Enter to Win a Hawai'i Vacation from Outside Magazine

Register here for a chance to win a five-night vacation in Hawai'i, including round-trip airfare for two to Honolulu, five-night accommodations at the Moana Surfrider (fantastic property!) and surfing lessons from Aloha Beach Services. Entries must be received by April 13, 2009. 

Made of Honor - Say I Do To Romance Sweepstakes

Highlights:
6 day trip for 2 to Scotland, including economy class airfare, hotel, airport transfers, luxury motorcoach with visits to Cawdor Castle, Glen Ord Whiskey Distillery, and Edinburgh; three 3-course dinners; and daily breakfast. Value $6,000. Enter by October 31, 2008.

Spend five nights experiencing the highlights of Scotland, a truly captivating and romantic land. Courtesy of VisitBritain and Brendan Worldwide Vacations, the winner will explore the rugged beauty of Scotland’s glens, lochs and isles and visit the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond. View the Loch Ness, the home of the mysterious monster “Nessie”, travel to Cawdor Castle and visit the Glen Ord Whiskey Distillery.

Spend some free time in Inverness, the highland’s capital to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Travel south toward Edinburgh, the “Prince of Cities”, your final destination, and on your way pass Balmoral estate, the Queen’s private Highland residence. Or you could win a classic pendant with an emerald cut diamond, or a seasonal bouquet each month for 12 months.

The Best Free Things to Do in San Francisco

Even considered as one of the most expensive places to live in the United States, San Francisco still offers plenty of exciting activities for free, including free museum days. This list from Frommers, great for locals and tourists alike, is a reminder that not everything in this pricey city comes with a price tag.

The de Young Museum (pictured left) offers free admission on the first Tuesday of each month.

"Will Work for Travel": How To Take Free (Or Nearly Free) Vacations

With the slowing economy and increased cost of goods and services, consumers are finding monthly disposable income a bit pinched these days. Taking that family vacation to Italy for example may have to wait in response to higher airfares, pricey hotel accommodations and the devaluation of the U.S Dollar.

But, don't despair, there are some great alternatives you and your family can consider, without the need to take out a second mortgage just for a vacation.

Check out this great article from IgoUgo, where users from have composed creative ways travelers can enjoy free or inexpensive travel. My favorite is the Timeshare tour, in which you visit a particular property, participate in a 90-minute presentation about a time-share, then enjoy a complimentary, or highly discounted 2 or 3 night stay. Locally, these deals have been found around the Lake Tahoe region and around the Monterey/Carmel vicinity.

Read here for other ideas on how to take a free (or nearly free) vacation from IgoUgo.