Family Trip Deals

Celebrate Halloween in Savannah Georgia

Do you like being scared? This Halloween take your family on a guided tour of the most haunted city in America.

Cobblestone Tours offer Haunted History Tours that are sure to send a chill up your spine this Halloween. So put your walking shoes on and get ready for some ghostly fun!

The Haunted History Tour is a 90 minute walking tour through the streets and squares of Savannah. The fully-licensed tour guides will thrill you with tales of Savannah’s most famous ghosts and legends.

Tour Times: 7&9 p.m. nightly.
Tour Prices: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors (55+), $5 Children (ages 5-12), Under 5 is Free!

Cobblestone Tours also offer a 2 hour Haunted Pub Crawl. This tour is for ages 21 and over. In this tour you’ll be exploring two of Savannah’s well-known traditions: alcohol and ghosts stories.

Tour Times: 8p.m. nightly. This tour begins at The Moon River Brewing Company. And 9p.m. Monday-Saturday. This tour departs from Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub in City Market.
Tour Prices: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors (55+)

Reservations are definitely recommended and payment is made to the tour guide at the time of the tour. Tour guides only accept cash or traveller’s checks. All tours will be conducted regardless of weather conditions. In case of rain the tour guides will try to provide everyone with umbrellas.

Contact Information For Cobblestone Tours
Website:ghostsavannah.com

On SmarterTravel.com, there are often articles on interesting places to visit, and as I browse the internet to see where I want to take the kids next, I often find great ideas there. Today I found one on National Parks around the world. In the USA, we think mainly of our own national treasures, but there are many to be found no matter what country you live in or visit.

The article today was on the Top Ten National Parks in the world. You might want to check it out! Amazing pictures accompany the descriptions.. Enjoy!

I took my kids to Utah a couple of weeks ago because it looks like I am moving there soon for a job. While there, we went to the North Ogden Aquatic Center, and I have to say that it was a hoot!

If you’re ever in North Ogden or nearby (north of Salt Lake City), I’d highly recommend you go! I plan to buy a season pass if I can afford it once we get settled in. It was so much fun!

A snippet from their website:

About the Aquatic Center

A sparkling example of clean family entertainment during the hot summer, the newly-opened North Ogden Aquatic Center sports two water slides, two diving boards and a water-filled childrens’ jungle gym the kiddies are sure to enjoy for hours.

Bowery rentals are on a first come first served basis so be sure to call ahead for your family or corporate gatherings.

My kids particularly enjoyed the “river”, a place where there is a current and you can float around in a circle for hours on end. The waterslides were fun as well. There are slides for all ages, and a separate pool for toddlers with little slides for them as well.

Check it out HERE!

I was reading an article on how to make your European vacation more affordable and thought I’d share it with you.

A snippet from the article:

“Whatever country you’re in, the locals are usually too smart to buy into the internationally-known, high-priced hot spots such as Capri or Provence. You’ll get a better bang for your buck if you find out where countrymen take their vacations. Just be sure to go at a different time of year!

“For example, in Italy several years ago, a friend rented a villa just south of the Amalfi Coast, along the lesser-known Cilento Coast of the Mediterranean. There we found lovely low-priced fishing villages such as Maria Di Castellabate, and Acciaroli, where Hemingway once visited. Prices were much lower, we were the only Americans there, and we could easily drive up the coast to see the hilltop towns such as Positano without paying the sky-high prices. Since Italians vacation in August, we went in June and skipped the crowds.”

The article has a lot of great information, and if you’d like to read it, click HERE!

Happy Travels!

Newport Beachside Resort
16701 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida, United States, 33160

When you imagine a tropical vacation in Florida, you picture crystal-clear water, warm sun and white, sandy beaches. Allow us to introduce you to the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort. No matter how you define the perfect holiday, whether you want a relaxing getaway or you’re ready for fun and adventure in the sun, you’ll find everything you need here at the Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort. Guests return year after year to our exclusive beachfront resort to enjoy South Florida’s splendor. We have provided the very best accommodations, hospitality and service to each and every guest for over three decades. Today, with our consistent commitment to quality and attention to detail, we continue to assure a most enjoyable and memorable holiday experience. Please note: There will be a $10 per day resort fee collected upon check-out. Our valet parking is $15 per day and self parking $10 per day.

Flight plus Hotel!

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89109

MGM Grand Las Vegas. Take the Vegas Strip and amplify it exponentially. What do you get? With AAA four-diamond award restaurants L`Atelier de Joël Robuchon , Craftsteak, Pearl, Fiamma, SeaBLUE and NOBHILL. MGM Grand is a culinary landmark in Las Vegas. And casual dining fare at our Grand Buffet, and The Studio Café guarantees something for every appetite. You`ll have access to exciting, original shows like Kà, the unprecedented new spectacle from Cirque du Soleil, and Las Vegas` biggest entertainment venue the Grand Garden Arena. Catch the hottest acts at The Hollywood Theater. Only MGM Grand offers this caliber of entertainment options in Las Vegas. Come alive at hotter nightclubs like Studio 54, the legendary ’70s nightclub reincarnated. Hipper bars like the new ultra lounge, Tabú where you`re invited but your inhibitions aren`t. MGM Grand prides itself not on a theme, but on delivering a pure, amplified, Las Vegas experience. It`s Las Vegas to the nth degree. Ladies and gentlemen, this is maximum Vegas.

A big THANK YOU

If you can’t travel today to do the typical Memorial Day things such as visiting family gravesites, you might want to take a look at findagrave.com to see if your family is there or to add them to the site. My daughter Abigail is there, and it’s a very interesting site to check out.

Have a wonderful Holiday, and thank you to those who have sacrificed so much.

memorial day, sacrifice, gravesites, find a grave

Next week I’m going to Utah to interview for a job teaching at a junior high there. I have decided to take my children with me and make it a mini vacation. Luckily I have friends in the area and the trip won’t cost much other than food or gas.

The trick is that I have a children ranging in age from 5 to 12 who will be traveling with me in my little Dodge Stratus. I am trying to figure out ideas to keep them entertained. Since space is at a premium, my ideas are as follows:

* Begin with a clean car so the children have the most room possible

* Take a small cooler that will fit under the feet of the youngest child. Fill it with partially frozen water bottles and healthy snacks such as grapes and frozen gogurts.

* Allow each child to take a small backpack filled with toys, coloring crayons, books and notebooks.

* Allow each child to take a small pillow and blanket

* In the trunk, pack a bag with an emergency kit including fix-a-flat, jumper cables, oil and a tool kit.

* In the trunk, pack a bag with 4 outfits for each kid, swimming suits, sunscreen and toiletries to last four days.

I am still trying to think of everything. I want the kids to get a realistic idea of what it would mean to move all the way down there so we know whether they can handle a trip back and forth to Montana at least once a month to spend time with their dad and grandparents.I also want it to be a fun little vacation for them to celebrate being out of school for the summer!

Happy Travels!

traveling with children, family vacation, Utah, Montana, Dodge Stratus

Round-Trip Flights From $83+
Ain’t no cure for the summertime blues? Yeah, right! A vacation is all you
need to get your summer on. Right now, major airlines are offering incredible
round-trip fares within the continental U.S. starting at just $83+. So take
your pick of cool deals to warm places today.

Sample Round-Trip Between:

Albany Albuquerque $181+ Albany Chicago $132+ Albany San Diego $201+ Austin Dallas/Ft. Worth $103+ Austin Las Vegas $165+ Austin Seattle $205+ Baltimore Chicago $103+ Baltimore Las Vegas $194+ Baltimore Orlando $114+ Birmingham Orlando $134+ Birmingham Phoenix $103+ Birmingham Tampa $134+ Buffalo Fort Lauderdale $125+ Buffalo Los Angeles $205+ Buffalo Nashville $125+ Burbank Dallas/Ft. Worth $213+ Chicago Albany $132+ Chicago Denver $127+ Chicago Las Vegas $205+ Chicago Orlando $124+ Dallas/Ft. Worth Chicago $181+ Dallas/Ft. Worth Houston $103+ Dallas/Ft. Worth Los Angeles $213+ Dallas/Ft. Worth Orlando $205+ Denver Chicago $127+ Denver Las Vegas $125+ Fort Lauderdale Chicago $165+ Fort Lauderdale Denver $205+ Fort Lauderdale Philadelphia $114+ Fort Lauderdale Phoenix $175+ Hartford Chicago $205+ Hartford Las Vegas $205+ Hartford Seattle $205+ Hartford Tampa $154+ Indianapolis New York $155+ Indianapolis Orlando $135+ Kansas City Denver $125+ Kansas City Orlando $145+ Los Angeles Las Vegas $83+ Los Angeles Washington, D.C. $205+ Orlando Dallas/Ft. Worth $205+ Orlando Phoenix $185+ Orlando Washington, D.C. $174+ Philadelphia Fort Lauderdale $114+ Philadelphia Los Angeles $195+ Philadelphia Seattle $174+ Phoenix Fort Lauderdale $184+ Phoenix Little Rock $114+ Phoenix Philadelphia $175+ San Diego Charleston $247+ San Diego Dallas/Ft. Worth $217+ San Diego San Francisco $95+ Seattle Denver $165+ Seattle Orlando $205+ Seattle Providence $205+ Washington, D.C. Chicago $145+ Washington, D.C. Detroit $103+ Washington, D.C. Kansas City $145+ Washington, D.C. San Francisco $205+ West Palm Beach Colorado Springs $175+ West Palm Beach Philadelphia $114+

+Terms & Conditions:
Travel is valid through November 2, 2007. There is no minimum or maximum stay restriction. Fares require a 14-day advance purchase. Travel is valid on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Changes to your ticket may be made if you meet the restrictions of the new fare and pay applicable fees plus any fare difference. Changes must be made before your flight departs. When you cancel your ticket prior to departure time, the ticket will be valid for one year from the date of issue on an unused ticket or one year from travel origination on a partially used ticket. If you do not cancel your flight before departure time, the ticket has no value. Fares do not include a $3.40 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger’s ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary or September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is purchased. Fares and rules are subject to change without notice. Seats are limited. Fares may not be available on all flights. Other restrictions may apply.

+some taxes & additional fees apply

May 28: Memorial Day is observed nationwide with parades and other events. The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., is among the largest.

Seattle (WA), May 24–June 17: Seattle International Film Festival

Coming Soon
Chicago (IL), June 1–3: Chicago Gospel Music Festival; June 9–10: Ribfest Chicago

Honolulu (HI), June 11: King Kamehameha Day Celebration

New York City, June 9–10: Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park; June 11: Taste of Times Square

Orlando (FL), June 1–24: Star Wars Weekends at Disney MGM Studios

San Antonio (TX), June 8–10: Texas Folklife Festival

San Francisco (CA), June 10: The Haight Ashbury Street Fair, one of the oldest street fairs in the United States

Steamboat Springs (CO), June 8–10: Yampa River Festival

Snowmass Village (CO), June 8–10: Chili Pepper and Brew Fest

Telluride (CO), June 2–3: Balloon Festival

Multiple venues in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky; June 17–23: Coaster enthusiasts sample 22 rides in four parks as part of Coaster Con 30.

Washington (DC), thru June: Shakespeare in Washington

In the Headlines…
From Cheapflights.com’s daily travel news and other sources:

• Virgin America Airlines is approved to fly in U.S.
• Save now, save later with jetBlue $50 flight discount promotion
• AirTran discounts seats to/from three top markets
• United to cut capacity on domestic flights
• Seattle-Tacoma airport expands real-time flight information; adds mobile device notification
• American Airlines adds New York/JFK to
St. Kitts and Nevis service
• US Airways axes some Pittsburgh flights
• Disney to launch video-on-demand cable travel channel
• IRS scores higher than airlines in consumer satisfaction survey

The Lighter Side of Travel
• Fourth Amendment Luggage Tape Sends a Message to TSA Security Screeners
• Detailed Google Map Helps Visitors Navigate All of Disney World’s Attractions and More

Trip Planning & Destinations
• Low-Season Caribbean Getaways Offer Savings + Bonuses, Upgrades
• Rising Travel Costs Alter Summer Travel Plans
• Some Foreign Destinations Let You Stretch Your Travel Budget
• Empty Flight Cancellations: Urban Legend or Corporate Cost-Cutting Strategy?
• New Hawaiian Airlines Service Lets Travelers Jump-Start Trip With In-Flight Activities Bookings
• L.A. Crime Scene Tour Offers Glimpse Into City’s Dark Side
• Drink in Style at South Beach’s Hotel Bars
• ‘TV Land’ Getaways: How to Get Seats for Your Favorite Shows
• Air Quality in America’s National Parks Is Worsening

I get a weekly newsletter from a company called SideStep that advertises many travel vacation specials. I post some of them here, but thought I’d include the entire email today since all of the specials seemed so great!

Memorial Weekend Deals and Getaways from $49
Whether you’re looking to relax at the beach, head for the mountains, or visit a big city, we’ve found just the deals for you. More…

$98* & up - Summer Flights between 70+ Cities, R/T
Great fares to destinations throughout the U.S., book by 5/17
American Airlines

6-Night Ireland B&B Vacation with Air - $744
Choose from over 1700 properties all over the country
CIE Tours

Newest Las Vegas Strip Resort from $119/Night
Bonus: $40 resort credit, 20% OFF golf, 2-for-1 spa admission Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Mexico & Latin America Summer Fare Sale from $159
Mother’s month special valid through September - book by 5/31
Mexicana.com

Luxury Beachfront Hawaii Resort from $289 ($50 OFF)
Special seasonal rates at Oahu’s finest spa and golf resort
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa

$203* & up - Canada Flights thru August, R/T - book by 5/17
Visit Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver
American Airlines

Seattle on Sale - Stays at Top Hotels from $112/Night
Great deals for stays in the Pacific Northwest through 6/17
Hotels.com

$499* & up - Sydney on Sale from Across the U.S.
Visit Australia’s most popular city this summer for less
United Airlines

Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort - $86/Night (40% OFF)
Save on 4-star stays in the heart of Ocean Walk Village through May
DiscountHotels.com

Flights Throughout the U.S. from $83 R/T
Low fares to Chicago, San Diego, Florida, more
Travelocity.com

Top Palm Springs Resorts on Sale from $71/Night
Save 25% on 3+night stays - Includes city/celebrity tour
Expedia.com

Sale Extended! Summer Flights to London from $319
Includes two FREE hotel nights - book by 5/24
British Airways

$45 & Up - Discount Tickets to MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas
SAVE $30 to the smash hit ABBA musical at Mandalay Bay
MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas

Four Great Orlando Hotels: Advance Rates From $74
Get the best spring and summer rates with advanced purchase
Marriott

7-Night Upscale Caribbean Cruise over Thanksgiving - $759
Sail to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico - oceanview $100 more
America’s Vacation Center

$69 - All-Inclusive Cancun Resort Through Summer (50% OFF)
FREE oceanview upgrade and massages - kids stay and eat FREE
BookIt.com

Rentals Cars as Low as $13.95/Day
Deep discounts on weekday and weekend rentals
Hotwire.com

$39 & up - San Francisco Introductory Fares on Southwest
Fly each way across to destinations across the country
Southwest.com

Complete 8-Night Latin America Tour with Air - $1815
Explore four top cities in one affordable package
LatinDestinations.com

SideStep, Memorial Weekend, Las Vegas Strip, Resort, Star Wood, Hawaii Beach Resort, Uruguay, Buenos Aries, Argentina, San Francisco, cheap rental cars, Cancun Resort, Chicago, San Diego, Florida, Hilton Daytona Beach, Orlando, Marriott, Mandalay Bay, Nevada

There is a great book written by Tim Leffel titled: Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler’s Guide to Getting More for Less. You can buy it on amazon.com, or perhaps even check it out at your local libary.

Book Description:

Not another collection of checklists or tips on coupons or promotions, this practical guide teaches travelers — novice or seasoned — how to take advantage of travel opportunities by avoiding the typical tourist mentality. Author Tim Leffel shows readers how to bypass the traps that drive up expenses and find the best value, whether as a young backpacker or a wealthy retiree. Drawing on his own extensive experience (including three yearlong trips around the globe as well as his experience as an industry insider), the author also covers what steps to take and what resources to use to save money on travel and how to travel better — or more often — on a smaller budget. A dozen other notable travel writers and subject matter experts contribute sidebars on specific ways to save.

Never hurts to be well-read and educated to prepare for your family vacation!

Tim Leffel, travel money, amazon.com, small budget, travel writer