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February 4, 2010 Share the E-Letter with a friend!
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The Year of the Freestyle Vacation
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This Week on IndependentTraveler.com
Destination of the Week: Brazil
Trip Report of the Week: Kaua'i 2010
Feature: The World's Weirdest Restaurants
Deal of the Week: 30% Off Valentine's Day Hotel Stays
Resource: 6 Essential Computer Accessories for Travel
Traveler's Ed: How to Save on Car Rentals in a Recession
Travel Deals
Deal of the Week: 30% Off Valentine's Day Hotel Stays + Discount on Flowers
Save up to 30 percent on Valentine's Day stays at hundreds of hotels in destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, the U.S. and Canada when you book with Hotels.com. Plus receive a $20 savings pass for 1800Flowers.com when you enter code FLOWERS14.
Search All Travel Deals
Deals Expiring This Week!
7-Night Alaska Cruise from $519
Fly from New York to Europe from $299 OW
Save $100 on Florida Land and Air Packages
7-Nt. W. Caribbean Cruise from $499 + Bonus
Southwest Airlines Denver Flights from $30 OW
Air Deals:
Colorado Fares from $124 OW
U.S. & Caribbean Fares from $49 OW
Hawaii Adventure Sale: Fares from $261 OW
73 More Air Deals
Hotel Deals:
Save 30% at Hilton Worldwide Resorts
Fairbanks, Alaska B&B Rooms from $50/Nt.
Save $50 on Valentine's Day B&B Getaways
126 More Hotel Deals
Car Deals:
Save 15% on Rentals in Sunny Locales
25 More Car Deals
Vacation Deals:
Save $450 on Valentine's Day Pkg. in Maryland
23 More Package Deals
Destinations
Destination: Brazil
While Americans are celebrating Valentine's Day, thousands of Brazilians will be donning exotic costumes and dancing in the streets during Carnival, Brazil's most famous holiday. There's still time to book a last-minute package to Rio de Janeiro (known as the "City of Carnival"), Sao Paulo or one of the many other Brazilian destinations that host samba parades, costume balls and concerts during Carnival this month.

Hot Deal: Carnival & Mardi Gras Fares from $150 RT

Brazil Resources
Rio de Janeiro Essentials
Rio de Janeiro Travel Deals
Slideshow: The World's Best Beaches
Visit the Passport Center
Brazil Travel Message Board
Trip Report: Brazilian Beaches
Trip Report: Wonderful Brazil
Trip Report: Iguazu Falls Bird Watching
Write About Your Trip to Brazil!
News & Features
The World's Weirdest Restaurants
"Weird," of course, is a matter of taste. But we think a Taiwanese toilet restaurant, an eatery where monkeys serve food and a cafe that requires you to finish your meal (or consequences will follow) fit the bill. Read about more bizarre places to eat around the world.

Which of These Restaurants Is Weirdest?
Poll of the Week
When you check out, what hotel goodies do you bring home with you? Vote in our poll!
Trip Report of the Week
Kaua'i 2010
Barbara D. is the latest winner of IndependentTraveler.com's trip report of the week. She will receive a fancy Independent Traveler T-shirt.
"We heard a flurry of voices and realized whales were breaching just beyond the rocks. This was our first sighting since arriving and again so thrilling. To stand on the shore and watch these magnificent creatures frolic is just plain amazing." Read more.
Submit your own!
Latest Trip Reports
6 Hours in Amsterdam - WhooHoo!! BCOT
Victoria Bird Watching Carl from Pahrump
Niagara Falls Extravaganza Shipmatesforlife
Galapagos Cruise, September 2009 ztsipapu
Read More Trip Reports
Send in YOUR Trip Report
New on the Message Boards
Ocho Rios Day Trip
California Questions
Where to Go in Alaska?
Getting Around Costa Rica
Planning a South America Trip
Speak Up on Our Travel Message Boards

Travel Tips
6 Essential Computer Accessories for Travel
You need more than just a laptop or a smartphone to get connected while traveling. From surge protectors to electrical converters, certain computer accessories are absolutely indispensable on the road.
Traveler's Ed
How to Save on Car Rentals in a Recession
We may be in a recession, but car rentals cost as much as they ever have -- if not more. Discover why rates are so high and learn where you can still find a great car rental deal.
Want to see your travel writing published? Create a trip report and tell us about your travels. Once your trip report is published, you can send links to family, friends and travel buddies. Plus, if we select your writing as our trip report of the week, you could win a fabulous prize!
Feature on File
My Yummy Valentine
In Hershey, Pennsylvania, a chocolate-inspired weekend makes for a romantic and indulgent Valentine's Day getaway. Find out what happens when you escape to "the sweetest place on earth" during Hershey's "Chocolate-Covered February."

Poll: Where Do You Want to Spend Valentine's Day?
Travel Trivia: More than 220 couples have been married as part of the annual Valentine's Day Weddings event on what iconic New York City landmark? (Hint: Find the answer in our Destination Communities.)

Send your answer to feedback@independenttraveler.com and you could win an Independent Traveler airplane comfort kit! We'll announce the winner and reveal the correct answer in next week's newsletter.

Last Week's Question: What city has more than 300 miles of navigable waterways (twice that of Venice) and is known as the "Venice of America"? Lynn M., who correctly answered Fort Lauderdale, is our winner! Read more about Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale Essentials.
Happy Travels!
Sarah Schlichter
IndependentTraveler.com
editor@independenttraveler.com
The Independent Traveler

www.independenttraveler.com
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