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Transit Strike
December 21, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Welcome to the MTA transit strike, 2005. If you're heading into New York, you may want to take some extra time to plan your route. Subways and buses are not working and taxis are overloaded with passengers trying to get around the city. Many simply walked to work this morning and, those who could, simply stayed at home. There are already court battles being waged and deals being discussed to try to end this strike and with mayor Bloomberg predicting that it will cost the city's economy as much as $400 million a day, this is good news for New York.
In the meantime, you should plan on having to walk to your NYC destinations. You can try to get lodging that is closer to where you need to be. Not having to walk far or wait for a cab may easily be worth the added expense. Better yet, try going further away, to areas like New Jersey or Connecticut; While this may seem counterintuitive, Metro North and NJ Transit are not on strike. So being near a train station can get you into the heart of the city, either Penn Station or Grand Central Station, and then you can get to your destination from there. It's amazing that staying further away can get you closer to your destination, but in this case, it's true. Plus, Extended Stay Hotels has some great tri-state area locations.
If possible, see if perhaps New York can be a destination for another time. If it's shopping you're after, then perhaps you can visit other metropolitan areas such as Boston or Philly. If you are coming into town for a meeting, you may not be able to avoid it. If you can, a conference call may be a good alternative. An added bonus is that taking out an additional trip can lower your holiday season stress level and travel woes.
This strike is poor timed, but hopefully your pre-holiday plans will not be affected too much. Hopefully things will settle down soon. We'll keep you updated.
FEMA Hotel Plan
December 13, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hurricane Katrina victims will have an additional reprise, promises a Federal judge in a recent ruling. The deadline for FEMA funding for evacuees in hotels has been extended until February 7. This extension will ensure that FEMA can process all the pending applications for housing and aid. The holiday season is looking a little brighter for those displaced by Katrina.
For more details on this update, please visit the FEMA website.
Gadgets as Gifts
December 6, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Nothing brightens the holiday season like a hot new tech toy. And when you're on the road, those little electronics will make all the difference. So here is a poll to find out what's at the top of the Road Warrior's Gadget Wish List. Which of these sleek new devices tempts you the most this year?
| Blackberry 8700 – ($300) Access up to 10 email accounts, view attachments and a full QWERTY keyboard make this new Blackberry as usable as your laptop. | |
| TomTom GO 700 GPS – ($899) GPS direction capabilities and the option of Bluetooth wireless makes this car device a must-have for the road warrior. | |
| PSP – ($250) All work and no play makes the road a dull place. Have some portable fun with Sony's PSP, their new hand-held game system. | |
| Sirius – (Year subscription starts at $156) Get the music you want all the time without the channel surfing. Sirius satellite radio makes the road less weary with over 120 stations. | |
| Are you kidding? I want them all! |
Holiday Discount
December 6, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Whether you're traveling for the holidays or for business this month, Extended Stay Hotels is offering a holiday promotion that's worth checking out. You can save on a hotel stay between now and the end of the year, with $50 off a single stay of 5 or more nights OR $15 off of a single stay of 1-4 nights. Just think, if you spend less on the hotel, you can splurge on the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
We'll be sure to keep you updated on these opportunities, but if you want to hear more about these kinds of promotions, sign up for Extended Stay Hotels' email newsletter.
