The choice between hotel and all-inclusive is a hard one. Some people see the prices and wonder if it’s really worth it. What draws so many people towards this option?
Top 10 Reasons for a Rental!
After a few long, whiny, nights full of crying and fussing…and that was me, not the kids…we started renting condos for vacations. Think a rental might be a good option for your family? Here are 10 reasons for a rental:
SPACE
I don’t know about you, but the most important factor of our accommodations is my family has their own space to spread out. When we are in cramped areas we slowly turn into cornered animals that can turn on each other in a split second. It turns into a National Geographic documentary with my daughters stalking each other like prey. OK, OK…that may be pushing it…but it sure is nice to have some room. A house rental gives everyone their privacy and allows us all to choose our own schedule. My husband is a night owl so it’s great for when he wants to go in the living room to watch some TV after the kids go to bed, or allows my daughters to sleep in if I get up early.
Pros/Cons of Staying in a Hotel on Vacation
St. Ermin’s Hotel
Where you stay can make or break your vacation. We once stayed in a hotel in NYC that placed earplugs on the nightstand because of its loud neighborhood. When planning your trip, the first decision is should you stay at a hotel, all-inclusive, or rent a place. Today we’ll focus on hotels, so let’s start by breaking down the reasons why you should or should not stay in a hotel:
PROS OF STAYING IN A HOTEL:
NO COOKING
YES!!! Cheers break out from moms everywhere!! Even on vacation parents do not get a vacation from being a parent. The advantage of having a hotel room is you can’t cook…not even if you wanted to! Don’t get tricked into getting a room with a kitchenette or you may as well put your apron on.
HOUSEKEEPING
A week of not making beds or vacuuming sounds like heaven to me. Leave the housekeepers a big fat tip because they deserve it.
Top Things To Do in Obidos Portugal
Obidos is one of the most charming towns I have ever been to and I could have daydreams of myself living there for a month… spending my afternoons hanging laundry on my clothesline while talking to the local elderly ladies and gossiping about the town. When my mind starts drifting, I imagine living in a small town like this where everyone knows each other and old traditions are used today. Need more proof that this town is amazing? Consider this: In the 13th century, Queen Isabel visited this town and fell so in love with it that her husband, King Denis I, gave it to her. That’s right…he gave her the actual town. (Good luck topping that gift Buddy!) Although it is good for a day trip, there is nothing like being here after the crowds have left. That’s when the magic happens.
Here are my top 10 things to do in Obidos:
10 Ways to Survive a Layover with Kids
The days of long layovers where you sit back, enjoy a latte, and lose yourself in a good book seem to disappear after you have kids. Layovers are a lot more work when you now have to entertain little ones. In fact, after having kids I try to avoid layovers as much as possible, but sometimes they can’t be avoided. Here are 10 tips for how I survive a layover:
10 Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe While Traveling
Since it’s Spring break for New Englanders, I thought I would repost one of my articles on how to keep your home safe while you’re traveling. Hope it’s helpful! Safe travels!
Vacation is a time for relaxation and tranquility, but it’s human nature to worry about the house you left behind. A home is a huge responsibility and you want to keep it safe even when you are away. The following are 10 tips for keeping your home safe while traveling:
1. ASK SOMEONE TO WATCH YOUR HOUSE. Personally, I don’t feel the need to hire a house sitter for a short trip. My house is able to take care of itself. However, I do let my neighbors know that I’ll be away so they can keep an eye on anything suspicious. It’s nice to get a quick text saying our house is still standing.
2. PUT YOUR MAIL ON HOLD. It takes ten minutes to get online and put your mail on hold. Nothing screams, “No one’s home!” like mail bulging out of a street mailbox. I have delivery start the day we return so it’s there when we get home.
Tips for Relieving Jet Lag
Jet lag can make or break your vacation because it is this foggy cloud that settles over you. My husband travels to California for work and I have no clue how his body acclimates to the time difference so well. I started to do some research and realized there are things you could do to adjust your body to jet lag, so I thought I’d share some of the tips I’ve found:
SO, WHAT THE HECK IS JET LAG?
The medical term for jet lag is desynchronosis. It is a physiological condition that is caused when the body’s circadian rhythms (internal time clock) is warped due to rapid long-distance (east–west or west–east) travel.
WHAT SYMPTOMS CAN JET LAG CAUSE?
Everyone can experience different symptoms of jet lag. Personally, I feel like I have a cloud of smog surrounding my head. People complain of having memory problems, a hard time concentrating, irritation, difficulty making decisions, loss of appetite, tired muscles, and bathroom issues.
So, what can you do to prevent some of these symptoms?
15 Ways to Entertain Kids on a Plane
One of the questions I’m most asked is “What tips do you have for keeping kids happy and busy on a plane?” So I thought this would be a wonderful time to re-post one of my most popular articles.
Before I had kids I was a horrible flyer. When turbulence would hit I’d practically sit on the lap of the person seated next to me. (Awkward!) But after having kids, those fears were replaced by an even scarier one… fear of the crying/screaming child!! I want our vacation fun to start as soon as we get on the plane so I had to develop some tricks to keep the natives from getting restless. Now that my girls are 7 & 9 they can entertain themselves, but they’ve come to love our plane traditions so they’ve stuck. Here are my Top 15 Ways to Entertain a Kid on a Plane:
10 Things NOT to Do When Boarding a Plane
When we were boarding the plane a few weeks ago, my daughters and I were laughing at all the ridiculous things people do when boarding a plane. The process could go so smoothly if people would just pay attention to common sense rules. Most of the time people don’t even realize that what they’re doing is holding up the rest of the passengers, but others are just plain selfish. So…here are 10 things we thought people should NOT do when they’re boarding a plane:
1. ARMS AND LEGS: If you have an aisle seat you will have plenty of time to stretch out during the flight. I will not feel bad for you if you get your elbow banged while I’m walking if your elbow is halfway across the aisle. Keep them in your seat until everyone is on board!
2. OVERHEAD BINS: Crazy concept… but we are actually ALL sharing the overhead bins, so please set your bag sideways and allow room for others to do the same. Don’t be that guy that puts it lengthwise right in the middle of the bin!
3. STANDING IN AISLE: We all have the same task…put our bags up and sit down. Please do not stand in the aisle taking out your magazines while we all wait for you.
10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling
10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling
Life doesn’t always happen the way you want it to and sometimes even when you’re in paradise, you can get sick. I wish you could just snap your fingers and feel better, but it’s not that easy. However, there are some things you can do to help your recovery or at least make yourself more comfortable. Here are 10 things you can do when you’re sick while traveling:
REST: I know you’ve spent a long time planning this trip and have lots of adventures you want to do, but if you don’t want to be sick for your entire trip, you need to get some rest. Grab some pillows and blankets and camp out on the couch in your hotel room. Tell your family to have a fun day without you and spend your day recovering.
SLEEP: I’m sure you’re dying to get out and explore the town, but you need to get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early and sleep late. Lack of sleep will weaken your immune system so this is the perfect time to take naps. I always pack Nyquil in my suitcase.
HOT SHOWERS: A stuffy head, aching sinuses, and a nagging cough may have you feeling miserable, but a hot steamy shower will loosen the congestion and make you breathe a little easier. You could also run hot water in the bathroom sink, hold your head over it and drape a towel over yourself to get some reliefs. Be careful not to burn yourself.