Editor’s Note: The airfares, hotel rates, and vacation package prices in this story are sample prices only, and may vary depending on your specific travel dates.

The Best Destinations for All-Inclusive Vacations Under $500

All-inclusive resorts and packages allow guests to take care of all food and lodging expenses upfront, meaning they can relax on vacation without fear of unexpected costs cropping up during their trip. These four destinations offer travelers a chance to book an all-inclusive vacation and roundtrip airfare for under $500.

The Dominican Republic

The beaches of the Dominican Republic are as beautiful as any in the Caribbean, and round-trip flights to the island can cost as little as $180 from Chicago or Miami. Choice Hotels’ Ascend collection includes two all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic with incredibly low nightly rates: Travel during the off seasons—spring and fall—and you can nab a stay at Emotions by Hodelpa Juan Dolio for as little as $100 per night, or at Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata from $97 per night.

Both are beachfront properties with a variety of restaurants, as well as outdoor pools, in-room fridges, microwaves, an on-site fitness center, and a location that’s within easy distance from the airport and major attractions. Members of the Choice Privileges Rewards Program also earn points by staying at either resort.

Pick the right dates, book a few nights, and do the math, and you’ll have gotten yourself a Caribbean vacation that includes airfare, hotel, food, and beverages (yes, even the alcoholic kind) for under $500.

Jamaica

For travelers willing to travel in the off-season—between mid-April and mid-December—a four night stay at the beachfront Royal Decameron, an all-inclusive property on Montego Bay’s lively strip, and roundtrip airfare can cost as little $474 when booked as a package through CheapCaribbean.com.

The Royal Decameron is within easy walking distance of the city’s best hot spots, shops, and restaurants, though all your food is already taken care of on-site. To stick to your budget, you can also stick to admission-free attractions in Jamaica—including Negril Cliffs and Castleton Gardens—and use local buses and taxis instead of renting a car.

The Bahamas

While not a classic all-inclusive resort vacation, you’ll certainly find everything you need on board a cruise ship to the Bahamas. And if you’re setting sail from Florida, you can, without too much effort, find a four-night cruise for about the cost of a single hotel night in any major American city.

A quick Expedia search brings up plenty of three- and four-night sailings from Florida that start under $300 per person, while Cruises.com offers a similar list. Cruise prices typically include all the food you can eat, live entertainment, and calls at ports such as Nassau, Freeport, and, often, private islands belonging to that cruise line. We even found a 4-night cruise departing from Miami going to the Bahamas for $169 per person! 

Cancún

Roundtrip flights to Cancún from southeastern airports like Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Miami can be found for as little as $183. You’ll find the best deals during off-season, mid-summer through autumn, and fares tend to be cheaper for travel on weekdays than weekends.

Riu Hotels & Resorts operates a series of all-inclusive resorts in Cancún, including the HOTEL RIU DUNAMAR 5* which has rooms available for as little as $137 per night. For those who would rather bundle their airfare and hotel, CheapCaribbean.com offers deals on several all-inclusive vacation packages with airfare that will get you to Cancún for under $500. This vacation package to Riviera Maya  includes three nights at the Bahia Principe Grand Coba, a 5-star hotel right by popular Playa Del Carmen complete with spa, casino, and beach access. 

Other Top Spots for a Budget Vacation

If all-inclusive resorts aren’t your style, there are still plenty of other cheap tropical vacation spots to explore.  While additional expenses like food and excursions won’t be covered, you can still find round-trip airfare and lodging for under $500 at these destinations.

Puerto Rico

You can often find round-trip flights from Miami to San Juan for around $100—with some weekday options as low as $75—and flights from other parts of the east coast are usually under $200 thanks to budget airlines like Spirit. 

Vacation rentals are the most affordable option for accommodations and you can find several cheap options that are right by the beach – like this two-bedroom condo that costs just $89 per night or this spacious studio with spa tub and patio for just $99 per night.

Stretch your budget even further by spending your days lounging on the gorgeous beaches around the island, all of which are free and open to the public, or seeking out fun free experiences in the capital city of San Juan, like the University of Puerto Rico’s Botanical Garden.

Oahu, Hawaii

Budget airlines like Southwest and Alaskan have made trips to Hawaii affordable. Several times a year, these airlines have sales that bring flights to Hawaii down to less than $300.  (Airfare sites such as Airfarewatchdog, SmarterTravel’s sister site, will alert you when fares drop.)

If you’re lucky enough to snag one of these low fares to Honolulu—or if you’re the lucky owner of a Southwest Companion Pass, which is actually fairly easy to get if you keep an eye out for associated credit card offers—Oahu has worthwhile low-budget lodgings that could help keep your tropical vacation total under $500. Vacation rentals will once again give you the best bang for your buck, with many highly rated options on Vrbo listed at less than $100 per night.

Once you’re there, Honolulu doesn’t have to be expensive since the city has plenty of cheap street food and affordable restaurants—Moose McGillycuddy’s is a favorite for low-cost breakfasts—and bus transportation is easy and much less expensive than renting a car. Plus, many of Oahu’s most worthwhile attractions are free or open for a nominal fee, including hiking up Diamond Head ($5 for entry, $10 to park a vehicle in the lot), paying tribute at Pearl Harbor’s USS Arizona (free), and sunbathing on Waikiki Beach (free).

Florida

Americans looking to keep their tropical vacations under $500 don’t actually have to leave the contiguous part of their continent to laze on the beach while shaded by palm trees. Orbitz’s list of vacation package deals under $499 usually offers some worthwhile all-inclusive deals to Orlando. Likewise, Travelocity has a dedicated Flight + Hotel Deals Under $400 page that includes various packages to Miami and Orlando, with stays at properties like the Westgate Vacation Villa Resort and the Boulan South Beach.

If you’d rather book airfare and lodging separately, check out Expedia’s round-trip fares to Orlando for less than $100. Couple that with affordable lodgings, like the family-friendly Coco Key Hotel and Waterpark Resort—just $132 for a room that sleeps four and only $19 more for a King Suite—and you’ve got yourself a memorable tropical trip with the kids that won’t break the bank.

Tips for Finding All-Inclusive Vacations with Airfare Under $500

Wherever you choose to book your affordable tropical vacation, one key strategy to keeping it under $500 is to understand what average prices look like for where you want to go—and to be ready to buy the minute you see fares that are listed well below that.

“If you’ve been watching for a good fare and you find one, don’t hesitate,” says Jeff Klee, the CEO of CheapAir. “When you go away for a few days or hours to consult with friends, or just continue to shop around, you may be surprised to find that the fare has disappeared while you mulled it over.”

One other tip for keeping vacations under $500, from Klee: “Flexibility is your friend. Unless your trip is for an event tied to a specific set of dates, often just shifting your search dates by a few days can offer big savings. Remember that mid-week flights—Tuesdays and Wednesdays—are usually a much better value than those on the weekend.”

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post The Best All-Inclusive Vacations Under $500, Including Airfare appeared first on SmarterTravel.

I tested more than a dozen vacation package sites to see which ones had the lowest prices and best user experience. I discovered that many of the best vacation package websites allow you to book any combination of flight, hotel, and rental car, while others are more limited (flight + hotel is often the default). Fortunately, some sites will let you add a car onto a hotel+flight package, even if a car isn’t listed on the initial booking page.

It’s also important to compare the price of a vacation booked as a bundle to that same trip booked a la carte as separate components. Booking a package isn’t always cheaper, and sometimes you’ll get  better flight options to choose from if you search for your airfare separately. In some searches, I discovered that the flight options included by default with my vacation package had ridiculously long layovers or undesirable departure times (4:30 a.m., anyone?).

Keep a sharp eye out for resort fees; many of the best vacation booking sites don’t count them in their initial per-person price estimate because they’re collected separately by the hotel, but they can drive up the final cost of your trip. Similarly, optional airline baggage fees can also increase your total bill, especially if you book a flight in basic economy, and some vacation package sites don’t disclose these fees as clearly as others.

Finally, it’s important to know that many of the best sites for vacation packages are owned by the same parent company, so you’ll often find similar inventory and prices from one to the next. Knowing which sites are mostly interchangeable can save you some research time.

The Best Travel Package Sites

We put them to the test to compare prices, inclusions, and more. The following are the best websites to book vacations, listed in no particular order. Scroll down for more in-depth analysis of each one.

• Expedia
• Expedia’s sister sites: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets
• Priceline
• CheapCaribbean.com
• Kayak
• Funjet Vacations

Expedia

This well-known site is one of the best travel package sites for a reason. Expedia offers a full complement of bundle options (flight/hotel, flight/car, hotel/car, and flight/hotel/car) as well as trips to just about every corner of the globe. It’s reliable when it comes to pricing, too: Expedia offered the lowest price in two of my five tests, and was cheaper than average in all but one test booking.

That said, the amount the site said I was saving on a given package didn’t always match up to the actual price difference when I added up the cost of the trip’s individual elements. In one of my test cases, it was actually cheaper to book my flight, hotel, and car separately. So take those supposed savings with a grain of salt (or even better, price out the components separately on your own to be sure you’re getting the best deal).

Expedia has plenty of useful filters to help you find what you need. You can sort hotels by price, distance from a city’s downtown, guest rating, package discount, and property class, while flight options can be filtered by general departure and arrival times (for example, morning vs. evening), airline, whether carry-on bags are included, and more. You can also sort flight options by duration (longest or shortest), price (highest or lowest), departure time (earliest or latest), and arrival time (earliest or latest). There’s also a map view so you can check out the location of each hotel.

Best Feature: The breadth of choice and consistency of pricing make Expedia perhaps the best site for vacation packages. You may not always get the absolute lowest price here, but chances are you’ll pay a fair rate and have plenty of options to choose from.

Check out Expedia

Expedia’s Sister Sites: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets

Many travelers don’t realize that Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets are all owned by Expedia Group, and typically have very similar inventory and pricing to Expedia. Each of these sites has similar layouts and filter options, too. Like Expedia, these three sites offer every possible vacation package combination involving a flight, hotel, and/or rental car.

It was rare for any of these sites to beat out Expedia’s prices in my tests; in general, the rates were identical (especially on Travelocity, where I didn’t find any deviations from Expedia) or a little bit higher. However, Orbitz and CheapTickets did offer slightly cheaper packages on one flight/car itinerary.

Because the pricing is so similar, it’s probably not worth searching all three of these sites in addition to Expedia unless a difference of a few dollars will make or break your travel budget.

Best Feature: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets offer a checkbox on their main booking page to specify “I only need accommodations for part of my trip”—a feature that allows user to select a subset of their trip dates and search for travel packages only within that period. This feature is also reflected on Expedia’s search page.

Note: Expedia Group also owns Hotwire, which I didn’t find quite as reliable as the other three in my tests. For one itinerary, a nonstop flight that the other sites offered was not available when booking a Hotwire package (though it was available when booking a separate flight on Hotwire), and the pricing on some searches was a little higher than on the other sites.

Check out Expedia’s sister sites below:

Priceline

Like Expedia and its partners, Priceline also offers every possible combination of flight, hotel, and rental car. Its search results pages are easy to navigate, with plenty of filter and sort options, plus a map view for hotels. Priceline offers numerous hotel options in popular vacation destinations at every price point.

One quirk to prepare for: Priceline’s flight result page lists departure and return flights together as a pair rather than letting you choose each one separately. This cuts down on the number of screens you have to click through but could mean extra scrolling while you try to find the exact two flights you want. Not all flights that are available when booking airfare separately on Priceline seem to be accessible to those booking a package—so it’s worth checking both.

Priceline was in the middle of the pack as far as pricing was concerned. It won one of my tests but was the most expensive option in two others; overall, it offered cheaper-than-average prices 60 percent of the time. To help you save money, the site offers “Express Deals” for rental cars, an opaque option in which you don’t know which rental car brand you’ll get until after you’ve booked. If you’d rather choose which company you’re renting from, standard car rentals are also available.

Best feature: Once you’ve selected your flight and rental car preferences, the site will keep them the same as you click through alternate hotel possibilities—saving you the hassle of having to select them over and over again.

Check out Priceline

CheapCaribbean.com

As its name suggests, CheapCaribbean.com has a more limited scope than other sites on this list, but it’s worth checking if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, where package trips such as honeymoons are particularly popular. The site turned up cheaper-than-average prices for both of my Caribbean tests.

CheapCaribbean.com is one of the best vacation websites for all-inclusive packages. Once you’ve entered your trip information, you can also filter your results by “adults only,” “children’s amenities,” and “luxury.” Each hotel-specific page includes a list of active promotions, on-site activities, and the property’s Tripadvisor Traveler Rating.

In some ways CheapCaribbean.com isn’t quite as sophisticated as other travel package sites. There’s no map available to compare locations of the listed hotel options. Also annoying: not being able to group Houston’s two airports into a single search, though you can select “all airports” for New York City and Washington, D.C. But the affordable deals are worth a few snags, as long as you’re only looking for a flight/hotel package—there’s no option to add a car or create any other package combinations, though you can add travel insurance and transfers, at least for the destinations I checked.

Best Feature: The “Deals of Fortune,” or bookings where you know the destination but not the exact resort until about a week before the trip. This is a fun feature for value-conscious travelers who aren’t set on a particular island or property.

Check out Cheapcaribbean.com

Kayak

A popular meta-search site, Kayak saves travelers time by searching many of the best travel package sites with a single click. Unfortunately, you can’t specify which elements of your trip you’d like to bundle; it searches flight + hotel by default. You can add a car later on some of its partner sites, but if you’re looking for a flight/car package, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Results list the cheapest available packages from sites such as Priceline (Kayak’s sister company), Expedia, and CheapCaribbean.com. There’s a map view available, and the results page shows both air- and hotel-related filters to make it easy to find nonstop flights, free breakfast, or a specific hotel.

I found that the prices listed on Kayak didn’t always match the price on the source site when I clicked over to find the deal—a fairly common problem with meta-search sites. But I also occasionally discovered that I got a different price after clicking from Kayak than I did when searching the same itinerary from the booking site’s home page. For example, a Las Vegas package was $819 per person on Priceline when I clicked over from Kayak, but just $783 when I booked the same package from the Priceline home page. Another test offered the opposite result, with the price being cheaper after clicking from Kayak than it was when booking directly on Priceline. The lesson: Test both options when using a meta-search site.

Best Feature: Being able to search some of the best vacation booking sites in a single place is a major time saver. Though Kayak doesn’t always find you the lowest possible price, it’s a good place to start your search and get an idea of what’s out there.

Check out Kayak

Funjet Vacations

The Funjet home page gives you a single package option: flight/hotel. However, you can work around this by adding a rental car on at the end of a flight/hotel or individual flight booking. There are plenty of sort options for your results, including price, hotel name, rating, points of interest, and location.

One annoyance: Similarly to CheapCarribbean.com, there is no option to select “all airports” for certain cities like Houston or Chicago. And Funjet’s prices aren’t the most consistent, ranking as the cheapest in one test and the most expensive in another. Still, the site is worth comparing to others when booking your vacation.

Best Feature: Rather than making you scour the web for coupons, Funjet automatically applies any relevant promo codes to your search.

Note: If you’re headed to the Caribbean, Central or South America, Hawaii, or Mexico, try your search on Funjet’s sister site, Apple Vacations. The destinations it covers are more limited than Funjet’s, but I found that the prices were often a little better. CheapCaribbean.com is also owned by the same parent company, Apple Leisure Group.

Check out Funjet

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

If you’re ready to book your next adventure but don’t want to commit to a prepackaged bundle, you can still save big by booking your hotel stay with SmarterTravel Hotels.

Book Now

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

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Best Websites for Last Minute Flights

Finding flights can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be! There are loads of ways to find cheap flights from your favorite airline, even if you are going away in the near future.

1. Google Flights

One fun way to find last minute flights is to plug your departure city and travel dates into Google Flights, leaving your destination blank. The resulting map shows you the lowest available prices to cities all over the world, letting you find deals in places you might not have ever thought to go.

2. Kayak

Kayak’s Explore feature is a similar tool. You can enter exact travel dates or a certain month, then see which fares are available from your home gateway. 

3. Secret Flying

You can get alerts when fares go down when you sign up at Secret Flying, or, use their search tool to find great last minute deals on flights. Simply input your departure city, keep the arrival as “anywhere” and put the current month as the time you are looking to fly. Perfect for when you just want to get away, but you don’t care where to. Secret Flying also finds “mistake” fares, so be sure to sign up to get notifications so you can book them before they are gone! 

Where to Find Last Minute Hotel Deals

You’d think that every hotel would have cheap rooms last minute, but that isn’t always the case. These sites will help you find a room that won’t break the bank with a spur of the moment trip! 

1. Hotel Tonight

A perennial favorite app among SmarterTravel editors, HotelTonight has been finding travelers’ deep hotel discounts since 2010. The app allows travelers to book same-day accommodations across the globe at discounts of up to 50 percent. If you don’t want to leave things until the literal last minute, though, the app also lets you book dates a little further out. The well-designed booking engine serves up clever recommendations and insider info—plus those remarkable markdowns. Keep an eye out for the Daily Drop, the biggest discount of the day (which you only have 15 minutes to book).

2. Groupon

The site is known for discounted restaurant meals, fitness classes, and beauty services also has a last minute deals section that typically includes discounted hotel and resort stays. On the day I checked, options ranged from a $69 hotel near Niagara Falls to a four-star Times Square hotel for $77 a night.

3. Trip.com

Trip.com is your basic hotel booking site, and is great for finding a last minute deal. While they feature hotels all around the world, it’s particularly great for deals on hotels in Asia, so when you grab an amazing last minute flight to somewhere in Asia, head to trip.com to book your hotel! 

4. Last Minute Travel

As its name suggests, Last Minute Travel is dedicated solely to last minute travel deals. This wide-ranging site offers bargains on hotels, car rentals, cruises, transfers, and activities. Their hotel deals are amazing.  In a sample search, I found top-rated hotels in Paris from just $54 per night for a trip about two weeks out. The site has a Last Minute Travel Club for deeper discounts and rewards points to use toward free hotel stays. Membership is $50 per year.

Amazing Last Minute Vacation Packages

Sometimes, booking a vacation package is the cheapest way to go for last minute travel. These sites are the best for one-stop shopping.

1. Airfarewatchdog

SmarterTravel’s sister site Airfarewatchdog has a nifty Weekender tool that lets you find a flight/hotel vacation package for upcoming weekends, just click the link and let the site do the rest of the work. 

2. CheapCaribbean.com

If you have a specific destination in mind, your best bet is often to focus on a website that deals with one region specifically. CheapCaribbean.com has last minute deals, many of them short-lived flash sales. Though you can’t hem and haw about whether or not to go, you’ll often have plenty of time to plan. For example, a four-night air/hotel package to the Dominican Republic might start at $509 per person for travel four to six months from now—but it must be booked in the next four days.

3. FunJet Vacations 

Book your flight and hotel together at FunJet Vacations. If you have a place in mind, enter the dates you want to go and the destination, and it will give you the best flight and hotel deals available. Their sales are great if you are open to where you want to go, and often have dates for travel within the month. 

Affordable Last Minute All-Inclusive Deals

A vacation where everything is paid for in advance may seem a luxury to some people, but it is actually quite affordable. These sites will help you find the best all-inclusive deals, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the sun! 

1. Sandals Resorts

Sandals resorts has great deals for last minute travel. You often can get one night free, and when you start the booking process, have the option of booking your flight as well. You may even find availability for travel within the week. 

2. Club Med

When it comes to all-inclusive, Club Med usually comes to mind. Like Sandals, they often have fantastic last minute deals for when you are looking to book without much time to plan. Club Med has locations all over the world, including Mexico, Canada and all over the Caribbean – perfect for a cheap getaway.

3. Travelzoo

This venerable travel site offers last minute deals on just about everything, but their all-inclusive search is one of the best as far as the bigger sites go. When I searched, I found a package for an all-inclusive stay in Cabo, including airfare, for $739, for travel next week. 

How to Find Great Deals on Last Minute Tours

If you prefer having an itinerary made for you, and, let’s face it, if you are taking a last minute trip, it might be nice to not have to plan the entire trip, there are some great sites to book a last minute tour on. 

1. TourRadar

Book a tour of your destination as well as accommodations through TourRadar. There are several ways to search, including destination, adventure styles (food & culinary, active adventure, health & wellness, etc.), and date. Search for tours for travel in the next two weeks, or multiple months in advance. 

2. G Adventures

From Iceland to Turkey, G Adventures has tours to inspire and excite. They have available dates for travel throughout the year, but most are available to book for tours within a week or two. They have themed tours like the Northern Lights in Iceland, and Hiking the Azores—whatever, wherever you want to go. I found a four-day hiking tour of the Inca Trail in Peru for $881 departing within the week.

3. Contiki 

Contiki has a wide variety of tours to choose from, and the site has a handy last minute trips option to find a tour when you need one. When I searched, there was an Egypt and the Nile tour for $1,772, starting in just four days from when I searched! Most tours include accommodation, meals, transportation, admission to sites, and tour guides. 

Popular Getaway Deal Destinations

You may think it is hard to find deals to some of the top destinations, but as we have been mentioning, there are several options out there, no matter where you are going. Here are some sites that will help you plan your next getaway to some of the top spots.

Europe Deals

Lastminute.com 

Netherlands-based LastMinute.com also covers a range of last minute trip options, including flights, hotels, Eurostar train tickets, vacation packages, car rentals, theater tickets, and experiences. A Paris search turned up several highly-rated hotel options at $75-$85 per night at press time. This site also allows you to filter by hotels that offer free cancellation, a great perk if your travel plans change last minute. LastMinute.com also has “top-secret hotels” available for opaque booking, though in my Paris search they were actually a bit more expensive than the named hotels in my results.

Caribbean Vacations

Beaches

While we love Sandals, we also love their sister company, Beaches. Beaches features two resorts in Jamaica and one in Turks and Caicos. Their last minute travel deals are similar to Sandals, where you can get one free night, and are able to book with just a couple of days in advance. 

Trips to New York

TKTS

Chances are, if you are heading to NYC, you are going to want to see a Broadway show. Your best option for great last minute seats is TKTS. Download the app for your phone to see that days discounted tickets, and you can decide whether it is worth making the trek to the booth. Beats running out early in the morning to wait in line, and you are sure to get some deeply discounted tickets. 

Best Last Minute Travel Apps for Your Phone

Most people tend to do everything on their phones, from booking restaurants, reading the news, and of course, booking travel. These apps are our favorites for booking last minute travel.

Elude

Elude is more than an app, it is an experience for the well-seasoned traveler. Not only does it let you search trips from your departure city to anywhere in the world, it gets to know you so you’ll find out about the best deals catered to your interests. Keep tabs on your trips, where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Their search feature allows you to put what your budget is, and what dates you want to travel, then showing you details for trips that fall under your criteria. When I searched, I found a trip to Prague leaving from New York City in two weeks for $1374 including airfare and hotel. 

Snaptravel

With Snaptravel, you can search for hotels conveniently on your phone. Once you sign up, you will receive exclusive deals over your message service of choice (SMS, Facebook Messenger, iMessage etc..). You can also do a simple search with the days you want to go, and where you want to go. You can filter by price, hotel stars, amenities and more. The perfect app for booking that last minute hotel anywhere in the world. 

VRBO

These days, vacation rentals are all the rage, and finding a last minute travel deal for accommodations can be tricky if you don’t want to break the bank. That’s where apps like VRBO come in. You can search rooms, apartments and houses available to rent wherever you are going. Often, owners who have had a cancellation or just want the place booked will discount the price last minute as to not totally lose out on making any money. You might just find a unique stay, like a treehouse or secluded cabin. 

Travelocity

Everything is better with time, and Travelocity is not excluded. Founded in 1996, they have adapted to the ever-changing tech world, and their app shows they are good at what they do. Search for hotels, vacation packages, flights—you name it—and all of your bookings will stay on the app for easy access. Looking for the perfect trip to Las Vegas last minute? Travelocity has your back.  When I searched for a trip to Vegas in two weeks, I found hotel and airfare for under $1,000 for a five night stay. 

Editor’s Note: All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated with the latest information. Genevieve S. Brown and Dara Continenza contributed to this story.

The post Best Websites to Book a Last Minute Vacation appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Bookmark this page—we’ll be updating it frequently with can’t-miss Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 sales as they’re announced.

Travel Gear Deals

Amazon: Amazon’s mega-sale will run November 17 through November 27, with great deals on travel gear including luggage, clothing, and electronics. 

Carl Friedrik: Luxury brand Carl Friedrik is offering 30 percent off sitewide from 11/22 – 11/27.

Korres: Get 40 percent off sitewide and 50 percent off select items during this skincare sale (which includes travel-size).

Nordstrom: Nordstrom is heavily discounting traveler-favorite brands both in-store and online Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Target: You don’t have to wait for Black Friday to save on travel gear from Target! The retailer is offering a “holiday price match guarantee” and will offer a refund for the difference in price if something you purchased sells for a lower price. The match is valid on items purchased between October 22 and December 24.

Unbound Merino: Save up to 40 percent off sitewide during Unbound Merino’s only sale of the year, which runs until November 28.

Travel Deals

Alto: Luxury rideshare company Alto is offering 50 percent off an annual membership during its Black Friday Sale. Use promo code BLACKFRIDAY between November 24 – November 27. On Cyber Monday, Alto is running a gift card promotion. Give an Alto gift card and receive Alto credit for yourself. Purchase November 27 through December 1.

Booking.com: Save up to 25 percent off selected attractions on Booking.com from November 16 through November 29th, for attractions taking place within three months of booking.

Priority Pass: Save up to 30 percent on an annual Priority Pass, giving you access to hundreds of airport lounges throughout the world.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): Budget airline SAS is discounting flights between the US and Europe, with fares starting as low as $375 round-trip. Book between November 21 and November 28 for travel between January 15, 2024 and April 30, 2024 to score the cheap rates.

Vacation Deals

Brendan Vacations:  Get up to $250 off per person for Private Chauffeur and Lux Self Drive trips or $200 off per person on Self-Drive and Locally Hosted Rail experiences in Ireland and Scotland.

Contiki: Get up to 25 percent off more than 60 trips across six continents. The sale runs from November 17 through November 30.

Costsaver: Save up to 15 percent off trips worldwide from November 16-December 5.

EF Go Ahead Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours’ Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale runs for more than a month, from October 24 through November 30. Various destinations will be discounted each week. On November 11, in honor of Singles’ Day, there will be free private rooms on limited departure dates and all solo tours will be on sale. EF will offer $100 off all tours on Black Friday, plus surprise lightning deals and extras including free excursions.

Exodus Adventure Travels: Save up to 20 percent off all of Exodus’ guided trips through Nov. 30, 2023, with the code BF2024. The offer applies to departures between Dec. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024.

FTLO Travel: Save up to $200 off all 2024 itineraries with FTLO Travel. This discount is valid through November 30.

Insight Vacations: Get up to 15 percent off select 2024 itineraries when booked between November 16 and December 5.

Trafalgar: Save up to 15 percent on select 2024 departures during the sale that will run November 16 through December 5.

Great Wolf Lodge: Rooms starting at $24/person (minimum of 4 people) for bookings made on November 24 for stays November 24, 2023 through February 29, 2024 when you use promo code FRIDAY. Save up to 50 percent with rates starting at $99.99/night for bookings made on November 27 for stays November 27, 2023 through February 29, 2024 when you use promo code CYBER.

Cruise Deals

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises will offer 75 percent off a second guest plus up to $300 in onboard credits for nearly all itineraries through April 30, 2026. This sale will run November 10 – December 5.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: During Uniworld’s 12 Days of Christmas Event, a new deal will be offered every day starting on Black Friday.

Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean is offering 30 percent off, and kids sail free on all cruises booked through December 4.

Hotel Deals

Expedia: Expedia is offering 30 percent off member prices for bookings made through November 29. You must sign up for One Key, Expedia’s free membership program.

Booking.com: Booking.com has deals on hotels starting at 30 percent off for hotels booked November 16 through November 29.

Flight Deals

French bee: Affordable transatlantic carrier French bee has launched their first ever Black Friday fares, with discounts on routes from Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to Paris and San Francisco to Tahiti. Offers are available for bookings made between November 20th and November 27th for a travel window of November 20, 2023 through March 31, 2024.

Southwest: Southwest is offering 30 percent off when you use code CYBER30 on bookings made November 27th through November 30th for select continental U.S. flights for travel between January 9, 2024, and March 6, 2024, and select flights to Hawaii and Puerto Rico for travel January 9, 2024 through May 22, 2024.

JetBlue: JetBlue is having a Cyber Monday sale on bookings made through November 29 for travel from January 9, 2024, through March 27, 2024, for Tuesday and Wednesday travel.

Alaska Air: West Coast giant Alaska Air‘s Cyber Monday sale has fares for as low as $39 one-way when you book by November 29, 2023.

Allegiant Air: Get up to 40 percent off of flights on Allegiant Air for one day only, November 27, 2023.

Breeze: Budget airline Breeze is offering up to 60 percent off when you use code CYBER for travel from December 1, 2023 through September 1, 2024. The sale ends on November 27, 2023.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Deals appeared first on SmarterTravel.

That doesn’t mean you should let fear hold you back from planning a trip on your own—it just means you should take a few extra precautions. Follow these ten tips for solo travelers to help protect yourself when away from home.

Check Your Hotel Room

The first thing solo travelers should do after checking in to a hotel (even before checking for bed bugs) is sweep their room to make sure there are no intruders. Leave the door to your room open while you quickly and thoroughly check any potential hiding spots. 

Where to look:

• Under the bed
• In the closet
• In the shower
• Behind floor-to-ceiling curtains

Pack a Doorstop 

A number of hotel employees have access to keycards that will open any room on the property. Mistakes happen and another guest could be given the key to your room. Or, the lock on your door simply might not be functional. All of these scenarios are reasons why you don’t want to solely rely on your hotel room’s door lock to keep you safe.

As a secondary layer of security, pack a doorstop or a doorstop alarm that can be used to prevent anyone from opening your door from the outside. The doorstop alarm will also alert (and everyone around you) you if someone is trying to get in. 

Don’t Accidentally Give Out Your Room Number

Solo travelers should be careful not to let strangers know where exactly they are staying. When you check in, make sure the front desk employee doesn’t say your room number out loud (have them write it on your key card envelope instead).

If you’re ordering at a hotel bar or restaurant and want to charge something to your room, write your name and room number on the check rather than saying it verbally if others are in earshot.

Don’t Let Others Know You’re Traveling Alone

You don’t have to be totally honest with pushy strangers striking up a conversation with you. If you’re feeling uncomfortable about someone asking you if you’re traveling alone, invent a friend or spouse who is “just taking a nap in the room” or who you’ll be meeting later. 

Request a Room on a Higher Floor

Hotel rooms on the first floor offer an easy second entry point (through the window) for intruders. Request a higher floor to reduce break-in risks when traveling alone. 

Leave Your Itinerary With a Trusted Friend

As a solo traveler, someone should know where you are just in case something goes wrong—even if they aren’t on the trip with you. Leave a detailed itinerary with a trusted friend or family member back home. 

This is especially important if you’re planning on activities such as hiking on your vacation—always let a friend or even the hotel concierge know where you are going (with specifics, such as what trail you’re taking) and what time you’re expected to return, so they can raise the alarm if you don’t come back.

All travelers, solo or not, should register for the US State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program before going abroad so that the embassy can reach them in the event of an emergency. 

Loud is Better Than Polite

Always trust your intuition while traveling. If you feel uncomfortable and think that someone is following you, or if someone is harassing you, you want to attract a crowd who can intervene. 

The State Department advises travelers, “If you do find yourself in an unsafe situation, be loud and draw attention to yourself to deter unwanted actions/attention. Being safe is more important than being polite.”

Spend a Little Bit More on Safety

A solo traveler’s budget should always have a little bit of extra cushioning. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re forced to make an unsafe choice because you can’t afford to do the smart option. 

For example, if you don’t have a lot to spend on transportation, you may be tempted to walk alone at night in an unsafe neighborhood rather than taking a cab.

Research Your Destination

One of the best ways to stay safe as a solo traveler is by blending in. Before you travel, research your destination to figure out what locals wear—if you’re headed somewhere where people typically dress modestly, you’ll definitely call attention to yourself if you’re wearing short or tight clothing. 

You’ll also want to do your research on local scams, dangerous areas to avoid, and whether public transportation is safe to take by yourself. The most reliable place to find this information is  the State Department’s country-specific travel pages. 

Watch Your Drinks

Solo travelers are prime targets for drink-drugging crimes. Perpetrators may slip drugs into the beverages of travelers to knock them out, and then rob or assault them. Never accept a drink from a stranger, and always watch your drink, especially at a crowded bar or restaurant. 

Although it’s fun to enjoy a local cocktail on vacation, it’s best to moderate your consumption so you can remain aware and alert.

The post Top 10 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Check for Hidden Cameras: How to Look for a Camera

I interviewed a Technical Surveillance Countermeasures and Intelligence expert from Advanced Operational Concepts who goes by the anonymous nickname “The Monk” (he declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of his work). The Monk has searched for hidden devices in conflict zones for the highest levels of the U.S. military’s Special Operations community. Here’s his advice for looking for a hidden camera.

“There are essentially three primary methods for checking for a hidden camera: scanning of radio frequencies (RF), lens detection, and physical search. Many handheld devices that do RF scanning and lens detection are available on the commercial market, with most costing less than $100. However, no single method is going to be 100 percent accurate.

“RF scanning, for example, will only help in identifying a device if that device is actively transmitting. If it is a store-and-retrieve device, where the collected data is held on an SD card to be physically recovered later when you’ve left the building. If the data is transmitted only at intervals, then an RF scanner will be fairly useless.

“Lens detection is very effective if used properly, but it requires patience and proper technique. If you are too far from the lens, sweep the room too quickly, or are just standing at the wrong angle from the lens, then you’ll likely miss seeing the lens when it reflects the light from your own light source.

“Physical inspection can be the most thorough method, but this requires both patience and access that you may not have. If you can’t get away with prying open smoke detectors, opening the backs of paintings, and possibly opening a section of a wall to see if anything is inside, then you won’t be able to complete a full and proper physical search.

“When faced with these types of limitations, often it is best to utilize a hybrid of all three search methods to whatever extent you find possible. You may not be able to achieve 100 percent confidence that the space is clear of hidden devices, but you’ll be a lot closer than you were when you first walked into the room.”

Check for Hidden Cameras: Where to Look for a Camera

The first step is to think logically about what someone would be interested in capturing on a hidden recording device. “Cameras typically need a clear view of the subject to get the best images,” explains Jack Plaxe, a hotel and lodging security professional and Founder and former Managing Director of the Security Consulting Alliance. “A visual scan of the room in key areas such as sleeping rooms, bathrooms, et cetera, may reveal clues that lead to the discovery of covert devices. For example, an unusually positioned object in the room may warrant a closer inspection. This was how an Airbnb guest found a camera concealed inside a motion detector that seemed out of place in a bedroom.”

It could be helpful to familiarize yourself with what hidden cameras can look like. They are easy and inexpensive to purchase (check out some on Amazon here).

The Monk says, “Bathrooms, bedrooms, and office space/desks are very common targets. Areas where computer screens are going to be visible are especially sought after, as the camera may capture login passwords, bank account information, personal browsing habits, and all sorts of other valuable information. A properly installed device will leave little to no outward sign that it has been put in place. Most off-the-shelf hidden cameras are now so small that they can come prepackaged in commonplace items that would appear innocuous in most settings.

“Smoke detectors, alarm clocks, even electrical outlets and power strips can have a complete audio/visual monitoring suite built in with room to spare. But even if the device itself is hard to detect, the activities of those responsible for the device may be more telling.

“In hotel rooms, for example, if items continue to be placed in a particular location after a room is serviced, then that could be a sign that the item needs to be positioned that way so that a camera has a good angle of view. Of course, this could also just be the maid tidying up, so don’t immediately jump to full paranoia.”

What to Do if You Find a Hidden Camera

Hiding hidden cameras in hotel rooms or vacation rentals is illegal and also a violation of most rental companies’ policies.

For example, Airbnb’s rules about electronic surveillance devices states that they do not allow “concealed and undisclosed devices monitoring common spaces” or “devices located in or monitoring private spaces.”

So make sure you check a vacation rental listing carefully for any mention of a nanny cam in the living room before you make a reservation. If you do find an undisclosed recording device in your vacation rental, leave immediately and report it to the company.

If you encounter a hidden camera in a hotel room, immediately ask for a room change. “If that doesn’t work,” says Ernie Naran, Director of Special Projects for Focus One Consulting Group, “turn objects  [with suspected hidden cameras] such as radios, clocks, et cetera, around so that they face in a different direction. If that is not possible, cover the items with a towel.”

When You Shouldn’t Check for a Hidden Camera

Depending on where you’re traveling, checking for hidden cameras might not be such a great idea. Mike O’Rourke, a former Special Forces soldier and Green Beret and current CEO of Advanced Operational Concepts, advises: “In certain countries (Russia and China top the list), it is highly likely the government intelligence services actively monitor hotels frequented by business travelers. Anyone they observe using search techniques to find hidden devices in their accommodations is likely to be branded as a hostile intelligence operative and treated accordingly. Bringing even the least expensive search devices into these countries is likely to land the traveler in hot water, sometimes before even leaving the airport.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018. It has been updated with the most recent information.

Follow Caroline Morse Teel on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for travel advice and inspiration from around the world.

The post How to Check for Hidden Cameras in Your Hotel Room or Vacation Rental appeared first on SmarterTravel.

While vacations can be all about relaxation, exploring new cultures, and leaving one’s comfort zone, a healthy dose of caution can go a long way toward staying safe. Read on for the 10 most common travel safety mishaps, and how you can avoid similar problems during your next trip.

1. Intoxication and/or Dehydration

Intoxication can lead to any number of problems on vacation, ranging from personal safety issues to vehicular accidents, loss of property to increased vulnerability. While many want to cut loose and relax while away, it’s a good idea to limit your intake of alcohol and avoid illegal drugs entirely—getting drunk or high can quickly escalate a potentially bad situation to an outright dangerous one.

Additionally, be wary of accepting alcoholic drinks from strangers, as their intentions may not always be noble.

“Don’t get drunk with people you don’t know,” says Graham Kingaby, director/underwriter and travel safety guru of WorldNomads.com, a global travel insurance provider. “If you do go out partying, stick with your friends. It can be dangerous to go home alone when you don’t know the area very well.”

“If you think someone has tampered with your drink, throw it away immediately,” says Erin Weed, founder of Girls Fight Back! and author of Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself. “If you find yourself feeling very intoxicated and you’ve only had a few cocktails, it could be the onset of a drug. Find your friends immediately and tell them you think you might have been slipped something. If this is indeed the case, they will need to get you home and possibly to the hospital if the effects are severe.”

Finally, consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to increased dehydration, which can complicate a trip, especially in regions where sun exposure is strong. “From my experience simply being dehydrated and exhausted can be a major problem,” says Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet. “Always have a bottle of water and be sure to drink … You get nailed with dehydration, then you’re sitting around for two or three days from heat exhaustion or being out in the sun too much. [Beyond] the worries of being robbed or something terrible happening, staying hydrated and rested is something that’s very much in your control.”

2. Pickpockets

Crowded places, places popular with tourists, and peak seasons for tourism increase the likelihood of being pickpocketed. Use good judgment if you find yourself in such a scenario.

“Don’t make friends when you’re at your most vulnerable,” says Reid. “I’ve been robbed in a bus station before. Someone approached me and said something and I responded, and it took me off my guard. Someone behind me grabbed my bag and it got stolen. If someone approaches you in a place like that, in a place where you don’t see too many locals hanging out, be extra cautious.”

While in college, I studied abroad in Rome, a city notorious for pickpockets. After just a few days in the city, I learned which piazzas were rife with petty theft, the specific bus routes known for having thieves, and good rules of thumb for protecting my wallet and valuables. One afternoon, I witnessed a young child distract a tourist with a loose purse; while the tourist spoke to the little girl, the child’s accompanying adult swiftly removed the wallet from the woman’s bag. After that, I was leery of being approached by kids. I made sure that my bag was securely fastened at all times, and my wallet stowed away in an inaccessible place (the interior pocket of my jacket). By being alert and cautious, I wasn’t pickpocketed once.

“Use clothing with zipped pockets or buttons, [and] hide your cash in a money belt, not in a wallet easily accessed from your jean’s pocket,” says Kingaby. “Be extra careful on crowded public transport, places like markets, and carry your bag in your arms.”

You may also want to carry a dummy wallet—one that’s empty or contains inconsequential items (cash receipts, to-do lists, fake credit cards from mailed solicitations, etc.)—to distract pickpockets from the real thing. Handing over a false wallet or keeping it in an easily accessible place can give the pickpocket what he wanted, while still safeguarding your money and valuables.

3. Getting Lost

It can be especially frightening to find yourself in an unfamiliar area while on vacation, particularly if you don’t speak the local language. Don’t panic: Keeping a cool head can make you less visible to those who might prey on your vulnerability.

“Keep your radar on—listen to your head and heart,” says Kingaby. “If it feels uncomfortable, get out of there. Try not to look as if you don’t know where you are and be discreet if you’re looking at your map.”

If you carry a mobile device or smartphone, have interactive maps and GPS capabilities at the ready. Studying your phone can be less obvious than consulting a map or guidebook, and you may even blend in with the locals using their own phones.

“I often look for a restaurant or a hotel and I’ll go in and have them call a taxi,” says Reid. “It’s in their best interest to have taxi companies that are reputable and not rip off their clients. Without fault, these places will be able to help you. There are a lot of places in the world where you can’t just flag down a taxi, and going into a local business will help you.”

Above all, do your research before setting out. By having a general sense of the lay of the land, you can avoid ending up in less-than-safe areas. Call it educated wandering—it’s always great to explore a new place on foot and see where the day takes you, but don’t go out blindly.

4. Lost/Stolen ID

If you lose your passport, get on the State Department Passport website and follow the links specific to whether you’re stateside or overseas. If you’re overseas, you’ll want to get in touch with your local embassy or consulate immediately to get it replaced.

Regardless of where you are, it’s always easier to replace your passport if you have copies of your old one. Keep several copies (preferably one in each bag) in case any of your bags or purse get lost or stolen. You may also want to send a copy of your passport and other relevant travel documents to family or trusted friends back home, just in case a copy needs to be forwarded to the consulate.

If you’re stateside and you lose your driver’s license, the Unofficial DMV Guide has a comprehensive online guide outlining the steps you need to take to replace it, with specific requirements broken down by state.

5. Accidental Injury or Illness

Before you leave home, double-check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in case you need medical attention while on vacation, especially if you’re traveling abroad. You may want to purchase additional travel insurance to cover medical expenses and/or evacuation in case of emergency. Keep several copies of the policy with your belongings (like the passport copies, one copy per bag is a good rule of thumb), and be sure to save all paperwork from your hospital visit to ensure your claim is properly handled.

6. Road Accidents

If you’re planning on driving during your vacation, some pre-arrival research can ensure peace of mind.

“There are now international standards for many road rules—this certainly helps you make sense of signage,” says Kingaby. “However, spend some time to research what local rules are and what the environment is like. For example, in some parts of Australia, the huge distances between towns means that it’s vital to take water, fuel, and food in case you break down. If you’re going to a snowy region, find out if you need to take chains for the tires.

“For more detailed information, the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) offers regularly updated road reports for approximately 150 countries,” Kingaby continues. “Available via email or download (fees apply), each report covers general road conditions, local driving style, and the realities of dealing with the police, public transportation, and emergency situations.”

If you’re renting a car, don’t hesitate to solicit local advice. “If it’s a major rental car company and they rent to a lot of foreigners, ask about problems other people have had,” says Reid. “Is insurance included? What does insurance cover? If you thought your insurance covers you and [it] doesn’t, do you need extra insurance?”

Before taking the car out of the lot, do a safety check. “Ensure that the car has properly equipped seat belts and also check the tires, headlights, and wipers,” says Kingaby. “Always wear your seat belt or motorbike helmet, take regular breaks, [and] obey the speed limit.”

“Know that there are different rules that can be hard to imagine [in regard to] traffic, speed traps, [and] difficult roads,” says Reid. “Ask [locals] about the rules and common problems.”

7. Hotel Safety Issues

Simply put, some hotels are safer than others. If you get a bad vibe about a certain property, listen to your intuition and find a new place to stay. The inconvenience of finding a new hotel can greatly outweigh the hassles of stolen property or threatened personal safety.

“When picking a place to rest your head, follow my $50 rule,” says Weed. “Don’t stay at a motel that costs less than $50 per night. That usually indicates that it’s way too discount, and security probably isn’t the highest priority.

“Once you have selected where you will stay, try to get a room that is close to the elevator or stairs and is between the second and sixth floors,” Weed continues. “Avoiding the ground floor makes it harder for intruders to break in and staying below the seventh floor makes fire truck ladders able to reach you in case a blaze breaks out.”

When checking in, if the hotel clerk says your room number out loud for other patrons to hear, feel free to request a different room and ask him or her to simply write the number down for you to read. Once in your room, use common sense—ensure the locks work, don’t let in strangers, and keep a low profile.

8. Violent Crime

In the cases of violent crime such as assault, kidnapping, or carjacking, keeping your wits about you may be the difference between life and death. In any new and unfamiliar situation, be on your guard to determine any potential dangers.

“If you get a bad feeling about someone the instant you meet him, honor it,” says Weed. “Make a mental note not to be alone with him or trust him for anything (including buying you a drink). Staying with your group of friends is important. If someone is giving you the creeps, surround yourself with good friends and stick with the group religiously.”

“Scream to draw attention,” says Kingaby. “If they want money, it’s better to give it away than risk personal safety. Don’t ask ‘is that a real gun,’ ‘will he really use that knife?’.

“Once it’s over, make sure you won’t get assaulted again by going to a safe location,” Kingaby continues. “Take mental notes about the incident and attacker. If insured, contact your emergency services provider ASAP to find appropriate medical assistance. Talk to your embassy, which can help with interpreter services, [and] provide lists of doctors and medical facilities. Decide whether to report the assault to the police—it’s your choice. If you do, it’s important to act quickly to gather any forensic evidence. Insist on getting a copy of the police report.”

“Talk to your consulate right away and get advice from them,” says Reid. “Follow calls to action there, particularly if it’s something serious.”

“Get in touch with people at home, as this kind of incident is very stressful,” says Kingaby. “Talking with familiar people is comforting.”

9. Public Transportation Snafus

Being well-informed can make the difference between getting pickpocketed on the subway or bus or coming away with all your belongings intact and secure.

“Research where you’re going,” says Kingaby. “A public bus in Sydney is a different experience [from] a public bus in Mumbai or rural Cambodia. The road traffic rules or lack of them are an issue in many developing countries—taking a train might be safer than a local bus.

“Consider when you’re traveling,” Kingaby continues. “If it’s at night, you might not want to travel alone on public transport.”

“Sometimes you’re really packed in, people are coming and going, so you can feel a little more vulnerable,” says Reid. “I use my inside pockets a lot. Try not to pack too much stuff and keep it a little closer while on public transportation.”

10. Boating and Watersports Safety

Sun, surf, and … possible danger? An area where you might forget to use caution is out sailing, snorkeling, or diving, but here, too, it’s important to stay alert, sober, and aware of your surroundings. Most important, ensure that the company with which you book any excursion is reputable.

“Are the companies certified? Have they been around awhile?” says Reid. “Some of the dive and snorkel companies that have been around for 15 years might charge 25 percent more, but maybe it’s worth it, when you’re going way out to sea, using tanks, diving. It may not be the best place to look for the cheapest deal.

“I was on a snorkel trip in Vietnam and there were a number of options that were cheap trips,” Reid continues. “On one of those cheap trips, they accidentally left someone behind and had to go back and pick them up … At a UNESCO site, one of the cheapest dive excursion companies went out with a ship that had a hole in it. The travelers were stuck and had to be saved, and they [had been] floating for a number of hours in open water. Everyone was fine, but it was very traumatic for them. Sometimes cheaper means the standards are lower.”

If you’re staying at a resort, talk to fellow travelers to see if they have recently taken any excursions. If so, what were their experiences? Did they pay extra and get better service? Ask about certifications, reputability, and safety records. It’s better to put in legwork beforehand than to be unpleasantly surprised later.

The post 10 Travel Safety Mishaps and How to Avoid Them appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Trafalgar

Trafalgar caters to the over 55-70 crowd and does it well, with over 50,000 5-star reviews to vouch for customer happiness. 

In 2021, Trafalgar implemented a three-step COVID-19 travel protocol. These new measures add a dedicated Wellbeing Director to trips of 21 or more, increase distancing and hygiene protocols, and feature well-thought out incident response plans.

All of Trafalgar’s tours can be booked with just a $200 deposit, and can be cancelled within 30 days of booking for a full refund. Trips can also be changed up to 30 days before your trip without penalty. 

Tours are offered across all seven continents, and there are themed tours to suit almost any interest—including national park tours, religious tours, and battlefield tours.

Road Scholar

Formerly known as Elderhostel, Road Scholar offers over 5,500 “learning adventures” across 150 countries that are targeted for travelers aged 50 and up. Tours are grouped by interest (like birding, art history, or opera), destination, and activity level.

Activity levels range from “easy going” to “let’s go” to help you pick the tour that will best suit your needs.

All of Road Scholar’s trips focus on learning and value. As a not-for-profit organization, Road Scholar promises that their tours save an average of 20 percent per night to comparable commercial trips. 

Senior Cycling

Looking to explore by bike with your fellow seniors? Senior Cycling, whose motto is “fun folks on spokes” specializes in bicycle tours for seniors and active adults, defined by the company as “50 years of age or better.”

These small group tours around the United States and Canada are limited to just 13 participants, and include options for easy, intermediate, and advanced rides. Regular bikes or class one “pedal assist only” eBikes are permitted on the trips.

Insight Vacations

Prefer to travel at your own pace? Insight Vacations offers “Easy Pace” group tours that feature 3-night minimum stays at each hotel, plenty of free time, and “relaxed starts” in the morning. 

Or, go the opposite direction with one of Insight Vacations’ Discovery Journeys, which showcase multiple countries in one itinerary—think: Italy, Paris, and Switzerland in nine days. 

Trips are easily sorted by activity levels (which range from “leisurely” to “dynamic”) to help you find the one that’s best for you.

Luxury Gold

Luxury Gold’s tours live up to the company’s name, offering five-star accommodations, unique VIP Experiences (like an after-hours visit to the Temple of Luxor), and fine dining experiences at a Michelin star restaurant or equivalent. The average travelers on their tours are aged between 45-80.

Group sizes are limited to 28 guests on most trips, but small group departures of just 15 guests are also available. Or, if you already have your own group, Luxury Gold can make your own private group tour tailored to your interests. 

The post The Best Tour Groups for Seniors appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: Save these ideas for when it’s safe to travel again, and always follow all COVID-19 restrictions, rules and safety regulations both at your destination and upon returning home.

The Las Vegas Strip Isn’t Actually in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip is a paradise for many. In actuality, the Las Vegas Strip is in Paradise.

Most of the 4.2-mile Las Vegas Strip (a drag that includes popular Las Vegas hotels like MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, and Wynn Las Vegas) is actually in the neighboring town of Paradise.

Sex Work is Illegal in Las Vegas

Despite the many signs promoting the sex industry in Las Vegas, sex work is in fact prohibited in Sin City and the rest of Clark County.

It isn’t only illegal in Las Vegas, it’s also banned in Nevada’s other major city, Reno. Cities in other Nevada counties, however, permit sex work.

Las Vegas Hotels – 150,000 of Them!

There are 147,238 Las Vegas hotel rooms, according to figures supplied by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The average nightly room rate is currently $129.

With those figures and without inflation, it’ll take a Las Vegas aficionado nearly 404 years and $19 million to stay in every Las Vegas hotel room.

Las Vegas Casinos Swap Competing Casino Chips

For those feeling a hot streak coming on while at Caesars Palace but who have only a pocketful of MGM Grand chips, fret not–it’s likely the house will take your “foreign chips” just the same.

While most Las Vegas casino hotels will swap out competitors’ casino chips, this privilege is only honored in Nevada.

Las Vegas: Bright Lights, Big City

An icon on the Las Vegas Strip, the Luxor Light Beam at the Luxor Las Vegas is now operating at only half-strength from what it illuminated in its 1993 debut. Not that this distinction is visible to the naked eye.

Arguably the brightest light beam on Earth, it’s said that the beacon is visible from as far as 100 miles away.

The House Wins; Powerball Players, Not So Much

You’ll catch nary a sight of a Powerball or scratch ticket in the self-proclaimed Gambling Capital of the World. Why? Despite legalizing casino gaming in 1931, the sale of lottery tickets is still prohibited in the state of Nevada.

You Can Get Married Pretty Much Anywhere in Las Vegas

A stack of flapjacks and a quickie wedding may both sound like great ideas after a night of partying in Las Vegas. Luckily, the breakfast food chain diner Denny’s offers spontaneous couples a side of nuptials with their Grand Slams.

At $199, the wedding package includes a wedding officiant, use of the diner’s chapel, a pancake wedding cake, a Champagne toast, and two breakfasts.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 7 Best Las Vegas Day Trips
• What to Wear in Las Vegas
• 10 Things That Need to Be On Your Las Vegas Packing List

The post 7 Crazy Las Vegas Facts That Will Surprise You appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: Save these ideas for when it’s safe to travel again, and always follow all COVID-19 restrictions, rules and safety regulations both at your destination and upon returning home. 

Cozumel

With most cruise ship schedules on hold until at least April 2021, the second busiest cruise destination in the world is attempting to fill up its hotels by offering rooms at up to 30 percent lower than normal. The lush Mexican Caribbean island is fringed by excellent snorkeling sites and the ruins of a Maya temple is tucked away in the heart of it.

If you have a few extra hours to spare, you can save even more money by flying to Cancun airport rather than Cozumel airport, then taking a luxury ADO bus ($15) from the airport to Playa del Carmen (65 minutes), where you can hop on a fast ferry to Cozumel ($14 Tourist Ticket, 20 minutes).

Where to stay: The Explorean Cozumel is an affordable choice (often with big discounts on rooms), and with food and beverages included in the rates, it’s a steal. 

Honduras

Having been battered by two back-to-back hurricanes in 2020, Honduras is facing a long recovery period and so is very keen to see tourist dollars flowing back in. This is a destination where you get a lot of value for money at the best of times, with four-star rooms for under $100. But some Honduras hotels are offering excellent deals in 2021 including up to 20 percent off regular rates.

Tourism hubs like Roatan island (40 miles off the mainland) offer beautiful beaches, coral reefs, sloth tours and rum tastings.

Where to stay: Check out Paradise Beach Hotel’s cute clusters of guestrooms, villas and suites on the beachfront, surrounded by palm trees and pools. The hotel frequently offers discounts and cheap packages.   

Cabo Verde

‘Done’ the Caribbean and want to see something new? Then Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) could be your next big adventure. According to a recent report, Cabo Verde is eager to entice travelers after being hit hard by a drop in tourism last year. If you’re working remotely or looking for a long stay trip, you’re in luck – they’ve launched new work visas that allow you to stay for up to six months.

But whether you’re heading to Cabo Verde for six months or six nights, you’ll easily find accommodation for under $100 a night. Turquoise lagoons and creole culture await you on these ten volcanic islands. Head to Boa Vista island (Portuguese for ‘good view’) for laid-back vibes and pristine golden sands.

Where to stay: Some of the hotels are closed until more tourists venture back but things are starting to pick up. Ouril Hotel Agueda is a solid three-star hotel near the sea with a rooftop bar. Rooms are under $100 a night and currently there’s 25 percent off.

Grenada

Recently Grenada has totally revamped its tourism framework “to competitively position Grenada with target audiences”.  That’s good news for bargain-hunters and those who appreciate natural attractions such as white sand beaches, waterfalls and reefs will love it. The islands are also famous for their spices, so spice tours should also be added to any foodies’ Grenada bucket list. 

The tourist board has launched a heap of deals and incentives, including discounts on rum tours, spa day passes, outdoor adventures and scuba diving experiences.

Where to stay: Check out the three-star Sea Breeze Hotel for a simple affordable option (under $80/night) just four minutes’ walk from the beach  

Thailand

You can usually get the best deals on flights to Thailand by booking at least one month in advance, but this year many routes are almost half price if you use a bargain flight site to book, such as CheapOair. Once you’ve grabbed a flight deal, you’ll find everything in Thailand is incredibly cheap.

For blissful beach vibes, fly to Koh Samui or Phuket, or if jungle is your thing, head to Chiang Mai. If you’ve seen The Beach, the filming location, Phi Phi Lei (scheduled to reopen this year after extensive conservation works) is a must-see. You can’t stay on this protected island, but you can book a trip/hire a taxi boat to take you there from Phi Phi Don, Krabi, Ao Nang or any of the other neighboring tourism hotspots.  

Where to stay: On Koh Phi Phi Don (‘Big Phi Phi Island) try the contemporary Thai three-star, Phi Phi Island Cabana Resort, with excellent views of the beach and sublime limestone cliffs for around $60 per night.

The Maldives

This Indian Ocean archipelago has a reputation for sky-high prices but don’t let that put you off. “Many resorts have slashed prices by as much as 30 to 60 percent and some resort brands, such as Villa Hotels, are also offering extra perks like upgrades and kids stay free, to attract more visitors”, explains Maldives travel specialist, Liswith Obinamuni, of Desti Asia.

You can now bag a three-star Maldives private island resort for as little as $137 per night, while airlines such as Qatar are tempting travelers with unlimited date changes, fee-free refunds and special online fares. Visit during the (surprisingly light) rainy season, May to September, for even lower rates.

To save even more cash, check out for this lesser-known option: Hotel rooms located in island villages (known locally as ‘guesthouses’, but more like boutique hotels) start at $50 per night. Take a public ferry to your island for just $3-5 (compared to $200 for resort transfers) and eat at local restaurants for under $10/meal. 

Where to stay: The new Amaya Kuda Rah four-star private island resort is currently 51 percent cheaper than normal. It’s located in South Ari Atoll, which has some of the best scuba diving in the country.

Dominican Republic

With US airlines expanding their routes to the Domincan Republic, you can expect a slew of deals to follow. American Airlines is launching a new route on June 5 from Charlotte, NC, to El Catey, while budget operator, Spirit Airlines, has just launched routes between Orlando, FL, and Punta Cana. Not to be left out, Frontier Airlines is increasing the number of flights it offers between Miami and Punta Cana from March.  

While the tropical nation is known for its beaches, golf courses and resorts, it also has rainforests, savannah and highlands (including Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain in the Caribbean) to tempt outdoor adventurers, as well as 500-year old Spanish landmarks like the gothic cathedral in Santo Domingo. 

Where to stay: Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana is a great option for an affordable but upscale beachfront resort, with frequent discounts, a huge beach and attractive freeform pools for lazy lounging. 

Dominica

This lush island is consistently rated as one of the Caribbean’s most affordable destinations. Despite being a popular pitstop for cruise ships (during normal conditions) and having featured in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, Dominica has not been ruined by over-tourism. In the untouched interior, over 350 waterfalls and rivers surrounded by thick jungle beckons hikers, rock climbers and kayakers. 

But those who enjoy a slower pace of life will love the eco cottages, boutique hotels and private villas (in contrast to the big flashy resorts of other Caribbean islands). The golden beaches are framed by soaring cliffs and mountains rather than high-rise hotels. 

Where to stay:  Simple, friendly and for under $60/night, Soufriere Guesthouse ticks a lot of boxes for good value budget accommodation. It’s in easy reach of diving and snorkeling sites, as well as hiking trails. 

Guatemala

Jetblue is another budget airline launching low-cost flights to a new tropical destination this year. The new routes will link Boston, LA and New York City with Guatemala City. 

This more under-the-radar tropical destination has oodles to offer – from beaches and lakes to volcanoes, jungle and Maya ruins. And there’s even more good news. Major international hotel brands such as Hilton and Hyatt have rooms in Guatemala City for around $100 per night, or less. Accomodation rates on the coast are often at an even lower price-point.

Where to stay: Head to Izabal department for manatees, beaches and rivers. Discover the adorable coconut-thatch villas of Nanajuana Río Dulce, between the rainforest and the river. It even has its own marina – but rooms are less than $70 per night.   

Quintana Roo

This state on the Yucatan Peninsula, where the South Atlantic turns into the Caribbean Sea, always has plenty of affordable accommodation options and is served by many low-cost flights from the US. But in 2021, even more deals abound than normal. Lizzie Cole of the Quintana Roo Consejo de Promoción Turística tells us: “The hotels have implemented different strategies, some offering special packages at better rates, kids-stay-free promotions and others even adding a complimentary night,” in Quintana Roo’s major tourism hubs including Costa Mujeres, Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Due to these promotions, travelers are booking even longer stays than they normally do, she adds. 

Highlights of the ‘Mexican Caribbean’ include world-class dive sites, white sand beaches, the ruins of Maya temples, mystical cenotes and quality adventure parks.

Where to stay: The all-inclusive beachfront Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya with nine pools and a slow-river is one of the many hotels in the region with sizzling deals, and being all-inclusive you’ll save even more cash.   

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