Best Western's Travel Blog - You Must Be Trippin'

Desert Adventure, Day Five: Yuma, AZ to San Diego, CA

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:56:10 -0800

We eat a quick breakfast in PJ's Cafe and Bar at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Inn Suites Yuma Mall Hotel & Suites. A hot buffet with eggs and sausage - yum. We're going to explore Yuma a little bit before we ride back into California.

I'm not sure why prisons are such an attraction. I hope never to be incarcerated, but I love visiting old jails and prisons, and hearing the stories about the men and women who lived in them. Back in the day, working at a prison was almost as bad as being a convict. Guards and inmates shared conditions, and an isolated jail was as much of a hardship on the employees as it was on the prisoners.

How Do We Know When Spring Has Sprung?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:38:48 -0800

Now that I am past the mad rush of the holidays, my mind turns to the next really big thing. Not Valentine's Day (I don't really like chocolate). No...for me it is GROUNDHOG'S DAY!!! I know. It seems a little "off," but where I grew up (in Massachusetts) it meant that spring was finally coming! It meant that sooner or later, hopefully sooner, the snow piles would melt, street sweepers would come, and I could put my jacket, mittens, hats, boots, and snow pants away.

Desert Adventure, Day Four: Tucson, AZ to Yuma, AZ

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:27 -0800

Our stay at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Royal Sun Inn & Suites includes breakfast at the adjoining Royal Sun Restaurant & Lounge. We have a nice hot breakfast, and spend some time planning our day's ride. We have some distance to travel, and plenty of things to see along the way.

Looking at the map, I'm continually surprised to realize just how close we are to the U.S./Mexico border. Nogales, Mexico is just 70 miles south on Interstate 19. We're not going to cross the border on this trip, but it is possible to cross into and out of Mexico with ease. You and your passengers (including children) need to bring your U.S. Passports, and it's a good idea to purchase Mexico vehicle insurance before entering the country -- your U.S. policy will probably not cover you in a foreign country. It is also advisable to check the U.S. Department of State's website for up-to-the-minute information about travel to Mexico. Mexico is a beautiful, amazing country, but there are some definite dangers for tourists. Forewarned is forearmed.

Desert Adventure, Day Three: Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:07:48 -0800

At some point in the middle of a motorcycle trip I always begin to feel like I've been on the road forever, and that the ride will never end. It's a great feeling, and it means that I'm getting into my groove and really living in the moment. Today feels like that.

The BEST WESTERN PLUS InnSuites Phoenix Hotel & Suites has a big, bright breakfast room right off of the lobby, and we take advantage of the hot food buffet. I don't eat a lot of eggs at home, but for some reason there's nothing better on the road.

Desert Adventure, Day Two: Needles, CA to Phoenix, AZ

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:03:22 -0800

Breakfast is my thing. There's nothing better than waking up in the morning and knowing that a good breakfast is on the agenda. Breakfast at Juicy's River Cafe is included with our night's stay at the BEST WESTERN Colorado River Inn. Good, stick-to-your-ribs eggs and bacon starts our day the right way.

We check out of the hotel, load up the bike and get back on the Mother Road. We'll be tracking along a short section of the original Route 66 today, and we're excited to explore a piece of travel history.

Desert Adventure, Day One: Los Angeles to Needles, CA

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:31:02 -0800

I'm always excited to go on a motorcycle trip. When my wife Robin can get the time off of work to join me as a passenger, I'm over the moon. She's great company, and the best pillion rider I've ever met. A ride with Robin is the best.

We're starting out from home this time, which is great. While I enjoy exploring the country on a bike, eliminating the travel days to and from a remote starting point gives us more time actually riding, and less time in airports.

What's the most romantic place you've traveled to, or would like to travel to, on a date?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:31:11 -0800

Tell Us and Enter for a Chance to Win a $250 Best Western Travel Card!

Share a romantic travel destination that you've been to, or would like to go to, on a date and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $250 Best Western Travel Card!

Limit one entry per person. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the US or Canada to be eligible to win. Winner will be randomly selected from all entries posted in the comments below. Winner will be announced via comment post on youmustbetrippin.com and via Facebook/Twitter posts after winner is verified. Contest begins Feb. 1st and ends Feb 29th.

Product Review: Scala Rider G4 PowerSet

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:02:32 -0800

I just got back from a week-long ride from Southern California into Arizona and back, which you'll be reading about here very soon. Luckily, my wife Robin was able to take time off from work to ride along as my passenger. We took the opportunity to test a new Bluetooth communication system, instead of using the onboard intercom system on the 2012 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic that we rode. We've used the H-D system in the past, and it works like a charm. The only downside to the H-D system, if there is one, is that it is not wireless. Bluetooth wireless systems have spoiled me. I use a Bluetooth stereo headset every day when I'm not on my bike, so I figured it would be fun to try one on this trip.

March Break at Disneyworld (or Disneyland)

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:09:07 -0800

March break is fast approaching and last week I highlighted a few great ski vacation options for your consideration. Thanks to everyone who shared other great ski destinations and tips to help inspire a well-planned and enjoyable March break vacation.

This week I am considering a Disney vacation and here are my top 10 tips and tricks to get the most out of a March break at Disney.

Come on Back!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:51:47 -0800

Despite an oil spill that devastated the Gulf of Mexico coast in 2010, things are back to normal, making a vacation getaway that is a perfect way to escape the snowy North. The beaches are clean and Southern hospitality is waiting to cater to your every relaxing desire.

Here are some of my favorite beach-front cities that are sure to give you the vacation of a lifetime and a reprieve from your stress.

Learning Some Terms Might Help

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:30:13 -0800

Before embarking upon a journey to a foreign land where English is not the primary language, my wife and I try to acquaint ourselves with some of the more common terms we will more than likely be using during the trip. Simple things, like "please," "thank you," "you're welcome," and, of course, the more important phrases like "two beers" and "where's the bathroom?"

We have found that it's a great ice-breaker because the locals respect our senior-oriented attempts and at least know we're trying. And over the years, we have also picked up more of the language because people are always willing to help us get beyond the hand-gesturing and loud-talking phases that usually accompany our attempts to communicate. Especially when asking for directions.

Documents, Documents and Pills

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:19:03 -0800

As we graciously move into the more advanced stages of life, we are finding that travel is no longer a simple matter of tossing some clean underwear and a toothbrush into an overnight bag and taking off. Now, every trip requires substantially more pre-planning, particularly in the areas of medicine, insurance and health care.

So before every extended trip, we create a check list of items that are absolutely vital to assure us that we'll get there and back without legal or medical problems.

Clean At Last!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:42:24 -0800

Winter is here, forcing many of us into close quarters with others in planes, trains and automobiles. Unfortunately, cold and flu viruses come along for the ride, and end up infecting a significant number of travellers. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Nearly every frequent traveler has heard that the most handled thing in a hotel room is the TV remote, right? Starting this year, one of the first things you'll notice when you walk in your room at a Best Western is the new "fresh remote"--which has been specially sanitized by housekeepers, then slipped into a hygienic wrap. This is part of Best Western's new "Extreme Clean" campaign that you'll be hearing more about in coming months.

New Year's In Scottsdale, Arizona

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:01:23 -0800

Happy New Year! We were lucky enough to ring in the New Year in style in beautiful Scottsdale, Ariz. We had two weeks of the most consistently amazing weather you can imagine. It also was the longest period of time I have avoided some form of precipitation! I found it uncanny to check the long range weather forecast on my iPhone and see a beaming sun icon with zero percent chance of rain---day after day! What do weather forecasters actually do in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area?

MLK Memorial In Washington D.C.

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:47:31 -0800

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we take a look at the new MLK National Memorial that stands as a tribute to the great civil rights icon, Dr. King. In what has quickly become one of the must-visit sites in Washington D.C. the memorial is a mixture of water, stone and landscape that is tied to other landscapes and monuments.