Tag: travel

Travel Holiday Gift Guide

On By LaurenLeave a comment

As the holiday season approaches, gift giving becomes top of mind. I prefer to give experience gifts whenever possible, in an effort to decrease clutter and build lasting memories. I also enjoy giving smaller gifts to go along with the experience; it’s nice having something that can be unwrapped!

Peddler’s Village, Bucks County

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Halfday Garment Duffle Bag

The Halfday Garment Duffle Bag keeps dresses wrinkle-free and has space for folded clothes, shoes and accessories. While the garment duffle bag may be a bit of a splurge, the bag comes in handy for all types of trips – be it a weekend getaway or a week in Disney World. Use my referral for a 20% discount; Halfday offers also free shipping and returns.

Foldie Foldable Travel Bag

For quick getaways, I love the Foldie Foldable Travel Bag. This bag meets most airlines’ personal item size requirements and folds down compactly when not in use. It attaches to rolling luggage with a trolley sleeve making zipping through the airport a breeze.

Pixie Mood Travel Neck Pillow

The Pixie Mood Travel Neck Pillow is a package travel pillow perfect for gifting. I love the compact design and adorable color options. This lightweight pillow is one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2024.

Sungait Sunglasses

If a beach trip is in the cards, a new pair of shades are the perfect tangible gift to wrap up. My go-to pair of sunglasses are the Sungait Sunglasses from Amazon. I have pairs in multiple color ways, but the pink ones are my favorite.

Violet and Brooks Chloe Velvet Earmuffs

If instead your plans call for more snow than snow, the Chloe Velvet Earmuffs by Violet and Brooks makes a cozy gift. I prefer earmuffs over hats and headbands to keep my hairstyle intact and my ears warm. The earmuffs are another one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, and for good reason – they even fold compactly for packing!

Apple AirTags

Apple AirTagshttps://amzn.to/3CEEDjP have become a must have travel accessory. AirTags allow for easy tracking of checked luggage, hopefully preventing the horrors of lost baggage while on vacation.

Favorite Shore Hotels

On By LaurenLeave a comment

Sandy toes, salt air and the waves lapping near by. As soon as May hits, I start dreaming of days at the Jersey Shore. While we enjoy spending a week at the shore in a beach house rental, I try to sneak in a couple short trips throughout the summer too. The southern end of the Jersey Shore is dotted with hotels that are perfect for quick getaways (as long as the traffic cooperates).

Port-O-Call Hotel

Here is a list of my favorite hotels that I check for availability when planning a short trip down the shore.

Port-O-Call Hotel, Ocean City

The Port-O-Call Hotel is one of our favorites that we continue to return to time after time. The (relatively) short drive to Ocean City, beach front location and boardwalk-adjacent pool make “the Pink Hotel” a winning combination for our family.

Complementary beach chairs and umbrellas are available weekends Memorial Day through June 15th and then daily through September 1st. Beach tags are also provided to hotel guests in season.

The beach front pool is open until the end of September.

Icona Avalon, Avalon

The Icona Avalon offers direct beach access in Avalon, NJ. The family friendly rooms include a small fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Beach umbrellas and lounge chairs, along with beach tags for your stay, are included in the resort fee.

My favorite part of the Icona is The Sandbar Village. The open air beach bar and lounge offers food, drinks, music and fire pits along with private cabana rentals.

The heated outdoor pool, 24 hour fitness center and free shuttle service (summer season only) throughout 7-Mile Island keep the Icona near the top of my list.

Can’t find availability at the Icona Avalon? Sister resort Icona Windrift is located next door and offers a similar array of amenities.

The Hen Houses, Wildwood

Considered a micro-resort, the Hen Houses offer six cozy beach houses themed after a MudHen beer plus the MudHen manor. The tiny beach houses have each have two bedrooms and a full kitchen. I love how the Hen Houses combine the luxuries of a resort with the space and convenience of a beach house rental. As an added bonus, you can pack light for your getaway; linens, towels and complementary beach gear are provided. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous outdoor salt water pool during your stay!

Madison Resort, Wildwood Crest

Madison Resort Wildwood Crest is one of the newest locations at the Jersey shore; this brand new resort opened in May 2024. The resort consists of two distinct towers, each named after the former motels that were renovated and redesigned for the Madison Resort.

The beachfront resort offers a beautiful setting with a South Beach vibe while also paying homage to The Wildwoods’ doo wop heritage.

Madison Resort is located in family friendly Wildwood Crest. The Crest is a dry town (similar to Ocean City) with plentiful beaches and neighbors Wildwood and its boardwalk. The resort has a beachfront pool along with complementary beach chairs and umbrellas. I am looking forward to visiting this summer!

Congress Hall, Cape May

The historic Congress Hall has been a mainstay in Cape May since 1816. The luxury seaside resort provides complementary towels, chairs and umbrellas on the beach, which is located across the street from the resort’s Grand Lawn. Beach service and private tent rentals are available.

Congress Hall also borders Washington Street Mall, the hub of shopping and dining in Cape May. A highlight of staying at Congress Hall for me is the walkability of the location; there is no need to drive to the beach or to any of Cape May’s delectable restaurants. The onsite Blue Pig Tavern restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat in Cape May; the outdoor patio is gorgeous AND family friendly.

Congress Hall guests also enjoy an onsite pool, seasonal family activities and health and wellness classes. Congress Hall is part of the Cape Resorts brand. Other Cape Resorts in town include the Virginia Hotel & Cottages, the Star Inn, the Beach Shack and the Sandpiper.

Favorite Travel Credit Cards

On By LaurenLeave a comment

I love using credit cards to travel hack. Leveraging points can help make travel more affordable and accessible. My two favorite credit cards have low annual fees with tons of travel perks and the ability to earn high value travel points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Due to flight cancellations, we ended up being stuck in Florida for three extra days for our Spring Training Disney/Clearwater trip. While we made the best of our circumstances, I regretted that I had not signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card previously. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserved cards both include travel protection benefits that would have been useful for our unexpected trip extension. The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance with reimbursement up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses. The card also offers Trip Delay Reimbursement for unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and includes a $50 annual hotel credit along with other tons of other perks. I took advantage of the current 75,000 point sign up bonus Chase is currently offering and am already daydreaming of where to visit with my points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card

I love flying Southwest Airlines due to the flexibility and free bags. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is my choice amongst the various Southwest credit cards offered by Chase. While the card has an annual fee of $149, it comes with a $75 Southwest annual travel credit and 4 Upgraded Boardings each year along earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points. The Upgraded Boardings help alleviate some of the stress that can come along with Southwest’s boarding assignment process while booking flights with Southwest points mean that I will be automatically refunded my points if I need to cancel my flight.

Favorite Weekend Getaways

On By LaurenLeave a comment

You don’t have to go far to get away. I love drivable destinations for a change of scenery. Destinations within three hours allow for last minute weekend getaways and day trips.

Here’s a list of my favorite weekend getaways from Bucks County, Pennsylvania:

Annapolis, MD

Annapolis is an excellent destination on its own or as a stopping point on the way to Washington, D.C., the Outer Banks or other points further south. The walkable center of town has historical sites, shops, restaurants and water views.

Cape May, NJ

Cape May takes a little bit longer to reach than other Jersey shore points, but it is worth the drive. The center of town offers easy beach access, shopping along Washington Street Mall, fabulous restaurants and lovely Victorian architecture – all without having to move your car.

Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe is an easy destination from Bucks County and other locations in the Philadelphia area. Following a one to two hour drive, you can be in the “Switzerland of America.” Enjoy a scenic train ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, especially during fall foliage season and then take in the sites at the Old Jail Museum or the Asa Packer Mansion Museum.

Ocean City, NJ

When visiting Ocean City for a short trip, I highly recommend staying at the Port-O-Call Hotel. The “Pink Hotel,” as we lovingly refer to it, has a prime spot on the Ocean City boardwalk. It’s easy to stroll down the boards for a slice of Manco and Manco’s Pizza or rides at Playland’s Castaway Cove or Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

While Ocean City is a dry town, Steve and Cookie’s restaurant in Margate is only a short drive away. Steve and Cookie’s is one of my favorite restaurants at the Jersey Shore and has a full bar menu along with incredible food. It is the perfect spot for a date night when staying in Ocean City.