an agriturismo is to slow down and enjoy the surrounding countryside. Drink in the vistas as you drink your wine. Appreciate the sunset as you work your way through a four or five course dinner. Enjoy your morning cappuccino after a swim. You can do that here. You SHOULD do that here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most agriturismi offer at least one meal with your lodging and the other meals can be paid for separately. Because most agriturismi are working farms, the meals almost always consist of products grown and/or raised on the farm, and also sometimes found locally. For this reason alone, you will<i> want</i> to have all your meals at your agriturismo. This is your chance to indulge yourself in the local food and wine. This is one of the reasons you came to Italy, no?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Agriturismi sometimes offer specialty vacations for aspiring cooks, wine lovers, and even those who wish to learn the Italian language. These are great second and third vacations when you've traveled to Italy once or twice already and you're ready to just spend some time in the Umbrian or Tuscan countryside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Personally, I've never spent time in an agriturismo, but the next time I travel to Italy, I plan on spending at least 3-5 days at one. I've got one picked out already and I'm excited at the prospect of enjoying the Italian countryside as I enjoy the local food and </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sip on a glass of </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <i>vino</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How to find the right agriturismo for you? There are several websites specializing in agriturismi. I can send you some links if you'd like to drop me a line. Better yet, save yourself some time and energy and hire someone like me to research them for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In my next "Weekend Word to the Wise", I'll share with you how I decided on which Agriturismo I'm planning on visiting. It's an easy way for you to get ideas and discover places you might want to visit on your dream vacation as well. On our next post about lodging, I'll be discussing eco-hotels and eco-vacations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until then, stop dreaming about your next vacation and let's go!</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-25789907296271750922009-12-08T20:13:00.001-06:002009-12-15T15:15:04.671-06:00Blog Lists, Guest Posts, and other Housekeeping Stuff<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just wanted to take a minute of your time and enlighten you all with a few new things on the blog page and some upcoming changes for the future.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, if you look to the left of the blog posts, you'll see a section just below the "Subscribe To" section called "My Blog List". This list is comprised of links to other bloggers I'd like you all to take a minute to check into and read whenever you've got some spare time. There is some good information to be found on each and every one of these sites.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They are in no particular order so first on the list is <a href="http://wandering-off.blogspot.com/">Wandering Off</a>. Wandering Off is another San Antonio blogger writing about family-oriented places to visit and some wonderful pictures of the places she and her family see in their travels.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://aviewtoathrill.net/">A View to A Thrill</a> is another awesome travel blog with some solid travel advice for going places "on the cheap" as well as first-hand travel reports from all the places she visits.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://gapyearescape.com/">Gap Year Escape</a> focuses on travel during what is referred to as the "gap year" in most European countries. "Gap year" is the year between graduation from what we call high school and the first year of University education. European students are encouraged to travel in their gap year and this blog gives those looking for ideas on where to travel alot of great ideas. Look for a guest post from me in the very near future.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.unroadwarrior.com/">The UnRoad Warrior </a>is your resource for how to maximize your airline miles, hotel points, and how to make the most of your loyalty programs. This blog is an awesome resource for anything related to airlines, hotels, and anything else not road related.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://darngooddigs.com/blog/">Darn Good Digs</a> is a fantastic resource for finding original and inviting small hotels, B&B's, and hostels. If you're looking for a darn good dig under $150.00 a night, this blog is for you!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, <a href="http://traveltitbits.co.uk/">Travel Titbits</a> is a fantastic combination feature articles, destination guides for favorite holiday getaways, and travel related news. Look for <i><b>GlobeDiva's</b></i> article on <i>"Il Campo di Fiori"</i> in their features section.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of these blogs are participating in a link exchange with GlobeDiva Travels and I'm happy to be able to exchange links with some other great travel bloggers!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And just a few more housekeeping things before I end this post. A quick disclaimer for this blog and all the other things you see featured on here. With the exception of the links I introduced you to above, you can safely assume that anything else you click on that says "Reserve Now" or "Ads by Google" or "I Recommend" by Amazon, or "Travel Gadgets" or "Create Your Own Package" will lead you to a website or store that is offering me some small remuneration or payment (usually about 5-10% or less) for your clicking on it. When you click on the link for "GlobeDiva Travel Planners" you are taken to my booking site where you can book your own airfare, hotels, rental cars, and other vacation packages. In the near future, I plan on doing some product reviews and when I do them, you can rest assured that I DO NOT and WILL NOT receive any money or remuneration when I offer you my reviews or recommendations.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, in the next month or so, I hope to be moving towards self-hosting. This means that I will be paying a server to host my blog and it will be all my own. Blogspot has been great as I've started out but I need to get a little bigger and need a few more functions so I need to move onward and upward, hopefully, taking you all with me on the way.<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks for your patience and your patronage. All of you, my lovely readers, are greatly appreciated!!</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-13557124653764505222009-11-29T12:26:00.001-06:002009-12-15T15:10:21.285-06:00Weekend Word to the Wise (Lodging)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhyphenhyphen6t42qsn5ZsAtJULS5Gx0q1sxj1SOIECbSgj_GU82Zt0FHaWnlEWQqlqUKo6rdObAFdKffe98LFgYE7S7fYcQzVO-7A7AzhsrXn0KC5jXQyRNZN1zFp2B51BCqCH5f2oO9VYtyXlro/s1600/hotel-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhyphenhyphen6t42qsn5ZsAtJULS5Gx0q1sxj1SOIECbSgj_GU82Zt0FHaWnlEWQqlqUKo6rdObAFdKffe98LFgYE7S7fYcQzVO-7A7AzhsrXn0KC5jXQyRNZN1zFp2B51BCqCH5f2oO9VYtyXlro/s200/hotel-view.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNAYWPAVoVxzIzAmNIWmL8C-Q9EUDJh2Fr2i4kz-KRJ__5ilkI-icYHgsKlZ48v4LjgwCbsiBq9xHYGvrraxIWJ826kXn28qO03OKrpF2lnmhT5xj4VaBBE8M1giWO4NgaWLJPpYgXyI/s1600/L1010194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNAYWPAVoVxzIzAmNIWmL8C-Q9EUDJh2Fr2i4kz-KRJ__5ilkI-icYHgsKlZ48v4LjgwCbsiBq9xHYGvrraxIWJ826kXn28qO03OKrpF2lnmhT5xj4VaBBE8M1giWO4NgaWLJPpYgXyI/s200/L1010194.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This weekend's word to the wise is related to my recent blog post about <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/11/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html">local hotels vs. chain hotels</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though I advocate booking local hotels during your travels, whether domestic or international, there is a great way to incorporate your chain hotels into your travels.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On my last trip to Europe, I initially flew to Madrid to spend several days with family and then flew to Rome for a couple of weeks. I had rented a room in downtown Rome but had to be out of there the day before my flight back to Madrid and my final flight from Madrid, back home to the U.S.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did a little research and found that the points I could accumulate on my Hilton Rewards program would be quite a bit more with an international hotel, so I made the decision to stay at a Hilton by the airports in Rome and in Madrid. My logic was that since my both flights out were very early and I was using public transportation, a chain hotel would work better for me than booking a room in the city and waking up super early to catch a cab or take a train to the airport.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The positives of using a chain hotel for me were as follows:<br />
</div><ol style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li>I would be staying in very comfortable rooms with free wi-fi access.</li>
<li>I would have a nice restaurant, a spa & indoor swimming pool within very easy reach.<br />
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<li>I would be close to the airport and could utilize the hotel's free shuttle to the airport instead of taking a train or subway in from the city. I would be dropped off directly in front of my terminal.</li>
<li>I could take the day to relax, read, swim, eat and generally, rest up before my flights' and the impending jet-lag.</li>
<li>I would be accumulating extra reward points.</li>
</ol><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It might not sound like much but I think it's the perfect combination of lodging when traveling, especially when flying.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, you will probably be giving up that last day of potential sight-seeing or souvenir shopping, but for me, the time to rest and relax before having to deal with airports and overcrowded flights is worth the trade.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Believe it or not, my room in Madrid was only $100.00 and the room, as well as the hotel, were wonderful! In Rome, my room was about $110.00 but the hotel spa and pool more than made up for the extra expense. I spent both days swimming, munching, reading, internet surfing, photo organizing and blogging. Those days also ended up being the coldest of my visit so I was more than happy to stay inbound, warm & cozy. I also saved the money I would have used for a taxi or train ride to the airport.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Review your budget and check out the rates <i>before</i> you leave for your trip. If you're flying, that last day of your travels could be the perfect day to get some rest and prepare yourself for the hectic pace of traveling set before you. I prefer to book these types of stays in advance. It is possible that the exchange rate for international destinations will change but I prefer the peace of mind knowing that my room is reserved and ready for me when I arrive. If you prefer not to do your own research or booking, or you don't have time to do the research yourself, contact a travel planner/travel agent (LIKE ME!) to do it for you.<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In my humble opinion, this is the </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">best</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> way to incorporate local hotels with chain hotels in your travels.</span><br />
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</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-22818471267460801972009-11-28T13:59:00.001-06:002009-12-15T15:12:32.427-06:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 4 (Lodging-Hotels: Locals vs. Chains)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHNXw1lV_bLGTNP1o_-Z2UZfLXvqFp-_srNvCmHCRUrYUlg5im7amYKpqh6ltU21IwmguTXm8PjlAVEgjLVo_oUwOcl2IjRV5q_esN_QtmPJnRHDTwCEe9uxlpvWQYw0GwpN9fmEXi6Q/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHNXw1lV_bLGTNP1o_-Z2UZfLXvqFp-_srNvCmHCRUrYUlg5im7amYKpqh6ltU21IwmguTXm8PjlAVEgjLVo_oUwOcl2IjRV5q_esN_QtmPJnRHDTwCEe9uxlpvWQYw0GwpN9fmEXi6Q/s320/IMG_1631.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, let me start by recapping my series on <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budgeting-for-your-dream-vacation.html">Budgeting for Your Vacation</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-1.html">Budgeting for Your Vacation--Pt. 1</a>, we talked about saving for your vacation and I provided you all with some great links that can help you learn to budget your finances with your dream vacation in mind.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-2.html">Part 2 of my Budgeting for Your Vacation</a> series, I recommended some good websites to help you start tracking flight costs and we talked about some easy ways to help you start putting aside some money for your vacation.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-3-what-kind.html">Part 3 of my Budgeting for Your Vacation</a> series talked about figuring out what type of traveler you are. Figuring out the type of traveler you are will help you to start to budget and will ultimately help you learn how it will impact your overall budget. I also provided you with some fun links to quizzes that might help you figure out your "travel type".<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Budgeting for Your Vacation--Part 4 is focused on all the different options for lodging that you will be encountering as you plan your vacation. We've discussed <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html">Hostels</a>, <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/10/budget-for-your-vacation-pt-4-lodging.html">Bed & Breakfasts</a>, and in this post I'll be discussing Hotels and the advantages and disadvantages to booking a local hotel versus a chain hotel.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's talk about chain hotels first. Most of us have a favorite chain hotel. If you do a lot of local travel for work or are a long getaway weekend person, you probably already stay at one particular chain over the others. You already have an idea of how that hotel chain operates and have had some good experience in the past with that particular chain. If you don't have a favorite chain, you might be more inclined to book according to your budget and you take what you can get unless it's completely unsatisfactory.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At this point, let me just say that if you're booking according to budget and you don't work with a particular chain, you might be doing yourself a disservice. Chain hotels are no longer exclusive to one particular hotel. Each chain is comprised of many different hotels with many different budget ranges and finding something in your budget within that chain is easier than you think. The reason, I say you might be doing yourself a disservice is that when you stick with a particular chain and you sign yourself up with their rewards program, your stays can accumulate points for you and can get you some nice freebies in the long run.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For example, I try to stay in any hotel within the Hilton chain. Hilton's program lets you earn points for your stay, miles for your mileage reward program, or a combination of the two. It's a great program and each individual hotel has its own little set of freebies associated with your level. Admittedly, it's not much at the beginning but a free newspaper, free in-room wi-fi, or a couple of free bottles of water are free and can save you a few dollars a day and that works just fine for me!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition to the loyalty programs with larger chain hotels, chain hotel locations are usually excellent, and you are all but guaranteed English speaking staff and some sort of overall familiarity. The downside of staying at a chain hotel is that you might not get a sense of the local ambiance, you'll probably be paying more than at a local hotel, and customer service, although good, might not be of a local flavor.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Locally owned hotels can be large, small, fancy, exclusive, earthy, and bare bones. Do some research before you choose a local hotel. I did quite a bit of research before choosing my local hotels. I've mentioned this website before but <a href="http://journeywoman.com/">JourneyWoman</a> is a GREAT resource for women traveling anywhere in the world. Before I went to England, I read through JourneyWoman's website and found <a href="http://cherrycourthotel.co.uk/index.html">The Cherry Court Hotel</a>. I chose this hotel because other women traveling solo had chosen it as well. There was CCTV at the entrance and lobby area which made me feel safe. It had an awesome location about 1-2 blocks from Victoria Station. It had free wi-fi and provided a simple fruit basket for breakfast every morning. It's been in business for 25 years and other women travelers said they felt safe in the neighborhood and liked the owners. The nice part for me was also price. When I went to London, the British Pound was 2:1 so to be able to stay in central London for less than $100.00 a night was a bargain! Chain hotels would not have been able to match that rate in London.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another great resource to find local hotels are your guidebooks. I talked about guidebooks in one of my <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/10/weekend-word-to-wise-travel-guides.html">Weekend Words to the Wise</a> posts. Most guidebooks will make recommendations on lodging for all types of budgets. You will RARELY find a chain hotel mentioned in a guidebook. And that is because you aren't traveling to any of these places to remind yourself of America...you're going to experience the country you are visiting!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Madrid, Spain, I found the hotel we stayed at mentioned in several different guidebooks with excellent reviews anywhere I searched for customer reviews. <a href="http://www.hoteleuropa.es/">Hotel Europa</a> in Madrid is centrally located on Plaza del Sol. It is an easy walk to the subway, it has a cafe downstairs with good food for any meal. Wi-fi is available in the lobby and in your room for an extra fee. The staff are friendly and knowedgable. Best of all, it's less than $100.00 a night for an excellent location with clean rooms.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. I think there's a place for chain hotels in our travels and in my next Weekend Word to the Wise, I'm going to talk about how to use locals and chains to make your trip an awesome experience.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just remember that in your travels, whether in the U.S. or Internationally, local hotels can be a safe and economical part of your travels that you shouldn't discount.<br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-20882708682180967482009-11-21T21:27:00.000-06:002009-11-21T21:27:05.818-06:00Weekend Word to the Wise (Saving)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuoOOOTpCPg2pIu69BYyCZ4A6ZPpHD6cOFNhB7QiG_jzcQBLrjKVmJjSOHPLVcQdqccKTEXdEqmouHg3fBezqJaYTXLtFutOZxd4SiAYyd2cqLDp6t5ZC23-zLwwEpJunJBAvWsFOpMA/s1600/skd187720sdc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuoOOOTpCPg2pIu69BYyCZ4A6ZPpHD6cOFNhB7QiG_jzcQBLrjKVmJjSOHPLVcQdqccKTEXdEqmouHg3fBezqJaYTXLtFutOZxd4SiAYyd2cqLDp6t5ZC23-zLwwEpJunJBAvWsFOpMA/s200/skd187720sdc.png" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, my partner told me about an article she read in the November issue of <b>Real Simple</b> magazine.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the very short article, the writer shared a tip he used to save money so he and his family could go on vacation. He stated that he used cash to pay for everything. When he received his change, if he got a $5 bill returned, he folded the bill differently than the rest of his cash and when he got home, he immediately put the $5 bill into an envelope and when he accumulated $50, he would deposit the money into a special, separate, savings account so he would never be tempted to spend the cash or to transfer the money from savings into his checking account. In a year, he had saved $2000, enough to take his wife and two children on vacation.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back in September 2009, I wrote a post about <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/09/budgeting-for-your-dream-vacation.html">Budgeting for Vacation</a> and talked about different methods for saving for your dream vacation. This short article is a perfect example of what I was talking about!<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It <i>is</i> possible to put aside enough money to go wherever you want to go. It doesn't matter if it's Europe or Florida. If you want to get there, you CAN do it!</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-72883748277665710722009-11-19T12:28:00.001-06:002009-12-15T15:13:20.296-06:00Foodie Break #2 or How to Travel Without Really Traveling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've got the travel bug again and that shouldn't be new to anyone who knows me. I seem to get the itch a few months after my last big trip has ended.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, if you're anything like me, you're not rich and leaving your job to travel for a few weeks isn't always possible so what options do we really have? We could do some nice, little, extended weekend trips in or around where we live (like I did a couple of weeks ago) or we could find some kind of substitute for the actual travel. This blog sort of helps me to do that.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The other thing we can do is eat!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, you heard me, we can EAT! If you can find an authentic, ethnic restaurant in your city that reminds you of that little <i>trattoria</i> down the street from your B&B in Italy, or maybe a pub around the corner from your job that kind of looks like the place you ate at while you were in London, go there and EAT!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy the food, pretend you're in London or Italy. If you're lucky, the owners might actually be from there and if you're extra lucky, maybe they'll be serving some of the original recipes from their country. Don't go to Olive Garden and pretend it's Italy because they don't even come close! Don't head to Long John Silver's and put vinegar on your fries and pretend it's the same as the fish and chips you bought in London because malt vinegar does not make it British fish and chips! Go as authentic as you can and immerse yourself in the cuisine, the ambiance, and the food. Don't just plow through it all. Examine the decor, sniff the air, and talk to waitstaff or the owner. Find out what prompted them to open this restaurant. Take your time and eat like an Italian or Spaniard or whatever culture you're enjoying. Eat several courses and enjoy each one with some wine. You don't do this all the time so indulge yourself a little!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have the good fortune of living in a city with some nice alternatives for food, restaurants, and eating.We're also fortunate enough to have several cooking schools as well. We have <i><a href="http://www.ciachef.edu/sanantonio/">The Culinary Institute of America-San Antonio</a></i> which hosts a regular cooking school as well as classes for the cooking enthusiast and we have <i><a href="http://www.centralmarket.com/Cooking-School.aspx">Central Market Cooking School</a></i> which brings in some great chefs from all over the world for demonstrations and tastings. We also have smaller, private schools that teach private lessons for all age ranges.<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I mention the cooking schools, Central Market in particular, because In my next post, I'm going to write a bit about how I was able to leave San Antonio and visit Tuscany for a few hours and show you how to get away, even if it's just for an evening, and either recapture a recent trip or whet your appetite for the one to come.</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-16511898733539349562009-11-14T09:43:00.001-06:002009-12-15T15:14:28.733-06:00Weekend Word to the Wise (Rest & Relaxation)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wAX1GSW8dseJ6kEy6lBfcmwOZtik-NmqT4Somxv7rXPNKo3UcdVmMzNIbWjcoHuH8mn432tfqENkgDfSc1kXg-8ODHQHaBmxWIk_a28BW91V4d4zB885ugrmuwTy0jWkA5m98rId3Kg/s1600-h/L1010189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wAX1GSW8dseJ6kEy6lBfcmwOZtik-NmqT4Somxv7rXPNKo3UcdVmMzNIbWjcoHuH8mn432tfqENkgDfSc1kXg-8ODHQHaBmxWIk_a28BW91V4d4zB885ugrmuwTy0jWkA5m98rId3Kg/s400/L1010189.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J3_P65F6KJqLD5miT8Bzy8vXuzDCk2aJG5JiQLbXVMjlW2SzJS16618PsB9r2sboyrXld9DJTaHJv1eFs5GCeGGTso3xnpefDfvmeIWcmDfU-Lt6v3AW55Pj6m45Aq-TU5KuWfptrv8/s1600-h/L1010191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8J3_P65F6KJqLD5miT8Bzy8vXuzDCk2aJG5JiQLbXVMjlW2SzJS16618PsB9r2sboyrXld9DJTaHJv1eFs5GCeGGTso3xnpefDfvmeIWcmDfU-Lt6v3AW55Pj6m45Aq-TU5KuWfptrv8/s200/L1010191.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes when we travel, we are in such a hurry to make our arrangements, we do a quick search, find what we think we're looking for and go. It's not uncommon. We're busy people and just squeezing in a few days away is a task in itself. Some of us have children, some of us have pets, weekends are busy and filled with all the things we can't manage to get done during the week. So when we finally make the decision to get away somewhere for a few days, we find the quickest solution and go with it.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But what if we were able to stop, take a breath, and take a minute to think about what our needs might be when we're traveling. Sometimes a hotel <i>is</i> our best option, but what if we could find something for the same price or less that helps us feel more "at home" than a standard hotel room?<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recently took a couple of days off work and my partner and I went to Port Aransas, Texas to spend some time on the beach. I found some very decently priced hotels very close to the beach but none of them accepted pets. (Our dogs don't like kennels and we don't blame them.) I did a search for cabins & bungalows and found some cottages two blocks from the beach. The price range for these cabins in the off season ranged from $69-$120 a night. We chose the medium sized cabin for $89 a night. Our cabin had a queen-sized bed, a small living area, a full kitchen and bathroom. The complex was clean and well lit at night. There were barbecue pits and picnic tables outside for guest use. Pets were welcome with no extra fees. And we were easy blocks to the beach.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Directly across the street from where we stayed was a chain hotel offering a standard room for $99 a night. They accepted pets also but with an extra $10 a night fee and did offer complimentary continental breakfast.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, for less than the price of a standard room, we found a nice, homey place to spend a few days with our dogs in a cabin that was one of first beach cabins to be built in Port Aransas.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I suppose my whole point is that sometimes in the middle of our hectic attempts to make time for some well deserved rest & relaxation, it's good to take a deep breath, count to 10 and rethink your options. You might find you have more of them than you thought you did!<br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-26547901335536726522009-11-10T19:14:00.000-06:002009-11-10T19:14:49.627-06:00I'm Still Here!I haven't forgotten you all. As a matter of fact, I have lots to blog about but time has been against me lately so my posts have gone on the back burner for a short time.<br />
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I spent a wonderful few days at Port Aransas, Texas and did a quick overnight visit to Fredricksburg, Texas and have some photos to prove it! Hopefully, I'll have some time this weekend to give everyone a "Weekend Word to the Wise" and to post a bit about my recent trips.<br />
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Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-64878476132979663822009-10-24T12:13:00.002-05:002009-10-24T12:16:14.545-05:00Weekend Word to the Wise (Travel Guides)Guidebooks. They are expensive but indispensable. The fact of the matter is if you plan on doing any travel, whether domestic or international, you would be wise to read up on the area to which you are traveling. A good guidebook can run you anywhere from $15 and up. Guidebooks are written to appeal to a certain genre of travelers and if you've already figured out what type of traveler you are, you will find a guidebook to meet your needs.<br />
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My personal favorite is a <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/" id="pv7g" target="_blank" title="Rick Steves">Rick Steves</a> travel guide. The best one out there for general European travel is <u>Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2010: The Travel Skills Handbook.</u><br />
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In this book, Rick Steves helps you to learn how to plan your itinerary and maximize your time and how to pack light. He has recommendations for where to stay and where to eat, and in general, how to travel to Europe as a local rather than a visitor. His books are great for all types of travelers but especially those of us who want to experience Europe outside of the usual hotel, sight-seeing, restaurant experience. If you're new to international travel and aren't sure where you want to travel to yet, this book is perfect becauseSteves takes you to the major areas of Europe you would probably most want to visit. Once you have a good idea of where you might want to travel, you can buy a guidebook that is written specifically for that area. Besides the fact that I likeSteves ' take on travel, I also know that he personally travels to all the areas he writes about and he goes there annually so his books are up to date for every year that they are written.<br />
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Make sure when you buy a travel guide that was published in or around the year you are thinking about traveling. A guidebook purchased at a used book store serves as a great introduction but make sure you buy the updated version when you've made your decision on where to travel.<br />
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Here are some other guidebooks I enjoy reading: <a href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/index.jsp?lpaffil=lphp-topindex" id="gt-w" target="_blank" title="Lonely Planet">Lonely Planet</a> (very specific guides for all types of travelers), <a href="http://us.dk.com/static/cs/us/11/travel/intro.html" id="b0w0" target="_blank" title="Eyewitness Travel Guides">Eyewitness Travel Guides</a> (I love their Top 10 books for quick insight on the top 10 things to see or do on location), <a href="http://www.frommers.com/" id="t_r2" target="_blank" title="Frommer's">Frommer's</a> (for the budget-minded traveler), <a href="http://www.letsgo.com/" id="u.hx" target="_blank" title="Let's Go!">Let's Go!</a> (for young, budget-minded travelers), and <a href="http://www.roughguides.com/" id="oz6n" target="_blank" title="Rough Guides">Rough Guides</a> (also geared toward the younger traveler).<br />
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Don't limit yourself to these guidebooks. There are travel guides written for Christians, gay & lesbian travelers, solo travelers, senior citizens...the titles are endless!<br />
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Even if you aren't planning on traveling in the very near future, a good guidebook can whet your appetite for travel and fill your head with ideas to create your dream list of places to visit one day!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's tips are related to packing:<br />
</div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li>Instead of packing a wash cloth or pouf, I take a package of facial cleansing cloths (like Dove's or Olay's). These are great because I can take them into my shower with me, wash my face with them, then soap them up to use as a wash cloth. When I'm finished, the used cloth goes into the trash! No waiting for it to dry, no re-packing, and it lightens my suitcase as the trip progresses!</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi695-g9eZseOSw0uZbnHNcwvhz3IWGmvWdssbWwELlZROMWBx-VytCz5W9sxJdEmxcfQBPb7-2nfH-hQFUzGcQcBAt1nrW9f5LVDZGiURhmwZ7b3dKKL4xHBxx-DzKCEHvw15Xqvhkyz0/s1600-h/IMG_1437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS-iDKq5oMfp5OHFF8N0AQqONASHTeqwLTp-BQ5IGem6T8taetMMCxpX1oYJAFRZoLVCSMYsubtvjWJujzym1WitKzYGFKxJi04OL8NBazpbAmliWNNvxzshZsB-BU1KGgduC_NpHrHY/s1600-h/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS-iDKq5oMfp5OHFF8N0AQqONASHTeqwLTp-BQ5IGem6T8taetMMCxpX1oYJAFRZoLVCSMYsubtvjWJujzym1WitKzYGFKxJi04OL8NBazpbAmliWNNvxzshZsB-BU1KGgduC_NpHrHY/s200/IMG_1439.JPG" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi695-g9eZseOSw0uZbnHNcwvhz3IWGmvWdssbWwELlZROMWBx-VytCz5W9sxJdEmxcfQBPb7-2nfH-hQFUzGcQcBAt1nrW9f5LVDZGiURhmwZ7b3dKKL4xHBxx-DzKCEHvw15Xqvhkyz0/s200/IMG_1437.JPG" />
<li>Pack all of your electronic or tech gear into one easily identifiable cube or bag for easy retrieval (like this one from Eagle Creek). I am an admitted tech geek. I like, no wait, I NEED, to travel with all my electronic gear. I pack my iTouch, my cell phone, my Nintendo DS, my Mac, my speaker (which I will demo in the near future), and all kinds of other gear, not to mention the transformer and adapters. On my first trip to Italy, my carry-on got pulled out for further inspection because the transformer looked suspicious. I had stuff everywhere and hadn't really employed any specific packing technique. Even though I was nowhere close to flight time, it made me nervous because in Italy, they pulled everything out and checked all of it. If I had all my e-gear in one easy to find bag, they probably would have taken that bag out, scanned it, and I would have been on my way.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope these two tips help you as you start to think about that big trip and how you plan on packing for it. <br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-2157703621739645362009-10-12T21:17:00.000-05:002009-10-12T21:17:34.427-05:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 4 (Lodging-Bed & Breakfasts)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0Ofzp6kk-bky-8GIJ4qkKlsMh6TXtFRinjD0PmHdDOgUxztS8nPTqNjpBgnfwEKQk1QliF9ctnqrw30-a6nMRL-yminL_YU2PC-P-qdbhzmZZfir5R51iLGuMgfS2BuP-t96DfiDyeI/s1600-h/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0Ofzp6kk-bky-8GIJ4qkKlsMh6TXtFRinjD0PmHdDOgUxztS8nPTqNjpBgnfwEKQk1QliF9ctnqrw30-a6nMRL-yminL_YU2PC-P-qdbhzmZZfir5R51iLGuMgfS2BuP-t96DfiDyeI/s320/IMG_1514.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>In my last post, I talked about hostels as a viable form of lodging. In this post, I will be discussing my favorite form of lodging, bed & breakfasts.<br />
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The reason that I love bed and breakfasts so much is that I feel that I am part of the community that I am learning about rather than just an outsider visiting. I like the idea of walking into a home rather than a hotel lobby. I enjoy sitting down to breakfast with other people and hearing their thoughts about the places they've visited and sharing my experiences about where to go. I like meeting the owners or hosts and finding out what drove them to open their home up to strangers.<br />
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If any of this sounds the least bit appealing to you, then you should stay at a bed and breakfast at least once during your travels.<br />
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Bed and breakfasts vary wildly so open your mind up to the different variations and don't go into your search with a definite mindset of what you HAVE to have. Admittedly, most B&B's have a bedroom, with at the very minimum, a double bed available; however, most places offer a queen sized bed and in Europe, many of them are geared for 2-4 people to stay in one room.<br />
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Some B&B's have "en suite" rooms which means the room has a toilet, sink, and shower in your room. En suite rooms are usually the highest priced of all the available rooms but if a private bathroom is important to you, the cost will be a necessary one. Some rooms have a sink and shower in your room and the toilet or "water closet" will be down the hall. These rooms are usually less costly than en suite and the sink and shower make them pretty convenient to use if you don't mind walking across or down the hall to use the bathroom. Some rooms have only a sink with the remaining water works, shower and toilet, down the hall. And finally, you have the bare bones room with no bathroom facilities at all in the room. These rooms are the least expensive and if you're traveling on a budget, these rooms are your best bet.<br />
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As for breakfast, this varies greatly as well. Some B&B's offer a full breakfast. Often the menu is set with a wide variety of breakfast foods from which to choose but some B&B's may offer you a list of foods to choose from the night before so your particular choices are ready for you in the morning. If your B&B does not advertise a full breakfast, then the standard European breakfast usually consists of cold cereal, fruit, a roll, croissant, or pastry of some kind, and coffee or tea. Europeans aren't big on breakfast so unless your B&B specifically states it serves a full breakfast, don't expect it. Some B&B's have a separate dining area and some have a tray or stand in a common area where all the breakfast supplies are available for you to take back to your room. I stayed in one B&B that actually had a lady who did nothing but make us coffee (in Italy) while we ate our pastries and cereal! If you're not a breakfast person, ask your B&B proprietor if they would consider lowering your room rate then take your savings and have breakfast at the little cafe down the street instead!<br />
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Do your research (or pay someone like me to do it for you)! READ, READ, READ every guidebook you can get your hands on. If you can't afford to buy a lot of different guidebooks (they can be expensive at about $15-20 a pop) then go to your local library or used book store and start reading up on recommendations on where to stay. Make copies or take notes of the places that interest you. Talk to people who have traveled to the areas you're planning on visiting. Read blogs, visit websites like <a href="http://journeywoman.com/" id="b48:" target="_blank" title="Journeywoman">Journeywoman</a> (for women travelers) or <a href="http://www.independenttraveler.com/" id="f9el" target="_blank" title="IndependentTraveler">IndependentTraveler</a> (for solo travelers) and read their recommendations. Join groups like Travelzine (a Yahoo group) and ask other travelers for their recommendations. My point here is someone always has a favorite place to stay and if their reason for staying there is the same or similar to your reason to wanting to stay there, you've found a place to stay!<br />
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Look at your budget and keep a number in mind for your lodging and try your best to stick to it but remember that you can juggle the number according to the cities you will be visiting, in other words, your stay in a small city like Orivieto (in Italy) will probably be much less expensive than your stay in Rome. You also need to decide ahead of time what is more important to you, budget or location. Are you willing to pay more for location?<br />
<br />
If it's your first trip to Europe, I would recommend that your budget take location into account as better locations usually cost more than out of the way locations; however, remember in larger cities, there are probably several good locations to choose from and you will be able to take that into account.<br />
<br />
In the last 5 years of my European travel, I have been able to find B&B's that run as low as 45 euros per night. My own personal number for lodging is 75 euros a night for a B&B for a good, centralized location. If you'd like more specific information regarding the B&B's I stayed in anywhere overseas, drop me a line.<br />
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Next on the agenda are local hotels versus chain hotels.<br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-51644267587086473412009-10-09T09:53:00.000-05:002009-10-09T09:53:31.619-05:00London at Dusk<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been at a conference most of this week and haven't had a chance to finish up my next blog post but I will hopefully get it finished this weekend.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the meantime, I am posting one of my favorite London pics. I took it as dusk was beginning from across the Thames shortly after I rode the London Eye. I'm not sure what it is that strikes me so about this photo except that for me, it seems to encompass everything I thought, and still think, about London. It's a mix of the old and new in ways that some of us the U.S. may never fully understand. It's dusky and romantic. It's hectic and modern. It's London.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbTfKBIx93W0bBCArak880kHZSPs0IPbrSfyq0GXEsQik9GVLPAR0iea1VrPNpaRxbgaZV1VR9nToI6uxqAwvZMgTruThi6hORHuS22BoWn9WYrWnwAGQZIlaaehdLOeacI49wCXcE6w/s1600-h/IMG_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbTfKBIx93W0bBCArak880kHZSPs0IPbrSfyq0GXEsQik9GVLPAR0iea1VrPNpaRxbgaZV1VR9nToI6uxqAwvZMgTruThi6hORHuS22BoWn9WYrWnwAGQZIlaaehdLOeacI49wCXcE6w/s400/IMG_1708.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-80180238445978030862009-09-29T18:29:00.000-05:002009-09-29T18:29:51.770-05:00Foodie Break #1<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I LOVE PASTA!! One of the things I loved about Italy was being able to walk into almost any restaurant and know that my pasta was probably made right there that very same morning.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I made pasta once before but recently went to a pasta making class and learned some pasta making tips from a real chef. I came home and immediately hit the kitchen to try my hand at my new skills.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are my results:<br />
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<br />
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-pWAF_VNFF8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-pWAF_VNFF8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-11690473604556421772009-09-28T11:40:00.000-05:002009-09-28T11:40:33.037-05:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 4 (Lodging-Hostels)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now that we've had the opportunity to try and figure out what type of traveler you are, we need to talk about the different types of accommodations that are available for you when you travel.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bulk of your budget is going to be taken up by accommodations and transportation. We've touched a bit on transportation in earlier blogs so today, I'd like to discuss the different types of accommodations available and how your accommodations will affect your budget.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Keep in mind that the type of traveler you are usually dictates the types of places in which you prefer to stay. But don't feel boxed in by your budget or the type of travel you enjoy the most. There are a wide variety of lodging types to choose from when you travel. There are hostels, bed & breakfasts, eco-hotels, agriturismo, campsites or camping cabins, locally owned hotels, hotel chains, convents & monasteries, apartments and even homes. Aside from price, be aware that location is also part of the reason you might be choosing a particular accommodation over another.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to talk a little bit about each type of lodging and help you see how this type of lodging could fit into your budget. Keep in mind that I don't believe that any of these accommodations are unattainable to the budget traveler. You should feel free to mix and match different types of accommodations throughout your stay. If you feel like treating yourself in one city, adjust your budget for the remainder of your trip. You are your own captain. Don't be afraid to take the helm!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's start with <b>hostels</b>. Hostels are everywhere! Hostels were typically associated with young, college-aged, budget travelers who basically needed a place to sleep and didn't mind doing so with several other people in the room. Hostels were, and still are, one of the least expensive types of lodging. The biggest difference now, is that hostels are no longer the accommodation of choice among just the younger crowd. Hostels of all types are available to travelers of all ages.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Different types of rooms are available and you can often choose between private rooms, same sex or mixed sex rooms, en-suite or shared bathrooms, and each accommodation can be for one person up to six people in each room. Most hostels have 24 hour access (they used to have curfews but most of them no longer have curfews in place) and free wi-fi. A lot of hostels have places to eat on-site or have large kitchens that are shared by everyone. Prices for rooms in hostels can vary greatly but most of them remain under $25.00 per night, per bed. Depending on where your travels take you and how the dollar is faring in the economy, you might even find a hostel bed in a dorm setting for under $10.00 a night! Keep in mind that for most travelers, hostels are usually just a place to sleep and grab a shower. If this type of accommodation sounds like it's right up your alley, you can start here at <a href="http://hostels.com/">Hostels.com</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If hostels sound a little too cozy for you, then maybe a bed & breakfast is the type of lodging you'd like to try. Different countries have different names for our traditional bed & breakfasts. In France, they may be referred to as <i>Chambre d'Hotes</i>. In Italy, Spain, and some Latin American countries, they are still often referred to as <i>Pensiones</i>. In Germany they may be referred to as<i> Fremdenzimmer</i>. Whatever you choose to call them, they are my favorite type of lodging and in my next post, I'll tell you why.<br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-38475411988721497272009-09-19T14:11:00.000-05:002009-09-19T14:11:10.784-05:00Wishing I Was in Rome Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfinucumzHcMJ_Y3KEBxk0RIYVuHQpOU57_sTQu7pOfRM_XNIR3i2gwF0G4wRc8Hy_afUYNXnxEw5htALLNHxAAt_SVc5VSblODAQ9HUqSoYTb3wLw63kvVQXrNsQl831haX3OCcsQft8/s1600-h/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfinucumzHcMJ_Y3KEBxk0RIYVuHQpOU57_sTQu7pOfRM_XNIR3i2gwF0G4wRc8Hy_afUYNXnxEw5htALLNHxAAt_SVc5VSblODAQ9HUqSoYTb3wLw63kvVQXrNsQl831haX3OCcsQft8/s400/IMG_2662.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaSpxuxgHPDvl8t7plJyTM_jDp0R-TEUHA1V33iPrXNRvn-V_gThFPovRg9K2eiaFn4-fgCoz5NfezTayG6EWWPxmRmODXtvPfJbFCxz3luO7dgEOCY9VuI-QgrdqPdGIRlOR_9SauQU/s1600-h/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaSpxuxgHPDvl8t7plJyTM_jDp0R-TEUHA1V33iPrXNRvn-V_gThFPovRg9K2eiaFn4-fgCoz5NfezTayG6EWWPxmRmODXtvPfJbFCxz3luO7dgEOCY9VuI-QgrdqPdGIRlOR_9SauQU/s400/IMG_2661.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCrQhpGUlNlc-AppviBkSehdtAqc-_CTrSq5s46ZYyywzSzbENpmafJMEZt8-iOTb4DqbChmCrjND4c01ta2J54WMGYDaB5X9sUBaNm2oXsPlWhMuL5hBvGtRmmG7YHfd5aIC9tmZfoo/s1600-h/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCrQhpGUlNlc-AppviBkSehdtAqc-_CTrSq5s46ZYyywzSzbENpmafJMEZt8-iOTb4DqbChmCrjND4c01ta2J54WMGYDaB5X9sUBaNm2oXsPlWhMuL5hBvGtRmmG7YHfd5aIC9tmZfoo/s400/IMG_2448.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVfW5j4KNJ_-Yu8H0j9WJowJ6PG5ISx4SRD1TTMEmWrUA2ZoR5AoPTd4dQdr79O9qVLnCOIJFTUE6NORsX-UbUVZeFSiLsoKC83In4rM1Ssxhu9A-Df28T1wb6tCM1suNPRAwbyskuRw/s1600-h/IMG_2537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVfW5j4KNJ_-Yu8H0j9WJowJ6PG5ISx4SRD1TTMEmWrUA2ZoR5AoPTd4dQdr79O9qVLnCOIJFTUE6NORsX-UbUVZeFSiLsoKC83In4rM1Ssxhu9A-Df28T1wb6tCM1suNPRAwbyskuRw/s400/IMG_2537.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-18991150598852008992009-09-16T17:51:00.000-05:002009-09-16T17:51:13.882-05:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 3 (What Kind of Traveler Are YOU?)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So now we've discussed some ways to save for your trip and how to budget for it but there are some other factors you need to take into account before you go much further.<br />
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We need to figure out: <i>"What kind of traveler are you?"</i><br />
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In my opinion, it is important to know what kind of traveler you are because how travel defines you and how you define travel will ultimately affect your budget.<br />
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There are many different types of travelers and I don't believe that we are all one distinctive type of traveler, rather we are a combination of several types; however, I do believe that there is one <i>defining</i> type that stands out in us more than the others.<br />
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Types of travelers? Ask yourself the following questions:<br />
<ul><li>Do you travel for enjoyment or is it something you feel compelled to do?</li>
<li>Do you travel for extended periods of time or are you satisfied with quick weekend getaways?</li>
<li>Do you like domestic travel or international travel?</li>
<li>Do you make a budget and stick to it or are you a free spender when you travel?</li>
<li>Do you enjoy solo travel or are you inclined to travel with a partner or travel buddy?</li>
<li>Do you like to make your own itinerary or do you prefer to buy a tour package that takes care of all the details for you?</li>
<li>Are you a history buff who has to see all the historical sites of the place you're visiting, do you prefer art and museums or maybe none of these?</li>
<li>What about eco-traveling and adventure traveling?</li>
<li>Are you mixing business and pleasure?</li>
<li>Will you be taking some courses during your travel or perhaps making a pilgrimage to a religious site?</li>
</ul>All of these things will have an overall impact on your budget and they should all be considered as you sit down to decide how much money you will need to make the trip of a lifetime. Personally, I am a mix of all of the above. I prefer traveling for extended periods of time but I also enjoy a long weekend getaway every now and then. I enjoy travel of all types, whether it's domestic or international, but I prefer international travel. I like to stick to a budget but I may decide to spend freely in one particular location. I enjoy traveling both solo and with company. I prefer to create my own personal itinerary when I travel but I am not opposed to purchasing a tour package if it meets my needs. I'm not a history or art buff but I do enjoy learning about what makes each city I visit unique and most of the time, that does involve history and art.<br />
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Do some broad research about the places you want to travel to and don't limit yourself to one location. Read about several places and pay attention to what grabs you the most. Is it the chance to see some long standing historical monument? Is it the idea of roughing it in a bare-bones eco-lodge on the beach? Is your favorite sports team going to be having several home games while you're visiting the area? Is there a particular religious monument you've read about since you were a child that stands out in your vacation dream?<br />
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If you started doing broad research into several cities across different countries, you probably have a good idea of which one of them stands out in your mind more than the others. Begin picturing yourself there and think about all the things you want to see and the places you'd want to visit while you're there. Find your dream location on google maps and go to the street view; do you see yourself walking down that street on your way to class or to dinner?<br />
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Once you're able to determine what type of traveler you are, you will be able to plan travel much more quickly and will have a much better idea of how to budget for your trip, even if you find yourself purchasing a last minute flight for an awesome price that you weren't anticipating.<br />
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Here are some fun little quizzes to try to help you figure out what type of traveler you are:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bootsnall.com/quiz/traveler/" id="k1kd" target="_blank" title="http://www.bootsnall.com/quiz/traveler/">http://www.bootsnall.com/quiz/traveler/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.nicolewilliams.com/connect/quiz-what-type-of-traveler-are-you" id="ee_l" target="_blank" title="http://www.nicolewilliams.com/connect/quiz-what-type-of-traveler-are-you">http://www.nicolewilliams.com/connect/quiz-what-type-of-traveler-are-you</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/awtqclF/What-Type-of-Traveler-are-You" id="masv" target="_blank" title="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/awtqclF/What-Type-of-Traveler-are-You">http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/awtqclF/What-Type-of-Traveler-are-You</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.davestravelcorner.com/backpackers/quizzes/quiz.php" id="cnf4" target="_blank" title="http://www.davestravelcorner.com/backpackers/quizzes/quiz.php">http://www.davestravelcorner.com/backpackers/quizzes/quiz.php</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And lastly, don't forget that no matter what type of traveler we believe we are, in the country to which we are traveling, we're probably just considered "tourists". Be kind. Be generous with yourself. Learn a bit of the language and enjoy yourself!</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-54633737336132662512009-09-14T21:51:00.003-05:002009-09-14T21:54:53.770-05:00Roasted Chestnuts in Rome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSneDrmJTSduI2OnrAhDDFpj-pRXBkLixDHjxKf5GibPoMookaUAZ5SuHX_DULVLv2DFRMRpL1nQkx-a9kWpKX7ueBPXVqZwKWUaRb8bdt0yfBLA_ZgbuIJrpiOM0HK3GA3kh_xIKDrDY/s1600-h/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSneDrmJTSduI2OnrAhDDFpj-pRXBkLixDHjxKf5GibPoMookaUAZ5SuHX_DULVLv2DFRMRpL1nQkx-a9kWpKX7ueBPXVqZwKWUaRb8bdt0yfBLA_ZgbuIJrpiOM0HK3GA3kh_xIKDrDY/s200/IMG_2417.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0EGrQCel0-SnAfMPLovLJxABd7JL3MJZzK5jTfaMZLYlGA0AJoxJ1kOPwu13MXo5kyKhhwRWByvnhQFzRaA0-1iKg8buuXVu4or5IVh7OgGR2FkNMZVgQ7lr0e9ByKdO_4IXxOlb_m4/s1600-h/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0EGrQCel0-SnAfMPLovLJxABd7JL3MJZzK5jTfaMZLYlGA0AJoxJ1kOPwu13MXo5kyKhhwRWByvnhQFzRaA0-1iKg8buuXVu4or5IVh7OgGR2FkNMZVgQ7lr0e9ByKdO_4IXxOlb_m4/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here in South Texas, up until last week, we had been suffering through a drought and temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit almost every day since May.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last week, the sky became overcast and it's been raining on and off everyday since then. It's still warm, with temperatures in the mid-80's but this weekend, as I was sitting in the den, I turned the thermostat down and sat in house feeling chilly and looking at the gray and overcast sky.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I sat channeling a cooler fall or spring day, I thought about the Saturday in Rome when I went to visit the Spanish Steps. The day was cold and sunny. I sat for a while and enjoyed some people watching then, as I made my way to the Villa del Corso, I stopped and bought some roasted chestnuts from the vendor on the corner. The cone of chestnuts was hot in my hands and the chestnuts were soft, warm, and delicious.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't wait for fall to really get here.</div>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-2222926253583400922009-09-10T18:19:00.000-05:002009-09-10T18:19:37.574-05:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 2<span style="font-family: arial;">We've discussed reasons to quit delaying your dream vacation and we've found some great tools to help us budget for our trip. Here are some of my own tried and true methods of saving for that trip of a lifetime.</span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;"> Use websites like <a href="http://www.yapta.com/">Yapta</a> to help you track airfare to your dream destination. If you've already purchased a ticket for your flight, Yapta will also track the price for that particular flight and that can help you decide if it's worth paying the change fee for the difference when prices drop</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial;"> Use websites like <a href="http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/">Airfare Watchdog</a> or <a href="http://www.travelzoo.com/">Travelzoo </a>for deals on flights originating from your city.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">As I mentioned in the post prior to this one, I am not a "saver" by nature. While I was working at my part-time job, one of the benefits I took advantage of was the employee credit union and direct deposit.<br />
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I sat down and looked at how much of my part-time check I needed to make all my bills and have a little bit of spending money until the next payday. Anything extra, I allocated towards my new savings account at the employee credit union. You are probably asking why it was so important to do all of this saving at the employee credit union? Why not just open a savings account at my local bank and put the money in there? Here's the deal breaker for me...I CANNOT SAVE. If money falls into my hot, little hands, I spend it. If I open a local account, I have access to that money all the time. I have no willpower in these things. I've tried but I really can't do it. The employee credit union was in Minnesota. The ATM card they sent me was just that, an ATM card. Not a debit/credit card, an ATM card...and I only got one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">So for me, it was necessary to determine how much money I could put away and it was easier for me to have this money automatically taken out of my check to go directly into my savings account. It was better for me to have the bank be very far away so I could not readily access the money. And it was better for me to take that one ATM card, wrap it up in plastic wrap, wrap that up in foil, put a whole bunch of rubber bands around it, and throw it in the back of my freezer. Now the card was never in my possession and if I wanted to use it to take money out of the account, I would have to go home, dig it out of the freezer, remove all the rubber bands, then the foil, then the plastic wrap, then go back out to an ATM machine to get the money. You get the picture. Honestly, by the time I got home, I had usually lost the inclination to go get the money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I've since then opened an account that is interest bearing and has a debit/credit card associated with it. I still do my trick of never keeping the card on my person and I still work at making it difficult for me to attain the money at a moment's notice. I like this account because it is independent of my local checking account and is no way tethered to my personal accounts so if I lose it, no one has access to my personal accounts. I also like that it has the debit/credit option because with the VISA logo, I know I can use this card pretty much anywhere in the world. I also made sure before I opened this account that there would be no surcharges for using ATM machines out of the country. The only charges I incur when I'm traveling overseas are a 3% charge for converting the currency. (Don't forget to calculate the surcharges into your expenses because if you don't, you might find yourself short of money towards the end of your travels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">This was how I saved and it worked for me. I didn't stop there either. I canceled my cable. I began throwing all my change into jars and I used that money for incidentals I might need for my trip. If you're familiar with <a href="http://www.coinstar.com/us/html/A-home">Coinstar</a> (these are coin counting stations in stores like Wal-Mart or your local grocery stores), Coinstars allow you to take your change and convert it to pre-paid cards for stores like Amazon, JC Penney, Borders, Cabela's and Eddie Bauer's for no fee! You just take your change to the nearest Coinstar, dump it in, choose which pre-paid card you want and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila!</span>, you have money to purchase some of those neat travel gadgets you've been reading about!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">These budget calculators and techniques may not be for everyone. Everyone may not view traveling as something more important than a new car or siding for your home. But if you're willing to make some sacrifices and cut back on some guilty pleasures, then your dream vacation may not be as far out of reach as you once thought it was. Even if you only put $25.00 per paycheck away every month, at the end of the year, you'll have $600.00 and $600.00 may be the price of a flight to your dream destination!</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-80076520700854380062009-09-10T18:18:00.000-05:002009-09-10T18:18:43.702-05:00Budget for Your Vacation--Pt. 1<span style="font-family: arial;">How do you budget for your vacation? Do you have a savings account specifically for traveling? Do you decide where you'd like to travel to, try to decide what it might cost and save specifically for that destination?<br />
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It doesn't really matter which you method you prefer, the important thing is that you decide where you'd like to go and either make sure you have enough money or start saving and be ready when the right fare pops up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I am sharing with you several links to some of the best budget travel expense online tools (with the exception of one that is an excel spreadsheet) that are geared toward the budget traveler. Most of them calculate basic costs that you have probably already considered but some of them have some line items that you might not have thought of as vacation expenses but that will impact the amount of money you will actually have on hand to spend while you're travelling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The first budget calculator I'm linking to is from the <a href="http://www.independenttraveler.com/">Independent Traveler</a> website. This site is a great source for independent travelers and it's loaded with information and several useful online tools the any traveler can utilize (see <a href="http://globediva.blogspot.com/2009/08/packing-hints-tips-originally-published.html">GlobeDiva travels packing hints</a> for a link to independent traveler's interactive packing list). Independent Traveler's <a href="http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-budget-calculator/">travel budget calculator</a> is a basic travel budgeting tool that allows you to calculate the overall potential cost of your trip that you can save, print, or email to your travel buddies. The nice thing about this particular budget calculator is that there are several empty boxes that allow you to put in personalized costs that make your budget unique.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The next budget calculator I like is from <a href="http://www.solotravel.org/">Solotravel.org</a>. This website is geared to solo travelers of all ages. It offers tour providers and trips that are solo friendly and their travel budget calculator allows you to estimate a "per day" amount you might need to budget for a specific country. The link to that calculator is <a href="http://www.solotravel.org/calculate-travel-budget.php">here</a>. Begin by entering the country to which you wish to travel. Continue by choosing your preferences for eating, accommodations, alcohol intake, internet usage, extra costs and the number days you will be staying. You are given a total with a rough idea of amount of money you will need per day in the currency related to the country to which you will be travelling. A link for a currency converter is also available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">An easy to use travel expense calculator comes from <a href="http://www.easy-budget-planner.com/index.html">easy-budget-planner.com</a>. This is NOT a travel website but a website that offers everyone lots of FREE budget planners. The <a href="http://www.easy-budget-planner.com/travel-expense-calculator.html">travel expense calculator</a> allows you to calculate whether you have enough money in your savings account for your trip. If you see that your proposed expenses put you in the negative overall, you know it's time to change your travel plans by making some cuts here and there or time to add more money to your savings account.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">If you're dream vacation is a cruise, here's an excellent little travel budget planner that focuses on cruises and expenses aligned with them. Get Sunny is the website and although some of the links on the site come back with errors (as of this writing) the link for the <a href="http://www.getsunny.com/">budget planner</a> works just fine. This great little calculator has categories for every possible expense related to cruises you can think of and then some! Once you've completed the calculator, you get back a detailed budget with break-downs for cruising, air travel, transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, and other expenses. Once you've got your total, you can even email it to yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Here is an excel spreadsheet from the website Round The World Trip that helps you budget for an "around the world" trip! After you click on the link you will be taken to the web page that has the actual link for the <a href="http://www.round-the-world-trip.com/budget-calculator.php">spreadsheet</a>. Once the spreadsheet opens, you will find instructions on how to use it to help you budget for your trip. This spreadsheet focuses more on countries in the Eastern European area, North and South America as well as Africa, but there is virtually no focus on Western Europe. The instructions ask that you not edit the cells so for me, this spreadsheet serves to give me some ideas on how to work make my own spreadsheet that could help me budget for a really long, round the world type trip; however, I'm not really inclined towards using spreadsheets and I have found the other budget calculators mentioned throughout this post serve my purposes just as well, if not better. I'm including this spreadsheet link for those of you that prefer to budget in this manner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">The final website and budget calculator I'm including is not quite like the calculators I presented above. This particular calculator allows you to figure out how much money you waste on little daily habits (like that Starbucks latte you stop for every morning) and how much money you would save if you just cut back, or eliminated, one or two or several, of these habits. Once the amount of savings is calculated, you can click on a link that shows you where you could afford to travel to with the extra money you saved over the year. This calculator is on an awesome website called <a href="http://www.travelmuse.com/">TravelMuse</a> and it's a bit similar to Tripit in that it allows you to plan your trip, search the web and save information you're interested in, and share with your friends, all in one place. The savings calculator I'm referring to is called <a href="http://www.travelmuse.com/yaycations/">Yaycations</a> and it's really eye-opening to see how much you could save for a trip just by cutting back on a few luxuries. You can also utilize TravelMuse to book travel if you're so inclined. I may never book travel from here but I will definitely use it as a resource to compare costs with other search vehicles. The site is very intuitive and easy to use. This is a fun site to play around on and dream of far away places.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
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Next, look for my own personal techniques that helped me save enough money to make it to Italy in the upcoming post!</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-40801518590209922032009-09-08T17:24:00.001-05:002009-09-08T18:03:12.743-05:00Budgeting for Your Dream Vacation<span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you who don't know me personally, let me put this right out front for everyone to know. I am not rich. As a matter of fact, I made my very first trip to Europe while I was in the middle of bankruptcy (the kind you repay, not the kind where all your bills are written off).<br /><br />I share this information with everyone because the most common statements I hear from people when they begin talking about their dream vacation is "I don't make enough money" or "I can't afford that kind of trip right now" or "Maybe when I'm retired".<br /><br />So I'm asking you...if you can't travel right now, when will you be able to travel? If you can't afford to travel right now, when will you be able to afford to travel? If you aren't making enough money right now, in this economy, what are the chances you will be making a lot more in the years to come?<br /><br />I ask you all this because I know from experience that for most of us living in the mid to low end of the middle class, these opportunities will probably never materialize. We will probably never get that fantastic paying job making a six-figure salary and as we grow older, our time will probably never be as free as we envision it being in the future. So I ask you, WHY WAIT?<br /><br />Why wait until you have that job paying 100K a year? Why wait until you retire to take the trip of a lifetime?<br /><br />I've learned a few things from personal experience that finally sunk in after it seemed everything was falling down around me and I'd like to share these things with you in the spirit of travel and adventure.<br /></span><br /><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">There is no time like the present.</span> You hear this saying all the time but do you ever <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> stop to think about it? My mom and dad had so many dreams for their retirement. They were going to travel throughout the U.S. My mom loves New Mexico and they really wanted to spend a good deal of time there. My dad retired a few years before my mom did so he had some time to bum around and live the carefree life for a bit while mom finished up her last few years of work. In the middle of waiting, my dad suffered a couple of strokes that incapacitated him and eventually led to his death. All their dreams gone in less than 2 years. I learned several things from my parents and from this experience: First, my parents instilled love of travel into me. We always took summer vacations to where ever my aunt happened to be stationed so I got to see a lot of the U.S. and Mexico this way and we always had a free place to stay. Second, life isn't going to stop just because we think we're finally ready to do what we've always wanted to do. If we don't do it now, we may never get to do it.</li></ul><ul style="font-family: arial;"><li><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">If you think you'll never have the money to travel, you will never have the money to travel! </span>As I said above at the opening of this post, I'm not rich. I don't have a rich mom or dad or grandmother or aunt or uncle to hand me money whenever I need it. What I make is what I live off of and if I need more, I take on more jobs. A few years ago, I bought a house. Owning a home when you're single isn't always easy but I felt I was up for the challenge. A few years after buying my home, all hell seemed to break loose at one time. The sewer line broke, my roof was leaking torrentially into my home, and all of a sudden, my tightly wrapped budget was coming apart faster than I could pick up the loose ends. I didn't have a contingency savings plan for emergencies. The only way I could do the major repairs on my home was to get behind on my house payments. The bank was about to foreclose so I filed for bankruptcy and went for the option that allowed me to pay my creditors back. The only problem was that the courts, in all their wisdom, garnished OVER HALF of my paycheck. With what was left, I had to make a house payment of over $1,000.00 plus my utilities, food, and gas. There was no way I could make that work so I began seeking part-time employment. The Lord blessed me with a second job and I began working evenings and weekends in addition to the occasional consulting I'd been doing for the last 15 years and my full-time job. It was not easy. I worked anywhere from 80-100 hours a week and was so tired I wasn't sure how I would continue to do it but I pushed myself to work day in and day out. It was in the middle of all of this that I would re-visit my old dream of traveling to Italy. I wasn't sure when I would make it there, my bankruptcy was a 5 year ball & chain and I could barely see myself making it out of my financial predicament anytime soon. But the more I worked, the more I wondered what I was doing all of this work for with nothing to show for it but a house, a car, and some material objects. It was about this time, my thinking began to change. If I was already making some changes in my spending habits, why not make more changes. The time was ripe for it and if I didn't do it now, then when???</li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;">These two times in my life were the impetus I needed to push me forward and propel me where I wanted to go...and where I wanted to was ITALIA!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now that you know a little bit more about me and how I gave myself the opportunity to travel, in my next post, I will share with you some hints and tips that worked for me and helped me move in the direction of my dream vacation.</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-56834940859775548042009-09-07T21:34:00.001-05:002009-09-07T21:34:26.645-05:00The Pull of Positano<a href=http://shar.es/1aLjP>The Pull of Positano</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-64722817537957238062009-09-04T14:14:00.000-05:002009-09-04T17:58:39.867-05:00Here's Spidey! (Originally Posted 3/28/09)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O6jrtlkZT4_CFdmAp8YpWp2IV0N2Nzly_gn5OOECSwlkKuCXVfIVSCpD8Dws15ENYjemcvSb-rUdSglb2FVcFp8nd_PrMAdo5Pghf9ifeHLkJpdDV8EAvDOQWIUAxSyzWul1rvVGMp8/s1600-h/Spidey.jpb.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O6jrtlkZT4_CFdmAp8YpWp2IV0N2Nzly_gn5OOECSwlkKuCXVfIVSCpD8Dws15ENYjemcvSb-rUdSglb2FVcFp8nd_PrMAdo5Pghf9ifeHLkJpdDV8EAvDOQWIUAxSyzWul1rvVGMp8/s400/Spidey.jpb.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377693014331624562" border="0" /></a><span class="insertedphoto" style="font-family:arial;">Okay. I couldn't help it. I'm almost embarrassed to post this guy's pic in here but I just can't help myself!!! (I paid him a few euros for the pleasure of taking his photo.)<br /><br />This guy has got to be the worst example of Spiderman I've ever seen!! I know I'm no "skinny minnie", but then again, I've never claimed to be one, much less, dressed up in a skin-tight suit of any type!!<br /><br />I first saw him Sunday at Plaza Mayor when we were having lunch in the Plaza and honestly guys, I couldn't stop laughing. I just couldn't imagine him trying to climb up steps, much less the sides of buildings. Then I glanced over at him and he struck a pose like he was flinging web and that was it, I just lost it! I must have had the giggles for over 15 minutes...everytime I looked at him I just died laughing.<br /><br />So today, I went back to the Plaza so I could share my fanatical laughter with all of you. There's got to be less embarrassing ways to earn money, no???</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-58297660373310448592009-09-03T22:52:00.000-05:002009-09-03T22:58:08.423-05:00Domenica a Roma (Originally Posted on 3/28/09)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5dwDgfX5aeE1W2G4w57DrcaK2gRjbrXRMBE2GOAB19DxjsEMZ1PkWcJjWumvTLE328nFFxtJYIFZoSwjtbVsxIjVAyqlHkNy5JbLa53kwRuWnE0IqCXHW9mlDtTeB4T9_YQyoA2n35A/s1600-h/IMG_2500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5dwDgfX5aeE1W2G4w57DrcaK2gRjbrXRMBE2GOAB19DxjsEMZ1PkWcJjWumvTLE328nFFxtJYIFZoSwjtbVsxIjVAyqlHkNy5JbLa53kwRuWnE0IqCXHW9mlDtTeB4T9_YQyoA2n35A/s200/IMG_2500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377456102764487042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqTK4JAvP1IB3N0jl4hCMg2TLkJQrCWmmBxp9f23RB40g5snk62h8o6STkS7lctyokVLPIU-SzjHuyc2WUSvZmScl7Q-TJaergGLC3nj5Cm-EFVvk4YEErBEJOIAZx_AquSUUVR310Yk/s1600-h/IMG_2487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqTK4JAvP1IB3N0jl4hCMg2TLkJQrCWmmBxp9f23RB40g5snk62h8o6STkS7lctyokVLPIU-SzjHuyc2WUSvZmScl7Q-TJaergGLC3nj5Cm-EFVvk4YEErBEJOIAZx_AquSUUVR310Yk/s200/IMG_2487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377456095809853074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mvhs0u7hgJQH89WZvBWHsYEsDPgK6WC79OO-RNt2J8wgC4aucOuINV_TOlixO2SbcIAKb1YJ_vwh9j8isFwZM7SO77WdMIcL6KgyVfQv7DlrryuP22hWXFkUABihq1nebHQYeop9DqM/s1600-h/IMG_2484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mvhs0u7hgJQH89WZvBWHsYEsDPgK6WC79OO-RNt2J8wgC4aucOuINV_TOlixO2SbcIAKb1YJ_vwh9j8isFwZM7SO77WdMIcL6KgyVfQv7DlrryuP22hWXFkUABihq1nebHQYeop9DqM/s200/IMG_2484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377456087650497538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="insertedphoto" style="font-family:arial;">Remember last year when I asked everyone how many pictures one could take of Stonehenge without getting tired of it? I present you with the same question about the Coliseum. It was like I couldn't snap enough pictures...and I already have some from my first trip to Rome!!<br /><br />This time I went ahead and took the tour inside and didn't walk around the Roman Forum. I'm the geek that orders the "audioguide" at every tourist attraction. I can't help it. Anyway, it was a good Sunday in Rome.</span></span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589954819255956028.post-78813657312110925252009-09-03T22:42:00.000-05:002009-09-03T22:49:48.059-05:00First Weekend in Rome (Originally Posted on 3/28/09)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_FNnlsF66xf5cHaBBVIyfn8OV0I0GH9czK8WM60jcK78gV1llBEF7MOAWIWRo1wix6bCl7HdRWXDInR2lCMYh5WLnUF21ZBik9fCMOAigVXNJFOw32t1JVxi5E73Ev5fQTC0X2ofDGA/s1600-h/IMG_2426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_FNnlsF66xf5cHaBBVIyfn8OV0I0GH9czK8WM60jcK78gV1llBEF7MOAWIWRo1wix6bCl7HdRWXDInR2lCMYh5WLnUF21ZBik9fCMOAigVXNJFOw32t1JVxi5E73Ev5fQTC0X2ofDGA/s200/IMG_2426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377454444071909394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j1QEDvOgQ55Z6PCzwLvw0s-Z4Utg4s-z96IYwAEev9e9OgslqvSNxqrhT0KW_LcWbn0VydGD8lIN56jdx7O5o6O-PqDoplx5-jvHqXfluqLQlOswDqm7ePHUfbptpK6L5ULY8fCGqks/s1600-h/IMG_2447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j1QEDvOgQ55Z6PCzwLvw0s-Z4Utg4s-z96IYwAEev9e9OgslqvSNxqrhT0KW_LcWbn0VydGD8lIN56jdx7O5o6O-PqDoplx5-jvHqXfluqLQlOswDqm7ePHUfbptpK6L5ULY8fCGqks/s200/IMG_2447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377453536855117442" border="0" /></a><span class="insertedphoto" style="font-family:arial;">This is me in front of the Pantheon. Last time JoAnn and I went to Rome, we didn't make it to a few places so I tried to make sure I hit those places this time if I could.<br /><br />My first Sunday in Rome, I did the big triangle from the Spanish Steps to the Pantheon then to Trevi Fountain. One of the things I noticed this time was that even though there were crowds, there were nowhere near as many tourists as there were the last time I was here (which was June 2004) so I'm inclined to think I got here a great time of the year.<br /><br />The weather was fabulous, cool but warm in the sunshine and cooler at night. Right outside of the Pantheon, there was a coffee place called Taza do Oro (which translates to Cup of Gold) which is supposed to serve the best cup of coffee in Rome, if not the world. I'm not an espresso drinker but I downed one for JoAnn cuz she got hooked on that stuff when we were here last time.<br /><br />Speaking of coffee...I'm gonna miss the stuff. Try walking into your local Starbucks and ordering a cappucino (which you don't do in Rome after noon or people look at you like your a "crazy Americano" cuz only Americans drink cappucinos after noon...of course, yours truly didn't care and ordered them anyway) and a pastry and paying less that $1.75 for both items. Hell, try ordering an espresso shot at Starbuck's and give them 85 cents for it and see what they tell you!<br /><br />Heaven is an Italian coffee bar.</span>Monica G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263297053776995754noreply@blogger.com0