Bucket List Vacations
Whether you are taking advantage of a break from school, looking for a quick getaway on a dime, building a business and finding it hard to get time away, or retired, there is something for everyone, in every season of life, who likes to take a vacation.
I'm Tifney Fields, and this list is a compilation of some favorites from past travels. Before earning my master's in public relations, I spend several years in the travel industry and acquired a travel and tourism degree. Over the last fifty years, I have spent a lot of time traveling extensively in the US and abroad. Below you will also find some of my creative strategies for saving while traveling.
The first one to consider is an Alaskan Cruise. If you don't think about traveling to a frozen tundra once winter is finally over, you are not alone. However, it would be a miss to not include this in your bucket list of travel.
Holland America has smaller ships that accommodate fewer guests (which means shorter lines at the buffet) and fit into the smaller glacier inlets. As the cruise ship sails through these walls of glistening wonder, you are able to sit cozy in library-type settings with a hot cup of your favorite beverage and admire the sights.
If you are adventurous and bundled up, you can walk endless laps on the outside deck, whilst taking photos of the spectacular views.
It's a cruise that you can enjoy on any budget, as they have a variety of room types available, you can drive to Seattle for departure if you want to save on airfare and opt to walk around the beautiful Alaskan/Canadian ports of call instead of spending money on excursions. Of course, all of your meals are included in the price of your ticket and onboard activities are endless.
The next to consider is Air B&B's OMG tab.
Have you ever thought about staying the night in a treehouse, lighthouse, hobbit hole, pod, igloo, container house, silo, military bunker, greenhouse, or converted train? If not, you should, because you can!
Some of the most "normal" rural locations in the United States and abroad can offer a unique opportunity for new life experiences and offer much more than just a place to sleep.
Download the Air B&B app. Scroll across the top menu bar and find "OMG".
Click on it and search your country, region, state, or specific city to see what is out there.
If you know you want to get away but don't have a location in mind, this is a great way to try someplace new. You will be amazed at the creative ideas for adding a little pizzazz to a quick trip. Be sure to check out Scotland (and other international locations) for some amazing castles too.
If you are a vacationer that tends to avoid cruising due to the masses of people onboard, the mediocre food, loads of spring breakers, and the lack of refinement, please stay with me.
The cruise experience on Regent Seven Seas has been described by European travel magazines as "redefining cruising." This cruise is one to save up for, as it is more costly than a typical cruise experience but it is worth every penny.
Some of the highlights include all suites, butlers available, Le Cordon Bleu dining, unknown ports of call with little to no tourism, and bus tours to refined locations like The Guggenheim. The average age of cruisers is sixty so this is perfect for retirement, yet offers a quiet alternative for honeymoons, anniversaries, and other celebrations.
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Travel Savings Ideas
These are four key ideas to streamline your travel planning, aid you in acquiring the best rates possible, and give you some added perks and benefits while traveling.
AARP membership.
Did you know it's available to anyone, at any age? It's dedicated to resources for people over fifty, however, anyone can be a member and tap into their discounts.
Use the APP! Any time a company has an app available for travel, it is worth a download. Set up your profile and login for easy access to all of your travel plans, instant availability, and details that are not always available on their website (and for heaven's sake, avoid calling them!) If you do need assistance, these apps tend to have direct links to chat with a representative, which is faster and often links directly to your reservation.
Use the same hotel, airline, car rental, and cruise line to amass points to redeem for additional travel, as well as gain elevated status with frequent their travel programs.
Some of these programs give you free perks, like upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, free breakfast, hospitality hours, front door parking, early boarding, express check-in, and more. Research each hotel, airline, cruise line, and car rental to determine your preferred brand.
Use a credit card with travel protection built in. A favorite among travelers is the American Express Platinum card. Yes, it has a $700 annual fee, which tends to send most people running for a no-annual-fee card, however, the benefits offered may potentially offset the cost of the annual fee” to make it not sound like a guarantee.
Our traveler kept a record of expenses saved by using this card for one year and even without business travel, in the first year, saved over four times the annual fee in benefits.
They have a plethora of cardholder benefits that more than make up for the annual fee. These include (but are not limited to) $200 airline credit for incidentals, reimbursement for CLEAR Plus membership and TSA PreCheck®, $200 AMEX travel hotel credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, Hilton Gold Status, Marriott Gold Elite Status and so much more! Click here to find out details.
BBQ Recipe
Looking to hone your BBQ skills for summer? Here are some tips for grilling to take your skills to the next level.
- Preheat the grill to medium, making sure to have consistent heat on all sections.
- Brush the grate with oil (do not use spray, as it is flammable)
- BBQ meat on the grill for about 15 minutes to cook internally before adding sauces.
- Cook for approximately twenty minutes more, reapplying sauce every five minutes. Cooking times will increase for pork and poultry, and possibly reduce for varied temperatures of beef.
- Don't forget your veggies! Adding aluminum foil to one section will allow you to cook directly on the grates. You can also cook on a baking sheet, which is a great way to keep kebobs together and even out the cooking time.
Have a great summer and "Grill it up!"