Finally Celebrate Spring! BOOK EASTER IN ROME

March 27, 2015 by 6 Comments

rome hotelsSpring is finally here-well, in Rome it surely is.  The Italians are strolling through the gardens and dining alfresco.   The Bettoja hotels are the perfect place to take a break and spend a few days in the Roman sunshine.  The flowers are blooming and the evenings mild so walking through the narrow streets and having gelato is a luxurious spring pass time.  Now is the perfect time to visit Rome!

The Bettoja Easter offer includes:

  • Early check-in & late check-out (depending on hotel availability)
  • Welcome drink
  • Easter Lunch at the restaurants of the Hotel Mediterraneo or Massimo D’Azeglio. Children from 0 to 12 age are free
  • Dinner at the Roof Garden of Hotel Mediterraneo with a supplement of € 25,00 per person (select the option “Dinner at Roof” in the reservation form)

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Family Fun in Chattanooga

March 26, 2015 by 9 Comments

With Spring Break looming, and spring weather finally reaching the frozen tundra that is the Northern United States, many people are looking forward to a change of pace and scenery.  While it has been warmer recently, it’s not quite “spring” north of most of the Mason-Dixon. This year, why not head to the “Scenic City” of Chattanooga?  This fun and funky metropolis located in Southeastern Tennessee is known as such for it’s bevvy of outdoor activities and natural beauty.

It’s easy to get to, and to get around in. Long considered “The Gateway to the South”, this little city is also a short distance to Georgia (you may find yourself driving into and out of GA repeatedly as you travel Chattanooga), Alabama, and North Carolina boarders.  Slightly further away are Kentucky, South Carolina, and Virginia. All of these are a few hours drive or less.

Each year, Chattanooga has it’s Spring Break Safari for families to enjoy fun and adventurous learning experiences.  Head to any participating venue to receive a “passport” booklet full of the year’s Spring Break Safari activities.  Kids can participate in scavenger hunt questions and receive a prize at each location for completing their quest. There are also free interactive apps at some of the locations, such as the Tennessee Aquarium.  Visit http://www.chattanoogafun.com/spring for a full list of participating locations.

P1020809If you’d like to see an amazing view while experiencing some beautiful surroundings, head to Rock City Gardens.  This 13 acre outdoor garden first opened in 1932, when Frieda and Garnet Carter developed the property into one large “rock garden”.  The motto of Rock City is “Created by God and enhanced by man”. The site is “natural” in that it is set in nature and is quite scenic, with amazing geological formations, waterfalls, and lovely gardens, but has been cultivated to be what it is today.  You and your family can walk the paths around the ancient rock formations, view the botanical delights of the gardens with more then 400 species of plants, visit the gnomes and fairies that inhabit Rock city, read the legend of the tragic Native American “Lover’s Leap”, gaze at a waterfall you won’t even  know is there until you turn the right corner, and stare into the aforementioned 7 states at once from panoramic mountaintop scenery.

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You will see signs on barns, birdhouses, and more as you get closer to the gardens-  the souvenir “See Rock City” birdhouses are some of the most popular sellers in the destination’s shop.

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If you haven’t had your fill of rocky scenery, head to Ruby Falls. While you may have been on cave tours before, this one is fairly unique in that it holds an underground waterfall.  Your tour begins with an elevator ride into the caverns of Lookout Mountian that Leo Lambert discovered in 1928.  As you are guided through the cave, you are given not only the story of the cave and of those who discovered it, but shown various formations as you head toward the waterfall. Sadly, and strangely, pieces of the cave were broken off  as  “souvenirs” for some time, and you are able to see that as well.  One interesting formation is hollow, and when you thump on it (yes, you are told where it is, and are allowed to do so) it sounds like a drum.  This is extremely unusual, and very unique.  Of course, you also see the “cave chips” and “bacon” and get “cave kisses” as you walk along.
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Three Reasons That Make A Mattress A Handy Commodity When Traveling

March 17, 2015 by 3 Comments

Do you take your comfort seriously while traveling? If you don’t, why not? Many of the discomforts associated with being on the move are avoidable. Take sleep for example – if you associate travel with feeling like a zombie, it may be because you miss the comfort of your own bed, and this is something that is avoidable.

Maybe it is not something you considered before, but your own mattress is a handy commodity while traveling. A mattresses buying guide is a big help for individuals who want to buy a mattress that will give the restful sleep that they’ve always wanted. You can use this information to choose a product that will benefit your travel experience in a number of ways including:

Your Own Mattress Offers Familiar Comfort

Sleeping at a hotel, guest house, hostel, or campsite can be a real gamble because you never really know what type of mattress you will end up with up. Even at a fancy place, you could still end up with a mattress that is lumpy, too soft, too hard, or just not right for your body. Worse yet, you might even obtain a mattress that is infested by bed bugs and other insects. Having your own mattress means you will get to enjoy familiar comfort no matter where you are staying.
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6 Things You Didn’t Know About the Grand Canyon

March 17, 2015 by 1 Comment

pic8There’s a lot to do in the Southwest United States. Whether traveling to Southern California or taking in the wonderful beauty of New Mexico, you can spend months there.

One popular destination is the Grand Canyon. It’s great for individual travelers, couples, or families, as there is much to take in and do. No matter if you’ve been there before or if you have never been, the following are nine things you didn’t know about the Grand Canyon.

1. People live there.

Before you go putting your house up on the market in order to snag some property in the Grand Canyon, you should first educate yourself. Members of the Havasupai, a Native American group, still live inside the Grand Canyon, but they’re the only ones. Their reservation borders the National Park, and outside visitors are welcome to check out their land; however, you will have to pay for it.

2. You need to bring your own water bottle.

Many years ago, visitors were able to purchase bottles of water while visiting the Grand Canyon. Seems like a good idea considering people tend to get thirsty walking in the heat. However, in 2012, the Grand Canyon stopped selling water after they determined that most of their waste was coming from plastic water bottles. Instead, free water stations are available to guests throughout the Canyon, so be sure to bring your own water bottle.
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Exploring the Best Historical Architecture from around the World

March 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment

There is something so mesmerizing about visiting the sites of historical locations. Standing there in modern times, thinking back to the day that it was constructed and the amount of effort that must have gone into creating something so breath-taking. Until time travel is created, visiting these historical locations is the best way to attempt to be transported back in time, learning about the rife histories and legendary stories that come attached to each destination.

There are so many examples of fantastic historical architecture spread all across the globe, that it would be impossible to list each and every location that should make it onto your must-see list. In an attempt to compromise, here are three of the most memorable historical locations that I have visited, which definitely deserve a spot on any traveling bucket list.

The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

With a number of ancient cave temples and archaeological sites, Sri Lanka is one of the greatest places to visit if you are interested in ancient architecture and ways of life. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is a perfect example of the land’s rich history, providing visitors with the chance to explore ancient temples and tombs, as well as admiring the many ancient structures and statues that are spread across the old city.
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Family Friendly Travel Tips

March 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Traveling with your family in tow is one of the best experiences in the world. Getting to see your kid’s faces light up with joy when they see something amazing is priceless. Having our families travel with us and being able to share the experiences together is my preferred way of travel. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few handy tips for traveling with kids in tow. Hopefully, you will find a few of them useful.

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Getting there and long journey times: Long journeys are bad enough for us as adults. When you are a child, and you don’t fully understand why you’re cooped up in the car or on a train or a plane, then it’s worse. You could always fly private, if you have money to burn- and lots of it. You could always fly to London via private jet charter if you have a lot of money to burn. Take some time to explain to your children where they are going and what they can expect to see and do when they get there. Building a sense of excitement and making the whole trip an epic adventure is the key here. It’s not a chore for them to be traveling when it is part of this big, fun journey. Take plenty of things to keep the kids amused as they travel. Electronical devices such as Kindles, Nintendo DS, Playstation Vita and mobile phones are perfect. Anything that they can play games on is going to be a good start! If you want them to do something more educational, then invest in some new coloring books or activity books. These will keep their attention away from other things.
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Our Norwegian Cruise Send Off

February 23, 2015 by 3 Comments

Read the whole story on This Girl Travels!

We recently took an amazing cruise with Norwegian Cruise lines, sailing on the Breakaway out of NYC.  The entire trip was fantastic, one of the best cruises we have ever taken, but the last day was something to remember (and left us excitedly thinking of our next Norwegian cruise),

We begun our last day on the Norwegian Breakaway by sleeping in pretty late (even the 7 year old).. It was warmer then I expected when we got up- we were at the very bottom of Virginia, headed back to New York, and the weather was still OK for shorts and t-shirts, which was a nice surprise.

We opened the balcony to get some warm, fresh air while we got ready for the day.

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After a  quiet breakfast while looking at the ocean, a view we are sure to miss this time tomorrow, we dropped the boy of at kids club for about an hour while the husband and I enjoyed a few last moments in the “adults only” hot tub.  The deck was subdued, as most people were spending the day inside.  However, it was still warm, and it was quite the opposite back home- we were going to get every drop of warmth that we could squeeze out! Afterward, we picked up my son and headed out to lunch before going to watch the International Crew Talent Show, which let the crew show off their stuff. Everything from singing to traditional dances were performed, it was fun, and pretty neat to see what a talented group is on board here.

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We went to the final character meet and greet- today was SpongeBob and Patrick in their “traditonal” gear. Just about every other day there were different Nickelodeon characters available for photo ops, and to do shows or dance parties with the kids.  You are able to take your own photos as well as the staff photographer. I love that we can take our own photos, and have the option to buy theirs as well.  Some cruise lines won’t let you, which is one of those “things” that makes me want to cruise with Norwegian again. They don’t nickel and dime you to death.
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Why plan a family holiday to the Caribbean?

February 20, 2015 by 6 Comments

What better than jetting off to paradise for an escape from school, work and routine with a laid-back holiday in the Caribbean? For the kids, there are miles of sand to run around on, warm, clear waters to snorkel in and plenty of sunshine. For parents, there’s poolside lounging, fiery jerk chicken, forest hikes and rum. Here are some other reasons your family will fall in love with the Caribbean.

There’s something for everyone

A trip to the Caribbean islands for families, means a revolving menu of fun options, depending on where you choose to visit. In the Bahamas, there are miles of uncrowded white sand shoreline, the perfect place for a little relaxation. In picturesque St Lucia, lush botanic gardens and rainforest sky trails beckon the adventurous. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are over 250 bird species to spot: the perfect activity for budding ornithologists!

A plenitude of resorts

carribean resortWhen you have kids of a certain age, they’ll probably want to have a certain degree of autonomy, make new friends, and do some kids-only activities. Enter the Caribbean resort. From tiny little Turks and Caicos to Barbados, there are plenty to choose from. As standard, most come with lifeguard-attended pools, a program of activities for children, and babysitting services when you need the night off.
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