Sailing on the Cheap

Going on a cruise can be downright expensive, but here are some tips to make it more affordable for you:

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• Sail on big ships. The bigger the ship, the more cabins to fill and the more deals to be found. Think of it as Las Vegas on the ocean. Those huge hotels have so many rooms to fill that even with some of them going for half price the regular rate, they are still making a ton of money...at least much more than they would make if those rooms were empty.
• Turn to Cruise Critic if you have ANY kind of questions about cruising or ships. They tell you everything from how to pick the right cabin for you to what kind of entertainment you'll look forward to on each ship. I love reading all the cruiser reviews of the ship I'll be sailing on and what they thought was good and not so good, plus what they thought of the excursions that were offered. Sadly, I also found more information on my ship here than I did on the actual cruiseline's website.

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•  Get the most out of your cruise, by not spending the whole time laying around by the pool. Your rate is mostly-inclusive, so the more you do, the further your money goes. See the shows, play mini-golf, go to the clubs and use the workout room. If it's included, try it out. You need to work off your buffet meals somehow. Besides, you went on vacation to see and do new things...and you can sit at home for free!
• Did you know that cabins located on different decks on cruise ships have different prices even though the room is exactly the same? You could save hundreds of pounds by just moving up or down a "floor"! Make sure you price compare cabins before making your final decision.
• Cruise in the off-season instead of peak times. There may be fewer choices of cruises to your desired destination, but there will also be fewer travelers, which means lower prices and less crowded ships. You might also be able to get some extra perks by booking when the cruise companies are not as busy and really want to fill cabins. Everyone likes freebies, like spa credits and drink coupons.

What are some of your tips for cruising on the cheap?

New Things to Do in New Forest

Shakespeare’s play As You Like It takes place primarily in the Forest of Arden. When I think of New Forest, I feel like it must have the same atmosphere. Where those that want to get away from it all go to camp under the stars among the social outcasts, the trees and wildlife. I am aware that it’s probably not at all like the play, but in many ways, it actually is. Obviously, New Forest is a place to relax and get away from it all. You aren’t forced to camp or defend yourself from wild animals though.

Things to do for every budget and plenty to do for those who wish to save:

• Cycling
• Hiking
• Canoeing

• Gardens
• Beaulieu Gardens – Explore the lush gardens, palace house, abbey, motor museum and more for £19/11.25 or £49.75 for a family. The palace was home to the Montagu family and also includes an on-site vineyard.
• Lepe Country Park – Bring your swimsuit and towel to take advantage of over one mile of beach with amazing views. There is also a play area for the kids, D-Day remains and picnic facilities. Admission to the park is free.
• Braxton Gardens – Free to enter, the gardens feature over 450 roses in 100 varieties, a gift shop and tea rooms.

• Animals
• Liberty’s Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre – Marvel at a huge assortment of birds of prey and amazing reptiles. This is a great outing for little ones, because it is educational and fun. Admission is £7.95/£4.95.
• Longdown Activity Farm – Another fab activity for kids and adults alike. Get up close and personal with friendly farm animals, where you might get to bottle feed goats or calves. There are also indoor play areas and the farm shop where you can load up on fresh local foods, including meat and dairy products to take back and prepare in your holiday rental. Get in for just £7.95/£6.95.
• Marwell Wildlife – This zoo is over 140 acres and houses more than 250 exotic and endangered species, like giraffe-nosed catfishes and bat-eared foxes. Admission costs depend on the time of year: £14-18/£10-14.
• New Forest Tour Bus  – Want to see all of New Forest without having to hike there? The hop-on, hop-off bus runs two separate routes that can take you all over to experience all New Forest has to offer. Choose from 1, 2 or 5 day passes starting at £10/£4.

• Museums
• Ringwood Town and Country Experience – Vintage cars, a replica railway platform, olde shops and a smuggler’s display. This is sure to be a fun museum for everyone in the family. £12.50 for your whole family, or £4.75/£3.95 for adults and children.
• Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum – Love to jump on a bike and feel the wind in your hair? With over 350 motorcycles on display, you’re bound to be in “hog” heaven. There are also tea rooms and shops on-site. Get in for just £6.90/£3.
• St. Barbe Museum and Gallery – Learn about the people and culture of the New Forest coast through hands-on displays, talks, workshops and more, then head to the gift shop and the art galleries. Affordable entry fees at £4/£2 or £10 for a family of six.

Have you ever gone to New Forest?

Life Aboard a Real Warship

If you’re like me, you often wonder what it’s like inside those big ships you see on the river. What do the kitchens look like? Where do crewmen sleep? What do they do for fun…if they have any onboard? Well, you can learn about all these things and more if you take a trip aboard the HMS Belfast on the Thames. See the ins and outs of crew life and hear about incredible stories of those that served its nine decks. It’s not often you get a chance to climb aboard a real warship. Though no longer in active service, the ship is an amazing piece of history and is the last remaining vessel of its kind.

Each tour admission includes an audio guide to help you navigate through the ship and learn everything you can, from how it was to eat in the mess hall to what it was like working in the engine room. There are recreations in every part of the ship, so you can see what it was really like. It is one of the most unique experiences you can find along the Thames.

A trip aboard the HMS Belfast comes complete with access to the Walrus Café and the gift shop, where you can find everything you could possibly want to remember your tour, including books, CDs, clothing, toys and souvenirs. You could easily spend several hours on the ship, listening to commentary, speaking to the crew on board, and enjoying seeing things like the chapel, the library and the medic facilities. I was truly fascinated by it all and we even caught a rare glimpse of Tower Bridge rising for a passing ship. Entry fees are very affordable at £14.00 for adults 16 and over. Under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. If you are a member of the Imperial War Museums Friend program, your admission is free.

Discover Your Destination by “Treasure Map”

If you’re into finding non-traditional shops and dining while on holiday and having a great time doing it, then HiddenCity might be for you. Turn your holiday into a scavenger hunt, by signing up for a hunt and getting clues by text message. Your whole travel group can be a team or you can break up into smaller teams to be more competitive. Hunts cost just £16 per team/phone and are available for Brighton, London, Manchester, Newcastle and York. You can see more of each city by engaging in a hunt or even learn more about your own neighborhood with a variety of hunts for each city.

Each hunt has between 8 and 22 clues and can range from 2 to 4 hours. Solve the clues to get the next clue and get to your final destination and learn about awesome places that you may not find on your own when you visit. Get an answer incorrect? Incur a time penalty. Get a hint in addition for a short time penalty. HiddenCity is a fun way to sightsee and interact with the locals, too. You won’t find a more engaging way to explore a city. It’s a perfect way to make any holiday in the UK more exciting, especially when you have kids, because it will help them learn about your destination, while also having a great time.

HiddenCity locations are easy to walk to and free to enter, so you won’t have to pay more than your initial £16/team and any text message fees. Make sure to wear your best walking shoes. You don’t have a time limit to complete your hunt either, so if you want to hang around a location and get a pint or have a look around, you are free to do so at your leisure. Of course, if you’re in competition with another team, you may want to finish and come back to it after you win. Think someone you know might like to participate in a hunt? Buy them a HiddenCity gift voucher!

Travelling can be expensive, but as I’ve shown you before, there are many ways to cut costs and go on great holidays for less. One of the easiest ways to do this is by seeking out all-inclusive resorts that bundle all your meals, entertainment, lodging and, if you’re lucky, airfare into one manageable package. You know exactly how much you’ve paid and any leftover money in your budget can be put toward activities that aren’t included in your rate, like shopping and other things you want to do off-site. While some websites claim that an all-inclusive is cheaper than you could book on your own, it’s not always true, but if you do the math to see what it is per night per person, you may find that if you book separately, you would never be able to go for so cheap. 

Some of the best deals on holidays can be found on all-inclusive holiday sites geared toward travellers from the UK. You can find 3-, 4- and 5-star resorts that have packages to fit every budget. Choose your own dates and stay between 1 day and 3 weeks! Look at the offers of the week and find great holidays starting around £250 per person, including resort stay, round-trip airfare, meals, drinks and more. Most resorts are beachfront or very close to the shore, so you can splash around in the surf, too. If the ocean isn’t for you, all resorts have beautiful swimming pools that are perfect for everyone in your travel party. You also have the possibility of shopping at nearby, off-site stores at many resorts, so you don’t feel as if you are trapped on the premises. 

All-inclusive holidays are great for those travelling as a family and take the guesswork out of researching an entire trip to figure out if you can even afford to go. You will know right up front what the total of your holiday will be, including delicious multi-course meals that you may not have been able to find the money for otherwise. Isn’t that better than bringing your own food or eating at cheap restaurants that have a drive-thru the entire time you are away? The whole family will have so much to do; whether you travel for two weeks or just have time for a weekend break. Take the hassle out of holiday planning and just kick back and relax. Destinations vary widely and you will find something to everyone’s liking, whether you wish to holiday in the Canary Islands, Egypt or Cancun. Not only will you have amazing locales to choose from, but you’ll also enjoy amazing views when you get there.

  

Pricing and reviews can be found on many of the easy-to-use websites. A deposit often is required for booking, with the balance of your holiday costs due prior to your departure. Now, after finding your travel destination, all you need to do is pack your bags and be the hero of the family, because you saved so much money. You don’t need to tell them how easy it was!

Your Passport to Budget Dublin

If you've been planning a visit to Ireland for years and have finally been able to make the dream a reality? If that's the truth, then you probably want to do as much as you can while you're there. I am a big fan of city passes, as they enable you to do a wide range of activities and see things you may not have considered before, or even heard of, like Casino, Marino or the Dublin Writer's Museum.

Get yourself a Dublin Pass. Not only is it a great deal if you plan to do a fair amount of sightseeing on the Emerald Isle, but it also it lets you skip the queues at the ticket booths. Your Dublin pass comes with an airport-city center transfer, entrance to over 30 top attractions, the Croke Park Experience (for those of you who are sports lovers), discounts on dining, shopping, and more, as well as unlimited public transportation! Purchase online before you go to save 20% off. Your Dublin pass is valid for 12 months from purchase and “activates” upon your first use.

Christ Church Cathedral

Choose from 1, 2, 3 and 6 day passes, each of which comes with a handy little guide book that gives you more details about each of the 34 attractions included with your pass and directions on how to get there. Convenient! Even more convenient, you can pick up your passes at the airport, the Tourist Centre on Suffolk Street or have them sent to you by post. You'll save so much, you might learn a jig just to celebrate.