Catha For Council Blog

Cleveland boasts of different hotels to suit your needs and budget. Here is a rundown of what you can expect to spend on a quality Cleveland hotel.

Cleveland hotels for families

If you are traveling to Cleveland as a family, then you can take advantage of the many family discount packages available. Family suites in Cleveland typically feature perks like unlimited cable television and complimentary breakfast for all family members.

The hotels may also give you and your family discounted tickets to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Science Center and the OminiMax Theater. Where you stay determines what complimentary tickets you get (some even give them or free), so be sure to ask your travel agent or the hotel concierge about this. Expect to spend about $120 to $160 (plus tax) a night for a Cleveland hotel family package.

Cleveland hotels for honeymooners

Most Cleveland hotels offer “romance packages” for as low as $170 (plus tax). These packages typically include sumptuous breakfasts for two, a free bottle of champagne and delicious desserts (like chocolate covered strawberries). Pay a little more and get personal weekend planning assistance and free drinks in posh restaurants. Some higher-end romantic packages include free spa sessions and golf games.

Cleveland hotels for sports fans

Looking to watch Cleveland games? Then choose Cleveland hotels near the Quicken Loans Arena (also known as the Q Arena) and Jacobs Field. Rates start from about $120 (plus tax), but they tend to go up during game seasons. It is best to book early - this way you get to enjoy regular rates and grab a spot in the free parking areas.

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Britain’s prosperous & frequently cruel history is without a doubt most rendered in it’s historic buildings & nowhere is this more unmistakable than in those properties connected to the Royal Family and their celebrations.

For a generous time now the British Monarchy has been distinguished as being critical to the success of the United Kingdom. They have captivated foreign day-trippers for years and carry on to stimulate the interest of travellers of all age band. Buckingham Place has been regarded as the Capital’s home of the English monarchy since Queen Victoria became inducted as queen in eighteen thirty-seven. it’s one of a small number of operational royal palaces enduring in England today. Click here to visit the Enjoy England website.

Buckingham Palace is used mainly as a workplace but can additionally turn out to be an entertainment venue for the fifty-thousand royal visitors invited to the Palace yearly. There are well over 600 bedrooms, including nineteen state quarters, 52 royal & visitor bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, ninety two offices, but more remarkably an in-house cinema & swimming pool.

Right through the spring & summer, foreign travellers can move around the gorgeous state kitchens, that form the heart of the Palace. These marvellous rooms are improved with a mixture of the top assets from the Royal collection, including sculptures by Canova and also paintings by the many eminent artists like that of Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto.

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England?s enthralling & time and again malicious past is without a doubt best portrayed in its historic constructions & nowhere is this clearly obvious than in those properties allied to the Royal Family and their revelry.

For a considerable period now the British Monarchy has been regarded as being decisive to the accomplishment of the United Kingdom. They have captivated overseas people for years and continue to stimulate the curiosity of overseas visitors of all ages. Buckingham Place has been certified the Capital’s home of the British monarchy from the time when Queen Victoria became inaugurated as queen in eighteen thirty-seven. it’s one of a tiny amount of working royal palaces enduring in the United Kingdom at present. EnjoyEngland today and discover Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is used predominately as an office, but can as well be converted into a ceremonies venue for the fifty thousand royal visitors invited to the Palace each year. There are more than six-hundred bedrooms, including nineteen state digs, fifty two royal & guest bedrooms, seventy eight bathrooms, ninety two offices, but more impressively an in-house theatre & swimming pool.

Right the way through the spring & summer, day-trippers can go around the stylish state studies, that help shape the heart of the Palace. These impressive rooms are improved with numerous of the top assets from the Royal compilation of works, including sculptures by Canova and also paintings by the many well-regarded painters for example Rembrandt, Rubens & Canaletto.

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Rather refreshingly, Spain doesn’t seem to start gearing up for
Christmas until they get into the month of December. It’s not
the huge commercial circus that it is in the US and the UK; the
lights and decorations won’t be seen until the start of December
and gradually Christmas markets start to appear and trees can be
bought in the streets.

It’s also worth noting that Spain is largely a Roman catholic
nation so the festivities still hold important religious
connotations, the first date of note is December 8th, Immaculada
(the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), this really kicks of
the start of the religious celebrations. The holiday period
really begins on December 22nd when all of Spain tunes into the
television or radio to hear the results of “El Gordo”, a huge
lottery draw that will see thousands of prizes dished out to
winners from across the country.

Christmas Eve is a huge family day in Spain and is known as
“Nochebuena”. A massive meal will be prepared for what is the
biggest feast of the year and the most important family
gathering. Fish and shellfish are usually consumed to start
with, followed by a roast such as lamb or a suckling pig and
desert is the traditional marzipan or Turrn (an almond based
sweet very popular in Spain). Cava is typically the drink of
choice at this time of year. It is also customary for adults to
exchange their presents on “Nochebuena” and although the kids
may get a small gift, they will have to wait until they get
their presents. After the dinner the majority of people will
then go to midnight mass, known in Spain as “La Misa de gallo”
(the Mass of the Rooster).

Every town, church and, very often, home will have a “Belen” (a
nativity scene) at this time of year and some are extremely
large and impressive. Sometimes they will be set up in a town
square with real actors to form a life-sized recreation of the
nativity. These scenes form an important part of the Christmas
celebrations to Spaniards and are repeated throughout much of
Latin America.

Christmas Day itself is one of the quietest of the year in
Spain. As in most of the western world it is a public holiday
and all shops, banks etc will be shut for the day, more and more
families now observe the tradition of going out to a restaurant
for a meal. There certainly isn’t a great deal in the way of
unbridled celebration as tend to be the case in the UK and US.
The kids don’t even receive their presents on this day, for that
they have to wait until January 6th, Epiphany, when the three
kings brought their gifts to Christ. Rather than Santa, it’s the
three Kings who are the heroes and in particular, Balthasar, who
is said to leave them their presents. Traditional cakes called
“Rosca de Reyes” are typically eaten on this day. Much like
putting coins in Christmas pudding in England, the cakes are
baked with plastic charms in them and are said to foretell a
lucky year for those who find them.

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Perfect Family Vacations That Won’t Blow Your Budget

What makes a perfect family vacation? That depends on your family; what they like to do, where they like to go, the ages of your children, even your parenting style. But most families will agree that a perfect vacation needs to be relaxing and fun with something for everyone. There is a seemingly endless list of resorts in the United States that fit that description. But for many parents, there is one more essential aspect of the perfect family vacation. It needs to be affordable.

Again, the term affordable is a relative concept, but for many families, a resort that costs more than $350 per night takes the fun out of the vacation. Parents on a budget are too busy worrying about how they will fund the trip and are unable to relax and enjoy themselves. Or limited funds means that a more expensive resort results in less to spend on tours, attractions, and food. Many families end up staying in cheap hotels with no kid-friendly amenities rather than spend all their vacation money on lodging. But by searching for discount resorts or obtaining the services of a knowledgeable travel consolidator, it is possible to find many affordable family resorts across the U.S. that won’t blow your budget. Here are some examples.

The Critera

U.S. resort under $350/night

Structured activities for kids of all ages

Family friendly atmosphere

Wide range of activities to accommodate different interests

Disneyland

Disneyland is one of the world’s all time favorite family vacation destinations. Anyone who has traveled there with children knows that it meets our criteria of a wide range of family friendly activities. Known to be one of the more expensive family vacation destinations, there are affordable lodging options that provide easy access to Disneyland and help keep costs down. The All Star Music Resort is one of Disney’s most affordable resorts. As the name implies, it has a music theme, with different areas decorated to reflect various music genres including jazz, rock, country, and Broadway. The resort’s two pools are shaped like a piano and a guitar. Kids love the playground and arcade. Parents love the baby-sitting service.

The basic amenities are in keeping with a budget resort but are more numerous than those of a standard hotel. Most rooms sleep four with two double beds. Dining facilities are limited to a mall style food court, but the wide variety of choices is sure to please everyone. Rates for a family of four at this 2000-room, Disney resort start at just over $100 per night. Because it is part of the group of Disney resorts, there are often vacation specials and packages available.

Rocky Mountains

Many parents are familiar with the family-oriented mission of the YMCA programs. Located in urban areas internationally, this kid friendly organization offers many educational, sports, and social opportunities. The YMCA of the Rockies, Colorado also operates two budget vacation resorts that help families get out and enjoy the legendary beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park Center are nondenominational programs open to any guest. However, members receive a slight rate discount and have their reservations processed first. In addition to opportunities to enjoy the mountains, summer children’s programs operate daily for ages three through 16. Age appropriate activities include hiking, hayrides, roller skating arts and crafts, campfire cooking, orienteering and archery. In winter, families can spend the day cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 125 miles of groomed trails, and return to the resort to warm up in the indoor pool. Estes Park and other prominent winter activity destinations are nearby.

Lodging options include cabins and lodge rooms. Cabins range from two to five bedroom and include a fireplace and fully equipped kitchen. Rates begin at $138/night. Lodge rooms have two queen beds and a set of bunk beds. Rates begin at $64 during off-peak times. Accommodations are not luxurious but then you are on a budget, right?

Northwood’s Getaway

Some of America’s original family resorts focused on simple accommodations that provided easy access to the great outdoors. Nitschke’s Northern Resort, in Minocqua, Wisconsin has carried on the fine example of the original resort, with its tidy accommodations, coupled with the pristine setting on the edge of a lake, surrounded by forest.

Activities include fishing, hiking, boating, jet skiing, or simply relaxing on the porch of your cabin. The beach and playground provide additional play opportunities for children. Icefishing and snowmobiling trails provide winter entertainment options. Despite the secluded, natural setting of this family resort, the town is within boating, walking, and driving distance when you need groceries or a change of scenery.

Cabins accommodate up to eight people easily and rates start at an amazingly affordable $180 per night.

Award-winning Resort

Many of the award winning family resorts are beyond the means of those on a budget, but Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania offers the amenities of a luxury resort for under $350 per night. Located on a private lake in the Northern Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, this family owned resort was voted Favorite Family Vacation Spot by the readers of Better Homes and Gardens. Open year-round, the resort offers an amazing feast of activities from waterskiing, sailboating, and bumper boats in summer to snow tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling in the winter.

Kids of all ages love the go carts, batting cages, pool water slide and hayrides. Parents enjoy the Jacuzzis, massages for themselves and the all-inclusive rates that are difficult to find at U.S. resorts. Prices vary depending on room selection, time of year and number of people, but a family of four can purchase a four-night package that includes room and 12 meals for under $350 per night.

Another All-inclusive

The family-friendly, all-inclusive pricing draws hundreds of families south of the border to Mexico each year. But families don’t have to leave the country to find all-inclusive deals. Tyler Place Family Resort on Lake Champlain in Vermont also offers this pricing that includes meals, snacks, lodging, and most activities.

Tyler Place’s eight different kid’s programs offer structured nature and outdoor programs for children of all ages. Family water activities include sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, paddleboats, bumper tube rides, banana boats, and lots more. Other entertainment includes tennis, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor pools, and group sports. Newborn and infant care is provided for parents who want to take art, yoga and aerobics classes, or visit vineyards in Quebec.

Discount, off-peak rates for a family of four are just under $300 per night and include lodging with separate children’s rooms, all meals and access to services and activities.

This list of affordable family resorts is just a taste of what’s available out there for perfect family vacations if you are willing to sacrifice some of the luxurious accommodations in lieu of a more family friendly atmosphere. As with many vacation destinations, traveling during off peak seasons will cut costs, and watching out for vacation specials, cheap airfare, and discount car rental can also help keep costs down. Vacation planners who work with a variety of destinations and packages are often able to locate great vacation deals for you and your family. The perfect family vacation doesn’t have to blow your budget. It just takes a little planning and research.

About the author:

About the Author
C.J. Gustafson is a freelance writer and photographer who travels extensively for work and family vacations. A cheapskate by nature and necessity, she is always on the lookout for last minute travel deals and affordable vacation destinations.
© 2004 1st-Family-Vacations.com

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