As the rest of the world’s growth is finally starting to outpace the US economy’s growth, most of the new huge building projects are happening overseas and we tend not to hear about them, at all. Well these projects are massive, elaborate, beautiful, gaudy, and seem to be a fixture in future urban landscapes and urban tourism internationally.

So are these projects sustainable? And will they be budget friendly? Well probably not too nice on the pocket book, but that is yet to really be determined. But for theses massive building projects going on…

Kazakhstan - Entertainment Center

Norman Foster is bringing Kazakhstan (yes, the Borat kazakhstan) up to speed amongst it’s Asian neighbors with this entertainment center meant to show off the country a bit. Featuring retail space, a massive park, and some “entertainment center” Kazakhstan is looking to tap into some high end tourism. Maybe they’ll have some budget hostels in the normal part of the city so a day trip wouldn’t be too impossible.

(more…)

Making phone calls home when traveling abroad is usually not an option for many; instead, it is mandatory, as declared by their mothers or other loved ones. The age of using international phone cards is still alive, but using phone cards to call home from abroad is no longer the only option for international travelers, especially for those on a budget.

Once again, thanks to innovative techies we have some better options. Below are all the options to make international phone calls available to those traveling abroad.

Skype

Skype is by far the most popular new medium for phone calls between people across borders. If you haven’t (more…)

Sure, you’ll be paying a lot more for your airfare in the coming year. $140 barrels of oil will see to that. And the dollar is down, so going virtually anywhere outside the borders of the U.S. will lead to an unfavorable rate of exchange. The Euro continues to make the Dollar look like a skinny, glasses wearing weakling standing in the corner of a boxing gym. Many people are opting for trips nearer to home. But wait…

There is a good side to the down economy; at least as far as budget travelers are concerned.
(more…)

Finding the cheapest flights when planning a trip is absolutely critical, since flights often take up the largest portion of your travel budget and travel expenses, atleast for budget minded travelers. Fortunately, this thing called the internet has brought travelers websites that allow us to search more flights easier, resulting in affordable, cheap fares.

So for the ultimate guide to find cheap flights online. Really, it can be summed up in one word: Kayak. But, I will cover some more as well.

1. Kayak.com
…is your best bet for finding cheap flights online. Kayak has long been recognized as the best fare search tool that finds the cheapest flights, and through my research and usage I must agree. From being able to utilize flexible dates, seeing the “buzz” in flight searches, and having the ability to search basically every other website in seconds, Kayak is hands down the best online fare search website.. (more…)

They are out there. Credit cards that can make your next flight easy on your wallet. They are potent weapons, but easily misused.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to credit cards that earn you frequent flyer miles. But (surprise) most are not worth the trouble.

All FF-earning cards have annual fees. All have higher than normal APRs. One could easily cancel out any gains or upgrades with interest payments and fees.

There are some secrets to wielding the plastic without killing your budget.
(more…)

It’s about that time. It seems like every 9 months I sit down and decide the change something and try to take this blog in a better direction. No promises, but what I have in store:

1. New Writer:

Josh is moving on to big and better projects, which is unfortunate since he’s done a great job here. Fortunately, I got it taken care of right away, so some new writers will be starting in the next week or so.

2. New Design:

Thought I’d comment on the obvious. I like it a lot better, and I hope you do to. Gives me more area for featured articles and definitive guides. I’ll be putting out some timeless, pillar articles to try to cover all the basics of budget traveling, from guidebooks and hostels to the best online travel tools and resources. (more…)