My Road Less Traveled By

Bill and I are trying to decide where to take the kids this summer for vacation. With money being tight due to our basement remodeling project, it is really hard to decide where to go. We also have the other disadvantage that Will is only going to be one. There is not a lot of things that are going to hold both Madison (who is 4 years old) and his attention. He hates to be in the stroller too. One of the places that we were thinking about taking the kids is Wisconsin Dells. I know, its a tad pricey there. However, I think both kids would enjoy the water parks. Instead of going to all the travel sites like Orbitz or Expedia, I have been using Hotels Combined. They have the largest database available. Nothing is more annoying than having to look at 10 different travel sites just to find the best deal. As a mom with little ones, I don’t have time for that.

There are a couple of different things I am looking for in a hotel room. Now, if it is only Bill and myself, I don’t normally care. However, when the kids are with us, we need a lot more room. They need room to play and walk around. I also really like having wifi. I also do not like having to pay extra for it. I also like not having to look at the fine print of the hotels to make sure they have wifi. I like a site that allows me to search according to my parameters not theirs.

Now, I am checking out hotels that Hotels Combined gave me, and there is a ton of information to comb though. One of the hotels I was actually able to check out and get a way better price is the Great Wolf Lodge. This is one of the hotels we are seriously looking at. I was happily surprised to find out that the prices offered here are way less than go through their site. They list all the different prices that all the travel sites are offering, so you can pick which one you want to use. One you pick which place you want to go through, Hotels Combined directs you to their site so you can book. They definitely make it much easier and less time consuming to book your trip.

Bill and I are trying to decide where to take the kids this summer for vacation. With money being tight due to our basement remodeling project, it is really hard to decide where to go. We also have the other disadvantage that Will is only going to be one. There is not a lot of things that are going to hold both Madison (who is 4 years old) and his attention. He hates to be in the stroller too. One of the places that we were thinking about taking the kids is Wisconsin Dells. I know, its a tad pricey there. However, I think both kids would enjoy the water parks. Instead of going to all the travel sites like Orbitz or Expedia, I have been using Hotels Combined. They have the largest database available. Nothing is more annoying than having to look at 10 different travel sites just to find the best deal. As a mom with little ones, I don’t have time for that.

There are a couple of different things I am looking for in a hotel room. Now, if it is only Bill and myself, I don’t normally care. However, when the kids are with us, we need a lot more room. They need room to play and walk around. I also really like having wifi. I also do not like having to pay extra for it. I also like not having to look at the fine print of the hotels to make sure they have wifi. I like a site that allows me to search according to my parameters not theirs.

Now, I am checking out hotels that Hotels Combined gave me, and there is a ton of information to comb though. One of the hotels I was actually able to check out and get a way better price is the Great Wolf Lodge. This is one of the hotels we are seriously looking at. I was happily surprised to find out that the prices offered here are way less than go through their site. They list all the different prices that all the travel sites are offering, so you can pick which one you want to use. One you pick which place you want to go through, Hotels Combined directs you to their site so you can book. They definitely make it much easier and less time consuming to book your trip.

Since my inlaws have a Hilton Timeshare that we have used many times, I can with confidence say that the Hilton Head South Carolina would be a great place to visit. Hilton is known for their quality, and I am sure that Hilton Head meets those expectations. Hilton Head SC has a little something for everything here. Outdoor activities include boating tours, parasailing, tennis, golf, kayaking and even surfing. There are soccer fields, picnic tables, and even a roller skating/skate board park. They even have golf packages if you enjoy that sport. For someone with little children, I was happy to see that there are ice cream shops and family-friendly restaurants all over. For those of us who like to shop while the boys play, they have 3 malls. Two of them are outlet malls too! There is also a variety of family owned businesses, boutiques, and unique gift shops.

The units come with a lot of things that are great to have. They include washer/dryer, linens, bath towels, start-up supplies of dishwasher and laundry detergent, toilet paper and paper towels, fully equipped kitchen, iron and ironing board, and trash pickup and receptacles. I personally love having a washer/dryer unit. I get to pack less. When you are in your room at night, you are able to do laundry. I also don’t have to come home and have to do a zillion loads either! The other thing I love is the full kitchen. You can save a ton of money by heading to the grocery store and eating out of your room!

Since my inlaws have a Hilton Timeshare that we have used many times, I can with confidence say that the Hilton Head South Carolina would be a great place to visit. Hilton is known for their quality, and I am sure that Hilton Head meets those expectations. Hilton Head SC has a little something for everything here. Outdoor activities include boating tours, parasailing, tennis, golf, kayaking and even surfing. There are soccer fields, picnic tables, and even a roller skating/skate board park. They even have golf packages if you enjoy that sport. For someone with little children, I was happy to see that there are ice cream shops and family-friendly restaurants all over. For those of us who like to shop while the boys play, they have 3 malls. Two of them are outlet malls too! There is also a variety of family owned businesses, boutiques, and unique gift shops.

The units come with a lot of things that are great to have. They include washer/dryer, linens, bath towels, start-up supplies of dishwasher and laundry detergent, toilet paper and paper towels, fully equipped kitchen, iron and ironing board, and trash pickup and receptacles. I personally love having a washer/dryer unit. I get to pack less. When you are in your room at night, you are able to do laundry. I also don’t have to come home and have to do a zillion loads either! The other thing I love is the full kitchen. You can save a ton of money by heading to the grocery store and eating out of your room!

If you ever go to Sedona, Arizona, then the Sedona Summit Resort is for you. We just got back from spending a week there, and I highly recommend it. Be warned, this place is a timeshare (just so you know what you are getting into).

The first thing that impressed me was the phone call I got Wednesday night before we left. They made sure that we knew how to get there from the airport (which is a two hour drive) since there was construction on the normal way you would drive in. They also told me that we should book our tours early which I wish I would have listened to. The person who called me answered all my questions and took my request that we have a room with a view (I had read on Trip Advisor that you needed to request a view in advance to get it). When we got to the Sedona Summit Resort, we had driven two hours in rain. We were tired and a bit jet lagged. The front desk people were very nice, and we had to meet with the concierge to get our parking pass. She gave us some great choices for tours to take and places to eat. She was right on with everyplace she sent us. She also gave us an awesome map with everything highlighted that we would need to know (restaurant, scenic, and grocery).

Our room was awesome. We got a one bedroom suite which had plenty of space. We had a full kitchen :

A dining room:

Living Room:

Bedroom:

Bathroom:

This has been one of the nicest places I have stayed in. As for the view we asked for, this is what it looked like:

During the week, we received a paper in front of our door. We were also able to purchase a wireless connection in our rooms, or you could use their computers in the lobby. The lobby also had free wifi, so you could use it there with your laptop. When we finally booked our tours, the concierge desk was nothing but helpful.

Sedona is a beautiful place. This is the hotel you want to be staying in when you go there. Beautiful hotel, beautiful sights, what else could you want?

If you ever go to Sedona, Arizona, then the Sedona Summit Resort is for you. We just got back from spending a week there, and I highly recommend it. Be warned, this place is a timeshare (just so you know what you are getting into).

The first thing that impressed me was the phone call I got Wednesday night before we left. They made sure that we knew how to get there from the airport (which is a two hour drive) since there was construction on the normal way you would drive in. They also told me that we should book our tours early which I wish I would have listened to. The person who called me answered all my questions and took my request that we have a room with a view (I had read on Trip Advisor that you needed to request a view in advance to get it). When we got to the Sedona Summit Resort, we had driven two hours in rain. We were tired and a bit jet lagged. The front desk people were very nice, and we had to meet with the concierge to get our parking pass. She gave us some great choices for tours to take and places to eat. She was right on with everyplace she sent us. She also gave us an awesome map with everything highlighted that we would need to know (restaurant, scenic, and grocery).

Our room was awesome. We got a one bedroom suite which had plenty of space. We had a full kitchen :

A dining room:

Living Room:

Bedroom:

Bathroom:

This has been one of the nicest places I have stayed in. As for the view we asked for, this is what it looked like:

During the week, we received a paper in front of our door. We were also able to purchase a wireless connection in our rooms, or you could use their computers in the lobby. The lobby also had free wifi, so you could use it there with your laptop. When we finally booked our tours, the concierge desk was nothing but helpful.

Sedona is a beautiful place. This is the hotel you want to be staying in when you go there. Beautiful hotel, beautiful sights, what else could you want?

A couple posts ago you may have read about our terrible experience with the Catalina Hotel in Miami Beach.  The hotel we end up staying in was the Albion.  It is run by Rubell Hotels.  When you check out their site, the first page has a list of characteristics they are not (arrogant, formal, intimidating, robotic, or snobby) and what they are (sincere, low key, unpretentious, smiling and human).  I have to agree with the assessment of themselves.  Granted, this is not a 5 star hotel.  However, it had everything we were looking for.

When we arrived, the valet met us — we didn’t have to go up to them to get service.   We told them that we had called ahead and that we needed to make sure we still had a room.  The front desk guy was very nice to us.  When we arrived, he couldn’t guarantee us that we would have a room for the entire time we were in Miami, but he told us to call down to the desk at 9:30 in the morning to see where we stood.

The room was very nice.  It had two double beds, a tv, wifi, a closet, a bathroom — everything we needed.  The beds were very comfortable.  There was a restaurant located inside the hotel plus there were several places within walking distance too.  Both Walgreens and CVS were withing walking distance also.  The other plus was that the Miami Convention Center (where my conference was) was also within walking distance.  It is nice to be someplace where you would not have to rent a car.

When I was getting ready the next morning, we decided to call down to the front desk early to see if we could work a deal to stay in the same room.  The man at the front desk was extremely helpful.  Though he couldn’t give us a room, he told us to call back at 7:30.  That is when the shift change happens and that person books all the groups.  He would know for sure if there were any availabilities.  We kept our fingers crossed and had breakfast at the restaurant.  At 7:30, we stopped at the front desk and were really nice to the guy behind the counter.  He worked it out so we didn’t have to change rooms, and we could stay there our entire trip!  I wanted to kiss the guy but refrained.  I know, it was good customer service to keep us there.  However, after being at the Catalina with their poor customer service, I was prepared for anything.

The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful there.  When I needed a cab to get to the airport on Saturday morning at 4:30 am, they arranged for that.  This is a hotel I would definitely use again if I was even in Miami.

A couple posts ago you may have read about our terrible experience with the Catalina Hotel in Miami Beach.  The hotel we end up staying in was the Albion.  It is run by Rubell Hotels.  When you check out their site, the first page has a list of characteristics they are not (arrogant, formal, intimidating, robotic, or snobby) and what they are (sincere, low key, unpretentious, smiling and human).  I have to agree with the assessment of themselves.  Granted, this is not a 5 star hotel.  However, it had everything we were looking for.

When we arrived, the valet met us — we didn’t have to go up to them to get service.   We told them that we had called ahead and that we needed to make sure we still had a room.  The front desk guy was very nice to us.  When we arrived, he couldn’t guarantee us that we would have a room for the entire time we were in Miami, but he told us to call down to the desk at 9:30 in the morning to see where we stood.

The room was very nice.  It had two double beds, a tv, wifi, a closet, a bathroom — everything we needed.  The beds were very comfortable.  There was a restaurant located inside the hotel plus there were several places within walking distance too.  Both Walgreens and CVS were withing walking distance also.  The other plus was that the Miami Convention Center (where my conference was) was also within walking distance.  It is nice to be someplace where you would not have to rent a car.

When I was getting ready the next morning, we decided to call down to the front desk early to see if we could work a deal to stay in the same room.  The man at the front desk was extremely helpful.  Though he couldn’t give us a room, he told us to call back at 7:30.  That is when the shift change happens and that person books all the groups.  He would know for sure if there were any availabilities.  We kept our fingers crossed and had breakfast at the restaurant.  At 7:30, we stopped at the front desk and were really nice to the guy behind the counter.  He worked it out so we didn’t have to change rooms, and we could stay there our entire trip!  I wanted to kiss the guy but refrained.  I know, it was good customer service to keep us there.  However, after being at the Catalina with their poor customer service, I was prepared for anything.

The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful there.  When I needed a cab to get to the airport on Saturday morning at 4:30 am, they arranged for that.  This is a hotel I would definitely use again if I was even in Miami.

This is a hotel I have to recommend that you never ever stay at. If you are young and in Miami Beach to party, it may be okay. Beyond that, this hotel is your worst nightmare. Rated as a 4 star hotel, I was expecting luxury. What we got instead was a dump. The employees were rude, the walls are paper thin, and the parking is nonexistent. Let me tell you my story.

Check in is at 4 pm. We got there to find that there is no parking anywhere. You have to use their valet parking whether you like it or not and I think it was around $26 a day. Instead of saying hello to us, the guy at the front desk barked at us “license and credit card”. No hello. No please. It was customer service at its finest. NOT. The person I was staying with gave him her stuff and they proceed to copy it and put both on the same page! She asked them not do that. She has had her identity stolen and was a bit leary having all of that information about her photocopied on a piece of paper and stuck into an unlocked file cabinet! She had to argue with them to get them to black out her address and other identifying information on the copy of her license and her credit card number too! With the information they had copied on the same sheet, an identity thief would have a field day. Their response? The front area had a camera on it. Of course, we don’t know how good of a camera it was or anything. The first room they gave us was next to the bar. We marched back to front desk and explained to them again that we were here for business and not partying. They then gave us another room on the other side of the bar. After this, the bellman quit carrying our luggage. That’s how bad the situation got. They told us about the suite they had that had a pullout couch and a double bed. We didn’t think that sounded too bad. However, instead of giving us the keys to that room, they gave us a room on the third floor above the bar. We asked the bellman if we would hear the bar, and he told us we would. He also informed us that not only was it a bar, but it would have karaoke the next couple of night. It’s bad enough to have to listen to music all night. Bad music would be even worse! We went back to the desk and asked about the suite they told us about. A different guy said to us that they did have a suite, but they wouldn’t be offering it to us. He didn’t know why the other guy even told us about it. Yes, he really did say that to us.

Besides their lack of service, let me tell you about the rooms. They were tiny. We would have no place to put our suitcases at all. The bathroom came from the 1960’s and was tiny. Their website says they have free wifi. Guess what? They charge you for it once you are there. There were no phone books in the room. The walls were also paper thin. When we were trying to decide what we were going to do, a cell phone went off. I looked at my roommate and she looked at me thinking it was the other person’s phone. It was in the room next door. It sounded clear as day. There also were no closets or irons in the rooms.

Needless to say, we left. It was bad. I would highly recommend staying as far away from this hotel as you can. The rooms and the customer service were both crappy, and you can do better than this expensive hotel. I have stayed in one star hotels that were better than this!

This is a hotel I have to recommend that you never ever stay at. If you are young and in Miami Beach to party, it may be okay. Beyond that, this hotel is your worst nightmare. Rated as a 4 star hotel, I was expecting luxury. What we got instead was a dump. The employees were rude, the walls are paper thin, and the parking is nonexistent. Let me tell you my story.

Check in is at 4 pm. We got there to find that there is no parking anywhere. You have to use their valet parking whether you like it or not and I think it was around $26 a day. Instead of saying hello to us, the guy at the front desk barked at us “license and credit card”. No hello. No please. It was customer service at its finest. NOT. The person I was staying with gave him her stuff and they proceed to copy it and put both on the same page! She asked them not do that. She has had her identity stolen and was a bit leary having all of that information about her photocopied on a piece of paper and stuck into an unlocked file cabinet! She had to argue with them to get them to black out her address and other identifying information on the copy of her license and her credit card number too! With the information they had copied on the same sheet, an identity thief would have a field day. Their response? The front area had a camera on it. Of course, we don’t know how good of a camera it was or anything. The first room they gave us was next to the bar. We marched back to front desk and explained to them again that we were here for business and not partying. They then gave us another room on the other side of the bar. After this, the bellman quit carrying our luggage. That’s how bad the situation got. They told us about the suite they had that had a pullout couch and a double bed. We didn’t think that sounded too bad. However, instead of giving us the keys to that room, they gave us a room on the third floor above the bar. We asked the bellman if we would hear the bar, and he told us we would. He also informed us that not only was it a bar, but it would have karaoke the next couple of night. It’s bad enough to have to listen to music all night. Bad music would be even worse! We went back to the desk and asked about the suite they told us about. A different guy said to us that they did have a suite, but they wouldn’t be offering it to us. He didn’t know why the other guy even told us about it. Yes, he really did say that to us.

Besides their lack of service, let me tell you about the rooms. They were tiny. We would have no place to put our suitcases at all. The bathroom came from the 1960’s and was tiny. Their website says they have free wifi. Guess what? They charge you for it once you are there. There were no phone books in the room. The walls were also paper thin. When we were trying to decide what we were going to do, a cell phone went off. I looked at my roommate and she looked at me thinking it was the other person’s phone. It was in the room next door. It sounded clear as day. There also were no closets or irons in the rooms.

Needless to say, we left. It was bad. I would highly recommend staying as far away from this hotel as you can. The rooms and the customer service were both crappy, and you can do better than this expensive hotel. I have stayed in one star hotels that were better than this!