- lsktravelz@gmail.com
Welcome to the Birthplace of a Nation. I travel to Virginia Beach occasionally but attended an event in Norfolk for the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. However, I found a deal on an HGV Max property and drove to Williamsburg to stay at the Historic Powhatan Hilton Vacation Club.
I booked a nonstop flight on Southwest Airlines, but the return flight stopped at BWI. When I booked my return flight, I was unaware of a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia. Departing mid-day would allow me to leave Virginia without running into rally participants. In addition, there is a Priority Pass lounge available for me to relax during my three-hour layover. Although this lounge needs a make-over, the staff is always friendly.
I checked AARP, Amex, and Costco. AARP had the lowest price and offered a complimentary additional driver. Williamsburg is about an hour from Norfolk Airport. Rideshare fares ranged from $77-$88 each way without a tip. I landed at 1:58PM and arrived at the Budget counter at 2:15. Unfortunately, I did not leave ORF until 6:30. If you need to rent a car from this airport, check the reviews before you make a reservation. I did not. Yes, I reached out to customer service. I received a voucher in my account for a complimentary one-day rental on my next reservation.
You will drive through the tunnel to visit the Birthplace of a Nation. I had so much anxiety about this tunnel. One of my friends claimed she saw a drop of water as she drove through, and that was all I could think about driving along the 3.5-mile crossing. Oh, did I mention the tunnel is underwater?
Check-in was quick. Because I arrived so late, I did not stop by the grocery store until the next day. The two-bedroom with 1.5 baths was more than enough room for me. Although there is a patio area on the first floor, I will reserve an upstairs suite with a deck when I return. I could hear children and adults stomping around throughout my stay.
I found a Publix. If you have not tried a Pub Sub, you are missing out. Do not forget the multi-grain bread. Pick up plenty of water if you are traveling in June. It was hot. T.J.Maxx, Target, and CVS Pharmacy are in the same strip mall.
If you want to support a small black-owned business, stop by Cookie Chris. The Brown Butter cookie was delicious. I like the slightly crispy edge. Even though there are Freddy’s Custard & Steakburgers restaurants in Illinois, I had never heard of the chain until I saw an ad on my FB feed. I enjoyed my perfectly cooked burger and slightly salted shoestring fries. The orange cream frost made me think of eating a creamsicle on a hot summer day during my childhood.
Of course, I hung out at the Adult Only Pool. As I walked around the property, I saw a basketball court, mini-golf course, tennis court, and a sandbox for beach volleyball. If you walk to the big gazebo, you can watch turtles swimming in the pond. A family of geese owns the area by the smaller gazebo. At the presentation in Arizona, the sales representative told me to look for black squirrels. I did not see any. If you are looking for a place to relax, drive to Williamsburg.
The Activity Calendar included the following:
Do not leave Williamsburg without catching a sunset. You will need plenty of sunscreen.
I planned this trip around the same time I planned the Sedona trip. I am not selling timeshares, but I paid into vacation ownership to enjoy staying in properties similar to home when I travel. Williamsburg is the third property I stayed at this year. The benefits I enjoy outweigh the bad press timeshare ownership receives. I would not be able to travel as much if I did not have a timeshare. However, you can book the Powhatan on the Hilton website.
Are you planning a trip? Look for your destination on my website.
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