The Best Deals On Hotels

While traveling, you will need to find a motel to stay in unless you know family members in the area who have an extra room that you can use. There are a few tips to keep in mind for getting the best deals on a motel room at places that include Newport Beach Motel and almost any other location in the country. 

The first thing that you want to do is to look online and compare the prices of hotels in the area. If a hotel isn't to the fullest capacity, especially during a busy time of the year, then it will often reduce the prices of the rooms in order to get each one filled. The same thing goes for the off-season as hotels will lower prices on rooms just to get people in the hotel as it's usually not busy. Some hotels will compete with each other after finding out that one business offers a lower price for a weekday or a lower price if you pay cash. This gives you the control over how much to pay for the room at times as the hotel needs your business. 

Before booking the hotel, find out the total cost. Most hotels will display the amenities that are included, but there are some that have access to a gym or a spa but won't include those extras in the price of the hotel. Some of the smaller hotels that don't advertise on large travel sites might not have all of the popular amenities, but they are often operated by families and offer lower prices on the rooms. 

When you get to the motel, ask about coupons. Most motels will have a small coupon book in the lobby with discounts for restaurants and attractions in the area. This is a way to save money while having fun with the family. Also, ask if you can get a lower price when you get there if you pay cash for the balance of the room. Some hotels don't want to pay the extra fees associated with using a credit or debit card and enjoy working with cash better.

Important Lessons I've Learned as a Seasonsed Traveller

As you’ll be aware from my blog, I am a pretty seasoned traveller. I love going abroad and having new experiences. Travel is one of my favourite hobbies and pastimes. And I try to get away as often as I can. Now, there’s no secret formula to the perfect trip away. The more you travel, the more you learn, and this helps you improve the experience the next time around.

And you need to learn these important things for yourself. Now, each person will have a different experience when they take a vacation. So it’s difficult to gauge what issues they might encounter. But I would like to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned as a seasoned traveller. These can all be applied to any holiday and I hope you will use them to have a more enjoyable time.

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Exchange When You Reach Your Destination

The first thing I’d recommend is to exchange money when you reach your destination. Now, you might want to do some before you get out there. It will depend on your flight time and transfer etc. I like to make sure I have enough money changed up to get a taxi from the airport, get some food, and maybe for emergencies. Other than that I like to leave my money as it is and then change it up when I get there. The reason for this is that you tend to get a better rate by doing it this way. If you’re happier changing everything before you go then do, but otherwise, save some to change when you hit your destination.

Always Choose Apartment Over Hotel

When it comes to accommodation, many people differ on preferences. I have a friend who will only ever stay in hotels. It doesn’t matter where she goes; it has to be a hotel. But, I have found from experience that holiday apartments actually make a more logical choice. I love the freedom and space that I get from staying in short term rentals than in hotels. An apartment gives me the luxury of spending a night in if I want to. And there isn’t the cramped feeling you get with hotel rooms.

Plan What You’re Going to Do Before You Go

If there’s one thing I wish I knew when I first started travelling it’s to plan everything in advance.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve missed out on seeing and doing wonderful things because I’ve got planned it. There are so many things that have passed me by in the past, and I never let it happen anymore. Always research the place you’re going and pick out a list of things you’d like to do. Then you can set about planning out when and where you’re going to do them. This is what I do now so I get to experience everything that a place has to offer.

You can take it from me as an experienced traveller that there are certain lessons to be learned. That means you need to prepare for them in order to get the most out of your holiday experience. Have a look at the suggestions I’ve listed, and bear them in mind. They are all things I have found help me have a more enjoyable vacation.

Review - Extended Stay America Hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey

We booked a night stay at Extended Stay America in Elizabeth, NJ recently during Thanksgiving and Black Friday holidays last November 2014. Most of the hotels in Manhattan during the Thanksgiving period and the few days after that were ridiculously priced. We had to do our Christmas shopping while there were major sales going on so we decided to head straight to New Jersey as soon as we arrived at JFK. This was a last minute decision to travel and I thought I wouldn't get my leave approved so we booked in haste. Booking here was not a let-down considering there are 2 other hotels just across but they were more expensive.  We actually liked the place.

We booked a Queen Studio non-smoking room for a night via Booking.com with a very good deal. The room has one extra large double bed. The room size is 28 metre sq.

(Parking ground)

(A small lobby but cozy)

The room has the following amenities:

• Kitchenette - I must say, the hotel was cozy, nice and have that homey feel to it maybe because it has the amenities of a studio-like condo unit.  This is the first time we have ever stayed in a hotel with a kitchenette. That's right, a fully functional kitchenette complete with a big ref, counter-top stove, microwave oven, a sink and utensils you can request from the concierge.

• A cable TV
• A nice small desk next to my bedside table.
• A square dining table that can seat 4 guests.
• Air Conditioning/heater during winter
• Iron and pressing table
• Seating Area
• Hot water 
• En-suite Toilet/Bathroom
• Telephone
• Free parking 
• Laundry facilities
• Vending machines for guests
• Kitchenware which you can customise based on your needs and requested from the front desk
• Free breakfast-to-go in the lobby

What I like:

• The room was cozy and really spacious.
• The bed is ultra-comfortable. I didn't find it too soft nor hard. For me, it was the right firmness to achieve that good night sleep.
• The bathroom was spacious.

• The whole room was clean to my standard.
• It is located in a very quite area and I cannot hear vehicles at all.
• The location is superb! It's walking distance to my favourite outlet mall in New Jersey - Jersey Garden Mall.
• It is very near IHOP and Ruby Tuesdays so you can grab a meal or dine in when you want to. They are just across the hotel.

• At the time we booked, pets were allowed but that was subject to change so if you are going to book and you need to take your furry baby with you, please check with the hotel first. Their pet policy may change.
• Free wi-fi
• Friendly, fast and efficient staff. We checked in and out in less than 5 minutes. 5 mins. is my standard time to gauge whether a check in/out is fast or not while I was being served. And this was probably lightning fast!
• Free shuttle to and from the Jersey Garden Mall, just ask from the front desk and you will be assisted
• Kids aged up to 17 yrs. are free to stay in using the existing bed in the room.

What I don't like:
Nothing! It's perfect "home away from home" kind of hotel for me. It has its minor imperfections like a not very clean carpet and a small closet but those can be overlooked considering the comfortable overnight stay we had.

Price:
$129.99 (excluding tax) per room per night for a Queen Studio room thru Booking.com's great hotel deals

Nearby attractions:
Jersey Garden Mall (walking distance, approximately 15 mins. walk)
New Jersey Performing Arts Centre, approximately 6 miles from the hotel

My recommendations:  5 out of 5

The price, great location, the comfortable stay, the spacious room with kitchenette amenities and friendly staff and the walking distance to my favourite outlet mall in New Jersey are the factors we have considered to highly recommend this property.

Aside from those mentioned above, it is also just a mere 4 miles away from Newark Airport so it is also recommended to both business and leisure travellers. It is accessible too via Interstate 95 if you're driving by car and by bus transport if you are coming from the Port Authority in Manhattan.

I look forward to book in this property again in the future.


Extended Stay America is a property located in 45 Glimcher Realty Way, Elizabeth, NJ 07201, U.S.A. It is very near Newark Airport so it is a great hotel choice for business, leisure, family and even those with pets.


If you wish to book this property, please check availability and the very competitive rates (subject to change without prior notice) offered in Booking.com. Also, don't forget to ask about their pet policy before you book as it may change.


Search for hotels and rates here:   Booking.com

Disclosure:
This hotel review is my personal review. I have paid for this stay and in no way sponsored by the property nor Booking.com. I just love to book via Booking.com because I always find a very competitive rate or great deals when compared to other booking sites. My opinion is 100% mine and may vary from yours.

Accommodations in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan is not one of those places you can bunk easily with comfort for budget travelers unless you don't mind sleeping in a pod or capsule. I tried convincing myself that I could do it but honestly, much as I want to save money on accommodations in Tokyo, I cannot bear myself to sleep in tiny cubes. I will feel claustrophobic.

I have finalized the accommodations in our Tokyo trip. We're staying in 3 hotels in a span of 7 days. The first hotel (Dec. 2-3) is a stones throw away from Tokyo Disneyland. I booked overnight there so we don't have to hassle ourselves catching the subway or metro late at night after our Disney adventure. This hotel is walking distance only and if we need to freshen up, we can always come back later.

The second hotel (Dec. 3-6) is in the heart of Shinjuku. The hotel is attached to the famous Shinjuku station so we won't have any trouble going around Tokyo using the metro. I got a good deal from Hotels.com for this particular hotel and the review from Tripadvisor is also good. So, we'll see about that.

Lastly, from Dec. 6-7, we will move to a fine hotel, 5.5 kilometres from Haneda Airport. It is a beautiful hotel with a good view of the Tokyo Bay and the surrounding areas. It is also accessible to a train station which will easily connect us to the central part of Tokyo for last minute shopping and sightseeing. From this hotel, we will take the metro to Haneda Airport.

I will post reviews and photos of the hotels after the trip.