What About These Summer Travel Possibilities?

I’ve been thinking about where I could go with a lot of vacation attractions, but will be sensitive to my tight budget. Southern California would be a good possibility for your summer travel planning. There you will find theme parks, beaches, great weather and a lot more.

The beautiful state of Hawaii should also be on the list, if you find a good deal on airfare. You can almost feel that warm ocean water right now, but remember that there are offsetting advantages to the Golden State. Check this out for a brief comparison between Southern California vacations and vacations in Hawaii. The beaches in SoCal do not have as many rock outcroppings and the sun is less intense (as is the humidity). You’ll find the ocean water to be warmer in the Aloha State, but the cooler California water might actually seem more inviting on a hot summer day.

A Hawaiian vacation does offer beautiful subtropical vegetation and fascinating Polynesian cultural experiences. However, the California coastline, mountains and desert are quite beautiful as well, and the place is a melting pot of cultural diversity.

Southern California offers much more than great beaches. You could spend a week checking out the seven top-notch theme parks between San Diego and Los Angeles County. If you are traveling with a lover of thrill rides, then Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm should be on your list; Six Flags and Knott’s roller coasters are especially noteworthy. Those parks both boast many coasters and similar adrenaline-pumping rides. Disneyland has a few attractions that would be considered thrill rides, but not nearly as many as those other two parks.

There aren’t many roller coasters to be found in Hawaii, unless you consider wintertime surfing to qualify in that category. In terms of the budget, there may be great vacation specials to both destinations, but you can drive to California if airfare is too costly.

Video Game Rentals – as close as your local library

How can you be sure you’re getting the best deals on video games? It used to be that renting video games was a great solution and as cheap and pain-free as a visit to your local movie rental store. Unfortunately avid gamers who rent a lot of video games at once found how fast the rental charges can add up. Include the injury of forgeting to return a bunch of games by the due date and you’ll find that the late fees can really hurt.

Check out these timely tips for getting the best deals on games and game rentals.

First, ask your local library. Most offer free video game rentals to the community. You probably paid for their offerings with your property taxes so you might as well get your money’s worth.

Game Review Websites – Generally web sites offering video game reviews include game details, ESRB ratings, available systems, even actual gameplay footage. Check out the video graphics online first. You might find that the game is overly violent for your tastes or not acceptable for your own children, even if the ESRB ratings indicate it should be age-appropriate.

Don’t Pay Retail – With online discount companies like eBay and Amazon, there is just no reason to pay retail ever again. Many times you’ll find games for Playstation on sale by looking at these websites first.

Rent Games Online – Several companies offer online game rentals for one low monthly subscription. Members choose from over 6000 of the latest games, delivered right to their door, can hold them as long as they want, never pay a late fee for holding them too long, and return games to the company with postage-paid envelopes. If you find a game you like, simply notify the company and you can keep it for a small fee. A few vendors offer a free trial period. Check them out to see how their program works before you join.

Game enthusiasts who are serious about their hobby can save a ton of cash if they know how to find them.