great takes on family travel in the U.S.

By the time you finish reading this, I don’t say you’ll be walking on water like Tiger Woods, but you’ll know the best golf courses in New York State, how to get hold of tee times of your choice, and enjoy golf vacations without breaking the bank.

You could make it easy and book yourself into one of these fancy New York vacations with a few rounds of golf thrown in. But these are usually budget busters, designed for upscale tourists.

So, let’s start with the courses. Here’s a full list of all public and private courses in New York, categorized by city. If that sounds like information overkill, here’s a filtered list of all the best golf courses, categorized by state. FYI, the second link is the 2007 rankings from Golf Digest, for the best golf courses in each state.

But the only name you really need to know is Bethpage Black in Long island, where the U.S. Open will be held from June 15-21, 2009. You need to book tee times two days in advance, if you’re not a New York resident. Before you can use their reservation system, you need to be a registered user. About 30 miles and 45 minutes from NYC, with a $4 reservation fee and $100/120 for weekday/weekend fees. You’ll find a lot more useful and practical info here. Or, you could take the easy way out, and let NY Golf Shuttle do it for you.

Moving Upstate, the Adirondacks, and especially Lake Placid, have a lot more on offer, in terms of golf vacations which are tilted more towards offering a complete getaway experience, rather than just the golf. Select Inns offers cheap golf packages which include lodging, 18 holes of golf and cart. If you’re looking for something more exclusive, the Mirror Lake Inn is an award winning resort which offers upscale golfing packages which combine the golf with signature romantic getaways for couples.

Photo credit - Golf.com

Kim Kavin is a freelance writer, photographer and published author based out of Long Valley, NJ. She was formerly the Executive Editor of Yachting Magazine. Her writings have appeared in media publications like Elite Traveler and Traveler Overseas. She has visited more than two dozen countries, and she writes prolifically, literally about ‘everything’. Another one of her books - Everything Family Travel Guide to Northern California and Lake Tahoe - is set for a launch in November 2008. So I asked her a few questions about the book and her career as a travel writer.

Question: Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself, and how you got into travel writing?
Ans: I’ve always been good at writing and editing. In first grade, I found some typos in a textbook, and my teacher helped me write a note about them to the publisher. It was a natural that I’d become the high school newspaper editor, a journalism school graduate, and then a professional journalist.
I actually started out professionally as an editor working in newspapers, but decided I wanted to work regular hours and write about more than crime and politics. I answered an ad in Editor & Publisher for an “outdoor magazine editor” near where I lived. It turned out to be Yachting magazine, and I got the job as executive editor. After a few years there, I realized that the writers were having all the fun, so I quit and went freelance. I started out writing about travel onboard yachts, and the books about general travel were a natural outgrowth of all my reporting experiences around the world.

Question: You have written books about everything from cruise vacations to a kid’s guide and timeshares, not to mention about writing for magazines itself. For 2008, you have two books, one which is a travel guide for the New York area, while the second one is a guide for Northern California and Lake Tahoe. I understand you live in New Jersey, so the first book would come naturally to you. How about the California guide? Why choose Northern California? How long did it take you to go around this area?
Ans: The Northern California idea actually came from the publisher. My editor at Adams Media asked me if I’d done any traveling there, and I had, because my husband and I have good friends who lived in Santa Cruz at the time. So I knew a fair amount about the area before even beginning the research for that book.
I don’t think a travel writer’s home base has anything to do with the areas she can cover. I travel so much for assignments that I know some Caribbean islands and Mediterranean ports better than the towns a few miles away from my own bedroom.

Question: Related question - Could you describe the California guide for our readers? I understand it has 432 pages. What is it about? Which are the major locations, what kind of travel tips? Is it a travelogue with restaurants and shops and stuff or do you focus on the natural beauty of the region, or both, or something else?
Ans: The Northern California book follows the standard Everything Guide format, which means straight how-to and general information that will help with planning a vacation. There are chapters on everything from San Francisco to Wine Country to Gold Country, as well as tips for places to visit whether you’re traveling as a couple or with children. There are extensive listings of restaurants and hotels in each chapter, too, so that no matter which part of Northern California interests you, you will be able to plan your vacation soup to nuts.

Question: The title of your book contains San Francisco, Yosemite, Monterey and Lake Tahoe. Which part of Northern California do you like the best?
Ans: I’m personally a fan of Napa and Sonoma, which is California Wine Country. My husband and I love wine and food, and Northern California labels are a big part of our life out in New Jersey. I think anyone who drinks California chardonnays or pinot noirs regularly would enjoy touring the wineries, learning about food pairings, and such.

Question: People in Socal might feel a bit depressed that you chose to ignore them. Any plans to do Southern California? And how does California compare with the East Coast?Ans: If the Everything Guide editors want a book about Southern California, I’d be happy to write it. I have friends and family from Los Angeles to San Diego, and it’s beautiful out there.
As for California versus the East Coast, I would simply say that they’re different. They’re both great in their own way. I live out East because that’s where most of my family is located. If somebody told me we were all up and moving to San Francisco, I’d go along without a single complaint.

Question: You were a copy editor and have been in other editorial positions for mainstream magazines before you got into the travel sector. Is it any different, or do you just do the same thing?
Ans: I get to leave my desk now. That’s certainly a lot more fun. And instead of interviewing police officers and politicians in fluorescent-lighted offices, I get to hang out with tour guides and restaurant owners on beaches and mountainsides.
Being a full-time freelancer also means I get to pick and choose my projects instead of doing whatever the new corporate boss wants on any given day. I must say that’s pretty great, too.

Question: You have any other passions or hobbies, other than writing?
Ans: I like to hike, which I do most every day with our two dogs. They’re probably my biggest passion. I’m one of those weirdos who treats the dogs like kids. They sit on the couch and eat better food than most people.
I’m also a fan of scuba diving, which I do every chance I get. And my husband and I both like to cook, so that’s a bit of a hobby as well.

Question: Are you currently writing any new books, or have plans for one? If so, what is it about?
Ans: I’m currently finishing the Everything Guide to Las Vegas, after which I will immediately start writing the Everything Guide to Italy.

Question: Any advice, tips or suggestions for travel writers?
Ans: Fill up your notebook and take lots of pictures. I find that I always return home from an assignment with vastly more information than I need for whatever book or article I was sent there to collect. I can almost always use the “leftover” content in other magazines, on websites, or as the basis for new book proposals.

With around 46 million annual visitors to NYC, Times Square and its surroundings have become one big fat tourist trap, focused on squeezing every last dollar out of naive tourists. Hotel rates, especially, are way out of control, with average nightly rates zooming up to over $300 (it was around $250 last year). What are Joe and Jane Six-pack supposed to do to find some decent and cheap hotels for New York trips? For starters, continue reading…

In addition to listing out the most desirable cheap hotels for the Big Apple, I’ll also be listing out some New Jersey hotels which are making a real and sustained effort to reach out to NYC visitors and tourists. Plus, NYCvisit.com -the City’s official tourism portal - has come up with an innovative deal offering 1 night free at major hotels. But first, let’s get started on the cheapskate NYC hotels.

The Pod Hotel - From bunk beds to single and double ‘pods’ and a swanky Townhouse Studio, the Pod Hotel in Turtle Bay, on the eastern edge of midtown, is a good example of how space challenged hotels in NYC can make up for it with cheap rates and a funky sense of style. They have a summer special going on now for $139. Standard rate for a Double Pod is around $200. More details here. All said and done, the rooms are small, even by NYC standards, but if all you’re looking for is a place to sleep, then the Pod is an excellent midtown base for an extended stay in New York City.

Two decent hotels near the Empire State Building are the Herald Square Hotel with rates from $89, and the Wolcott Hotel which comes highly recommended as one of the best budget hotels in New York City. Then there’s the New Yorker with rates from $129 and the Chelsea Savoy (its a bit far from the usual tourist haunts) with rates from $99. And the Park Savoy, just off Central Park, with rates from $145.

Now these were all decent enough and quite cheap, by NYC standards. But if you want something more out of a hotel, without having to pay through the nose, then check out the NYCVisit.com Sunday Stays program, which offers 20–30% off at participating hotels, along with free room upgrades, discounts on room service and restaurant dining, complimentary breakfast and other freebies.

Lastly, you can go one step further and entirely avoid the hassle and high prices in NYC by opting for a hotel in New Jersey, most of which are way cheaper and more spacious and luxurious. Here’s a full list (pdf file) of NJ hotels within 14 miles of New York City. This list might come in especially handy if you’re driving to New York City, where you’ll likely have to sell your car to get hold of parking space for a couple of days.

Photo by p_a_h via flickr (creative commons)

There’s not much thought usually given to amusement parks or theme parks when you’re planning New York vacations, considering that most visitors to the Big Apple look upon it as an urban oasis for adults, rather than a place for the kiddies. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find a range of unique amusement and theme parks spread across the East Coast.

And by unique, I do mean unique. New York, as a whole, has a wacky sense of humor, and that gets reflected down the line, even to the thrill rides and the arcades. So what I’m going to do here, is to list out the best options - in terms of fun and ability to combine a weekend getaway with the theme park visit - while on a trip to New York. I figure that’ll be more useful than a laundry list of every single the amusement parks in New York.

Coney Island in Brooklyn, NYC - Its decrepit and chaotic, but Brooklyn’s Coney Island is the one place which most closely has the kind of attractions and rides and fun stuff which appeals to the bored New Yorker - Young and old. The latest attraction is a WaterBoard Thrill Ride - Robots re-enacting a Guantanamo Bay waterboarding torture skit. One of the robots is wearing a yellow jumpsuit, like the detainees at Gitmo, and he is tied up and spread out on a table. Leaning over him is a torturer in a dark hooded sweatshirt. You drop a dollar into the slot, and they come alive. The ‘dark one’ starts pouring water from a jug onto the face of the detainee, who then promptly flaps about, like he’s choking.

And it helps that the creator of this freak sideshow - Graffiti artist Steve Powers - has painted a sign at the entrance featuring Spongebob Squarepants as the detainee and he’s saying ‘It don’t Gitmo better!’ Maybe you think its funny, maybe you don’t. Either way, your kids (who probably have no idea about the whole flap over waterboarding) will love it. Oh, and its just a stone’s throw from Nathan’s Famous, so you might as well wolf down some hot dogs. More details about Coney island and all its attractions and rides, including Astroland, here.

Great Escape, Lake George, NY - Run by Six Flags, this 140 acre theme park is a typical Six Flags mix of rides, a water park, entertainment, food and festivities. Your kids will most definitely enjoy it, and if you’re the kind who enjoys a carnival atmosphere, then so will you. They also have a neat lodge, if you want to stay over for a weekend. More details here.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ - This one is a couple of notches above Great Escape. 2200 acre park, and in addition to the usual thrills and roller coasters, also features the largest drive-thru safari outside Africa - A 350 acre wildlife preserve with over 1200 animals, including rhinos, lions, elephants and kangaroos. Details here.

Rye Playland in Rye, Westchester County, NY - Arcade games and over 50 major rides and attractions, plus the Ice Casino, which is kind of a big deal, as far as ice skating events and games on the East Coast are concerned. Plenty of free fun with a beach, pool, boardwalk and pier on Long Island Sound, with lake boating, a picnic area, and mini golf. Deatils here.

Photo copyrights Astroland Amusement Park

While hotels across the nation are adding amenities and facilities for family travelers, the problem in Orlando is that the hotels are too kid-friendly. They’ve grown so used to catering to kids and families that these Orlando hotels have become attractions in their own right.

Who needs Disney World when you have the Nickelodeon Family Suites with bunk beds, video games, and Spongebob Squarepants on the walls to keep you company in-room. The Nick hotel, as it is known, features two massive pool complexes with a 4 story water tower, a 400 gallon dump tank, seven slides, water jets, climbing nets, themed parties, a video arcade, and a host of other kiddie attractions. And the newest thing they recently added is the 4D theate, where wind, water, bubbles, and scents await you with Spongebob for a virtual sliming.

Then there’s Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, which sits in the middle of Universal’s resort attractions, and also has its own attractions. So that’s further blurring the line between hotels and kiddie attractions. I mean, they have this gigantic 12,000 sq ft palm lined swimming pool (BTW, there was a bear found hanging around the pool area a few weeks back) with its own sand beach and underwater stereo, interactive fountains, and a 260-foot pool slide. What’s more, there’s a water taxi for hotel guests called the Universal Express which takes you straight through to the other attractions and rides, bypassing the lines.

And don’t even get me started on the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. I could go on listing all the major family hotels and the kiddie attractions they offer, but I think you get the drift. Orlando is pied pipering kids, and they get addicted to this fantasyland world that these resorts and theme parks have created. What ever happened to the good old American family roadtrip?

Photo copyrights - Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.

New York City is the second  costliest city for travelers in the United States, according to the AAA. But that doesn’t mean you can’t manage New York vacations on the cheap. While major hotels in and around Times Square charge upwards of $250 per night, you can cut that down to about $25 to $40 per night, if you can make do with a hostel.

End of the day, if you’re talking about a 3 day trip to NYC, you might just have saved in excess of $700. There’s lots of decent hostels close to Times Square, Central Park and in Chelsea. And there are tons more hostels, even cheaper, in Brooklyn and Queens, but let’s just stick close to the touristy attractions for now.

Central Park Hostel - One of your best options - Its clean, cheap, has excellent reviews, and located in a safe and convenient area one block from Central Park, and a stone’s throw from the subway. Clean rooms, both co-ed and male/female dorm style options, with 4, 6, 8 and 10 beds per room, depending on your choice. Its air-conditioned and private rooms with 2 beds are also available.

There’s a lounge area with use of a common kitchen and a dining room, a TV room, internet facilities and a pool table. For those who are loking for something a bit more upscale, the hostel provides studio apartments with hardwood floors, private bathrooms, color TV and some with their own kitchenettes. Dorm beds are available for rates between $28 to $45. More details here.

Chelsea Center hostels -  Two locations - One in Midtown Manhattan close to all the main tourist attractions, and the other one in the East Village, if you really want to explore New York City. Offers free breakfast, luggage storage for the duration of your stay, use of a kitchen and is likely the best choice for backpackers and/or if you’re traveling alone. Charges $35 per night, and the dorms accommodate 6-12 people. Both co-ed and women only dorms available. More details here.

Other hostels worth considering include the American Dream Hostel, the Big Apple Hostel, the Jazz on the Park hostel  and the HI New York hostel - All of these offer dorm rooms at rates from $25 to $50, in addition to costlier and more private rooms with additional amenities.

Please note that these recommendations are based on current rates and currently available facilities, which might change depending on when you are reading this article. You are advised to call and confirm rates and facilities before booking.

Photo copyrights - Central Park Hostel

New York hotels have a long and decadent history of pampering pooches. Exhibit A would be the now late and eccentric hotelier and billionare Leona Helmsley. Her white Maltese dog, aptly named ‘Trouble’, got itself willed $12 million in Helmsley’s will. And there’s no shortage of celebs and prima donnas who spend more on their pets in 1 night at a hotel than you would on your entire family while on vacation.

NYC even has a doggie playground - Canine Court - at the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Pet owners in NYC can go shopping at places like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany’s, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic and the Gap.

Goes without saying that the Big Apple’s hotels are falling over themselves to offer these pampered pets as much luxury as possible. So which hotel offers the most value for money, as far as being ‘pet friendly’ is concerned? That would likely be the Muse Hotel in NYC’s Theater District, near Times Square and Broadway.

The Muse is a Kimpton Hotel, and as such, offers all the standard pet friendly amenities availabel at all Kimptons. In addition, the Muse has a ‘pampered pooch’ package deal, starting at $249 per night. They wecome you with a basket full of doggie treats and food and water bowls. The Canine Court playground and Central Park are close by, so you can take your pets out for a frolic and fresh air whenever you want.

Info: 130 West 46th Street New York NY 10036; (877) 692-6873; www.themusehotel.com/; Photo copyrights - Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC

There’s three places you can go to for a spa vacation - Palm Springs and Napa Valley in California and South Beach in Miami, Florida. And the best of the lot are in South Beach. These are more like luxury retreats than simply spa treatment providers. Every oceanfront resort on South Beach has a magnificient spa with oceanview treatment rooms and sun decks.

Best part is that these are not run-of-the-mill resorts, but upscale luxury resorts like the Mandarin Oriental, frequented by A-list stars from the West Coast and celebrities who want to getaway from the limelight and relax in the heat and enjoy ‘other’ kinds of heat. The resort is located on Brickell Key, with a private beach and beach club and views of Biscayne Bay. And you can’t enjoy all this if you’re staying in the hotel, or a paying customer at the spa.

The 15,000 sq ft spa at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami has 17 different treatment rooms, with 6 spa suites and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bay. Facilities at the spa include separate male and female sauna and steam rooms, fully equipped fitness center, manicure and pedicure facilities, and outdoor massages for both single cutomers and couples, which are offered in private cabanas at the resort’s Oasis Beach Club. The spa employs expert masseuses specially flown in from Thailand.

Oh, and one more thing. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau had organized a ‘Miami Spa Month’ for July 2008. Based on popular demand, the spa month has been extended beyond July, and is now valid until the end of August, with good chances of being extended further. During this period, you can get special treatments for $99 at Miami’s premier spas. Here’s the list of participating spas (includes the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental). If you go through the list, you’ll see what I mean when I say that most all major Miami hotels have a great spa in-house.

Photo copyrights - Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau