Towel And Flowers by markuso, freedigitalphotos.net
When winter rolls around here in New Jersey, I start longing for a getaway from the winter’s cold weather and dark nights. I’ve found that quick winter getaways are a great way to chase away the winter blues!
But because I don’t have a big budget, I can never go away very far on my winter getaways. But that doesn’t matter, because my friends and family have discovered that even booking just an overnight or two at a local Marriott can be a lot of fun!
Ring in the New Year
In past years, my family and two other families on our block have celebrated the New Year at a local Marriott. The hotel is only about 30 minutes from our home here in Central New Jersey. We check in early and give the kids some time to splash around together in the pool. We then usually enjoy a post swim meal together of Chinese takeout in the hotel’s beautiful lobby area, which is equipped with dining tables and chairs.
Later, we break out some drinks and snacks, play some board games and watch the Times Square New Year’s Eve countdown on TV. Just before midnight, we pass out some noisemakers and hats so we can ring in the New Year together. We usually tuck our kids into bed promptly after midnight, but in all, we wind up having a fun family-friendly New Year’s Eve together.
The next morning, we all have our free breakfast (provided by Marriott) and head home. If my kids and I aren’t too tired, we try to get up early before breakfast so we can sneak in another dip in the pool! The kids just love swimming in the Marriott pool, because it is mostly likely the only time over the winter that they will get to swim.
Spa Weekend
My friends and I haven’t set our New Year’s plans yet this year (we have to get moving!) and aren’t sure whether we will go off the cul-de-sac for New Year’s Eve this year or not. But if we don’t, I’d love to schedule a winter spa weekend with family and/or friends (maybe for my birthday). We could check ourselves into a Marriott spa hotel, get some spa treatments and manicures/pedicures, and enjoy a fun night out on the town. Marriott has great tips on how to plan your spa vacation — like how much to budget for your spa treatments and ideas on how to keep your non-spa-devotee travelmates (i.e, your spouse) occupied while you enjoy the spa!
I hope to get my next winter getaway planned soon! If you have any tips for a budget-friendly winter getaway, I’d love to hear from you!
Use These Spa Tips to Prepare for a Relaxing Retreat An infographic by the team at Marriott Spas
I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, however all content and opinions expressed here are my own.