'Referrer-Policy': 'strict-origin-when-cross-origin' YouTube Embed Relay
best travel blogs

A Site About Being at home in hotels around the world

Let’s Connect

Know where the Ice Machine is in real time by following on BlueSky and Instagram.

Solo Travel Blogs

Subscribe to The Ice Machine

Sign up here for email updates and reader exclusives.

Featured Content

Nomadic Living

” All that raw land that rolls in one unbelievable huge bulge over to the West Coast, and all that road going…” -Jack Kerouac

travel gear

Travel Gear

“He who would travel happily must travel light.– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

luxury travel blogs

Hotel Intel

“I knew it. I knew it. Born in a hotel room – and God damn it – died in a hotel room.” -Eugene O’Neill

Recent Posts

  • Review of the Boca Suites Deerfield Beach: Hotel Intel

    Review of the Boca Suites Deerfield Beach: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a hotel around Boca Raton you’ve got plenty of choices. But if you’re coming in peak season and not made of money those choices get narrow pretty quickly. In that case you might find yourself looking at the Boca Suites Deerfield Beach as I did recently. Can this Best Western property

    Read Post

  • Review of the RTIC Everyday Cooler: Gear Guide

    Review of the RTIC Everyday Cooler: Gear Guide

    Personal day-use coolers have always been a staple of road trip travel. Driving around the Florida coasts as much as I do, mine was getting daily use. Eventually an upgrade was in order and I wanted something with some size and substance. But I was still a bit hesitant to shell out Yeti money for

    Read Post

  • Review of the La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport: Hotel Intel

    Review of the La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a hotel near FLL or Port Everglades the La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport may not be the most obvious choice. I’ve been staying in hotels in this area for two years and still haven’t booked it until now despite being very budget conscious. Was it worth the wait? Let’s find out.

    Read Post

  • Florida’s Best Free Attraction? Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach

    Florida’s Best Free Attraction? Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach

    I’d been aware of West Palm’s Manatee Lagoon for a while and had it on a list of attractions to check out. Manatees are found throughout Florida but Manatee Lagoon is known as the best place to observe wild manatees in Florida. When a post popped up in my Instagram feed recently I clicked through

    Read Post

  • The Cost of Living In Hotels: Update #4 July-December 2025

    The Cost of Living In Hotels: Update #4 July-December 2025

    There’s not a lot of content on the Internet about the cost of living in hotels full time. Most people who adopt a nomadic lifestyle opt for some combination of AirBnb, monthly leases, or extended stays in hostels. The purpose of these updates is to provide a picture of what it actually costs to live

    Read Post

  • How to Fly With Overweight Bags for Free

    How to Fly With Overweight Bags for Free

    After nearly 20 years of going to sea I’ve learned how to pack exactly 49 pounds of gear to avoid being charged for overweight bags. But that was before I threw in the towel on carrying a military type sea bag and capitulated to the practicality of a bag with wheels. I settled on a

    Read Post

  • Review of the Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a Broward County hotel for your cruise embarkation or want a place near the airport The Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport might not be at the top of your list. But if the budget is really tight it’s worth a closer look. That’s what we’re here for today. I booked this

    Read Post

  • Review of the Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a hotel for your cruise from Port Everglades or near FLL airport you might be considering the Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port in Dania Beach. You might also be a little wary of Choice Hotels properties and wondering if this hotel can justify its price tag. Let’s see if it

    Read Post

  • Review of the Wyndham Garden Fort Lauderdale: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a hotel for your upcoming cruise from Port Everglades or just need a room near the airport you might be a little wary seeing the Wyndham Garden Lauderdale near the top of your searches. The chain specializes in budget properties and is best know for its Days Inn and Super 8

    Read Post

  • Review of the Hotel Dello Dania Beach, FL: Hotel Intel

    If you’re searching for a hotel near FLL airport or the Port Everglades cruise terminal it can be easy to overlook the Hotel Dello. There are dozens of properties in the area from all the major chains. Even if you’re just searching Hilton directly it’s easy to gravitate to one of their brands like Embassy

    Read Post

  • Vegas for Vegetarians? A Guide to the Best Cheap Eats

    Las Vegas Has some of the best restaurants in the world. It’s also got stand after stand offering $15 greasy pizza slices. If you’re heading to Sin City soon and wanting to navigate the space between those cuisines I’ve got you covered. This rundown isn’t just for vegetarians. There aren’t any pure vegetarian restaurants included

    Read Post

  • Review of The Linq Las Vegas: Resort Report

    If you’re searching Las Vegas hotels on a budget it won’t take long before you find the Linq Las Vegas in your results. This center Strip property is right in the heart of the action and with several room types available there’s something for every traveler. But if you really want to keep costs down

    Read Post

Search

cool travel blogs