5 U.S. Alternatives to Spring Break in Mexico

Tequila shots. Wet t-shirt contests. Parties that last all night long. Normally, at this time of year, Mexico’s beach resorts are gearing up to welcome young crowds on that annual rite of drunken passage: spring break. But this year, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert warning travelers away from Mexico due to an escalation in drug violence and kidnappings. Uh-oh! Where’s a party-hearty spring breaker to go instead? No worries. The U.S. has got you covered. When that spring break fever strikes, here are five closer-to-home alternatives:

1. South Padre Island, Texas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and on South Padre Island wide stretches of sand host the spring break crowds. From party yachts to live concerts and from game zones to pub crawls, there’s plenty to keep the Lone Star State action going way into the wee hours. Here, you never know who you might run into--even reps from MTV might show up next to you at the pool.

2. Dewey Beach, Delaware
The Mid-Atlantic crowds flock here to rent cottages by the ocean, dig into all-you-can-eat crabs, and drink Dogfish Head ales at the Bottle and Cork and the Starboard. Live bands, house parties, and beach volleyball round out this region’s offerings, plus the Rehoboth boardwalk, with its salt water taffy and amusement park rides is within easy reach.

3. Panama City Beach, Florida
Calling itself the “spring break capital of the world,” Panama City Beach, or PBC, brings in national bands and celebrities--even former American Idol stars--to kick the party up a notch. When the sun goes down, the curtain goes up on multiple parties at area clubs and restaurants. During the day, pirate cruises, volleyball tournaments, and dolphin-watching reign supreme.

4. Las Vegas, Nevada
In Vegas, the party never stops, no matter how old you are. You don’t have to be a 21-year-old rat packer to enjoy this desert city’s spoils. Spring breakers are greeted with all sorts of neon-lighted entertainment, from bungee jumping off the Stratosphere to riding the rollercoaster at New York-New York, from all-you-can-eat buffets to sparkling swimming pools.

5. Palm Springs, California
Further west, the California desert crawls with partiers in Palm Springs, an oasis of spring-break fun along Palm Canyon Drive. Shopping, bar hopping, and just lazing around by the pool are some of the most popular activities, plus the casinos aren’t too far a drive away. Plus, nearby state and national parks call to the nature-lover within.

Best Markets in Cancun: Spend Pesos, Save Dollars

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool shopaholic, but I haven't hit the boutiques in months because I'm trying to save money. But there is a place that can bring back the shopping magic: Mexico. In fact, one of the best shopping paradises is Cancun and here are the best spots to save a buck south of the border.

Mercado 23
Mercados 23 and 28 are within walking distance of each other in the downtown area. Mercado 23 primarily serves the residents of Cancun and is the most local experience you can find. This market offers fresh wares from local farms and is a great place to stock up on gorgeous flowers and tropical fruit for your room.

Mercado 28
Hope you packed light! Mercado 28 is a bargain-hunter's paradise. The vendors here love to haggle so roll up your sleeves and check your shy American ways at the entrance. The stalls sell inexpensive jewelry, souvenirs, traditional pottery, faux-Mayan artifacts, and much, much more.

Coral Negro Market
This is the only traditional open-air market in the Hotel Zone. With more than 50 stalls, Coral Negro has an impressive selection of goods--but be warned. This market is for tourists, so make sure you're getting a good deal. Vendors sell charro suits and hats, embroidered garments, toys, handicrafts, and of course lots and lots of T-shirts, mugs, and other souvenirs.

Plaza La Isla
Tired of flea markets? Stop by Plaza La Isla, the most impressive "American-style" mall. This outdoor shopping center straddles a lagoon and offers high-end boutiques, like Bulgari, alongside cheap memento stores, a theater, and even an aquarium. Though prices are just as high as they would be stateside, the window shopping and other activities can keep you busy all day.

Want to save cash before you head south of the border? Bundle your flight and hotel together and save up to $315 on a Mexico vacation package.

Top 5 Places to Escape the Cold

Brrrr, is it getting chilly in here or is it just me? Summer's still a ways off, so if you're looking for a vacation spot that'll help you escape the cold, I've got some great travel ideas right here:

1. The Caribbean. Sure, it's a no-brainer, but is there any better place to warm up? Picture white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and plenty of rum!

2. Want to say aloha to some sun while still staying within the states? I've found some great Hawaii deals recently.

3. Go now and you'll avoid the spring break crowd: yup, I'm talking about Cancun.

4. Alright, it's not exactly tropical, but with temperatures this week in the high 60s, it might be warmer in New Zealand than it is where you are right now. And since it hit the small screen as the locale for Bachelor Jason Mesnick to woo bachelorettes Melissa and Molly, New Zealand is suddenly on everyone's must-see list.

5. Last but not least, why not take a cruise? With the sea outside your window 24-7, it'll be hard not to get into that vacation mood!

Best New York Pizza Restaurants

Visitors to the Big Apple often struggle to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to the city's wealth of pizza parlors. Next time you take a Gotham getaway, avoid sub-par pie with this list of the best places to get an authentic piece of piping-hot thin-crust.

Best Old-Fashioned Pie - Di Fara
If you're the type who will do anything for a foodie thrill, make the pilgrimage to Di Fara in Midwood, Brooklyn. Di Fara has routinely been nominated the best pizza joint in America and most native New Yorkers swear by it. What's the secret? His name is Domenico DeMarco, a stooped grandfatherly figure who makes each pizza by hand at his leisure.

Best Authentic Pie for Tourists - Lombardi's
There is authentic thin-crust to be had on the beaten path at Lombardi's in NoLIta. Lombardi's was America's first real pizzeria and has been making their incredible pies since 1905. The atmosphere is lively, they handle groups well, and it's easy to find.

Best New Pie Joint - Lucali's
There are plenty of great pizzerias from the early 20th century, but the art of pizza-making continues to evolve. Behold, the recent opening of up-and-comer Lucali's in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. This BYOB neighborhood charmer housed in an old candy store is already inviting comparisons to Di Fara--and the wait can be long as a result.

Best Street for a Slice - Bleecker Street
Stroll down to Bleecker Streer in the West Village for an "only in New York" experience, where you'll find more pizza parlors per square mile than probably anywhere else in the world. Though not top-shelf pizza, these restaurants offer a decent slice to go. The selection includes: John's of Bleecker Street, Joe's Pizza, and Bleecker Street Pizza.

Ready to dig in? Here's a list of piping-hot New York travel deals for every budget.

My Favorite Travel Books

Since the TV show Top Chef came to a close this week, I’ve found with myself with some extra time to read. In between my globe-hopping adventures, I’m something of a bookworm, and it’s probably no surprise that many of the books I like to read are travel-related. Here are some of my favorites:

1. A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson
Bryson tackles the Appalachian Trail with humor and gusto, if not grace.

2. The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen
An Everest adventure in search of a mysterious and elusive species.

3. Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
One woman’s journey of discovery in Italy, India, and Indonesia.

4. Road Fever, by Tim Cahill
A wild ride from the tip of South America to the upper reaches of Canada.

5. Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
This hilarious novel gives a thorough introduction to the city of New Orleans.

What are yours? I’m always looking for a good book to read, so if you’ve got any recommendations, let me know!

Five Great Websites to Use When You Travel

Alright, alright, I know Travel Blurbs is probably your favorite travel website (right?), but there are a ton of great ones out there, from those that'll help you score great travel deals to those that figure out that pesky exchange rate for you. Here are a few sites I use frequently when I'm traveling.

1. MenuPages.com: If I'm in a strange city and looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat, this handy compilation of local menus helps me decide what I'm in the mood for. And if I want to order pizza to my hotel room but can't find the pizza joint's menu on its website? MenuPages steps in again!
2. Hopstop.com: With subway or bus directions in nine cities (from San Francisco to London!), this is one site I fire up time and time again before I leave the airport or my hotel. I'm always getting on the wrong train in unfamiliar cities, so this is huge.
3. Xe.com: Want to figure out how many Vietnamese dong are in a dollar? Grappling with whether that diving tour listed in pesos is really cheaper than it would be at home? Enter Xe.com, a fantastic currency exchange site that sorts it out for you once and for all.
   
4. IgoUgo.com: Excellent reviews on hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and activities have me coming back to this one time and time again. Wondering if that museum's worth it? There's only one way to find out--well, one way apart from going there, of course. IgoUgo also lets you compare rates on great travel deals too.
   
5. Seatguru.com: Think you've scored when you choose seat 12A? Think again---it might not recline or (worse!) be near the toilets. This site shows you layouts of hundreds of planes, leaving you to decide if a seat's as good as you think it is.
   

Best Travel Apps for the iPhone

It's not very Southern of me to love newfangled gadgets and gizmos, but when I moved to San Francisco, I was bitten by the tech bug. First I fell in love with researching travel deals on the Internet. Then, my passion turned to high-tech phone fun.

My iPhone has completely revolutionized how I travel. I'm never far from my email inbox, the Internet, or Google maps. But aside from these standard programs, there are new travel applications--or "apps" in iPhone-speak--popping up every day that make traveling so much easier. Here are my top five travel apps for the iPhone.

#1 Taxi Magic
Imagine never having to lift a finger, or rather, arm again. Taxi Magic takes the guesswork and arm flailing out of hailing a cab. This app uses your iPhone GPS locator to find you, searches for the nearest cab from of a wide variety of private cab companies, contacts the closest cab, and sends it to your doorstep. The entire process is lightning fast and has changed my life forever. Taxi Magic offers its "Magic Booking" technology in 25 major U.S. cities. Did I mention that it's free?

#2 aSleep
When the guy in 45B snores so loudly it rattles your nerves, you have a solution: aSleep. This app offers hundreds of soothing sounds from "Beach with Seagulls" to "Airplane Cabin" to more bizarre options such as "Tennis" and "Scuba breathing." It has saved my sanity more times than I care to admit and has even become a part of my daily life in the office, especially when coworkers are recapping "CSI: Miami Special Crime-Fighting Dolphins Unit" for fifteen minutes straight. This app set me back a few bucks and has proved to be one of my wisest purchases ever.

#3 Currency
When I was in Thailand, I experienced constant shopping befuddlement because the exchange rate was 33 Thai baht to every U.S. dollar. Don't even get me started on trying to convert our Hong Kong dollars into Thai baht. That just made my head hurt. Well, no more, thanks to this nifty free app that converts over 50 currencies with the latest exchange rates.

#4 Multi Dictionary
Fumbling for the right word at a Parisian farmer's market? Keep answering everybody, everywhere in the world with, "Si"? Don't be an ugly American! Be a techno-savvy traveler and download the Multi dictionary app. Though it'll set you back eight bucks, it offers 30,000 translation pairs for English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. Bellissimo!

#5 Maps and More
My final recommendation is more of a category than a particular app. If you are planning a visit to any kind of national park or manmade attraction, stop by the App Store and search for a map or guide. There are now up-to-date maps for all of the Walt Disney Theme Parks, almost all major ski resorts, and subway systems around the world. Never again will have you to unfold and refold one of those little paper diagrams!