1.  Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is, without question, one of the best.  Guests at the Rusty Parrot are treated to a rustic themed vacation, complete with wildlife safaris.  In the fall, visitors can take part in the elk bugling, wolves and grizzlies safari offered by the lodge.  The safari explores the grounds of nearby Yellowstone National Park and its animal inhabitants.  In the spring, a wolves and grizzlies safari is offered in the same area.  If roughing it on safari is not your thing, feel free to remain at the lodge and enjoy their fine dining room and wide variety of offered activities, including golf, white water rafting, and horseback riding.  Guests are also encouraged to book their appointment at the lodge’s acclaimed Body Sage Spa.

2.  Blackberry Farm is located deep in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, and is one of the best hotels in the nation. It is 4,200 acres of relaxation.  Enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery of the Great Smokey Mountains right from your hotel room.  The resort offers the Farmhouse Spa, where guests can relax while enjoying spa amenities such as hydrotherapy and massage.  Guests are encouraged to head out to nearby Clinch River and partake in fly fishing.  The resort prides itself on offering guests the best fly fishing east of the Rocky Mountains.  The resort also offers a host of other activities such as horseback riding, hiking, canoeing and carriage rides.  Guests are transported around resort grounds in Lexus vehicles and the resort offers Camp Blackberry, a full child care program parents are encouraged to take advantage of.

3.  The Point Resort in Saranac Lake, New York has been called one of the most enchanting lakefront getaways in the country.  Guests have a choice of selecting a room in one of four buildings – the Main Lodge, the Eagle’s Nest, the Guest House and the Boat House.  The resort’s acclaimed dining room offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to guests according to dietary restrictions of guests staying at the resort.  During spare time, guests enjoy a number of activities at the resort.  During the summer months Saranac Lake is put to good use at the resort.  Water skiing, swimming, sunset cruises, and fishing are all offered to guests.  Guests opting to remain on land can take part in activities such as hiking, volleyball, badminton, and horseback riding.  In the winter the resort urges guests to leave resort grounds and visit Whiteface Mountain in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains to enjoy skiing.  Ice skating on Lake Sarnac is also an option and ice fishing is also a popular pastime on the frozen lake.

4.  The Peninsula in Beverly Hills, California is for you If you are looking for a posh resort where you will be treated like a star.  Set amidst the swanky mansions of Beverly Hills and against the backdrop of the skyline of Los Angeles, The Peninsula is the best choice for those who want a chic, modern vacation.  Guests can venture off the resort’s grounds to visit the city of Los Angeles, tour Beverly Hills or visit the renowned Rodeo Drive for some shopping.  The resort offers a number of restaurants and bars, including the Roof Garden, a rooftop patio surrounded by a beautiful array of flowers and plants and adjacent to the pool and spa.  The spa offers a number of treatments such as Swedish massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, and variety of body scrubs.

5.  Located in central California, the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California is about 330 miles north of Los Angeles.  North of Beverly Hills, travelers will find a completely different view of California.  Located on the cliffs overlooking the California coastline, the Post Ranch Inn is the perfect getaway.  The inn is set up like a lodge, creating a fun, relaxing atmosphere for guests.  The Post Ranch Inn is home to a full spa which offers treatments such as massage, facials, and specialized therapy.  Guests can also enjoy the fitness room and pool.  Yoga, guided nature walks, and star gazing are some of the activities that set this resort apart from others.

So there you have it… 5 great hotels for your next posh vacation (when a discount vacation doesn’t have to be what you seek)!

There are many things to consider when choosing your travel accommodations. The decision could make your trip fun or a disappointment. Choosing the right hotel is a must. Most travelers spend more time in airline ticket reservations and bargains but less time in choosing the right accommodations. That means they may end up on the wrong side of the bed during their stay.

To get the most out of your hotel accommodations, remember to book as early as possible and make your dates more flexible. Hotels that specialize in accommodating  business people will consider weekends as off season.  Family vacationers could tap into these special packages during weekends. Primarily, you should choose your hotel based on name, amenities, features, price, packages and location.

Here are some considerations in choosing your best travel accommodations:

1.  Accommodations should be family-friendly. Always ask if your hotel offers children activity areas with educational and fun activities supervised by duly-trained care-givers.

2. Your hotel should provide a swimming pool for children, daycare service, crib rental and child-proof electrical outlets.

3. Stay in a hotel that has electronic room-key cards and has a security viewer installed on their doors.

4. Make it a priority to choose a room on the upper floor.

5. If you’re the one who likes to spend more time in your hotel room and the balcony, you should ask for the available amenities and the conditions of the surrounding environment.

6. Depending on whether you’re on a private or business trip, ask your hotel about the availability of laundry service, hair dryers, coffee makers, newspapers, free meals, fax machine, bar, cable television, parking, shuttle service, internet connection, etc.

7. The hotel property layout and its location may speak more of its surrounding environment. Noisy locations such as construction on adjacent property, car traffic and noisy waterfalls are not specified on hotel flyers. So be sure to ask about it.

8. Beautifully landscaped surroundings with trees, flowers and inner courts also enhance your travel pleasure. Moreover, gift shops and restaurants all add up to a wonderful travel experience.

9. The location of your hotel with respect to main attraction is equally important. It could save you money on taxi and bus fare.

10. Make sure that the room service is provided 24 hours a day.

11. Check out the room itself. Is it brightly colored or classical? It sets the mood of your travel.

In order to get the most out of your travel, whether for business or family vacations, be sure to know everything about the hotel you are planning to check in to. Ask friends and relatives who have been there. Don’t just depend on the hotel’s webpage which is undoubtedly biased.  Having to stay in a hotel which you don’t like could ruin your trip.

Long rides in a car or airplane can seem endless for young kids who can not wait to get to their vacation destination.  It can also seem endless for parents who have to listen to choruses of the infamous line, “Are we there yet?”  However, by keeping in mind a few kid friendly travel tips, parents can make the travel time fly by for their kids and themselves.

For kids, going away on a family vacation can be the highlight of their summer.  No wonder they can be restless when the moment finally arrives and they are on their way to the beach, theme park, or other destination.  It is a given that children will be excited about getting to their vacation spot, but parents can make the trip seem shorter by preparing a variety of games and activities to keep their children occupied and keep their minds off of the journey.

Car Games for Families

For long car rides, there are a number of games that can make the time fly by.  Children typically get tired of playing the same games they play day after day, so why not spice things up by offering them games that are made for long car trips?

One of these games involves finding the letters of the alphabet on road signs.  For example, if you pass by a sign that reads “Albert’s Chicken Restaurant” the letters A, B, and C are found.  When you pass by the next sign, look for D.  If there are two kids in the backseat, make it a competition by only allowing them to use signs on their side of the road.

Another car game for long trips on Interstate highways is the license plate game, where your children try to find cars with license plates from different states – see if they can find all fifty!  This has always been one of our favorite games on every vacation… and look not only for the 50 U.S. states, but also for Canadian provinces and foreign countries. We’ve seen Turkey and England in the past…

When kids get restless on car rides it can wear on a parent’s patience.  But when young children get restless on airplane rides, it can irritate an entire jet full of passengers.

But, What About Airplane Travel with Kids?

For every parent planning to fly with young children, particularly infants and toddlers, it is their worst nightmare to be the person walking up and down the plane aisle with a screaming baby.  Flying on a large airliner for the first time can be intimidating for young children.  And for babies who do not understand what is happening, the sensations of taking off and landing can cause distress.

Like car rides, keeping kids entertained on airplanes is key.  Activities on planes are somewhat easier, since the ride is generally smoother and kids have the use of the pop-down trays to use as a table top for activities such as drawing or coloring.  Parents are also more available to play with kids during air travel, since they’re not needed to drive or navigate.

Perhaps one of the most sensible but often overlooked tips is to provide your kids with a few new activities rather than bringing toys or games they have played with or used countless times already.  Purchase a few new books, coloring books, or travel games.  This is a tip I always used with my two daughters when we vacationed.  The novelty of the new items will keep kids occupied longer than their old toys will.

When traveling with children too young to keep occupied with toys, your best bet is to keep them comfortable.  Make sure your baby does not take a nap right before the flight; this will liken the chance that he or she will sleep during the plane ride.  Small babies should be given bottles while the plane is taking off.  Feeding them during take-off usually prevents your baby’s ears from popping.  It is best to avoid your baby’s ears popping, as this will cause the baby discomfort and an unfamiliar feeling.

Parents will find that the key to family travel with children is to always have something ready to counter an, “Are we there yet?”  It is the best bet to avoid arguments on long family car trips.  A game, puzzle, coloring activity or book will provide a good chunk of time where parents can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Cruising vacations are fun!

There are plenty of reasons why you should take a cruise. If you are like most people, you will enjoy getting away from it all. A cruise will allow you to do just that. There is no obligation to go here or there. There is no rushing around. There are few if any problems with missing your arrival times.  In fact, cruise travel is unlike any other vacation. Your room moves around with you, you can unpack your bags, your meals are cooked and ready for you, entertainment opportunities abound, and you get to take side trips to visit interesting points of call.

One of the major reasons why cruise travel is growing in popularity is the variety it offers. Over 200 cruise ships float in the world’s oceans and rivers today, and that number is growing by the year. Just like with air travel, there are the big names—Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival—and they each have their own fleet of ships. There are also smaller cruise lines, tailored to a specific region or for a specific purpose. These days, if you do your research, you can find the perfect cruise ship to fit your needs, wants and interests.

There are plenty of reasons to use cruise travel as your main way to spend your vacation. Here are some reasons why you may want to consider this type of travel.

• It is affordable. There are plenty of deals happening each and every day, virtually all times of the year. You can find a wide range of discounts available in the off seasons, but there are plenty to go around any time of the year otherwise. Most of the time, you will spend less on a cruise than you will on a big vacation.

• There is plenty to see. When you take a cruise, you can travel to a wide range of places around the world. In many cases, you can visit some of the most remote ports out there for far less than it would cost to fly to these locations. You can experience a wide range of different cultures and various lands. There is plenty for you to experience on the actual ship too.

• There’s also plenty to do. If you need some entertainment, most cruise trips include a talent show, games on the decks, dancing, and more. You could also attend a formal dinner, so be sure you pack accordingly if this is what you want to do.

• You can meet lots of new people. A cruise is a great place to meet a wide range of people. You do not even need to get off the boat to do so either. There are many people that are ready and waiting for you to meet them. You can meet people your own age or meet someone else. In fact, if you are single, there are plenty of cruises for you out there.

• You can do new things. On the ship and off, there are many things that you can do to enjoy the time that you have. You can learn to rock climb or go scuba diving. You can learn to water ski or go fishing in the ocean. There is no limit to the options that you have.

Cruise travel has many rewards to offer those that are looking for something a little more relaxed or something that is different then another amusement park. Check out the various options that are available because not only can you do the things that you would like to do, but you can find a wide range of options to choose from to fit your needs and lifestyles.

One of the reasons I recommend a cruise as budget travel is that the costs are largely controlled. Your cruise fee covers your lodging and dining for the most part, two of the biggest costs on any vacation. You may also choose to participate in various shore activities, nightclubs, casinos or shopping, but those are expenses that can be quite easily foregone or at least controlled.

The sales of recreational vehicles have really been on fire lately, as more and more people discover the high level of freedom, and low level of cost, that an RV vacation can provide. As air travel becomes more of a hassle, and the cost of hotel stays continues to rise, many people are discovering the convenience of taking their hotel room with them wherever they go.

The attraction of a recreational vehicle, of course, is that it provides the budget traveler with the freedom to go where you want, whenever you want to go there. An RV frees the traveler on a budget from rigid schedules, lines at airport security, restrictions on luggage, and so much more. And with over 15,000 RV parks and campgrounds dotting the country, there is bound to be one wherever you want to go.

And many RVs have all the amenities of home, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Many RVs also have rooms that slide out to provide even more living space when the vehicle is parked. I’ve toured RVs with fireplaces, full-size fridges, and even a washer/dryer! All the comforts of home.

There are some important tips for first time RV’ers to follow to get the biggest bang for their travel buck. Some of our favorite tips for a low cost and hassle free RV trip include:

• Hit the web for tons of free information on living the RV lifestyle and keeping costs under control. There are a great many web sites and newsgroups dedicated to recreational vehicles, and they can provide valuable tips for those newcomers.
• Try renting an RV before you buy one. The purchase of a recreational vehicle is a big decision, and one that is likely to have a major impact on your lifestyle, especially on how you vacation. With the average RV costing as much as the average house did a couple of decades ago, it is important to know that an RV is the right decision before taking the plunge. There are a number of places that rent RV’s, and these rental agencies can provide a low cost alternative to RV ownership, or a way to “try it before you buy it”.
• Do your research. If you do decide to buy an RV, be sure to research the buyer’s guides, and read the reviews on the internet. Doing so will allow you to get the most RV for your money.
• Visit a couple of RV dealers, and attend an RV show. RV shows are great ways to see a wide range of models quickly, and it is often possible to strike some very good deals at these events.
• Do the math to be sure an RV is right for you. An RV makes sense for a great many people, particularly families traveling together. RV travel can be significantly less costly than travel by car or plane. Fees for campgrounds are considerably lower than hotel room rates, and this can really trim the travel budget. But, if gas prices go sky high again, that could invalidate all those savings.
• Be sure to inset in a quality guide to RV campgrounds. Knowing where the campgrounds are, and having good directions for getting there, will save you lots of hassle, as well as gas money.

In short, RV camping is a great strategy for budget travel, especially with kids.