Archive for the ‘Romantic Travel’ Category

Ayman Mohyeldin recently reported on the Today Show about a new trend that couples are trying to do to save their relationship by going on a vacation together. No children, friends or family members.

If you have been getting away for a romantic weekend on your anniversary you understand how important that connection is.

Watch this short video. It is called the “Hail-Mary-Moon”

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Been saving for that romantic weekend away but haven’t made your reservations to get away with your sweetheart? Don’t walk, run to the phone and start making reservations to keep the romance alive.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

**My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Do you and your sweetheart have a group of friends that you enjoy being with? Where everyone gets along and there isn’t a lot of drama going on, just lots of laughter. You might want to consider doing a couples weekend away.

The Today Show had Dani Babb, Real Estate Analyst, on the show and she talked about why you might want to consider renting a house instead of a hotel when traveling with everyone.

Summer Rentals

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Here is the list of the places Dani talked about:

1. Wildwood Crest, NJ – AIRBNB.com
$1600/week – 6 people (3 couples)
$1600/3 couples = $533 a week/7 days = $77 a night

2. Nags Head, NC – VRBO.com
$2420/week -8 people (4 couples)
$2420/4 couples = $640 a week/7 days = $87 a day

3. Perch Lake, MI – rentalbug.com
$1200/week – 8 people (4 couples)
$1200/4 couples = $300 a week/7 days = $43 a day

4. South Lake Tahoe, CA – VRBO.com
$1575 – $2275 a week – 8 people (4 couples)
$2275/4 couples = $569 a week/7 days = $82 a day

5. Huntington Beach, CA – VRBO.com
$2000/week – 12 people (I decided to do only 3 couples for this one)
$2000/3 couples = $667 a week/7 days = $95 a day

This is a great alternative to staying in high priced hotels particularly when you are going away with a group of people. The price is right, plus you can take turns making breakfast and dinner during the week. Lunch can be done on your own while out enjoying the area.

I am always talking about getting away alone but it is good to also include some of your away time with friends you have known for a long time and feel very comfortable with. It is important to feel connected with other couples too.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

**My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Are you and/or your sweetheart into American History and like to plan trips that are steep in history?

The Today Show had Jeanenne Tornatore, Senior Travel Editor for Orbiz talk about historic places that are off the beaten path that you may not have thought of going to.

5 Beautiful Places Every American Should Visit

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Here is the list Jeanenne talked about:

Charlottesville, VA

• Boars Head Inn – $160.00

Huston, TX

• Johnson Space Center

St. Luis, Mo

• The Moonrise Hotel – $170.00

Durango, CO

• Double Tree Hotel – $209

San Juan Islands, WA

• Sorrento Hotel, Seattle – $222.00

These places all look like fun and interesting places you can take your family but more important have a romantic weekend away with just the two of you having the quiet time together you both need while enjoying a walk through our American history.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

**My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Have you ever checked into a hotel and it ended up not looking like the photos on the internet? We’ve had that happen to us a few times. Thank goodness not very often.

Anthony Melchiorri of the Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” was on the Today Show with Kathy Lee Gifford & Hoda Kobt and gave some great advice on how to deal with a hotel that doesn’t quite meet the standard you expected.

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Love the tip about calling the hotel manager and letting them know you are coming and what you have reserved. I will be using this idea from now on.

One time we checked into a room in Las Vegas late at night after an unusually long drive and discovered ants crawling all over the bed. We immediately walked out of the room luggage and all and went directly to the lobby and told them our situation and like Anthony said we were friendly and nice to the front desk and were given an upgraded room minus the ants. We still laugh about the story but it wasn’t too funny at the time. We were tired and hungry.

Remember that old saying “You can get more with honey than vinegar.”

For Men Only: Check in on Friday for a romantic idea to give your wife for Mother’s Day.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

***My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Need help with finding the best travel deals for a romantic weekend away? The Today show recently had Sarah Spagnolo from Travel and Leisure magazine talk about the latest travel tips.

Watch the video to find out the best deal and how to find them right now:

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Here are the links to the two hotels Sarah talked about:

Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster, Cape Code

Sky Hotel, Aspen CO

Check out these links to find the best deals on the internet:

Backbid.com

Tingo.com

HotelTonight.com

Don’t forget to use Twitter to find out about the latest deals with your favorite airline.

Plan your perfect romantic weekend away and pay less with a little help from Sarah Spagnolo from Travel and Leisure and the Today Show.

keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

***My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Do you have hotel loyalty rewards that you have been saving and haven’t used yet? You will want to watch this short video from the Today Show and read the Rossen Report.

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Rossen Report – Hotel Loyalty Points

After watching the video and reading the article we are making plans to use our points with the Marriot by making reservations for a trip to Reno and New York before our loyalty rewards go up.

Plan your romantic trip with the points you have and use them before the deadline. Imagine the fun you and your sweetheart will have with the money you have saved if you get your room for free.

Your $260 you saved for a whole year will go a lot further if you use your loyalty rewards.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

***My free eBook is coming soon! Be on the lookout for it and when it comes out you can be one of the first to get it. ***

“Your marriage is a gift from God; how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Are you saving your money every week for a romantic weekend away? If you are then you will want to watch the Today Show with Nilou Motamed from Travel and Leisure magazine talk about 5 hotels that have affordable weekend rates during the month of March.

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Check out the hotels they talked about:

1. B Ocean, Fort Lauderdale, FL – $199.00
2. The Graham & Co, Phoenicia, NY – $99.00
3. Agate Gove Inn, Mendocino, CA – $189.00
4. Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI – $209.00
5. Red River Ranch, Teasdale, UT – $160.00

Would you like to get out of town with your sweetheart and you have enough money put away to stay at one of these lovely hotels? Then you may want to try and make reservations while the rates are still low and have a much needed romantic weekend with your sweetheart.

Don’t live near one of these places? Call around your area and I am sure you will find something just as nice or nicer close by.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

“Your marriage is a gift from God, how you treat it is a gift to him.”

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Plan on traveling in 2013 with your sweetheart? You will want to watch this video from the Today Show about rising travel fairs and what to watch out for.

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In the past when I have written about staying at a hotel, I have mentioned there could be hidden fees that you may not think about. Like the extra fees for parking? The video even mentions about looking out for additional fees for a newspaper at your door, snacks in the room and internet.

So be a savvy traveler when making reservations for a rental car, hotel or travel fares. You will want to find out if there are any additional fees.

Plan on having a fun filled vacation with your sweetheart and make sure you don’t have additional fees you were not planning on that could spoil your trip.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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There is a new Bed & Breakfast in the quaint historic Village of Arroyo Grande I wanted to let you know about. The Inn is called Grandview Manor Bed and Breakfast. It is owned by my very dear friend, Terry Fowler-Payne.

Terry has traveled across the United States and stayed at many beautiful Inns. As a little girl she was raised in the historic Coffee Rice House located on Hwy 1 and the Grieb Farm House on Halcyon Road which are both in Arroyo Grande.

Terry designed and built this beautiful home on a hilltop overlooking the Village of Arroyo Grande. Her daughters where raised here and are now all grown and gone so she decided to share her spectacular home with guest visiting the area.

Check out her website:

Grandview Manor Bed and Breakfast
:

The room that is the most spectacular is the Master Suite which is only $150.00. There is a double sided fireplace which faces the bedroom and bath. The bath has a spa tub and spacious shower. The Inn is on a hill overlooking the quaint Village of Arroyo Grande and the Master Suite has the best view. So if you saved your $260 and spent one night you would have plenty of money to go out to dinner.

Amenities:

• Gourmet Breakfast
• Morning Coffee & Tea
• Evening Reception
• Porches with Views
• 5 Hole Putting Green
• Gazebo & Barbecue
• Kitchen for Your Personal Use
• Televisions in Each Room
• Smoking is permitted outside in designated areas only

Grandview Manor Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful place to have a memorable and romantic anniversary getaway.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Looking to getaway on Halloween with your sweetheart and want to stay at a hotel where there is paranormal activity or a lot of Halloween fun? You are going to want to watch the video from the Today Show where Sarah Spagnolo from Travel and Leisure tells you of some great hotels to stay at during this spooky time of year.

For some reason I wasn’t able to imbed the video on my website so here is the link:

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49516692#49477254

Here are the links for all four hotels Sarah told us about:

• Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO:
http://www.stanleyhotel.com/

• Universal Studios/Loews, Royal Pacific, Orland, Fl:
http://www.loewshotels.com/Royal-Pacific-Resort/gallery/photos

• The Orlando on Third, Los Angeles, CA – Holly-Ween Package
http://www.theorlando.com/

• Virginia Hotel, Cape May, NJ:
http://www.virginiahotel.com/?src=ppc_google_brand_officialsite

FYI, if you can’t click on the links then you will need to copy and paste the links to view the hotels and their rates. Sorry for the inconvenience but for some reason my website just isn’t cooperating.

If you live near any of these places pack your bags and grab your sweetheart and have a very romantic and spooky Halloween!

***Don’t forget to check back on Friday, 10/26/12, to see the suggestion I have for you to have a romantic Halloween with your sweetheart.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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