Need a Spring Break?

Spring break is already underway for some schools and my daughters will be taking theirs next week. 'Spring Break' brings forth images of scantily clad kids on the beach but that's not always the case. We older folks, after being cooped up and dealing with the cold of winter, also need a break and spring is as good a time as any to take one. Why wait for summer, right?

Friends have been telling us about Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations for a while now but can you believe we've never been to Myrtle Beach? Ok, so I'm not really big on golf and my husband is just a casual golfer; but I am a beach kind of girl and from what I hear, Myrtle Beach Golf Packages can be a huge bargain once you get beyond the 'golf'. I'll let the husband take that department. Me, I'll take the rest. What's the rest, you ask?

Myrtle Beach Golf, although awesome, is not all there is, you know. First off, don't forget the 'beach' in Myrtle Beach. From what I hear, since I've never been there, the beaches are wonderful. There are also great entertainment venues including some great eateries and I'm all about eating great.

If you're looking for a place to play golf but also offers non-golf related activities and amenities at a great price, then you definitely need to look into the Golf Packages Myrtle Beach on the T times only website and check out the great deals and beautiful property.

Valentine's Day Getaway

Snow is coming our way tonight and while most people are wishing for spring to come on already, I kind of agree with Punxsutawney Phil and wouldn't mind six more weeks of winter. For those who are wishing for a winter break though, perhaps the Valentine's package at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, Missouri will hit the spot.


Branson, Missouri has been getting a lot of attention lately as a travel destination. It is not only the new seat of the the country music entertainment scene, it also offers stunning vistas, museums, theme parks and word class shopping venues to its visitors.

For the Valentine's package, The Hilton Promedade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel are offering luxury accommodations, $50 food and beverage credit, admission to the Titanic Museum Attraction, vow renewals at the base of the Grand Staircase (if you wish), a box of chocolates and a heart of the ocean replica necklace (like the one in the movie Titanic) for as low as $209 per couple. This package is available for the whole month of February, all you have to do is book at least three days in advance of your desired date.

For this package and others similar to it, check the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel Package section of the website.

Holidays Vacations and Such

We've always liked staying at Hilton properties whenever we go on holidays. That's who we stayed with when we took our family vacation in Las Vegas last year. Their properties are always well kept, clean and equipped with luxurious amenities.

This year, as the holidays approach, we are are again contemplating a short trip for the holidays. We've been hearing a lot of good things about Branson, Missouri. It seems to be THE place to go for most vacationers of late.

At the heart of historic downtown Branson on Lake Taneycomo is Missouri is the
Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, right across from the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and the Branson Convention center. I actually booked a meeting at the Branson Convention Center Hotel not too long ago but I didn't get to go. I just made the arrangements. The people that did go had only good things to say about their stay in Branson. Branson is only minutes away from attractions such as Table Rock Lake (fishing, swimming, skiing), Silver Dollar City (1880's themed amusement park) and Celebration City (night time themed park).

Branson is definitely perfect for a family getaway there is something to entertain everyone in all age range. Both Hilton hotels offer great holiday packages and weekend packages which include breakfast. Starting with the Thanksgiving Package, there are also the It’s a Wonderful Life Package, Santa’s Coming to Town Package or the New Years’ Eve Package. Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the young at heart will be amazed at the awe inspiring light displays and parade through downtown Branson. Experience Christmas in the Missouri Ozarks and save yourself the work and frustration of preparing the celebrations yourself.

Water & Desert Sun

What else is there to do in the dessert but stay in the water, right? The girls went to Palm Springs with the family this weekend. They went hiking in San Jacinto mountains (don't know how long that lasted, can't be too long) then went straight to the hotel pool and that's where they stayed.

Of course, the grown ups made sure there's a casino nearby for their enjoyment :) I wish I was with them. Instead, I am here at work receiving these text messages and photos. Bah!

Happy Monday!

Summer Fun in the Summer Heat

Last year, the girls and I went to Las Vegas for our summer vacation. We toured Hoover Dam in 113 degree heat. Sounds like fun?

Actually, it was. I never would have thought that a family vacation in Las Vegas would be so much fun. The girls spent a lot of time in the pool and when the weather becomes unbearable, there are things to do indoors. Can you believe they even have a whole amusement park indoor? Yep, one day was spent at the Adventuredome behind circus circus. They had everything to keep the little munchkins entertained. They had games and roller coasters and water rides galore.

The girls were excited. They thought or maybe hoped they will be going to Las Vegas with their aunts again, but I think their aunts have something else planned for them :)

Share the Summer Fun

Once you get over the anxiety of sending your kids off to summer vacation on their own (see previous post), you can start planning on the fun aspects of a summer vacation. Not being with your kids, like we will be, you'd still want to keep up with what they will be doing without you. I've already coached my girls to take lots of photos so mom and dad can see what they did.

I've done this before, and I think we'll do it again this year. Always at the end of a vacation with my family, we've had photo cards made to commemorate that year's vacation. Photo Cards are highly customizable and can be used in a variety of ways. For instance, soon after we get back home, we send thank you cards to our summer hosts, with a memorable image to remind them how much we enjoyed our time with them. You can have custom messages printed inside the cards, or you can leave them blank. It's your choice. I personally like to write my own personal messages inside so I like to leave them blank.

When we're in the midst of winter and we are enveloped in thick coats, I like to use our summer vacation pictures, when we were tanned and wearing less, as Christmas cards. Yes! They make perfect Christmas card images to send to family and friends and this time Yes to the customized message either on the front of the cards or inside. What makes sending summer images for Christmas even special is that it reminds everyone the great time over the past summer and makes them look forward to the next, making winter not seem so bleak after all.

Kids Traveling Alone

The girls will be traveling alone for the first time this summer. Although they have been going through airports since they were toddlers and are pretty savvy travelers, I can't help but still worry about their safety. Their ages are 16, 15 and 10 so according to most airline's policies, they are allowed to travel as unaccompanied minors. There is a pretty hefty fee tacked on to their basic fare for the added service that will be provided to them. Let's hope it's worth it.

For the added fee, the airline is supposed to identify them to the staff on board that they are minors traveling alone and will need assistance. They will be making one connection, and a staff is supposed to assist them to get to the appropriate gate for the second leg of their flight.

In the event that they miss their connecting flight, a staff person is supposed to assist them to get on the next available flight. If, worst comes to worst and they have to spend overnight somewhere, a staff of the same sex is supposed to stay with them at the hotel and assist them in getting back to the airport for their connecting flight.

There are horror stories of children traveling alone out there. I suggest not reading them :)

Here's another tip that I didn't know about. Did you know that you can ask the airline for a security pass so that you can walk your minors to their boarding gate? So rather than just leaving them at the counter and letting them go through security on their own, I think we'll avail ourselves of this opportunity. Just to be on the safe side, you know?

Portraits by the Sea

Does anything evoke more romantic images in your mind than to hear the phrase, "Portraits by the Sea"?

If you are going to be in the area around Destin, Florida this summer and would like to have the most awesome souvenir to commemorate your vacation, you have to get your portrait taken by Portraits by the Sea. It is the photography studio of Tiki Nelson, specializing in beach portraits. Visit the website's portfolio section to get an idea of the different types of portraits you can take. The photographer's policy and pricing are also delineated so you won't get any surprises and you know what to expect. I like that. It allows me to plan ahead of time and my vacation won't be ruined by unexpected price hikes once I get there. That can be such a downer!

Picnics in the Sand

It's a long weekend and the beaches are calling. Do you have your swimwear ready?

I owe the girls a beach trip and a fishing trip, so I think this weekend would be a good time to make it up to them. We all deserve a break. We've all been working hard and a weekend just laying around in the sand, soaking up some sun sounds like just the right cure.

I just have to look into the fishing part. I have no idea where to go fishing, or if we need a license and all that. Either way, any excuse to be out in the sand and sun is a good reason to go.

Did you say summer?

The girls are on spring break this week but already they are talking about plans for summer vacation! Asi is planning on a summer course at the N.C. School of the Arts but the other two haven't lined up anything yet. I think they are hoping that their aunt will find cheap flights to California. They've never had summer vacations separately before though, so we are not too keen on one staying and the other two going away. We have a month to decide so maybe we'll procrastinate a little longer. I can't believe summer vacation is only a couple of months away though!

Places to roam

The weather for the last couple of days has been mild and sunny. It seems to have put everyone in a brighter mood, even here at the office. Everyone's already talking about summer vacations, garden tasks and renovation jobs to do around the house.

A co-worker of mine is going to Idaho to look for retirement properties. They want to retire within view of the Tetons and they had first considered Montana, but they said the real estate there has gone sky high. What with all the rich and famous people moving there and buying up huge ranches and all. They are also looking into Branson real estate. Everyone keeps saying Missouri is next in line in the real estate boom; well, I think it is actually already well on its way.

Us? I think we'll be in N.C. for a while.

Branson, Missouri Vacation

Branson Missouri has become one of the premier vacation destinations in the U.S.A. I think there are more and more families like ours who have vacationed in the usual destinations outside the country and had not really tasted the charm that really makes up America. So we have decided to vacation where we live, so to speak, and take time to explore our home.

Branson Getaways is a great place to start a vacation to Branson, Missouri. What's in Branson Missouri you say? It is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" having played host to some of the top performers in the country, for one. For families, there are endless attractions sure to please kids such as theme parks, museums, and plenty of nature and state parks to explore.

One of the best things about Branson for a family destination is the price. Branson Getaways has several package deals that will surely fit your needs. For instance, The Platinum Package for only $423 per couple includes a 3 days/2 nights stay at the Welk Resort Hotel, 2 tickets to the Grand Country Jubilee, a $30 gift card to Red Lobster or Olive Garden, a $50 Tanger Outlet gift certificate and a coupon book with $1,500 worth of savings. That is the lowest priced package. There is also the Family Package which includes a 4 days/3 nights at Presidential Condo for two adults and two kids for only $925. What a deal!

If their package deals does not work for you, you can also create your own custom planned vacation right there on the website. Choose the attractions you'd like to see, where you'd like to stay, state how many in your party, and their helpful representatives will help you to arrange the trip to your exact specifications.

Viva Las Vegas, Mama!

Oh, I forgot to say.... the reason I was talking to my grandma, who doesn't usually like talking on the phone because of her hearing, was because my mother was in Las Vegas with my sister again. My mom loves going to Vegas. She just can't get away from them slots, you know? Well at least she's had some good luck punching buttons. I guess that's why she keeps going back. That's how they keep you going back, you know.

If you're a good customer like she is, they will even send you coupons for free meals, free transportation or free Vegas hotels. I can't believe one time she even got a coupon for a free set of dishes! She of course cashed it in and now I have those dishes. lol!

Hilton Head in Spring

We have been in N.C. for over ten years, and as much as we love going to the beach, we just realized that we had never been ti Hilton Head. We haven't even been to Myrtle Beach even though we've had plenty of opportunities to go before. Something always came up to keep us from going.

Hubby's aunt has a small place at Hilton Head, S.C. so she asked him if he could help her to fix the place up before the summer. So we thought we'll take this time to go visit the place too. Since they will be working on their beach house, we can't very well stay there. I have started looking at Hilton Head rentals and are they ever expensive! Well, during the peak season that is. That means during the summer months beginning April to September. If we decide to go before April though, we will be able to save a substantial amount.

Find a place in Wilmington

The Carolina coastline is among the most beautiful in the world, and we're lucky to be able to drive there every so often to appreciate all that it has to offer. One of our favorite coastal destination is Wilmington, NC. On our previous trips we've stayed in various types of accommodations from low end hotels to beach rentals.

Of course, we preferred the beach rentals, especially since we always go as a family. Wilmington is a fast growing city and more and more people are moving down there making it more of a city than your typical beach town. It has all the amenities including night life and other activities besides sitting on the beach. I myself, prefer sitting on the beach.

But whatever your preferred vacation style or if you're even looking for a more permanent abode, Wilmington NC real estate is the place to start looking.

A Holiday Vacation

Every holiday, we keep saying we should go away instead of staying home to celebrate. We are again toying with the idea, but there is just nothing that beats that feeling you get on Christmas morning and you run to the tree to see what Santa has brought you. So we're thinking, what if we go after the Christmas presents are opened and spend a few days away from home?

I started looking at Hotel Reservations for nearby areas we'd like to visit and checked out HotelReservations.com. I checked the other sites too, and found that it was worth comparing sites. There are price differences not only in prices but also in hotel listings. I like the fact that bed and breakfast inns and vacation rentals were included in the mix when I searched HotelReservations.com. I hadn't thought about the bed and breakfast or vacation rental, so I was really glad I was given that information. Now I am concentrating my search to those types of accommodations. It's perfect for a family of five!

My sister the Brat

My sister O is becoming quite the travelpro. She just got back with a ton of photos from her trip to Dubai and London. I am so jealous. This year, she has been on three major trip not to mention her quickie jaunt to the Philippines earlier in the year. So far she has been to China, Italy, then recently Dubai and the UK. Lucky brat!

Art Walk in the Oldest City

Did you know that America's oldest city is St. Augustine, Florida? I didn't know that. Just like I also didn't know about the St. Augustine Artwalk which is when the city comes alive with music and art exhibits on the first Friday of every month.

The First Friday Weekend Art Walk is sponsored by the many art galleries in St. Augustine and it is free to the public. This sounds like the kind of thing my family and I would go to. We just love exploring art galleries and antique shops expecting to find something unique and unusual that will tickle our fancy. St. Augustine encourages visitors and makes it easy for you to attend this event; they provide free parking (Sebastian Winery, 157 King Street) and every 15 minutes shuttles and trolleys provide free rides from the parking lot to several destinations on the art walk.

Many artists and art lovers consider St. Augustine home and during this weekend art walk, you can view wome of their work on display and maybe if you're lucky you may even get a chance to meet some of them. There is one more art walk remaining this year on December 7th, but will commence the 2008 season on January 4th. So if you're going to be in Florida, make sure you make St. Augustine is on your itinerary.

On the road again

My sister is leaving for Dubai today, after having just come back from her Italian vacation a couple of months ago. Lucky brat. Oh she is also stopping in London on her way back and will get to see a bunch of relatives and friends we hadn't seen in years. Like I said, Lucky Brat!

Anyway, she just emailed this morning and said that she hadn't even finished packing. That's because she ended up packing extra gifts for all these people she is going to meet up with. LOL! That part I don't envy. She said one of our uncles will be picking her up at her hotel when she gets to London then they are going to a party where our uncle had already invited half if not all the Filipinos in London.

Before she left, while she was arranging for this trip, I gave sis this new website where you can find a comprehensive list of hotels in your destination, wherever that may be. Check it out, if you've got travel plans ahead of you. Brat! :)

Oktoberfest and beyond

It isn't London, Paris or Rome. It is something totally different and for the usual 'run of the mill tourist', something that comes close to something 'off the the beaten path' as you can get. I'm talking about Germany.

Germany has gotten a bad rap for a long time but no one can deny that it is one of the most culturally rich European country there is. There are now hotels in germany that can be had at reasonable prices so there is no reason any longer why the charms of famed cities like Vienna should go undiscovered any longer. You can start with the historical capital city of Berlin where you can explore the numerous museums and experience life in this bustling city. Also, hotels in berlin come at a variety of prices and quality depending on just what you are looking for.

For a taste of Bavarian culture, Munich during Oktoberfest is an experience that must not be missed. Whats more, hotels in munich are centrally located right in the middle of all the festivities. So you can party and imbibe the fine German ales without a worry but to just have some fun.

Well, are you going yet?