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Would You Take an Affordable Clothing-Optional Vacation?

SavvySugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:09 -0800

Clothing optional situations are typically limited to behind closed doors, but not if you're venturing off on a nakation. You don't have to bare it all on nakations - that's where the optional part comes into play - though you can if you want to. Besides the fact that participating nudists say that nude recreation is fun, there might be a financial benefit to taking a trip that encourages you to don your birthday suit.

Travel writer Christopher Elliott hasn't taken a nakation, but he also isn't opposed to it. He points out that there are many deals to be had at clothing-optional resorts (which aren't seedy as some would assume, just make sure they're represented by the American Association of Nude Resorts). Aside from affordable rates, Elliott makes the reasonable suggestion that travelers can save on baggage fees by opting for a nakation.

Got a cost-saving travel tip? Join our Savvy Travel Tips group and share your expertise!

Savvy Tip: Two Ways to Score Free WiFi at the Airport

SavvySugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:00:51 -0800

Searching for (or stealing) someone else's spotty Internet signal is never fun. Trust me, I've tried it - and let's just say Savvy wasn't smiling when it cut out . . . midblog post. Still airport (and in-flight rates) won't always add up to a deal for an hour layover, or an hour flight.

Luckily, Google announced a free holiday WiFi program in 47 participating airports and on all Virgin America flights until Jan. 15! If you're not flying that airline, through those locations or another airport with already free WiFi, Bing will offer free Internet access at a range of airport and hotel hotspots if you simply perform just one search with their engine. Hey, you can use it to search for your next great deal!

Got a cost-saving travel tip? Join our Savvy Travel Tips group and share your expertise!

Source: Flickr User Michal Osmenda

10 Places to Budget Travel This Fall

SavvySugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:30:32 -0700

Savvy travelers know that great deals can be had in shoulder season, the times that fall on either side of a peak travel time. Budget Travel scanned the globe for the best places to visit during the in-between months of September, October, and November, and here are some of the best deals among the bunch.

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You Asked: Is Morning the Best Time to Do Yoga?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:30:21 -0800

Dear Fit,
The holidays are fast approaching, and I wish I loved this time of year but I'm already stressed out about hosting Thanksgiving dinner, what to get for my picky in-laws, and dealing with traveling. I've heard yoga can help people relax, so I wanted to give it a try. A friend of mine says that she does a short session in the morning every day, including sun salutations (whatever those are), and a sequence of standing and seated yoga poses. I'm really not a morning person, but if practicing in the a.m. will help me calm down after realizing a flight to my parents house for X-mas is going to cost over $1,000, then I'm ready to set my alarm early. What do you think, is morning yoga more beneficial?
-Aspiring Yogi

I'm really excited for you to try out yoga because personally it's helped me find inner balance, and I always feel calmer and more grounded after my practice. Although yoga can help relieve stress and tension, it's no free ride to tranquility town. What it can do is help clear your mind, so you're better equipped to handle the frustrations the holidays tend to throw our way. To find out if there's a perfect time to get on your mat read more.

Many people believe that yoga must be practiced in the morning, but really whatever time works for you is when you should practice. You should not eat for two hours before doing yoga, so that's why many people choose morning yoga before they've had breakfast. They may also like how it gives them some alone time before their busy day begins, and getting it done first thing ensures that they'll have the energy and time to practice. On the other hand, some people may be too hungry or stiff in the morning, or they may not be able to wake up early enough to fit in a complete practice. They may prefer practicing in the evening because it helps relieve stress from their day, and helps them relax before bed.

So the decision is up to you, and the bottom line isn't what time you practice, it's that you practice period. If you have flexibility (no pun intended) in your schedule, try out a class at different times of the day to discover what you prefer. Keep in mind that certain poses and types of yoga are calming and some are invigorating, so depending on the yoga you choose, you might prefer morning, noon, and night!

All you yogis out there, I'm wondering what time of day do you prefer practicing yoga? Visit the Yoga Stretch and Tell group and share.

Website of the Day: Tripeedo

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:05:39 -0700

Another day, another travel website, except this one not only helps you search for the best hotel, flight, and car rental deals across the web, but it also allows you to share your travel plans with Facebook friends via Facebook Connect.

Making its official launch today, Tripeedo aggregates the best of the best in terms of travel sites (like Kayak, Expedia, and even brand new Bing), and equips you with one giant travel search engine to help you find the best fares.

You can also post your travel info on Facebook to let friends know about your trip, or view your friends' upcoming trips . . . all by some simple one click Facebook Connect action.

To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Get Your Last-Minute Fourth of July Travel Deals

SavvySugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:02 -0700

You don't have to wait much longer for the next long weekend. The Fourth of July holiday weekend is nearly here, and lucky for us, last-minute travel deals are still available. The prices for many accommodations and travel packages are pretty attractive, and plenty of the hotels are hardly what you would call discount lodging. Celebrate independence this year with a cheaper getaway.

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5 Ways Flexibility Can Cut Travel Costs

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:45:42 -0800

When it comes to bargains, it pays to play it cool. High maintenance travelers can be as finicky as they want while on vacation, but that approach won't get you the cheapest trip while in planning mode. Think flexibility when organizing a vacation, and the deals will come to you.

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Website of the Day: Offers.com

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:45:23 -0800

If you're a regular online shopper and you want to make sure you're getting the biggest bang for your buck, Offers.com is sure to save you both time and money. Similar to Retail Me Not, Offers.com aggregates all of the best promos and deals from around the web - organizing coupons and promo codes by category and store.

I not only like the fact that the site makes sure to verify each offer before posting it, but that they also have a travel section, so you can easily search for vacation deals. And if you want to get "watch" offers or updates, you can sign up for the My Offers Locker which can send you daily or weekly emails to let you know when your favorite stores have special offers.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.

Money Tip: Suggestions and Secrets For Saving on Travel

SavvySugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:22 -0700

Vacations may be fun, but they don't come cheaply. Thankfully, there are a handful of tricks that enable us to explore the globe economically. When shopping for a travel deal, it's wise to shun ridiculously expensive airplane food, be flexible about flight times, and compare apples to apples, but how can you really cut costs?

Kiplinger offers an incredible specific list of 21 Secrets to Save on Travel. Highlights include:

Check TripAdvisor.com for 25 million property reviews from real travelers and professional critics. For details on cozy and often less-costly venues, go to BedandBreakfast.com.

Visit Hotels.com every Thursday for its new last-minute deals. While you’re there, watch for other rate sales and package specials.

Book directly through the hotel's website. Many places offer special online booking and prepaid deals. You can also opt in to hotels’ free rewards programs and receive emails about special promotions and discounts.

For a slightly unorthodox saving tip, read more.

Book blindly for rock-bottom rates. The auction-style booking pushed by William Shatner’s Priceline Negotiator in the popular commercials really can cut up to 50 percent off regular hotel rates (and 40 percent off airfare and car-rental rates). And Hotwire.com’s Hot Rates can knock up to 60 percent off retail room prices. You can specify your length of stay, preferred neighborhood, and minimum star class, but you won’t know the exact hotel or location until after you pay – an especially big risk when visiting unfamiliar areas, particularly overseas. (Blind booking is a safer bet for car rentals; a sedan is a sedan is a sedan. But it’s a big gamble for flights because you won’t know exact flight times or airlines.)

Check out the full 21 Secrets to Save on Travel. What's your secret travel saving tip?

Kellan, Anna, and Jamie Make BlackBook's List

PopSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:00 -0700

BlackBook put together a list of up-and-coming young actors, and three stars from the Twilight series made the cut. Anna Kendrick, who plays Bella's friend Jessica, made the list, as did new vampire Jamie Campbell-Bower. Kellan Lutz rounded out the trio, sitting down for a special interview as he gets out there promoting both New Moon and Nightmare on Elm Street - check out that film's scary new trailer. He opened up about sacrificing his love of science for modeling, dealing with fame, and life in Vancouver. Here's more:

Kellan on giving up science to model: "I got a scholarship to go to Chapman University for chemical engineering in Orange County, and my father’s always lived in LA, so I just wanted to pack up and go there. . . When I was in LA, it was extremely lucrative with the modeling - the money, the opportunities - it’s LA so it was fast-paced and I was making more money and traveling all over the world. I just kind of fell into acting as a way to show off my personality."
On dealing with Pattinson-level fame: "Well, it’s crazy because with all this attention, all of us are handling it extremely well. We still have our head on our shoulders and our feet on the ground. Rob’s handling it so well. I can’t fathom being in his shoes. I believe I could handle it, but being cooped up in Vancouver and not being able to leave the hotel room or the apartment without having a driver and having to hide out - especially when he was shooting Remember Me, I talked to him a lot in New York and those fans were just crazy."
On the fans in Vancouver: "Well the thing is, we can’t rent out the whole hotel, so fans will come up that know we are shooting there to have a chance to see all of us in one place. They’ll get rooms and every time one of us leaves, they’re there. It’s great to talk to them but you really can’t sneak away."

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