Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Our day at Castaway Cay was absolutely beautiful and truly epitomized what you think of when you think of "a Caribbean island and paradise". Castaway Cay is Disney's private island is that exclusive to those who are traveling on Bahamian and Caribbean cruises.

This private island and Caribbean paradise is unique in its amenities and its world-class creation on a Bahamian oasis with the signature Disney influence. 

Castaway Cay is designed for the ultimate island and retreat experience and leisure and the beauty is absolutely breath-taking.

From the moment that the ship pulls up to dock you are struck by the absolutely beauty that surrounds you. You definitely feel like you have entered a completely different world.

As you dis-embark off the ship everything that you need for a perfect day is provided from comfy and large beach towels to a wonderful tram service that will take you to any part of the island that you wish to go (or you can walk if you prefer), to beach umbrellas that were plentiful and easy to find, to tasty food (an open-air BBQ dining at several locations) and family friendly-environment, including ample opportunities to see lots of your favorite characters wandering around the island. 

There are several different sections on the island including the Castaway Family Beach area that allows for lots of family fun. There are opportunities for sailing, kayaking, swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful blue lagoon. In addition to this there is a feast at Cookie's BBQ close by that has lively family music and dancing (and several characters joining in for fun!). 

This is where my sister and I spent the most time of the day. Due to the easy convenience of Cookie's BBQ holding the allergy friendly food orders, it was easy and convenient just to sit down and enjoy this beautiful blue lagoon. We were also sailing at a time where it wasn't that crowded and we felt that we had a lot of the area to ourselves. 

For those who are looking for an adult-only oasis that is exclusively for those who are 18 and older than you will want to head over to Serenity Bay. Serenity Bay offers open-air massages, frozen specialty drinks and hosts its open BBQ pit along with a beautiful area to relax in the stunning ocean. 

As I mentioned several times Castaway Cay is simply stunning. I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves but I can't say enough how much I loved this island and how much I want to go back someday. It was beautiful. 

Short Getaway Vacations from the Upper Lake Champlain Area with Groupon Things to Do

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

One thing that I love to do is to travel. Y'all know that traveling to me is a gift to the soul and something that is a hugely important part of my life. And while it is fun and adventuresome to travel to far off places, sometimes it is fun and wonderful to find a travel adventure closer to home. I have shared before about the beauty in exploring your own city and the ways that you can do so easily and sometimes finding an adventure closer to home brings a unique beauty to our lives. 

Unfortunately though any type of travel can become expensive and that is what I love about Groupon. I love using Groupon because there are so many different ways to save money on so many different things, but especially for great deals on lodging. 

As I looked around the Lake Champlain area for short getaway vacation deals with Groupon during the upcoming holiday season I was amazed at all of the thing that I found. Here are just a few travel deal around the Upper Lake Champlain Area that you will want to check out and explore:

First, starting in the historic Olympic Village of Lake Placid, NY which is situated in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains Groupon had several wonderful Lodging Deals:

Whiteface Lodge Groupon Deal

The Whiteface Lodge is beautifully set in the woodlands surrounding the town of Lake Placid and has been named the No. 1 Lake Placid Romantic Getaway by ResortsandLodge.com. Groupon has this amazing deal right now for the lodge costing only $236 a night instead of the usual $300+. You can find out more about this Groupon deal HERE.

Golden Arrow Lake Placid Resort

Another Groupon short getaway vacation option in Lake Placid, NY is to the Golden Arrow Lake Placid Resort. This beautiful Adirondack setting is located steps from the beautiful Mirror Lake and boasts a farm-to-table fare and uses energy-efficient heating. You can find out more about this Groupon deal HERE. 

Lake Placid Summit Hotel

Finally, a third and cheap option for those who are wanting to visit Lake Placid yet save on lodging is the Lake Placid Summit Hotel Groupon deal. Many of the rooms at the hotel offer beautiful views of the scenery and this hotel offers a heated indoor pool, perfect for the chilly holiday months. Groupon is currently offering a deal of $59 a night to stay here so check this deal out. You can find out more about this Groupon deal HERE. 

Second, moving away from the Lake Placid Area and heading to another wonderful short getaway vacation trip from the Upper Lake Champlain Area would be a trip to Lake George, NY with a Groupon deal:

Fort William Henry Hotel

The Fort William Henry Hotel has a long and rich history associated with it as the hotel opened back in 1855. It is situated on Lake George's south shore and is comprised of several buildings and restaurants on the beautiful 18-acre property. You can find out more about this Groupon Deal HERE. Do you like History? Then consider purchasing another Groupon Deal and visit the Fort William Henry Museum. You can find out more about the incredible savings that Groupon has for groups of two, four, six people HERE. 

Wyngate by Wyndham Lake George

This property is a family-friendly hotel boasting a wonderful location to explore Lake George, the southern Adirondacks, and the shopping areas. At a Groupon reduced rate of $72 a night this hotel could be the perfect lodging setting for your family. You can find out more about this Groupon Deal HERE. 

Looking to head into Vermont? Then consider checking out this Groupon deal for the beautiful Stowe Mountain Lodge:

Stowe Mountain Lodge

With winter predicted to bring a high snow fall this year, a short getaway vacation to the Stowe Mountain Lodge is the perfect escape. This beautiful 4.5 star resort is in close proximity to wonderful winter activities and boasts beautiful views. You can check out the Groupon Deal for this HERE.

Fourth and finally, are you looking to leave the US for a brief getaway with Groupon? Check out the following amazing deal for Quebec:

Cap Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant

Rising at an altitude of 1200 feet, the mountaintop condos at Cap Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant offer panoramic views of the beautiful forests, snow capped mountains of Quebec and lakes. Inside each condo you will find a full-sized kitchen, dining area, and private balcony or terrace. As an extra bonus Groupon guests will receive 15% off the regular table d'hote menu at the properties restaurant, II Pinnacolo which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. You can find out more about this Groupon Deal HERE. 

These are just a few of the many deals on lodging that you can save on with Groupon! There are so many other events and experiences that you can discover and I love how Groupon allows you to save money and is super easy to use. Probably my favorite part about everything is the fact that Groupon is FREE to use. Completely FREE so head on over to check out these deals that I have mentioned and find deals in your area! (Are you in the San Diego, California area? Check out this post on Groupon Things to Do in San Diego for some great and fun ideas!) Want to learn more about Groupon? Click HERE to connect with them on Facebook and HERE and to connect with them on Twitter. 

What about y'all? What Groupon deals have you found for traveling? Any tips to share?