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Hurricane Travel Season
June 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Traveling during hurricane season, June 1 through November 30, to particularly prone destinations such as Florida, can be risky but rewarding if you do it right. Following certain good practice guidelines during hurricane season, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, can give you peace of mind when it comes to some of the biggest travel hassles during this unpredictable time.
Great deals are available to hurricane-prone destinations during the summer and many of these locations are enticing oceanfront areas. But while you’re saving money on the trip you don’t want to end up spending a lot more to change or cancel that trip if a named hurricane hits or is on the way. Be sure to pay attention to which storms are on the horizon and may become potential problems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is projecting a 75% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above normal this year with 13 to 17 named storms, 7 to 10 of them becoming hurricanes, of which 3 to 5 could become major hurricanes. Smart travelers should take note of these predictions, track the weather, and plan accordingly.
Most airlines will change your tickets at no cost if a hurricane is eminent. However you don’t want to get caught in a dispute over if one is really headed your way or not. Purchasing travel insurance can save you a lot of headaches over ticket changes and trip cancellations for only a fraction of the cost of your trip. Also, while airlines e-tickets are a very popular option, it may be best to have a paper ticket already in hand to show to officials during a chaotic dash to the airport during bad weather. Tourism boards themselves also offer some helpful options like Florida’s Cover Your Event insurance that aims to keep up the pace of business even in the face uncertain weather. Don’t hesitate to travel this hurricane season but make sure you plan smartly for the things you can control.
Babymoon Travel
June 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
You may or may not have heard of it, but taking a babymoon is gaining massive popularity among couples. A babymoon is a trip taken either before or just after the arrival of a new baby. Like a honeymoon, a babymoon is meant mainly for relaxation, bonding, and recovering from a life changing transition.
There is ton of preparation that goes into having a new baby around. Too often the need to be alone, or surrounded only with very close low-maintenance friends and family, is pushed low on the priority list. Taking this important time can help new or expectant parents better prepare for what is to come. A babymoon can provide a new mother with time to rest and recover, strengthen the bond between an expectant couple, or afford the family time with their baby before being inundated with well-wishers.
The most important thing when on a babymoon is to be comfortable. Sometimes if your babymoon travel arrangements are too complicated the goal of relaxation can be thwarted by cramped accommodations, excessively long flights, or significant time differences. To prevent these potential pitfalls, try an Extended Stay Hotel for your babymoon. With numerous convenient locations near major attractions you can take an affordable babymoon to the sites you have always wanted to see. For the expectant couple, Extended Stay Hotels provides kitchenette facilities, giving you the flexibility to just stay in and eat if you are tired as well as providing the necessary equipment to whip up any late night food cravings. For new parents, ask for a crib at the front desk at no additional charge, and the on-site laundry facilities can make keeping your clothes and the baby’s clothes clean the whole trip easy and convenient. Plus, all rooms come equipped with Wi-Fi so if you don’t want to unplug completely, you can update loved ones with new pictures. Take the time you deserve to relax and enjoy this new stage of life.
National Park Hotels
June 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Some of the most notable sites in America are preserved in the form of National Park land. From some of our most treasured monuments such as the Statue of Liberty to the wide expanses of protected nature at Yellowstone, there are lots of places to explore for any traveler. Families can make road trips particularly entertaining with the "Passport to Your National Parks" book that can be stamped at different ranger stations during your travels.
Need some ideas of a park to visit this summer? It all depends on what you're looking for. If you want to be part of the great outdoors, Denali in Alaska can give you 5 square miles to go backpacking in where they will guarantee that no other human being will be during your stay. You can find wildlife that isn’t quite as remote at other wildlife park sites such as Acadia in Maine or even hiking along the Appalachian Trail. For a more urban adventure, venture out to San Francisco and take a ferry out to the newly renovated Alcatraz where you can see what life was like for inmates at the Rock. Or you can choose a National Park to visit by historical interest, such as stopping by one of the many preserved Civil War battlefields. No matter what your interests, there is parkland for you.
With so much of the country's land belonging to the people as a whole, it really is worth going out and seeing what this public land has to offer. Some of the most beautiful spots in the world have been saved just for you. To find a hotel for your trip, check out the Extended Stay Hotels National Park page. Staying at a hotel meant for extended stay travelers will help to make your trip that much more comfortable and enjoyable. Other than the gorgeous scenery and all the time free to sit back and relax, it will be difficult to tell that you’ve left home.
Passport to Travel
June 18, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
As we discussed in a previous post, summer travel this season has been made even trickier than normal by new Homeland Security passport regulations. These regulations took effect in January and required U.S. citizens to show a passport when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda by air. Since this took effect the State Department has been inundated with passport applications, causing major delays of around 4 months to issue them. This caused many travelers to cancel or delay their trips leading to public outcry and pressure on the government to do something. In response, the government temporarily waived the passport requirement for air travel, but only if provided with proof that a passport is in the application process.
Last week these hold-ups and complications lead to the House voting to delay the next round of regulations requiring passports for land and sea travelers, pushing the start date from January 2008 to June 2009. Happy days! But the Homeland Security Department is fighting this delay. At least for now this summer travel headache is a thing of the past for travelers going by air, land, and sea.
Best Beaches
June 14, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Brewery Tours
June 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Beer, what better reason to travel? Hopping (pun intended) from brewery to brewery, or making the journey to a beer festival has become a beloved past time for many beer lovers. Whether you’re making the trip to notable breweries or getting your fix of several at a beer festival, brewery travel can be fun and educational for vacationers and business people alike who want to challenge their taste buds with loved ones, clients, or coworkers.
Similar to the more common wine tour, brewery hopping has become a popular option for both connoisseurs and novices who want to try different and unique beers. And great beer trips can be very affordable, so you won’t have to break the bank for the experience. USA Today makes some suggestions for notable breweries to visit.
Great beer festivals start happening as the weather gets warmer so now is the perfect time to go. This is a fantastic way to try a number of quality beers, all in one place. If you’d rather go to a brewery, most give free tours all year long and are all located all over the country. Add a fun stop to your next trip and impress your friends when you get home with your newfound knowledge.
Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA Finals
June 8, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the NBA Finals. Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs will be on this Sunday and the Cavs will finally be back home at the Quicken Loans Arena for game 3 of the Finals.
You can catch the game at one of Cleveland’s many fine sports bars. Make the most out of your trip and take in the majesty of Lake Erie, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or shop at the West Side Market. Extended Stay Hotels has convenient and affordable options for your stay in the metro area.
Summer Vacation Planning
June 4, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
With many American workers unable to make use of their full vacation time and week long trips instead becoming 3 and 4 day weekends, the most needs to be made of every vacation day you do take. Kicking off the summer season is a slew of articles and reports on the current state of travel. Keeping these recent trends and pieces of information in mind can help you avoid pitfalls and maximize the enjoyment of your trip.
First of all, you will not be alone traveling this summer, so plan on leaving early if you are starting your vacation on a Friday if you are driving. The Travel Industry Association of America is reporting a record number of travelers and many of these vacationers will be headed to their destination via car. This increase in car travel is surprising given what the LA Times notes as the highest gas prices we've ever seen, but it seems to coincide with a continued shift toward domestic travel and shorter trips.
Why is there this shift toward domestic travel? It looks like international travel is becoming more stressful. According to a recent news story, passports are taking longer to get and the New Jersey Star Ledger reports on a shortage of customs agents that is leading to even more airport delay. This is on top of long delays already expected due to further airline cutbacks in an attempt to survive bankruptcy. Another matter complicating things beyond the airport is that the dollar is weak right now and is not faring well in exchange rates, especially against the euro. This can mean shelling out more bucks for the same trip. These may be some of the reasons why many travelers are deciding to traveling closer to home. An international trip may be time better spent another summer when you spend less of your precious time in line at airports and when your hard-earned money will go further.
To get the most vacation you can this summer, perhaps it's time to fully explore the US and Canada. No matter what, the important thing is to take a few days to kick back and enjoy the break from work. To get some extra space for rest and relaxation, try a suite at Extended Stay Hotels instead of a small hotel room elsewhere. A trip like this doesn’t even require pre-planning when you make use of Extended Stay Hotel's last minute weekend deals. You don’t have to go far to get away from it all.
