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Posts Tagged ‘family vacation’

Stay at Des Moines Airport Hotel and Conference Center by Best Western in Des Moines Iowa

April 2nd, 2009 No comments

If you are traveling to Des Moines, Iowa you’ll want to stay at the Des Moines Airport Hotel and Conference Center by Best Western. This lovely airport hotel is just two blocks from the airport. With an airport shuttle that runs every fifteen minutes, you’ll be at your airport hotel – or back at the airport so quickly and conveniently! The airport shuttle from the Des Moines Airport Hotel and Conference Center runs twenty-four hours a day – so you can easily catch the red eye or that late night flight with no trouble.

Attached to this airport hotel is Bennigan’s Irish American Grill and Tavern, perfect for a lunch or dinner with your business associates or family during your trip. Bennigan’s has 9 big screen televisions and you can easily watch NFL Sunday ticket from this restaurant.

Rooms at this airport hotel are spacious and comfortable. Each room has high speed wireless Internet, mini refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker and cable television. Enjoy a complimentary hot continental breakfast each morning during your stay. Take a swim in the indoor oversized pool or workout in the on-site fitness center. This is the ideal airport hotel to select for your business trip or family vacation!

How to Have a Great Family Cruise Ship Vacation

April 1st, 2009 No comments

Thinking of a family vacation aboard a cruise ship? If you and your family are interested in becoming one of those families, you have a number of different options. If you are tired of camping, picnics or a visit to grandma’s house during the next holiday season, why not go on a cruise ship?

Setting sail on water is fun and it is something that most of is would love to do. Boats are expensive and most of us cannot afford one anyway. We have an interesting piece of information for you: a family vacation aboard a cruise ship can be for anyone irrespective of whether they understand sailing or not. Try going on a cruise vacation.

So will your family enjoy a vacation being aboard a cruise ship? Cruise liners open up a new world of experience and there are endless possibilities that you can explore on your vacation. Individuals of all age can enjoy participating in these activities.

Consider these issues before you make the decision about arranging a family vacation aboard a cruise ship. If you prefer quiet evening away from the crowd, probably being aboard a cruise ship would not be suitable as a few nights on a hired yacht. Children and adults will find plenty of activities to do on a cruise liner. You can choose to swim in the pool, laze around on the deck, or gamble to your heart’s desire.

Other one of the many benefits of taking a family cruise ship vacation is the fact that almost all of them have onboard childcare. The child can be left for an hour or two while you pamper yourself with some private time with your spouse, or alone. These are often complimentary facilities.

One biggest benefit of a cruise vacation is the quality time spent together. While it is true that this quality time together can be spent anywhere, it is often more memorable on a cruise liner. The close corridors should not be viewed as a disadvantage. Teenagers, for instance do not see time spent with the family as a worthwhile investment.

This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with them without being too obvious. Remember to take a long a video recorder and take a regular camera along as well. In addition to enjoying your cruise in the present, you and your family will also be able to enjoy it in the future. For a reasonable price, you can have an unforgettable family vacation on board a cruise ship so why not take hold of the experience while you can?

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Travel Tips For Cheap Family Vacations

March 31st, 2009 No comments

Family vacations are really an important time for the family. Its probably the only time of the year that the whole family can get together and spend some real quality time with each other. It means fun for both the parents and kids. Many families may now tend to avoid thinking about vacation because of a tight budget and a slumping economy. Here, however, are some tips on how to cut down the cost of your next family vacation and yet still ensure loads of enjoyment for everyone:

1. Plan your vacation well in advance. This gives you plenty of time to surf the internet and get the best bargains on air tickets and hotel reservations for your family.

2. Try to be flexible about the dates of your travel. Its better to travel in mid-week rather than on a weekend. Try to plan your travel in the off peak season. You are more likely to get cheaper air tickets and a good bargain on your hotel.

3. Save money on hotel rooms. Your hotel choice could consume much of the money spent on your vacation. If you have relatives or friends living near any probable vacation spot, then try make arrangements, if possible, to stay with them for the holiday. If planning an international vacation then consider using a hotel guide or surf the internet for the best rates you can find.

4. Save money by considering cheap cruises. These can be for only three to five days on many popular cruise ships with many fun designations. The inside cabins are the best choice and can actually be very affordable.

5. Check for a vacation rental. These provide a great value when it comes to a family vacations. You can save a lot on the hotel room and also on the food.

6. Before you leave for your vacation, buy all your own amenities like sunscreen, toothpaste, medicines, etc. These things usually cost more at vacation spots.

7. Try to travel with another family or with friends. You can consider booking a vacation cottage and share the cost of the stay. You can do the same with food because you will most likely have a kitchen in the cottage.

8. Choose a destination where you can have free fun. Youre already paying for your stay and the food could be costly so you dont want to end up paying for all your entertainment as well.

9. Try to visit the off beaten path destinations. These destinations are a lot cheaper than the crowded destinations most might choose. You also will have the added advantage of privacy.

10. You can consider choosing a destination that you can drive to. You can also carry your own food and entertainment along. You can carry an ice box with bottled water, soda, and perhaps a selection of canned foods.

11. You may also consider a family camping trip. Its filled with fun and adventure and it can really be within your budget. Your biggest expense might be the tent. You can carry an ice box with all your food and drinks. You might also plan a family barbeque. You can take your friends along so that you can split the price of gas and food.

12. We cant ignore the fact that last minute vacation packages can be big money savers. Although planning your vacation in advance is good advice, you could also plan on catching a last minute deal.

So get geared up, pack your bags, and start planning your next fun-filled cheap family vacation.

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Stay at Comfort Inn Airport & Conference Center Albany – ALB in Latham, NY

March 26th, 2009 1 comment

If you are traveling to New York’s capitol city Albany, you’ll want to stay at the Comfort Inn Airport & Conference Center Albany. Located in Latham, NY it is just minutes from Albany, NY. It is also only a mile from the airport – and with a complimentary “on demand” airport shuttle available throughout the day, you’ll know you can get back to the airport with great ease.

Choosing this airport hotel places you in the very heart of the Capitol District. You’ll be within minutes from several local colleges including Union College, the University of Albany and State University of New York. This hotel is also conveniently located for the Times Union Center, the New York State Museum and the Colonie Center mall and Crossgates Mall. There is lots to do, see and explore in Albany, New York. It is the ideal destination for your family vacation and many business travelers come to Albany.

The Comfort Inn Airport & Conference Center offers many amenities that guests will truly appreciate. Enjoy a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. High speed Internet is available in every guest room in this hotel for your convenience. Enjoy a copy of USA Today each morning to peruse the day’s news and check the weather for Albany and your hometown. All guests enjoy free local calls in the U.S.A..

Business travelers will especially appreciate the voice mail available for each guest. You also have the ability to send a fax or copy documents at this hotel upon demand. There are on-site meeting facilities to accommodate meetings of up to 75 people.

This is the ideal place to stay for that family vacation or business trip to Albany. You are sure to see everything as you’ll be located in the heart of the Capitol District. It’s the perfect choice for everyone!

Costa Rica Family Adventure – Tico Style

March 19th, 2009 No comments

Costa Rica is a great vacation destination for a wide variety of reasons and a wide variety of travelers. This intimate country boasts stunning tropical weather, abundant flora and fauna, an incredible national park system, amazing beaches, stunning mountains, a vast array of activities, diversity of ecosystems in a compact area, strong relative value, huge range of accommodations from exotic luxury options to nature-based ecolodges, etcetera! However, what really stands out to me after over 6 years of traveling to this country and living here for the last 4 and a half years, is what an incredible haven this is for family travel.

The Costa Rican people, affectionately known as ticos, love families and babies and generously express a special touch for the young, old and in-between. You will hear estoy para servirle often, which means I am here to serve you. As long as your behavior is gracious, it will be completely sincere. From the moment you arrive at Juan Santa Maria Airport in San Jose and proceed through customs, this will be apparent. There is a special line for families with young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with medical or special needs. Our first visit was when my youngest daughter was a tender 6 weeks old, and as soon as they saw me and my bundle, older daughter of 3, and husband, we were whisked into the expedited line and sent right through. Genuine hospitality will find you, whether you are with family, children, or not. However, when you are with children and/or elders, there is a wonderful extra effort made and the sincere desire to go above and beyond to accommodate will impress you. I cant think of a more enjoyable country for any family trip; there are activities to delight any age group and any fitness level.

A Costa Rica family adventure is such a great opportunity for you and yours to bond in a unique way, away from the crazy daily races that most of us participate in. I love the process: you have a clear planning stage, beginning, middle, end, and the post-travel memories and experiences that can last a lifetime. To top it off, there is a common goal all can work toward together: to have a great time! Start by narrowing down destinations and activities. Even if you have various priorities and opinions, you will likely be able to cover it all in Costa Rica. We have cloud forests, rainforests, Pacific beaches, Caribbean beaches, surf camps, snorkeling, whitewater rafting, hiking, horse back riding, camping, all-inclusives, you name it! Engage your kids to help in the planning and execution however they can contribute. Encourage them to document the trip by keeping a journal, taking pictures, and collecting memorabilia. Pick out some travel books together. There are beautifully illustrated field guides of flora and fauna to identify the numerous amazing creatures you see here in Costa Rica. The airports here have a nice selection, but if you do this in your hometown it could be a helpful part of the planning stage. Your son or daughter might decide they have a burning desire to see a Tapir, so you would then need to choose the right area near the appropriate National Park. A Costa Rica family adventure is not only a great time together; it can be super educational as well.

I am consistently impressed with tours in Costa Rica. Just because you are relaxing at a beach destination doesnt mean you cant enjoy an estuary trip, or volcano excursion, or a zip-line through the cloud forest. From all destinations there are half-day and day trips for all kinds of tours. When deciding on tours, I recommend always choosing the guided option. Generally the guides here are college educated, super friendly, and take great pride in their unique knowledge which really makes the experience an excellent added value. My husband and I took our girls for a guided waterfall hike at Lapa Rios in the Osa and if it werent for the terrific guide we would have missed out on so much. He knew just where to find a bat in a furled leaf, the dust-like spores of a fern that left perfect imprints on our clothing, cup-like mushrooms, frogs, and so much more. The two big highlights for us were when he scraped some sap from what he called a kerosene tree, placed it on the end of a walking stick and lit it up like a lantern and when he stopped to show us the clever spider that intentionally weaves in small twigs into its web which happens to match the body color of the spider. The spider leaves a small gap between the twigs where he can hide, making the appearance of one continuous twig-amazing! We were so enthralled that we waited to see if the spider would retreat to the camouflaged position, and sure enough we were able to see it! I have been so happy to have had the guides on every guided tour that I have taken in Costa Rica. I have found that they are also sensitive to ages and abilities which will make a big difference for your group as well.

Some of my favorite places to go with my family:

1. Lapa Rios Eco Lodge in the Osa Peninsula: For up close and personal nature, a truly sustainable experience, great food, views, excellent service, and luxury in the jungle, adventure. This lodge really is best for outdoorsy, somewhat adventurous families and kids 5 and older. It is my gold standard for eco-lodges.

2. Punta Islita on the Pacific Coast: They have tours, services, and even spa treatments geared for families. The spacious villas can accommodate families beautifully. The cuisine, service and views are wonderful; kids of all ages will love it. The tiny local community is a treat.

3. Harmony Hotel in Nosara: Very elegant, sustainable, healthy cuisine. Yoga for all levels. Great beach for boogie boarding, swimming and surfing. The locals and the clientele have relaxed international flair. Kids of all ages will do well; baby/toddler friendly pool.

4. Hotel Capitan Suizo in Tamarindo: This is a Swiss-run charmer on one of my favorite beaches ever. The pool and restaurant are totally family-friendly. You have the benefit of a bustling community with lots of services, amenities, and restaurants, however when you stay at Capitan Suizo you are in your own lovely little world. The beach is one of the best Ive experienced for kids of all ages where you all can swim, surf, and boogie-board. The staff is great. There are several local surf schools that are fantastic for all levels.

Travel is good food for the soul. I dont think there is a better way for a family to refresh, bond and create memorable experiences together. If you choose Costa Rica for your family adventure you will have memories to cherish; you will be delighted. In my experience, those that visit enjoy themselves so much they return because there is so much here to savor!

Costa Rica Family Adventures – Tico Style By Lisa Khajavi

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