Angeltraveler

Review of Quality Inn The Willows Wyoming

I stayed at this hotel recently for two nights and I must say that I was happy overall with the experience. The Quality Inn The Willows has 50 rooms and is set on some nice grounds with tropical gardens. It is located about 2 kms north of Gosford on the Pacific Highway with the railway line to the rear of the property although I didn't hear any noise in the room.

It's not a new hotel but it has been maintained fairly well but I thought the place looked like it needed a good sweep and wash down outside but the rooms were clean. My room was very large, probably too big for just me, but was comfortable.

I only had one dinner and one breakfast in the dining room but found both meals very good quality. If there is a coach tour booked in for the night then ask for a quiet room away from them. The bathroom in my room had been updated in the last year and looked quite modern. If you have problems with mobility then ask for a room without a step in spa as the shower is in the spa.

I had an executive room with king bed on the first floor and it had a very high ceiling and a large skylight. It was nice to wake up in the morning with some natural light coming into the room without sacrificing privacy. The TV only had a few channels but that may have more to do with the area. There is plenty of parking on site. There was supposed to be a pool but I didn't see it and it was a bit cold to swim anyway.

The location is opposite a shopping centre and is near a petrol station and the local pub which serves a nice dinner and snack meals. On the whole I would recommend the Quality Inn The Willows for business travellers or people staying for a night or two.

La Quinta Inn Miami Airport East Review

The La Quinta Inn Miami Airport East is an excellent hotel if you are flying in for a cruise the next day as they have airport shuttle pickup and supply you a bed, breakfast then a shuttle trip to the port for a very reasonable cost.

This is not a flash hotel but a good value one that I found clean and surprisingly quiet in spite of it being near the airport. I can't comment on the pool as it was winter when we stayed there. The shuttle picked us up from the airport and got us to the hotel in a reasonable time but the check in was very slow. They were fully booked that night and as we were late in they had given our upgraded room away but we still got a room and a comfortable bed we just collapsed into. We were given a discount voucher to be used next time but as were from Australia it's not likely we will use it so that was a disappointment.

The breakfast at La Quinta Inn Miami Airport East was adequate with cereal, toast, bagels, juices and a waffle maker to make your own waffles. The seating can get filled though on the weekend so go early. This is especially true when the hotel is fully booked with cruisers all trying to get ready to get the shuttle to the port.

In conclusion La Quinta Inn was satisfactory for our needs and I would stay here again one night pre cruise but for a longer stay I would go to downtown or Miami Beach areas where there are more facilities like restaurants and amusements. For cruisers you cant go past the value. We stayed there in early December 2010.

Five Air Travel Tips

Here are five of my air travel tips that you might find helpful for your business or vacation travel. Some of these will save you money and others will just save you time or inconvenience.

It all starts when you book your flights. Be sure to allow enough time if you have connecting flights as schedules change or the flight may be running late. Also check to see if you have to go through security again and allow for that also. Take into account the weather as bad weather or snow may delay you to getting to your destination on time. This is very important if you have to be somewhere on the day you planned eg to take a cruise.

Before leaving for the airport check that your flight is on time as this may save you some time at the airport waiting. Also only carry travel size liquids such as perfumes and toiletries and keep them in a clear plastic zipped bag. When packing your full size liquids make sure you pack them securely and in a plastic bag in case they spill. Shampoo covered clothes aren't comfortable or attractive.

Also pack any valuable or important items in your carry on bag. Things like cameras, laptops and iPads should go with you at all times. Never leave your carry on luggage unattended at any time at the airport either. I also make sure a take a travel pillow on long flights in my carry on bag. This has the be the most important air travel tips I can give you as it will help you to get some sleep on the flight and ready to start your vacation.

Arrive early for your flight. The check in and security procedures can take time especially at busy airports and on weekends or during holiday periods. I also like to get to the airport around 2 hours for internal flights and 3 hours for international flights. You might think this is too much but its better to be there early than to be worried about making a flight because of the congestion at the airport.

If you are on a budget don't buy your food at the airport as they inflate the prices quite outrageously. I must admit though I love to buy a coffee and a snack and watch the people go by and this is my compromise on buying a full meal. Its part of the traveling experience but you can stock up on dry snacks and candy for the flight before you get there.

I hope these air travel tips have been a help to you when planning your next flight to your vacation travel.

Holiday Accommodation Merimbula

Holiday Accommodation Merimbula was something I was searching for online when we decided to go the Jazz Festival held each year during the Queens birthday long weekend in June (in Australia).

Merimbula, New South Wales is a scenic coastal town on the Sapphire Coast. During June the town comes alive for the Jazz Festival with musicians converging there from all over Australia and overseas. The festival is held from Friday to Monday but we only were there for the Friday night and Saturday.

It is located about half way between Sydney and Melbourne. We decided to take our time and drive down the coast on the Friday and do some sightseeing along the way. June is winter in Australia so we didn't stop to have a surf at the great beaches on the south coast but we still had an enjoyable time and a great lunch at The Rainbow Pie Shop at Milton (the best pies on the south coast).

If you don't book accommodation early enough you will have less choices but The Comfort Inn is my opinion is the best choice. We had stayed at another motel before but found The Comfort Inn was better and very affordable (booking online for $89) which included a cooked hot breakfast. The hotel itself was in good condition and had everything we needed including a kitchen area. Our ground floor room facing the lake was a plus and we could even sit outside on a balcony and garden area.

We stayed there for 2 nights and really cant fault the room too much except for the internet access which was slow. Luckily we didn't spend much time in our room so it didn't worry us too much. The bathroom too was a bit old fashioned but clean. The hosts are very friendly and gave advice on the best places to do a bit of shopping. The main street of the town is only about 3 minutes walk so it is handy for restaurants and to get provisions if needed.

When looking for holiday accommodation Merimbula whether online or through other means don't disregard The Comfort Inn as an economical choice. If you looking for 2 to 3 star accommodation then this is it.

Secrets of the best airfare deals

How can you get the best airfare deals? There are plenty of ways to travel without emptying your savings, especially when you are looking for the best airfare deals for your travel plans. Let's face it; the best travel experience is the ones that don't empty your wallet and here are some closely-guarded secrets to help you find the best deals in the market today.

The key is research

If you want to get the best airline deals on airfare then you better do your research. Don't pick out the first offer you see is not a great way to get good savings for your travel plans.
Starting your travel planning with a little research ensures that you will get a lot of selections of airfare deals for you to choose from.

The secret here is not to rush and compare them all out until you find the right one that fits your budget. Make sure that you have as much details on your travel before starting with the research -- such as the date and time of the travel, destination, your actual budget for it, and of course, seating choices etc.

Book online

The Internet offers quite a lot of discount airfare rates you might to check out before proceeding with your travel plans. You can use search engines to look them up and make sure that you exhaust all the possibilities of your search to get the best airfare deals available for your vacation money.

In most cases, airline companies and travel agencies on the Internet offer discounts on airfares. Due to the rising competition in the industry, you can be sure that most of them are outdoing each other on offering discounts on travel and other transportation expenses.

You might want take advantage of travel packages; such as airfare, hotel accommodation, transportation, tours, and more. In most cases, these airlines companies or travel agencies will try to get as many customers as possible by offering the lowest possible rates in the market.

Flight sales and deals

Another secret to getting a good airfare deal is to look for seat sales on the Internet. Keep in mind that there are always last minute cancellations by those who booked for the travel in advance. Airlines companies are always ready to get as much profit from this problem by offering the seat at a lower price. Note that these are discounted seat and will usually range from 30 to 40 percent below the market price.

Book for a group

One of the most common secrets to getting the best airfare deals is to travel with a large group in your entourage. Travel as a family group and save. Point out to the agency that you are helping them fill seats and making use of their services. Many airlines companies offer quite a big discount for bulk bookings -- which is to say that there are more than 10 people in the group who will be traveling with you in a specific destination. If you have the time, call the customer representative of these airlines companies and ask for their bulk rates on airfare deals.

You can get the best airfare deals for the vacation money you have. You just need to follow some of the tips above and then enjoy the money you save.

The Palazzo Hotel Las Vegas

We got married in Las Vegas in December 2010 and stayed at the Palazzo Hotel Las Vegas before and after the wedding. In total we had wonderful 5 nights there. I booked online from the great reviews I had seen about this hotel. Every room is a suite so we just booked the regular suite. I must say we were not disappointed by this hotel at all.

When we arrived at our room the WOW factor really kicked in. We had a huge bathroom, king size bed and sunken living room. There were 3 TVs, one in the living room, one opposite the bed and another in the bathroom. I must say that the bed was the most comfortable we have slept in for a long time. Having a good bed after a long day and night in Las Vegas is worth it's weight in gold.

The only criticism is that the Reception was a long way away from the elevators to the rooms. You have to walk through the casino to get there. This hotel is very large so be prepared to walk. There is a Walgreens next door so you can grab anything you might like to snack on or you forgot from home.

The Table 10 was a nice restaurant in the hotel but there are many to choose from from fine to casual dining. The coffee bar near the elevators makes a great coffee. We ordered room service once which was set up for us on the low table in the sunken living room and was really a nice service and food.

The Palazzo Hotel Las Vegas is a sister to the Venetian which adjoins it. We loved sitting by the canal as well as enjoying the shopping and the restaurants both hotels had. The Palazzo is a beautiful hotel by itself but combine with the Venetian they are spectacular. You can also walk over to the Fashion Mall directly from the hotel for good shopping. You can also walk up the Las Vegas Boulevarde to other casinos of course to experience all Las Vegas has to offer.

I am glad we chose the Palazzo Hotel Las Vegas as our honeymoon hotel as it was a memorable and luxurious for the time we spent there. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Las Vegas. The only regret I have is that we didn't go to a show while we were there.

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Carnival Glory Cruise Ship to the Eastern Caribbean

The Carnival Glory cruise ship is a sister to the Valor which I have traveled on a few years ago. Both are beautiful ships and well maintained. We sailed on the Glory from Miami to the Easter Caribbean in December.

We decided on an inside cabin this time as we only had 2 sea days and we arrive din ports early in the morning so most of the traveling was at night. We were on the Empress deck 7.

Docked at Grand Turk

Unfortunately, we couldn't drop anchor and tender at Half Moon Cay because of choppy seas and this was very disappointing so that was one less beach day for us.

The Carnival Glory cruise ship has 3 options for dinner, early, late and anytime. The main two restaurants are called the Golden and the Platinum (which we dined at). We like late seating but I think from next cruise we will go to anytime so that we experience more flexibility and new table companions each night. We like to sit and talk to people from all parts of the world.

I think that I preferred the Western Caribbean ports better than the Eastern but the Carnival Glory cruise ship did not disappoint me in regard to the quality of the ship, the staff and the food.

Everyone raves over the port of St Thomas but we found it too busy with 6 ships in port that day. We went into town and looked around but unless you are looking for diamonds everything else can be bought elsewhere. We went back to the ship collected our towels and swimwear and got a taxi to take us to Coki Beach which we just loved and the water was just so warm and relaxing.

Our next port of call was San Juan and I loved this port. It has a wonderful pirate feel about it coming into the harbor. We took a quick tour of the city by tour bus then went back to the town to find the famous La Bombonera Cafe. We sat at the bar and ordered the Mallorcas and coffee and it was just fabulous. The coffee was the best I had all cruise and the Mallorcas melted in your mouth. You have to go there if you go to San Juan.

The final port was Grand Turk and this was a beach day for us. There was only one other ship in port and we were there first so we could get some good positions down at the beach. We then went to Margueritaville for lunch and some beers. I had conch for the first time which was very tasty but really the place was too crowded. The site of the two ships side by side so close to one another was a wonderful picture.

In conclusion we had a good trip with Carnival Glory and I would recommend traveling on her for any destination as she is a destination in herself. There is so much to do on board or if you want you can do nothing at all.

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How to fly for free or get great bonuses

Wouldn't it be nice to know how to fly for free? If I could get accommodation or cash back wouldn't that be great too? There are ways you can take advantages of these offers but you have to be flexible with your vacation travel arrangements.

Airlines will often overbook their flights reasoning that not everyone will turn up for their flight. Most airlines aim to fly at capacity. I have and you probably have too experienced first hand when an airline rep has asked for people to give up their seat for another flight later in the day or the next. I have had it happen even when we were on the flight seated and ready to go. Of course these come with compensation, often giving you free flights, overnight accommodation or cash.

If you don't need to meet a connecting flight or have a rigid schedule then flying this way can be very beneficial to you and your hip pocket. Many retired people take advantage of deals like these when they are offered. I would suggest if you want a change at taking one of these offers then leave time before and after your flights so a later flight or one the next day wont affect your vacation plans.

You can often tell by observing the check in representatives but I often ask if the flight is fully booked. You can then volunteer to get bumped. With many airlines now you can even check online for available seats on flights. Using this method though, I must add, is also a bit of a gamble if they don't overbook that particular flight.

Another good way on how to fly for free is to use frequent flyer programs. If you vacation travel often then you will find you will accumulate enough points to take flights especially if you travel long distances as they normally go on the miles traveled. I have used these points in the past to take my son free on an Australia to US return flight. All it cost me was for food and incidentals.

Upgrading using your points is another good way to use them to your benefit. Frequent flyer points can also be used to buy goods and this is a good way to use them to buy your luggage or other travel accessories especially if you don't travel as often enough to build up points for a whole flight. Airlines often will combine your points with a payment to make up a balance amount for a ticket or you can transfer points to another family member. Check your program though for all the details.

To use frequent flyer points you need to book in advance so planning your vacation travel is important well ahead of time as they only offer so many seats per flight. I suggest you check the airline for availability and book it before any other parts of your vacation itinerary like accommodation and tours.

Knowing how to fly for free is possible but may not be available on all flights using either of these two methods above but it is worth trying. Wouldn't it great to get your free flight and make your vacation dollar go a lot further. Another great resource I came across lately is a called Insider Secrets to Cheap Flights which has some more methods you can try. It is written by an ex Airline official and give you those tips that only an insider would know.

Are you going on summer vacation this year?

Are you thought about going on summer vacation this year? Is this because you plot your vacation travel around the school schedules? I have heard many tell me they take their vacation in the summer because of the weather but the weather is excellent around the world at other times of the year as well. Even when children grow up and end school, many families continue taking a summer vacation possibly because they have always done so.

Some folks may choose a summer vacation so they have time to work around their house, performing many projects that cannot be done in winter weather. Working vacations are often taken by those whose children are no longer attending school during the winter months or those that have no desire or financial means of taking the time away from work. Taking summer vacation can give them the uninterrupted time they need to go major work around the house, inside and out.

Some professions encourage staff to take vacations during the summer months, when the type of business there is a decline in customers. Other companies or service providers though do all their business in the summer so this is not a excellent time for them.

I like going on summer vacation no matter where that may be and usually it is during my fall or winter time of year so I can experience a brief but wonderful relief from the cold for at least a small while. See the picture of my celebration in Hawaii during December.

Depending on the destination, plotting on summer vacation times can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and the long nights of winter are the ideal time to make plans and reservations for a vacation once the weather breaks.

Possibly the best time to take a vacation in the warmer parts of the country are during the winter months as the prices are generally lower ad the crowds are thinner. Even if many of the nearby attractions may not be open, there will not be as many people to contend with, providing more privacy. For example I like to go to Hawaii in November when it is out of season and less expensive and the weather is not as hot.

If you are going on summer vacation this year why not reckon of next year now. Go on your summer vacation in off season for your destination, subdue take pleasure in the sun but have less crowds and less expense. Take advantage of cheaper flights as well and a excellent place to compare these are at Cheapflights.com. Look at uncommon dates and see the difference it can make on your vacation money.

Riviera Suite South Beach Hotel Miami Review

We stayed at the Riviera Suite South Beach for 2 nights after a cruise from Miami because we wanted to stay in the art deco area, it offered free breakfast and a free shuttle back to the airport.

I liked the lovely rooms in colors of navy and old gold and hardwood floors, skin rugs and leather lounge. There were two large TVs and it had a kitchenette which would be handy if you were staying several days. We had a suite on the second floor facing the side street.

I also liked the Wifi access, the large bathroom and the dining area a the Riviera Suite South Beach. What I didn't like was the subdued lighting and the noise from the room above on the wooden floor (sounded like they were dancing for hours). The lighting was a problem when packing and unpacking my suitcase and even when writing this post and using my netbook. I had to open the curtains to allow more light during the day but at night it was just dark. It might be romantic but not practical.

The location of Riviera Suite South Beach Hotel is on the corner of Lindsey and 20th Streets which means it is a bit of a hike of about 5 blocks across and 2 blocks down to get to Ocean Drive dining. We enjoyed the free happy hour though one night at their sister hotel, The Catalina which was quite pleasant.

The hotel can book your tours and we did the Everglades one morning (see separate review). While we were there the hotel shuttle to the airport which usually runs hourly was only running every 2 hours so check it out when you arrive.

Overall we enjoyed the Riviera Suite South Beach and would recommend it as the suites are lovely, the staff friendly especially the doormen who will go out of their way to help you. Just be prepared to take taxis or walk ( like we did) if you want to eat on the famous Ocean Drive around 11 - 13th Streets.