Tag: Easy

  • Picturesque Lakes And Fall Splendor: 3 Lake Towns That Are Easy On The Wallet!

    Picturesque Lakes And Fall Splendor: 3 Lake Towns That Are Easy On The Wallet!

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    Sometimes lakes are viewed as a ‘poor man’s beach’, but not every inland body of water is a murky brown abyss.

    In some cases, lakes are actually even prettier than the ocean, especially during the fall season when tree lines pop in a variety of vibrant reds, golds, and oranges.

    Chairs lakeside amongst vibrant fall foliage

    While palm trees are typically a sign you’re living life right, there’s just something magical about the ambiance a scenic lake provides.

    Crisp mountain air and all the seasonal pumpkin concoctions don’t exactly exude beach vibes, but cozying up by the fire in a pretty lake town sounds just right.

    Brimming with fall splendor, GOBankingRates has revealed these 3 lake towns to visit that are easy on the wallet!

    Midwest Magic: Lake Of The Ozarks

    Aerial view of Lake of the Ozarks in fall

    Forget what you think you know about the Ozarks; it’s not all a bunch of hillbillies and gangsters as portrayed on one of Netflix’s biggest hits, Ozark.

    Yes, there may be an unsightly trailer park or two…or three…remember, just like Ozark’s Marty Byrd said, the Ozarks boasts ‘more shoreline than California‘.

    A majority of the region is truly gorgeous and no better season than fall showcases its natural beauty more.

    Popular for fishing, boating, and hiking, the views are immaculate throughout the area, whereas the lake itself never seems to end.

    house on a lake in the fall

    You’ll have a variety of accommodations to choose from ranging from nice resorts, Mom & Pop inns, and cozy cabin rentals.

    Best of all, vacationing in the Ozarks won’t break the bank. According to Lake.com, many stays drop their prices as much as 40%!

    Tip: Award-winning Alhonna Resort & Marina is only $89 in October!

    Lake Champlain: Vermont’s Autumn Wonderland

    Vermont doesn’t get nearly the credibility it deserves, but how could it while being overshadowed by such mega cities like New York City, Boston, and DC?

    Panoramic views of Lake Champlain in fall

    The ‘Green Mountain State’ should certainly borrow another nickname during fall as the usual green mountains transform to shades of copper and rustic reds along one of the most picturesque U.S. lakes.

    New Englanders far and wide love escaping to nearby Lake Champlain for the ultimate blissful fall escape, but word of mouth has spread across the country about Vermont’s unrivaled beauty, like the Cheney Mountain Trail.

    Vermont may be the centerpiece for this marvelous lake, but keep in mind it’s also shared by New York and Canada, so rates may vary for your stay.

    Lake.com again shared their insight, showing the Vermont side tends to see a 25% drop in hotel rates, ranging from delightful inns to lakeside hotels.

    Small sailboat on Lake Champlain in fall

    A far cry from the East Coast’s bustling cities, visiting Lake Champlain is the ultimate fall retreat to recharge amongst astounding scenery while you savor the flavor that fall brings.

    Expect a plethora of cideries and orchards as well as seasonal goodies on local eateries’ menus. You know you can’t leave Vermont without indulging in something maple!

    Tip: Mark your calendar! Tucked away near the Vermont-Canada border lies top-rated Tyler Place Family Resort, a summer-only all-inclusive 165-acre resort boasting majestic views of Lake Champlain!

    Muskoka: Canada’s Lesser Known Slice Of Fall Heaven

    Seating area overlooking Muskoka's colorful treetops

    Lots can be said about Canada nowadays, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the country’s breathtaking beauty.

    While Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal tend to steal some of the shine away from Canada’s natural beauty, surely you have heard of places like Banff, arguably the most stunning natural wonders in North America.

    However, there’s one slice of heaven flying under the radar – Ontario’s enchanting lake town of Muskoka.

    Home to lush forestry and seemingly never-ending colorful treetops, the quiet town is the ultimate escape to unwind from life’s stresses.

    Booth's Rock Trail views of Rock Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Muskoka

    Cozy cabins and lodges dot the shoreline, and who knows, you may even run into a celebrity or two as this region has become a trendy spot for the rich and famous to hide out.

    According to Lake.com, fall rates tend to drop as much as 30%, so you don’t have to splurge to potentially vacation like the “one-percenters”.

    Tip: For the best value, check out Muskoka Shore Cottages perched lakeside for a quiet retreat. Fall rates are as low as $92 per night.

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    This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

    Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.



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  • No English Menu? No Problem With This Easy Travel Hack

    No English Menu? No Problem With This Easy Travel Hack

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    Have you ever sat down to enjoy a nice dinner on vacation, only to find you couldn’t read the menu? While restaurants in tourist hotspots might have an English menu if you are lucky, don’t count on it. And while you could chance it, what if you get something you don’t want? You’ll end up spending money on something you don’t even like, which is not how you should spend your vacation. Luckily, a very easy and simple travel hack will allow you to read any menu. Travelers have been using this trick for years, but many are still unaware of its existence.

    Young woman eating at a cafe in france

    Take, for instance, the young woman below who took a vacation to Turkey. During her visit, she went to a restaurant with no English menu, and the staff didn’t speak much English either. This prompted her to download Google Translate to communicate with the staff. Translate has been used by travelers for many years and is an extremely helpful tool to have in a foreign country. However, there is a specific feature that often goes unnoticed, as it did by the woman below. When opening the app, there is a ‘camera’ button that you can press.

    After pressing the camera button, travelers can point their phone toward a menu or anything else with text in a foreign language, like street signs, notices, or even nutritional labels at the grocery store.

    Within a few seconds, Google Translate will overlay the foreign text with English (or the user’s language of choice). The feature is extremely useful when visiting a foreign country and often goes unnoticed, as it did by the woman in the video.

    Couple looking at outdoor menu that is not in english

    Google Translate Tips And Tricks

    Offline Use

    One thing travelers often run into while in a foreign country is a lack of cell phone data or Wi-Fi. While many tourist areas have free Wi-Fi available in various shops and restaurants, you can’t always count on it. Luckily, Google Translate allows users to download languages to their devices so that they don’t need an internet connection for the translations to work. Downloading a language doesn’t use much space, so feel free to download as many as you think you’ll need. For example, downloading French for offline use only uses 74MB of storage space.

    screenshot for how to navigate to offline languages in google translate

    After downloading for offline use, Translate’s functionality is more limited. However, users can still use their camera to translate text in real-time, and they will still be able to type in their native language to translate into another. When offline, Google Translate cannot convert speech, and conversation mode is unavailable.

    st-Germain-cafe-de-flore

    Conversation Mode

    This feature is convenient when trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your language. However, one of its main drawbacks is that the feature will not work without an internet connection. Travelers who are not connected to Wi-Fi or do not have an international data plan will not be able to take advantage of Conversation Mode. For those lucky enough to have a connection while they travel, this feature allows for a near-seamless conversation between two people who do not speak each other’s language.

    screenshot for how to use the conversation mode in google translate

    Once users have selected the languages they want to translate between; they just need to hit the Conversation button and then the Auto button. After this, both people can speak their native language. Google Translate will automatically detect each language before translating it into the other selected language. The app will listen to both languages the whole time and translate immediately after detection.

    Charming restaurant Le Consulat on the Montmartre hill. Paris, France

    Travel Prepared

    Google Translate is an invaluable tool for traveling to a country that doesn’t speak your native language. Downloading languages before heading off is a great way to ensure you aren’t caught unprepared when trying to communicate or read a menu. Along with Google Translate, many other apps will ensure your travel goes smoothly, including Google Maps, TripIt, and more.

    This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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