Timeshares and Vacation Rentals Over Hotels

I'll be honest. I rarely stay in hotels. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've stayed in a hotel in the last ten years. I don't have anything against hotels. In fact, I enjoy them quite a bit. What I also enjoy is having a little more space, being able to make food if I don't want to leave for a meal, and I like feeling special. I also like saving money and staying somewhere unique. 

People ask how we travel so much and, realistically, I don't think we travel any more than other people could, we just make the effort to actually do it. We don't have more money than they do, even if we don't have kids. My husband doesn't have more vacation time than they do. I'm lucky enough that I can take as much time as I want, because I only work part time outside of the house and they are very flexible with me. So, all in all, I think the only reason we are out so much is that we plan to use vacation time we have.

One of the ways we planned early to vacation more efficiently is to purchase a timeshare. Not one of those that you only get a week at a certain place, but one that uses points that we can spend on any destination they offer. Over the years, we've actually purchased a second timeshare that works much like the first and has locations in different destinations. One is better than the other and gives us access to all RCI rentals, but the other is available in places that we go often (namely, Vegas) and fits us well. 

Surprisingly, we don't always have a place to stay when we travel, and in those instances, we choose a vacation rental, generally, through Airbnb. I like the feeling of being at home on vacation. It's a bit more relaxing and lot less stressful. Here's why we choose a timeshare or vacation rental over a hotel:

More space

Tired of only having the bed and that one uncomfortable chair to sit on when you're in your room? Unless you're booking a studio, but even then, you have separate spaces in your room. Someone can get in the bedroom while someone else is sitting in the living area or at the dining table. 

I get stressed out when spending all day everyday with people, even if it's Eric, so having a space where I can go and be "alone" for a little bit is nice. You'll often find us back in our place doing our own thing. I'll be checking email and Eric will be watching TV or playing a game on his phone. That quiet time is really helpful. And if I need more space, most of our timeshare locations have a nice little lounge area where you can sit and read a book or watch sports. 

Make your own food

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not one to get up early to go have breakfast. I'm happy getting up and eating a bagel while enjoying my coffee and setting up posts for social media. I also like to bring back leftovers. 

Our first stop once we get off the plane is the grocery store. We pick up breakfast foods and snacks, but sometimes we grab things for at least one dinner, that way we save money and I'm less grouchy in the morning. When we bring back leftovers, we can heat them up properly, or we can make a whole meal if we want...and we have. Most rentals and timeshares have all the things you need. I've even made breakfast smoothies with the blender. (One breakfast out costs at least $10. If you multiply that by 7 days and 2 people, that's $140. Why spend that when you can purchase a whole week's worth of breakfast food for around $40?)

Some places have grills as well, so you have even more options for making foods when you're away from home. We've shared a three-bedroom with friends and their kids and grilled some chicken breasts for dinner and made sides in the kitchen. We've seen other people take advantage of the BBQs, making steaks and ribs for their family.

Everything's included

Unlike hotels, you're paying for extras, even if you don't use them: laundry service, gym, spa, sauna and whatever else. When you stay in a rental or timeshare, all that is included. You don't have to pay more for more amenities. I've stayed in rentals that have doormen and parking facilities and I've stayed in timeshares that have ping pong tables, mini golf and shuffleboard. Use it or don't, but the option is there.

Laundry facilities

I pack light. You know that. I hate carrying extra stuff. This means I'm doing laundry. Hotels hardly ever have laundry facilities, because they want you to use their laundry service, which is crazy expensive. My timeshares either have laundry in-room or have a laundry room on-site (usually free). I plan to stay in early one day during the week to clean all my clothes. This is the time I grab a movie from the front desk or Redbox, make something cheap and fun for dinner (though we've just grabbed takeaway too) and just chill. It forces us to relax and slow down a little.

Clean up after yourself

One of the things I love most about rentals is actually the thing I  like most about hotels. I have to clean up after myself...or I don't have to. I don't have to put my big mess of stuff away each day before the maid comes to clean, because housekeeping only comes in when I leave (unless I'm there for over a week, then the timeshare sends someone to come make up the bed with new linens and change out our towels). 

I like being in charge of myself. I have everything I need to clean up, including a vacuum, so I don't have to worry about a stranger coming in and looking at my stuff. Yes, I'm aware that's weird. I also like the freedom to stay in without having to put out my Do Not Disturb sign. I can keep all my toiletries out, I can leave my dirty laundry in a corner (not that I would), and I don't have stay out between certain hours until my room is done.

Free parking

A lot more hotels are charging for parking now. If you're renting a car and also getting a vacation rental, you can choose ones that offer free parking. Most timeshares have parking facilities that are included, so you're actually saving $15+ per day.

These are just my top reasons to have a timeshare or use a vacation rental. There's plenty of other ones. With a timeshare, you can book way ahead of time of your trip, plus you've already paid for it, so you don't owe anything else. It means you feel the need to actually use it, because you're paying for it. With a vacation rental, you can book anytime, including last-minute. 

What are your pros for a vacation rental or for a hotel instead?

Eating Well At The Airport

It can be difficult to eat well or healthy when you travel, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. With some planning, you can totally do it. One of the hardest places to eat well is at the airport. There are tons of fast food restaurants, making it challenging to avoid eating a crappy hamburger and fries that cost three times as much as they do at home. You could pack your own snacks – which is not a terrible idea – but sometimes you just want to kick back and let someone else do the work for you.

Airports with the best foods

Boston Logan airport is where you go to find amazing fresh seafood. It's healthy and delicious and Legal Test Kitchen gives their own modern twist on all sorts of ocean dwellers, including crab & avocado salad, baked Boston scrod, and a tuna burger.

Chicago O'Hare mixes sandwiches with your favorite Mexican food that people clamor for at Tortas Frontera. Chef Rick Bayless has created "tortas" like garlic shrimp and the Chochinita Pibil with braised pork.

Denver International pulled in the city's famous restaurant Root Down to give flyers great farm-to-table meals as well. Look for delicious and healthy dishes like the baby beet salad, mushroom tart, and green chili and smoked lentil soup. That doesn't mean they only have vegetarian dishes, you can also indulge in steelhead trout, Korean short ribs, and lamb sliders.

Miami International has the taste of Cuba right in the terminal. Versailles is one of the most well-known Cuban restaurants and now you can eat there no matter where you are in the airport, as there are five Cafe Versailles locations throughout. Enjoy scrambled eggs & croquettes, plantain soup, and empanadas when you've got a hankering for a unique cuisine before you flight.

Minneapolis St. Paul International has a lovely and chic venue with a menu by Andrew Zimmern. You won't find the Minnibar menu packed with bizarre foods though. You order via iPad and can get your favorite classics with a twist, including a grilled cheese and a steak sandwich. Need a little fortification before your flight? Order the Bloody Mary that comes with a ton of additions that you may just want to claim you had a salad.

San Francisco International, unsurprisingly, has something for everyone, including vegetarians. The Plant Cafe is where to go for a healthy and flavorful meal on the go. In one place you can order an immune-boosting juice or smoothie, a colorful quinoa bowl and a mango lime chicken panini. 

What to look for

Just because a restaurant has salads doesn't mean it's uber healthy. In fact, many salads have more fat and calories than a burger. Don't use all the dressing and avoid things with anything fried. 

Look for veggies, even if you aren't a vegetarian or vegan. The extra vitamins will help your immune system deal with all the extra germs you're being exposed to on a travel day. 

Avoid as many fried foods as possible and instead opt for something like grilled chicken or seared fish. It won't weigh you down and make jet lag more probable on long flights. 

I love carbs, but eating too many when I'm traveling makes me tired and blah. It's the same as when I eat fried foods. I want to arrive at my destination feeling refreshed and ready to go. And if I get there at night time, I want to be able to sleep well. 

What to pack

I always pack snacks in my bag, whether I plan to eat it on the plane, at the airport or while I'm off sightseeing. Some of the best things to bring are fresh and protein-packed. 

• Nuts are easy to eat and don't make a mess, plus you don't need that many to squash the hunger pangs. 
• granola bars, which you can buy, but are better if you make them yourself. They are super easy to make and customize for your tastes. 
• Whole or cut up fruits. Do you love apples? Cut them in slices then soak them in a bowl of cool water with a tablespoon of lemon juice for 15 minutes, then you can toss them in a baggie without worrying about them browning. 
• Carrot sticks, broccoli and celery are all great travelers. If you have some room in your 3-1-1 bag, include a packet or peanut butter for dipping and extra energy.
• Dark chocolate can give you a natural boost of energy, just don't stuff your whole bag with it, because a little goes a long way. 

Where do you like to eat at the airport or what snacks do you like to bring along when you travel?

Review: Daily Goodie Box

Ever wish you could try new products out before you bought the full size box or case or however they come? There are tons of monthly boxes that cover things you love: books, makeup, fandom goodies and even jewelry. But what about food and health items? While you can request samples of some items on their websites, wouldn't it be fun if you just got a box full of samples that came right to your door? I mean, I have gotten shampoo and toothpaste trial sizes before, it has taken a long time to show up and it's just one thing.

Now, you know I use trial sizes to take with me on my trips, because I don't need a full-size lotion or foundation when I'm only going to be gone for a week. I'd love to also do this with food and other items. Daily Goodie Box is a free service that gathers awesome new products and puts them together to send out to consumers who want to try them out. Shipping is free. All that's asked of you is to review the items you've received in order to be eligible to receive more boxes in the future.

My Daily Goodie Box was packed full of cool stuff. Things I'd be excited to take with me on a trip and also use at home. 

There were a dozen items (average is 10) and i was super excited to try them out.

A few of the snacky things were perfect for my carry-on's front pocket, allowing me to have something to munch on while on the plane. 

You also know that I'm a "fan" of doing laundry on my trips in order to pack lighter and save money on baggage fees. My DGB came with the fantastic Nellie's laundry soap, which works in high efficiency machines, so it goes further. I like bringing my own detergent, so I save money. Having dry soap is easy to handle and doesn't mean I have to add something extra to my liquids bag. I also received a full-size stain stick. Now I can get that food stain out of my shirt and do it as naturally as possible. You can purchase Nellie's in tablets as well, so there's no measuring required. 

  

Do you like jerky and stuff like pepperoni sticks? I do! My box came with a beef and pork stick from Vermont Smoke & Cure. I immediately pulled it out and chowed down on it. So good! The next time I hit up Target, I found a bag of these sticks and snatched them up. They make great snacks for work, plus are full of protein with nothing gross added to it. They aren't cheap, but are affordable enough that I'm willing to grab a bag every now and then as a special treat.

It's been a while, but I once did a review of Dream Water on a trip, because my first day in a new place is always a challenge to get to sleep, no matter how exhausted I am. Dream Water gives you that extra push to fall asleep with all natural ingredients like melatonin. It's hard to travel with Dream Water, because it's a liquid, and buying it at the airport can be prohibitively expensive if you can even find it. Being able to purchase Dream Water in powder packs not only save money and space, but it's easier to bring more than one with you if you have trouble sleeping more than just the one night or there are several of you who need help falling asleep. 

Since you don't have anything to lose and only free products to gain, go sign up for Daily Goodie Box and wait for awesome stuff to show up at your door. Now, there's no guarantee that you'll get a box, because of limited quantities, but if you do, try your products as quickly as possible so you can give your feedback. This feedback is shared with the companies that are sharing their products with DGB (and you). Like me, you may find some new favorite things, for travel or otherwise. 

What's the best free trial product you've ever received?

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Disclaimer: I was provided with a Daily Goodie Box for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.