Hi guys,

This post features a new video assignment I had for my online media class. I thought I’d post the video and let you guys have a look!

Poor Man out!

Hi travelers,

Here is another Two Minute Trip for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!

Poor Man out!

Hey guys,

Just thought I’d show you the preview clip for a movie I’m working on. I went up to Snowbowl last year with some friends and I’m putting together a movie with all our pictures and movies on it.

Look for another Two Minute Trip to be posted on Wednesday!

Poor Man out!

Hello travelers,

Hope you all had an action-packed weekend! Where’d ya go?

I wanted to give you all a heads-up on a new section here at Poor Man Travel. I am currently working on my senior honors thesis at Arizona State, and I am writing a travel guide for the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. It’s going to be a massive undertaking, but I’m really excited about it!

This book is going to target travelers in their 20s who think Disney is too expensive. It’s not, at least with Poor Man! I’m planning on using my blog as an updater, and to run ideas by you guys. After all, this book is being written for you, and I would love your input.

And as a show of good faith, I want to start out right away with my first request: Come up with a title! My director feels that Poor Man is a little to “narrow” of a title to have a general appeal. Let’s see what you guys have to offer. Try to come up with something along those lines! Best three ideas will be put to a poll, with a winner receiving a free copy of the book upon completion (approximately April 2010).

Get thinking, and post it to my comments! Poor Man out!

Hello travelers,

I had to do an assignment for my JMC 425 class, and I figured what better way than a slide show offering you the most extreme trip I’ve ever been on! Enjoy! Poor Man out!

Hello travelers,

Well I was planning on getting you guys a second day trip to follow up to Sedona, but it’s my birthday and I feel lazy. Plus, Vegas just keeps getting better! Seriously, why haven’t you gone? No more excuses. Get in the car right now.

So the deals Vegas is pushing right now focus more on packages rather than the cheap rooms. Often these really aren’t all that great, but finally the Vegas gods (or at least the wicked rich guys) who own stuff started to pay attention.

Some of my newest favorite deals include:

Paris, anyone?

Thanks to govegas.about.com for the picture

Paris is offering a suite deal (get it?) You can stay in a luxury room, and go up the Eiffel Tower, all for a great $65.50. One catch: it’s a two night minimum. Can you say romantic getaway that is sure to earn some points?

Some of the best deals can be found about a mile off the Strip at the Gold Coast and the Palms. While this may cost you a little extra in walk time or cab fares, the deals are worth it.

• Gold Coast is enticing you with rates from $39.50, and this includes breakfast and dinner for two! There are a few catches, in that you must stay two nights and stay Sunday through Wednesday.
• Palms Place at the Palms is offering you a studio suite from $159. I know, it sounds pricey, but add in the FREE poolside cabana the next day, a VIP nightlife pass, and the option to upgrade to a one-bedroom suite for $50 and you have yourself quite a deal. If you want to get attention  by the pool, this package is a great option.

Poolside days are huge at the Palms

Thanks to vegas.com for the picture

I think it’s time for a Vegas trip, especially because it’s my birthday. So get in the car and go already! Enjoy your romantic getaway, free food, or poolside cabana and have a great weekend!

Poor Man out!

Hello again, fellow travelers!

I hope you’re all having a great week so far. After all, it’s Wednesday, also known as Hump Day! I promised you all a trip, and I think it’s time I came through on that. We all know that it’s STILL in the low 100s or upper 90s. In September. That’s just ridiculous, so why not beat the heat in this post’s featured location: SEDONA!

Insert yourself here!

Photo courtesy NY Times

Sedona is a great weekend day trip. The drive is a little over two hours (two and a half with a bathroom break. Stupid McDonald’s coffee) so it’s just a quick jaunt. I make several trips a year, especially for the huge Christmas light display during the holiday season.

Sedona has a very unique culture that makes for one entertaining day. It is believed by certain groups that the infamous red rocks create certain “vortexes” that channel spirits, healing power and some wicked entertaining nut balls. No matter where you go, there are shops offering crystal therapy or toxin removal. Some of these products lack any sort of scientific backing, but they are entirely amusing and hey, to each his own. I’m not speaking out against anyone’s beliefs; just saying some can get amusing.

Alright, let’s get down to the business of the trip. When I went up, I left with my girlfriend around 9 a.m. on a Friday morning to miss rush hour. We packed a picnic basket the night before loaded with sandwiches, snacks, and a bottle of wine. Bring one with your favorites. We got there around 11:30 using this route (thanks to MapQuest):

1. From ASU’s Tempe campus, drive east on University and jump on the 101 North.
2. The 101 North will turn into the 101 West (referred to as “the bend”)
3. Merge onto the I-17 going north
4. Get comfortable. You’ve got around 85 miles on this road. Enjoy the scenery.
5. Take the AZ-179 exit, and stick with this road. You have to go through some odd little roundabouts (5 to be exact) but stay the path!
6. When you hit the 6th roundabout, take the first exit towards AZ-89. This will drop you in the heart of Sedona! Welcome!

OK, so now you’re parked in the quirky little town of Sedona. Hopefully you remembered a camera, because we forgot ours! What do you do? I recommend something outdoors. Get out of the car, shake the lead out, and breathe the fresh air! Sedona, especially in the fall, has some great hikes and the weather is perfect. I chose to go on the Coffeepot Trail Hike because it’s close to town, and easy to get to (thanks to Great Sedona Hikes for the suggestion). Use the site for a great list of local hiking, and check out their Top 10 favorite hikes if you can’t decide! Enjoy a picnic lunch anywhere close to the trail side, but please clean up after yourself! If you’re of age, wine paired with some simple food and clean air really does a body good.

After your hike, hit downtown

Photo courtesy visitusa.com

Hiking was fun, but we wanted to go walk around and see some Sedona culture. Hit downtown (basically drive over the same route to get you back to downtown). Park anywhere, as Sedona does not feature a large downtown. Stroll around. Window shop. Go in any shop selling crystals and learn about some new beliefs. Grab a treat. Enjoy the air and the people. Sedona is welcoming to tourists, so don’t be afraid to act like one!

Our final stop was the infamous Oak Creek Brewery Grill. It’s located near the intersection of the 89-A and the 179, so it’s on the way home (if you go over the Oak Creek bridge, you’ve gone too far). Featuring several award-winning microbrews and decently priced food (avoid the entrees, yikes!), the Brewery Grill is a great stop for a quick snack and a beer before you head home. Please note that Poor Man Travel does not advise, support or endorse drinking and driving in ANY way. Legal stuff aside, go for the Amber Ale with the spinach dip or chicken quesadilla. Sit on the patio if you can, and watch the sunset light up the trees. Not a bad way to end a day!

Cost of your day trip to Sedona:

• Gas – $23.07
• Food from home – $32.65 (including wine)
• Food @ Oak Creek Brewery Grill – $40 (including tip)

Total cost – $97.52. Per person – $48.76. That’s a day for under $50!

Enjoy your cheap day in Sedona! Poor Man out!

Thanks to my roommate Anthony and his girlfriend Madeline for the trip idea!

Hey fellow travelers,

This week’s post is going to be a little shorter as I work on another trip for you guys! In the mean time, the city of Las Vegas is still attempting to pull in some visitors, and the deals just keep getting better. If you want to go, now is the time!

Apparently the Sphinx needs some income!

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Tourism

Some of the better deals I’ve found are at the Luxor:

• $38 dollar rooms on select nights
• 30% off suites
• Stay 2 nights, get the 3rd free

Most of these deals are good through February, put hit the links when you’re booking to be sure! Also, the Vegas Gods like to have these booked online, so don’t bother calling!

Excalibur just announced they will be doing rooms from $22 A NIGHT! The catch is that you have to be a first time guest, so find someone who has never been before, or say it’s your first time. I doubt they’ll be checking past guest records, and this deal runs through July of 2010.

Your $22 a night palace!

That’s going to do it for this quick price update! Keep your eyes open for a post in the next week detailing another great trip. Poor Man out!

Welcome to the very first post here on Poor Man Travel! We’re all excited, so let’s get right down to it.

Las Vegas is the stereotypical travel destination for those favoring glitz and glam and the rich and famous. But here at Poor Man, we know that Vegas is well within reach!

A blurry shot of your next destination!

Now, getting to Las Vegas is easy, especially from Arizona State. The question is whether to drive or fly? We advocate the driving option, especially if you have a car that gets good mileage. And let’s face it, flight costs are simply disastrous to our thin wallets!

The quickest way to get to Vegas (ignore Mapquest, please) from the Memorial Union is:

• Take University east to the 101 north.
• Take that to the I-17 north toward Flagstaff.
• Keep your eyes open for Highway 74 west (also known as the Carefree Highway) and take that.
• That will connect to the U.S. 60 west in Morristown. There’s nothing to do there, so keep going!
• Now get on the 93 north. This will turn into the I-40 west for a little bit, but then back into the desolation known as 93 north. Prepared to be bored, so crank up the iPod or mess with your buddy who already fell asleep!
• Wake up! Time to drive because the 93 north is done. It turns into the I-515. For the Strip, take either the Flamingo or Tropicana exits depending on where your hotel is.

Poor Man himself making the drive

When we drove up with four people in the car and a ton of supplies in the trunk, we used about two tanks of gas. It will take around 5 and a half hours, so be ready with some snacks.

So you’re in Vegas…now what? Get through the check-in process. Vegas can be a nightmare for this, so we recommend parking at whatever hotel you chose then walking. It’s quicker, plus you can explore and maybe play a slot or two on the way!

As for where to stay, hotels are expensive, but you can find some great deals. Book online before you go, and you’ll be amazed at the savings you can find. Here at Poor Man we prefer to use either Smarter Vegas or the newly refurbished Vegas Hotel Specials. Remember, they charge per person. Also, if you have some time before you go, sign up for the e-mails and player’s clubs at the different hotels. They love to give “exclusive” offers. Some of the cheaper hotels are off the Strip, at the south end such as Excalibur and Luxor, or the older hotels. Remember, you are only going to sleep in your room. The rest of the time you will be out and about, so don’t spring for a ridiculous room. When we went, we took the Widescreen Strip View Room at Excalibur. A great view, and a great value for what we paid.

Vegas is expensive. No getting around that. Poor Man is ready with some tips to keep cash in your pocket so you can pick up 974 more boxes of Ramen when you get home.

• Bring your own food and spirits. The hotels and casinos rely on you and foolhardy spending to make their money. If you can subsist on lunch meat and other affordable meals, you don’t have to break the bank to buy food. Drinks run incredibly high in Las Vegas. Bring your own in a couple of coolers and enjoy! You can walk around the streets of Nevada with alcoholic beverages, but most hotels won’t allow it by the pool or in the casino, so heads up.
• Check the hotel sites for good show deals as well. Some even offer packages that are a little more expensive, but you can do more. Don’t spring for the spa access. The services are all extra.
• We know it sounds odd, but don’t gamble. A lot. Bring around $50 in cash, all in small bills. Go find a row of penny slots and only play one cent at a time. If you play slowly, the cocktail servers will bring you free drinks. The larger you tip, the quicker you get better drinks and faster service. Also, order as many as you can at one time. Nevada has a higher legal serving limit than Arizona, so you should be able to get up to three drinks at a time.

A lot of entertainment is free in Vegas. The Bellagio water show, the lion viewing at MGM Grand, and the Treasure Island Siren show are all free to watch. We recommend these, but check for times when you arrive. The front desk should be able to give you all the information. Also, keep in mind that watching a high stakes craps game can be highly entertaining!

Bellagio Water Show - It's Free!

Poor Man also recommends hitting these must-see places:

• Nine Fine Irishmen Pub in New York, New York (Great live music, and sure to be packed full of Irish. They come over and all meet here before going out on the town)
• Paris (Great inside)
• Planet Hollywood (Awesome casino. Be sure to hit the Pleasure Pit, an area of slightly higher stakes gambling where the dealers wear lingerie)
• Caesar’s Palace (If not only to pay “The Hangover” an homage, they have a great shopping area)

People dress up in Vegas. It’s a fact, and unavoidable. We recommend a decent pair of either slacks or dress pants for the guys paired with a dress shirt or stylish t-shirt. Ladies, you can get away with jeans but most of the girls we saw opted for the little black dress. Whatever you choose to wear, avoid ratty sneakers like the plague. Go for fashionable shoes or dress shoes. Ladies, heels are what we saw!

Now that you’re fully equipped to go out in Vegas with style and affordability, how much will this run you? Let’s break down the numbers.

• Gas – $68.78
• Food – $56.63
• Spirits – $40.07
• Room – $157.26
• Cash – $200

This brings a total cost for four people to $522.74. Per person cost is $130.69.

Enjoy your cheap weekend in Vegas! Poor Man out!