Stay at a Coffee Plantation in Hawaii

I wrote about this Kona Coffee a while ago, and I have been enjoying it ever since. I went back to the Aloha Island Coffee website and found out that they have two houses on the plantation that you can stay at while on vacation. That is my dream vacation. In a tropical paradise like Hawaii and a coffee plantation with some of the world’s best coffee. Even better, it is not far from the beach.

The page links to VRBO.com, but the listing has changed, here is the right page for the Aloha Island Coffee guest house.

What a view.

However, they have some rules that you won’t find in many places. No children under 12 at all. children up to age 25 must be accompanied by an adult. That’s pretty strict, but that’s the rules. They obviously are trying to create a relaxing atmosphere, and realize that not everyone finds small children relaxing. They are also concerned about the pool being so close to the house that it would be a safety hazard for small children.

I definitely want to try go to this place. My wife said that Jamaica was great, but she really wants to go to Hawaii, and I think I’ve already found the place to go.

Posted on March 5, 2010 Filed Under Recommended Beaches and Places, Travel | Leave a Comment

Jamaica Vacation Part 3 – Tuesday

This was a great day. We were in the lobby and overheard the receptionist telling someone about a local restaurant for real Jamaican food, not a tourist place. Of course, I jumped at that, and we tried it out. It’s called Sweet Spice, and it’s located to the left of the circle (from the main incoming road) in Negril.

Sweet Spice was a small little local restaurant with nothing fancy. Not usually the place to see any tourists. In fact, there were no others until right before we left. It was full of local Jamaicans, which is always a good sign when the locals are there.

Our meal started off with a fish tea, which may sound strange, but it was very good. It was basically a fish stock. Then I ordered the fish, conch and shrimp platter, and my wife got the lobster, conch and shrimp dish. Both of them were excellent. Neither of us had ever eaten conch before, and we were both very happy that we tried it. One of the great things about vacation is trying new things and new foods.

Some people on travel review sites have said that the service at Sweet Spice was poor if you weren’t a local, but sometimes you just have to expect that; you aren’t that important everywhere you go. Also, in the US, we have definite issues with speed, we want everything as soon as possible, and it is just not the same in other countries.

I definitely would recommend going to Sweet Spice for lunch or dinner, and don’t be afraid to eat something completely new and different than what you are used to.

The rest of the day was spent at the beach.

You can see Day 1 and Day 2 of our Jamaican Vacation.

Posted on February 24, 2010 Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Food, Jamaica, Beaches, and the Caribbean, Recommended Beaches and Places | Leave a Comment

Dirtiest Hotel for 2010

Tripadvisor has released their list of the Dirtiest Hotels of 2010. You can see previous years at the Dirtiest Hotels for 2008, and Dirtiest Hotels of 2009.

These listing are based on the Tripadvisor reviews from people who actually stayed at the hotels. I’ve included some of the reviews for you.

Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, CA

“…when I stood in the shower and felt water drip on my head. From the shower head? No, from a crack in the ceiling where water was pouring out from the shower above. In the duration of staying there, one of my teammates almost got in a fight with a hooker, we were nearly accosted by a pimp, referred to as Wood Grain, and met a lovely group of heroin addicts at the continental breakfast.”

“…I found a small bed bug in my bed and noticed some bites on my arm. Little did I know just how many times I had I been bitten until I returned to Beijing. I eventually needed to go to the emergency Room two days after my return because I had been bitten over 100 times!!!”

Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, MI

“All kinds of nastiness smeared on walls; All species of dried substances on the carpets – some of it dried body fluids! A stench that would make a homeless guy who hadn`t washed in a decade GAG! … If you have a mother-in-law you HATE, then buy her a weeks stay at this [--]!

“Should of stayed in the car. So dirty I used a couple of tissues over my hand to touch light switches, faucets, clock radio, remote… Slept in regular clothes, didn’t bother to bring in suitcases. Didn’t want them touching the floor. Used a blanket from car on top of the bed to sleep on,was sure to remove the bedspread (yuck!) and place blanket on top of the sheets and then threw it out later. We left at 4 in the morning just to get out of the place.”

Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, VA

“Dirty, smelly, noisy,,, it’s got it all…If you’ve ever been to a spring break hotel where alcohol, puke, and BO are the primary smells you’ll have an idea as to what to expect here.”

“A member of the staff is a peeping tom! When we checked in, the Manager offered us a free upgrade to the “Honeymoon Suite”. It was a set up. The “Honeymoon Suite” had a vacant room next door that was “under construction”. I was undressed to get into my swimsuit and heard breathing. I felt someone staring at me. I looked under the big gap under the adjoining room door. I saw eyes looking back at me!”

Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, VA

“The room smelled, the sheets looked used, even though the bed had been made, the carpet was disgusting, and I used the bathroom wastebasket to smash an enormous cockroach that was climbing the wall when I woke up.”

“Here is the progression of our stay: Check in, go to room, leave room, go to front desk, get money back, find the Sea Gull Motel across the street. Yeah..it was that bad.”

Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, PA

“One comforter had BLOOD stains….the other had “fluid” stains of some sort. We examined the mattresses and found them to be pretty new. My husband went to wash his face and dry it–only to find pubic hair in the towel!!”

“I will tell you that when we found a used rubber in the corner of the room that was it .”

New York Inn, New York City, NY

“This was a place that the neighborhood residents tried to have shut down for years. It was a hangout for crack users, cheap hookers, and scum of every kind.”

“The problem with thin walls is the [prostitute] issue, I could hear people having sex all night long. Kind of funny, but if I was with a spouse, this would have really creeped her out.”

Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, FL

“The carpet made my feet black. The rooms set up looked worse than a poor single college guys dorm room… The towels were small and thin scraggly things you’d probably use to wash your car with… The place was over run with … people who were constantly yelling and screaming, making noise, banging on doors, running up and down the hall ways at all hours of the night. Some were even hanging out in the hall ways sitting on the floor.”

“Old, shower didn’t work right, dirty, bed was old and dippy, sink 6 inches into the mattress. Only five channels on the tv, one sports, one spanish.”

Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, CA

“The first thing we were hit with was the smell — musty with an underlying odor of pet urine. (We found pet stains in the corner a few minutes later.) … The bathroom was disgusting — black mold/mildew in the shower, sink and toilet and ratty old towels that looked as if they’d been there for years. The same was true with the bedding, except they had other unknown stains and were threadbare. The carpet was so dirty we couldn’t determine the color and the thought of walking on it barefoot was out of the question.”

“This place is a total dump! Filthy, filthy, filthy! I will be reporting this place to the Department of Health and every other agency I can think of. Not to code either, no emergency exit plan posted on the door. Grime built up on towel racks, door, wall.”

Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, CA

“The temp. was around 112 that day, and the air conditioning did not work. I am surprised that motels of this nature can even remain in business.”

“If you have an enemy, buy them a room here. If you want to show your in-laws that you don’t like or care about them, have them stay here. If you want to see what it feels like to live in hell, stay here for one night.”

Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, FL

“The chairs in the room were all stained brown, I hope to hell it was from coffee. The carpets were dirty and duct taped where they were torn.”

“…vending machines had signs out of order during the day, to force you to buy out of the restaurant at much higher prices. However once the restaurant closed the signs were taken off the vending machines.”

Those are some nasty places. Have you had an experience with a dirty hotel? Let us know about it in the comments.

Posted on February 15, 2010 Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Travel | Leave a Comment

Hawaiian Kona Coffee. 100% Pure Coffee Paradise

I have talked before about how much I love Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, but this morning my brother and I put on some Kona Coffee we had just picked up. It was fantastic.

I still love Jamaican Blue, but this was something else. Now the Kona was the top of the line Diamond Private Reserve 100% Pure Kona from Aloha Island Coffee Company, and the Jamaican Blue Mountain that I have is probably the low line of coffee.

Great stuff, I highly recommend it. Smooth, creamy, nice and strong, but balanced.

Since Hawaii is a Beach Bums Paradise, I can talk about the Hawaiian Kona Coffee. However, I’d rather drink it than talk about it.

Posted on February 9, 2010 Filed Under Food | 1 Comment

Top 10 Beaches in America from Dr Beach, 2009

You can see the previous years Top Ten Beaches for 2008 and the Top 10 Beaches for 2007.

Dr. Beach (Dr. Stephen Leatherman) is the Director of the Laboratory Coastal Research at the Florida International University. He takes into account the water and sand quality, plus safety, facilities and environmental management when he settles on the Top Ten American Beaches each year.

This year, the Top 10 Beaches are:

Hanalei Bay – Kauai, Hawaii

With a sandy beach in front of mountains and cliffs, Hanalei Bay is one of the most beautiful spots in Hawaii.

Siesta Beach – Sarasota, Florida

White sand beaches are what set Siesta beach apart from many others. The subtropical climate doesn’t hurt either.

Coopers Beach – Southampton, New York

Southampton is one of the oldest settlements in NY, so you will be sure to also have some history along with your beach.

Coronado Beach – San Diego, California

A beach in Southern California. Do I need to say more?

Hamoa Beach – Maui, Hawaii

Another beach from Hawaii, but from Maui. Hamoa Beach is surrounded by cliffs and thick vegetation. Also there is an island just off shore (Alau island) with coconuts growing on it.

Main Beach – East Hampton, New York

Located at the end of Long Island, you are sure to enjoy both the beach and the Village of East Hampton.

Cape Hatteras – Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Outer Banks are a great place to get away from a lot of the commercialized beaches that you find in other parts of North Carolina.

Cape Florida State Park – Key Biscayne,Florida

You can do most anything at Key Biscayne, Florida; swimming, snorkeling, walking, fishing, anything you can think of (within reason).

Coast Guard Beach – Cape Cod, Massachusetts

One of the favorite tourist beaches in Cape Cod, Coastguard beach has no parking. You have to take a shuttle from a parking lot.

Beachwalker Park – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

With 11 miles of beach located on a barrier island, you will be sure to enjoy Beachwalker Beach in South Carolina.

These beaches have all been on the Top Ten list before, but in different orders. Do you have any comments about beaches on this list, or ones that you think should have been? Let us know in the comments.

Posted on January 18, 2010 Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Beaches to go See, Recommended Beaches and Places | 1 Comment

Book Your Summer Vacation in the Winter

Right after Christmas is supposed to be the best time of year to book your vacation. However there are a few reasons why it wouldn’t be, such as credit card debt (if you used them for Christmas), maybe you spent too much time with the family to think about doing it again on vacation, etc.

In spite of that, this is the best time to plan for a summer vacation. USA Today had an article about booking your 2010 vacation now. They list a few types of vacations and the best time to plan for them.

Book Cruises

There are many fans of cruises, my parents included. They are easy as there is no driving around, and you can have anything from food to floor shows anytime you want.

The tips are book soon if you need special accommodations or want certain dates. If you aren’t that particular, then booking closer to the cruise can help you get some deals.

According to Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief at Cruise Critic, “Definitely keep an eye on wave season [January through March] deals, which are more oriented toward offering value than the deepest discounts. You may pay more for a cabin than you would at the veritable last minute, but you might also get free air thrown in, which sort of mitigates the issue.” She recommends to book your summer cruise during January through March.

Book Vacation Rentals

Like cruises, vacation rental availability can depend on where you are going. If you are going to Cape Cod, or the Caribbean you should start trying to book a vacation rental six months before you want to go. I looked at vacation rental houses when we went to Jamaica, and I was very tempted. They aren’t just a hotel room, you can get a full house with all the amenities, which is great if you are traveling with people who aren’t family.

If you are looking to go somewhere that might not be as popular, you can wait until much closer to the time you want to go.

The article from USA Today then goes on to talk about Europe and National Parks, but I going to stop here. Do you have any tips on when to book your vacation?

Posted on January 8, 2010 Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Travel, Vacation Time | Leave a Comment

Get Away on a Cheap Beach Vacation Top 10

This is the time of year when people start to plan their vacations, the snow is falling, the air is bitter, and we know that somewhere, the palm trees are swaying in a warm breeze with the smell of the ocean water.

However, in today’s economic climate it’s not always easy to get to a warmer climate. That’s why I am posting this list of the Top 10 Cheap Beach Vacations from Away.com. I have talked many times about inexpensive and cheap beach vacations, and they are always popular, so here is another.

Top 10 Cheap Beach Vacations

10. Destin, Florida

With over 100 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico, there is plenty of room for you to find some privacy. Destin is in the Florida Panhandle, where the fishing can’t get much better. Since you never leave the country, the costs are already lower than other beach destinations.

9. Outer Banks, North Carolina

I was stationed in NC for a few years, and the beaches are great. The Outer Banks is an awesome place to go for fishing and wildlife watching. There are lighthouses, Kitty Hawk (the Wright Brothers first flight), and the North Carolina aquarium. There are over 15o miles of beaches, usually on a strip of land no more than a mile wide. There are also some great seafood places for relatively cheap.

8. Huntington Beach, California

A little bit north of Laguna Beach in Orange County is Huntington Beach. It’s a different crowd than what you would get in Laguna, and is more popular with surfers. It even has the International Surfing Museum. The beach itself is about 8 miles long, but that should be enough since most people will try to show themselves off at Laguna Beach.

7. Cape Ann, Massachusetts

In Cape Ann, you will find the oldest fishing port in America, Gloucester. I have been here and I loved it. I am a New Englander at heart, and this is pure New England. With beaches lined with cliffs and mansions, Singing Beach is similar to the beaches in Newport, Rhode Island. Cape Ann is about 40 miles north of Boston, which itself is worth a visit. Of course, no visit to New England is complete without eating some Maine lobster, but Woodman’s in Essex claims to be the seafood place that invented the fried clam in 1916. That is worth checking out.

6. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

If you are looking for something outside the US, then you should try Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. I have a map of Costa Rica so you can see where it is (on the right side, the Caribbean side). With beaches all along the coastline, you won’t run out of sand, unless you walk along the beach all the way to Panama.

5. Negril, Jamaica

Finally, we get to Jamaica. I was just in Negril, Jamaica this last summer, and you can definitely save some money in Jamaica. You just have to watch yourself and plan. The beach is around 7 miles long, and is just about perfect. You could spend the entire day on the beach, there are enough people selling food that you would never have to leave. We practically didn’t. My own tip, get a taxi to take you to Sweet Spot restaurant. You will be the only tourist there, but you will be happy when you eat the food.

4. Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

With 4 beaches (named First, Second, Third and Fourth) you will certainly be able to find the beach that fits you. From luau and dance parties on Second, to quieter Fourth beach, with is good for snorkelers and those wanting to get away.

3. Placencia, Belize

Placencia is one of the most popular beaches in Belize. over 16 miles of white sand beaches are sure to satisfy your winter blues. If you get tired of the beaches (can you ever get tired of the beaches?) you can kayak through Monkey River and see monkeys, manatees and crocodiles.

2. Tulum, Mexico

No beach list would be complete without Mexico. If you don’t want the crowds and parties of Cancun, head south to Tulum, Mexico. Along with great beaches, Tulum also has Mayan ruins that you can explore. It is also one of the cheaper places to stay on this list.

1. Cannon Beach, Oregon

If you want to go to the Pacific Northwest, then try Cannon Beach, Oregon. With the iconic Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach is definitely a picture takers paradise. Ancient Spruce trees, cliffs, beaches and the ocean all make Cannon Beach a very picturesque place.

Posted on December 29, 2009 Filed Under Beach Vacations, Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Beaches to go See, Recommended Beaches and Places | 4 Comments

Merry Christmas from the Beach Bum, 2009

Merry Christmas!

I’m sure that many of you are freezing this year wishing for the beach, and what better to celebrate Christmas than by laying on a tropical beach somewhere in the Caribbean.

Or maybe you’d like to spend Christmas with Jimmy Buffett on Christmas Island.

Posted on December 23, 2009 Filed Under Beach Vacations, Vacation Time | Leave a Comment

Unusual and Adventure Hotels

If you are in the mood for something completely different than the run of the mill hotel, then check out some of these hotels. This site (Unusual Hotels of the World), has places to stay all over the world, but not necessarily what you are used to.

For example, this Tree House in India;

Wild. That would be a pretty cool place to stay. I’d feel like Tarzan.

How about this one, an underwater lodge in Florida;

Now that is cool. Except for the divers looking in the porthole, I would stay here anytime.

Check out the Unusual Hotels site and tell us if you have stayed anywhere you think should be on their list.

Posted on December 17, 2009 Filed Under Recommended Beaches and Places, Travel | Leave a Comment

Jamaica Vacation Part 2 – Monday

I have not been posting very regularly here. It has been almost 5 months since my vacation and I only have one day posted. You can find day 1 of our vacation to Jamaica here.

On Monday, we did almost absolutely nothing. Sort of. We relaxed.

There are many vendors on the beach selling everything from fruit and beads to weed and mushrooms. So we bought some fruit which was great. There were some small bananas that were fantastic. The vendors have a tendency to be very persistent, and you have to be firm about saying no. If you are halfhearted or say maybe later, they will remember and come again.

We got into the ocean about three times today. It was beautiful. The water was perfect, the weather was perfect, everything was perfect. I’d say we probably spent at least 6 hours total in the ocean.

We went to Margaritaville for lunch, which has pretty good food, but not the best. I’ve said it before, you go to Maragaritaville for the atmosphere.

For dinner we figured we would try Norma’s at the Sea Splash resort. As we were walking down the beach, a guy stopped us and asked if we would like to have the best food on the beach at Norma’s. Since that was were we were going, I said sure, and he gave us a 10% off coupon to go there. At first I was a little wary, but This guy is making a living by getting people to go to Norma’s. After you eat, you sign his coupon and he makes a commission.

We had Jerk Chicken and Coconut chicken. I loved the jerk (of course) but the coconut chicken was unbelievable. It was unlike anything I’ve ever eaten with coconut here in the States. It was sweet without being overly sweet, it was juicy and… I can’t think of how else to describe it. It was excellent.

I would definitely recommend Norma’s.

So ended our first full day in Jamaica. Come back for the next post about our Jamaican Vacation.

Posted on December 8, 2009 Filed Under Beach Vacations, Food, Jamaica Vacation | Leave a Comment