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Travel truths you need to accept in order to stay happy on the road

Posted on September 7, 2015 by The Hipmunk

I have written before about travel expectations and how to have a really enjoyable trip and here is another article which reinforces much of what I had to say – especially about your travel companions!

This post was posted by The Hipmunk Staff on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on September 1.

Travel is one of the most educational and invigorating experiences that life has to offer. It allows you to get out of your routines and comfort zones, meet new people, experience different cultures and see more of the world. Couples trips can be highly romantic, and travel with a large group can create amazing memories; solo travel is an opportunity for a unique experience and perspective. No matter how, where or with whom you travel, there are some key things to be aware of to stay happy in any situation. Consider these travel truths carefully before you embark on your next trip so that you can enjoy your adventures to the fullest.

Fellow Travelers Need Clear Expectations

If you will be traveling with others, take the time to verify that everyone is on the same page about the details and logistics of the trip. Keeping to a budget by staying in youth hostels or cheap hotels in Paris while backpacking through Europe is fine; just make sure your travel companions weren’t expecting a five-star hotel experience.

Patience Is Key

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Back to Wonderful Little Sister Resort

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Jan Ross

Hosted Accommodations

Although we discovered Door County, Wisconsin for the first time in the winter, we have now visited during the summer twice and it’s impossible to say which is our favorite season, although I have to admit that there is a substantial contrast between the two.

Chairs in Winter at Door County Coffee and Tea Company.

Chairs in Summer at Door County Coffee and Tea Company.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is our love for the charming Little Sister Resort. I stayed there with our grown daughter and grandson last summer and wrote about it and decided to return again this summer with even more family members. Last summer, we stayed in one of their two bedroom chalets, but because we had more people in our group this year, we opted for a three bedroom house which was the perfect choice. The resort offers a variety of chalets and cottages, many of which overlook the bay.

One of the waterfront cottages.

Little Sister Resort is hidden away in the woods in Sister Bay right on the shore of Little Sister Bay. It’s truly one of the most idyllic locations for a resort we have ever experienced. With a variety of accommodations, a full, hot breakfast included in the price, a waterfront restaurant, and plenty of non-motorized water sports available, you will never want to leave.

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Categories: Accommodations, Countries, Family Travel, House, Resorts, Travel with Children, United States, Wisconsin | Tags: Door County, Door County Resorts, Door County Wisconsin, Jan Ross travel blog, Jan Ross travel writer, Little Sister Resort, Tom Ross Photographer, Tom Ross Travel Photographer, Where to stay in Door County | 3 Comments

How to Get the Best Seat on the Plane

Posted on September 3, 2015 by The Hipmunk

We are still waiting to be picked out of the crowd and awarded First Class seats, but in the meantime, we do try to follow these rules to get the best seats possible.

This post was posted by The Hipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on September 2.

Traveling on a plane can come with a slew of seat-based comfort challenges, whether you’re assigned to a seat that doesn’t recline or located just adjacent to the bathroom. If you want to get the best seat without having to pay extra cash, there are a few simple tips to follow. While you might not feel like you’re lounging in a featherbed in one of the many luxury hotels in Milan, you will optimize your chances of having a travel experience that’s comfortable, pleasant and relaxed.

1. Don’t Pre-Select Seats

Many flyers are tempted to pre-choose seats when they book their plane flights on Hipmunk. However, it’s best to actually let the airline assign you seats when you check in; particularly for full flights. Airlines cannot require you to pay for premium seats if they are the only spots available. If you wait until everyone else on the plane has chosen a seat, there’s a good chance that one of the premium seats will be assigned to you at no cost.

2. Volunteer to Sit in an Emergency Exit

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Five Great Northern Resorts for Families this Fall

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Jan Ross

Blue Harbor Resort

Staying at a resort in the North this fall is the perfect family vacation destination choice, especially for families who are looking to get entertained without ever leaving the property. Even when the weather gets a little chilly, there are plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and water sports available to warm you up, in addition to indoor pools and water parks. When you are planning your next kid-friendly vacation in the fall, check out thesegreat resorts in the northern United States.

Blue Harbor Resort, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

The astonishingly beautiful Blue Harbor Resort, reminiscent of a lovely New England resort, is located right on the shores of gorgeous Lake Michigan and super kid-friendly. Kids will be entertained from morning to night with an indoor waterpark, an indoor miniature golf course (that glows in the dark!), evening bonfires with s’mores, sailing lessons (sailing on the lake is free for those over 16 who know how to sail and have a waterpark wrist band), kayaking, canoeing, yoga (for 14 and up), and many other fun activities. With a full-service spa and several amazing dining options, parents will be happy here as well. Suites complete with fabulous views, fireplaces, and lofts, along with two to four bedroom villas, mean this resort has accommodations which are perfect for families of any size.

Read the rest of this article on Minitime.com HERE.

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The Best Airlines for In-Flight Entertainment

Posted on August 31, 2015 by The Hipmunk

We recently flew to France and the only thing that got us through the multi-hour flight was the movies and tv shows offered on the plane. Here’s an article about which airlines have the best offerings.

This post was posted by The Hipmunk Staff on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on August 16th.

Long flights can be a drag, but there’s nothing better to make the time fly and take your mind off cramped economy quarters than a good inflight entertainment system. These airlines have taken pains to make sure that your journey is about more than getting you from Point A to Point B, and have stocked their systems with so many distractions that you’ll forget you’re in the air.

1. Virgin

Virgin Atlantic flights come equipped with seatback monitors chock full of recent releases, popular TV shows (including current Netflix and HBO faves), kids’ content, games, music, and even audiobooks. With a special platform dubbed Vera, you won’t be bored and can play whatever your heart desires even before and after take off. Meanwhile, sister airline Virgin America sports a similar seat-back system called Red, equipped with a very special extra feature: seat-to-seat chat, which allows you to make new friends or even anonymously send a glass of champagne to the cutie in 16C.

2. IcelandAir Read more »

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11 Travel Accessories Every Adventurer Needs

Posted on August 29, 2015 by The Hipmunk

There a few travel accessories we take along on every trip; a first aid kit is a good example of something that has come in handy more than once. Here’s an article from the Hipmunk Tailwind Blog with more suggestions.

This post was posted by The Hipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on August 17th.

The number of travel accessories designed to make life easier on the road just keeps growing. From electronic luggage scales to portable Bluetooth speakers, there are so many things that can come in handy while traveling. Take a look at these 11 travel accessories that help you no matter where you go.

Neck Pillow

You can’t rest at five-star hotels in Miami every time you’re tired. A neck pillow can make sleeping in random places, like a train stop, much more comfortable.

Travel Packing Aid

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The Hipmunk Guide to Free Hotel Wi-Fi

Posted on August 27, 2015 by The Hipmunk

We stayed recently at a resort that had Wi-Fi so great, we could actually stream video content from a web site, which is very unusual. We truly appreciate great Wi-Fi and free Wi-Fi is even better. Here’s an article about that topic from the Tailwind blog from Hipmunk.

This post was posted by The Hipmunk Staff on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on August 19th.

Luxury Hotel Room

Wi-Fi has become an amenity that guests expect from the hotels where they choose to stay. We asked our Twitter fans what they think of free Wi-Fi and they spoke loud and clear. Perhaps Susan Breslow ‏(@susanbreslow) said it best: ‘Hotel wi-fi is essential. Free wins loyalty and cred.’ But according to a review of Hipmunk’s hotel database, only 70 percent of U.S. hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Another 27 percent don’t offer Wi-Fi at all (what?!?!). And the last 3 percent offer Wi-Fi for a fee.

So how do you ensure you always have Wi-Fi free of charge? Easy. Read the Hipmunk guide to free Wi-Fi below.

Know Where to Go
We tapped our hotels database to identify the U.S. cities with the highest percentage of free Wi-Fi.

Avoid Luxury Hotels
Believe it or not, you really don’t get what you pay for when it comes to expected amenities at luxury hotels. According to our data, more expensive hotels are much more likely to charge for Wi-Fi than moderate and budget hotels (this is also true of other amenities like free breakfast). True, the reasoning is that the fewer users on a server, the higher the quality (read: speed) of WiFi a luxury hotel is able to offer their guests. The problem is that as free Wi-Fi becomes ubiquitous in American society, having to pay for it as an amenity at a luxury hotel seems ridiculous. “Paid WiFi is like asking to pay for towels,” said @Made_By_Hugo. “(I) don’t like to be nickel-and-dimed; just want a simple price.” Read more »

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Last Days of Summer at The Beach Waterpark

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Jan Ross

Hosted Activity

School may have started in a number of locations but you still have plenty of beautiful, warm days left to visit The Beach Waterpark in Mason, Ohio. They are open until September 13 every weekend so make plans to spend the day at this fabulous place.

Conveniently located just a short drive from Cincinnati, Ohio, it’s a wonderful location for families to spend one of the last weekends of summer and early fall. There are plenty of accommodations in the area if you want to spend the night after an exhausting day!

We recently spent the day there and took two little boys who enjoyed every single second. With just over 35 acres, there are tons of different water slides of varying degrees of difficulty, a heated wave pool, an interactive kids play area, and plenty of comfortable chair lounges, seating areas, and shade. They have 2, 600 tons of white sand, over 150 live palm trees, and more than 2 million gallons of water adventure!

Great play areas. Photo courtesy of The Beach Waterpark.

The Beach Waterpark has been open since 1985, and we paid it visits way back when our kids were small. On this visit, I was with our grown daughter, our grandson, and a friend, so life truly comes full circle! They reopened in 2013 as an Adventure Landing park and have added new attractions and invested over 6 million dollars in renovations and additions.

Riptide Water Slide. Photo courtesy of The Beach Waterpark.

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Five Great Southern Resorts for Families this Summer

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Jan Ross

Wild Dunes Resort

Resorts are the perfect family destination because they offer a wide variety of activities for every member of the family without ever having to load up the car and drive somewhere else. Many come complete with restaurants, pools, plenty of on-site activities and even complete kids camps; and most are located in beautiful, idyllic destinations as well. When you are planning your next family vacation in the southern United States, check out these options.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee

Step into the astonishing Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, and you may not be able to believe your eyes as this is truly a unique location. The hotel has 9 acres of lush indoor gardens, waterfalls, and a wandering river that runs through the entire area, right inside the hotel! Be sure to book a room with a balcony overlooking the interior of the hotel as it’s quite an amazing sight. You will also want to take the riverboat cruise on the river, which takes you around the inside of the entire hotel. With two outdoor pools, an indoor pool and a special pool for kids, it’s easy to find a place to swim and have fun. The hotel has several different restaurants but Stax on the Delta Island is great for kids since you can create your own burger and choose the sides to go with it.

Read the rest of this article on Minitime.com HERE.