Blog Posts by Budget Travel

From choosing the ideal destination to deciding how to divvy up costs, consider this your go-to guide for planning a more-perfect reunion.

By Brad Tuttle | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to our newsletter | Photo: A family reunion at Black Bear Mountain (Courtesy chicagogirl/myBudgetTravel)
How in the world do we decide where to go?
As with all things family, the key word is compromise. The goal is to find a place that will make 15 or (Lord help you) 50 very different people happy. First step: Include everyone. Throw out 10 possibilities in a group e-mail, rank them, and see what rises to the top. That's your winner. Second step: Keep your eyes on the prize. This is a reunion, and the best destinations have broad appeal (see eight of our suggestions on the following page). A range of activities and distractions (golf, spas, hiking) is essential; the toddlers aren't going to want to play 18 holes every day, and Aunt Myrtle probably isn't up for scaling a rock face. The best

If the Department of Transportation OKs the requests of one small no-frills airline, the answer will be yes.

Posted by: Brad Tuttle | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to our newsletter | Photo: Rush hour at LaGuardia (Courtesy photochan/myBudgetTravel)

Allegiant Air, a 12-year-old carrier we've written about from time to time, is requesting the right to sell plane tickets that could fluctuate in price based on the rise or fall of oil prices. Normally, a ticket price is locked in from the moment a passenger books a flight. Now, Allegiant wants to be allowed to offer tickets that would be cheaper than the "locked-in" price, but in which passengers could be charged more (or less, in theory) if oil prices change between the time of booking and actual departure.

• Related: Get Money Back When Fares Drop

Allegiant's proposal surfaced earlier this week on Christopher Elliott's blog, which links to the airline's request to the DOT. Here's a passage from the letter

A fruity rum drink is calling your name from the deck of a catamaran. Consider this your step-by-step, island-by-island guide to fun on the high seas.

By Melinda Page | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to our newsletter | Photo: Chatham Bay on Union Island (José Mandojana)

These sub-drenched photos will inspire you to plot your own island escape. Click here for the slide show.

Warm waters, sheltered coves, consistent winds, and a seemingly endless array of islands-the Caribbean was made to be sailed. But that doesn't mean all parts were created equal, which is why sailors tend to gravitate to five regions: the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Each has its draws. The Virgins, for example, have the best sailing infrastructure (most charters, well-defined routes and moorings), but that means the islands can be over-crowded in high season (December to mid April). On the flip side, Grenada and St. Lucia are less

We love the Oscars as much as the next guy, but there's no adventure in watching movies from your couch. That's why we've rounded up ten films that will make you want to get out of the house, hop a flight, and see the world.

By Budget Travel Staff | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to our newsletter | Photo: Courtesy Peter Mountain/Sony Pictures Entertainment/GK LLC, 2010.

Click here to view the slide show of the must-see images that inspired us in this 10-film journey around the world.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may have winnowed all the films of 2010 down to the ten best, but our own Academy of Trips and Bargains has put together a list of its own. These ten movies showcase some of the most travel-worthy spots around the globe, from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the natural tranquility of Bali. And should these films sufficiently inspire you, we've made planning a vacation easier by including flight prices (for June and July-an ideal

Crashing with family or friends? Etiquette experts share 13 tips on the delicate art of mooching so that you can be the perfect houseguest-you know, the kind that hosts invite back.

By Brad Tuttle | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to our newsletter

Finesse an Invite
Sue Fox author of Etiquette for Dummies, suggests a subtle approach to feel out whether a family member might be up for hosting you. You could start by asking, "Gee, when I'm in town, maybe I can come by? Can you suggest any hotels in the area?"

"It's not OK to hint that you should be invited to spend the night," says Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of etiquette authority Emily Post and author of lifestyle guide How Do You Work This Life Thing? "But it can happen through conversation. You might call a friend and say, 'Hey, we're coming through town and we'd really love to see you. Could we get together?' Then, leave it up to them to take the next step. Don't get upset if they're not rolling out the

By Michelle Baran | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to
our newsletter | Photo: Christchurch earthquake (Courtesy Bernzfotos/Flickr)

If you're gearing up for a trip to New Zealand, reports about a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the country's second largest city of Christchurch on Tuesday may have you concerned about whether now is the best time to go.

Here are some facts to consider:

Indeed, a state of national emergency has been declared in Christchurch and some 75 people are considered dead, according to news reports. However, the state of emergency does not have any direct impact on other areas of New Zealand, according to Tourism New Zealand.

• Related: New Zealand Unveils a New Hiking Trail

Considerable damage has been reported in Christchurch's central business district and in Lyttelton, a town just outside of Christchurch, according to the country's ministry of civil defense and emergency management.

Not surprisingly, given the

By Michelle Baran | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to
our newsletter | Photo: British Airways aircraft (British Airways)

There's a theory that once the airfare surpasses the price of the land portion of a trip, travelers will opt out of said trip. Whether or not that's true, tour operators and vacation packagers are worried that increasing airfares, spurred by improving demand and surging fuel costs, will give travelers a sticker shock that will make them think twice about that vacation to Italy, Hawaii, or farther afield.

One way to avoid that, they say, is for travelers to trade in the last-minute, price-shopping that may have worked at the height of the recession for a book-sooner-rather-than-later strategy.

"We have a 'perfect storm' in 2011 of reduced capacity and much higher demand, and this is leading to airlines operating very profitably on those routes and they have all declared clearly that they will not be increasing capacity in 2011," said Paul Wiseman,

Experienced solo travelers share some tips for doing it right.

By Heather Eng | For more money-saving tips, subscribe to
our newsletter

PACKING "If it's your first time traveling alone, remember that you'll be carrying your own bags. Pack stuff that can do double duty: I've used a velour dress as a towel but also dressed it up with a blouse and belt to dine out." --Diane Redfern, founder of Connecting: Solo Travel Network

APPROACHABILITY "You may not meet people if you're listening to an iPod. So many people have started a conversation while I was reading or sitting alone. But they wouldn't have done that if I were plugged into an iPod." --Doug Lansky, The Rough Guide: First-Time Around the World

• Related: Ask Trip Coach About Solo Travel

LODGING "Hotels in remote locations, while romantic for couples, aren't great for people on their own. Instead, stay in areas that get lots of foot traffic, where there's lots to do." --Teresa Rodriguez Williamson, Fly Solo: The 50