When it comes to figuring out how to save money these days, we can use all of the help we can get.
In today’s USA Today, Laura Bly features “Budget Travel Sites to Keep You Out of the Red.” She mentions websites that can help travelers with airfares, accommodations, deals/strategies, getting around and dining.
The article is a must-read for anyone making holiday travel plans.
Posted: October 10th, 2008 under Travel.
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If you are thinking about getting away during the holidays this year, you aren’t alone. The holiday vacation trend has been growing over the past decade as more travelers search for warmer climates during snowy months, while others head to the mountains for a winter wonderland. Still others, particularly multi-generational, extended families, are choosing to gather in themed destinations, such as Walt Disney World, rather than celebrating at home.
This year, December 24 through January 4th will be one of the most popular vacation periods all year. Believe us, it’s not too early to book your vacation rental home and think about investing in travel insurance to protect your trip if things don’t go according to plan.
In addition to our free Security Blanket Guarantee, there are two primary types of insurance to consider:
Whether you are renting an Orlando vacation home near theme parks, a Destin vacation home near beaches, a Myrtle Beach vacation home near golf courses or a Breckenridge vacation home near slopes, you can be proactive in reducing some of the stress that comes with holiday travel and lodging.
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A slightly belated congratulations to Cathy of Chino Hills, CA, the winner of our August Getaway Giveaway contest.
Posted: September 15th, 2008 under Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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Posted: September 1st, 2008 under Travel.
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Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D. is the professional ethicist known as The Ethics Guy®. This month, The Ethics Guy has been talking about vacations, specifically about “the ethics of taking a vacation.”
According to him, “Taking a vacation regularly is not only acceptable; it is our ethical obligation.”
In this recent article, he addresses the most common excuses employees make for not getting away, and concludes that working vacations aren’t vacations at all. To him, “Checking e-mail, taking work-related phone calls, and reading material related to one’s job are not the elements of a true vacation. A working vacation makes about as much sense as showing up for a corporate job in shorts and a tank top with a margarita in your hand.”
If you agree, we’ve got a vacation rental just right for you!
Posted: August 19th, 2008 under Travel, Vacation Rentals.
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After the Olympics in Beijing, baseball and softball will no longer be Olympic sports. But that’s OK for baseball, writes columnist Jim Souhan in today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Baseball already has high-level play featuring international superstars. It’s called the major leagues.”
Everyone knows Major League Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes, and that some stadiums are better than others to spend a day getting into the action.
According to fans, these are the top five parks to see a game:
With more than 30 Major League and 100 Minor League (Triple A, Double A, Single A) Baseball ballparks around the U.S., aren’t you likely to be near at least one during your travels? If so, check your schedule and theirs, stay a few days, sit back and enjoy a game!
Posted: August 14th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel.
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We were pleasantly surprised this week by an announcement that will have our family traveling to just outside of Yellowstone National Park this Labor Day weekend. I can’t wait because I’ve heard so much about Yellowstone, its animals and its natural beauty.
National Parks around the U.S. are ideal for hiking, walking and just viewing amazingly beautiful scenery with the whole family. While the U.S. National Park System includes many national parks, such as Yellowstone, it also includes a large number of monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails. In total, it comprises 391 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Among the most popular destinations are: The Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Gettysburg, Alcatraz Island, Great Smoky Mountains, and where we are headed: Yellowstone National Park.
Like most National Parks, Yellowstone has an official Junior Ranger Program open to children ages 5 - 12. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and their role in preserving them for the future. We’ll be sure to check it out along with the other “must sees” at the Park.
Now, about that lodging nearby…
Posted: August 12th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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Erik Hastings of The Travel Show with Erik Hastings is on a mission to get people traveling more often.
In his words, “The reality is; travel is GOOD for you. On so many levels, the healing power of travel outweighs the stresses of travel logistics.”
By his own admission, “Bringing my message to the forefront is difficult these days. Every day their is a new negative news story either directly or indirectly related to travel. The message is always the same. “We’re not saying NOT to travel…we’re just saying this is what you’ll be faced with if you do…”. Translation? DON’T BOTHER! Well I say HOGWASH! Okay, gas prices are high, airlines are struggling because gas prices are high, the housing market is shaky at best…heck, even the cost of milk is creeping up there. That being said, plan smart, but execute the plan to travel more in the next 12 months.”
Erik’s challenge to all of us: “I hope you will join me in my mission to get out there and explore. Inspire your friends and family members by retelling stories from your vacation experience. Do it for your family, do it for your relationship, do it to recharge your batteries, do it to see more of this great world, do it to better understand how to better perform at work, do it for your own gratification, just do it, get out there and travel!”
Erik, we at vacation rental search site PickPackGo applaud your mission!
Posted: August 6th, 2008 under Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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This summer, like many of you, our family has stood in long lines at airline counters waiting to check bags. We’ve seen the surprise on the faces of many parents as their luggage is weighed and deemed to be over the airline’s weight limit. We’ve seen that surprise turn to embarrassment and anger as families are required to pay a fee or start unpacking right there.
It’s now easier than you think to avoid this unpleasant and costly experience before you head off for your vacation home or Grandma’s house. Simply weigh your bags with a light-weight, digital scale. Enter this month’s PickPackGo Getaway Giveaway contest and…
Congratulations to Sarah of Phoenix, Arizona, the winner of our July Getaway Giveaway contest and an Apple iPod Shuffle.
Posted: August 4th, 2008 under Contest, Travel, Vacation Homes.
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Earlier this summer, PickPackGo CEO Felix Lin talked with LakeFront Radio’s hosts about lake-front recreation and business. That show got our family excited about trying a new adventure. Instead of heading to a beach house this month with our friends, we thought we’d try a lake-front vacation home. Our destination: one of the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota, specifically in the town of Nisswa.
Flying to Minnesota is relatively easy from almost anywhere because the Twin Cities’ airport (in Minneapolis/St. Paul) is a Northwest Airlines hub. From the airport, our three-hour drive to Nisswa took us through some beautiful country with lots of farm land. As we drove I-94 North to State Routes 10, then 371 to Brainerd and into Nisswa, I continued to be surprised at how flat the state is. I imagined Minnesota would be hilly with all of those lakes tucked into small valleys. I was wrong.
I wasn’t wrong when I imagined the beautiful lakes though. They are everywhere you look. Big ones with vacationers jet skiing and powerboating and smaller ones with people kayaking and rowing. Our Minnesota vacation home was on a smaller lake, perfect for canoeing, swimming, playing in the sand and fishing from the dock.
There are a lot of perks to a vacation home on the Lake. We enjoyed being able to swim, as well as paddle into the water from our yard, so we could go exploring the local wildlife, which included seeing a large blue heron flying near the shore! We loved playing in the sand on the beach during the day, and at night, hearing the loons call while we hung out by the fire pit toasting marshmallows and making somores.
We also enjoyed shopping and eating (The Chocolate Ox is definitely worth a stop!) in the quaint town of Nisswa, and learning a little bit about its history. With its 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is an absolutely ideal locale for a lake-front vacation.
Posted: July 28th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rentals.
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Parents traveling to San Francisco will find plenty to do with their kids when they get here. Yesterday, Wendy Perrin over at the Perrin Post on concierge.com wrote a fun post for parents of young children (ages 4 to 6) visiting San Francisco. Among her boys’ top 10 picks were the cable car, Ghiradelli’s, and Lombard Street. In addition, our PickPackGo San Francisco City Host not long ago outlined her favorite kid-friendly adventures in the City.
Having a house full of visitors with plenty of kids these past few weeks, our favorite San Francisco adventures have included:
The most fun of all for everyone though was the sheer screaming of childhood delight as we rode over the tallest hills and valleys of the City streets on our way to our next adventure.
Posted: July 18th, 2008 under Family Vacation, Travel.
Comments: 1