April in Paris… Is that when you should visit?  Well that notion may be tremendously romantic, but the truth of the matter is that you have a pretty good chance of running into cold and rainy weather, so just be prepared.  It's further north than you think! 

That's not to say you shouldn't go in April.  The weather in Spring may give you a taste of both sun and showers.  The temperatures should average in the high 50's F (14 C).

If you ask people about when to visit Paris France, most will probably talk about Spring.  It's a popular time for tourists and locals alike, and why not?  The weather will be sunny more often the later you go in Spring, and by the end of April and into May the gardens will be blooming.

Spring may be shoulder season, but you will still need to be prepared for many other tourists.  Lots of people have heard that it's a good time to go to miss the heat of summer.  Prices for hotels may even be at high season rates.  There will be lines for some of the most popular attractions, but the locals haven't been putting up with tourists all winter, so they will be fresh and friendly.

In spring, the worst of the summer crowds haven't arrived yet, making a stroll down the Champs Elysees more memorable.  When the spring showers hit, head indoors to one of the museums.

Should you consider another season?  Maybe you need to go in summer because of your school or work schedule.  Summer brings lots of traveling students as well as all the other tourists.  Prices will be at their highest, and the lines will be at their longest.  It's probably a good idea to book flights and rooms early to try and get good deals in this popular season.  The weather is nice with temperatures in the high 70s F (24 C).

July draws crowds because of Bastille Day, July 14, and the Tour de France bicycle race that ends up in Paris.  During August, most Parisians take a month long vacation… usually out of the city.  So some restaurants and businesses might be closed.

Fall is a good time to consider.  The weather is changing, and you may run into some cool days.  The upside is the crowds will be smaller, and you're more apt to find shoulder season prices.  The locals are rejuvenated from their summer month away, and they will be relaxed, more tolerant, have more time for you.  Temperatures are in the low 60s F (16 C) — a little warmer than spring.

You might nab a wonderfully cheap airfare right after the New Year holidays.  Winter in Paris?  It can be really cold…  Temperatures in the 30s and 40s F (0-4 C). The gardens may be buried in snow, the Eiffel Tower closed due to ice.  But it can also be romantic if you're into cafes and hot chocolate, bookstores and boutiques. 

If you decide to go then, you probably won't run into any tourists, and the hotel rates will be as low as they get.  Still our recommendation would be one of the other seasons for the most enjoyable time to visit.

So what will it be?  Summer… Fall… Winter… Spring?  Oh, come on…. Your choice.  The City of Lights is wonderful anytime of the year.

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So, you've decided it's time to take your first trip to Europe.  For many Americans it seems like a rite of passage.  It doesn't matter if you're young or old.  It's something special that first trip to Europe.  You've finally arrived somehow. 

You've saved the money, you've applied for the passport… wow, you're practically ready to pack.  But wait… just having made the decision to get a passport and go to Europe is only the first step.  There are more decisions to make.  Let's think through some of this.

How much time do you have?  One week will have you concentrating on an area or a city… two or more weeks lets you tour around a bit more.

What part of Europe do you want to go to?  It's not like you can just go to Europe.  That's like saying you want to see the United States.  There are big areas to be covered, and you need to choose an area to see even if you have several weeks.

Do you just want to see it…?  Visit the highlights like maybe London, Paris, Rome, and see the big sights?  Or… do you have an agenda?  Do you want to find family roots and do a little genealogy research?  Is there a festival you've always wanted to see like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona or The Gathering and Highland Games in Edinburgh?

Do you concentrate on one or two countries or try to do a grand circle of Europe? 

Do you take a tour?  Set up a Custom tour?  Or do you want to take your first trip to Europe all on your own and find your own way?

So how will you answer these questions?

If you're a student, you may be able to travel for the summer… good for you.  You won't find a better way to add to your education!  If you're retired, you can stay as long as your finances will allow… AND you can travel during shoulder seasons when there are fewer crowds.

If you only have one or two or three weeks, try for those shoulder seasons to maximize your experiences and minimize the lines.  Try to limit yourself to a country a week.  Even at that you'll just be getting an overview of the area you choose to visit.

A tour can be a good idea and can take some of the anxiety out of your first trip to Europe.  There are so many tours offered that you can easily choose one that goes to the area you want to visit for the length of time you want to spend, and you can even get tours that specifically go to those festivals or visit gardens or let you explore just castles.  Your hotels will be taken care of and many of your meals too.  It's good way to build your confidence abroad.

If groups just aren't your thing, being an independent traveler on your first trip to Europe is not difficult either.  There is so much information on the internet that it's easy to plan it for yourself and leave yourself more flexibility.

Just sit down with a pencil and paper and make the decisions one at a time, and that long awaited first trip to Europe will be a reality.

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Independent travel or group tours?  You've looked at tour groups during your trip planning and decided that you really want to be independent.  You don't want to be herded around.  You want to sleep in when you want… find little local bistros to eat in… linger in a shop.

Independent travel is a great way to go.  There are several ways to approach it.  You can rent a villa for a week or a month… or make hotel reservations for every day.  You can just arrive and find accommodations as you go… or you can make reservations for the first night or two then start finding your accommodations for the rest of the trip. 

It takes less advance trip planning if you decide to find accommodations as you go, but some people don't like the stress of finding a hotel every night.  Part of the process is deciding what works best for you.

As an independent traveler, you can stay in small economical places that groups won't fit into.  It may cost more to stay in larger hotels… group tour operators tend to get good breaks on those rooms.  But you'll probably rub elbows with more locals in that small local place than you would in that big hotel.  (Though sometimes that big hotel isolation can give you a little respite if you're traveling in a rugged or third world area.)

You can use the Internet to make reservations at museums and popular spots before you leave on your trip.  This means you'll be sure to get into those museums or other venues, but it also locks you in to a timetable.  If you're feeling a bit more independent, consider making phone calls or using the Internet to make those reservations on the road. 

You'll get English speakers on the phone; you'll probably still get the reservations you want and still have the flexibility of changing your timetable as you travel.  (Getting those reservations can help you avoid lines just like the tour groups do.)

Independent travel allows for more adventure and spontaneity.  If you end up in a village that looked charming in the pictures… but there really isn't anything there for you… you can just move on.  On the other hand, if you stumble on a great local festival, you can linger and enjoy it.  You'll miss what a tour guide might teach you, but if you feel you need it, you can always hire a local guide… or talk to a friendly local….  You never know what you might find out, and you could end up with a new friend!

If you decide you'd like to rent a car, it will be expensive if you're traveling all by yourself…. It's easier for a couple and better still if you travel with friends to share the expense.  But traveling with friends and family takes some planning of it's own!

So weigh you options, tour group or independent travel.  Make all your reservations ahead or wing it?  A large part of the joy of travel is the trip planning and anticipation. Discover more Important Travel Savings Advice and get your FREE copy of the "Budget Travel Special Report" by visiting www.GlobeCheap.com

Definitely plan to take credit cards with you when you travel.  Even when you travel abroad. It's a good idea to let your card company or bank know when and where you'll be traveling.  Identity theft is such a problem these days, that if your card company sees unusual spending patterns they may grow suspicious.  They might block charges on your card to protect you from fraud…  You know, like a lot of charges from London when you live in Des Moines.  Notifying your card company isn't required, but it's a good idea to protect yourself and ensure that you can use your card on your trip. 

Travel with only a couple of charge cards in addition to your ATM card. You don't want to have a whole pocket full of cards at risk, but you do want to have more than one type of card.  It's a good idea because if something happens and one card can't be used, you'll have a backup. 

Some places only take Visa; some only take MasterCard.  Pick one or two of each and leave the rest at home.  American Express may say "Don't leave home without it," but there are many places that won't take their card.  It's a good card to have, but it's also good to know the limitations.

If two of you are traveling as a couple, consider carrying different credit cards.  This will give you even more options. 

If you rent a car, sometimes car rental companies will put a large charge on your card at the beginning as a deposit, leaving you less on your credit line.  Your back up cards will make sure you always can use a card.  You do want to charge the car on a card that will cover collision damage waiver… that'll save you money.

Credit card companies have started adding international transaction fees.  Visa and MasterCard have charged a 1 percent fee for years, but now some banks that issue the card also tack on a 1-2 percent foreign transaction fee in addition to that.  Quiz your bank or card company.  There are a handful of cards which don't charge any fees at all.  As of this writing, Capital One Card charges no fees, so you might want to carry one of those.

Don't let foreign vendors charge that bill for you in dollars.  It seems nice, but you'll probably end up paying more.  The dollar amount you're charged may be at a crummy exchange rate (way worse than you'd get with your credit card or ATM), and you're card company will still likely charge you a foreign transaction fee.

Credit cards are accepted in more places all the time…. most now in fact.  But there are still many little B&Bs that take only cash, some small restaurants too.  And in some less developed countries you may find you need to pay in cash.  If you want to pay with your card, they may add 3-5 percent onto your bill to make up for the fees that they're charged.  So take those credit cards traveling, but change plenty of money and be prepared to pay cash in many places too.

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You're going abroad, and you'll be changing money. What is the best way to do that? The short answer is to use the ATM. REALLY! Almost anywhere in the world now, you'll find ATMs. Almost.

Try to check ahead before you go to know whether to take cash, traveler's checks, ATM or credit cards. Traveler's checks aren't used all that much anymore, but they're a good backup in case something goes wrong with the credit cards and ATMs.

If you can't get money out of a cash machine, it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with YOUR card. Those electronic transactions have to be submitted and approved, there may be communications problems in less developed counties; their readers might not read your card; or (and this has happened) the bank ATM has run out of money!

You may hear that changing money — at least a little — before you travel is a good idea. That's not necessary. There are almost always banks or money changers at the airport, and ATMs are everywhere…. well, almost everywhere. There are a few countries that won't accept ATM cards from certain other countries. You do need to check this out. You can find out in government advisories about each country.

If you're going to drive across the border to a country with a different currency, you should check to see where you can change money and if they'll take some other currency, like that of their neighbors or Euros or Dollars.

If you think the exchange rate is going to change dramatically, and you'll get a better deal changing money ahead… you might want to give it a try. It's hard to time those money markets though.

Another reason for changing money before you leave is if you want to familiarize yourself with that funny looking currency. Even if you wait to change money on the road, do try to familiarize yourself with the local currency so you don't fumble too much with it. If you change your money once you get to your destination, it's best to familiarize yourself with it in the privacy of your hotel room and not in public.

You will fumble. Sometimes those little coins will be worth a dollar or two or five…. or that 10,000 "Whatever" note could be worth about five dollars! So try to get a rough idea of what those coins and bills are worth. We've found that most people are helpful sorting out the right change, but you should always be on guard for a scam artist that might try to charge you too much because you don't figure out how much you're paying fast enough.

If you're changing cash, change money only at reputable or official locations. Black market money exchanges could get you in trouble at worst or be scams where you'll lose money. If you do change money at money exchangers, compare the exchange rates and commissions carefully. ATMs are much more straight forward.

You should avoid buying more foreign currency than you actually need. You will lose money if you need to convert back, and some countries restrict the amount of their currency they permit you to take out when leaving the country.

If you are traveling on a prepaid tour, you won't be changing money as much. Also, you may be able to pay bar bills at lodges and hotels in dollars or with your credit card. So check ahead, take credit cards, ATMs and travelers checks and don't worry, you'll find plenty of places to change them. Discover more important travel savings advice and get your FREE copy of the "Budget Travel Special Report" by visiting www.GlobeCheap.com

Cancelled flights are a headache for everyone.  Believe me, the airlines don't like to cancel.  It starts a whole domino effect.  Not just for your flight, but for flights at down line airports all through the day.  Planes end up in the wrong places with crews that can't fly them because of time regulations. 

Probably the most common reason a flight is cancelled is weather.  Sometimes this is pretty obvious, like if you're sitting in the middle of a snow storm, and no one is moving anywhere.

Sometimes you look outside, and it's sunny and calm.  How can the flight be cancelled for weather like that?  Think about it.  The weather might be occurring somewhere else.  Maybe there are severe thunderstorms on the East Coast, and that's where the flight is coming from.  Maybe the flight is coming from sunny Florida, but it's coming THOUGH a hub in the middle of one of those storms.  Maybe there is a sandstorm in the Sahara or a typhoon in Japan.  Weather anywhere in the world can affect your flight if it is a long haul flight.

Another reason flights may be cancelled is mechanical problems.  If this is the case, you want them to cancel, but it's hard not to feel frustrated anyway. 

Or a flight could be cancelled because there have been delays, and now the crew has been waiting for too long.  There are rules about when they can fly and when they can't.

If your flight is cancelled, the second you hear that your plane is not going anywhere, call the airline's toll-free number.  (It's a smart idea to have it programed in your cell phone.)  Get into the line at the counter, especially if it's fairly short, but make that call while you're standing in line.  There's a good possibility you'll get rebooked more quickly on the phone than at the counter where a couple of overwhelmed airline employees are being swarmed by a plane full of disgruntled fliers.

Ask what your options are.  Actually, it pays to have an idea of alternatives before you get to the airport.  True, most times you won't need to use the alternatives, but with cancelled flights, the sooner you can act on those alternatives, the more apt you are to get on your way while everyone else is still looking them up.

Most airlines will rebook you, with no fees or penalties, on the next flight on which space is available.  Not necessarily on the next flight… the next flight on which space is available.  During holiday periods or really bad weather situations, this could be more than just hours.  If you seen the news the last few years, you know it can even be days! 

If the wait seems too long, ask the agent if there might be a seat on another airline.  Remember they are in competition, but airlines will often endorse your ticket to another carrier to try and get you on your way in a timely fashion.  You'll have the most luck if the flight is on a partner airline. 

If these things don't work, suggest solving your flight problem by connecting through another city or going to another airport.  Remember, all of these suggestions only work if your cancelled flight is pretty much an isolated situation.  If all the airlines are canceling flights, as they must in bad weather, ….patience is the only thing that will work.

Discover more important travel savings advice and get your FREE copy of the "Budget Travel Special Report" by visiting www.GlobeCheap.com

Should you keep traveling when things get tough financially around the world?  Everyone is affected… and everyone needs to trim costs.  But even when economic downturns occur, a majority of travelers intend to travel anyway… they just become more cost conscious.

The travel industry is "self-correcting" when it comes to economic downturns.  It may be THE best time to travel and get travel bargains.  Airlines, hotels and tour operators are slashing prices and offering extras like they haven't in a long time.

We think it's important to keep traveling unless it will completely ruin your home budget.  Clearly during global financial slowdowns, we are all going to have to work a little harder for less.

We will have to plan our spending a little more carefully, but we shouldn't give up traveling.  You might want to dine out less often at home, take your lunch to work, start mowing your own lawn… then put the money you save toward your travel budget.

Travel plays a vital role in our lives.  It is rejuvenating.  It's one thing to take your vacation time and just stay home… it's a whole lot better for you to go somewhere and try something new.

There is pleasure in the discovery that travel gives you.  You might even cherish your travel experiences more during tough times.  If you have to focus on value, do that, but still travel.

We just need to find ways to pad our travel budget.  You know you still want to go….  You just want to trim around the edges and travel for less.  Stop and make a list of things you can cut down on at home and not miss too much.

We're sure you can add to our list….  Don't part with your vacation.  Even in the U.S. where workers normally only get two weeks of vacation a year, the majority of people say that vacations are important.

Travelers may simply travel closer to home in rough times.  With our web pages and blogs, we'll try to help by giving you ideas on how to save… how to travel more frugally.  Don't give up on your wildest travel dreams.  Travel frugally now, but hang onto those travel dreams for future trips when the economy recovers a bit.

Travelers may look to prepackaged tours to save money but still be able to travel.  Volunteer vacations may be a way to save on a trip and contribute to helping some segment of society at the same time.

Some people may talk about cutting back, but we're a world full of wanderers… collectively, we love to travel…. and since we do think of that old saying… Where there is a will, there is a way.

Go out and enjoy the world, but instead of eating at 5 star Michelin restaurants, enjoy a little local place, or picnic.  Spend leisurely days in free museums.  Hike in the mountains.  Take the travel pace a little slower… walk, take public transportation… just sit in a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the ambience.

Travel not only helps you, it helps keep economies flowing.  During economic downturns, and when terrorism strikes, it's easy to start feeling depressed.  Taking a break from the daily grind… some place exciting and new lifts your spirits.  It just makes you feel good.  And isn't there a saying that goes something like… if it feels good… do it?

So we hope everyone will keep traveling… you'll just learn to travel smarter. Discover more important travel savings advice and get your FREE copy of the "Budget Travel Special Report" by visiting www.GlobeCheap.com

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San Antonio may not have the big tourist ring of New York City or San Francisco, but it's a great little city to come face to face with some history.  It's one of America's oldest cities. 

It was colonized by Spain in the early 1700's and since then Native Americans, Old Mexico and the deep South have mixed and blended to make for an interesting city.

Start your visit to San Antonio with a little history…. the Alamo.  It's undoubtedly the number one tourist attraction in all the state of Texas.  It was  built in the 18th century as one of San Antonio's five Spanish colonial missions.  Later it gained fame as the site of an epic 1836 battle during the Texas Revolution. 

That's when Davey Crockett and Jim Bowie fought and died in the Alamo.  When you first see it, you'll think it's smaller than you expected…. and it is!  That's because it was built as a mission and not as a fort.  Admission is free, though you will have to pay for parking at a downtown lot.  It's right in the heart of town, near the River Walk.

If you want to see more of the five missions beyond the Alamo, see San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.  It will take you to the other four missions.  You can travel from mission to mission on the eight mile Missions Bike and Hike Trail.

There is a map of downtown San Antonio posted every few blocks on the sidewalks making it easy to explore the Alamo and the River Walk.

The River Walk or Paseo del Rio is also downtown.  Twenty feet below the hustle and bustle of downtown streets, the River Walk follows the San Antonio River's gentle bends.  Along it you will find restaurants, hotels, museums and historic sites.  You can walk along the banks, or you can take a cruise on the river which goes on for a couple of miles while a tour guide gives you fun filled facts.

One place you'll find along the banks of the river is the historic district of La Villita.  It was originally established by Spanish soldiers stationed at the Alamo.  In 1835 the Mexican Army surrendered and gave Texas its independence at La Villita.  The next year was when the Battle of the Alamo was fought to try and win Texas back.  More recently the historic buildings have have been turned into restaurants and also galleries and shops for arts and crafts.

Historic Market Square is near downtown.  Also known as the Mexican Market or El Mercado, it's the largest Mexican market in the state.  It pulsates with friendly people and bold colors.  Stroll beneath the "papel picado" (Mexican tissue paper streamers).  Buy beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry…. handmade necklaces and earrings, belts and buckles from Mexico are here.  Find Mexican candies and even buy a pinata to put them in.  If you just want to soak it in, relax by the fountain and enjoy the sounds of mariachis.

With deep Latino roots, you will get some great Tex-Mex food here.  You'll also find some great San Antonio Texas barbecue, but their culinary repertoire is large and diverse, so don't worry about going hungry.  Just bring good walking shoes and an appetite for history and fun. Discover more important travel savings advice and get your FREE copy of the "Budget Travel Special Report" by visiting www.GlobeCheap.com