Traveling Lately

Youth and Backpacker Hostels In Alaska

If you’re headed to or already located in Alaska then you might want to know who to ask about finding some hostel accommodations throughout this giant state.

When you stay with a hostel you’re bound to have a richer experience that actually relates to the state itself in many ways. They’re going to be full of travelers and backpackers that have probably already seen some things and been some places and could give you useful advice and tips for when you head out yourself.

Chances are that there will be some artists and foreigners staying there as well and this makes the conversation time very unique.

Of course it can be hard to get all the real information that you’re going to need about the hostels before you arrive. There are many travel services like HostelBookers that have hundreds of reviews written by people who have actually stayed in whatever hostel you’re looking at. They’re the only independent online hostel booking company that doesn’t charge any booking fees at all. And they even boast the lowest prices guaranteed.

They’ll provide you with a complete list of amenities, pictures, prices in different currencies, and maps and information on the location of each hostel. So if you want to find the best hostels based on some honest information, then check out HostelBookers because if you can find a better deal anywhere else they’ll actually refund the difference!

Reviews On Backpacker Hostels In Krakow, Poland

Krakow is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Europe. Throughout the centuries it’s drawn architects and artists and musicians alike to work there. It’s a place of some of the richest history available especially considering that it was spared some of the destruction that the rest of Europe was not spared from.

Stone buildings, large city, cobblestone streets, statues and cathedrals, and national museums all surrounded by historic locations in and right outside the city. Sounds like the perfect place for an expensive hotel right? Book a hostel instead. Seriously.

Hostels tend to provide a richer experience when traveling. In them you’ll find original one of a kind art and decorations, other travelers and usually artists too. The atmosphere is one of conversation and wine; they’re usually not too rowdy. Finding the right hostel can be a complicated or very simple task depending on the sources you choose to navigate.

Some are different than others, but you certainly can’t base your search and booking off of each hostels own promotions. Check out a travel site like HostelBookers. They have hundreds of reviews from people who have actually stayed in the many hostels you can find in the city of Krakow. (and I mean many). They’ll give you locations and maps and prices, information about the staff and atmosphere. And most of the time you actually receive a discount because you booked online.

If you want hundreds of real life reviews on any hostel in the city, then HostelBookers is where you want to go.

Couple Friendly Backpacker Hostels In Krakow, Poland

Krakow, it’s on the to-do list of many backpackers and travelers all around the world. It’s one of the few cities in Poland that wasn’t completed devastated during the war and as a consequence it retained much of its rich history in art, architecture, museum pieces, historic sites, and sculpture.

Staying in a hotel anywhere near the old square in this royal city is going to end up costing more than you’d like to pay for a fairly indifferent experience. Staying in a hostel is the obvious choice but only some hostels are couple friendly. Even if your traveling partner isn’t your romantic partner, it’s still nice to have affordable private quarters. Let’s talk about the first choice for couples staying in Krakow, the Hostel Deco.

It’s located just a little less than a fifteen minute walk from the old square. And there are some smaller shops nearby that will have anything you may have forgotten or need anyways. Choosing a hostel right in the old square can be a mistake due to the amounts of people staying up late and making noise. But at Hostel Deco I found myself not hearing anything at all even on Friday and Saturday night.

Each room is named after a different girl from the past, and there are old twenties and forties’ decade photos of flapper girls on the walls and old advertisements from the decade as well. I stayed in the room “Tamara” on the first floor above the reception area. Bright valentine red sheets and pillows and walls, super cool. Every room is different than the next and the whole place is simply drenched in cool style.

The reception is twenty fours a day so you can come and go as you place and no eyebrows will be raised. They offer rooms with private bathrooms as well but you can also book a couples room on a floor with a shared bathroom. Everything was very clean and quiet; I didn’t have to think twice about touching or sitting on anything.  They even give you breakfast from nine in the morning until twelve which consists of cereal and granola and milk, tea or coffee, bread and butter and jam and even prepared sandwiches. (There was also some fruit out for everybody on some mornings).

They have an amazingly comfortable common room with couches and bean bags and desks and a tv and dvd player. You can rent dvd’s or games for the xbox 360 at the front desk and they do sell a number of basic goods as well. And yes, there are computers hooked up to the internet free of charge, and a wireless signal.

There are websites like HostelBookers that will give you customer testimonials and reviews on Hostel Deco and all of the other hostels in Krakow. (Written by actual backpackers and travels, and actual couples). Complete with a total list of included amenities.  You usually get a discount for booking online as well. These sites also offer up lots of other knowledge about traveling around many different cities and countries so it’s not only a place to book arrangements through.

Online Student Travel Discounts

Just as there are discounts for senior citizens, members of the military and weekly travel discounts in general, there are also student discounts everyday of the year.

It’s commonly thought that there are only a handful of ways to book air travel online, but this isn’t so.  When you’re a student you’re constantly looking for the best deals on everything from food, clothing, travel, and everything else. Education is expensive. So is airfare but it always is, so all you can really do is make sure to check multiple websites before making your purchase. Sometimes different sites will have the best prices for a number of different reasons.

What you should you know is that millions of students everyday browse student specific services like StudentUniverse. They’ll browse for the cheapest student discounts that they can find, and a lot of the time it will be in fact the cheapest. You can also sign up for their newsletter which will send you coupon promotion codes to get bigger discounts on your next purchases.

They also offer discount searches for those between the ages of 18 and 26. And as well as for students, this includes hotels, trains, planes, and spring break trips. Just keep in mind that StudenUniverse won’t always have the best deals, it depends on where you’re headed and when you’re headed there. But it is one of the only student specific airfare searches that you can find online, and they offer other services like discounted student travel insurance.They’ll show you recently purchased tickets and you can also ask questions to real representatives who will actually take the time to answer.

Alaska Princess Wilderness Lodges

Every summer hundreds of thousands of people visit Alaska. They come by RV, rented car, by plane, through Canada, by cruiseship, and by hitchhiking! The last frontier hosts the wildest untouched terrain left in the United States, and the world for that matter. When visiting you can expect to see some of the most impressive mammals known to man. Eagles, bears, caribou, moose, wolves, wolverine, ermine, marmot, hawks, giant salmon, pika, and so many more one of a kind animals in staggering amounts can be found throughout the state.

There are hotels everywhere, but most will simply show you the way to your room and offer little else in terms of getting out there and really witnessing Alaska. One of the best ways to really experience this amazingly raw paradise is to stay with a Wilderness Lodge.

The five main Lodges are located in Fairbanks, near the base of Mt. Mckinley, Denali International Park, Copper River, and the Kenai Peninsula.

When staying with any of these lodges you can expect to see:

·         Flight-seeing tours

·         River and whitewater tours

·         Land tours

·         Atv tours

·         Guided hikes

·         Guided sport fishing

·         Historical tours

·         Casual or fine dining

·         A bar or two for post-adventure drinks

·         Native crafted art

·         Guided kayak excursions

·         Park rangers on hand for general or comprehensive information

·         Proximity to wildlife

Depending on the lodge you stay with, these should be the least of your options as far as adventuring Alaska. All of the lodges are connected by trains and motorcoaches so you’ll have the option of really getting around the state. Some lodges even offer shuttles to some of the local and very colorful towns that boast small populations of Alaskans living in handcrafted cabins without electricity or running water. Plus homemade and one of a kind Alaskan cuisine.

You should always book through a site like Orbitz because they offer regular discounts and offer special sales from month to month on princess lodges. (You won’t find the lodges on other booking sites). So make the plans for your Alaskan adventure today, because the summers will typically find the lodges booked almost completely solid!

Finding the Best Backpacker Hostels

If you’ve been up to serious traveling over the last few years or more, then you already know enough to always be looking for hostels instead of hotels throughout your travels. If you’re just beginning your travels then it’s good to know that no matter where you are in the world, there are hostels.

Traditionally all you need is a bunk which usually won’t run any higher than twenty bucks depending on the location. Hostels offer rich culture and diverse customers from all over the world. Offering an experience that’s full of art, stories, new friendships, travel network expansion, and a small open community feeling. The trick is finding them ahead of time and reserving your space because the last thing you need is to arrive somewhere that has no sleeping arrangements to offer you and your forty-plus pound pack.

There’s only one independent booking site that is totally without booking fees. They boast youth and adult accommodations in over 2,500 locations all over the world.

Why book with HostelBookers:

·         Hostel reviews by real backpackers

·         No booking fees

·         Various search options and filters

·         Youth accommodations

·         Group accommodations

·         No membership required

·         Up to date travel guides

·         Up to date info on world wide events

·         Lowest prices guaranteed

·         Different sales and discounts month to month

When you have a reliable source that provides genuine information on genuine backpacker hostels, travel becomes much more enjoyable. It’s easier to relax when you know what and where you’re sleeping arrangements are going to be. With lowest price guarantees and zero booking fees it’s really not possible to find a better deal.

Cheap Flights From the USA to the Carribean

When you picture yourself in the midst of a tropical paradise like I have many times, you often reach the sad conclusion at the prospects of unreal airfare prices to such a mythological destination. I can’t tell you how many people share this idea of a tropical vacation being out of touch with financial reality.

Sure, the truth is that it can be very expensive if that’s how you like to do things. But if you want to save some money then you can save some money if that’s how you like to do things.

Some don’ts:

·         Do not book directly from the airline companies

·         Do not stop short without even at least browsing prices, deals and discounts happen all the time in that business (any time of the year)

·         Don’t let the brochure prices unnerve you

·         Don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful places on this earth while it’s all still there

 

 

Some do’s

·         When browsing for prices, use a website such as cheaptickets, they’re not still in business and still kickin’ for nothing.

·         Plan on getting around to the spots you want to see starting from a hotel location that might not be in the center of the action

·         Hotel prices can come at prices nearing $50 a night just like anywhere else (but these deals usually only  happen online)

·         Look for any hostels that may be near to some central destinations and well known beauty spots (hostels are internationally popular and very consistently family friendly and well taken care of).

 

It’s truly no joke, check these prices out on flights south:

Boston-Aruba	$328
Boston-Nassau	$248
Boston-San Juan	$338
Fort Lauderdale-Cancun	$168
Fort Lauderdale-Nassau	$108
Fort Lauderdale-San Juan	$238
Fort Lauderdale-Santo Domingo	$288
New York City-Bermuda	$268
New York City-Nassau	$248
New York City-San Juan	$278
New York City-St Maarten	$328
Orlando-Aguadilla	$178
Orlando-Cancun	$208
Orlando-Nassau	$148
Orlando-Ponce	$178
Orlando-Santo Domingo	$208
San Juan-Santo Domingo	$138

 

 

With low airfare like that, affording the hotel part won’t be a very daunting task. Don’t skip your long awaited or tenth annual tropical vacation this year because you think it might not be affordable. Look for the deals online, there’s a few out there.

Classic Covers For Your RV

Owning an RV takes a little bit of maintenance as anyone should know. It truly isn’t always enough to simply hose your RV down from time to time and leave its exterior to the mercy of nature.  Like anything else worth a few dollars that you may own, it needs to be covered. It isn’t that difficult to tell when an RV hasn’t been covered and this can be a huge factor in the price tag you can put on it once you’re ready to sell. It’s also a big factor in the RV you may be trying to buy.

Finding a location that carries RV accessories near you may be a bit of a hassle. I certainly can’t recall the last time I’ve seen one. Like anything else, you can order every accessory you need for your RV online. And when I say online I don’t mean ebay or amazon or any other of the fast moving websites that don’t always guarantee quality or the correct item.

It might be tempting to run down to walmart and pick up a few tarps but this isn’t going to be the right fit, or the right anything for that matter. You need a proper cover.  When you do use the proper cover you’re going get protection from moisture and mildew, from abrasive dirts and dusts, from the sun, from rain, and even from solvents, alkalis, and acids.

There are experts such as CampingWorld that have been in the business physically and on the internet for years. All you have to do is get online, enter in the class of your RV, the dimensions, and the type of fabric you’d like. They’ll make sure to give you the proper measuring instructions so that you don’t end up having to guess on your own.  Don’t wait for the weather to make your RV look older than it is, get it covered.

Classic Motorhome ADCO Covers

Finding a location that carries RV accessories near you is going to be a bit of a hassle. I certainly can’t recall the last time I’ve seen one. But like anything and everything else, you can order every accessory you need for your RV online. When I say online I don’t mean ebay or amazon or any of the other fast moving websites.  They don’t always guarantee quality or the correct item as many people have and probably will tell you.

So maybe you’re just looking for a new cover to replace the old, but if you just picked up an RV or have owned for awhile, newsflash: get it covered.  There are different fabrics that you can choose from that are going to specifically suit the climate you live in.

Tyvek RV by Dupont

·         Specially engineered to keep out abrasive dirt and dust

·         Protects vehicle finishes

·         Resistant to solvents, alkalis and acids

·         Breathable fabric

·         Allows trapped moisture to escape

 

SFS Aqua Shield

·         For moderate climates with more rain than sun

·         High performance polypropylene sides

·         Beads water on contact, ensuring maximum resistance to high humidity

·         Protects against uv rays

·         Eliminates mildew and moisture problems

 

“Sunbrela”

·         The all climate cover

·         Solution-dyed fabric prevents sun, rain, and wind damage

·         Acrylic yarns that won’t harden or crack

·         Protects against mildew and moisture

·         Looks good and lasts for years

 

While your ordering your cover make sure to remember that one size does not fit all, but don’t worry, sizing up your motorhome won’t be a very complicated process.

So those are the main types of adco covers available to you from online dealers like CampingWorld. They also offer warranties starting at 3 years and going up to 5 years on your new purchase. Often you can save nearly a hundred dollars and gain free shipping. Don’t let your RV get too old too fast.

Staying With an Alaska B&B

There are so many ways to lay your head down for the night in Alaska. You've got your run of the mill hotels, mom and pop restaurants with accommodations, camping, by RV, in a hostel, at a wilderness lodge, and then there are the bed and breakfasts.

If you’re not going to camp or go by RV, a bed and breakfast is going to be a rewarding and rich choice, here’s why.

Most of them are family owned, or run by couples who have spent decades in Alaska. Usually most of that time will have been spent near that area too. Local knowledge will improve your Alaskan experience so much in a way that you’ll never know until you get it. These people take pride in what they’re presenting to you, so you can expect unique and completely authentic cabin work, handmade crafts and decorations, handmade food, family recipes, and wonderful information about anything Alaskan you could think to ask about. So for the same price as your generic sleeping arrangements, you can get something completely different that’s sure to stay a bright memory. Another thing to keep in mind is storytelling is a regular happening for Alaskans, and that’s because well, you’re going to have a few stories after spending so much time in such a mythical and rugged wilderness. So get the owners’ talking and you’re going to walk away with stories rivaling some of the famous writer Jack London’s work I guarantee it.

Many Alaskan b&b’s were built decades ago so a deep history will usually accompany any other standard info that you’ll get with your stay.

All of these things considered, plus many more advantages of staying with a bed and breakfast make it a no brainer.  And the thing to keep in mind is that the prices are not really so outrageous and some b&b’s even offer hostel style bunk rooms for as low as twenty dollars. You can expect a private room with two beds to run at about fifty or sixty dollars a night and it goes up from there.

When you’re booking a stay or simply looking up more info on a particular place, use a website like CheapTickets and check for discounts they usually offer for booking with them.  So when you decide to visit the last frontier, remember to make it unique and skip the holiday inn.