Beach Plaza Hotel - Ocean City, MD

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
We have traveled all over the world and have stayed at many different types of hotels, both in their star ratings, as well as their target clientele.  The Beach Plaza Hotel in Ocean City, MD was by far our worst experience.

Upon first arriving on a stormy night, we found that most of the electricity was out in the hotel.  We understood that there was a big storm that knocked out the power and had no issue with that.  However, the next morning, we found that there was no hot water in our room.  When calling down to the front desk to inform them of this, they said that they were aware this was an issue affecting only a few guests and it should be back up and running within a few hours.  By the time we checked out 2 days later, there was still no hot water and this was apparently the case for the entire hotel.  We asked many times about a status on it, but the hotel would always say it'd be fixed shortly and people were working on it around the clock.  However, at one point, I spoke to the gentleman manning the front desk at night and he said it was probably going to be a few more days before it is fixed and no one was actively working on it that night.  This showed that the hotel was willing to lie to its guests to try to appease them.

Upon checkout, I did get to speak to the general manager on this issue, and her attitude apathetic.  Another person I spoke to that morning said "Well, what do you want me to do?  The boiler is over 50 years old!"  To a guest, that is not an acceptable answer and having a boiler that old and not maintained well is a problem.  That boiler should have been replaced long ago before it became a problem for guests.

Also, when reading the general manager's responses to reviews that are negative about this hotel on TripAdvisor, she always seems to put the blame for any issues on the guests and never takes accountability for the hotel's short comings.  This hotel has serious issues starting from the top.

To give a little more feedback on the room itself, it is very basic and feels very dated.  The bathroom has no shelving for putting any toiletries, which can be problematic for many.  The lobby and porch that overlooks the boardwalk looks quite nice and it seems the hotel spent a lot more effort and money in keeping up that appearance rather than the rooms themselves.  The location of the hotel is excellent and is a perfect spot, on the boardwalk at 13th Ave., to be close to all the action of Ocean City, MD.

Address: 1301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, MD

Wifi: Free

Parking: Free

Restaurant: Yes

Bar/Lounge: No

Smoking: Non-smoking

Hidden Fees: None

Breakfast: No

In-room safe: No

Pemmican Pete

Written by Leann M. Pettit
Pemmican Pete stands overseeing the Regina Fairgrounds, just beyond Mosaic Stadium. He was the mascot of the annual summer folk festival, however, the festival has changed and become more modernized and Pemmican Pete has been forgotten.


You can see Pemmican Pete at the corner of 10th Ave. and Elphinstone St. in Regina and Pemmican Pete hides behind some trees that are along the street.

Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
We had a very early morning flight out of Newark Liberty International Airport.  Since we lived about 90 minutes from the airport, we decided to stay at a hotel close by the night before to make things easier for us.  While this hotel can be a bit pricey, especially when looking at the fact that you won't be there for more than half a day in these types of situations, it is quite a nice hotel.

The location is only a few minutes drive to the airport or any of the parking lots around it.  The hotel does offer a "park and fly" option, but it was more economical to pay for a parking lot, which also provides more frequent shuttle bus service.

The room was quite spacious and clean.  The bed was very comfortable and the hotel's interior was quite nice.  From some of the windows, you can even see the airfield of the airport.  We also dined in the hotel restaurant, which was quite good, as well as spent some time in the lounge relaxing before bed time.  There are some very comfortable seats around the lounge for relaxing with a drink.  Also, wi-fi is free in the lounge, while in your room there is an additional charge.

Address: 1000 Spring St., Elizabeth, NJ

Wifi: Free in lobby, $12.95/day in room

Parking: $14/day

Restaurant: Yes

Bar/Lounge: Yes

Breakfast: $15/person

Smoking: Non-smoking

Hidden Fees: None

In-room safe: Yes

Executive Royal Hotel Regina

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
We had a 4-night stay in Regina, and decided to make the Executive Royal Hotel Regina our lodging choice. About a 5 to 10 minute ride from the airport, and seemingly the same distance from most other things in Regina, the location was perfect for our stay.

We only had limited interactions with the staff, but in all cases they were very friendly.  The room was pretty spacious, the bed was very comfortable, the bathroom was clean and had plenty of sink space to spread out your toiletries and housekeeping did a good job each day.  The hotel also provided free wi-fi, which is always a very nice amenity.

Overall, this is a hotel we'd definitely recommend to anyone staying in Regina, for business or pleasure.

Address: 4025 Albert Street South, Regina

Wifi: Free

Parking: Free

Restaurant: Yes

Bar/Lounge: Yes

Smoking: Non-smoking

Hidden Fees: None

Breakfast: Additional cost

In-room safe: No

RCMP Heritage Centre

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
Mounties...everyone knows that image.  The mounties, more properly known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, all go through training in Regina, Saskatchewan.  At the training facility is the RCMP Heritage Centre, which gives guests the opportunity to learn all about the RCMP from its beginnings to its present day incarnation. Exhibits vary from how the RCMPs monitor the northern boundaries of the country, to how an officer would conduct an investigation into a crime.

In addition, on certain days, you can head to the training grounds and see the cadets learning in action.  One great opportunity we had was to see the cadets put on a parade/show on the grounds, which happened mid-day and is something we'd highly recommend timing your trip to see. Ask at the ticket desk for the goings on for the day.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Written by Matt Rosenfeld

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is free to enter, but a donation is appreciated.  Here, you can visit various general exhibits on different portions of history, mostly related to Saskatchewan.  You can learn about the "First Nations" of Canada and all the way back to the dinosaur periods of Saskatchewan.  The main draw though is for Megamunch, the robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex who'll roar at you and give your kids a little thrill.