How to Save Money on Popular Vacation Rentals (Without Sacrificing Location or Comfort!)

We planned not one, but two beach vacations this year on totally opposite coasts of the United States. I heard more than once from readers in my DM's that they'd been dreaming of going to those locations but they were finding them too expensive! If you are dreaming of the perfect family or couples getaway, the cost of accommodations at some of those popular locations can feel like a reality check. Heck, we even found that ourselves as I looked for rentals at both Kiawah Island, South Carolina and Seabrook, Washington. Both of these are resorts and master-planned vacation communities that often promote their rentals through official real estate management companies. While convenient, that booking route can also come with steep markups, resort fees, and hidden charges. 
The good news? There's another way. With just a little research and flexibility, you can often rent the exact same or similar properties for significantly less without giving up the prime location or amenities. The secret is renting privately or off the official real estate listing site. I've done it myself, and it can be the difference between being priced out of a location or enjoying it well within your budget. 
Here's how you can save money while still enjoying some of the most beautiful vacation communities in the United States!

0

The Complete Guide to Booking a Cruise From Port Canaveral: Tips, Transfers and Top Picks

Are you ready to set sail on an unforgettable adventure from Port Canaveral? Recently, when looking for a trip with our family, we started considering a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida. While I've been on several cruises, I've never set sail out of Port Canaveral and ran into a few unknowns. Port Canaveral, is located on Florida's Space Coast, and it's one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. It serves as a gateway to popular destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. There are a few important things to know to help you have the best cruise yet if you are planning on leaving Port Canaveral, and I'm going to share everything that I learned during our planning and through our travel with you so that everything can be smooth sailing!

0

Cultivating Wanderlust: Raising Kids That Love to Travel

When you have kids, one of the greatest gifts parents get to experience is the ability to see a new human discover and experience things for the first time. With travel, you often get that opportunity together! The world is brimming with all kinds of things just waiting to be discovered and explored and giving your children a love for travel can be one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Recently, as my husband and I wandered through a busy airport on a layover on our way home, we saw moms and dads with little ones strapped in front backs, holding hands of kids doing their best to carry their own tiny backpacks, and older ones in a line following behind rolling suitcases with earbuds in place. The thought of travel for a lot of parents can be daunting, but in the midst of all of those challenges, there is an opportunity to nurture a sense of curiosity, resilience, and open-mindedness in your kids that will change their lives. I'm hoping you'll read on so that you can discover how you can raise kids who not only tolerate travel but embrace it and make it their own. 

0

The Best Excursions on a Cruise to Alaska

A cruise to Alaska is at the top of a lot of people's bucket lists. And for good reason! It's not called the Last Frontier for nothing! Alaska beckons adventurers with its breathtaking landscapes, pristine wilderness, and abundant wildlife. One of the best ways to explore this rugged beauty is by embarking on a cruise to Alaska. There's something magical about sailing through icy fjords, witnessing towering glaciers, and encountering majestic marine life all from the comfort of your cruise ship and without ever leaving the United States! If Alaska is on your list, I'm here to help you dive into the must-visit ports of call: Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Sitka. 

0

A Beginner's Guide to Cruises

We have spent a fair amount of time on cruises. Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a family vacation with our kids, we are huge advocates of taking cruises. You get to cover a lot of ground and get a taste of several different locations. This handy beginner’s guide to cruises will give you everything you need to know about this nearly all-inclusive floating vacation.

0

Preparing Your Home for Vacation

Preparing for a vacation can be a lot of work. Whether packing up the car, hitting the road, or dusting off your passport for a long flight, taking a vacation requires more than just preparing an itinerary. Your home will be left vacant while you’re gone, and you want to ensure your home is ready for it! Here are my best tips to help you prepare your home for vacation.

0

Cheap Eats at Disney

When visiting somewhere like Disney where you are already going to be spending a lot of money between lodging and tickets to enter the park, you probably want to save money anywhere that you can to avoid having too big of a hit on your pocketbook! One of the places that I have found is easiest to cut down on spending at Disney is on food. If you are going to power through a full day at the theme park, you will of course need to eat, but that doesn't mean that you have to spend a fortune! 

0

Everything You Need to Know Before You Go to Juneau, Alaska

Juneau, Alaska is a popular port if you are taking a cruise to Alaska, but it's also a great place to plan a stand-alone trip too as well. There are plenty of shore excursions to take so that you can explore this Southeast Alaska gem. This Alaska town, like many others, was born because of gold and after a whole treasure trove was found and a rush occurred, Juneau became the state capital. It's fairly easy to get to. From Seattle, it's only a two-hour flight. So come explore Juneau, Alaska and see what you should plan while you are there!

0

Visiting Antelope Canyon: Is it Really Worth the Hype?

We recently returned from a trip I'm calling the Ultimate Southwest Road Trip™. We hit parks in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona for a pretty memorable spring break with our teenage son. One of our stops was in Page, Arizona where we spent time visiting Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Lake Powell. I had heard glowing reviews about Antelope Canyon but went back and forth trying to decide if it was worth the expensive tour fee and if it really would live up to the hype. We actually were blown away by our visit and wanted to share the experience so you can make the best plan for your upcoming visit. 

0

The Best 7 Day Grand Circle Road Trip Itinerary! The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip!

What started as a {potential} college visit to Prescott, Arizona, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon, turned into a road trip through Nevada, Utah, and Arizona making stops at Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon {to name a few} in what is often referred to as {a portion of} The Grand Circle. We actually deemed it "The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip" and it will forever be known as that from here on out. {We never made it to visit the college.} 
It's easy to look at a map and see how close some of the most spectacular parts of the southwest are to one another and get carried away planning a road trip. We planned the Ultimate Southwest Road Trip­­™ and think that this was the best way to spend seven days around some of the United State's most beautiful vistas. We fit a lot in, allowing for some downtime, and felt like we saw all the things {and a few things you could skip}. Read on for tips on how you can plan your own Ultimate Southwest Road Trip.

0

Making Mealtime Easy for a Family in a Vacation Rental

When you’re vacationing, it can sometimes feel like you are just trading one kitchen for another and still have to eat. If you are traveling for spring break or just vacationing to a rental home with your family this year, there are so many different ways you can make cooking there a stress-free experience. You already know that not eating every meal out can save you money, but these tips will make eating in your vacation home just as easy.

0

Fast Facts about Turks and Caicos Islands

Found just north of Hispaniola {the island which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic}, south and east of the Bahamas, and northeast of Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands are beautiful lands in the middle of the Caribbean, which belong to Britain. It's the perfect tropical island for a romantic or family getaway. Below are some facts about the Turks and Caicos Islands.

1

10 Best Beach Locations to Travel to if You Live on the West Coast

**This post was written before COVID-19. I've pushed back the scheduling of it for months. Be aware that different states have different travel requirements in place right now. 
Growing up in the Midwest, I didn't realize how good I had it. It was an easy flight to most Caribbean beaches. Living on the west coast for the past few decades, I've realized how much more difficult it is to get to the Caribbean to enjoy the beautiful pristine white sand beaches and turquoise water. That doesn't mean we have to trade-in our hopes of having a beach vacation. Live on the west coast? Read on for the perfect beach escape!

0

15 Unbelievable Places You Should Add to your Future Travel Bucket List {After COVID}

Paris, Amsterdam, and London are incredible destinations, with their unique culture, picturesque streets, and iconic landmarks. But that’s where everyone’s going once we’re able to travel again, right? So if you want to avoid overcrowded parks and long lines of tourists, then make sure to add these incredible places to your post-corona travel bucket. 

0

What's It REALLY Like Traveling in the Time of COVID?

Like many of you, I've had my fair share of plans get canceled because of COVID. At the beginning of the year, our oldest son relocated to Boise, ID after graduating from college in December. He invited his father and me to visit and see his new home, and if you are a parent of a young adult child, you jump on any chance you can to visit your child when they request your presence. Airplane tickets were purchased back in January before COVID was even a thought. Though once COVID swept the nation, we had reservations about continuing our plans. As states started to reopen, {Idaho being one of them}, we decided to continue on with our plans to travel. I know that people will have opinions on every side about how they feel about travel in the time of COVID, but I wanted to share our experience of what it's really like and then you can make the most informed decision for you and your family if you want to consider continuing or canceling your summer travel plans. 

So what is it really like to travel in the time of COVID? I'm sharing our experience.

0

Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the largest destination events for the greater Seattle area during the spring. Mother Nature decides when the tulips bloom, but you'll likely find rows of colorful flowers in bloom during the month of April. During the tulip festival, millions of flowers come to life creating a magnificent display of color. I've got everything you need to know if you want to visit the Skagit Valley during the Tulip Festival.

0

The Best Times to Visit Disney World or Disneyland Without Missing School

Taking a Disney vacation can be one of the best trips you go on as a family! Disney World is magical, but it can also be an unpleasant experience. The large crowds and high temperatures can turn a magical vacation into a miserable experience. We all know that the best times to visit Disney are during the offseason, but many of us can’t afford to pull our kids out of school every time we want to take a trip! And as kids get older it's harder and harder for them to miss school. If you are looking for a way to visit Disney without missing any school, here are the best times to visit.

1

Dumb Things People Ask About All-Inclusive Resorts

So maybe starting this post out with the mention of dumb questions isn't the nicest thing, but it's hard for me to not shake my head when I've heard people on message boards, in group chats, and in real life ask all of these questions about all-inclusive resorts. Maybe some people are just over-thinkers {or over packers or both!}, but the questions sometimes surprise me. I did my best to answer the questions because they are obviously legitimate concerns of the person asking them. I will say though, all-inclusive resorts are my favorite kind of vacation because I think you can truly have a vacation. You don't have to think about where to eat, what to do, or how much certain things cost because it's all included!

So about those dumb questions...

0

Doing Good in Downtown Seattle

This time of year gets extra busy, so why not set aside 24 hours for a couples getaway? It's also the time of giving, so why not make the most of both and book an evening at the Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton and give back to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with the Hilton Legacy Package.  I love being downtown and I love giving back, and we have all been affected by cancer in some way, so why not support this amazing partnership and enjoy your time in Seattle being pampered AND doing good.

0

Top Ski Resorts to Visit in BC

I grew up in Indiana where the hills on a golf course were the highest point around. We had plenty of snow, but fresh snow was made for sledding. Growing up, I would occasionally see ski tags hanging like a prize off of the zipper of a ski coat but I never thought to seek out a ski trip. It wasn't until a few years after living in the greater Seattle area, that I took from sledding the hills adjacent to several ski resorts in our area, and decided to learn how to ski. My oldest son had learned from his grandpa one winter, and the invitation to join the in-laws on a ski trip to Whistler, BC, was accepted. I signed up for ski lessons {BC ski resorts have THE BEST ski lessons for all skill levels}, and I've been skiing every winter since.
If you were to ask our kids what their favorite winter activity was, they would all say, hands down skiing. This mama wants to give them what they want, so I've started researching the best ski resorts in British Columbia {BC} Canada. Here is everything you need to know about the top 8 ski resorts that are all driving distance from the greater Seattle area.

0