The end of summer is almost here. *Depressed sigh*
The words alone make me want to cry. Not to mention the fact that: I have not been swimming one time, I have no tan lines to speak of, and the most exciting place I’ve been all summer is…well, nowhere. 🙁
I could use a vacation. Maybe a little end-of-summer rendezvous with my hubby to a warm locale far, far away (…a girl can wish, right?!?)
If you’re thinking of a little end-of summer trip, Chris Staudinger, a travel blogger for Expedia, suggests you be spontaneous and go somewhere you haven’t been before. And with help from a travel app, such as #Expedia, you can plan a great, last-minute summer getaway at rock-bottom prices.
The new #Expedia app can help you book your end-of-summer trip
“[According to a new travel survey conducted by Expedia] twenty-five percent of Americans now say they are using a mobile device to book all their travel… [With] the Expedia app, if you’re looking for a last minute hotel it gives you an exclusive deal; you can save up to 60%. [The app] also shows you a rolling window of places that are really good for the area. So it…allows you to pick and choose and be spontaneous.”
Spontaneous isn’t necessarily a word that we as parents can relate to, especially when it comes to family travel. There’s time off to coordinate, checking to see if the kids can miss practice, and finding someone to watch the family pet. But family travel doesn’t have to mean going far away. You can be spontaneous right in your own backyard.
Great destinations for your end-of-summer trip
For a fun and affordable end-of-the-summer trip, take an overnight trip to Cleveland. You can visit a museum, take in an Indians game at Progressive Field, head to one of the city’s great beaches, or sightsee throughout our neighbor to the north. Even further north you’ll find Geneva on the Lake (one of my personal favorites). Right in the heart of Ohio’s wine country, Geneva-on-the- Lake has a mile long strip filled with activities for kids of all ages including an arcade, putt-putt, go-karts and waterslides. There’s great dining to try, parks to explore, piers to fish off of and a relaxing spa at The Lodge at Geneva-On-The-Lake. Other great local destinations? Try Mentor on the Lake, Columbus (check out Cindy’s posts from her visit there this summer), Pittsburgh or Canton.
“Of the people who are using a travel app, we’re seeing that [they] are booking their hotels in areas where they’re searching for it…and almost always for the night of. So that’s great for family travel because you just get in the car and take off somewhere for the day you don’t always know where you’re going to end up you. You can book [immediately through the app] and the best part is, if you book that night you’re usually saving up to 60
percent on it,” explained Chris.
If you’re really feeling adventurous, Chris says forget the tried and true locations and opt for somewhere new for family fun, like the Nevada desert.
“Vegas is a place that you wouldn’t normally think of for family travel but it’s really opening up its windows for things for the kids to do but also having some spa time so that the parents can relax,” said Chris.
#Expedia makes last-minute travel easy
No matter where you decide to book your last-minute summer getaway, Chris recommends having the Expedia app on your phone to definitely make traveling easier.
“People who are using the mobile technology are booking the stuff that they find nearby. So when you open up the app, it shows you everything within 10 miles of the area and rates all the different deals. But also, if you’re using something like Groupon, [the Expedia app] gives you activities in the area as well. So it really allows you to explore but you don’t have to go out and drag the kids around to make them look at each place as you try to weigh your options,” explained Chris.
More Travel Advice from #Expedia and Chris Staudinger
For more information on last-minute travel destinations, lodging and activities, visit Expedia.com. You can also follow Chris’ personal travel blog at Captain and Clark.
Click here to watch my full interview with Chris Staudinger featuring the #Expedia #Tripaday giveaway.
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