Travel Tips

Six Tips For Avoiding Hidden Hotel Fees

The revenue hotels earn from telephone calls, internet fees, fitness centers, the business center and other charges have tripled over the years. Recently an investigation conducted regarding four Wyndham establishments by Florida’s attorney general led to a settlement of $2.3 million and a new requirement that all hotel fees be disclosed straight up. Wyndham has agreed to now make this part of their system across the country. The rest of the hotels however, could be slow on the uptake, so here are a few tips to avoid hidden fees at hotels:

Avoid top business hotels. These hotels cater exclusively to business travelers and are quite intent on helping them on spending their per diem.
Choose hotels that are against hidden fees. Take for example Omni and Kimpton who now have free Wi-Fi in the lobby.

If you are booking a hotel online, do it directly on the hotel sites. If you find a great deal online, it would be best if you compare the rates on the third party website with the hotel website.

It is always wiser to ask the hotel to prepare your bill the night before you check out. This way you have time to scrutinize the bill and check on charges you were unaware of, etc. If you get caught up in the rush at the time of checking out, chances are, you would not go into the details of the bill and then, hidden charges will go unnoticed.

Do not be ashamed to haggle. If you are a frequent guest or a member of a loyalty club, feel free to ask for a daily ‘best’ rate on phone calls and other services.

The obvious must never be overlooked. Always ask if there is a service charge before tipping, bring in your own bottled water so you do not have to use the mini bar and so on and so forth.

Selecting a Virtual Travel Specialist

Travel specialists are usually sought when you are planning a trip. Nowadays, they are just a thing of the past. Instead, your travel specialist is now the World Wide Web.

Here are a few tips on how you can select the best options:

Websites – When looking at websites online, take a look at how the website is designed and its content. A travel website should include all the necessary information which is current and covers everything you need. The website should include the basic contact details of the travel specialist, and it should not be hard to find. Other details that should be included on the website are maps, cost of the trip and directions.

Visible track record – Perhaps you have already found a great website, but you need to ascertain if the travel specialist is a good one. And this unfortunately is easier said than done. Here are the factors you need to assess: the travel specialist should be listed on the tourist board lists and other related industry association lists; read up client testimonials and other references.

Knowledge and experience – Ascertain how knowledgeable the travel specialist is regarding the destination you wish to visit. It is also important that the travel specialist is one who is well experienced and not a newbie in the field.

Location – Find out if the travel specialist is located in the country you are travelling to. If not, you need to ask him to put you in touch with someone there, in case you need certain changes done on your itinerary.

Client service – The travel specialist should be reached easily when required. If not, then it is time you found a new one.

Tips for Vacationing on a Budget

Traveling is a great way to see the world, but with the rising cost of living, traveling on a budget now seems to be a prerequisite.

If you are on a low cost trip, the first thing you should do is to establish a budget for yourself. Once you have established an amount, then it is easier for you to decide how much you can afford to spend on other factors such as hotel, traveling and food etc. Once you have decided how much you are spending on each of these things, then you need to look around for the best deals in town.

When putting together a budget, first decide what is most important for you on the trip. In this manner, prioritize each item on your list. This could vary per traveler. Some would consider staying in top hotels a priority, while others would rather spend on good food.

The easiest deals to find are discounted rates on entrance tickets to museums, amusement parks and other such attractions. Start looking on the internet. You are sure to dig up one deal or the other, be it either free admission for kids or special discounted hours and sometimes even discounts on bed and breakfast.

If you are a senior citizen or in the military, then, there are heaps of discounts available for you. Just ensure that you do the necessary research to find out what you are entitled to.

If you are driving your car on this trip, you have to ensure that your fuel consumption is under control, and thus, it is important that you find the best route possible.

Regardless of whether or not your trip is a budget trip, you are sure to have fun. Enjoy!

How to Get the Best Seat In Coach

Selecting your seat on an airline is not as easy as it used to be. Now, most airlines have started charging for seating preferences. Here are a few tips on how to get the best seat without paying anything:

Fly during the off peak season – during this time, you are sure to get a good seat. Even if you do not, there is always a good chance that you can switch seats.

Take advantage of frequent flyer privileges – if you are one of those who is a frequent flyer, do not hesitate to check if you are entitled to good seats.

Sit at the back – this way, you can be assured that you most likely will have an empty seat by your side. The best options to choose are the ones at the back which are seats located by the aisle or even a window seat.

Online check-in – if you check-in online you might be able to get that seat you want. It is worth a try.

Early bookings – the earlier you book, the better chance you have at reserving the seats you want. Most airlines allow bookings to be made as early as 11 months prior to the flight date.

Seat configuration – ensure that you find out what kind of aircraft you will be flying. This will tell you what the seats are like. For instance, the Boeing 757 has a single centre aisle and six-seat rows on either side; in which case, you would need to ensure that you either book a window
seat or one by the aisle.

Do not hesitate to ask – if the seat assigned to you seems awful, do not hesitate to request for a better seat. If you check-in early enough, the chances are that your request will be honored.

For more tips on traveling visit Hotel Traveler Reviews. It offers hotel and travel reviews from vacations spots around the world.

Affordable Disney Vacations

Disney vacations are awesome, but they can be expensive. Here are a few ideas that might help you get that Disney vacation, but at a lower cost.

Annual Pass – every single Disneyland has an annual pass, which lets you frequent the park a number of times per year. This advance payment you make initially ensures that you do not need to keep making payments to enter the park. The annual pass cost is also comparatively lower to what you would have to pay for a normal ticket. In order to make this purchase profitable, you need to visit Disneyland at least three to four times during that year. If you do not plan to do so, then purchasing the annual pass would be an absolute loss.

Park tickets – One fact that most people do not know about Disneyland is that multiple tickets must be purchased if each theme park is to be visited. In this case, you will end up spending a lot more than anticipated. Instead, buy one ticket that will gain you admission to every single theme park at Disneyland. These tickets can either be purchased online or at the main ticket counter there.

Disney Rewards card – This Visa card will give you points for every time you visit Disneyland and whenever you buy something using it. The reward points you collect can be availed the next time you visit Disneyland – and can be set off against the ticket purchases you make. Having the Disney Visa card also means you will get a lot of free stuff which could include anything from merchandise to free visits and a lot more.

Steer clear of peak seasons – If you visit Disneyland during an off peak season, then the tickets are priced much lower. This is ideal, especially if you are taking your entire family. This will also mean a lesser crowd, which means that you can enjoy Disneyland much better.

Packing Tips

Some people will pack for a fortnight even if it is for a three-day weekend, while others just pack the bare essentials, and in most cases end up forgetting important stuff like medicine. To be well versed in traveler knowhow, follow these tips:

How to pack
If you usually pack your clothes by folding them like you do when you put them away in your cupboard, then it is a pointless task as it is bound to get crushed anyways. Here are a few other ways to get it right.

Roll them – This is a simple step. For a t-shirt, lay it down, fold the sleeves and then roll it up. You can do the same with pants and skirts.

Fold everything together – By rolling a few things together, you provide some kind of cushioning for each item of clothing, which means the likelihood of them being crushed is low.

Tissue paper – If you need to pack delicate and expensive clothes, then perhaps tissue paper might be a good idea. Put a piece of tissue on the item of clothing and then fold it up. Adding this layer of tissue paper will keep your good clothes crease-free.

Travelling by air
Put all your gel and liquid items in your main luggage. If you must carry some of them, ensure that they are 3 oz or less, and put them into a clear, zip lock bag – otherwise it is likely it could get confiscated by airport security personnel.
Ensure you know how many bags you are allowed to carry, their weight and size.

Stuffing your bag will lead to further difficulties when chosen for closer inspection. This could mean more creases and even lost items.

Where to Shop in Bangkok

In Bangkok, finding places to shop is never a problem. It is a good idea though to know where to shop and what prices to expect. If you check out the shopping centers at hotels, be warned that they are mainly for foreigners and are thus fairly expensive. Instead, try the outdoor markets. They are the cheaper options, especially if you like bargaining.

Supermarkets are far more clean and hygienic, and obviously are of a better standard than the outdoor food markets. This is useful to know, especially if you are uncomfortable buying your food from vendors in the outdoor markets.

Shopping
Rama I, Ploenchit and the Ratchadamri road as well as the Siam Square area are the more fashionable areas to shop in and is home to a number of big shopping centers like the 8 storey World Trade, Tokyu Department Store, Bangkok’s biggest department store chain Central Chidlom Department Store, Sogo, Peninsula Plaza and many more.

Siam Square is not even a square, but a huge shopping area. This area is quite popular for its clothes shops, which teenagers frequent quite a bit. The Square also has internet cafes, fast food restaurants and book shops.

Silom, Surawong and Rama IV road – Visit the Patpong night market which is a tourist favorite, but tends to be a bit overpriced and awfully crowded. Good deals only come about by hard bargaining. Narai, Dusit Thani and Montien are all bigger hotels that have their own shopping centers but as mentioned earlier, they are overly expensive. The Silom Complex Department Store is located here and so is Robinson’s Department Store and the Thaniya Plaza shopping centre.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest castle in the world that is inhabited. It is one of the many official abodes of Her Majesty the Queen and has almost a millennium worth of history dating back to the time of William the Conqueror. Spanning 26 acres, apart from the Royal Palace, the space holds a chapel as well amongst other things.

Windsor Castle has been used for various purposes by royalty over time: as an official palace, a garrison fortress, their home and sometimes as their prison. During times of peace, the castle was improved with the addition of many grand apartments, while heavy fortification was utilized during times of war.

The State Apartments, magnificent as they are, have on display the very finest works of art straight from the Royal Collection. They include paintings done by some of the most famous painters in the world, ranging from Gainsborough to Rubens to Rembrandt to Canaletto.

A fire in 1992 damaged over one hundred rooms at Windsor Castle, fortunately the ones in the worst shape were empty and thus only a handful of the treasured works of art of the Royal Collection were destroyed in the fire. The restoration work, which was finished in 1997 has been praised highly and was carried out by some of the best in Europe.

The private apartments of King George IV can be viewed between October and March and is one of the best decorated apartments in the castle.

The chapel at the Windsor Castle, St. George’s Chapel, features the best in Gothic architecture in the country and contains the tombs of ten sovereigns, which include Charles I, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, his third wife.

Sightseeing in Greece

Greece, located in the south of Europe is a grand fusion of civilizations, cultures and legends. The history is rich and the attractions overwhelming. Here are some of the top spots you should visit:

The Acropolis and the Parthenon – This is one of the must-visit places in Greece. If not, your trip will just not be complete. Acropolis, the extension of a rock has the Parthenon on its peak, which is the sacred temple of Athena. The best time to visit is during the early morning hours or evening – just to ensure that you avoid the rush of the crowd. Do not bother with the sound and light show, it is supposed to be quite corny!

The National Archaeological Museum – Museums are not for everyone, but still risk a visit here. It will be worth it. The displays are endless and all mind-boggling. Walk amongst ancient statues of gods and goddesses, with a red background reminding you that the walls of Greece remained that way regardless of rain or shine.

Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon – Going here might be a bit out of the way, but it is worth it. This temple on a cliff top overlooking the Aegean Sea is above all poetic and breathtaking. A visit in the early morning is beautiful and will also mean that it will be not as crowded as it is during sunset.

The Island of Santorini (Thira, Fira) – Make sure you get here by sea, as the beauty you will see as you slowly approach the island is not one that can be missed out on. The island is rich with legends of Atlantis, a legacy of a living volcano, eerie stories of vampires and great wine. If visiting Akrotiri which is a city ‘once buried’, you should go fairly early in the day, as the heat otherwise is unbearable. Staying at the hotels carved into the cliff is an experience not quite like any other, but if you suffer from vertigo, then this might not be a wise option.

Restaurants to Visit in London

Traditional British Food
It is obvious that London offers several choices to sample traditional British food. Here are the top three restaurants that offer the very best in fresh, local, English grub.

Simpson’s-in-the-Strand -This restaurant belongs to the Savoy Hotel. If you love meat or fish, then this is the place to be. Well known for good old British food since 1828, Simpson’s also gives you that feel of an era past, with its stunning interior.

Porters English Restaurant – One of the most popular restaurants amongst tourists, Porters has on offer everything from cod and chips to pies and fabulous roast beef.

Notting Grill – Meat, meat, meat – that is what Notting Grill is all about. It is owned by Anthony Worrell-Thompson who is a well-known chef and a TV celebrity as well. If you plan to go there, remember, advance bookings are a must.

Afternoon Tea
Do you fancy scones topped with cream and jam, tiny cucumber sandwiches and fairy cakes along with a cup of tea? Britain is all about having afternoon teas – and here are some of the best places to go:

Posh Afternoon Teas in London
If you feel like dressing up and having a posh afternoon tea, then here is where you should go:

The Ritz – It is probably the most famous place to have a swanky afternoon British tea. You must book early as the place is very much in demand.

The Connaught – The Espelette restaurant at the Connaught Hotel is lovely and gives you a wonderful view of Mayfair. The fabulous menu is quite vast serving everything from scones, cakes, sandwiches and pastries.

Cultural Afternoon Teas in London
Another more fulfilling way to have a typical British afternoon tea is to have it while you visit some of the top exhibits in London. Quite a few galleries and museums serve a super afternoon British tea.

British Museum – Overlooking the 19th century Reading Room, the menu for afternoon tea has not only traditional scones, sandwiches and pastries but also Champagne Tea and Viennese Tea with coffee. Yum!

The Orangery at Kensington Palace – Once you have treated yourself to a leisurely stroll through the picturesque Kensington Gardens, the afternoon tea includes fresh strawberries with double cream. And if you thought that was a treat, you will also be served Tregothnan English Tea and a glass of English Pinot Noir.

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