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The Squire’s Tips For Spending Your Tax Refund

Are you the average American?

Why?  The average American will get a tax refund in the amount of just under $3,000.

Travel is one of the best ways possible to spend that refund.

Travel Squire’s Editor-in-Chief (me) just appeared on TV station WCIU Chicago’s You & Me, and shared some ideas on what can be done with that cash back from the IRS.  Although I discussed Chicago-centric ideas for that money, here are ways you can take advantage of them on a national level.

$250 Tax Return—Stay Close to Home

My suggestion:  Make yours a “staycation” with CityPASS.  CityPASS ticket booklets provide substantial savings along with speedy entry into some of the top attractions in twelve destinations in North America. This is a wonderful way to see important sights that you may not have visited in awhile such as Willis Tower or the Art Institute of Chicago.

CityPASS is available in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, NYC, Philly, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto.

Check out CityPASS website for more www.citypass.com

$1,000 Tax Return—Cruise for a Cause

My suggestion:  Get to Miami and take a Fathom Cruise to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.  You can take an authentic “cruise for good” by booking with Fathom before they discontinue at the end of May.

Volunteer to teach English, pour concrete floors, make water filters, all the while meeting local residents. This is a fantastic way to give back with your tax dollars, as well as being a life changing experience.

Check out the Fathom site: www.fathom.org

$3,000 Tax Return Splurge

Go to Europe via Iceland on WOW Airlines.  This new airline carrier, which launched in 2012, offers low fares to European destinations from seven gateway cities in the USA. Chicago flights commence July 12, as WOW’s eighth US gateway.  Currently airfares to Europe start below $400 during peak summer season with destinations like Paris, Milan, London, Bristol, Cork, Edinburgh and Warsaw, Poland.

WOW fares do not include either checked or carry-on luggage so you’ll need to account for those when planning your budget for this trip of a lifetime.

Check out WOW airlines site:  www.wowair.com

 

Attention all average Americans:  Spend those tax refunds on travel.

Check out my segment from today’s “You and Me” show on WCIU Chicago.

 

 

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDxSBznzuO8[/embedyt]

 

 

Buenos Aires First Gay Subway Station

Buenos Aires Plays Its Gay Trump Card

Step aside, Spain.  Monday, March 20th, marked the opening of the newly inaugurated Carlos Jáuregui subway station in Buenos Aires. So, what’s the big deal?  In another giant step forward for gay awareness, the station, formerly the “Santa Fe” stop on the H line, is the first in the world … Read more

Cheese Week New York City

You Say Wine, I Say Cheese

What goes better with wine than cheese? OK, don’t answer that question. How about what goes better with Moroccan wine than French cheese? If you agree and swoon at the mention of camembert, you’re in luck. Next week a French Connection will be more than ever a la mode as Cheese … Read more

cruise ship, cruising, fathom

Cruising for a Cause

While many of us struggle with classifications, if prodded I would have to admit I’m a solo or small group traveler. A cruise isn’t something that’s in my field of vision. So, it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I boarded the 700 passenger Adonia in Fort Lauderdale … Read more

Cidade Olimipico

Rio Bound for the Summer Olympics?

August 5, 2016 is the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which go until August 21. Here’s some advice if you plan on going.

Miami Spice 2016

Editor’s Note:  Miami Space has now officially ended.   Foodies rejoice! Miami Spice is in full swing. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrates the 15th anniversary of this Superbowl of culinary festivals. Running through September 30, visitors to the ever popular destination can indulge in three-course meals at … Read more

St. Lucia’s Chocolate Laboratory

Birdwatching, a visit to a chocolate laboratory and an investigation of a phenomenon called coral spawning … a day in the life of a mad scientist? No, all things you probably didn’t know you could do on the island of St. Lucia. And just some of the out of the … Read more

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Home Runs at the Mets

[alert type=white] From the TS Editors: In the second of this 2 part series, the TravelSquire reports on the Met’s current out of the box offerings this summer for residents and lucky visitors to the island of Manhattan. [/alert] Manus X Machina Fashion in an Age of Technology Fabulous dresses/art … Read more

Dining Alfresco in L.A.

One of the true perks of spending time in Los Angeles is the weather. While the intense car culture of this megalopolis might deter the average visitor from dining alfresco, don’t be fooled.  There’s some glorious outdoor dining waiting to be discovered by the adventurous.  Here are a few of … Read more

Beachy Keen

Can’t live a day without the beach? Check-out these ten beach hacks to make being out in the sun a little easier this summer so you can focus on having fun. From a sunscreen applicator that reaches hard to get spots, to fashionable soleless sandals, to a sleek all-purpose bar … Read more

Home Runs at the Mets

[alert type=white] From the TS Editors: In the first of this 2 part series, the TravelSquire reports on the Met’s current out of the box offerings (at both branches) this summer for residents and lucky visitors to the island of Manhattan. [/alert] With a fresh new red logo, the rebranded … Read more

Go for the Silver

Summer is here and that means relaxing, relaxing and relaxing … and planning as many weekend getaways as possible, of course. Whether you’re headed to the X Games in Austin, Lollapalooza in Chicago, the sunny beaches of Ft. Lauderdale or a desert retreat in Phoenix your plans to unwind should … Read more

Ramen By Mew

Ramen By Mew

New York is a tapestry of ever-changing places. Construction and build outs are literally everywhere (“Watch out for that crane”…), but many buildings manage to maintain a facade recognizable to long-time residents. Yet, even then change remains constant. And sometimes, that change comes in the form of delicious, cheap ramen. … Read more

Vegan Travel to Italy

It’s difficult enough following a vegan diet, but doing it while traveling would seem close to impossible. And, especially in Italy where delicious home-made pasta, meats and cheeses are over the top tempting.  Luckily, Vegano ItalianoTours, a joint project of Tierno Tours and Green Earth Travels, have teamed up to … Read more