travel

A Very Sesame Birthday Bash

June 22, 2010 at 1:37 pm , by Jennifer Castoro

Hi! My name is Jake Varjian, and I am one. Well, 16 months, if you want to get technical. My favorite pastimes are throwing bits of food off of my highchair tray and saying “uh oh,” running behind my toy push truck so Mom chases me, and charming the pants off of anyone who meets me with my giant cheeks and adorable dimples. One of my other favorite things? Sesame Street! I was so excited to get to go to the Sesame Place theme park a few weeks ago with my mom and my girlfriend, Isabelle. (She’s a cutie, right?) Sesame Place, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, so the park has all sorts of fun parades and shows and parties planned for the big year. Can you believe it’s been around that long? It’s as old as my mom! (Almost.) If you have little ones in your family, you might want to think about taking a trip to see Ernie and Bert and all my favorites. There are some cool water rides and areas for little kids like me, plus crawly nets and a rollercoaster for big kids, too. (I’m too small for that one.) Check out some pictures of me and my new friends on the next page. Read more

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How To Find A Pet-Friendly Hotel

May 25, 2010 at 12:20 pm , by Amanda Wolfe

If you’ve ever tried to travel with your cat or dog, you know that it can be tricky to find hotels along your route (or at your destination) that accept your furry travel buddies. Whether it’s a vacation or a road trip to visit family, it’s important to do a little research before you leave to make sure your pet is welcome. First step: watch our adorable pet-friendly hotel review video with Sophie, assistant food editor Khalil Hymore’s super-cute pup. Ok it’s not really a necessary step, but it is a cute video so you should watch! Then use these tips to plan your trip.

* Most national chains have pet-friendly programs. We visited the Muse (part of the Kimpton group of hotels) and the Hilton New York. Both of these companies have pet-friendly hotels across the country. The key is to call the hotel at your specific destination to make sure they’ve opted in to the pet-friendly program (some don’t).

* Ask if there’s a fee for Fido to stay. Some hotels charge a flat rate and some fees are nightly. Prices vary, so definitely check before you book because you could save a bundle (or get stuck with some hefty “hidden costs”).

* Ask about what kind of amenities are provided for your pet. Some hotels hand out pet beds, bowls, treats and even super-cute toys. Some just accept pets but don’t provide any extras. The extras can, of course, be fun and convenient—but if you’re charged more for them they’re not always worth it.

* Find out what the policies and rules are. Lots of hotels with restaurants or bars attached don’t allow pets in those areas, and some hotels prefer that you keep pets in their carriers or on their leashes when you’re in public areas.

* Search online. There are several sites that help you pinpoint the right hotel for you and your pet. Petswelcome.com has a great database with amenity and fee info, plus websites and phone numbers. Pet-Friendly-Hotels.net also has a good search.

* Last but not least, if you can’t find a traditional hotel at your destination, check out B&Bs and vacation home rentals. Policies are set by the individual owners but we’ve found that “mom and pop” places often welcome pets.

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Sara’s Tech Tips: My Favorite Travel Sites

May 5, 2010 at 5:26 pm , by Amanda Wolfe

Editor’s Note: Our tech guru Sara Haines of NBC’s Today show is back to share her favorite sites for researching and booking travel. Whether you’re going on a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, these sites make it easier (and cheaper) to plan a great trip.

Too busy to scour the internet for deals? Kayak.com and Sidestep.com are great one-stop shops. These sites search hundreds of airlines and travel sites (such as Orbitz, Travelocity, and many others) to ensure you get the best prices. You can also check for hotels, car rentals and more. No need to book your trip from lots of different sites, because you can find it all here.

If you’re going on a longer trip or really want to do your homework while you’re planning, Lonelyplanet.com and Frommers.com are good options. Although these sites may not always offer the best deals, these are great places to go when you want to read up on a destination and learn how to get around, where to stay, what to eat, and what attractions you can’t miss. They also offer user reviews, so you can get the inside scoop from people who have been there and done that.

Want to go a little farther off the beaten path? Iexplore.com is geared toward adventure travel. Just plug in a region, country, activities you’re looking to do, the length of your trip, and a budget and then it generates trip ideas. It may not be the answer for someone who just wants the beach and a book, but if you are up for an adventure, hit the “find trips” button and let the fun begin.

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A Sneak Peek at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

April 28, 2010 at 11:53 am , by Jennifer Castoro

Okay, muggles. You may say you want to bring your kids to check out the new Harry Potter theme park, opening at Universal Orlando this June, but we all know the truth. You’re more excited than they are, aren’t you? You can’t wait to step through the doors of Hogwarts and drink butterbeer and pretend to zoom through a game of Quidditch, right? You can admit it. And really, we can’t blame you. This place looks super cool!

Universal released the first images this week of some of the completed areas of the park. (That’s the entrance to Hogsmeade at right.) There’s some seriously high-tech wizardry at work: the Forbidden Journey ride uses live-action scenes from the movie that follow riders throughout the various scenes, like Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The shops are authentic to the book, too: There’s Ollivander’s wand shop, where the wand chooses you, and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. And the Hog’s Head restaurant will serve British pub food, plus butterbeer and pumpkin juice (though I’m not sure how appetizing those sound).

I’ve never read a word of a Harry Potter book, and even I’d want to check this place out! Seems like Mickey Mouse may have to up his game.

Click on Read More for more pictures.

Read more

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Helpful New Travel Sites

February 19, 2010 at 12:49 pm , by Jennifer Castoro

I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas, and boy, are my arms tired! (Sorry, I had to say it. It’ll never happen again.) It was my first time to the city, which lived up to every expectation I had (some PG, some not), and I came back to New York with hilarious memories, great pictures and a lovely fridge magnet.

In the course of trip planning, I probably looked at 85 different websites, just so I felt I wasn’t being ripped off/shortchanged/cheated in any way. But I could have saved myself some time (and headache) if I’d checked out one of these super helpful new sites:

Fly.com: Part of the Travelzoo brand, Fly.com’s only business is searching through the mountains of flight information online and presenting it to you, price, time and airline included. You can’t book your trip on the website, but you can see virtually every option, including international airlines, domestic ones and travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz, so you clearly know your choices. It also presents the cost of the flight in real time, so you know what you see is what you’ll get once you decide to book.

Oyster.com: Oyster Hotel Reviews is a pretty, easy-to-read site, with tons of photos of the hotels they cover (the part I like the best!). It’s similar to other sites that offer details on rooms, location, cleanliness and other helpful nuggets, but the reviewers are professionals who work for the site, not just lay travelers. So you get an accessible, honest expert voice without any bias towards particular hotels (the writers pay to stay at each place, just like a guest).

EVRentals.com: This site is similar to a time-share setup, without the hour-long sales pitch. The properties on Endless Vacation Rentals include villas, homes and cottages, in the U.S. and abroad, so it’s meant for travelers looking to stay in a home instead of a hotel. It’s run by the Wyndham hotel chain, so you’ve got some customer-service help, too.

Perfectfamilyvacation.com: It bills itself as “pre-selected family vacation lodging,” which means your search will bring up options for larger groups that include kitchens and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

Photo courtesy of NNowack.

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Vacationing with the Grandparents

December 10, 2009 at 11:44 am , by Sue Erneta

I have a confession to make: I have never been on a vacation with my kids without a set of grandparents there to help. And here’s the crazy part—I have no desire to.

I love vacationing with my parents. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. And here’s why:

1. My kids get to spend a big chunk of time with their grandparents. Rather than a quick overnight or a weekend visit, it gives them a week to really get to know each other and have some great bonding experiences. My mom just took Sophia to see the Nutcracker—and I got the day off! Which brings me to my next point…

2. You actually get a break to spend time with your spouse. My husband and I always have one date night when we’re on vacation with my folks: Last year it was a beachside dinner on the 10-year anniversary of the day we met (everybody now…AWWWW!). It’s so nice knowing that the kids are well cared for and bonus—we don’t have to pay the babysitter. Which brings me to my next point…

3. It saves money. This one’s a biggie. I’m lucky enough to have parents with a house in Florida so we can take a day trip to Disney World without getting a hotel. And since they own the house, you don’t get a big hotel bill at the end of your stay. We also get free hotel transfers, free room and board, and free babysitting services. What could be wrong with that?

So, tell me…do you vacation with all three generations? Where have you been? Where are you going to next?

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Beauty To-Go: Packing My Makeup Bag

October 29, 2009 at 9:12 am , by Mandy Hendrix

On the eve of packing for a trip tomorrow, I’m running around my apartment like crazy trying to figure out which shoes will go with the dress I’m wearing to a wedding, deciding between a coat or a mid-weight jacket is more appropriate, and whether or not I can get away with jeans for a birthday dinner. Clothing is the hardest thing for me to figure out for a trip, but I have my beauty arsenal down to a science.

Here’s my short list of essentials:

• Tresemme Tres Two Hairspray; Somehow this manages hold but is never sticky.

• Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner To Go; I love traveling with my own shampoo and conditioner so I can predict how my hair will turn out, plus these smell amazing.

• Basis So Refreshing Facial Cleansing Cloths; For when you’re just too tired to wash your face. Bonus—they’re individually wrapped.

• Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream; hydrates well enough that I don’t need to pack body lotion.

• Avene Redness Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25; This is actually my daily moisturizer but it’s small size (and plastic tube) makes it ideal for travel. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without it.

I also love to experiment with fun, travel size items and different makeup. (Maybe you’re traveling to a new location, or catching up with old friends, why not have fun with your look?) I’ve enjoyed playing with these in my makeup bag:

• Trish McEvoy palette; Trish makes amazing organizers which have helped me pack as much makeup as I need in a one tiny, little compact.

• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor; I’m usually traveling for some type of event and love a bright color on my lips.

• Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer; My secret to coming back with a little color on beach vacations? It’s this Jergens moisturizer. The small size—and SPF—make it a perfect pick. No one knows the “tan” is fake except me.

Photo by Chispita 666.

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