TBEX Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

The Cody Hotel – Wild Wyoming

Paula — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:20:40 +0000

Like the town it’s named for, The Cody Hotel is pure Wyoming. Cody is often called one of the last few western towns, and I could easily see why when I stayed there on the first night of my tour with Austin Adventures. The town itself may have grown and modernized itself over the years, but you’d never know it driving through downtown. When it comes to accommodations in Wyoming close to Yellowstone National Park, The Cody Hotel, ticks all the boxes. With great views of the surrounding countryside, comfortable accommodations, superb service and a distinctly wild west vibe, The Cody Hotel Wyoming is pretty close to perfect. Mere moments away from many iconic and historically significant local attractions, that makes this hotel and family friendly spot a good choice when traveling. Cruising the main strip in Cody Wyoming feels like the pure western experience, with shops lining each side of the street – all of them with a classic western front. Just getting to the Cody Hotel is an experience in and of itself. The Cody Hotel is Pure Wyoming The hotel is just across the street from the Cody Nite Rodeo and Stampede Arena and Old Trail Town and just a couple of blocks from Cody institutions like The Cody Cattle Company and The Cody Firearms Company. The exterior of the hotel is quite unassuming. It’s a simple, three-story affair that doesn’t put on a lot of airs. That being said you can feel the rustic, old west vibe even from the outside. The stonework sign welcoming you to the hotel, as well as the stonework that is prominent along portions of the outside of the hotel, lets visitors know immediately that they’re in for a relaxed rustic treat. The interior of the hotel just screams ranch and with its warm colours and natural materials, The Cody Hotel is relaxed at heart. Walking through the doors of the hotel is soothing. The tiles and a stonework fireplace are complemented by warm, wood furniture as well as chairs and sofas featuring leather and fabric that further add to the charm and western feel of the hotel. The Cody Hotel Accommodations The hotel features several room options, and a variety of amenities that make life at the hotel both more productive and more comfortable. Rooms The Cody Hotel room choices range from standard to suite options. The standard room features a custom-made king bed or two custom-made queen beds. The rooms also have a refrigerator and microwave, as well as an easy chair, desk, iron, hairdryer, I-pod docking station and more. The Deluxe King Room and Deluxe Queen Room feature everything the standard room has with an added patio or balcony for enjoying the beautiful Wyoming scenery and crisp, clean air. Finally, the suites feel like living in a home away from home. Their open airy design boasts a spacious living area complete with fireplace, making it a great option for a more homey feel while you’re away. Services and Amenities I liked this hotel for so many reasons, not the least of which is the available pool, bike access, and complimentary breakfast. However, those are just three amenities that make The Cody Hotel so wonderful. You wouldn’t expect some of these higher-end bonuses in such an unassuming hotel, but I think that’s what makes it so special. Amenities offered include: 24-Hour Front Desk Business Center with Printer Free Hot Breakfast Fitness Room Free Airport Transportation Free Shuttle Transportation from West End and Downtown Free High-Speed WiFi Throughout Indoor Hot Tub Indoor Pool Outdoor Firepit Indoor Corridors The Cody really thought of everything when it comes to its guests. As a blogger, I appreciated the FREE high-speed WiFi, the shuttle and as a frequent traveler, I thoroughly enjoyed the free hot breakfast. Those amenities alone are enough for any hotel to receive high marks in my opinion. Location The Cody Hotel couldn’t be more perfectly located. The hotel is close to the airport as well as everything that makes Cody Wyoming famous. In addition, road trippers have access to several main highways, making it easy to explore the surrounding area. This combination of proximity and navigability makes The Cody an excellent home base for a vacation to the area. Get Grounded at The Cody Hotel From the outside, The Cody Hotel is a simple, unassuming affair. In fact, without its stonework and little touches, you’d never know it was anything more than a standard hotel. But that’s part of its charm. The Cody Hotel is as much a staple of the Wyoming atmosphere as Cody is itself. Just like the town, The Cody Hotel is what it is without the need for lots of drama or flair. It welcomes you in with a friendly exterior and entices you to stay with an interior that is warm, inviting, and purely Wyoming. It’s one of the best hotels I’ve had the pleasure of staying at in months. If you’re planning a trip to the Cody, Wyoming area, I highly recommend The Cody Hotel. It has everything you’d ever want in a hotel, and it has it with a distinctly Wyoming flair.

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Ring of Kerry – A Must See in Ireland

Paula — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:06:43 +0000

Ring of Kerry. Remember the name of this spot when planning your trip to Ireland. Tuck it away for later. There’s something magical about Ireland as a whole. But there are some areas that are dramatic, outstanding examples of nature at its best. Places you cannot and should not miss. Killarney, Dublin, Dingle, and the Ring of Kerry are pure magic. If you ever find your way to Ireland promise me now you will see all of the above and be sure to visit Ring of Kerry. In October I went to Killarney for TBEX, Travel Blogger’s Exchange conference. The location was a huge draw for me and there were some great sessions, wonderful tours and networking opportunities too of course. But towards the end of the conference when I still had not seen Ring of Kerry I was honestly feeling a bit heartbroken. So I woke up early one morning and raced down the street to Deros Tours. Happily, they had space and together with Margarita Ibbott and her oldest daughter we boarded a bus for a day of sightseeing. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland. Ring of Kerry Tour Ireland consists of 26 counties divided into 4 provinces. It’s not a small country at all. The country boasts rolling pastures, towering cliffs, crashing coastlines, small hamlets, and large cities. It is a place full of storytellers and characters and stunning architecture too. While I started in Killarney and truly loved my experience there in this charming city, I took a quick one day trip to Dingle to tour a distillery and search out a famous dolphin named Fungie. Then I was scheduled for a familiarization tour in Dublin. SUPER exciting! On my first day in Ireland, on a lengthy bus ride to Killarney from the Dublin airport, I heard all about Ring of Kerry from another passenger. “God’s country,” he called it and warned me not to miss. My schedule was tight and Dublin was pending. Ring of Kerry was also calling. What to do? Happy to report I did get to see “God’s country” and much more. The crashing waves, idyll tiny villages and lush vegetation coupled with friendly people along the way, made The Ring of Kerry a great experience. This scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry is the best way to see some of the most beautiful scenery you can find in the country. The Ring passes through Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Glenbeigh before returning to Killarney. Major attractions along the ring are many. Sneem was a sweet little spot and there are many great Instagram worthy photo spots there. Of course the Skelligs are otherworldly and infamous for being a big piece of two of the most recent Star Wars movies. You will see the Skelligs from a distance. Loved seeing it even from a distance but wish we’d had more time to pause and capture more photos there. Each spot or stop along the Ring of Kerry seems more dramatic than the last one. These are a few of the quaint stops we made: Gap of Dunloe Bog Village Dunloe Ogham Stones Kerry Woollen Mills, Rossbeigh Beach Cahersiveen Heritage Centre Derryname House Skellig Experience Staigue Fort Kenmare Lace Ladies View Torc Waterfall Muckross House The Blue Pool Ross Castle St. Mary’s Cathedral Muckross Abbey Faranciscan Friary Kellegy Church O’Connell Memorial Church Skellig Michael Like I said, the Ring of Kerry covers A LOT of ground and some of the most famous sites in all of Ireland, and we got to see much of it with Deros Tours. The trip was 26 Euros, which was a steal in my opinion. The tour took us all through most of the spots noted above. It was one of the few sunny days we had while in Ireland and the coastline was gorgeous. At Kerry Bog Village I had the best Irish Coffee of my life. On this particular tour we had a quick introduction to everything the Ring had to offer. It’s enjoyable leaving the drive to someone else when in a country you aren’t familiar with where people drive on the opposite side of the road. The tour guide and staff were friendly, taking our photos sometimes and answering questions on the way. At each stop along The Ring of Kerry, we learned the history behind some of the most famous spots in Ireland. Midway through the trip, there was also a sheepherding demonstration. The shepherd talked a little about what he did, and he gave us a demonstration of how his dogs herd sheep. That was a quirky experience that cost an extra 5 Euros but was well worth it. This is a seasonal attraction. If you have the chance to witness this then take it. There’s a chance to ask questions at the end of the sheepherding demonstration. There’s more to know about this lifestyle than you can imagine. In Sneem we stopped to look around at the shops and grabbed an ice cream before heading on to Ladies View. The gorgeous greens and blues are sharper than any artist’s palette. Even the rocks and craggy coast are cut from something a little otherworldly. It’s easy to see why this area captivates tourists and has served well as a make believe setting for movies like Star Wars and series like Game of Thrones. The natural terrain, the greenest moss and grasses trailing right into the the sapphire blue waters making each feature seem that much brighter. Experience the Ring of Kerry by Tour I had a lot of amazing experiences in Ireland, and each one was memorable and educational too. The Ring of Kerry was well worth the extra time. The staff were incredibly friendly, and so were the people. No matter where you stop in Ireland you will be made to feel welcome. It was an incredible experience from start to finish, and I recommend Deros Tours if you ever tour the Ring of Kerry. Do It Yourself Want to stay in a castle in Ireland? Read Hannah Logan’s post – > 9 Affordable Castles in Ireland. This is an excellent package, which will get you most of what we saw while in Ireland. Killarney, Dingle, Dublin and Ring of Kerry Tour! A 9-day tour of Ireland, including accommodations and breakfasts – this is a steal at $1060 Canadian. Disclosure: This tour was not sponsored. This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links I make a small fee at no extra cost to you.

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