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Seashore Park Inn
I always tell myself that I love going new places, and trying new things, but when it comes down to it, I’m definitely more of a person of habit that leans toward the places that I know and love. When it came time for me to chose what hotel I would stay at during my weekend getaway to Cape Cod, I started looking at places I’ve never stayed in, located in towns I’ve never stayed been to. Somehow, though, I ended up staying at one of the only hotels I’ve stayed at on the Cape: Seashore Park Inn.
Cape Cod hotels are always over priced, but I knew that this hotel would be decent. I stayed there six years ago, and I figured it couldn’t be too bad. It’s also only a short drive from two nice beaches: Skaket on the bay side and Nauset on the Atlantic side, within walking distance of ice cream and mini golf, has an outdoor pool, and has free breakfast. Basically all you can ask of a Cape Cod motel for under $150 a night.
Greg and I arrived at the hotel, and after checking in with the very helpful and friendly staff, I quickly realized that absolutely nothing had changed since I had last been there. I doubt they did a single repair or update. The room was clean, but the fan in the bathroom was broken. The light bulbs in the bathroom somehow radiated extreme heat. The TV made an odd buzzing noise and sounded like it was going to explode. The comforters were old and scratchy. We had an actual key to our rooms’ door. When was the last time you stayed at a hotel without a key card? And the decorating was clearly done in 1970.
Outside of the room, it looked like the walls could have used a paint job, and some of the tiles in the outdoor pool were missing or rusty. One of the plastic chairs at the outdoor pool broke while a man was sitting in it.
Now it sounds like I had a horrible experience at this hotel. That’s not the case at all, though. Although it hasn’t been renovated in a while, the hotel was still charming and relaxing like a Cape Cod inn should be. The staff was extremely helpful when we checked in. The directions to the closest beaches were in a binder in the room. And the balcony outside of the room was a nice place to sit.
Biggest plus of all: free breakfast. Yes, it was a free continental breakfast, but as I’ve said before, while on vacation I’ll take any free food I can get. They had bagels, english muffins (and a toaster to toast them in), cereal, fruit, coffee, juice, and some really great fruit danishes. I definitely stocked up both mornings.
Overall, the Seashore Park Inn is an affordable, clean hotel on the lower cape. The rooms could use some updates, but it’s not going to keep me from returning. I like staying in Orleans, and the Seashore Park Inn is a good option.
Best Western Orlando Gateway. Image from their website.
I’ve been to Orlando an embarrassing number of times, and each time I’ve stayed close to Disney. This spring break, we were going to stay close to Disney, again, until we discovered that now that we’re all over 21, the Pleasure Island clubs and bars are closed. Just our luck. And of course, being spring break, we at least had to do a little “traditional spring-breaking.” So my friends and I decided our best option was to stay closer to Universal Studios so that we could go out at their City Walk.
We found a great deal on the Universal website for one of their affiliated hotels, the Best Western Orlando Gateway. Five nights, flight, and 3 day park tickets to Universal for only $518 each.
The hotel was decent enough, considering the only time we really spent there we were sleeping. The best part about the hotel was definitely its location. It had a free shuttle to Universal that left twice in the morning and returned twice in the evening, but it was also within a 20 minute walking distance of the City Walk/ park entrance. We walked back a few times, and the one night we went out we took a cab back and it was under $10.
We stayed in a a regular room, which was kind of small for the four of us. I feel like we could have found a cheap suite somewhere in the area and would have been a little more comfortable. The room had a mini fridge, which was a nice surprise so we could keep our waters cold.
Unfortunately, we didn’t request a non-smoking room, so we ended up on a smoking floor. I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes, and although it only smelled in the hallway and not in our room, I still feel like all of my clothes smelled.
The pool area was ok. Just ok. The pool was heated, which was nice when it wasn’t so hot, but by the time it got up to 80 degrees the water didn’t cool you off at all! Also, by around 3:00 most of the pool area was covered in shade, which made it difficult to lay out in the sun.
There was a little store/deli/ snack place downstairs where I bought a big bottle of water (1 liter) for $2.50 every morning so I could stay hydrated without wasting my money at the parks. That definitely helped me save some money, especially since I always drink a lot of water.
Hotel Lobby from Best Western's website
On the downside, the staff wasn’t very helpful. Every time we asked them a question, whether it was about transportation to Disney, the Universal shuttle, or a cab to the airport, they just seemed annoyed. When we asked what the cheapest way to get to Disney was, the woman at the front desk responded, “What you didn’t rent a car?!” We replied that we didn’t. We’re not 25 and the extra fees weren’t worth it. So she told us our only options were either an $80 round trip cab or a $18 per person round trip shuttle that we would have to schedule a specific time for and that would stop at different hotels. We asked if there was any cheaper way, like taking a bus closer to Disney, and then taking a cab, and she replied, “Uhh well. I mean it stops a lot. And doesn’t stop at Disney.” Thanks, for nothing. At least my dad knows a lot about Orlando so I was able to call him, and he told us about the public bus.
All in all our stay at the Best Western Orlando Gateway was fine. It definitely is not one of my favorite hotels in the Orlando area, but it wasn’t horrible.
Oasis Cancun!
Think of Spring Break, and what do you think of? Cancun, Mexico, of course, with it’s packed beach parties, open bars at clubs, and continuous craziness. Spring break isn’t the only time to visit Cancun, though. In fact, I think that winter break is actually better. You still get the tropical party atmosphere, but it’s not as intense. If you don’t want to drink at 10 am, there’s room on the beach or by the pool for quiet relaxation. I’ve never been to Cancun during spring break, but I can imagine that quiet relaxation is near impossible.
Anyways, I went to Cancun with three of my friends during winter break this year. We got a great deal through my friend’s aunt who works at Gardner Travel Agency. I was a little upset that I didn’t get to do the planning, but it worked out well. We got the perfect week-long getaway from cold and snowy Massachusetts: gorgeous weather, a hotel on the beach, and never-ending nightlife for around $1100 total each. We stayed at Oasis Cancun, a large all inclusive resort that boasts 12 restaurants, 8 bars, one of the largest pools in Mexico, and a variety of other amenities. Apparently, it’s also the hotel that hosts a lot of parties, concerts, and activities during spring break.
the whole resort
One thing to remember if you’re staying at Oasis Cancun, is that you’re not staying at Grand Oasis Cancun, which is the pyramid style hotel in the middle. Guests at the Grand Oasis have different color wristbands and are allowed to dine in certain restaurants, drink at certain bars, and sit at certain sections of the pool, where guests of the regular Oasis aren’t allowed.
On the positive side, the sprawling resorts offers tons of places for relaxation. The pool and the beach are great, but if you want chairs you have to claim them by 8 am and if you want beach towels, you better get them by noon. Once you’re settled in the chair that you had to hunt for and have a clean towel, relaxing by the pool or on the beach is wonderful. The ocean water is the perfect temperature and turquoise color, and the breeze is just right. A dj plays music starting around 11:00 or 12:00, and everyone sips their frozen drinks and has a good time.
The food is decent. It’s great for the first few days, but once you realize that most of the restaurants serve the exact same food, it gets a little boring. Most of the restaurants are buffet style, which makes since because the food is free, but it kind of reminds me of a dining hall at school. One restaurant, the steakhouse, Serape (I think), is definitely the best, though. The atmosphere is a little more formal, and although you get your side dishes from the buffet, the waiters come around with so many different types of meat. They have chicken, filet minon, pork, sausage, etc. So delicious.
beautiful ocean
Drinks are also included. The bars offer frozen margaritas, daiquiris, pina coladas, wine, Corona, and other cocktails. The frozen drinks taste great, but they put only about a drop of alcohol in them, I’m guessing so that the guests don’t get drunk any faster than they already are.
Clearly, Oasis Cancun is the perfect fit if you’re my age (in college), but I wouldn’t recommend it to older adults or families who want to experience luxury, good service, or a family-friendly atmosphere. One of the pluses for college age visitors is that a great majority of the other visitors are the same age as you, which makes making friends easy. The hotel reminded me more of my freshman dorm than a resort; people were running down the hall obnoxiously at 4 am, making friends with the kids nextdoor, leaving their doors open, calling other rooms during the middle of the night. I’m not complaining, but I’m sure someone twenty years older than me with small children would be.
our leaky bathroom
The resort also lacks in the customer service department. Getting clean towels was a daily hassle that involved going up to the front desk 10 times. Also, when we arrived, one of the rooms we were staying in hadn’t been cleaned and there were no blankets on the bed. It took the staff about 8 hours, 5 phone calls, and 3 visits to the front desk to solve that problem. Then, a couple days before we left, my friend and I returned to our room to find that our bathroom ceiling had leaked and flooded the floor. Needless to say, they solved that problem hours later by putting a bucket and some towels on the floor, and never apologized.
Despite the negatives, I would definitely visit Oasis Cancun again. Maybe even next year if the swine flu is over. It’s the perfect destination for people in their late teens to early twenties who are just looking to have a good time. Next time, my standards won’t be so high, and I’ll enjoy my stay even more.
Coming soon: Where to go and what to do in Cancun.
During Spring Break this year, 8 of my friends from BU and I traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We found a great deal through hotels.com: under $500 per person for the flight and 5 nights in a hotel. The trip was a lot of fun; we got to relax on the beach, go snorkeling, take a tour of the rain forest, kayak in the bioluminescent bay, wander through Old San Juan, and of course go out to clubs and bars.
Overall, the trip was more of a relaxing vacation with friends that an a drink-all-day-and-party-all-night booze fest. Unlike Cancun or parts of Florida where spring breakers crowd the beaches and late night clubs, Puerto Rico is full of travelers of all age groups.
The nine of us stayed in two different rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites in the Isla Verde section of San Juan. Since I was in the group of 5, we were in a one bedroom suite. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and we had enough room for all five of us between the living room, kitchen area, and bedroom. On the downside, the hotel guests weren’t really our age; most were older adults, flight attendants or business travelers. It could have been more fun if we stayed where ever all the college students stayed, but how much time do you really spend at the hotel when there’s so much to do.
The small pool area had a little poolside bar (and swim up bar) that served tropical drinks, burgers, sandwiches, and snacks. The sandwich I got there was pretty good, and decently priced (about $7). The only negatives about the pool were that it was surrounded and shaded by the hotel, and that planes flew loudly overhead.
The free full buffet breakfast was definitely one of my favorite parts of the hotel. I’m a big food-lover, and free-food is about as good as it gets. Every morning they had a different hot item like eggs or french toast, plus regular continental items, fruit, and yogurt. It was nice to start every day with a substantial breakfast, and it definitely saved us a lot of money.
The hotel was a short walk from the beach, which was very nice. I could have laid out all day, everyday, but I didn’t. We took two different excursions that were both a lot of fun. One day we went on a catamaran that took us snorkeling and to an uninhabited island. It was a nice trip but basically the same trip that you do on every Caribbean island. Fun, but not really worth $80 (especially since I did the same thing in Cancun two months earlier).
Another day, we went to El Yunque Rain forest and hiked to a beautiful but very cold waterfall. We all went in the freezing water and took a bunch of pictures. The hike wasn’t very difficult, probably a mile or two, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. Our tour guide was very funny, friendly, and knowledgable. There also was this great restaurant at the base of the mountain that served delicious authentic Puerto Rican food and had great homemade hot sauce!
The rainforest tour also included a kayak tour of the biolumiescent bay. Sounds nice, slowly kayaking through glowing waters, but in reality, not so nice. The glowing water was really cool, but unfortunately, my friend and I were not the best kayakers. We ran our kayaks into the trees about a million times, could barely see, hit about 10 other kayaks because we couldn’t stop ours, and had to be pulled by one of the leaders. I probably almost cried about 100 times. Also, some of our other friends accidentally followed another group and got lost. Basically the whole bio bay tour was not run very well. Tip: Learn to kayak before you go and follow the right group.
As far as night time entertainment goes, it’s no where near as crazy as Cancun. The first night I went out, we went to Old San Juan. We got some margaritas at this nice little bar and then headed to this club, Laser, which was supposed to be good. Not at all. It was full of locals, smoke, and loud reggaeton. It was nice to see where the locals hang out, but I’m all for music I know and air conditioning.
The next night we got this great deal at a bar down the street from our hotel called Bed Lounge: $15 for open bar! It wasn’t too big, but they played good music (popular American rap and hip hop) and had a dance floor. Upstairs they had a roof deck with a bunch of comfortable chairs, couches, and of course beds, as well as another bar. The weather was perfect so we sat up there for a long time.
Our last night before we went home, we went to one of my favorite bars: Senor Frogs. I love the big plastic cups, the funny games, and the free shots they pour in your mouths. The Senor Frogs in Cancun was much bigger and better, but this one was still fun. Senor Frogs is in Old San Juan, which is definitely another interesting area to visit. The hilly streets offer countless of great places to shop and eat, and the buildings are all painted in bright, tropical colors.
As far as dining goes, we ate a bunch of great places, but sadly I can’t remember any of the names. One of the places that was very close to our hotel, overlooked the beach, and had $5 glasses of Sangria. Wonderful. I wish I could remember the name. It was inside a small motel that was next to the beach, but other than that ???
Well, this post is becoming too long very quickly, so I’ll end with these last words of advice: Puerto Rico is a great place to vacation if you’re looking to get away from the crazy spring break crowds but still want be on a warm island that has lots to do.
So, this is my first post here on Sun, Sand, and Savings. In this blog, I plan to write reviews of places I’ve been to recently and post deals that I find for my vacation wish list. The majority of the places I review will be warm weather, beach destinations because that’s where I usually travel, but my wish list deals will be from around the world. I have a feeling that no one’s going to see this blog for a while, but I’ll start posting my finds anyways.
Planning and going on vacation has been a hobby of mine since I was a young girl. I can’t remember a family vacation that I didn’t help plan. Every time my parents announced that we would be taking a trip, my sister and I would spend hours online searching for the best hotel within our budget and the cheapest flights. My parents always listened to our suggestions, except once when I was about 11 and my dad picked this horrible hotel in Lake George, NY.
I love travel, but I haven’t been far. All the other travel bloggers have been everywhere. I, on the other hand, ventured outside of this timezone for the first time in January, and the only countries I’ve been to outside of the United States are Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
I would love to travel more, but unfortunately I don’t have a great deal of money right now. Neither do my parents, hence the exclusively east coast travels during the first 18 years of my life.
I spent 24 hours a week this semester at two different unpaid internships and only was able to squeeze in about 20 hours of working as a sports bar server. Like every industry, the restaurant industry has been hit hard by the recession, and I’ve seen a substantial decline in my tips since last year. Fortunately, thanks to my wonderful credit card, I was able to take two trips this winter: Cancun during winter break and Puerto Rico during spring break. Thank god it wasn’t the other way around or I could be sick with swine flu right now.
Hopefully my future will be full of sun, sand, and savings on great vacations. Who knows, maybe one day this poor college student will be paid to review hotels around the world. Wouldn’t that be nice? Watch out Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel, I might be stealing your job.
