NWA Trip Part 2: Lokomotion Fun Park & Candlewood Suites Review

Here is part 2 of our Northwest Arkansas road trip. In this video, we go to Lokomotion Fun Park, check in to our hotel at Candlewood Suites of Rogers/Bentonville, do a room review, have a great meal at Abuelo's Mexican restaurant, & dive into their indoor pool that's a LOT smaller than it seemed in the online picture.

With little league teams in the hotel that weekend, it was also a LOT more crowded, too hehe.

The Top 40 Tourist Scams To Be Aware of...

Think pickpocketing is the biggest scam for a tourist?   HERE are 40 of the biggest tourist scams of the summer to be on the lookout for when you're traveling.




h/t: http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/blog/16-40-tourist-scams-to-avoid-this-summer.html

TSA Fees Doubling Today But NOT for Security

The TSA security fees you pay for airline tickets are doubling as of today.  You'll also have to pay extra TSA fees if you have layover legs longer than 4 hours.

Here's the news article on the mater.

To make matters worse, most of the 17 billion dollars, in extra revenue they're expected to rake in over the next 10 years will be going to fund other government spending and not security.  Congress passed this as a part of their previous budget deal.


The only way to get it reversed is to write your member of Congress.  It's an election year.  If enough travelers write in to THEIR member, this thing might get reversed or at least revised so that airport security fees get used, I don't know, for AIRPORT SECURITY. ;-)

Royal Caribbean Three Night Bahama Cruise as low as $197

This deal just hit my inbox.  Cruise Direct has a three night Bahamas cruise for as low as $197 on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas:

You'll also receive up to $200 in on-board ship credit!! It's like cruising for cash at that rate!



3 Night Bahamas Cruise on the Majesty of the Seas from $197 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!

Spirit Airlines is embracing the hatred they spawn! Calling Customers Cheap Asses in New Video!

Spirit Airlines generates a lot of hate and apparently, rightly so.   They've been surveyed to have the RUDEST Flight Attendants & have been found to be one of the Worst Companies in America.

So what's a low rent airline to do? Why EMRACE the HATE.
Spirit is giving away 8,000 "Spirit Miles" to those that hate on them (or another airline) with a 140 character tweet.

If that's not PR dumb enough, they cut a video on it saying that they have cheap seats for "cheap asses" & repeat some of the vulgar things people think of them.  I kid you not!

Ode to Hate from Spirit Airlines on Vimeo.


Apparently they believed some PR schmo on Madison Avenue that told them any attention is good attention. 


#Dumb #INSANE_AIRLINE

Great Summer Travel Discount Deals as of 07-10-14...

Just received the following deals from in my in-box:


Save up to 50% Off + Disney Park Hopper Ticket Deals & Free Days at Universal.  Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/15/14.

50% OFF the all inclusive Dream Sands Cancun Resort and Spa. Book now through 7/11/14 and travel 9/1/14 - 10/31/14.

Save up to 50% off+ Instant flight credits up to $150 in Oahu, Hawaii! Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/30/14.

Save up to 70% Off + $200 Instant Credit & $300 in Extras when traveling to the U.S Virgin Islands.  Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/30/14.

45% OFF Daytona Beach Oceanside Inn. Book now through 7/13/14 and stay through 12/30/14.

Save up to 55% OFF Luxurious Atlantis Resorts in the Bahamas. Book now through 7/31/14.

Up to 60% OFF Oceanfront Hotels in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Available only at BookIt.com: Book now through 7/31/14 and travel through 9/15/14.

Save $15 - $50 Instantly When you Sign Up for Free Newsletter Membership at BookIt.com!

NW Arkansas Road Trip Part 1 Botanical Garden of the Ozarks & Razorback ...

We're starting a new video series for a road trip we took to Northwest Arkansas. Along the way we will visit Razorback Stadium, The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Lokomotion Fun Park, The original Walton 5 & 10, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and we'll be staying at Candlewood Suites of Rogers/Bentonville:

Over 10 ways to get kicked out of a theme park...

Yahoo News advises would be theme park travelers to avoid dressing like characters or they risk being kicked out of the park in their "11 Ways to Get Kicked Out of a Theme Park" article posted today.

Oh, they also advise against dragging hard sided coolers an picnic lunches to the park.   Well duh!

If they allowed that, they wouldn't be able to charge whatever they want for food & drink. lol

Drunk Giraffe?

Here's a snippet from the LR zoo video below of a rather strange giraffe we came across:

Little Rock Road Trip: Part 2 Arkansas State Capitol & LR Zoo

Join me and Lucas as we look around the Arkansas state Capitol, patterned after the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., & then we'll go check out the Little Rock zoo (Some think there's not much difference):

Little Rock Road Trip: Part 1 Holiday Inn N. Little Rock Review

Last week we had to take Katie to a one day business meeting so Lucas & I decided to explore the capitol city of Little Rock Arkansas. In part 1, we make our way there and review the best smelling hotel room I've been in, in a long time at the Holiday Inn of North Little Rock. Here's the video:






In part 2, Lucas & I will drive by the Clinton Presidential Library & Massage Parlor, stroll through the state capitol, and explore the LR Zoo where they have 4 baby tigers they're raising and see a giraffe with a fetish for licking buildings!

A Day at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Amusement Park Hot Springs Arkansas

Join us as we spend a day at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls amusement/water park in Hot Springs Arkansas:

Hot Springs Trip: Volcano Falls Mini Golf & Our Red Roof Inn Room

Here's a look at the room we stayed at in Hot Srpings (Red Roof Inn near Magic Springs) and an outing to Funtrackers Family Fun Park for a go-kart ride and mini golf:

A Visit to Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs

When we got to Hot Springs last week, we first stopped in for a few hours at the fully interactive Mid America Science Museum.  Here are the sights and sounds from our time there:









For more information you can visit their website here: Mid America Science Museum.

$179 Cruise DEAL!!! 4 night Western Caribbean!!

This deal just hit my inbox and it is HOT off the press:

4 Night W. Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy from $179 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!


If you'd rather go some place cool this Summer, Holland America has a 7 night Alaska deal:

7 Night Alaska Cruise on the Oosterdam from $299 on CruiseDirect.com. Book Today!

Kodak Playsport Zx5 Underwater Video Camera Test & Review

Here's a closer look at our new underwater HD video and still camera, the Kodak Playsport Zx5:

Hot Springs Arkansas Road Trip & its History

Here's video from our roadtrip to Hot Springs Arkansas this past weekend. I'll have more up as I can get it edited:



Thanks for watching!

-Jerry & Katie

We're heading to Hot Springs for a mini vacation this weekend!

We're loading up as I type this for a weekend trip to Hot Springs this weekend! It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Fort Smith.


On the itinerary:



Friday afternoon: Mid America Science Museum - Lots of interactive exhibits and a great place to experience the wonders of science.



Saturday: Magic Springs & Crystal Falls - The main amusement park in Arkansas. This park is integrated with a water park and you can go from water rides to regular amusement park rides, coasters and the like.

 

Sunday: Garvan Woodland Gardens - A 210 acre botanical garden that even has an outdoor G scale garden railway running through it.





We're also going to pay $7 each for an elevator ride up Hot Springs Mountain Tower and we'll probably check out Funtrackers Fun Park (go karts, bumper boats, mini golf, & games).

So if you're in Hot Springs this weekend and see us, be sure and say hi. If you're not, we'll be taking our cameras and will have video to follow next week on our YouTube Getaway Channel.

Soutwest Airlines fined $200,000.00 for deceptive ads

Southwest Airlines was slapped with a $200,000.00 fine for not having seats after advertising $59 flights in TV ads.

Read more about it HERE.


h/t: Yahoo News

The Vision of Diagon Alley - Universal Orlando Resort

Have you ever thought about renting your home to travelers?

Have you ever thought of generating revenue with your propety?


HomeAway was listed as one of Forbes most trustworthy companies and charges no fees to travelers.

Learn more on how to rent your second property as a vacation home.

Rental Income Calculator - see how much you can make!

8 Travel Freebie "Hacks" to make your life easier...

Here are 8 Travel Freebie Hacks that can make your trip a little bit easier.

h/t: Smarter Travel

50% OFF Villas near Disney at Bahama Bay Resort and Spa: Book by June 1st, 2014

Here's the deal of the week. HALF off condo rentals At the Villas near Disney World at Bahama Bay Resort & Spa

50% OFF Villas near Disney at Bahama Bay Resort and Spa - Condos by Wyndham! Valid 5/26-6/1 only at BookIt.com!

We're about to hit 100 Subs on YouTube... Thank YOU!

We just want to say thank you to those who have subscribed to our little channel on YouTube. We've just started this a few weeks ago and are already about to hit 100 subscribers, so thank you very much.

Post by The Getaway.

Universal's Hogwarts Express to be limited to ONE ride per day during peak times?

The Orlando Informer is reporting that Universal Orlando is preparing for an onslaught of visitors to the new Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express linking Universal Studios to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure.


When The Wizarding World of Harry Potter first opened at Islands of Adventure, the crowds stretched from the back of the park, through the front gate and all the way over to Universal Studios. Traffic was blocked along the nearby interstate for six hours that day.





Apparently with those memories in mind, Universal is prepping for the grand opening with plans of limiting patrons to one ride per day between the parks aboard the Hogwarts Express during peak time. Which will be every day this summer I suspect.


HERE are the discussions on this at the Orlando Informer Forum.

Orlando Theme Parks: 2014 Gate Prices & Saving Money

An interesting article on Disney Ticket inflation...

HERE is an interesting article on Disney ticket price inflation and eye opening charts and analysis (from 2013).

h/t: FutureProbe

Limos Can Be Cheaper than Airport Shuttles! All About Airport Transfers

Adventures by Disney is now offering GLOBE Trekking experiences

It seems Disney has embarked on creating new travel experiences across the globe in places like Ecuador, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands!

Packinglight.com 70% off luggage deals and a coupon code

Extra savings on all PackingLight.com Travel Gear including Travel Purses, Handbags, Packing Organizers, Foreign Electrical Adaptor & Converters and more. Coupon Code: PLSALE4U

Daily Spinner Luggage Specials - Up to 70% OFF Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices at PackingLight.com. See added savings with Coupon Code! Coupon Code: Spinners

Ever thought of doing a home swap for vacation?

Home Exchange is a service that facilitates home owners in different areas to do a "swap" for vacations with over 40,000 listings available. Have you used this service? What did you think of it? Let me know down below in the comments.

This has the potential of being very cost effective, especially if you're traveling with a large group (since you get the whole home for the trip). I can imagine a large family all traveling to Orlando realizing a really good savings and value out of something like this. There are coupons available for the service:

Swap your home for vacation! Save 30% on Home Exchange services using code: dealshe72010

Save 20% on Home Exchange using code: cdispatch10. Swap your homes for your vacation now!

Enjoy Unlimited Exchanges for only $9.95/month! Sign up with Home Exchange now!

Hotels.com coupon for $50 off

Hotels.com is running a special coupon through June 1st, 2014, that can take $50 off hotel stays of $300 or more.

If your planning on booking a hotel anyway, why not save $50?

Here's the link:



Enter coupon code: MOREMONEY to take advantage of this discount.

We've made it to the twitterverse...

We've made it to the twitter universe as of today:


https://twitter.com/YouTubeGetaway

If you're a big twitterer (is that even a word?) you can be updated on our new videos and blog postings by following us over there if you like.


We're picking up steam on YouTube and really appreciate the kind words and support as we get this ball rolling.


THANK YOU!


-Jerry & Katie