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

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

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

Jetsetter

You remember Jetsetter, the online travel agency that offers exclusive deals to luxury hotels? Well, they’ve been up and running for a few weeks and have had some pretty amazing sales. After booking my L.A. trip, I checked the site out and was elated to see the Sunset Tower is going for $129/night. Prime Hollywood location and amenities galore make it the place to be (oh, and Vanity Fair has their annual Oscar party there). Of course $129 isn’t my definition of cheap, but for this hotel, $129 is as good as it gets. Jetsetter prices in general aren’t that economical, but if you’re looking for luxury, at a lower cost, they have it. Their current sales include yacht cruises around the Caribbean and Central America.

Access to Jetsetter is by invitation only, but of course I’ll hook you up. Click to join and learn about their swanky deals and steals.

Tags: Jetsetter, travel

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