All posts filed under: budget vacation

plans for memorial day weekend in san francisco

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Traditionally, my other half and I left town for the Memorial holiday (three day) weekend, but this year in particular we decided to stay local and explore all the festivities or not around the city and outside. The biggest one this year is the Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary celebration on Sunday May 27th and we wouldn’t miss it for the world, since we actually walked across the bridge for the 50th anniversary (25years ago). So, there are plans of a picnic in Napa, possibly the Carnaval in the Mission District, the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary celebration, a matinée and lots of good old-fashioned barbecue. Stay tuned…and oh happy weekend everyone!!!

mother’s day gift ideas 2012: destination spa getaways

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What mother wouldn’t appreciate a destination spa getaway. Since this gift idea is a bit costly, I suggest the family pitching in for the spa fund instead of buying separate gifts for their mother. For some interesting destination spa getaways and more, please click here:

boutique hotel pick – tharroe of mykonos, greece

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Right about now, exactly right now, I am seeing myself in a far away place, where I could nap alongside the pool, or sit on a lounge chair on the balcony of my suite and watch the world go by and just maybe make an effort to leave the hotel just to experience the nightlife on the island of Mykonos, Greece. To make this happen, I have to include one of my favorite hotels on Mykonos – Tharroe Of Mykonos, to set the stage for one of the most relaxing holidays/vacations imaginable.  BTW this would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift:  

shifting gears to travel

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By the beginning of April I am planning my next trip to (mostly) Europe. However, as we know it, the wedding got in the way 😉  But after taking a few days to recover I am now  mentally prepared to plan a trip. The problem is there are too many places I want to visit this year and not enough time to accomplish my goal, so while I click my way through the internet for ideas, I can’t help but include some of my favorite staircases around Europe from here to inspire me to make a choice:  

boutique hotel pick – baglioni hotel – london, england

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In light of the fact the Summer Olympics are in England this year, I had contemplated spending my vacation or holiday (I like that word better) attending some of the games.  I am still on the fence about it, but it doesn’t hurt to dream, just in case I can’t make it a reality. Anyway, here is my dream hotel pick for London: Baglioni Hotel , which according to the chain’s website  is “luxury with an Italian touch”. What more can I anyone ask for?

boutique hotel pick – four seasons resort – whistler, canada

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As I draft up the outline for book no 2, I can’t help but think of a romantic ski resort getaway. The Four Seasons Resort Whistler is one destination I  booked for all my cliental while I was a university campus travel agent. Most of them were visiting scholars from around the world, who wanted to have a weekend ski vacation getaway outside of Tahoe.

dreaming of a vacation

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I woke up to the sound of tree branches knocking against my window as a result of an overnight storm. I looked outside and saw nothing but dark clouds, wind and horizontal raindrops.  While my other half was kind enough to give me a ride to work, just to avoid the muni drama in San Francisco, I couldn’t help but hint to him, how much I was in need of a tropical vacation.  He may have thought I was kidding, but as soon as I got to work (very early) I began to research the much need R&R vacation. I am considering:

photography: land and ocean along the san francisco coast

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I had an amazing time this weekend being outdoors. The weather was unusually warm for “Winter” in San Francisco and although I have been nursing a knee injury since the beginning of January, I just couldn’t resist being outside. One of my favorite hobbies while outdoors is taking photos of most anything I come across, even though sometimes it’s a repeat of the same scenery. But no matter how many times I have taken the same photos, I feel , every time I snap the camera, it feels like I have captured something new. Here are some of my favorites from the eighty or so photos I took this weekend of my favorite walk along the San Francisco (land’s end) coast {photos are the property of http://www.rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com}