St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

There are sorts of perks that come with this Cent-sational Promotion including:

• 25 cent room nights at participating hotels, maximum stay of three nights
• $25 per person dining  credit
• $25 resort activity credit
• Virgin Islands commemorative quarter Scotiabank coin set

There is, of course, some fine print on the deal, and you will have to act quickly because these rooms will go in a flash:

• Promotion lasts for 25 days, from October 9th – November 2nd, or until the allotted number of packages have been sold.
• Travel dates must be between October 9th – November 15th, 2009, and participating hotels may have blackout dates.
• Reservations must be made through BookIt.com
• The promotion does not apply to existing booking
• Taxes and resort fees will apply

Participating hotels are:  Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Hotel Caravelle, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Windward Passage, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa.

This is a last minute, short term travel deal, but if you can clear your calendar and get away, this is a fabulous promotion.  Be prepared to be persistent and flexible.  I’m not able to get away during this time frame, but if I was I’d be poised at my computer ready to take advantage of this promotion.  A bargain like this can be worth the effort!

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Grab a USVI Hotel Room for 25 Cents

So what is there to do in this second largest city in California?

Balboa Park Botanical Building in San Diego

Here are some ideas, in no particular order:

1. San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park – Animal lovers will love both of these locations.  The zoo is in Balboa Park and the animal park is a short drive away in Escondido.
2. Balboa Park – Not just the zoo, but also full of theater and performing venues, the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, and several other museums, IMAX Theater, gardens galore, the Botanical Building, and so much more that the list would be endless.  You can spend several days in the park and still not see everything.
3. Cabrillo National Monument – At the tip of Point Loma, this is where the first European set foot on the west coast.
4. Fish Tacos – Nothing says San Diego like a fish taco, long since achieving cult status as “the” San Diego dish.
5. Ocean Front Walk – San Diego’s version of Venice Beach, this boardwalk along the ocean is full of walkers, bikers, skateboarders, bikini-clad babes, and lots of quirky characters.
6. Whaley House – Located in Old Town, this 19th century home is now a museum, and is said to be haunted.
7. Surfing – Find a piece of beach, or a school to learn how.
8. Gaslamp Quarter – Walk this once questionable neighborhood, and check out the great restaurants, bars, and galleries.  It’s not seedy any longer.
9. Mission San Diego de Alcala – Built back in the mid 1700’s, this was one of the earlier missions built along the west coast.  Although not its original structure, it does depict what mission life must have been like.
10. Local Brews – San Diego claims to be the birthplace of IPA (India Pale Ale), so try a few and decide for yourself.
11. Horton Plaza – A 5-level shopping mall in the heart of downtown.  If you’ve forgotten something, you’ll find it here.
12. Old Town State Historic Park – 6 blocks of pedestrian only park that is home to some of the earliest buildings in San Diego, including a general store, the first office of the San Diego Union newspaper, and Wells Fargo Bank.
13. Torrey Pines State Reserve – A beautiful parked named for a gnarled pine tree that only grows here and on an island off the coast.
14. SeaWorld – Shamu and the rest of the gang will welcome you.
15. Del Mar Racetrack – Bet on a winner or watch for the star, either way it’s seriously good fun.
16. Take to the air – Try hang gliding, a helicopter tour, a bi-plane ride, or have lunch and watch the planes take off from the airport.
17. Take to the water – Swimming, surfing, kayaking, sailing, parasailing, or just splashing in the surf.  San Diego has weather that’s great for year round water sports.
18. Professional sports – The Padres (NL) of Major League Baseball and the Chargers of the NFL both have loyal fans and attract quite the following.
19. Watch a sunset at the beach – A great way to end the day.
20. Check into a Museum – The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the New Children’s Museum, San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, Maritime Museum, or the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum are all great picks.
21. Visit Little Italy – It may be small, but the community is still vibrant and fun.
22. Walk around Seaport Village – Sure, the tourist go there, but so do the locals.  Take time to walk around the 14-acre outdoor plaza, full of shops, galleries, and plenty of places to eat.  Be sure to ride the carousel.
23. Eat Mexican food in Old Town – Look for a place that makes their own tortillas – by hand.
24. Go back to school at University of California, San Diego – This beautiful campus has a great theater (La Jolla Playhouse), so you may want to catch a performance.  Or wander the Stuart Collection, a group of outdoor sculptures.  Other nearby campuses in the area include the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
25. Take the ferry to Coronado – OK, drive if you must, but the ferry ride is much more relaxing, and prettier, too.  Stop off at the Hotel del Coronado for a step back in time.

Did I miss your favorite San Diego spot?  Take me to task in the comments!

Photo credit: wikimedia

Post from: Blisstree

25 Things to Do & See in San Diego

two time zones

Let’s just say, you’re probably not going to walk this course!

In fact, you’ll have to drive between the holes on this 18-hole, par 72 course.  Each hole matches up with a town along the way, and the entire course has been designed to maximize the natural setting of the area.  Depending on how fast you want to play, the course can take up to 4 days to complete.

Green fees are an affordable AUS $50 (about $44 US).  Of course gas and hotels stays along the way will drive that cost up.

Does this sound like a great course to play?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Longest Golf Course in the World

With altitudes on par with the Rockies or the Alps, Turkey offers a November through April snow season, with modern facilities for downhill skiing, cross country, heli-skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.  The ski resorts offer everything that you’ll find anywhere else, and often more, but are priced less than other ski resorts across Europe.  The currency in Turkey is the Turkish LIra (rather than the Euro), which accounts for part of the savings, but the price points in the country are also more value added.

Uludag Ski area in Turkey

Here are a few of the top ski areas in Turkey to get you started with your research:

Erciyes Ski Center – Located on the slopes of a once-active volcano, this is high altitude skiing any time you want.  And I do mean ANY TIME.  Erciyes Ski Center features year-round glacier skiing, and it is also a hot spot for heli-skiing.   The center has one chairlift and two T-bars.  Accommodations include four guest houses and the Dedeman Erciyes hotel.  The ski center is located about 45 minutes from Kayseri Airport, reachable from Istanbul with daily service, and about half an hour from the city of Kayseri.

Kartalkaya Ski Center – This top resort is located along Turkey’s western Black Sea area in the Koroglu Mountains.  It offers alpine skiing, cross country, and ski touring, in a season spanning December through March.  There are two chairlifts, six T-bars, three baby lifts, and 12 runs offering up to 12 miles of continuous skiing.  Hotels at the center are the Kartal Hotel and the Hotel Dorukkaya,  Kartalkaya Ski Center is an easy drive from both Ankara and Istanbul, and would make a great weekend escape from the city.

Palandoken Ski Center – Here you’ll find some of the longest and steepest ski runs in the world, and it is possible to ski continuously for 17 miles.  This is an extensive system of runs, serviced by a gondola, five chairlifts, one T-bar, and two baby lifts.  Four and five star hotels are nearby, offering lots of luxury accommodations, restaurants, and other amenities.  Palandoken Ski Center is a accessible from Ankara and Istanbul with daily flights from each.

Saklikent Ski Center – A little less steep than other areas, this is perfect spot for beginner and intermediate skiers.  The center offers two T-bars and two ski runs, and also has a half-pipe for boarders.  This is a popular spot during spring skiing, as guests can ski in the morning and then drive down the coast to swim in the Mediterranean Sea in the late afternoon.  Doesn’t that sound like a perfect day?!

Sarikamis Ski Center – This spot in Eastern Turkey also offers a slightly lower elevation with five runs with two chairlifts and one T-bar.  Several hotels and guest houses are in the area

Uludag Ski Center – Located in Bursa, this is one of Turkey’s most popular ski areas.  The history of the area claims that this was the place where the ancient gods watched the Trojan War.  Today, though, the slopes feature eight chairlifts and seven T-bars sericing 13 runs.  There are 27 hotels in the area, and lots of restaurants and shops to make this a self-contained vacation area.  The ski center is about 45 minutes from the town of Bursa and about an hour from the airport.  Bursa is a potential bidder for the 2018 Winter Olympics, and many events would be held at Uludag Ski Center.

NOTE:  Many of the websites providing information about the ski sites are not offered in English.  I’d recommend contacting a travel agent with experience in booking Turkey vacations to continue your ski vacation research.

Photo credit: Bicounet @wikimedia

Post from: Blisstree

Ski Turkey for Less

London Tube Station

The research showed that although 90% of the population was cutting back on spending in general, only 45% were cutting back on holidays, breaks, or day trips.  Instead, spending was reduced on items such as food (80%), fuel (74%), clothes (67%) and entertainment or other little luxuries (67%).  Vacations, so often viewed here in the US as something easily eliminated, are a viewed as a very high priority elsewhere.

Another interesting tidbit from the research is that only 20% of those taking an international holiday last year are choosing to stay in the UK this year, and that the only international trips that are being eliminated are the short getaways.

Brits are still vacationing within the UK, as well as abroad, and aren’t yet willing to put “stay” and “vacation” together.  To which I say, good on them!

Why are Americans so willing to cut out vacations when residents of other countries are not?  Why is travel such a low priority for us?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Britons Travel, Why Don’t We?

The beaches of the US Virgin Islands

I talked a little bit shoulder season, and how that was value-added time to travel.  I even mentioned that the Caribbean was a great place to visit during this time of year.  Turns out, the USVI is offering some pretty great deals during the shoulder time.

Check out their INNtimate Treasures Package, giving you a great price on your choice of accommodations on St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.  The package also includes some special extra perks and amenities, a treasure package representing a value of over $300.  It includes:

• Coupons for attractions and activities ($50 value)
• Dining certification ($50 value)
• Eco-friendly gift bag
• Bottle of Cruzan Rum, made on St. Croix
• T-Shirt

This package is valid for travel through October 31, 2009 (shoulder season), and special rates are based on a 4-night stay.  You can see a list of participating hotels and resorts, as well as read the fine print of the promotion deal, at the Promotion Page of the Visit USVI website.

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Visit USVI

Post from: Blisstree

US Virgin Islands: A Perfect Fall Shoulder Season Escape

Since I’m not a fan of prepared energy bars (or prepared anything for that matter), I look for the closest thing to real food that I can get, and that is still practical and convenient to carry.

Here are some snacks that are easy to pack:

1. Peanut butter sandwich – Add jelly, honey, or leave it plain, and make sure that it’s wrapped up good and tight.  This won’t need refrigeration, is tolerant to a little bit of squishing about, and offers a quick hit when your energy is sagging.  Make it really, really full of peanut butter, and you can use the excess as a bit of a dip.  (NOTE:  You can try bringing through a container of just peanut butter, but I’ve heard mix reports of whether it’s being considered a “gel” type product.)
2. Raw vegetables – The crunch of celery or carrots can be satisfying and healthy, and a baggie of them is easy to slip into a carry on bag or a purse.  Also good are jicama, cucumbers (add a squeeze of lime and some chili powder for extra flavor), and broccoli.  Choose your favorite.
3. Dried fruit – Fresh fruit gets bruises or smashed too easily, so try bringing along some dried.  I’m partial to dried pineapple and mangos.  Their sweetness if just enough to keep me away from candy.
4. Nuts – Put together a mixture of your own, or stick to your favorite(s).  Keep a big baggies of them in your carry on, so you can grab a handful whenever you need a bit of energy.  They go perfect with dried fruit as well.  It’s best to avoid salted nuts, if you can.
5. Cereal – With a cup and some milk, this makes a simple breakfast, and you can always snack on the dry mix for a little crunch.
6. Cheese – If you know you’ll be eating it within a few hours, a few slices of cheese is a good protein snack.  Much longer than a few hours, though, and you’ll need to worry about refrigeration.  I think hard cheeses travel best, and are least likely to deteriorate in packing.  A wedge of Parmesan is perfect!  String cheese is great for kids.
7. Crackers and chips – These are easily crushed, so I recommend taking them along only if you’ll be eating them fairly soon.  Chances are they are not going to stay undamaged more than a day.  There are healthy choices in this category, but honestly, I’m partial to Fritos.
8. Licorice – Sweet, chewy, easy to pack, and low in fat and calories.  A great way to assuage your sweet tooth.
9. Salami – You’ll have to be careful with this, as it will eventually need refrigeration.  Additionally, there’s some pretty strong smelling salami out there, and you don’t want to stink up the joint.  Still, paired with cheese and other snacks, it can almost make you feel like you’re having an appetizer plate somewhere in Italy.  Well, okay, that’s going to take a vivid imagination.
10. Hard candies – Great for a sore throat, or just one that’s a little dry, and they are available in sweet and sour flavors to match your taste bud preferences.  Also good for kids at take off and landing, when they need to swallow and clear their ears.

Do you have any packable snacks that are your travel favorites?  Please leave your suggestions in the comments.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

10 Healthy & Packable Snacks for Travel Energy

1. San Francisco – Always an expensive city, but fall starts rolling in a few more cloudy and rainy days, making it a bit cool when the sun goes down.  The days are still lovely, and the evening’s cold, crisp air, is not unbearable.  The city looks different this time of year, and it’s in a good way.
   

   San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge

2. Disneyland – If you can justify taking the kids out of school for a few days, this is the perfect time to visit Mickey and friends.  Everyone else is in school, the temperatures have dropped, and winter hours are not yet in effect.  I think late September and October are some of the best times to visit.
3. Seattle:  Although the tourists and cruise ships sailings are all but gone, fall is actually a nice time of year in Seattle.  Sunny, but cool days, last well into November, and the drab, dreary days of winter haven’t set in yet.  Prices drop, and availability rises, making it a great time in the Pacific Northwest.
4. Washington DC – Congress in back in session, the kids are back in school, and the weather is just right.  Crowds are just about perfect at the many free museums, and the class trips to our nation’s capital haven’t started yet.  The monuments are still open at night, making a great spot for a nighttime visit.
5. Portland (Oregon) – For many of the same reasons that make Seattle and San Francisco great this time of year, Portland joins in.  Lots of fall specials in the wine country, and affordable packages in the city, help put Portland on the map this time of year.
6. Palm Springs, California – It’s still going to be hot, but nothing like the dog days of summer.  The snowbirds haven’t arrived yet (that’s usually after Thanksgiving), and many of the businesses that close for the summer are starting to reopen, so it’s a great time for a visit to the desert.
7. Caribbean – Okay, so it’s hurricane season in the islands, but not everything is perfect during shoulder season.  There are some great bargains and great resorts come fall, so do your research and check them out.  I’ve traveled to the Caribbean during the fall, and have never had a problem.
8. Cruises – Fall is the time of year when many cruise lines re-position their ships.  Each line has a little different schedule, so you’ll need to check on specifics.  Re-positioning cruises represent some very big discounts, and I’ve snapped up many of these fares myself!  Rates are great for the Caribbean as well, for reasons listed above.

Those are my value recommendations for the fall shoulder season.  Do you have any to add?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

8 Travel Value Destinations for Fall’s Shoulder Season

“When crafting goes on vacation”...you can interpret this several ways:

• You get inspiration from your travels or vacation.
• You’re on vacation to attend a crafting workshop or lecture.
• You’re having a dry spell…or crafter’s block.

Miriam, at Crafter by Night, writes about her vacation, as well as her crafting dry spell .  Many crafters, whether parttime or full time, may relate to her.

How can you overcome dry spells…in your art, your crafting, your writing?

• Have deadlines, not set by yourself but by customers or editors.
• Visit a gallery…in person or online.
• Plan an outing with your family.
• Take a walk.
• Look through books and magazines for inspiration.
• Meet with a group of crafting friends.
• Join an online group that supports one another.
• Don’t look for sympathy, but encouragement, suggestions and ideas.
• Take a break and do something completely different.
• Enroll in a class..in a new area or to hone your skills.

What do you do when you hit a dry spell in your craft?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: Blisstree

When Crafting Goes On Vacation

San Francisco, a city full of great food options, wants to make the decision a little easier for you with its website Taste SF.

Organized into useful sections like Inspiring Views (great ideas for special occasions) and brunch, as well as by type of cuisine, price range, and neighborhood, the list is easy to use and gives you all the information you need to make a dinner choice.

The section on Drink includes brew pubs and wine bars, and a good amount of information if you’re interested in heading into the wine country.  A few specialty categories need entries, like Chocolatiers and Cooking Schools, but there is some fun information about Culinary Tours of the city as well as upcoming food events.

The site is laid out for easy use, gives practical and useful information, and provides links to take you directly to locations that you are considering.  I visit San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area, fairly frequently, and this site is now bookmarked for future use.

Photo credit:  paraflyer @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Choosing a Restaurant in San Francisco