Cruising the Caribbean on Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas from RoyalCaribbean.com

Especially for First Time Cruisers Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This article last updated: December 10, 2012   First Time Cruise Experience We are ocean front beach cottage people. Until recently we hadn’t even considered a cruise. The opportunity to write about a first time experience and [...]

Creature Feature Scuba with Captain Slate

2012-04-13 Diving with Captain Slate (2)-4000

Location:   Diving at Pennekamp Undersea Park Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   RECOMMENDED   Captain Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center 51 Garden Cove Drive Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451.3020 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Key Largo, Florida         Diving with Captain Slate My first dive [...]

Hotel Discoveries – index to articles

Hotel Reviews by FrictionFactor.com

Reviews (updated February 16, 2013): Friction factor =  low (good)      moderate      high (bad) Florida, Fort Lauderdale BW+ Airport/Cruise Port Florida, Orlando Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort Florida (Keys), Tavernier Ocean Pointe Suites Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore Turtle Bay Resort Nevada, Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and The Signature South Carolina, Myrtle Beach BW+ [...]

The Carolinian Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach

Best Western Carolinian Beach Resort, Myrtle Beach (stock photo hotel)

Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   RECOMMENDED   (800) 624-8969 2506 N Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 http://www.oceanaresorts.com/hotels/carolinian   Discovery The Best Western Plus Carolinian Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach raises expectations for Best Western hotel experiences. If you read my article on what you need to know about [...]

North Myrtle Beach in the Fall

2011-09-25 Seaside, North Myrtle Beach (stock photo)

Location:   The SeaSide Resort in North Myrtle Beach Friction Factor   =   CORRECTABLE FRICTION Value   =   RECOMMENDATION PENDING NEEDED FIX   800-433-5710 2301 South Ocean Boulevard North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582   Discovery When we were at North Myrtle Beach this past spring we were walking along the beach and saw [...]

Family Fun on the Vegas Strip

MGM Grand

Location:   MGM Grand Hotel and The Signature Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 http://www.mgmgrand.com 702-891-7777 First Class Fun We don’t gamble, or drink (alcohol), or do wild parties. Our hotel room even looks as neat when we leave [...]

North Carolina has the Best Beaches

2011-08-18 Holden Beach (83) proc curves sm

Location:   Holden Beach Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Why Do I Make This Claim? Unlike left coast beaches, you can actually get in the water without a wet suit. When my wife and I moved to San Diego years ago, we drove over to La Jolla [...]

Relaxing on the North Shore – Turtle Bay Resort

Oahu North Shore Turtle Bay Resort

Location:   Turtle Bay Resort Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 57-091 Kamehameha Highway Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii 96731 Reservations: 866.827.5321   Fond Memories I first have a confession, but I hope you’ll keep reading in spite of it… On my last visit here it was still the Turtle [...]

Best Western Hotels – often a good value

2013-01-23 Best Western Plus Governor's Inn, Richmond, VA (13)

Reviews (updated February 16, 2013): Friction factor =  low (good)      moderate      high (bad) Florida, Fort Lauderdale Best Western Plus Cruise Port South Carolina, Myrtle Beach Best Western Plus Carolinian Beach Resort South Carolina, Myrtle Beach Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach Best Western Ocean Sands Beach Resort [...]

September is Perfect at Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort

2010-09-30 Disney World - Coronado Springs hotel (7) sm

Location:   Coronado Springs Resort at Disney World Friction Factor   =   LOW FRICTION Value   =   RECOMMENDED   Mixing Business and Pleasure September 2010: I am here with my wife for a healthcare industry conference. Late September is off-season for Disney World. No crowds, short lines, and happily, no hurricane this week. [...]