Save on Your Next Vacation or Staycation

Did I mention that I am turning the big 4-0 in just a few short weeks? And while I could be anguishing over laugh lines, I’m way more focused on how I am going to celebrate!  As much as I love spending time with my 4 & 6 year old boys, mama needs a B-Day getaway - sans children…

Fab & Fru Money Saving Discoveries!

One of the best things about turning 40 is that I stumbled upon a couple of money saving websites & apps to help me book my B-Day adventure.  I am deciding between going away or just having a MAJOR spa day right here in Los Angeles.  And lucky for me, both Yapta.com and Lifebooker.com have made my decision making process a whole lot easier – and cheaper!

Yapta

I can’t believe I waited until now to use Yapta - which stands for ”Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant”.   Powered by Kayak.com, Yapta tracks the prices of flights before and after you book your trip. One of the most Fab & Fru features?  If the price of your airline ticket decreases, Yapta lets you know when you’re eligible for a voucher or refund!

To be honest, I didn’t even know airlines offered refunds for price drops.  But according to Yapta, Alaska and Jet Blue will refund for any price drop, Virgin America if it drops $75 or more, Hawaiian if it drops $100 or more, and Delta, American, USAir and United for drops of $150 or more!

Lifebooker

There is nothing I like more than spa treatments – (except maybe spa treatments in Paris).  So,  I am also considering celebrating my big day with a tres indulgent staycation: a day of beauty treatments.  But here in LA, a day of pampering can basically cost as much as a trip to Paris – which is why I am so excited about Lifebooker!

Lifebooker is the pampering portal when it comes to spa deals and beautification in your home city.  They scout out the top locations and hook you up with the best spas and practitioners in your area of interest.  Whether it be microdermabrasion, massages or manicures – Lifebooker offers deals for up to 80% the standard prices! Even more beautiful… It’s 100% FREE to sign up.  Not only that, but you can also gain $1 in reward dollars just by rating the places you’ve been, and $10 for recommending the site to your friends.

Fabulous, Frugal, & 40

Saving big bucks while still spoiling myself silly?  40 is sounding better by the minute. Now all I have to do is convince my husband to take me to Paris for the weekend to say Bon Voyage to my thirties.  Check out these sites, and let them help you splurge without waking up the next day with a financial hangover!

What are your favorite money saving travel & spa sites?

by Brandi Savitt – January 25, 2012

The Cost of Traveling Abroad

Last week, in the dead of a long dark winter, I was fortunate enough to travel up to to the Arctic Circle in Norway to attend a film festival.  And while I didn’t get to see the Northern Lights, I did try whale sashimi (…is that legal?) and took a picture with a life size taxidermy Polar Bear…

Work brings me to Europe several times a year.  And while any chance I get to write off sipping wine on the Rivera is a dream come true,  my bank and credit card companies just love to find any sneaky excuse they can to charge me extra fees.  So, if you’re planning a trip to a foreign land, here’s what you need to budget for so you have NO surprises when you go to pay your credit bill when you get home!

What is a Foreign Transaction Fee?

According to Credit Card Hub, the credit card foreign transaction (or international) fee is the combination of a fee that Master Card, Visa, etc charges to handle the transaction between the overseas merchant and your credit card issuer (eg. Chase, Citi, Bank of America), and the fee that your credit card issuer charges on top of that.  Depending on the type of card, and its issuer, this fee is typically 2-3% of every purchase made!

Not So Hidden Fees

If you’ve used your credit card recently while traveling, or even if you’ve purchased something online from a foreign company, you may have noticed this separate, hefty surprise fee on your statement.  I thought this was just a new type of fee that credit cards could now pass onto their customers, but I was wrong.  It’s always been there.  But now the credit card companies are forced to point it out.

American Express explained to me that they’ve always charged a fee for foreign purchases, but they used to roll it into the total purchase number on the statement – essentially hiding their 2.7% foreign transaction fee from the naked eye!  Luckily for us, now we can see for ourselves just how much extra we’re getting charged for the privilege of traveling and spending money abroad!

Call Your Credit Card Company Before You Travel

Before you travel to another country, call each of your credit card companies and see which of your cards has the lowest foreign transaction fee.  Then add that fee into your travel budget. 

If you have an American Express Platinum Card, or another premium card, your international fee may be automatically waived.  But don’t rush out and apply for a premium card just to avoid the fees.  Unless you travel abroad extensively, these premium cards may not be the worth the high annual fee.

…And just as a general note,  while you have someone on the phone, you should always alert your card company that you will be leaving the country.  This will help avoid them from freezing your card in fear that it was stolen.

By Megan Segura – September 26, 2011

Saving the Fab & Fru Way

Once the school year begins, it doesn’t take long before we find ourselves whining, “I need a vacation.” Unfortunately, we don’t always have the funds handy to whisk the family away for a long weekend abroad.  It’s possible to take your dream vacation, but us Fab & Fru gals have to put in the leg work ahead of time to make our money stretch.

Honesty Is the Best Policy

Be honest with yourself (no matter how much it hurts!) on how much money you are spending on budget-wrecking habits. Start breaking these habits now, so you can put that money toward a fun trip.  If you feel like there isn’t a significant amount of money there, try looking over your bank statement to find other places you can save.  Ask yourself what you can give up for a week away – maybe your weekly manicure or your premium cable package.

Organize Your Funds

It is best to keep your vacation money away from your checking and savings accounts, especially if you’re using your savings account for other things, like taxes or rent, etc.  If your employer offers direct deposit, then MHN recommends linking more than one account, so a certain percentage of your check automatically goes into your vacation savings account. Since there is paperwork involved with setting up another direct deposit account, you will be less tempted to go back and lower the percentage transferred to your vacation fund.

Certain cruise companies allow customers to put money toward their trip early by exchanging real money for “vacation money.” Doing this keeps you from spending money that has already been set aside for your vacation.

Look For Discounts

Once you have chosen your dream destination, Nicole Hockin suggests signing up for Airfarewatchdog.  This site will alert you to great deals on flights to your destination.

Andrea Woroch suggests you consider getting a rental house or hotel room that comes with a kitchen. This will help you save money on snacks and small meals, so you can splurge on bigger meals.

Final Tips for Budgeting for a Vacation

• Sign up for any loyalty clubs that you come across when planning your vacation. These clubs help you to get discounts on the next vacation you plan.
• Take 20% of your vacation budget and add it to the fund. This extra money will account for unexpected costs that may sneak up on you
• Call your bank and tell them where you are going before you leave for vacation. Some banks will see that your card is being used in another country and assume it has been stolen and stop transactions from going through.

Do you have your eye on a particular vacation destination? Tell us about it!

By Brandi Savitt – September 8, 2011

Budget to Save Face

Several years ago I was producing a movie in New York.  At some point during post production, my lovely Italian co-producer flew in for a meeting and wanted to take a few of our key people out to dinner.  I chose a gem of a spot in the East Village where I knew the manager, and knew we’d be treated impressively well – and we were.  My co-producer was so enchanted by the food and the service that he wanted to leave an ‘outstanding’ tip.  So, when the bill came, he threw down his card, added in the tip, and proudly handed the waitress the signed slip.  Knowing that the European tradition is to tip way less than us Americans, I excused myself to use the ladies room so I could sneak a peak at his final tally.  My suspicion was correct and my dear friend only left 10% (which he truly thought was the highest honor).  I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of our co-workers, so I quickly made up the difference, and we all happily went on our way.

The reality is, gratuity customs vary all over the world.  So, if you’re planning a trip abroad for business or pleasure and want to be in the know, we have some Fab & Fru tipping tips that may help you save some cash, and more importantly, save some face while traveling in foreign territory!

Australia

Tipping is not a mandatory custom in Australia.  However, a tip for good service is often given as a thank you.

Restaurants- 10% for good service at a restaurant, and always leave loose change for the bar staff at the pub.

Hotels - Tipping is uncommon.

Taxis – Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, but it is customary to `round-up’ the fare to the nearest dollar or two – especially if you have a lot of luggage and the driver has been helpful. –It is not unheard of that some cabbies actually round down the fare if they have a really a good chat with you!

Tour Guides - Tips are not expected, but a small tip is appreciated.

Canada

Tipping in Canada is similar to our customs in the United States….

Restaurants -  Gratuities are seldom included in restaurants prices, but you may find it has been included on the check if you have a large party.  It is customary to tip approximately 15% on the total bill before tax, and 20% for exceptional service.

Hotels - $2-5 per night for housekeeping, $1-2 per bag for the bell hop, $2-3 for the valet, and $5 per request for the concierge

Taxis - A minimum of 10% for the total fare

By Megan Segura – July 27, 2011

Fun & Affordable U.S. Destinations

You don’t need to go the tropics to have a memorable vacation. Even on a tight budget, there are plenty of Fab & Fru travel opportunities in your own backyard. We found some spectacular U.S. cities to visit this year, and guess what? Getting there won’t cost you an arm and a leg.  Whether you want to hit the trails or go out on the town, check out these unexpected hot spots that offer thrifty travelers tons to do while giving you a BIG bang for their buck!

For the Outdoor Adventurer

If you have an adventurous spirit, we have a few places that fit the bill!

Lynchburg, Virginia is packed with thrilling outdoor activities. If you’re visiting during the summer, take an unguided tube, canoe, kayak, or batteau trip down the James River to cool off. See the views of Lynchburg by taking a hike through the Blackwater Creek Trail System or ride a bike through 9 miles of natural trails. The best part? Lynchburg offers the only year-round outdoor snow-sports slope in the nation! This particular destination is even more affordable during the fall when package deals and discount admissions become available at local lodging.

If Life Magazine names it one of the “100 Places To See In Your Lifetime,” then you know it has to be good, which is why we recommend McCurtain County’s Beavers Ben in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Beaver’s Bend State Park contains mountain lakes surrounded by national forests, log cabins and camping grounds nestled in the towering pines and clear running rivers. Not only is this state park affordable – it’s FREE! Hike the miles and miles of trails through the Kiamichi Mountains or go parasailing in the Broken Bow lake. Kyaking and fishing are also available. And don’t worry if you can’t take time off until after summer, because Southern Living Magazine named this area one of the top three places in the South to see fall colors.

Discover a Cosmopolitan Gem

If good food and relaxation is more in line with your vacation style, then San Diego might just be calling your name. Begin planning now to save big on the San Diego Wine & Food Festival, which takes place Nov. 16-20. Named one of the “Top 100 Events” by BizBash Magazine, this get-together features 170 fine wineries, craft breweries & spirits purveyors, as well as 70 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants and 30 gourmet food companies. This seemingly fancy town actually has some amazingly affordable finds! –Don’t forget to pack some loose-fitting clothes for the trip back!

Memphis, Tennessee is known for its music and the notorious Graceland, but there is so much to do in this city – and most of it’s FREE! Visit the Beale Street Walk of Fame or take one of the historic walking tours through sites like the famous Peabody hotel. At night, there’s Beale Street Historic District, which is full of restaurants and clubs. There is also tons of unique shopping and delicious restaurants to choose from. Find great rates on hotels by looking outside the city – the drive into Memphis is quick and easy.

by Brandi Savitt – July 18, 2011

Save Cash by Doing Your Homework

Last week I flew to Los Angeles for some face to face work time with Steph.  I needed to rent a car, and I found an utterly amazing deal through Oribtz for Fox Car Rental ($112 total for 7 days including tax)!  However, just like every time I rent a car, I walked up to the counter, completely confused about what my Amex covered and if I needed to buy any additional coverage.  Like always, the customer service person rattled off ten packages so quickly I thought I was at an auction.  There were so many choices being offered for the economy car that I rented, I panicked and I walked away – having purchased extra coverage just to be safe (which cost almost as much as I spent on the car for the week)!

It can get frustrating when you’re up at that counter trying to figure out what extras you need to buy. The additional coverage always seems like a scam – just another way for them to make more money off of you…  So in an effort to figure it out once and for all, here’s the rental car insurance info you need to know BEFORE you rent your next vehicle so you are properly insured WITHOUT spending more than you have too!

What Do the Basic Coverages Offered Actually Mean?

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance protects drivers in the case of accidents involving other vehicles, objects, people and the surface of the road. Collision insurance covers the driver whether or not he or she is at fault for the accident. It also provides for towing, storage, and salvage if the car has been badly damaged. Collision insurance will cover the cost of repairs to the vehicle (depending on the value of the car) or replacement of the vehicle if badly damaged.  *Keep in mind, coverage is always limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Rental Liability Coverage

This is primary insurance offered to protect you against claims made by a third party for bodily injury and/or property damage sustained while operating the rental vehicle, up to the required financial responsibility limits of the state in which the vehicle is rented. It typically does not cover all situations that may arise while operating a rental vehicle.  Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy (but collision does). *Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy. It is mandatory in most states.

Other Insurance Commonly Offered

These extra options are not mandatory by law and are typically covered by your credit card or personal insurance.  Do check with your credit card company and insurance provider, but unless you are renting a special vehicle that is not covered by other means, or you are driving somewhere you feel more at risk, these extra policies are rarely worth the expense!

• Supplemental Rental Insurance
  
• Personal Property/Personal Accident Coverage
• Loss Damage Waiver

by Brandi Savitt – June 22, 2011

European Woes Equal Serious Travel Deals

With crazy expensive airfares and an exchange rate that makes every American’s bank account cringe, the past several years have meant that taking a European vacation has become a distant dream for most of us cost conscious travelers.  And while traveling to Western Europe is never your cheapest vacation option, we have some Fab & Fru tips on how to find some truly unbelievable deals.  It turns out you CAN turn your once unattainable dream into an affordable trip of a life time!

Countries in Crisis Want You to Visit

As Greece works hard to meet the necessary requirements to receive additional bail out money from the European Union this summer, the struggling economies of Spain, Portugal, Greece and Ireland are further adding to the European Debt Crisis as a whole.  And while, this is not great news for the world economy, it does mean that you can find SIGNIFICANT savings when traveling to these countries in economic crisis.  They want you to come.  In fact, they NEED you to come – so now is the time to explore your options!

Whether you want to lie on the white sands of Santorini, feast on the finest tapas in Barcelona, sip Port in Lisbon, or road trip through the Irish countryside, now is the time to find the spectacular deals you’ve been waiting for!

Book Your Trip to Europe After Labor Day

Although you may be able to find a last minute surprise summer deal, the experts at Travelocity say that traveling anywhere in European becomes MUCH more affordable after Labor Day.  And you will get the absolute best deals on airfares in January and February! This also includes using miles to book your tickets . –The key to using miles is book your flights way in advance to ensure availability.  I booked my February trip to Berlin last November, and it only cost me 50,000 miles round trip!

Fly During the Week

Try to arrange to fly during the week.  Airfare is much much cheaper if you leave for your trip on a weekday rather than flying out Friday night – just in time for the weekend!

Create Your Own Package Deal

If you are serious about saving, create your own package deal or find a package that has already been negotiated by a travel agent.  By booking your flights, hotels and ground transportation at the same time using a travel site or travel agent, you WILL save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.  Again, these countries are dying for your business.  They will do whatever they can to lure you there so you will spend money and help fuel their economy!

Check out this incredible $1,300 all inclusive deal to Ireland!

Tools & Deals to Plan Your Trip

Exchange Rate Calculator: Check up-to-the-minute Dollar to Euro exchange rates at xe.com

Sceptre Self Guided Tours: Sceptretours.com has some incredible independent trips already packaged together.  Check out this all inclusive deal for 7 Nights in Ireland for $1,300!

Gate1 Travel Guided Tours: Gate1travel.com has fantastic travel packages, with the option for guided tours – plus you can pick and chose your own vacation features.

Kayak.com: Kayak has the most options to help you find the cheapest flights and put together your own package.  We were able to find a 2 week package to Athens for $1350!

Take Off!

The bottom line? Don’t let the current conversion rate of $1.4369 to 1 Euro get you down! With a little prep work, you may actually be able to fulfill your fantasy of eating Mediterranean food – IN the Mediterranean – sooner than you think!

Eating On the Go for Less

Both Brandi and I have been traveling up a storm lately – and, honestly, my biggest complaint about flying has nothing to do with baggage fees or surly airline employees.  Each time I travel I spend a mint on crappy “food”, and I leave the airport wondering where all my cash went as I search for cab fare with my bloated fingers.

Snacking Advice from a Professional

Like so many things in life, a little prep work can go a long way. So, before Brandi and I both get on our next flight later this week, we consulted with personal trainer & health coach Christine Boutross.  Christine gave us some Fab & Fru tips for snacking on the go – whether you’re prepping for a crazy day of errands or traveling across the country…

Mind Your QTQs!

Christine has developed an easy way to remind ourselves of how to eat well on the go – she calls it the “QTQs” – which stands for stands for Quality, Timing and Quantity.

Quality: Aim to have the least processed foods available. The closer a food is to its natural state, the higher the quality.

Timing: Timing is crucial when eating on-the-go. Make sure you eat every four hours. If you’re ravenous, you’re far more likely to fall prey to the siren call of the drive-thru.

Quantity: It’s easy to mindlessly chomp on chow when you’re driving or bored at the airport. Take time to breathe and chew while you eat, so you can really feel when your body is satiated. Aim to eat to the point of feeling like you’ve refilled your energy stores, and then stop. You want your food to fuel you up when you’re on the run, not slow you down!

Top Travel Foods

Ok, so in addition to prepping your regular cut up fruits and veggies, we wanted some new ideas of Fab & Fru foods to take on the go.  Here are a couple of Christine’s favorites:

• Try an Ezekial sprouted wrap with organic almond butter and sliced dried prunes or figs for a sweet and filling treat!
• Instead of carrots, try cut up Jicama for a refreshing change!
• And instead of spending a bundle on overly sweetened trail mix at the airport, Christine says to make a batch of Home Touch Trail Mix – it’s easy and delish:

Recipe: Home Touch Trail Mix

from www.integrativenutrition.com

Ingredients

2 cups almonds, raw

1 cup pecans

2 cups walnuts, raw

2 cups pumpkin or squash seed, raw

2 cups dried cranberries (unsweetened)

1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)

Directions

1.      In a bowl mix together almonds, pecans, walnuts and seeds. Cover with water and soak overnight.

2.      Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

3.      Rinse and discard soaking water.

4.      Add cranberries and add olive oil. Mix until everything is coated well.

5.      Spread the mixture out evenly on baking sheet and place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until you can smell the roasting nuts and they start to turn a lot.

6.      Cool and store in air-tight glass container.

So, we’d love to hear from you – what inspired – and healthy – snack choices do YOU bring along when traveling? Let us know before we leave tomorrow!

by Brandi Savitt – May 12, 2011

The Trap of Hidden Airline Fees

On the last few domestic flights I’ve taken,  I’ve noticed an annoying new trend on United/Continental Airlines when I’ve gone to book my seat online.  Somehow, every time, there only seems to be middle seats available in the back of the plane…?!

The first time it happened, I had booked my flight a little last minute, and to avoid sitting crammed like a sardine next to the toilets for three hours, I immediately purchased the United’s Economy Plus upgrade offer for $44 that flashed on my screen.  However, when the same scenario happened again, and then again, I realized that it wasn’t that I had bad luck, but rather, not only were the first ten or so rows in the economy cabin now deemed Economy Plus seating,  the airline also seemed to be holding some of the better economy seats until the day of the flight -  all to coerce travelers into paying for a better seat ahead of time!

For Better & For Worse

I must say, having the choice to upgrade to a more comfortable seat doesn’t totally bother me. But when I’ve booked a $300+ ticket four weeks in advance, and the only way to get a confirmed aisle or window seat is to pay almost $50 bucks more- well that’s just simply outrageous!

Budgeting for Extra Fees

From extra charges for food and movies, to checked baggage fees, extra costs for better economy seating, co-pays for redeeming award points, and an extra fee for priority boarding, you could easily double the cost of your domestic ticket by the time you land back home.  To avoid spending potentially hundreds more on unplanned expenses, be strategic when budgeting for your next trip and plan ahead. If you can, only bring a carry on and always pack your own snacks.  And if you DO want to add any additional perks to your flight, make sure you’ve set aside the funds to cover the costs!

Resources to Help You Plan Your Flight

We found several super handy online resources that are a must to consult before you book your next flight!

Most Up-to-Date Extra Fee Comparison Chart

How to Book the Best Seats

How to Use Frequent Flyer Miles

Top 50 Airline Fares

How to Earn Extra Miles

Do Your Homework When Choosing an Airline

Most travelers out there fall into one of two camps.  Either you are a loyalist who tries only to fly your preferred airline so you can accumulate the most miles possible while working to the highest elite status possible, or you’re like the rest of us and shop for the cheapest flight. But no matter how much you travel, gaining an understanding of how and what different airlines charge for extra services, and learning about their company policies, is key to preparing for how much your trip will actually cost you in the end.