Fans of “Sex And The City” might have already heard of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — the chance to book an Airbnb stay in a recreated version of Carrie Bradshaw’s New York City brownstone.

And the listed price is far lower than the city’s apartment rental prices!

The Airbnb booking is in timing with “And Just Like That…,” the upcoming HBO series on the next chapter in the lives of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Christine Davis) and Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon).

Carrie’s fictional apartment will be available for two, one-night stays for up to two guests on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13, 2021 for only $23 a night. 

“Sex And The City” fans interested in reliving the original series can request to book these stays beginning Monday, Nov. 8, at noon ET at airbnb.com/sexandthecity. Bring along your “Mr. Big,” Aidan, Steve or Harry or your bestie with you as your plus one.

This special Airbnb rental’s low price tag reflects the 23 years since Sarah Jessica Parker made her debut as the show’s famous advice columnist and fashionista with a hefty shoe collection. In fact, the lucky guests will get a virtual greeting at check-in from Carrie. I mean, SJP, herself.

They will also get:

• The opportunity to descend the steps of her brownstone and stroll the streets of Manhattan (splash from a city bus not included);
• Cosmopolitans for a toast;
• An onsite but socially-distanced concierge for the duration of your stay;
• The chance to admire and play dress-up in Carrie’s iconic closet, complete with her favorite looks (like the Patricia Field tutu she wears in the show’s opening credits), designers, and of course, shoes!

However, those who request to book this stay must currently live in the United States and are on their own for getting to New York City. Plus there are taxes and fees. You know NYC can get costly.

While in the city, guests have to adhere to New York City and New York State guidelines in relation to the current pandemic. So bring extra masks and your vaccination card or a saved photo copy if you’re wanting to have a night out on the town. Note: if you’re not vaccinated, please read up here beforehand on how that could impact your trip plans.

Airbnb is also closely monitoring New York City infection rates and government policies, and will offer the booking guest a $1,000 USD Airbnb travel credit if it becomes necessary to cancel the stays.

Instead of watching a scary movie, or telling a mystery caller over the phone that you are about to, celebrate Halloween by booking a stay in the house made famous in SCREAM. 

Tying in with the 25th anniversary of Wes Craven’s modern horror classic, and the upcoming SCREAM 5 release in January 2022, Airbnb is scheduling bookings for three single-night stays at this Northern California estate featured in the 1996 film. 

Available on October 27, 29 and 31, 2021, this thrilling home will welcome up to four people, for a shockingly low price of only $5 a night. Plus taxes and fees, if you dare. And, you have to be a U.S. resident to book.

If you’re feeling a little nervous, don’t worry. Your virtual host will be Dwight “Dewey” Riley, the beloved small-town sheriff. In a video, actor David Arquette, who portrays Dewey in the series, will offer to share his tips on surviving the night via an online greeting at check-in. 

The fortunate, or maybe misfortunate, guests will also get acquainted with decor elements correlating with SCREAM. They can settle in and watch a SCREAM movie marathon of all the current four films on VHS tapes. They can also explore this home in all its entirety and in correlation with the franchise’s first film. Guests will come across knife marks on the doors to the garage, where Dewey’s sister, Tatum, (played by Rose McGowan) met a tragic ending. 

There’s also the famous “brick phone” with a dedicated phone line to Ghostface, the film’s gruesome protagonist. Heads up though, he might call the house. 

Other guest surprises tied to this nineties piece of pop culture include a pack of nineties snack favorites.

Superfans can request to book this stay beginning Tuesday, October 12, at 1 p.m. EDT at airbnb.com/halloween.

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, SCREAM (2022) executive producer and scary movie expert Kevin Williamson will host an online experience that will give guests a chance to learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the SCREAM franchise, including the cast, characters, plot twists and more. 

Booking for this online experience also opens on October 12, at 1 p.m. EDT, and is bookable by visiting airbnb.com/SecretsofSCREAM.

My eyes did a double take when I got this email about Intrepid Travel‘s latest giveaway – a trip for two to Antarctica.

To celebrate the inaugural season of its new polar expedition ship, Intrepid Travel has launched a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Antarctica for one lucky winner and guest. The trip’s value is roughly $25,000.

I’m hopefully going to visit Antarctica next year, but with another tour company. If my plans weren’t already in place, and my payment plan now under way, I’d jump on putting in my entry for this Intrepid Travel trip giveaway.

Oh well. But you might have an amazing opportunity ahead of you. Yes, you.

This bucket list trip to Antarctica giveaway will bring the winner and their plus one onboard the Ocean Endeavour. This ship comes equipped with creature comforts including a gym, spa, library, heated saltwater pool, and jacuzzi. And if you’re worried about crowding onboard, don’t. The ship’s passenger to crew ratio will be eight to one.

Plus, along with seeing this continent, you’ll learn a lot about Antarctica. The ship’s passengers will be joined by guides knowledgeable in marine biology, glaciology and Antarctic history and have access to Citizen Science programs and active pursuits including kayaking and snowshoeing.

The winner and guest will join one of Intrepid’s Best of Antarctica voyages during the 2021-2022 season, an 11-day trip that will explore ice-filled bays and channels, take in majestic scenery and spot wildlife. They also have to book their trip by September 30, 2021 and depart for their voyage by December 29, 2021.

To enter, fill out this online form now through August 23, 2021 by 10 a.m. ET.

And now, read the fine print below (but still take a chance and sign up, okay?).

Terms and Conditions: Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Limit one (1) entry per person, per email account. One (1) Grand-Prize winner will receive a trip to Antarctica which includes: (a) A booking for the prize winner and a guest (2 people total) on Intrepid Travel’s Best of Antarctica trip, dependent on availability (details are outlined here. ) (ARV: $25,000 USD) (“Intrepid Tour”). Airfare is excluded.

2020 shook up not only our ability to travel but also our daily living; in many cases, our economic means. While this year had some personal and professional setbacks for me, I am overall grateful that for the most part I had good experiences and made lasting memories. 

Here’s my recap of 2020.

Starting 2020 on the road

January had me already going on my first trip to St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida. I stayed at the Don CeSar, a grand hotel that is noted for its bright pink paint color. Its place along the beach was also nice and I spent some time wandering along the sand.

Visiting Abu Dhabi

I’ve been to the United Arab Emirates before — first to Dubai in 2019 — but I returned to this destination in February to see Abu Dhabi, which is its capital. Traveling with Visit Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways, I stayed at St. Regis Abu Dhabi along Corniche, a beach area, and at the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, a lux oasis near the Rub’ Al Khali. 

Other highlights ranged from visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi, an outpost of the famous Parisian museum; to sipping on a 24K gold cappuccino at Emirates Palace; to visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was built and named for Abu Dhabi’s founder. See more here.

Celebrating Mardi Gras in Lake Charles

It was fun to head to this city in Southwest Louisiana that also puts on Mardi Gras parades and events in February. Compared to NOLA’s, I think Lake Charles’ version still offers a good time but is more chill. I got to throw beads to crowds in a family-friend parade, see a Mardi Gras pageant featuring local Krewes chapters and try locally-made boudin and rum.   

Visiting Tofino and Vancouver

I’ve been to Canada a few times and got to see Vancouver and Tofino, also in February. Tofino is a small district on Vancouver Island that is known for its beaches and forest areas and has a community living here year-round. I tried my hand at surfing and dined at places such as Tofino Brewing Company, Chocolate Tofino, and SHELTER Restaurant. Our group stayed at Pacific Beach Sands Resort, a lovely property along Cox Bay.

Rushing Home from Finland

March 2020 was when the coronavirus pandemic really began to change everything in travel. At that time, I was on a work trip to Finland, where I arrived in Helsinki two days before President Trump implemented travel restrictions to the U.S. from certain Schengen Area countries (Finland, being among them.) I got there on a Wednesday with the ban to kick in on Friday. On Thursday, we were told by Visit Finland officials that they were concerned about myself and another American on the trip being able to make it home okay. Also on that day, they rebooked our return flights to JFK for that afternoon, so we had to rush back to the hotel to get our bags and go to the airport ASAP. 

But I also learned a lot this year. Here’s some of it.

More Of An Appreciation For New York City

New York City got hit hard with the pandemic, with hospitals being inundated with cases, tourism locations having to shut down and restaurants still trying to stay afloat. I stayed at home much from March through June, only venturing out for fresh air walks or essential grocery shopping. I started going beyond that by heading to local parks and often very empty museums and getting takeout from nearby eateries.

The subway and buses are getting busy again, so I’m staying as careful as I can while using them. I have to admit that I’m nervous riding them as cars and seats are filling up. Most riders wear masks, but there a few that don’t.

However, I did venture out in December around Manhattan to see holiday trees and decorations and headed to restaurants that I’ve always wanted to dine at and to get to-go orders.

Branching Out In My Writing

I got scared a lot with keeping work steady this year, as I was laid off from my tourism side job and most outlets had to change their formats. I tried a lot of new fields of writing and thankfully was able to score assignments in new publications, including Reader’s Digest, Smithsonian Magazine and Zagat. Due to my layoff and being able to self-quarantine alone, I accepted a special press trip to Portugal in October to see how its tourism and hospitality sector was adjusting to the pandemic and implementing Covid-19 health and safety precautions. You can read more about my experience here.

These days, and going into 2021, I’m going to be staying local. But that’s fine for me. We’ll see what happens.

So how was 2020 for you? Tell me.

2017 was a good year. I had some ups and downs but I made some pretty neat accomplishments. At the same time, I’m realizing with every year literally flying by, that I’m starting to more and more figure out where I want to be heading, travel and otherwise.

Here’s how 2017 went for me with a few milestones.

Working at an awesome museum

In order to help keep a steady cash flow for my travel budget and overall livelihood, I took a part time job at one of NYC’s most popular museums. With having a “come and go” schedule, I was nervous about whether or not my manager would understand, or more so accept, my “other job.” Or the fact I maybe could only work certain days or be gone for periods of time. There were some rough patches at first, but so far I’ve been lucky to be able to balance both my museum job and my travel job at the same time.

Having More First-Time Destination Visits

One of my dream trips since childhood was to see China (I think I actually tried to dig a hole in my backyard but didn’t get far.). In May, I got to fulfill this wish with my visit to Suzhou, China, a city that resonates with Old China due to having canals, waterways and classic gardens. And I got to travel to destinations I probably never would have imagined: Israel, El Salvador, Guatemala, Croatia, and the Bahamas. I left prayer notes at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, tried surfing at a beach called El Tunco, toasted marshmallows over lava-generated heat at a volcano called Pacaya, and went on a Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik.  Not bad!

Staying at an Ice Hotel

A February snowstorm altered by plans for a work trip to Canada’s Quebec region, in that I completely missed the first day. But I still got to experience one major activity – spending the night in an ice hotel. Located outside of Quebec City, Hotel de Glace is a chilly location in which you can either go on a tour of this seasonal lodging (completely made from an ice and snow mixture) and/or pay to spend the night in one of its room. You have to get dressed well enough to handle an overnight stay (think winter gear that’s breathable while keeping you warm). I felt prepared and woke up once, maybe twice, but overall was glad to have tried it – and then to head back into a more warmer accommodation.

Seeing More of the US

I harp on this a lot but, in terms of travel, there is a lot more to the US than meets the eye. While the current political climate is pulling us in different directions, our nation’s cities and town have their respective offerings that can appeal to any traveler. I visited Montgomery, Alabama, which is the central point for major Civil Rights events such as where Rosa Parks’ arrest and the responding Montgomery Bus Boycott. Up north, Philadelphia has so many ties to the American Revolution, but it’s also got a major arts scene and a culinary assortment of everything from Israeli, to Southern, to German and Cuban eateries. For 2018, I’ve already booked a few trips to other US cities; can’t wait.

Choosing to Be More at Home

While I’ve been really grateful for all my 2017 travel opportunities, I’ve been trying to be better about exploring more of New York City. For the next two years, I’m viewing NYC as my homebase. Lately much of my exploring involves going around the neighborhood I stay in and going to and from work and meetings. So, I want to be sure in 2018 to see more of this city. I’ve tackled a lot – museums, landmarks, festivals – but I would love to discover more of its restaurants and districts. I’m also trying to expand my social circle more (most of my friends are married with children and others have moved on) so I want to get out there and meet new people. But if that next cool trip comes up…

What would you like to see or do in 2018? Let me know.