Welcome to Travel Tip #9. It’s a new year and I’m planning a trip! I want to attend a TEDx Conference, ride horses, watch NCAA Tournament basketball, and sit on the couch in front of the fire and play 2048. The locations of these activities are located a few hours apart.
There was a time at which I would have fueled a plane and flown from location to location, but alas my pilot’s license is no longer current. Given the falling price of gas and a desire to really experience each unique moment of my time off, I’m thinking now is the time for a ROAD TRIP!
Living out of a suitcase the whole trip doesn’t sound very relaxing, so I’m going to land in one place from which I can do day trips. I need a home base – one with a comfy couch and a kitchen, but I’m not really comfortable staying in someone else’s home while they are away. Somehow that makes me feel like my personal space is being invaded. Yes, I realize that’s backward, but I get the same creepy feeling.
My solution? A condo or apartment style hotel. I can move in, unpack, stock the refrigerator, and RELAX! Having the option of a full kitchen assures me that I will be able to stick with my eating plan even if nearby restaurants do not offer appealing options. And, if I decide I’m not in the mood to ride horses after all, I can sleep late, eventually wander over to the couch and watch the fire while eating leftovers. Just like staying home on a long holiday weekend, I can play things by ear without having to go anywhere unless I decide I want to.
I love this idea. And I love the accommodations I’ve found in this category. Most of them include a washer/dryer, dining table, and more extensive kitchens than their cousin – the residence hotel. This means I can carry frozen homemade gluten-free biscuits and pop them in the oven. I prefer eating breakfast in my PJs so this makes me very happy. I really hate that walk from a hotel room to the lobby breakfast area in some kind of rigged outfit I threw on because I’m not ready to get dressed yet. It feels like some kind of perp walk with all the other prisoners watching to see how I look when I roll out of bed.
Take a look at some of these great places! They’re reasonably priced, and located across the country.
AKA can be your point of demarcation in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, LA, or London UK. Rates at the Times Square location begin at around $245.00 per night. The rooms are sleek, modern and spacious. http://www.stayaka.com/
Radio City Apartments gives you an additional option in Manhattan. A bit pricier than AKA, they’re still quite reasonable for the city with rates beginning at about $473.00 per night. http://www.radiocityapts.com/
The Twelve Atlantic Station Hotel in Atlanta offers this kitchen with an incredible amount of workspace. You may not even want to leave for dinner. Prices begin at around $204 per night. http://www.twelvehotels.com/atlanticstation/
The Residences at Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina is incredibly affordable with studio condos beginning at about $105.99 per night. One and two bedroom condos are also available and you can walk from your room to the Biltmore mansion. http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/
The Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma is an older structure that’s less condo style than some newer facilities, but it offers two levels of suites with either a butler’s kitchen or a full kitchen. Prices begin at around $260 per night. http://www.themayohotel.com/
Condotels in Lansing, Kansas have enough space for the whole family. All of the suites have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, seating for 6, and a full size washer and dryer. Rates are available by request. http://www.condotelsks.com/
Venice Beach Suites are charming and available with or without a view of the Pacific ocean. Prices start at around $159 per night. http://www.venicebeachsuites.com/
The Marqueen Hotel in Seattle takes you into the popular Queen Anne neighborhood of this city known for delicious food. Rates begin around $213.73. http://www.marqueen.com/
With so many terrific choices, I’ve got to narrow the field or I’ll be gone all year. Luckily, there’s next year, and next year, and the next year. I have confidence that I can get to many of them. Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to pack and what I’m going to purchase on the spot. I’ll let you know in Travel Tip #10.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
