Top 10 Reasons for a Rental!

www.mytravelingkids.com

 

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.

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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.

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Finding the Fun in Winter

Finding the Fun in Winter

 

Before I had kids, winter meant long months of counting down the days until spring.  Then these two little winter-loving girls were born.   All of the sudden winter turned into months of being…dare I say it…outside!  Yeah…outside…in cold, wet snow for hours at a time.  All of these new items appeared in my house like hand warmers and sleds.  Snow pants somehow crept their way into my wardrobe.  So that’s when I decided to give in and try to find out what the heck people like about winter.  After all, I live in New England so I may as well join these snow-lovers! No one was as shocked as myself to discover I actually have fun outside.  My husband says the key to enjoying winter is to make sure you’re warm, and he’s right. (Don’t tell him that! Lol) With the right clothes and toys, I found so many things I loved to do out there.   Here are some of my favorites:

 

SNOW SHOEING

Talk about a no-skill-needed activity!  If you can walk, then you can snow shoe…it’s that easy! After a fresh snowfall there’s nothing more peaceful than walking through the woods or along the side of a frozen lake.  Snow shoes are pretty inexpensive and they will last you a long time.  They make great snowshoes for kids as well. It’s also good to have a nice warm hat for both adults and kids!

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10 Reasons to Attend the Travel & Adventure Show in Boston

Boston Travel & Adventure Show

One of the questions I constantly get asked is, “Where do you think I should go next?”  It’s the question that avid travelers are constantly thinking…I actually think it while I’m on a beach chair sipping a cocktail on my current vacation!  If you are wondering where to have your next adventure…look no further…you’ll find your answer at the Boston Travel and Adventure Show.  Located in the Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street, the second year of this show here in Boston, this show did not disappoint.

 Here are 10 reasons to attend the Boston Travel & Adventure Show

EXPLORE OVER 200 DESTINATIONS

There are so many different places to travel, it’s sometimes hard to narrow down your choices.  Here you can discover lots of new places that you never would have thought of. I was very intrigued by Alaska, Antigua, Azores, Miami, Africa, and Montreal. It was also nice to discover local stuff to do.  I can’t wait to take the Taste of Boston food tour, take a cooking class at the Essex, and explore more of Freeport, Maine.  I also was excited to find new places to visit while in Florida.

TALK TO TRAVEL EXPERTS

This is the perfect opportunity to talk to people who are knowledgeable on the location.  Ask them questions about resorts, transportation, and what to do in the area.  We are heading to Jamaica this spring and the Jamaica tourism board gave me great ideas of things to do while there.  After I told him the ages of my girls, he was able to tell me which attractions I should skip and which I should definitely do.  He even told me about cute beach bars they would love.

WORKSHOPS

Whether you are a traveler, blogger, or travel writer, there are sessions for everyone.  This year they had some exciting ones, such as:

99 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs – Without Skimping (Russell Hannon)

The Best Travel & Packing Tips for the Ultimate Vacation (Angel Castellanos)

Travel Safe, Travel Smart, and Travel Well (Lindsay Henderson)

Heritage Travel: Walking in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps (Mickela Mallozzi)

TRAVEL CELEBRITIES

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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:

 

Romantic Weekend in Napa Itinerary

Napa vineyard

Planning some trips are a piece of cake because there are obvious attractions you go to, but I’ve got to admit that planning a weekend in Napa was pretty tricky.  With over 400 wineries in Napa, everyone had an opinion of which one you should go to. I started to stress because I didn’t want to miss out, but I finally told myself that missing some good wineries would give me the perfect excuse to go back.  Here is my Romantic Weekend in Napa Itinerary. Cheers!

Where do you fly in?

The best place to fly in is Oakland International Airport, 50 miles south. & San Francisco International Airport, 55 miles south.

Napa County Airport is the closest airport to Napa.

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT

DAY 1

After spending a lovely night in San Francisco at the Hotel Zetta (Read all about our stay here), we took an Uber up to Napa.

We checked into the fabulous Hotel Archer, located right in downtown Napa.  The Archer is located within walking distance to over 20 tasting rooms, cute boutiques, and trendy restaurants.  As soon as we walked through the doors, I knew we made a good hotel choice!

lobby of Archer Hotel
Photo credit: Archer Hotel

We couldn’t be happier with our room selection!

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The Top 20 Places I’ve Traveled to

The start of a new year is always a good time for reflection and I can’t help looking back at the amazing memories we’ve made together as a family throughout the years.  I get lots of emails asking for recommendations of where people should vacation, so I thought since it’s 2020 I would share my top 20 places I’ve traveled to.  I’ve also included some of the things we did while we were there.  I’ve LOVED all these places (they’re in no particular order) and they would all make perfect destinations for family travel. For a full itinerary, take a peek at ITINERARIES in my main menu.

 Wishing you a year of happiness, health, and adventure!

ICELAND (with kids)

Walked under a waterfall, rode Icelandic horses, hiked into the mountains to find a hidden hot spring, stood on top of icebergs, took a boat to see puffin, did the Golden Circle, went swimming in the Blue Lagoon.

IRELAND (with kids)

Kissed the Blarney Stone, flew hawks in the woods of a castle, saw the Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, explored Malahide, went to a medieval banquet in a castle, drank Guinness in Dublin.

SANTORINI, GREECE (with kids)

Saw the best sunset of our lives, went swimming in the hot springs, Red Rock Beach, Kamari Beach, swam in Amoudi Bay, snorkeled off of White Beach, explored the gorgeous maze of streets.

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Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

Ultimate Stocking Stuffers for Men that Love Travel

Stocking stuffers are the best!  It can be tricky to buy small things to put in them, so here are 15 stocking gifts that he will love!

Ultimate Stocking Stuffers for Men that Love Travel

OVERNIGHT KIT

LEATHER LUGGAGE TAGS

HEADPHONE SPLITTER

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20 Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel

Time to start shopping for those sweet men in your life that love to travel.  Guys can be hard to buy for because the gift needs to be fun, yet still practical.  Here are some Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel.

Happy shopping!

DUFFEL BAG:

This beautiful leather duffel bag is perfect for packing for a weekend away.  It is well-made and sturdy, with a reinforced zipper and a thick cloth lining.  It looks like a vintage leather bag and has lots of room.  It can be used with or without the shoulder strap and can be used as a carry-on.

YETI COLSTER:

Take their koozie up a notch with this double-wall vacuum insulated holder.  It will keep their beverage cold for longer and can be used with cans and bottles. It comes in over a dozen colors.  It’s great for a BBQ, the beach, or a day out on the boat.

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