Vacations Archives - Page 3 of 3

The Breeze- Miami Forever

Miami is completely different than Pikeville. The first thing I noticed while driving into Miami was the cars. Ferraris and Maseratis seemed to be the norm. I even saw a few Teslas. Being a lover of exotic cars, I thought I’d died and gone to car heaven! I pride myself on being able to name every car that passed. I’m glad I’m not wealthy. Ashton would be in lots of trouble.

After our fabulous two-night stay in West Palm Beach (see that post here), we arrived at the Viceroy before lunch. It was less than a two hour drive from West Palm. I chose the Viceroy because of it’s close proximity to the Port of Miami. It didn’t hurt that it had the nation’s longest pool. I also read that several of the stars have condos there. Needless to say, I did my homework before booking. Some people are foodies; I am a “hotelie”. I booked a couple of months in advance to get the cheapest rate. (See a pattern?) Then, I paid the optional $20.00 extra for an upgrade. When we first arrived, I was in awe over the “artsy” face columns. Note the giant road in the picture. I will explain the significance of that later.

Since we were so early to arrive, we had to wait a couple of hours for our room to be prepared. It was breezy out, so we opted to wait by the pool. I was excited to find that we could see the Carnival ships from the pool! From the outside, the hotel was definitely crazy over-the-top.

We were given a free drink while we waited. I’d never turn down any offer for a free drink. Already, I felt as if we were treated like royalty. By the way, Ashton discovered that he really likes Fat Tire beer. Kudos for his branching out! I opted for a chardonnay. There is less sugar in dry wine, so I tend to sip the dries a lot more slowly.

We had almost finished our cocktails when we recieved the phone call that our room was ready. With great excitement, we made our way up to our room. The desk manager hinted that we would be pleased with our room. Ashton’s face doesn’t reflect the excitement.

Ashton nearly needed to call 911 when I saw the room. I almost had a heart attack. I had thought the Embassy room was huge, but this room took the cake. It had two bathrooms. Our first house didn’t have two bathrooms! One of the bathrooms was bigger than two rooms in our house. I loved the eclectic Asian mix designed by the famous Kelly Wearstler. I knew that I was made to live in this hotel. At least for a night….

Hello, beautiful marble desk!

While perusing the minibar, I made a discovery. At first, I thought I’d found a box of chocolates. Much to my disbelief, it was a box of ….ummm….protection. That won’t be going anywhere near my mouth. Just sayin…..

I didn’t want to part with the room. With a lot of convincing, I finally changed in my swimsuit and headed out to the pool. As we walked towards the pool, we were greeted by cucumber water, fluffy towels, and stretchy towels for our chairs. It’s definitely a swanky hotel when you get the stretchy lounge chair covers. One of the pool boys asked to assist me to my chair. In hindsight, I should have taken advantage of that opportunity. Opportunities like that don’t come often. Ashton was just happy with a cooler of Fat Tires. We spent hours people watching. I’d never seen so many beautiful people; mostly European. Did mention that we sat beside Mark Cuban’s neighbor? Did I mention that I wanted to stay here forever? #MiamiGirl

After soaking up all of the Miami sun for the day, we went back to the room to shower and get ready for dinner. As soon as we walked into the foyer (what hotel room has a foyer?), we found a handwritten note and a special anniversary surprise. What a perfect touch! We indulged in our treat while watching the yachts from our balcony. #SpoiledRotten

On the way to dinner is when the earring accident happened. Remember the picture of the huge road above, in front of the hotel? As we were racing to cross the zillion lanes of traffic, in front of grossly expensive cars, my earring flew off. It was my immediate instinct to chase it. After all, I packed lightly and I needed those earrings! As the earring bounced, I chased. I was literally on my hands and knees, chasing my two dollar earring in the middle of the street. As the walking sign had already changed, Ashton knew that I’d get runned over. Cars were honking and Ashton was yelling at me. Whether two dollars or two hundred, a girl needs her gold hoops! Much wine was needed to cope after that situation. On the way back to the hotel, we noticed a frantic girl on the balcony of our hotel. At first I thought she was wearing a flesh colored swimsuit. Don’t even get me started on flesh-colored clothing! Much to my surprise, she turned. There was no denying the butt-crack. She was nude! Apparently, her roommate had locked her out of the room. She was frantic as passers-by honked at her. Feeling horrible about that situation, we reported it to the front desk. I can only hope that someone rescued the poor girl. Note to self: Never venture outside naked. Never. After dinner, with wine in hand (because, remember, I needed it), we walked around the hotel, snapping pictures of the beautiful sunset. As long as I live, I will never forget the beauty of Miami at night.

With the big cruise day ahead, we went to bed early. We tried to go bed early. Ashton noticed that there was no cover sheet on the bed. There was only the fitted sheet and the coverlet. I dismissed it, thinking that it must be the new, “cool” way of sleeping. Unconvinced, Ashton called the front desk. It had been overlooked and they immediate sent one up. Ashton remade the bed. I thought we were at a luxury hotel??

As the night progressed, we heard what sounded like a party in the room next to us. We tried to politely ignore. But as the night progressed, things became worse. The party was raging! Finally, at 4:30am, we called the front desk to complain. Twenty people were escorted out of the room. The next morning, our entire bill was compensated. Drinks by the pool, the minibar…..our entire Viceroy experience was free. In reality, our sleep was not that badly disrupted, but who are we to complain… Would I stay at the Viceroy again? In a skinny minute! I left a part of my heart in Miami. I am sure that I will return again one day. #Viceroyforever.

Stay tuned for the next Breeze adventure!

Categories: Vacations

The Breeze- West Palm Beach

We had been anticipating our cruise on Carnival’s Breeze for months. Finally, it was the day. The bags were in the car. The cats’ bowls were spilling over with food. With all of the items checked off of our packing lists, we began our journey. The first destination? West Palm Beach, Florida. Infamous for my passenger-side sleeping, I couldn’t bear to close my eyes for even a second. I was brimming with anticipation and didn’t want to miss a thing. I love everything about traveling! Our first stop was the gas station. While Ashton filled Granny with gas, I purchased healthy snacks for the road. In hind-sight, I should have purchased more snacks. Little did I know that my husband, the traveling maniac, wouldn’t stop for food until we reached out destination. What is it with men and driving? Before we knew it, we’d already reached South of the Border. One state down, several more to go. The sun was shining. It was the most perfect day for traveling. #LifeIsGood

Although we had hoped it make it into Florida one tank of gas, it didn’t happen. We stopped just before hitting the Florida line to fill up. We are a family of gas-guzzler cars, so Granny’s gas mileage was a pleasant surprise. Maybe I’ll keep her for a while. At least, until the right convertible pops up at an auction….hint, hint.

As tradition requires, we stopped for freshly squeezed orange juice as soon as we crossed the Florida border. Believe me, it was a quick stop! I had to sip my juice in the car so that I could adequately savor it. I can’t complain. At least it was a chance to stretch the legs. By then, I had already found every possible different way to sit in the seat to avoid parts falling asleep. Legs up, legs down, legs crossed…..my fitbit didn’t get a workout that day.

Before dinner, we arrived at our West Palm Beach hotel. One thing that I always love about Hilton’s Embassy Suites is that it is always predictable. They are all pretty much standard in service and quality. We hauled our fifty-thousand pieces of luggage up to our room. Of course, as Hilton Honors members, we always ask for an upgrade. And, an upgrade we received! We nearly fell out when we opened the door to find a corner suite. It was larger than our first house! I had booked a standard king room weeks before, using the advanced purchase rate. We’ve found that it’s better to book directly through the hotel. When doing this, if there is any problem, the hotel is more likely to be helpful. ( This will be proven to be true later…)

I love that the Embassy offers a manager’s reception every evening. That’s two hours of drinks and snacks! They also include a made-to-order breakfast. The Embassy is always a lot of bang for the buck! We made a toast to safe travels and lots of adventures to come.

We met the nicest couple while we sipped our drinks at the bar. They were vacationing in Florida from Ireland. We shared dinner with them and had the best time sharing sharing stories. Phyllis and Gabe had the greatest Irish accents ever! I was green with envy. Pun intended. *wink*

When we woke the next morning, we could see the downtown area from our window. Our hotel was just off the interstate which didn’t prove to be a great first impression of the area. In fact, it’s not somewhere I’d venture out at night. Imagine our surprise as we wandered into the most gorgeous neighborhoods I’d ever seen as we neared the downtown area. We were completely speechless at the beauty of the homes we saw. Each home was surrounded by huge lush rectangular hedges; some with arched walkways. If you were a landscaper, there’d be no shortage of work there! West Palm seemed to have an old Hollywood glamour. Although over-the-top, it wasn’t glitzy or gaudy. It was completely regal. If I were a millionaire, West Palm Beach would be my choice of residency.

We stopped by the beach. At five dollars an hour to park, I’m glad we didn’t have our hearts set on spending the day on the sand.

We wanted to enjoy the West Palm surroundings, so we found a beachy outside bar and grill. We parked our car in a less expensive parking garage. Noting the names of streets in our memory, we made our way down the palm-lined streets. Ashton was finally starting to relax a little. If you ever have the chance, visit E.R. Bradley’s Bar and Saloon. It didn’t disappoint!

We stopped to ogle the yachts. I can’t even imagine what that type of life would be like….

Hot and tired from walking, we walked back towards the car garage. The first mistake we made was when we decided to take a different route than the one we took to the restaurant. The second mistake was leaving the ticket with the address of the garage in the car. The third mistake was assuming that we could remember the names of the streets where the garage was located. I can’t even find my car at the grocery store; much less in a parking garge in a strange town. The hunt was on as we frantically walked the streets of downtown West Palm. If some of our luggage weren’t still in the car, I’m sure Ashton would have abandoned the Mercedes and rented a car for the rest of the trip. Even more than me, he was freaking out. We did eventually find the garage after several melt-downs and blisters on the feet. We very much needed a happy hour after that. Never before had such a relaxing day turned stressful so quickly.

Here’s what I learned on this leg of the trip….

1. Once men start driving, they don’t stop. Take lots of snacks, but don’t drink a lot. Do encourage the driver to drink lots of coffee. That will guarantee, at least, a few stops to stretch the legs.

2. Don’t wear a jumpsuit while traveling. And, again, don’t drink a lot. Less drinks mean less bathroom breaks. I really didn’t feel good about stripping in a public restroom with cracks in the doors. Just sayin…..

3. When parking, take a picture of the street names. If there is a parking ticket, take it with you!

4. Hilton hotels rarely disappoint (especially free drinks!) All Embassy hotels have a daily Manager’s Reception and a free breakfast. Online, book the advanced purchase rate. It’s usually the cheapest option.

5. Always ask for an upgrade. What do you have to lose?

Stay tuned for The Breeze- Miami!

Categories: Vacations

Cruising- The Editing Process

Every since my first cruise, when I haphazardly packed three suitcases for a three-day cruise, I’ve tried to simplify. Gone are the days when I pack 15 pairs of shoes and 5 extra outfits. As anyone knows, the worst part about packing is the unpacking after the vacation! Cruise ships are so large, you rarely see the same people more than a few times. If I can’t remember what I wore two days ago, surely no one else will.

In my last post, I mentioned editing. Editing requires effort, but is well worth the time. Editing is like solving a puzzle.To begin the editing process, I lay all of the chosen clothes on the bed, including jewelry and shoes. Then, I begin switching out items as needed, subtracting some of the one-time-wear items. I always want maximum outfit options while packing the least amount of clothes. As I edit, I try to keep mostly things that I can wear again, in a different way. Here are a few tips for editing….

1. I take a neutral pair of heels that can match most of my dinner clothes. This time I’m taking gold, but often I will take a taupe pair, instead. The gold heels go with everything except my black formal dress. I can even wear the gold heels with my navy formal dress just by adding gold-toned accessories. It’s very important to keep an open mind when mixing clothing, shoes, and accessories! I’m still packing my black heels to match my black formal dress. But, since those shoes are very simply styled, I could wear those with other things. Although I could, I no longer pack a different pair of shoes for every outfit. I feel a little sad at leaving the coordinating shoes at home (especially my new brown zebra prints), but I’m happy to be satisfied with less. I also pack a comfy tan-colored pair of wedges. They make my legs look so much longer. I also pack gold flats to wear around the ship. And athletic shoes…..unfortunately, there’s just no way around that! With all of the good food I plan to eat, I will need to walk! I have been able to drastically reduce the amount of shoes I now pack. I’m good with taking only five pairs of shoes. For me, that’s quite the accomplishment!

2. I pack three of my favorite swimsuits. I really just don’t need more than that. I pack a couple of dress-type cover ups, plus a long back maxi skirt. The maxi is always a favorite. I can roll it and pack it in my beach bag. Plus, it looks good with my one piece swimsuit and a sweater for grabbing lunch. It would be comfy, too, for traveling, paired with a t-shirt and fun jewelry. See how pieces can have different purposes?

3. I pack a couple of knit jumpsuits or maxi dresses. These look neat enough to wear during embarkment or to ports, but comfy enough for lounging. An all-in one outfit requires no thinking. They can be dressed up or down.

4. I coordinate my gym clothes. I pack about three tops, two bottoms, and a lightweight pullover. Mix and match! I make sure the items I choose can easily be rinsed in the sink. If I work out more than three days while on vacation, it’s a miracle!

5. I pack a couple of sweaters. I used to pack a jean jacket. However, they are really heavy and don’t work well for my dressier dinner clothes. I now take sweaters that can be rolled and easily packed. I can throw them on over anything when I get chilly.

6. When choosing jewelry, I pack either silver or gold, but not both. I chose jewelry that can coordinate with more than one outfit, too. Thankfully, jewelry doesn’t take up much space!

When I edit and have my outfits on the bed and floor, I nearly always end up changing things out for more versatile items. Although editing is difficult, it gets easier with practice. I’ve been able to downsize my packing each time. The craziest thing is that I never feel like I am without what I need. Less packing, less unpacking, less washing, and less stress….

Do you have any editing ideas to share?

Categories: Vacations

The Highs and Lows of our Lancaster Trip

I always look forward to the opportunity to travel. Even a mini vacation, resulting from Ashton’s job as a car-buyer, is a treat! You can find the post about my Florida auction trip here. Usually before we go out of town, I research the area we will be visiting. By the time we leave for our destination, I have a wish list of restaurants and activities to try. This time was a little different. Ashton was asked to go to Pennsylvania with only a moment’s notice. In fact, I was still packing furiously on the morning we left. Not only did I feel disorganized, I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to watch the pool people place the liner in the pool. I’d waited months for the pool to be finished!

Below are the highs and lows of our Lancaster, Pennsylvania trip…..

We shared the drive with Ashton’s friend and fellow car-buyer, Timmy. Having an extra person was very entertaining and passed the time more quickly on the long drive. I didn’t have time to eat breakfast, so I was grateful when we stopped for lunch. I chose the grilled vegetable plate and it was amazing. Riding when you are hungry is miserable! We took a Pennsylvania selfie. I forget that downtown Lancaster is so pretty!

Little did I know that I was going to have such a difficult time finding food on this trip. Really, having food was something I took for granted. Usually when travelling, I will pack healthy snacks for the road and the hotel. Because of the lack of time to prepare, it didn’t happen. The auction provided complimentary food and drinks that evening at The Cat’s Meow, one of the local restaurants. However, I didn’t find anything among the choices that hit the spot, so I ordered vegetables (again). I learned that several glasses of wine wasn’t good on a nearly empty stomach. And that’s all I am going to share. That’s all I care to remember. Never again…..

While Ashton attended the auction, I stayed behind to enjoy the hotel amenities. I had a fantastic massage at the Mandarin Rose Spa that left me sore for days. How can you be so tense and not realize it? Although I couldn’t swim in my own pool, I did have the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s pool and hot tub. It was very peaceful as I didn’t see another soul, other than the masseuse, for hours. Pure bliss…..

The hunger struck again with a vengeance. Room service wasn’t an option. I didn’t have any tip money. Going downstairs to eat at the restaurant alone didn’t seem appealing either. So I endured, while I dreamed of dinner. Hungry, hungry, hungry. This was the theme of the trip.

As soon as the storms passed, we had a fantastic walk around downtown Lancaster. Downtown is so beautiful at night! While walking, we discovered The Pressroom Restaurant. Inside, there was a jazz band playing. The restaurant atmosphere was so cozy. Since I had been hungry all day, I splurged on the cheese fries. They were so good! The fries were topped with a cheese-horseradish sauce that was amazing! I had never been so thankful for food. I ate as if there were no tomorrow….

Little did I know the result of eating duck fat fries. When you are used to eating clean foods, duck fat cheese fries are a shock to body. I’d never felt so sick in my life! Once more, I found something that I would never do again, To top it off, we only had the same wet towels and unmade bed when we returned to the room. One of the biggest pleasures of hotel-living is a freshly made bed and fresh towels. I decided that the Marriott is definitely not the same as my favored Hilton!

On the trip, we did find time to visit of couple of fantastic wineries. It’s not a trip unless there is wine tasting involved. Once again, I had to taste on an empty stomach. We kept thinking that we would find food, but it was never convenient to stop. At least, that’s what the driver (Ashton) said. That driver had probably had a large breakfast and lunch! The first winery was in the country. We had a scenic drive along the winding roads. At one point, we saw an Amish man plowing his field with a horse and plow. I definitely have an appreciation for the simplicity of their lives. It must be difficult to maintain a quaint lifestyle in modern times. The second winery was in a shopping center, in town. Actually, what we thought to be a winery was a tasting room. At first, we didn’t have high expectations. As soon as we walked into Thorn Hill Vineyards, we were greeted with a beautiful tasting room. The wines were some of the best we have had. While we expected their wines to be local, we discovered that the wines were actually from California. After learning about the history of the vineyards, we spent a couple of hours relaxing and making new friends over wine. Before we left, we joined their wine club. Of course, that didn’t make much convincing on my part. Because I had an empty stomach, I slowly sipped my wine this time. Kudos for me!

After wine tasting, we looked forward to a good dinner. By good, I mean somewhere upper-scale. We were in the mood for wonderful, unique dishes created by a talented chef. After a day of only three crackers and wine, I needed food. Although, downtown Lancaster was flocked with restaurants, we sat down in two different restaurants, only to leave because of the limited menu selections. By that point we were so frustrated, we settled for pizza. Apparently, that’s a staple in that area. While the pizza was tasty, it wasn’t what I really wanted. You would think that I would have learned that grease on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea.

The last day, we attended my favorite auction. The auction in Manhiem, Pennsylvania is one of the world’s largest. The auction is always bustling with activity and excitement. While Ashton worked, I took pictures of my favorite cars. It’s not every day that a North Carolina girl gets to touch a Lamborghini. And, of course, I found the Maserati that I am sure I will one day own. I’m not giving up that idea anytime soon!

The drive home always seems a thousand times longer than the original drive. Though I did eat a light breakfast, I was hungry by lunchtime when we left the auction. Ashton wanted to wait until we were past the Washington, D.C. area before we stopped for food. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic, at a crawl, for hours. At one point, it took over an hour to drive two blocks. I was so hungry, I thought I’d pass out. At least, if I passed out, I was already seated. I made a note to myself that one should never venture out onto I-95 without having a full stomach, a full gas tank, and an empty bladder. Finally we had to stop to buy gas. I ran, not walked, to the store where I purchased a huge bag of pistachios. That proved to not be a great idea, as I was covered in nut debris for the rest of the trip. There were a few nasty looks from Ashton as I completely littered my side of the car. Not to mention, shelling all the nuts ruined the polish on what was left of my thumbnails.

Finally, we arrived home. Our glorious, peaceful home with our three precious cat kids…..I’d never been so happy to return home! Not only that, our new pool was begging to be used! I wouldn’t consider this trip to be the best we’ve had. In fact, probably the only thing that I will remember long term is the extreme hunger. As hungry as I was, I did enjoy spending time with Ashton on another adventure. And, I realized that there truly is no place like home! Especially, when an inviting new pool is waiting!

Have you ever been on a less-than-perfect trip? Were you able to find a few good things about the trip? To share your story, comment below!

Categories: Vacations

Our Anniversary & Hotel Tips

After celebrating my sixth wedding anniversary and then three solid days of sleeping and unpacking, I have finally returned to the world of blogging! I apologize in advance for the poor quality of my photos. I left my Nikon at home. If I had to forget something, at least it wasn’t my makeup! To read about our relationship, you can it here. Also, check out Sheila’s Music Monday Playlist. This girl is too cool!

When my husband decided to go to Florida to buy cars for his job, I tagged along because it fell during out anniversary week. Even though it was a business trip, we still found time to play and relax (me, more so than him)! Our first stop was Orlando, where we were treated like royalty at the Waldorf Astoria. This “queen” was loving every minute of it! While Ashton worked the first auction, I pampered myself with a glorious body scrub and massage. As usual, I can never resist a spa. Somewhere between lounging in the sun, lazy rivers, and extravagant meals, we found time to exchange anniversary rings. Our next stop was Tampa, where we were, once again, treated like royalty at the Hilton. We both worked the auctions in Tampa, but spent afternoons in the roof top pool, surrounded by palm trees and tall mirrored buildings. Downtown Tampa and Orlando were very opposite, but equally wonderful!

The Downtown Tampa Hilton, our view from the rooftop pool

My auction tag. I, however wasn’t allowed to buy the cars!

While some people are “foodies”, I am a “hotel-ie”. There are few things I love more than a beautiful hotel. While I might scrimp on some things, I will not compromise on hotels. I want to be completely submerged in fabulous-ness. If I have to eat stale pop-tarts for breakfast and lunch to splurge on a room, than it’s done.

With many hotel experiences under my belt, I have discovered a few tips to get those fabulous little extras. I want to share these tips with you!

1. Dress Nicely. That doesn’t mean that you have to wear a prom dress; just look neat. There are many comfortable things that you can wear during traveling that look neat. The homeless look is not cool if you are wanting upgrades. Nice hotels want to maintain a certain clientele and they appreciate your looking the part.

2. Show Loyalty. Become a member of their rewards club. Usually club members will get upgrades before anyone else. It doesn’t matter if it is your first visit. You can join their club on the hotel website before you go. Often, club members get free valet service or free drinks or breakfasts. It’s easy. Do it. My husband and I have a few hotels we prefer.We have always had impeccable service at the Hilton hotels. They are always very consistent in decor and service. I like knowing exactly what to expect when I book a room. Hilton has some really upscale hotels, as well of the more economical hotels.

3. Ask for an Upgrade. There are a few strategies for this! You must be courteous to the desk staff. They can immediately deny you an upgrade if you don’t connect with them. If you are celebrating something….anything….let them know. Don’t tell crazy stories; be honest and sincere. Compliment the hotel and tell them that you are happy that you chose to stay there. Let them know that you chose them! If you are checking in at a peak time, don’t be upset if you can’t get the requested upgrade. We have found that we nearly always get an upgrade if we check in around dinner time or later, rather than earlier. On our past trip, we were told that all of the rooms were booked. We were very disappointed to find that our “river view” room only offered the tiniest river slice. We asked the bellman if there was anything else with a better view. Immediately, he knew which rooms were open and he placed us into a much better room, with a tip, of course! When we went back down to the desk, later, to thank them for switching our room (remember, always be gracious!) , we mentioned that it was our anniversary. Upon seeing that we were dressed in our dinner clothes, the manager escorted us to the restaurant, where we received the best table, along with complementary champagne, and dessert. When we got back to our room, there was a cheese tray waiting for us (which was our lunch for the next day!). The next night, the brought an assortment of crackers and honey. We have found that the Hilton always showers us with niceties of some type. Sometimes, even if you don’t get a room upgrade, they compensate by giving nice extras. If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Also, did you know that the Hilton offers bathrobes? I am obsessed with the white fluffy hotel bathrobes. If you find that your room doesn’t have one, you can request one. Also, if you want different pillows, you can request those as well. Good to know!

Our upgraded view in the Tampa Hilton

Chocolate covered strawberries and the sweetest card signed by the desk staff at the Tampa Hilton

3. Book Directly Through the Hotel. If you book through one of the “money-saving” sites (you know the ones I’m talking about!), you won’t get any special treatment. You will be a no-body. A big, fat zero. Besides, sometimes booking through the hotel is cheaper. Often, they offer seasonal deals. Because I am a teacher, Hilton always lets me have the state employee rate…..even if I am staying in a different state. Sometimes, they even have discount cards for teachers. This time, with my teacher discount card, we received 10% off food and drinks in the hotel.

4. Be Gracious! The hotel employees work very hard to do their jobs. They often have to deal with grumpy, rude people. If someone does something nice, let them know. If the desk staff or bartender was excellent, let their managers know! I always carry a few note cards with me every time we travel. It only takes a few minutes to leave a note of praise for the people that have have made your stay memorable.

And, I have to share another money saving tip from our trip that has absolutely nothing to do with hotels. My husband and I wanted to exchange rings last year. As a result of house projects, we were unable. Knowing that I wanted a new sofa this year, I saved a chunk of money, earmarked for that purpose. I shopped the sofa and found such a great deal, that I had enough money left over for rings. GO ME! Ashton’s ring came from Overstock. I was leery about the quality, but it is a very nice, heavy ring. We both loved it! I shopped all over for my anniversary band and couldn’t beat the price at Sam’s Club. I have no problem shopping around to find the best deal. After all, that’s more to spend on a fabulous hotel!

As with anything you do, make it count! Have fun, and get the most out of your hotel stay. Even if you are on a budget, you can have a grand experience!

Do you have any hotel tips to share? If so, please comment!