Braving the Holiday Travel Season Without Going Bankrupt

Time is ticking if you want to score a decent deal on a place to crash this Thanksgiving. Fortunately, you don’t have to win the lottery in order to pay for a hotel room during the busy holiday weekend. If you prefer to stay in drama-free accommodations rather than bunking at your parents, in-laws or Aunt Suzy’s on Turkey Day consider the following: Holiday Inn: With more than 1,500 locations nationwide, Holiday Inn is hard to beat when it comes to convenience and price. Not only do kids under 19 stay for free, but children under the age of 12 … Continue reading →

Hotels Helping You Stretch Your Dollar

With many hotels pushing back check-in time until 4 p.m. and moving up check-out time to 11 a.m., many travelers wonder if they are really getting their money’s worth. After all, if you are spending $250 per night on a room, you’d like to be able to use it for at least 20 hours. Some hotels are cognizant of this complaint, so while they cut back in one area, they try to compensate in others. Competition to snag travelers is heating up, especially with the busy holiday season approaching. Consequently, select properties around the world are offering free amenities to … Continue reading →

Lose Fat, Not Money at Hilton

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 →

Score Big Bling on Your Next Vacation

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 →

Save on Vacation Stays

Many travelers believe the best way to save on vacation accommodations is to bid online for the cheapest price. Turns out there are a slew of ways you can book a vacation stay without worrying about someone else’s low-ball price proposal. Farmstay: You’ve heard of housestays, where you can crash in someone’s spare bedroom during your travels, but what about farmstays? This alternative to expensive hotel rooms is one of the cheapest lodging options out there right now. Don’t let the name fool you; prior farm experience is not needed to take advantage of the affordable accommodations. In other words, … Continue reading →

Where Will You Spending Memorial Day?

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 →

The Forbidden Vacation

When was the last time you took a vacation without your kids? Or, more importantly, when was the last time you announced to others that you were planning to take a trip sans munchkins? Polls show that very few parents jet-off on holidays minus the kiddos. What’s more, a huge chunk of the moms and dads, who do book a tropical escape alone, are not willing to freely reveal their plans. What are they afraid of? That people will think they are selfish for enjoying time at a fab vacation destination without their children. Or, perhaps, they are afraid of … Continue reading →

Eating Better on Vacation

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 →

Heat Up Winter Travel

This winter’s wild weather has even the most seasoned meteorologists shaking their heads. Imagine what it’s doing to travel agents. According to industry experts, winter travel inquiries have nearly doubled in the last two weeks. Unexpected snow along the West Coast, wind storms across the Midwest and tornadoes down south have prompted many people to seek refuge in tropical locales. If you don’t have enough money to fund an escape to Hawaii or the Caribbean, then consider a more affordable jaunt to Florida. Miami has experienced a recent surge in budget-friendly hotel openings. Some decent options that provide comfort and … Continue reading →

Perks of Winter Travel

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 →