Vacation Travel and Lodging

You know what I love? Having a 9am class on Friday mornings. And I love even more that it is 3 hours long. And most of all I love walking there when it’s FREEZING COLD.

Before I even got out of bed this morning I looked online to see what the weather was like outside my warm dorm room. I do not always look up the weather, but this morning I had to figure out which jacket I was going to wear. I almost laughed out loud when I saw that the temperatue said a mere 2 degrees Fahrenheit. HA! Are they serious? Oh New England…

So of course I got to thinking about wishing I was somewhere else. Namely, Florida. And more specifically, Daytona Beach. I do not even know why I teased myself but I looked up the weather in Daytona. Sixty degrees. What a life. Shorts and t-shirt weather. Instead, I am here in New England all bundled up with gloves, scarf, hat, jacket, boots… and I am still cold walking to class. I am going to Daytona.

And while I am there, I am going to get myself a nice vacation rental. Maybe this time I will take my mom, I think she could use a vacation, too. My Daytona Beach vacation rental is a beautiful condo right on the ocean. I can wake up in the morning and look out the window to the shining sun and sandy shores. It also has a pool and is very conveniently located. It is just a short walk to many attractions to keep me busy, such as shopping centers, amusement parks, etc. And the weather is definitely not going to be in the teens like in New England.

One other thing about Daytona Beach- since I am always looking for good places to eat, I found a useful article on 10Best.com. Of all the reviews I read, the place I would be most inclined to try would be this barbeque place called Hog Heaven. They supposedly have great burgers, barbeque chicken, and ribs. And better yet, the average meal price is under ten dollars. It is easy to get carried away with spending when you go on vacation, so it is always good to have a more economical option in mind.

If you are as fed up with this New England weather as I am, then book a trip… to Daytona Beach!

Ok I promise, this will be the last post on Disney World. I just want to make sure everyone knows how fun and affordable it can be to go there! Not to mention the fact that EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE THEY DIE…

possibly even twice… or three times…

The last post I wrote was on Epcot, the place for people like me who want to walk around and see things but does not necessarily want to go on frightening rides. Here I am going to tell you about a couple of the other theme parks at Disney. First I will start with the Magic Kingdom.

The Magic Kingdom is 107 acres of fun and entertainment. This is the place at Disney World where you will find not only rides, but also Cinderella’s Castle and tons of Disney movie characters. There are also seven separate areas in the Magic Kingdom, including Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. The Magic Kingdom is a great place to take little kids. Little girls especially love Cinderella’s Castle. I can remember going in there myself when I was young, and going up to meet Cinderella herself. All around this theme park you will find dozens of Disney characters. If you go here and take kids, be sure to get an autograph book. I think I still have my book, signed by Mickey and Minnie, Donald Duck, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Aladdin and Jasmine, and lots of others.

Hollywood Studios is also a must-see, as long as you have the time. It gives you a behind the scenes look at famous movies and how they were made. There are also lots of backstage tours that take you onto the sets of lots of movies and shows that everyone would be familiar with. There is also a new attraction called the American Idol Experience. Next to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios makes for a great day at Disney World.

Tons of places are available for rent and lodging in Orlando. Florida vacation rentals can be cheap and also very nice if you do some research. Lucky for you, I already did some of the research. I found two villas that are on sale- a wopping 27% off between April and May. They are fully equipped with a refrigerator, pool, stove, and more. If that does not work for you, there are plenty of hotels and inns, just shop around and find what works for you. And don’t forget, get to Disney!

After thinking about it a little more, I decided I did not give Disney World the attention it deserves. That is why I am now writing an additional post on vacationing in Orlando. Maybe at the end of this post or another one, everyone will realize how important a trip to Disney World is. Really, it is priceless.

There are so many Florida vacation rentals… plenty to choose from in every town, city, and around every beach. There are also a lot in and around Disney. You have to be careful though, as a lot of them can be pretty pricey. The best idea might be to look into lodging where you share a house or condo with a bunch of people. This is definitely the cheapest option.

I am going to tell you a little bit about Epcot, seeing as its my favorite place to go in Disney World. I think the reason I like this place best is because there were not a lot of scary rides… I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to rides. (I have a sensitive stomach.) But Epcot is a great place for little kids, or older ones who are not looking for death defying roller coasters. Epcot is divided into two sections, Future World and World Showcase. Future World has shows and other attractions central to the idea of science, innovation, and wonder. It is in Future World where you find the iconic “Spaceship Earth” ball. This can be seen from very far away, and is one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of Disney. World Showcase was the one I liked better. It is made up of a bunch of Pavilions representing countries around the world. There are restaurants and gift shops in the Pavilions with cultural foods, candy, and gifts. Epcot is proof that everyone can find something they like at Disney World, including people who may not be brave enough for crazy coasters. For more information on Epcot and the other theme parks at Disney, check out the main website.

So with that said, I hope that everyone out there reading this will take their kids to Florida. And if you do not have kids, take your significant other. And if you do not have one of those, well then, take yourself.

The title is so cliche, I know, but I simply could not refuse. I apologize, anyway- but please do not hold it against me.

If CSI Miami does not make you want to visit this hoppin’ place, then maybe this article will. Miami would be a super fun (what is with the tacky language today???) place to go… especially for the college crowd. As a 20 year-old, I would definitely enjoy going to Miami with a bunch of friends. In fact, my friends and I are talking about going to Florida for spring break, and there are plenty of cheap and nice vacation rentals down south.

I am going to plan a trip as if I were going on it. Here goes…

For our Miami vacation rental, I chose a Biscayne Waterfront Rental. This particular two bedroom place sleeps six. Five friends of mine and I will enjoy seven days staying in this condo, fully equipped with a pool, hot tub, high speed internet, stove and refrigerator, ice machine, air conditioning, and of course, satellite tv. As if we are going to stay inside to enjoy the A/C and satellite!

We will wake up at approximately 9am and walk out of the condo onto the beach. We will lay for most of the day and soak up the sun. One day we will try windsurfing. The next day maybe go jet skiing, maybe go snorkling or check out one of the nearby amusement parks. If I am feeling ambitious, I might wake up early one day and hit the gym before swimming and lounging around in the sand for the rest of the afternoon.

At night we will visit some of the best local restaurants, and maybe go clubbing a few times. Since we will be there without our parents, staying up most of the night might occur once or twice. After all, it is spring break, and we are in Miami. Gotta make the best of it! Of course it will not happen all week, though, because we would not want to sleep allll day!

Tan, eat, play, sleep, repeat. I guess that would be it. That is exactly what my friends and I would be looking for in a spring break, as I am sure most college kids would. As long as I come home with a tan and feeling refreshed, it was a successful vacation. This itinerary would allow for both of those!! Let’s do it…

The last article I wrote was an idea for a honeymoon trip to Naples. The topic of this one is not exactly the same… at all. Orlando is one of the best places in the country to go for a family vacation, especially with little kids. Almost everyone I know has been to Disney World at least once, and everyone raves about it as one of their best memories from childhood.

For me, it was a Saturday in April when my parents told me that the next day Dad would be taking me and my sister Ali to Florida for a vacation. I remember being so excited, jumping on my mom’s bed while she threw my bathing suit, shorts, t-shirts, etc. into a suitcase. I was probably four or five years old, and Ali was about nine. I was at the perfect age for the cartoon and fairy tale characters that I would soon meet, and Ali was at her prime for stomach-dropping rides.

When I went to Florida, we were lucky because my grandmother had a friend there who let us stay at her condo right outside Orlando. If you are not quite as fortunate to already have a place to stay, don’t fret. Lodging in Orlando ranges from pricey hotels right near Orlando, to some cheaper chain hotels a little farther away. The good thing about Orlando vacation rentals, though, is that lots of places have buses that run to Disney throughout the day.

The good thing about DIsney is that you can make what you want of it. There are enough places to go that you can go every day for five or so days if your vacation is a week long. On the other hand, if you want to two days of the parks and another day at a beach, you can do that as well. There are also water parks that are so much fun. Blizzard Beach was my favorite. It made such an impact when I was four that I still remember it to this day! I will go back one of these years…

You can look at the Disney web site for additional information on the theme parks and water parks. But if it makes any difference to you, I STRONGLY recommend Epcot for a theme park and Blizzard Beach for a water park!

Naples, Florida is a popular destination for all types of vacations. Families go each year for a summer vacation, teenagers often go for spring break, and couples go… for honeymoons.I feel like people always think they have to honeymoon in far off or overly luxurious places. Lots of people go to Italy, France, Bermuda, Jamaica, etc. But I tend to think, why do you have to go so far? After all, you are celebrating just having gotten married and spending the rest of your life with the person you love, so does it really matter if you are on a beach in Hawaii or closer in Florida? Do not think so. Just go to Florida. I would bet the vacation is just as enjoyable.

So maybe if you are going to Florida instead of Hawaii, go that extra mile with the hotel and restaurant if it makes you feel better. Do not just settle for the cheapest accommodations. Pick the 5 star hotel or book the honeymoon suite. Eat somewhere expensive- go have lobster or something. It is the little touches like these that will make your honeymoon unforgettable. You may not even realize you are not in Hawaii.

Ok, maybe that is a bit of a stretch. I am sure you will know you are not in Hawaii, but you will be having such a great time that you will not care anyway. You might be thinking that if you stay in an expensive hotel and eat at nice restaurants you would end up paying the same as going somewhere far like Italy or France, but that is not the case. You will definitely save money, with the plane ticket and everything.

There are a lot of beautiful options for lodging in Naples. One of the higher end Naples vacation rentals is a hotel called the Naples Grande Resort and Club. It is conveniently located near the Waterside shops, and looks out onto the beautiful beach in Naples. This would be where I would go for my honeymoon. I am sure you would love it too.

I found this perfect website that gives information for newlyweds vacationing in Florida. I also found a page on a blog about this woman and her husband’s honeymoon in Naples. Check it out to see what it would really be like from the voice of someone like you.

In my last post I mentioned taking a trip last year to Florida. I stayed with my sister in a hotel on the boardwalk in the Hollywood area. We had a great time, and the weather was perfect for the four days we were there. The great thing about this location was that is was so close to Fort Lauderdale. For the three evenings we stayed, each night we took a taxi to Fort Lauderdale to have dinner and walk around. One day we even did a sunset boat tour, which was really nice.

Staying in Hollywood Beach was great, but if I were to go again I would probably choose a hotel or vacation home right in Fort Lauderdale. I think the hotel we stayed in was a little bit cheaper than staying in Fort Lauderdale, but it ended up not even being worth it. We took a cab each night, round trip, so we probably ended up paying the same if not more than the hotels we looked at in Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals range from houses to hotels and b&bs. There is one hotel, called the Ocean Manor Resort, that looks like the best place for your dollar. For only $125 per night, you can sleep four in a comfortable air conditioned hotel room, equipped with a stove, refridgerator, high speed internet and satellite tv. Not that you will need those last two things at all- with any luck the weather will be spectacular and you will spend all day and night on the beach or the boardwalk. The location of the Ocean Manor Resort is prime- it is right on the ocean. This means easy access to swimming, parasailing, jet skiing, waterskiing, boating, diving, and more. The boardwalk is where everyone goes in the evening. You will find every option for food and restaurants, and also lots of live bands and entertainment.

Visit TripAdvisor’s list of things to do in Fort Lauderdale. I am pretty sure it was the Carrie B Cruise that I did last year. This was a relaxing hour or two checking out all the luxurious houses and properties of the rich and famous. I would recommend it if you are looking for something low key. If you are up for adventure, though, I would try jet skiing!

I went skiing with my aunt a few days ago. I drove up to New Hampshire and stayed with her for a night, then woke up early to hit the road. We headed up to Mount Sunapee and were on the chairlift by 9am! We had a blast- it was right after about 8 inches of new snow so the conditions were great. The only thing was… the cold. I know, I know. I am from New England and should be used to the cold, but somehow being out in the freezing temperatures for more than five minutes always gets to me.

So with that, I have been thinking more and more about going to Florida. Last year I went on a spur-the-moment trip with my sister to Hollywood Beach. She literally called me on a Thursday and booked a flight for the following Monday. We stayed three nights in a hotel and had three good beach days. It was the perfect trip- she did not miss too much work and we did not end up spending a lot of money. And while a lot of people are finding themselves in a financial bind this year, a short getaway to Florida might be the answer.

 Lodging in Hollywood is pretty cheap. The hotel we stayed in was fine but nothing special, but it was also exactly what we were looking for. We were only in our rooms from about 10pm to 8am… sleep, shower, and hit the beach. Hollywood Vacation Rentals are great because there are tons of places right on the boardwalk, all you do is walk out the hotel door and you are at the beach. Many of these come with spectacular views, as well, since they are right on the water. There is a Yahoo discussion up about trip ideas for vacationing in Hollywood Beach. People recommend great places to go, depending on how long your trip is. This site is nice because it is from all different types of vacationers- from the mother of four to romantic fiancee. Check them out and book a trip. All you need is a few days…

Another great place to go this time of year is South Padre Island. Along the Texas Gulf Coast you will find this barrier island. It is a great place for beach and water activities, but also has a lot of other fun things to offer.

South Padre Island has a great website that gives you some great tips for dining, shopping, and things to do. I found a lot of great information on attractions and activities- they have tons each year.

One of tourists’ favorite things to do is go on dolphin watches. There are also big fishing tournaments- some with large sums of money as the prize!

According to the South Padre Island website, there are many things to choose from to do this year. For example, if you visit the island in February of 2009, you will be in time for KOA World’s Largest Surf Fishing Tournament. There are also trade shows – admission is only one dollar- and 16 and under are free. You will find lots of arts and crafts items and specialty foods at the SPI Market Days. In March there is a car show. You can go to the above mentioned website to find information on purchasing tickets for this event.

There are also plenty of options for vacation rentals in South Padre Island. South Padre Island vacation rentals are very affordable- even for this economy. For example, there is a two bedroom condo that sleeps 8, and you can book it for only $150 per night. A great benefit of this condo is that is also offers a jacuzzi! Not that you will need it in Texas, but still- it is a great addition.

So it is clear that South Padre Island is a great destination for people who are info fishing, craft fairs… namely the older population. But if you are a college kid, do not be discouraged. South Padre Island is also a really fun place to go for Spring Break. Hot sun, miles of sandy beaches, and thousands of college guys and girls- what could be better? The first few weeks in March is always hopping when it comes to Spring Break festivities. Check out this website for more information on Spring Break in South Padre Island.

I have been to Fort Lauderdale but not the nearby popular destination of Fort Myers, Florida. I hear it is a great place to go, though- similar to Fort Lauderdale but possibly better. It is a poopular destination for college kids and the younger crowd- tons of people visit this area each year for Spring Break. I think it is probably mostly the younger crowd reading this, so if you are looking for a fun place to go this March or April, Fort Myers is quite possibly the place for you. Check it out…

Even though most college kids want to lay in the sun, take a dip in the water, and play beach volleyball all week, there are a lot of options for fun things to do in Fort Myers. If you are looking for an all day event, one option is the Everglades Safari. I have gotten some mixed reviews about this- some say it is too long (you are gone from about 8am to 5pm) and others say that you just don’t see enough. Some people really enjoy it, though, and say it is interesting and informative. Depending on what you are looking for in the day, this could be relaxing and definitely would give you a lot to photograph if you are into that.

And I know that partying is what most kids do at night, so there are a lot of fun scenes to check out for nightlife. There are always entertainers in the evening at Fort Myers’ Time Square, so that is one option. For later in the night, there are plenty of bars and clubs. Brick Bar and Skybar are supposed to be really cool. Brick Bar has karaoke night and other themed nights. Skybar is right above Brick Bar on the rooftop- probably more appealing to the younger crowd. It overlooks the river and is upbeat with a DJ and lots of dancing.

Fort Myers vacation rentals are affordable if you do your research. There are some water-front villas that you can rent for around $130 a night- not bad if you are going with friends.Definitely a lot of  rentals in the area of Fort Myers, take a look and book it soon!