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Portable DVD Players

July 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ostensibly, the next airline cutback is plane-provided movie watching.  In fact, US Airways has announced that it will be removing the movie system from their domestic planes.  However, there is an upside:  Now you have an excuse to buy a portable DVD player so that you can watch movies on the plane.  Here are some of the top DVD player choices:

  • Topping a recent CNET review list, the Sony DVP-FX820 has superior resolution and a long battery life.
  • To avoid adding extra weight onto your carry-on luggage, consider—at just 1.3 pounds—the Sharp DV-L70U.
  • For a quality portable DVD player that won’t break the bank, try the Polaroid DPA-07046P. Available at Overstock for under $100 (note: price may change).

Alternately, if it plays movies, your laptop can double as your in-flight entertainment.  Regardless of how you choose to spend your in-air hours, keep in mind that the airline may no longer be providing any options for entertainment.

August Vacation

July 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Summer concerts and festivals are taking place across the country. Summer blockbusters are being shown on larger-than-life IMAX screens. Go out and see what's going on this weekend! To help you plan your trip, here are some of Extended Stay Hotels' best last minute deals, featuring popular cities across the country.

* Orange County, CA
* Miami, FL
* Chicago, IL
* Philadelphia, PA
* Washington, DC Area

We look forward to your stay with us and providing you SuiteSavings rates every weekend!

Compare Airfare

July 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In the case that you don’t collect frequent flier miles for a specific airline, it’s likely that you just search for the lowest cost of the flight you need. This practice worked well when airlines would more or less offer the same services;  now, with some airlines charging extra for baggage and food, you might be unable to tell what the final cost will be .  While the flight you selected may have the lowest ticket cost, the airline may tack on extra fees, instead making it more expensive than the other options.

So how can you ensure that, when you’re booking your flight, it’s the final payment you make?  A number of travel websites, such as SeatGuru.com, have conspired to put together a chart of additional expenses on each airline.  The chart lists expenses such as the cost of in-flight food and any ticket change or oversized bag fees.  By going through the list—and tacking on the prices for amenities you would like to make use of—you can get a good idea of what the final tally will be; and consider that you may be able to circumvent some of these fees.  In addition—if you’re booking online—be sure to click through and see the taxes, fuel surcharge, and other collateral fees. Once all these surcharges are accounted for, you stand a better chance of getting the best deal.

Airline Vouchers

July 24, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Flight cancellations sometimes mean obtaining an airline voucher, which in turn can be redeemed on a future flight.  Once you have this voucher, how can you go about exchanging it and what are the pitfalls you may run into?  Getting that voucher may be hard, but using it seems to be even more difficult.

MSNBC recently had an article citing how each airline treats vouchers.  The best seems to be JetBlue and Southwest—their “paperless” policy and online booking systems apply to trips credited to you, which means rebooking a ticket is as easy as it was to book in the first place.

So the next time you are offered a voucher for being bumped from a flight—or are given one as compensation for a cancelled flight—consider who is giving it to you and how feasible it is to trade.  It could be a great deal, or yet another airline headache.

Weekend Getaway

July 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We're coming to the end of July and the sun is blazing. It's a great time to leave the house and hit the road. Choose a breezy seaside destination or a beautiful locale with a pool. A weekend getaway will leave you feeling refreshed for the week ahead.

* Sacramento, CA
* Tampa, FL
* Louisville, KY
* Memphis, TN
* Salt Lake City, UT

We look forward to your stay with us and providing you SuiteSavings rates every weekend!

Laptop Safety

July 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

How safe is your laptop when you’re traveling?  It may not be quite as safe as you think, especially if you frequently take it out because you have to put it on the airport security conveyor belt.  PC World notes, “Close to 10,278 laptops are reported lost every week at 36 of the largest U.S. airports, and 65 percent of those laptops are not reclaimed.”  That’s a lot of laptops vanishing on a regular basis!  With all the confusion of getting your stuff back and putting your shoes back on, it may not be that surprising that your laptop might not make it back into your bag.  Instead of being just one more thing to worry about when headed to the airport, there are a few things you can do to make your computer more secure.

  • Keep your laptop in sight – This tip might be obvious but it is hard to overstate how important awareness is.  When your laptop comes through the metal detector, take it, put it in your bag, and put your bag on your shoulder.  Deal with your shoes later.
  • Make use of security measures – Dell just announced a service to help track and recover lost laptops, and ThinkPad has a LoJack tracking device.  Given the widespread problem, other computer manufacturers are likely to follow suit. Should anything happen, register your laptop and use programs like these to aid in recovery.
  • Identify your laptop – Choose an understated laptop bag and put a unique sticker or other identifier on it.  A simple bag will be less appealing to thieves and the unusual marker will make it easier to notice your bag on someone else’s shoulder.

It can be easy to lose track of everything you’re carrying when you’re traveling and tired, but a few easy steps could make your laptop less prone to theft.

Best Morning Coffee

July 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

One thing many road warriors want to have before starting out on a busy day is a cup of coffee.  However, traveling takes you away from your own pantry, where you may stash your favorite brand of coffee grounds or beans.  So where do you get your coffee when you’re on the road?  Do you bring your own beans, find your favorite chain coffee store, or hunt out a favorite local coffee shop? 

Extended Stay Hotels has a coffee maker in every suite, making it easy to make your own coffee first thing in the morning, saving you the trip to the coffee shop; you can also stash a frappuccino or two in the fridge.  If you would rather someone make your coffee for you, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have many choices of coffee flavors as well as cold coffee drinks for the summer.  Finally, by finding that hole-in-the-wall local place you can be rewarded with the best coffee in the area.  However, it may take some hunting to scout out that perfect morning stop.

Most of the coffee chain places have store locators online and there is also a Caffeine Finder application available for your Blackberry. If you prefer to brew your own, don’t forget to pack a travel coffee mug.

July Hotel

July 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Have you had a vacation yet this summer? If not, this weekend is your chance.  Get a last minute discount on Extended Stay Hotels accommodations and take this opportunity to travel. Here are some destination suggestions:

* Savannah, GA
* Kansas City, KS
* Boston, MA
* Reno, NV
* Seattle, WA

We look forward to your stay with us and providing you SuiteSavings rates every weekend!

Road Warrior Skills

July 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What does it take to be a road warrior?  You may know better than most—but for those starting out in a career that involves a lot of traveling, here are some traits that can help you to succeed.  Feel free to leave a comment and add your own insight into what it takes to be a road warrior.

Adaptability: The idea of the trip that goes off without a hitch is becoming more and more elusive.  Plans may change, so it helps to be flexible.  Your schedule may be crazy and you may not be in your own bed at the end of the night, like if you’re on a red eye flight. It’s all in a day’s work.

Organization: Being organized means you can look sharp without having to lug your entire wardrobe.  Organization also keeps you from panicking when something important is lost or misplaced during your trip.

Patience: Flights will be canceled, trains will be delayed, and security lines will be long.  Getting lost is hard to avoid in an unfamiliar city.  Taking it all in stride and realizing that things will work out if you just give it a little time is the only way to stay sane while constantly on the road.

Carry-On Contraband

July 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What can you take on a plane with you? What needs to be stowed in your checked luggage?  This can be a difficult question for people who aren’t intending to check any luggage, or trying to figure out what they can bring with them and what will be confiscated.  We all know large bottles of liquids are forbidden, but what else? 

Sports equipment is not allowed on a plane.  In fact, Tony Hawk has found that skateboards are not even permitted as carry-on luggage.

As far as bringing gel products, you’re better off checking them.  Gel sole inserts are a no-no, but shoes with built in gel soles are permitted.  Gel candles are strictly forbidden.

And while it’s fairly obvious that you can’t bring a gun onboard, you also can’t bring anything gun-like, including a T-shirt with a picture of a gun on it, as one passenger recently discovered.

When in doubt, put it in the checked luggage.  The restrictions are fewer than what they were a year ago, but there are still a whole lot of items that could get you in trouble in the security line.