You won't be surfing Oahu's Banzai Pipeline like the pros, but that doesn't mean you can't get your feet wet. Credit: surfglassy.

By Amy Drew Thompson

Okay, sure. It doesn’t hurt to be born and raised in Hawaii (or blessed with natural talent), but Oahu native John John Florence — at 19, the youngest-ever champion of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing — still had to practice. Where can you get your start? On a cheap Hawaii vacation, of course, learning from natives in the waves where many believe the sport was born.  You might want to avoid the monsters at Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline for now, but there are plenty of kinder, gentler beaches for beginners getting their sea legs. And it never hurts to get a lesson.

Tourist-friendly with relatively flat, easy-to-ride swells, Oahu’s Canoes Beach, near Waikiki, has long been lauded as ideal for newcomers. Coral reefs here lie offshore in deep water, making it a safe place to fall — which you most assuredly will — as you learn. Farther from the hotel zone, and far less crowded, White Plains Beach boasts consistent, beginner-level waves all year long.  Where to stay: The EWA Hotel Waikiki is a block from the beach, the zoo and offers proximity to Canoes’ gentle waves, as well. Cheap Tickets offers select guestrooms at the Ala Moana Hotel at special rates — 10 to 50 percent off official prices — for the same beautiful ocean or mountain views.

Parts of Maui are protected from those big winter waves, making the breaks sublime for noobs. Launiupoko State Wayside Park fits the bill beautifully, as an out-lying reef shreds the big’uns into ribbons most anyone can ride. Bring a mask and fins, too. Snorkeling is stellar when the ocean’s flat.  Where to stay: The Best Western Pioneer Inn, just steps from myriad water attractions, is also a registered historic landmark – built in 1901.

Kids on Kauai can grab tiny breaks close to shore on Kiahuna Beach, one of the top south shore locations for novices. The beach is adjacent to Poipu Beach Park, a popular spot for snorkeling.  Where to stay: The beautiful Nihi Kai Villas lie close to the gentle surf of Kiahuna and the myriad water activities of beautiful Poipu.

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Though a veteran Hawaii traveler, freelance travel writer Amy Drew Thompson prefers watching surfers from the relative stability of a kayak. Or maybe a beach chair. With a  Mai Tai.

World-class champions like Nicklaus, Woods and Singh play Disney's Palm Golf Course. You can, too.

By Amy Drew Thompson

The PGA Merchandise Show comes to the Orange County Convention Center Jan. 25-28, along with the year’s best golfing weather. Mercifully, you don’t have to be Arnold Palmer — or even staying at Disney — to experience play at Walt Disney World’s phenomenal courses, so golfers booking cheap Orlando vacations need not settle. Cool quotient: Carts come equipped with the latest GPS technology. Plan accordingly and enjoy reduced late-afternoon rates for even more savings.

Magnolia: Smell that? It’s the heady fragrance of blossoming magnolias. Or maybe your fierce game is making your opponents sweat. Magnolia boasts wide fairways, shimmering water hazards and challenging play that hosts the final rounds of the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, last stop on the PGA Tour.

Palm: Immaculate, palm-studded golf in paradise. And if you’re having an off day on the fairway, sparkling water and tropical sand will remind you that a bad day at golf is often better than a good day at the office.

Osprey Ridge: Not only is this masterpiece ranked among the best courses in Florida, it’s also recognized as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary. Nature envelops all 18 holes and for those in search of a challenge, Osprey Ridge plays 7,101 yards from the back tees.

Lake Buena Vista: This course winds amid quaint pastel architecture, boats and a charming lighthouse with Bahamian sensibility. LBV has hosted PGA, LPGA and USGA events. Can you rise to the challenge of its seventh-hole island green? Come find out!

Oak Trail: Each of the above welcome players at all levels, but Oak Trail, a beautiful, nine-hole walking course, is ideal for watching youngsters fall in love with golf while challenging veterans with cleverly designed holes.

Where to stay: Hampton Inn Orlando: just a mile from the WDW resort area with free shuttle service to Epcot. Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista: free shuttles to virtually every theme park in the vicinity — and kids 11 and under eat free. Marriott Orlando World Center: Hawk’s Landing’s 18 holes are right outside.

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Freelance travel writer and former cart girl Amy Drew Thompson appreciates golf for its precision, grace and excellent tippers.

Gray whales near Baja, Mexico that interact with humans are called "friendlies." Credit: Jim Dorsey.

By Blane Bachelor

When it comes to whales, especially gray whales, Jim Dorsey knows his stuff. The Los Angeles-based naturalist is trained by the American Cetacean Society and for 15 years has been the resident naturalist in the Gray Whale Nursery of the pristine San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. A popular destination for cheap Mexico vacations, the Baja Peninsula also boasts some of the world’s best whale watching, as its warm, protected waters draw thousands of once-endangered gray whales from January through April. Here, Dorsey offers his years of experience on how to get the best out of any whale watching excursion.

Nix the nausea. Seasickness can strike at any time — and sap the fun right out of any whale-watching excursion — so it’s advisable to look into prevention far enough ahead of time that it has a chance to take effect.

Don’t rock the boat. The thrill of seeing a whale in the wild for the first time is enough to make any newbie watcher jump with excitement. But on smaller boats called pangas, like the ones used by Dorsey his coworkers at Baja Ecotours, Dorsey stresses to guests not to rush to one side for a better photo or look, as the captain and guide have to move quickly to the other side to prevent the boat from tipping. This can be a distraction from spotting whales and positioning the boat for the best viewing, so it’s best to stay seated – just like in an airplane takeoff or landing – until the guides say it’s ok to move around.

Protect your camera. Dorsey has seen plenty of cameras tumble into the water in the excitement over spotting a whale. The solution is simple: Slip on the strap, either around your neck or wrist, when the boat is at the dock.

For serious shutterbugs, Dorsey recommends a waterproof camera case that’s easy to snap on and remove, as he’s seen plenty of whale watchers get sprayed — camera in hand — by the blowholes of Baja’s playful gray whales, which are often referred to as “friendlies” because of their interaction with humans. “I’ve learned how to read their body language, and a lot of them will blow at you to get you wet,” he says. “They think it’s hilarious.”

Or, spring for a disposable underwater camera: “I’ve gotten some wonderful underwater shots with those,” Dorsey says. “You just have to put it under [the surface] and click away in case you get something.”

Don’t forget the essentials. While sunscreen, layers of clothing (including a waterproof jacket), and binoculars are all must-haves for whale watching, Dorsey highly recommends a less-expected item for whale watching from smaller boats: kneepads. “People end up kneeling down in the boats, and very few people think to bring kneepads,” he says. “It’s an indispensable item.”

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When it comes to cheap Mexico vacations, San Francisco-based writer and author Blane Bachelor likes hers with extra tequila.

Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood is loaded with cultural gems and vibrant murals -- not to mention engaging events during Black History Month throughout February. Credit: Zol87.

By Jennifer Olvera

Black History Month is celebrated throughout the month of February nationwide. In Chicago, the park district is one of many entities to usher in honorary events. What’s more, it’s a great time to celebrate the every day contributions of Chicago’s African-American visionaries, from blues, gospel and soul music performances to stops at culturally rich gems in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Conveniently, you find a plethora of cheap Chicago hotels this time of year.

Consider swinging by the Ashaki Black History Month Celebration at picturesque Washington Park on Feb. 24 ($3), when the field house morphs into a Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt and Somalia-inspired gathering, complete with live entertainment, African artifacts and edibles as draws. Also appealing are the park’s walking trails, picturesque (though frozen-over) lagoon and — if you can bear it amid whispering winds — playgrounds.

You might also entertain a trip to Fuller Park, where community-driven photo exhibit “Focus on Fuller” — a collective by Marcus Robinson, Giovannyce Rudolph and Larry Baldwin — is on display, free of charge, from Feb. 5-25.

Alternately, there’s Ubuntu at Garfield Park on Feb. 18 and 19. Visitors can immerse themselves in African dance, spoken word and music. The event, which includes performances by Najawa Dance Corps, M. A.D.D Rhythms and Africa International House, nods to Dr. Margaret Taylor Burroughs and the experience of Africans in the Americas and Caribbean. Admission is $5.

While you’re in town, take time to grab a bite at Bolat African Cuisine in the Lakeview neighborhood (the jollof rice and goat pepper soup are boss). And consider a stay at the centrally located Best Western Grant Park, since it’s perched in convenient proximity to all you’ll want to experience.

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Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based author, editor and food enthusiast, who travels often – usually in search of her next great meal.

Bar Boulud is just one of the 300-plus restaurants participating in NYC's Restaurant Week. Credit: ZagatBuzz.

By Erin Behan

January is a great time of year to visit New York–if you don’t mind the cold, that is. Hotel rooms are generally discounted, Broadway plays often have open seats and—of course—the post holiday sales are in full force. There’s one more reason to visit New York in January, and it has to do with a famous New York City pastime: eating out. The city’s twice-annual Restaurant Week runs Monday through Friday from Jan. 16 through Feb. 10, and 2012 is the 20-year celebration of the event that gives discounted prix fixe meals for lunch ($24.07) and dinner ($35) at more than 300 of the city’s top restaurants.

Reservations are a must, and I’d suggest snapping up a few of the best before every one else does. If I only had one reservation to make, it’d be for lunch at Bar Boulud in the Upper West Side. The three courses include a terrine de porc, a cassoulet of lamb and duck confit and a lime tart (all that for $24.07!). Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Harlem, also serving lunch, tempts me with its menu of elevated American comfort food. In Midtown for lunch, I’d hit up Mario Batali’s Esca, as I can’t get enough of his southern Italian fish-centric menu.

Further downtown in the West Village, Po (another Batali creation) serves both lunch and dinner. My ideal Restaurant Week meal there would move from a salad of fennel, oranges, black olives, pickled red onions and ricotta salata to a grilled guinea hen. I’d finish off with a dark chocolate terrine. It’d be hard to go wrong at either Chiantown Brasserie in Noho or Colicchio and Sons Tap Room in Chelsea, both serving both lunch and dinner.

Saving money at restaurants in New York is grand, of course, but so is saving money on New York hotels. The downtown bon vivant on the cheap should consider the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca, while The Lucerne in the Upper West Side or the Belvedere Hotel in Midtown are great values for travelers looking for a cheap New York hotel.

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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.

Jamaica's lovely beaches aren't the only draw during the festival-laden winter. Credit: rappensuncle.

By Jennifer Olvera

Let’s face it: Jamaica is a spirited place any time of year. But winter and early spring usher in a host of lively events, making the Greater Antilles island a riotously colorful –not to mention balmy — place to be. And, given the full season is not in full swing, it’s a pocketbook-friendly time to book a cheap Caribbean vacation.

One of the best times to visit is during Bacchanal, an annual, Caribbean-style carnival. The fun kicks off on Feb.10, lasting until mid-April. The event includes everything from from steel band ensembles to soca acts, and it all culminates in the legendary Soca Monarch Competition.

Separate all that, there are plenty of engaging options – even for the active traveler. Among the activities to consider is the Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival. Beginning Feb. 19, the seven-day mountain biking excursion traverses island trails though scenic landscapes. Over the years, it has attracted cyclers such as Kyle Ebbett Cam McCaul and Kathy Strand.

Then again, those who want to simply relax should consider the boisterous but laidback All Island Carnival, which features  veterans Oscar B and Jomo. It begins in Kingston at UDC Car Park on Jan.29, and culminates in Portmore with soca performance-filled party. Throughout the Jamaica carnival season a whole, added roster of events also take place.

Spend any spare time hitting the powder beaches, teeing off at picturesque golf courses or visiting heritage sights and soaring estates. Or, take a plantation tour, grab some jerk chicken from a roadside vendor or book a scenic walk through the woodlands, shaded by pimento trees. Odds are, there will be at least a few bucks to burn since Jamaica hotels remain relatively affordable this time of year.

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Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based author, editor and food enthusiast, who travels often – usually in search of her next great meal.

The Chinese New Year Parade is just part of the month-long celebrations in Honolulu. Credit: Valdezign.

By Erin Behan

Hear that roar? It’s a month of Chinese Lunar New Year festivities in Honolulu getting off to a good start. The year 2012, of course, is the Year of the Dragon, and the celebrations run from Jan. 6- Jan. 21 in Chinatown. The best part about entrance to each of the month’s Chinese New Year events (besides getting in touch with both Chinese and Hawaiian culture)? They’re all free.

Things kick off with the free Chinese New Year Festival Jan. 6 and 7 at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, which is the place to celebrate the lunar New Year and see feng shui and martial arts demonstrations. Fabulous Chinese food, of course, is a given.

The celebrations continue on Jan. 13 and 14 at the Chinatown Cultural plaza with the Chinatown Open House. Foods to look out for include jin doi (Chinese doughnut), gau (steamed pudding) and jook (rice soup) — all are popular dishes for celebrating the New Year. Local music groups and dance troupes keep the mood light as stomachs get heavy.

A favorite and visually spectacular way to celebrate Chinese New Year — Choy Cheng, Traditional Lion Dance Blessings — happens on Jan. 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beginning at 8 South King Street and continuing to Maunakea, Smith, Pauahi and Nuuanu streets, the Narcissus Queen and her court move from business to business granting New Year’s blessings. The streets light up with firecrackers, confetti rains down, and lions dance about — an impressive event to witness on your cheap Hawaii vacation.

There’s a street event on Jan. 14 as well, with the Night in Chinatown Parade. The parade starts at the State Capital on Hotel Street and runs to River Street, with more than 80 marching groups performing. A spectacular 150-foot dragon ends the parade. If you miss the first, there’s a second Chinese New Year Festival at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza on Jan. 20 and 21, with all the same food, gifts and singing and dancing.

No matter which event you check out on your cheap Hawaii vacation, you’ll want to check into a nearby Honolulu hotel, such as the Aston at the Executive Centre Hotel or the Pagoda Hotel.

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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.

Bright lights, big city: A slice of Sin City's history at the Neon Museum Boneyard. Credit: Bark.

By Blane Bachelor

Neon signs are the iconic art form of Las Vegas. But as a more generic image takes over The Strip, dozens of the neon signs that once adorned casinos, hotels and nightclubs have been removed. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of a local nonprofit, they’ve found a new home at the Neon Museum Boneyard – or Neon Graveyard, as it’s also called — where visitors can experience the Sin City of yesteryear with a tour of the colorful relics.

The graveyard, which is part of the city’s downtown revitalization (and, conveniently for budget-minded tourists, close to several cheap Las Vegas hotels), will get a boost from the $1.5 million visitor center, which is scheduled to open this May. The building is the old scallop-edged lobby of the La Concha Motel, which is on the National Historic Register, and is part of an effort to increase visitors’ access to the signs as part of the restoration effort.

The nonprofit Neon Museum has been collecting the old signs since 1996 as a way to preserve a slice of Las Vegas’s richest history. The 150-sign collection is constantly changing, as new signs arrive from newly imploded or remodeled hotels, and old ones are repaired and restored and then put back on display at the nearby The Fremont Street Experience and East Fremont District. Signs date from the late 1930s through the early 1990s, representing motels, local businesses, and popular casino resorts.

Currently, there are two ways for visitors to experience the impressive restoration efforts. They can schedule a $15 guided tour at the two-acre park where most of the collection is housed, in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods on Las Vegas Boulevard. The exact address, however, is revealed only when appointments are confirmed (visit www.neonmuseum.org to schedule one). Due to high demand, visitors are encouraged to make appointments at least two weeks out.

Visitors can also take a self-guided tour of the museum’s self-described “outdoor gallery,” which begins in front of the Neonopolis at Las Vegas Boulevard near the Hacienda Horse and Rider, and includes the original Aladdin’s Lamp. The gallery extends to the 3rd Street cul-de-sac adjacent to The Fremont Street Experience canopy, an area that’s also convenient to several cheap Las Vegas hotels, including the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino and the Frontier Hotel & Casino.

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Blane Bachelor, a San Francisco-based travel writer, is looking forward to seeing the Neon Museum Visitor Center on her next trip to Las Vegas.

Local restaurants cook up specials for Wailuku's monthly street party.

By Erin Behan

There’s nothing wrong with feeling like a tourist in Hawaii, but every once in a while it’s nice experience something like a kama’aina or local, and Wailuku First Friday fits the bill with plenty of local flair.

The town’s free monthly party on Market Street has as many as 5,000 attendees dancing to live bands in the street and at the Wailuku Banyan Tree Park. In addition to local music, the once-monthly event features elements no budget traveler should ever live without: authentic sidewalk artisans, local food vendors serving everything from tacos to malasadas and (just for fun) a beer garden. This is not the Hawaii of the glossy brochures, and that’s a good thing!

For the Jan. 6 edition of Wailuku First Friday, a New Year blessing will be pronounced, honoring the Japanese tradition of a good luck cat, Maneki Neko, and in an additional homage to 2012, Taiko drummers will take the stage. The festivities officially run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the party continues in local restaurants and bars into the night.

Show up early to find nearby parking, or take the easy way out and book a room at the nearby Maui Seaside Hotel, a locally owned Hawaii hotel adjacent to the Kahului Harbor with rooms at less than $100 a night — a steal on Maui.

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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.

Bring in 2012 with a bang in Las Vegas. Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau.

By Blane Bachelor

From reality star shenanigans at nightclubs (Kim Kardashian at TAO, anyone?) to intimate concerts with show business legends (Stevie Wonder at the Cosm0politan) to an old-school street party, New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas is the place to be if you’re looking to rub elbows with celebs while ringing in 2012.

First off: the 411 on the legends, starting with Wonder. The world-famous artist, producer and songwriter will headline a New Year’s celebration at The Chelsea, the intimate concert venue at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. But instead of shelling out for the tickets, which start around $300, partygoers on the Strip can experience Wonder’s wonder free, via the massive, high-def screens that will stream the show.

Another musical Legend — as in, John Legend — will bring his sultry vocals and superb stage presence to Palms Casino Resort, while Vanessa Williams will headline at Riviera. Adding a bit of rock ‘n roll edge to the concert offerings, Guns ‘n Roses will rock the stage at – where else? – the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Fergie, the glam frontwoman from the Black Eyed Peas, is set to hold court at 1OAK at the Mirage.

Reality show junkies who want to keep up with the Kardashians’ every move from the very start of 2012 have three options: TAO with Kim, Chateau at Paris Las Vegas with sister Kourtney (and boyfriend Scott Disick), or Tryst Nightclub with brother Robert. Who Kim will smooch when the clock hits midnight is anybody’s guess, but where better than Vegas to make a wager on it?

For partygoers looking to stay as far from the celebrity circus as possible, the 4^th annual TributePalooza at the Fremont Street Experience is once again shaping up to be a rollicking, and affordable, affair. Tickets are just $30 for New Year’s Eve (the only time when Fremont Street Experience has paid, ticketed admission), a 550,000-megawatt party that features a dozen bands, most of them tribute bands with clever names — think No Duh instead of No Doubt and the Red Not Chili Peppers — as well as fireworks, a 2011 retrospective and a countdown by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.

With its downtown location, the Fremont Street Experience offers another budget-friendly bonus: Proximity to cheap Las Vegas hotels such as the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, which has availability for New Year’s Eve starting at a sweet $105 a night.

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On her last trip to Las Vegas, San Francisco-based writer and author Blane Bachelor won $71 on a $0.05 slot machine while waiting for her flight home.