Moroccan Adventure {on a budget}

You guys remember Gecko’s, the travel company that offers amazing, affordable tours throughout the world? Well my friend Stephanie just returned from their 10 day Moroccan tour. Here’s her take on how she afforded the tour as well as some inside dish on the exotic country.

Cost:
The tour cost $1460, which included all hotels, transportation (train, bus, taxi, private car) throughout the country, guided tours, breakfast and a few lunches and dinners. I had Gecko’s arrange my airfare, but Royal Air Maroc (the national airline) is one of only a few airlines that fly from the U.S. to Morocco, so prices aren’t that cheap. Airfare is about $900 roundtrip. The average restaurant meal is between 60 and 100 dirham ($1 equals about 8 Moroccan dirhams). The average street vendor/food stall meal is between 10 and 40 dirham. Quality-wise, they’re both the same so go for the street vendors. There are no taxes or tips for dining out, so if a meal costs 60 dirham, you only pay 60 dirham.

Tour:
Gecko’s took us to most of the major cities: Casablanca, Marrakesh, Meknes, Fes, Essaouira and camping in the Sahara. All hotel accommodations are very basic, but that’s mostly because of the country itself. There really isn’t much to “see” in Morocco so we just went to different cities and walked around. Most tourists go to mosques, but once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. The transportation was a combination of the local train, taxi, and chartered bus. All of the transportation is good, but the driving there is atrocious so each time you get in a car, you see at least one accident (sometimes deadly).

Cuisine:
The food left a lot to be desired. Breakfast was always pieces of white bread. If we were staying at a fancy place, we got hard boiled eggs with the bread. Lunch and dinner is always tajine (beef, chicken, or lamb) or couscous (beef, chicken, or lamb). Dessert was always oranges; it was expected that each person eats between 3-5 oranges during dessert. Sometimes, but not often, you can find bananas and strawberries, but they’re expensive because they’re imported from elsewhere. It made me realize how much we take supermarkets for granted. For drinks, they only have bottled water (which tastes disgusting compared to ours), tea (which they drink between 10 and 12 times per day), orange juice (obviously), and Fanta. The mint tea was pretty good though, as they put actual mint leaves in it for extra flavor. And they LOVE sugar. The more sugar cubes someone gives you, the more welcome you are in their home. They call tea ‘Berber Whiskey’ so when someone asks, “Do you want to have a drink?” they mean, “Do you want to have some tea?”

Culture:
One of the most fascinating things about Morocco is their perception of race. I traveled there within a group of eight; I was the only American and the only person of color. Everyone else in my group was white; six were from Great Britain and one from Australia. Ironically, Moroccans assumed they were American and I was, well, something else. I noticed that Moroccans never use racial categories like we use here i.e. African-American, Hispanic, etc. It’s either white or brown. If you’re black, you’re brown because your skin is brown. I think their lack of labels was the most refreshing thing about their culture. About 90% of people I encountered assumed I was Moroccan because of my skin complexion. There were countless times where people addressed me in Arabic or French, the two national languages of the country. I tried to explain to them, in English, that I didn’t speak either. Usually I was met with a baffled stare. I suppose the best thing about being mistaken for a local is that I was rarely harassed for money.

Ah, sounds awesome (minus the less than stellar food and traffic accidents). What’s the last great trip you guys took?

Tags: Gecko's, Morocco, travel

Gecko’s Adventures

Have you guys ever heard of Gecko’s Adventures? Maybe you have but until a week ago, I was none the wiser.

The travel company has been around for a few years and they specialize in international trips for the young adventurer on a budget. If you’re looking to lounge poolside at a swanky boutique hotel, then Gecko’s is not for you, but if you want to explore the Amazon Jungle, Gecko’s is the place to start.

They have trips to almost every exotic destination imaginable and all at affordable prices. Trips range from $200 for 3 days in Bangkok to 60 days in Africa at $7305. I have my eye on a 14-day Egyptian vacation for $940, which includes sailing down the Nile River, a trip to the Sphinx and lounging on the beach near the Red Sea.

Though sleeping accommodations can be bare bones and the prices don’t include flights, they’ve got you covered with lodging, some meals, activities and an informative tour guide. It’s also great for solo globe-trotters since most adventures consist of at least 9 other travelers.

Stay tuned for more news on Gecko’s, my friend Stephanie will be writing a first hand review of her experience when she returns from Morocco!

Tags: Gecko's, travel

Couch Surfing for Dummies

I’ve always wanted to try Couch Surfing to save cash when traveling but the idea of staying with a stranger freaks me out, so today we’re fortunate to have a guest blogger post from world traveler Jessica Jones.

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We all come across amazing airline deals that we want to snag, but then realize we don’t have money for lodging. Now you can book that flight regardless, thanks to CouchSurfing – the most amazing website on the planet that allows travelers to connect with hosts willing to let you crash on their couch.

I know what you’re thinking. Staying on a stranger’s couch is insane…and it could be (Craigslist killer is the first thing that comes to mind). But CouchSurfer tries to prevent any “incidents” by verifying surfers are legit.

Here’s how it works:

1.    You decide where you want to go and CouchSurfer shows you profiles of members in that area. (There are almost 1 million couches available worldwide.)
2.    Once you find someone that seems sane (most do), introduce yourself and ask if it is cool to crash on their couch.

As a veteran couchsurfer (Puerto Rico, Amsterdam and Paris), I can honestly say that this service has changed the way I travel – for the better. In Amsterdam and Puerto Rico, my gracious hosts gave my friend and I our own rooms (it felt like we were staying in 5-star hotels).

The cool part is, since the hosts are locals in the city you are visiting, you get tips on what to do while you’re there. If you are lucky, your host will even show you around. To do my part, I try to let surfers stay with me when possible (not that often). I had a super sweet surfer from France this past summer. I got the chance to practice my French and she got to practice her English. It was a win-win.

I do, however, have a few safety rules:

1. No staying with men
2. No letting men stay with me
3. I must Facebook friend anyone who is staying with me to make sure they are who they say they are
4. I like to talk to the person over the phone before I crash.
5. I try to take my host out to dinner…or make them a meal to show my gratitude.

Bon Voyage!

To read more of Jessica’s work, check out her healthy living blog Whole Grain Grub or check out a video of her travel excursions at Square Rootz.

Los Angeles on a Dime

I couldn’t take a trip without giving you the details on how I managed to do so on a budget. You already know my airfare was $222, I absolutely loved Virgin America and I booked my room at the Sunset Tower for $129/night (normally priced at more than $200) through Jetsetter.

But before making my way to Sunset, I stayed at La Quinta near LAX for one night. At $69, the amenities really amazed me. Free shuttle to/from LAX, continental breakfast, fridge and microwave and near several 24 hour restaurants and fast food joints. But what I really liked was a shuttle that went to Manhattan Beach. The trolley picked me up in front of the hotel and dropped me off at the beach’s pier for only $3 round trip.

The next day I made my way to the gorgeous Sunset Tower, via an $18 Super Shuttle ride. Designed in 1929, the hotel housed the likes of Marilyn, Sinatra and Bugsy Siegel. I felt like I stepped into old Hollywood, but with modern touches like a flat screen television and gourmet mini bar. I stayed away from the mini bar, a $4 soda did not fit into my budget. Besides the super comfy bed, the bathroom may have been the main attraction. The marble countertop and brass fixtures were to die for. And the Kiehl’s bath products were great too. Other pluses included free wifi and being centrally located on the Sunset Strip.

I didn’t rent a car while in L.A., which some people thought was crazy, but not only was it not in my budget but…I can’t drive. Don’t judge me. But, I found a way to get around and hit all the spots I wanted. Starline Tours has a hop-on, hop-off bus that stops at 50 locations throughout the city. It was a great way to learn about the history of L.A. I departed the bus at certain stops, like The Grove, Santa Monica Pier, La Brea Tar Pits and Pink’s hot dogs. Of course I wanted to visit the typical touristy spots as this was my first time in L.A., but I also made it a point to explore a little further. After 10 minutes at The Grove, I grew restless and started walking around the surrounding area. And lo and behold, I stumbled upon some thrift stores on Fairfax. For $40, the tour gave me a two day pass to the city. Not bad considering I traveled all around L.A. and a single cab ride can cost at least $10.

Food is always a major factor for me. While at La Quinta, I had my first Carl’s Jr. burger. No, it’s not fine dining but the chain doesn’t exist in NYC so I wanted to try something new to me. I also enjoyed other L.A. spots like El Pollo Loco and Coffee Bean, which were less than a 10 minute walk from Sunset Tower. By the time I made it to Santa Monica one afternoon, I was starving. I typically stay away from food at amusement parks, beaches, etc as they’re usually overpriced. But right off of the pier was a cute taco and pizza stand. For $5, I had two filling carne asada tacos and a drink.

Before leaving NYC, I took out $200 from the ATM and that was all I needed. So, once again I proved traveling does not have to break the bank. It’s funny, the last day of my trip marked exactly one year since being laid off. I enjoyed my funemployment anniversary

Tags: airfare, eating out, Jetsetter, travel, Virgin America

Virgin America, You Complete Me…

Ah, after three relaxing days in L.A. I’m feeling pretty good. I slept better in the past few days than I have in a long time. But I’ll save those details for a post later this week.

For now, I’m just going to tell you about my flight.  I’m in love with Virgin America. A little background: Virgin was named Conde Nast Traveler’s best domestic airline, I nabbed a great deal from NYC and I normally hate flying. Yes, I know there’s a better chance of getting into a car accident than being in a plane crash but I’d rather have an accident happen on ground.

However, this flight was painless. I was distracted left and right so I had no time to think bad thoughts. Mood lighting, pleasant flight attendants and movies on demand made 36,000 feet more bearable.

Pretty Little Things
Call me a silly girly girl but I don’t want to step on to a plane that looks like it’s had a rough life. The plane was sleek, clean, gentle mood lighting overhead and no weird smell. The seats were leather (or maybe the coach seats were “pleather”) and easily wipeable so there weren’t any questionable stains on the seats. I heard one big guy complain about the leg room but everyone else looked mighty comfy.

Sh*ts and Giggles
I appreciate a sense of humor in a man and I feel the same way about my airline. I normally hate those cheesy safety videos before every flight but these were actually cute and funny. I even let out a chuckle or two. My return flight was called the “Superfly.” How cute is that? And the attendants were young, friendly (not in that annoying way though) and even attempted to make mundane procedures comical. “Today’s flight is brought to you by the letter “S” for safety.”

Technology for Dummies
I like tapping screens (ATMs, iPods, etc), so imagine the squeal I let out when I realized every Virgin flight has a small touch screen in front of all seats. With a slight extension of your arm (or use of the built-in remote on the armrest) you can order snacks or a meal ($3-$10), watch TV or request a movie ($8). There’s also a cool chat function. Notice a cutie in the row ahead of you? You can initiate a seat-t0-seat IM-like chat or there’s a general chat room you can join. You can also access basic info like how many more miles are left in your flight, how fast you’re traveling or look at a map of exactly where your flight is! Oh, there’s also music if you don’t want to drain the battery of your iPod. You can choose everything from Bach to Beyonce to Billie Holiday. They noticeably didn’t offer any hip hop artists but I quickly got over that after listening to Jill Scott and Janet’s “Pleasure Principal.” But the feature most people seem to like is the wifi. Though it normally costs ($6-$13, depending on flight length), it’s free until January 15.

Feed Me Seymour
In addition to the entertainment features on the nifty touch screen, you can also feed your belly. The attendants offered everyone a round of beverages at the beginning of the flight but if you want a drink or bite to eat after that, just a few taps (and a swipe of your credit card) and you’re taken care of. Though the food selections looked good, I grabbed a bite before boarding. I did order beverages though. Water, coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks are gratis and unlimited.

Virgin America officially gets two snaps and a twist. And there just so happens to be another sale going on…

Tags: Virgin America

Traveling FLY on a Dime

I’m blogging from 30,000 miles in the sky. I’m a nervous nelly when it comes to flying but I’m doing OK right about now as I have tons of stuff to distract me on Virgin America, which was named Conde Nast Traveler’s best domestic airline.

The mood lighting is relaxing but I’m more impressed with the free wifi (normally it’s $6-$13, depending on the length of the flight) and the touch screens in front of every seat. You can listen to music, watch TV, view a movie (at $8, I’ll refrain) or order food. There’s no way I’m paying for airplane food, so I’m just sticking with the unlimited, complimentary beverages (coffee, juice, tea and bottled water). With a few taps on the screen, I ordered a cup of OJ and water. Two minutes later a friendly flight attendant was handing me the goods.

And remember, the trip from NYC to LA was only $222.

I’ll check back in tomorrow with a full review (everything from the customer service to the cleanliness of the restrooms) of the airline.

Tags: travel, Virgin America

Southwest Sale

There’s yet another Southwest sale going on for those who love to jet set. With fares starting at $59 each way, you can afford to catch the travel bug.

Yes, I love saving money but more than anything, I love enjoying life. So…I’m heading to L.A. today. I really didn’t start traveling until almost two years ago but since then, I haven’t been able to stay in one locale for too long. The world’s my playground!

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
~Saint Augustine

I still get super nervous about flying but I’m actually looking forward to this flight since I’ll be traveling on Virgin America. They were named best domestic airline by Conde Nast Traveler. I’ll report back and let you know if they live up to all the hype.

Tags: Southwest Airlines

Virgin America Sale

You guys seriously need to jump on this sale before it ends on 10/27. Virgin America just announced a Fare to Fly By Sale with tickets as low as $40 each way. If you don’t know anything about Virgin, it’s a FLY airline: mood lighting, cushy seats, movies on demand, WiFi and has been named Best Domestic Airline.

As the years go by, I find the cold east coast weather gets harder to deal with so I just booked a round trip to L.A. for $221.20! I’m gonna be on a strict budget out there, but I deserve some sunshine.

Tags: Virgin America

**Jet Blue ONE Day Sale (10/15)

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. Wanna know why? Travel Zoo (and Twitter) alerted me to the Jet Blue one day sale (Thursday, 10/15). Details: fares start at $24 each way, travel is valid from October 22 to December 16, taxes are not included and tickets must be purchased today, by 11:59pm. I’ve never flown with the Blue but I hear they’re awesome, leather seating and unlimited snacks. They had me a unlimited snacks…

It’s freezing in NYC right now so I’m craving some warmth, maybe West Palm Beach ($59 each way), Dominican Republic ($69 each way) or Puerto Rico ($79 each way).  I’ll have to look into what hotel deals are also in these locales. Decisions, decisions.

Tags: Jet Blue, One Day Sale

Travel on a Dime – Jetsetter

I had a previously planned post for today but during my Internet surfing this A.M., I came across a new travel website, Jetsetter. Never heard of it, right? Well, that’s why I’m here to give you the inside dish. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Gilt Groupe, the invitation only, online sample sale, well now  they have a sister site, Jetsetter.com.

Jetsetter offers travel deals and steals, kinda similar to Travelzoo, but Jetsetter is by invite only. I love the ‘Zoo (Lawd knows I do!) but so does everyone else, so there are many times offers are sold out before you have time to book your next vacay.

The new site isn’t extending invites to new members yet, but if you’re a Gilt member, you’re automatically a Jetsetter member. Not a Gilt member? Click here to register, and then you can log on to jetsetter.com and enjoy their first sale, which starts tomorrow (9/30).

Tags: Gilt Group, Jetsetter, travel, Travelzoo