The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

McLean Hilton Tysons Corner Review & American Girl Package Excellence

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Mclean Hilton Tysons Corner Review & American Girl Package
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During our visit to the American Girl Tysons Corner Store we stayed one night at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner. The hotel is gorgeous and the American Girl Package was a great option.

Mclean Hilton American Girl Doll Bed

Getting the American Girl Package not only meant a great rate (cheaper than other discounts) but there was a complementary American Girl doll bed in the room that LuLu was able to keep.  She might have 3 beds for her doll at home, but having a travel bed sure made her a happy girl!

She also received a little goodie bag with a free breakfast voucher. Additionally, the package comes with FREE shuttle service to the Tyson Corner Mall, so you don’t have to drive.  It was nice to just jump on the shuttle and not have to worry about parking.

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Our Experience with American Girl Food in DC

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American Girl Food at the Bistro in DC
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Last week I shared about our trip to the American Girl Tyson’s Corner store in DC. One of the things we did during our trip was eat at the American Girl Bistro for a late lunch.

My experience was different than many others. I read (and was told) rave reviews about the bistro. Atmosphere is awesome, food is fantastic. Well, they had the atmosphere part right.

We were pretty disappointed in the food and service. It all started with us having to wait 25 minutes after our reservation time. Mind you our reservation was at 2:30, so we were STARVING!  So after waiting almost 30 minutes we finally get a table.   Only to wait another 7 for someone to come to the table to take drink orders.

Okay, maybe they were super busy or I just shouldn’t have high service standards.  BUT, I was still optimistic at this point…

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How to Find the Best Las Vegas Deals: Hotels and More

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Las Vegas Deals Hotels and More
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You can find the best Las Vegas deals hotels, suites, and more, without doing a lot of work. Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US, and with a little effort, you can travel in style for less than you might think. Here are some tips for finding the best hotel deals in Vegas.

How to Find the Best Las Vegas Deals: Hotels and More

Join Casino/Hotel Email Lists – Despite what many people think, not all deals are advertised on sites like Travelocity and Expedia. Many of the best deals at the MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Bally’s send their best deals to their email list members. Consider joining the email lists a few months before your trip so you can keep an eye out for the best deals.

Check with the Las Vegas Tourism Office – Las Vegas is known for its marketing campaigns—”What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” comes to mind for many people—so don’t forget to check here for deals. There is a tab on the tourism office’s website that is dedicated to special deals. You can find sale prices on hotels as well as deals for restaurants and those famous Vegas shows.

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American Girl Tysons Corner Store

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

American Girl Tysons Corner Store
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We made our first trip to the American Girl store in Washington, DC for LuLu’s birthday.  It was an awesome experience for the entire family. LuLu (and I) were in awe of the massive American Girl Tysons Corner store. Dolls and accessories were everywhere!!

Our first stop was to the Doll Salon. We set up an appointment, picked a style, then headed off to shop.    If you’re visiting the salon or getting ears pierced, make sure you set that up as your first thing to do as there can be a long wait time.

American Girl Tysons Corner Store - Just Like Me

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Why We Chose a France Rental Apartment

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France Rental Apartment vs hotel
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One of the biggest decisions we had to make when planning our France vacation was where to stay. There are countless lodging choices in France (and throughout Europe) – hostels, bed and breakfasts, hotels and apartments. Obviously, a hostel with 2 kids was not even an option. Bed and Breakfasts were also out due to the kid factor. Most B&B’s don’t want kids running around crazy in their homes.

So do we stay in a hotel or a short term France rental apartment? Both options came with an array of location and price ranges. First and foremost, we knew we wanted to be centrally located. While public transport in France is great, we didn’t want to waste our time riding a bus or train in and out of the city multiple times a day.

Once we knew the areas we wanted to stay, we looked at rates. Hotel rooms in France are small compared to American hotel rooms, and finding a room to sleep 4 jumped the price up substantially. I do need to note that I’m also a hotel snob, so that does factor into the price 🙂

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