Search Results for: blog travel tips hotels unwanted guests

Being Nice Pays Off When Traveling

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 →

Dealing With Noisy Hotel Guests

How do you deal with unruly guests at a hotel? A. Contact the front desk staff and have them handle it B. Pound on the wall separating your room from the offender’s C. Knock on the loud guest’s door and politely ask them to keep it down D. Hail a “sleep warden” and have them kick out the belligerent guest If you are vacationing at select hotels in the United Kingdom, answer “D” is an actual option. “Sleep wardens” are all the rage at Travelodge properties in Europe. The specially trained staff members patrol the hotels’ halls making sure that … Continue reading →

Cheap Hotels Get New Look

The last time I stayed at an economy hotel I was greeted with tissue paper-thin sheets that nearly ripped each time I turned over in bed, stained carpet and missing light fixtures. Still, I didn’t make a fuss because you get what you pay for, right? Maybe not. According to a new report, several budget hotel chains are getting a makeover that would impress even the pickiest travelers. For example, the new look of Motel 6 includes platform beds with crisp white sheets and taupe coverlets; 32-inch flat-screen TVs; modern furnishings that maximize space and hip wall decorations. Ditto for … Continue reading →

Calling all Travelers: Prepare for Fewer Phone Books

How many times did you use the phone book during your last hotel stay? Lodging owners say not enough to make it worth keeping them around. Some major hotel chains are giving bulky telephone directories the boot from guest rooms. Earlier this week Omni Hotels announced plans to eliminate phone books from its 45 hotels. “We found that that no one uses them anymore,” a hotel spokesperson said. “They just collect dust and take up drawer space.” What’s more, the hotel points out, they aren’t good for the environment. Omni execs say they plan to recycle more than 30,000 phone … Continue reading →

Unwanted Passengers Delay Flight

Remember the blog I wrote detailing my daughter’s alleged mouse sighting during our flight to Hawaii earlier this year? That post also contained information about an actual mouse sighting made by flight attendants on a plane bound from Des Moines, Iowa to Atlanta, Georgia. Well, critters have struck again. Not Mickey and friends; rather some smaller but equally unwanted pests—ticks! And take note: The bloodsuckers were found on a United Airlines flight from Denver to… you guessed it… Des Moines. According to United officials, the wayward bugs delayed Flight 1178 for nearly six hours on Tuesday after a passenger informed … Continue reading →

Economy Hotels Getting Upgrades

Personally, as long as a hotel is not infested with roaches or bed bugs and is clean then I don’t have a problem staying in it. And with the recent news that bed bugs have been found in even the most luxurious 5-star properties it kind of makes you wonder what you’re doling out the extra cash for these days. If your risk for getting bit by bugs is the same in a room that cost $500 per night versus one that costs $50 per night, sign me up for the latter. And speaking of $50 hotel rooms, budget properties … Continue reading →

Friday the 13th and Travel

I happen to be related to a grown man who wouldn’t travel on Friday the 13th to save his life. No trains, no planes… okay, I guess he has been known to drive in an automobile on what is known around the world as an evil day. But even so I know he limits his driving to only absolutely essential destinations. What about you? Are you afraid to leave your home on Friday the 13th? Would you fly on a Friday the 13th or stay on the 13th floor of a hotel on Friday the 13th? Many people wouldn’t. So … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Disney Delivers

The other day I wrote about the incredible service some lodgings around the world offer their guests. Recently, a hotel staffer in Washington, D.C. went above and beyond the call of duty to help a beleaguered guest retrieve his lost laptop from a city cab. And if you thought that story was incredible then you will truly appreciate what employees at a Disney resort recently did for guests there. Two weeks ago a couple from Massachusetts checked into Disney’s Wilderness Lodge resort in Florida. They and their two children had a magical time during their stay and were sad to … Continue reading →

Hotels Going the Extra Mile

Personally, I don’t ever have a problem falling asleep-—no matter what time zone I am in. However, some travelers (especially those who have no hint of narcolepsy) struggle with falling asleep especially when they are in foreign lands. Hoteliers are well aware of this problem and some are now coming to the aid of their guests by offering unique sleep services. Take for example Hyatt’s new Andaz Liverpool Street location in London. For the next two weeks the lodging will host the world’s first “Hotel Reader in Residence.” Need a bedtime story to lull you to sleep? Writer Damian Barr … Continue reading →

Sleek and Sexy Hotels—-Any Takers?

Travelers used to Marriott Courtyard’s overstuffed leather chairs, matronly drapes, and gigantic granite fronts desks are in for a real shock. The hotel chain, which caters to business travelers, is about to undergo a major makeover in an effort to lure younger, hipper guests. Say goodbye to the heavy draped dark lobbies and hello to open and airy spaces dotted with sleek, contemporary furniture, including furniture upholstered in soft fabrics featuring vibrant colors; marble-topped tables; real hardwood flooring; colored Italian glass pendant lamps; and a Starbucks-like counter that doubles as a lively cocktail bar, according to hotel executives. The massive … Continue reading →