Book Hotels Cheaper

Shoes for Traveling

One of the important components to traveling happily is to be comfortable. In my Travel Tips book, I write about such things as dressing for where you are scheduled to arrive (not for where you depart from), dressing appropriately (in case of emergencies) and other such items that lend themselves to your being a happier traveler.

I recently came across a great article from a homeopathic doctor that is titled "How to Keep Your Feet Happy When Traveling". I thought it not only had a lot of common sense to it but it added something to the premise of being comfortable when you travel. The doctor advises to wear appropriate shoes so you don't develop blisters or sores at your destination and to make sure the shoes have adequate support. This will avoid sore feet when your trip is over or nearly over.

The one thing I would have added if I wrote the article is to wear shoes on the plane that are appropriate in case of emergency. Wearing high heels may look fashionable but would be inappropriate if you landed in the Hudson River and had to walk on the wet wing of the plane. The same for hiking boots - you would sink to the bottom is case of a water landing if you had heavy boots on. Taking them off is no answer either - in cold water or weather, you would risk frost-bite or hypothermia if only in bare feet or socks.

For that matter, wearing proper clothes is important too but not the subject of this article so I will forego any more 'preaching'. Follow the link to the article to see what advice he offers and you can thank me later!

Hotel Reviews: Who Reads and Who Writes

Many of you (OK, maybe SOME of you) know I write and comment on hotel issues most of the time. That is the reason for my being in fact. Even fewer of you know I wrote a book dedicated to Understanding Hotel Reviews. I have written posts about these topics from time to time and have even posted links to valuable articles or other posts I have discovered when I think they will be of value to you.

I am SO SURE you are all falling down with appreciation also that I post this little tidbit written by a REAL author. John Newton, once of Travel+Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler fame, wrote a short piece that I have included as a link here (if you want to see the whole article) but I condensed his research/knowledge and pass it along because I have a special prize for you who are reading my post. More on that below.

Research has varied on the topic of Hotel Reviews. In fact, I recall a big magazine suggesting that upwards of 2/3rds of all travelers read reviews. Some people have said it is 80%. His passed along research says only 20% do. What is of more interest to me is WHO writes them. I wrote in my book that people are more likely to complain than laud a hotel but in reading hundreds if not thousands, I do have to say there are far more positive responses than negative ones. So his sources are probably right. He notes:

• One in five travelers reports reading reviews before traveling; almost one in ten posts reviews after their trip.
• Travelers who post reviews tend to be more satisfied guests than those who do not and more likely to return to a hotel or resort.
• Luxury hotel and timeshare guests are more likely to post reviews than guests in other lodging categories; casino guests are the least likely to post about their stays.
• Older travelers are more likely to post reviews; younger travelers are more likely to read them.
• Travelers headed overseas read reviews more often than those traveling domestically. Nearly half of travelers headed to Mexico and other parts of Latin America reported reading online reviews before reserving a room.

Since age is not defined (who or what is young or old?) it may not matter but I would have suggested that YOUNGER readers who are more internet and Social Media savvy types would post more than older travelers. But again, the point is moot. I do know this - hotels (ours included) NEVER advises unsatisfied guests to go online and post a review but if they LOVE us, we will give them the name and internet address. It's just good business sense, so don't shoot the messenger!

How to Best Use Priceline and Hotwire

I've cautioned readers before about the dangers of making low-ball offers on sites like Priceline but it probably never hurts to remind people of what they are getting into. This topic was prompted by yet another Priceline report we recently received that shows us how many 'offers' and money we missed out on by NOT participating with them. I suppose this is their way of trying to drum up business - show all hotels what they missed out on.

I'll state again where I see a problem. Admittedly, it may not be a problem for some people but it will be for those who expect a decent hotel or motel room even though they make a low ball offer. Such as the fellow who called me weeks ago and offered me $30 for a room that has a 'sticker' price of $93. He added 'I see it on Priceline for $30' but of course he didn't know which hotel he was really seeing. And therein lies the rub.

The hotel he was seeing rents rooms for $39-44 per night EVERY NIGHT. They end up getting $25-29 net if booked thru a Third Party site like Expedia so getting $23 off a $30 'bid' is nothing out of the ordinary for them. But here are the exact last 5 review headlines for this hotel off of Tripadvisor: 1) "A Cheap Place to Stay", 2) "Price is the Overiding Reason to Stay", 3) "DO NOT STAY HERE", 4) "Worse Than Any Third World Hotel I've Been To", and 5) " I also do not recommend you stay here". Within these headlines, people wrote things like "THe bed and linens were dirty as was the shower stall and carpet", "Bed Bugs devoured my daughter, even though mattress appeared to have a waterproof cover.", " The advertised free internet was way too weak to use in the room. The TV, that I had to plug in, got 4 channels." and "What an unbelievable, decrepit, dump!".

Things You Don't Want To DO on an Airplane

Readers of this blog know by now that I converse regularly with airline personnel, especially pilots and flight attendants. And yes, occasionally we 'rant' about peoples' behaviors on an airplane or once they landed and arrive at their hotel. I recall years ago learning (I admit I did not know this) that attendants are NOT allowed to help passengers with their carry-ons because the carriers do not compensate them if they get injured on the job helping a passenger store their luggage! So not only could they end up on unpaid disability, they could eventually lose their job if they were unable to return to work.

Recently, an article on Yahoo caught my attention. It was titled "7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant". At first blush, it would have all the trappings of a flight attendant gripe session but as I read the article, it made sense to me that EVERYONE should read this because some of it is not stuff we might think about. Such as airplanes having diapers on board for parents who have run out or their being required to move people from or into roomier bulkhead rows due to FAA regulations. (Not in this article but since we are talking about diapers, F.A.s 'hate' passengers trying to hand them dirty diapers to dispose of. These are the same hands that serve your food and beverages! Would you want your attendant clutching a freshly soiled diaper to throw away and then hand you a cup of coffee? Not me!)

The reason I post this is NOT to provide a sounding board for flight attendant's gripes but because some of these points may have impact upon you. Such as passengers putting carry-ons in the FIRST compartments even though they are seated in the back. So in all honesty, I post them to help YOU when traveling so you can avoid these mistakes. Ignore them at you own peril!

The Dominican Republic - the New Costa Rica?

While I was researching travel spots in the Caribbean for the Ultimate Honeymoon book we recently released, I came upon something new - at least for me. The Dominican Republic as a valid destination locale. Long saddled with being the neighbor to Haiti, with all the baggage that goes along with that impoverished country, most people dismissed the Dominican Republic as a vacation place, thinking it was a sister country for Haiti. But D.R. has come a long ways and I was very surprised at the world class resorts I found for honeymooners. I was especially appreciative of the prices as well, since they cannot charge the high prices other islands get in the Caribbean until they get more established. This is why I am suggesting it might be the NEW Costa Rica.

You remember when C.R. was all the rage. EVERYONE wanted to go there, expenses were low and it had all the amenities a vacationer wanted; beaches, sophisticated cities, nice hotels, restaurants and resorts and did I mention it was inexpensive too? This is where the Dominican is right now and I suggest it is worth a look if you have been all around the Caribbean and need a new place to go.

One site (DR1.com) has ALL the information you would need to visit the Dominican Republic. Suggestions for golfers, nature lovers, family vacations, bargain hunters, windsurfers and even those in love with alpine mountains (at 10,125 feet, D.R. has the tallest mountain in the Caribbean) are offered on this site. The Dominican even has gambling and of course the real prize: cigars! While this site has a plethora of resorts and hotels to check out, none appear to have room rates available but my earlier research suggested downtown Santo Domingo hotels can run as low as $45 and outer resorts in very tropical locations are only $125.

For more sites will lots of financial information like flights and hotel rates, check out the following.

http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/

http://dominicanrepublic.com/index.php

http://gocaribbean.about.com/od/hotelsandresor2/tp/DRallinclusives.htm

http://www.wheretostay.com/caribbean/dominican_republic/lodging-c55-Dominican_Republic.html

Is Expedia's "Biggest Hotel Sale Ever" Really a Sale?

As usual when dealing with on line booking agents, it depends on certain parameters as to whether the 'sale' is really a sale. A New York Times blog apparently doesn't think it is much of a sale and they are SPONSORED by Expedia! So hat's off to NYT for being honest at least.

For starters, they pointed out that the "..up to 30% off" discount only applies when you book 3 nights or more. As a hotel worker for many years, I can guarantee you that less than 2% of our reservations/bookings are for 3 nights or more. In fact, 90% are for one night and maybe eight out of a hundred are for 2 nights and the rest more than 2 nights. So there is little risk to advertise a 30% off sale when few people want that option.

The Times also noted (as I have time and again) that rarely are the prices any lower than what you can get elsewhere, though the blogger noted that often it was CHEAPER than what the hotels own web sites offered. What they failed to mention is that the hotel probably honors any lower price you find on line - just as our hotel does - so there is little to fear about overpaying anyway.

In the end, when you consider that you have to PAY for the booking at time of booking (versus when you check out) and that canceling a 3rd party reservation is a hassle (I was on hold for Expedia last week for well over AN HOUR on a Saturday night) because you can't cancel it with the hotel, it is often easier and just as cheap to book directly. I won't go into the other half dozen reasons it is better to book directly than through a Third Party - I've offered those reasons time and again in blog posts.

So get out the hip boots and waders when you read "Biggest Hotel Sale Ever' when it comes from someone like Expedia or Hotels.com (which the NYT blogger didn't know was OWNED by Expedia!) because something is coming your way and it isn't much of a bargain.

Vacation Home Rentals: The Affordable Alternative to Hotels

Once again, as part of my research for the Ultimate Honeymoon on any Budget book we recently introduced, I investigated alternatives to staying in a hotel. We all know about B&B's, we know for certain vacations you can rent an RV and of course there is my personal favorite; camping. But shlepping an RV around Hawaii or a Caribbean island is not a pleasant thought nor is camping in a winter storm. You would love to have an apartment with a full kitchen but who is going to rent one out for only 5 days?

A not exactly new market emerged in the last few decades that has many travel sites all abuzz, especially when talking about places like Europe or Hawaii, where you are likely to be staying for 2-3 weeks: Vacation Home Rentals. In my personal research, I found numerous sites with available short or longer term apartments and homes in premier spots around the world. Some rent for very high prices - upwards of $10,000 per WEEK - but some were very affordable, such as $650 a week in Hawaii. What mostly dictates the price is of course the location (on a beach, near a major town, etc) and the size and amenities (3-4-5 BR's, with pools, on garden grounds, etc.

But before you consider something like this, read this article about Vacation Homes to see if the idea fits you and your needs. One considerable drawback is that is most places you have to clean the unit befor you leave and many vacationers do NOT want to clean a 5 BR house - that's what they are trying to get away from! So read the article and see if you are a home rental person in the making. If you then want to know some of the sites I found, simply comment here and provide your email address and I will find some suitable options for you. 

The Difference Between Travel Insurance and Travel Protection

I have been a proponent of purchasing travel insurance (under the right circumstances) since I started my blog. I have posted articles about scam insurers and consider it my duty to be a watchdog of sorts for you, my valued reader. I like to pass along advice about what 'protection' to purchase and from who (reputable insurers) so that my credibility is strong. So I admit that I was unaware until I read this article recently that there is a difference between the word protection and insurance in the travel insurance arena.

The premise for the article was a person who took a cruise and had signed up for what she thought was travel insurance in case she got sick on board. Sure enough she did and the doctor/sick bay on the cruise charged her $675 for attention and medications. (Another thing I learned! It COSTS to go to the shipboard doctor!). She came home, filed an insurance claim and here is where the story really deteriorates.

What she (and I and perhaps few of us know) was that she had signed up with a fly by night company that was NOT an insurance company. What they were providing was travel protection and while the output should be somewhat the same, the problem is 'protection' is not regulated like insurance is so if the company refuses to pay, you are pretty much out of luck!

You can read the ending for yourself but it reminds us to be aware of certain things when looking for travel insurance. 1) Deal with regulated, well-known insurers who have been in the business. Like American Express or AIG. 2) Read the fine print and make sure they are selling insurance and not protection. 3) Realize you are going to be reimbursed at some point and are not purchasing health insurance where 'they' are going to "bill the insurer" for you! You will HAVE to pay up front and if you had an accident in Europe say, it could cost thousands out of your pocket until you were reimbursed.

Finally, unless you have health insurance that covers you, keep in mind that travel insurance isn't just for lost bags and cancelled flights - something as simple as picking up a virus on a cruise and visiting the cruise lines sick bay can and will cost you just like seeing a doctor in their office. So if you think "I won't get ill onboard and even if i do, they'll take care of me", that is not true. You may be in the prime of your life but visiting strange new places and eating on the street in an exotic locale is a recipe for a tummy ache and anything more serious could cost hundreds of dollars. So spend the extra few $ to get coverage for such illnesses and rest easier on your trip.

Travel Tip: New Travel Rules Means New Documents

On June 1, 2009 new regulations regarding travel documents will become law. In a nutshell, travel ANYWHERE outside the U.S. will require a passport and no longer will a driver's license suffice to go into or get out of Canada. Most people are already aware of this. But did you know you may be able to get by without getting a passport?

According to an article in Newsday, there are more ways to travel out of the U.S. without a passport than I was aware of. For instance, there is a Passport light, called a passport card. Costing less than half what a passport costs, this card can be used to gain entrance into Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada and lasts just as long as a passport - 10 years. The drawback is it is only for land or sea entry - not flying. (How do you 'drive' to St Thomas?)

Certain border states (like New York) can issue an 'enhanced' drivers license also. Which allows for driving entry into Canada and Mexico but of course not air travel. Also not valid in all Caribbean nations so you would need to check specific countries for applicability.

There is also something called a Nexus card for pre-screened customers. Drawbacks include extensive paperwork, interviews and fingerprinting and is valid for only 5 years. One advantage is that there are now some entry lanes into Canada that are 'Nexus' priority lanes. However, every person in the car needs to have a Nexus card, not just the driver.

You can read the details plus gain more information by reading the Newsday article and its subsequent links. Being informed is half the battle. The other half is being prepared.

Do You Check Megan's List When Booking Hotels?

After seeing this news video from San Francisco, you may just start!

Seems that some hotels and motels in California (and maybe other states?) house released sex offenders by contract with California. Only they certainly don't tell you. If I was staying at a hotel where my kids might likely be walking around or visiting the pool, I would certainly be interested in knowing there was a registered sex offender in room 107. In the case of the hotel in this news clip, there were 8 offenders living there!

As a traveling business person, I may not care. But if I was visiting with my family, it would make ALL the difference as to whether I stayed there or not. One thing that might be a warning flag for you is if the motel is one of the cheaper ones around, or allows for long term guests. (Our hotel will not allow anyone to stay past 30 days) Because the stipend from the state is so small, these released offenders living off general assistance will ALWAYS gravitate toward the cheap hotels.

As one who has commented often about the pitfalls of staying where you find ridiculously low rates, this is just one more reason to be aware of what you might be getting into. The hotel in this news clip has rooms listed on the web for as low as $39 per night - pretty cheap for such an expensive area as San Francisco.