Top 5 Steps to Planning Your One-Man Trip
February 17, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Traveling with friends can be a blast, especially if each of you is interested in the same type of traveling and adventure. However, it isn’t so uncommon to want to wander alone at times, especially when you are the only one in your friend group that enjoys a particular activity, such as hiking or nature photography.
Planning a one-man trip is going to take a different mindset, and if you follow the following steps, you will be able to get the most out of your individual experience. Who knows? Maybe this will turn into a tradition that you look forward to annually.
1. Find a safe hotel, and arrive in the day.
While traveling by yourself can be a liberating experience, this does not mean that you throw all caution to the wind. You will still want to book a safe hotel that is centrally located during your vacation. Knowing that your personal items are safe in your hotel gives you the peace of mind needed to wander around your new location with ease. Make sure to check online reviews to see which hotel other travelers have recommended for security.
2. Plan loosely.
One of the best parts of traveling alone is the fact that you can completely change your plans on a whim. For instance, if you are in New York and had planned to visit museums, but find yourself wanting to spend more time at Coney Island, no one will begrudge you that choice. Just make sure that someone at home knows where you are headed and any changes to your plans for safety reasons.
3. Lose yourself in local culture.
If you are unfamiliar with the area you are traveling in, spend a day completely getting immersed with the local culture. Skip overly touristy spots and find local restaurants, shopping areas and hangouts to spend your time in instead. You’ll get more out of the experience if you spend time. If you are uncertain of where to go, ask for local favorite spots, or just meander until you find something that looks interesting. In addition, one of the best ways to enjoy seeing everyday life in a new area is by not looking like a tourist, so ditch the touristy look to experience more.
4. Keep extra cash and emergency travel documents.
No one wants to think that they might be robbed or that they will lose their identification. However, this is just one of the risks you take when traveling. To ensure that you’re not stranded, do not carry all of your cash in one spot, and leave some at the hotel, hidden amongst your clothes. Do the same with copies of your driver’s license, passport and any other IDs you might have with you.
5. Enjoy the solitary experience.
The worst thing that you can do while traveling alone is hate the fact that you don’t have family or friends around. Instead of moping, relish in the experience of having only yourself to please. There are many reasons to travel solo, and by having this experience, you may find yourself discovering surprising aspects about yourself that you would have never discovered otherwise.
Save 20% - Select Weekends at Extended Stay Hotels
February 15, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 02/17 through 02/20) and next weekend (stays 02/24 through 02/27) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Los Angeles, Orlando, Raleigh, Portland, Dallas and many others.
For Arrival Dates 02/17/2012 and 02/18/2012
* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Raleigh, NC - Rates from $39.99/night
* Portland, OR - Rates from $41.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >
For Arrival Dates 02/24/2012 and 02/25/2012
* Phoenix, AZ - Rates from $34.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $34.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
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The Best of the Best: Wired’s Top App choices
February 13, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Wired magazine has been the online go-to guide for technology lovers and Internet addicts alike, especially when there are new electronics and gadgets coming out. Now, the team at Wired has reviewed 400 apps for iPhones and Androids alike for their App Guide, and they have selected a few of their favorites and must-haves. Some are useful for everyday life, while some are for sheer entertainment. Regardless of what purpose they serve, these apps are worth the few dollars you spend on them.
Wired covered hundreds of apps, and we have picked a few of our favorites to show you. To read the rest, check out Wired.com’s app catalog.
Top Social Apps
1. Foursquare – Free
If you are unfamiliar with this app, then you’ve been missing out on other people’s opinions of the world around you. Meant to help you track where you go on a regular basis, Foursquare can also introduce you to new restaurants, new clubs and new businesses in your near proximity. People can create lists of their favorite things to do, and you can access them to see what you want to do as well. People also leave tips for newbies.
2. imo Instant Messenger – Free
There are a lot of social chat websites available for phones and tablets. However, imo offers not just messaging services, but it also offers group chats, voice IMs and video and photo sharing. Unlike other messenger services, users can easily choose which messenger accounts to have on and off at any given time with the simple push of a button.
Top Lifestyle Apps
1. Grocery iQ – Free
This is ideal for individuals who are constantly forgetting their grocery lists. Users can search for their favorite brands of foods from the database, and they can also select their favorite grocery stores and products for the app to remember. If you’re out of something at home, use the smartphone to scan the barcode, and the app will add the product to your list. This app can even be so fine-tuned that you can narrow down the aisles that products are found in.
2. My Tracks – Free
This Android app is for those looking to keep track of their exercise progress. Using Google Doc and Google Maps, hikers, runners and walkers can track their routes as they progress, or they can save it for later to compare with other trips. Purchase an external strap, and you can even add heart rate monitoring to the app’s abilities.
The Essentials
1. Flipboard – Free
This is ideal for those who constantly find themselves in between tasks with idle time on their hands. Flipboard prides itself on being a “pocket-sized social magazine,” and has all the mainstream magazines you want to read available at the touch of your fingertips. You can also find your favorite blogs and websites on here so that you can jump easily from medium to medium. Of course, you want to still keep on top of what your friends are doing, so be sure to check out the Facebook and Twitter feeds on the app as well.
2. StreamToMe – $3
This app is one that is worth every penny paid for it and more. Made for Mac users with an affinity for music, this app converts various file formats and allows you to live-transcode and then stream the content onto your iPhone or iPad. This means that the old videos you couldn’t play before are suddenly Mac product friendly. It will feel just like having the content copied onto your mobile device.
Discovering America’s Most Beautiful and Picturesque Spots
February 10, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The moment you return from vacation, one of the first questions that people ask you is: “Can I see photos from your trip?” It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur photographer, merely taking photos of your children as they experience a new part of the country for the first time, or if you are a photographer who prides yourself on capturing the perfect photo, you want to have the best photos to help you remember the amazing times you have had for many years to come.
One of the first things that will guarantee that you will have breathtaking photos to show off is a high quality camera. Make sure that you have the appropriate setting for the area that you are in, and the chances of having a great photographic moment increase exponentially. Another way to ensure a breathtaking photo is by visiting a beautiful area of the country. There are some amazingly awe-inspiring scenic spots across the US, but there are a few that take the cake. Travelers from all over the world gather at these spots to capture the perfect moment, in the perfect spot and at the perfect time. Consider visiting the following spots and making some memories for yourself:
1. Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
This beautiful part of the United States has a grand combination of both mountain ranges and wide, open spaces. This national park has been a top vacationing spot for at least 11,000 years, with many coming to enjoy the picturesque hiking trails that are dotted around the glacier lakes.
2. Sedona, Arizona
Sedona doesn’t just have rock formations and canyons. These canyons are tinted a beautiful red, and they have been shaped by the winds and floods that also formed the Grand Canyon. Depending on what you enjoy doing, you can either go camping near the rock formations, hike around Sedona, or even slide down a natural waterslide that has been formed after thousands of years of water sliding by.
3. Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
Voted Good Morning America’s “Most Beautiful Place in America,” this part of the country has blue beaches that bring visitors from all over the world. Nestled in the largest cherry growing part of the world, there are many things to see in Sleeping Bear Dunes that would not be seen anywhere else. Many living in the Midwest, who dream of heading to the West or East Coasts, can plan a less expensive vacation in this beautiful part of Michigan. It’s shocking how tranquil the water can be, but the dunes themselves have a unique appeal all their own.
4. Niagara Falls, USA
Beyond being the honeymoon capital of the world, Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful places in the US. The large falls, along with “The Maid of the Mist,” the old boat that brings millions of tourists up to the falls every year, are the perfect backdrop for all types of photos. Even if you don’t want to go into the falls for a photo, there are plenty of other opportunities surrounding the three sets of waterfalls that create Niagara Falls. Visitors’ guides to the Niagara Falls state that there are several beautiful walks and drives alongside the falls, so be prepared to take the amazing photos that will make others envious of you.
Save 20% - Select Weekends at Extended Stay Hotels
February 8, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 02/10 through 02/13) and next weekend (stays 02/17 through 02/20) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, Chicago and many others.
For Arrival Dates 02/10/2012 and 02/11/2012
* Phoenix, AZ - Rates from $34.99/night
* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $31.99/night
* Miami, FL - Rates from $79.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* See all locations >
For Arrival Dates 02/17/2012 and 02/18/2012
* San Jose, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $34.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
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20% Off - Weekend Stays at Extended Stay Hotels
February 1, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 02/03 through 02/06) and next weekend (stays 02/10 through 02/13) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Austin and many others.
For Arrival Dates 02/03/2012 and 02/04/2012
* Phoenix, AZ - Rates from $34.99/night
* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $43.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Austin, TX - Rates from $34.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >
For Arrival Dates 02/10/2012 and 02/11/2012
* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $51.99/night
* Baltimore, MD - Rates from $55.99/night
* St. Louis, MO - Rates from $23.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $34.99/night
* See all locations >
