1. Corner Bistro / West Greenwich Village: This is a no frills, New York landmark. Lots of New Yorkers will claim this place to have the best burger. You can get a Bistro Burger plus Beer for $8.50. There are usually lines after 6pm. Address: 331 W 4th St, NY, NY 10014 between Jane St. and 8th Ave. #212 242 9502. Payment: Cash only

2. 99 cents Fresh Pizza/ open 24 hours: This is a good place to get a slice if you want to grab and go; there is no place to sit. It is small and crowded, but when you’re hungry, and want some pizza, you can’t beat the price. You can get 2 slices and a drink for $2.75. Address: 151 E 43rd St, NY 10037 between 3rd and Lexington Avenue. Payment: Cash Only

3. Dumpling House / Lower East Side: If you’re in mood for some dumplings, they are the best out of many others. The dumplings are prepared to order, plump, juicy, and hot. You can get 4 dumplings for $1, or a Sesame pork sandwich plus 8 dumplings for $5 or sesame pancake for $1.50. You can also buy frozen vegetable and pork dumpling, 50 for $8. Address: 118 Eldridge St, NY 10002 between Broome St and Grand St. #212 625 8008. Payment: Cash only

4. Bangkok House: Lunch specials are two choices of soup, salad, appetizer, and a main dish. You can get Chicken, Beef or Pork in a choice of garlic, peanut, curry, panang or many other varieties of sauces for $6.95. During lunch you can get Shrimp or Squid for $7.95, and duck or seafood for $8.95. Dinner menu starts at $8.95, just a few more dollars than lunch. Address: 360 W 46th St. NY 10036, between 8th and 9th Ave. # 212 541 5943

1. Look for coupons on the web: If you are using a Park then Fly facility by the airport, lots of those companies offer coupons through their own or other websites. Here are 2: longtermparking.org, fasttrack.com. Some sites like cheapairportparking.org offer choices exclusively for Los Angeles International Airport / LAX parking.

2. Public Transportation: Save money and environment at the same time! If you are using public transportation, check out this website, www.airportgrounddirectory.com. It gives a list of most of the airports in the US, with specific details on the routes, fares, types of transportation available, to and from the airports.

3. Parking at the train station: Depending on the city that you live in, it might be feasible to drive to the closest train station or metro, and ride to the airport. Parking at train stations are a lot cheaper than at the airport! Most of the rides take you right into the airport, so it also saves you time.

4. Economy Lot at the Airport: Do this only if you have a little extra time to spare. When the economy lot signs says full, ask an attendant anyway if you can wait for a little bit to see if any spots open up. If your waiting does not create a traffic jam, at least 50% of the time, they will let you in after a few minutes, as people start leaving. Of course it might take a while to find a spot, but it’s definitely worth asking, rather than pay the Premium Lot price. This technique is best to use during non holiday travel time.

Now that most airlines are charging, $15 for 1^st bag, and $25 for 2^nd bag, and a hefty price for any overweight bag, we all really need to start packing light. In today’s tough financial times we have to improvise in all areas of our life, and the same applies to traveling light, less is more (in your pocket). It’s a little difficult to take the things off the list your kid’s need, so I guess the burden falls on us parents to shorten our list.

• Plan ahead on which luggage to carry: Make sure your suitcase or duffel bag itself is not too heavy. A good time to check on this would be right after reading this article or when you’re even thinking of a trip. The right luggage makes all the difference. You can compare the weight, price, and read reviews, and shop for luggage online.

• Space Saver bags: These transparent, compressible bags are great not just for space, but helps you stay really organized. If they do a random check at the security, or if you’re traveling during the winter season with heavier clothes. You can buy travel space saver bags at amazon for $8 and up. If you’re carrying towels, check out these light load towel. They are light weight, absorbent towels, which can roll into a size that can fits in your pocket.

• If you’re visiting friends or family you can just borrow the extra jackets, hats, gloves, snow shoes.

• Always make a list of things to pack, and review at least 2 times. I promise this is a great way to cross some things off the list, before you even start packing. Cross off things that you think you need, but didn’t use in your last trip.
  

1. Long Island City, Waterfront: If you want to get a good view of New York City from a place that only locals may know about, you want to go here. It’s in western Queens, just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan. You can take the subway to Queens Plaza station to get here. If you’re driving, you can’t miss the big Silver cup Studio sign from Queens Borough Bridge.

2. Union Square Park: This vibrant park is located by Broadway, Parkway Avenue South, bounded by 14^th, and 17^th street. The park is well known for its remarkable statue of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Mahatma Gandhi. The outdoors Union Square Greenmarket is open year round from 8am to 6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with a wide variety of fresh vegetables, and fruits. Some of the well known neighborhoods around are, Chelsea, Flatiron District, New York University, and Greenwich Village.

3. Greenwich Village: A large part of this area is considered to be a historic district, and new construction is highly restricted. It mainly comprises of upper middle class residential neighborhood. It also has a nice campus town atmosphere; NYU, The New School, Yeshiva University’s School of Law are all located here. You can sit in any café, and you’ll find yourself amongst many students. Many celebrities such as Liv Tyler, Uma Thurman live here. Greenwich Village was the setting for the Friends sitcom, and Carrie’s apartment in Sex and the City. It’s definitely a nice place to stroll around or sit at a café, and get a sense of New York living it’s also well known for Washington Square Park.

· Citi Premier Pass Card: Earn 1 point for every 1 mile you fly, and 1 for every 1 mile friends / family fly on your ticket. Redeem points for cruises, hotels, car rentals, gift cards etc. Points don’t expire as long as you make at least 1 purchase every 3 years. Get a complimentary companion ticket when you buy a qualifying ticket. Redeem points with any airline without any blackout dates.

· Miles by Discover: Earn double miles up to 3000, in travel and restaurant purchases. Earn 1 mile for every dollar on all other purchases. Book without blackout dates or restrictions. When you sign up, you get 12000 bonus miles. No Annual Fee.

· American Express Gold Delta Sky Miles Credit Card: Earn 1 mile for every other eligible dollar spent. Earn up to 25000 bonus miles when you sign up. No annual fee 1^st year, then $95, or $45 if you qualify.

1. Walt Disney World Free Admission on your 2009 Birthday: All you have to do is register online for free, and they will send you a reminder 2 weeks prior to your birthday. You bring this confirmation and proper ID to get the free admissions. The free admission only applies to the birthday person, to one park.

2. Buy 4 nights get 3 Free: Walt Disney World Resort is offering buy 4 nights get 3 Free. This also includes 7 day theme park tickets. This offer is available on most nights from 03/17 to 04/04, and 04/19 to 08/15. If you travel between 03/17 to 03/29/09, you get a $200 Disney Gift Card. All tickets have to be booked by 03/29/09.

3. Walt Disney World Value Resorts: For a lesser cost at the value resorts, you can still enjoy some benefits of staying at a Disney Resort, with free transportation to / from airport, enjoy extended hours for a theme park each day exclusively for Disney Resort customers, complimentary transportation to all the theme and water parks, enjoy a parents night out while kids 4-12 have supervised play by the Disney Cast at the resort. The rooms start out at $82 per night plus tax, for stay most nights during value season, for up to 4 guests in a room, with no more than 2 adults.

4. Orlando Magic Card: This is offered through the Orlando / Orange County Conventions and Visitors Bureau. You register for free and print a card. With the card you can immediately start saving on accommodations, attractions, dining, golf, vacation rental, and transportation. Some examples of savings: 20% off Gatorland admissions up to 6 people, $5 off $30 of food bill, $10 off the ticket price for shows from Central Florida Ballet Academy etc. 

1. Bronx Zoo: If you are a Bank of America (BOA) customer and have a BOA ATM, Debit or Credit Card, you get free admissions on the first weekend of every month. Also on Wednesdays throughout the year admissions is pay as you wish or you just give a donation. You may have to pay for separate exhibits. It is one of the biggest zoos that we’ve been to.

2. Toys r Us: This 3 Story toy heaven is right in the heart of Times Square. There is also a Ferris wheel ride inside the store! The kids can sit in their favorite seat on the wheel: a cozy coupe, school bus, or pink Barbie Cadillac, Cars. You can also go to FAO Schwarz. This huge 50,000 square feet Toy store is located at 5^th Avenue -58^th Street, and is a NYC landmark. The giant Bobby the Toy Soldier by the entrance is very welcoming, and a great photo opportunity. They have lots of interactive activities including a dance – on piano; the same one Tom Hanks danced on, in the movie Big.

3. Brooklyn Botanical Garden:  There is a free program on Saturdays from 10-12, if there are no special events going on. Children under 12 are always free.

4. NY Aquarium, Brooklyn: As BOA customers the first weekends are free. Or, every Friday between 3:00pm until closing at 4:30pm, it’s pay as you wish. Children under 2 are always free. The kids are sure to enjoy exhibits with over 8000 animals from as far as Southwest Coast of Africa to the nearby Hudson River.

· Beach: Go to a beach location. The sand and the water offer hours of fun at no extra cost, other than some cheap plastic buckets, shovels to play with. You can walk the boardwalk, or fish from the pier, watch the sunset and sunrise all without spending any money!

· Hotel location at the beach area: It’s always cheaper to get a hotel right across the street from the beach . If your room is high enough you’ll still be able to see the beach, and enjoy staying in that -beach town or city atmosphere. hotelscombined.com is a great site that lets you check multiple hotel reservation websites, in one search, rather than going to individual sites.

· Day Trips: Spring break is just a week, so you can take a couple of day trips. You’ll still enjoy a new place and the feeling of being away from the daily grind, without spending for overnight stay. You would be surprised at how many beautiful places there are right in your state or close by within 2-3 hours drive. When we think or plan of vacations we always think of places far away, but you can enjoy just as much, the essence of seeing a new place close by. You take turn driving, leave early, pack a picnic basket, enjoy a full day of fun and still are back to your own cozy bed to sleep.

· Water Park / Theme Park: Go to a couple of these parks right in your city, or close by. It’s a day’s worth of fun without having to plan or pay for a whole trip. For a lot of these locations you can look for coupons for admissions. For example, at times Coke cans will have discounts for Six Flag or White Water tickets.

1. Imagine it Children’s Museum: Every second Tuesday of the month, the admission is free. It’s the Target Free 2nd Tuesdays. This is a great interactive children’s museum, where your little ones will stay busy one activity after another. The range of activities include, painting on the paint wall, loading balls in a kid sized crane and moving it through a ball machine, building sculptures on a kid sized crane, putting on a raincoat and using little fish poles to “fish” the ducks, filling up boxes with produce in a conveyor belt to send it for delivery etc.

2. Atlanta Botanical Garden: If you are a Bank of America (BOA) customer, and have a BOA ATM, Debit or Credit Card, you can get free admissions here on the first weekend of every month. There is even a 2 acre children’s garden with a host of interactive activities, Tree house, Dinosaur garden, Vegetable garden, sunflower fountain etc. Kids will love running around anywhere in the open space!

3. Atlanta Fern Bank Museum: This venue also offers the same free admissions program for BOA customers on first weekend of every month. As soon as you enter the museum, at its main hall, the kids will be amazed to see the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit. This Exhibit recreates the setting of when the largest Dinosaurs lived, and how it got its preys. At the time of this writing, The Ends of Earth: Polar Bear to Penguins Exhibit is going on. For toddlers to preschoolers there is a Children’s Discovery Room, where they can learn about basic concepts of nature through playful activities. For Children 6-9, A walk through Time in Georgia Exhibit, lets them discover the different Geography of Georgia, form Jekyll Island Pier to wildlife in the mountains.

4. Atlanta History Center: This is also free on first weekend of every month with BOA card. Don’t be fooled by the name! Even if the kids are not too much into history, there’s plenty to do. The kids can enjoy the interactive museum, tour 2 houses, including a Swan House, visit Victorian Playhouse, walk in the nature trail, and visit the gardens.