Silly Saturday...

We have a house showing tomorrow so we are in the midst of a deep cleaning frenzy, thus today is not the promised Saturday Sojourn but another Silly Saturday post. 

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Saturday's Sojourn...

It has been a while since I have done a Sojourn post, but since I am actually in Chicago I thought I would share a bit of where we have been, I think I will save the rest of the vacation for next Saturday.  It will also give me an opportunity to share some of the ways to get great deals on travel.

I guess its easiest to go in order, I received an email from my local airport (we are on a smaller terminal) saying they were offering deals out of here direct to Chicago for $99.00 each way, usually they are $130 or more so that cinched that we were flying.  If you like to travel its worth while to be friends with your airport on Facebook or subscribe to their emails, you can get advance notice on air fare deals that way.  I paid for the tickets using a card that earns mile on that air line as well, and booking it right through them got me double miles towards my next flight somewhere.

Next up was trying to figure out where to stay in the city for under the usual $300 a night.  Being out at the airport may save up front, but it costs a fortune in cab rides, and actually
can wind up costing more than spending the extra to stay in the
heart of the city where you can walk to everything.  I am a member of Snique Away, a great site that offers hotel deals, kind of like Groupon but for lodging.  They have great offers each week, so its always something new.  The deal that came up was for the Hotel Burnham, just a few blocks away from Millennium Park, and we got to save a third of the hotel price. Like all the Kimpton Hotels, it is a smaller boutique property that offers outstanding service, they allow pets but if you can't travel with your family friend they have a program called Guppy Love, you get a gold fish in your room that the staff takes care of for you, no need to do a thing, other than name him/her and enjoy the company.

We arrived early so we had plenty of time to unpack, meet up with another friend of ours who flew in separately and unwind before our night of wining and dining on board the Odyssey dinner cruise.  I purchased a $50 certificate from Restaurant.com during their sale for only $10, so we saved $40 and got to enjoy a great 3 course dinner while listening to live music and watching the Chicago night skyline go by.

Thursday we went on a Chicago Film bus tour, we purchased the tickets on Groupon so we paid 1/2 price for the two hour tour.  These are fun ways to see the city in a new way, and Groupon often has different types of tours and activities on sale if you watch for them.  It was fun to see the spot where they filmed one of my all time favorite movies,  Ferris Bueller's Day Off, of course I had to hum a little Twist and Shout for the rest of the day! As an added bonus we got to see the police cars and they are using for the new Superman move being filmed here, they all said Metropolis and were parked in front of Union Station, how cool is that?!?!  That left the rest of the day for shopping.  Ahhhh shopping, I do a lot of reward sites that pay you to read mail, click links and/or shop through them so I had and still have a lot of gift cards for Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Old Navy, Sephora, Williams Senoma, etc. so it was a fun day!

Friday was our princess pamper day, we all had a lemon cream Mani/pedi at Eshe Spa, a wonderful oasis in the city and a place I would put at the very top of my to do list again, what a wonderful group of gals we had help us!  They are a Spa Finder Spa and I was able to cash out from reward sites and my Discover cards points for Spa Finder gift certificates, the visit was totally paid for using hobby money or Discover rebates.  You can also get good deals on Spa Finder certificates at eBay. After that we went to have High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel, I was able to get a $50.00 Peninsula Dining certificate by cashing some of my points out of my American Express rewards account, so that was a great treat on a budget.  Ahhh what a day!

Today is double discount day at the Art Institute of Chicago, so today will be a day of culture and beauty.  If you have a museum near you that you enjoy check into becoming a member, many museums are reciprocal so you get discounts in many places.  I am a member of the Art Institute as well as the Field Museum and have used those memberships to get into and get discounts in Duluth, Minneapolis and St. Paul so far, I will have to see where I can visit when we go to Virgina for Christmas.  If you don't want to join check the museum's web site, they often have free days; usually once a month, and they will have it posted on their events calender.

It seems there is never a shortage of things to do in Chicago, this morning they were filming another scene from the new Superman move in Daley Plaza, right next to the hotel so I was able to get some fun pictures of that before we even left for the museum.  Next week the dining, the ball game, the chauffeured ride to the airport and so much more.

Have a wonderful weekend!

C.Q.

Saturday Sojourn...

I am considering doing this bit of the blog only once a month because it takes me hours of research to get all the information on an area and match it up with the travel the discounts, but before I do something drastic I want to know what you guys think.  Do you love it and want to keep it or would you be more interested in something relating to household savings?  Are you more interested in finance and savings tips?  Do it yourself projects and crafts that save money?  The choice is yours readers.  I want this blog to be a place that you enjoy visiting and has content that you enjoy.  If you have never read a Saturday Sojourn you can find one here, here and here for examples.

The swap is today and I have sent emails out to the folks who are participating, if you missed it and want to participate in the next one just let me know and I will keep your name on my swap list.

Hope you are all having a great weekend in your corner of the world.

C.Q.

Saturday Sojourn...

I had a low turnout so I am gong to run the swap for another week to get a few more signups.  Here is the info on how it works:

Jst think about where you live and with a budget of at least $10 purchase something that represents where you are, package it up with a postcard from your city or state and mail it off to a person the pair you up with. I think this can be a lot of fun, I know a ton of sites are doing craft swaps, this is similar, except you don't have to make anything, unless you want to. To join just leave a comment and next Saturday I will pair you up with another reader. If this goes well I will do it again next month. If we end up with an odd number participating I will jump in and swap as well, so no one will be left out who wants to join in the fun. After you receive your package be sure to post about it on your site.

Have a happy and safe weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Saturday's Sojourn...

Saving along the way



Today I decided to look at vacations a little differently at let you in on some money saving ideas that will make it easier to go on a vacation with your family.

The first thing to tackle is the getting there. If you are driving make sure your car is tuned up and your tires are inflated properly, this is a huge gas saver. Also, you can check eBay auctions and gift cards sites like ABC Gift Cards for gas gift cards, there is usually a very small savings on these but any savings is good. If you are flying then make sure you check all the sites for the lowest fares, including the airline directly. Kayak, Cheap flights and Booking Buddy are great places to get deals. Most importantly, remember to include all your expenses in your calculations, here's what I mean; I am going to Chicago with some friends in a couple months and we thought about driving, the cost of gas from here to there is about $215.00 according to the AAA fuel cost calculator, plus the additional expense of parking at over $40 per day for 6 nights ($240) made the driving cost about $465.00. Our local airport ran a special offering one way tickets, non stop to Chicago for $99.00, so flying cost us a little less than driving and we don't have to worry about a car. Almost everything is with in walking distance to where we are staying so our transportation in the city is almost nil.  Also, be sure to check eBay for drink vouchers and airline gift cards, these can increase your savings even further.

The next huge expense is the hotel.  For our vacation I found a great deal right in the city using SniqueAway.  They offer 4 and 5 star hotels at very discounted rates.  This vacation will be my first time using them but the reviews on TripAdvisor are all favorable.  Another great option is Hotels.com, sometimes you can find rooms they want to book closer to your arrival date.  Remember to join the hotels guest rewards program if they have one as well, this may not earn you a free nights stay unless you visit a lot, but it will almost always get you free internet service in your room.  If you are a member of AAA be sure to ask when checking in or making your reservation is you get a discount with your card.

Once you have arrived its time to have some fun, one of the best things I have found to do is see if there is an Entertainment book for the area you will be visiting, these are filled with discounts and can save you hundreds.  Also be sure to check in with at the Tourist Information area, most every place has them, from big cities to little towns and they can be a source for some great coupons and information on specials in the area.  If you have a general working idea of the area you are going to visit then you can shop ahead at Restraunt.com for some great discounted meals, just be sure to read the small print, some require a purchase of a certain amount and others may expire.  You can also check on eBay and places like Gift Card Rescue for discounted gift cards, just make sure you don't get a card larger than you can use or it will go to waste.  If you are headed to a larger city be sure to check out CityPass, they offer a discounted price for all the largest attractions in the area.  I have also found that doing a simple Google search on Tourist Discounts for ______ will net you some pretty amazing results.

Do you have a money saving tip? I would love to hear about it.

Have a great weekend! 

C.Q.

Saturday Sojourn...

Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina



Today I used the site Dart on Map to find a place to check out, it landed on a great spot I had never heard of called Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina.  Kill Devil Hills is located on the barrier islands known as the outer banks and the name dates back to the Colonial Era.  The coast line was a popular spot for merchant ships transporting Rum, and when one would become disabled the inhabitants would go out to the ship and remove the cargo before it sank and hide the Rum behind the sand dunes.  They said the Rum was strong enough to kill the Devil, thus the area became known as Kill Devil Hills.  And despite near by Kitty-hawks reputation Kill Devil Hills is the actual site of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, commemorating the siblings' four powered airplane flights of Thursday, December 17, 1903. Orville returned in 1911, and on October 25 he set a new world glider record, remaining in the air 10 minutes and 34 seconds, soaring against the wind with very little forward movement.

Well there is a little background, lets land a room.  You can stay ocean front at the Quality Inn Carolina Oceanfront.  The guest rooms feature pillow-top mattresses, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee makers, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, safes and cable television with free HBO. Select rooms also have balconies, desks and sofa sleepers.  A bar/lounge is on site at the hotel where guests can unwind with a drink, a complimentary breakfast is offered and High-speed wireless Internet is complimentary.  Visiting during the off season you should be able to find a room under $100.00 per night.  If you are a Choice Privileges member and book soon you will earn bonus reward points.

Unpack and start to explore the area, besides the beach you are very near the Wright Brothers national memorial.  "Containing a recently refurbished replica of the original Wright Flyer as well as other memorabilia of the First Flight, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Visitor Center commemorates one of America's historic moments.  A nearby sand dune supports the Memorial Pylon, which locals simply refer to as "The Monument".   On the extensive grounds around the visitor center/museum there are historical markers and a reconstructed hanger and shop. (free)

True nature lover?  Check out the Nags Head Wood Preserve not far up the road.  This 1,092 acres offers beautiful hiking trails that are open dawn to dusk every day for foot traffic only. Leashed pets, horses and bicycles are not allowed on the trails but are welcome on the gravel roadway.  With in the Preserve you will find a rare Maritime Deciduous Forest, Maritime Swamp Forest, Maritime Shrub Forest and Interdunal Ponds laced together with quite a few trails.  There is over 300 plant species, 50 birds species as well as many reptiles and amphibians.  Be sure to wear good hiking shoes, bring some water and download a map of the trails to take with on your adventure. (free)

For the shopper there are some great deals to be had at the Tanger Outlet just a few minutes from the hotel.  Be sure to check out the coupon section of their site for anything you my be interested in. If you join the TangerClub you will also get a free coupon book each time you visit a Tanger Outlet as well as seasonal specials, birthday rewards and gift cards.

If you love fishing you will have no problem finding a fishing charter to take you out to saltwater fish, or you can take the long walk down the Avalon Pier with your own gear and try your luck. Anywhere you fish be sure to check the regulations, here are the rules for North Carolina's Salt Water fishing.

One of my favorite foods is seafood and when you stay someplace near the water its nice to find places with the fresh stuff!  According to TripAdvisor a great place for seafood is Crabby Fries, located less than one mile from the hotel.  Their menu features all day breakfast, steamed seafood, burgers and hand cut fries.  If yo are looking for something more on the romantic side check out The Pearl, they serve dinner and Sunday Brunch and feature a more traditional fine dining experience.  If you are looking for something fun to take the kids to then check out The Jolly Roger who features fresh caught local seafood, steaks, prime rib and reportedly the most famous breakfast on the beach.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!  I would love to hear about your favorite vacation, where was it and what did you do?  Next week I will let you know how the swap went, we will have another swap starting on the 25th of June.

C.Q.

Saturday Sojourn...

Portland, Oregon

Today I used my handy dandy book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die: In The US And Canada again to pick a fun place to visit.  My random spot in the book came up as Portland, Oregon, a place I have never been to but it is high on my wish list of places I want to see.

As many of you know, when I travel for longer times I tend to like to find a 3 or 4 star place to stay.  I look at the quality AND the cost because I will be sleeping in the room and if the weather gets bad I want to be able to hole up in a nice place for a bit.  One of my all time favorite hotel chains in Kimpton and they own the Hotel Monaco in Portland.  It is a mid range priced 4 star boutique hotel.  All the Kimpton's come with great service and based on the TripAdvisor comments this one is no exception.  The hotel features morning coffee and an evening wine reception in the lobby, complimentary newspapers, complimentary overnight shoeshine, Concierge service, complimentary bicycle rental to explore the city, an on site spa, 24 hour business center, an on site 24 hour fitness center and 24 hour room service.  The hotel is also pet friendly and has special packages designed just for your furry friend, and when you can't bring Spot or Kitty with you The Hotel Monaco will bring you a complimentary goldfish to keep you company during your stay, you don't need to do anything, the staff will feed it and check in on it for you. (I love this touch at the Kimpton Hotels)  If you are a member of the Kimpton InTouch rewards program you will get free Internet service,  any 2 items up to $10 from the mini bar, $30 off any In-Room Spa services, plus earn complimentary nights.  They have a AAA 4-Diamond rating and if you are a member of AAA you will qualify to get 10% off your rate.

No that you have unpacked lets find some things to see.  Portland came to be known as the 'City of Roses', and one of the first things that caught my eye was the International Rose Test Garden, here you can stroll the grounds and smell the flowers and learn a little of the history of roses.  Garden hours are7:30am-9:00pm and admission is free.  From June 1 through September 21, tours of the rose garden are led by trained volunteers at 1:00 PM seven days a week or you can download a self guided tour and enjoy it at your own pace.

Bad weather? Don't let that slow you down, stop in at the Pittock Mansion.  The Pittock Mansion was home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock from 1914 to 1919.  A house of historical significance and visual magnificence, the Pittock Mansion today offers us a uniquely personal opportunity to peek into the past, and study our world as it was - from the viewpoint of one Portland family.  Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors over 65, $5.00 for children 6 - 18 and free for children under age 6, please check the web site for hours because they vary slightly by season.

Looking to keep the kids entertained for a whole day?  Head over to Oaks Amusement Park.  This amusement park opened in 1905 to celebrate the Lewis and Clark world Expo and is still entertaining the masses today.  Be sure to check the schedule for the day you want to visit, hour vary slightly and it will give you the times the roller skating rink and amusement rides are open.  Parking and general admission are free, a Deluxe Bracelet is $14.75 and includes all the midway rides and a roller skating session. Valid from open to close on day of purchase. Go Karts, games and concessions sold separately.  They also offer a more limited $11.75 bracelet that is good for the day or you can purchase ride individually at $2.25 per ticket or 7 for $13.00.  If you don't want to go on many rides you can limit the cost by getting the bracelets for your kids only.  On Tuesdays Community Newspapers present Two For One Tuesdays with Radio Disney- Purchase one thrill ride bracelet, cotton candy, corn dog, or hot dog and get one of the same for FREE! No coupon necessary! At 2 pm enjoy a LIVE show with the Radio Disney Funsters featuring games, prizes, singing, dancing and more. 

There are a million great place to eat in Portland and you should have no problem finding something to fit your budget and your taste, but remember to check out Groupon, Half Price Portland, Half off Deals, Portland on the Cheap, The Daily Deal Portland, Living Social and Restaurant.com for some amazing deals.


Today I will also be sending an email out to the folks who signed up for the swap.  They will have a couple weeks to send their goodies out and on the 18th I will post what they got from their swap buddies.  The 25th is the next swap so I hope to have more folks join in next time.

Have a great weekend everyone!

C.Q.