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As
appeared in The Park Slope Courier and Courier Life Publications:
April
24, 2001
Gotta
Get Away?
Click On Escapemaker.com
By Camille Sperrazza
There's
a weekend coming up, and you want to go somewhere sensational,
but where? Log on to Escapemaker.com (with offices located in
Brooklyn at 180 Fifth Avenue, 718-398-5766) and you'll find an
array of getaways, concerts, festivals, and special events, all
happening within a 500-mile radius of New York City, including
last-minute offers and special deals.
This
site is the best travel dot-com I've seen. It's fast, friendly,
and filled with relevant information. What a refreshing change
to discover a website where you don't have to visit 35 screens
before finding the one that contains the information you need.
Have
no idea how to spend this weekend? No problem. Answer five simple
questions on the screen, all designed to help you discover a destination
you'll enjoy. Just check off the desired length of your trip,
(from one day to three nights or longer), who you are traveling
with, (there's a list that includes single, couple, kids), the
scenery you prefer, (beach, mountains, for example), whether you're
looking for a quiet, romantic getaway, or an active vacation;
and if you prefer to stay at a hotel, bed and breakfast, campsite,
or resort.
When
I made my entries, I instantly received a list of fabulous suggestions
almost all of which appealed to me greatly. There's no doubt I'm
using Escapemaker.com the next time I plan a weekend vacation.
The inspiration for the website came from the site developer's
love of travel, and it shows.
Caylin Sanders, president of Escapemaker.com, noticed that "Most
travel agents don't book local." Consequently, making weekend
travel arrangements was a time-consuming task. "It involved a
lot of research and phone calls," she says.
She
also noticed that books written about weekend getaways were usually
outdated, sometimes expensive, not to mention bulky to carry.
Having the advantage of already being knowledgeable in the computer
field, Caylin returned to school to fine-tune her business skills.
Escapemaker.com was born because Caylin was sure it could provide
the information so many were seeking.
She
takes pride in the fact that, unlike many websites that depend
on funding from venture capitalists, her website is "funded the
traditional way." Caylin took out a small business loan from a
Brooklyn bank, and runs her own company.
It
made its debut in September when a troupe dressed as butterflies
arrived in the Wall Street and Rockefeller Center vicinities,
passed out butterfly magnets, and encouraged New Yorkers to "make
their escape through the net." These outings were followed by
colorful ads in publications such as The New Yorker. The site
now averages about 800-1,000 users a day. Look for the human butterflies
to fly around Manhattan again this spring.
What's
also unique about Escapemaker.com is that it understands not everyone
drives. That's why it provides information on how to reach destinations
by public transportation, and even links to transit schedules.
But
Escapemaker.com provides even more than that. It encourages visitors
to share travel experiences, sending free T-shirts to those who
post their favorite travel memories on bulletin boards. Or, log
on to find someone with whom you can share your travel plans and
expenses. Can't
get away unless someone takes the dog for the weekend? Don't give
it a second thought. There's even a section for those willing
to care for pets, and one for house sitters while you're away.
Money
may not even be a travel obstacle, if you're fortunate enough
to win one of the free weekend getaways offered each month. Escapemaker.com
sent one lucky couple on a family-oriented getaway to Mystic,
Connecticut last month, and sent another, the following month,
on a romantic trip upstate New York. It doesn't cost a dime to
enter these vacation sweepstakes. Restaurant reviews, gift shops
that can't be missed, and discount coupons, add to the website's
informative fun.
Caylin
lets us in on the "many little known gems" she's discovered in
her travels. "For instance," she says, "who would guess that you
could take a romantic cruise to a deserted island in Connecticut?"
Or, that just hours away from Manhattan, "you can kayak with the
dolphins at sunset or become a dwarf for a day at a giant sculpture
garden?"
Whenever she visits a town, she does so "as if I have never been
anywhere before," Caylin says. It is this way that she is able
to provide insight into the many questions travelers ask, such
as: Where can I get toothpaste? A disposable camera? Contact lens
solution? Even an ice cream cone? "These are questions I ask the
locals," she says, knowing that residents don't patronize tourist
traps. Caylin provides the answers to these questions -- and so
much more -- on Escapemaker.com.
Don't
plan your next escape until you've checked it out.
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