Some people love the quaint bed and breakfast, the old style rooms with mismatched furniture, and the ministrations of a cheery staff.  These people are not me. Do they really expect me to talk to strangers in the morning, go without television for the night, and return every day to chat with the owners?  Please just give me your basic hotel room - clean, with modern bathrooms, cable TV, mostly free parking and mostly free breakfasts.

What chains lacks in charm they make up for in convenience, dependability and free Wifi. Find one that has a wide range of low priced choices and stick with it for the loyalty program rewards. My favorite is  Marriott which represents many different brands – Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Springhill Suites - just to name a few.

They are everywhere and the best course of action is to join the club and make your reservations on the Marriott site.  Check back before you leave, if the rates have gone down and there is still time, cancel your reservation and reserve at the new rate.  Now if you are going at high season to a crowded location, the rates are usually competitive however remember when you join the loyalty you are accumulating points towards a free night’s stay. When it is not high season or a less traveled road, the rates can be amazing, especially when you throw in a free breakfast at many locations.

The site is easy to navigate, holds all your reservations with no penalty for cancellation, and keeps track of your points.  There are also specials and vacation deals offered through out the year. And for those planning business conferences, they have plenty of options.

Why spend half your morning searching for a cup of coffee?  It’s nice to come down to the lobby, grab a bagel, muffin, some cereal, or fruit, then go back to your room to pick up your briefcase or tour guides. There are many chains however this one has always delivered the goods at a great price.

Don’t waste vacation time and travel dollars under the weather.

Traveling can be exciting, exposing you to different people, languages, food and much more. Unfortunately, traveling can also expose you to different bacteria and viruses. Avoid returning home with unwelcome souvenirs using these stay-healthy tips:

Uncommon infections

Traveling overseas and to remote areas can expose you to foreign infections. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/) for the most recent risk factors, which you can search for by region. Allow plenty of time to receive any necessary vaccines or to begin medication. For instance, vaccination for hepatitis A requires more than one dose, with six to 18 months between each dose.

Seasonal illnesses

Flu and cold-like symptoms always seem to be floating in the air. To help prevent the most common infections, you should practice the most common hygiene habits:

-          Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (between fingers and under nails).

-          Use hand lotion to stay moisturized (bacteria can wiggle its way into the crevasses of skin).

-          Brush your teeth at least twice daily.

-          Drink plenty of (clean) water to stay hydrated.

-          Get sufficient sleep for natural energy.

Food allergies

Read up on the ingredients of dishes you may encounter on your trip. If you don’t know conch is a type of shellfish and you’ve got a shellfish allergy, your escape to the Bahamas could be ruined in one bite. It also pays to learn the language or regional dialect, so you know how to communicate your allergy to your server when ordering food.

Digestive woes

Jet lag, culture shock and general anxiety can send your stomach into orbit. Traveling throws off your internal clock, partly due to eating at inconsistent times of day. Be especially cautious of spicy, creamy or cloudy food and drink. These could be signs of contamination and/or triggers for indigestion. Also beware of undercooked meats, recent recalls and local label warnings. (Tip: if you’re advised not to drink the tap water, use bottled water to brush your teeth and order your drinks without ice.)

You don’t have to fly over oceans to be at risk for illness. Even a domestic ski trip can cause elevation sickness. Your best plan of attack is to practice healthy habits – regular exercise, balanced diet and good sleep – to keep your immune system strong for the journey ahead.

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As if the Frugal Diva didn’t already love AAA for all their travel discounts, they now have so many new ways to save. My buddy, Jennifer Moss of Baby Names.com, reminded me you even get a discount at Payless Shoes with your card.  Target, Barnes and Noble, Regal Theaters, Mattel and many others offer various ways to reduce expenses. Check your local club website for restaurant discounts in your area.

AAA Club Rewards is their newest online feature where you can save on hundreds of discount offers each week from approximately 30,000 participating merchants nationwide.  In addition to these savings, you can earn reward points with most purchases.  Members need to register on site. Once you are enrolled to receive reward points with most purchases on AAA Club Rewards.  Membership does indeed have it’s privileges.

It’s important to focus when you are doing loyalty programs so coordinate your shopping for maximum rewards.

Travel is a luxury and we all need a little down time. Californians have the distinct advantage of living in a state where there are national parks, sophisticated cities, deserts, Disneyland, and everything in between. For flying anywhere else in the United States,  Southwest Airlines is my favorite, great fares, egalitarian seating, no fees for one piece of luggage,  and for most fares you can make changes without a penalty. They are running a great special right now with one way fares starting at $59, so it might be a good time to make plans.

Travel is a luxury and we all need a little down time. Californians have the distinct advantage of living in a state where there are national parks, sophisticated cities, deserts, Disneyland, and everything in between. For flying Southwest Airlines is my favorite, great fares, egalitarian seating, and for most fares you can make changes without a penalty.

They have several destinations in Southern and Northern California and a stop in Reno for the Lake Tahoe area. Lake Tahoe is a bargain during the spring and summers when non skiers can enjoy the beautiful lake, bike and hike the mountains.  Take the North Lake Express into town or if you wish rent a car (try fatwallet.com for good rates).

Now for the trains. Amtrak has great routes and prices throughout the state.  They have all kinds of specials so look for deals on their site. And remember, you can board a train with your shampoo and not have to go through security. Sit back, enjoy the scenery, pack a lunch, and arrive refreshed. There are bus connections from most stations.  While train travel does take longer, remember at the airport you have to arrive 2 hours early, wait in line, and sit on the tarmac while your plane waits for clearance. Train travel takes the same amount of time and you can relax the whole way.

Now as a Los Angelena, it is hard to separate me from my car. And what could be better then knowing you can leave anytime, stop anywhere, and come home anytime. With music or a book on CD (get them from your library), even four hour stretches on the freeway become pleasurable. This is the type of vacation where you can follow your whims, make reservations from the road, and check out yard sales, festivals, and diners. Find the lowest gas prices with GasBuddy.com, pack snacks and water, make sure your phone is charged, and your car is ready for the road.

Travel divas, let me know your favorite California destinations, deals on hotels, spas, and attractions.

Here are some companies that choose to thank our educators with discounts.

Ann Taylor Loft understands you need style as well as substance with a 15% discount for teachers every time you shop. In the past J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Aerosoles Shoes have offered a 15% teacher discount at in store checkout.

Borders rewards teachers with a new Classroom Discount Card saves you 25% off classroom purchases every day, plus you can now use your Borders Rewards card with all your purchases and earn Borders Bucks!

Barnes and Noble wants to be a resource for teachers and sets you up with both in store and online classroom purchases.

JourneyEd.com has all the best software and fantastic prices for educators as well as students.

You do get summers off so make the most of it with STA Travel discounts.  The Educators Bed and Breakfast site offers unique experiences at $40 per night for two with continental breakfast.  Live like a local and enjoy meeting fellow educators while you travel.  And for those working for public schools check and see if you qualify for the outstanding government discount offered at hotels.

If I left anything out no doubt the Gift Card Granny caught it.