Steering Clear of Sexual Predators on Halloween

babysugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:00:25 PDT

Halloween is supposed to be a spooky fun holiday for kids to indulge in freaky activities and gather sugary goodies. The fright night gives parents enough issues to fret about - fire hazards, getting lost, candy and street safety to name a few. I'm also concerned about predators. It's the perfect time for offenders to steal a glance at unsuspecting children.

Some states require registered sex offenders turn off their porch lights and place a sign in the window saying, "No candy or treats at this residence." To trick-or-treat on the safe side, I looked up the homes of registered sex offenders on Family Watchdog. Just type in the zip code where you plan on trick-or-treating and see which houses your family should avoid.

Your One-Stop Guide For Saving on Holiday Travel

Emily Co — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:00:59 PDT

It's time to start scouting for deals and prepping for holiday travel (props to you if you've already done this!), before the prices start rising. Don't book your trip at the last minute, because the holidays are prime travel season, which means sky-high costs for airlines, car rentals, and hotels. Read on to find out the best ways to save on your upcoming holiday trip.

Picking a destination

Perhaps you're not planning on returning home for the holidays and would like to use the days off to take a trip - you need to start researching some budget destinations. Some countries to look at include places that are seeing a decline in travelers. One in particular would be Japan as many people are still afraid of traveling there because of earthquake and radiation scares. Most parts of the country have not been affected, and cities like Osaka and Kyoto have been left relatively unscathed.

If you're interested in traveling to countries that have seen a drop in travel due to political unrest such as Egypt, it's best to reach out to locals to hear their thoughts on safety. Ask friends and family if they know anyone living in those countries, or post a question on Quora, Facebook and Twitter. For countries that have had civil and religious upheavals, you might want to check important political, historical, and religious dates that may cause conflicts. Check out some of Budget Travel's picks for top budget destinations this year if you're looking for more international travel ideas.

Another alternative is to check out underrated places that people often pass over. Lonely Planet gives a neat list of US cities that are often neglected and passed over for more famous spots such as New York, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

Read after the jump to find out how to save on your travels.

LilSugar

Steering Clear of Sexual Predators on Halloween

Your One-Stop Guide For Saving on Holiday Travel