Tag: hotel discounts

Boston: The perfect travel destination with great attractions

by hotelsetc, posted in vacation

Often overshadowed by the popularity of it’s neighbor, Boston may not have the same glitz and glamor to offer as New York City but it most certainly makes up for it with affordable hotels and interesting things to do. Whether you have already visited the “Big Apple” and just looking for a new travel destination in the US or searching for a great place to use your hotel discounts, Boston is an incredible city infused with a wide variety of attractions.

Here are 5 things to do in Boston to help you enjoy that next vacation:

boston

Visit Historic Fenway Park and catch a Red Sox Game

Fenway park is the oldest park in the major leagues and one of the most storied as well! See the famous “green monster” wall in left field, grab some beers and a few hot dogs, sing along to “Sweet Caroline” during the eighth inning and watch the hometown Sox as they compete for a division crown this season. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s plenty of bars and restaurants around the stadium for pre-game and post-game fun.

The South End Open Market

One of the New England’s best and most popular open markets, the South End Open Market runs on Sundays, May through October and features upwards of 20 of Boston’s local food trucks, locally grown produce, flowers, and gourmet specialty foods as well as locally made crafts, jewelry, clothing, and artwork. The South End Open Market has been featured in publications such as “People,” “Cooking Light,” and “National Geographic Travel” and is consistently ranked as one of the top farmer’s markets in the United States.

Boston Harbor

Historic Boston Harbor

One of the birthplaces of the American Revolution, historic Boston harbor boasts a wide variety of shops, seafood restaurants, sightseeing tours, and more. Take in a harbor cruise and soak up some sun and surf or visit the historic Tea Party museum and soak up some history. The USS Constitution Museum is docked in the harbor as well and offers visitors the chance to board historic “Old Ironsides” and step back through history. In addition to the museums, tours, and other doings, a variety of pubs and beer garden’s keep the harbor aglow with life in the evening as well.

Take in a Soccer Match

Boston is a great sports town but beyond the Sox, Bruins, Celtics, and Pats, the Copa America Centenario is coming to the Patriot’s Gillette stadium in June. See Chile vs. Bolivia on June 10th or Brazil vs Peru on June 12th. A third match is scheduled ofr June 13th with the participants unknown pending the outcome of other matches. Boston meets the world’s biggest stars on the turf of one of its most famous and storied stadiums. Don’t miss a chance to watch the game as you’ve never seen it before. While there, tour the Patriot’s Hall of Fame or buy tickets for an upcoming concert, summer shows include: Coldplay, Guns and Roses, as well as Beyoncé.
The New England Aquarium

One of the largest and biggest tourist attractions in the city, the New England Aquarium is not only a renowned leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation, it’s also one of the busiest aquariums in the United States. With dozens of exhibits featuring thousands of sea creatures from all over the world (sea lions, octopi, penguins, sharks, and more!) the aquarium provides guided and unguided tours daily as well as classes and special exhibits year round. Being conveniently located near the waterfront also means you’re never too far from great shopping, restaurants and nightlife as well.

You can find movie theater discounts as well as hotel discounts and more on Hotels Etc to make a Boston vacation even more affordable.

Can you afford the cost of travel?

by hotelsetc, posted in travel

When was the last time you packed a small suitcase and left the busy city behind?  There is simply nothing like taking a weekend break or even one night away from the norm, a few days to escape the monotony of a work week and take refuge in a relaxing hotel stay with fine food and maybe even a spa.

hotels etc

Unless you have work at the weekend or an insurmountable amount of debt, the chances are there is actually no good reason not to get away for the weekend. At this point it may seem a little too late to be planning a trip with the weekend closing in but then, how long does it take to make an online booking and put a few clothes in a suitcase? The answer, in case you’re wondering – not long at all.

Taking an annual vacation is obviously a great idea, the perfect way to relieve stress and get back to enjoying the finer things in life. However, is simple process is surely restricted to once a year? No, the simple process of relieving stress and hitting the re-fresh button in life is attainable at just about any moment in every week and it just so happens that travel is the perfect way to make it happen.

Thing is, if it was always as simple as throwing a few clothes in a suitcase and taking off we would do it almost every weekend right? So what’s stopping everyone from taking more weekend breaks?

afford travel

We all know travel can be expensive and even without a debt of some sort looming overhead, it can be difficult to afford the high cost of living these days never mind forking out on a hotel in Chicago for the night. And this is exactly why you need a travel club membership, the easiest and fastest way to find hotel discounts and more to make everything affordable. Rather than just saving on hotels or annual vacations, a travel membership club such as Hotels Etc will also help you find discounts throughout the year for anything from movie theater tickets to restaurant deals. In fact, by the time you have availed of a 60% discount on a hotel stay, it’s likely you will already have saved the remaining cost by utilizing the thousands of other discounts on offer.

There really should be no cost placed on the prospect of taking time out from a hectic schedule and escaping all the noise for a few days but in reality, we do understand there is always going to be a fee attached to the concept of travel. In this sense, Hotels Etc is not here to make travel free or promise you something you cannot afford, but rather it offers a simple membership which will allow you to afford the cost of travel an then to get an awful lot more from it, for a much lesser cost.

You can access all the best hotel discounts and more by signing up today for a travel membership with Hotels Etc.

5 Amazing family vacation resorts in the US

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

Given the huge variety of destinations on offer, choosing a family vacation in the US is not an easy task. In fact, even when you do find some options, it can be hard deciding which on is most suited to a family’s needs. Luckily we’ve gone to the trouble of picking out 5 of the best family destinations in the US for you:

Woodloch Resort, Hawley, Pennsylvania

The Woodloch Resort is one of those destinations that feels like a fairytale. Located on Lake Teedyuskung, the range of activities are staggering in the summer time when hiking, mountain biking and ziplining. There are many other interesting things to do at Woodloch Resort including mini golf and go-karts and if you happen to find yourself at Woodloch in Winter, there are still activities on offer with ice skating and snow tubing being particularly popular. At $360 for a family of four, a stay in this beautiful pocket of Pennsylvania is worth considering.

Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Port St. Lucie, Florida

When it comes to all inclusive family vacations, Club Med have always been at the forefront of the industry and today, this is still the case in Port St. Lucie. The most notable attraction for parents with young toddlers here, is no doubt the infant care on offer but then the older kids are also well looked after with a huge variety of activities, from volleyball and table tennis, to basketball and swimming. For a family of four you can expect a price of $385 per night although make sure to check for hotel discounts before finalizing anything.

Rancho de los Caballeros, Wickenburg, Arizona

Imagine having more than 20,000 acres of desert surrounding your haven of activity in Arizona. The Rancho de los Caballeros has been around for a very long time and while it may have a loftier price tag for a family of four than the other options on this list (($640 per night), there are very unique experiences on offer here including a fantastic opportunity for horseback riding. As with the other resorts, there is also both a daytime and nighttime kids club which allows parents not only to have a break during the mornings, but also to enjoy a cocktail at dinnertime without having to rush.

Mayan Dude Ranch, Bandera, Texas

While horseback riding is high on the agenda for most families arriving at the Mayan Dude Ranch, there is a lot more to this wonderful resort than the more affordable price tag of $490 per night. In typical cowboy fashion, you will stay overnight in a log cabin before waking on a huge Texan landscape to begin riding the many trails in the area. Fishing is also popular nearby, as too is tubing , while the kids can make full use of the tennis courts and stunning swimming pool. There is also an evening entertainment program with Western bands and line dancing.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Hawaii takes some beating on almost every front and the same can be said about the kids clubs. Simply put, the resorts in Hawaii excel when it comes to providing the highest level of kids entertainment and the Hilton Hawaiian Village is up there with the best. From submarine tours to giant super pools, the Waikiki Aquarium to volcano making on the beach, there is no end to activities here for the kids and you are sure to have plenty of free time as a result. With a stunning beach and 5 star facilities on offer, this resort will please the parents as much as the kids.

Find all the best hotel discounts and family vacation discounts on the leading travel club membership website Hotels Etc.

things to do in LA

5 Things to do in Los Angeles

by hotelsetc, posted in vacation

Los Angeles is where the rich and powerful dance the night away, where celebrities fill the sidewalks and trendy cafe’s line up next to fine dining restaurants (don’t forget your restaurant discounts)  but with a little digging beneath the surface, L.A has an abundance of hidden charm and still has a lot to offer the frugal traveler.

Here are 5 things to do in Los Angeles that you can certainly afford:

Visit the Museums
The Getty Center is a must go in terms of museums in Los Angeles, considered one of the greatest collections of art in the US with masterpieces from  Ruben to Van Gogh and a particularly interesting display of French decorative art and photography.  Another highlight for museums in LA, is the Museum of Jurassic Technology, where the institute seemlessly blends fact and fiction to create a collage of a most mysterious nature. An then there is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a 20 acre complex of buildings filled with fascinating modern works of art.

Hit the beaches in Los Angeles
Who could resist the beaches in Los Angeles? Santa Monica offers one of the most legendary beaches in the United States, while Malibu promises the wealthiest and Zuma beach is a collection of everything and everyone else.  Venice beach is beautifully designed with skateboarders adorning every pavement and hipsters hanging out next to models a family picnics.

Take a trip to the Hollywood Walk of Fame

You never  know who you might meet on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and if that happens to be none apart from other tourists, you can at least get a photograph with one of their stars on the pavement, for movie stars come here to leave their hand-prints and signatures on sidewalk. It is also possible to take a tour of the nearby TCL Chinese Theater where you can learn the history of theater and take an interesting insight into the most memorable premieres over the years.

Hotels ETC

Explore the film industry

Paramount Pictures Studio is one of the great things to do in LA for movie fanatics. Since the early twentieth century, it has displayed the finest talents and mega movie stars in the industry. The studio will give you a glimpse of stardom and an opportunity to look behind the scenes at how the film industry works. Universal Studios Hollywood is another of the most visited and popular places in LA and where children can meet their famous cartoon characters – perfect for a family day out in LA.

Go day-tripping to Greystone mansion and park
An affordable and easy thing to do in LA, Greystone mansion and park is a historic place in Beverly Hills and marks an important period in the American history. Originally built by a rich Los Angeles local, Edward L, Doheny in 1927 as a present to his son represents the memorable times in American cinema. Many movies have been shot and inspired by this gothic ground. Although the interior of the mansion is not open to the public, visitors are free to walk around the property. A visit here will make you want to take your movie theater discounts and take in the latest picture.

Don’t forget to sign up to Hotels Etc for all the best restaurant discounts, hotel discounts and more before you visit Los Angeles.

skateboarders

Top 5 affordable vacations in the US

by hotelsetc, posted in travel, vacation

Every year a record number of tourists descend upon tropical destinations in the Caribbean or historical cities in Europe, but for an more affordable location, have you ever considered staying here in the United States?

It’s true many of the above mentioned destinations have a certain allure and each of them is undoubtedly a great pace to visit, but the US is also overflowing with natural attractions, excellent accommodation an wonderful opportunities to take a roadtrip.

Here are 5 of the best places to vacation in the US:

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The oldest part in the United States is certainly one of the most scenic and beautiful, Yellowstone is overflowing with towering peaks, stunning lakes and tranquil streams winding their way to the horizon.

For anyone interested in outdoor activities, Yellowstone is one of the best places to visit with a myriad of hiking trails which run past leafy forests, through enchanting meadows and other enticing geographical features. The Yellowstone Lake and Mammoth Hot Springs are particularly popular for the 3 million visitors who arrive in the park each year, while the best place to stay is Cody, Wyoming where you will find affordable accommodation or at least hotel discounts to make it so.

Yosemite National Park, California

Another famous National Park, Yosemite offers an incredible encounter with towering rock faces, cascading waterfalls and the majestic Sequoia trees which are known for their enormous stature. It is possible to take climbing lessons, guided tours or just stroll along one of the many trails but regardless, each experience is worth the visit.

The Yosemite Valley itself is the most popular part to visit within the park and there are also options to camp there too, but undoubtedly the best way to enjoy what it has to offer, is by exploring the nature trails on foot during the day before retreating to one of the nearby hotels in Mammoth Lake.

afforable vacations in the US

Washington DC

Although a fast paced city and economic hub, Washington is also fast becoming a popular tourist attraction with a large number of things to do including a visit to the front of the iconic White House.

In fact many important landmarks take their place in Washington which also provides a great opportunity to learn more about the origins of the US within the National History Museum. Another highlight are the cafe’s, the restaurants along with the Eastern Market, another favorite for foodies. Yes, the city has grown up and while the hotels in Washington are not the most affordable, you can use hotel discounts to make help ease your travel budget.

New Orleans

Famous for the music scene, New Orleans is a natural favorite for any interested in rhythm and blues, rock and roll, or just music in particular. With a vibrant nightlife, many music venues and an endless variety of bars, you can be sure of some late nights and plenty of song.

However, there is much more to New Orleans than just music as the friendly folk will remind you, and this is no more evidenced than in the amazing food it has to offer. Barbecue ribs, mash potato or a plate of jambalaya, there is fine dining but then there is also the more traditional option too.

Perfect for a weekend and ideal for an extended stay, New Orleans has enough history and culture between to keep even the most active traveler occupied.

national park

Las Vegas

How can you have a list of affordable vacations without a mention of Vegas? Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to gamble when you visit Vegas and likewise, you do not need a huge amount of money.

Las Vegas is now suitable for a family trip just as much as a girls weekend and when you see the affordable vacations for Vegas, you will understand just why it offers so much value. With the largest selection of hotels of all standards, shapes and sizes, Las Vegas is an ideal option for those who cannot afford the expense of going abroad and are searching for somewhere that wont break the bank.

As with anywhere, it is possible to find an affordable vacation and this is most especially if you use hotel discounts to bring down what is usually the most expensive part of a trip.