Tripadvisor Hotel Bookings

 

Hello, again.  My life has wandered through many holidays and mountains of snow since my last post.  Today I'm planning our summer camping adventure to California.  For those of you who mix up the hotels and camping experiences, I've just read an article that I'd like to share. 

If you'd like to know how to find a clean hotel that doesn't break the bank, read this article from About.com: http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/calodging/a/we_choose_hotel.htm.
These travel writers taught me how to use the website www.tripadvosor.com. 

Here is my take-away:

1. Google your hotel and find the tripadvisor.com source for the hotel.
2. The first line will show:
3. The number of circles filled in - you want 3 1/2 or more. 
4. The number of reviews - you want more than 30 reviews for the   above circles to be reliable.
5. The average price indicated by the number of $ signs.
6. Look for the ratings on this preview: 23 out of 108 (hotels in this city).  The lower the number, the better.
7. If all of the above information make you feel pretty good about this hotel, click on the link and look at both the cleanliness and value ratings.

I'm feeling much more confident about booking a hotel for a couple of days in San Francisco before we rent a camper and head out to Yosemite National Park for a week!

Enjoy, Tammy

DIY - The Only Camping Stove You'll Ever Need

DIY Camping Stove - Recycled Can

This is genius!  The only cost is the knife you already own and the fuel - rubbing alcohol.  If you need a lightweight camping stove for back country camping, or an extra burner for cooking a big Sunday morning brunch at the campground, this is the stove for you!  Grab a tall, aluminum can out of your recycling bin, a pocket knife, and let the DIY lesson begin.  

DIY Popcorn Maker for Camping

See, camping recipes do NOT need to be difficult!  Popcorn is pretty tough to do while camping, unless you buy Jiffy and make it over an open flame.  We usually use a Coleman stove with the kids.  It's easy to burn yourself, or the popcorn, over an open fire.  This guy ALWAYS cracks me up. Enjoy!

DIY Intruder Alarm

Oh, the fun kids could have with a pack of mousetraps!  Can you imagine what my son's boy scout troop would do with this at summer camp?

This guy cracks me up!  But seriously, if you are back country camping, and a bit nervous about animals or other intruders, take a look at this video. 

Enjoy!

The Power of Camping

 



Many campouts are with a group of relatives, your best friends from school, or a big scout troop. 

And then there are those quiet ones, when you camp with only those closest to you. 

Or you're all alone.



This is when camping is a time to be unplugged. 

A time to travel far away from your ordinary world.

A time to be disconnected from your everyday routine.



A time to dream. 

On the ride there, walking a trail, casting along a stream. 

Pause to silently reflect on your world. 

Ask yourself questions.

Give yourself hours (or days) to find the answers. 



Dream BIG about your future.

Envision the life your want.

Sketch out ideas for change that will move you toward your goals.

Erase them, and try it again using a different perspective.




On the ride home, give yourself permission to make changes in your life.

Be at home with a revived spirit and renewed ambition. 

Believe in the power of camping.