How to find cheap accommodation in New York

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New York, albeit not Americas most visited town, it is still up there on many people’s to do list. A city that never sleep some say, others would argue, a hard place to find decent and affordable accommodation. As most of you know, it is hard work finding a good budget hotel anywhere, and even harder finding one in a top city like New York. Not only does millions of tourist visit the big Apple, but as a major US city, there are plenty of business people needing accommodation too.

What you need to do is decide what you are going to do in New York, and what area’s you are most likely to be in. Decide how much you are willing to spend on accommodation and try and book as early as possible.

When visiting a city like New York it is important to research the area. What are your main objectives with the trip? If you are going shopping, then you might want to be near the big shopping malls, and if you want to go for a stroll in Central Park every morning, then you better try and find your accommodation around that specific area. Once you have decided how much time you want to spend getting from A to B, you have narrowed down the list. If you plan well, you might be lucky and find a great deal. Depending on the area, it might be more or less difficult.

It is also advisable to think of what you require of the hotel. If you are expecting and want a certain standard, you might have to spend a bit extra. New York is an expensive place, and if you want a good two or even a three star hotel, you will have to be ready to fork up between $100-200.

A few places that are a good option;

1. The 414 Hotel; a 2, 5 star hotel which is located in the city centre within walking distance of Times Square. The hotel lies in a quiet area and has complimentary breakfast and Internet. The price starts at $140.

2. Salisbury Hotel; this 2, 5 star hotel is a bit pricier, but is within walking distance of Times Square and Carnegie Hall. Amenities include continental breakfasts, business services, Internet access, and a 24-hour front desk. The prices start around $158.

3. Holiday Inn Midtown; a good option if you want a central hotel that is only a few blocks away from the main streets. The prices range from $190 to well over $300, so you might have to limit your travel to a low season period.

If you need cheaper options, you should check out hostels, which might have double or triple rooms available. Another idea would be to live outside the city centre, but then you have the additional cost of travelling and it would be time-consuming. There are always pros and cons with every choice you make.

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Backpacking in Europe; What you should know before you go.

Going on a trip is always fun and exciting; backpacking through Europe isn't an exception, it's a great adventure. You will see many different places and meet plenty of fellow backpackers. As with most trips, careful planning and some research of the areas you are going to visit is a must.

If you decide to backpack your way through Europe, you need to decide whether to do this by train, flight or a mix of both. You need to decide where to go, and roughly how long to stay. Make a list of must-do things and places to see. It's important to realize that Europe is a large continent, and that every country is different.

Before you go, look at a map of Europe and decide on a possible route. Your destinations might decide your way of travel. For example, if you are staying on mainland Europe, the train might be the best choice, but if you want to visit Ireland or the UK, you might consider flying or taking the ferry. There is a great rail pass called the Interail for European citizen, and Eurail for non-Europeans which make train journeys cheaper and a lot easier.

Once your route is decided upon, it's a good idea to read about the countries that you plan to visit. Most countries have some level of English, but as it wouldn't be their native language, it is important to understand that you might not be able to make yourself understood at all times. However, in most guide books there are small dictionaries with simple phrases to use.

A good chapter in the guide books describes dangers and annoyances. Here you can read about places to avoid, and what lever of crime an area has. It's important to know that every place might have its bad spots, and it would be wise to avoid these. If you follow the tourist trail and don't go off the beaten track, you should have no worries though.

A good thing to do is to check out what various accommodations there are on offer in different countries. Some would have hostels, motels and hotels, whereas other countries only have hotels. In the latter cases you are likely to be offered a bed in someone's home for a fee. Make sure that you don't go alone with someone, but join up with other solo travelers.

When it comes to money, most EU countries use the Euro, but there are still those that don't so it is important to know what currency you need in order to pay for yourself. In most places, a debit or a credit card is widely accepted. Don't let them walk off with it though, as they could potentially copy your card and collect your details.

Before you go, you should write down emergency numbers and phone numbers to your embassy in the various countries. That way you know where to call if something were to happen.

Apart from that, keep an open mind and you will meet lots of friendly people who will help you find your way around.

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Great American Roadtrips; the Oregon coast

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The Oregon coast stretches for about 350 miles and makes an ideal road trip. Whether you drive from north to south, or the other way around, you will be cruising along the Pacific Ocean on US Highway 101. Many people think of a Pacific road trip as being one down the California cost, but Oregon’s coastline offers as much a great drive as the southern counterpart. There are plenty of places and vistas to stop at between Brookings in the south and Astoria in the north and the scenery, although different from the California one, is equally amazing.

Here are my top 5 stops along the way, from south to north;

Cape Blanco Lighthouse; Oregon’s coasts most westerly point makes a good stop. The Cape Blanco Lighthouse was first lit in 1870 making it Oregon’s oldest continuously operating light. You can visit the lighthouse between April and through October.

Bandon; this little town makes for a great stop-over. Famous for its great golf courses, Bandon-by-the-sea is becoming known as Oregon’s Golf Coast. Although only 3100 people resides here, it an attractive place to live. Do try the restaurant beside the Best Western Inn, the food and atmosphere is amazing.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area; stop over here to see and walk on the mighty dunes. There are plenty of things you can entertain yourself with while here, why not go hiking, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding or camping? It is an amazing area.

Sea Lion Caves; just north of Florence lies this fantastic cave. Sea lions have used it for centuries as a home and if you are in luck, they are there for you to see. If they are not in the cave, they might be on the beach a bit further away. They will tell you before you pay the entrance fee if you will see the sea lions or not, even you aren’t, it is well worth a visit.

Astoria; this is the final town before you head into the state of Washington. It is a sizeable town which has a few places of interest. It is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies and lies at the mouth of the Colombia River. Make sure that you visit the Flavel house, the Astoria column and Fort Clatsop. You will enter Washington via the 4.1 mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge, the longest continuous three-span through truss bridge in the world.

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