HazelMail.com
Finding the perfect postcard at times is nearly impossible…then finding a stamp, figuring out the correct postage, finding a mailbox…this process can feel like you are going on a wild goose chase…this is why I have sworn off non-electronic communication when traveling. But every time I leave on a trip one of my friends has to set off my guilt-o-meter by saying the famous line “send me a postcard from X.”
So when I discovered HazelMail.com I was ecstatic…my postcard-guilt-complex is over! Hazel Mail is an ingenious website that allows you to upload photos and fill out a virtual postcard. They then print it and mail it out for you…in the time it takes to write an email you have sent a physical postcard. The service costs $1.50, which is cheap when you consider how much time you will save on your vacation.
Read Morem-broker.com
Looking to rent a car while abroad? Check out m-broker.com
M-broker is a website that is completely dedicated to car rentals in foreign lands. The website really comes in handy when you are looking for a car to rent in a “off the beaten path” location. My favorite part is that the prices are all inclusive and include insurance, fees and taxes.
Read MoreAirbed & Breakfast
The changing tide of the internet’s landscape has been called “Web 2.0″; a term describing changing trends in the World Wide Web that aim to enhance creativity, secure information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web. As per that definition I declare AirbedAndBreakfast.com, Travel 2.0.
Airbed & Breakfast is an innovative way to find a place to stay and connect with locals. The website lists thousands of rooms available to rent in locally owned and lived in apartments. The listings on the website clearly list who your host is, what is included in your stay and where your bed is located….warning, some people literally list an inflated airbed in the living room.
This website is not for the faint-of-heart traveler or for those that guard their privacy…..but arriving in a foreign city and instantly making a local friend can be invaluable. The company does not check all the rentals available, so buyer-definitely-beware…but the website does allow previous guest to place reviews, providing a minimal sense of checks-and-balances.
With rooms in 515 cities and 65 countries, there are many listings to choose from. Accommodations range from rooms in luxury homes to an inflatable mattress in a shared studio. Prices range from $20 to $500 per night , and payment is made directly on the website through paypal or credit card.
The WWS (world wide slumber-party) has been launched!
Read MoreLive like a local
For those who find hotel rooms stifling, renting an apartment could be a lifeline to living like a local.
On past trips to Paris I have relied on New York Habitat to help me find a Parisian home-away-from-home and every time they have delivered exactly what I dreamed of…..to the point I find myself never wanting to leave my faux-parisian-local life.
The agency started with short term rentals in New York (hence the name) and then expanded into Paris. They now offer properties in the South of France, London and Rome.
In each location they offer apartments in every price range and size. So no matter what your budget or the size of your group, you’ll be sure to find a place…..and for those on a budget your dollar goes much further renting an apartment than a hotel.
With 12,000 apartments in their database, even the most discerning tourist will find an abode…and with the minimum stay at only three nights for many properties, you can feel like a local on a short trip as well.
Their website is super informative with very detailed descriptions of the apartments, along with many photos covering every nook and cranny….this way there are no surprises lurking when you arrive. So when in Rome visit nyhabitat.com, to literally do as the Romans do.
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