Karen’s Opinion

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whenever we travel, we are always on the lookout for a good place to stay. We have always had great accommodations at any Hampton Inn we’ve stayed at and the great breakfast they offer is right up our alley! Their pool always looks inviting but we have yet to take the time to use it. Like I said, we are on the road and always in a hurry. One of these days, I want to make reservations to stay at the Hampton Inn in Gatlinburg, TN. I know we will get a comfy bed in a clean room when staying there. We will also have some time to relax around the pool. I can dream can’t I?

Maybe my dream can come true! Right now, during the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes, I might win a free stay. Yes, during this giveaway, participants have a chance to win a free weekend stay for themselves and 100 of their friends at any Hampton Inn. Wouldn’t that be a blast? I would invite all my quilting lady friends to stay during the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg quilt festival that takes place every year. With the offering of 100 friends on the table, they could even bring their husbands! I can imagine sharing all our fabric purchases as we lounge around the pool.

Who would you invite if you won this fabulous sweepstakes? Where would you go? Be sure to enter so you have a chance to win!

I know that I am limited in fabric choices but do the best I can with what is available. What am I talking about? I would love to travel to other countries to see what fabric choices there are in their fantastic locations.

My sister in-law is originally from Thailand and worked in a Thai silk shop. I cannot imagine how much fun it would be to work in such an environment. I drool when I visit our local fabric stores so I know I would be in fabric heaven to touch silk all day.

Right now is the best time to travel to all parts of the world. Airlines, such as British Airways, are offering spectacular fares to help people realize their travel dreams. You might think that British Airways is limited to flights to London/Europe but that is not so! They also travel to exciting locations that include the Middle East, India and Africa. British Airways is the airlines to choose because they offer the “Upgraded” experience usually reserved for exclusive customers.
These features include:
• 200+ On-Demand Entertainment Options

• Complimentary food and cocktails on all flights

• World Class service

• Comfortable in-flight experience: Ergonomically designed seat, complete with lumbar support, adjustable headrest and recline. We also provide you with blankets, cushions, eyeshades and flight socks to make your journey a more comfortable one.

• Convenient and relaxing lounges at Terminal 5

During the month of November, British Airways is having a ‘world sale’ to promote both flights & packages from the US and Canada. During this special promotion you can add a hotel to the mix and get a package rate deal that will save you a ton of money. Book your tickets by November 19,2009 and travel November 17, 2009 – March 28, 2010 (excluding December 21-23 2009) and March 29 – May 23, 2010, except for travel to India where the travel periods are November 17 – December 10, 2009 and December 25, 2009 – May 23, 2010.

Heads up! Here is the contest you need to enter especially if you like to travel. To enter you simply go to the website, Its a BluWorld, and leave a comment. Do you use Twitter? You can Twitter about the contest. Be sure to use #bluworld and http://bit.ly/UiiJy in your Tweet. You might also write a blog post about the contest. Read over the prizes and blog about which prize you would choose if you win. You must leave a comment on on the www.itsabluworld.com/contests page along with the URL of your post if the trackback doesn’t appear.

That right! You have three easy ways to enter the contest and you can enter three times per person using each type of entry! Easy Peasy!

Want to know what you have a chance to win? You are going to love these fantastic prizes.

BluGamer: The Ultimate Gaming Package is an Xbox 360 Elite Gaming System combined with a Rock Band 2 bundle.

Happy Blu-Year: Win a New Years Eve trip to NY

Blullapalooza: Win a trip to Lolapalloza in Chicago

BluStreak: Win a Richard Petty Racing Experience

XtremeBLU: Win a trip to the Winter X Games in Aspen

Who is sponsoring this fantastic contest?

BluFrog! The good for you, healthy, energy drink.

I want to win that trip to New York City! I have always wanted to be a part of the excitement I only watch on television each year. Which prize would you choose if you won? Let me know in a comment.

How about you? Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. It is so easy to enter. I am going to be so embarrassed when I win. I always scream like an idiot when I win something. You have heard those people on the radio. The ones who sound like blubbering idiots. LOL That will be me!

School is out for most of the kids in our county and it is time to start thinking about vacation plans. Every few years, we would try to plan a special vacation. By special I mean a vacation that was planned enough in advance that we could save money that enabled us to take said vacation. When my parents lived in California, we took the kids and traveled up highway 1 in my folk’s motorhome. We went to Monterey, San Francisco and even went as far north as the Redwood Forest. I will never forget the look on my kid’s faces when they saw those tall trees. That trip was worth every dime.

There are times when we are interested in a nice vacation that doesn’t require us to break the bank. That is when we think of Branson, Missouri. Now that our son and his future wife will be living in St. Louis, Branson will be even closer. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel are the best places to stay because you are pampered there. My dream of the perfect vacation is to enjoy the hot tub and have my bed made for me. That certainly happens in Branson!

There are so many things to do in Branson. There are shows that everyone enjoys and shopping for us gals. My husband even likes to shop in the outlet cooking stores. He is always searching for the perfect stock pot. If you are a golfer, you will love the challenge of Branson’s beautiful golf courses. From planned excursions to relaxing days beside the pool, Branson is an affordable vacation.

My previous post got quite a few responses. Thanks so much! It is funny how a little bitty fly can turn our stomachs. LOL

If you would like to hear about another experience we had, be sure to read all about our St. Louis experience. We were in St. Louis checking out Greg’s choice for law school. I think it will be a good fit for our son. We sat in on an actual class where several cases were being discussed. I think I would enjoy law school. A moot court was held and it gave thoughtful insight to potential law students. What I think Greg discovered about St. Louis School of Law is that the professors and staff are there to help the students excel.

The hotel where we stayed left a lot to be desired. We think it was a hospital in a former life. You could tell where the nurses’ station had been. Both Greg and Lynn said they had trouble sleeping. I suppose they were subconsciously thinking that while they slept, a nurse might arrive with a syringe and hurt them.

On a good note, we could see the Gateway Arch from our window.