Americans are beginning to travel again and many of them are doing it by car. Here’s why it’s important to work with your favorite Travel Advisor on any driving trip… even those weekend get-aways!
By: Anne Heintz
*Editors Note:
With more of you planning driving trips, this will become a regular feature.
Need help planning a road-trip?
A good friend of mine said to me recently, “people are either afraid and staying home, or they are gone!” I couldn’t agree with her more. As a result I think it’s a good time to feature properties that are within an 8 hour drive of the Mid-Atlantic. There are certainly a lot of lovely ones!
My husband and I actually travelled to the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, Virginia recently for weekend lunch. It’s a perfect retreat as it sits on 340 acres of Virginia Hunt Country. It has 168 spacious guest rooms, stables and a 23,000 square foot spa. It offers lots of options for families, couples, girls weekends, you name it! The activities list is extensive with hiking, all things equestrian, falconry, Shinola bike rentals, archery, swimming, golfing just to name a few, but there’s more!
They are adhering to health and safety protocols. Staff go through temperature checks at the beginning of their shifts. They have arranged all seating areas whether in lobby or restaurants with social distancing in mind. Both staff and guests are required to wear a face mask while moving around the property. Hand sanitizing stations were everywhere. More frequent cleaning of public areas with hospital grade disinfectants is required.
We had a tasty lunch on the veranda looking out on to their back lawn. The service was delightful and the meal excellent. After all, it’s a Forbes 5 star resort with an Italian Michelin starred chef!
Many of you don’t think to call or email me (your favorite Travel Advisor) to arrange these kind of “local stays.” You feel that it seems “simple enough” to do on your own. Sorry folks, this is the wrong approach. It’s better to CALL ME!
I know this must sound like a shameless plug, but in reality, it’s good advice. In a recent post (The Next Essential Worker) I outline how a Travel Advisor can help travelers navigate COVID-19 and a vacation at the same time. If you’re like most people, you want to travel, but you also want to stay safe. That’s where I come in!
Also, I usually know someone at the property who can make your stay a bit more special. With this property our clients also get complimentary daily breakfast for two, $100 resort credit and upgrade if available at check-in.
As to Salamander itself, we did a weekend stay at the property not too long ago. They have a great deal to offer.
The spa is a must for overnight stays and the meals at Harriman's Virginia Piedmont Grill are (as I mentioned) quite tasty!
Outdoor activities during the warmer months include hiking, horseback riding and there's a small pool if you just want to soak up the rays of the sun. You're also a short walk (or shorter shuttle ride) from the center of Middleburg, which is a quaint small town with great shopping and cute restaurants.
The rooms are contemporary with an equestrian theme. I really appreciated the attention to detail, especially in the bathroom…lots of light, double sinks, plenty of thick fluffy towels, comfy bathrobes and beautiful bath products. You could definitely tell it had the signature touch of a female owner!
More and more of you are traveling every week. Some of you by air… others behind the wheel of your car. Either way, don’t go it alone. Check in with your favorite Travel Advisor first. You’ll feel safer and get more for your money!
TravelAnne Extra!
Book for stay at Salamander through TravelAnne and recieve complimentary daily breakfast for two, $100 resort credit and upgrade if available at check-in.
**Anne Heintz is an independent travel advisor based in Washington, DC who always has her bag packed. She loves the fact that the journey creates memories and connections for her clients. She is affiliated with Worldwide Travel Associates and Tzell Travel. She is the co-founder & namesake of TravelAnne.com. Anne can be reached at Anne@TravelAnne.com
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