Lodging

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Deschutes River at Sunset

Our family of four expands to a party of six when we travel to Sunriver, Oregon.  We have entered the teenage years and that means each of our teens is able to invite a friend along on our summer vacation.  It also means we had to leave our budget-friendly #5 East Park house behind and move to larger quarters.  We rented 7 Coyote Lane in Sunriver, Oregon from Bennington Properties this past August.

This three bedroom, two bath rental house sleeps six to eight people comfortably.  We liked it because it has a hot tub, a washer and dryer, a garage, complete with bicycles, and is close to the Sunriver Village Mall. A highlight, it backs up to National Forest.  The down side, it also backs up to railroad tracks. If you are a light sleeper, you’ll need to bring earplugs because the Amtrak train rumbles by nightly.

7 Coyote backs up to National Forest and train tracks

Bennington Properties is a family-owned vacation rental and real estate sales company. This was our first year renting with Bennington and it was a hassle free experience.  Their website offers a wide variety of properties to suit the budget traveler, pet-friendly lodging or multiple houses close together for family reunions.  Like all Sunriver rental companies, Bennington offers seasonal specials so check the website before booking.

Bennington Properties 1 (888) 610-9700

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Luxor Las Vegas for Budget Lodging

I recently attended the 2008 Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay.  While this is a trade show for travel agents and upscale, luxury destinations, I travel on a freelance writers budget.  I flew from Oakland to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines for $49 each way and found a cheap room at the Luxor, which is connected via tram to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Using the Luxor’s internet Winter getaway package I was able to find a steal of a deal, $125 (including tax) for three nights.  Internet access is $13.99 for each 24 hour usage period. A $100 hold is placed on your credit card for each day of usage.  TIP: If you are a budget traveler, don’t use your debit card as a deposit for the internet usage as the hold will draw from your debit card. 

Luxor Pyramid Deluxe Room

I stayed in room 144 on the 26th floor and had a view of the McCarran International Airport. As the Luxor is in the shape of a pyramid, all of the 4,400 hotel rooms are on the outside of the hotel.  To accomodate the pyramid shape, the hotel uses inclinators, as opposed to elevators, to move up, down and sideways. My room was a bit dark, but I enjoyed the non-smoking room with a king size bed and the Essential brand amenities in the bathroom. As I mentioned, I used the free tram that connects the Luxor to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur.

While I had read prior reviews about water leakage, my only complaint was the loud gurgling of water pipes in the bathroom at 3 a.m.  TIP: Close the bathroom door when you retire to bed and the noise won’t bother you.

While I’m not big on gambling, there are plenty of free or nearly free things to do in Las Vegas. There are also plenty of expensive things to do in Las Vegas.  I attended the mesmerizing “O” at the Belagio, thanks to the Cirque du Soleil folks. I’ll be writing a review of the show on my “What a Trip” blog.

 Finally, I’m pleased to say that both check-in and check-out were quick and efficient at the Luxor.  While the Luxor is not a luxury hotel, it certainly offers a budget friendly option on the Las Vegas strip.