Years ago I flew to Houston to visit my parents, and the state's largest shopping mall is definitely Texas-style big. Just as advertised with an ice skating rink. Who knew you could ice skate in Houston? Checkout the top travel destinations for 2011, a few of which are definitely on my bucket list....
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2011
We analyzed a year's worth of news, trends, and statistics to identify the world's best value destinations for 2011. From China to our own backyard, here are ten places that you can't afford to miss.
Months in the making, Budget Travel's annual list of the hottest budget destinations focuses on destinations that are as fun as they are affordable. Some of our picks (like Estonia's capital, Tallinn) are up-and-coming, while others (like Dublin) are classics that have recently dropped in price. Best of all, we don't just tell you where to go, we also share the ideal season to visit, where to stay, and what airlines to fly to maximize your savings. Wherever we send you, the key is in the timing: right now.
Dublin, Ireland
Why in 2011: Ireland's banks are struggling-the country recently accepted a $112 billion bailout from the European Union-but the economic turmoil has an upshot for tourists: kind prices. Exchange rates have improved by 7 percent over last year and lodging prices are the lowest of any major city in Western Europe. In fact, scoring a bed in Dublin costs 7 percent less than it did in 2009. Restaurants are similarly well-priced; even the Michelin-starred Chapter One is offering a four-course, pre-theatre menu for $65-a bargain when you consider that a full meal is $105. And transportation is equally cheap: Dublinbikes, the city's cycle-share program, rents out bikes for $2.50 for three days, and rides clocking in at 30 minutes or less are free. Even the $13 tax levied on Dublin International Airport travelers will soon be slashed to $4 in an effort to boost tourism.
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