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.

Spooky Hotels to Visit This Halloween

It's that time of the year again when stories of peculiar apparitions and events in certain hotels around the world that makes them popular to the-not-so-faint-at-heart folks make their rounds.  I am not the thrill-seeker kind so I guess I'll have to pass this one up. However, if you're into these kinds of stuff then check out these famous hotels and see if you can book for a night.

Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA

This hotel is a famous landmark in San Diego. It opened in 1888 and apparently, a young lady guest named Kate Morgan haunts the hotel. The story of Kate Morgan's ghostly apparitions came to be when she checked in at Hotel Coronado alone and claimed that she got separated in the train with her "brother." Her "brother" had her suitcase and would take care of her as soon as he arrived the hotel. However, no "brother" arrived in the coming days. And one day, she was found dead, early in the morning outside the hotel.

Her room was #3327. Who ever is brave enough to book there is one tough cookie! It is hard to reserve the room though so you may have to wait in line.

My family and I visited the hotel last 2009. We were too "chicken" to book a room so a photo-op was enough to satisfy our curiosity.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach, CA

This old cruise liner-turned hotel is hosts to many "hot psychic hot spots." The ocean-liner/hotel has plenty of haunted areas that there is even a "haunted tour" you can book to "experience" the weird phenomena happening in the ship.

If you want to experience something thrilling as the other tourists who went through the haunted tour in Queen Mary, then you can check out this site for more info: http://www.queenmary.com/tours-exhibits/tours-exhibits-attractions/haunted-encounters/

Photo credit: voyages-et-monuments.blogspot.com

Fairmont Le Chateau Fronentac, Quebec City, Canada

There are stories about the ghost of Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac that are claimed to be true. You may get lucky to see Louis sitting and looking sad on windowsills around the property.

Photo credit: chucktaylorblog.blogspot.com

Hotel Chelsea, New York City, NY

The Chelsea Hotel has a star-power ghosts in its property. The likes of Warhol, Joplin and Twain haunts the hotel and this is also the same hotel where Sid Vicious (the punk rocker) stabbed Nancy in 1978.

Photo credit: hauntedrooms.com

Banff Springs Hotel - Alberta, Canada 

One friendly bellman just loved his work so much that even after death, he still did his duties, helping guests and not taking tips. Another ghost in this hotel is from the very sad demise of a young bride who trampled to her death when she fell down the stairs because her dress caught fire. She could be seen by some guests dancing alone in the dining room and apparently, even pushing guests.

Photo credit: secondglobe.com

Karosta Prison Hostel, Latvia

This hotel used to be Nazi and Soviet military prison which has been turned into a prison-themed hotel. Guests can experience light bulbs unscrewing on their own, doors that open and a lady ghost walking around the prison-hotel.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

Ballygally Castle Hotel, Northern Ireland

Isobella Shaw, the former Lady of the Castle in 1625, is said to have paid frightening visits to guests before disappearing into the night. Story has it that Lord Shaw had locked her inside a room, immediately after she gave birth to their son. She died after falling out of a window in an attempt to escape. It is believed she has wandered the castle for over 400 years in search of the son who was taken from her.

Photo credit: classictravel.com

Langham Hotel, London

Since it was opened to the public in 1865, the Langham Hotel in London has been frequented by a number prominent personalities like Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain.  It is said that one of the ghosts is of a man in Victorian evening wear who appears in Room 333 only during October. A guest claimed to have seen a ghostly figure of a man in military dress standing by the window on the fourth floor. Some say that it is probably the ghost of a German Prince who committed suicide by jumping out of a window just before the beginning of World War I. A famous guest of the hotel who seemed to not checked out is Napoleon III.


Do you know other hotels that are haunted? Have you ever stayed in any of them? If so, share your experience here.

Trivago Hotel Search

Love traveling? How about hotel-hopping? If you do, then this is a good search tool to use to find good hotel rates. Check it out!





Founded 8 years ago, trivago is the largest hotel search and information website worldwide Every month 45 million users trust trivago as their starting point for travel research.

Trivago helps users find their ideal hotel and book it for the lowest possible rate by comparing prices from 196 booking sites We want to give you the best travel experience you can get for your money. Try this!

Review - Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai Festival City

What would be more exciting than spending your birthday in a nice, posh hotel, over-looking the Dubai Creek! I just had a wonderful and quiet celebration in one of the best hotels in Dubai - The Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai Festival City last 14-15 March, 2014.

I always check the rates of this hotel from either Booking.com or Hotels.com but there is never the right moment where I could actually get a good deal. Reason being, if I have to be practical, it is not a low-budget hotel. But if fate would have it, we were meant to spend my birthday in this hotel.

My husband booked an overnight stay in Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai Festival City for a Deluxe Room with King Sized bed. He got a good rate directly from the hotel because he has IHG Loyalty Card. Aside from getting a good rate, we were also given a room in the 17th floor and with a creek-side view. Isn't that amazing?

The Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai Festival City has a 5-star rating and is a part of the InterContinental Hotel Group family of brands. It is located in the premises of Dubai Festival City adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel.

My family and I certainly enjoyed our stay there. Aside from being treated like royal guests, I was also presented with a birthday chocolate mousse cake, delivered to our room few hours after we checked in! I must thank the manager, Mr. Emad Ramzy for organizing the whole thing and not only that, the cake came with a birthday card signed by some of the staff in Zaytoun Restaurant. I truly appreciate the gesture and the thought! It's one of the best birthday cakes I have ever tasted in my life!

What I like: 

Room

• Very spacious room
• Super comfortable bed! This hotel happens to have a Sleep Advantage program where every guest's comfort is taken to the highest esteem. We arrived in our room and found a blue pouch with a sleeping mist for our pillows and Breathe In roller for the pulse which you will inhale to help you clear your head and relax. The spray and roll are infused with Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Vetivert and Camomile.  It was really nice of them to ensure that we get our good night's sleep. We actually did!

• There is a spare pillow and blanket.
• The roll-out extra bed was free for use for my daughter and it only took few minutes for the staff to get it assembled in our room.
• Very clean room
• Huge bathroom with a huge bathtub, great for soaking!
• The bathroom amenities like the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner all smelled so good.

• The huge desk for me to get down to business with my blogs.
• The free and unlimited wifi use in our room.

• The mini-bar is well stocked with expensive brand of water and liquor. No, we didn't consume any!
• I love that aside from coffee, they also have a choice of chocolate drink from the free condiments.

• The flat screen TV can be loosened from the wall and can be moved in different angles. I enjoyed it so much that even if I was sitting on the study area, I could still watch the TV.

Lobby

• It was not very crowded when we checked in. Normal check in time is 2 p.m. but we were allowed to check in around 12 noon.
• The check in process, and so was the check out was a breeze. It just took barely 5 minutes to get everything done.
• Not a very noisy area so you can actually sit and read a good book there and you don't get disturbed.
• The staff from the valet, bell hops to the reception and Concierge are all courteous and amiable. They greeted us with a smile all the time. We felt like VIPs!

Amenities/Facilities 

• They have several pools so it will not get crowded.
• The gym is well lit and has attendants to provide you assistance.
• The Zaytoun restaurant has wide selection of breakfast buffet. We all loved the selection!

Perks

• We were allowed to stay until 2 p.m. because of my husband's IHG Loyalty membership.
• we were given 2 vouchers for a complimentary beverage we can claim from the Mazar Lounge (a coffee shop in the lobby) or at Zaytoun.
• Free valet parking

Location

• Ideally located in the same premise as the Dubai Festival City. It was easy to grab a bite in the wide variety of food selection in the food court and to while away our time while in the hotel.
• There are plenty of cabs at the ready if you need to hop on one and decide to visit other attractions nearby.

What I don't like:

NOTHING. I enjoyed every moment of our brief stay there. If I had a choice, I would have stayed longer. So I could have explored and tried more of the property's amenities and facilities.

Price: 

AED 966.60 inclusive of tax (FIT rate) (approx US$ 265/night with taxes)

Room type: 

1 King Bed Deluxe Dubai Creek View

Meal plan: 

There is no meal plan associated with the rate. We had our breakfast buffet for AED 110 each (approx US$ 30 per head).

Amenities:

Bathroom and personal care available such as bathrobes, slippers, toiletries (toothbrush and extra shampoo, conditioner, gel and soaps are available upon request), clean towels
Shoe polish
Laundry service
Hair dryer
Pressing table
Flat iron
Bath tub
Bidet
Mini-safe
Percolator and condiments supply
Mini-bar and mini-ref
Flat TV
High tech telephones with speaker phone
Individually controlled air conditioning thermostat
iPod dock with alarm clock
Electronic turndown notice (a light will be lit if you switched this on and the housekeeping will not clean your room)
24-hour gym
Spa
Pools
Valet parking
Business center
Secretarial services
Baby-sitting
Access to Dubai Festival City via InterContinental Hotel

Nearby attractions:

Dubai Creek and boardwalk
Dubai Creekside Park
Al badia Golf Club
Burj Khalifa and the Downtown Dubai

My recommendation: (1-5, 5 star being the highest)

I highly recommend this hotel both for leisure and business purposes. You are assured to get enough rest with peace and quiet comfort as the main goals of the hotel property. Location is perfect. The rate is okay considering that you actually get what you have paid for - comfort, security and fun!

I am giving this property the highest rating of 5 stars! It deserves to get that 5-star rating as it lives up to its 5-star image.

To know more about this hotel, you may visit their website.

If you want to book a stay in this hotel or other hotels in Dubai, please search and book here: Booking.com
Disclaimer:
I was not compensated to do this review. My opinion is 100% mine and may vary from yours.

Proper Etiquette for Your Hotel Stay

Believe it or not, even if you are on vacation, you still need to practice some etiquette. Whether you stay in Hotel Metropole or another hotel, there are certain things that you should and shouldn't do while you are a guest there. It doesn't matter whether you are alone, with a family, or with a group of people, practicing certain etiquette will ensure you have an enjoyable stay along with the rest of the guests at the hotel.

If you are staying by yourself, there are certain things that you should and shouldn't do. If you want your privacy, make sure to always hang up the Do Not Disturb sign. This way you won't be bothered by housekeeping in the event that they are scheduled to clean your room at that time. Don't leave your door open for the entire world to see. Nobody needs to see what the inside of your room looks like, and it’s just a little bit awkward for them to see your activities while you are alone in your hotel room. Don't leave huge messes in your room because you know that housekeeping will come in and take care of it.

If you are staying with your family, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Just because you are used to the noise that comes with having children doesn't mean that every other guest in the hotel room is too. Keep your children under control as much as possible and try to keep things as quiet as they can be. It’s understandable that there will be some noise, just do your best.

If you are staying with a large party at Hotel Metropole or another hotel in town, there are also some things that you should and should not do. Try to keep your noise down. Sure, you are throwing a party and things are going to be louder than normal, but you don't have to go crazy. There are other guests in the hotel who aren't at your party and might be trying to get a good night’s sleep. Don't get so crazy that you become a nuisance, and don't get so drunk that things get really out of hand.

The Basics of Using a Mobile Concierge

When you are travelling, whether it be for fun or for business, there is always the possibility that you will run into some sort of problem. The issue may be as simple as having a piece of luggage go missing, or it can be a much larger problem, such as getting lost in a city or having your reservation get messed up. When these problems occur, many people will simply give up, not knowing what to do next. This is why a mobile concierge service can be extremely useful. These services can give you the help that you need, no matter what the situation is or where you are located. Here is a quick look at some of the basics of using an online concierge service.

The Services

When you are trying to choose an online concierge company, you are going to want to look at the different services that each company can offer. Depending on your normal situations, you may find that certain services may be extremely beneficial. Most online concierge services will offer both personal and travel assistance. Both of these services can be useful since they can help you not only while you are travelling between locations, but also after you have arrived at your destination. These services can help you with scheduling flights and finding services within a city. Some concierge companies will also have an emergency service, which can be extremely useful if you are lost, stranded, or even if you feel that you are in danger.

The Benefits and Drawbacks

There are several different benefits that come from using a mobile concierge service, though, there are also several drawbacks that should be considered. The main benefit of an online concierge service is that you will be able to get reliable help from any location. No matter whether you are in your hotel or running through the streets of an unknown city, you will always have someone that can help. The drawback of these services is that they can sometimes be expensive, which makes them impractical for those that do not travel very often to places that they are not familiar with.

Start Saving For Your Summer Beach Trip

Spring and summer aren’t that far away and there is no time like the present to start saving up for that beach trip you’ve been dreaming about all summer. Here are some things you can do to make the trip more financially feasible.

1. Travel With Friends

The more friends you can get to go on this trip with you, the cheaper it will be for everyone. It’s much easier to afford a good room in one of those beautiful Laguna Beach hotels if there are four of you sharing it instead of trying to pay for it yourself. If you drive instead of fly you can also split the cost of gas, which—depending on how far you have to drive—could wind up being much cheaper than flying or taking a train. 

Bonus Tip: traveling with friends also keeps you safer. It just makes sense to follow the buddy system when you are in a new place!

2. Start Saving Now

Start putting a couple bucks in a jar every day. If you save two dollars every day between February 1 and June 15, you’ll have saved up $268.  If you put aside $20 a week, you’ll have $380 for vacation. That’s not a bad amount to have on hand for meals, etc.

If you want to save up even more, here is another thing you can do. In addition to putting $20 into that jar every week, dump in whatever change or cash you have on hand in your pockets at the end of the day. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save up if you take the spare stuff out of your pockets and wallet each day.

If you don’t trust that jar to stay safe, use the bank. Transfer $20 every Friday from your checking to your savings account. Then, at the end of every week take whatever cash and change you’ve collected in the jar and deposit that into the savings account as well. This way you don’t have to worry about a bunch of money walking off and leaving you broke.

3. Be Thrifty

You can start practicing thriftiness now. Buy generic groceries instead of name brand. Skip buying new clothes except for maybe a new bathing suit to take on your trip. Borrow books from the library instead of buying them. Basically, cut any spending that isn’t necessary for your survival. 

On your trip, stock up on groceries to keep in your hotel room.  Sure you’ll probably want to go out for most meals but buying stuff to snack on at a grocery store will save you a ton of money that would have otherwise been spent on overpriced stuff out of vending machines or in hotel gift shops.

These are just three ways that you can make sure that your vacation is a fantastic and affordable one. There are plenty of other things you can do to save up for your summer vacation—you just have to get creative!