Different Types of Hotels
When you go to stay in a hotel there are several different considerations. One of them, of course, is price. It’s not a concern for everyone, but most people are budget-conscious and can’t just spend whatever they want to on accommodations. With that being the case, you’ll have to determine what fits within your budget and what you can expect from a hotel in that price range. Where budget accommodations are concerned you won’t pay a lot but you won’t get a lot, either. Most of these hotels are older, and although they are clean there are anything but fancy. The linens and fixtures might be a bit worn and they won’t have the look and feel of the higher priced hotels. You don’t usually get any ‘freebies,’ either, although you might be treated to a simple breakfast and/or a newspaper included in the price.
Luxury hotels are a far different story from budget hotels. They cost much more, but you also get many more amenities than you would in a place where you pay considerably less. You can expect food, newspapers, free phone calls, better television channel selections, and more pampering. These hotels often have pools, spas, free room service, massages, robes and slippers, and other amenities that you wouldn’t otherwise get. You are generally given whatever you ask for, within reason, and the people there carry your bags and do everything that they can to ensure that you are happy. It’s very important to them that you have a good stay and that you return in the future.
A lot of people stay in middle-of-the-road hotels. These places offer much more than the budget hotels, but they don’t come close to what the luxury hotels provide. You’ll get some freebies there, but you won’t get the pampering and the do-anything-for-you attitude that you’ll get in the luxury hotels. That doesn’t seem to be required, though, because these standard hotels are still very popular. It gives people the feeling that they are staying in a nice hotel without requiring them to spend such an excessive amount of money. The fixtures in these hotels will be newer than the budget hotels, as will the linens. They will be nice places overall, but they won’t have the spas and free massages and other treatments that a lot of the luxury options provide. For travellers on a tight budget, these hotels might be too costly, as well.
Travel Discount Tips
Are you a fan for traveling, but always consider that this is a quite expensive pleasure? Have you ever thought of the opportunity of finding travel discounts for your vacation and your desire for traveling? This can require some effort, but in the end it will worth all the trouble. There are discounts available for hotels, airfares, as well as car rentals if you know where to look.
The following tips will allow you cut some costs for the next time you take your trip:
1. Do some price comparison shopping before reaching to book your flight. Look for the cheapest alternatives online, at the airline and travel aggregator websites. There are regular discounts that airlines offer for their potential customers and thus you will be able to locate one that suits your needs.
2. You can also register with travel agencies and look for the newsletters they send to your email address, locate the destination of interest and see if this location comes as a travel discount.
3. Check to see if discounts are available for online bookings, versus booking over the phone or at a travel agency. This discounts apply to both airfares and hotels.
4. You should inquire on multi-leg flights, as you will sometimes be able to get better prices than direct flights. The layover in another city may only take an hour, but the savings can be hundreds of dollars. Many people are able to save a lot of money, and then use the savings on other components of their trip.
5. Look for package deals that incorporate your dream vacation. Finding packages that combine hotel and airfare in a single offer often proves to be far more suitable than the buying them separately.
6. Another tip would be to choose destinations that have low costs of daily living. For instance, the Philippines, Malaysia and many Central American countries are quite inexpensive destinations to travel to, yet at the same time have many beautiful beaches comparable to more expensive destinations.
7. Once you have already booked your discount travel, think of ways to save money with your daily meals and activities. You can choose to buy food in local markets and cook meals by yourself, instead of choosing to go out and eat at more expensive restaurants.
8. Consider going without a car rental. Local transportation is often prevalent in vacation destinations, and a pricey car rental is often not necessary for your full trip.
Cheap Hotels Near Cedar Point
Whether you are a tourist, or you are on a business trip, finding accommodation near Cedar point is not at all difficult. As a matter of fact, this place is home to a number of economical options, which provide you, not just cost efficiency, but quality as well. The following are some of the economical options, as far as accommodation near Cedar point is concerned:
1. Rodeway Inn Cedar Point North
This is one of the most economical lodging options in the area. It offers free coffee and pastries, along with indoor pool facilities, laundry facility, irons and ironing boards, room safes, Cable Television. Close proximity with Malls and restaurants is another major attraction of this hotel.
2. Travelodge Sandusky Cedar Point
This is another economical option and a major feature of this hotel is its ability to offer wonderful services at throw away prices. This hotel belongs to a franchise of hotels and has number of properties, which provide quality services. All the rooms are well furnished and equipped with a number of facilities.
3. Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Cedar Point
This is another hotel where you can make a visit, in case you are looking for economical options. Some of the main features of this hotel include Free Wireless Internet facility; 24hr front desk service, outdoor pool, room safes, as well as free newspapers. You also get a television with cable connection. Breakfast would be served on time and would include coffee/tea, juice and muffins. You will also find a number of restaurants at nearby distance.
4. Howard Johnson Express Inn – Sandusky
This magnificent hotel provides a number of facilities, such as Air Conditioning, AM-FM Alarm Clock, Coffee Maker in Room, Complimentary Continental Breakfast, Twenty Four Hour Front Desk, Free Parking, Free Local Telephone Calls, Ice Machine, Ironing Board, Outdoor Pool, Outdoor Parking, Safe Deposit Box, Security, Satellite TV, as well as Wake-up Service. Also, you get all these features at throw away prices.
5. Fairfield Inn & Suites Sandusky
In this hotel, you get free high-speed Internet availability, along with a number of other facilities. What makes this so very attractive is its location, which makes it very much desirable. So, you get freshly brewed coffee, all throughout the day. You can enjoy the various facilities, such as well furnished rooms, Jacuzzi, proper security, televisions with cable connections etc.
So, the next time around, when you move to this place, you should have no problem in lodging up.
The Most Pet-Friendly Hotels in Panama City
Many people love their pets so dearly and at times want to bring them along on their travel. Some guide dogs are companions to people with physical disabilities.
If you have plans to visit Panama City, there are some pet-friendly hotels for you and your pet.
La Quinta Inn and Suites
The La Quinta Inn and Suites is located near the Tyndall Air Force Base and Panama City International Airport.
This hotel is one of the most pet-friendly in the area. Dogs of any size are allowed with no additional fees. As a matter of pet policy, dogs must be well- trained, leashed and cleaned before getting an accommodation.
Place the “Do Not Disturb” sign outside your door when leaving your pet inside.
The hotel is nearby many beautiful beaches.
La Quinta Inn and Suites is near to many tourist attractions such as:
o Marina Civic Center
o Gulf World Marine Park
o St. Andrew’s State Park
o Shipwreck Island Water Park
o Panama City Beach
Nearby restaurants offer guests their delicious meals. Guests can also enjoy golfing with some of the golf courses near the hotel. The Panama City Mall is a good choice for shopping.
The beautiful landscape of the garden provides a peaceful ambience. You can relax in the gazebo.
Guests can even have a refreshing splash at the indoor heated pool. A hot tub is available to soothe a tired body.
A fitness center with basic gym facilities is free. There is an instructor to assist your workout if necessary.
Hotel Amenities:
o Free high-speed Internet access
o Microwave oven
o Refrigerator
o Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast
o Pillow top mattresses
o Down pillows
o Striped sheets
Travelodge Panama City Beach
The Travelodge Panama City Beach is another pet-friendly hotel located near the Front Beach Road in Panama City, Florida. The hotel is near many bars, nightclubs and just a few minutes drive to some of the area’s major attractions.
Guests are treated with a healthy complimentary breakfast served daily. The hotel features many amenities such as:
o Mini refrigerator
o Cable TV
o Microwave oven
o Coffee makers
o Iron and ironing board
o Telephone
o Room safes
o Free local calls
o High-speed wireless Internet access
o Data ports
o Outdoor swimming pool
o Room service
o Handicapped accessible rooms and facilities
o Restaurant
The hotel’s pet policy allows maximum of two dogs in a room, weighing not more than 15 pounds. Dogs should be well-trained and leashed when in the premises of the hotel.
Each pet is initially charged $50 in advance, then charged $10 per night.
Residence Inn Sandestin
The Residence Inn Sandestin is conveniently located nearby golf courses and wide beach resorts in Florida.
It is a pet-friendly hotel with many recreational areas around. There are shopping malls, bars, restaurants, and beaches. The hotel offers complimentary tram service.
The suites come with a separate living room, fully-equipped kitchen area and comfortable beddings. Daily breakfast is complimentary.
Hotel Amenities:
o High-speed wired and wireless Internet access
o Game rooms
o Library
o Outdoor pool
o Hot tub
o Fitness center
o No-smoking property
o Hair dryer
o Iron
o Coffee maker
o Fireplace
Night’s Happenings – Traveling in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a great city to organize further travels up to the north of Thailand, and in my case to obtain Myanmar visa and tickets. The down-side is the obvious tragedy of a conservative, religious society devastated by mass tourism and with many of those tourists importing their crassness and immoral behavior with them.
Those funny looking western men wearing tight jeans, tank tops, blonde hair and with their beer gut sucked in, walking around with pretty young girls, make me want to spew. It’s the cocky persona they display – “hey look at me, I’ve scored a hot one”- that grates the most. Poor, pathetic losers, don’t they see the vacant eyes of their “catch”? Don’t they realize that the girls/women wouldn’t go near them if not forced by poverty, slavery (yes, most are sold by family or abducted) and the buoyant body buying market in Thailand?
These women and boys are not born to become vacuous, sexual objects; they are made- by family, poverty and over-supply of consumers.
Returning to my usual guest house in Chiang Mai, I looked around for a sweet little Burmese girl who was working there 2 years ago. It was obvious at the time that she was at risk, her correct age wasn’t known (she looked about 13-14) and somehow she had landed in Chiang Mai from Burma. She looked like a little doll and with a sweet temperament. She’s not there now and I assume she has been swallowed up into the trade.
One night sleep escaped me, mostly due to the noise happening outside my guest house, which is in a relatively quiet laneway. It started with a local girl being harassed by her boyfriend (?) – featuring shouting, pushing and a forced abduction. The girl was pretty savvy though and jumped out of the car and ran into the compound where she lived.
There, the security guard handled the situation in a typical quiet Thai way. After a half hour standoff, the aggrieved male roared off in his hoon machine (hoons are the same worldwide) and peace reigned. Not for long though.
Across the laneway another swish guest house was coping with their own night drama. This time it was three guys in a tuk-tuk drunkenly shouting and I thought they were having a go at the driver. Drunken, English soccer fan type voices woke the whole neighborhood, and then I noticed legs poking out the side of the tuk-tuk. They belonged to a bloke who was practically pissed, and the other two were being good Samaritans and bringing him home. Apparently they didn’t know his name, and all the shouting in the world wasn’t going to get it out of him, so in the end they yanked him out and carried him into the lobby of the guest house and dumped him. Of course, they apologized profusely, especially as he was about to spew on very posh tiled floors.
Ah, back to bed and perhaps a little sleep as it was now about 3am. No, the night was young.
Two blokes staying at my guest house rocked up in a tuk-tuk and had squeezed in with them two black Lycra clad local beauties. The girls making a living at night seem to have a uniform- really short black Lycra dresses and skyscraper heels- they look sensational. The boys were out of luck, non-guests aren’t allowed at this guest house and there is no way they would have got past the fierce bantamweight night watchman – he could kill you with his eyes. There followed loud telephone calls, slamming of room doors and two forlorn girls hanging out in the street. Eventually, the boys came back down and a tuk-tuk arrived to take them to some honeymoon suite (or doss house) for a very late assignation.
Sleep was over for me, my head was racing and I was pissed off knowing that I had a long bus ride in a few hours time and with no sleep beforehand.
Just as well I couldn’t sleep because I would have missed the spectacle of a girl trying to get into the now locked compound across the lane- the sight of the first drama of the night.
She wore the uniform of the night and the tight black dress and skyscraper heels didn’t help when trying to get a footing over a high railing gate. She hitched her dress around her waist, threw her shoes and bag over, and hopelessly tried to get follow. A slight tantrum followed and then with real determination, she somehow got one leg over and levered herself up to then become stuck on top. Finally she made the decision to get hurt and slithered down to the ground with, I suspect, a few deep scratches and bruises. Hope she has a successful night as well.
As it will be pointed out to me, perhaps I should stop being a peeping tom and voyeur on the night’s happenings, but surely someone has to witness these activities. Is all that exhibitionist behavior to be in vain?
The Best Family Holiday Destinations in the World
It is time to take your children for a vacation but choosing the right vacation spot is not really easy because you have to consider a lot of things. One of the first things to look for is to look for a place that caters to a family holiday. You have to pick a vacation spot that your kids will enjoy and at the same allow you and your kids to spend great time together. The destinations which suits best to a family holiday at present are:
1. Angkor Wat- This is a temple situated in Cambodia which is beyond doubt, a glorious place where families have now become target visitors, since this type of place mainly attract children of different age groups.
2. Western Iceland – if you are a family looking for a place isolated from the rest of the world, then this is the place for an ideal holiday.
3. Tresco, Isles of Scilly – A place truly meant for those families who are prepared to spend for luxuries which can only be experienced there. Situated off the west coast of England, this place has become a center of attraction because of its appeal towards kids.
4. Yucatan Peninsula – Situated in Mexico, this is a different kind of tourist place where diverse cultures are seen together. Because of this, this place is meant for the family tourists. Talking about the food, every cuisine that is served is influenced by the Lebanese, French and Spanish.
5. Monte Carlo – This destination is a costlier one and is not meant for those not desiring to spend much. Grand Prix takes place every year, which is an event enjoyed by people of all ages.
6. Togo & Benin – Situated in West Africa, these two destinations offers an altogether different kind of view of Africa. While the number of visitors has reduced, they are still a place one should go with the family.
7. Naples – A place situated in Italy, not only meant for its historic landmarks, as stated by the ancient times, which have freshly been restored, but also a destination having some world famous magnificent shops and restaurants. Adding some more polish, the visitors are within easy reach of attractions such as Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.
8. Lincoln Farm Park, Oxfordshire – this is the holiday destination, a family could ever want. For children, the place includes different playgrounds, action boards and towers with numerous levels, different kinds of boats and many more. All kinds of restaurants are there for food lovers so that they can spend most of their time having their favorite cuisines.
3 Star Dublin Hotels Near the Airport
· Dublin Skylon Hotel
This hotel is located on the Upper Drumcondra Road. It’s a great location if you want to be located between the city and the airport as the airport is about a 15 minute drive and the city is about a 10 minute drive.
The Dublin Skylon has 126 well equipped guestrooms, a cosmopolitan bar, a traditional Irish bar and a bistro where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Stay at this hotel if you want to be close to Croke Park Stadium, the National Botanic Gardens, the Mater Hospital, Beaumont Hospital or Dublin City University.
· The Regency Hotel & Leisure Centre
The Regency Hotel is located on the Swords Road, 3km north of Dublin city centre and just 6km south of Dublin International Airport.
The hotel has 253 guestrooms fitted with all the facilities you would expect from a 3 star hotel. It also has two restaurants and a bar. The main restaurant is called Season’s and it’s located right beside the hotel lobby. The hotel also boasts the award winning Shanard Restaurant which is a great spot for exquisite dining. In the Appian Lounge you can relax with a drink and be entertained by some live music especially on Sunday morning when it host’s a jazz band.
The Regency has a fantastic leisure centre, which features a 17-metre swimming pool, a children’s pool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, steam room and fully equipped gym.
This hotel is convenient to Croke Park Stadium, Clontarf Golf Course, Beaumount Hospital and Dublin City University.
· The Travelodge Dublin Airport
The Travelodge is located in Swords about 2km from Dublin Airport and 16km from the city centre.
It has 130 comfortable ensuite guestrooms and for breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests can eat at the Metzo Restaurant. The hotel also offers complimentary car parking.
The hotel is ideally location on the N1 Dublin/Belfast road and within easy reach of many golf clubs, Malahide, Skerries and the Airside Retail & Business Park at the airport.
· The Carnegie Court Hotel
The Carnegie Court Hotel is located in the village of Swords about a 5-minute drive north of Dublin Airport.
The hotel has 36 cosy and welcoming guestrooms, a restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner and private car parking. It is home to the popular ‘Harp Bar’, which boasts five bars over two levels and live music every Friday and Saturday night.
When you stay at this hotel you’re just a short drive from attractions like Swords Castle, Malahide Castle, Newbridge House, Skerries Mill and the historical sight of Newgrange is only about half an hours drive from here.
· Tulip Inn Dublin Airport
The Tulip Inn is located in the Airside Retail Park in Swords about a 5 minute drive from Dublin Airport. It’s convenient for an overnight stay, but it’s also a great base for touring north Dublin.
Stay in one of the hotel’s 155 spacious guestrooms, which are equipped with free wi-fi internet access and satellite TV. The stylish surrounding of the ‘Bibo Bar and Restaurant’ is perfect for breakfast, dinner, or just enjoying a few drinks.
Whether you’re staying for the night or longer, there’s plenty of things to do and see in the vicinity. You can go paintballing, golfing, gokarting or you could visit some famous Irish castles like Swords Castle, Malahide Castle or Ardgillan Castle.
· The Bewley’s Hotel Dublin Airport
The newly opened Bewley’s Hotel is located in Swords, just a short shuttle bus ride from the airport’s main terminal.
It is one of the biggest Dublin hotels with 466 guestrooms, lots of dining options in the lounge and brassiere and a free 24 hour shuttle bus to the airport terminal.
The hotel is just a 20 minute drive from Dublin city centre and within easy reach of Croke Park Stadium, Fairyhouse Racecourse, the Pavillion Shopping Centre in Swords and the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
· Day’s Hotel Dublin Airport
Days Hotel is located at Santry Cross on Ballymun Road, just a 10 minute drive from Dublin Airport.
This hotel offers guests a free shuttle bus to the airport between the hours of 4am and 9pm, free car parking and free wireless internet access. It has 88 spacious and modern guestrooms and Rueben’s Café Bar and Restaurant.
The hotel is convenient to Dublin City University, the Omni Park Shopping Centre and it’s just a 15 minute drive from the city centre.
Cheap Hotels in Downtown Chicago
Chicago is one of the most important commercial hubs of the United States. This place has a long and illustrious history and today it is a place that has seen great economic development. Apart from the industrialization, the place is also becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination. As it is, a number of people come to this place every year, either for business purposes, or for tourism purpose. As it is, in order to provide accommodations to them, a number of hotels have come up as well, which provide proper lodging at affordable rates of return.
As it is, the following are some of the affordable lodging options that might be chosen by you:
1. Hyatt Regency
Located in 151 E Wacker DR, Chicago, this magnificent hotel is one of the biggest properties in Chicago. The hotel provides a number of facilities, to the visitors. The rooms are well furnished and equipped with a number of amenities like telephone connections, television with cable connection, high speed internet connection, etc. the property has received a number of awards for brilliance in the field of hospitality.
2. Chicago Hilton Hotel
This magnificent hotel, which is located in 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, has acquired an unparalleled synthesis of traditional magnificence and modern facilities. This hotel was built way back in the year 1927 and for many years, it was known as the largest hotel in the world. One of the most attractive features of this hotel is its ability to renovate itself according to the demands of the changing times. It is perhaps a main reason for its popularity till this date. Apart from that, it also offers a number of facilities to its viewers.
3. Howard Johnson Downtown Hotel
This wonderful hotel provides economical lodging to its visitors. It treats its visitors with an affordable restaurant, which offers you a great dining experience. You also have the Chicago Place, 900 N Michigan Shops, and the Water Tower Mall for company at a stones throw distance from the property. This hotel offers 71 well furnished rooms, equipped with the latest facilities. No-smoking rooms as well as rooms for physically challenged are also available.
4. Travelodge Chicago Hotel
This wonderful hotel is situated in close proximity with McCormick Place, Lake Michigan, Magnificent Mile as well as O’Hare International Airport. The rooms are equipped with cable TV, coffeemakers, cribs, voicemail, Free High-speed internet, as well as Roll-away beds.
As it is, the next time you make a visit to this place, then in that case, you know where to stay.
More Europe, Less Euros – Travelling on the Cheap
The first thing that should be on your mind when it comes to booking your holiday in Europe is arranging your flights. It may sound obvious, but the easiest way to save money on your flights is to book well in advance. According to many travel experts the best time to reserve your flights is eleven months in advance of your trip, due to the flights just being released. As a result, plenty of cheaper seats will be available. The opposite is also true, as booking at the last minute can result in substantial savings as airlines try to fill up their unsold seats.
Further savings can be made on your European sojourn by simply splitting the cost with your travelling companions. Depending on the accommodation you wish to stay in during your trip, you could save a considerable amount of money. Staying in youth hostels, which, despite the name, are no longer just the preserve of the youth, as many hostels now have family rooms, is always a financially sound option and if you do decide to split the cost, it could ending up costing you next to nothing. Investigate cheap hotel chains as well, as many are significantly cheaper than their Travelodge cousins in Britain. In France, for example, many budget hotels offer three person rooms for under £20 a night.
Keeping an eye on the exchange rates is also a useful idea. Fluctuations between the Pound and the Euro could be the difference between a leisurely, fun packed holiday and a minimalist, dull one. For example, Greece, a once cheap option for a family holiday, has become relatively expensive on the back of its entry to the European Union and its view of itself as an Olympic host and European football champion; while Italy on the other hand, remains very reasonable. With that in mind, do some research and find countries that offer competitive rates on accommodation, food and tourist attractions.
Depending on your destination, it’s worth remembering when planning your holiday that renting a car may be more convenient than relying on pubic transport. Cheap car hire in Spain and Tenerife, for example, is relatively easy to find and allows for far greater flexibility.
Quite possibly the best tip for saving money on your European holiday is to shop around for a low cost insurance policy. The travel agent – online or on the High Street – will attempt to sell you insurance but many travel experts recommend arranging your own instead, as it’s almost a guarantee that similar cover can be found for a lower price elsewhere. This rule also applies to European breakdown cover. While we’ve all heard of the RAC and AA, it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s still just insurance and a number of companies will offer the same thing for less money.
When booking a European holiday on a budget, the easiest way to save money is simply to shop around for the best deals, with the internet being a godsend to travellers wishing to book their own trips. Research the countries you’re planning on visiting too and make yourself aware of any opportunities to save money on food or accommodation. By taking all of the above into account, your European trip is sure to be a great experience which won’t break the bank.
Places To Stay On Your London Vacation
When you are looking for a place to vacation, there is no place better than London, England. Surround yourself in beauty, history and culture and this is sure to be the best place you will ever visit! This beautiful place is the perfect city for visiting because they are so open to visitors and there are many wonderful places to stay in London. Whatever type of London accommodation you are looking for, there is sure to be something for everyone!
If you are looking for a London hotel, there are plenty of them to choose from. London has some of the classiest, upscale hotels that you could ever ask for and not only are they some of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see but many of them are located conveniently in the heart of the city, close to everything you will want to check out. Some of these hotels include Sanctuary House Hotel, St. Martin’s Lane, and Strand Palace to name just a few! Combine old world culture with all of the modern amenities that you could ask for in any fine London hotel.
If you’re looking for something a little homier and cozier in your London accommodation, you may want to consider one of London’s many fine bed and breakfasts. These small little nooks can be found just about anywhere in London and they are a truly wonderful way to spend your vacation. The bed and breakfasts are often houses that have been converted to suit guests and it is in these bed and breakfasts that one will often see one of the best views of London! Some very quaint London bed and breakfasts are At Home London Bed and Breakfast, the Chiswick Guest House, and BB London Maida Vale. Stay at one of these fine London accommodations and know that you are truly staying in London in style!
If you’d prefer to save your money for all of the entertainment and culture that London has to offer, you are probably looking for cheap places to stay in London. There are many wonderful London accommodations that won’t break your wallet but will make you feel as though you are staying in one of the priciest places in town! Many of these accommodations are also located right downtown, close to the tube and many sights and attractions including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and many more! These fine hotels also everything that five-star hotels do but at half the cost! Maximize your London vacation with comfort by staying at the Travelodge or Ibis.
Of course another way to find a cheap place to stay in London is to move out of the heart of the city into the surrounding areas. There are many beautiful London hotels and bed and breakfasts in these areas that will offer lower rates due to their quiet location and they will also often offer lower rates during certain times of the year or days of the week. To find cheap London accommodation, consider Paddington, Bayswater, and Euston.
In a city like London, there is sure to be something for every need, desire and budget. Whether you want a cozy stay, or an exciting one in the heart of it all, you are sure to find the perfect London accommodation!