Posted in Beach Vacation, Hotels, Mexico, Tips & Advice Tags: cheap Mexico hotels
Fertile grounds: Ixchel Beach Hotel in Isla Mujeres is ripe with cheap hotel deals -- and breathtaking views.
By Valerie Moloney
The Mayans were onto something when they named this 5-mile-wide island after the goddess of fertility. With sugary beaches and water tinted the perfect aquamarine, it’s easy to see how lovers could lose themselves in a sea of coral, fresh ocean eats and tequila.Well here’s another reason: price. Isla Mujeres, or the Island of Women, rules as a budget beach destination. Think boutique hotels with some of the same amenities as pricier Cancun hotels – sans the partiers – and on a stretch only accessible by ferry. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Family Vacation, Tips & Advice Tags: cheap hotels, cheap vacations
Lesson learned: The Historic Powhatan Resort boasts its own piece of colonial Americana -- a manor house circa 1735.
By Valerie Moloney
Chances are, if I said Old Dominion, not everyone would know the reference to my home state of Virginia. Now allow me to make a statement that resonates with everyone: Virginia is a hotbed for cheap spring vacations. While my hometown Virginia Beach, Va. is one of the beach capitals on the East Coast, I was always partial to the place that enriched my understanding of 1770s America: Williamsburg. And besides, the theme parks kicked butt. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Big Cities, Hotels, Travel, Urban Traveler Tags: chicago hotels
Blogger Val Moloney met U2 hotness Larry Mullen Jr. in Chicago's Gold Coast 10 years ago. Credit: Clancy3434.
By Valerie Moloney
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk random run-ins. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in California, Family Vacation, Hotels, Tips & Advice Tags: cheap California vacation
Royal sleeping quarters: Headboards powered by fiber optics recreate the Disneyland skyline -- complete with fireworks.
By Amanda Ficili
The Disneyland Hotel, which has undergone many changes and makeovers since its birth in 1955, got another facelift worthy of its iconic status. The massive, two-year renovation project did not leave a single inch of the property untouched. With its lavishly redecorated guest rooms, imaginative redesigned pool and water play areas, stunning courtyards and landscaping and delicious dining options including a one-of-a-kind interactive bar, it’s no surprise why the property is a guest — and my personal — favorite. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Hotels, Las Vegas Tags: cheap las Vegas hotel, cheap Las Vegas vacations
White days & nights: the cool cabanas at Tropicana, one option for a cheap Las Vegas vacation.
By Valerie Moloney
The last time I was in Vegas, I passed out in the middle of the night (not from what you think) and later found my husband down $400 at the Luxor blackjack table at 5 a.m. The trip wasn’t a whole bust – we saw a revue, hotel hopped and ate our weight in buffets – but I’m craving a Sin City redo since little did I know that I was pregnant with my first at the time. Mama needs a cocktail, and a girls’ weekend.
Help me decide between these cheap Las Vegas hotels. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in California, Hotels, Tips & Advice, Travel Tags: cheap California vacation
Move over Miami: The candyland of the desert is The Saguaro, an option for a cheap spring break vacay.
By Valerie Moloney
Cancun, Galveston, Miami Beach – they’re the spring break capitals made famous by MTV and its abtastic extras, places that continue – even without the cameras – to pump up the party with DJs, boat bashes and celeb appearances. But here’s one resort community that practically invented the tradition: Palm Springs. And it’s affordable, too. Just follow the cacti to these cheap Palm Springs hotels for a taste of what Sinatra knew so well: Sometimes the sweetest dessert is in the desert. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Beach Vacation, Hotels, Sports Tags: Cheap Hawaii vacation, Hawaii
You won't be surfing Oahu's Banzai Pipeline like the pros, but that doesn't mean you can't get your feet wet. Credit: surfglassy.
By Amy Drew Thompson
Okay, sure. It doesn’t hurt to be born and raised in Hawaii (or blessed with natural talent), but Oahu native John John Florence — at 19, the youngest-ever champion of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing — still had to practice. Where can you get your start? On a cheap Hawaii vacation, of course, learning from natives in the waves where many believe the sport was born. You might want to avoid the monsters at Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline for now, but there are plenty of kinder, gentler beaches for beginners getting their sea legs. And it never hurts to get a lesson.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Florida, Off-season Deals, Sports, Tips & Advice Tags: Orlando
World-class champions like Nicklaus, Woods and Singh play Disney's Palm Golf Course. You can, too.
By Amy Drew Thompson
The PGA Merchandise Show comes to the Orange County Convention Center Jan. 25-28, along with the year’s best golfing weather. Mercifully, you don’t have to be Arnold Palmer — or even staying at Disney — to experience play at Walt Disney World’s phenomenal courses, so golfers booking cheap Orlando vacations need not settle. Cool quotient: Carts come equipped with the latest GPS technology. Plan accordingly and enjoy reduced late-afternoon rates for even more savings.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Beach Vacation, Mexico Tags: cheap Mexico hotels, cheap Mexico vacations
Gray whales near Baja, Mexico that interact with humans are called "friendlies." Credit: Jim Dorsey.
By Blane Bachelor
When it comes to whales, especially gray whales, Jim Dorsey knows his stuff. The Los Angeles-based naturalist is trained by the American Cetacean Society and for 15 years has been the resident naturalist in the Gray Whale Nursery of the pristine San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. A popular destination for cheap Mexico vacations, the Baja Peninsula also boasts some of the world’s best whale watching, as its warm, protected waters draw thousands of once-endangered gray whales from January through April. Here, Dorsey offers his years of experience on how to get the best out of any whale watching excursion. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Big Cities, Events, Urban Traveler Tags: Chicago festivals, Chicago vacation
Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood is loaded with cultural gems and vibrant murals -- not to mention engaging events during Black History Month throughout February. Credit: Zol87.
By Jennifer Olvera
Black History Month is celebrated throughout the month of February nationwide. In Chicago, the park district is one of many entities to usher in honorary events. What’s more, it’s a great time to celebrate the every day contributions of Chicago’s African-American visionaries, from blues, gospel and soul music performances to stops at culturally rich gems in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Conveniently, you find a plethora of cheap Chicago hotels this time of year. Read the rest of this entry »
