Although my driving skills may be a little bit rusty having been much more of a passenger over the past decade, before heading off to another faraway land, I’m thinking it’s time to hit the open road. What better way to enjoy the Labor Day Weekend Holiday than a good old fashioned Road Trip.

Partying it up in Atlantic City? Wine country and the great outdoors in the New York Finger Lakes? Beaching it with friends in the Outer Banks or a little Cultural Family Time in Williamsburg….I’m there! The only question now, what to drive?

Girls Trip / Guys Trip to Atlantic City  – The Jeep Road Trip

*     Kick off your Labor Day Weekend right with a Friday night concert of Journey, performing at Caesars and keep the party going straight through Sunday via resident DJ Pauly D’s “End of Summer Blowout” at The Pool After Dark.

*      Fill up on gourmet bites at top rated restaurants Izakaya, Village Whiskey and Il Mulino before trying your luck at a little gaming.

*      Have some fun in the sand at some of AC’s top beach bars, or even driving your 4 wheel drive vehicle right onto the beach in Brigantine.

*      Pre party with a different perspective via Atlantic City Cruises daily Happy Hour Cruise.

*       Although many casinos are already sold out, there are still deals available via Trivago.com offering luxury at The Borgata for $450 / night and the Courtyard by Marriott for under $280.

*       Packing Tip – A great pair of sunglasses are a must for beating the glare of the drive, hitting the daytime beach bars and helping you maintain your game face at the poker table. His & Hers Warby Parker shades – $95. Keep hydrated with a Brita filtered water bottle.

Couples Trip – NY Finger Lakes Wine Region – The Convertible VW Eos Road Trip

*       Over 100 area wineries to explore, situated on picturesque lakes.  Pack a picnic, linger over some great wine and enjoy the view!

*      Take in the great outdoors by  sailing at Seneca Lake, hiking at Watkins Glen State Park followed by a dip in a secluded waterfall or a sunrise hot air ballooning flight.

*      Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel offers Romantic Package including champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, roses, deluxe accommodations and complimentary tastings to local wineries, or cozy up at one of the many intimate B&Bs to spark the flame.

*      Packing Tip – Pack a collapsible “Picnic Time Metro Insulated Basket” with road trip / wine country friendly snacks – Dukan Oat Bran Biscuits, Babybel cheeses, Jack Links handcrafted small batch beef jerky. All filling & non messy snacks that are great for the drive and pair well with wine upon arrival.   Celebrate your arrival with a premade bottle of CIROC Peach Sangria in a leak proof Swing Top Bottle

Group of Friends / Big Family Gathering– The Outer Banks, NC – The Nissan Armada Road Trip

*       The Outer Banks have always been that idyllic, relaxed beach setting for large families and groups of friends, perfect for that Labor Day Weekend reunion.

*      Enjoy the best of the beach and nature by hang gliding from the dunes of Nags Head, horse back riding on the beach or partaking in limitless watersports.

*     Typically The Outer Banks can be really pricy for holiday weekends, but pack everyone in to one of the many “Oversized Beachouses”  that dot the coast line and your in for a 72 hour reunion.  Right now on HomeAway.com you can still find great beach house rentals for around $2000 for the entire week that sleep up to 14 people and of course many smaller condos as well.

• Packing Tip – Don’t forget your Board Game Beach Towels, Rubbs bracelets to create team unity and Xmini portable capsule speakers to keep the weekend reunion lively…Beachside Twister anyone?

Family Trip – Greater Williamburg, VA – The Subaru Crosstrek Road Trip

*       It’s easy to experience it all as a family when Kids Stay, Play and Eat free at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel, starting at $159 / night based on a family of 4 and 4 night minimum stay. Kids golf free at the Golden Horshoe Golf Club, play tennis for fee at the Williamburg Inn Tennis Club and receive free tickets to enjoy the Revolutionary City and art museums, all while enjoying free breakfast at the hotel daily and free dinner when ordering off the childrens menu at a variety of local restaurants.

*      For shorter stays, the historic Powhatan Resort starts at $111

Packing Tips: Keep your sanity by entertaining the kids with The License Plate Game and Road Trip Bingo  available in retro board game format and digital apps.  Maintain your comfort while driving or sight seeing with wool lined Uggs Driving Loafers for the whole family. Moms & Daughters have a laugh at the most famous Road Trip words of all time “Are We There Yet”  with the new OPI nail lacquer colored manicures.

Fill up the tank and meet me there!  Here’s a peek at what’s going into my trunk:

Hey Houston…It’s about that time again that I’ll be coming you way.  Check me out on Great Day Houston, on Tuesday, Aug. 18th!  I can’t wait to share some more of my recent travels with you all!!!

See you then!

Your Gypsy…Amy

Whether you’re trying to squeeze in one last family getaway before school starts back in a few weeks, or you forgot to plan ahead for that big celebration or milestone anniversary, sometimes the early bird does not get the worm, and in this case, it’s better to be fashionably late. I’ve got 3 amazing last minute travel deals to share, so pack your bags!!!

Jamaica for the Whole Family at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

The newly opened Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall Resort is one of the many Luxury All Inclusive Jamaica properties that are offering killer deals for traveling families, however, Hyatt Ziva stands out as they’re located on one of the most exclusive stretches of beach on the whole island and they’re only a short drive away from the Montego Bay Airport. They offer tons of kid friendly amenities and activities like a Kids Only Pool and Moon Bounce Park in their Kids Club, aimed for the younger kids and a great variety of Water Sports, plus daily games of Water Basketball and Beach Volleyball really for kids of all ages.

To draw the travelers to their new resort All Inclusive resort located in Montego Bay, Hyatt Ziva is offering super low rates of $175/ night / person (a 55% discount from regular rates), + kids stay free. They also throw in complimentary activities like a private catamaran cruise for the family, a round of golf for Mom and Dad at top nearby courses and round trip airport transfer.

For a family of four, these savings can totally add up making room in the budget for a few adventures off of the resort, like zip-lining in the jungle, horse back ride and swim or exploring the Dunn’s River Falls, one of Jamaica’s natural treasures.

This is a phenomenal deal for a family getaway of 3 days or more, but reservations must be made by Aug. 3^rd to take advantage of the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall’s package.

A Unique BVI Yachting Trip For The Adventuresome Group

Have you ever wanted to vacation like the rich and famous or to go island hopping on your own private yacht without lifting a finger? Now is your chance with Festiva Sailing Vacations massive Summer Blowout Sale for their private catamaran cruises throughout the British Virgin Islands in August.

You and your “entourage” can live in the lap of luxury on a 45 ft. sailing catamaran, complete with a captain and chef handling every last detail so your only worry is which beach next.

Your group of friends or 3-4 couples can share the entire catamaran for $1700 per person for the whole week. This is an All Inclusive of meals, snacks, beverages, full open bar, water sports, port taxes and fuel. With a savings of 1/3 off of regular rates, this very exclusive travel experience could actually be doable for once.

A Memorable Family Getaway to Atlanta

If you still haven’t done an educational or cultural trip with the kids this summer, time is running out, but luckily Atlanta has a lot going on for families this August, so a trip there will be educational, cultural, fun and economical.

Mix your itinerary with educational activities like a visit to the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta to give the kids plenty ideas for science projects in the school year ahead and infuse a ton of fun with a visit to LEGOLAND discovery center, a tour of World of Coca-Cola and the Inside CNN Studio Tour, leaving them with bragging rights on the playground.

Legoland and the nearby, Embassy Suites Buckhead, have teamed up for a summer Family Special, for only $169 / night, you get a large, suite like accommodations that comfortably fits a family of four including breakfast for the whole family, parking, one day’s admission to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center for one adult and one child, and a shuttle bus to LEGOLAND (although its only a few blocks walk away). For the other must do activities, the Aquarium, Zoo, CNN Studio Tour and World of Coca-Cola, The Atlanta City Pass has got you and your family covered with expedited entry into each one, because who really likes waiting in line in the heat…especially when you have two eager youngsters along with you, and right now, Atlanta City Pass is on sale, Adults for $79 and the children’s $64 (about a 45% savings).

Sweeting this value even further, Medieval Times, just outside of Atlanta, is offering a 50% off special at the moment on Travelzoo.com, so perhaps a celebratory dinner there on your last night to commemorate this family getaway.

Although traveling to Greece tops many travelers’ bucket lists, until recently, it’s been a pricey journey, which has made it a challenge for anyone on a budget. Right now, tourism within Greece is at historically low rates due to the country’s tough financial times and the Euro being at an all time low, nearly one to one with the US Dollar, so what better excuse do you need to plan your adventure, explore ancient ruins dating back to the beginning of civilization and experience a bit of the laid back vibe that this Mediterranean culture is know for.

When planning your travels focus on the month of October, being a shoulder season, you can count on even further reduced rates from airfare to hotels and activities and the weather is still warm enough in Greece at that time to spend most of your time outdoors, sight seeing, exploring local finds and even taking an afternoon dip in the sea. Turkish Airlines is offering tons of great fall specials from the East Coast of the US to Europe, Athens included for around $900 round trip.

Two days is all you need to see the historical sites and cultural hot spots in Athens, so I recommend staying in the city’s historical center at The King George, A Luxury Collection property, just a few blocks away from The Acropolis, The Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the lively neighborhood of Plaka. October rates at The King George are about 1/3 less than they are in the high season, so you can experience their absolute luxury for a significant discount. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just wanting an elegant date night out, head to the Microlimano Marina in the Port of Pireaus for a sunset meal at Michelin starred Varoulko Seaside, one of the top restaurants in all of Greece.

After Athens, head north to Central Greece for that authentic Greek experience, strolling through quaint coastal towns, lingering over multi-course seaside meals (many that cost the same as your groceries back home), and exploring more ancient historical sites.

Make your home base for a in the town of Edipsos, at the Hotel Thermae Sylla, the top luxury hotel and spa in the area, that boasts October rates for a mere $120 per night for 2 people, *(including a phenomenal breakfast buffet). Enjoy the good life for a few days and nights, practice sunrise yoga out on the pier of the resort, tour the coastline by boat for next to nothing, try out the local thermal mud treatment at Thermae Sylla’s Spa and be sure to spend a few hours each afternoon feasting on the harvests of the sea at local establishments like Taverna Stella in Lichada, my personal favorite.

Rise early your forth morning at Thermae Sylla, have a hearty breakfast and take the first ferry across the Euvian Gulf to the mainland. First visiting the historic battlefield of Thermopylae, along with their small but very informative museum on site, and leave feeling like you’ve just experienced the battle where Leonidis and his famous 300 Spartans went face to face with the thousands of Persians. Early morning history lessons can only be topped by late morning pampering at Galini Wellness Spa, one of the largest spas in the region, and hands down my top pic, with a huge thermal and salt baths, experienced therapists and a great variety of treatments at an even better value.   My little tip…book Anastasia for any massage treatments as she makes my top 10 list of massage therapists in the world.

Spend your afternoon leisurely touring the nearby, award winning winery of  Domaine Hatzmichalis, enjoy a tasting as well as a traditional Greek countryside lunch with wine pairings, or even create your own wine blends, which I found to be a great activity if you’re with a large group.   After finishing with your winemaking have local guide, Dimitris Mantellos, take you across the mainland about an hour and a half drive to Galaxidi, a picturesque town along the Gulf of Corinth.

Check in to the ever so charming Galaxa Mansion, a quaint historical inn with sea views from nearly every guest room and a rooftop terrace with incomparable 360 degree views of Galaxidi.  After catching sunset from the rooftop terrace, set out on foot to explore the town and stumble upon yet another amazing and affordable seaside meal.  October stays here start  well under $100 per night.

For your last and final day enjoying Central Greece, get an early start at the ancient ruins of Delphi, just up the mountain about 20 minutes from Galaxidi. The natural setting of Delphi is magnificent on it’s own, but after touring the ruins of this ancient settlement you’ll quickly understand why it was this town that was chosen as the center of the ancient world. Looking out over the mountains, as they turn in to green hills that roll into the sea, it’s nothing short of breathtaking. The Delphi museum is also quite impressive, with a massive collection of well-preserved artifacts, certainly deserving of a visit directly after you leave the archaeological site. Allow for one final lingering lunch back in Galixidi in the afternoon, at Zygos Café, then a post meal stroll, taking pictures of the quaint buildings and the pebbled beaches around town.