Traveling on a Budget
It is certainly true many want to travel, but individuals cannot always afford the luxury to do so. Here are a few simple ways to save money and places to visit that will keep you focused on your trip and not how much you are spending.
Start off with traveling in the off-seasons, this means to choose times of the year that airlines and hotels charge less for bookings. The most popular months for off-peak travel is September and October. Think about it, September is right after the summer season, kids are getting back into school, and not many people are looking to travel. Hotel prices lower if you book a hotel stay on weekdays, it is much less expensive than booking on weekends. Depending on the days of the week airline tickets will run cheaper on per say Tuesdays or Thursdays. If you are booking a vacation give yourself enough time to play around with your options to get the best prices.
When you arrive at your destination if possible steer away from rental cars. Busses and trains, even walking will be much less costly in the long run. Depending on certain cities busses will be more affordable than trains. If cars are a must travel in a group to save money, buying four bus tickets will probably be more expensive in the long run. Be aware of where you park, if in an area with parking garages, it may be worth the extra mile walk to save some cash. Plus, walking is great exercise.
Worried about food? This, in my opinion, is the time to indulge, however there are ways to do it right to save you an extra buck. Avoid hotel breakfast; try to find a local café or restaurant that serves better food for a better price. Not too hungry? Split an entrée or just go for an appetizer. Stick to water, in most cases it is free and you will need to keep hydrated with all the walking you are going to be doing.
Most important look for a travel agency such as Crystal and Clear Travel who offers monthly payment plans to make your dream vacation affordable. Happy traveling!

How long has it been since you hung out with your besties for a night of fun? If you’re hesitating to answer, then clearly it’s been too long. Make up for lost time, and gather the gang for a much-overdue friends getaway. From the neon-lit streets of Miami to the rhythmic shores of Jamaica, these destinations are rocking for a reunion with your crew.

World-renowned nightlife: check. Shopping and restaurants for days: check. Miles of white sand and cerulean seas: check. Looks like Miami checks off all the items on the friends vacation must-have list. Book your stay at party-hub Fontainebleau Miami Beach or deco-chic The Confidante to be steps away from all the action in the coolest locations along the beach.
Recommended: Have Your Beach and Party Too at The Confidante
CancunHow could we not include Cancun on this list? Undisputedly the most popular destination in Mexico, Cancun draws sun seekers, history buffs, party animals, and adventure lovers alike. Reconnect with your squad with exciting activities like snorkeling, Mayan ruin exploring, and, of course, indulging in unlimited margaritas while lounging on the beach at your all-inclusive digs.
Recommended: 5 Reasons Why We Can’t Get Enough of Cancun & Riviera Maya

Nashville
No city in America knows a good time quite like this country music mecca. If line dancing and banjos aren’t your thing, have no fear – Music City has a genre for every member of your band. Spend your days exploring noteworthy sites like the Gibson Guitar Factory, Grand Ole Opry, and the nearby Jack Daniel Distillery. Your nights will be filled with barbeque and bar hopping along the famed Music Row.

Jamaica
The special bond you have with your friends deserves to be celebrated, and the Island of All Right can sure throw a good party. In fact, Jamaica and its friendly people make every day and night a time for celebration. Its vibrant culture stars endless smiles, one-of-a-kind music, and arguably the best cuisine in the Caribbean. With dreamy beaches along the coast and lush mountains inland, you and your crew can choose to participate in as much adventure or R&R as you like.

If it’s been way too long since you and your friends had a night out on the town, extend your evening into an all-out reunion at one of these reconnect-worthy destinations. Speak to Crystal & Clear Travel to start planning your friends getaway today.

​Travel Safety 
Although vacations are for a full unwinding of our busy schedules, it doesn’t always mean that we shouldn’t look deeply into our safety. Most of the times, as travelers we tend to look for the best deals, well why not, but yet we tend to forget that our safety should be our priority. Unfortunately, we have heard about the tragic incident of the Sharp family during their vacation to Mexico. So today we will be talking about ways to prevent such unfortunate events.
For your absolute safety definitely look into first off leaving an itinerary, phone number where you could be contacted with someone and expected arrival date if anything were to ever happen. Also by making a copy of your passport it will decrease the chances of it getting stolen as the original shouldn’t be on you all the time, having it stored is safer. If the passport were to be lost or stolen it be easier to recover with the copy of the passport. As mentioned before there are plenty of good offers for rooming, but it is crucial to look into the true intentions of the property owner or person managing the location. Also keep in mind that if you have any questions or concerns there are plenty of travel agents that are happy to help with traveling safety and preparations.

Meeting Disney World characters and seeing how amazing interactions can be is one of the greatest things I have enjoyed from spending a lot of time at the Walt Disney World resort! The characters love interaction as much as we guests do so, make the most of them!
If you have a favorite character that you know does a meet and greet at the park that you are attending that day, be sure to head to their character spot early. Lines are closed by the attendant when there are as many guests in line as the character will be able to meet in their current time set. They do need a lot of breaks, they need to check up on their gardens or grab a cheesecake bite once in a while! Depending on the season, their set times may be shorter, so be sure to adhere to the schedule in the times guide at the front of the park.
Now that you know the basics of meeting the characters, how do you make the most of your short time with them? Well, definitely think about what you want to say to them and how how you want to pose with them for the photo before hand, have your photo pass and camera ready as well as your autograph books. If they are your favorite character, tell them! It makes them so happy! Definitely relate to their movie, tell Mickey how awesome it was to meet Minnie earlier, ask Gaston how his quest for Belle is going, ask Cinderella how the mice or fairy godmother are doing, or ask the stepsisters how living in the kingdom is since Cinderella moved to the palace. This gives the characters a starting point for conversation.
I also always try to wear something that relates to the character that I am meeting. I wore black pants, brown boots, and a red shirt when I met Gaston. He was highly flattered. I always try to connect with the characters on a level of their story. They love sharing their stories with us and helping us create new ones to tell! Some of the most fun characters to meet are the ones with the biggest personalities- of course the classics like Mickey and Minnie are just wonderful. Some of the funniest interactions I have had have been with Frozone, Vanelope, Gaston and the Stepsisters. The other ones are always heart warming and magical but to get to the down right hilarious, the comedic or the villains are the way to go!
Characters are a great way to get kids of come out of their shell a little bit or to make adults feel like a kid again! So get out there and meet as many characters as you can! If you are a pass holder or a very frequent visitor, why not make a whole day out of it? I have and it was incredibly fun!!

Planning an anniversary getaway (particularly for one of the big anniversaries like a 10th or 25th) can be stressful. Taking time off work, making extravagant plans and then spending money on something often billed as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to rekindle the flame of romance can certainly be nerve-racking. But for seasoned travelers, perhaps the most difficult part is choosing where to go! Here are some tips for making an anniversary celebration unforgettable, memorable, but most of all, enjoyable.
Don’t try to be something you’re not
An elaborate anniversary trip seems like the perfect time to do something out of the ordinary or even a little bit crazy – but don’t let yourself get carried away. If you know you’re really the kind of person who wants to lie on a beach for two weeks with your significant other, reading books, drinking cocktails, and talking for hours while watching the sunset, don’t guilt yourself into a trek to Machu Picchu just because you feel like you should. The true purpose of an anniversary trip is to celebrate that special union – something you can’t really do if you’re regretting your surroundings. Likewise, if you and your partner are true adventurers, then planning two weeks lying around on a beach doing nothing is going to be a challenge, too. Make sure you plan a vacation around something you can both enjoy doing together. That alone will make it something you’ll remember fondly.
Choose a destination that allows you to stand out or blend in
Are you the kind of people who want to be recognized and given a little bit of special attention for your anniversary? Granted, you can’t expect to be doused with free champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries wherever you go, but there are some perks to letting hospitality staff know you’re celebrating a special occasion. Popular anniversary locales like Hawaii and California are teeming with hotels that go out of their way to welcome anniversary travelers since they make up such a big part of their business. On the other hand, taking a vacation to a more remote or less popular location could give you the benefit of being a bit of a novelty and could mean a little extra attention from staff. It could also mean you could just disappear from the radar altogether, which is another romantic notion.
Don’t forget to plan for extras
Most of your budget will likely go towards accommodations and airfare, but don’t forget to leave a little bit of wiggle room for extras! Budget about 10 percent over what you think you’ll spend; it will give you the extra room to splurge on a nicer bottle of wine at dinner, or leave an extra generous tip for the hotel staff who gave you an upgraded room or a free bottle of champagne. If you don’t use that extra cash? Great! Save it for the next vacation. And if you do? You’ll know you were ready to, and you won’t stress about the credit card bill when you get home.