Wednesday we went out of town, but we didn’t really go out of town. Whatever does she mean?? I’m so mysterious!
The best way to miss the hassle of traveling over the holidays is to do a staycation where you go on vacation where you live. Or, as defined by the Urban Dictionary: a vacation for cheap asses.
We drove 45 minutes down the road to Denver. Our plan was to take the kids to a nice hotel, out for a nice dinner and to view the city from a tourist rather than local point of view.
We got there and I realized I had booked us in the wrong hotel. There are two Hyatts in Denver – a nice one and an older/used up one. Ken had said, “Let’s go to the nice one where we take our dumps before the Denver Marathon!” Guess where I booked us by mistake? Yes, that is right. Dumpsville. Everyone tried to pretend it was okay, but it wasn't. Let’s put it this way – hotel #1 was fine, but kind of old and used. They are renovating the whole thing and you could hear construction throughout. Hotel #2 was the same price and much more grand and modern.
After we had valet-checked the car and checked into our blasé and dark room I had a mini fit about how I can never do anything right and I suck at planning staycations (which is too bad because I as going to become a staycation un-travel agent). I talked Ken into seeing if they would transfer us to the nicer Hyatt. He sighed a really, really big husband sigh that means I am on his last nerve. That’s what he gets for marrying a high maintenance wench.
Hotel #2? Much better, definitely worth the hassle. What do you think?
Thing #1 Thing #2
We had drinks up on the 27th floor.
Thing #1 Thing #2
Guess which drink is mine? Hint: it doesn’t have a strawberry or a head or ice.
Yes, I took this picture. The Hyatt will be contacting me to get a copy for their brochure.
Then we headed out for shopping, more shopping and a nice steak dinner. Ken and the kids got in the hot tub while I fell asleep in a lounge chair at 8:00 pm. Staycations wear me out. Or maybe it’s being a cheap ass that wears me out.
I got up early to work out in the awesome fitness center:
The night before Ken had written on the treadmill waiting list and it was still there:
He’s funny.
When we left they had just put up a tree in the lobby and it was the perfect family photo op, which my family HATES. Some dude offered to take our picture, letting us know that he used to live in the mountains and take pictures for so many tourists all the time so he is really good.
Definitely the best blurry picture I’ve ever seen.
My daughter said, “Well it is Christmas Vacation now!” No, honey. It is Christmas Staycation, which stars Chevy Chase’s much less funny younger brother.
That’s all she wrote. Staycation 2012 DONE.
Pros:
Costs a 1/4 of traveling somewhere else
Quick drive from home
Know our way around
Cons:
We live here. It didn’t feel like a vacation. Duh.
Did you travel this holiday?
Ever try the whole trendy staycation thing?
SUAR
