If you are going to be traveling anywhere near Los Angeles this weekend, and by near I mean San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix, then you may want to take some precautions. Things are going down in the city of angels and you do not want anything to do with it.

Seriously.

They are calling it Carmageddon, and it is the closing of the 405 freeway for a 10 mile stretch as of this evening (Friday, July 15), and opening again at 6:00 a.m. on Monday. Basically, the traffic in L.A. is going straight from the frying pan and into the fire. It happens.

Travelers trying to get to Disneyland or the beach for their family summer vacations should allow for long delays (we’re talking HOURS) and avoid the 405, I-10 and 101 (the 405 is closed between the two latter freeways). My advice? If you make it to the Disneyland Resort, just stay there. If you make it to the beach of your choice, find a hotel and ride out the weekend on surf and waves. If you need to access LAX, you are in for a very frustrating weekend. Keep smiling!

This is part of our Friday Family Vacation Series. It’s probably not our best. Hate the message not the messenger.

Photo: Atwater Village Newbie via Flickr

I have a bone to pick with Alaska Airlines, and lucky for me I have the platform to do it. This may or may not be lucky for you. Humor me.

To be fair, I’ve always been a fan of Alaska. Over the past 10 years I’ve spent a lot of time flying in and out of Seattle and often Alaska Airlines has provided the best deal available. I’m budget savvy, what can I say?

In addition to affordable (relative) airfare I’ve also enjoyed their customer service. Just last summer when my family and I were flying to Orlando there was a mix-up with our tickets (between Alaska and a partner airline) which, frankly, freaked us out. The Alaska Airlines rep stayed cool and calm and made everything right. It was the first real moment of relaxation on a great family vacation.

My point? Alaska Airlines has always done right by me. Until now. Read More »

Top Row: Carlsbad Beach, The Flower Fields, Norte. Bottom Row: Vigilucci's Steak & Seafood, the Hilton Garden Inn, Carlsbad Beach

My husband and I rarely vacation with the kids, but this past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit Carlsbad, CA for two nights, courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn.  Although Carlsbad is known for Legoland, since we were kid-free, we opted for a different set of attractions.

Faced with no direct flight options from Boston to San Diego, we instead decided to fly direct to LAX and then connect for a short (as in 30 minutes) flight down to Carlsbad.  The Carlsbad airport is tiny – only one gate – but it’s so easy to get in and out of.  Our hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach, was just a 10 minute ride down the road.  I’d definitely recommend going through the Carlsbad Airport if possible, because of the convenience.

Upon arrival, we checked out the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach, unpacked, took a short walk on the beach, and got ready for our dinner at Vigilucci’s Steak and Seafood.  It was absolutely delicious, with perfect service.  Dinner ended late, and jet lagged, we went to sleep. Read More »

This is what you won't see at airports this holiday season.

The good folks at Orbitz were nice enough to send along a list of the U.S. airports with the heaviest amount of holiday travel. They also offered up some words of wisdom.

Their travel advice falls along the lines of flexibility, utilizing technology and staying in the know. It’s fairly straightforward common sense, but you know what a lot of people forget to pack for when traveling? Common sense. It’s true.

The list and links are provided below. Read More »