Mapping My Month: December 2014

ONLY 25 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Yes, I am one of those overly enthusiastic Christmas nutters.  I've been listening to Christmas music on the sly since early November, and I bought the first gift way back in July.  I'd planned to be completely done with my shopping by this time so I could just kick back and enjoy the season, but I'll be out there braving the crowds with everyone else.  'Tis the season!

Because of holiday festivities, November's and now December's travels were and will be confined to local destinations.  Although, in spite of a little snow, we did travel to Pennsylvania for a white Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family.  It's the first time my immediate family has all been under one roof since my brother's wedding in June!

A photo posted by The Thrifty Gypsy's Travels (@thriftygypsy87) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:39am PST

November Recap:  Berlin Wall at the University of Virginia, walking down "memory lane" at Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, touring the grounds of Virginia Tech while visiting my sister, experiencing the new tasting room at Midnight Brewery, trying the new BJ's Brewpub in the west end of Richmond, talking for 12 hours non-stop with a friend recently returned from Southeast Asia, driving through the snow-covered battlefield of Gettysburg, and traveling to Amish-country in eastern Pennsylvania.

I'm sure December's weekends will fill up with holiday parties, family gatherings, and Christmas shopping.  Realistically, we won't be doing any traveling this month (although I'd dearly love to sneak up to D.C. to see the Magna Carta while it's on display!).  Maybe we'll be able to do something special for New Year's Eve.  But you know what?  I'm okay with not going anywhere.  Not just because I feel like being close to home and family for the holidays, but also because (drum-roll please)...

We bought plane tickets to Europe!!!

That's right!  We'll be making our way back across the Atlantic in the spring for 17 days of traveling, exploring, visiting family, and making new memories with some dear friends.  It goes without saying that the last leg of our trip will be spent in Germany, but the first six days will be spent in a country we've not yet visited.  Stay tuned for a promo giveaway in a few weeks when we announce our travel destinations and plans!

Where did you go in November?  Got any plans for December yet?

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Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Remember to give thanks and reflect on all the blessings in our lives - big, small, and in-between! 

Photo taken at Gettysburg National Battlefield this morning.

Selecting the "Perfect" Hotel

As a thrifty traveler, my requirements for hotels can be condensed to just three things: clean rooms, accommodating staff, and a safe location.  We cram so much into our itineraries that our hotel rooms are little more than a place to rest and recover before another packed day of sightseeing.  And until we can afford to stay at such specialty lodgings like the Hotel de Glace in Quebec City or the over-water hut hotels such as the Four Seasons in Bora Bora (in which case, the accommodations are an attraction in and of themselves!), we are more than happy to stay in budget to mid-level hotels to save a little money.

Sad about leaving London... and the Club Quarters Hotel

After we've settled upon a destination but are still in the early stages of brainstorming a trip, I begin perusing sites like Trip Advisor and Hotels.com to compile a list of hotel choices.  I skim the reviews for the good, the bad, and the ugly of hotels within our price range, keeping in mind that some negative reviews are written by people who simply cannot be pleased and are looking for the slightest provocation to write a bad review.

With TripAdvisor on one screen and Google Maps on another, I begin ranking hotel potentials.  While all of them must meet my three basic requirements, I also prioritize hotels based on amenities such as free breakfast, free WiFi, proximity to attractions, price, and the enthusiasm with which reviewers recommend the establishment.  And unless I'm looking for lodging in the U.S., I almost always avoid chain establishments.  I just can't bring myself to travel halfway across the world just to stay at a chain hotel like a Best Western!  (No offense, B-dubs.)

The Riverside Mamaison Hotel in Prague

With this method, even if my top choice hotel is booked, I have at least a few more options available up my sleeves thanks to my list compilation.  Generally, I try to reserve and book directly through the hotel.  While third-party sites such as Hotels.com or Orbitz may purport to offer the best prices, I've found that hotels actually tend to be cheaper when booked directly and save the establishment from ponying up some of their profits to the third-party website.

So what does an example of my list look like?  Here's the short-hand list I made when deciding where to stay in Rome:

Relais Forus Inn                                
$105/night                                        
Near Termini; affordable price; mostly good reviews                                    


Maior                                                  
$124                                                    
Rave Reviews; over budget          

Cesare Balbo Inn                              
$110                                                    
Hostel; good location                      

Hotel Andreotti
$72
Near Termini; good reviews; pretty rooms

Ultimately we decided upon Hotel Andreotti and were very glad we did (see my review here).  But there were many hotels that could've potentially been a "perfect" hotel for us, and it's important to note that what worked really well for us may not necessarily fit your traveling style or needs.  If you're looking to keep a reasonable budget without sacrificing amenities or location, sticking to mid-level hotels (like we do) and using our listing process may help you find your own "perfect" hotel (inn, guest house, or hostel!) for your travels!

Mamaison Hotel

How do you choose the "perfect" hotel for your travels?

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