I was recently thinking about planning a weekend getaway to the Virgina Beach and Norfolk area. While I was looking for hotels in Virginia beach, I stumbled across an interesting fact. Turns out that Virginia beach is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the worlds longest pleasure beach. Maybe I am a bit uneducated in the various types of beaches, but a pleasure beach sounds a bit perverse to me. It sounds to much like the title of an x-rated film the includes numerous amounts of people performing dirty deeds on the beach.

I suppose I could have done some quick research to find out what a pleasure beach, but I decided to change my vacation location altogether. So, I decided to head a bit further away and check out Niagara Falls. LOL. I know it is a bit of a drastic change of scenery, but what is wrong with being spontaneous? I have never been that far North before. So, I figured if I am going to go that far North, I might as well see all the major sights in the area. But, since I would mostly be going to see Niagara Falls, I started looking for hotels in Niagara Falls.

I am a bit of a cheapskate though, so I really had to shop around for hotels. Like many fellow budget finders, I usually start my search for hotel deals on the major travel websites like Hotels.com or Travelocity. Once I find a good deal, I don’t book right away. I then go and check out some of the nicer hotels in the areas actual website. I look to see if they have any sort of deals or package specials. Sometimes these hotels that might be out of my budget, might actually have deals that end up being better than those found on the deals site. After all, I would much rather stay in a nice hotel than a cheap hotel! Wouldn’t you?

What is not to like about a place with over 7,000 islands? If you are any kind of beach bum, then it seems like the Philippines are the place to go. This area of South East Asia houses the world second largest archipelago. So, as one can imagine, there are plenty of water related tours and activities to take advantage of. From snorkeling to sailing, to just laying out on the beach, the Philippines have plenty of it to offer. With so much to offer, it is amazing that many people pass on visiting all together. For some reason, many people think that the Philippines are located on the wrong side of the South China Sea. But, for those who are willing to make their way their, they will be rewarded.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to head out to the Philippines? Well, the first logical step is to start looking for flights to the Philippines. One of the best ways to start the search for cheap flights to Manila is by browsing the major travel booking sites first. After you have visited these sites, it is also a good idea to check out the airlines website to see what kind of Philippine Airlines Deals they have to offer.

The Philippines offer some amazing snorkeling and diving. There are even a number of cool ship wrecks to explore. But, the really cool thing is that during certain times of the year, you can dive with whale sharks! These are the largest sharks in the ocean. To see one in an aquarium is amazing, but I couldn’t even imagine swimming next to one in the ocean.

Some people seem to think its super hard to find cheap international airline tickets. But all it takes to find good deals is to do some basic research and planning to find good deals, to the Philippines or anywhere. Just doing things like planing your trip in advance, picking dates that are mid week rather than the weekend, and avoiding major holidays will go a long way to helping you get a good deal for an international flight.

I have been a lot of places before, all over the United States and the world. But for whatever reason, I have never made it up North before. About the farthest North I have ever been is West Virgina and that is most certainly not the North. Its not even the South really. It is like is own bizzaro backwoods country for sure. I was thinking about planning a trip up North, maybe for Christmas. I wanted to see New york in the winter time and do some window shopping and see what the city was like that time of the year, as I hear it is beautiful. On that trip I thinking about maybe visiting some of the other big cities up that way. One in particular that I am looking forward to seeing is Boston.

I don’t know why, but ever since the Real Word Boston season I have wanted to visit the place. In fact, I think that we are going to go there first. I have already looked up flights to Boston and Boston hotels and it looks liek there are some pretty good deals. I sure am glad we aren’t driving up there though, as I read some reviews about the BOS airport parking and heard some real horror stories. None of the airport parking stories were really bad. It was mostly just how outrageous some of the prices were and which airport parking lots were safer than others. Either way, its not something I want to half to deal with.

Parking lots and air plane tickets aside, what are the cool things to see and do in Boston? I know all the places I want to visit in New York, but don’t really have a clue about Boston. I know there are some cool artsy fartsy type districts up there, which sounds right up my alley. Can any one suggest some cool hotels or restaurants out that way? What would you consider a must see place in the city? What do you suggest to all of your out of town friends that come to visit? Those are the things I want to see.

The superb Niagra Falls lies on the border between the US state of New York and Ontario, Canada. It is a very popular vacation destination for travelers from both countries, as well as from the entire world. Therefore, finding hotels in Niagra Falls can be a bit tricky, especially if you plan to visit during the high season (when everyone else is doing just about the same). Although the waterfalls are a popular destination, there aren’t any major hotels on either side (US or Canada) which means you can easily find an affordable place to stay and even find a room with a view of the falls.

There’s also the possibility to fly into Buffalo, the largest closest airport to the falls. Find a cheap hotel here and then plan a day trip to Niagra Falls. Niagra Falls is served by its own airport but there’s only one airline flying here so the prices are not exactly low.

When you get to Niagra Falls, plan to explore it on foot, especially if you are based in downtown Niagra Falls. Otherwise, a car will serve you well. If you plan to rent a car make sure to ask if you are allowed to drive it to Canada (in case you want to experience both sides of the fall).

Seeing is not enough, you must get wet to experience the beauty of the falls. So take the Maid of the Mist boat to the bottom of the falls or take the elevator down and down walk to the bottom of the American falls. In both cases rain gear is provided but you will get wet (or shall I say soaked?).

There are also three museums to check out if you have enough time available on your hands (one of them is free, so if you don’t like it, at least you won’t complain about paying the entrance fee).

And if you have some days on your hands, you can hike the Niagara Wine Trail. It’s further from the falls but you can get there by car and then put on your walking gear and enjoy the nature.

It’s always a bit challenging to find a way to keep the kids and adults together in one place and make sure everyone has fun.

One of the choices is to book a family cruise . There’s always plenty of onboard entertainment to keep the children quiet, and it’s good to know they’re close at hand and being looked after properly. If you need a break from looking after the little darlings there are trained childminders and entertainers to keep them occupied while you relax for an hour or two, and let’s face it relaxation is what these vacations are all about.

There are several different cruises available, and they often include trips to Disney World and other theme parks on their itineraries. It’s worth comparing deals to find the one which best suits your needs, and you may find you can save money by shopping around too. Now when it comes to choosing your destination that’s something you’ll have to think about very carefully, because there are literally hundreds to pick from. If you prefer cooler temperatures then a Scandinavian tour may be what you need, but if you prefer basking in the sun you’re better off heading to the Mediterranean. You can even choose educational cruises if you want to learn while you travel, and there are courses in a large number of subjects including science and foreign languages. If you’re taking a vacation in Italy you could learn the lingo on the way, and be ready to converse with the locals the moment you hit dry land. Cruises are no longer just for the seriously rich, and nowadays people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the fun too.

Then, there’s also the possibility to book one of the affordable flights to Orlando and fly directly into this beautiful city and enjoy Disney World. The famous theme parks are located close to Orlando and are a magnet for both children and adults. The centrepieces of Disney World are the four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where everyone will find something to do, whether they enjoy one of the rides or just stroll around hoping to meet the Disney characters. Just remember that Disney World is very busy (and usually completely insane) pretty much year round but you can avoid some of the crowds if you plan your visit for spring or fall.

I recently spent the last year living in Costa Rica. I lived in a small beach side town on the Caribbean coast called Puerto Viejo. From what I hear it is a lot like Key West. Having never been to Key West, I’ll have to trust those who have told me. But, if Key West is anything like Puerto Viejo, I may have to check it out sometime. Seeing as how Puerto Viejo offers that relaxed island vibe, even though its not an island, Im sure its pretty similar to Key West. You have to enjoy a place where the majority of your day is either spent on the beach drinking or in the bar drinking and it is socially acceptable. Heck, its pretty much a way of life there.

India is one of the most interesting Asian countries to visit. It’s also a cheap destination so it’s always been on the list of round-the-world travelers and budget travelers. It is advisable to plan in advance especially if you prefer to avoid the hot and humid months.

Being such a big and crowded country, it should not come as a surprise that India has several important airports servicing the travelers. When you purchased your air tickets to India you might want to check the fares into several cities, such as Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata. Choose the best option by taking into account your vacation plans as well. Airfare to India is quite high especially if you fly from the Americas or Europe (about US$1000 RT if you depart from New York on a direct flight).

It is a good idea to start your vacation in Mumbai, as it is really well connected with other big cities as well. Although India is quite a cheap country to visit, cheap hotels in Mumbai are not that easy to find. Plus, since it’s quite a head ache to move from one place to another in this incredibly busy city, it’s important to stay close to the attractions. Mumbai boasts very beautiful colonial architecture, temples, museums, beaches and street markets. When the heat is too much to bear, you can cool down in one of the malls. Plus, there’s always the chance to fin something nice to buy and remind you of India.

When Mumbai becomes to tiring, you can hop in a plane and visit Goa. It’s a very popular vacation destination, especially for its beaches. Hotels in Goa are more expensive than in other parts of Asia and in India. But comparing them to Europe, for example, the hotels in Goa are cheap. It is a good idea to avoid the area during the high season (November to March) if you want to save even more on accommodation.

Although Goa boasts some incredible Portuguese influenced architecture, the main attractions here are the beaches. When you get tired of tanning or swimming, there’s always the possibility to try some water sports. But you don’t need to be tied to the beaches. There are plenty of birds and wildlife sanctuaries to check out in the state. Dudh Sagar Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in India and the most spectacular time to visit it is during the monsoon season (June to September).

Don’t forget to enjoy the cuisine. You can sample both local dishes and international ones but make sure to try at least one vegetarian dish.

Over all, India can be both charming and frustrating. It’s up to you to decide which experience you are going to have. Plan for hick-ups and don’t forget your camera to take snapshots of your colorful vacation.

When it comes to planning a vacation with children, the choices can give parents a little bit of headache. Family cruises are a great way to let others take care of the little ones, which parents can relax and really enjoy a vacation.

You will have to check with each company in terms of age ranges because some cruise ships will take children from birth whilst others stipulate a minimum age of five. It’s also worth asking what facilities they have on offer to keep children occupied during the long periods at sea. They should offer all kinds of facilities from playrooms for toddlers right up to video game arcades for teenagers, but it’s worth checking to make sure.

As far as cost is concerned you’ll probably find it’s cheaper to share a cabin with your children rather than opting for separate rooms, but again you will need to check with the company first. If you’re after bargain rates the rule of thumb is to book early, and that way you’ll avoid any disappointment.

Now when it comes to destinations there are many different ones to choose from, including Europe and the Caribbean. If you like cool temperatures and stunning scenery you can’t go wrong with a Scandinavian cruise through the Norwegian fjords.

Then there’s always the possibility to visit Disneyland. The amusement parks will keep everyone occupied, including the parents. It might be a little bit of hassle to find Disneyland Hotels to match your budget, but planning always brings a lot of good offers.

Disney World is the place where children – of all ages- come out and play. It’s the perfect vacation whether you plan to surprise your little one or your significant other. So, if you’re looking for Disney World Hotels it’s worth shopping around since prices can vary a lot based on special promotions or time of the year.

If you’re staying in a hotel for a week it’s important to be comfortable so it would be a good idea to look for a middle range hotel but decide not to invest that much in the tickets. There’s nothing worse than having a great day out knowing you’ve got to return to a dump in the evening. A bad hotel room may be bearable for one or two nights, but certainly not for a whole week, and when you’ve got children it’s even worse.

Even if you don’t plan to buy a package, most hotels offer the possibility to purchase discounted admission tickets to the theme parks. If you travel with small children it’s probably a good idea to invest in some tickets ahead of time because you won’t need to waiting in long lines. And that’s always a good thing to know when you have small children in tow – and you’ve probably noticed they hate waiting in line as much as we do.

To save even more money on your vacation you could look for a cheap airfare deal. The more you save here the more you’ll have left over for buying cotton candy, riding on roller coasters, and having your photo taken with Mickey Mouse. It’s always a good idea to reduce unnecessary costs so you can spend what’s left on the really important things like having fun.

Looking for new exciting articles to read this weekend? We took a look around the WhyGo network and came up with a list of articles for your reading pleasure:

• Rent a Villa in Bali: Best Areas : more and more tourists prefer to rent a villa rather than stay in a resort when visiting Bali. The freedom to do what you want, when you want is usually the reason for this choice. The article details the most desirable areas where you can rent a villa.
• Affordable Las Vegas Hotels: under $100 per night, per room: the crisis might have affected the hotels in a bad way but for the visitor it means the prices are getting lower and lower. If you plan a Las Vegas escape soon, check out these deals.
• Affordable cruises under $500 per person: with the tourism struggling due to the current economy it wasn’t long until cruise liners started to offer incredible deals in order to attract as many tourists as possible. The list of cruise deals updates daily so make sure to check them out as often as you please.
• What to do in San Jose : visiting Costa Rica soon? Then San Jose should be on your list. The article talks about the possibilities to have fun in and around the city.
• What to do in Miami : is there anything else to do in Miami besides soaking up the sun? Of course! The article presents several good alternatives to a beach day (and of course, includes the beaches as well).
• Mont Saint Michel: A Guide for the Visitors: One of France’s iconic attractions, Mont Saint Michel has always been a place of pilgrimage. Today tourists flock to understand at least a little of its history and see some of its beauties. The article is a complete guide to visiting this sacred mountain.
• From Athens to Mykonos by Ferry: visiting Greece and your budget is low? Then hop on a ferry to Mykonos after you soak up Athens’ history. The article gives all the info you need to plan your ferry trip: schedules, prices, and many more.
• Best Party Hostels in Rome: young and restless? Then a hostel is the best accommodation choice for you. Love to party? Then chose one of these party hostels when visiting Rome.
• Paris to the South of France: all the possible ways to travel : Once in Paris you probably fancy a trip to the Mediterranean Sea. The article presents all the possible ways to get from one part of the country to another.