TravelCheap

The Road Trip Nick Colonna

2011-07-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Amalfi Coast...Great Vacation Spot!

2010-02-04T13:56:00.001-08:00

Check Out the Blog Links on the Right Side

2009-12-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

http://travelcheap24seven.blogspot.com/

Travel Cheap Anywhere in The World!

2009-07-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.travelcheap24seven.com/

Own A Travel Site for $499.00. Tax Advantages to Travel Professionals!

2009-05-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.travelcheap24seven.com/ is my travel site. You can own a personalized Travel Site, become a Travel Agent, use your trips to review hotels, far away places, cruises, you name it, and get paid for traveling. Learn more at http://www.travelcheap24seven.blogspot.com/

Travel and make money...call Mike Colonna 714-747-5670 for more info.

Make Money Traveling....Become A Travel Agent! call Mike Colonna 714-747-5670

2009-04-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Italy Magazines Best Travel Tips

2009-02-20T08:04:00.000-08:00

1. Try the lesser known areas. Below are some suggestions:- Trentino - Tiny valleys and jagged peaks, granite massifs and thick woods crowded with deer are the backdrop to the pretty, traditional mountain buildings of Madonna di Campiglio.- Friuli - tucked away in the top right-hand corner of Italy, has jewels like the Roman city of Aquileia with its incredible mosaic floor in the Basilica – one of the largest in the world. The town of Udine has an elegant central Piazza with arcades leading off for shopping, with prices so reasonable you can almost face your credit card statement.- Veneto - Bassano del Grappa in not only famous for its white asparagi and the spirit grappa as the name says, but it also offers culture and history to its visitors.- South-East of Sicily - Despite the mafia clichés, the sicilian region is not entirely affected by that. A valuable example is one of UNESCO's world heritage sites: the Val di Noto, an area which include small baroque towns. Val di Noto.You won't get bored in these places with monthly, not to say weekly sagre and popular feasts which do not demand high prices to be visited.
2. Book with independent tour operators- Try organised tours for small groups – Italy offers a wide variety of organised tours with or without activities such as cookery, language lessons or hiking. Prices are all inclusive and the quality of what is on offer is great. It allows you to discover a place with costs clearly defined by the tour package value.- Check out our listings or the tour operators listed on AITO which are more expert about the area than the big tour operators that offer you more expensive packages.
3. Agriturismi offer great value for money- Visit italymag.co.uk for agriturismo in Italy. Today, many have upgraded and offer superb adventure tourism facilities, with gourmet cooking, delightful bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms to die for and the advantage that they registered with the local tourist board so have to maintain standards. So the only thing remains to you is to decide which Italian region you prefer the most!
4. Save on entrance fees to museums by visiting on days where free entrance is offered.Bear in mind that each year the Ministero dei Beni Culturali organises the "Settimana della Cultura" offering free entrances to museums and archeological sites during a week. The date for 2009 is from the 18th to the 26th of April.
5. Use trains / public transport to save on car rental and parking fees.Italy has upgraded many of its trains and provided that you avoid the early-morning rush hour, trains bring you right into the heart of the city.
6. In big cities look out for tourist cards that offer access to public services at reduced costs.
7. Try restaurants outside the city centre for great value – talk to the locals and find out where they go.
8. Check when Italian bank holidays are and stir clear of them – hotels and agriturismi will be less amenable to offering discounts as they know they will get an influx of Italian customers. Also restaurants will be more crowded.
9. Get as much information about the place you are visiting beforehand and even if you are not going on an organised tour try to define an itinerary for you. Good planning and information will ensure that you better enjoy your holidays and avoid expensive costs such as having to spend the night at the first hotel you find because you did not book in advance or expensive taxi trips because you got lost!
10. Look for self-catering accommodation – you'd be surprised at the number of hotels/agriturismo that also offer self-catering studio apartments or rooms for even just a couple of nights. This allows you to save on restaurant costs - and Italian supermarkets and food stores offer fantastic value of money with fresh produce that does not need any preparation. What can beat a mozzarella and fresh tomato salad with a rich collection of prosciutti, salami and cheeses on the side.
11. If you happen to be in London between the 26th and the 29th of March visit La Dolce Vita show – a great chance to talk directly with hotel owners and holiday providers and find some great bargains.
12. Join our forums and ask before you travel – there are many knowledgeable members that can help either by virtue of actually living in Italy full time or visiting there very often. Look at this example.

Sidestep Travel Gambling Ideas!

2009-02-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

The possibility of hitting a jackpot or being dealt a black jack has a certain allure that attracts most of us to the casinos around the world. Here's a list of the top gambling destinations across the world, in case you are feeling lucky.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Of course we are going to throw Vegas a bone, I mean it's nickname is ''Sin City.'' With new casinos going up each year, the strip keeps growing in attractions and entertainment. Macau, China - Some have dubbed this gambling center in China as ''East Las Vegas.'' A very stylish and behemoth of a casino, the Venetian Macau, just opened recently, adding to the list of over 25 casinos.

Atlantic City, NJ

If you are an East Coaster, it is sometimes hard to make your way to Vegas when you get the gambling itch. Luckily, Atlantic City also features their own selection of themed casinos open 24 hours a day, conveniently close to the beach and stylish boardwalks.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

This gambling hub in Europe is the ''Belle of the Ball'', as it is situated on beautiful real estate overlooking the shores of the Mediterranean. It is no surprise that each year Monte Carlo hosts the most prestigious European poker tournament.

Cruise ship

Cruises are a great place for novices to experiment with gambling. When you're not working on your tan by the pool or exploring the port cities, make your way to the onboard casino and test your luck.

Report from DreamOfItaly.com

2009-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Italians who depend on tourism for their livelihoods are missing their American customers these days, according a recent article by the Chicago Tribune. The number of American travelers to Italy has fallen some 20% over the past year and everyone from taxi drivers to store clerks to government officials are feeling their absence and blaming the global economic crisis. More reporting from the Tribune:
Italian officials predict about a million fewer admissions at museums and tourists sites due to fewer Americans.
Clerks at the high-end shops on Rome's Via Condotti say that Chinese and Russian visitors are the only ones dropping big bucks on designer goods.
American Express has closed its offices in Venice's Piazza San Marco and near the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, but blame the closings on high rents rather than fewer travelers.
One driver says there are visitors to Italy, but they are a different kind: "Now a lot of tourists are taking low-cost tours or coming from Eastern Europe. We have a name for them: The 'tight-fisted tourists.' "
While the situation may seem grim for the Italian tourism industry, it is actually quite favorable for Americans who choose to travel to Italy now. First of all, there will be fewer crowds - always a good thing for an authentic Italian vacation! Italian hotels and travel companies anxious for customers, will be offering better deals. Finally, the exchange rate is much better than it has been in a long time - today the euro is $1.28.

All Inclusive?

2009-01-30T14:05:00.001-08:00

What does all-inclusive mean?

All Inclusive hotels provide accommodation, all meals, drinks, and entertainment. Not everyone is cut out for all-inclusive travel. Independent travelers may find all-inclusive resorts too isolated, and their planned activities and entertainment too orchestrated. However, if you are you looking for a vacation in which you can put your wallet aside and enjoy surf, sun, and sports – not to mention endless snacking and drinking – an all-inclusive resort may be just what you need for a relaxing holiday.

Ideally, you should be able to lock your wallet in the safe all week and not have a bill to settle when you leave. However, since all-inclusive resorts have become stratified – much like cruises – there are differences between all-inclusive resorts. Depending on the price you pay, you might find that some resorts provide buffets while others give the traveler the choice of several a la carte restaurants and 24-hour room service. As far as drinks are concerned, some resorts have unlimited renowned drinks, whereas others give out only local brands. It is a good idea to check out the description of those hotels.

Trip Protection

2009-01-30T13:57:00.000-08:00

Is there something I can do to protect my trip against hurricanes?

YES, there is a way to protect your trip against hurricanes. While no one can predict when and where a hurricane will form, we would not lose too much sleep trying to guess where the next tropical depression takes place.

Millions of travelers have visited the charming islands of the Caribbean and the beautiful Mexican shores and enjoyed plenty of cloudless skies. However, if you are travelling during hurricane season (officially, from June 1 to November 30), there is no need to panic. You will have plenty of warning (read more from Frommer's).

Financially, you can protect your trip by purchasing regular travel insurance, which will protect you if a natural disaster affects your hometown, your flights, or the destination city. As specified in our Travel Insurance policy, the insurer will pay benefits (according to the schedule of benefits) if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to any of the following unforeseen reasons:(b) Inclement Weather conditions causing delay or cancellation of travel; (c) the Insured’s principal residence being made uninhabitable by fire, flood, vandalism, burglary or Natural Disaster.

Are Window Seats Dangerous?

2009-01-27T17:08:00.001-08:00

Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that passengers in window seats are twice as likely to develop deep vein thrombosis. The risk soars for obese passengers, who are six times more likely to develop the clots while sitting in window seats, the study found.
Scientists compared 80 people with deep vein thrombosis and 108 travelers who didn't have the ailment. They found that having one alcoholic drink seemed to protect against clots. But one critic of the study told the Mail Online that a larger study is needed.

These Fares are Unbeatable....check'm out!

2009-01-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Well hi there Mike Colonna,
And happy Friday to you and yours. Have any travel plans creeping up on your calendar? What? Nothing for 2009 yet? Well what, pray tell, is keeping you? We've found so many great fares for 2009. "Oh yeah? Like what," you ask?
For some of our most notable scores, just check out the Fare of the Day and our Top 50 Fares. And for today's finds for the New York JFK area -like Rome for $425 round-trip, incl. all taxes, on Czech Airlines- just scroll on down.
Today's Q&A chime in with your own opinion, in the comments section.
Over in ye olde blog: The clock is ticking on the wave of 3-day sales that turned up this week, and the new Delta sale is set to end Monday. More on these and other sales here.
Have a question about an upcoming trip? About a fare you've been eyeing? Or, maybe you've found a fare so good, you'd like to share it with the rest of the class? Swing by our message boards and post away.
--Happy Travels!
George Hobica and Tracy Stewart

The U.S. Travel Site Info You Need!

2009-01-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

http://travel.state.gov/

Norweigians "Only Way to Fly!"

2009-01-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com

L.A. To Chicago Round Trip $205.000

2009-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

Airfare Alert!
Los Angeles to Chicago O'Hare
$205.00 RTAs of Saturday, January 03, 2009 8:59 AM EST
Nonstop on United.
Learn more about this fare and purchase it at Fare Details

Beautifull Italy

2008-12-26T21:35:00.000-08:00

Italie.pps

italie.pps/

Learn Italian Easy....

2008-12-24T16:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/handy/slideshow/

Travel Cheap to Sorrento, Italy

2008-12-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

That's Amore! from Mike Colonna on Vimeo.

Air Fare Watchdog Reports

2008-12-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

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Picks from the International Bargain BinPosted by Bo on Thursday, December 04, 2008
The 72-hour Air New Zealand sale still has last-minute seats left to Auckland from San Francisco for $830 including taxes, but the one day that this promotional fare originally included from Los Angeles has already sold out, although other days are available for $920.
Aer Lingus has a fairly standard but still good sale to Dublin and Shannon running through December 10, with nonstop fares starting at $380 with taxes from Washington. From other cities, competitors are matching and sometimes beating these deals, so be sure to shop around.
United's "International Holiday Fare Sale" has some pleasant surprises for travel after the holidays. Starting in January, fares to London are actually lower than advertised, with the final price of nonstop flights from the West Coast coming in at $100 less than they initially appear.
US Airways seems to be busy clearing out excess Paris inventory these days, sometimes for up to $200 less than competitors' (nonstop) flights. We're finding similar deals to Rome and other select destinations may also be benefitting from this cleaning frenzy.
From New York, Air India is offering nonstop fares to Delhi and Mumbai for just over $900 including taxes and Continental has just lowered the price of their nonstop Newark to Hong Kong route by almost $100 to $780. Finally, check out the $980 deal we found to Manila!

A Rome Suburb.....www.Calcata.it "Amazing!"

2008-11-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.comunecalcata.it/

Tuscany's Best Travel Sites

2008-11-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.bella-toscana.com/tuscan-web-sites.htm

Live Web Cam Pictures of Europe!

2008-10-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Taking a trip? Look at the cities with live cameras focused in the areas you will visit!

http://www.live-webcam-directory.com/italy/live-webcams.html

How To Travel By Arlene Fleming....

2008-10-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

By Arlene Fleming, About.com
Flying Tips Packing Tips 10 Travel Tips Air Travel Fares Travel Packing
There are lots of products and methods offered to tackle jet lag. But if you are just looking for some simple tips, I have compiled some of the many that I have heard over the years - and some of them may even work for you.
Water - Drink lots of it- The humidity on flights is literally desert-like. It may be fairly repulsive to think about it, but by the end of a long flight the only humidity left in the air may be that which you and your fellow passengers have created. Lack of proper hydration is thought to contribute to jet lag.
Less caffeine, less stimulants - Going on the adage less is more, keeping your body from getting over-stimulated, or at times that aren't in synchrony with the time zone you are traveling to, may help stave off the lag.
Less alcohol - Effects are stronger inflight, which tends to dehydrate.
Eat lighter - Cabin pressure is set at a higher altitude than most locations on earth, so you may feel more bloated from heavier meals, or more lethargic. On longer flights, try not to eat out of boredom which is easy to do when your flight is more than 6 hours long.
Sleep - Try and get a restful sleep pre-flying. This is one I find hard to follow, the blend of anxiety and anticipation usually equal insomnia for me.
Adjust your watch - Set your watch to the time at your destination after you get on board, and get your mind set into the time zone of your arrival.
Move it - Move around during the flight to keep circulation going - stretch, rotate your hands and ankles. Even small amounts of exercise are believed to lessen the effects of jet lag.
Adjust your sleep / wake cycle - If it is daytime at your destination when you arrive, try and stay awake until nighttime there and then get a good night's sleep to reset your clock. Try and follow the time pattern of your destination - if it is night there, sleep, if not, stay awake.
Go outdoors - Get outside when you arrive - It may help reset your internal time clock faster if you experience the time of day at your destination as soon as possible.
Pace yourself - Give yourself time to adjust and try not to plan anything too strenuous on the day you arrive.
Plan ahead - Start changing your schedule a few days before you travel to prep you for the time changes to come. If your destination is 8 hours ahead of your usual time, try going to sleep earlier several days before, and also adjust your meal times. Again, I find this one hard to follow, but have heard of some success with it. A lot of these tips are pretty much common sense, and not all cases of jet lag will magically disappear with a few simple adjustments. However, they cost nothing, and if any of them help in reducing the jet lag experience, they certainly warrant a try. Plane and simple.

The Hottest Airfares to Europe Oct. 2008

2008-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Click on http://airfarewatchdog.com/

The Only Way to Fly!

2008-09-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Come Fly with Me..........

Click The World For The Cheapest Way To Travel!

2008-09-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Italy Round Trip $399 Wow!

2008-09-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Super deal round trip book it now!

http://www.euroflyusa.com/US/

Positano Live My Favorite City!

2008-08-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.campaniameteo.it/webcamstreaming.asp?ID=5

Just South of Naples and Sorrento, a must visit for your Italy vacation!

The Perfect Italian Vacation!

2008-08-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

More Italians Headed to Farms for Vacation
Vacation farms and agriturismi are expecting full occupancy this Ferragosto weekend. While Italians traditionally head to the beach, more and more are discovering the joys of rural tourism. Italian news agency ANSA reports that there are now 18,500 holiday farms in Italy and they're expecting 550,000 overnights over the three-day holiday weekend.These numbers may be impressive, but they might not spell big business for the farmhouse owners themselves, who can expect to see reduced profit margins as the total number of farmhouses continues to grow. The Italian travel magazine Gente Viaggi reported earlier this year that the number of holiday farms in Italy has almost doubled since 1999. The most popular regions for visiting farms or agriturismi are Tuscany, Sicily and Lombardy. These establishments provide a uniquely Italian experience as only 25% of farm tourists were foreigners last year. --Justine Gregory

Layovers Pay Off !

2008-08-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Cheapest Way to Travel...Compare Prices Before You Book!

2008-08-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Cheaper than the Big Three!

Shortcuts....Talk to A Human!

2008-08-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.gethuman.com/

Cut through the message and get to the right person!

Travel Anywhere Cheap!

2008-08-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

Subscribe to Free Airfare

AlertsAirfarewatchdog.com..................is the only airfare alert and comparison site that includes fares on *all* airlines, including Southwest, Allegiant, and JetBlue. If you're relying on anyother source, you're not getting the full airfare story.

DOES SIZE MATTER?

Here's a look at how different airlines deal with the "customer of size."

SOUTHWEST

Passengers should plan on purchasing an extra seat or risk being asked to do so at the airport by staff. If the flight is not sold out, the passenger may claim a refund.

AMERICAN

Airline states that passengers over 250 lbs. should recognize that there may be limitations to the service that the airline can provide, however, it does not require that you purchase an extra seat automatically.

UNITEDNo policy whatsoever.

MIDWEST AIRLINES

Like Southwest, passengers are encouraged to know their needs in advance. If staff determine that two seats are required, the seat will be sold at the lowest possible fare, with a refund available if there is one or more open seats on the flight.

AIR FRANCE

Passengers with "high body mass" may receive a 25 percent discount on an extra seat, knowing that if it chooses to not buy the seat, it may risk not being able to fly.

JET BLUE

You are required to buy a second seat, and there are no refunds.

DELTA

The airline "works to accommodate" passengers with special needs. Upon request and availability, it will try to make sure the next seat is unoccupied. However, if the plane is full, you will most likely be asked to leave the flight and buy a second seat on the next available flight. (You can actually count on this being a fairly typical practice on most airlines.)re picture.