travel Archives - Page 12 of 68 - Have Sippy Will Travel

Ocean Club Resorts in Turks and Caicos

July 1, 2015 by Samantha 6 Comments

Read my full review at This Girl Travels!

Ocean Club Resorts offers some of the best hospitality on the island, and was recently named one of the top 25 Travel and Leisure Top Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Bahamas. As soon as you arrive, you are greeted by friendly staff who help get your luggage to your room. There are several rooms to choose from, depending on the size of your travel party. All rooms come with a screened in balcony, perfect for spending warm nights and enjoying the views of Grace Bay.

Inside each room, no matter the size (ranging from studio to three bedroom) you will find a sitting area, and flat screen cable TV. They come equipped with a deluxe kitchenette including microwave, sink, refrigerator, coffeemaker, toaster, and cooking/dining ware so you can prepare food in your room if you would like . There are ceiling fans, air-conditioning, and in-room safe as well. Larger rooms have full range stove tops, washer and dryers, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. You will find free WiFi in all rooms, the lobby, and Seaside Cafe.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Langham Place, New York

July 1, 2015 by Samantha 8 Comments

Looking to travel to New York City, but not sure where to stay? There are so many options, and if you are traveling with kids, it can be even harder to pick the right place. You want somewhere central, but quiet at night so they can sleep- someplace welcoming of your whole clan, not super snooty and off-putting for the littler ones. You can enjoy yourself and your family getaway in NYC with the right hotel.

If you are heading to New York, Langham Place, New York is an ultra-modern, luxury option that offers a Family Getaway Package including:

two night’s accommodations in a spacious guest room
free rollaway bed upon request ($120 value)
a $100 credit that can be used towards any of the food and beverage outlets in the hotel
two VIP express tickets to the top of the Empire State Building ($120 value)

The food and beverage credit can be used even at these two venues:

Measure, which offers Afternoon Tea for Kids on Saturdays and Sundays ($40 for adults, $20 for kids) Tunes with Tina kid’s cabaret brunch on Sunday mornings

The Family Getaway Package also has added cultural experiences through the Cultured Kids menu of offerings. These tours can be booked for kids as young as 3 years old. Cultured Kids also includes the option to have a VIP visit to the Empire State Building or Tunes with Tina sing-along Sunday brunch.

Starting rates for Family Getaway are $795, but with the options of so many add-ons there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen of a Michelin-starred restaurant that is provided by Ai Fiori and hosted by the Executive Chef and the team of culinary artists. This includes an early bird dinner reservation between 5 and 7 PM. The Empire State Building is located just down the block, and can be seen from many of the rooms.

view from my room

You can also see many wonders of architecture, and a map of the most significant of buildings can be viewed from any of Langham Place’s Empire View rooms and suites. Expedited passes are also available to skip the line at the Empire State building.
Langham Place, New York is your destination to experience a 5-Star Luxury Hotel that has modern British allure and service. The hotel has made a smooth transition from it’s beginnings in Langham, London in 1865 that set the ultimate standard in hospitality in the 19th century! They were founded on luxury, innovation and of course, grandeur, so that is what you will experience when you visit today.

You will also have all the conveniences of home that you sometimes miss when you travel. The bathrooms are spacious and most have both a shower and a bathtub (which smaller kids as well as mom and dad can enjoy- they are large enough for grown-up bodies, which is very nice). Suites have kitchens with stove tops, full sized refrigerators, and my favorite- washing machines and dryers. Every parent knows that being prepared is key- having the ability to wash out your kid’s messes on the spot is priceless.

While planning your next trip to New York City, make sure the Langham is your first stop. Book by calling (212) 695 4005 or emailing lpnyc.info@langhamhotels.com

Enjoy your stay, and have fun in the city.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: famliy travel, hotel, New York City, NYC, travel

Making the Most of Your Jamaican Vacation with Club Mobay

June 11, 2015 by Samantha 9 Comments

The worst part of traveling is always the airport. Always. They suck the joy out of travel. Getting there is one thing- you are amphed up, excited, you have time off of work, escaping “real life” and about to enjoy the vacation you have been obsessing about, so the annoyances of the airport can be thought a little less painful and a little more of a “necessary evil”. Going home, however, is a different story. You don’t want to leave, you don’t want to return to your job, your week of unread mail, your inbox, your annoying next door neighbor- whatever. Maybe the weather is cold and dreary back where you are headed, and you dread leaving the sunshine- and the last thing you want to deal with is 2 hour check-ins as the agents chat about boyfriends and weekend plans instead of scanning your dang passport, long lines, dealing with uber-“pleasant” staff along the way (do they only hire people who lack the ability to smile?), another line at security, the oh-so-gentle-tossing of your bag because you forgot you had a tube of mascara in there and it set off the detector, repacking, getting onto anther line, finding your boarding cubicle, then sitting on evil plastic chairs (IF you can find one) with everyone else in your flight, packed in like sardines while you check emails on your phone until your battery inevitably dies because there are only 4 outlets for the entire 350 people in your area to use while you wait to be called by your zone (it’s the last one, it’s always the last one) to board your plane. Fun times! Airlines sure know how to make travel enjoyable.

Want to avoid that? Really- you can. In Jamaica you can! I’m not kidding. Club Mobay, offered at Jamaican airports, will save you time and sanity. The lines at the airport in Jamaica move slow, at best. You get there with plenty of time to spare, but then wonder if you are going to make your flight. Then people show up when their plane is boarding, so they go straight to the front of the lines, and you get to wait some more- and they are certainly moving on “Caribbean time”, which is charming when you are on vacation, but makes you want to pull your hair out when you are standing in lines that won’t end, just to wait on several more lines.

For prices starting at $15, you can skip these lines (you jump right to the front) and then head into the most relaxing lounge I have ever experienced. While there, you are treated to included WiFi, drinks (both alcoholic and non), and quite a wide array of food options.

There are awesome Jamaican treats like beef patties, and then really non-Jamaican foods with an island twist- like jerk chicken. Really. Yes, I tried them, and yes, it was good.

Not only is there much to eat and drink, but there are bathrooms just for the lounge guests, chairs and couches that are actually comfortable, and a children’s play area. There are even showers should you feel like taking one- and we all know sometimes, you really want a shower when you are traveling long distances. Or maybe the kids did something awful and you could use it- it’s nice to have the option, for sure.

Montego Bay Airport:

Adult Arrivals Only : $50per Person

Adult departures Only: $30. NB: departures only for adults is $35 when purchased at the airport.

Adults Bundled: $80

Children Arrivals only: $25

Children Departures only: $15

Children Bundle : $40

Kingston Airport:

Adults Arrivals Only: $25

Adults Departures Only: $ 25 NB: departures only for adults is $30 when purchased at the airport.

Adult Bundle: $50

Children Arrivals only: $15

Children Departures only: $15 NB: departures only for Children is $20 when purchased at the airport.

Children Bundle : $30

The money you spend is easily made back on sanity alone, but when you think about the cost of airport food and drinks, and throw in the wifi? You’ve made an excellent choice. Kids under 2 are free, as well, which is great. To book, head to http://www.vipattractions.com/club–mobay.php

Clients are offered a variety of services ranging from a personalized arrival to a superior departure service at their culturally themed airport lounges.
In 2014, alone Club Mobay got voted Best Airport Lounge in the Caribbean and America’s at the World Travel Awards while Club Kingston got voted by Priority Pass Best Airport Lounge in the World out of more than 700 competition entrants. The Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association awarded a Club Kingston Manager the “Jamaica Tourism Employee of the Year” while we won the award for Innovative Business of the Year by the Jamaica Young Entrepreneurs Association. These great wins are down to having a great Jamaican team!

Under the brands Club MoBay and Club Kingston, VIP Attractions operates two culturally themed lounges at Sangster International Airport and the Norman Manley International Airports, located in Montego Bay and Kingston respectively. VIP Attractions has kept pace in the market offering a range of service products for even the most discerning traveler.

Disclosure- I received a pass to the above to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. All photos are my own.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: airports, islands, jamaica, travel

Take the Kids to Coney Island

May 14, 2015 by Samantha 8 Comments

Coney Island has been a go to spot for generations, each season changing slightly, adding more rides, keeping new and fresh while still appealing to the crowds of New York.

This season is no different, with a new ride open now (The Thunderbolt) and more on the way including a new roller coaster the fun keeps coming.

Coney Island is made up of something for everyone. Just steps from the boardwalk, there is a beach with a clean shore and big open ocean. For the animal lovers, there is the New York Aquarium just a little ways down, which also has a wonderful seal show that should not be missed. For the adventurous types, there are big thrill rides at Luna Park which include 7 roller coasters like the classic wooden Coney Island Cyclone. For the littler park goers, there are tons of attractions and rides at Luna Park like the Happy Swing and Magic Bikes. For everyone, there is Deno’s Wonder Wheel, one of the biggest and most complex Ferris Wheels around.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: evergreen, family, travel Tagged With: family travel, NYC, theme park, travel

Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark

May 4, 2015 by Samantha 9 Comments

Summer is getting closer, and you might be thinking “waterparks”. In Tannersville, PA, there is a new location that sports both an indoor and an outdoor water park- well, at two separate prices (but I’m guessing they will offer a discount come the summer-season).

This past weekend, Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark opened up at Camelback Lodge in Pennsylvania. I should say, parts of Aquatopia opened up. The hotel rooms are not yet ready for occupation, and only some of the water slides and park areas are (at this time) ready for use. Much of the exterior is also still under construction, but the official opening was on Thursday, when it was able to be used for the first time.

indoor water park

My son very much enjoyed the larger slide area, complete with giant bucket of water that dumps down on the pool every few minutes. There will be 13 water slides when construction is completed, including Venus SlydeTrap, a very innovative and unique slide (the only one like it in the world). The Venus SlydeTrap allows three to six riders at a time on a “family rafting tube”. It mates together three waterslide experiences into one 600 foot long, fully enclosed slide. I know we can’t wait to try that one out when it’s ready.

waterslides

The indoor water park is always a pleasant eighty four degrees Fahrenheit, with plenty of seating, table and chair sets, and lounge areas as well as private cabanas for rent. There are areas for big kids, little kids, and the in-between, as well as a wave pool and Flow Rider surfing area. There is a lazy river as well that we are looking forward to trying out- while it had been opened to start with, they ended up closing it a bit early.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Spring Break in the Catskills

April 18, 2015 by Samantha 10 Comments

The Fisk House, a lovely Bed and Breakfast in the Catskills, would be the perfect place to stay for a large family, a family reunion, or a bridal party. There are 5 individual rooms, one of which has it’s own bathroom, and 2 large bathrooms upstairs as well as another downstairs. Breakfast is served daily in the large dining area, and there is a fully functional kitchen for your use the rest of the day.

In addition to it’s spacious kitchen, dining area, and living room, there is plenty of space to spread out. The furnishings are cozy with mix of country chic and a rustic feel to it. There is an outdoor swimming area and porch as well, which during warmer weather can be taken advantage of. Directly across the street is an antiques barn, where you can peruse and shop at your leisure.

After eating breakfast, we headed out to Platkill Mountian for last winter’s hurrah. It was supposed to be Springtime, but as anyone in the Northeast can tell you, Spring too it’s sweet time to arrive to the area this yea. Located in Western upstate NY, you can easily spend the day (or several) on the many trails of Platkill. You can choose from skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing and snowshoeing on the mountain. Group or individual lessons are also offered.

Not having our own equipment, we rented skis, boots, and helmets on site. After being properly fitted for our sizes, my son and I headed out for our ski lesson. We had only skied one other time, so we thought it would be a good idea. The ski instructor had his hands full with us, since my son decided he was all of the sudden scared of skiing. He wanted to (quite literally) hold my hand the whole time, and he cried quite a bit. Being 7 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be all the time. This was interesting, because I was feeling less nervous about the process- I guess we evened each other out.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, NY, travel, upstate NY

Head to St. Joseph Bay for World-Renowned Scalloping

April 11, 2015 by Samantha 10 Comments

Have you ever gone scalloping? Personally, I had not, until this year in Gulf County, Florida. I wasn’t even sure what the act of “scalloping” was. Yes, getting scallops, surely, but how? And what did that entail? It turns out, it’s both fairly simple, and not as easy as you would expect.

One basically needs to get to a body of water that contains these mollusks, which are both mild in flavor and extremely healthy for you. You can charter a boat, get on a kayak, or find a company that does scalloping tours. If you head out without a guide or boat captain, you will need a Florida saltwater fishing license, a mesh bag, and a dive flag. Get your license ahead of time online or head to the experts at Bluewater Outriggers. They can get you a license, supplies, tell you the local hot spots, and tips on how to find scallops.

boating florida

We first tried our hand on the Break-a-Way Charters boats, owned and operated by the father and son team of Captain Bobby and Captain Wade Guilford as well as Captain George Lautt. The boat tour we were looking to go on revolved around scalloping, but we ended up doing more then that. The first stop where we tried for scallops came up empty handed, but we were able to go shelling along the beaches of Port St. Joe and St. Joseph’s Bay.

net fishing

The shelling could easily have been the highlight of my day- it was peaceful, quiet, and something you could do either by yourself or with someone else. I headed out for some alone time, enjoying the solitude while seeking out shells on the beaches. The guides were able to identify the shells when we returned- what type they were, what lived in them, and other interesting shell-related information.

fishing florida

Break-a-Way Charters offers inshore & offshore fishing, shelling, sightseeing, scalloping and are the only locals able to provide“snuba” trips. What is snuba? Part snorkeling, part scuba “diving”, snuba allows you to dive into the water with air but without the tank, so no special certification is needed.

shelling in florida

We headed back onto the boat with our newly found treasures to try another location for scallops. We found all sorts of shellfish, interesting shells, sand dollars, starfish, and more- but no scallops. The clear, warm water however made for a perfect place to swim and lounge about; no one was in a rush to go try another spot.

We decided to head to lunch, and taste the scallops that had been eluding us instead. At Indian Pass Raw Bar, they continued to be evasive, but the food was so amazing that we didn’t mind. If you didn’t know any better, you’d be tempted to pass what looks like some “hole in the wall” convenience store looking building. Looks can be deceiving. Once inside, seat yourself and grab a drink from one of the “coolers”. Decide what you want by checking it off of a “ticket” and handing it in- the staff will bring your choices to you when ready. The menu is on the smaller side, but the food is amazing, offering barbeque, stuffed shrimp, and melt-in-your-mouth parmesan baked oysters that will convert many who swore off the sometimes off-putting shellfish. This friendly and unassuming restaurant is come-as-you-are, flip flops and shorts, and operates on an honor system (yes, really). Located in a corner of Florida’s Forgotten Coast, the food and staff are anything but forgettable, and you will find yourself planning another visit to this local favorite into your schedule.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, florida

Charlottesville, Virginia Family Fun

April 10, 2015 by Samantha 2 Comments

Read the full post on This Girl Travels!

OK, so maybe it wasn’t the President’s birthday- but it was my son’s. When I asked him what he wanted to do to celebrate, he told me he wanted to “finally” see Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson (third president of the USA and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence). “Finally” is a relative term- he was turning 7. So, off to Charlottesville, Virginia we went.

charlottesville

Charlottesville was the perfect place for this trip, because it has so much to offer in terms of Presidential history (and homes). In and around Charlottesville, you can see the homes of four of the most influential presidents in American history- along with Thomas Jefferson, you can visit the homes of James Madison, George Washington, and James Monroe. That is a lot of history for a little area. You can visit all the homes with a special pass should you so choose. The “President’s Passport” is one ticket that gives you access to all the homes of the four presidents. (Other added bonuses include free admission to 9 museums and historic sites in Alexandria if you show your paid ticket at the door, free wine tastings along the Monticello wine trail, savings at shopping areas, hotels, restaurants, and more. This is a good pass to get if you plan on spending a few days in the area.)

WP_20140729_10_24_07_Pro

Our first stop, of course, was Monticello. I was impressed to see that they offered “family” tours with a guide who made the time spent even in “no touching” areas fun for the kids. She had a small bag packed with visual guides, books, photos, and toys that the children could see, touch, and play with to help them get a better idea of what she was explaining and the times that Jefferson lived in. She also aimed the tour at them, using language they could understand without “dumbing down” the tour whatsoever- she used appropriate language and explanations, scaled to ability and age- but never assumed the children were unable to understand or grasp the knowledge. This was something that the parents appreciated and the children thrived on- they all enjoyed the tour and remembered what they learned. (My son, of course, had to buy a stuffed Thomas Jefferson from the gift shop, just like the guide had. It was his birthday, after all.) There were also hands on activities to try one’s hand at when the tour was finished, such as using a quill pen and ink or playing with “old time” toys and games.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, travel, Virginia