Highlights of Lisbon: Trendy, Historic & Picturesque Sights of 2018

Top Strategies For Saving Money On Your RV Trip

Even if traveling makes your life more rich, just the opposite can be said for your bank account. While RV trips are certainly cheaper in comparison to flying to exotic locations and staying in hotels, they are still rather costly. The good news, however, is that there are a variety of ways you can save money while traveling in an RV. Once you’ve found an RV to rent through a resource like Outdoorsy.com, you’ll be ready to put these money saving tips into action.

Here are the top strategies for saving money on your RV trip:

Travel During Shoulder Season

The first money saving tip is to travel during what is called ‘shoulder season.’ Shoulder season is simply the time of year where there are the fewest number of travelers or tourists but when the weather is still suitable for traveling. This means that prices are lower for just about everything. Plus, you’ll have less of a crowd when you arrive at your destination. So in that regard, it’s a win-win.

There are specifically two shoulder seasons in the year: April through early June and then September through October. Off season is during the winter, and peak season is during the summer. While you may experience a little rain during shoulder season, you shouldn’t have to deal with snow or incredibly cold weather or anything like that. Even if it’s not in the middle of summer, the lower cost of travel and fewer travelers definitely makes it worth it.

Take Your Time Shopping For Fuel

If there’s one expense that all RV owners and renters dread, it’s the cost of fuel, which can reach into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a single road trip. And even the smaller sized motorhomes are still hardly fuel efficient. This is why you should definitely take your time to shop for fuel on your motorhome trip versus stopping into the first gas station that you visit. Considering that some RVs can hold over a hundred and fifty gallons of fuel, a station that offers only one to two cents less a gallon for fuel will still save you a lot of money.

The most efficient way to shop for fuel will be with an app such as GasBuddy that will show you all the stations and their fuel prices in the surrounding area.

Join An RV Club

There are a large number of RV discount memberships and clubs that you can join, and joining these clubs will be well worth it to safe on money. Certain clubs or memberships will either grant you access or discounts to several RV parks across the country, RV insurance, emergency towing services, the ability to park at certain golf courses and resorts for free, or a combination of those things. Most of the clubs are also inexpensive and cost less than fifty dollars a year to join.

Who Says You Have To Stay At An RV Park?

Last but not least, who exactly says you must spend overnight at an RV park? RV parks can cost anywhere from $15 to $50 or so a night, with the more expensive parks usually having better space and superior amenities. That being said, staying at a park is most certainly not required for traveling in an RV. Instead, you can park at a private camping area, at the parking lot to a grocery store such as Wal-Mart, off the side of a road (where legal), and so on.

RV travelers call this ‘boondocking,’ and it’s certainly a more inexpensive way to travel. There are also certain RV camps as well that will allow you to park and stay for a period of time either for free or for a very cheap fee, so those options would certainly be worth exploring too. The one negative aspect of boondocking is you won’t have access to utilities and water, so be careful that you conserve what you have.

Saving Money On Your RV Trip

While an RV road trip is going to be costly no matter how you slice it, the tips you have learned in this article can still help you to save a significant amount of money. In the end, saving money on RV trips really comes down to the simple concept of being responsible for your finances and not spending money you don’t have.

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The Best of Cuba Yacht Charter

A Cuba yacht charter is a journey through an archipelago drenched in color. In Cuba, clear turquoise seas lap against sugar-white sands, and coconut palms wave against a clear blue sky. Behind the beach, the tropical rainforest takes hold, rolling away into a lush hilly landscape of old plantations and deep jungle pools.

In the historic cities of Cuba, the color quotient is turned up even higher, with vintage American cars cruising past houses of every shade of pink and blue and yellow, and giant political murals splashed against fading city walls. The only revolution you’ll encounter these days is in the Cuban food and art scene, which is getting more exciting with each passing year.

Offshore, the incredible visual palette continues, with thousands of desert islands, flamingo lagoons, and pretty fishing villages, while underwater, the world’s third-largest reef is home to a chaos of color and life, proving a happy paradise for the diver, snorkeler, or angler.

A Cuba yacht charter is a feast for the senses that will never be forgotten. Yet with over 1,800 miles of coastline, two UNESCO listed cities, and around 4000 island and cays, it can be a little tricky to plan your itinerary if you don’t know what the highlights are. Which is why we’ve put together a short guide to the best of a Cuba yacht charter.

Explore Havana

Where else to start but Havana? This magnificent UNESCO listed city is a melting pot of Art Deco and Art Nouveau facades, Spanish colonial buildings, and hulking Soviet architecture. It’s a city born for exploring, with gourmet restaurants set in opulent mansions, hip backstreet bars, a fiesta of street art and galleries, and bustling food stalls. And color, color, everywhere. Leave your charter yacht to take an afternoon stroll down streets where old men in short sleeves sit at tables playing dominos, and Cuban music and cigar smoke floats in the breeze.

Bliss out on the beaches and desert islands of Cuba

A Cuba yacht charter is the ultimate way to explore Cuba’s coast and archipelagos, where you’ll find stunning beaches in numbers too great to count. Many of Cuba’s greatest beaches and islands are in the north, where you can laze about in hammocks by a beach bar, drop anchor off tiny little islands where yours are the only footprints, or have luxury beach barbeques on sandbanks in the middle of the sapphire sea.

Fall in Love with Trinidad

Another day on a Cuba yacht charter: another UNESCO-listed city. Trinidad enchants with its Spanish architecture, Italian frescoes, and fashionable café and cocktail scene. Once a tremendously rich city in the height of the slave and sugar trades, Trinidad now has a faded grandeur about it that makes exploring it richly atmospheric—an experience only heighted by the brightly painted Cadillacs and rainbow- colored side streets.

Dive the ‘Galapagos of the Caribbean’

Cuba has the third largest reef in the world, which is home to an extraordinary abundance of marine life, including whale sharks, sea turtles, rays and even alligators! Jardines de la Reina is the top dive site of them all, with so much life that this underwater garden is likened to the Galapagos. All this activity also makes the waters of Cuba a fishing enthusiast’s paradise: cast a line for snapper and grouper on the reef, or go out deep to hunt for sailfish and marlin.

Strike out on an Inland Adventure

If you can bear to tear yourself away from the glorious Cuban beaches, the interior holds many treasures. In the hills you’ll find desperately green valleys, huge limestone outcrops, and rolling tobacco plantations, while in the dense jungle you can have a swim in one of the ‘cenotes’, the ethereal forest pools created by flooded caves. Hike, drive, or horse ride through spectacular scenery in Cuba’s quiet interior.

Go Wild at Cienaga de Zapata National Park

Deep in the south, this wild, pristine peninsula has also gained UNESCO status, with the Ciénaga de Zapata UNESCO Biosphere Reserve spanning a huge tract of wetlands. Expect superb bird-watching, a couple of good beaches, and some world-class diving offshore.

These are only a few suggestions of the best of a Cuba yacht charter, for more detail get in contact with your yacht charter broker to plan a tailored yachting itinerary to suit your group.

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Download Dosh To Earn Money While Traveling

Top 4 Highlights From The Island of Malta

Celebrating The W Fort Lauderdale Hotel Unveiling

This past week, the W Fort Lauderdale unveiled its newly redesigned property at a cocktail reception with mermaids, musical performances, and a fashion show! All of the rooms and many of the public spaces within the hotel were renovated as a result of the hotel’s $55 million dollar update. With different DJ’s in every corner, baristas serving drinks in the hotel elevators, and painted models blending into the rooms, the entire evening served as a jubilant toast to the hotel’s success.

The unveiling started with margaritas and models in the lobby. The models were dressed to reflect the nautical theme of the evening: ocean-inspired makeup, body paint, and capes that rippled like waves.

On the fifth floor, the pool deck was decorated with multicolored lights to accentuate the patterned floors while a mermaid posed for pictures and waved at guests from the water. A DJ played music next to the open bar as guests trickled in and settled themselves on the all-new outdoor seating areas.

After drinks and a mix of delicious Japanese and Mexican hors d’oeuvres were served, we were treated to a live concert! Breakout merengue and salsa singer-songwriter Sabrina Claudio and her band performed on the stage in front of the pool.

Once their incredible performance was over, guests returned indoors for more drinks accompanied by a different DJ and a display of innovative and contemporary art pieces.

Everyone gathered by a set of stairs for a fashion show showcasing designer Susanne Bartsch’s work by models in drag. She unveiled her pop-up fashion display of curated looks sprawled throughout the hotel for guests to enjoy.

Each model posed on the stairs before stepping down to the main floor and joining the crowd. The last model was Susanne Bartsch herself, dressed in her own couture. After descending the stairs, she and her models mingled with guests and happily posed for pictures.

Several of the newly refurbished rooms were open for guests to see and explore. To get there, we went through a hallway with a waterfall running down its walls that led to yet another DJ. After being served drinks in the elevator, we visited the rooms where models posed who were painted to blend in with the décor and a mermaid lounged in a bathtub. These were such fun and creative surprises!

The new design of the guest rooms and suites is completely contemporary with different shades of blue and grey with metallic accents. We admired the nighttime view of Fort Lauderdale from the balcony before calling it a night – and what a memorable night it was!

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The Top 5 Manhattan Luxury Boutiques You Can’t Miss

Manhattan is, without a doubt, one of the best cities in the world for shopping. However, while the city’s department stores are world-renowned, its boutiques are the ideal places to find that perfect piece nobody else will have. Whether you’re looking for a single piece to accent your favorite outfit or want a full wardrobe overhaul, these boutiques are sure to deliver.

Intermix | 1003 Madison Avenue

If you need to look amazing for a night on the town, there’s no place like Intermix to help you find the style you’re looking for. This multi-vendor shopping experience has pieces from designers like Rag & Bone, Jonathan Simkhai, Derek Lam, Alexander Wang, and Jimmy Choo, with everything from outerwear to shoes to purses lining the shelves of this unique shopping mecca. Better yet, if you’re not sure what look to go with, the store has on-site stylists who can help you find the perfect pieces for any occasion.

IRO | 241 Columbus Avenue

This elegant minimalist French-born boutique on the Upper West Side is perfect for a workplace wardrobe refresh that will have your whole office talking. From sexy fitted button-downs to lacy pullovers to ruffled leather trousers , each piece combines femininity and function. And even if you’re just in the market for a rebooted exercise look, IRO’s soft tank tops, leggings, and sneakers will have you feeling like a rock star even during your least-glamorous gym moments.

What Goes Around Comes Around | 351 West Broadway

Vintage lovers will adore the finds they encounter at vintage mecca What Goes Around Comes Around on West Broadway. From vintage Rolexes to Chanel dresses to Hermes bags, every timeless piece at this unique boutique will become an instant favorite. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about finding yourself coming home with a fake when you shop at What Goes Around Comes Around: the company is meticulous about vetting every item that lines their shelves.

Sandro | 415 Bleecker Street

This French boutique is the perfect place to revamp your look for a more modern and mature vibe. From luxe jumpsuits to structured trench coat to lace dresses to shoes and purses, Sandro’s wide variety of elegant essentials are as perfect for a day at the office as they are for a weekend party. The business, operated by the same Parisian sisters behind the Maje label, is transforming the way shoppers think about luxury goods, making effortlessly elegant, yet wearable pieces their top priority.

Birchbox | 433 West Broadway

Beauty delivery service Birchbox has expanded their operations to a brick-and-mortar store in the West Village and makeup aficionados couldn’t be more delighted. In addition to a wide variety of makeup and hair products, the store offers nail, hair, and makeup services, making it the perfect final stop before a big night on the town. And in addition to the full-sized products available for purchase, the company remains true to its roots, with an entire “Build Your Own Birchbox” section where you can load up on the trial-sized goodies Birchbox is known for.

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Pondoro Game Lodge – Luxury Safari in Kruger National Park

While South Africa offers travelers unique experiences in all shapes and sizes, there is nothing that compares to stepping out of civilization and experiencing the wonders of a safari. In the case of the Pondoro Game Lodge, the safari experience doesn’t stop when you return to the lodge: many of the animals in the area can be seen from your own back yard. A 2017 winner of Africa’s Best Honeymoon Hideaway, Best Luxury Safari Spa, and Best Safari Retreat in Africa, Pondoro Game Lodge offers guests a luxurious getaway without disturbing the wildlife or taking away from the remoteness of being in the African Bush.

Location

Pondoro Game Lodge is located in the Balule Private Nature Reserve right on the banks of the Olifants River on the border of Kruger National Park. To get there, we flew into a very small airport and were driven through border control into the reserve. Like most tourists, we were forewarned about Malaria, however, once we arrived at the lodge we saw that was not a problem given the total lack of mosquitoes. One of my favorite things about the lodge was its location on the Olifants River which attracted all sorts of wildlife, some of which are not regularly seen on safari, such as hippopotamuses. Because of their aggressive nature, we admired them from a distance and enjoyed the chance to see these animals in their natural territory and, sometimes, could even hear them at night.

The lodge itself has three chalets, a rock pool for all guests, a restaurant, a small gym, and their award-winning spa; I was so excited to explore all of it!

Accommodations

The accommodations at Pondoro Game Lodge, awarded five stars by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, are some of the most unique and spectacular that I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The remote lodge has five suites, each with a private patio which includes a lounge and an outside shower.  All have en-suite bathrooms, views of the river, and a wooden deck.

Each luxurious suite comes with complete privacy and its own unique theme: Water Suite, Buffalo Suite, Earth Suite, Tree Suite, and Rock Suite.  These themes refer to the impressive decor of each suite; for example, we stayed in the Tree Suite which had a huge Jackalberry tree lying in front of the suite and a huge leadwood stump that decorates the room. Some of the tree branches were used for the headboard decorations which I found to be quite unique and beautiful.

Each room is a masterpiece of colorful textiles and African pieces combined with open areas and, of course, the brilliant views of the river.

I appreciated the beauty of the bathroom’s contemporary design, however, I wish they offered more privacy. The shower and bathtub are completely exposed to the bedroom, which might be a problem for someone traveling with another person.

During periods of free time, I enjoyed lounging on my patio with a book and a camera ready for when antelopes or monkeys came near. Just in case you haven’t seen enough luxury yet, the suites also have a Jacuzzi built into the wooden deck!

Our daughters stayed in the Water Suite which was named for the indoor waterfall that peacefully trickles down the headboard of their bed.

For those with a sense of adventure, the Treehouse Hide is available for guests who wish to experience a more one-on-one stay with nature. Located on wooden stills in the middle of the Bush, drop-off is at nightfall and pick-up is in time for the morning safari!

Safaris

The luxury of Pondoro Lodge is only just trumped by the incredible encounters with wildlife. Game drives begin in the early morning and return back just in time for breakfast. Evening game drives go on until dark and then return to the lodge for dinner.  In between drives, guests can go on a nature walk with a staff member, book a picnic lunch at the hide, bird watch, or enjoy a treatment at the spa. All game drives are in open-top Safari Cruisers with no more than eight people per cruiser at any time for the safety of guests and for the environment.

During the evening drive, there is a small break where guests dismount from the cruisers and enjoy snacks and beverages as the sun sets.

Once the cruiser has left the lodge, you are in the wild! On any given drive, we saw a huge diversity of animals and up close like you wouldn’t believe. One minute we would be watching giraffes quietly grazing on the tops of trees, then we would be surrounded by a herd of elephants. On our safaris, we saw all big five game animals: lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, African bush elephants, and African buffalo. Despite being in very close proximity to many of these powerful animals, at no point did we feel threatened or unsafe thanks to the knowledgeable and professional staff that accompanied us at all times. The thrill of seeing these creatures in person and in their own habitat is indescribable; you simply must go see it for yourself!

We even had the thrill of seeing a leopard resting up high on a tree in our evening drive.  It was quite a memorable site to see.

Dining

Our first dinner took place close to the river, with candles and tiki torches lighting the way. It was a good opportunity to get to know some of the other guests at the lodge, which was easy since there were so few of us. No doubt this is part of the lodge’s romantic appeal: no chance of feeling overcrowded, and the youngest guests are 12 or older. The rest of our meals were served on a wooden deck far up in the trees, providing a beautiful view of the Olifants River and all the animals that flock to it.

There is nothing quite like eating breakfast while witnessing hippopotamuses gracefully sink into the river to escape the heat, or giraffes grazing across the water, or even having a monkey deftly steal your toast! That was the only time anyone’s food got nabbed, since after the incident, a staff member stood watch with a slingshot whenever the monkeys came near. All meals were scrumptious with assorted juices and coffee in the mornings, a hearty lunch in the middle of the day, and a delicious dinner accompanied by an award-winning wine selection or some of the fine whiskies available.

One evening we ate down by the river in a long table elegantly illuminated by candles and a camp fire.  You could hear the hippos and other animals in the wild which was a magical experience.

Spa/Fitness Center

The Serenity Spa is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance at Pondoro Game Lodge: total privacy, a tranquil environment, and expert staff. Suddenly, you’re in a calm oasis and it’s easy to forget that you’re in the African wilderness. Massages, facials, and other treatments are done using Africology products and traditional South African and African techniques, all meant to remove toxins and rejuvenate the body. Treatments can take place at the spa, outdoors, or in the peace of your own room.

On warm days its nice to soak in the outdoor pool which is tranquil and picturesque.

Not only is Pondoro Game Lodge a unique luxury destination with incredible amenities, but it plays a proactive, conscious role in protecting the environment and working with others in the community. A sponsor and partner of the all-women anti-poaching team, Black Mambas, have participated in their affiliate project: Bush Babies Environmental and Awareness Program. The Black Mambas are dedicated to protecting the diversity and livelihood of the wildlife along the Balule Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park border, a necessity given the endangered species that are under attack by poachers.

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