Staying fit on the road can be challenging, especially if you are not a runner and don’t have the luxury of simply slipping on comfy shoes and heading outside to get in a decent workout. For many people, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is priceless and they are willing to spend a pretty penny in order to stick to their current exercise routine. However, that can be hard when you are traveling for business or pleasure. Tracking down a hotel with a gym can be a pain, not to mention costly. Fortunately, Hilton Hotels and Resorts is making it easier to … Continue reading →

Have you ever dreamed of being showered with diamonds? If so, you probably figured the bling would come courtesy of your sweetheart, not a chain hotel. But that’s exactly where you can win a whole lot of sparkle beginning September 28th. Holiday Inn locations in the United Kingdom are celebrating their 60th anniversary by placing real diamonds worth nearly $40,000 under select guests’ pillows. The diamonds will be left in hotel rooms throughout Europe, including Spain, Germany, France, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands. What’s more, you don’t have to stay more than one night in order to win. As added … Continue reading →

If you are like the majority of Americans, you will be waking up in your own bed on Memorial Day… or on your relative’s couch. According to a new survey, most families won’t be traveling too far from home during the holiday weekend, and of those taking to the skies, rails or highways, less than 40 percent plan to spend the night in hotels, motels or inns. Respondents to Atmosphere Research Group’s online poll say they plan to stay with family or friends rather than forking over money to sleep at a hotel. Others say they plan to stay at … Continue reading →

A few years ago a report on adult obesity noted that an increasing number of business travelers were packing on the pounds because of the poor dietary choices they made while on the road. Apparently, the trend is continuing, but now the focus is on children and providing them with nutritious foods while they are away from home. According to USA Today, hotels are revamping their menus in order to keep kids healthy. The paper recently turned the spotlight on Fairmont Hotels, which is in the midst of implementing a new children’s menu with healthier food options. The changes include … Continue reading →

You know something is seriously wrong with your life if you prefer sleeping on hotel beds rather than your own. Of course, if you are a loyal guest at Westin properties then you might be on to something. Or, in something… something out of this world. Westin’s luxury Heavenly Bed is legendary in the travel industry, and now you can get one shipped to your home. Last week the hotel announced that it cut a deal with Pottery Barn to begin selling the world-famous mattress. Yes, the hotel industry’s most popular bed can now be a staple in your humble … Continue reading →

Do you prefer the towels, magazines or shower caps? What do you really pilfer from hotels? Town and Country magazine, recently asked its rich subscribers what, if anything, they swipe from luxury hotel rooms. The answer: The soap. Affluent hotel guest prefer to lift expensive soap to extra-fluffy towels and bathrobes. And by expensive I mean brands like Acqua di Parma, Bulgari, Hermes and L’Occitane. No paper-thin bars of discount soap that don’t lather up or smell like a fresh morning dew. Rather, high-end guests are filling their Louis Vuitton bags with luxury lathers. According to the magazine, most guests … Continue reading →

In a previous blog I may have suggested that being a Starwood Preferred Guest member pales in comparison to being a Hilton Hhonors member. That’s simply not the case. I merely mentioned that unlike my Hilton HHonors friend, I have not made the most of being a member of a hotel rewards program. Being a Starwood Preferred Guest member certainly has its privileges; however, you can’t take advantage of the perks unless you know what they are and how many points you need to accrue in order to score them. You earn points by staying at any of the 1,000 … Continue reading →

I am a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, yet I have never redeemed my points for a single reward. Conversely, my BFF, who is a member of Hilton HHonors scores free stuff all the time. She would undoubtedly tell you that it is well worth it to join a hotel rewards program. Me; not so much. So why is my pal such a fan of Hilton HHonors? For starters, the rewards are amazing. In addition to free hotel stays, you can redeem points for: *Tickets to Disneyland *Car rentals *Cruise certificates *Gift cards to Starbucks *Jewelry from Tiffany … Continue reading →

The nicer you are, the more you can get for free when traveling. At least that’s the word from a so-called “travel expert” who appeared on CNN earlier today. The cable news network’s “expert” was on TV spewing his knowledge about the busy holiday travel season and took a question from a caller regarding hotel upgrades. The caller wanted to know how he could score an upgrade without having to beg, steal or pay. The expert’s advice: Ask nicely. Interesting concept. Actually there’s a bit more to it than that. According to the expert, staying in a single room for … Continue reading →

Pinky-pink, frou-frou loving girly girls have a new dream vacation destination: New York City. The city that never sleeps is the new home to a princess palace straight from the pages of Kay Thompson’s classic book “Eloise.” The flighty fictional literary heroine regularly turns the landmark Plaza Hotel upside down with her crazy antics, and now your little girl can do the same. Well, kind of. The Plaza Hotel just opened a suite created in Eloise’s honor with help from popular fashion designer Betsey Johnson. Eccentric Johnson let loose when creating the whimsical suite that costs $995 a night to … Continue reading →