For a fun Disney World planning experience, check out the Disney World Celebration Planner at AAA.com/Disney. You put in your information and travel dates and select parks and hotels by dragging a Mickey balloon from the map into the Planner to calculate costs. You can also get help from a AAA Disney Celebration specialist.

It’s about time you finally took a vacation, and your heart is set on Europe. Even though you’re already aware that the dollar is weak and prices on many travel services have risen, you're determined to enjoy a quality vacation without going overboard with costs. Besides 'packing light,' here’s some tips to manage the cost of your European vacation:... Read More

The results are in for the latest annual AAA PetBook® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Five top dogs from Massachusetts, California and Colorado will enjoy a year of fame as “cover dogs” on the 12th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook.

First-place winners Rosie, Belle and Ortiz, a family of mixed-breed dogs from Fairhaven, Mass., are pictured on the book’s back cover visiting the Cape Cod Canal. “We travel with our pets because they are our family and we enjoy traveling with them,” said the winners’ human companion, Wendy... Read More

We are frequently asked for information on the best ways of planning for spending while on international trips.  Here are the options and some tips from the travel experts at AAA:

Credit cards and prepaid travel cards.  Credit cards and prepaid cards are widely accepted in financially developed countries.  Charges are converted from the local currency at an exchange rate dependent upon the financial institution from which you were issued your card. Some companies give better conversion rates than others, and almost all add an additional service fee for overseas card purchases. These... Read More

 

We polled our professional inspectors for their favorite places to celebrate Valentine’s Day . . . here's the top 14 picks along with their onsite observations and insider tips:

The Boheme, Orlando, Florida, Four Diamond Restaurant
While downtown movers and shakers can be spotted here during... Read More

 

It always has been a dream of mine to attend the Winter Olympics, but I’m also relatively frugal when it comes to what I spend on lodging and entertainment when I travel.  I passed on the games in Salt Lake City in 2002 because my kids were young enough to want to go along (probably another reason why I’ll never win the Mother of the Year Award).   When Vancouver was chosen in 2003 to host the 2010 Games, I knew my window of opportunity had opened.  My cousins lived in Vancouver and they would be willing to share their home with me.

When tickets went on sale in June 2009,... Read More

In the past six weeks, I have traveled from Chicago to Ecuador, and from Chicago to Cabo San Lucas.  Each airport has its own personality, and each airport has its own security setup.  Regulation for U.S. air travel are documented at the Transportation Security Administration website  (which also has tips on getting through security efficiently), but the experience can vary widely depending on the location, personnel and season.

But no matter which airport you are in, if you keep your eyes open and you have allowed yourself enough time to be relaxed about... Read More

We are frequently asked for information on what documentation is needed for traveling internationally with children. Although I normally make my husband fill out all the paperwork, here's some additional tips.

First, the required information: All U.S. citizens regardless of age must have their own passport if they are traveling internationally, even to Canada and Mexico.   A Passport Card can be used for auto and ship travel to Canada and Mexico from the U.S. but AAA recommends a passport in... Read More

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where should I start?  As a New Orleans native, I know Mardi Gras has many traditions associated with it and what it means varies from person to person. The celebration has religious roots, with religious elements that are observed to this day, but when the words “Mardi Gras” and “New Orleans” are mentioned in the same sentence, what most people think about is about as far away from religion as you can get.  But many people think of the parades, so here’s my insider perspective on... Read More

As people continue looking for ways to save money in this tight economy, sharing an entrée in restaurants is becoming more common. Splitting or sharing a plate can take on many different forms so proceed firmly but take caution.

Generally I don’t ask ‘if’ I can split the plate. Rather I inform the server, “We’re going to share” and see where it goes from there. I leave it up to them, it’s their opportunity to provide greater service, or not. Some of my split plate requests have been fulfilled by the server bringing, with great ceremony, an extra fork. On one occasion the server... Read More