Africa Travel Sale: 20% Off Tours

Starting tomorrow, you can save 20% off of selected trips to Africa if you book with the Adventure Travel Company.

Bookings must be made and paid in full by July 31, 2009 and travel must occur before March 31, 2010. Be sure to mention promo code ACA20_0709 when you book.

Trips that will be on sale include the 14-day Gorilla Encounter through Kenya and Uganda, the 11-day Highlights of Tanzania, and for those with a lot of travel time available, the 58-day Ultimate African Overlander from Nairobi to Cape Town.

The website has a longer list of trips, and agents can provide you with even more trips that aren’t listed on the site.

The closest I’ve come to Africa is the elephant habitat at the Oakland Zoo, so all of these trips look good to me. Take advantage of these great deals, and let me know where you’re going!

Amazing Travel Sale Tomorrow: June 30, 2009

Don’t forget, tomorrow is the One-Day Sale at Travel CUTS and the Adventure Travel Company:

See travel sale prices in Canada
See travel sale prices in the US

Book tomorrow and get:

• 60% off selected trips in July
• 30% off selected trips in August
• 15% off any trip

For example:

13 days in Cambodia: Was $670, Now $268
8 days in Egypt: Was $775, Now $310

These are some incredible prices, so mark your calendar for Tuesday!

One-Day Travel Sale: June 30, 2009

The Adventure Travel Company has announced a one-day sale. they’re offering:

• 60% off selected trips in July
• 30% off selected trips in August
• 15% off any trip

For example:

13 days in Cambodia: Was $670, Now $268
8 days in Egypt: Was $775, Now $310

These are some incredible prices, so mark your calendar for Tuesday!

Cipi Hostel, El Salvador

Cipi Hostel

I was doing volunteer work in Nantucket one summer and I met a couple in their 30s who owned a hostel in New Hampshire. They were open for a few months in winter for ski season and a few months in summer for hikers and families, and they spent the rest of the year doing their own traveling.

Right away I thought that was the life for me. How awesome would it be to spend all of your time either traveling to other places, or to have travelers from around the world coming to you? I still think opening a hostel is something I would like to do some day, and I’m inspired by the people who actually do it.

One of those people is Elena Rivera. Elena was a travel agent in Boston a few years ago, and now she’s a hostel owner in El Salvador.

Cipi Hostel is located in Ataco (Concepcion de Ataco), Ahuachapan, a beautiful mountain town. The hostel offers:

- Spacious Social Areas
- Low Cost Internet
- Communal Satellite TV
- New sheets, bedspreads and towels
- Huge Garden
- Tours
- Games

Best of all, dorm room beds start at $7.00 during the week. Just $7! This is why I need to do a Central & South America tour.

Comic-Con 2009, Just One Month Away!

Comic-Con 2009

When I bought tickets to Comic-Con last lear, it was only because a few of my friends had just come back from it and talked about how much fun they’d had. Joss Whedon and the “Dr. Horrible” gang were there along with the “Twilight” crowd and other big names in TV, film, comic books and video games.

There was nothing specific I was desparate to see this year, I just wanted to walk around and experience it, maybe see some previews of upcoming shows and things. I thought it might be fun to go to the San Diego Zoo while I was in town.

Yesterday though, all that changed. David Tennant (”Doctor Who”, “Casanova”, Barty Crouch, Jr. from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”) announced he would be there for a “Doctor Who” panel, and I pretty much went into a frenzy.

You can have your Robert Pattinsons and Trekkies and Trekkers and “Iron Man”s, just leave me the Doctor.

Mmm... David Tennant

And now I’m even more excited about this trip, but a little anxious too. Before, I was just going to have a good, relaxed time. Now, I’m already wondering how early I should line up to make sure I get a good view of my super celebrity crush. I hate waiting in lines. Can I just bribe someone at the front to let me in?

For those who just want to know about RPats and the “New Moon” team, the only report I’ve seen says:

On Thursday, July 23, Summit Entertainment will hold a panel for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON at Comi-Con International in San Diego, California. Come see our stars and exclusive new footage for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON — there may be even be a surprise or two in store!

It doesn’t say that any of the stars will be there, so don’t get your hopes up too high. Also, tickets are sold out. There’s always YouTube though, and I’m sure plenty of blogs – including this one – will let you know what’s going on there.

The Statue of Liberty: Open for Business

The Statue of Liberty’s crown was closed after September 11th. Since then, visitors to Liberty Island could walk around her feet, but not go all the way up and peek through her head.

The Statue is reopening on the 4th of July though, and tickets for the first few days have already sold out.

If you’re planning a trip to New York, you can avoid long lines and get tickets up to a year ahead of time by ordering online or calling 877-523-9849. Tickets for adults are $15 (that includes the boat ride).

Be ready for some exercise when you get there, because the only way to the top is 168 steps in a tiny stairwell.

And did the French think to put air conditioning into our Lady? Non! However hot it is outside, expect it to be 15-20 degrees warmer inside, before you start sweating. (Bring your eco-friendly water bottle to stay hydrated.)

As long as you’re touring the statue, consider a stop at Ellis Island. Will Smith liked it enough to visit there in “Hitch”, and the stories of the 20 million people who arrived in America through this island should keep your interest too. 

Learn more at www.ellisisland.org.

Europe’s Best Beachside Hostels for Student Travelers

London’s Times Online was kind enough to put together this list of Europe’s fabulous seaside hostels.

Once you’ve had enough of the museums and churches and other historical sights, try one of these relaxing and affordable getaways. (See the Times for the full list.)

The Pink Palace, Corfu, Greece

CASCAIS BEACH HOSTEL, Cascais, Portugal
This hostel features a massage service, free WiFi, PlayStation, free parking, and a swimming pool all for 20 Euros a night in a dorm room.

HOTEL PARADIS, Nice, France
How about some time on the French Riviera? Two people can split a room here for 55-110 Euros a night. You’ll have Armani on one side of the hostel and Louis Vuitton on the other, which is about as close to either of those brands as I’ll ever get.

PINK PALACE, Corfu, Greece
This hostel seems to make it on every list: Most Popular Hostels, Best Party Hostels, Most Famous/Infamous Hostels, you name it. There’s really no point in traveling to Greece if you aren’t going to spend a day or two here, if only to be able to tell people you did. The 24-hour bar alone is reason to give it a try, but they also offer boat excursions, kayaking, a jacuzzi, pool table, ping pong and more.

Travel Like a Celebrity: Polite and Prepared

What, you don’t immediately associate “polite” with celebrities and travel?

It’s true, we see a lot of videos of famous people pushing around papparazzi or ducking and hiding as they speed through airport terminals with bodyguards and a massive entourage. But that’s not true of all of them.

Let’s talk about Jason Mraz. He plays something like 436 shows a year, all over the world, so he knows how to make travel go as smoothly as possible. That means he’s a very considerate, intelligent guy when it comes to airline staff and his fellow passengers. 

In a recent blog, he shared some of his travel trips, with a little help from his brother, who just happens to work for an airline. Here are some of my favorite Mrazicisims:

• When there’s a flight delayed, the attendants are also delayed. When you’re stuck, they’re stuck. Everyone is missing something, especially families and hobbies. So go easy on the whole staff. If you’re good, you’re likely to get a free drink or a preview into the mile-high club.

• But don’t be such a germ-a-phobe! Sharing close quarters with other humans will only teach your immune system to be stronger and tolerate more airborne viruses. However, if YOU are the one with the cough or cold, cover it up with a surgical mask. They are now available at all airports. Don’t worry about looking silly. No one will recognize you anyway. Be inspiring and considerate.

• Airline employees can make your flight a positive one if you work together. They can see you coming a mile away, and for those with attitudes, it’s no accident that there are no more windows or aisles. Impatient and ungrateful customers always get the seats over the engine or closest to the toilet. By practicing Gratitude even before you enter the airport, you’ll find yourself happy to be anywhere on board.

That last one is probably the easiest to do, and the most important. Gratitude, expressed sincerely, can make a lot of travel situations easier.

It can persuade a hurried local to slow down a minute and give you directions, a taxi driver to round down on what you owe him when you don’t have correct change (I got a “no worries” twice in Sydney from drivers, probably because of my friendly chatter and grateful smile), or an upgrade at a hostel that isn’t at full capacity when you ask if you could get a little privacy and a decent night’s sleep (a friend and I once got a 6-bed dorm to ourselves for two nights, just by asking nicely and expressing how appreciative we were).

More travel lessons from Jason Mraz to come.

Student Travel on Your Parents’ Dime

What’s the best way to get mom and dad to pay for your next trip? Take them with you.

Don’t freak out. I’m not suggesting you all get matching outfits and spend a week in a car together taking in roadside attractions, although there are some great ones out there.

I’m thinking bigger. Going on the assumption that your parents were once young, curious people with their own dreams and ambitions, they probably have places that they would love to see. If you suggest planning a family trip together, they might be so excited that you want to spend time with them that they’ll be willing to take you to one of their dream destinations.

How do these sound?

• Vietnam Family Adventure
• Taj, Tigers & Palaces
• Galapagos & Peru Family Adventure
• China Family Adventure
• Italy Family Adventure
• Pharaohs and Feluccas
• Peru Family Adventure
• Thailand Elephant Experience
• Costa Rica Family Adventure
• Kenya Wildlife & Water

Family Adventures take you to some of the more exotic travel hot spots, but in a way that’s fun for all ages. You get to see something new and exciting, Mom and Dad get to fulfill a dream while spending time with you, everyone is happy (and you aren’t broke at the end of it).

With Father’s Day just around the corner, now’s a great time to round up your folks and make a plan.

Hop On This Eurail Promotion

Travelling to Europe this summer?

If you are under 26 and have a valid ISIC card, you can purchase a Eurail Select Pass, which gives you eight days of travel to be used within two months, and you’ll automatically receive an additional two free days of travel!

Passes are valid for 3, 4 or 5 adjoining Eurail Select Pass countries.

If you don’t have an ISIC, now’s a great time to pick one up. It’s valid for a year and you can use it for discounts at hostels, amusement parks, museums and other attractions all over the world.

Stop by a Travel CUTS office or give them a call to learn more about these promotions.