The Greenbrier Resort Review + Deal!

July 21, 2012 by 5 Comments

I’m excited to briefly tell you about my trip to a five star, top of the line, LUXURY vacation!  A few years ago my husband and I went to The Greenbrier.  This place is nice!  I mean, twenty-six U.S. Presidents have stayed here through the years so it’s bound to be good, right?  It’s unbelievably beautiful, relaxing, full of history and updated with the latest modern conveniences.  Here are a few of the pictures from our trip:

The Greenbrier

This is a picture Mike took of me on our way to dinner.

 

The Greenbrier

Even the outside is beautiful!

 

Picture of George Washington at The Greenbrier

If you like Downton Abbey then you would adore this place!

 

The Greenbrier's Chandelier

Stunning!

 

Ice Cream Parlor at The GreenbrierGetting some ice cream.

 

The Greenbrier main hallway

Chandelier after chandelier.

 

The Greenbrier ChandelierThere was even one in the bathroom! (I couldn’t help but take pictures in there)

 

The Greenbrier's Infinity Pool

Their infinity pool was breathtaking.

 

The Greenbrier is beautiful but it’s also packed full of rich history.  In the late 1950s the government assigned a hidden section of The Greenbrier to be build for a secret emergency relocation for the house congress in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust.  This was built at the same time as an extra above-ground addition to the hotel was being built.  This bunker was kept stocked with supplies for 30 years but never had to be used.  The secret came out about The Greenbrier’s hidden bunker in 1992 and is now open for tours.

 

I could go on and on but the reason I’m telling you all this is because I found a phenomenal deal for The Greenbrier!  Ever since I  saw this deal this morning it’s all I can think about.  I have great memories from our trip there and would love to return back there someday.  Right now you can get a two nights stay for $430.  When we stayed there we paid around $700 a night.  This is a DEAL!  If you’re interested, go to LivingSocial now for all the details!

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Simple African Family Holidays

July 13, 2012 by 1 Comment

Africian Mountain

 

A holiday in Africa can create memories that last forever making it the perfect destination for family fun. There are a multitude of experiences to be had in this enigmatic continent, some of them wilder than others, but for the perfect family trip, here are some of the more advisable notions:

 

Safari is the first thought for many African holiday goers and for good reason. Viewing of ‘the big 5’, is on many people’s lists of things to do in their life and rambling through the diverse stunning terrain of the African countryside will offer sights akin to no other on earth. Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania are some of the more famous destinations for safari and all of which have conservation areas in which you can spot your favourite African wildlife. The better funded national parks have a high standard of service and safety so you know you and your family are in good hands when you visit.

 

Egypt, with its ancient pyramids, infamous rivers and spectacular culture is a definite one for the family African wish list. From what I’ve heard though, you really have to do your homework with Egypt, especially when it comes to accommodation as many parts of the country are very poor and run down. Perhaps if you are taking young children to Egypt you should think about searching for luxury African holidays with Mahlatini.com.  I would love to visit Egypt one day!

 

If you are looking for a more relaxing break with the family and are simply dreaming of white sandy beaches, clear waters and glorious weather, a visit to South Africa’s Cape might be the best option for you. You can indulge in the amazing tropical food; try your hand at the local water sports or just relax in the South African sun.

 

I’m speaking here more personally than professionally when I say that Africa is a great place to visit on a mission trip.  I sit with a lady who now has Alzheimer but was once a missionary in Central African Republic for many years.  She had great stories to tell!  A good friend of mine, who was also a guest writer here {you can read her article about Peace here}, recently visited Africa and she said it was a life changing experience.  The picture above is hers.  She now blogs at blind-faith-ministries.com and I’m sure she’ll have a lot to say about their trip to Africa in the near future.  Would you like to visit Africa one day?

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A Girly Weekend Away

July 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

So you and your girls have all planned time off work to relax, rejuvenate and have fun, but where do you go and what do you do? You don’t have the opportunity to have a really indulgent time very often so you have to make the most of the time you have!

 

City breaks are so much fun for girls and with cheap flights all over Europe there really is no excuse not to make your trip continental. Some of the best cities for shopping are Milan, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and St Tropez, of course you may have to have pockets lined with gold to go on a spree in many of these destinations but it’s fun to window-shop none the less!

If you would rather something a little more low-key, why not search for some luxury spa breaks with spabreaks.com. For this type of trip, the perfect destination is the great British countryside. I’ve read that there are some amazing spa towns in Britain where the water from fresh springs has natural rejuvenating properties.  Hmm, now I’m thinking that I should have been a travel blogger!

 

For the alternative girly outing, why not go completely off the wall and do something really out of character? Paintballing is a great idea for girls sick of being stereotyped into femine activities!  Running around all day in a boiler suit shooting your friends can really build up an appetite, so make sure you make reseravtions at a good restaurant for the evening time. You might want to have a shower first though!

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Choosing the Best Vacation

July 11, 2012 by 4 Comments

Beautiful vacation spot

 

If you ever decide to go on vacation you’re left facing a number of difficult choices. Making the right ones should mean that your break will be an enjoyable, but what are those decisions, and what do you have to think about before booking a vacation? Before you think about deciding to book a luxury cottage with cumbrian-cottages.co.uk, or a laid back TN Bed & Breakfast, here is what you need to ask yourself in order to choose the best vacation for your family:

 

  • Work out where you want to go. If you have a clear idea of your ideal destination, then you should do all you can to seek the right accommodation. Also, the destination should have what you and anyone else, who’s coming with you, likes to do.  For example, if you’re travelling with kids and you all enjoy walking, you should visit somewhere like the Lake District with its many walking routes.  If not all of your family can swim a trip to a water park might not be too enjoyable.  Just think about what relaxing activity your entire family would enjoy.
  • Know what you can afford. You should try to find a vacation that fits easily within your budget. In doing so, you’ll have enough money left over to spend on things like food, travel and souvenirs.  Personally I have to avoid souvenir shops because I get sucked in and want to buy every t-shirt and key chain they’ve got but that’s another story.  If you don’t have enough money in your budget to go to a big resort this year scale back to a smaller vacation spot or save up for next year.  Don’t use a credit card to fund your vacation!
  • Is the accommodation suitable? You should get accommodation that’s big enough for you and everyone else who’s coming with you. Staying somewhere that’s too big or too small could ruin your vacation.  This usually isn’t a problem unless you have a very large family or you’re vacationing with another family.

 

Aside from choosing a vacation which suits your needs and tastes, you should also be wary of a number of things before making a final decision. These include any extra costs you have to pay for.  For instance,  parking and internet access, local facilities, and transportation.  You may also want to take note if a destination is family-friendly, pet-friendly or if they have wheelchair access. Also, if you’re heading to the beach you may want to avoid special weeks like Senior Week and Biker Week.  Once you know all of that, you’re ready to pick a place and hunt for the best deal!

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Join Alamo Insiders for Free and Save 10% or More!

June 8, 2012 by 3 Comments


Summer vacations are just around the corner, and Alamo is offering exclusive deals when you sign up to be an Alamo Insider! Join free today and from now on the best deals come to you. Save more on car rentals to spend more on fun. Join Alamo Insiders for free and save 10% or more on every car rental!  Plus, you can bank on special privileges like a 10% or more member discount on every rental, and self-service kiosks that get you on the road to vacation faster than ever. Whether your next escape is one week or months away, Alamo’s got exclusive deals for you.

 

One reader is an Alamo Insiders and sent me her review.  Kristi said, “I’m a pretty good deal hunter and I was able to save over $300 on our four day trip through Alamo. That’s $300 better than the best price I found! We had a great experience renting with Alamo last month. The cars were clean and we had no issues whatsoever. We even got to pick the car we wanted in the garage. Most companies give you the option at the counter but it’s way more fun to hop in a few cars and check their backseat and trunk space. Especially with babies, car seats, and strollers. Then drive up and check the car out in the category paid for.”

 

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