Monthly Archives September 2015

Orlando is the city of fun. With over a dozen amusement parks at your disposal, great weather all year round, and genuinely friendly people, you can’t go wrong. If you are planning your first trip to Orlando, it can be a bit overwhelming at first. From the multitude of Disney theme parks to Universal Studios to The Holy Land adventure and more, you could spend a week exploring Orlando and not make it to every park. We have decided to help you out by giving you the rundown on the most popular parks in Orlando.

Walt Disney World

You have to start with the original, to be sure. Built back in the early 1970’s, Walt Disney World is a playground designed to feed young imaginations. Home to many of your favorite childhood characters, you can’t go wrong with a day or two here...

by TheHipmunk

Search giant Google has created a site that showcases travel-related data, including the top five inquiries asked by travelers online. We here at Hipmunk decided to answer these questions once and for all. Here are insights into every traveler’s need-to-knows.

1. When is the best time to book a flight?

There are all kinds of theories out there, among them:

• 50-100 days prior to departing (for domestic flights)
• More than 100 days before departure (for international flights)
• Tuesday afternoon
• Wednesday morning at 1 a.m.
• Midweek (not the weekend)

Confused yet? In reality, there is no magic formula for purchasing flights...

by TheHipmunk

July 13 is National Cheesecake Day, and there’s no better place to celebrate than the Big Apple. From famous bakeries to hidden gems, these are the best places to get a slice of cheesecake in New York City.

Junior’s

Junior’s is one of the most famous cheesecake spots in New York, and it lives up to the hype. They serve classic cheesecake and unique flavors like red velvet, sea salt caramel and chocolate mousse. Junior’s has branches in Brooklyn and Grand Central Station. They also have a branch in Midtown, close to many famous New York hotels, including the New York Marriott Marquis.

Eileen’s Special Cheesecake

Eileen’s Special Cheesecake is a small SoHo bakery loved by both locals and tourists. The bakery offers a variety of smooth and creamy cheesecake slices...

by TheHipmunk

Los Angeles is known as a star-studded galaxy of excess and superficiality. It’s the land of reality television, struggling actors and failed musicians. However, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, there is a hidden city full of history, culture and ghosts. After your neck is sore from looking at the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, head east to the lost haunts of downtown Los Angeles.

The Haunted Hotel

Built in 1928, the Cecil Hotel is known as one of Los Angeles’ most haunted stays. Rebranded as Stay On Main, this historic building straddles the border of Skid Row and the up-and-coming downtown Los Angeles scene. The hotel is a favorite among backpackers looking for an alternative travel experience...

By: Kelly Soderlund, Hipmunk Staff

South Australia-born dancer Luke Ingham trained at the Australian Ballet School and performed with the Australian Ballet and the Houston Ballet before joining the San Francisco Ballet as a soloist in 2012. Ingham was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2014, and has danced many soloist and principal roles for SF Ballet, including Tomasson’s Nutcracker*. We asked the globe-trotting Ingham to take a quick break from dancing and and chat about his travel habits, tips, his favorite cities to visit, and the items he can’t travel without.

Hipmunk: So, tell us. What’s in your carry-on?

Luke Ingham: If I’m on a long-haul flight, I always bring Peanut M&M’s. Definitely a book in case entertainment fails...

By: Hipmunk Staff

Jet to an exotic country. Get immersed in local customs. Help build a house or dig a well. Make buddies with fascinating people you’d never meet otherwise. A “voluntourism” trip seems like a great way to give back or improve the world in a small way. It can be, but you should ask a lot of questions before signing up and plunking down cash.

Over the last several years, this well-meaning market has grown quickly, with studies estimating 1.6 million volunteer tourists per year and growing. About 33 percent of volunteer travelers are between the ages of 20 and 40. Another 34 percent are slightly older, between 41 and 60. Overall, the travelers are more likely to be female. However, the impact of these trips is hard to quantify...