The Cheapest time to travel

Here are some pointers about when you can travel for the best price. When to actually book the ticket for the cheapest flight can be found here.

1. Try to travel midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the cheapest travel days.
2. Travel the off-season. BUT it's the off season for a reason. Make sure you aren't vacationing right in the middle of the wet season with 40 inch rainfall total norms.
3. Try to stay a Saturday night. If you have to travel on the weekend, staying the Saturday night often means cheaper flights.
4. AVOID SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. Labor Day is a horrible time to travel because it's the last 3 day weekend of the Summer.
5.Look for trends. Know your location. If you are travelling to Vegas for a non-weekend visit. It is often cheaper to fly TO VEGAS on Sunday than FROM Vegas. Watch for planes they are trying to fill.
6. Book flights during the workday. Lots of people try to avoid missing workdays and using up holiday time so they take later flights out. Taking a mid day flight is often cheaper.

I realize that booking cheap tickets is an art form, but it is extremely rewarding!

Make time don't wait part II

So I mentioned before the awesome trip Kathryn and I had to Monticello in the rain. As it gets cold, I tend to think about my first trip to NYC two years ago. It was cold and snowy and I learned that the iphone needs warm finger to work so I spent lots of time blowing on my fingers to warm them up! I was determined to see the top of the Empire State building though and every time we tried to get a little closer to the top the people who worked there would try to turn us away. I think they just wanted a break in their day though.

This method must have worked had I not been so sincerely adamant about reaching the top of the tower. Apparently in my adamant state, I neglected to notice that my friend, Marci was not terribly thrilled with heights. But after I came out of my own little world and kept saying that Jesus would not let me travel all the way to NYC without seeing the view from the top she stopped protesting. Probably because she was now thinking she was climbing up a super tall building with a crazy person.

And when we first got out it appeared we really were the only people who thought there would be a view. It did however afford this once in a lifetime shot! (See Marci's shoulder the only other person up there in the bottom left!)



Then the clouds parted and we were able to see the whole city. All the way down to Macy's and Rockefeller Center. We could just make out the ice skaters. The pictures were too far away to do the view justice but this one of Macy's is nice.



And I learned yet again. Don't Wait. Make Time. Because when everyone else decides it's time to quit those offer the best pictures and experiences!

Best time to book a flight (as in time of day you buy the ticket)

I'm really surprised at how many people don't know the tricks of the airline industry. The know people are at work surfing the net for vacation plans and jack up prices during work hours. Also people have time to surf over the weeked so prices are high then too. I always find luck on Wednesday or Thursday nights. And I never buy the first flight I find unless it is such an awesome deal I'd kick myself if I didn't. This has happened exactly once for me.

So here are some helpful tips:

1. Check multiple times in the day
2. Try to look on Wednesday or Thursday evenings.
3. Get signed up for deal alerts from your favorite carriers. For me it is Delta and Southwest.
4. If you have time or are a night owl looking at the website shortly after midnight on Wednesday because this is when all the unbooked reservations.
5. First isn't always best. If you are willing to risk it you can find cheaper flights as the date gets closer and the airline is trying to fill the plane. My friend Kathryn is a master at this.

Nothing like shaking naked tatas to send you to the gym

I've been praying for God to send me some self-control and motivation to get fit. Oh how He knows me so well! The abnormal medical test results didn't work. The lectures from the doctors (yes plural, my fat ass needs to get healthy) didn't work. But guess what has gotten my butt to fitness classes three days in a row???

THIS DID:



For those who are unaware this is a HAMMAM, where as Top 10 Marrakech
puts it: Women go naked. That's right nekkid. It's all same sex but still! My white pasty, cottage cheese ass around all these thin, lithe tanned Moroccan women? Um, Weight lifting and Aerobic class anyone?

I shall celebrate by eating fake German Patty Melts.

Yesterday was my dear friends' last day in San Antonio. Today they fly out to Germany to begin a new chapter in their lives. I am happy yet sad. Already I've been thinking about things I want to try here in SA and realize my testing buddy will be thousands of miles away is just now hitting me! I am especially honored that the last person they had lunch with before they left is ME! I let them pick (which is never a losing battle because they have great ideas!) and they chose Bobby J's Burgers.

The staff is friendly and the food is fantastic. How could I possible pass up this???


Ok even though they aren't moving anywhere near Bavaria, I had to send a tribute to them by eating Saurkraut.

Ich liebe Sauerkraut!

Ich werde sie vermissen Cindy und Mike. Auf Wiedersehen.

By this logic I am also wanted in INDIA

In March my husband's cousin celebrated his 40th anniversary with a cruise. While this sounds fun in general it morphed into a 9 day excursion and ten missed days of work for my husband. (He mentions his lack of time off every month now so I'm pretty clear on the time he had to take off). Part of this is my fault because I unequivocally told birthday boy that I would not go on a cruise to Mexico.

I live in Texas. I live the Mexican culture every day. The idea of visiting Mexico is not appealing to me. I was apparently so emphatic in my refusal to go that my husband finally asked if I was in fact Wanted in Mexico for some crime.

Well, no. But it did make me realize that when people talk about vacations or places they want to visit on very seldom do I shudder and think No Thanks. Mexico is one of these places. India is another. The fact that both these places still have leper colonies is not to be overlooked, but I'm really not sure why I am so adamant about avoiding these places.

I'd take a vacation to Tehran and Kabul over Monterrey and Bombay any day!

Since I talked about a cruise, here is the requisite Cruise room Picture (more will follow in this month of postings!!)

Best laid plans and all that

So this was the year to take a vacation from travel and I have already completed one 9 day cruise, two trips to Vegas and a surprise getaway to San Diego. Additionally in a few weeks I plan to hit Vegas AGAIN for NFR. (Again.) So maybe my vacation vacation didn't work out so well.

However I did get my degree and I do feel a lot less stressed so overall life is good!

Last night I had a costume party bon voyage for some great friends that are moving to Germany. I am so proud of them for making this change and so very very proud that I was one of the first people they told! I'm glad they knew I would support them in this incredibly nerve-wracking time but C put it best when she said "The idea of staying here was more anxiety ridden than the though of moving" paraphrased somewhat because my memory only speaks like I do! And I wondered how many of my choices in life could be made by weighing what it would be like if I DIDN'T do it versus if I DID.

Deep thoughts.

This past year has given me quite a bit of new ideas to share here and I want to get them all out. November is NANOWRIMO which is the month to write a novel. I don't want to commit to this but I DO want to commit to writing every day for the month of November. Something. Anything. To get all these ideas from my head and onto the site for posterity. Plus I have some trips I'm planning now and I want to think through all my ideas.

So see ya Tuesday!