Travel Blog

Photo credit: www.stratospherehotel.com

There are few places in the world where you can book a discount vacation and spend as little money as possible for spectacular shows, good food, and visiting attractions. Las Vegas is one of those places.

How cost effective is it? Depending on the time of year you go, you could book a Las Vegas discount vacation for literally less than $500 for 5 days and 4 nights, and that includes the flight. These days, Las Vegas isn’t doing as well because of the economy, so they’re trying to get bodies to the city and hope that they’ll gamble away some of the money they’ll save by getting there.

Discount Hotels in Las Vegas Book Between February 1, 2010 and February 31, 2010 for Only $46 per Night!

And what would you potentially get for your money? It depends on where you stay, of course, but many Las Vegas vacation packages will include the flight, a simple hotel room, so much a day in free chips or spending money, tickets to the buffet either a couple of times or once a day, and either a free show or a discounted rate towards a show. Sometimes you might even get to purchase a free or discounted tour of the city, which is mainly the strip.

And, you can bet that if you stay at a casino hotel, you will be offered many other opportunities to save. For instance, if you decide to allow yourself to lose about 90 minutes going to look at a timeshare, even if you’re not interested in purchasing, you can earn a free show, more meal tickets, and maybe a trip to the Stratosphere Hotel, where you can allow yourself to be dropped over the side of a 1,149 foot building and view parts of the city unencumbered.

And, even if you don’t earn meal packages, it costs almost nothing to eat at certain times in Las Vegas, and you can get any type of food you want 24/7. After all, they want to keep you gambling. And did anyone happen to mention that as long as you’re gambling you drink for free?

A Las Vegas vacation might be just what you need for a quick pick-me-up before getting back to your daily grind.

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These days, there are more gay and lesbian trips planned so that those who are gay or lesbian, which usually denotes men and women, can go on a trip and know that they will be free from possible derision and people generally getting into their business.  Outside of that, the trips and vacation destinations are pretty much the same as vacations for straight people.

Fort Lauderdale is considered a favorite vacation spot for many gay and lesbian travelers.  For men, a favorite place is the Orton Terrace Gay Guesthouse, located within a gay housing district right next to the beach.  It only has 14 rooms, including a hospitality room where everyone can get together in the evenings for parties or just to sit around and talk with each other.  There’s also La Casa Del Mar, which is for both men and women, considered as the only gay bed and breakfast on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Las Vegas is also a popular destination for gay and lesbian couples.  Though none of the casinos on the strip are particularly for these couples, there is the Blue Moon Resort in the city, which opened in 2006, and the Mandalay Bay, which is on the strip, is known as one of the most gay friendly hotels in town.  You can also get some great rates at hotels in Las Vegas, such as a night at the Fremont Hotel and Casino for as low as $36 a night.  There are also some gay bars in town, but across the board, Las Vegas has become very gay friendly.

And of course there’s San Francisco, which many people see as the most gay friendly city in the United States.  There are plenty of places there where gays and lesbians will feel comfortable.  There’s the Parker House, with 21 rooms located in the Castro District.  There’s also the popular Diva Hotel, with 115 guestrooms which has been a popular place for gay celebrities to stay while they’re in town.

To find more friendly gay and lesbian vacation destinations, it wouldn’t hurt look into an organization called the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, whose ultimate goal is to find and recommend friendly locations for gay and lesbian singles and couples to vacation in peace.

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Get the best deals on Las Vegas Vacation packages at DiscountHotels.com

Although they’ve been around for a long time, not as many people as you’d think know about all inclusive vacation packages.  Instead, most people book a hotel, plane, and car separately, and then wait until they get to a new place to decide what to do.  They may have one place in mind, but not know much about anything else to do in a particular area.

All inclusive vacation packages help you to take care of most of that.  Many sites have packages that will include the flight, hotel, and rental car.  Cruise vacation packages already include all the stops, meals, and accommodations, though they don’t usually pay for the cost of getting to the docks, so you still might have to book your own flight.

But think about a trip to New York City, for instance.  Many sites will have a full package that will include the flight and hotel, and include tour buses to take you all over the city, not only to see the sights but also on shopping trips.  New York is one of the few cities in the world where you’ll be very happy you didn’t get a rental car, as parking can be as high as $10 an hour in many places.

Las Vegas vacation packages will usually include the flight, hotel, most of your meals, and a show, which is definitely worth the trip if you get lucky and stay at a casino with a big star.  Naturally you get to go into the casinos, which are always lively.  A few casinos will actually throw in a trip to Hoover Dam, which is spectacular and something anyone who even gets close to Las Vegas should stop by and visit.

A very popular vacation trip is the European vacation where you’ll go through multiple countries in  7 to 10 days.  Hotels, meals, shopping and transportation are totally covered.  Some vacation packages are even lower if you end up going with a group.  Just imagine what it must be like being able to visit a bunch of countries on one trip, as opposed to the United States where you may visit many states, but in general much of it seems the same.

We mentioned costs above, and now we’ll go much further.  Paying for a vacation package is always less costly than doing everything individually.  For instance, there are 4-day vacation packages to Las Vegas that will cost you less than $300 per person; that’s just a phenomenal price.  Packages cost less because these different businesses get together and agree to reduce their services by combining everything in some fashion.

Everyone’s looking for a deal these days, and if you’re still hoping to go on vacation, take advantage of one of the many all inclusive vacation packages available to you.

See more:
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Many people love gambling, while many others like the idea of taking a vacation where they can gamble and try out a bunch of new games, whether it be slot machines or gaming tables of some sort. For people who have been many times, there’s an excitement that builds up every time they go. For people who haven’t, the anticipation can be overwhelming. Here are some things to consider when heading to a casino for a vacation.

1.Pick a casino to stay at for the duration of your trip. You don’t have to only stay in that casino for the entire day, but if you want the full experience of what it’s like to be in a casino, you have to stay in one. If you’re in a casino town like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, you’ll find some great prices on rooms. If you’re going elsewhere, the room prices might not be as comparable, but the amenities will more than make up for it.

2. When making reservations, ask about the amenities. Some casinos offer meal specials, a certain amount they’ll give you daily to start gambling with, and tips on how to play the games. Some casinos offer spa packages, or a free tour around the city. Many will pick you up from the airport or train station for free. There might be a show as part of the package, which is also very nice.

3. Budget yourself to have enough money to play with for the entire day, and stick to it. Everyone thinks they’re the best gambler in the world, but realize that the odds are stacked in favor of the casino. In some cities, you’ll be enticed as soon as you arrive at the airport; the lights and sounds will draw you in. But no one is made of money. A good tip is every time you hit the big one, or win a large amount, put some of that away and “bank” it in your hotel room later on. You might find that, at the worst, you’ll break even for your trip; that’s a good goal to start with.

4. Take advantage of meal specials. Unless you’re at an exclusive resort, meals are usually fairly inexpensive in most casino towns. You can easily find a great buffet meal for around $15, even for dinner, sometimes even cheaper. If you’re eating in the same casino and have a refrigerator, you’re allowed to take some food with you, and that might make a nice midnight snack.

5. Get away from the gaming every once in awhile and walk around. Whether you determine to go outside, or just look at everything a casino might have to offer, no one can continue playing games hour after hour without getting overly consumed. When you get tired, you start making mistakes; when you get mentally tired, you’ll lose all your money and your control. A casino vacation is supposed to be a fun experience; don’t get too caught up in the action.

6. Sleep; casinos are usually open 24/7, and even when the action isn’t heavy, there’s always some kind of game going. There will always be a game for you when you want to play, so take some time, relax, and sleep. You’ll enjoy the experience much more.

Photo Credit: MetroPetSupply.com

Are you looking to go on vacation, but aren’t sure what to do with your pet? Why not take your pet with you?

Discounthotels.com understands that your pets are an important part of the family, and can connect you with more than 13,000 pet-friendly hotels and motels across the United States and Canada. These pet friendly vacation retreats offer you the accommodations you deserve as well as the ones that will make your pet feel special.

Some of the places we will find for you have special services for your pet, such as grooming services, animal beds, walking services, and even special meals for their sensitive palates. Others have access to dog parks, day care/boarding, sidewalk bags for dogs and kitty litter trays for cats, and gourmet cakes and cookies, which your pets will love.

For instance, look at a hotel like the Affinia, an exclusive hotel chain in cities like New York, Chicago and Washington D.C. These are glamorous hotels, some with executive suites that will spoil both human and animal guests. For pets, the Affinia hotels offer amenities and services such as dog walking/sitting services, grooming, day care and boarding, and, of all things, a pet psychic.

Or maybe you’re the casual vacation traveler who still wants to bring your favorite pet with you. In that case, a hotel like the Residence Inn San Diego La Jolla might be more to your liking. While they don’t offer any of the specialties of a big budget hotel, they do allow pets and will supply things for you like water and food bowls, dog beds, and a special walking area for your pet.

Whatever your need or want, Discounthotels.com can help you find cheap hotels with the accommodations you need and the customer service you’d expect. Just visit our pet friendly hotels section to begin your search.