New York City for Kids

~ 10 Kid Friendly Places to Visit in New York City at a Bargain Or Free
By Shreejana Hickman

1. Bronx Zoo: If you are a Bank of America (BOA) customer and have a BOA ATM, Debit or Credit Card, you get free admissions on the first weekend of every month. Also on Wednesdays throughout the year admissions is pay as you wish or you just give a donation. You may have to pay for separate exhibits. It is one of the biggest zoos that we've been to.

2. Toys r Us: This 3 story toy heaven is right in the heart of Times Square. There is also a Ferris wheel ride inside the store! The kids can sit in their favourite seat on the wheel: a cosy coupe, school bus, or pink Barbie Cadillac, Cars. You can also go to FAO Schwarz. This huge 50,000 square feet Toy store is located at 5th Avenue -58th Street, and is a NYC landmark. The giant Bobby the Toy Soldier by the entrance is very welcoming, and a great photo opportunity. They have lots of interactive activities including a dance - on piano; the same one Tom Hanks danced on, in the movie Big.

3. Brooklyn Botanical Garden: There is a free program on Saturdays from 10-12, if there are no special events going on. Children under 12 are always free.

4. NY Aquarium, Brooklyn: As BOA customers the first weekends are free. Or, every Friday between 3:00pm until closing at 4:30pm, it's pay as you wish. Children under 2 are always free. The kids are sure to enjoy exhibits with over 8000 animals from as far as Southwest Coast of Africa to the nearby Hudson River.

5. The Jewish Museum: Children Under 12 are always free. They have Free Saturdays from 11am to 5:45pm. In addition, as BOA customer the first weekends of every month is free. Kids 3-10 can enjoy the interactive, Archaeology Zone. Here the kids can discover what happens to the artefacts once they are unearthed and brought to the labs for analysis.

6. Children's Museum of Art: On Thursdays from 4-6pm, it's Pay as you wish. The art work by young people from 50 different countries and some adults all geared towards children is sure to spike their interest in art.

7. Skating Rinks: The admission to Bryant Park Ice Skating Rink is free. However the skate rentals are $12 each. If you are visiting family/friends you can always borrow theirs, that's what we do! The South Street Seaport - Seaport Ice Admissions is only $5, and $7 (cash only) for skate rental. Ice skating at Rockefeller Center, this is a great winter season experience in NYC. The admission is only $5, Monday - Thursday 11:30am to 1:00pm.

8. NY Hall of Science: This is located at Flushing, Queens, and is free for BOA customers on the first weekend of every month. September through June admission is Free on Fridays 2-5pm, and Sundays 10-11am. Kids can explore and enjoy the hands on science and technology exhibits.

9. Story times: No matter where you are, kids always enjoy story time; and a little downtime for you. Most Barnes & Noble bookstores offer story times for different kid's age group. Time and days will vary by location. You also want to check it by the local library close to where you are staying. Usually story times last about 30 minutes, with stories, songs, colouring or some arts and crafts. The best part is that it's always free!

10. Coney Island Beach: People usually don't come to New York for its beaches. However this beach located in Brooklyn, offers the combined fun of a 3 mile boardwalk, the not so common seashore Circus Sideshow, and an amusement park. You can also enjoy walking on the long pier.

About the Author

Shreejana Hickman Writes: You can also read my article 10 Family Fun things to do in NYC for FREE, for other great activities at, http://www.travelbargainmama.com/ I'm Shreejana Hickman, and I began the blog, Travel Bargain Mama to assist moms, families, and any travel enthusiasts, find the ultimate travel bargains available, family and or kid friendly activities throughout the US, around the world, or in your local area. Despite these tough economic times, we can still enjoy travelling to new and exciting places, or to a favourite city. Travel Bargain Mama was started on the premises of value, hard-to-find bargains, and getting more with less.

Article Source: Ezine Articles...

Image: Coney Island Reflections, by Jim Lesses

Addendum to 'Road Trip USA' Review

~ Road Trip USA: Route 66, and Road Trip USA: Pacific Coast Highway, Pocket Guides

“These books are perfect for ‘slow travellers’. For those adventurers who are curious to explore the road less travelled; the unusual and the real; the small towns and the back roads that lead to them – and which in turn lead to the heart and soul of America.”

Yesterday I posted a review of Jamie Jensen’s Road Trip USA (In Review: Road Trip USA). This post is an addendum to that review.

The new edition of Road Trip USA is now supplemented with two pocket guides, Road Trip USA Route 66, and Road Trip USA Pacific Coast Highway.

The two pocket guides have been lifted straight out of the main Road Trip USA volume, and apart from a few small but useful additions, contain the same content as that which is included in the Route 66, and Pacific Coast Highway sections of the main text.

Just for the record, my comparison of the pocket guide: Road Trip USA Route 66, with Road Trip USA shows extra pages have been added to the pocket guide providing additional information about Chicago, St Louis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. While comparing Road Trip USA Pacific Coast Highway

with Road Trip USA shows the pocket guide has extra information covering Seattle and Portland.

I expect that before too long, the other nine routes detailed in Road Trip USA will soon find their way onto the shelves of bookshops as pocket guides in their own right. And why not? It makes perfect sense to take each of the eleven major routes in Jensen’s book and create separate guides for them, since the main tome is large, heavy and not entirely practical if you are only planning one major American road trip. I assume the choice of starting with the Pacific Coast Highway and Route 66 has been governed by research showing these are two of the most popular road trips undertaken in the US.

However, one of the benefits of the one volume Road Trip USA is that if you decide to make a side trip that falls outside the boundaries of say, Route 66, to visit Memphis, Tennessee, (which is not listed in the Route 66 pocket guide), you can simply turn to the section on The Great River Road – which follows the Mississippi River, and which does include Memphis – and continue following directions from there.

The same caveats apply to the pocket guides as those already expressed about the main volume. That is, that neither of the guides include internet addresses for any of the main attractions or destinations listed in the books. And neither of them include information that would be useful to travellers embarking on their first major road trip.

Even more surprising is the fact that the few Road Trip Resources pages at the end of Road Trip USA containing useful information about hotels and motels, car hire companies and other details have been dropped completely from both pocket guides – so you will have to do your research well, before you set off on your adventure of a life time.

Again, I should stress that the lack of web links and additional resources does not detract in any way, shape or form from the excellent and detailed information contained in any of the guides. These books are designed to get you off the interstate freeway system and on to America’s two-lane highways, hence the full title of Jamie Jensen’s book, Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways.

These books are perfect for ‘slow travellers’. For those adventurers who are curious to explore the road less travelled; the unusual and the real; the small towns and the back roads that lead to them – and which in turn lead to the heart and soul of America.

Highly recommend.

Click on link to purchase your copy of Road Trip USA Route 66
Or click image to purchase direct from Amazon website…



Click on link to purchase your copy of Road Trip USA Pacific Coast Highway
Or click image to purchase direct from Amazon website…

Publication Details…

Road Trip USA Route 66 First Edition, by Jamie Jensen ISBN 13: 978-1-59880-205-4 April 2009 * 114 pages * US$9.95	Road Trip USA Pacific Coast Highway First Edition, by Jamie Jensen ISBN 13: 978-1-59880-204-7 April 2009 * 146 pages * US$9.95
Published by Avalon Travel A Member of the Perseus Books Group

Your Road Trip Survival Kit

~ Since I have been talking and writing about road trips in previous entries (Tips For a Great American Road Trip), I thought it might be timely to include an article written by Phil Washington outlining some important items you should include in your road trip vehicle survival kit. Over to you, Phil.

~ Summer Calls for a Vehicle Survival Kit, by Phil Washington

Your vehicle may be a safe zone for you in case of an unfortunate incident but it could also be a trap. In case of an emergency on the road, you should be able to make the necessary actions to ensure your safety and those of your passengers. Here are the necessary items that should make up your vehicle survival kit - must-haves during summer:

First Aid kit

A first aid kit is a real must-have for all vehicles. It contains just about everything you need to protect yourself from cuts, scrapes and possible infection. It also contains small equipment that can come in handy in case you need to cut anything (scissors) or signal for help (mirror). If you're travelling any time soon, check your vehicle first aid kit to see if it's complete. Stash extra prescription medication here for easy access.

Jumper cables and tow strap

You'll need these cables in case your vehicle's battery conks out or if your car needs to get towed.

Flashlight and strobe lights

In case your vehicle gets stalled or stuck or if you get lost, you'll need a flashlight to find your way around, particularly after dark. Strobe lights or flares will also come in handy for signalling.

Spare batteries for all electronic devices or a charger

You should have fully-charged batteries for devices such as cell phones, flashlights, strobe flares and other self-defence gadgets. This will ensure that you will be able to use them immediately when and if you need to.

Safety Vest

A safety vest will help protect you against the elements and make you visible at the same time. Safety vests are designed with reflective coating, usually running horizontally or crosswise on the back. The vest will reflect any light from a distance, making you easier to find.

Fire extinguisher

Your vehicle should have a compact fire extinguisher on board, particularly during long rides. You can easily and safely put out a fire with this.

Cooling pads or ice packs

During summer, even with air-conditioning, the interior of your vehicle could gradually rise in temperature. Avoid the risk of suffering from a heat stroke and keep yourself cool, particularly during long rides. As part of your vehicle survival kit, throw in a couple of cooling pads or ice packs. This will help bring down your temperature and prevent heat-related headaches and nausea.

Extra water

Always bring a bottle of water with you in your vehicle, especially during summer. This will keep you hydrated and help prevent heat stroke and fatigue.

Extra money

Yup, in many vehicle-related emergencies, summer or winter, having cash available when you need it helps.

About the Author
Nobody wants his summer fun to be spoiled by any accident. To be on the safe side, why not always bring with you a vehicle survival kit? You can choose from a wide variety of survival kits.

Thanks for the article, Phil.

So what would you (or do you) include in your road trip survival kit? Feel free to pass on your own essential tips and tricks via the Comments section below - or better still, contibute your own entry to this blog. The more knowledge shared between road trip warriors, the better.

Article Source: Go Articles.com...

Image: Courtesy of Apollo website...

Cruise Ship Vacations: Do Your Research First

~ Anita Dunham-Potter, the travel columnist for Tripso, posted a story recently called, Noisy Carnival Ship Ruins Family Cruise which recounts a cruise ship voyage that did not live up to the expectations of the family taking it.

The Moscoes boarded the Carnival Valor for a cruise to the Caribbean. Having saved for years, the family chose Carnival because of its reputation for family-friendly cruising.

Now if you’ve read my previous post about taking a slow boat to China (or elsewhere) you can imagine that cruising on the Carnival Valor is about as far removed from the experience of freighter travel as you could possibly get. After all, the Valor has 1,487 staterooms for the high paying clientele on board. In fact the Carnival Valor has a passenger capacity of 2,974, so it’s probably no surprise the Moscoes had problems with the noise level on the ship.

The basis of their complaint is that at approximately 9 p.m. each night, the ship’s entertainers would perform their musical acts in the atrium. Unfortunately for the Moscoes, their stateroom happened to be in close proximity to the ship’s 12-story open atrium.

After numerous complaints both onboard the ship, and after they had returned home, the Moscoes were compensated a total of $900 in onboard credit (while still aboard), and an additional $500 was given to them to be redeemed on a future cruise.

The lesson here is to do thorough research before you book your cruise. A visit to the Carnival website provides pretty much everything you need to know about their ships before you book with the cruise line.

For example, you can see the Carnival Valor’s deck plans here. While you may not be expert enough to know exactly how these plans translate into the real thing, that is, into a massive steel plated ship of 110,000 tons, with 13 decks and a crew of 1,180, you should be able to get an sense of the layout of the ship, and an idea of just where the potentially noisiest rooms are located.

As Anita writes in her article, “…there is no such thing as a quiet cruise ship. They vibrate, drop anchor, have crew noise, thumping music, but more often than not the worst noise offenders are fellow passengers oblivious to keeping quiet in the vicinity of staterooms.”

If in doubt – ask. Ask your booking agent exactly were the high traffic areas are. Especially areas like atriums, onboard music venues and nightclubs, pool decks, games rooms, service centres and more.

Read Anita’s full article here...

Read more about the Carnival Valor here…

IMAGE: Courtesy of Carnival website…

The Slow Traveller

~ No, I’m not talking about that person dawdling along the footpath just ahead of you, who seems to anticipate your every change in direction and constantly steps in front of you slowing down your progress.

And no, I’m not talking about that driver on the interstate who seems to be cruising along as slow as humanly possible in the fast lane (I often wonder if it’s the same person).

Slow travellers are those who take the time to learn about the locations they are visiting. They want to immerse themselves in the customs, culture, and daily life of the people. Rather than squeeze three or four ‘attractions’ into each day, they may only visit one, thereby allowing themselves time to appreciate and really see the art in the Louvre, or the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City.

I’m talking about travelling ‘slowly’ as a way of life. As a way of being part of the landscape and society you are moving through. Whether that be your own neighbourhood, or some far flung location a long way from home.

This quote from the Slow Movement website... neatly sums up the philosophy behind the concept: "Slow is not about doing everything at a snail's pace; it's about working, playing and living better by doing everything at the right speed."

The Slow Travel Manifesto outlines the ideas further:

What is Slow Travel?

• We're rethinking how we escape.
• Instead of a fast-paced, 'no-frills' experience, Slow Travel is an engaging exploration of landscapes and cultures. We want to celebrate the local. And recognise the journey as an integral part of the travelling experience.
• To truly escape, we need to nurture the right frame of mind as much as choose the right destination.

You can visit the Slow Movement website... for the full Manifesto.

Like all philosophies you don’t have to agree with everything the authors write. While I don’t fully embrace every idea they espouse, I do agree with the overall thrust of what they are trying to achieve.

So the next time you are on vacation, slow down; stop to smell the roses; and immerse yourself fully in the lives of the people around you.

Oh, and watch out for speeding tourists, checklists in hand, trying to rush past you as they attempt to squeeze in one last attraction before closing time.

Online Resources: more information about Slow Travel can be found at the Slow Travel Blog…

Tips for a Great American Road Trip

~ Research into my 2010 road trip across the USA has begun already. Over the coming ten months I will be adding the best of that research to this blog. So let’s get started.

If you are planning to take a road trip (whatever the time of year, or country of choice), then Wellington Grey has a collection of 16 excellent suggestions to consider before you go.

Wellington’s piece, 16 Tips for a Great American Road Trip can be read online in full here at Silver Clipboard. Among his suggestions: take a GPS Navigation System; avoid bad hotels with online research; stay wired throughout your journey; and keep a journal.

Here is my take on these tips.

Take a GPS Navigation System
This is a no-brainer. When even a modern mobile/cell phone comes with GPS built in, it makes sense to use it to its full advantage. Many hire car companies include a GPS system as part of the hire, and even those that don’t will often install one for an extra fee. Of course, if you are using your own vehicle, you should buy your own. For a couple of hundred dollars, the GPS system will help eliminate much of the stress associated with finding your way to a destination you have never been to before.

I certainly wish I’d had the use of GPS on my recent trip to Sydney, when I inadvertently timed my arrival for the evening rush hour. To make matters worse, it was my first time driving on Sydney’s busy streets, and I had never been to the apartment I was going to be staying at in the inner Sydney suburb of Petersham. Although I had a street directory with me, it was extremely inconvenient to have to stop continuously to check that I was heading in the right direction, and even then I managed to briefly get ‘lost’, before finally finding both the correct route and the apartment.

Quite frankly, the idea of trying to find my way around some of America’s biggest cities without the aid of a GPS navigation system does not bare thinking about.

Avoid Horrible Hotels With TripAdvisor.com
Like Wellington, I too can highly recommend using TripAdvisor.com to research the suitability of your accommodations before you travel. TripAdvisor.com allows users to add their own reviews about specific hotels to the site, and over time this helps build a picture about the potential problems you may encounter at some hotels.

However, make sure you read the most recent reviews rather than the oldest, since some reviews could be several years old, which may give you a false picture of a hotels current rating. Also bare in mind that we all have different standards, needs and expectations as travellers. And finally, remember – you get what you pay for. So don’t expect five star accommodations from a $50 a night hotel. You will just set yourself up for disappointment.

Stay Wired
I have also written about this in my previous entry, The Wired Traveller. As a writer, and veteran Net surfer I would have felt quite lost without my laptop during my seven month trip in 2008. I just can’t imagine travelling across the US during my planned road trip and not being wired to the rest of the world as I traverse the nations highways.

The good news is that many hotels in the United States (and elsewhere), now provide free Internet access to their guests. The even better news is that internet access is available from a host of other sources and locations as well. Places like public libraries, laundries or laundromats, internet cafés and of course, regular cafés to name just a few.

There are also a wide range of mobile internet plans (prepaid or on a monthly access plan) now available for travellers to avail themselves of. And if that’s not enough, as long as your mobile/cell phone can connect to your carrier, you should also be able to connect to the internet from wherever you happen to be.

Document Your Progress
Another good tip from Wellington Grey’s Silver Clipboard article. I have tried for years to maintain a written journal with mixed results. No, I will be perfectly honest, over the years my attempts at journal keeping have yielded abysmal results.

However, because I seem to be quite happy working at a computer for hours at a time, I found to my delight that maintaining a daily travel journal on my laptop, was a breeze. The journal recording my 2008 vacation runs to almost 200 pages. It gives me great pleasure now to occasionally ‘flip’ through it and remind myself of exactly where I was, and what I was doing on any specific day of that seven month trip. If I hadn’t maintained that journal, I would have great trouble trying to remember the specific details of much of the journey.

Well, that’s it. I’ve taken just four of the sixteen tips that Wellington writes about and added my own comments and tidbits to them. What are your tips and suggestions? Feel free to share them via the comments section below.

In the meantime, you can read Wellington Grey’s full article here…

IMAGE: Country Road, Jim Lesses

10 things you should—and shouldn’t—do abroad

~ Forbes Traveler dot Com has a fascinating online story detailing some of the many things you should do or not do while travelling abroad.

Here are the opening paragraphs:

"When Iraqi journalist Muntadher al-Zaidi threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in December, 2008, news outlets scrambled to explain the incident to American viewers. Al-Zaidi hadn’t intended to hurt the President; he meant to demean him. In Arab countries, the soles of feet are unclean, so you never throw a shoe at a person. For his gesture, al-Zaidi was given three years in prison.

You travelers probably won’t toss a shoe across a crowded room, and not every insult—intended or otherwise—will lead to jail time. But whether you're abroad on business or pleasure, knowing the local etiquette is crucial for every traveler.

Consider the case of Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors. In July, 2008, the British couple were arrested for engaging in romantic activities on Jumeirah beach in Dubai. At first, it's hard to feel sympathy for such loutish behavior, but according to The Times, the Brits were convicted not just for indecency; they were given three months in jail for "having sexual intercourse outside marriage." Even off-the-cuff, seemingly harmless decisions can land foreigners in hot water. In Sudan, British teacher Gillian Gibbons faced 40 lashes for blasphemy in 2007. Her offense? Naming the classroom's teddy bear Mohammed. Gibbons was ultimately pardoned after eight days in custody, but she had to leave the country."

Visit the Forbes Traveler site...
You can read the full article here...
You can see a slideshow of Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts here...

10 Multipurpose Travel Essentials

~ Rachel Turner has written an excellent article for Matador Goods which I highly recommend you read if you are travelling.

She lists 10 multipurpose items that should be in everybody's luggage, all of which are compact and lightweight.

Among Rachel's suggestions are: Dental Floss (for cleaning teeth; for use as a clothesline; emergency thread; and as a cheese and bread slicer!); various all in one survival tools like a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman tool; Safety Pins for use as emergency buttons/clasps, or clothespins; a Poncho for use as a tarpaulin, picnic blanket, bag liner, and of course, to keep the rain off your head.

Women will want to pack a couple of Sarongs since, as Rachel suggests, these can be used as towels, curtains, beach mats or picnic blankets, and even as sheets when staying in hostels.

Rachel also recommends taking a good Shampoo. Ok, no surprises about the shampoo, but Rachel suggests you also use shampoo as a laundry detergent, body soap, and even for dishwashing.

Finally, there is the Credit Card Survival Tool (see image illustrating this entry). I've never heard of, or seen one of these, but as the name suggests, the Credit Card Survival Tool is the size of a credit card, made of stainless steel, cheap, and has 11 different uses including Can opener, Knife edge, Screwdriver, Ruler, 4 position wrench, Butterfly screw wrench, Saw blade, Bottle opener and more.

Now why didn’t I think of that?

South Australian Maritime Museum

~ Welcome to a world of explorers, uncharted waters, seafarers trading across heaving oceans, new migrants in search of a new life, and bold adventurers from many lands.

Step aboard some of the ships that carried them and explore a life-sized ketch that draws you back to the days of sail.

Admire the extensive collection of intricate model sailing ships, steamships and passenger liners.

Immerse yourself in the voyages that brought people to Australian shores as you experience life onboard an 1840s sailing ship. Then step into a third class cabin to feel what life onboard must have been like for thousands of migrants travelling to Australia from Europe and beyond.

You could even discover your own slice of history as you search through a database of migrants to find your own ancestors.

All this and more awaits you at the South Australian Maritime Museum in Port Adelaide.

The Museum is renowned for its innovative approach to maritime history and education. Its three floors of exhibits houses Australia’s oldest nautical collection started in Port Adelaide in 1872. Among the huge collection of iconic treasures is the anchor of the Investigator that carried the explorer Matthew Flinders to Australia. You will also find the largest collection of carved ships’ figureheads in the southern hemisphere.

In addition to all this, the Maritime Museum’s new and ever changing exhibitions cover every aspect of Australia’s maritime history. From stories of those who lived at sea and on shore, to the dolphins and marine ecosystems that contribute to Australia’s natural heritage.

The exhibitions also provide visitors with a hands-on experience, giving them opportunities to learn through discovery and adventure. The themes and displays cater for all age groups, and provide a unique experience for all the family.

Port Adelaide is home to the most urbanised dolphin pod in the world. The Maritime Museum runs Dolphin Spotting Cruises which provide a fantastic opportunity to see the Port River in the Museum’s heritage vessels.

South Australian Maritime Museum
Location:
126, Lipson Street
Port Adelaide
PH: (08) 8207 6255

Open daily (except Christmas Day)
10am to 5pm

Getting There:
Bus: from city routes 151 or 153
Train: to Port Adelaide station (then sort walk)

House Swaps: the practical way to holiday

~ Last night I was researching article ideas for this blog, when I discovered the Aussie House Swap website. When you house swap, you exchange your home, unit, holiday home or apartment with another house swapper for an agreed period of time. You could even swap something unique like a houseboat or motor-home. The Aussie House Swap website has a series of excellent articles about the benefits of house swapping, and have given me permission to reprint all of them on this blog. Here is the first one.

In some ways, this is the easiest article on this site to write. That's because there are just so many advantages to house swapping as a practical and inexpensive way to enjoy your regular holiday break — or even the vacation of a lifetime, in that exotic locale you've always wanted to visit.

What makes house swapping a very practical way to holiday for most people is the enormous saving all parties make on accommodation costs. Remember, house swapping means just what it says — two homeowners literally exchange houses for an agreed period, at no cost to either party.

For most vacations of a couple of weeks or longer, accommodation is the single most expensive item on the budget. And even if it's not number one, it'll almost certainly be number two.

Just imagine having that cost deducted from your holiday expenses!

Through a vacation house swap, you'll also enjoy the tremendous convenience of a fully equipped kitchen. You won't need to go out for meals day and night, and can eat out purely when you want to. Besides the convenience, you will of course save a great deal more money this way. In fact, you probably won't spend much more on meals than you would if you'd stayed at home!

Some further benefits that house swapping offers are more space, privacy and comfort than almost any hotel, motel or resort can give you. And with Aussie House Swap, you can check out available swaps online, well in advance of your trip. This way, you are able to look at exactly what's on offer. No more arriving at places which don't live up to their glossy brochures. (And haven't we all done that more than once!)

Your house swapping partner/s will also be able to fill you in on what's hot and what's not in their neck of the woods, with up-to-date local knowledge, and their own recommended spots to visit. Places that won't necessarily be in the tourist guides. Possibly even places of great natural beauty, or fine cuisine, that are free from hordes of tourists. Or great eateries where you need to make an advance booking to get the best tables. Remember, local knowledge and personal recommendation always beat paid ads in a tourist guide or a weekly "What's On" magazine.

Lots of people even swap cars when they exchange houses during their holidays. If your swap involves a flight, you'll save on car hire — or avoid the inconvenience of always having to rely on public transport — that comes with a traditional hotel, motel or resort vacation to a distant destination. Once more, a significant cost saving accompanies the choice to house swap.

And talking of car swaps, even if you're going to a city to which you could have driven, by flying you'll be there much more quickly. You may well have a full extra day, or even more, in which to enjoy your holiday, by not having to drive there and back. And the cost of a flight (especially one booked early at cheaper rates) will be more than affordable due to the absence of accommodation costs.

Furthermore, partly because of the big cost savings, you may find yourself considering holiday spots you wouldn't otherwise have thought of. Perhaps even out-of-the-way places, far from the normal tourist beat, with no hotels, motels or resorts within miles. For example, a pristine beach, a trout stream or an outback cattle station may grab your attention as you scan the available swaps.

And there's no need to settle for the "same old same old" every year. This year, why not cross the Tasman and visit our friendly neighbours? Then next year, check out some of the islands. Followed by a visit to the mountains the year after that. There really is no end to the wonderful opportunities and possibilities that house swapping vacations can present. You can literally make each holiday a new and exciting adventure, with the extensive and growing Aussie House Swap database to choose from.

There's also, of course, the security you gain by exchanging houses with another swapper. Instead of leaving it empty, with mail, junk mail and newspapers piling up (in between being collected by the neighbours) — a virtual invitation to vandals and thieves — your house will continue to be occupied while you're away.

Not to mention that your swapper will be able to take care of your pets, saving them the trauma of going to an unfamiliar kennel or cattery, and you the trauma of paying the bill when you get back home!

In fact, there are really only two problems with taking a house swap holiday: firstly, choosing between the many delectable alternatives which are available, and secondly, deciding what to do with all the money you'll save!

How much does it cost?
Aussie House Swap membership is only $65 per year! However, if you do not manage to house swap in your first year we will give you another 12 months membership absolutely free! This is our guarantee to you! For $65 (less than the cost of one nights motel accommodation) you can make as many house swaps as you like within your 12 months.

Article courtesy of Aussie House Swap website.
Image for illustration purposes only

Flying Solo

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town
is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” - Freya Stark

Having travelled alone extensively during 2008, I can heartily agree with Freya Stark. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to travelling solo, and this entry looks at a few of them.

Disadvantages
The three most obvious disadvantages are bearing the full cost of the trip on your own; your personal security; and not having someone to share the experience with.

The Costs
Generally, travelling on your own is more expensive than travelling with at least one other person. The old saying that, "Two can live as cheaply as one," makes a lot of sense when travelling in company.

Accommodation is always cheaper per person when shared between two people, since persons travelling alone have to pay a premium for occupying a room on their own. Other costs can be shared between two people, such as car rental and fuel costs, Chinese banquets and extra large pizza - not to mention sharing the cost of a decent bottle of red wine as opposed to a bottle of cheap plonk.

Security
Travelling in company is generally safer than travelling solo - especially for women. And that applies wherever you travel, not just in certain parts of the third world. Horror stories abound by the hundreds – if not thousands – of holidays gone wrong, and this is neither the time or place to recount them. For now it is enough to raise a red flag about it.

The Shared Experience
Sharing the experience – that is, sharing the joys, pitfalls, highs and lows, of a journey with a good friend of partner. Having someone to reminisce with after a long and exciting vacation can be one of the great rewards of travel. Conversations that begin: “Do you remember when…?” Or, “What about the day we…”, can lead to long recollections of shared adventures that keep the travel experience alive for many years after the actual events themselves.

Advantages
The most obvious benefit of flying solo is the fact that you can do what you want, when you want, for a long as you want, and not compromise your choices by negotiating with a travel partner. The solo traveller answers to no-one but themselves.

Want to stay up until 3am - be my guest. Want to sleep-in until 11am - go ahead. Want to change your schedule at the last minute and go on a river cruise rather than visit a museum – you’ll have no-one to argue with but yourself over that decision.

Yes, it seems hedonistic and selfish, but hey, you are paying thousands of dollars for your vacation, so you might as well make the most of it. Constant haggling over where to go and when, with a partner who doesn’t share your sense of adventure or interests can sap all the joy and excitement out of the travel experience. By travelling on your own you have no-one to blame but yourself if you are not having a good time.

Of course, you have to really enjoy your own company if you are going to travel solo. This has started me thinking about that aspect of the travel experience, and I will return to the question soon in a future entry.

Statue of Liberty: Get the full experience

~ This is an extended review of an earlier one I posted to the Trip Adviser web site on April 28, 2008.

Five weeks into my New York stay, I finally got around to visiting the Statue of Liberty. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to see it – up close and personal, like. But one of the benefits of staying in one location for an extended period of time, is the ability to eliminate the need to rush. It is a luxury few people seem to give themselves when they travel, and I had decided to give myself that very luxury during my New York City visit.

So after a couple of false starts (one due to rain, and the other due to the long lines of people queuing up to board the boats ferrying visitors out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island), I made an early start from my base at the Greenpoint, Brooklyn YMCA, and joined the relatively short queue at the foot of Manhattan.

Unfortunately, I and about 80% of the other visitors who visit the Statue of Liberty were not able to enter the base of the monument where an exhibition area is located. Nor were we able to go up to the Observatory, some 10 floors above ground level, to take in the views. Heck, we couldn’t even get to the lower promenade onto the remains of Fort Wood, upon which the Statue Of Liberty stands. Oh, and don’t even think about climbing to the very top of the Statue. Nobody gets to do that anymore.

Apart from the obvious security issues, I understand it’s because they just can’t accommodate the huge numbers of people who visit the monument each year. However, they can find room for some of the four million visitors, so the trick is to find out how you can become one of those select few.

According to the visitors guide, which you can pick up from the information kiosks on the island, you must have something called a “time pass” to enter the monument (it’s amazing what you can find out once it’s too late to do anything about it).

Quoting from the brochure: “Time passes include a ranger-led program, viewing the statue’s interior and other public areas, and visiting the Statue of Liberty exhibit and original torch.”

They then go on to write: “You can obtain time passes with the advance purchase of ferry tickets (at) 1-866-STATUE4 or online at Statue Reservations. A limited number of time passes are available each day at no charge to walkins at the ferry ticket offices.”

If you are lucky enough to secure one of these ‘time passes’, you have now scored yourself a
‘reservation’. A reservation means that you don’t have to queue up with the hundreds of other tickets holders who have to wait for up to 90 minutes or more, to board a ferry to Liberty Island. There is a separate (much shorter) line for holders of these reservations.

Now that you know – plan your visit to the Statue Of Liberty accordingly.

For those visitors who don’t get a time pass, a trip out to the Statue Of Liberty is still one of the ‘must see’ locations on any New York stop. Exhibit panels around the island have orientation and historical information on the Statue Of Liberty. National Park Rangers conduct guided tours throughout the day, and you can also make use of the self-guided audio tours that are available.

Apart from all that, it is just such a monumental structure to begin with, that you really must see it up close to appreciate the scale and size of the thing. And to think, initially the powers that be didn’t want the statue, even though it was being given to the United States as a gift.

If you have time, try and watch the short History Channel film about the making of the Statue which is screened continuously at the monument. Or do your own research before you go, by visiting the official Statue of Liberty web site here, where you will get the latest, up-to-date information.

By the way, Ellis Island is considered to be part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and your ticket gives you the opportunity to visit that location as well, although if you are pressed for time, you could simply stay on the ferry and return to Manhattan.

I will write about Ellis Island in a forthcoming entry.

Oh, and finally, my ticket to the Statue of Liberty National Monument came as part of the price I paid for a New York Pass - which I will also write about soon. In the meantime, just click on the image below to check out the New York Pass for yourself.