Fort Wilderness Cabin Exterior Not every “resort” at Walt Disney World is a hotel format. The Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is actually part cabins and part camping, for those who want to rough it while at Disney’s Orlando theme parks. Located just east of the Magic Kingdom, this property opened in November 1971, only a month after the park did. It features 799 camping spaces ranging from basic tent space up to full RV hook-up slots. It also has 407 air-conditioned “cabins” for those that need a few more creature comforts, like air conditioning. Thirteen of these are set up to be disabled accessible. Campground rates range from $48 for a basic tent site during value season, to $125 for a premium campsite during peak holiday season. The cabins, which sleep up to six, range from $285 during value season up to $450 during peak holiday season. There are discounts available for AAA/CAA members and Annual Passholders. Some of the campsite loops are also ...[more »]

On a hot day on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, hang out at the Palace Casino Resort Pool Palace Casino Resort rises from the rubble Originally opened in January 1997 as the riverboat Palace Casino, Hurricane Katrina roared through Biloxi, Mississippi on the afternoon of August 28, 2005 and threw caution to the wind, taking the four-diamond  Palace Casino Resort with it. On my recent visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I had the pleasure of staying at the newly renovated Palace Casino Resort. Owner Robert Low and his wife Lawana said, “our success has never been based on the bricks and mortar, but rather the hard work of our dedicated associates.” Expanded gaming floor The Palace Casino Resort has added hundred of new slots – 1,100 slots to be specific – as well as a new table games pit to the new gaming floor. If you are a gambler, be sure to look into the player perks program. Not a gambler; you’ll find the best hotel rates online. Palace Casino Resort Kin...[more »]

As part of its new nationwide expansion, Joie de Vivre has announced it will open its first hotel in Chicago, next month in March. It will be the brand’s second location outside of California. The Hotel Lincoln derives its name from its Lincoln Park location and the 184 rooms in this boutique hotel have views of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan, both nearby. All rooms will have been renovated in time for the opening, with the new decor reflecting a “eccentric-meets-collegial preppy” style, according to Andrew Alford of Dirty Lines Design, the firm hired for the project. On property dining includes Perennial Virant, which features a farm-to-table seasonally changing menu from award-winning chef Paul Virant. The hotel overlooks the Lincoln Park Zoo and is near DePaul University and attractions such as the Chicago History Museum and Lincoln Park Conservatory. This makes it a good base for both business and sightseeing during a stay in the city. Plugging in random dat...[more »]