Embracing Packing and Then Conquering It

by CrazyUsMay 28, 2015June 12, 2015Travel / Travel Tips

[Insert Whip Cracking Sound Here]

My brain does not work in an Excel spreadsheet sort of way. I do not live a cute, Etsy-styled, Pinterest-board, pre-packaged life. My packing style follows suit. Right now the most important thing I can do is leave with clean clothes. Everything else can be figured out along the way. In truth, so can the clean clothes.

Packing: I should own you by now. I should know how to do you right. I actually should have a clever crafty list, a tried-and-true way, a “something” that actually makes packing easier. I don’t. Ok. I do have one tried and true method that my lovely and feisty midwestern Grandma Koener, standing 4’10” tall, gave to me. “Bethy,” she said. (Yes, she called me Bethy until the day she died). “Bethy, roll your clothes when you pack them. They will not wrinkle, and trust me, you will have more space.” Grandma Koener is correct and since the day she packed me for college and I watched her energetically roll all of my clothes (at age eighty-something), I have been likewise not only rolling my clothes when I pack, but sharing the gospel of clothes-rolling

Today I am in no mood to roll my clothes. My calves ache (from a hike earlier this week I think), Kyle’s ears (yes, both of them) hurt, and Eli wants to go back to bed. As the leader of our motley crew, I must push through the leg and ear pain, through the fatigue, and push us through. I push us through with the following knowledge: Along with Grandma Koener’s it-really-works clothes rolling technique, we have awesome suitcases, with great compartments, and Kyle and Eli know how to pack (yes, they roll their clothes too). I also have the knowledge that every trip is different.

And what I mean by different is each time I go out of town our life is surrounded with different circumstances. Because I know things are never the same, I have learned to cut myself some slack (and the boys, and Dave too, of course) and pace myself. Forgiveness is key. I tell myself thing like, “so what if clothes are folded instead of rolled?” Does it really matter if my toenails are painted? (Yes). And really, who cares if I (Dave) put new music on my iPad. I can play Bubble Bust instead.”

The slack I give myself is the understanding that today we are living in a temporary apartment. Most of our belongings are stashed away in a storage unit miles from here. Kyle probably does have a double ear infection. Eli is exhausted. It is the last week and a half of online school (oh thank God), and I am pushing them to finish. In truth, I have my own schoolwork to do. I should be doing that instead of packing or writing a blog post. I am here instead of reading early twentieth century literature or trying to find the missing bra-cup pad for my swimsuit top liner (you and I both know that one or no swimsuit bra pads is not a pretty sight).

Please learn from me. I promise you will forget something. I also promise that you will be ok. Pack what you need. If you forget something, do not worry. Do not let your need for perfection ruin your day. Perfection comes when we let go.

Our plane leaves at midnight tomorrow. I know I will figure it all out. I will see my mom. I will pick up our mail. I will actually buy a new swimsuit. Kyle will go to the doctor, and Eli will get his extra credit done. Dave will buy the jungle bug spray, and if he forgets, we will buy some along the way. Wish us luck! And yes, the only thing that would make my packing experience better is if Grandma Koener were here by my side rolling clothes into my suitcase. Dude, she could pack!

Tagged : Packing for a trip

Next Stop: Costa Rica. First Stop: Finalizing Our Hotel

by CrazyUsMay 27, 2015June 2, 2015Travel / Travel Tips

Next Stop: Costa Rica. First, We Need to Finalize Our Hotel

The boys and I leave in two days. We are taking the Red Eye, flying from Salt Lake City to Miami, and then onto Liberia, Costa Rica. Dave will meet us there. His flight is much the same. He flies from San Francisco to Houston to Liberia. I know, crazy, right? Thanks to a boatload of dusty British Airways Miles, we are able to make this trip. (We have these miles 1. because of the very high tax BA charges to fly through London, which makes Europe travel difficult and 2. because of the recent mileage rate devaluation. 3. The Plus. BA airways miles still work for lower Hawaii flights, by the way.)

And really today I was going to write about feelings and values. I was going to start with this:

Last night Kyle (age 15) told me it is hard to be away from his friends. “Mom, next week is the last week of school and that is when all the fun happens.” I get it. I get it so much that we postponed this trip because of “all the fun that was happening last week.” What do we value? Kyle understandably values his friends.

Dave values coming home each week, Eli values being included, and I value being a mom. We all value being this crazy unit of four. When it comes to travel, however, Dave and I value things a little differently. We both want a nice hotel, and what I am coming to realize is that what we define as nice is very different.

And as I plan our upcoming trip, we are right back in our what-we-value-in-a-hotel conundrum. Alas, I need to put the touchy feely feelings post aside while never forgetting that this transition is very hard for our boys. In this moment, however, I need to get down to business. We only have two days!

Here it is. Dave and I appear to want the same type of hotel room, like visiting Arenal Volcano near the town of La Fortuna, Costa Rica. We both think an exotic styled hotel would be cool. I found one. Then Dave did not want to pay the extra person charge. I do not blame him. I thought it was a rip off until I saw that all the hotels have an extra person charge. Even though Dave does not think he is picky, he is. He is stubborn and willful (just like me). I knew he would not cave so I kept looking. Then I found The Tree House Hotel Costa Rica. What is more exotic than sleeping in a real life tree house with koati and toucans? When I sent him the hotel information, he was now willing to go all out. What? My hotel has a volcano view, cute cabins, hot springs, butterflies, and goats!

Ah-ha, this is the moment when (once again) I realize that Dave and I define (value) “exotic” and “special” a little differently. The nudge is, “how do we both feel satisfied?” Do I cave? Does he cave? Do we turn into passive-aggressive-monsters; monsters, who up front say things like, “No, I just want you to be happy.” And once there, pout and backend each other with phrases like, “do you know how long I have dreamed about feeding goats along a hot spring? Sure, at Dave’s hotel, I can see toucans and koati, but where are the goats?” No. We find a way to compromise. I would like to say compromise gets easier, and sometimes it does. Dave and I are older. We are more set in who we are. We are both busy. We both also acknowledge the first world variety of our issues. We know we are lucky to travel. We are grateful we get to chose. Nevertheless, to make both of our Red Eye flights worth traveling to a jungle in the middle-of-nowhere, we must find a hotel we both like (or at least won’t hate each other over).

I promise there will be enough unforeseen issues on our journey. What I have learned is that ahead of time (yes, before we leave the country) we must do everything in our power to work through these issues. Ultimately, I caved (just a little because the hotel seems pretty cool). I chose the Tree House (of horrors) Hotel. Right now I keep texting Dave (who is in a meeting) to see what tree house cabin he wants. “Do you want the Frog or the Sloth?” I know he hit auto-response: “I’m in a meeting. Text me.”

Fights in the jungle suck! And not having a hotel room sucks even more. I do put my money where my mouth is. If I am going to write about travel, and claim to have all this travel knowledge, I better be able to learn something myself, right? Finger pointing kills a trip (and probably a marriage). Therefore and even at the risk of losing our room, I mean cabin, I absolutely will not commit to the Tree House Hotel Costa Rica without Dave’s triple-checked go ahead (and human texted response). I will let you know what he decides.

Hilarious Update:

Dave called and texted me. I was in the shower. I called him back. I heard his voice. Yay! Both of us have decided to wait. We think both hotels have their pros and cons. We promised each other we will make our reservation before we go.

Why All The Travel Lists?

by CrazyUsMay 26, 2015May 26, 2015Travel / Travel Tips

Ok. It seems like travel advice via list is all the rage, or better, is what is driving the traffic. Hey, I like lists. They are succinct (something I struggle with). They say things like, 1. “If you do not want to get sunburned, apply sunscreen.” Easy. I was intrigued, compelled, and mostly, I could follow along. Yet, as I searched, I was also blasted with such an avalanche of numbered travel lists, I short-circuited.

“It is almost like they snowball together and cancel each other out.” I told Dave. He seemed intrigued. I continued, “With one click, I saw the seven ways I could pack myself for a beach getaway, the eleven ways I can pack my entire family (their clothes, not them) using only one carryon bag, five different ways to pack my rabbit (who has a rabbit? And who travels with their rabbit?), the nine best travel hacks for traveling your way across Europe, and the twelve best ways to see Wall Drug in a day (ok, I made that one up, and in truth, I also made up the about the rabbit). Instead of mocking, ok, after mocking (only slightly), I decided to join them and create my very own list. Not so fast. I am still putting all the numbers together. My list comes from experience and a place where we have seen the humility, awesomeness, horror and bat-shit-craziness of an unexpected traveling companion.

My Working Topic: The Top 10 Ways to Travel Together and Return As Friends
(…Or at least not kill each other along the way).

I shared my topic with Dave and as he and I broke it down, we realized (he realized way before I did) that my lists were not actually one, but two. What? He was right. We went back and forth asking each other, deciphering and distinguishing. Ultimately we came up with these lists: Compatibility Attributes (pre-travel) and Tips for Traveling With Others (Surviving on the road).

Here is an example of how broke it down. Because List One would suggest how to identify potential issues before you hit the road, a good way to identify these characteristics would be to ask yourself questions like, “are they a trip hijacking-psycho? Or are they a pouty, bitter, passive-aggressive control freak?” As such, List One would be called something like, “The Attributes to Look for in a Compatible Travel Companion,” or better, “Saving Lives: When Traveling With Others, You can Successfully Save Yourself, Your Traveling Companion and Your Trip…” I know. Way to long. I told you I struggle with succinct-ness.

Of course List Two (the Surviving-on-the-road list) would include tips for compatibly traveling with others. Here is where we think the whole idea of healthy boundaries will save a trip. So if you are crazy enough to travel with your psycho, hijacking-the-trip buddy, then List Two would help you cope. The numbered boundaries would say something like, 1. “When signs of hijacking are eminent, lock your pal in the trunk. If locking in the trunk does not work, try Benadryl (or something stronger — for both of you).” Consequently List Two, our list of travel boundaries, would show you how to make your trip survivable (even in those moment when you have lost your mind and are willing to pay full price for a plane ticket home).

Detour.

Right now I am stuck. Travel tips and behaviors seem simple to distinguish. Set boundaries; always rent your own car. Leave the self-centered crazy at home. Simple. But what about the reason I started this whole post — the lists themselves? Why do people make them? I am beginning to wonder if people make lists, because it is an easy way to churn out content. That is not how I roll (or at least not how I think I roll). What I do instead is agonize over whether I am truly providing useful advice, do not finish the list at all, and then a meta post about the process of failing to come up with my very own travel list write (while simultaneously analyzing the process).

Stay tuned. Very soon I will (may) publish these Travel Tops.

Moab, Utah’s Corona Arch in The Rain

by CrazyUsMay 22, 2015May 24, 2015Travel / Travel Photgraphy / Travel Tips / Travel With Teens

Sleep-deprived and feeling claustrophobic I woke Friday morning and saw the rain. Dread set in. I looked over and saw Dave, who was ready to ride. He noticed the rain too, and quickly fell into a feverish (for dramatic effect) text exchange. He popped his head up away from his phone to say, “There is too much snow up high. The shuttle called. The ride is canceled.” He made another phone call and then asked, “Kyle, the guys are eating breakfast in town. Want to go?”

“Sure.” Kyle said.

I assumed the bike group would go on another ride. This is Utah. Rain is light, and quickly dries. The phone rang. It was Dave. “The rain isn’t stopping. Want to go on a hike?”

“Sure.” I said.

We gathered our things, checked out of our hotel, met the bike guys in the lobby, and were on our way.

So Friday afternoon the boys, Dave and I found ourselves back in Moab hiking to Corona Arch in the cold Spring rain. Because their Porcupine Rim shuttle had been canceled, we were joined by Dave’s San Francisco-based mountain bike group. Instead of biking one of the most epic rides known to man, these San Francisco dudes found themselves hiking the 1.5 mile round trip Corona Arch hike with their biking companion, his surprisingly fit wife [wink, wink], and their two spastic teenage sons — an epic adventure indeed.

Corona Arch is not located in the National Park, which means the hike is free. It is easy to get to, and is located not quite two miles off of Utah 279. And really you get two for the price of one because adjacent to Corona Arch is Bow Tie Arch, or what Dave likes to call, “God’s Toilet Bowl.” You will get it when you are standing underneath the big, cavernous hole. It is a great hike for all ages, and our boys have been hiking it since the time we hiked them up to the arch in a jogging stroller. True story. We hiked them up to Delicate Arch the same way, by the way. When we go to Moab and don’t make it to Corona I feel like I am missing something – always.

October 16, 2002, Moab, UT Delicate Arch Hike with our Double Jogging Stroller

Me and Easy E. October 16, 2002. Kyle and Eli's first trip to Moab — Me and Easy E. October 16, 2002. Kyle and Eli’s first trip to Moab

Me and Easy E, Corona Arch Hike, Moab, UT, 2015

“I have never hiked to Corona Arch in the rain,” I happily exclaimed, as I looked around to a Southwestern desert exploding into an oversaturated, misty, speckled sage and slippery looking red rock wonderland. The terrain was new to these San Francisco-based lowlanders, and I felt their awe as we headed up the cairn-marked path. “This hike never gets old.” I blurted.

The cold rain and new company only made it better. We promised the men they would not slip on the wet slick rock when one by one they asked if they would. “I know. It looks slippery. And even though I know, I think I will slip too. Trust us. You will not slip.” No one did. We rounded corners, climbed a metal ladder attached into the rock, and as we climbed up and the rock curved round. In the distance, there it was. No. It never gets old. Beautiful, massive, lonely Corona Arch pushing itself out of the Entrada sandstone.

Now standing under the arch, the rain was coming down hard. My dry-down jacket was soaked through. I thought if I stood directly under the arch somehow I would be protected. I wasn’t. After talking to some other hikers, we found our way to a patch of dry under an overhang. As I shivered, I thought survival advice I have heard. You know the advice. Get naked and huddle. No way. Sure, my fingers were turning blue, but I was not that cold, at least, not yet. Instead I took my bright purple dry down jacket off and snuggled up close to Dave. We all talked San Francisco. The bike dudes talked about the girl they were flirting with at a local bike shop – of course. We ate a Powerbar, drank some water, and were on our way.

Sea of Karins, Corona Arch Hike, Moab, UT — Sea of Cairns, Corona Arch Hike, Moab, UT

Kyle, Eli and I somehow got ahead of the men. We rounded the corners, climbed back down the ladder. Eli and I waited for them in a little cave while Kyle added rocks to the sea of cairns. The men caught up, only for us to lose them again. A stream had formed in the minutes since we last crossed its path. The boys skipped rocks while we waited again. The red rock desert anytime, and this day, in the rain, I promise, it never gets old.

To be continued.

Moab Tips:

Corona Arch Hiking Trail

Though Moab is swamped with tourists during the busy summer months, it is much better to visit in the spring and fall, spring rains notwithstanding. Even the middle of the winter is a good time, since the days are cold and crisp but bright and dry.

There are two national parks in the Moab area: Arches and Canyonlands. Arches is much closer and more accessible, with natural wonders just a short walk from the road. As always, the more you get out of your park and walk around, the better your experience will be. Canyonlands is divided into three districts. Island in the Sky is the closest to Moab, and has some great hikes. The most striking of the three districts is probably Needles, to the south of Moab, but most of its wonders require longer hikes into the backcountry. The most remote district is The Maze, which lies on the other side of the Colorado and Green rivers, a long drive from Moab.

Close to Island in the Sky is Dead Horse Point State Park, home to one of the most striking views in all of the United States. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Moab, and worth visiting, especially if you’re not a hiker, since the view is only a short walk from the parking lot.

Moab’s true claim to fame is it’s world-class mountain biking. Even if you’re not a hardcore biker, you might want to consider renting a bike or signing up for a tour with one of the many local outfitters. One of Moab’s dozen or so bike shops will set you up with a bike and recommend a trail to match your skill level. The other major local pastime is “rock crawling” or exploring the local trails and sandstone hills in a tricked out jeep. We wouldn’t recommend taking your rental SUV on most of the trails, but you can easily book a tour with a local company that will drive you around in a Jeep or even a Hummer.

Another favorite Moab Hike: Negro Bill Canyon Trail. It is two miles each way to Morning Glory Bridge. Like of the desert hikes, make sure to wear sunscreen. Bring and drink lots of water. Be sure to make it to the bridge. It is totally worth it!

PS. We realize that our Moab Tips merely scratch the surface of all the Moab, Arches and the Canyonlands areas have to offer. Enjoy!

My Travel Advice: When You Travel, Walk!

by CrazyUsMay 21, 2015February 9, 2016Travel / Travel Tips / Travel With Teens

Before venturing to Italy for the first time I (CrazyUS) solicited some travel advice. I would say at least fifty to seventy-five percent of the people told me (no I am not exaggerating), “Do not go to Rome. It is boring! It is an old, big, dirty, and smelly city. You will not like it.” They would pause long enough to let me know how serious they were, and then would continue, “Seriously, there are much better places to see – like Florence.”

If only we could travel in one of these [wink wink]

I will admit. The feedback I received filled my brain with complicated doubt, making me want to shut my eyes, close my ears, and pretend Rome was not there. Ultimately and thankfully, I could not ignore Rome, the birthplace of Western Civilization. I reasoned that even if Rome is dirty and completely sucks, at the very least I must to my responsible-tourist duty and cross the Forum and Coliseum off of my important-things-to-see-in-your-lifetime list. In the end, and with my brain brimming with travel tips, we held our breath and went to Rome.

And as I found myself walking along the narrow cobblestone streets, with the outdoor vendors, the fresh flowers and produce, the graffiti, the architecture, and the reverent street beggars bent over with heads bowed low, I wondered, “how can anyone NOT like Rome?” And then it occurred to me. Perhaps the not-so-compelling Rome advice was actually a result of how my advice-givers saw Rome.

Wait. Wait. Let me defend them. First, people should travel the way they want to travel, wearing-recorded-tour-headsets through museums, riding organized tour buses and all of it. Secondly, please know that I am the hugest fan of public transportation, especially when traveling. If you want to take a taxi everywhere, then so be it. This post, however, is about walking. And when it comes to travel and getting to know a new city, I am an even bigger fan of hoofing it. In truth, I would argue that cars, trains, and buses steal away from your trip. They often prevent you from seeing the unexpected beauty (and sometimes horror) along the way. Simply put, cars, taxis and organized bus tours steal your adventure. Along with the physical and mental health benefits, walking not only allows you unexpected adventures, it allows you to intimately learn, observe and connect to a particular place.

And in the interest of full disclosure my travel blog should really be a how-I-walk-around-the-world-because-I-love-to-walk blog.

Case in point:

Had we taken a bus or taxi from our centrally located apartment to the Vatican that day, we probably would have been, “Meh. We saw Vatican Plaza.”

Instead, we walked. Our experience was instead:

“Meeting Stinky Mario at the top of Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi after getting directions from the Nuns in Nunville.” Really, our walking began when we decided to take jumping pictures Saint Peter’s Square Vatican City. And really, I think it began with all the dudes trying to sell us selfie-sticks and making a game out of how we could ignore them. After we left Vatican Plaza, we found a cash machine and our travel companion and navigator remembered hearing about a cool place nearby, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. We knew we were close. We saw a locked gate, and were trying to find another way around. As we walked up the hill we saw a sea of apartment buildings, and noticed the occupants were nuns. “This would be the coolest place to live if you were a nun,” I said.

Me and Mario at Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, Rome

Seeing as how we were steps from the Vatican we all agreed that all these nuns had won the nun-jackpot (no disrespect intended). And there they were, three nuns. Two were Polish and one was Indian. They heard us talking and turned around. “Are you lost?” they asked. “We are,” we said. “Do you know how to get to the top of the hill?” we continued. The sun was setting. We wanted to see the view. “Go this way.” One said to us in English. Then we stood there talking. We were happy they spoke English. They could not believe we were Americans. “Americans don’t walk.” I felt compelled to tell the two Polish nuns about my Polish heritage and all the nuns in my family tree. Soon we were on our way. In a bus, we would have missed this moment. We hustled up the hill and saw the view. No bus was waiting and we took our time. In the middle of the plaza circle we noticed a fleet of Minis decorated as Sponge Bob, Superman, and even an ambulance. There was a man dressed up as Spandex Cat/Batman taking pictures and then I saw Mario. We were in Italy. His car looked like my favorite Wii game. I walked over and asked if I could take my picture with him. Adorable, chubby Mario put his arm around me. And that is when I sensed a delightful horror. Mario needed a shower. It was totally worth it.

Case in Point:

Architecture tour of Barcelona. We made it a walking tour. A local grocery store was celebrating by dressing up as their favorite Flintstones characters. We saw someone dressed up as a “neanderthal” according to Eli, who said I would love it. We followed the neanderthal into the grocery store and that is when the magic happened. It happened to hit the first day of Carnival.

I know I am only giving you a glimpse. It may be the simpleness of flowers along the street, or maybe you will travel to and discover a nearly domesticated squirrel in Hyde Park. I promise if you walk, you will see. You will learn a place. You may get sore feet, but you will not be disappointed. I promise. You may find that a forgotten and maligned place like Emeryville, CA is actually filled with cool warehouse buildings, and beautiful, quiet, flower-filled streets. In Barcelona, you may see a man flipping you off while he screams at you in Catalán. And with a pair of walking shoes, you may even find yourself in Rome and fall in love.

The CrazyUs Hotel Rubric of Hotel-ing

by CrazyUsMay 20, 2015May 24, 2015Travel / Travel Photgraphy / Travel Tips / Travel With Teens

Part One.

I am often asked to share my travel secrets, like what are some tips on getting a good hotel deal? I often reply, “what do you mean by a good hotel deal?” Here is my first post on choosing a hotel. It is an overview that will explain the basics of our hotel rubric.

My hotel Rubric of hotel-ing is the answer to their question. Yes, it is kind of like a Rubic’s Cube. Match all of the colors together to form the most cohesive result. Ok. Seriously. Before I launch in any farther, let me explain what I mean by rubric and why I use the term here. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia:

“rubrics include one or more dimensions on which performance is rated, definitions and examples that illustrate the attribute(s) being measured, and a rating scale for each dimension. Dimensions are generally referred to as criteria, the rating scale as levels, and definitions as descriptors.”

Yes, my brain hurts too. I promise the definition will make sense. Meaning if you apply (score/measure) your tailored list (a rubric) of requirements (attributes) to your hotel search, you will not only get you the best deal, you will also have the most satisfying stay. Hey and that is nothing to sneeze at.

Here is how I compile my rubric. I score each hotel on specific criteria: price, brand (points availability and my current status with hotel brands), TripAdvisor reviews, Hotels.com reviews compared to TripAdvisor reviews, VRBO.com and Homeaway.com reviews, availability (of course), cleanliness, and the wild card (for instance, you can make a close guess about what Priceline.com hotel you are bidding on, and safely roll the dice. Dave and I did that in Chamonix, France and our wild card paid off). That is the first layer.

After scoring a hotel on specific criteria, I consider the specific situation. Remember, every travel adventure takes on new factors and considerations, and those factors and considerations need to be addressed and you criteria adjusted (hence a rubric). Consequently, our hotel choice varies depending on what we are doing, who we are with, how old are kids are, where we are staying, how long we are staying, and the cost.

Let me give you an example. When we first went to Hawaii, Kyle was seven and Eli was five. We went to Oahu for a few days and then flew to Kauai. We stayed in Kauai for almost three weeks. Because of the length of stay, I knew a hotel would get pricey. Additionally, because of the boys were young and squirrely, we knew we would need some breathing room. Kauai was also a new destination. We were traveling on a lower peak time, and saw that vacation rentals were less expensive than on peak times. I also accessed reviews, looked for the newest construction, and highest rated place. Considering these factors, we opted for longer-term lodging, and found a condo for rent on VRBO.com at Waipouli Beach.

Hyatt Place Oahu 2014 — Hyatt Place hotel Oahu 2014

In early 2014 the same family was traveling to Hawaii. Could we apply the same criteria to our vacation? No. Our Rubric had changed. The boys were older and crabby not young and squirrely. Meaning we could consider sharing a hotel room with them. We were staying for a week, not three.

As far as Oahu hotel choice and pick, we the landscape had also changed. Our first visit to Kauai and Oahu was in 2007. Since then miles and points have exploded. We knew we wanted to stay near Waikiki Beach. We also knew we like the Hyatt Place Waikiki. We also knew we had saved up Hyatt Points from credit card deal. Of course, I backed up my finds with TripAdvisor and Hotels.com reviews. Ultimately, we were able to use points. And because we also had Platinum (now Diamond) status at Hyatt, we knew a room upgrade was likely.

Additionally, we were traveling to Oahu, not Kauai. Oahu is more populated than Kauai, and consequently has more hotel options and deals. It was our third visit to Oahu, and our eighth visit to Hawaii. Since our first visit, we have traveled back to Kauai, twice, Maui, the Big Island twice, and Oahu. Our Hawaiian travel has demonstrated that Oahu is the easiest to fly to, and is considered the less desirable and most crowded island. Because people bad-mouth Honolulu all the time, I assumed Oahu would not be as special. I was wrong. After traveling all over Hawaii, we have grown to love and appreciate all that Oahu has to offer. We’ve experienced the relative remoteness of Kaui (the garden isle) and the wide open spaces of the Big Island. Instead We enjoy the no-island-fever, cultural melting pot feel of Oahu. Oahu does not seem over crowded. Instead, it is accessible. For starters, there is a Whole Foods, a fresh flower-filled China Town, the best Shave Ice I have ever had (Shimazu Store), a Target, Pearl Harbor, The North Shore, and The Dole Pineapple Plantation.

Bottom line. Make your own hotel rubric. Figure out what you want. Do not take someone else’s dream vacation, or book their hotel. For instance, once I recommended a hotel to my sister. Because it was winter, she was leaving in the morning for the airport, had kids, and the hotel had an indoor pool, I was certain she would love the price, the pool and the convenience. I was wrong. I should have vetted her more thoroughly. What I did not consider was that she didn’t enjoy a bargain as much as we do. She actually prefers five-star pampering instead of indoor pools. Do it your way.

Decide what works for you. That is the best deal. Vet yourself. Once vetted, use reviews to back up your assertions, and then decide. Do you have a pet? Do you travel with your pet? Do you have allergies? Do you want all-inclusive or off-the beaten path? Are you hotel-brand devotee? Are you a hotel snob? Do not be afraid to own it. Would you prefer a vacation rental? Are you a five-star traveler, or are roadside motels your thing? How many rooms do you need? How old are your kids? Do your kids need to sleep in the same room as you? Are you a smoker? Are you a germaphobe? Do you want to be in walking distance of your destination?

Finally, communicating your expectations clearly is how you will get the best deal. Use my hotel-rubric to facilitate that communication. Survey the area, compare, read reviews and decide. Oh, and remember, if you arrive and things are not as promised, you can always make a change. Remind me to tell you about Mexico!

Sidebar:
Look for hotels that are under renovation. They usually have specials.

When reading TripAdvisor and Hotels.com reviews, make sure the review is current. I have noticed that “recently renovated” can actually mean “recently renovated ten years ago.”

Room upgrades with hotel status can save you money. Book the lower price room. Usually you will receive an upgrade, especially during off season.

Tagged : hotel reviews / hotels

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