Everyone wants to rank eco-resorts (the buzzword of the decade).  But no one listed my most recent favorite–Bosque del Cabo in the Osa Penninsula.  I was sorely tempted to try Corcovado Tent Camp (listed in 1000 Places…) but there were 5 of us, and they would only allow 4 in a tent, even after I promised that we could carry our own air mattress). I just couldn’t justify spending the money to sleep 8 when I only needed 5. Instead, Bosque del Cabo rented us Casa Miramar, an open air house with amazing views and fridge-raiding coatis.

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National Geographic Traveler just came out with an article offering 57 ways to cut vacation costs. Some of them are pretty obvious, and some seem a little obsessive–looking for public bathrooms on the street to avoid impulse buys leaving restrooms in stores, for example (if you gotta go, you gotta go).

But there are some useful links and interesting ideas for saving money while traveling. I never thought of deleting cookies in my browser before ordering hotels of airfare online. According to the authors of this article, some sites may quote a higher price than is available because of cookies that store your previous purchase history.

 Another 2009 round-up list has been released; this one is BootsnAll’s Top 10 Destinations for Independent Travelers in 2009. 

Here are their picks:

Walking Tall release

• Tasmania, Australia
• Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Bariloche, Argentina
• Panama
• Bangladesh
• Sardinia, Italy
• Senegal
• Berlin, Germany
• Damascus, Syria
• Columbia

I’ve been to only two of their picks, but several are in my must-do list. But Berlin? Wouldn’t be my pick. BootsnAll’s backpacking traveler readers tend to be far more interested in nightlife than I am.

It’s that time of year—time for the ubiquitous New Year Travel round-up, and for budget minded travelers (and who isn’t, this year?)  Budget Travel Magazine’s Top Ten Destinations  2009 is an interesting read. Their picks include Austin, Washington DC, Hawaii, Budapest, Reykjavik,  Berlin, Cambodia, Panama, and Mexico.