Travel tips for road warriors on the move and extended stay travelers who like long term vacations.

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20% Off - Weekend Stays at Extended Stay Hotels

April 25, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 04/27 through 04/30) and next weekend (stays 05/04 through 05/07) 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 San Diego, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Philadelphia and many others.

For Arrival Dates 04/27/2012 and 04/28/2012

* San Diego, CA - Rates from $51.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $31.99/night
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $33.99/night
* Philadelphia, PA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 05/04/2012 and 05/05/2012

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Memphis, TN - Rates from $34.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $37.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

It’s Time for a Mall-Hopping Road Trip!

April 23, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We love malls. There are 1,100 shopping malls in the USA. Most Americans are just a quick drive away from one. They are famous the world over. Many international tourists are as interested in our malls as they are in the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument—probably more so. Malls represent American culture the world over as much as Hollywood does. Like America, malls are very independent. They tend not to reflect the world around them—the regions in which they are located—because they are worlds unto themselves. In a mall, you get absolutely everything you need: entertainment, socializing, exercise, sustenance and miles and miles of shopping. If only we didn’t have to sleep, we’d never have to leave malls.

A Giant Mall Not Far from the Big Apple

Not far from New York City (also not a bad place to shop), the Palisades Center Mall is the sixth largest shopping mall in the country. The mall’s 2,000-seat food court has a Ferris wheel and a two-story Venetian carousel—both ideal places to leisurely smell the fragrant mall food and people watch. You will encounter a cross section of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans in the Palisades Mall. On Sundays, there is an especially high concentration of New Jerseyans—because Bergen County, New Jersey, just four miles away, has blue laws that prohibit enclosed shopping centers from operating on Sundays.

The Palisades Mall has over 200 stores—16 of which are anchor stores. There is a historically important graveyard dating back to 1849 on the site of the Palisades Center that you should have a look at. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mount Moor African-American Cemetery was a burying ground for African American and Native American war veterans and their wives from the Civil War through to the Korean War.

Minneapolis: King of the Mall Towns

The most important area in the United States for malls is doubtless the Minneapolis area of Minnesota. The first enclosed mall ever, the Southdale Center Mall, opened in Minneapolis in 1956. This is no old-time, outmoded mall, though. With more than 120 stores and an AMC 16-screen multiplex, this grandfather of all malls still keeps up with the young whippersnapper malls. The heavy of the young whippersnappers, the Mall of America, the largest one in the United States (large enough to accommodate Yankee Stadium seven times over), is just 12 miles away—in Bloomington.

40 million people visit this mall every year; and 40% of them are out-of- towners. Some people visit it just to marvel at the building, which has been compared to the Crystal Palace, and experience its many attractions.

The mall has the US’s most substantial indoor theme park—Nickelodeon Universe—which has real spine-tingling roller coasters. The mall also houses the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, where you can see sharks, fresh-water fish and sea turtles swimming around you. Amazing in many ways, the Mall of America boasts more than 400 stores.

When you get back from the mall, you’re definitely going to want to kick back at a hotel with all the amenities of home. Just because shopping is lots of fun doesn’t mean that it can’t tire you out!

Investigating and Experiencing the Titanic in Its Centennial Year

April 20, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Historian Steven Biel claims that the three subjects that have historically been discussed most in print are the Civil War, Jesus and the Titanic. While the Titanic gets considerably less coverage than the Messiah and somewhat less coverage than the war to save the Union, that changes around the time of key anniversaries of its sinking. Since RMS Titanic went down, on April 15, 1912, the fifth day of her maiden voyage, we are currently at the most important anniversary of the disaster in recent memory—the 100^th.

Why do we care so much about the Titanic?

Why exactly, out of all the great ship disasters—the Lusitania, the Maine, etc.—are we so fascinated with the Titanic? In an article called “Unsinkable” in the April 16, 2012, issue of The New Yorker, Daniel Mendelsohn speculates that the reason we find the Titanic’s story so compelling is that it has similarities to classical tragedy and mythology. The mythological resonance is not hard to see: The massive Titanic (was 882’ & 9” long—almost the length of 8 blue whales) was named for the Titans, Greek deities of awesome size who preceded the more famous Olympians—at whose hands they met grisly ends.

The classical tragic reference is not quite as glaring—though it’s easy enough to see: Like the hero of a Greek tragedy’s disastrous downfall (Oedipus’ fall comes to mind), the Titanic’s disaster was due to a series of entirely avoidable missteps. If only the Titanic had not sped through iceberg-infested waters, and if only the Californian—a ship that was stopped for the night only ten miles from where the Titanic foundered—had not inexplicably ignored the Titanic’s distress flares, tragedy would have been averted. But it was not averted. The Titanic never reached the United States, where it was heading when it sank 1,000 miles off the coast of Boston. That fact, though, has not kept museums dedicated to the intriguing disaster from being opened in the US, and it surely won’t stop an intrigued Road Warrior from visiting one.

Experiencing the Beauty and the Sadness First Hand

Titanic the Experience, located in Orlando, Florida, not far from Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios, features actors in historical garb playing notable passengers and crew members (including Molly Brown and Captain Smith). These actors regale you with tales from the voyage while walking around full-size recreations of notable spaces on the ship—such as the Grand Staircase, which will be recognizable to most visitors because of its significance in James Cameron’s epic 1997 film Titanic. It is not all make believe at Titanic the Experience, though. The exhibition has an actual piece of the great ship’s hull on display along with over 400 items recovered from the wreck.

A Scarily Real Titanic Experience

The Titanic Museum Attraction, which has locations in both Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri, is owned by John Joslyn, who co-led, in 1987, two years after the wreck of the Titanic was discovered, an exploration and artifact retrieval mission to the site of the sunken ship. Both Titanic Museum Attractions offer interactive self-guided tours. Many key locations of the ship are faithfully recreated, such as the captain’s bridge and the boiler room. Visitors can steer a replica of the wheel that failed to dodge the iceberg and bang out distress calls on the same model of telegraph that failed to get help to the foundering Titanic in time. The height of interaction is when you are done with your tour, you learn, in the Memorial Room, whether the passenger represented by the mock Titanic boarding pass you are given upon entering the museum lives or dies.

Weekend Nights from $23.99 - Extended Stay Hotels

April 18, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 04/20 through 04/23) and next weekend (stays 04/27 through 04/30) 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, Chicago, Boston, Houston and many others.

For Arrival Dates 04/20/2012 and 04/21/2012

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $49.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $55.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 04/27/2012 and 04/28/2012

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $33.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* St. Louis, MO - Rates from $23.99/night
* Philadelphia, PA - Rates from $51.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* See all locations >

Save 20% - Select Weekends at Extended Stay Hotels

April 12, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 04/13 through 04/16) and next weekend (stays 04/20 through 04/23) 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, Columbus, Philadelphia, Houston, Seattle and many others.

For Arrival Dates 04/13/2012 and 04/14/2012

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Columbus, OH - Rates from $39.99/night
* Philadelphia, PA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 04/20/2012 and 04/21/2012

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $47.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $55.99/night
* Las Vegas, NV - Rates from $35.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

We Built This Country on Rock ‘N’ Roll

April 9, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The sentiment expressed in the iconic Starship song “We Built This City (On Rock ’n’ Roll)” is not just descriptive of a city. It is, culturally speaking, descriptive of the whole country. There was nothing more formative for the baby-boom generation, and there is nothing more foundational for today’s popular music. It is not an exaggeration to say that rock and roll is as important for western culture as democracy is for the western ethos. Seeing where rock and roll was created, then, is a way for the Road Warrior to discover America all over again. So let’s hop in the car and check out three of America’s bedrock cities of rock: Cleveland, Memphis and Chicago!

The Birthplace of Rock ‘N’ Roll

Cleveland is called the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll because Alan Freed, who coined the term, started the country’s first all rock ‘n’ roll radio program there. Also, on March 21, 1952, Freed hosted the first ever rock ‘n’ roll show (called the Moondog Coronation Ball) in Cleveland.

The main attraction in the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll is, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A good time to visit is during the two weeks of events leading up to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony: March 31-April 14. The Moondog Coronation Ball’s 60^th anniversary concert, featuring Credence Clearwater Revisited, Mickey Dolenz of the Monkeys, and Lance Freed (Alan’s son!), kicks things off on the 31^st. On April 14, the day of the ceremony, admission to the Hall of Fame is free!

The Sun Sound

Elvis Presley is synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll. Before he was the king, though, he got his start recording for Sam Phillips in his Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Today, Sun Studio is a museum dedicated to Sun Records’ substantial contribution to early rock ‘n’ roll. You will be surprised at how small the studio that Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins recorded in is. Phillips’ liberal use of an echo effect makes it sound much more spacious on record than it actually is. The Sun Studio tour is brief (about forty-five minutes). You can easily hit Sun and Graceland (Elvis’ legendry, opulent home) in one day. There is a free shuttle that runs between the two attractions.

Chess Records: From Urban Blues to Rock ‘n’ Roll

Chicago’s Chess Records released many blues records in the early fifties that would be an influence on many of the 60’s British Invasion bands, like the Rolling Stones (who titled a song on their second album, 12 X 5, “2120 South Michigan Avenue,” which is Chess Studios’ address). After the popularity of Chicago blues fell off in the mid-fifties, Chess invested heavily in the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll sound, releasing key records by Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

2120 South Michigan Avenue is now owned by Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation. There is a lot of memorabilia from Chess Records’ 50’s and 60’s recording artists on display, and the building has been very nicely renovated to its original state.

Even Rockers Need to Relax

After you’ve spent the day exploring our country’s rich musical heritage, you’ll need a place to take it easy and talk about all the things you’ve seen and heard. You’ll want more than just a place to flop down. There are a number of Extended Stay Hotels within driving distance of Chicago and Cleveland, and there is one right in Memphis! These hotels, which have kitchens, laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi, are perfect places to set up a home away from home. So what are you waiting for? Hop in the car, and rock and roll!

Five Years from Now: What Our Technological Future Will Be

April 6, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Just five years ago, the technology landscape was quite a bit different than it is today: The now-ubiquitous iPhone had just been unveiled. There was no iPad, no Google Docs; and MySpace was at the top of the Internet social-networking heap. With everything moving so fast, what new technology—improving our businesses, travel abilities and lives overall—will we be using in just five years?

As Apple has been at the vanguard of developments in personal-computing technology and style in the last thirty years, what we are all dying to know is what Apple will do in the next five years. But Apple, probably the most secretive of the technology companies, is not in the prognostication business. So we have to turn, for predictions, to the wizened granddaddy of the Silicon Valley technology companies: IBM. In late 2011, Big Blue made five grand predictions of life-changing leaps in technology that will take place over the next five years.

• “I Sing the Body Electric” will no longer be just a poetic phrase.

IBM predicts that five years from now, the dynamic energy created by the physical activities that we undertake will be harnessed by devices and transformed into electricity to power homes, offices, vehicles and even whole towns and cities. Your steps on your morning run, your pedals on your bicycle commute to work, your son’s annoying booms and bams on his drum kit—all of these movements create energy—energy that we only use once. This energy can be recycled, just as physical resources like bottles and cans are, and used again. IBM predicts that in five years, we will not need solar panels in order to give back to the grid.

• Passwords will become truly individual.

Isn’t it annoying having to remember ten different passwords (at least) for all your separate accounts? We do it without thinking about what a hassle it is—just like we used to memorize many phone numbers and rewind VHS tapes without being bothered by the extra work. Luckily for us, the folks at IBM (and at other tech companies, no doubt) have been working on eliminating this nuisance.

IBM predicts that in the next five years, we will log into our e-mail, social-networking and bank accounts biometrically—that is, computer systems will recognize us and allow us access to our accounts based on our individual physiologies (the way our faces look, our eyes look, our voices sound, etc.).

• The elimination of technology poverty will help end actual poverty.

Because, IBM says, smartphones and tablet computers with access to the Internet through satellite networks will become broadly and affordably available to all the world’s people, rich and poor, over the next five years, healthcare will improve, and people’s ability to get their products to markets, remote and near, will improve.

People in isolated rural areas will be aware when the travelling doctor is coming to town, and they will no longer have to waste time waiting for her arrival day after day. People who produce products that have no market in their local village but that would sell quite well in wealthier parts of the world will be able to make arrangements to get microloans to fund production of their products and arrange to have them shipped to remote locations via their smartphones and tablets.

• Junk mail will be thrown on the junk heap of history.

We are already getting personalized advertisements on some web pages we view based on our browsing histories. IBM predicts this will carry over into the sphere of e-mail. We will no longer get spam—strictly speaking. We still may be annoyed by the amount of advertising that lands in our inbox, but the advertising will be for items we have expressed interest in.

Improvements in our technological future will greatly benefit our businesses, our economy, our ability to travel more efficiently and our lives in general. Technologically, we’ve travelled far, but we have even more exciting destinations in our future.

Rates from $30.99/night - Weekend Stays at Extended Stay Hotels

April 4, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 04/06 through 04/09) and next weekend (stays 04/13 through 04/16) 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 San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Baltimore, Austin and many others.

For Arrival Dates 04/06/2012 and 04/07/2012

* San Diego, CA - Rates from $43.99/night
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $43.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $52.99/night
* Baltimore, MD - Rates from $51.99/night
* Austin, TX - Rates from $34.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $42.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 04/13/2012 and 04/14/2012

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $30.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Portland, OR - Rates from $41.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

Discovering European-Inspired Cities in the United States

April 2, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It can be quite exciting to plan a European vacation, especially when you splurge and can afford to visit various cities as part of a single trip. These types of trips can be exhausting to plan, but well worth it. What many people do not know is that there is an abundance of cities in the United States that have beautiful European inspirations. These cities pride themselves on their rich and colorful European roots. Regardless of what part of the country you plan on visiting during your vacation, there is likely going to be a picturesque European city for you to spend a weekend in.

As you plan on your vacation, consider looking into a European influence to incorporate into it. Find a comfortable hotel that is going to be in the heart of the city that you are discovering. Here are some ways to start:

    1. Take a European-style hot air balloon ride.

Utah has breath-taking views all on its own, but imagine how much better they would be if you view it all from the European-style hot air balloon ride throughout the state. These air balloons aren’t seasonal; you can view the entire state year-round, and you can have your entire family enjoy a tour that will highlight some of the most beautiful parts of the state. See some of the most popular sites, such as Park City or Bryce Canyon in a while new light.

    2. Visit themed small towns, like Ferndale, California.

Some towns thrive on their themed historical aspects, and Ferndale has developed a reputation for being California’s Victorian Village. Not only is this town considered to be one of America’s prettiest towns, but it is also only five minutes away from California’s Lost Coast. It seems that this town, with its Victorian residential and commercial buildings, is a time warp to a place that has been forgotten. The entire town has been classified as a California Historic Landmark, which is a feat in itself.

    3. Sip delectable coffee and tea from a café.

No matter what part of Europe you go to, one thing is always the same: people love to gather in cafés at all hours of the day. The local café is the perfect way to get a feel of how the city’s residents interact with each other, and if you can find a European-style café, you can get a peek at the inner workings of the city. There are few cities that rock the café culture like Portland, Oregon, so if you want a true experience of the coffee shop lifestyle, discover this beautiful city’s brewing bests.

    4. Seek out hidden European-style pockets in big cities.

Some of the oldest cities in the country, like Boston, are known for having various European elements because they have held onto their Colonial roots. Boston’s old-world architecture can be seen throughout the heart of the city. There are colonial, federal and European cities that are breathtaking in photos, but awe-inspiring in real life. Visit the Old Boston City Hall, the Brattle Square Congregational or the Flour and Grain Exchange to see some of the original Victorian architecture. Paul Revere’s House is also an example of the Colonial design that makes this city so beautiful.