Travel Affordably With HostelBookers

When it comes to travel destinations, New York City is tops. Unfortunately, staying in the Big Apple can have a Big Price Tag. That's why I was thrilled to find HostelBookers.

Offering a wide variety of accommodations around the world at incredible prices, HostelBookers is a vital site for travellers to have bookmarked. Why pay top dollar for accommodations when you could save a few bucks for Broadway shows, world class dining and legendary shopping-- while still staying at a quality hotel?

Last time I was in New York, I stayed at Hotel Vetiver*, a charming boutique hotel in Long Island City, Queens. It received the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence this year and is less than a 5 minute walk from the metro, with easy access to the N & Q trains.

When I compared the price for 1 night's stay at Hotel Vetiver booked through HostelBookers to Expedia to the hotel's own website, I was amazed. HostelBookers isn't just cheaper-- it's exponentially cheaper. Literally half the price. And that's not even the best part!

Long Island City is a safe, multicultural area, and I love that it's easily accessible from the other boroughs-- perfect if you want to have brunch in Brooklyn, shop in Manhattan, and return to Queens for the evening-- but also has its own distinct flavour.

A couple other perks include friendly staff (always nice!) and a free breakfast (the bagels were delicious!). Adjacent to the lobby is a lounge that serves tapas and imported wine and beer.

The rooms themselves are beautiful and spacious, offering views of Manhattan, free wifi, iPod docks, complimentary imported vetiver soap and 32" screen TVs. The beds are ridiculously comfy and the decor is modern and chic.

For excellent customer service and safe, comfortable, affordably priced hostels and hotels to choose from, book your next vacation with HostelBookers. Try hostels for female travellers or vegetarian hostels and hotels to find the perfect accomodations for you.

*I stayed at Hotel Vetiver courtesy of HostelBookers in exchange for checking out HostelBookers' services and writing this article. All opinions are my own.

3.5 Days in Cleveland, Ohio // Snapshots

Cleveland was absolutely fantastic. I'm amazed we were able to fit so many fun things into 3 and a half days.

Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll

Well.. actually only the latter (and an amazing veggie burger in the cafe). Cleveland is home to the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-- the world's only museum dedicated to rock music. It's 7 floors of multimedia displays including authentic memorabilia from the greats (Elvis' car! Michael Jackson's glove! Johnny Cash's tour bus!) to illustrate rock music's long history and profound effect on society. What I loved most about the museum was its ability to mix early music with modern, metal with rockabilly, and to keep visitors engaged for hours on end. After an entire day at the museum (minus lunch in the cafe), we still managed to only see a few floors.

Highlights of the Hall, as shown in the photos above: seeing original posters from concerts like Patsy Cline and Bill Haley; visiting Johnny Cash's tour bus; posing with Run-DMC.

Shopping & Dining

Whenever I'm in the States, I love to hit up the stores and restaurants we don't have back home in Canada. I also love to experience quirky places and gorgeous arcitecture, so Tower City Center-- a mall within a skyscraper-- was the perfect venue for shopping and dining. I love the dollar store (aptly named A Dollar), which had nifty craft supplies, trinkets and stationary. We also hit Caribou Coffee (which I'd never been to, but does have 14 locations in Ohio). I had an Iced Mint Condition White Mocha, which was delicious (though disappointingly not as minty as I expected).

And of course, my mom and I had to have lunch at Cracker Barrel. It is our favourite, after all!

Ladies in the Sky

The International Women's Air and Space Museum is a must-see for anyone remotely interested in flying, space or feminism. Located in Burke Lakefront Airport, the museum is a collection of photos, articles and textiles relating to the history of women in aviation and space, from Amelia Earhart to Ohio's homegrown contributions to the field. Bonus: Admission is free!

On the Road Again

After a great trip, we headed to the Greyhound Station to catch a bus home. I wrote a little, played Connect 4 on my iPhone and listened to Johnny Cash. My mom had a cat nap, wrapped in pashminas. Which reminds me-- always pack a pashmina in your carry on! You never know when you'll need a scarf/wrap/pillow/blanket.

Which snapshot is your favourite? Have you ever visited Cleveland?

Inspiring Imagery: Queens, New York

With the growing popularity of Tumblr, Pinterest and IMGfave, today's blog post is a little something different. This is a collection of inspiring images (this time, of Queens, NY!) I've found around the web (sources included when possible). Explore other Inspiring Imagery posts here.

 Hydrangeas in Queens

Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Snapshots: Orlando/Kissimmee January 2013 [plus my guest posts for i.seeKissimmee]

Last month, I was lucky enough to spend a week and a half in sunny Central Florida. Here are the highlights from my trip (including the 11 posts I wrote for Kissimmee, FL's tourism department).

 I found this bird pretty hilarious... but it could have been all the sugar in the cotton candy I'd eaten!

 "I'm just SO HAPPY to be in Florida!!"

 Bodie's in Downtown Disney makes the BEST falafel veggie burgers EVER!

 The beignets at the Tomorrowland Cafe in Magic Kingdom are out of this world.

 Lego sculpture in Downtown Disney.

 Mainstreet USA

 Shopping at Target with Mickey!

My posts for i.seeKissimmee:

Ta-Ta, Toronto! Hello, Kissimmee!
6 Top Tips for Planning a Kissimmee Vacation
Osceola County's Mystic Dunes Resort
I-drive: 4 Things To Do & 3 Reasons Why
Fun for Kids and Adults Alike at Downtown Disney
Central Florida for History Buffs
Shopping in Kissimmee
Art in Central Florida
3 Best Eats in Central Florida
Disney Magic for Adults: Epcot
Goodbye from the Gorenkoffs 

Snapshots: NYC & DC October 2012

I still can't stop talking about the incredible time I had on my trip! Whether you're planning your own trip to NYC and DC or simply want to live vicariously through mine, here are the highlights:

Posing with "The Statue of Liberty" at Macy's on Broadway

New York City

-Checking out the amazing exhibits at MoSex
-Exploring Greenwich Village ("The Village").
-Stagekittening class with Lefty Lucy at the New York School of Burlesque
-Authentic New York-style cheesecake at Good Fellas
-Staten Island ferry & Statue of Liberty
-The metro
-Times Square
-Pretzels
-Hilariously (and somewhat frighteningly), Elmo is a panhandler!!

Washington Monument

Washington, DC & Alexandria and Arlington, VA

-Toured Old Town Alexandria (my favourite part of the state of Virginia)
-Brunch with Lexi and Susan
-Bought new dresses
-Visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History. My mom hung out with Kermit the Frog!
-We flew Porter Airlines home to Toronto, which included a fabulous glass of red wine en route.

And the little things that added that special something to my trip:

♥ Strangers complimenting my pink sequined tote bag ♥ Trader Joe's cinnamon whisks ♥  Taking DC's metro (without getting lost!) ♥ My first spa pedicure (!!!) ♥ Fresh peaches (they taste like summer!) ♥ Glittery, skull-patterned manis ♥  

Have you ever visited these destinations?

How To Cope With Travel Anxiety

I'm a classic example of a person with travel anxiety. I get nervous before I leave for a trip, and often have panic attacks on the road.

But I love to travel.

My anxiety isn't as bad as it used to be, and that has taken a lot of effort. 

To read my top tips for coping with travel anxiety, check out this mental health article I wrote for Examiner.com.

Image Source

Hello, Atlanta!

Hey, gorgeous readers!

I'm sitting on my hotel bed in Atlanta, Georgia, eating strawberries and lamenting the fact that today is my only day here.

I love Atlanta. I knew I would. I've wanted to visit this city ever since I started traveling by myself. There's just something about it that calls to me. I know I feel that way about a lot of places, but Atlanta is special.

It's the city air and small-town feel, the culture, the fact that it's beautiful here.

I do miss Toronto though, so in some ways I'm glad I'm going home soon.

Do you feel this way when you travel?

P.S. if you're ever in Atlanta, treat yourself to a cupcake from The Atlanta Cupcake Factory. The lemon ones are amazing!

Thoughts on New York City

I might have judged New York City too harshly.

I was there for less than 24 hours, on layover on my way home from Orlando, Florida. It was midnight when I arrived. The streets were packed with iconic yellow cabs and their drivers, ordering me to get in their taxis as well as rather creepy drunken-looking people, one of whom yelled "nice tits" as I walked past. The occasional tourist wandered past as well, but that was all.

Not a great first impression to give me, NYC.

Maybe I'd enjoy the city more if I weren't so easily stressed. It's GO GO GO! which I like sometimes, but with an anxiety disorder, that unrelentless pace can be overwhelming rather than exciting.

On the other hand... I like that the streets are numbered. I like that it's the Broadway show capital of the world. I like that famous artists, writers and bohemians hail from NYC-- Jonathan Larson, Gala Darling, Lady Gaga. I like that same-sex marriage was finally (!!) legalized just before I arrived.

Maybe holding hands with my boyfriend, wandering the streets with Starbucks in my free hand and a camera around my neck, I'll learn to love this city that I'm so desperate to adore.

Have you ever been to New York City? What was your experience?

Bon Voyage, Becca!! or: Dear Readers

Soure: ? If this is your image, please let me know! It's gorgeous + you deserve credit.

Dear readers,

I'm off to America! I'll be wandering DC, spending a few weeks with my beloved boyfriend, visiting the ocean (!!) and wiling away a few hours in New York. I don't know how often I'll be online, but don't miss me too much, okay ;)

Love, Becca