San Antonio Riverwalk Hotels and More

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OK, We had our awesome memory filled family vacation. It rocked! For a Mom that likes to travel on a budget, and travel as often as the budget will allow.....I still crave one more awesome mini trip before the summer races by. Remember the Alamo!??? I do. For most of us Texans, San Antonio is a jewel that should be treasured as often as possible. Summer, fall, spring, whenever! San Antonio Riverwalk is a romantic, escape for the entire family to consume. I can not count the trips over my 30 plus years, but each is unique and in the same breath familiar. Now that I am a stay @ home, with two super kids it is key for me and my husband to travel having found sweet deals, while keeping the 4 star gal happy. I would love for us to come together as one big "family" and share our best Riverwalk tips for all to enjoy. I am not the expert, and I can promise deals will come and deals will go, but communication is golden. What have you discovered when planning your trip to the Riverwalk? Watch my video for more! It will be added July 7. (Share your tips today!)

Have you found it can be smart to shop travel sites right before a holiday? I have seen a lot of deals on travel sites when looking to book a hotel in San Antonio. Many have 20% off, and a few had 40% off. You did not have to book for that holiday. It looked to be a deal that extended for the few days before or after. Don't forget to clear your history in your tools. Do this before your search, and between sites.

 Paseo del Rio


FYI..The Riverwalk was expanded in 2009. Mas es bueno!

Some of the hotels nestled in the area are the following.

Crockett Hotel, Drury Inn & Suites, Emily Morgan, Hilton Palacio Del Rio,
Holiday Inn Riverwalk, Hotel Valencia, Hyatt Riverwalk, La Mansion Del Rio,
Marriott Rivercenter, Menger Hotel, Riverwalk Plaza Hotel, Sheraton Gunter     Hotel, Watermark Hotel and Spa, Westin Riverwalk

For pet owners...there are a few(few) hotels that allow one pet. Last year we stayed at the Drury Inn. It was a good hotel. They had "happy hour" and you could get free snacks/sodas for the family, not just "happy Mom" beverages. ha It may be a little outdated for some. It was clean, and the roof top pool was very relaxing. It was a favorite spot for us. Not many hotels on the Riverwalk will you find large pools, so prepare for that. The room was nice. Again maybe a little dated, but unique. I would return.

My husband and I stayed at the Menger Hotel years ago. It is priceless in location! Beware of the room you book. I remember thinking we would be staying in one of the "original" rooms. I was disappointed to find we did not. My mistake on not making sure. Great pool area. We did not have kids the time stayed, and I am not sure I would book a stay with the kids. I would return with my husband. Just be sure you personally talk to reservations about the rooms. I can just remember the room being outdated, and frankly motel 6 like. I was also disappointed, so maybe had a bad taste in my mouth. You walk out the doors to the Menger, and you see Alamo. That is great! 

If y0uare celebrating anything at the Parks, let the "World" know.

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Wear A Button t0 Announce Your Celebration

One of the first stops y0ushould make when entering a Walt Disney World park is t0 find a place or cast member distributing "celebration" buttons. The most popular are the "Happy Birthday" buttons, since it is very likely something special will happen for y0usometime during your visit.

Cast members are very aware of guest celebrations, 4nd they will go out of their way t0 make y0ufeel special on your day.
In the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney world, go right inside City Hall 4nd announce your celebration t0 receive your button. But y0ucan also find a cart right outside the building with some of the celebration buttons ready for wearing. I've put photos below from the cart, but also noticed that one button, the "Happy Anniversary" selection was not in the cart 4nd y0uneeded t0 get one inside.






For children (of all ages) the Birthday button is the most popular since not only might a birthday cupcake show up at a meal, so will dozens of "happy birthdays" from cast members 4nd guests alike throughout your visit (so always wear your button).

My granddaughter Gianna wearing her Birthday Button.

There are many ways Disney will help y0ucelebrate your special occasion, 4nd they are listed on their web site at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/. In addition t0 buttons there are special gifts, cakes, create-your-own clothes, scrapbooks, phot0 sessions 4nd more. Of course, most will also cost extra, so the free buttons 4nd the recognition that ensues is one of those free "pluses" at the parks.

Please visit other websites in the A WORLD VIEW family:

• Disney Contests 4nd Sweepstakes (http://disneycontests.blogspot.com/)
• Disney Bloggers Collection – New Every HALF-HOUR! (http://disneybloggers.blogspot.com/)
• News from Disney (http://newsfromdisney.blogspot.com/)
• "A World View" Facebook (www.facebook.com/aworldview)
• "Disney Contests & Sweepstakes" Facebook (http://www.disneycontests.blogspot.com/)
• Twitter (http://twitter.com/wdwview); 4nd E-Mail (brucewdw@gmail.com)

TESTING COMPLETE on New Raffle Widget with a REAL DISNEY PRIZE

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Sarah Weiss winner of 40th Anniversary Item from WDW:
A Vintage Ticket Book Memo Pad

We tested a new widget called Rafflecopter as a means of hosting some Disney-related raffle prizes t0 promote the Disney Contests 4nd Sweepstakes facebook page. Over the next couple of months, we'll be posting free entry raffle opportunities for products purchased at Disney Parks or other Disney-related items. Our first contest is now complete.
The prize is an item I picked up on my last trip t0 Walt Disney World. It's a 40th Anniversary item, a Vintage Ticket Book Memo Pad that emulates the A-B-C-D-E attraction tickets from the past. These are printed on the back of memo pad paper. I've photographed the front 4nd back, which are below:



THANK y0ut0 THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED.

Carabane

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We spent our last couple days in the Casamance on the Ile de Carabane. Looking at these pictures, you can pretty much gather what our experience was like. Quiet and relaxing. There is not a lot to do there, which was just fine with us. We wandererd around the island (it’s located in the Casamance River a few miles before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean), made a sand castle on the beach, made conversation, ate good food.

Carabane
Carabane
Carabane
Carabane
Carabane
Carabane
Carabane

Carabanchel

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My first step is to look for an internet spot to receive my instructions. The members of the readers’ forum had promised me to compose a list of the bars I should unconditionally visit in Madrid in those few days while working in the National Library. I get in touch with them in the quarter of Carabanchel, in an Ecuadorian internet locutorio that has established an exemplary internationalist brotherhood with the proletariat of a large number of the countries of the world. Half of the room is occupied by a Columbian food store in which the wares are not arranged by sort, but by countries of origin. They line up on the shelves under handwritten shelf-marks like in a good library, in order the guest worker should not browse for long: Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, Poland, Romania... The countries known by me are unequivocally represented by wares in lack of which the guest workers of that country are orphan kids: for example mineral water of Borsec and poteen of BraÅŸov for the Romanian immigrants who are just illegally dismantling and selling as Francoist souvenir the iron grids of the once notorious, today abandoned prison of Carabanchel, thirty euros a piece of an ell. “Does it really sell?” I ask of the little round Columbian seller, with a hint to the water of Borsec. “Like hot cakes!” he answers with a large smile.

Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel

Award Winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

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The award-winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is situated on 1,500 acres in Lake Buena Vista, close to all of the area’s famous theme parks. The resort features a variety of recreational activities, including 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf, racquet club, 21-acre lake with water sports, half-acre swimming pool with 12 waterfalls and two waterslides and Camp Hyatt children’s programs. 

If your summer break didn’t include some fun in the Central Florida sun, it’s time to experience Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Enjoy deluxe guestroom rates as low as $129.00 when you reserve your Endless Summer vacation now through December 30, 2011.

“This is the best time of the year to visit the Orlando area,” says Paul Tang, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress general manager. “Our seasonal rates offer guests the opportunity to enjoy our extensive resort amenities for a fraction of the cost.”

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress special offers include:
•    Advance Purchase: This non-refundable offer features a 15% savings a night when you book your vacation online and pay in full at least 21 days prior to your stay.
•    Awaken: Enjoy daily breakfast for two and a late check out. Rates start at $149.00 per night.
•    Sunshine on Sale®: Extend your Endless Summer vacation with a fifth night for free when you book a four night stay.

Located just minutes from Central Florida’s world-famous attractions and theme parks, the 1,500 acre Grand Cypress resort offers families and business travelers a host of deluxe amenities and activities including:  

•    Exclusive golf at one of the resort’s four Jack Nicklaus Signature Design courses.
•    Camp Hyatt, one of the first resort programs created especially for kids ages 3-12, which offers fun, hands-on activities focusing on the culture, history and geography of Central Florida.
•    Half-acre outdoor pool with 12 waterfalls, two waterslides, and a sundeck.
•    Hyatt Stay Fit gym with state-of-the-art equipment, cardio theater, free weights, sauna and steam room.
•    Tennis and Racquet club with 12 tennis courts, two outdoor racquetball courts and a basketball court.
•    White-sand beach at the 21-acre Lake Windsong.
•    Spa and beauty salon with facial, manicure, pedicure and massage therapy services.
•    Newly restyled guestrooms with modern luxuries and high-tech capabilities.

Visit www.HyattGrandCypress.com to reserve your stay and extend your summer vacation with a fun-filled get-away. Terms and conditions apply for all offers.   

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is located near Walt Disney World, just west of Interstate 4 off Exit 68 in Lake Buena Vista. The resort’s address is One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836 and the hotel’s direct telephone number is 407.239.1234.

Caribbean Islands Hotels

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Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean, 60 miles east of the Dominican Republic, and 40 miles west of the US Virgin Islands. The Island is 100 miles long by 35 miles wide. The interiors are mountainous and the coastal areas are flat. Puerto Rico differs from many other communities in which you may have lived. The main difference includes the culture, the Spanish language and the unparalleled weather.

While Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, its culture and social mores are charmingly Spanish. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a politically stable Commonwealth of the United States and Puerto Ricans are American citizens. As a matter a fact, Puerto Rico is the oldest community under the American Flag. The Island became part of the United States in 1898. In 1952 the people of Puerto Rico voted for the permanent union with the US as a freely associated State of Commonwealth.

Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel
Caribbean Islands Hotel

Caribbean Islands Sunset

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If you want some adventure and need a break from your normal routine, you may want to have an exotic vacation. There is no other holiday spot that is more exotic than a holiday in the Caribbean Islands. Amongst the most popular spots in the Caribbean is the island of Aruba, which is a friendly and beautiful island paradise that is marked by pristine white sandy beaches. No matter what you want to do for your vacation, Aruba has a lot to offer. Here, you can catch the most beautiful and inspiring sunsets from almost any of Aruba’s beaches.

You can get yourself a perfect tan during the daytime if you are not going for wild tours like windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, fishing or cycling. After your busy day attending to your exciting adventure, you should consider taking a rest by witnessing the amazing sunset. Experiencing Aruba’s spectacular sunset can be done through many activities offered by tourist agency and hotels.

Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset
Caribbean Islands Sunset

Caribbean Islands Tourism

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A region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts.
The region consists of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north, the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands or the Lucayan Archipelago, which are in fact in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba, not in the Caribbean Sea.
These islands, called the West Indies, generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.
Bonaire is also chosen by many as a repeat Caribbean Island vacation because of the warmth and friendliness of the local people. It also has the reputation of being a very laid back place, where everything is tranquil and the pace of life is almost slow to stop which many people really love as a complete change from the ever increasing pace of their lives.

Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism
Caribbean Islands Tourism