Travel Tips by Melanie at Get Away Today

07/10/2023

IBEROSTAR SELECTION PARAISO LINDO just 20 minutes south of Cancun is an excellent all-inclusive place to stay! It’s affordable, they have water slides, a lazy river, an enormous pool with swim up bars, a gorgeous stretch of beach with powder like sand, great food, their own little shopping mall, and more! We stayed here in February with some friends and absolutely loved it! Highly recommend staying at this beautiful resort with wildlife all around the property. Take a look at this awesome resort.

06/15/2022

One of my favorite parks in Playa del Carmen is Xel-Ha! At Xel-Ha you can to be down a natural river that’s so beautiful and green - you can see all the way to the bottom. It’s so relaxing! You can cliff jump, snorkel in a huge open lagoon, zip line into the water, relax with a drink in a hammock, eat and drink all you want - it’s included. So many reasons to love this park! **Pictures 16-end are not my photos. I couldn’t capture all I wanted because we didn’t have our phones with us a lot of the time but I wanted to show how many fun things there are to do there.so

04/28/2022

Xcaret Park in Playa del Carmen has so many things to do! You can easily spend a full day there! Swim in underground caves, enjoy the aquarium, watch or swim with dolphins, watch sharks and turtles, see ancient Mayan ruins at the park, see parrots, toucans, vultures, butterflies, watch their evening show, and more. So much to do here! It’s a huge park. Loved it!

04/23/2022

XAVAGE Park in Cancun. Wow! What an exhilarating day! Such a blast! We did the Monster ATV’s, the Speed Boat, the River Rafting, the Zipline, and some multiple times. Such a blast! There’s also a kayaking river and a ropes course. For little kids there is a really fun water park. We also enjoyed a yummy lunch with some exotic things to try like…crocodile! It really did taste like chicken. 😂 Highly recommend this park and to do the “unlimited” package for sure - rather than then three activities ticket.

04/22/2022

This week I’m at a very unique-one of a kind destination! It’s Hotel Xcaret Mexico in Playa del Carmen. This place is so much more than a resort! Not only are the grounds and activities incredible but in includes FREE UNLIMITED access to 7 of their parks! I’ll be sharing those with you over the next few days. It’s absolutely incredible here!

03/24/2022

Have you ever been to Disney World’s Epcot Park during the flower festival? It’s incredible what they do with plants and flowers! Take a peek.

02/21/2022

Going somewhere and want to see so many things, but might not have time to fit it all in? Or do you want to get a good feel of what there is to see and then go back to spend more time there? A bike tour is a great way to do that! This was our bike tour is Barcelona Spain

11/30/2021

Looking for a great Christmas gift? These little “Gemz” are great! They’re shampoo and conditioner in a little sponge like pad. I took these on my recent trips because I hate pulling out my liquids at airport security & I need more room in my suitcase. 😎 Both problems solved with these. Loved them! I have such thin hair that I could cut them in half’s and fourths so they lasted a long time. https://shopgemz.com/?_kx=Ux7orLF1IUBDUSoiWJQ-PdMe3h59K0KeRDeVrOynV4Db7Wv14pC-JV3SK9YhIKIC.PmidZL

Gemz Hair and Beauty

11/10/2021

Another great restaurant to try in Maui…PAIA FISH MARKET! There are 3 of them in Maui. This is the one down south in Kihei. Delicious fish & chips are the crowd favorite, but everything was great!

11/09/2021

MAKENNA BEACH located on the south end of Maui. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui! The views are stunning and the water is multiple shades of blue. Best of all, it has a huge beach area! It’s a state park so they charge a fee for parking. But it’s a fantastic beach! Sometimes sea turtles will come up on the beach to rest.

11/08/2021

BEST LUAU in Maui…OLD LAHAINA LUAU!!! Right on the beach, a 5 course meal, a fresh flower lei, all the drinks you want (alcohol or non-alcohol), a beautiful luau show that’s just the right amount of time - not too long, not too short, watch a beautiful sunset, and they give you a “gift” when you leave….a small loaf of delicious banana bread! Food was absolutely delicious!!! It couldn’t have been more perfect!

11/08/2021

They said ‘it’s a little too early to see whales yet’, but WE SAW WHALES!!! I’ve always wanted to see whales in the wild and it finally happened! Last night we went on a Sunset Sail Cruise with appetizers and drinks. It was so much fun! It was beautiful to see Maui from the ocean! And the whales….oh my goodness!!! And then there was the sunset…great day!!! SEA MAUI is known as the best company for sailing tours on Maui (snorkeling, whale watching, dinner cruise, or sunset cruise - which is the one we did). Highly recommended! Two and a half hours of beautiful scenery and it’s so relaxing!

11/07/2021

THE GAZEBO IS A MUST!!! I had the BEST Kalua Pork I’ve ever had in my life! And the scenery - being right on the beach, is gorgeous! They’re located in Napilli - just north of Kaanapali (they’re actually located in the Napilli Shores Resort). It’s a very small place and you might have a long wait but it’s totally worth it! And you can enjoy the beautiful views and beach while you wait. Or go at an off time - we arrived at 1:15 pm and got right in. They’re only open until 2:00.

11/06/2021

Stunning and rare red sand beach in Hana called Koki BEACH. Easy access to the beach and it’s one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve seen here in Maui. There is another red sand beach in Maui called Kaihalulu but that one is very treacherous to get to. Koki Beach is not swimmable due to strong currents, but beautiful and easy to access.

11/06/2021

The tiny town of Hana has some fun little places like these where you can get something to eat, buy some fresh fruit, or pineapple banana bread, banana butter and more. Super fun!

11/06/2021

Here is a video of the bamboo forest and the sound it makes when the wind blows. It’s like walking through a wind chime. Super cool!

11/06/2021

About 10 minutes past the town of Hana is Seven Sacred Pools and there are some beautiful waterfall hikes there! Usually Seven Pools has 7 pools full of water with waterfalls pouring from each pool into the next, but for some reason there was no water which was a bummer because it’s gorgeous in the pictures you see. I didn’t take any photos of it because you really couldn’t see anything but I’ve included a photo found on the internet (the last photo) so you can see what it usually looks like. The trail we hiked is called the Pipiwai Trail and leads to the Makahiku Falls. It’s a 4 mile hike (2 miles each way) with lush scenery the whole way. You’ll walk through a bamboo forest which was super cool! The hike is located in the Haleakala National Park. Very fun!!!

11/06/2021

The famous Road to Hana in Maui. Loved it! It’s a 2 hour drive one way but the scenery is spectacular! If you get any motion sickness you might want to take some medicine. The roads wind the whole way and you pass over about 51 one lane bridges. Leave early in the morning (like 6:00-7:00) to avoid the crowds.

11/05/2021

Best place to get a Pina Colada or Pina Colada Lava (virgin or regular) is at the Tiki Lounge in Kihei! Large cups and the best we’ve ever had! And if you get a virgin drink it’s only $6.00 instead of $10.00. Soooo good!!! They also have pizza and other foods.

11/05/2021

It’s best to not have every day planned out for the entire day so that you can be spontaneous. Keep some water or hiking shoes in your trunk. We happened upon a great hiking trail by accident yesterday called Makamakaole Stream Trailhead (13 crossings). It’s nicknamed 13 crossings because you cross the stream 13 times (although we counted more). The hike was easy but crossing the stream, and climbing over large boulders, was the only challenging part at times. It takes you to a beautiful waterfall! There is a second water fall which we didn’t hike to and if you’re really adventurous you can climb the rope and hike right up the waterfall where you’ll find more waterfalls.

11/05/2021

Something to be sure to try when you’re in Hawaii is macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup! Most restaurants have them. This was breakfast at Longhi’s in Wailea yesterday.

11/04/2021

Enjoy a delicious meal right on the beach at LEILANI’S in Kaanapali, while overlooking Kaanapali South Beach and the islands of Lanai and Molokai! The food and the views are amazing!!!

11/04/2021

Aloha! 🌴 Is Maui on your mind? Follow my Maui adventures this week. I’ll share favorite restaurants, beaches, resorts, and more. Descriptions are on the photos.
🐠🐳🦀🌈🏖🍍🥥🐚🌸🐬👙🏄‍♀️

10/29/2021

Planning on going to Disneyland between now and December 31, 2022 and want to SAVE MONEY on your tickets? Disneyland raised their ticket price this week, BUT Get Away Today can still tickets at their OLD price through November 3rd! It will save you $20 per ticket on any 1 park per day ticket or $25 per ticket for any hopper ticket. (Total - not per day). Tickets are not date specific so you can use them anytime until 12/31/22! GREAT SAVINGS!!!

10/04/2021

I have a guest who is trying to sell 4 Oogie Boogie Bash tickets for Disney’s Halloween party at California adventure. If you or anyone you know is interested let me know. They are for this Thursday October 7th and cost $134.00 each.

09/29/2021

Looking for an AFFORDABLE 4 STAR HOTEL NEAR DISNEYLAND? This is the place! This four star hotel is brand new and opened during Covid. Usually this hotel would be double the current price, but because they’re wanting to book guests, they lowered their price for Get Away Today! Next year the rates for this hotel will be double for sure. It’s not close enough to walk to the park but you can Uber or take a shuttle. They have a really fun Star Wars theme - even their pool lounge chairs are black on one side and white on the other. RADISSON BLU is a great choice! Check out photos and more information on this link. .

09/23/2021

Have you been to Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash? Did you enjoy it? What was your favorite thing about it? If not, here are some photos to give an idea of what it’s like.

08/26/2021

Had to share this! My co-worker”s friend took this picture for her sons first day of school today. It is precious! Don’t you just love this! 💕😀

08/19/2021

Another fun excursion in Cancun/Mexican Riviera - Xplor! Zip line, ride side by sides through the jungle, and more. Super fun! https://www.xplor.travel/en/. .

Enjoy the adrenaline rush in the best park of Riviera Maya.

08/10/2021

Looking for something to do in the Cancun/Mexican Riviera area? The Xcaret Park is the perfect place to spend a day in the water!

https://www.xcaret.com/es/?langRedirect=1

Discover the more than 50 natural and cultural attractions of Xcaret among the jungle, the Caribbean Sea and underground rivers.

07/31/2021

Going to Hawaii? Here are some important things to know:

1- if you’ve been vaccinated be sure to download the Vaccination Passport App and I out your vaccination information. This will save you a lot of time and trouble when you leave.

2- If you haven’t been vaccinated you need to go to a Walgreen’s (you can go to CVS but they require an appointment) to be tested.

3- Be SURE to call Walgreen’s before you go to make SURE that they have the PCR test. That is the ONLY test Hawaii will accept.

4- The test MUST be taken 72 hours before “ARRIVING” in Hawaii.

For full details go to this website and it will tell you everything you need to know. And they keep it updated so if things change this is where you’ll find the new requirements.

https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements

No flash player has been set up. Please select a player to play Flash videos. Scroll to Continue The culture of our Hawaiian Islands is steeped in the values of kuleana (responsibility) and aloha. Now that travelers can once again enjoy our islands, we are asking you to join in our efforts to help ....

07/02/2021

On your next trip to Bear Lake, UT or ID, - if you’re up on the north end, stop at “Float On” in this cute little shop. We had the Pina Colada Ice Cream Float….Mmmmm!!!! Super, super good! So was their raspberry shake!!!

06/24/2021

Just became a grandma for the first time. He is perfect! Already love him like crazy!

06/07/2021

A little fun for a Monday morning.....

Jamaica’s pie costs $2.50. Puerto Rico’s pie costs $3.50. Just thought I’d give you the “PIE”-rates of the Caribbean. 😂

06/03/2021

If you have a large family or group consider staying at a Residence Inn in their 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with a kitchen that has a sink, a stove, dishes, a dishwasher, and a full size fridge. Each bedroom has a door for privacy. Three hotels also provide a free breakfast! This is one that I recently stayed at in Oceanside, CA. It’s only a 10 minute drive to the beach and has “multiple” restaurants across the parking lot. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

05/26/2021

It is OFFICIAL... Disneyland is opening to ALL VISITORS OUTSIDE IF CALIFORNIA!!!! Starting June 15th AND you can book your PARK RESERVATIONS 120 days out from your LAST day at the park. Woo-hoo!!!! Awesome news!!!!

05/12/2021

Looking for something to do in Southern California? Then MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO is a great choice! Not only are the grounds beautiful, but there’s interesting historical facts to learn as well as the “Annual Return of the Sparrows” on March 19th every year. It’s a great story! This is located between Oceanside, CA and Newport Beach, CA.

04/27/2021

This Hawaii app will enhance your Hawaii trip whether you’ve been there multiple times or if it’s your first time. This app is amazing! It has a GPS system in it so it not only gives you directions to places you want to go, but it gives you all kinds of information on your way there. It will point out places to stop at or go to that you may never have known about otherwise. Highly recommend it!

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/hawaii-tours/shaka-guide-app

It's like having a tour guide in your car! Listen to stories, legends, history and what to do and see, at the right place and time.

04/06/2021

Going to Disney World and want to SAVE MONEY on breakfast and water at the park? You can order milk, cereal, paper products, snacks, cases of water bottles, etc. from a local grocery store and THEY WILL DELIVER IT RIGHT TO YOUR DISNEY HOTEL! We did this when we were recently at Disney World and it was great! Plus, you don’t have to use up your luggage space with food and worry about the weight of your suitcase when you get to the airport. Here is some information:

1- Order online before you go. Set a date and time to have your order delivered to your hotel.

2- If you’re in your room when it’s delivered the hotel will deliver it to your room but if you’re at the park they’ll hold onto it for you for you in the main building. When you return to your room just call the front desk and they’ll deliver it to your room at that time. Or you can pick it up yourself at the front desk if you want.

3- You CAN include milk and items that need to be refrigerated because Disney has a huge refrigerator they will keep it in until you pick it up.

4- Having cases of water bottles gives you plenty of water to drink in the parks and cold water in your room! Pack your backpack full of them before leaving your room.

5- Keep the empty water bottles and when you’re thirsty just ask for a “cup” of ice water at any restaurant. It’s FREE! Then pour your ice or cold water into an empty water bottle and enjoy cold water all day for FREE. This was the BEST thing we did!

6- Many of the resorts at Disney World don’t have microwaves. Only small refrigerators. Check with your hotel before ordering food that needs to be microwaved.

7- The grocer has a minimum order of $40 but that’s easy to meet if you’re ordering all your breakfasts, snacks, paper products, and water bottles.

Here is the grocer we used and they were AMAZING!!!

https://www.gardengrocer.com/

Grocery delivery to Orlando and Disney resorts

03/30/2021

Going to Universal Studios Orlando? Consider staying in one of the Universal Hotels. Their Value hotels Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn & Suites, and Surfside In. & Suites are fantastic and start at only $79.00 per night depending on the time of year.

Check out all of these beautiful and fun Universal Orlando Hotels ranging from Value to Deluxe. They all come with the following:

1- Free shuttle to the Universal Parks
2- Early entrance (1 hour before general public opening)
3- Purchase souvenirs at the parks and they’ll deliver to your hotel
4- Pock up your park tickets at the hotel and skip the kiosks and ticket booth
5- Unlimited Express Pass at the parks if you stay in one of their Prime-Deluxe Hotels (not available at value hotels)