Here is part 1-2 of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim fireworks show. We watched this summertime show yesterday on our day-cation get away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-sGhJtOFvk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzNvzq6Hb0Q
Enjoy!!!
Friday, July 30, 2010
TLT Dance Club
Thursday, July 29, 2010
JetBlu-check them out!!
JetBlu just lowered their fares for a short time, follow the link and see what you can find.....http://www.jetblue.com/traveldeals/
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Hotel satisfaction in this economy, can you find it??
Here is a recent study of Hotel satisfaction with customers....
J.D. Powers 2010 hotel survey: Hotels guests more satisfied with hotels during downturn
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
Ritz-Carlton took top honors in the J.D. Powers' 2010 hotel study for the luxury hotel category, beating Four Seasons, which ranked No. 1 last year. Shown is a deluxe bathroom in the Ritz- Carlton Residences at LA Live in Los Angeles.
Ritz-CarltonHotel guests have generally been happier with their hotel experience in the past 12 months vs. the prior year as room rates dropped and crowds thinned, according to J.D. Powers and Assoc.'s latest study that measures how well hotel chains satisfy their customers.
The study's broader findings echo J.D. Powers' conclusions for both airlines and airports that also found that as travel fell, customer satisfaction rose, says Mark Schwartz, who leads J.D. Powers' travel practice.
Still, Schwartz said it was surprising to see that most of the hotel chains lifted their individual customer satisfaction scores during the downturn.
J.D. Powers grades hotel chains based on customer surveys collected each year for a variety of larger hotel chains. Customers rate hotels in seven areas, starting with the reservations process and the check-in process to assess their first impressions of a hotel. J.D. Powers also asks travelers to rate hotel services, cost and fees, food and drinks, its fitness center, and check-out.
So why did most hotels see an uptick in customer satisfaction? Schwartz says that it's a mix of factors both within and beyond hotels' control:
The travel downturn: With fewer people on the road, people who did travel found emptier hotels, which meant they encountered less competition for the treadmill in the fitness center, or less of a chance to stand in line at a busy convention hotel.
Cost: Hotel rates fell in the last 12 months, and customers generally felt more satisfied with what they received for their money.
Hotels operations: Hotels genuinely got better at pleasing their customers in the past year due to stiff competition for guests. "All of them are focused on improving guest satisfaction," Schwartz says. Almost all of the chains increased their scores on a year-over-year basis - and not a single hotel chain saw its score drop significantly, he says.
The study focuses on big chains from across the price spectrum. Among the hotels it places in the six categories measured are: Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Loews hotels in the luxury hotels group; Homewood Suites and TownePlace Suites in the extended-stay hotels group; Marriott, Omni, Embassy Suites and Hilton in the upscale hotels group.
Some chains such as Starwood's Le Meridien, Hyatt's Park Hyatt and Accor's Sofitel didn't make the cut because of their size, which made collecting enough customer surveys difficult. The study also leaves out independent chains and hotels. Here's a quick peak at the hotel winners that won in their respective price categories:
Luxury: Ritz-Carlton
Upscale: Omni Hotels & Resorts
Mid-Scale Full Service: Hilton Garden Inn (for a second consecutive year)
Mid-Scale Limited Service: Drury Inn & Suites (for a fifth consecutive year)
Economy/Budget: Microtel Inns & Suites (for a ninth consecutive year)
Extended Stay: Homewood Suites
Yes you can find satisfaction as hotels brands these days are willing to give perks to get you to stay in their hotels.
My next post will talk about some budget hotel chains and what you can get for your money and still be comfortable.
J.D. Powers 2010 hotel survey: Hotels guests more satisfied with hotels during downturn
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
Ritz-Carlton took top honors in the J.D. Powers' 2010 hotel study for the luxury hotel category, beating Four Seasons, which ranked No. 1 last year. Shown is a deluxe bathroom in the Ritz- Carlton Residences at LA Live in Los Angeles.
Ritz-CarltonHotel guests have generally been happier with their hotel experience in the past 12 months vs. the prior year as room rates dropped and crowds thinned, according to J.D. Powers and Assoc.'s latest study that measures how well hotel chains satisfy their customers.
The study's broader findings echo J.D. Powers' conclusions for both airlines and airports that also found that as travel fell, customer satisfaction rose, says Mark Schwartz, who leads J.D. Powers' travel practice.
Still, Schwartz said it was surprising to see that most of the hotel chains lifted their individual customer satisfaction scores during the downturn.
J.D. Powers grades hotel chains based on customer surveys collected each year for a variety of larger hotel chains. Customers rate hotels in seven areas, starting with the reservations process and the check-in process to assess their first impressions of a hotel. J.D. Powers also asks travelers to rate hotel services, cost and fees, food and drinks, its fitness center, and check-out.
So why did most hotels see an uptick in customer satisfaction? Schwartz says that it's a mix of factors both within and beyond hotels' control:
The travel downturn: With fewer people on the road, people who did travel found emptier hotels, which meant they encountered less competition for the treadmill in the fitness center, or less of a chance to stand in line at a busy convention hotel.
Cost: Hotel rates fell in the last 12 months, and customers generally felt more satisfied with what they received for their money.
Hotels operations: Hotels genuinely got better at pleasing their customers in the past year due to stiff competition for guests. "All of them are focused on improving guest satisfaction," Schwartz says. Almost all of the chains increased their scores on a year-over-year basis - and not a single hotel chain saw its score drop significantly, he says.
The study focuses on big chains from across the price spectrum. Among the hotels it places in the six categories measured are: Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Loews hotels in the luxury hotels group; Homewood Suites and TownePlace Suites in the extended-stay hotels group; Marriott, Omni, Embassy Suites and Hilton in the upscale hotels group.
Some chains such as Starwood's Le Meridien, Hyatt's Park Hyatt and Accor's Sofitel didn't make the cut because of their size, which made collecting enough customer surveys difficult. The study also leaves out independent chains and hotels. Here's a quick peak at the hotel winners that won in their respective price categories:
Luxury: Ritz-Carlton
Upscale: Omni Hotels & Resorts
Mid-Scale Full Service: Hilton Garden Inn (for a second consecutive year)
Mid-Scale Limited Service: Drury Inn & Suites (for a fifth consecutive year)
Economy/Budget: Microtel Inns & Suites (for a ninth consecutive year)
Extended Stay: Homewood Suites
Yes you can find satisfaction as hotels brands these days are willing to give perks to get you to stay in their hotels.
My next post will talk about some budget hotel chains and what you can get for your money and still be comfortable.
Monday, July 26, 2010
10 Tips for Traveling with Your Kids
Another informative atricle found online.......
10 Tips for Traveling with Your Kids.
Traveling with your kids this summer? Travel expert and mom Nicole Hockin gave us some incredible tips for making traveling easier when you're bringing the kids, and EVERY mom could use that, right?
1. Pack Light
Bring only the essentials. The more you bring, the more you have to keep up with and the heavier the bags. Kids can require a lot of stuff: car seats, strollers, cribs, high chairs. Check out http://www.babysaway.com/ where you can rent gear instead of packing it all. Some car rental companies also rent child safety seats and some hotels offer childproof rooms or cribs upon request. Call ahead and find out which items you can cut from your packing list.
2. Expect the Unexpected
Not to contradict tip #1, but make sure you have plenty of what you need in your carry-on: diapers, wipes (which are great for a multitude of things), medications, change of clothes, snacks, and a secret coloring book.
3. What Kind of Toys to Bring
Be sure to bring something to keep everyone entertained, but leave the singing Barneys and beeping video games at home. You and everyone else will be glad you did. Backpacks for each child: Toddler or teen – give each child his own backpack to carry with their chosen toys/books/etc. The catch is if they pack it, they carry it. Trust me, one heavy backpack experience and they’ll learn just how much to take to Grandma’s. Note: check the backpacks to make sure there are not any toys with water elements (ex. a toy train car) or Play-Doh (TSA considers this a potential explosive device.) as they will be confiscated.
4. Car Seat Must Knows
Car seats Do NOT count as checked luggage on any airline. You will NOT be charged. Get yourself a durable car seat cover and check it for your trip. Nicole’s secret tip: when your suitcase is over 50 lbs, avoid the overweight fees and stick some of those extra clothes in the car seat bag.
5. Airplane Seats
If your child is under the age of two, then he/she technically does NOT need a paid seat on the plane. Be prepared to prove your child’s age. I.E. – birth certificate. I recommend that you purchase a seat for your infant once the child is mobile (even if he’s only one year) especially for flights over 2 hours in length. The airplane seat allows them their own space to wiggle and dramatically reduces on-board melt-downs.
6. Security Screening
TSA Security Screening can really delay you if you aren’t prepared. Know this: medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Babies do have to take off their shoes, too so go for velcro on travel day. Plan ahead! Practice getting that stroller broken down quickly!
7. Breakfast Tips
Eat breakfast where kids eat free and split meals. This can mean an enormous saving for a family of four or larger. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates. Many do free meals for kids (with the purchase of an adult meal) on different days of the week.
8. Strollers
Bring your own stroller. If you’re going to visit theme parks then this can save you $7 to $30 (for a double) a day in rental fees.
9. Water Bottles
Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at restaurants around your destination. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day just buying water.
10. Most Important Tip!
The most important tip of all is to be flexible. Lines will be long, traffic will be heavy, flights will be delayed and children (and adults) will get grumpy. But with just a little planning and an open mind, you’ll survive and enjoy another family vacation.
Article published by ModernMom.com .
Related: travel, summer
10 Tips for Traveling with Your Kids.
Traveling with your kids this summer? Travel expert and mom Nicole Hockin gave us some incredible tips for making traveling easier when you're bringing the kids, and EVERY mom could use that, right?
1. Pack Light
Bring only the essentials. The more you bring, the more you have to keep up with and the heavier the bags. Kids can require a lot of stuff: car seats, strollers, cribs, high chairs. Check out http://www.babysaway.com/ where you can rent gear instead of packing it all. Some car rental companies also rent child safety seats and some hotels offer childproof rooms or cribs upon request. Call ahead and find out which items you can cut from your packing list.
2. Expect the Unexpected
Not to contradict tip #1, but make sure you have plenty of what you need in your carry-on: diapers, wipes (which are great for a multitude of things), medications, change of clothes, snacks, and a secret coloring book.
3. What Kind of Toys to Bring
Be sure to bring something to keep everyone entertained, but leave the singing Barneys and beeping video games at home. You and everyone else will be glad you did. Backpacks for each child: Toddler or teen – give each child his own backpack to carry with their chosen toys/books/etc. The catch is if they pack it, they carry it. Trust me, one heavy backpack experience and they’ll learn just how much to take to Grandma’s. Note: check the backpacks to make sure there are not any toys with water elements (ex. a toy train car) or Play-Doh (TSA considers this a potential explosive device.) as they will be confiscated.
4. Car Seat Must Knows
Car seats Do NOT count as checked luggage on any airline. You will NOT be charged. Get yourself a durable car seat cover and check it for your trip. Nicole’s secret tip: when your suitcase is over 50 lbs, avoid the overweight fees and stick some of those extra clothes in the car seat bag.
5. Airplane Seats
If your child is under the age of two, then he/she technically does NOT need a paid seat on the plane. Be prepared to prove your child’s age. I.E. – birth certificate. I recommend that you purchase a seat for your infant once the child is mobile (even if he’s only one year) especially for flights over 2 hours in length. The airplane seat allows them their own space to wiggle and dramatically reduces on-board melt-downs.
6. Security Screening
TSA Security Screening can really delay you if you aren’t prepared. Know this: medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Babies do have to take off their shoes, too so go for velcro on travel day. Plan ahead! Practice getting that stroller broken down quickly!
7. Breakfast Tips
Eat breakfast where kids eat free and split meals. This can mean an enormous saving for a family of four or larger. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates. Many do free meals for kids (with the purchase of an adult meal) on different days of the week.
8. Strollers
Bring your own stroller. If you’re going to visit theme parks then this can save you $7 to $30 (for a double) a day in rental fees.
9. Water Bottles
Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at restaurants around your destination. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day just buying water.
10. Most Important Tip!
The most important tip of all is to be flexible. Lines will be long, traffic will be heavy, flights will be delayed and children (and adults) will get grumpy. But with just a little planning and an open mind, you’ll survive and enjoy another family vacation.
Article published by ModernMom.com .
Related: travel, summer
Sunday, July 25, 2010
So I have three coworkers that had some fun this weekend. Marcel went to Las Vegas, Kim went to Vegas and Michelle went to Comic-Con. So a couple of weekend get-aways and a local 2 day trip to Comic-Con in San Diego. Maybe I can get some info on how it was in LV, where they stayed and what they did for fun. Comic-Con, that is a definate getaway!! Lets hear about it!!!
Hey friends, I found this article on Yahoo Travel...thought its has great info for saving money. These ideas can lead you in the right direction to help you have a cost effective and fun trip at the same time.
Blog ya soon!!!
Affordable Family Vacations
By Nicola McCormack
Hacienda Sac Chich, Mexico
Photo: Courtesy of Urbano Rentals
More from Concierge.com
The World's Wackiest Theme Parks
The World's Best Bargain Shopping
Hot New Hotels Under $200
The World's Wackiest Museums
More from Yahoo! Travel
Check flight deals now!
Tips for Wellness on the Road
While planning your family vacation this summer, avoid reading about the jet-set lifestyle of the Brangelina brood. Like comparing post-baby bodies with Madame Jolie-Pitt, it's an exercise in futility. Back in the real world, when a globe-trotting twosome multiplies into a family of three or more, vacations are no longer about chilling out on exotic beaches drinking fruity cocktails. Along with your burgeoning luggage of extra diapers, travel crib, and car seat, there are also the increased costs to contend with.
So, what are your options? Well, you could stay at home and travel vicariously via sites like this one, but even we want you and your little ones to get out there and see the world. Plan wisely, and this year you and your clan could be exploring the souks in Marrakesh, tubing through caves in Central America, or renting an RV for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.
Family villa rentals
Chances are, if you've started reproducing, your friends have, too. Join forces to rent a villa, and what can initially seem like a splurge starts to sound cost-effective. Consider that you'll split the rental and grocery costs, cook some of your own meals, and—huge added bonus—share babysitting duties, too. Urbano Rentals offers a selection of very cool and affordable properties around Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, a region that checks all the boxes for a family vacation, with beaches, snorkeling, Mayan pyramids (culture for you, a giant jungle gym for kids), and those all-important affordable nonstop flights. Hacienda Sac Chich is a sprawling property with a pool on the edge of a Mayan village, a half-hour from Mérida, in the center of the peninsula. From $500 a night in high season ($400 low season), it's spacious enough to accommodate a few families without people getting under each other's feet, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a dining table that seats 12. In the early evenings, the kids can run free in the tropical garden while the grown-ups kick back on the vine-covered portico and reminisce about late nights and sleeping past 7 a.m.
Marrekesh
Photo: JMParrone/Flickr
Marrakesh for families
Some destinations are magical enough to appeal to all ages, which pretty much sums up Marrakesh. The low costs of traveling to Morocco are equally bewitching right now. Airfare can get up there, but the on-the-ground costs for food, shopping, and accommodation are where you'll make your savings. For parents, the maze of souks is a place to hone bartering skills; for youngsters, it's a mysterious labyrinth of (inexpensive) treasures, exotic aromas, and glowing lanterns. Early evening is when the main square, the Jemaa El Fna, comes alive with gnawa musicians, tumbling acrobats, and snake charmers. Eat at one of the hundreds of smoky open kitchens, where tasty chicken kebabs (under a dollar apiece) and desserts drizzled in honey will satisfy even the most finicky eaters. Stay in a riad—a traditional Moroccan house-turned-hotel with a central courtyard—for an authentic experience; the Zamzam is a beautifully restored seven-room riad in the Medina. Room start at $173 a night in low season; the child-friendly amenities range from babysitting services and high chairs to kids' meals and extra cots (youngsters under 10 can stay in their parents' room for free). There's also a pool and a hammam where even kids can benefit from a jet lag–relief massage.
Hitting the road in an RV
Photo: Courtesy of GORVing
Family road trips
That "savecation" word being bandied about? RV-ing could very well be one of the best ways to achieve it. Simply rent a motor home, work out your route, and save a bundle by eating and sleeping on the road—hey, the Partridge Family did it! We suggest you rent something big enough to provide some personal space (a 26- to 30-foot motor home should be big enough for a family of four)—otherwise it could very well be the last family vacation you ever take. Investing in a few lessons on how to drive a behemoth vehicle is probably a good idea, too. According to GoRVing.com, the average rental price of a 26- to 30-foot motor home is $150 a day; even when you add in fuel costs, it's possible to save a bundle on transportation, hotel, and food costs when you travel this way. Slow down a little by choosing a route from the National Scenic Byways Program. For an iconic trip, consider Route 66 from Illinois through New Mexico and finishing in Arizona (give yourself at least six days).
Belize
Photo: chuck.taylor/Flickr
Belize on a budget
Belize is affordable, accessible, and, for such a small country, a family can certainly pack in a lot of activity there: zip-lining through tree canopies, snorkeling with sharks and manta rays, cave tubing beneath weird and wonderful rock formations, and spotting wildlife on a jungle tour. There are also plenty of inexpensive family-friendly lodges to stay in. The best time to go is the dry season, from late November through May, but there are hotel discounts of around 30 percent during the June–October rainy season—also known euphemistically as the "green season" (we're talking showers rather than a monsoon drenching). Youngsters will love the tree house suites 20 feet above the ground at the Caves Branch Jungle Lodge in the center of the country. Surrounded by tropical jungle, the resort sits on the Caves Branch River, which is great for kayaking. The 21 bungalows, cabanas, suites, and tree houses start at $98; kids 16 and under stay free. Packages can combine adventure tours such as night safaris and exploring Mayan ruins (for children 9 and under, on-property tours are free and off-site activities are discounted 20 percent). Our main recommendation about jungle accommodation? Take earplugs: Belizean wildlife parties into the night and wakes up early.
Negotiate a home exchange
Photo: Courtesy of Home Exchange
Home exchanges
If your home is in a desirable location, chances are you can swap it with another family's property for a vacation without accommodation costs. It works by registering with an agency—check out HomeExchange.com, HomeLink International, and Intervac—that charges a registration fee, usually in the region of $100, then gives you access to a list of quality properties to barter for here or abroad. After seeing the concept in the movie The Holiday three years ago, Doug Leibinger and his family swapped their four-bedroom, three-bath property near Aspen (pictured) with a similar-size home on Bainbridge Island, just offshore from Seattle. Six e-mails and one call sealed the deal. Hooked, the Leibingers then organized a two-week exchange the following summer with a house in Florida that included a boat and access to a private beach club. "Friends have asked, wasn't it weird to have total strangers sleeping in your bed? We never once thought about what might go wrong, but just committed to the concept. We would have missed out on an extraordinary experience otherwise."
Houseboats in Amsterdam
Photo: kalleboo/Flickr
Houseboat rentals
If you're planning a getaway to a city with canals—one of the Industrial Revolution's happier outcomes—consider a houseboat as a colorful and fairly priced alternative to a hotel. The canals of Amsterdam make this city a great place to take the kids. Houseboat Hotel has a selection of properties in and around the city. Houseboat B039, berthed five minutes from the central Munttoren, is a modern, surprisingly airy boat that costs just over $300 a night. It's got two bedrooms, a bathroom with tub, fully equipped kitchen, and washer/dryer, plus a cool deck to hang out on. Another city that might float your boat is London: The Bush Houseboat is moored on the Thames in Kew, only 15 minutes by train from Waterloo Station, and can cost as little as $200 a night for five people. Don't want to go overseas? Tobiko is an impressive two-level houseboat in Sausalito with views of San Francisco Bay. It sleeps six and costs $300 a night.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Photo: Courtesy of Lassen National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
The great outdoors is not so great when it's crammed full of other people. That's one reason why it's worth seeking out a lesser-known park; another is that these spots tend to be more affordable than the Yellowstones and Yosemites. Lassen National Park is one of our favorites. Located in California, about five hours north of San Francisco, the park has steaming fumaroles, boiling pools, and plopping mud pots. Other activities include horseback riding, fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking to take in spectacular views of the Cascade and High Sierra mountains. Eight campgrounds dot the park, but for those of us who just can't give up clean sheets, hot showers, and bug-free nights, the Drakesbad Guest Ranch offers rustic accommodation in its 13 cabins and six lodge rooms; there's also a restaurant, horseback riding, and a hot spring–fed swimming pool. The rates—from $155 for adults, $85 for kids 2 to 11—include three daily meals.
Blog ya soon!!!
Affordable Family Vacations
By Nicola McCormack
Hacienda Sac Chich, Mexico
Photo: Courtesy of Urbano Rentals
More from Concierge.com
The World's Wackiest Theme Parks
The World's Best Bargain Shopping
Hot New Hotels Under $200
The World's Wackiest Museums
More from Yahoo! Travel
Check flight deals now!
Tips for Wellness on the Road
While planning your family vacation this summer, avoid reading about the jet-set lifestyle of the Brangelina brood. Like comparing post-baby bodies with Madame Jolie-Pitt, it's an exercise in futility. Back in the real world, when a globe-trotting twosome multiplies into a family of three or more, vacations are no longer about chilling out on exotic beaches drinking fruity cocktails. Along with your burgeoning luggage of extra diapers, travel crib, and car seat, there are also the increased costs to contend with.
So, what are your options? Well, you could stay at home and travel vicariously via sites like this one, but even we want you and your little ones to get out there and see the world. Plan wisely, and this year you and your clan could be exploring the souks in Marrakesh, tubing through caves in Central America, or renting an RV for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.
Family villa rentals
Chances are, if you've started reproducing, your friends have, too. Join forces to rent a villa, and what can initially seem like a splurge starts to sound cost-effective. Consider that you'll split the rental and grocery costs, cook some of your own meals, and—huge added bonus—share babysitting duties, too. Urbano Rentals offers a selection of very cool and affordable properties around Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, a region that checks all the boxes for a family vacation, with beaches, snorkeling, Mayan pyramids (culture for you, a giant jungle gym for kids), and those all-important affordable nonstop flights. Hacienda Sac Chich is a sprawling property with a pool on the edge of a Mayan village, a half-hour from Mérida, in the center of the peninsula. From $500 a night in high season ($400 low season), it's spacious enough to accommodate a few families without people getting under each other's feet, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a dining table that seats 12. In the early evenings, the kids can run free in the tropical garden while the grown-ups kick back on the vine-covered portico and reminisce about late nights and sleeping past 7 a.m.
Marrekesh
Photo: JMParrone/Flickr
Marrakesh for families
Some destinations are magical enough to appeal to all ages, which pretty much sums up Marrakesh. The low costs of traveling to Morocco are equally bewitching right now. Airfare can get up there, but the on-the-ground costs for food, shopping, and accommodation are where you'll make your savings. For parents, the maze of souks is a place to hone bartering skills; for youngsters, it's a mysterious labyrinth of (inexpensive) treasures, exotic aromas, and glowing lanterns. Early evening is when the main square, the Jemaa El Fna, comes alive with gnawa musicians, tumbling acrobats, and snake charmers. Eat at one of the hundreds of smoky open kitchens, where tasty chicken kebabs (under a dollar apiece) and desserts drizzled in honey will satisfy even the most finicky eaters. Stay in a riad—a traditional Moroccan house-turned-hotel with a central courtyard—for an authentic experience; the Zamzam is a beautifully restored seven-room riad in the Medina. Room start at $173 a night in low season; the child-friendly amenities range from babysitting services and high chairs to kids' meals and extra cots (youngsters under 10 can stay in their parents' room for free). There's also a pool and a hammam where even kids can benefit from a jet lag–relief massage.
Hitting the road in an RV
Photo: Courtesy of GORVing
Family road trips
That "savecation" word being bandied about? RV-ing could very well be one of the best ways to achieve it. Simply rent a motor home, work out your route, and save a bundle by eating and sleeping on the road—hey, the Partridge Family did it! We suggest you rent something big enough to provide some personal space (a 26- to 30-foot motor home should be big enough for a family of four)—otherwise it could very well be the last family vacation you ever take. Investing in a few lessons on how to drive a behemoth vehicle is probably a good idea, too. According to GoRVing.com, the average rental price of a 26- to 30-foot motor home is $150 a day; even when you add in fuel costs, it's possible to save a bundle on transportation, hotel, and food costs when you travel this way. Slow down a little by choosing a route from the National Scenic Byways Program. For an iconic trip, consider Route 66 from Illinois through New Mexico and finishing in Arizona (give yourself at least six days).
Belize
Photo: chuck.taylor/Flickr
Belize on a budget
Belize is affordable, accessible, and, for such a small country, a family can certainly pack in a lot of activity there: zip-lining through tree canopies, snorkeling with sharks and manta rays, cave tubing beneath weird and wonderful rock formations, and spotting wildlife on a jungle tour. There are also plenty of inexpensive family-friendly lodges to stay in. The best time to go is the dry season, from late November through May, but there are hotel discounts of around 30 percent during the June–October rainy season—also known euphemistically as the "green season" (we're talking showers rather than a monsoon drenching). Youngsters will love the tree house suites 20 feet above the ground at the Caves Branch Jungle Lodge in the center of the country. Surrounded by tropical jungle, the resort sits on the Caves Branch River, which is great for kayaking. The 21 bungalows, cabanas, suites, and tree houses start at $98; kids 16 and under stay free. Packages can combine adventure tours such as night safaris and exploring Mayan ruins (for children 9 and under, on-property tours are free and off-site activities are discounted 20 percent). Our main recommendation about jungle accommodation? Take earplugs: Belizean wildlife parties into the night and wakes up early.
Negotiate a home exchange
Photo: Courtesy of Home Exchange
Home exchanges
If your home is in a desirable location, chances are you can swap it with another family's property for a vacation without accommodation costs. It works by registering with an agency—check out HomeExchange.com, HomeLink International, and Intervac—that charges a registration fee, usually in the region of $100, then gives you access to a list of quality properties to barter for here or abroad. After seeing the concept in the movie The Holiday three years ago, Doug Leibinger and his family swapped their four-bedroom, three-bath property near Aspen (pictured) with a similar-size home on Bainbridge Island, just offshore from Seattle. Six e-mails and one call sealed the deal. Hooked, the Leibingers then organized a two-week exchange the following summer with a house in Florida that included a boat and access to a private beach club. "Friends have asked, wasn't it weird to have total strangers sleeping in your bed? We never once thought about what might go wrong, but just committed to the concept. We would have missed out on an extraordinary experience otherwise."
Houseboats in Amsterdam
Photo: kalleboo/Flickr
Houseboat rentals
If you're planning a getaway to a city with canals—one of the Industrial Revolution's happier outcomes—consider a houseboat as a colorful and fairly priced alternative to a hotel. The canals of Amsterdam make this city a great place to take the kids. Houseboat Hotel has a selection of properties in and around the city. Houseboat B039, berthed five minutes from the central Munttoren, is a modern, surprisingly airy boat that costs just over $300 a night. It's got two bedrooms, a bathroom with tub, fully equipped kitchen, and washer/dryer, plus a cool deck to hang out on. Another city that might float your boat is London: The Bush Houseboat is moored on the Thames in Kew, only 15 minutes by train from Waterloo Station, and can cost as little as $200 a night for five people. Don't want to go overseas? Tobiko is an impressive two-level houseboat in Sausalito with views of San Francisco Bay. It sleeps six and costs $300 a night.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Photo: Courtesy of Lassen National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
The great outdoors is not so great when it's crammed full of other people. That's one reason why it's worth seeking out a lesser-known park; another is that these spots tend to be more affordable than the Yellowstones and Yosemites. Lassen National Park is one of our favorites. Located in California, about five hours north of San Francisco, the park has steaming fumaroles, boiling pools, and plopping mud pots. Other activities include horseback riding, fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking to take in spectacular views of the Cascade and High Sierra mountains. Eight campgrounds dot the park, but for those of us who just can't give up clean sheets, hot showers, and bug-free nights, the Drakesbad Guest Ranch offers rustic accommodation in its 13 cabins and six lodge rooms; there's also a restaurant, horseback riding, and a hot spring–fed swimming pool. The rates—from $155 for adults, $85 for kids 2 to 11—include three daily meals.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
It's been to long!!
It's been over a year since I posted on my blog!!! I have to work on that. Maybe I should get away from the travel idea?? Gonna think about this one.....
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