« June 2006 | Main | August 2006 »
Amusement Park Savings
July 25, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A great stop for a family vacation is always one of the amusement parks that dot the country. There are rides for everyone and plenty to do. Sometimes the price of admission for a whole family can get a bit expensive, but now you can keep costs low by saving on a nearby hotel. Check out the latest post on Extended Stay Hotels’ Suite Savings blog for more information.
Family Trips
July 24, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A family vacation can be one of the great highlights of the summer. It can be a time of family bonding and a shared adventure. It can also be a time of a little too much time in confined quarters, going from piling in the car to sharing a small hotel room. A recent article in the Daily Herald notes how Extended Stay Hotels can make your stay a little more family-friendly:
"I don't care if you're the Cleavers or the Cunninghams, four or five to a teeny hotel room will turn you into the Osbournes in a %$#*&! minute. Extended Stay Hotels' 675 owned and operated properties nationwide not only provide value-priced lodging all summer long, but also fully equipped in-room kitchens, wireless Internet and 24-hour guest-laundry facilities - perfect for traveling families. All Extended Stay Hotels allow pets and many of the properties feature fresh new decor and homey furnishings."
And what is the cost for this bit of peace and space during a family vacation? The article goes on to note that, "If you travel to the nation's capital, rooms in Washington, D.C., start at $89.99, or explore Alcatraz Island and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco where rooms begin at $79.99." Now that’s a deal.
Airport Delays
July 21, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Every once in a while, we’ll get an email talking about an interesting site that we should share on the blog. Well, the other day we were told about one that is a pretty cool site that may be a good tool for scheduling and catching flights with as little hassle as possible. AvoidDelays.com has information like the most delayed flights, airports, and times of day. For instance, US Airways has a flight from Philadelphia to Atlanta that is delayed 100% of the time! It also has information on what airports are currently experiencing delays, which would be useful to check before you fly. Anyway, we thought it would be a good resource to pass along to you road warriors.
Budget Travel
July 19, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
According to our latest poll about the effect of rising oil costs on summer travel, 29% of the responses were that you would go about your summer travel regardless of what gas prices do. But if you're paying more for gas, it may make sense to cut down in other areas.
For instance, with Extended Stay Hotels, you can cut some of the expensive restaurant bills usually incurred on the road by stopping at a grocery store and cooking in the kitchen located in every suite. You can save some money by staying in more moderately-priced hotels than you normally do or staying a bit outside of city destinations and driving or taking public transportation in for site-seeing.
Also, there are great festivals and events across the country during the summer that are free or have a nominal charge. This can offer lots of entertainment for the whole family that won’t break the bank. So regardless of the gas prices, enjoy your well-earned summer vacation.
New Orleans Travel Report
July 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Although much of the traditional New Orleans haunts have been open for a while now, it is still an uphill battle to attract tourists and conventions back to the area, according to the Times-Picayune. The Essence Festival was moved to Houston for this year and summer convention bookings for have been dwindling. Businesses recently opened may be closing due to lack of visitors. However, there is a light at the end of this tourism tunnel. The American Library Association just held a conference in the Big Easy that went decidedly smoothly and proved the city was once again up and running to some degree. So it may actually be a great time to snag some conference space at a discount.
Atlantic City Update
July 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
After a three-day hiatus, the New Jersey budget has been approved. Government officials are back to work and this means that the casinos are once again open. Hopefully your plans were not affected by this unexpected shutdown.
Summer Vacation Trends
July 7, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
This July Fourth was as big a travel weekend as many had anticipated across the US. Despite high gas prices, travelers aiming to make use of the long weekend packed up and headed out. And as we head out of the holiday weekend, what does the travel scene look like for the rest of the summer?
According to a recent Reuters article, US planes will be flying with more passengers than usual this summer. Airlines have been cutting down on flight schedules in order to minimize empty seats, so if you are traveling by plane, you may have some extra companions. This has been a continuing trend on many airlines as they continue to try to cut costs.
As far as car travel, there have been varying reports, but it looks like there will still be many out on the road. So keep an eye out for increased traffic and book your hotel rooms early. You will not be the only guest arriving to check-in this summer.
Atlantic City Casinos Shut Down
July 6, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Currently, if Atlantic City is in the cards, you may want to consider going elsewhere. Due to a budget crisis, state officials are not at work, meaning that these casinos lack the state inspectors required to stay open. While there are other reasons to head out to this boardwalk, if the casino floor is your destination you may be out of luck, at least for the near future. We'll keep you posted.
Hotel Complaint Registration
July 6, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Mail Bag Post #2
Nicolas Writes:
Recently I stayed at a hotel (3 star, long stay) which, to say the least, was disappointing experience. There were several faults with the condition of the room, and I reported them (in writing) to the front desk staff for correction. Only some of the faults were corrected.
I would like to know if there are any resources/articles indicating the best options on how to deal with this scenario? What do other travelers do to handle this type of situation?
Well, the best course of action is to follow a hotel concern up the ladder when needed. Here are some basic steps to help you be heard and effectively fix an unsatisfactory experience:
To register a complaint:
1) Speak directly with the hotel staff at the location where you are staying. Each staff member should be able to address all concerns brought to their attention and attempt to resolve each concern. If you are not able to get resolution from a staff member, ask to speak to the hotel's manager.
2) If you are unable to reach a resolution with the local hotel management, ask to speak to that manager's supervisor. There are often regional managers to whom the local hotel general managers report.
3) If there is still no satisfactory resolution, go online to that company's website as each generally has a section where you can write the chain with your complaint.
4) If still no resolution, contact the toll-free number for that chain as most can direct you to the Customer Service or Complaint Department to have a person help answer questions or address concerns. In addition, this department often escalates such concerns to the corporate office Customer Service staff.
5) Another way to request assistance with concerns is to write to the corporation's corporate office, with attention to the Manager of Customer Service. Most organizations have a Guest Relations or Issues Department that can assist.
6) Finally, if you are offered the opportunity to complete a survey for that organization we recommend you take the survey as the feedback is given directly to the organization and hotel. Most surveys are used to rank the hotel on service, problem and resolution of issues. This is a great way to provide feedback.
Thanks for the question and I hope this helps!
