Ooooh...comment war between a travel blogger and travel newspaper columnist!
May 15, 2013, 1:52 pm
#1
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Ooooh...comment war between a travel blogger and travel newspaper columnist!
May 15, 2013, 4:30 pm
#3
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hats off to deal mommy. very logical and well written.
i always get the feeling that there is a country club mentality about most bloggers - a lot of them will REFUSE to call each other (except when they call out chris elliott). and if they ever do, man it gets defensive quickly (case in point, this - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...zies-come-out/ )
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
i always get the feeling that there is a country club mentality about most bloggers - a lot of them will REFUSE to call each other (except when they call out chris elliott). and if they ever do, man it gets defensive quickly (case in point, this - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...zies-come-out/ )
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
May 15, 2013, 6:51 pm
#4
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Good job by Deal Mommy! I think the tone of her blog post was fair and impartial, simply calling it for what it was. A 'deal' that, with a little effort, could be made into a better 'deal'.
The Washington Post writer, however, came out of the chute totally on the defensive. Not to say that the price and deal she quoted wasn't available or maybe even something someone might want in a pinch, but she just simply refused to acknowledge that the Deal Mommy's findings would also work.
The Washington Post writer, however, came out of the chute totally on the defensive. Not to say that the price and deal she quoted wasn't available or maybe even something someone might want in a pinch, but she just simply refused to acknowledge that the Deal Mommy's findings would also work.
May 15, 2013, 11:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
i always get the feeling that there is a country club mentality about most bloggers - a lot of them will REFUSE to call each other (except when they call out chris elliott). and if they ever do, man it gets defensive quickly (case in point, this - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...zies-come-out/ )
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
But do you see the irony in your statement? The follow up comments on the post in question are mostly First2Board bloggers just backing up their colleague. And 9 minutes after this is posted, the First2Board co-founder backs her up here too.
I think I'm on neither side here.
The WaPo "deal" is typical newspaper travel section drivel. Lazy, uninspired but not horrible.
But Deal Mommy's $700 savings requires some family un-friendly sacrifices IMO:
a) A *minimum* four hour drive before and after an 10-11 hour flight. What time do you leave the house here? 5 or 6AM and you're still taking a risk with traffic. Best to stay at a hotel the night before. There's another day and another $100.
b) An Economy-class car for a family of four. Those cars are tiny and really stripped down. You really don't want a car in Waikiki anyway. Just do a few day rentals and use the bus.
c) A downgrade from a full service Marriott to a boutique Aqua in central Waikiki, closer to the canal than the beach. Waikiki can get a little sketchy back there.
I appreciate the idea behind the post, but the original deal is not that bad and the alternative isn't clearly a better value. Sadly, it's what I've come to expect from Deal Mommy, click-bait and hyperbole. And she managed to fit in a referral link too, undisclosed as per usual.
May 16, 2013, 5:30 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I completely agree about the country club statement.
But do you see the irony in your statement? The follow up comments on the post in question are mostly First2Board bloggers just backing up their colleague. And 9 minutes after this is posted, the First2Board co-founder backs her up here too.
I think I'm on neither side here.
The WaPo "deal" is typical newspaper travel section drivel. Lazy, uninspired but not horrible.
But Deal Mommy's $700 savings requires some family un-friendly sacrifices IMO:
a) A *minimum* four hour drive before and after an 10-11 hour flight. What time do you leave the house here? 5 or 6AM and you're still taking a risk with traffic. Best to stay at a hotel the night before. There's another day and another $100.
b) An Economy-class car for a family of four. Those cars are tiny and really stripped down. You really don't want a car in Waikiki anyway. Just do a few day rentals and use the bus.
c) A downgrade from a full service Marriott to a boutique Aqua in central Waikiki, closer to the canal than the beach. Waikiki can get a little sketchy back there.
I appreciate the idea behind the post, but the original deal is not that bad and the alternative isn't clearly a better value. Sadly, it's what I've come to expect from Deal Mommy, click-bait and hyperbole. And she managed to fit in a referral link too, undisclosed as per usual.
But do you see the irony in your statement? The follow up comments on the post in question are mostly First2Board bloggers just backing up their colleague. And 9 minutes after this is posted, the First2Board co-founder backs her up here too.
I think I'm on neither side here.
The WaPo "deal" is typical newspaper travel section drivel. Lazy, uninspired but not horrible.
But Deal Mommy's $700 savings requires some family un-friendly sacrifices IMO:
a) A *minimum* four hour drive before and after an 10-11 hour flight. What time do you leave the house here? 5 or 6AM and you're still taking a risk with traffic. Best to stay at a hotel the night before. There's another day and another $100.
b) An Economy-class car for a family of four. Those cars are tiny and really stripped down. You really don't want a car in Waikiki anyway. Just do a few day rentals and use the bus.
c) A downgrade from a full service Marriott to a boutique Aqua in central Waikiki, closer to the canal than the beach. Waikiki can get a little sketchy back there.
I appreciate the idea behind the post, but the original deal is not that bad and the alternative isn't clearly a better value. Sadly, it's what I've come to expect from Deal Mommy, click-bait and hyperbole. And she managed to fit in a referral link too, undisclosed as per usual.
May 16, 2013, 10:48 am
#7
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
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h
i always get the feeling that there is a country club mentality about most bloggers - a lot of them will REFUSE to call each other (except when they call out chris elliott). and if they ever do, man it gets defensive quickly (case in point, this - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...zies-come-out/ )
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
i always get the feeling that there is a country club mentality about most bloggers - a lot of them will REFUSE to call each other (except when they call out chris elliott). and if they ever do, man it gets defensive quickly (case in point, this - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...zies-come-out/ )
its refreshing when someone points out someone else being wrong (granted this is a blogger call out a newspaper travel writer). It'd be nice, especially for the benefit of their readers, when other bloggers expose some of junk that others are spewing (other then travelbloggerbuzz)
^
May 16, 2013, 11:20 am
#8
Used to be diaworld
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC Metro
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Dontcareist,
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I completely agree about the country club statement.
But do you see the irony in your statement? The follow up comments on the post in question are mostly First2Board bloggers just backing up their colleague. And 9 minutes after this is posted, the First2Board co-founder backs her up here too.
I think I'm on neither side here.
The WaPo "deal" is typical newspaper travel section drivel. Lazy, uninspired but not horrible.
But Deal Mommy's $700 savings requires some family un-friendly sacrifices IMO:
a) A *minimum* four hour drive before and after an 10-11 hour flight. What time do you leave the house here? 5 or 6AM and you're still taking a risk with traffic. Best to stay at a hotel the night before. There's another day and another $100.
b) An Economy-class car for a family of four. Those cars are tiny and really stripped down. You really don't want a car in Waikiki anyway. Just do a few day rentals and use the bus.
c) A downgrade from a full service Marriott to a boutique Aqua in central Waikiki, closer to the canal than the beach. Waikiki can get a little sketchy back there.
I appreciate the idea behind the post, but the original deal is not that bad and the alternative isn't clearly a better value. Sadly, it's what I've come to expect from Deal Mommy, click-bait and hyperbole. And she managed to fit in a referral link too, undisclosed as per usual.
But do you see the irony in your statement? The follow up comments on the post in question are mostly First2Board bloggers just backing up their colleague. And 9 minutes after this is posted, the First2Board co-founder backs her up here too.
I think I'm on neither side here.
The WaPo "deal" is typical newspaper travel section drivel. Lazy, uninspired but not horrible.
But Deal Mommy's $700 savings requires some family un-friendly sacrifices IMO:
a) A *minimum* four hour drive before and after an 10-11 hour flight. What time do you leave the house here? 5 or 6AM and you're still taking a risk with traffic. Best to stay at a hotel the night before. There's another day and another $100.
b) An Economy-class car for a family of four. Those cars are tiny and really stripped down. You really don't want a car in Waikiki anyway. Just do a few day rentals and use the bus.
c) A downgrade from a full service Marriott to a boutique Aqua in central Waikiki, closer to the canal than the beach. Waikiki can get a little sketchy back there.
I appreciate the idea behind the post, but the original deal is not that bad and the alternative isn't clearly a better value. Sadly, it's what I've come to expect from Deal Mommy, click-bait and hyperbole. And she managed to fit in a referral link too, undisclosed as per usual.
Thanks for your comments. I think they're fair, with a couple of caveats:
a) I do disclose: right up on top on the "Disclosures" tab.
b) I actually wouldn't have suggested Oahu at all (I prefer Kona for families), would have done a park and fly hotel package from Newark, and DEFINITELY would have taken a bigger car, but WAPO had enough of a conniption with the changes I did make so I kept it simple.
May 16, 2013, 12:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
At least you can take criticism much better than the newspaper journalist, I'll give you that.
May 16, 2013, 2:05 pm
#10
Used to be diaworld
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC Metro
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Dontcareist,
Posts: 183
Yes, but it is hidden on the mobile site, and even the standard site does not conform to the spirit of the FTC .com Disclosures guidelines. Kind of ironic that by referring your users to a single-source search engine instead of an aggregator you could possibly be guilty of what you're accusing the WaPo writer of in the post.
At least you can take criticism much better than the newspaper journalist, I'll give you that.
At least you can take criticism much better than the newspaper journalist, I'll give you that.
As for criticism, not everyone is going to agree with my approach. It's certainly nothing personal! Thanks for reading.
May 17, 2013, 10:48 am
#12
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If she can't manage a drive from DC to NYC efficiently, why would anyone take her advice on getting from DC to HNL!?!??!
May 17, 2013, 5:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2009
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And as a 20-year veteran of I-95 it has never taken me more than 6 hours and that was the Sunday after Thanksgiving when I was too stupid to know better. Normally it's between 4 and 5 hrs. If you have brains, you take the train or the air shuttle.