Entries by eric

We analyzed tens of thousands of travel photos and travel blogs contributed by TravBuddy members during the year to come up with this list of "off-the-beaten-path" tourist destinations within California. Cities with populations of over 60,000 residents were also excluded, in order to highlight lesser known destinations. If we missed one of your favorite places, please feel leave us a comment with your suggestions!

1. Monterey - Cities along Highway 1 were a popular theme, and TravBuddies went to Monterey to check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium and for the scenic drives.

Photo: deesje1

2. Santa Cruz - Monterey’s northern cousin was also very popular for hiking, the boardwalk and beaches during the summer months.

Photo: portia

3. Palm Springs - Popular Labor Day weekend destination among TravBuddies for hiking, dining and as a local escape from Los Angeles.

Photo: jenn79

4. Lake Tahoe - Lake Tahoe is known for its snow sports, but it was also popular during the summer months for water-skiing, hiking, fishing, and exploring nearby “ice caves.”

Photo: hurch

5. Napa Valley - This wine-tasting mecca was a favorite weekend getaway for Bay Area natives.

Photo: princessbride029

6. Joshua Tree National Park - TravBuddies endured attacks by flying bats to witness beautiful sunrises and spectacular hiking among the alien landscape of Joshua trees.

Photo: jenn79

7. San Simeon - Hearst Castle was a popular stop, as were the 2-ton elephant seals that gather along the shores here.

Photo: hannajax

8. Laguna Beach - Beautiful beaches and the annual Festival of the Arts made this laid back community another favorite along Highway 1.

Photo: mellemel8

9. Big Sur – Despite the fires, solitude, star-gazing, and hiking made Big Sur a favorite among those seeking a little more peace, quiet and isolation.

Photo: thenewextrememimi

10. Santa Rosa - Wine, hiking and the Charles M. Schulz Museum were popular draws to this Sonoma County destination.

Photo: catalina

If you like to travel but you're bored with those same old hotel rooms, how about staying in a castle, or in a hotel made of ice, or maybe under water? There are all sorts of places around the world where you can stay somewhere completely unique and different. You can make your hotel stay part of your adventure and vacation memories instead of just a place to crash at the end of a long day. Here are ten of the coolest and most unique places to get some shuteye during your travels.

1. Amberley Castle

If you want to stay the night in a castle once owned by Queen Elizabeth and attacked by Cromwell, you might want to book a room at Amberley Castle. It's nearly 1000 years old and from the outside it looks it. The portcullis is still raised and lowered each day and the outer wall is 60 feet thick, so trespassers aren't much of a worry. When you get inside, though, you'll find tennis courts, Jacuzzi bathrooms, and 18-hole putting courses. It looks new and modern, and you'll have all the conveniences you could want.

2. Kasbah du Toubkal

Photo from yn0001

For those who absolutely aren't kidding when they say they want to get away from it all, they should check out the Kasbah du Toubkal, which is at the foot of the highest peak in North Africa, the Jbel Toubkal. You can't even get to this Moroccan fortress by car. Typically, people get there on donkeys, so don't wear your best traveling clothes for the ride in. Once you arrive, though, the hotel is pricey and fancy and everything that you wouldn't expect for being so far away from everywhere else.

3. Chateau de Saint-Loup

If you want a castle with a real-life moat, you'll want to look into the Chateau de Saint-Loup. The moat didn't save thirteenth-century kings, but it might discourage modern-day solicitors. Up to 250 people can stay there for a wedding or other private function, and the rooms are medieval in style with stained-glass windows and four-poster beds.

4. Castle on the Hudson

Maybe you're dreaming of going to Europe and staying in a castle but you just can't afford to leave the good old U.S. of A. We're too young to have real castles, but you can find a fake one, only about thirty minutes from Manhattan, at the Castle on the Hudson. There's nothing like looking out your turret window and seeing…New York City! The dining table was brought from Europe and dates from the reign of Louis XIV. Everything else is new but looks old, and when you can't go far for your castle vacation it's certainly better than nothing.

5. Karosta Prison

Most of us would pay to stay out of prison, but bribes are illegal, so there isn't much we can do with that. For some people, though, paying to spend the night in a jail is their idea of fun – a jail hotel, that is. Masochistic individuals visiting Latvia can pay to stay at a former KGB jail complex, Karosta Prison in Liepaja, Latvia, where they get not only a room for the night but also emotional torture and humiliation.

6. Charles Street Jail

Another jail hotel that's less painful and easier for most people to get to is in Boston, Massachusetts. The infamous Charles Street Jail fell into disrepair in the mid-1900s and was eventually condemned about a decade before it actually shut its doors in the 1990s. Now it's been totally redone and is open as a four-star luxury hotel, The Liberty Hotel Boston. The people who used to stay there are probably just a little bit jealous.

7. Propeller Island Hotel

Ever wanted to be a vampire, just for a little while? After all, you get to stay out all night and fly around as a bat. Who doesn't want to do that, right? Well you might not get to be a vampire, but you can sleep like one at the Propeller Island hotel. They have an attic room where you can spend the night in your very own coffin. What fun!

8. Das Park Pipe Hotel

How about staying in a pipe in the park? If you're in Germany near the Danube river, you can pay whatever you like to stay in Das Park Pipe Hotel. You’ll get to stay in a large, round, storm-drain looking concrete pipe section with a tiny window. It has a bed, a light and a beautiful view of the park. We're wondering where the bathroom is, though.

9. Poseidon Mystery Island

In the South Pacific, there's the Poseidon Mystery Island. It's being designed by a man who makes luxury submarines, and it's going to be submerged in 40 feet of water next to a private island. Staying underwater might seem a bit creepy, but just think of the views! All those fish, and sharks…maybe we'll stay on dry land.

10. Jules' Undersea Lodge

Last but not least, you can stay in the Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. Diving access is the only way to get there, but once you're in you'll have hot showers, TV, music, food, drinks, and plenty of fresh air, as well as amazing views of aquatic life. It's not cheap, though, so bring your wallet along with your diving gear.

There you have it. Why stay at a standard, boring hotel when you can stay at one of these amazing places?

From Kramerdude's Torres del Paine - Day 1: Into the Park and Lago Grey to Refugio Paine Grande travel blog, Torres del Paine, Argentina.

With the global economy hitting recession, tighter credit, and soaring energy prices, now, more than ever, it pays off to find creative ways to save money while traveling. These money saving tips come from both research and personal experience. Try them out, and you might find that you have enough money to take your dream trip after all:

1. Never pay full price for a hotel.
   Instead of booking online, try calling the hotel directly. Ask to speak with a manager and ask if they have any reduced rates or unlisted specials available. This works especially well if you are requesting a room for the current or next night. Chances are, if they have a lot of rooms still available, they aren’t going to let that inventory go unsold, and might cut you a deal.
2. Travel locally.
   Instead of jetting around to the other side of the world, try seeing what is available locally. Often, unexplored gems and weekend getaways are only a short car ride away. Check local newspapers and see if there are any local festivals, events, or activities planned for your area. You don’t have to be in a different country to experience something completely new.
3. Stay in a hostel.
   You also don’t have to be a 20 year old starving college student to stay in a hostel. Some hostels are remarkably nice, and might be 10-20 times cheaper than staying in a similar hotel. If you can find a few travel buddies you won’t even have to share your room with strangers. Lots of hostels offer plenty of rooms for 2-4 people, still at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. If you travel during non-summer months, you are also less likely to run into crowds of students.
4. Cook your own food.
   Eating out consumes a large part of your travel budget. Instead of eating out for every meal, try cooking your own meals. Take advantage of small, local grocery stores and markets and stock up on food that takes little preparation. Think fruit, nuts, snacks, bread and sandwiches. If you want to get fancier, most hostels have a kitchen area, stocked with utensils and pots and pans, that make cooking a simple breakfast easy, and some hotel rooms have kitchenettes. Reward yourself for your frugality by spending money on a nice dinner now and then. After all, sampling the local cuisine is an important part of any travel experience.
5. Take advantage of exchange rates.
   If you’re American, instead of traveling to Europe or the United Kingdom, where your dollar isn’t going to go as far, travel to South East Asia or South America, where you can achieve a comparable lifestyle for a fraction of the cost. Take advantage of the exchange rates to find a destination more suitable to your budget, even if that means delaying your “dream trip” for another time. You’ll probably have just as much fun exploring these other destinations anyway.
6. Travel at off-peak times.
   A red-eye flight is going to be cheaper than one that leaves at a more convenient time. Different days of the week also are cheaper than others. If you are flexible with your dates, try different combinations. Summer travel is generally much more expensive than other time periods.
7. Scour for travel deals.
   Most big travel sites offer a travel deals newsletter of some sort. Other sites, like ShermansTravel, specialize in travel deals. Make sure to check out these sites before booking your trip. You might be able to find a last-minute deal that can significantly cut your costs. If you are wary about giving out your email address, often you don’t have to subscribe to any newsletters to browse and take advantage of the deals online.
8. Check for free entry days.
   If you know there is a sight, museum, or attraction that you want to see, research it and try to find out if there is a day when entry is free. Most museums are free to the public for at least one day out of the month. Scheduling your trip around these days is a quick and easy way to immediately save money.
9. Make friends with the locals.
   If you’re a social person, most locals are happy to show you around their towns. They’ll know the best value places to eat, the fastest and cheapest ways to travel, and will extend their hospitality (by buying you dinner, drinks, or acting as unofficial tour guide) for free. In return, it’s good to purchase a few souvenirs from home to give out as gifts (think postcards and trinkets that represent your hometown). If you have a good attitude, and are respectful of the culture, then this is something that is much easier to do than it sounds.
10. Compare rates online.
    Take advantage of websites that compare rates from multiple sources. Try Kayak or Farecast for flights, or (shameless plug) TravBuddy for hotels. Compare multiple sites and meta-search engines, as most of them pull inventory from different suppliers, and rates are likely to vary. With that said, keep in mind the tip below.

Become famous and get an all expense paid cruise to Europe! This is an opportunity that I am sure will interest many TravBuddies:

Travel Channel is seeking multi-generation family AND three girlfriends to take a wonderful European cruise with Royal Caribbean! Attractive and vibrant families/friends should apply if interested in being filmed while taking an all expense paid trip to various exciting ports in Europe including Barcelona, Madrid, Cannes, Livorno, Naples, Rome and Venice. Three generations are a must- grandparent(s), parents and children of middle and high school age are preferable. For the girlfriends scenario, the three must genuinely be friends, preferably between ages 35-45. The trip takes place from October 15 – October 27th 2008. All participants must be available for the entire voyage. Interested parties should write to cruisecasting@banyan.com and attach photos of all members of your family/friend group along with a short description of why you should be selected.

So, if you're a girl, message two of your female TravBuddy friends that you know in real life and maybe you'll have a shot at winning. Linking to your travel blogs and photos as part of your application process can't hurt either

Good luck! We have lots of active, social, awesome members here on TravBuddy so it would be great if someone could represent the community on TV!