Sweet Land of Liberty: Guide to Military Travel
By Erica I. Peña-Vest
As a travel writer, I often get asked travel related questions. Where should I go? What do I do when I get there? Is it family-friendly? I sometimes get asked the same questions so often, I feel like I am giving an automated response. Recently, however, I was asked a question that stumped me. Someone asked me if I recommended a ‘staycation’. The term was foreign to me, however ‘staycations’ are a concept that has been gaining traction across the country in these tough economic times, to the point that it was even added to the 2009 Webster’s Dictionary. For those, like me, that are unfamiliar with the term it means staying near your home or at home instead of taking a trip or vacation. It means finding something fun to do in your own back yard (literally and figuratively) so that you can save money instead of traveling away from home which can be cost prohibitive. After I found out what it meant, I was even more confused. Isn’t the whole purpose of a vacation to get away? I don’t know about you but if I stay home, it’s no vacation. I look around and see the chores that need to be done. More importantly, I look around as see all the things my HUSBAND hasn’t done – the grass doesn’t cut itself, Ryan! With that said, why would I want to stay home and play Scrabble for my vacation? Pure nonsense, I tell you!
As members of the armed services, you have no reason to stay home and explore this ‘staycation’ concept. There are so many travel deals available to you all over the United States. With free admission to Disney Parks, Sea World, Universal Studios and attractions all around the country, you would be remiss not to take a trip this year. Your biggest expense will be the airfare or gas to drive to your destination, but even the airlines are heavily discounting fares this year and the rest of your trip is going to be more affordable than has ever been possible in the past. I’ve seen that some hotels are offering up to 50% off their rates for military families. Other hotels are offering added value such as free upgrade to a suite, free breakfast, free parking, free high speed internet and in some cases all of the above. Attractions are offering free or discounted admissions. Even restaurants are offering a percentage off. I recently received a list of stores that offer the military a discount so now even shopping while traveling is more affordable!
I understand that the idea of a ‘staycation’ came from an attempt to save more and spend less, but I just can’t endorse it. I love the concept of turning your home into a festivity of love, family and adventure, but I hope you don’t have to take leave to have that. Make your home fun – read an adventurous book as a family, have game night, host a weekend barbeque, host Friday night movie night, pitch a tent in the backyard with your kids and pretend to make s’mores (no fires please), or simply take a walk through your neighborhood. Plan a day trip, see the local sites, visit the local children’s museum, eat at a foreign restaurant and try something new. Whatever you consider a good time, do it and enjoy, but don’t cheat yourself out of getting away. A vacation isn’t just a tradition, it’s an opportunity- it’s a chance to make a memory. Think back to your childhood vacations; no matter how long the trip, no matter how much the car smelled by the time you got there, no matter how bad the flight, no matter how crowded the amusement park – it’s a memory you cherish. Don’t rob your children of those memories. Travel CAN be affordable, especially for members of the military. It’s the travel industry’s sincere way of thanking you for a job well done, and one I advise you to take advantage of.
Where do you find out about all of these travel deals and discounts? Log on to
www.guidetomilitarytravel.com for the largest selection of military travel discounts found…well, anywhere. Enjoy your ‘VA-cation’!
Erica I. Peña-Vest is a travel industry veteran with over 13 years of experience in public and media relations. As a Navy wife, Erica understands the needs of military families and focuses her research and articles to travel deals for those in the armed services. Her travel column “Sweet Land of Liberty: A Guide to Military Travel” has a circulation of over 200,000 and reaches over half a million readers nationwide. It is published in various Navy newspapers throughout the United States, as well as various military websites. She is also editor of her own website devoted to travel deals for military families -
www.guidetomilitarytravel.com.