The perfect base for a Traverse City trip.
As a value focused travel writer, I have to admit that my work doesn't often focus on resorts. Maybe I like to be creative and try things not usually included in resort packages, or maybe I’m worried that the word resort is often synonymous with add-ons and optional purchases. Either way, it was high time that I stopped assuming and started experiencing and I was eager to put my first resort to the value test. We headed to Traverse City, Michigan, to experience the Grand Traverse Resort first hand.
If you're keen on glamping, Ontario has a pretty cool option. Check out my sleepover adventure at Long Point Eco Adventure. (Updated in 2021). The king sized bed, complete with Fairmont brand linens, is calling my name. While I’m chilly from spending my last few hours outside at an observatory, my gorgeous nest is deliciously warm, as I had the clever foresight to turn on the electric blanket. I slip between the buttery warm sheets with a happy shiver, dipping into a bowl of snacks as I connect to Wi-Fi.
A minute later, I see a ferocious spider, inching towards me. Welcome to glamping, Ontario style! Not quite camping, not quite a glamorous hotel, this unique hybrid form of accommodation is fast becoming a travel trend. But what is the experience like, who is it for, and – most of all – does it represent good value? Hostels? Hotels? B&Bs? Our travels will include just about everything!As many of you know, I'm a bit of an obsessive travel planner. Part of it is just who I am, and part of it is because planning is how I get the most enjoyment from my trips. I might only have a few days in a destination, but I can have several months of enjoying it. I love planning in advance, reading about a city's unique history, enjoying novels set there, and then have more fun playing with photos when we return.
With my list-y tendencies in full swing, I've already started looking at accommodations for our round the world trip that's scheduled to start in November. It's a short trip -under a month - and I want to make sure we enjoy every day of it. And, frankly, I want to get great value! We've already accomplished that on our flights, as we cashed in our points and strategically staggered flights to minimize taxes and airport fees. And now I want to get the best possible value from inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, hotels and more. And the more I look into this, the more I realize that there is more to accommodations than just the sticker price. Stylish hotels and tiny budgets? Why not? This is how we make the most of really cheap hotel rooms. Accommodation costs are a mixed blessing for a traveler. On one hand, with a bit of creativity, you can score great deals and save a huge amount of money. After all you don’t go on vacation to hang out in a room – you just want a safe, clean bed. On the other hand, if money is no object, a hotel room can be the absolute luxury retreat. Why spend a fortune on spas, restaurants, and clubs when you can melt into the incredible wonder that is high thread count, top end toiletries, bathtubs you can swim in, and impeccable room service – all with a view. What all great hotels have in common is that they appeal to all five senses. |
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