How To Entertain On A Budget Hotel Deals


It is a simple fact: children are bored quite easily, especially if they are on a break from school, like in the summer or around the holidays. Too often, trying to entertain them can cost a lot of money, so finding things to do that cost less will save your budget as well as provide meaningful family time. After all, this is the time of their little young lives that they need you to be there more than ever. You’ll also be creating lasting memories that you and your children will cherish for years to come. Below is a list of free or low cost activities that you can do with your children to have a good time, especially during those long school breaks.

A Day at the Park

Most likely you have a few parks withing your neighborhood, so make a list of all of the parks that are withing a reasonable amount of driving distance and plan to visit one each week. Your children will love the adventure of discovering a new place each week and their interest will be kept high. During your visit to the park you can plan to have the children play on the jungle gym, have a picnic, or just play some games. You can also bring a camera with you to take meaningful pictures and have the kids help you put together a book about the parks.

The Local Library

The library is probably the best place to go if you are trying to stick to a budget, because it is FREE! Upon obtaining a library card, you and your children can check out as many books as you’d like, plus they have a movie section, perfect for those family movie nights. Movie rentals are also free. Especially when your children are younger, they will have so much fun picking out different books and discovering what the library is all about.

Play Restaurant

Every moment of every day can be a learning experience for children, this is especially true at dinner time. A great way to involve your children in dinner preparation is to have them help you plan and prepare the menu. The menu should include the main dish, sides, desserts, and drinks. When dinner approaches help the children prepare to be waiters and waitresses. They can ask for guests orders, which they will think is really fun, and they can help prepare the food. This can eventually turn into a game, a game that has some great learning value.

Go On A Nature Walk

There is so much to discover when out in nature, and your children will certainly discover those little things that we often overlook. A great way to spend an afternoon is to take your children on a nature walk, letting your kids collect leaves and other specimen to take home and analyze. If taking these items home is a little wary for you, bring along a camera to take pictures of the items, then pull up the pictures at home for the kids to look at. This is a great way for kids to learn to identify what is in nature and what surrounds them each and every day.

Family Fun Night

Most of us have games and movies that may be stashed away, so why not get them out and make it a family night? The agenda could be as follows: play a couple of games, make a snack, then watch a movie. Make sure to involve the kids in the planning and preparation of it all, like choosing the games, what snack to make, and what movie to watch. They will love that you all are spending time together as a family, and memories will be made.

Water Fun

During those hot summer months, what could be more soothing than a big giant water balloon smashed into your back. Or maybe enjoying the cool sensation of running through the sprinklers is more up your ally, either way, your kids will love seeing you act like a big kid and joining in the fun. There are so many water activities that you can do, just use your imagination. Your grass needs to be watered anyway during this time of year, why not help it out a little bit by having a little fun? So, grab your bathing suits and plenty of water gear and head on out to the back yard!

Gardening

Children love to help and feel like they are doing a good job, so try to involve them in the gardening this planting season. You may think that the kids will just get in the way of your plan, but actually, they can be a big help. Have them help you pull weeds, or teach them how to plant a seed, and make sure that you designate a plant that is all theirs to take care of. Children feel a great sense of satisfaction when they have something of their that they know they have to take care of.

With all of these great ideas, your bound to have a great time with the children. Why not take advantage of this unique time that you get to spend together to bond as a family? You definitely won’t regret the time spent, and may even find that you are enjoying the activities just as much as the kids. The best way to make the most of a break  is to prepare and plan ahead of time, then jump right in, full force. Make it a goal to make this break the most memorable of them all.

Tips For Easy Holiday Entertaining Hotel Deals


The fact that they call it the most wonderful time of the year is no accident. The season is filled with family gatherings and parties with old friends and people magically transform into generous individuals, willing to give of their time and means to help out the less fortunate. However, if you are the one who is planning these get togethers for family and friends, the pressure to be the perfect host can take the fun our of the festivities, especially for you. So, to keep those wonderful visions of happy turkey feasts and cocktail parties dancing around in your head, I’ve compiled a list of some tips and techniques that you can follow to make this holiday season one that you will actually remember, because you’ll be right in the middle of it rather than spending your time in the kitchen.

Fake It

The number one way to host a perfect party is to fake it. Fake that you know exactly what you are doing and that you are having a great time. After all, the party just needs to hold up for one night, maybe about three hours. Some of the top party planners in the country suggest that you avoid a pre-party cleaning frenzy. Do not waste your time immaculately cleaning the entire house, just create clean surfaces and add a special ambiance with some decorations, but don’t worry about the dust bunnies hiding beneath the couch. The best place to spend your time cleaning is the bathroom, however, because this is the room that mostly all of your guests will visit. to create an extra special mood, maybe light a candle or plug in a festive scent diffuser and set out a special hand lotion to pamper your guests.

Decorate Simply

Do not spend your money on elaborate flower arrangements, instead buy one kind of flower, in the same color, in bulk and make your own kind of arrangements with items that you already have at your house. If you plan on adding a few candles to the decorations, make sure to cluster the candles into groups. Another great way to add charm and character to your decorations is to give it some varied height. Do not just group together one height in different places around your home, instead mix them up. By doing this, it gives the eye something to follow, and your guests will notice. Also, if you are decorating on a kitchen table, make sure the decorations aren’t too tall. You want to make it comfortable for your guests to communicate while eating, without having to strain their necks to see one another.

Involve Your Guests

Too often when we host parties, we as the host/hostess are in the kitchen preparing the food, or in another room doing something else for the party while the guests are in the main gathering room. If you are in one room, and your guests are in another, something is just not right. One way to involve your guests in the party preparations, especially if it is a smaller size get together, is to include the guests in the meal preparation. For example, you can have your guests make their own dumplings or individual pizzas, decorate cookies, or you can try something totally adventurous and plan a “stone soup” party. This type of party is where each guest brings an ingredient for a soup or a stew without telling other guests what it is beforehand. This is fun  and really helps to make your guests feel like they are really involved and part of the planning of the party.

Don’t Over-Do the Menu

To maintain your sanity as the host, keep the menu simple. A good way to do this is to prepare food ahead of time and maybe mix ready-made food with homemade food. Also, this isn’t the time to try out that new recipe that you’ve been dying to try. It just may flop, so stick to recipes that you know are good and are easy to prepare. Finger foods are fairly easy and make the party more fun for your guests. This also cuts down on dishes used because you will just have to provide napkins for your guests to use.

The Grocery List

There is a unique strategy to follow when shopping for food items for your party. To cut down on last minute shopping stress, buy as much as you can ahead of time, like a couple weeks, so that you don’t have to worry about it a few days before the party. For example, dry goods and shelf-stable stuff like canned items and flour can be bought up to a month in advance. When it comes closer to your party, plan to shop two to three days before for the other items that are perishable. By following this simple technique, your fridge doesn’t fill up as fast and you can spread the cost of it all over a couple of paychecks.

Prep As Much As You Can In Advance

Food, decorations, utensils, plates, cups, etc. can all be prepared in advance, like a day or two, thus cutting down on the last-minute dash to get things completed. For example, if you are cooking a turkey and stuffing, make the stuffing a day in advance, pop it into the refrigerator, then the next day you can just pop it into the oven to cook. If you plan on putting the stuffing inside the bird, you can still prepare it ahead of time, but only put it in the bird right before you cook it. You can also use the day before the party to wash, shop, and trim the veggies so that when it comes time to cook them, all you have to do is throw them in the pot.

Entertaining year-round, and most especially around the holidays can be a stressful situation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. After all, you are inviting people over to have a good time and to catch up, not spend the entire night being the “perfect” hostess. Do all that you can ahead of time to prepare so that come party night, you can do what you wanted to do in the first place, visit with family and friends and enjoy the evening.

How to Get Rid of Holiday Stress Hotel Deals


As we are in the middle of the holiday season, many parents are wondering how to make the most of this time with family. Sometimes the experience falls flat and our expectations aren’t met, which may lead to frustration and more stress. Many of us are dreaming of the perfect Christmas that we experienced as children, but in reality those days are long gone, and the holidays and celebrations are just different. Often, when our celebrations don’t meet our expectations, we tend to become stressed and frustrated. Even if it means changing a few traditions just so that you can maintain your sanity, it may be worth it in the long run.  To avoid this downfall, here are a few tips to help every member of the family enjoy this wonderful time of the year.

Reassess and Prioritize

Most often is the case that holiday stress sets in when we try to do too much during this already busy time of the year. The main reason that we feel this stress is because we are feeling out of control and we react emotionally to it. It is at this moment of break down that it is important to take a minute to reassess the situation and figure out what exactly is stressing you out. Try to think of alternative ways of doing things. You may just find that there is an easier way of celebrating that doesn’t cause so much stress.

Delegate

As parents, and especially as mothers, we try to do everything ourselves without letting anyone help. The motto is: “If I do it, then I know that it is done right.” On the down side of this motto is that we take on too much and burn ourselves out when we could have easily received help by delegating. Maybe the house needs cleaning or the decorations need to be hung, well, get each member of the family to help with these things. It is important to assign a job to the kids and to your spouse so that they feel like they are helping and so that you do not have to do it all. The job to be done may not be done to your standards, but this is a time where it is important to lower your expectations, especially for the children. First, make the expectations clear, then when the job falls a little from your expectations, realize that it is okay.

Know When to Say “No”

Throughout the holiday season, we as parents tend to hear the phrase, “I want, I want!” quite a bit. It is normal for children to behave this way, because after all they know that they are going to be receiving presents. However, this repeated phrase can wear down parents, and so eventually you may give into your children’s requests. It is important to not give into everything because essentially it may cause financial distress. If your children are old enough to understand, tell them that you just can’t afford to buy them everything that they want and that even Santa Clause has somewhat limited funds.

Another way to distract your children from all of the commercial commotion of the holidays is to find and develop new traditions that don’t cost any extra money. There are many ways to enjoy the holiday season without spending any money, for example, baking cookies for family and friends, going caroling around the neighborhood, giving to needy families and volunteering around the community. When children are young it is important to stress the idea that other families may not have as much as they do and that it feels good to give back. You may even want to ask your kids to pick out a few older toys to donate to the less fortunate, this way they are taking an active part in giving service to others.

Be Realistic About Relatives

When the in-laws and other family members visit during the holidays it is important to understand the situation for the short term. The reality is that they are there to enjoy the holidays with people that they love, and your cordiality is a gift to them. If there have been past issues with certain family members, try not to bring up these issues during the holidays. This will undoubtedly bring up bad feelings and may ruin the season for you and many others.

Also, if going to a certain relatives house every year seems to cause more stress than is needed, arrange with your family that you will only visit every other year. You’ll find that this will drastically cut down on the stress that you feel during this time of year.

When everything is said and done, it is important to take it easy on yourself during the holidays. After all, this is a time to celebrate with our families and friends and reconnect with each other. This is not the time of year to try and impress everyone who steps foot inside your front door. Yes, do a little decorating, but don’t feel like you have to over-do it. In reality, visitors won’t even notice every decoration that you’ve set out. Do what you can to have things organized and ready to go, but in the end just sit back and enjoy this time of year.

Holiday Travel Tips When Traveling With Children Hotel Deals


This is the time of year when many of us are packing up our bags and headed to one destination or another. Often times this means packing along children as well. For those of us who have traveled with little children, we know how stressful and uncomfortable this can be. So, if this is the time of year when we are supposed to be happy and enjoying the  moment, how can we make traveling with our children run more smoothly? There are several ways that parents can keep their children occupied when traveling during the holidays; whether by car, plane, or train. Below, I will explain different ways that you can keep your children occupied while enjoying the travel time to your destination.

As an overview, music players, DVD players, video games, coloring books, crayons, and books are all great ways to keep children occupied when seated for a long period of time. All of these things are great for all ages as well. At no fault of their own, children can become restless during a long ride and they need something to do to occupy their attention. Often this is something that is already fun to them and that piques their interest.

Not only does keeping children occupied make the holiday travel time easier for parents, but the time also goes by more quickly for the children if their attention isn’t focused on whether we are there yet or not.

Music Players

When you are planning on traveling with all ages of children during the holidays, take some time ahead of the travel date to load some of their favorite songs onto a music player. If your children are older, they probably already have a music player loaded with songs of their own, but it is important to prepare one for younger kids as well. Being able to listen to favorite songs passes the time by more quickly as they look out the window and watch the scenery pass by. If you do decide to go this route for entertainment, make sure that each child is fully equipped with earphones and that they do not turn it up too high. Not only is this an entertainment option for the children, but it will keep them out of your hair as you travel.

DVD Players

Another great way for children to be occupied during long holiday travel excursions is bring along a portable DVD player, preferably one that attaches to the back of a head rest, so that the player isn’t being passed around and broken. Before traveling, load up a bag full of your children’s favorite movies and allow each of them to take turns picking a movie to watch. When the player is attached to a front-seat headrest, it allows each passenger to have a clear view of the screen. The great thing about movies is that most of them last between an hour and a half to two hours, and a lot of traveling can be done in that amount of time. It also gives children something other than time passing by to focus on.

Video Games

It may be worth it to invest some money into purchasing a hand-held video game system for your children. Allow your children to pack a few of their very favorite games, and you will be surprised at how much easier holiday traveling is when they are occupied with this. If it is a game with different levels, the kids will be occupied with beating the game and they will forget about the time that it is taking to travel to grandma’s house. If you only purchase one game system, but you have more than one child, make sure that equal time is given to each child. While one is playing a video game, the others can be listening to music, watching a movie, or coloring in a coloring book.

Coloring Books and Crayons

For children that are below the age of about seven or eight, coloring books are great ways to occupy their attention. Before traveling maybe head over to the dollar store and allow each child to pick out their favorite coloring book and a set of crayons so that they each have their own. This is an inexpensive way to prepare the children for holiday traveling. Children can color for long periods of time, so this is a great way to keep them entertained. As an added bonus, by the time you reach your destination your child may have many pictures finished to show off to family and friends and this will boost their self-confidence.

Books

For older children, make sure to pack along some good mystery and adventure books, or just their favorite book to read while traveling. When your child finds a good book, they can be enthralled for hours, which is great for you as parents. Reading is such a great way to take children on fun adventures and allows them to solve mysteries, discover new truths or beliefs, and find themselves surrounded by fantasy.

Whatever form of travel you take this holiday season, make sure you are prepared with many of these tips. The fun of the holidays will disintegrate if the children aren’t occupied during travel time. Not only is it important to make the holidays fun and bearable for the parents, but it is important to make it enjoyable for the children as well. By following these simple steps, you’ll find that you arrive at your destination feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated than when you left.

Entertain Your Family For Less Hotel Deals


Throughout the year, there are many times when we as parents wonder how we will keep our kids entertained, whether they are on a school break, or in the summer, or during the holidays. Coming up with ideas that are fun but that don’t cost a lot of money can be quite challenging, especially if your family is experiencing a financial hardship or trying to cut costs to survive the current state of the economy. The good news is that if you are willing to do a little extra work and research, there are plenty of ways to entertain your family without paying a huge price tag in the process. By combining imagination and creativity, you’ll be able to put together some fun family activities without breaking the bank. Below, I will cover some great ideas that you can easily implement into your family nights, so take some time to read over them so that you are familiar with many ideas.

Board Games

Currently there is a push in the retail world for families to implement “family game nights”. This is a great way for children of all ages to come together one night out of the week with their families and enjoy a night full of laughs and memories. It seems like when families get together to play a game, many laughs are shared and memories are created that children will remember for years to come. Board games are also great because they can be enjoyed throughout the year. They can be played during the cold months or during the hot months. Whether your family gathers around the dining table to play a game of checkers, dominoes, or even play with a deck of cards, this is a great and inexpensive way to stay connected with family members, while allowing some time to discuss each others interests and day to day activities.

Movie Night

These days going out to a movie theatre can be quite expensive for an entire family. First, there’s the tickets, then the popcorn, then the drinks, and so on and so forth. By the time you get out of the movie, a family of four can easily have spent about $75! Imagine how much fun you could have had with $75 and you wouldn’t have been sitting for the entire time. A great way to enjoy a family movie night is to check out the local library or the local video store. While it is still expensive to rent a movie, it is still cheaper than going out to one. By going this route, you will have plenty of money left over to pop some popcorn at home, and buy a 2-liter of soda at the grocery store. Besides, it’s much more comfortable to gather around the TV all cuddled in a blanket, maybe around the fireplace while you enjoy a show.

Local Events

For the most part, many people are simply unaware of the many activities that are happening within their own communities. Some of these activities cost and some don’t, and this is where your good eye and wisdom will come into play. Often, there is a section in the local newspaper that describes what is happening in the community that week, and they will list prices or give you a phone number to call to find out the cost. Other places that you can check is online and local community boards at the city offices. Even, ask other parents for ideas on places to go or what is going on.

Volunteer

Creating memories together as a family doesn’t always have to involve games, balloons, and treats. Families can create more meaningful memories together as they are volunteering around the community. It is a good idea to contact your local city offices for ideas that are going on around the city. A great way to volunteer is to contact the local homeless shelter to serve a meal, or pick up trash around the local park or pond. You can even contact a senior citizens home and have a game night with the residents. Residents would love the company and a chance to laugh and have fun. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and recognize how blessed your family is to have each other.

Store Sponsored Events

Check with local stores to see if they sponsor activities for kids during the month. Stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Toy’s R’ Us, Barnes and Noble, and many craft stores often have days like on Saturdays where children can come enjoy a fun activity for free! This is a great way for kids to learn new skills, even social skills as they interact with other children. Even if the activity isn’t free, often times it is quite cheap. This is a great way to spend an otherwise boring afternoon.

Get back to Nature

During the Winter months, we try to keep our kids inside as much as we can, because of the extreme temperatures that occur. So, after months of being couped inside, it will do every member of the family to get a little fresh air. It might take a little planning, but going on a weekend camping trip would be loads of fun for your children and for you. You can also find a cheap community swimming pool, some great hiking and biking trails, or just enjoy a fun game of baseball at the park. All of these activities are great ways to burn off excess energy that your kids are likely to have., plus you’ll be spending valuable time together as a family.

These ideas are just a few of the many that are out there. Take some time to compile a list of great ideas, then use that list to refer to often. These activities are great because they are either free or quite cheap and are a great way to encourage family connections. During this time when money is the subject of so much attention, you may find it to be a welcome relief to forget about how materialistic our society has become and get back to the basics when it comes to family fun.

Where to Ski Within the United States Hotel Deals


There are many places that pop up when we think of great ski destinations. Most of these places happen to be located on the West Coast in the U.S. with its great snow accumulation. For those of us that love the winter snow and the rush of flying down a mountain, skiing is definitely where it’s at. Below is a list of the greatest ski destinations in the U.S., all of which are sure to give you the thrill and excitement that you are looking for.

Alta, Utah

Alta is a ski area that many serious skiers speak of in hushed tones. Not many people know of the greatness that Alta offers, with its deep, dry powder. It is not as big as some other ski resorts, but it sure is able to pack a punch when it comes to great powder. When visiting Alta, you can reach the destination in only an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport. This makes it great for travelers ski-resort hopping during their winter vacation. Alta has great intermediate slopes ranging from the Big Dipper to Rock and Roll, but what makes Alta most famous is its steep ungroomed chutes located on and off the trail map. One of the best reasons that skiers find their way to Alta is the cost of a lift pass. Alta has one of the cheapest lift passes in the Rockies, something definitely worth taking advantage of.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is a ski destination that needs to be de-mystified. For the longest time it has been viewed as a destination only suitable for seasoned skiers. There is no beginner terrain, but the trails and slopes are really not all that hard. It is a great destination for anyone that has a minimum amount of skill. The only reason that beginners are not advised to ski Ajax, the main mountain in Aspen, is because the ski trails become like race tracks at the end of the day, making it hard to make a good stop. In addition to the great skiing that Aspen has to offer, the town is a great place to indulge in a little bit of luxury. Film stars frequently visit Aspen for a getaway, and are treated like anyone else when they are served in a local restaurant. There is also great shopping to break up the activities a little bit. There are four mountains that make up the whole of Aspen, Ajax, Buttermilk, Highlands, and Snowmass, all of which offer a great diversity of good skiing.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte is a ski resort that is able to enjoy its diversity. It is a relatively small resort, but has become internationally known. The greatest attraction about Crested Butte is that it offers some of the gentlest and most challenging skiing in the Rockies. The fame that the resort enjoys comes from two different sources: its extreme skiing, and two celebrities. America’s first Olympic downhill gold medalist in 1984, Bill Johnson, has become the resort’s “ski ambassador” and has retained this title for some years. Also, former president Carter and his wife Rosalyn are regular visitors to the resort. Another aspect about Crested Butte that makes it unique is that it has one of the biggest programs for disabled skiers in the country.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole Ski Resort located at Teton Village has built a reputation unparalleled by others as being one of the best ski areas in the U.S. There are a few things that draw visitors in to Jackson Hole’s unique resort. Of course, they offer great skiing with vertical drops of 4,166 feet, but they also offer great scenery like the wondrous Teton mountain range, and wildlife like moose, coyote’s and America’s largest Elk reserve. You’ll also get a sense of a wild-west atmosphere as you stroll through town on the wooden sidewalks, stopping at some of the cowboy bars in the town of Jackson. Jackson Hole is not for the beginning skier, rather for the intermediate and expert skiers. You’ll experience excitement and “air” as you race down the great hills on the mountainside.

Snowbird, Utah

Snowbird is a resort that offers pretty much everything: great snow (nearly 42 feet per year!), challenging bowls, and one of the widest intermediate trails in the country which is Big Emma. Also, don’t worry about wasting time waiting to get back up to the top of the mountain, because Snowbird also offers a fast cable car that only takes 8 minutes to get to the top of Hidden Peak (10,990 feet). Located only 30 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport means that you’ll be able to get in a whole day of skiing on your arrival day and ski late on your departure day. Snowbird’s most challenging skiing takes place in its steep-sided bowl areas, Gad Valley, and Peruvian Gulch. These locations have chutes that serve as launching pads for those who like the “free-fall” aspect of skiing. If you like a more quiet ski experience, head on over to Chip’s Run and enjoy the same vertical drip and scenery as more advanced skiers but at a much quieter pace. It’s best to head over to Snowbird right after a recent snow storm because the powder is exhilarating!

Wherever you decide to venture out to this winter season, make sure that you make the most of your trip. Plan to arrive early and leave late, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenic atmosphere of the ski resort. This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy some quality time together as they improve their skills.

Strange Careers Within the Travel Industry Hotel Deals


We all were shocked and concerned when we found out that US Airways flight 1549 was forced to land in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009. Apparently geese were sucked into one or both of the airplane’s engines, causing the plane to go down. For quite some time now, airports and airline companies have known that birds can pose quite a threat to an airplanes engine, and many airports have come up with different ways to combat the issues.

For example, in Amsterdam at the Schipol Airport, a robotic hawk flies around scaring all of the birds away so that airplanes can safely take off and land. However, if you’d like an even stranger job within the travel industry, head on over to the Zurich Airport. Here, they employ three hunters to shoot down potentially damaging creatures. When we travel it’s easy to overlook these strange jobs that are necessary, but it is because of these jobs that we are able to travel safely.

Airport hunters are just one of the strangest jobs that you’ll find out there. Don’t be surprised if you feel that some of these other jobs are even stranger.

Many travel-industry jobs are all about keeping Mother Nature at bay.You’ll find jobs ranging from keeping pesky seagulls from invading the Four Seasons’ pool in Santa Barbara, to keeping pigeons from freckling monuments with their droppings in Italy, to keeping monkeys from stealing guests cookies in India.

“Monkey Men” are what they are called. These men are employed by a plush resort in India and spend their day chasing primates who are prone to stealing guests’ cookies. Who knows, maybe the monkey’s need a few extra cookies for their tea party on the other side of the resorts stone wall.

Coconut Safety Engineer

At the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas Virgin Islands a man by the name of Shaka shimmies up the resorts palm trees, which tower between 20 to 60 feet high to pick ripe coconuts. There have been a few studies that have found that ripened falling coconuts can cause severe head injuries and even death, so it is up to Shaka to take care of the problem. As he climbs up the trees, he isn’t just putting on a show for the guests, he is helping to keep them safe. Onlookers may even get the chance to sample some fresh coconut when he cracks one open after his descent. Shaka also shares the fruits of his labors poolside at a sunset get together announced by the blowing of the conch shell.

Karaoke Taxi Drivers

In Helsinki, Finland, you’ll find Karaoke taxi drivers, who will entertain you as you ride along. No more are the days of shallow chitchat with your cab driver; here in these brightly colored Mercedes minivans, you’ll have the opportunity to join in the fun and sing a song of your own. These taxis seat from eight to thirteen riders and are equipped with 5,000 songs. These type of taxis are rare to find just waiting to be hailed on the street, no you’ll have to book in advance over the phone for this unique experience.

Sewer Guide

In Paris, smell-tolerant visitors can visit the Museum of the Sewers, which has been a hit since it first opened in the 19th century. Most often, sewer guides are ex-sewer workers, so they have developed a threshold for the aromatic hazards. The sewer museum has long been held as the underground masterpiece of Paris, where sewer lines correspond by name to the streets above. You may even have the chance to see pipes emptying from the corresponding homes. At only $6 for entrance,  you’ll have an interesting and memory building experience.

LEGO Professional Gluer

We all remember as kids building towers out of Legos, so the biggest draw for Lego fans is Miniland USA, which is where professional Lego engineers and gluers, erect models of the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Vegas strip. The team of Master Model Builders divvies up the responsibilities of designing, building, and maintaining the models. The group that maintains the models periodically go around and clean or add UV coating to the models, and the builders are the ones who painstakingly glue the bricks together based on the designer’s plans. At Miniland USA, the Master Model Builders have become their own exhibit, featuring a giant window on one side of their workshop. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the builders at work and discover how those intricate models are actually made.

Manners Police

In Venice, birds and their droppings on statues and monuments have been a thorn in the side of officials. Even though they have to watch over the bird population, these days there is an even bigger pest that needs monitoring. The manners police, who are referred to as “Volunteer Angels”, try to keep at bay uncouth tourists who may be traipsing around shirtless or who sit down in the middle of the sidewalk to eat a sandwich. These “angels” have been on duty for a couple of years to intervene in any flagrant pec-flashing or sandwich-eating. The volunteer crew is made up of 50 people, mainly locals and mainly women ranging in age from 20 to 60. Usually they’l give offenders a friendly warning, but if needs be, they will flag a traffic cop to fine the offenders. So, next time you visit Venice, make sure to keep your shirt on and do not eat a sandwich in the middle of the sidewalk.

These are just a few of the strange jobs found within the travel industry. With the bad economy and record unemployment, who knows, we may just see more people flocking to fill positions such as these. These days, if you can think up a potential job, it probably exists somewhere out there.

Beating the Crowds During the Holidays Hotel Deals


Many of us travel quite frequently during the year, and those of us that do know that the most hectic and chaotic time to travel is during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Almost everything and anything that can go wrong has happened during this travel time. After all, this is the most crowded, most hectic, and most expensive time of year for vacations. Even though some of holiday travels’ baggage is unavoidable, not to mention the baggage itself, there are some ways you can avoid a headache just by doing a little advance planning.

The Basics

The most basic travel tip is to book as far in advance as possible. This will only lessen the stress that you feel as your trip nears. Especially around the holiday season, you want to book your flight well in advance. So many people travel during this time, that flights book up quickly and prices start to rise quickly. The best way to find a great deal is to use the internet and the many search engines available to you. If you are a seasonded user of online travel agencies like Expedia and Orbitz, you may be surprised at the many new features they are introducing.

There are other search engines like Sidestep, that search the airline sites to find the lowest fares then direct you to that airlines site for no additional fee. Another search engine that does this is Kayak, which searches all of the airlines, saving you the trouble of searching those sites for yourself. If you have a certain budget to stick with, try a site like Yapta.com, which will search for your specific price point and alert you when they have found the price. Although, during the holidays, many people book flights on a last-minute basis, so you many not have the luxury of waiting around to find a good deal on a flight. If this is the case, take the first deal that is reasonable and stick with it.

On your checklist should be all of the documents that you must bring with you. Especially if you are traveling internationally, you’ll want to make sure that your passport and other ID documents are up to date. This will only save you the hassle of trying to scrounge up these documents at the last minute. These days you must have a passport to fly to places like Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and many other Carribean locations. So, make sure that these are ready to go and easily accessible when you are packing.

If you find yourself having to book a flight a month in advance if you are going to spend part of the holiday season away, you may just want to pick a destination that doesn’t require passport identification. One month is not enough time to get a passport ready in time to travel, let alone finding all of the other documents that you will likely be asked to present. Even though many areas around the United States require a passport, you still will be able to travel to an exotic location if that’s what you are craving. U.S. citizens do not need a passport when traveling to and from U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but you will need other forms of identification, like a birth certificate or a drivers’ license.

Booking a Hotel

Once you are set with your airline tickets, it’s time to start thinking about where you are going to lodge when away. Around the holiday season, you may not be able to book your dream hotel room, but if you think against the grain you will be able to find a reasonable price at a nice hotel. Often, hotels that specifically cater to business travelers are lacking guests during the holidays. After all, not many people are traveling for business purposes during this time. Because of this, hotels will offer good discounts and perks for travelers to stay at their hotels. You will definitely end up with a great price if you choose one of these hotels.

It may not be the most romantic thing to check into a business hotel on Christmas Eve, but it is sure to beat sleeping on the spare couch or in the guest bedroom at the in-laws.

You’ll also want to make sure that you are not traveling too close to where other holiday travelers are going to be. Try to choose destinations that are less likely to be traveled to during this time of year. For example, a smaller city next to a major one is better to travel to because it will be less crowded and you’ll end up getting some great deals on hotels, entertainment, and rental cars.

So, as you try to navigate yourself around the overcrowded airporst, deal with the hassle of checked and carry-on baggage rules, and hopefully find that your maintaining that true holiday spirit, remember these few tips and pass them on to other holiday travelers. If you are prepared, the trip will be more enjoyable and you’ll find that you want to do it all over again the next year.

Holiday Travel Tips Hotel Deals


Holiday traveling can be a hectic time for families and travelers of every kind. First, you have to make all the plans for the airport, the rental car, and lodging, then you have to worry about getting to your destination on time. However, by following these following tips, you’ll find that holiday traveling is a breeze and something that you actually look forward to.

Airfare Deals

It’s a good idea to research your flight schedule ahead of time to see what prices have done in the past ninety days. On search engines like kayak.com, you can serach your destination and dates with a chart that shows how prices have risen and fallen on your chosen route over the past ninety days. Another search engine farecast.com, goes even a step further calculating what the price will do for that particular route for the next seven days. Other search engines and websites let you plug in the price point that you are looking for and the website will search and alert you when the price has been found. However, with holiday traveling coming up, it’s probably best to book whatever price sounds reasonable. Usually flight fill up quickly around this time of year so take the chance while you still have it.

Travel Date Flexibility

Recently travel websites have given their customer the option to auickly check fares over range of dates. This feature will allow you to choose which dates best suit your needs and budget. Sometimes just changing your date by a day or two can prove to save you substantial amounts of money. For example, it’s not a good idea to fly on Mondays or on Fridays, because this is when most business professionals fly and the airlines usually charge a higher fare because of this. Arrange your travel dates to happen mid-week whether you are coming or going to allow for savings on flight fare.

Air and Hotel Packages

The first goal is to just find a flight that is reasonably prices, but if after a few tries searching for low fares you still don’t have any results, consider booking your air and hotel together at sites like expedia.com or lastminute.com. These sites have buil-in features that allow travelers to bundle together their airfare and hotel costs at one low price. Sometimes the package that you book will be about the same price as just booking the airfare with the flight company. This is a great way at looking at savings. This way you are practically getting your hotel stay for free!

Choose Flight Times Wisely

There are essentially three ways to help avoid delays and help save you money when you are flying. First, Try to fly first thing in the morning or late at night. Most travelers aren’t willing to travel so early or so late and flights are less busy at this time. You will also see a drop in price because airlines are trying to fill up these flights. Second, try to book a non-stop flight. This won’t necessarily save you money, but it will definitely save you wait time and the chance of being delayed. This option is suited more towards the traveler that has a time limit on traveling. This option also leaves you less likely that things will get lost, like luggage. Third, try to book your flight to fly in and out of less crowded airports. For example, if you are flying to California and flying into LAX, your flight will cost more and be more of a time hassle than if you were to fly into Burbank airport, which is only a few minutes away. This is a smaller airport, but it still accepts most flights around the country, so it’s a great option.

Travel Against the Grain

When making your travel plans, it’s a good idea to think about where most people are not traveling to. For example, you’ll want to avoid traveling to or booking a hotel near a crowded beach or a ski resort, as many people will be at these places. Instead, consider traveling to places like New Orleans where there isn’t so much hassle around the holidays. Also, consider booking a room at a hotel that specializes in business guests. Most likely there will not be many business people booking hotel rooms around the holidays, so these hotels will offer rooms at well below the original cost. You may even find a bargain when you stay in Las Vegas around Christmas, but be sure to be gone by New Year’s, when the town really lights up.

Travel with a Group

When you are traveling with a large group, usually ten or more, it is a good idea to take advantage of the groups’ size by playing the numbers game. Often, you’ll be able to negotiate for discounts and special perks wherever you are going. For example. on many cruise lines you get a free cabin with ten other paid rooms. If you are on land, it might be to your advantage to book a villa, condo, or a house rental instead of a room for each traveler. It may seem pricey at first, but you’ll find that it will be cheaper than booking all of those separate rooms. Some airlines will also offer special perks and discounts for large groups. However, even if they don’t offer a discount, they will most likely be able to coordinate itineraries for each member of your party.

Be Organized

Traveling during the holidays is bound to be a bit chaotic, especially when each member of your traveling party is rummaging through their baggage while in line at the check-in counter just to find their ID or other items of need. Even though this may just happen, there are a few things that you can do beforehand to better prepare yourself for traveling. For example, many airlines offer the chance to check-in a day early and print your boarding pass from home. These actions alone, will save you valuable time.

Also, it is a good idea to pack light enough that all the baggage that you have to worry about is your carry-on. Now this may just not be an option for some people, but consider the time that would be save if you could skip the baggage check line. When you are checking bage, make sure that they are under fifty pounds each, or you will be charged extra fees.

Reserve Parking in Advance

At most airports, there are services that allow you, both on and off grounds, to reserve a parking spot, often for less money. To check if the airport that you are using offers these services, just check the website and you will find the information you need. Also, if you book parking in advance, you won’t have to worry about the hassle of getting to the parking lot or where to park because a shuttle from the airport will take you directly to your parking lot.

It is an age-old issue, but traveling during the holidays can be a joyful time, if you take the time before to plan for a successful trip. After all, you are most likely traveling to visit family, so cutting down on the stress is a great way to get into the holiday mood. Consider traveling early or late, just to avoid the hassles, but most importantly, enjoy the time spent more than worrying about getting there or coming home.

Unusual Hotels Hotel Deals


Going on a vacation is truly an adventure, but what if you stayed in a unique hotel while you were away. Perhaps you find yourself riding an elevator up 60 feet, stepping into your room, only to find that you have an entire panoramic view of Holland’s Wadden Sea. Inside the room, you are met with a touch-screen lighting system, a shower for two, and an outdoor terrace, but what truly makes this room unique lies in the corner of the room. Here, there are controls that let you turn the room in any direction you like. Who would have guessed that you would be staying in a 143,000 pound steel crane!

Sometimes we get bored of the same  old hotel, furnished with a rectangular bed, a stocked mini-bar, and a courteous staff. Sometimes we want something different, and some of us want something very different. Fortunately for us adventurers, hotels around the world are really stepping up their game to provide a unique experience for each of its guests.

For a long time, hotels have tried to attract guests with unique themes like tepees and train cars. One hotel in particular has even gone to the extreme of providing you a night’s stay in a real jail cell. In Latvia at Karostas Cietums, which is an infamous Soviet-era military jail, for $10 a night, you can receive the full experience of staying in an old cell on a threadbare mattress.

Fortunately, not all of these unique hotels offer such great amenities as this old jail, but you will experience a once in a lifetime stay at one of these hotels.

Harlingen Harbour Crane, Netherlands

At this former timber hauling derrick you will find a repurposed bi-level room that is 60 feet high in the sky. Located along the banks of the Wadden Sea off of the Dutch coast, you can enjoy the panoramic aquatic view from inside your luxuriously equipped room. You’ll be surrounded by electronical advances like touch lighting and you can rotate which way your room faces just by a touch of a button.

Giraffe Manor, Kenya

In Kenya, you can stay on land owned by the Langata Giraffe Centre, which is a wildlife conservancy, sanctuary, and reserve. Girafffe Manor is an estate decorated with 19th century furnishings. The rooms themselves are not necessarily done up in any unusual way, but it’s what’s outside that will really catch your eye. Why not go for an afternoon stroll around the grounds while you interact with giant giraffe’s nearby? Guests even get the opportunity to interact with these animals during meal time as well. Sometimes giraffe’s will poke their heads through the windows and eat right out of your hand. Where else can you interact with wild animals like this in such close quarters?

Dasparkhotel, Austria

Who would have ever thought that a concrete drainpipe would one day be a hotel room? Along the banks of the Danube in Ottensheim, Austria you’ll find concrete drainpipes used as hotel rooms that have an electronically secured entrance. You will be surrounded by a leafy green park with nature surrounding you. If you are claustrophobic, however, this may not be the place for you. Each drainpipe is furnished with a comfortable mattress, a lamp, and one tiny skylight. This is truly for those who want an extreme vacation.

Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast, New Mexico

At Kokopelli’s you’ll have the opportunity to experience life as a mountain man might have years ago. This wonderful setting is accesed by a cliff-face trail cut into the side of a 65 million year old sandstone formation. Once you are inside the cave you’ll have amenities like a cascading waterafall shower, a flagstone hot tub, 1,650 square feet of living, southwestern-style furnishings, a full kitchen, and washer and dryer. Probably the best amenity that the cave has to offer is the beautiful sunsets and stargazing opportunities you’ll be able to view while you are on the balcony or on the cliff tops.

The Kakslauttanen Hotel, Finland

When you visit Finland and find yourself lodging at the Kakslauttanen Hotel, the indoor space isn’t what you will be necessarily attracted to, it will be the outdoor space. Each dome is just 161 square feet and has one small toilet. But, because of the panoramic thermoglass casing that acts as a roof, you’ll be able to take in the night sky’s right from the comfortable adjustable double beds. These domes especially become popular during the Northern Lights. Imagine yourself and your travel companion enjoying the spectacular show that the Northern Lights puts on as you lay in your bed. This is definitely a must-see experience.

Marmara Antalya, Turkey

The marmar Antalya is a hotel that rotates. It is aided by six enormous electric motors and makes a complete revolution every seven hours. The great Mediterranean views can be enjoyed from every angle as you stay in this ultra modern hotel. The hotel features 24 rooms that all offer great views of the surrounding landscape, and you’ll be able to see all of it because your view will change. As part of the hotel, there is another building behind it that offers lodging for guests, but if you want the experience of revolution, you’ll want to book a room in the first building, as this one doesn’t move.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Florida

Located 21 feet below the water’s surface is an old 70’s era research lab that has been turned into a two bedroom capsule in Key Largo that can accommodate six guests. To get to the capsule, guests have to scuba dive down to the entrance. The capsule is 600 square feet and includes all the regular amenities that you would find inside a hotel room. The amenities include a spacious living area with a TV ans stereo along with a furnished dining room. In each bedroom, the lodge makes full use of its unique location with its 42 inch circular windows that offer a view of passing sea life. Who knows, you just might see a shark or a sea turtle swim by.

It seems that wherever you travel to there will be something unique to see and experience. In this case, hotels are not an exception. It’s amazing to see how far advanced our world has become and how creative people are getting. There’s even been talk about hotels in space by 2012! Our knowledge of how hotels are run is definitely changing. There will certainly be more unusual hotels to add to this list in the future, but for now these top the list.