Rewind: Newark/NYC (April 2013)

The view of Manhattan from Hoboken NJ.

In April 2013 Kyle and I traveled to Newark, NJ via Southwest Airlines to see a UFC Fight at the Prudential Center and to visit a friend in New York City.

WORD TO THE WISE:

Traveling to Newark was fun, but a big wake up call were the Cabs. I can’t stress this enough—take the train or walk if you can! The cabs in NJ are not regulated and therefore, cabbies are allowed to charge basically whatever they want. If you do take a cab in NJ make sure you ask what the fare will be to your destination. Also, do not get sucked into taking a “Gypsy Cab”–these are fairly easy to spot because they are usually all black Lincoln Town Cars or black Lincoln Navigators and they are not marked—the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!

WHERE WE STAYED:
SpringHill Suites by Marriot —This hotel is conveniently close to the Newark Airport. It was in a nice area (safe part) of Newark. The hotel was clean and our room was large and spacious. The only downside to this hotel is that it is not very close to restaurants (none within walking distance). We got in pretty late and the only delivery service to our hotel was pizza. I booked this room using Hotels.com and found a really great deal. I would recommend this hotel 🙂

PLACES WE VISITED:
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart— We visited the church early on a Friday morning. This church is beautiful inside and out. The parking lot is lined with cherry blossom trees that were in bloom in April. The interior is grand with breathtaking stained glass art. The Basilica is a must see, even if you aren’t religious; anyone can appreciate the beauty. It is free to walk around and take pictures, but we put money into the tithe box on our way out. 🙂

The Front of the Cathedral Basilica of the Scared Heart

The Prudential Center –We attended a UFC event at the Prudential Center. The seating was great, concessions were easily accessible, and getting in-and-out was easy. It does sit in an older, somewhat “sketchy”, neighborhood. I would recommend taking a cab if you go to an event here because there wasn’t much parking.

Canal Street aka Chinatown–Canal Street is a MUST if you are visiting NYC for the first time, or if you are a serial shopper like me. This is where you can find purses, watches, and perfumes! It also features many places to eat, and is home to Little Italy and many delicious Italian restaurants. I highly recommend visiting Canal Street. 🙂

Inside the Subway

WHERE WE ATE:

Wicked Wolf Tavern: This place was awesome! Located in Hoboken, this tavern is filled with young working adults, and was packed. The food was good (we tried 3 of the appetizers), but the drink specials were better! Each beer came with a shot the night we went. We had to hang around the bar for about 30 minutes to wait for a table, but it was great “people-watching” time. Get there early if you go for dinner—A fun time for young people! 😀

Hobby’s Deli: I read so many fabulous reviews of Hobby’s Deli that I just HAD to try it for myself. We got there pretty early after touring the Basilica, around 11:00am. I guess they weren’t prepared for early eaters because it seemed like the staff was busy doing other things. The sandwiches were HUGE and reasonably priced. Overall, it was still a great experience. The food was delicious and it had the traditional feel of a NY Deli, complete with pickles on the table. I would definitely recommend Hobby’s Deli if you are in Newark. 🙂

Mecca Halal Restaurant: This was a spur of the moment decision. We were starving after leaving the Prudential Center and EVERY restaurant was packed except this place. It is a hole in the wall restaurant that serves a little bit of everything (cafeteria style) very reasonably priced! I had a veggie plate and Kyle had chicken and macaroni. The neighborhood surrounding this place was a bit sketchy, but the food was great. 🙂

Planet Hollywood: Conveniently located in Times Square–this is a classic tourist attraction. Honestly- they have such a wide variety of food on their menu it is sure to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Kyle is a very picky eater and enjoys classic hamburgers. I love pasta. Planet Hollywood has both! Prices are a little inflated, but your paying for the atmosphere. If you have never been to a Planet Hollywood restaurant then I would recommend trying it at least once 🙂

Chubby’s Diner aka The Diner: This Diner is located in the Meat-Packing District (my favorite area of NYC). We ate here because we missed our reservation at Catch. As unhappy as I was about eating somewhere else, I was pleasantly surprised by the great “Late-Night” menu. A variety of options of home-style cooking. Kyle had breakfast and I had the spaghetti and meatballs, and our friend Moses had the blackened catfish–all were delicious. I would recommend Chubby’s for breakfast or a late night snack 🙂

TRAVEL INFORMATION:

I can’t reiterate enough about getting the price of cab fare BEFORE you take a cab somewhere in Newark.
Say NO to Gypsy Cabs.
The Train from Newark into Manhattan is fairly easy to navigate, but the trains throughout Newark are a bit harder
The subway in Manhattan is your best friend.
Hoboken is where the young people of New Jersey hang out.
Visit Canal Street

HAPPY TRAVELS!

*Be sure to check out my travel tips!*

Vegas-May 2014

Outside Encore Hotel

We traveled to Las Vegas in May 2014 from Austin via Southwest Airlines. I’ve listed below where we stayed, where we ate, and places we visited.

Hooters Hotel & Casino: I don’t want to scare anyone but the truth is–Hooters is old and has not been updated. BUT you cannot beat the price! I booked 5 nights for roughly $350.00. You get what you pay for. Our shower was a little leaky but we just laid a bunch of towels down on the floor. Our room was always cleaned daily and on time. The pool is the biggest draw to this Hotel. It has a 24 hour pool that accompanies the 24 hour Hooters Restaurant. There is a good size hot tub and fresh/clean pool towels available. The Casino is small, just a handful of tables, but we had a great time playing. You get a $10 table credit and $20 food credit when you check in, which is a nice perk too! I can’t complain about Hooters. The location is great (right across from the MGM Grand), the casino and pool were great, and the food was terrific. A great hotel for someone on a tight budget. 🙂

Our View from The Hooter’s Hotel Room

Hooters 24/7: The Hooters restaurant inside Hooters Hotel & Casino is open 24 hours. You can dine in or have the wings sent up to your room. Wings at 3:00am what could be better!? The service isn’t great, but the food sure is! The staff is small late at night, so I would recommend dining-in to ensure your food is hot! 😀

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina: This restaurant is inside The Shops at Crystals. It overlooks the mall area and has a great bar. We had pizza and salads. Delicious. Service was a bit slow (and it wasn’t busy), but the food and drinks made up for it! I would recommend this for a quick and easy lunch! 🙂

Wicked Spoon Buffet: (For Brunch) This buffet is located inside Cosmopolitan. I had read amazing reviews about this place and boy were they right! The line is a bit long to get in, but once you are in it is a smorgasbord of all different foods, salads, and desserts! I would recommend this in a heart beat! Get there early! 😀

Chayo: Located in the LINQ shopping center. This is a Mexican-themed bar and restaurant. We stopped in for a quick snack and drink before riding The High Roller. I had carnitas tacos and Kyle had queso fundido. Delicious. Great service, quick and easy to get in and out. They can make your drink to-go, so you can carry them around. Loved it. Would definitely recommend this place for lunch or dinner! 🙂

Binion’s Cafe: Inside Binion’s Casino (downtown). I recommend becoming a Binion’s casino card member (free) before eating in the cafe because you’ll get a discount if you have your players card! We eat here every time we visit Vegas—It is great hangover food. Kyle enjoys the gambler’s special and I love the chili dogs! Food is cheap and service is great! A definite must after a night of drinking! 😀

The Mirage Buffet: Cravings Buffet inside The Mirage. We had this buffet for dinner. I would consider it extremely over-priced–our total bill (for 2 people) was $90.00. It was neat that “all you could drink” was included too—but Bud Light and House White Wine were the only 2 beverages that fell under the “all you can drink” category. There were many different food options, but none of them really “wowed” me or looked amazing. More of a glorified Golden Corral. Would NOT recommend this buffet. 😦

UFC Fight: This fight was inside the Grand Garden Arena inside MGM Grand. Always a great fight venue and there’s really not a bad seat in the house. 🙂

Absinthe: I don’t want to give away too much, but Absinthe at Caesars Palace is A MUST SEE! It has something for everyone, and I would consider it an “adult carnival”. If you’re not a prude and have a sense of humor, this show is for you! 😀

High Roller: I’m realizing now there are lots of great deals that make this ride more affordable. We rode the High Roller shortly after it opened and tickets were crazy expensive. The ride is really lovely at night—I would recommend it—but shop around for the best deal on tickets!

Inside The High Roller

Encore Beach Club: I purchased tickets for David Guetta at Encore Beach Club a month in advance, but by no means does purchasing tickets early get you any special privileges. Get there early! The line was long and there is hardly any seating (unless you purchase a $1000.00 lily-pad) so don’t take anything but a credit card because your stuff is GOING to get WET and its not worth putting your items in a locker. Once you’re in the pool, you’re IN–don’t get out of the pool or you WILL lose your spot! Drinks are priced pretty crazy ($25-$35 each) and lines are pretty long. A fun day to blow money, but not a necessity!

Encore Beach Club—before it got crazy!

Guns-N-Roses @ The Joint: The Joint is a great music venue. I was really impressed with the acoustics, the stage, and the bar. Tickets were pricey but we got there early and stood right in front of the stage. It was nice to be able to move to the back after listening to the first initial songs in the pit of people. The back of the venue is raised so you can see the stage really well. Bathrooms were clean, and the bar was easy to get service. A great music venue! 🙂

Guns&Roses inside The Joint at Hard Rock

Binion’s Casino: In the early afternoons Binion’s has $2.00 Tables—which is terrific! We always stop to play at Binion’s before heading home. Friendly dealers, waitresses are a little slow, but overall good service. This is a great casino for a gambler on a budget 🙂

Remember to check out my Travel Tips! Book in advance and break up the big purchases such as hotel, flight, and big-ticket events!

HAPPY TRAVELS!

Rewind: Vegas (December 2013)

We traveled to Las Vegas Nevada in December 2013 to attend a UFC event. We made a vow to stay at a different hotel each time we go to Vegas—and of course I always vow to try new restaurants! We flew Spirit airlines from Houston to Vegas (one way–$123 per person) and flew Southwest airlines from Vegas to Houston (one way–$135 per person).

This visit to Vegas we actually stayed in 2 different hotels. I follow lots of hotels on Facebook because they offer greats deals to their Facebook Followers every now and then. This is a case were I got a tremendous DEAL on Facebook for MGM Grand Hotel.

WHERE WE STAYED:

MGM Grand: deal on Facebook–1 night– $65.00 for a King Junior Executive Suite. We were on the highest floor with 180degree views. The room was very modern, luxurious bathroom, clean, great (expensive) mini bar. Check-in and check-out were easy. * I did the option of a “cash deposit”—which is a WAY better deal! You don’t have to put down as much money, and you get your money back right away when you check out (instead of waiting for 3-5 days for a credit card refund).

Our 4 other nights were spent at The Flamingo. I found a deal online for 4 nights for $495.—called the reservation line and booked it for even cheaper–4 nights for $395. *Call for best rates* The Flamingo is located in the center of the strip. Easy access to everything, walking distance to many casinos, easy access to the LV Monorail (which was great for winter time). Room was clean, updated, and the view was nice. Check-in was a tad long, but we were offered cheap upgrades (do it!), check-out was easy.

WHAT WE DID:

Atomic Testing Museum: Found a terrific deal on Groupon! This was fun, lots of reading, but very educational. There was a movie in the middle, which helped break-up the reading. We also toured the “Area 51” exhibit. It was a little dinky–but since it was included in the groupon–it was worth it. I would recommend this.

Neon Sign Museum: Again, found a great deal on Groupon. This was a lot smaller than I imagined. But it was fun and worth the money, it is a guided tour, so don’t be late! 🙂

Joe Rogan: He did stand up at the theater inside The Mirage. Tickets were a bit pricey, but I LOVED all the opening acts. The opening acts were, to me, more enjoyable than Joe Rogan. Our seats were good, I really don’t think there is a bad seat in that theater. Drinks were extremely pricey! I might opt for a cheaper comedy show next time

UFC Event: We went to a fight inside MGM Grand Arena. Seating was great, beer/snacks were easily accessible, crowded getting out after the event. I would say there really is not a bad seat inside this arena.

Vegas!The Show: inside Planet Hollywood. This show was A-MAZING. I opted for the best seats because I found a coupon code that was for Row 3 discounted tickets. Tickets were about $90/per person. Well worth it! I felt like I was IN the show, the seats were so close! I couldn’t stop smiling because it was so great, and the performers kept making eye contact with the audience. It was a variety of everything–singing, dancing, tricks, etc. Would definitely recommend this show! (Search for coupon codes!)

Minus5 Ice Bar: inside Mandalay Bay. This is a very touristy experience, but I am glad we did it! We opted for the fur coat and hat upgrades simply because I wanted a cute picture. The drinks were good, the actual bar is small, but we still had fun and we bought the cute pictures. Total spent was $150.00: fur coats, hats, pictures, drinks. *See Pictures below* I would recommend this if you have the money to spend, if not, skip it.

WHERE WE ATE:

Japonais–inside The Mirage. It is a wonderful sushi restaurant, not too expensive, but definitely a romantic-type dinner. The sushi was terrific, and our calamari appetizer was to die for! Sit in the front bar area if you like to people-watch. Make reservations.

Margaritaville–inside The Flamingo. A fun vibe, live music (cover band) was terrific. Drinks were a fabulous but a tad pricey. Food was delicious–Tex-Mex (a tad overpriced) but you’re paying for the name. A great place for a quick drink/snack. No reservations needed.

Wolfgang Puck–inside MGM Grand. We ate here 3 times on our visit–and will go back! Lunch menu was great, I had the chicken salad sandwich and Kyle had the BLT. Amazing! Reasonably priced! Celeb-sightings. People-watch–opens into casino. No reservations needed for lunch.

The Earl of Sandwich–inside Planet Hollywood. We had a late dinner here after a show. I had read about this on TripAdvisor and it seemed really popular with good reviews. The sandwiches are served hot, which I haven’t eaten many hot sandwiches, but it was really good! Since it was the end of the day they were out of macaroni (which I had heard was amazing). I would recommend this for Lunch!

The Buffet at Excalibur–(Lunch) I was pleasantly surprised with the wide variety of this buffet. Food seemed fresh. Self-serve beverage station was excellent. This meal was free by using our MyVegas rewards. Would recommend this buffet.

The Buffet at MGM Grand–(Breakfast/Brunch) This buffet was not exciting at all considering its location. I didn’t eat much, but Kyle was not impressed. This meal was also free by using our MyVegas rewards. Would NOT recommend this buffet.

Yes–MyVegas rewards are fabulous! The games are addicting and who doesn’t love FREE!?!

Overall, this was a great trip to Vegas. Our GRAND total for 5 nights-6 days cost us roughly $2,400.00 not bad for a week long trip! Don’t forget to check out my TIPS for a better/cheaper trip!

Big Travel/Trip: The Planning Process

Below is an outline of my planning process where I will give a few examples of what I do (personally) to prepare—before booking anything. I usually begin this process roughly 6-7 months before the date of the trip to get an idea of what it will cost.

1. Where do you want to go? (Important)

2. Are you going to Drive or Fly?

Drive: Determine how many miles you will travel—and estimate your cost of gas (round-trip.) After you have determined your cost….is it cheaper to fly? If you plan on driving think about rental cars (smaller cars = better gas mileage) and also keep in mind certain hotels/places charge for parking–so budget the cost of parking as well!

Fly: My FAVORITE site (for air travel) is www.airfarewatchdog.com This site allows you to search all airlines (not just big name airlines, but smaller companies too!) Sites like kayak.com are great…..but they don’t list Southwest or Allegiant airlines. On Airfarewatchdog you can set your preferences (where you want to fly to and from) and they send updates to your email on when those flights are cheapest! Always check direct sites as well!! I can’t tell you how many times a day I look at www.southwest.com or www.allegiant.com And I know this sounds weird, but check flights at random times (prices change ALL THE TIME!). If for some reason you are awake at 2:00am on a Wednesday—check for flights! I have found some crazy good deals late at night on Southwest.

3. Where are you going to stay? (Things to keep in mind!)

If you are flying to your destination try to stay somewhere “central”–near food, near attractions, etc. Because cabs are pricey and you don’t want to have to rely on them too much!
If you are driving to your destination make sure to research ahead of time if the hotel even has parking and how much it costs to park there.
If you’re going somewhere that you know you won’t spend a lot of time in the hotel room—then go cheap! Don’t splurge on the hotel. Save your money for good food and attractions!
Are you taking a pet? –It is HARD to find places that allow pets. But if you are, then only search for hotels that allow pets (most websites have a setting you can click to include pets)
My FAVORITE site (for hotel searches) is www.trivago.com this site allows you to search your trip date, and refine your searches. It searches the major hotel websites and tells you who is offering a specific hotel CHEAPEST. I also love www.hotels.com you can accumulate stays and earn free nights! Plus, when you sign up for hotels.com they send coupons and discounts all the time!
Sometimes you can find the best deal simply by CALLING the hotel directly—many times I say I saw a deal online and they always try to beat it. Calling directly may even lead to better deal than they have listed on their website. Example: The Flamingo (in Vegas) advertised 4 nights for $425. —sounds great! I called to book over the phone and told them I wanted the deal they had listed on their website—she told me the best price she could do was 4 nights for $325! WHAT?!? I saved $100 just by calling the hotel directly!!

4. What are you going to do?

My trips generally revolve around a main activity (UFC, a Concert, a Show, etc.)–that’s not to say that yours should. Always double check the dates of events and attractions, and find out exactly when tickets go on sale so you can buy early.
If you don’t have something specific in mind, I like to check out www.10best.com it lists the top 10 things to do the city you are traveling to.
Another site I always like to check, in regards to attractions, is Groupon! Yes! Search on Groupon the city you are traveling to and see if they have any great deals on attractions! But be sure to check expiration dates and black-out dates before you buy on groupon! www.groupon.com

Other things to keep in mind:

You don’t HAVE to purchase trip packages. (example: Southwest Vacations—hotel+airfare+car) Most of the time it is cheaper to book separately!

BUY IN SEGMENTS!! (Budget)

This is how I budget efficiently for my trips–and I start this probably 4-5 months before the trip departure date.

First I purchase the big attraction tickets–because these usually go on sale really early! (UFC tickets, Football tickets, Concert tickets, etc.)
A few weeks later (after pay day) I purchase the outbound flight tickets (buying round-trip tickets is not necessarily cheaper!) And if you don’t mind flying 2 different airlines then you can find some REALLY good deals!
A few weeks later I purchase the return flight. (Don’t forget to account for baggage prices in your budget!)
A few weeks later I purchase the hotel (I leave this for last because most of the time there is an abundance of hotels in major cities). I never worry about not finding a hotel.
Lastly, I purchase any other smaller tickets ahead of time. Bus or Train tickets, smaller attraction tickets, smaller show tickets, pool tickets (if where you are going has a pool), etc. I also make dinner reservations (if needed). Keep in mind lots of big cities require dinner reservations!

Purchasing in segments allows you to spread out your money so it doesn’t seem overwhelming (or shock your system) if you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars. This also allows you to “save” for a month or two for “spending money”–Because other major purchases have already been paid for!

HAPPY TRAVELS!

Introduction to the “Blog-World”

I am going to be brutally honest.

I have–on more than one occasion–rolled my eyes at blogs posted by people I know. I have seen blogs by friends that are consistent—cooking, exercising, nutrition, etc. But I’ve also seen blogs that are somewhat inconsistent and become more of a showplace than a blog–what I like to call a “brag-blog”. I have told myself repeatedly that if I were to blog it would be in a HELPFUL way. To help people. Not to brag. But to give genuine advice/tips.

I’m not going to lie—the sole reason— I finally pulled the trigger and created this blog was because of an episode of “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills”. No joke. I loved when Brenden told Morgan that she NEEDS to blog because people care about what she has to say. I truly believe that if someone my age blogged about travel–I would read it. (And maybe I just haven’t stumbled upon that blog yet) So I hope that someone cares about my blog and there becomes a NEED for me to blog.

Side-note: *Did you catch the play on words with my last name?—Igo—Ashley Igo—I Go Everywhere……Igo Everywhere.*

SO what is the point and sole purpose of writing this blog?

To help friends/people organize their travel, travel on a budget, and give my advice on where to eat/sleep/play.

You know me (or maybe you don’t): I’m Ashley Igo. I’m 25. My boyfriend Kyle and I travel. A lot. Some big trips–lots of small trips. We travel smart, cheap, and easy–and we splurge when we can. I look for the best deals on food, fun places to visit, and hotels!

I plan on sharing all my secrets, tips, details, and deals with YOU.

Igo-Everywhere has been born!

I mapped the places I have visited as an adult. I could map the places I visited as a child/teen, but I couldn’t give a very accurate description of where we stayed etc. Kyle and I are repeat Vegas travelers as well as repeat NYC travelers—those are our guilty pleasures.

igo-everywhere

I go. You-go. We all go. Igo Everywhere!