This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of AccuWeather. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have you seen the new redesigned AccuWeather.com if you have not they have improved everything. When it comes to the weather especially in New England you need to check it often because what you thought was going to happen tomorrow will change over night. The new AccuWeather interface is easier than ever to use to help you find what they need by displaying more relevant information grouped conveniently together and at a higher level in the site. There is nothing worse than planning going for an outdoor trip and finding out the weather you thought was going to great is going to be rainy. It is good to know we can battle this by having forecasts that are displayed with radar and local video, all from one view on the home page. They have also taken away all the clutter adding larger displays and a new tabbed navigation giving more choices than ever. Last week we checked the weather as they kept telling us a big snowstorm was coming. We went to the grocery store fighting the masses to buy milk, bread and water. Moved the shovels close to the front door, backed the cars in and got ready. They called off school and we were ready to get walloped. The next day at three in the after noon not one inch of snow was on the ground. The news folk had egg on their face and proved again you just never know. It is great that there is resource that you can check a personal weather often and stay on top of the actual conditions. The new site has even more of a bonus as it includes four new lifestyle areas: Weather and Health, Weather and Travel, Weather and Home and Garden, Weather and Outdoor Activity. We give the new AccuWeather.com two thumbs way up.
We wanted to throw some attention to a blog dedicated to South Beach lifestyle. We have a fondness for any blogger rocking the old school wordpress 2.0. This blog is a good read as it can take you through what is hot and happing in southern Florida and Miami area. It has been fun to read about how cold it is there over the last couple months. This global warming thing is really starting to take hold. No wonder they changed the name to climate change. If you have sometime and want to know what is hot in Southbeach you should check it out.
If you have not heard about the Karisma Hotels they are secluded resorts on the white-sand beaches of the Mexican Riviera Maya. If are looking for a place for a destination weddings of a lifetime there is no finer spot on the earth. You will find that each resort has an elite level of service that makes your vacation one where you are king. These luxurious accommodations include entertainment and the classy snap-to service as the Karisma Resorts have become the first all-inclusive properties to focus on individual experiences for the affluent. Karisma concept of the luxury all-inclusive has no equal. we find the idea of a Beach beds that has retractable curtains for impromptu moments of ocean-view intimacy enough to want to check it out. When you add in things like, beachside bar swings, Hot tubs, hammocks, swim-up rooms, and white gauze curtains floating over four poster beds. yuo will love this vacation at any one of the Karisma’s five signature resorts. If you can get to this year you will feel no more relaxed ans stress free when you are in the hands of Karisma Hotels staff as you will never forget your time on the secluded white-sand beaches of the Mexican Riviera Maya.
We wanted to let you know about a funny vacation rental that is available on YouTube check the link below. The ad revolves around the new superhero of the vacation rental industry, Unitard. As far the content in the vacation rental commercial they make a really good point about staying in a hotel as opposed to a home when on vacation. Unitard and the announcer are vacation rental superheros in this new TV commercial for Vacation Rental.org let the traveler know that they do have options instead of staying at a big chain hotel. Can Unitard save the travelers from spending more a getting less than staying at house, check out the story below.
The Disney PhotoPass is another item that costs a lot up front and you have no idea if you will use it. You will kick yourself if you do not buy it. The Photopass is a card you swipe anytime a photographer is at the park. They take character photos (pictures with Mickey Mouse), as well as scenic photos (in front of Magic Kingdom Castle). Disney will send you an email making you an offer of $99 before you leave. We did not accept because we already spent a small fortune to go on the vacation. When we started using the card you realize they have all the best spots staked out, we used the card 150 times. You view the pictures online and they document your time there better than your own photos. When new returned the pictures stay on the website for 30 days. If we wanted to buy the DVD of the Photos after the trip, it cost us $159.00. The choice to buy the DVD or not was one we tossed around but in the end it was a moment in time and we decided to spend the money. Next time we will pay the money up front as the choice to watch those photos disappear into the vapor seemed too much to take.
Days until Super Bowl XLIV 22 days
Days until Calgary Winter Olympics 29 days
Days until Spring 2010 65 Days
Days until Clash of the Titans Debut 71 days
Days until Iron Man 2 Movie Debut 117 days
Days until Robin Hood Debut 124 Days
Days until Summer 157 days
Days until a New President 1108 Days
Days Country Held Hostage Under Hope and Change 360
National Debt 1/14/2010 12,258,545,028,915.24
National Debt 1/14/2000 5,719,849,572,269.03
National Debt 1/8/1835 0.00
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Monograms. All opinions are 100% mine.
When you are looking for setting up the perfect vacation we wanted to let you know about you can click here to check it out http://www.monogramstravel.com/simple?utm_source=izea&utm_medium=ppp&utm_campaign=simple. We used the site to build and personalize a vacation we have always wanted to take. It was very easy to use as we picked Rome and leaving from NYC in the Fall, Monograms did the rest. They provided a list of hotels, selected excursions, and activities. We were impressed with how easy it was and the simple search box resulted in not only perfect vacation but they offered a lot more than we asked. They also showed longer trips to more cities that also included Rome. The search even expanded to offer stops in France and England. They have a search function with drop down menus that have a worldwide variety of destinations and packages to select from. When you use Monograms you will save time and energy when planning and booking vacations as the amount of return for your search is all the information you need. It is also the perfect way for travelers to plan a visit to a destination for the first time and have a good idea on the cost. We were shocked to see they had an offer for travelers to fly to Europe for as little as $487 on a Monograms vacation and to view special travel offers. This is a great time to travel, as you can not only rejuvenate your sense of adventure but right now travel can be up to 20% less than it was in2009. Let Monograms handles all the details and logistical hassles, so can just have all the fun. It is like they say Monograms - the simple solution to planning and enjoying a vacation.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
You did it all and the holidays are over. Now it is time do something for yourself. We have the a great escape as you can experience all that Branson has to offer with a weekend getaway at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. You will be a big hit with your significant other with their exclusive Romance Package. Think about getting away and enjoying an in-room sparkling wine or cider upon arrival, you will be able to access to the hotel health club, pool and whirlpool spa. Remember these are Hilton hotels so pampering is at a premium. You can wake to full American breakfast for two in your room. You could also take advantage of the lovely Hilton Bed and Breakfast Package and enjoy the comfort of the Hiltons of Branson plus a personalized Hilton Breakfast for two all weekend long! Can it get any better than that. Yes it can because you are in Branson and situated within the electrifying entertainment capital of the Midwest in Branson, Missouri, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel offer guests access to shops, boutiques, restaurants, a river walk and other attractions. Branson has ongoing events for everyone’s entertainment like the exciting fourth annual professional ice sculpting competition, Master’s Trout Championship, the Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, live entertainment, theaters and much more. You could also just put the do not disturb sign on the door and hide away from everyone and everything as you enjoy your exclusive Romance Package.
There are plenty of places to stay in Las Vegas but none is as fun as Circus Circus. Sure some of the other hotels have great features but if you have ever dreamed of running away and joining the circus this is the place for you. There is a big top with a Circus acts running all the time. This is the home of The Steakhouse Garden Grill, and the Circus Buffett are two of the best east on the strip. The Adventuredome theme park which has twenty five rides including the Disko, Chaos, Coaster and Inverter is a day of fun for everyone. They have done a real good job of giving you more than just gambling. The routes you need to get to all these places are surrounded by gaming and you must pass multiple room of gaming to get around. It is after Las Vegas where from the minute you land at the airport the ringing of slots becomes background noise. There are times when you leave Vegas and it is six or seven hours later before you notice there is no sound of the slots anymore. Circus Circus has great offers for cheap rates on their rooms as well as deals on multiple days like a fourth day free. They have three swimming pools, one in the KOA RV Park and two at the Skyrise tower. All swimming pools are outside and also have Jacuzzis. The pools are heated to 80 degrees and their depths are from 3 feet to 9 feet. Circus Circus is a great place to stay on a budget in Las Vegas and offers plenty of other entertainment besides gambling. As we always say three days in Las Vegas is enough five might me alright and seven is way too long.
There are four parks in Disneyland Florida Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Depending on your age they have something for everyone. They also have something for you at each park even if it is not geared toward you. The last time we were at Disney we had a pretty good mix of ages. The older folks and youngest children enjoyed Epcot. There as plenty to see and each land had shops and flavors of the region. The teenagers would not leave Hollywood Studios between the Tower of Terror, Aerosmith Roller Coaster, and the American Idol Experience they could not get enough. The pre schoolers and tweenies loved the Magic Kingdom and the whole group spent the least amount of time at Animal Kingdom. There is something for everyone at these parks but with a group, our size it was easier to split up and let everyone enjoy what they wanted to do. This made getting the park hopper pass a necessity as we would then all then meet at a certain time, at certain park for dinner. We tried to go to the night show fireworks as a group and we found that cell phone communication was they best way to find each other.
There was a wise man that once said invest in real estate because God is not making anymore. The problem with investing in US real estate is the market has been over valued. There is still an opportunity to invest in Nosara Land in Costa Rica. This Central American paradise is a tranquil beach community, ideal for a nature lover’s or a surfer’s vacation. Hotels and private houses are spread apart and hidden into lush tropical greenery. Not only will you have a great spot to vacation yourself but also a source of income in an area that is sought after by travelers the world over.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of DiscoverLosAngeles.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you are looking for a place to ring out 2009 and party in 2010 we want to let you know about the LA new year’s eve hotel specials. There is no better place in the US weather wisethen a Beachfront Hotel to party in 2010. There are so many reason to spend New Years on the left coast. You are able to hang out in one of these great los angeles hotels and because of the time zone you can watch Times Square at 9PM your time. Are you starting to see the benefits of being at any of the hotels in los angeles as you are in a warm climate and still can enjoy Times Square on television and avoid the freezing temperatures. Then you can party at a Boutique Hotels through the central and mountain times zones ringing in the New Year three times before midnight comes to California. New Years Eve this year is on a Thursday which means when you wake up on new years day you have Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You are able to check out the Rose Bowl Parade or any of the other New Years Day attractions or Take a Dip in LA’s Hottest Pools this Winter and enjoy the sunshine. As we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome a brand new year, celebrate in style at one of the premier hotels in Los Angeles. Hotels across the city are offering several fun-filled options to help ring in the New Year.
There is a battle when going to Disney to stay on the park or outside. We have done both and want to speak about staying on the park. First of all if you are on the park you can use Disney transportation, it is free and check your bags, bring them to your room. They do this on departure as well. There are buses at every hotel that go to the different theme parks every few minutes as you will be able to get around the park all day and night. The hotels on the park start at $83 and you can stay outside that park for around $50. The problem is parking which $12. This can be offset because the food in the park is expensive. If you stay on the park you are allowed more time at the parks. Staying on the parks has a drawback in that it is next to impossible to leave. When trying to rent a car it can take a few hours as we thought we would rent a car and get some groceries to stock the fridge. It was next to impossible and a cab ride was just as bad. We are not saying you cannot do these things but there is a lot that goes into setting them up. There probably is a happy medium where you rent a car in Orlando airport drive out to the park check in leave, stock up on items, and then go back to the hotel. The problem then is returning the car and getting back to the hotel, if the car is less than $30 a day you could save that in avoiding having to buy lunches for the week. It really seems to be either stay on the park and payless but get killed on the food, or stay of the park and get killed on the parking.
Christmas 2009 8 days
Sherlock Holmes 8 days
Days until 2010 – 14 days
American Idol – 26 days
Super Bowl XXXXIV 51 days
Calgary Winter Olympics 57 days
Iron Man 2 Movie Debut 143 days
Days until a New President 1134 Days
Days Country Held Hostage Under Hope and Change 327
National Debt 12/15/1999 5,706,990,981,165.37
National Debt 12/15/2009 12,134,970,556,795.04
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
We can think of no better holiday vacation then spending it in the warmth and comfort of an Ozark Mountains this Christmas holiday season. If you are going to Branson then there is no better place to stay then at the Hiltons of Branson. Great American Hotel like the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is a one of kind experience and check out the great holiday packages. We are big fan of the It’s a Wonderful Life, starting at $329 per night and running from Nov 15 thru Dec 23, it is a chance to experience the ultimate holiday getaway for shopping, relaxation and entertainment with receipt a Branson Landing passport loaded with discounts at dozens of shops and restaurants along with a treatment at Aspire Medical Spa. If you are looking for something for the whole family with little ones the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is a place to bring your whole family together check out the package running from Friday thru Sunday Nov 15 thru Dec 23. The family will enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and Santa himself will deliver presents, cookies and milk to guest’s rooms with the Santa’s Coming to Town Package, starting at $189 per night. If you are looking for something different and want to get away then these exciting holiday packages at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, you are in for a true holiday treat!
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you were thinking about getaway before the holidays then bringing the family together in the warmth and comfort of an Ozark Mountain Christmas this holiday season with the Hiltons of Branson might be the ticket for you. Check out the Hilton hotels of Branson like the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing as both hotels have great special packages for the holiday season like the It’s a Wonderful Life, starting at $329 per night and running from Nov 15 thru Dec 23, you’ll experience the ultimate holiday getaway for shopping, relaxation and entertainment with receipt a Branson Landing passport loaded with discounts at dozens of shops and restaurants along with a treatment at Aspire Medical Spa. We would be remiss if did not mention the other great Hilton hotel in Branson the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel where you can bring family together in the warmth and comfort from Friday thru Sunday Nov 15 thru Dec 23 where little ones will enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and Santa himself will deliver presents, cookies and milk to guest’s rooms with the Santa’s Coming to Town Package, starting at $189 per night. With these exciting holiday packages at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, you are in for a true holiday treat!
If you’re a looking to book a stage or hen party then you should check out Gobananas. They arrange group travel for stag do weekends, hen weekends and team building days and events. They have great deals on accommodation and also have some fantastic activities day or night. They work with any budget and group size and have deals in all the top locations across the UK. They have also started to expand into other countries with www.Gobananas.com including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India, USA and Italy. Check out the Hen Nights & Hen Weekends, Everything from spa days to cocktail lessons, a Gobananas hen night is happiness, gossip, giggling and a whole lot more. This type of hen weekend is for all those ladies out there who are into trying new things and maybe seeing new things. So if you’ve always fancied giving activities like lap or pole dancing lessons, white water rafting a go or having a half naked butler serve you champagne, then we say you fall into this category. In 2009 and 2010 they have pulled out all the stops to get you the best deals in the most exciting cities in the UK. This stage package has two nights accommodation in a top hostel in Edinburgh; this will be right in the city centre. Your party guest will get your own rooms so you will not be sharing with randoms. Then get ready because the next two nights you will have entry into the top Lap dancing venue in Edinburgh and Entry into a music nightclub that fits your style.
We wanted to let you know about The Balsams a New Hampshire hotel where history and nature converge. The Balsams is a great place for outdoor activities for both families and groups. If you are looking for a place to have your next group golf outings “The Balsams” is right on par. The Balsams outdoor activities are also family-focused and the 8,000-acre estate affords guests the chance to create their own adventures. There is hiking, walking, and mountain biking on the extensive trail network. Children enjoy the outdoor playground area and heated swimming pool. Depending on the season the activities change but there are still activities such as golf, tennis, alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and dog-sledding. You can head down to beautiful Lake Gloriette for some canoeing, kayaking and fly-fishing. One of the greatest hidden features of the hotel is their Green initiative as it fights against oil dependence and operates on alternative energy sources. We are a sucker for this hotel as this is where they vote for the Presidential election at midnight every four years. Dixville Notch has been the first to vote for President since 1952. There are so many reasons to make a visit and stay at The Balsams for your nexy vacation summer or winter.
There is no better winter vacation then Daytona Beach. Any spot in Florida is great when the winter cold is bearing down. We have become big fans of Daytona over the last few years. There are plenty of places to stay and the town is NASCAR crazy. When there is a race going on it is obviously tougher to get a room. Our prefect Daytona vacation starts on a Monday and runs to Thursday we like to stay right on the beach and have a rental car. One of the best things to do in Daytona is to get a pass to drive your car on the beach. Being from the northeast you can go to the beach but Daytona was the first place we had seen cars drive on the beach. Sitting on your balcony you can watch a wide variety of muscle cars and supped up dune buggies roll along the golden sand. Daytona has their own International airport so it is easy to get flight into and Disney, SeaWorld and the Kennedy Space Center are all lee than 75miles away. There are four weekends you want to stay away from the two NASCAR weeks and two motorcycle weeks because the place does get crowded, spring break is another time of year to avoid. Daytona Beach is a great beach getaway in sunny Florida that will give you the fell of summer anytime of the year.
We want to let you know about fine dining that occurs in New Hampshire. “The Balsams” is a New Hampshire hotel that offers a world class culinary school, and a table d’hôte dining experience. You will enjoy the class and elegance of fine dining where men are required to wear jackets for evening dining. The Balsams is a New Hampshire Grand Resort Hotel they do not only offer fine gourmet dining for their guests they provide a world class culinary school for its staff. This means that every meal is always a special occasion. You will dine upon the freshest ingredients from local farmers whenever possible. Because of the world class culinary school the curriculum is very challenging. This is good news for the dinners as the menu changes nightly, and is presented table d’hôte style by The Balsams staff. Table d’hôte is a French phrase which means “host’s table”. It is used as restaurant terminology to indicate a menu where multi-course meals with only a few choices. Before we forget they have a celebrated wine cellar that features over 4,000 bottles from 310 different labels, and is continually recognized by Wine Spectator. The Balsams has been feeding up to 500 guests a day. The Dixville Notch New Hampshire-based program is recognized to be one of the best of its kind. The Grand Dining Room has comfortable wraparound porch as well as spectacular views throughout the 8,000-acre property. There are plenty of winter activities things like snowshoeing, skating, broomball games, or a family sleigh ride. In the summer there is activities kinds, including golf, tennis, kayaking, children’s camp, mountain biking and much more. Whatever your reason to go to the “The Balsams” you will enjoy this fine dinning experience from a world renowned culinary school.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
The holidays are time for families as well as a time to slow down from the grind sit back and enjoy all you work to provide. There is no better place to that then a Hilton Hotel because it cannot hurt to feel like royalty as well. A great holiday getaway is a stay at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the equally satisfying and right across the street neighbor the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, either choice will make you feel like a King or a Queen. This holiday season you can have an Ozark Mountain Christmas with the Hiltons of Branson. They have these great packages like the It’s a Wonderful Life, starting as low as $329 per night and running from Nov 15 thru Dec 23, you can experience the ultimate holiday getaway for shopping, relaxation and entertainment with receipt a Branson Landing passport loaded with discounts at dozens of shops and restaurants along with a treatment at Aspire Medical Spa. You are also just minutes away from the area’s 49 theatres, outlet malls, golf courses, Table Rock Lake, Silver Dollar City, Titanic Museum and numerous other attractions. If you want to getaway as a family these Hilton Hotels have you covered as well from Friday thru Sunday Nov 15 thru Dec 23 where your little ones will enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and Santa himself will deliver presents, cookies and milk to guest’s rooms all part of the Santa’s Coming to Town Package, starting at the crazy low price of only $189 per night. With these exciting holiday packages you will find your true holiday spirit. If you have been spending the last few holidays running around at work, then running around at home, followed by running from house to house on the holiday, is it not time for you to slow down. Is it not time for you to remember why it is the best time of the year. Let the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel help you remember that magic.
Let us think about a getaway for the holidays and this year why not try Branson. There are some excellent deals and packages offered by the Hilton in the area. If you are going to stay in Branson there are really only two hotels that are worthy of the season. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is a great place to bring the family together in the warmth and comfort of an Ozark Mountain Christmas this holiday season. The other is the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, in the heart of Historic Downtown Branson, Missouri. The hotel is located across from the new Branson Landing retail and entertainment district situated on Lake Taneycomo. Would it not be a great holiday to bring your family together in the warmth and comfort from Friday thru Sunday Nov 15 thru Dec 23 the Santa Claus is Coming package where little ones will enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and Santa himself will deliver presents, cookies and milk to guest’s rooms with the Santa’s Coming to Town Package, starting at $189 per night. There are other packages available but this family of four vacation getaway seems like the perfect holiday fit for our family. When you add in the outdoor and indoor pool and the great Trofi Restaurant and Lounge it will be a great time for all.
