The Top 40 Tourist Scams To Be Aware of...

Think pickpocketing is the biggest scam for a tourist?   HERE are 40 of the biggest tourist scams of the summer to be on the lookout for when you're traveling.




h/t: http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/blog/16-40-tourist-scams-to-avoid-this-summer.html

TSA Fees Doubling Today But NOT for Security

The TSA security fees you pay for airline tickets are doubling as of today.  You'll also have to pay extra TSA fees if you have layover legs longer than 4 hours.

Here's the news article on the mater.

To make matters worse, most of the 17 billion dollars, in extra revenue they're expected to rake in over the next 10 years will be going to fund other government spending and not security.  Congress passed this as a part of their previous budget deal.


The only way to get it reversed is to write your member of Congress.  It's an election year.  If enough travelers write in to THEIR member, this thing might get reversed or at least revised so that airport security fees get used, I don't know, for AIRPORT SECURITY. ;-)

Royal Caribbean Three Night Bahama Cruise as low as $197

This deal just hit my inbox.  Cruise Direct has a three night Bahamas cruise for as low as $197 on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas:

You'll also receive up to $200 in on-board ship credit!! It's like cruising for cash at that rate!



3 Night Bahamas Cruise on the Majesty of the Seas from $197 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!

Great Summer Travel Discount Deals as of 07-10-14...

Just received the following deals from in my in-box:


Save up to 50% Off + Disney Park Hopper Ticket Deals & Free Days at Universal.  Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/15/14.

50% OFF the all inclusive Dream Sands Cancun Resort and Spa. Book now through 7/11/14 and travel 9/1/14 - 10/31/14.

Save up to 50% off+ Instant flight credits up to $150 in Oahu, Hawaii! Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/30/14.

Save up to 70% Off + $200 Instant Credit & $300 in Extras when traveling to the U.S Virgin Islands.  Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/30/14.

45% OFF Daytona Beach Oceanside Inn. Book now through 7/13/14 and stay through 12/30/14.

Save up to 55% OFF Luxurious Atlantis Resorts in the Bahamas. Book now through 7/31/14.

Up to 60% OFF Oceanfront Hotels in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Available only at BookIt.com: Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/15/14.

Save $15 - $50 Instantly When you Sign Up for Free Newsletter Membership at BookIt.com!

NW Arkansas Road Trip Part 1 Botanical Garden of the Ozarks & Razorback ...

We're starting a new video series for a road trip we took to Northwest Arkansas. Along the way we will visit Razorback Stadium, The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Lokomotion Fun Park, The original Walton 5 & 10, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and we'll be staying at Candlewood Suites of Rogers/Bentonville:

Over 10 ways to get kicked out of a theme park...

Yahoo News advises would be theme park travelers to avoid dressing like characters or they risk being kicked out of the park in their "11 Ways to Get Kicked Out of a Theme Park" article posted today.

Oh, they also advise against dragging hard sided coolers an picnic lunches to the park.   Well duh!

If they allowed that, they wouldn't be able to charge whatever they want for food & drink. lol

A Day at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Amusement Park Hot Springs Arkansas

Join us as we spend a day at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls amusement/water park in Hot Springs Arkansas:

$179 Cruise DEAL!!! 4 night Western Caribbean!!

This deal just hit my inbox and it is HOT off the press:

4 Night W. Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy from $179 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!


If you'd rather go some place cool this Summer, Holland America has a 7 night Alaska deal:

7 Night Alaska Cruise on the Oosterdam from $299 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!

Kodak Playsport Zx5 Underwater Video Camera Test & Review

Here's a closer look at our new underwater HD video and still camera, the Kodak Playsport Zx5:

Hot Springs Arkansas Road Trip & its History

Here's video from our roadtrip to Hot Springs Arkansas this past weekend. I'll have more up as I can get it edited:



Thanks for watching!

-Jerry & Katie

Soutwest Airlines fined $200,000.00 for deceptive ads

Southwest Airlines was slapped with a $200,000.00 fine for not having seats after advertising $59 flights in TV ads.

Read more about it HERE.


h/t: Yahoo News

The Vision of Diagon Alley - Universal Orlando Resort

8 Travel Freebie "Hacks" to make your life easier...

Here are 8 Travel Freebie Hacks that can make your trip a little bit easier.

h/t: Smarter Travel

50% OFF Villas near Disney at Bahama Bay Resort and Spa: Book by June 1st, 2014

Here's the deal of the week. HALF off condo rentals At the Villas near Disney World at Bahama Bay Resort & Spa

50% OFF Villas near Disney at Bahama Bay Resort and Spa - Condos by Wyndham! Valid 5/26-6/1 only at BookIt.com!

We're about to hit 100 Subs on YouTube... Thank YOU!

We just want to say thank you to those who have subscribed to our little channel on YouTube. We've just started this a few weeks ago and are already about to hit 100 subscribers, so thank you very much.

Post by The Getaway.

Ever thought of doing a home swap for vacation?

Home Exchange is a service that facilitates home owners in different areas to do a "swap" for vacations with over 40,000 listings available. Have you used this service? What did you think of it? Let me know down below in the comments.

This has the potential of being very cost effective, especially if you're traveling with a large group (since you get the whole home for the trip). I can imagine a large family all traveling to Orlando realizing a really good savings and value out of something like this. There are coupons available for the service:

Swap your home for vacation! Save 30% on Home Exchange services using code: dealshe72010

Save 20% on Home Exchange using code: cdispatch10. Swap your homes for your vacation now!

Enjoy Unlimited Exchanges for only $9.95/month! Sign up with Home Exchange now!

Hotels.com coupon for $50 off

Hotels.com is running a special coupon through June 1st, 2014, that can take $50 off hotel stays of $300 or more.

If your planning on booking a hotel anyway, why not save $50?

Here's the link:



Enter coupon code: MOREMONEY to take advantage of this discount.

Experts are predicting a busy travel season...

The AAA is reporting that after our harsh winter, this could be the busiest travel season in the past six years in their Memorial Day travel forecast.


Here are some highlights:


Memorial Day holiday travel volume is expected to reach a new post-recession high with 36.1  million Americans taking a trip

The 2014 forecast is 2.6 percent higher than the ten-year historical average and the second highest travel volume since 2000

Eighty-eight percent of travelers (31.8 million) to travel by automobile, an increase from 31.4 million last year

Holiday air travel expected to increase from 2.4 percent to 2.6 million leisure travelers 

Travel by other modes of transportation including cruise, trains and buses will see the largest increase, up 6.5 percent (total 1.7 million travelers)

Travelers will encounter slightly higher prices with airfares six percent higher, mid-range hotels up two percent and car rentals costing one percent more

We just posted our YouTube "Trailer" for the new channel!

We just posted our new  trailer for The Getaway show on YouTube.  We're really excited to share our passion for all things travel:





-Jerry & Katie

Free Apps for Orlando Park Wait Times, Dining, & Maps...

Here's a link for Free apps that list the wait times at Disney and other Orlando theme parks:
Free Disney iPhone App - Wait Times & Maps courtesy of Undercover Tourist. They also have a printable crowd calendar here:

-Jerry