Graduation Travel Tips

Graduation is just around the corner. Many times, grads love to celebrate their accomplishments with a trip or vacation of a lifetime, before they settle into a full time job. If this sounds like you or someone you know, check out our list of travel tips just for grads:

1. Don't be afraid. This is our #1 piece of advice! Jump feet first into your life long dream. You already accomplished graduation [whew!], now it's your turn to have fun!
2. Research your options. Do you know what WOOFing is? Never heard of Airbnb? Maybe it's time to do some research into all the alternatives out there. Traveling somewhere fun and new doesn't have to be a financial burden. Have the credentials? Why not spend a semester in South Korea teaching English? 
3. Save your pennies. No matter what option you choose, travel is going to take some money. Do the hard part now while you finish up school. Take on a few extra hours at work. Eat dinner at home for the next month and forego your daily Starbucks. A penny saved is a penny earned!
4. Get the most bang for your buck. Sure, places like Italy and the UK are popular destinations, but that also makes them expensive. Why not consider Thailand, Belize, or Cambodia? At many of these destinations, you are able to eat on $10 a day and can receive a massage on the beach for just a few bucks! What's not to love?!
5. Wait just a few months. Summer is often the busiest and most expensive time to travel. If you spend a few more months at home and leave for your trip in say, September, you will be able to score fantastic deals! 

A1 Express wishes to extend a heartfelt "Congratulations" to all of the new graduates! If you are driving yourself to the airport and need a place to park, check out our website and download our Tampa Airport Parking coupon to save money on your reservation! 

What to do in Tampa Bay in July

 

Going to be flying into Tampa International Airport sometime in July? Live in the Tampa Bay area and wondering what to do during the rest of the month? You have come to the right place! A1 Express has compiled a list of events and activities going on around the Tampa Bay area during the month of July. Check out these ways to beat summer boredom:

·         Metrocon. Love anime, cosplay, and Japanese culture? Check out Metrocon, Florida’s largest anime convention. The event is July 11-13 at the Tampa Convention Center and entrance fees range from $10-$100. Come as you are, or dress up as your favorite pop culture character. See an anime themed human chess match, dance the night away at a rave dance, and dress up and attend the formal Fantasy Masquerade.

·         Bush Gardens Summer Nights. Enjoy the “summer nights” at Bush Gardens, which is open till 9pm through August. The theme park is filled with DJ’s and dancers to entertain guests while they ride roller coasters and thrill rides in the dark! Local tip: Stay till the end and catch the nightly Fireworks show. If you purchase a ‘Fun Card” you can pay for one day and come back all year.

·         Vans Warped Tour 2014. Rock music more your thing? Check out more than 25 bands as they play all day on July 25^th at the Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. Doors open at 11am but the event runs until 9pm. Tickets are $48 when purchased on Ticketmaster.

·         Fashion and Art Gala Fundraiser for Flood Relief. Come out to Cheap Lounge in South Tampa on July 27th at 4:00 PM for this fashion-forward fundraiser to raise money to help flood victims in Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. The event has a suggested donation of $20 and attendees have access to a fashion show, silent auction, complimentary drink, and discounted menu.

Don’t forget to leave your car in the care of A1 Express next time you fly out of Tampa International Airport!

 

Cheap Places to Fly to from Tampa

We get it! Life is busy and hectic and sometimes you just can’t get away for the extravagant vacation of your dreams. Just because you can’t afford to jet off to Tahiti doesn’t mean that there aren’t some splendid locations close to Tampa Bay! Check out these destinations that are affordable and easy to fly to from Tampa International Airport:

• Puerto Rico (2 ½ hour flight from TPA). It is no surprise that Puerto Rico is one of the most affordable places for Tampa travelers to go with flights roughly around $180 round trip! Fly on JetBlue and you will receive complementary television and movies during the flight. When you arrive at San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, be sure to explore the candy-colored shops and watch the sun set over the Caribbean from local Spanish forts.
• Atlanta, Georgia. (1 hour 20 min flight from TPA). Yes, Atlanta is “only” a nine hour drive from Tampa, but why drive eighteen hours round trip when you can leave your car at A1 express and hop on a plane for $138 round trip? If you are craving city life, check out midtown and downtown Atlanta. Olympic Park is always fun to explore and you can even visit where they filmed the popular TV Series “The Walking Dead!”
• Bermuda. (3 hour flight from TPA). Bermuda is a beautiful little island nation off the coast of the eastern United States. Coming in at around $500 round trip, the island is a bit more expensive to fly to, but it is totally worth it! After sampling Bermuda’s famous pink beaches, push your fear factor to its limit with a round of fly boarding, which has you flying over the ocean using a water-powered jetpack! You superhero you!

Once you figure out where you should fly to from Tampa International Airport, make your free online reservation with A1 Express to ensure you get the cheapest TPA airport parking!