New Year's Greeting for 2015!

The Travel Bugs are still out of the country, enjoying the company of the people they love. And this New Year's Eve, the Travel Bugs want to convey their heartfelt greetings for good tidings this coming 2015.

Happy 2015 and may your year be filled with precious, happy memories, lovely bonding time spent with family and friends, great travels and adventures and lots of peace, joy and happiness.

Everything Furnished

If you don't have a lot of furniture before moving into an apartment, then a furnished apartment would be something to look into. There are some that include everything that you will need in order to live comfortably in the apartment, and there are some that only have the basics, like the appliances that you will need. These include the refrigerator and the stove. Some might have a dishwasher and microwave. 

Furnished apartments often have a couch and chair, an end table, kitchen table and possibly a bed. These are ideal for a family starting out or a college student who might not have a lot of money to spend on extra pieces of furniture. The furniture is sometimes new as the apartment complex will replace what was in the unit after someone else moves out. You won't have to move large pieces of furniture into this kind of apartment, making it easier if you don't have anyone available to help you. There is no need to hire a moving company, which will save you money that can be spent on your deposits for electricity or on the essentials that you need for the home. A furnished apartment is something that is convenient for those who only need housing for a short amount of time. This might be someone who is in a city for business or someone who is taking a few classes at a college. Most complexes with a website let you click here for pictures.

Merry Christmas From The Travel Bugs!

The Travel Bugs are enjoying their Christmas break with their families and friends back home but mother Travel Bug will not let the Christmas pass without greeting all of you a very warm, happy, blessed Christmas!

Enjoy this special day with your family and friends!

Review - Extended Stay America Hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey

We booked a night stay at Extended Stay America in Elizabeth, NJ recently during Thanksgiving and Black Friday holidays last November 2014. Most of the hotels in Manhattan during the Thanksgiving period and the few days after that were ridiculously priced. We had to do our Christmas shopping while there were major sales going on so we decided to head straight to New Jersey as soon as we arrived at JFK. This was a last minute decision to travel and I thought I wouldn't get my leave approved so we booked in haste. Booking here was not a let-down considering there are 2 other hotels just across but they were more expensive.  We actually liked the place.

We booked a Queen Studio non-smoking room for a night via Booking.com with a very good deal. The room has one extra large double bed. The room size is 28 metre sq.

(Parking ground)

(A small lobby but cozy)

The room has the following amenities:

• Kitchenette - I must say, the hotel was cozy, nice and have that homey feel to it maybe because it has the amenities of a studio-like condo unit.  This is the first time we have ever stayed in a hotel with a kitchenette. That's right, a fully functional kitchenette complete with a big ref, counter-top stove, microwave oven, a sink and utensils you can request from the concierge.

• A cable TV
• A nice small desk next to my bedside table.
• A square dining table that can seat 4 guests.
• Air Conditioning/heater during winter
• Iron and pressing table
• Seating Area
• Hot water 
• En-suite Toilet/Bathroom
• Telephone
• Free parking 
• Laundry facilities
• Vending machines for guests
• Kitchenware which you can customise based on your needs and requested from the front desk
• Free breakfast-to-go in the lobby

What I like:

• The room was cozy and really spacious.
• The bed is ultra-comfortable. I didn't find it too soft nor hard. For me, it was the right firmness to achieve that good night sleep.
• The bathroom was spacious.

• The whole room was clean to my standard.
• It is located in a very quite area and I cannot hear vehicles at all.
• The location is superb! It's walking distance to my favourite outlet mall in New Jersey - Jersey Garden Mall.
• It is very near IHOP and Ruby Tuesdays so you can grab a meal or dine in when you want to. They are just across the hotel.

• At the time we booked, pets were allowed but that was subject to change so if you are going to book and you need to take your furry baby with you, please check with the hotel first. Their pet policy may change.
• Free wi-fi
• Friendly, fast and efficient staff. We checked in and out in less than 5 minutes. 5 mins. is my standard time to gauge whether a check in/out is fast or not while I was being served. And this was probably lightning fast!
• Free shuttle to and from the Jersey Garden Mall, just ask from the front desk and you will be assisted
• Kids aged up to 17 yrs. are free to stay in using the existing bed in the room.

What I don't like:
Nothing! It's perfect "home away from home" kind of hotel for me. It has its minor imperfections like a not very clean carpet and a small closet but those can be overlooked considering the comfortable overnight stay we had.

Price:
$129.99 (excluding tax) per room per night for a Queen Studio room thru Booking.com's great hotel deals

Nearby attractions:
Jersey Garden Mall (walking distance, approximately 15 mins. walk)
New Jersey Performing Arts Centre, approximately 6 miles from the hotel

My recommendations:  5 out of 5

The price, great location, the comfortable stay, the spacious room with kitchenette amenities and friendly staff and the walking distance to my favourite outlet mall in New Jersey are the factors we have considered to highly recommend this property.

Aside from those mentioned above, it is also just a mere 4 miles away from Newark Airport so it is also recommended to both business and leisure travellers. It is accessible too via Interstate 95 if you're driving by car and by bus transport if you are coming from the Port Authority in Manhattan.

I look forward to book in this property again in the future.


Extended Stay America is a property located in 45 Glimcher Realty Way, Elizabeth, NJ 07201, U.S.A. It is very near Newark Airport so it is a great hotel choice for business, leisure, family and even those with pets.


If you wish to book this property, please check availability and the very competitive rates (subject to change without prior notice) offered in Booking.com. Also, don't forget to ask about their pet policy before you book as it may change.


Search for hotels and rates here:   Booking.com

Disclosure:
This hotel review is my personal review. I have paid for this stay and in no way sponsored by the property nor Booking.com. I just love to book via Booking.com because I always find a very competitive rate or great deals when compared to other booking sites. My opinion is 100% mine and may vary from yours.

15% Off on Little Passports for the Young Ones Until Dec. 15!

The recent mega-sale event for Little Passports is not so over yet! Here is another chance for you to get your little future travellers some Little Passports goodies to help them learn more about the wonders of the world, the great culture and arts your little kids will learn and many more!

Explore the many fabulous things you can buy your little ones in Little Passports and avail of the discount offered here. Please read the fine print details for the terms and conditions of the sale.

Sale: Save 15% on all new Little Passports subscriptions with code CHEER15
Dates: Now - Monday, December 15th
Promo Code: CHEER15 
Fine Print: *This promotion is valid online only at www.littlepassports.com. To redeem enter code CHEER15 at checkout. Offer valid on new subscriptions only and cannot be combined with any other offers and/or applied retroactively to previously placed orders. On a Monthly Plan, offer applies only to the first month. Offer not valid on Personalized items. Offer excludes shipping and taxes. Offer valid from December 5, 2014 at 8:00AM EST to December 15, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. 

Hurry! This sale ends on 15 Dec.!

Shop at: Little Passports

Shop for Knives for the Home and Beyond

Whether you need to carve a turkey or a tough cut of meat, or you love spending time outdoors, the right knife can help you. Good knives have sharp blades that can slice through anything that gets in your way and a good grip that feels comfortable in your hand and gives you more control over the knife. When you shop online, you can find knives for the great outdoors or your home.


Automatic Knives and More

An automatic knife is one of the best knives for campers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. These knives features a slightly curved handle that fits perfectly in your hand and a blade that fits inside the handle. You can push a button on the side that causes the blade to come out at an angle. You may also want to look into folding knives. Folding knives have a smaller button that pushes the blade out, and you can fold the blade right back into the knife. Multi-tools are also perfect for those who spend time outside. 


Knives for the Home

Utility knives are a great addition for the home. With a thin blade and a sharp edge, these knives can cut through the toughest pieces of meat and through the bone too. You can shop for carving knives and other knives for the home at Knifeworks.com and other websites. These sites also offer plenty of knives that you can take with you camping and hiking outside.

Cyber Monday Deals for Little Passports

And you thought the great Black Friday deals are over? Fret not, here is another chance to grab mega savings with the Cyber Monday deals of Little Passports!

Cyber Monday, 12/1 - 12/2
Offer: 40% off New Monthly Plan Subscriptions at Little Passports
Code: BLACK40
Link: Get 40% off New Monthly Plan Subscriptions at Little Passports with Code BLACK40
Valid: 12/1, 8:00am EST - 12/2, 11:59pm EST
This promotion is valid online only at www.littlepassports.com. Offer valid on new subscriptions only and cannot be combined with any other offers and/or applied retroactively to previously placed orders. Offer valid only on Monthly Plans and applies only to the first month on a Monthly Plan. Offer not valid on 3-Month, 6-Month, and 12-Month Plan. Offer excludes shipping and taxes.