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7 Ways to Instantly Upgrade Your Vacation (Without Paying a Fortune)

By U.S. News & World Report

Want to plan a vacation with a certain je ne sais quoi? With a little creativity, it’s easy to transform an ordinary trip into a special, dreamy getaway of a lifetime. Use these pointers to turn up your vacation, and keep you — and your wallet — happy.

[See: 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Summer Road Trip.]

Drive a Fancy Car

Who says you can’t splurge for a luxury car on your vacation? One of the quickest and easiest ways to make your trip feel like a dream getaway is to opt for a high-end rental car. Programs like Audi on Demand in San Francisco allow you to drive your dream car without jumping through multiple hoops. You can pick for versatile models, including the luxury R8 Spyder or the Audi SUV Q7, which comes with coveted amenities such as ski racks, car seats and more, right from your smartphone. The car is hand-delivered in as little as two hours’ notice. Plus, there’s no need to fill up the tank at a hard-to-find San Francisco gas station before you return the vehicle. Standard rental car companies like Hertz also have luxury options, including their Dream Cars collection of vehicles, with choices such as a Porsche 911, a Mercedes, a Tesla and a Jaguar.

Treat Yourself to a Massage

While massages at high-end spas can leave a dent in your wallet, they add an air of relaxation to any getaway, and help you unwind and recharge. And happily there are plenty of cost-effective treatments available to cash-strapped spagoers. At the Spa by JW at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida, guests can opt for an impromptu massage in a state-of-the-art chair for 12 minutes, for just $25. To get yourself into vacation mode, sit down in the plush heated chair and don a headset to transport yourself through mountain wildflowers or a soothing seascape as you de-stress.

Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride

For an unforgettable experience, consider tacking a hot air balloon ride onto your trip. There is nothing like watching the balloon be inflated and heated, and enjoying spectacular scenery from high above to get a fresh perspective. Popular destinations for hot air ballooning include Albuquerque, New Mexico, Napa Valley, California, Telluride, Colorado, France’s Loire Valley and Turkey’s Cappadocia, among other locations. In Napa Valley, for example, on some days on a hot air balloon ride, you can see as far as San Francisco, followed by a full breakfast, including mimosas, for around $240 per person with outfitter Napa Valley Baloons, Inc.

[See: How Your Hotel Stay Will Evolve in 2017.]

Take Your Accommodations to the Next Level

To feel like you’re in the lap of luxury, elevate your accommodations. Choosing to stay in a turn-of-the-century historic hotel such as Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, the Palace in San Francisco or even Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado, can add an extra dose of charm and romance of your stay. At the Palace in San Francisco, you can partake in a signature tea tradition in the atrium, where thousands of others have done so since the 1900s. Tea is served with fine china and silver together with tea sandwiches and homemade scones for about $70 per person.

Opting for a vacation rental instead of a hotel room can be another way to enhance your vacation. Selecting homes, villas and apartments through vacation rental companies like HomeAway.com can result in additional space, including full kitchens, separate bedrooms and laundry facilities — often for less than the price of a hotel room. Such rentals also allow you to experience a destination as a local rather than a tourist.

Upgrade to a Suite

Hotel staff may be willing to upgrade you to a suite — if you ask and it’s available. It helps if you let them know that it’s a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary. Calling or emailing ahead of time is ideal, but it also hurts to ask the hotel staff upon arrival. Several hotel loyalty programs will also let members upgrade to a better room or suite. The InterContinental Hotels Group’s IHG Rewards Club enables Platinum and Spire members to receive room upgrades as a status perk, and Hilton Honors members can use Room Upgrade Rewards to change to a premium room or suite that offers more space or a great view.

Splurge for a Package Deal

Many hotels and resorts offer enticing package promotions that not only provide a bargain, but also extra freebies and experiences. The Hotel Telluride, set in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, offers a Mountain & Morels package, which includes a private hunt for mushrooms with the hotel’s general manager, along with private transfer to and from the hotel and a private three-course gourmet dinner with your harvested mushrooms. Pricing for the three-night package is approximately $560 per night for two people. Meanwhile, at La Playa Carmel in California, the Romance Package includes sparkling wine in flutes in your room upon arrival, and a fireside cocktail on the hotel’s Pacific Terrace with ocean views. The hotel can also add a gourmet beach picnic for your stay packed in a basket and ready for you to take to the shore for a seaside nosh.

[See: 7 News Travel Startups That Save You Time and Money.]

Sail Away on a Dinner Cruise

Many cities offer dinner cruises, affording a unique way to view a destination by water and elevate your escape with skyline views, sea breezes and a gourmet meal. Sail around the Statue of Liberty and see New York City by sea on a Spirit of New York dinner cruise or enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge from below as you float beneath on a Hornblower San Francisco dinner cruise. And if you’re heading to the Windy City, check out Navy Pier, the John Hancock Building and more must-see attractions on a Lake Michigan cruise with Spirit Cruises.

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7 Ways to Instantly Upgrade Your Vacation (Without Paying a Fortune) originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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