Holy Week

Yes we are officially into Holy Week. Christians around the world are celebrating the start of their religion. Tomorrow is Good Friday, and a long weekend in most parts of the country. It is also the week of Passover when the Jewish people escaped from slavery in Egypt.
Yes I know it is a little last minute to book an escape for the weekend, but not impossible. With the recent cold snap across the South and East Coast, warm south Florida might be the place to grab some sunshine. The white sand beaches of Miami combined with the fantastic Art Deco architecture is like having a part in The Bird Cage, remember it was filmed on Ocean Drive. Being an international destination, the sand in South Beach will be covered with barely covered hard bodies. European and South American women laying out topless, public nudity is not illegal in Miami/Dade. Latin men with almost no body fat will be covered in small pieces of spandex, making the temperature rise even a few more degrees. WOOF!!!
The nightlife in SoBe is known to be festive and starting late. This allows for a late lunch on Lincoln Road, a little shopping, maybe pick up a new outfit and then a disco nap before heading out to the clubs. Score is conveniently located in the heart of Lincoln Road, an easy walk from the South Beach hotels. The next morning maybe brunch at one of the hotel restaurants fronting Ocean Drive with a few bloody marys or mimosas to help get in the proper mood.
So with this weekend quickly approaching, call Damron Vacations and see if an escape is possible. And if not this weekend, maybe one soon? The economy seems to be at least breathing, as opposed to gasping, so maybe a little stimulus trip is needed. And if a hunky Argentinian man in a swatch of spandex isn't stimulating, better check your pulse.

Busy Weekend

It is Monday morning and the work week has resumed. Why does it seem that Saturday and Sunday are much shorter than the weekdays?
After the CLIA 3Sixty trade show on Friday for 2Go Media, I changed into some jeans and headed to happy hour. It was quite crowded since the rodeo was in town, lots of tourists and many people that usually do not head out. It was a fun night watching the boys, home safe and sound just after 10.
Saturday was filled with the second half of the CLIA trade show. Nowhere near as busy as Friday, but productive. Afterward, Elsy and I went to The Alibi for a few drinks. As a fellow blogger for the gay and lesbian market, Elsy found a great source for pictures. The many rainbow flags was a dead give-away, and living a sheltered life in Boca, she did not realize how many more business had been established.
The mechanical bull set up in front of the bar provided the scene for a cute little Latino boy. She just smiled at him and he was astride the beast. Inside, some additional photo ops and a few adult beverages. After a quick refresh at home I walked to a sports bar to watch UNC beat Villanova. GO HEELS!!!! There was a rather hunky guy that was a fellow Tarheel in the gas station I stopped in for LOTTO, tried to get him to meet the alumni group. The final for the NCAA is tonight when Michigan State will get their last loss for the season.
Sunday afternoon was spent on my bicycle. My roommate and I biked to the beach and watched the people. Most of the people were locals since we were sitting at a small park in a residential area. After a nice break it was off to Birch State Park and watch the boats on the Intercoastal. A beverage stop at a convenience store provided a drink and new LOTTO tickets, before turning north and peddling 55 blocks north.
Though my weekend was full, it was also very relaxing. I got a nice bit of sun and plenty of exercise. Many people end up living in places where they have vacationed. Besides wonderful weather in Ft Lauderdle, the gay and lesbian community is strong and sexual preference is not much of an issue in the city. IF you have always wanted to live somewhere new, why not contact Damron Vacations and plan an exploratory trip? Whether it is a gay mecca like Ft Laudedale, Palm Springs or West Hollywood, or maybe something more laid back, the agents at Damron Vacations can help you get there.

Vacation Deals

Even though the economy is starting to show some signs of life, most people are still cautious over spending on luxury items, extravagant meals, designer labels, unnecessary travel. While all of these items are are fun, they are not needed for everyday life. But there are ways around this.
Most websites have places to sign up for specials. Restaurant websites offer coupons and sign up for emails. I just got one today from a dinner I frequent for a burger and milkshake for $8.99, YUMM!! Department store chains offer discount sections on line, TARGET's site also offers free shipping for orders over $50.
Many vacation websites have an email list for specials, Damron Vacations has that option. And when you sign up now, you receive $100 off your first booking of 4 nights or more, restrictions apply. After enrolling, you will receive a weekly newsletter with promotions from Damron Vacations. Makes it easy to find good deals on vacations.

Deals on a Budget

With small glimmers of hope in the economy starting to appear, maybe it has reached bottom. Car sales were down, but not as much as forecasted, factory orders increased, all signs of a recovery. Jobs are still being lost, but not at the record rate in months past. Let's all keep out fingers crossed and the worst is over.
But even with a little ray of economic good news, going overboard is not a smart idea. A loosening of the purse strings might be in order though. Maybe a treat out to dinner, one of the first luxuries that gets cut in a downturn. There are many options to find bargains. One is the site Restaurant.com, it offers discounted gift certificates at many local eateries. Just enter your zip code and press go. My local newspaper has the same deal on Friday morning's online edition. Many popular eateries have promotions that can be purchased, but quantities are limited. To me it is a good incentive to try a new place, $25 worth of food for $10 is hard to beat.
Many hotels are offering discounts too. Having a person pay a reduced rate is better than an empty room. Many establishments are trying to keep valuable employees, this may mean reduced hours for everyone, as opposed to reduced number of staff.
These great deals are also available on Damron Vacations. Many high end hotels are offering reduced rates, spa credits, food & beverage credits to name a few of the perks offered. Combining these with a reduced flight cost could make a quick trip easy, convenient and affordable. With tourism down worldwide, hotel rates in Europe have dropped and flight deals abound. The dollar has also rallied against the euro, so once there, prices are affordable. Too many months of frugality can lead to an over abundance of stress, so break out the debit card and treat yourself to a nice meal of maybe a trip, so call Damron Vacations or check out the webiste for your travel needs.