Wedding

10 Fun and Frugal Bachelorette Party Destinations

It's time for some wild revelry with your gal pals!

It's time for some wild revelry with your gal pals! The bachelorette party is one of the many fun traditions that the bride-to-be generally partakes in. It's always a bundle of fun to get together with some of your girlfriends and spend some quality time.

Although we offered you great budget tips for a local bachelorette party, I know some of you are itching to travel. Heather Dickson, Associate Publisher of Lonely Planet, weighs in on the hottest vacay spots that will give you a bang for your bachelorette bucks.

Organization

9 Steps to Planning an Unforgettable Vacation

When you finally decide to take a vacation, you might be overwhelmed by options.


When you finally decide to take a vacation, you might be overwhelmed by options. After all, there are so many places to visit and so little time! Here's how to get started:

Set a budget: Figure out how much you can afford to spend on this vacation, and do your best to stick within that budget. Factor in money for flights, lodging, transportation, food, entertainment, and spending money. Remember to also budget for emergencies.

Brainstorm ideas for vacation destinations: Start thinking of places you would like to go to. Figure out how many days you can take off for it, and do some research to see if there are any good deals available. Prioritize based on length of your trip and whether it will fit your travel budget.

Start a Google doc: Create a Google doc and share it with the people you are going on the trip with. List your schedule in a spreadsheet, and color-code it to make important items stand out. You can draft a working itinerary, and start by adding in flight and hotel information as it becomes available.

Read on for more.

sandwiches

7 Sandwiches That Travel Well

Whether you're on the road or packing something for a picnic or a hike, these seven sandwiches are ready to withstand the weather, challenges, and other wear and tear that may occur during travel.

Whether you're on the road or packing something for a picnic or a hike, these seven sandwiches are ready to withstand the weather, challenges, and other wear and tear that may occur during travel. Gone are the days of soggy sandwiches! Click through for seven sandwiches that travel well.

Wedding

6 Essential Websites and Apps For a Spontaneous Girls' Getaway

Planning a bachelorette party?

Planning a bachelorette party? Girls' day out? Weekend getaway? Leave the adventure to fate with a spontaneous trip to an unknown city or neighborhood! These websites and apps will recommend the best road-trip stops, exotic locales, long weekend excursions, and more for your next off-the-cuff expedition.

Rally your partners-in-adventure to take the road less traveled, and go on a one- (or two- or three-) week-long escape to uncharted territory. Try out these online travel recommendation tools, and let us know which one you like best.

Travel

Russian Artist Sergey Balovin: How He Lives Without Money

We're thrilled to be presenting this post from our partner site Yahoo!

We're thrilled to be presenting this post from our partner site Yahoo! Shine:

Russian artist Sergey Balovin discovered that he could live without money by accident.

When he moved to China in 2010, "I didn't know almost anybody in Shanghai," he told Yahoo! Shine in an email. He speaks mostly Russian, a little English, and no Chinese at all, he explained, and was making good money selling expressionist landscape paintings. When a neighbor agreed to give him her easel in exchange for a hand-drawn portrait, he realized that other people might be willing to make similar trades.

"I gave the announcement on a Russian Shanghai forum," he said. "I said, 'I am ready to draw portraits and exchange them for things useful in my home.' A few weeks later, I had a few dozen of new friends and everything that is necessary for everyday life."

Learn more about Sergey's story after the jump.

Travel

10 Beautiful Spots to Visit in Central America

Get a head start on your Summer vacation plans, and book a trip to Central America.

Get a head start on your Summer vacation plans, and book a trip to Central America. Boasting some of the most stunning beaches and lush rainforests, traveling in Central America can also be budget-friendly because of the low cost of living. We've rounded up a collection of cool cities and awesome sights to lure you south of the boarder for a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.

Family Travel

12 of the Most Amazing Hotel Rooms For Kids

There are hotel rooms, and then there are hotel experiences, the kinds that both grown-ups and kids dream about.

There are hotel rooms, and then there are hotel experiences, the kinds that both grown-ups and kids dream about. Sometimes the hotel experience can be even more exciting than the destination. With that in mind, we're looking at a dozen hotel rooms truly designed with kids in mind. These themed hotel suites are nothing less than little slices of heaven for pint-size travelers and their grown-up chaperones. Case in point: the new Legoland Hotel that just opened in California. It features a full-blown pirate ship, bubble-blowing dragons, and three million Lego bricks! Sure, most of these hotels will cost you a pretty penny, but their ability to transport guests to fantasy worlds makes dreams come true. Click through for 12 of the most amazing hotel rooms for kids!

Skin Care

Keep Skin Flawless (and TSA Happy) With These Travel Tips

Planning a vacation this Spring?

Planning a vacation this Spring? Allure has tips that will ensure your skin stays pristine from wheels up to touch down.

I just got back from a 10-day romp through Vienna, Salzburg, and Paris, and, of course, I packed carry-on-friendly versions of my favorite makeup (Benefit They're Real Mascara Mini ($10), Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks ($6)). But more importantly, I didn't forget to prepare my skin, remembering that the Alps are a lot closer to the sun than my skin is used to. Ellen Marmur, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, told Allure that in the mountains, "The most important thing you can do is protect yourself while you're outside. The sun is intense at that altitude and causes hyperpigmentation in a short amount of time."

So I brought along plenty of hydrating facial moisturizer (my trusty Cetaphil ($11)), Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Oil ($28) to help soothe any chapped skin or nails, and even though I never normally wear foundation, I tried Clinique BB Cream With SPF 30 ($37) and antioxidants to protect myself from extra-close rays. By the time I was in Paris, my skin looked healthier than ever — so either schnitzel and strudel have an undiscovered dermatological benefit, or my technique worked.

Here are some more tips to consider for your next getaway:

Travel

15 Amazing Sights to See in South America

From glaciers to ancient Inca ruins, it seems like there is something for every type of traveler in South America.

From glaciers to ancient Inca ruins, it seems like there is something for every type of traveler in South America. And if you haven't visited, then it's definitely a continent you should put on your bucket list. The region is practically overflowing with natural, cultural, and historical wonders. Read on for some of the best sights to see in South America.

Geek gear

Satisfy Your Wanderlust With 12 Travel-Themed iPhone Cases

Whether you're planning a getaway this Spring or not, you can still get excited about traveling to far-off places.

Whether you're planning a getaway this Spring or not, you can still get excited about traveling to far-off places. Our favorite way to do so? With iPhone cases, of course. Here, a look at 12 different designs that will reflect your itch to hop on a plane and discover somewhere new. The best part is you can take them with you everywhere — abroad or in your backyard.