SAVE in San Antonio

July 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SAVE for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

This summer why not take a unique vacation somewhere close to home, depending on where you live. 🙂 As you know we at Have Sippy love to travel, suprise suprise. Destinations close to home have a special spot in our hearts as well, for those day trips or even just a fun weekend away from the normal everyday grind. One of the biggest advantages of planning a trip like this is price and quality. You know exactly what you are getting and often times if your timing is right you can get one doozy of a bargain. One of these magical momments is occuring right now with San Antonio. Take a look at SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience . This awesome program sponsored by the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bereau includes savings on hotels, destinations and even amusement parks like SeaWorld and Six Flags. As an aded perk to the already great deals there are also special [Read more…]

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Fun and Affordable Family Vacations Around New England

July 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

New England is more than just lighthouses and lobsters. It is the birthplace of
the United States and home to much of the nation’s early history history, culture,
and traditions. Your New England travel choices span six states: Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Here are
some fun and affordable vacations you and your family can enjoy while exploring
New England.

Theme Parks

Six Flags New England
1623 Main Street
Agawam, MA
(413) 786-9300

Six Flags New England is a must for anybody looking for an affordable family
vacation in New England. Popular attractions such as the Thunderbolt, Cyclone,
Mind Eraser, Bizarro, Goliath, and Batman – The Dark Knight will keep kids and
teens entertained. Adults can enjoy the Balloon Race, Blizzard River, New England
Sky Way, and Scream. The park offers summer specials and discounts ideal for
families looking to stick to their budget. Affordable restaurants can be found near
Six Flags, in addition to the refreshments found within the park.

Fun Town/Splash Town USA
774 Portland Road
Saco, ME
(207) 284-5139

Two roller coasters, a couple pools, and 20 slides greet visitors to this family-
friendly theme park. Considered Northern New England’s largest family themed
amusement and water park, favorite family rides include the Balloon Race, Barney
Oldfield Roadsters, and the Classic Carousel. Splash Town USA offers 18 water slides
and pools to keep you and your family cool while enjoying the thrill of a day at the
park. Save more money by joining the park’s E-Club if you plan to be repeat visitor
or opt for a one-day pass. The park offers additional discounts to guests who comes
after 3pm. They also offer a weather guarantee where a rain check is issued if the
park closes early due to weather conditions.

Canobie Lake Park
85 North Policy Street
Salem, NH
(603) 893-3506

Kids will enjoy the water rides and some of the park’s lower-intensity rides, while
teens will appreciate the challenge of games in the arcade or some fun in Paintball
Hollow. Family rides include Crazy Cups, Mine of Lost Souls, Sky Ride, Twist &
Shout, Zero Gravity, and Skater. Water rides include castaway Island, Policy Pond
Log Flume, and Boston Tea Party. The admission price includes access to the park’s
85 rides and attractions. Kids 3 and under are admitted free and parking is free.

Salem Willows Amusement Park
167 Fort Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-0251

Combining the history [Read more…]

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6 Ways to Get the Best Deal on Private Jet Flights

July 24, 2012 by 1 Comment

When it comes to group travel, many people simply wind up paying too much. They don’t realize, for example, that a private jet flight can be significantly cheaper than flying commercial when you’re talking about a sizable group of people. Not only that, there are a number of tactics you can use to get even better prices when you book your private jet flights.
Here are some tactics you can use to charter a jet and save money for your company or group:

  1. Start by looking at “empty leg” flights.

When someone charters a private jet and is staying in the destination city for more than a day, the chartered jet often has to fly back to its home airport empty. The charter jet company factors this into the original flight’s cost, and so they’re not losing money in doing so.
However, most charter jet companies do try to recoup additional costs by offering seats on those return flights. An empty leg flight can cost as little as half of the normal cost of a private jet flight.
In order to take advantage of empty leg flights, you need to be flexible in your travel arrangements. You need to be able to postpone, reschedule, or extend your travel. In some cases, you can take an empty leg flight one direction (either going to or from your destination) and schedule a regular private jet charter for the other leg.

  1. Consider private jet “pooling.”

Some private jet companies will allow individuals to share a private jet with other passengers at a reduced cost. This is closer to the idea of flying commercial; you pay for your seat, rather than chartering the entire plane. You still get the benefits of flying charter, such as the private tarmac and luxury service, as well as direct flights.
Not all private jet companies allow pooling, but for those that do you can expect to save as much as 30-50% off the cost of chartering the jet.

  1. Look at fractional ownership.

If you’re flying 50 hours or more each year, fractional ownership might be a better option for you. Fractional ownership means that you own a portion of the private jet’s time. You might own 1/16 of a jet, for example, as well as being responsible for a portion of its maintenance fees as well as hourly flying charges. [Read more…]

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Kennywood Theme Park Savings

July 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

America’s Favorite Traditional Amusement Park since 1898, Kennywood continues to delight each and every guest with 31 major rides, including three wooden coasters, two steel coasters including
Phantom’s Revenge and Skyrocket, water rides, spinning rides, hi-speed rides for thrill seekers, Kid-sized rides for tiny daredevils, and relaxing rides for those who simply want to enjoy the splendor of a truly inviting venue. Combining the best of the old with the best of the new, guests will find the original, 110-year- old carousel pavilion, as well as state-of-the-art [Read more…]

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Hotel/NYC Twitter Party Tues the 24th at 9 PM EST @TheBenjaminNYC #FTBA #NYCTravel #WIN

July 17, 2012 by 4 Comments

@HaveSippy, the Family Travel Blogger Association and The Benjamin Hotel are hosting a Twitter Party Tues the 24th- are you registered yet? It’s a party you don’t want to miss. There will be lots of fun, prizes, and info on the fabulous Benjamin! (Review HERE) We’d love to meet up with you in tweet-land to talk about one of the most fab hotels in the city- and you can [Read more…]

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5 Reasons to Rent a Cabin for Your Next Family Winter Vacation

July 14, 2012 by 1 Comment

Summer is upon us, and much of the country is sweltering away in weather hitting
triple digits. There’s still plenty of time to find a beach or a pool and cool off while
daydreaming about your next winter vacation. Thoughts of ski villages, fresh snow and
hot chocolate by the fireplace seem strange right now, but at least your imagination
will keep cool! However, if you do have designs on taking a winter vacation with your
family, the time to plan is now. And if you’ve never experienced a winter trip to a cabin,
now’s your chance to book early and get yourself a great deal. Taking your family to a
picturesque cabin in the woods may not mean five-star dinners and in-room massages,
but there are tons of benefits to this relaxed yet truly enjoyable option. Here are five
reasons why you should rent a cabin for your next family winter vacation.

First off, taking a winter vacation in a cabin will give your family the chance to
experience true peace and quiet. You won’t find this at a resort, with hundreds of people
on each floor. You’ve got to get off the beaten path, and a cabin puts you right in the
middle of, well, nothing at all. For a stressed out family that could be just what the doctor
ordered. Instead of crowds and noise you’ll be surrounded by chirping birds and the
breeze rushing through tall trees. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want
[Read more…]

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A Tour around Singapore’s Best Landmarks

July 14, 2012 by 1 Comment

With its stunning beaches, world class hotels, historical museums, vibrant nightlife, beautiful parks
and wildlife preserves, Singapore rarely disappoints tourists when it comes to offering different travel
opportunities. Although there are many attractions to enjoy in this amazing destination, the island’s
charming architecture is indeed one of the distinct aspects that make it to stand out as a picturesque
destination. From the time the island started out as a British colony to date, it has grown into a modern
metropolis with buildings and structures that feature diverse architectural styles that include both
ancient and modern designs.

The architectural landscape of this Southeast Asian country is indeed a spectacle to behold and worth
exploring. However, in order to experience the full architectural diversity of this destination, here are
some of the island’s landmarks that you ought to visit during your tour.

Esplanade-Theaters on the Bay

The Esplanade is one of the iconic landmarks of Singapore that you would hardly fail to notice due to its
conspicuous design. Located along Singapore River, this unique building indeed epitomizes Singapore’s
contemporary architecture at its purest. Much like the external design, the interior is also as beautiful
and it features intricate and stunning designs that you will definitely marvel at. However, the good thing
about this building is that there are no charges for entering into the building’s foyer, and so this should
give you the opportunity to get a glimpse of the lovely designs that adorn the structure’s interior.

The Republic Plaza

Situated in the downtown core of the city, the Republic Plaza is one of the prominent skyscrapers that
embraces Singapore’s skyline. Being one of the tallest buildings
in Singapore and over 200m tall, this impressive structure is
visible from miles away and it symbolizes Singapore’s status as
a first world nation. At such heights, the views from the top
floors of the building are [Read more…]

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Tips for Traveling with Children

July 12, 2012 by 7 Comments

We love to travel, and we do often. We have not stopped traveling simply because we have kids. While we of course take special care to accommodate our kids when traveling, we also believe that traveling with them has allowed them to gain better perspectives and more experiences even at their young ages.
Spring Break is fast approaching, and travel can be a tough time for all involved. Trying to get everything done, shopping, and packing- it’s easy to become overwhelmed. While many of us travel with small kids at some point this season, there are some ideas I’d like to share with you.

Plan ahead. Try to plan as much as you can- but be prepared to be flexible and make changes along the way.

Attempt to arrive ahead of schedule- this way, if things go amiss, you will have some “wiggle room”.

Bring laundry detergent, stain stick (for those “fun” accidents), and a laundry bag. If you are gone more then a few days, chances are good you will need them.

Take lots of photos- there is no such thing as too many. You won’t think it is enough later.

Make a packing list before you pack, this way you won’t forget things. Update it while you pack with things you decide to add. Then, check it before going home to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

Take messy things [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel