London Budget Travel Tips

The first thing that strikes us when we think about a vacation in London is the powerful British pound sterling that might ovewhelm the Dollar. Yes? But did you know that we have a bevy of money saving options at hand. Ask moneysaving expert or just keep reading this post. A UK budget vacation is easy on your pocket. Check out how!

Cheap Hotels in London

For get about an over-the-top service. If we're doing it on a budget, we must stick to self-catering apartments and bed-and-breakfasts. You'll be thrilled to know that England, Scotland and Wales have plenty of such cheap accommodation facilities. So, one can make a 4-night stay for around $194. Isn't that cheap!!

Besides, students, singles and family travelers can directly contact the Youth Hostels Association, that runs an incredible network of over 200 youth hostels in England and Wales. The rates are mindblowing: London at just $40 per adult and the rest of Englad at around $30. Wales and Scotland come even cheap- $25 approximately!

You can do these without Breaking the Bank

Yes, you can take a ride back in time, and feast on a glimpse of the past! There are over 275 National Museums and galleries in Britain that offers you FREE entry! London alone has 238. Or, grab a GreatBritish Heritage Pass, which gives you access to over 500 castles, historic sites, historic homes, gardens and more. Get a pass for 4 days at just $52, 7 days for $96, 15 days for $96, and 30 days for $130!!

More money saving ideas to come...

The Best Amusement Parks in the World!!

First, it was the Sea Lion Park, opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York in 1895. Then came the Steeplechase Park, opened 1897. These were followed by hundreds and thousands of themed amusuement parks all over the world, which gave a new direction to family fun and entertainment.

In 1927, Steeplechase introduced the groundbreaking Cyclone roller coaster, marking the beginning of the roller coaster, which still is the most popular off all features packed in a modern amusement park. But hey! Hang a moment! I'm not going to trace the history of amusement parks... I simply want to list down the hippest amusement parks in the world:

10. Huis Ten Bosch, Japan

9. Coney Island (Astroland Amusement Park), New York

8. Parc Asterix, France

7. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

6. Cedar Point, Ohio

5. Kennywood, Pennsylvania

4. Tivoliland, Denmark

3. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England

2. Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

and the coveted NUMBER ONE SPOT goes to

The Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

It's not a random pick, but a carefully selected list based on facilities available and the number of visitors attracted by each of these parks.

Down the Salmon River!!

Summers are back. Are we already packing our bags and heading outdoors. If you haven't I'll sharev this secret with you!

Your teenaged kids will dig this. Ever imagined lurinmg a trout in the Salmon River? You can tan by the bank and relax all day. Yes, the Salmon River is an incredibly place to spend quality time with the family.

Break away from discovery! Why not do it on our own? The Salmon River is in Central Idaho and is bathed in immeasurable beauty. It meanders through an incredible 2 million acres of wilderness, offering adrenalin rushing whitewater, calm river pools, white sand beaches, and traces of American history unlike any other river in North America.

The views of the rugged mountain wilderness near Stanley and Sun Valley, how mesmeric they are! While on vacation, grab a kayak, a rubber raft or a swift boat to carry your supplies down river.

Fairy Tale Wedding: Oh baby, Dontcha wanna be a Cinderrela!!!

Maybe you always wanted to look like a "Sleeping Beauty", the Beauty of the "Beauty and teh Beast" or a "Cinderella" on the BIG day. Walt Disney Co. seems to have capitalized on your desire! Yes, they're bringing out a new array of fairy-tale characters-inspired range of bridal gowns for women just like honey and you.

And you don't have to break the bank while buying that special outfit designed by Kirstie Kelly. Priced at $1500- $3000, these just a bit above the average wedding gown price of $1000.

Besdies, Disney has also taken a leap into the market of destination weddings. Disney's Parks and Resorts division glamed up its 16-year-old Fairy Tale Weddings program this year by hiring celebrity party planner David Tutera to design a "couture" line of decorations, floral arrangements and furniture for wedding packages.

This is surely a good bet for those looking for an over-the-top wedding.

Breakout from the Grind, Don't Break the Bank!!!

I hope I have a lot of peers, at least when it comes to saving those coveted cents every month for a vacation either in spring or fall, summer or winter. Although I've been saving in every possible way and in every endeavor, I'm still worried about my bank account. Like every time, I might just end up breaking the bank. Airline tickets would burn a whole in my pocket; hotels and car rentals would squeeze every cent out of my wallet; I'm very nervous. I cannot afford to be broke for the rest of the year.

Do travel websites help?? Expedia has ripped thousands of customers down the decades. So has Orbitz. But there are some new and emerging sites which guarantee low airfares and cheap vacation packages which might help me and my peers.

I'm listing down some of these travel websites, where I found some very generous deals:

Booking Buddy

CheapoAir

Mobissimo

There are hundreds and thousands, but I found these very helpful.

Vacation Ideas: How About Ranches?

My mind is occupied with countless vacation ideas, but the Ranches have taken the front seat this time. True, for wholesome and unforgettable adventures in the lap of nature with everything from horseback riding and fly fishing to massage, a family ranch vacation could be a lifetime experience.

So, where do we find the ranches? Montana brags the Laughing Water Ranch. Just west of the Glacier National Park, this offers 220 acres of beautiful mountain timber and rolling pastures.

More top notch ranches:

Bar M Ranch, located just 30 miles east of Pendleton, Oregon.

Vee Bar Guest Ranch, located in the Centennial Valley near the 12,000-foot Snowy Range Mountains.

Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley horse and wine country, 35 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, California.

Lone Mountain Ranch, an award winning historic ranch resort located in Big Sky, Montana.