7 Quick Travel Tips

Hey everybody!

As the summer starts to come into full swing, lots of people will be planning trips with family and friends or maybe going on a business trip or two. I wanted to share a few quick (and in some cases obvious) tips that I have picked up through my own travels.

7 Quick tips:

1– Do not put your room keys (the ones that look like plastic credit cards) next to your iPhone – it will desensitize the card and you will find yourself heading to the front desk to get a new room key.

2– If you decide to park at the airport, try to remember to snap a picture of the level and section where you are parked. It will save you a lot of frustration and time later (when you are tired and jet-lagged) to pull up a picture of exactly where your car is parked.

3– Pack an extra outfit in your carry on if you can fit it. At the very least you will have something to change in to if the airline loses your bag!

4– On long flights, make sure you stand up and walk around a bit to avoid blood clots. I have found it beneficial to book an aisle seat in order to have the flexibility to get up and move around the cabin at will. Also, exercises like toe points and ankle circles help as well.

5– The closer to the flight, the more expensive the price for it will be. Typically, 2 -3 weeks prior to a flight is about when airfare prices start to really increase. Try to book flights as much in advance as possible.

6– If you are going to be traveling with a big group, remember to check out group discounts! You, a family member or a friend could travel for free in some cases with the purchase of X amount of other paid trips. Most larger travel companies offer significant group discounts and incentives.

7– Most airlines allow you to check in 24 hours before your flight. It saves a decent amount of time to check in prior and and either print your boarding pass or keep it on your phone to show at security and your gate. It is also a plus because you can pick/change your seat before others even think of it.

I have found these tips to be pretty helpful, but I would love to get some feedback and hear some tips from you! Feel free to comment below or follow/ tweet to me @unabridged_12.

Puerto Rico – Family Reunion Edition

This past Easter, my family had a long overdue reunion…in Puerto Rico. On the last Thursday in March all 22 of us on my dad’s side of the family headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. For most of us, this was our first time heading to Puerto Rico. My dad actually did the bulk of the planning and arrangements. He was able to get all 22 of us on the same round-trip JetBlue flights in and out of Boston. The flights were direct and it was only an added bonus that Jetblue is my favorite airline. Dunkin Donuts coffee offered onboard, a menu of free snacks to choose from and the first bag flies free promise definitely win over my heart. Also, because we were flying as a big group, we were able to receive a group discount.

We arrived in San Juan, where my father had arranged for ground transportation to the hotel. Naturally, all 22 of us easily filled a small bus. The hotel was about a half hour from the airport which was truthfully a little further away than I was expecting.

However, when we finally pulled up to the hotel (which felt like a lifetime because I was so excited/ anxious to get there) I found that the wait was 100% worth it. We pulled up to the Gran Melia Resort just before dusk. The hotel was beautiful. Palm trees

Koi Fish – Gran Melia Resort

lined the entire driveway leading to the lobby. The lobby had a very open floor plan and was very beautifully decorated. There was a white cockatoo at was in a large and elaborate cage outside the lobby that repeated different words and sounds people made around it. It was really funny to watch and hear it repeat what onlookers had said to it. Fountains and a man made “mote” surrounded the lobby building and the restaurants that were connected. The “mote” was filled with bright orange and white Koi fish.

The Gran Melia Resort had a unique set up that I had never experienced before. After we retrieved our respective room keys from the desk, we left the lobby and went outside. At the entrance to the lobby, there was a constant flow of golf carts that dropped of guests and picked up others to take them to their hotel rooms that were scattered across the property. We jumped into one of the golf carts and told the driver which building we were staying in. The driver sped away and took us to our room. Each building had 4 – 6 rooms in it. Our room had an amazing ocean view.

Gran Melia Resort – Puerto Rico

Our room was great – it had a pull out couch and a queen bed. It also had a large bathroom and a balcony that gave us a fantastic view of the beach.

The Gran Melia Resort was not all inclusive, but because we were traveling as such a large group we were able to prepay most of our meals – which was a huge plus! The resort had 7 bars/restaurants. We tried five of them:

• Nami Asian Bistro – Nami was delicious. The chef cooks your meal directly in front of you and does entertaining tricks etc. along the way. There are also other meal options such as Sushi. The waitstaff was very friendly and entertaining.

• Tempo Steak and Pasta– Also delicious. Very dimly lit and trendy. The waitstaff was also very friendly and helpful .
• Café Soleil- Café Soleil is where we went for breakfast every morning and some days for lunch. It was buffett style and all you can eat. They offered a wide array of different foods, juices and other beverages. Café Soleil was always very busy, but we were always able to get a table after only waiting a few minutes.
  

  pool at the Gran Melia Resort

• Wet Pool Bar and Grill – The pool bar I think had to be my favorite part. While the drinks were delicious and the bartenders were attentive and funny – the best part was that it was a SWIM UP BAR! The food was also pretty tasty as well. There was covered seating next to the pool for those who wanted to order lunch or sip their drinks out of the pool. The Pool bar staff were some of my favorite people we met while in Puerto Rico – it got to the point where we were all on a first name basis and drinks orders didn’t even need to be repeated anymore – it was just a known thing. However – for those of you looking for your mimosas at 9 AM, the pool bar does not open til 11 AM.
  

  at the swim-up bar – Gran Melia Puerto Rico

• Avenue Bar – the Avenue bar was a very cool area of the hotel. It offered cabanas that you could lay down and relax in (for free – no charge), some type of live music every night and TVs to watch the big game. We were in Puerto Rico during March Madness, so my family and I were constantly checking in on scores. Also the Avenue bar had a very open floor plan, so you could sit outside and still hear the music and have easy access to the bar for drinks.

How can I talk about a warm, tropical resort without talking about the pool? Needless to say, the pool at the Gran Melia was amazing. It was a large lagoon type pool with differing levels of depth, pillars, and built in “lounge chairs.” Also, as I mentioned before it also had an excellent swim- up bar. The pool was lined by the ocean and tons of palm trees.

hammocks on the beach

Lastly, the Gran Melia offered some fun activities and trips for guests of all ages. We were only there for a few days, and unfortunately did not have the best weather, but we still fit in some truly fantastic trips.

• ATV trip – My brother and a few of my cousins went on the 3 hour four wheel ATVing trip. Because it was raining on the day they went, it ended up only being the three of them and their tour guide – which they loved! They went all through the rainforest and had a lot of fun! Their trip was around $111 each.
• Zip lining – A few of my cousins and I went zip lining. Our tour was through Jungle Qui and it was around $110 per person. I could not have spent $110 better. I had never been zip lining before and I was beyond excited! We went through the safety features, did a mini rainforest tour and zip lined through the rainforest, over rivers and more. The staff at Jungle Qui was AWESOME – they were fun and entertaining and the whole zip lining experience ended up being my absolute hands-down favorite part of the trip. After the trip we got to try a real coconut and hang around with the crew while we waited for our cab. They were a really funny and down to earth bunch so we did not mind at all waiting for the cab. I would highly recommend this zip lining tour. My cousin is afraid of heights and she still zip lined alongside the rest of us and had a blast doing it – so don’t let fear of heights stop you.
  

  Ziplining – Jungle Qui

• Old San Juan tour – My mother and my aunts all jumped on the Old San Juan tour. They saw all the historical side of the city and enjoyed immersing themselves in the art, the culture and the shopping.
• Golf – My dad and uncles went straight to the golf course. The Gran Melia has a beautiful course on the property.

Other activities and tours include:

• Deep Sea fishing
• Bacardi Distillery
• Catamaran sail and snorkel
• Horseback riding tour
• Rainforest hike
• Bioluminescent tour
• Scuba diving

I really wanted to do the bioluminescent tour – which is where you tour the parts of the beaches that have sealife that glows at night, but I did not get a chance. I heard it is a spectacular experience and whenever I head back to Puerto Rico I will definitely be budgeting it into my trip itinerary. It a bit pricey ranging from $100 – $195 per person. A good tip is to make your activities arrangements IN ADVANCE. The activities fill up quickly, so be sure to save yourself a spot :) The hotel concierge is very helpful and will help you book all your activities/tours.

The Gran Melia Resort proved to be a great place to stay overall. I enjoyed the pool, the restaurants, the rooms and the beach.  Overall – the service at the hotel was amazing and full of friendly, helpful and fun people. The beach is breathtaking – it is beautiful and is studded with swaying palm trees and hammocks.  I enjoyed the wide variety of activities there was to choose from, but would have liked to see some more free activities onsite at the resort. Also – the front desk was ALWAYS chaotic and seemed understaffed. Retrieving our room keys upon check in was a nightmare and we were waiting for over an hour.

On a final note – before you make travel plans to go to Puerto Rico, make note that hurricane season is June 1 – November 30. If you plan to go to Puerto Rico during peak tourism times (mid December – mid April) plan ahead of time and take advantage of lower rates before the prices are jacked up during peak season!

Hull, MA Day Trip

Happy Monday!

This past weekend we got a group of friends together and headed down to Hull, MA for day trip. Specifically, we went to The Sea Dog Brew Pub and Nantasket beach.

View from the Sea Dog Brew Pub deck

The Sea Dog Brew Pub in Hull is located on A Street. It is an amazing location! It is right on the water with great views of the Ocean and Boston. The interior decor of the Sea Dog is very cool and its gives off a bright, fun, beachy feeling. My favorite thing? The outdoor deck. It is sunny and warm overlooks the ocean – perfect place to hang out on a nice summer day.

pier – Hull

The Sea Dog has daily specials such as Wing Wednesday and Team Trivia Thursday. We went on Sunday for Reggae Brunch complete with a live Reggae band and a special brunch menu. Sea dog offers a champagne bucket deal that includes for different juice mixers and a bottle of champagne for $25. It as has a great selection of their own brews plus a variety of bottled beers.

champagne bucket – Sea Dog Brew Pub

Nantasket beach is not far away from the Sea Dog Brew Pub. It is a picturesque beach – lots to look at and a decent amount of shells to collect. There is parking right at the beach, however, I was informed it can be pricey. There is also a carousel nearby for the younger children to enjoy. Lots of restaurants and diners can be found all along the beach as well.

Hull is an easy day trip to plan and it can be as inexpensive as you want to make it. Definitely a great spot to check out this summer!

Nantasket Beach – Hull

Comments? Thoughts? Feel free to leave comments or follow me on twitter @unabridged_12 :)

Denver – Bars, Restaurants and Activities

Happy Friday all! For my second post on my Denver Trip, I wanted to highlight and review a few bars, restaurants and activities/attractions. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or feed back! :)

Bars:

Giggling Grizzly – We ventured over to the Giggling Grizzly on the first night of our trip. We went for a couple of drinks and to check out the Nuggets playoff game. However, we ended up meeting friendly Denver locals and playing an assortment of drinking games that included Beirut and flip cup. There was also a game of life size Jenga going on as well! For a Bostonion, playing these sorts of games INSIDE a bar is a novelty as it is not permitted in Massachusetts. The drinks were cheap and the bartender, Jeff was great! If you are looking to have a laid back night with some laid back locals, definitely check out the Giggling Grizzly located right near Coors Field.

Website: http://www.giggling-grizzly.com/

Giggling Grizzly – May 2013

Green Russell – We gave Green Russell a try our first night in Denver. Green Russell was an old speakeasy back in the day. Today, it is a hidden gem on Larimer St. that serves up fresh and unique cocktails. When you walk down the stairs to Green Russell, you will get to a hostess that will then take you through a “no entry” door (in keeping with its old speakeasy history and feel.) Next, we were seated at a low cocktail table with leather chairs. It truly is a very cool atmosphere. You can get light eats there, but Green Russell is all about the cocktails. The bartender personally goes to each table to take each person’s order.  There is a published menu of cocktail options, but you can also choice “bartender’s choice.” The three of us in our party all chose the “bartender’s choice” option.  For this option, the bartender will ask you what base liquor you like the best and then what types of fruits and tastes you like. Then the bartender will concoct and create a cocktail tailored to your tastes! The drinks are a bit expensive, so I would suggest stopping by Green Russell for just a drink or two. Due to the small, intimate environment of Green Russell, reservations are strongly suggested. You can make reservations by calling or through opentable.com.

Website: http://www.greenrussell.com/

Green Russell

Lodo’s Bar and Grille – Lodo’s is located right across from Coors Field. While it has a menu with food options, we went for the beers and rooftop deck and bar. The outdoor rooftop deck had its own bar and offered great views of Coors field and a chance to enjoy the warm night. Lodo’s was packed – we went on a Saturday and a game day for the Rockies.

Website: http://lodosbarandgrill.com/lodo/

Coyote Ugly – We went to Coyote Ugly to meet up with a few friends that lived in Denver. Coyote Ugly is definitely one of the raunchiest bars I have ever been. If this is your scene, there are plenty of girls dancing on the bar, shots and singing bartenders.

Website: http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/denver/

Coyote Ugly Denver

The Drink – The drink is a very small bar on 15 Street. We found it a good place to go to dance. It has a pretty cool interior and the bartending staff is extremely attentive and nice!

Website: http://www.thedrinkdenver.com/

Pour House Pub – The Pour House has an outdoor balcony and patio. While it is small, it’s nice to sit out, catch some rays and drink a cold beer. I also liked the music selection as well.

Website: http://www.pourhousepubdenver.com/

Restaurants:

Rock Bottom Brewery – Located on 16^th Street, Rock Bottom has a great outdoor seating area. They brew their own beers and have an extensive menu! We had an extremely hard time deciding what to order!

Website: http://www.rockbottom.com/

Rock Bottom Brewery Denver

Mellow Mushroom – The Mellow Mushroom is a chain restaurant that is known for their subs, salads, and pizza. The Mellow Mushroom in Downtown Denver has great food, amazing service and good happy hour specials!

Website: http://mellowmushroom.com/store/downtowndenver

Diego’s Mexican Food and Cantina – We were in Denver for the 4^th and 5^th of May. So, for our Cinco de Mayo celebrations we headed to Diego’s. Diego’s looks unassuming from the outside, but when you head down the stairs and into the restaurant it is like entering a Mexican fiesta! The interior of the restaurant looks like a beach cabana bar complete with palm trees and beach huts! The ambiance of Diego’s is very fun and enjoyable. The margaritas and guacamole was very good. There were drink specials because it was Cinco de Mayo but they also have daily happy hour specials as well. The only complaint I have is that our server kept trying to push us to order more appetizers, drinks etc. which got to be an annoyance.

Website: http://www.diegosdenver.com/

Diego’s Denver – May 2013

Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria – If you are craving pizza and wine, this is the place to go! It is located on Larimer St. close to Coors Field. Marco’s has fantastic pizza and a great assortment of wines. If you cannot decide on a wine, the waiter or waitress will help you find a glass to pair with your pizza. Our waiter was fast and courteous and the food was great!

Website: http://www.marcoscoalfiredpizza.com/

Marco’s Coal Fired Pizza

Attractions/ Activities

Confluence Park – Located close to the aquarium, Confluence Park offers a beautiful place to walk or run. There is also a river running right through it in which you can also kayak on!

Website: http://www.denvergov.org/dpr/ParksandRecreation/Parks/tabid/443558/Default.aspx

Confluence Park – Denver – May 2013

Denver Segway tours – We did our Segway tour with Rocky Mountain Segway. It was $75 per person and included time training on the Segway and a guided tour all around the city. It was a really fun and exciting way to see the city! We really had a blast! Our tour guides were fantastic.

Website: http://www.coloradosegwaytours.com/

Segway Tour – Denver – May 2013

Other attractions:

• State Capital Building
• 16^th Street Mall
• Aquarium
• Larimer St.
• LoDo
• Convention Center Blue Bear
• Coors Field
• Invesco Field
• Denver Art Museum
• Denver Zoo
• Daniels and Fischer Tower
• Denver Botanical Gardens

Please feel free to leave comments / feedback! Have a great weekend!

Denver Trip – Part 1

Hello everyone!

We are back from Denver! It was a great trip with great people, place and weather.

Quick overview:

Flight:

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went with my sister and one of my best friends. We flew out on a Thursday and returned on a Sunday. Our flights were about $276 on American Airlines. American Airlines did lose our bags on the way back to Boston, which was a definitely off-putting when you land at 2:00 AM slightly hungover, tired and bagless. However, while American Airlines is not my favorite, they had my bag located back to me by 8:00 PM the following day – which is pretty impressive.

Hotel:

Again, as I mentioned in a previous post, I used my Marriott Rewards points to pay for the hotel in Denver (which was amazing – we did not have to pay for a hotel for 3 nights!) We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn Denver City Center. Honestly, this place was AMAZING! Here’s why:

• Nestled right in the heart of downtown Denver, walking distance to attractions & especially 16th Street Mall (a long street of shops, restaurants, bars  etc.) This was a huge plus because we did not need to pay for cabs to take us everywhere – we could just walk!
• Free Breakfast! Hot buffet breakfast was included every day. It was a really great spread for a free breakfast: eggs, waffles, yogurt, sausage, hash, fruit etc.
• Free “Happy Hour” – Yes, its true. The Residence Inn Denver City Center offers free dinner, beer and wine from 5:30-7:30 Monday – Thursday. It is terrific. We were able to catch the Thursday happy hour and indulged in free wine and cheese burgers.
• Most of the rooms are suites. We had a full kitchen including full size refrigerator  dishwasher, microwave, stove etc. So, if you want to shop and cook you have all the equipment and utensils to do so. Don’t have time to shop for groceries? No sweat. Drop your grocery list off at the front desk before 9 AM and have your groceries delivered same day FOR FREE. All grocery items are charged to your room, but the service is free.
• Free internet
• Trendy but homey interior decor
• ROOF TOP DECK – This roof top desk was just so cool! It has a fire pit, chairs and an amazing view. Can’t beat that!
• Friendly and helpful staff
• Free coffee 100% of the time in the lobby

roof top deck – Marriott Residence Inn Denver City Center – May 2013

Other:

I’ll use this information to share some other general information that may be helpful for you if you are ever planning a trip to Denver (I highly recommend that you do.)

• Cab ride to/from airport: $60 each way (be prepared with some cash as some of the cabs will not accept cards.) The airport was located way farther from the city center than we anticipated. There is also a “super shuttle” you can take as well that I think is around $20 something each way.
• Dispensaries are around. However – as any locals will tell you – as of now, they do not sell marijuana to the general public – you must have a medical prescription/card.
• Denver is “the Napa Valley” of beer. There are tons of different microbreweries around with some great tasting beer.
• Denver is home to 7 pro sports teams
• If you are from New England, we have a bad rap of not being the nicest people around. However, in Denver it was glaringly apparent to me that people out there truly go OUT of their way to do nice things for each other – even strangers.

Rock Bottom Brewery – Denver, Co

So Denver, thanks for the hospitality – we’ll be back! More details and pictures to come about restaurants, bars and activities we enjoyed. Truly a great vacation in a great city!

Colorado Tomorrow!

Hello!

Tomorrow, I am headed off to Denver, Colorado! I am going with my sister and one of my best friends and we are beyond excited!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have a Marriott Rewards credit card through Chase. Since, I travel a decent amount, I have accumulated a fair amount of points and was able to use Marriott reward points for our entire stay in Downtown Denver. So, in layman’s terms – we are not paying for the hotel the entire time – we are solely paying with Marriott reward points!

This trip (much like any other trip) is on a budget! Our flights cost about $276 round trip (1 short layover each way) which is pretty decent. We are staying at a Marriott downtown that offers free breakfast, free internet and a nightly happy hour that includes free beer and wine and an assortment of light appetizers.

As far as itinerary for the trip – each of us did some research. Personally, I did a series of google searches on the best bars/restaurants/clubs, best attractions and best activities that Denver has to offer. I also used trip advisor and asked a few of my friends who have been there about the “must-do’s” and “must-see’s.” My friend, Helena and my sister, Maura also did their own research about what they would like to do in Denver. We then compiled everything into a list and created a google doc to design an itinerary. I love when trips get spontaneous and are “in the moment” but I also like having some sort of plan / loose itinerary. That is to ensure that we get to see and do things that we REALLY want to and they do not get lost in the shuffle.

Current weather in Denver – cold and snow. This is not ideal for us, as it is now May and we are ready for warm weather :) but we are still beyond excited and ready to have an amazing trip.

I will keep you posted – see you tomorrow Denver!! 

South Shore Bars & Restaurants

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday, we are half way through the work week!

For today’s post I decided to focus on the South Shore area of Massachusetts and do a breakdown of some of the best bars / restaurants to go to for date night, girls night out or a group outing.

Drinks / cocktails / Bar bites:

• The Black Raspberry Pub – Located in Cordage Park in Plymouth the Black Raspberry pub is hidden in the back of the building. It offers your regular pub food options, but what is really special about this pub is that it offers FLIGHTS of MARTINIS. That’s right – choose 4-5 martinis to try in one sitting! They also offer a full bar with reasonably priced coctails and beers, so bring your designated driver. Another draw is half priced pizzas on certain days, live entertainment and poker tournaments.

website: http://www.theblackraspberry.com/AppSalKids.htm

• The Driftwood Publick House – Located in Court St. in Plymouth, MA, Driftwood Publick House offers a wide range of draft and bottled beer. The beers also vary in alcohol content and flavors etc. Another cool aspect about this bar is that when you order a beer, you are given a glass BASED on the alcohol content. For instance, if you get a budlight, you will get a larger glass (as it is lower in alcohol content) than the SIERRA NEVADA HOPTIMUM  (which is 10.4% alcohol). The prices for these beers, wine and cocktails are easy on the wallet as well. Lastly, Driftwood offers some cool and creative twists on pub food such as a Philly Stuffed Pretzel, a petzel stuffed with steak, onion, and American cheese cheese served with a spicy creme fraiche. (Try it, its delicious.) 

website: http://www.driftwoodpublickhouse.com/welcome.html

Menu – Coop’s Bar & Grille

• Coops Bar and Grill – If you are looking for a place to come and relax, eat some comfort food and play a little keno and/or trivia after work or on the weekend, Coops is a great place to go. Located on Washington St. in Quincy, Coops has trivia weekly which is always fun. It also offers daily food specials and cheap drinks. The bar staff is super friendly as well.

Website: http://www.coopsbarandgrille.com/

• Cagney’s – Cagney’s is also located on Washington St. in Quincy. It is small, local bar with great food and reasonable prices. They also organize events such as 5K’s and fundraisers and offer trivia weekly. Their chocolate martini is amazing and only $8 -$9. A must try.

Website: http://cagneysquincy.com/

• Pizzings – Pizzings is located in Marshfield, MA and is a local hot spot. It offers 50 cent wings every Monday. Choose from 45 sauces/ flavors for your wings!! It also boasts cheap beer and cocktails.
  

website: http://www.pizzingspizza.com/marshfield/menu.html#wings

Date Night:

• Fat Cat- Fat Cat is one of my personal favorites. It can be a bit expensive but it is ALWAYS worth it. They offer unique menu items and GIANT portions of food. Also, their wine, beer and cocktail list is definitely up to par. The Fat Cat has the wine of the month that is offered by the glass at a discounted price and also offers entire Fat Cat brand line of wine as well. This restaurant does not take reservations and is extremely small. Be prepared to wait or try to go at an off- peak time. The small intimate setting is great for a date. 

website: http://www.fatcatrestaurant.com/

• East Bay Grille – East Bay Grille is located right on the Plymouth, MA waterfront. It is a bit pricey but it’s menu includes fresh seafood, pasta dishes and creative cocktails. The outdoor deck is great in the spring and summer months. It is definitely a nice restaurant and location for date night.

website: http://www.eastbaygrille.com/

• The Fairview Inn – Located in the Brant Rock area of Marshfield, the Fairveiw doubles as an inn and restaurant. The Inn has an old, rustic feel to it but is tastefully decorated. It normally attracts an older crowd, but nonetheless, it is still a great restaurant for a date. The food is excelled and they pour strong drinks. Often times, you will see the Fairview on livingsocial.com or groupon.com for discounted vouchers. I have snagged a couple in my day and have never been disappointed. 

website: http://www.thefairviewinn.com/

Girl’s night:

• Bistro Chi – Bistro Chi is located in downtown Quincy. It is has a modern look and feel and has an extensive menu and cocktails. Great place to share fruity, fun drinks with the girls, get some sushi or orange chicken and relax.

website: http://www.bistrochi.com/menu.html 

• Roo Bar – The bar offers a refreshingly fresh and creative menu. Its a great place to come with friends and try the different
  

  Crab cakes topped with green apples – Roo Bar

  pizzas, appetizers and seafood. Roo bar offers an extensive list of cocktails/ berr/ wine as well. The interior of Roo Bar is aesthetically pleasing as well, an interesting mix of contemporary and rustic.

website: http://www.theroobar.com/

•  Hola – Hola is a small little place in Marshfield. It has a fantastic menu of tapas and small plates to share. Hola is also known for their unique and tasty ingredient combinations and flatbreads. They also mix signature cocktails and feature a different cocktail weekly.

website: http://www.restauranthola.net/

• Anna’s Harborside Grille – Also situated on the Plymouth Waterfront, Anna’s Harborside Grille has great options for lunch and dinner. For those of you with gluten allergies – it has a huge variety of gluten free options. Its bold and modern decor is a great atmosphere for a girls night out.

website: http://annasharborsidegrille.com/

• Blue- eyed Crab – I have mentioned the Blue- Eyed Crab in a previous post, but it truly is a restaurant that shouldn’t be missed if
  

  Dessert platter – Blue-Eyed Crab

  you are in the Plymouth area. It has a menu inspired by Caribbean island flavors and offers fresh seafood. It also is a Rum bar that boasts a variety of different rums. The decor inside is fun and makes you feel like you are sitting on a beach in the Caribbean. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive and that is always a plus. 

website: http://blue-eyedcrab.com/

Company dinners or group dinners:

• Wahlburgers – Owned and operated by the Wahlburgs, Wahlburgers is located in the Hingham Shipyard in Hingham, MA. It has comfortable outdoor seating and outdoor heaters for chilly nights. It also has a FULL bar and the food is pretty good too. You have a choice to be seated and served or you can order at the counter yourself.
  

website: http://wahlburgers.com/

The Cabby Shack – Located on the Plymouth waterfront, The Cabby Shack has an enormous deck that overlooks the ocean. In the summer months, it is an amazing place to enjoy the sun and knock back a couple beers. Cabby Shack does have a decent amount of sitting for big groups, but again – in the summer make reservations or prepare to wait. Another big draw is the daily specials and deals.

website: http://www.cabbyshack.com/

Breakfast:

• Mad Hatter Cafe – This place is a small little cafe on Main St. in Weymouth, MA. It is family owned and operated and it is a classic breakfast cafe. The food is excellent and the wait staff is friendly. The place is small and seat yourself  – so I would suggest not going at peak hours.
  

website: http://www.facebook.com/MadHatterCafeWeymouth

• The Early American – This is another small breakfast place based in downtown Quincy. The prices are UNBEATABLE and the food is always good. Definitely a good value.
  

website: https://www.facebook.com/TheEarlyAmerican

Been to any of these places? Share your thoughts or comments!

Northeast Day Trips!

Hey everyone!

With the weather getting warmer, I thought it would be a good time to highlight a couple of day trips ideas in the Northeast area that I really enjoy. Whether you are looking for something to do on a day off with a group of friends, family or your significant other, there are plenty of fun and easy day trips in the area! They are also really affordable :)

Castle Island – South Boston

view from Castle Island

Castle Island is a great place to go on a sunny, warm day for a walk, run or picnic. Logan Airport is right there and offers incredible views of landing planes. There is a snack shop there called Sullivan’s that serves seafood, burgers, sandwiches and ice cream. In the summer months, there are beaches within walking distance for swimming/ tanning. Also, Fort Independence is situated there and offers free tours. Another plus = free parking as well.

Website: http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=6&sid=44

Nashoba Valley Winery – Bolton, MA

Nashoba Valley Winery

Nashoba Valley Winery really has a lot to offer. On top of being a beautiful location, it has orchards for apply picking and is also a great place for a picnic. It is also home to J’s Restaurant. But the real attraction = the winery and the wine tasting. Wine tastings are done everyday from 10AM- 4:30PM – no reservations required. For a $5 tasting fee you get to taste 5 different wines and get a complimentary wine glass! They also have some real cool / award winning wines such as Blueberry Merlot. They also conduct tours of the winery itself as well – no reservations needed!

Website: http://www.nashobawinery.com/

Kittery Shopping Outlets – Kittery, Maine

Nestled in Kittery, Maine the outlets here offer a lot of great sales and promotions. It is compromised of well-known brand name outlets such as Charlotte Russe, J.Jill, Puma, Adidas, Gap and Old Navy. You will also find some really cool lesser known stores such as the Kittery Trading Post.

Website: http://www.thekitteryoutlets.com/directory.cfm

Redhook Brewery – Portsmouth, New Hampsire

Some friends and I at Redhook Brewery

Located in scenic Portsmouth, NH, Redhook Brewery is a popular destination for college kids and elders alike. Redhook offers a fully functional restaurant and of course – tours of the brewery! Tours are $1 (AMAZING) and include a short tour of the facilities some history on Redhook and…the best part…4 samples of beer! Redhook also holds several events throughout the year such as a 5K race and Redhook Fest.

Website: http://redhook.com/breweries/portsmouth-brewery/

Rye Beach – Rye, New Hampshire

Having gone to college nearby at the University of New Hampshire, Rye beach has a special place in my heart. While the beach is well known by locals, it is never crowded and you can always find a good spot to set up your coolers, beach blankets etc.

Website: http://ryebeachinfo.com/

Plymouth Waterfront – Plymouth, MA

Mayflower

Plymouth, MA is a quiet town in the winter months and a bustling tourist attraction in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Plymouth has many historic sites such as Plymouth rock, the Mayflower and Plymouth plantation. It also has a few of its own beaches like White Horse beach. However, lets face it…if you grew up in Massachusetts or the surrounding area, you know that Plymouth Rock is a rock with a year stamped on it. What I love most about Plymouth is the beautiful waterfront area and the amazing bars and restaurants. The waterfront bars and restaurants boast fresh seafood and unique menus. My particular favorite restaurant on the waterfront is called The Blue-Eyed Crab Caribbean Grill and Rum bar – it has refreshing Caribbean dishes and fresh seafood. The New World Tavern is a bar that offers beers from around the world and has quite the variety on draft. Can’t decide on what beer to order? Don’t worry – they offer flights of about 5 beers you can pick to try. Lastly, whale watches and other fishing and boat cruises leave from the Plymouth waterfront docks and tickets can be purchased on site.

6 Flags New England – Springfield, MA

6 Flags is a huge destination for school trips and thrill-seekers of all ages. While this is an obvious choice for the Spring and Summer – 6 Flags Fright fest in October is always worth the drive. If you are a AAA member, take advantage of the discounted admission tickets and parking! Go to your nearest AAA location to purchase both the discounted parking ticket and admission ticket. If you do not have AAA, bring your specially marked Coca Cola can for discounted admission tickets.

Website: https://www.sixflags.com/newEngland/index.aspx

Was this helpful? Have other ideas for day trips? Let me know, please leave a comment!

Planning an Affordable Trip: First Steps

Hey, Hey, Hey!

We all know how important a budget is to trip planning. Conversely, we also know how difficult it is to stay WITHIN the budget! I plan/ have planned a number of different trips for both work and leisure and have found a few different ways to aid in keeping travel AFFORDABLE. Lets face it, as 20-somethings, we don’t have the funds to putting up mad money!

Tip 1: Research, Research, Research.

• While it requires a little bit more time and effort on your end, researching sites such as Orbitz.com, travelocity.com, bookit.com, hotwire.com and kayak.com for different prices will 100% save you money. Playing around with dates, timelines, and airlines as well is a good trick to getting the cheapest airfare/hotels possible.
• If you don’t mind getting a couple of extra emails a week, you can subscribe to the email lists for these website and get alerted to “members only” sales and coupon codes.
• Another trick is to follow your favorite airlines and hotels on Twitter and/or Facebook. For example, I follow JetBlue and
  Southwest on Twitter, so I can see as soon as they post those amazing $49 flight deals :)
• As I mentioned above, sometime the airlines themselves have flight sales for both one way trips or round trips. It is a good idea to always give the specific airline website a quick glance to see if they are having a sale or if they lowered the price of a certain flight so that more customers will buy directly from them vs. a website like orbitz etc.

Tip #2: Rewards Programs and Frequent Flier Programs

• While there are differing thoughts/ theories on how to most effectively use these programs, I have found it successful to join every airline’s free frequent flyer program. It is easy to join straight through each respective airline’s website. I have found this effective because I do find myself traveling to different domestic and international destinations and sometimes I do not have the option to stick to my favorite 2-3 airlines. Therefore, each time you fly with an airline, you will get points no matter what airline you fly.
• I have also found it valuable to join the free loyalty programs (again, you can easily sign up from each respective hotel website.) Much like flying I think it is nice to have an account number with a hotel (or multiple) chain. Currently, I have free accounts with both Marriott and Hilton. You get points for each stay and any purchases you make at the hotel gift shop.
• Lastly, if you are comfortable with getting a credit card, that is a fantastic way to show your loyalty to an airline or hotel chain and it will kick start your point earning for free flights and hotel stays. Chase also has credit cards that you can get to also earn points to all aspects of travel. It is really a personal preference. I currently have the Visa Marriott Rewards Card and I love it. The perks include free hotel stays, late check out, and 20% off at hotel stores and Hertz. Points are awarded as follows: 5 pts. per every $1 spent at the Marriott; 2 pts. for every $1 spent on airline tickets, car rentals & restaurants; and 1 per $1 spent everywhere else. I am planning a trip to Denver, CO at the moment with one of my best friends and my sister and we are not paying for a hotel ANY of the nights we are there. I paying solely on points/ vouchers from my Marriott card! :)
• If you are a AAA member, ALWAYS remember to get your discounted hotel room rate.

Tip #3: Plan ahead.

• Plan flights ahead of time, flights get more expensive the closer you get to your departure date.
• When booking hotels, look to see if they include breakfast, parking and internet. Many hotels will include at least one the 3, if not all 3 depending on location and brand.
• If you are planning to go to extremely popular tourist attractions, research them ahead of time to see if tickets and/or reservations need to be made ahead of time. (Also, this is helpful if you are going in a big group)

Tip #4: Daily Deal Websites

• Daily deal websites such as groupon.com, livingsocial.com, google offers etc. often have getaways and vacation deals. These deals often include in-room amenities such as chocolates or a bottle of wine or include some type of dinner offer. It is important to research the hotel or resort that is being featured in these deals. However, I have had a great experience using these deals. I purchased a trip to The Palms in Las Vegas last October and it included entry to all the night clubs, all hotel amenities and access to the AMAZING buffet of food offered at the hotel. It was a fantastic deal and it was a great experience. These sites are just another place to look for a nicely packaged deal at a truly reasonable price.

The Palms – Las Vegas – we stayed here with the Groupon we purchased

Questions? Comments? Tweet to me @unabridged_12 or leave a comment below :)

Pray for Boston

Happy Wednesday everyone!

As a Bostonian, I felt it 100% appropriate to mention the tragic events that occurred at the 117th Boston Marathon on Monday 4/15/13. At around 2:50 PM, at the height of when most runners are crossing the finish line, two explosions occurred in succession on Boylston St killing 3 bystanders and injuring 170+ more. These explosions are said to be an act of terrorism – either foreign or domestic (as of now, this remains a mystery.) The explosives were said to have been made with pressure cookers with timers and filled with ball bearings and nails.

all picture rights to rawstory.com

My heart and thoughts are with the people affected by the bombings. As a Bostonian and as a person that usually attends this iconic and inspiring marathon each year, this horrific tragedy hits close to home. Two years ago (2011) one of my best friends ran the marathon. Her family, friends and I were all there to support her. Had this tragic event happened two years ago, she may not be here to tell about her triumphant finish to one of the most well-known marathons in the world. This goes to show that life is unpredictable and we need to live each day like it is our last. It really drives home the point that it is essential to not take anyone/anything for granted and hold the ones we love a little closer.

One thing is for sure, the city of Boston will not take this lying down. Boston has always been and will always be a tight knit community. The terrorists or whoever is responsible can try to instill fear and chaos, but they will never prevail and Boston and the rest of America will always persevere. Boston is not a city to be messed with and you can bet we will find out who is responsible for these awful acts.

It was heartwarming to see the rest of the country come to our aid and support. From the front pages of newspapers and publications across the country, to the New York Yankees (our biggest rivals) playing Sweet Caroline at the end of the third inning. It is appreciated. United we will ALWAYS stand.

Stephen Colbert says it all here with a flair of humor: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/04/17/watch-jon-stewart-and-stephen-colbert-respond-to-marathon-bombing/

A member of the UNH Hockey team has designed t-shirts that will be sold and 100% of the proceeds will go to charities aiding those who were affected in Monday’s tragedy. If you are interested, there are two different designs and you can purchase them here:

http://inktothepeople.com/marketplace/ink-detail/3752

http://inktothepeople.com/marketplace/ink-detail/3751