Courtyard's Weekly Round-Up
August 29th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are debating whether or not to get an iPad to bring along on your travels, check out the article on iPad travel tips. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy.
10 Things To Know Before You Volunteer Overseas
If volunteering is a big part of your life, then why not volunteer overseas? You can help people while experiencing a new culture. Here are some great tips on how to plan this type of trip and what to look out for.
Eight Great Tips for Traveling With The iPad
For those of you who are frequent travelers, have you been debating whether or not to buy an iPad? If so, check out this article for eight ways the iPad can help you out during your travels.
Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Dream Business Destinations
Do you often travel long distances for business? This article shares ten great business destinations that you may want to check out. Let us know in the comments if you have traveled to any of these destinations!
7 Tips To Eat Healthy In Flight
Meal selections in the air are often limited and not as healthy as we would like them to be. From pre-flight research to packing your own snacks, this article has 7 great tips on how to eat healthy while flying.
The World’s Most Beautiful Cities
Have you ever visited a city so beautiful it took your breath away? Check out this article for some great insight and photos on the world’s most beautiful cities.
Ask Gadling: You Left Something On The Airplane
Stepping off the plane into the airport and realizing you left your iPod sitting on your seat is an awful feeling. Usually, flight attendants will not let you back on the plane to look for your missing item. Check out this article for some great tips on what to do in this type of situation.
4 Fun Labor Day Weekend Celebrations
August 25th, 2010Summer is nearing an end and Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. This is a great time to get away for the weekend and celebrate the holiday in style. There are a variety of events, festivals and shows held in honor of Labor Day around the U.S. We have selected four fun and unique events throughout the country that will make for a great Labor Day weekend. Let us know if you plan on attending any of these celebrations!
Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival
If you reside near or are traveling through Calloway Gardens, Georgia during Labor Day weekend, then you are in luck. The twelfth annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held from September 3-5. This is a great Labor Day event for the whole family and has something for everyone. Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival features an amazing balloon glow on Friday evening followed by balloon rides, family-friendly activities, music, exhibits and demonstrations the following days. An excellent addition to this festival is Robin Lake Beach, which will be open for it’s last weekend of the summer. Other than swimming and sunbathing, Robin Lake Beach offers mini golf, table tennis, shuffleboard, rock climbing, paddle boats, kite building, sidewalk chalk, a great children’s playground and more. The endless amount of activities and entertainment will keep the whole family smiling and maybe even coming back again in 2011.
Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up
August 20th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are looking for some last minute adventure before the end of the summer, check out the article on New England adventure trips. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy.
10 Tips For Flying With A Baby Or Young Child
Kids like to run around, play games and stay entertained every second of the day. This makes flying with your little ones quite difficult, but not impossible. Take a look at this article for some great tips on bringing your kids along with you when traveling by plane.
5 Signs That The Hotel Meeting Business Is Recovering
The U.S. Travel Association is predicting an increase in meeting and convention spending this year, after falling 15% last year. Check out this article to learn more.
20 Outdoor Adventure Trips To Take This Summer
Although it is already well into August, it’s not too late to go on a summer adventure trip. New England offers a variety of different types of adventure such as rock climbing, canoeing, hiking trips and more. Take a look at this article from some great recommendations.
Ask Gadling: What To Do When The Airline Loses Your Luggage
Have you ever had that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize that your luggage did not arrive at your destination? The first thing you need to do in this situation is not panic and deal with this situation appropriately. This article shares some great tips on what to do when an airline loses your luggage.
What Counts As A Personal Bag When Traveling?
The definition of a personal bag has changed over the years leaving travelers confused. Take a look at this article to find out what airlines mean by a “personal bag” so you won’t be stuck having to check luggage that you would prefer to have by your side.
For A Fee, American Will Get You Off And On The Plane Quickly
Do you hate waiting in line when boarding an airplane? If so, you may want to book your next trip with American Airlines. With the recent addition of American Airline’s “Express Seats” you can have the option of boarding with the first group of passengers.
Delicious Diners in the U.S.
August 18th, 2010Buttermilk pancakes, omelets and delicious hot sandwiches are among a few of the selections you can order at any nearby diner. However, have you ever stopped by one and enjoyed the food so much that you just had to go back for more? Sure there are ordinary diners in almost every town, but there are a select few that stand out among the rest. We have chosen four outstanding diners that will keep you coming back for more.
Mickey’s Dining Car in St. Paul, Minnesota, is quite a hit. Aside from being featured in movies such as The Mighty Ducks and A Prairie Home Companion, Mickey’s Dining Car has excellent food that keeps its customers coming back for more. Their ingredients are always fresh since their meat is delivered by a local butcher. Their grade AA extra large eggs are delivered from a local farm and their bread and buns are delivered on a daily basis from St. Paul Baker. Even the coffee is delivered locally. Although everything on Mickey’s menu is delicious, we recommend ordering America’s Favorite All Day meal which comes with the following:
• Large farm fresh eggs
• Your choice of breakfast meat (large portion)
• Mickey’s homemade Hashbrowns
• Buttered toast and jelly
The best time to go to Mickey’s? This diner is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year so stop by any time!
Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up
August 13th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are traveling soon and nervous about leaving your children at home, check out the article on how to help your little ones deal with your departure. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
The Newbie Traveler’s Top Ten Tips For Other First-Time Travelers
Traveling internationally for the first time can be a bit difficult and scary. You don’t know what to expect and how to deal with certain situations you have never encountered before. This article shares with us some advice on first time international travel from a newbie himself.
Flying with your pet can be miserable if you do not plan ahead and know what to expect. It is important to know the risks beforehand and make sure you do your best to have a successful trip. Check out this article for some tips on how to make this happen.
It’s very tempting to purchase street food when you are continuously passing food carts selling delicious on the go delights whether it be hotdogs, tacos or pizza. Check out this article for a list of street food specialties that you don’t want to miss.
How To Help Children When You Travel
Children often have a hard time at home when their mother or father travel. Even if it’s a quick 3 day trip, young children often do not understand the concept of time and have difficulties in dealing with being away from their parents. Take a look at this article for some great tips on how to help children when you travel.
36 Great Tips On Keeping Travel As Simple As Possible
From what to pack to how to plan your itinerary to what to avoid, this articles shares with us 36 great tips on how to keep travel as simple as possible.
Airport Remote Turns Your Smartphone Into An Airport Departure Screen
Airport Remote is an app for iPhone and Android phones that displays the departure screens found at an airport to provide you with flight times as well as other information. Although this app can be slow at times, it’s a great to have for all of you frequent travelers out there. Take a look at this article to learn more.
Top Shopping Destinations in the U.S.
August 11th, 2010There are thousands of shopping destinations across the U.S., including shopping malls, flea markets, outdoor shopping areas and more. However, there are a selectamount of shopping destinations that are designed to have a certain flair, causing them to stand out. We have selected four unique shopping choices below that caught our eye. From upscale designer shops to discounted outlets, these destinations have it all.
Newbury Street in Boston, MA, is known for its rich history and unique shops. Up until the mid-1800’s Newbury Street was part of the Boston Harbor. It wasn’t until 1857 that the harbor began to be filled in, forming Boston’s Back Bay and eventually Newbury Street. This outdoor shopping destination is ranked as one of the premier shopping streets in the U.S. It has a great variety of stores to choose from including:
The stores on Newbury St. are open all year long, but the best time to enjoy this shopping destination is from April to October. Since this location is outdoors, it will be more enjoyable to check out everything it has to offer during the warmer months of the year.
Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up
August 6th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are traveling soon, make sure to check out the article on travel health. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
Travel Fitness: Road Trip Fitness Gear For Families
Planning on taking a family road trip? It can be tough staying fit on the road when traveling with your kids. However, if you plan activities that the whole family can enjoy, both you and your kids will be able to get some exercise. Take a look at this article to learn about road trip fitness gear for families.
Preventing (And Coping) With Lost Luggage Blues
Standing by the luggage carousel for an hour and realizing your suitcase did not arrive is extremely frustrating. Read this article for some great tips on how to prevent and cope with lost luggage.
6 Tips For Travel Health-Before You Go
Good health while traveling is important. You don’t want to catch anything when you are far from home and your regular doctor. This article shares with us some great tips on how to ensure your health prior t o a trip.
Good News For Travelers: Airlines Are Adding Capacity Again
Frequent travelers may have noticed over the past couple years that booking last minute tickets has been fairly difficult because several airlines have been dropping destinations and flying less frequently. However, airlines are beginning to increase capacity by adding more routes and flights in the coming months. Check out this article to learn more.
Farmer Markets are a great place to get fresh food that is fairly inexpensive and tastes great. Also, why not shop where you can also enjoy entertainment, seasonal events, cooking demonstrations and music? Take a look at Gadling’s picks for the top 10 Farmer Markets in the U.S.
Quick Security Tip: Pack Neatly!!
Packing neatly can often get you through security as quickly as possible. If you are chosen at random to have your suitcase searched, security will be able to look through your belongings in a quick and efficient manner.
4 Affordable Vacation Spots Outside the U.S.
August 4th, 2010Planning an affordable vacation outside the U.S. presents a challenge. Where should you go? What should you do? How much should you spend? These are questions that most of us ask ourselves when trying to pick a destination. To help you out, we have chosen 4 international vacation spots that won’t have you working overtime. Whether you are planning your honeymoon, a family vacation or going on a trip with a few friends, these spots should fulfill your vacation needs.
Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic
Although there has been a decrease in tourism across the Caribbean this past year, there has been a spike in visitors that have visited the Dominican Republic from the U.S. The increase in popularity has not translated into a price increase. Instead, a survey from Bing travel has stated that the average round trip fare between major U.S. airports to the main D.R. airport has decreased by 8% since 2009. There are a few options surrounding which area to visit in the D.R. We have chosen the Samana Peninsula for the following reasons:
- Many people head to Punta Cana because of its popularity among vacationers. However, the Samana Peninsula is less expensive with the average lodging rate at $168 per night opposed to Punta Cana’s $271 per night.
- This area has gorgeous white-sand beaches and turquoise waters for you to enjoy.
- If you head to the Samana Peninsula between January and March, this is an ideal time for whale watching as thousands of humpback whales migrate to Samana Bay
- For those of you who love adventure, you can participate in horseback riding or four wheel riding throughout the trails and beaches.
- Beautiful snorkeling and scuba diving for those of you who love the water.
No matter what type of vacation you are looking for, the Samana Peninsula is sure to please all.
