Just ran across this money saving weekend deal, so I'm passing it on to all those who need a travel idea! Participating Marriott, JW Marriott & Courtyard locations are offering weekend stays for $99 - $149 per night - with breakfast included for up to 2 adults & kids 12 and younger. The offer is good for stays through April 27, 2008. Mention code S4B if reserving by phone, or click on their link above. Enjoy your weekend!
March 2008
March 16, 2008
Family Vacation Ideas - Top Vacation Spots
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort: You can plan a fun, affordable family vacation this summer with smart planning and a little budget travel advice from yours truly. First, you have to decide "where to go?" Why not consider some of America's top vacation spots? On Sunday, March 26, 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported on a Domestic Summer Hot Spots survey taken by the American Society of Travel Agents. Which city ranked #1 among those surveyed? The winner is: Orlando, Florida. With lots of things go do in Orlando, including two of the world's greatest theme parks, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, who can argue with that? (For money saving Disney World tips, be sure to read Family Travel Girl's post about where to buy discount Orlando theme park tickets.) Coming in at number two is Las Vegas. These two places seem right on target to me. Orlando is a certainly a kid's ultimate playground, and who can deny that Las Vegas is the live entertainment capital of America? So, check out the survey's most popular places for summer vacations listed below. One of these top vacation spots could be your family's perfect vacation destination!
Summer 2008 Travel: Best Vacation Spots
1. Orlando
2. Las Vegas
3. San Francisco
4. Los Angeles
5. Miami
6. Seattle
7. New York City
8. Honolulu
9. (tie) San Diego and Washington, D.C.
Where are you going on your summer vacation? We'd love to hear about your best family vacations!
Photo by mrkathika via Flickr (Creative Commons)
March 15, 2008
March 14, 2008
Doggie Hotels at the Airport- Convenient Pet Boarding
Airport Doggie Resorts - Pet Hotel Kennels: Nervous about boarding your dog? Want to board your pets for the shortest amount of time possible? Well, USA Today recently reported on pet hotels that are being built close to major airports. Here's a quote from their article: "Doggie resorts are starting to appear at some of the USA's largest airports. A growing number of airports are seeing 24-hour pet hotels being built inside or near their compounds, saving travelers the headache of scrambling to drop off their dogs or cats at neighborhood kennels.
Travelers can find pet hotels near the airports at Jacksonville, New Orleans and Portland, Ore. Pet hotel operators have plans to open facilities or are in discussions with Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Houston Hobby and Minneapolis."
Woo Hoo! One of the perks being offered is 24-hour service. Therefore, clients won't have to drop their pet off the night before an early-morning flight or wait till the next morning to pick them up if your flight arrives late. What do you think of this idea? Have you already had an experience with one of these doggie hotels? Comment below!
Photo by tanakawho via Flickr (Creative Commons)
March 13, 2008
Travel Packing Tips For Carry On Luggage
I hate packing a suitcase! Can't I just snap my fingers and show up somewhere with my bags already packed? I guess not. But, here's a reason to rejoice: I've got some travel packing tips for you! I recently discovered a neat packing aid that makes packing a suitcase just a little more bearable. Not only that, but my family thinks I'm both smart and cool for finding them.
Tips for Packing a Suitcase
Eagle Creek's Pack-It Folders are a smart way to organize your luggage, and they come in three sizes:
- - 15" x 10" - holds up to 7 shirts - $22
- - 18" x 12" holds 8 - 12 pants and/or shirts, dresses, blazers, or sweaters (depending on their size) - $25
- - 20" x 14" which holds 12 - 15 items (or some of your bulkier items) - $28
Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder
What makes these little gems so great? With the included "folding board," you can fold your shirts wrinkle-free in a snap. Are you traveling out of town for a week? Fold and stack 7 shirts in the 15" folder, velcro it shut, and you're ready to go. Who cares if the bag gets tossed around? Your shirts are neatly folded and secured inside the "envelope." I love these things!
Here's a little budget travel advice: Now that some airlines are charging for the first and second checked bags, pare down and travel with only carry on luggage. The Pack-It Folder is perfect for keeping your carry on luggage organized so that you can beat the airlines' new luggage restrictions.
You may even find other uses for the folder, like using it when you need a fresh shirt for a client appointment after work, because the folder fits nicely into a briefcase!
Best of all, on a long trip, the folders protect your clean clothes by keeping them from touching your dirty laundry. I found mind online at eBags. Check it out -- I wouldn't steer you wrong!
Discount Books - Buy Your Vacation Guidebooks at a Discount
Vacations and Books - Perfect Travel Companions! Vacations are expensive, so I'm a big believer in following money saving travel advice at home so we can spend it on vacation! That would include buying your next travel guidebook or beach read at a discount. If you don't already have a Barnes and Noble membership card, consider joining! For an annual fee of $25, you will receive 40% off all hardcover bestsellers, 20% off all adult hardcovers, and 10% off almost everything else (including your in-store Starbucks purchases). As a Barnes and Noble member, you'll also receive weekly savings with special member e-mail offers.
So, what are you waiting for? Use your Barnes and Noble membership savings to buy your destination guidebook and start planning your next vacation!
P.S. Don't keep travel deals a secret! Share them by adding your comment below. Thanks!
March 12, 2008
March 11, 2008
Let's Talk Travel with Family Travel Girl
Family Travel Girl - Let's Talk Travel! Enough of these fancy-schmancy travel guidebooks that only talk about the most expensive, or critic-worthy vacations. We need info about real life vacations. Let's face it, if you have kids . . . your idea of a great family vacation is figuring out how to visit Disney World, ride Dumbo three times in a row, eat a kid-friendly meal that doesn't break the bank-of-dad, and end the day in a comfy hotel bed! I'm going to blog about travel tips I've gathered over the years from reading a gazillion travel guidebooks, travel magazines, and websites. Most importantly, I'll share my family's on-the-ground vacation experiences -- good and bad! So, from one mom to another - - Let's talk travel!
Photo by cangia via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Family Travel Girl
I'm a mom who's crazy about travel!
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