24 Hr Special for One of Arizona's Most Luxurious Resorts!

This is one of those screaming deals that any followers of this blog are crazy not to take advantage of...including me. The Montelucia Resort is one of Phoenix/Scottsdale's newest resorts and is located at the base of the stunning Camelback Mountain in the tony Paradise Valley area.

I'm not sure why, but they seem to be having a fire sale, so I say, "Yay for us consumers!" Book by July 31st with rates starting at $99 per night!

The only thing I would caution of is that I've heard their main pool is under construction, so just be wary of that. Also, they do have a pretty hefty resort fee if memory serves.

However, the rooms are gorgous, the grounds are jaw-dropping, they have one of the best chefs in the country now running their food and beverage outlets and they have arguably one of the top five spas in the state...plus, covered parking so your car doesn't bake while you bask in the summer sun.

This deal has a fuse, so book by the end of day tomorrow to take advantage. Also, they are having a pre-paid spa special of $89 for a 50-min massage or facial Aug 31 through the end of September.

Enjoy!

Are Those Fireworks, or is that the Sound of this Blog Bombing?

Ok, I had every intention of making this blog successful and I haven't fully given up hope. However, I barely have time to travel with my family...much less write about it!

Let's see, since I left you last I've been to Columbus and to Flagstaff. Not exactly earth shattering stuff. I'm looking forward to going to Freedom Fest at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess tonight and I'll be at the Arizona Biltmore next week, so hopefully I can write a little something that could provide some insight for those of you who might want to experience either of those luxury resorts someday, but we'll see what I actually post on here.

I AM going on one good trip to New Hampshire in a few weeks, which I'm pretty excited about because it's an area that I'm not really familiar with and so I'm not sure what that experience will be like. Plus, I'm traveling with my sisters and extended family, so that always ensures some classic moments that may or may not make it onto this blog.

Other than that, I feel like my friends who are going to Atlantis, Scotland, etc. are on much more adventurous trips so maybe it's just a case of poor mom blogdrom. Seriously, did you read about all the places I just mentioned I'm going? I CAN NOT FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF because I'm not going anywhere exotic any time soon.

Being a spoiled traveler is one of the benefits and downfalls of working in this industry. I promise to suck it up and write something worthwhile for the thousands of devoted readers to this blog. (What? You haven't seen the anyalytics! They're off the charts!...cough).

In the meantime, if there's anything that I'm not mentioning that you'd like to more about, please feel free to comment on this blog and ask. PLEASE! I'd relish any feedback.

Happy 4th Everyone! Be sure to enjoy your freedom of travel and get out there!

Extra, Extra! Secret Travel Deals!

The International Society of Hotel Association Executives (ISHAE) is doing an online auction for the next couple of weeks and has hotel deals across the country for a smokin' deal. These hotels are donated, so they are at rock bottom prices.

You're welcome!

http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Browse.action?auctionId=157751407

A True Staycation

I spent all last week telling viewers of our local news about the best "Staycation" deals and, let me tell you, there are some great resorts offers in Arizona that I hope to take advantage of this summer.

However, when it came to where to go for Memorial Weekend, we decided to cancel our plans to head to Flagstaff and just stay home for the long weekend. The weather in Phoenix didn't even reach highs in the 90s (which is unheard of) and I was exhausted from the busy week, so we decided to chillax and have a weekend with basically no plans - i.e. a "Staycation".

Ok, I get that that word is cheesy and is nothing more than a marketing effort to entice people to stay local, but it's just an easy way to describe what we did, so please forgive me if I'm scratching nails on a chalkboard by using that over-indulged phrase.

So, holiday weekend traffic? We skipped it. Crowds of people at a parade? We wouldn't know. Overpriced drinks by the resort pool? Not for us! We enjoyed our backyard grill, finally broke out our homemade ice cream maker (p.s. why doesn't anyone tell you what a pain that is), cheered on the D-Backs at a baseball game, rented a movie On Demand and basically just enjoyed being together as a family.

I think that's the true spirit of Memorial Weekend anyway. Enjoying our lives as Americans and all of the freedoms that we take for granted on a daily basis. We took a picnic on a little drive that led us to the Seven Springs creek (a great little recreation area just north of Carefree) and enjoyed the temperature difference that just a slight elevation change provides.

However, at the end of this nice, relaxing weekend, we're all just about done with spending quality family time at home. As the temps climb and the days pass, it gets harder to keep two kids entertained and we can only take so much whining.

So bring on the summer vacation. Get ready to gas up the car. Get our resort room ready and we'll meet you at the dive-in movie. Summer is here and we need out of the house!

Thank goodness we live in AZ and so our options fun are endless.

Deals, Deals, Deals - But Not for Long!

There are so many great deals out there right now that I almost don't know where to begin. However, the one thing that they all have in common is: Limited Timing - so act fast!

• www.DiscoverAZVacations.com This is the online auction that is done twice a year and offers some of the most amazing prices on statewide travel packages you'll find anywhere. It's really only promoted to subscribers of the BiddingforGood auction site, so this is a pretty great "insider's" deal. Enjoy - but act fast because the auction closes on Friday, May 11.

• Ever wanted to stay at the iconic Arizona Biltmore? Well - you won't EVER get a lower rate than $83, which is being offered in celebration of the resort's 83rd birthday. The seven-day sale starts today and ends Wednesday, May 9. The $83 rate, for a basic room, excludes taxes and resort fee. The Biltmore reduces its resort fee in the summer, charging $10 this year instead of the usual $28. It also waives self-parking charges. The group code for the sale is 7Day. Book online or call 800-950-0086.

• The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs and Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak all-suites resorts are offering summer rates starting at $75 and $89 a night during their "Buy Now, Play Later'' sale for stays between May 29 and Sept. 8. The room must be paid in advance (at the time of booking) and this sales ends on Saturday, May 19. Book the deal online or call 800-947-9784. When calling reservations,  request  the "Buy Now, Play Later'' rate.

• Hotel Valley Ho $99 One-Day sale - Not only is this offer available for a limited time, it's only available to book on ONE DAY! Guests who book a room on Monday, May 7 for a summer stay can get a Signature Guest Room and more, for just $99. Reservations can be made for any night between Monday, May 28 and Monday, September 3, 2012. The $99 rate includes guestroom with private patio or balcony, complimentary Internet access, Welcome Drink upon arrival, access to fitness center and VH Spa facilities, No Resort Fee! Upgraded rooms and suites are available for reduced rates too. Live entertainment can be heard at the pool all summer long. Only registered hotel guests are admitted to the pool on Saturdays. Rooms must be booked on May 7 to receive this special offer. Guests can book online (“Featured Specials” box at the bottom of www.hotelvalleyho.com) or at 480.248.2000. The online booking link will only be available May 7 from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.