by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

The Lowe Hotel, Point Pleasant, West Virginia

On a recent road trip I pulled into the little town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, conveniently located midway between Illinois and my North Carolina destination. In the center of Main Street, amidst scores of meticulously restored older buildings filled with cute shops, I discovered the Lowe Hotel, the only hotel in town.

I hauled my suitcase up the long marble staircase to the second floor, opened the door with an enormous skeleton key, and was delighted to discover a room decorated in antiques and outfitted with a queen-size poster bed. It didn’t take me long to climb beneath the fluffy quilt, prop myself up with two down pillows, and boot up my laptop. I was happily answering emails when the noises began. At first they were small creaking sounds and I paid them little mind – all old buildings make noises. Then just before turning off the light a very loud noise startled me. It sounded like a large, dry tree branch snapping in two and seemed to come from the television, which I hadn’t turned on. Puzzled, I dismissed it and went to sleep. see more »

Choosing the right hotel for your traveling needs begins with considering what kind of traveling you’ll be doing.

I’ve already discussed booking a kid friendly hotel for family vacations.  On the complete opposite of the travel spectrum, we have the most exotic sounding and, typically, least enjoyable experience of traveling for business.

A hotel that is great for families is not necessarily great for business travel.  Finding a hotel that caters to the business traveler can go a long way towards making long days on the road and nights away from family more bearable - and more productive.

Hotels for Business Travelers - What To Look For

1.  Internet Access

When I travel for work (or rather, when I used to travel for work), the very first thing I ask about when I’m booking a hotel is Internet access.  Is it available in-room, or just via a business center?  Is it wireless, or will I be sitting at a desk plugged into an ethernet cord?  And, most importantly, how much is it going to cost me?

The best hotels for business travelers will have free wireless internet access in the hotel rooms.  At the very least, you’ll have the option to purchase wireless internet access at a reasonable rate.  When booking your room, be sure to ask if the hotel has a membership program that offers free internet to its members.

2.  Work area in the room

My favorite hotels to stay in for business are Embassy Suites.  This is primarily because most of their rooms offer a separate seating area with a large desk and comfortable chair - one that is actually designed to sit in for long periods of time.  Sure, I can check my email sitting on my bed with a laptop perched on my legs.  But if I have hours of work to do, I’d prefer the option of an actual workspace.

3. On-site restaurant

While I avoid hotel restaurants when I’m traveling with my kids, I tend to spend a lot of time in them when I’m traveling alone for business.  It’s nice not to have to hunt down a local restaurant for every meal, and it’s also a convenient meeting area for clients and colleagues you may need to meet with while you’re in town.

4.  Fitness center

If you’re used to exercising regularly at home, a business trip that messes up your workout routine can really affect how well you do your job.  Look for a hotel with a fitness center and make a point of using it at roughly the same time you would go to a gym at home.  The nice thing about traveling alone is that you won’t be leaving anyone alone in your room while you go sweat your stress off for 30 minutes on a cardio machine.

5. Rewards programs

If you travel often, make a point at staying at hotels that offer membership reward programs.  This is a lot easier today now that so many hotels are part of a larger “family” company, with all properties sharing points and perks.  Even if you’re not the one footing the bill, being able to prove you’re a repeat guest may entitle you to added benefits (like nicer rooms, and that free internet access) that will make your stay more enjoyable.

6. Avoid kid-friendly hotels

If a hotel provides great accommodations for a family, it isn’t automatically disqualified as being good for business travelers.  But if there’s an in-house water park and a 1500 square foot arcade, chances are good you’ll hear the pitter patter of little feet running up and down the halls outside your door in the middle of the night.

The key to making the best of business travel is to make yourself as comfortable as possible.  No hotel will be quite like home, but choosing hotels that cater to the specific needs of the business traveler makes a difference.

What tips do you suggest for other business travelers?

Pittsburgh PA

First off, let me begin by saying that the Crowne Plaza Airport hotel near Pittsburgh,. Pennsylvania has a great bar tender. It was really slow the night we went in, and she was about to close, but she stayed open because I told her I was bringing two more people down. How’s that for service?

Second of all, this hotel is CLOSE to the airport, but not completely on top of it like some other hotels might be. There’s a shuttle that leaves every thirty minutes and takes you there, so no worries.

The room was plenty big, and I had a great window that looked out upon the PIttsburgh (well, Corapolis) skyline. A huge thunderstorm came in and lightning hit the three tall buildings in front of me aobut thirty times, no exaggeration. So that was exciting!

There’s a little Italian restaurant in this hotel which I didn’t have the chance to try, but it always had people in it. If you have a thing for pilots, definitely stay here, the place was crawling with them.

Nothing fancy here. Just a solid hotel close to the airport with very friendly bar tenders. The pool table is fun too.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/orblivio/37001473/

RIU Palace in Cancun Mexico

I’m a fan of the all-inclusive resort vacation. It’s a truly relaxing way to spend a long weekend, or even better, a week, recharging your batteries and lounging by a pool. You know in advance exactly when and where you’ll get your next meal, drink, and spa treatment, and how much everything will cost.

And you can still add an element of adventure by taking day trips off the property and seeing something of the world beyond the walls of the resort. For a family on a budget — which is all families, right? And not just now, right? — and less-experienced travelers, the right resort can equal vacation perfection.

Like all hotels these days, you can also find some jaw-droppingly good deals if you look around. My sister just took a trip to Cancun and stayed at the Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas. She came home raving about it, especially the “signature liquor dispenser” in every room. She also loved the pools and beaches, and that there was a gym where she could work out every day.

She was so excited about her hotel find that I had to check it out myself, from a professional perspective. And my kid sister was right! RIU has gorgeous properties all over the world, with several in Mexico, where they’re even having a huge summer sale!

At select resorts in Mexico, kids under 12 stay for free with their parents — two kids per two adults. The offer is good between June 26 through August 22, 2009. The rates per person are already super affordable, under $100 per person — and remember that all inclusive means food, drinks, sodas, nachos at 2am, seconds on dessert, you name it. Plus all kinds of entertainment, all day long and into the night.

The pool at RIU Emerald Bay, Mazatlan

Let’s face it: for a nine year old kid, the best vacation ever is one where you can whoop it up in the pool for a week, while your parents are enjoying Afternoon Margarita Mellowness.

The resorts included in the deal are:
·    $82 at Riu Emerald Bay (Mazatlan)
·    $89 at Riu Santa Fe (Cabo San Lucas)
·    $75 at Riu Jalisco (Riviera Nayarit)
·    $89 at Riu Playacar (Playa del Carmen)
·    $90 at Riu Caribe (Cancun)

Rates above are per person, per night, based on double adult occupancy and up to two children who stay free.

If you want more information, or you’re just ready to book it, visit the RIU site which has tons more information and photos.

Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood

The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California is a lovely, historic hotel on Hollywood Blvd where all the sidewalk stars are. It’s a great place to people watch from - I’ve seen two celebrities in this hotel since I’ve been here!

My room is definitely on the smaller side, bu the bed is comfy. However, the bed does have a nasty, sharp wooden corner to it which is very annoying! I’ve managed to walk into that corner about four times since being here, and my shins now look like someone took a baseball bat to them. Other than that, the room is fine. The bathroom is small, and the toilet paper roll is hidden behind the door, so you have to close the door when using the bathroom, which I found amusing. Nice amenities are included in the bathroom.
They do hit you with a lot of charges here. You even have to pay for the coffee in the room. There’s a very funny “Shag Bag” which made me laugh out loud. You can guess what’s in there.

This hotel is a little bit spooky though. It’s older, built in 1927 I believe, and the hallways feel dark and, well - haunted. I’m not kidding. I’m on the twelfth floor, and I get weird chills when I walk from my hotel room to the elevator.

Moving on! If you stay here, you have to check out the historic lobby - it’s absolutely gorgeous. Very high ceilings, dark wood, soft, yellow lighting. Large, very comfortable leather chairs…just lovely.

The pool is open till 11pm, score!

I highly recommend Shelly Cafe, right across the street. Pretty cheap food - basic burgers, sandwiches and salads. But good! And, Million Dollar Baby was filmed there, if you’re into that stuff.

Photo Credit: P Keigan

Sustainable travel is now in the first stages of yet another revolution - moving from eco-friendly green hotels to completely carbon neutral hotels.

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Airlines already allow passengers to purchase carbon credits equivalent to their share of carbon usage for the flight. Some private air charters include it as part of the service, so that their clients don’t have to do anything. It was only a matter of time before hotels started adopting this system.

The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana, is being touted as the first carbon neutral property in the United States. The resort implements all the usual green practices - earth-friendly cleaning products, electric vehicles on the grounds, organic food and sustainable produce in the restaurant, energy efficient lights, providing guests the option to re-use linens, and so on.

But in addition to all this, Paws Up also has a partnership with Missoula’s ClearSky Climate Solutions. They did an audit to calculate their energy consumption, and now they’re making sure to leave a ”zero carbon paw-print” by investing in Montana forestry and rangeland projects that are certified carbon offset providers.

But it’s not like this is something completely new. In fact, the US is actually behind on this one. Denmark’s Brochner Hotel chain claims to be the world’s first carbon neutral hotel chain, with 4 carbon neutral hotels in Copenhagen. URBN Hotels in Shanghai boasts of China’s first carbon-neutral hotel. The Mayland Seaside Hotel under construction in Guangzhou is incorporating a fuel cell power generator that would run on clean natural gas, making it the world’s first completely carbon-neutral hotel, which doesn’t have to compensate by buying carbon credits.  

Even Greenland has it’s own carbon neutral hotel under construction, just south of Ilulissat Icefjord, which is to be completely powered by alternative energy. 

Hotels have long been cashing in on eco-friendliness, touting everything from energy-efficient light bulbs to dual-flush toilets. Some of them really do care, and go out of their way to get LEED certification. But that still leaves at least some impact on the environment everytime you stay at a hotel.

Guests should not have to worry about how green a hotel really is - or isn’t. The time has now come for every hotel to start offering a completely carbon neutral experience. And guests shouldn’t have to pay extra for it. Properties like The Resort at Paws Up who are ahead of the curve will benefit from the positive publicity.

The best part of it is that once a hotel goes carbon neutral, it will be forced to become more energy-efficient and implement environmentally friendly practices, in order to reduce the bill for purchasing the required carbon credits. It’s good business, good for the environment and guests enjoy a guilt-free stay.

Kid Friendly Hotels

Picking the right hotel for your vacation is about much more than finding the best price.

When looking for a hotel, it’s a good idea to consider the kind of vacation you’re taking, who is staying with you, and what kind of hotel amenities are best suited for your unique vacation.

In other words, the best hotel for a romantic getaway may not be the best hotel for a family vacation with two small children.

Kid Friendly Hotels - What Amenities to Look For

1.  Continental Breakfast available on-site.

Small children don’t need an elaborate meal three times a day.  They do, however, need something for breakfast.  The more easily accessible, the better.

While a nicer hotel may have a restaurant that offers a full buffet and omelet bar, I much prefer an inexpensive hotel with a simply stocked continental breakfast when I’m traveling with my kids.  It’s generally a lot easier to set little kids up with a bowl of cereal in a small dining area that accepts footie pajamas as part of their dress code.  Traveling with kids means a lot of time spent in restaurants, and any chance to avoid that stress while still getting a decent meal is worth watching out for.

2. A pool is a plus.  A jacuzzi is completely unnecessary.

Little kids love to swim.  Or, at the very least, they love the idea of swimming - even if the reality is sitting on the pool steps for hours in their swimsuits.  But their expectations are low when it comes to a good hotel pool.

Water?  Great.  Shallow end?  Fantastic.  Clean?  If mom says so.  A jacuzzi and sauna room are less than an afterthought and should, in fact, be avoided by small children if possible.

3.  Extra sleeping area available - pullout couches, cots, massive floor space.

I always underestimate how much sleeping room my children are going to need when we travel.

“Oh, the little one can sleep with us.”

“Hey, the two little ones can bunk together.”

And then the little one is jammed between two big people in a double sized bed and the two big people end up with very little sleep.  Or the two little ones decide that this is the night that they cannot stand anymore of her touching me!

I’m all about giving up a little convenience to save a few bucks, but a good night of sleep when you’re on vacation is much more than a convenience.  Check with the hotel before you book to verify the size of the beds and the availability of cots.

4.  A bathtub.  Not just a shower - an actual bathtub.

If your kids are used to showering at home, than this is a non issue.  But if you’re traveling with a toddler, you may not want to introduce showering and water in the eyes on your oh so perfect family vacation.

Some hotels offer stand up showers only in some rooms, but have regular sized bathtubs in other rooms.  If you book your reservation by phone, ask about a room with a tub.  If you book your room online to save money, call the property you’re staying at after you’ve booked and request a room with a tub.

Ironically, you’ll usually find these amenities in a less expensive hotel.  Luxury is, apaprently, reserved for adults.  But when you’re on a family vacation, the best luxury is being able to stay some place where everyone in the family can feel relaxed and at home.

The Claremont Resort & Spa, Berkeley, CA

Some dear friends recently celebrated their 10 year wedding anniversary with a stay at the Claremont Resort and Spa, an old school “Grand Hotel” in Berkeley, California. In addition to being a beautiful and historic property, it’s also where they spent their honeymoon.

Pools, Bars and Chicken Fingers

The Claremont was nice enough to offer me a room at their media rate, so my husband and I decided to join our friends with a one-night staycation of our own!

The scene of chicken fingers and greyhounds!

We spent a delightful afternoon by pools (yes, plural — one for everybody, a second for kids and a third for laps) sipping cocktails while nibbling on chicken fingers and fries, which were delicious and a bargain at $7, don’t miss ‘em!

That was followed by an hors d’oeuvres and wine-filled evening in the Paragon Cafe and Bar, home of amazing San Francisco skyline views and breathtaking sunsets over the Golden Gate Bridge. Oh, and tasty food and drink. After so much decadence, we were more than happy to stumble upstairs to our room with a partial Bay View and extremely comfortable king sized bed.

Secret Agent Hotel Reviewer Financial Services Offsite Meeting Attender

My behind remembers sitting thru 3 day meetings in those chairs

But let me back up: before I could start drinking by the pool, the Claremont’s extremely friendly and funny Senior Sales Manager, Quincy Smith, gave us a tour of the property so I could do a (relatively) informed review of the hotel. Little did he know, I’m sort of a ringer.

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70 Park Avenue Hotel, New York City

I am a Priceline whore.

No.  Wait.

I am a Priceline ninja.

I have been using Priceline for years to book rooms at hotels I otherwise couldn’t afford.  Priceline’s name your own price feature allows me to indulge my champagne appetite on my RC Cola budget.  I’ve stayed in a deluxe room at the 70 Park Avenue hotel in New York City for $170 a night.  I’ve stayed at a 4-star hotel blocks from the Magnificent Mile in Chicago for barely more than $100 per night.

And yet, every time I suggest to a friend that they should try to name their own price on a hotel at Priceline, I get a terrified look of horror in response.

“But you don’t get to choose the hotel!”

“What if I end up in a dive?!”

“What if I have to pay for a room way out by the airport?!?”

Pansies.

Yes, Priceline’s name your own price feature comes with a certain amount of risk.  You have to input your credit card number and agree to pay for whatever room is given to you by whatever hotel accepts your offer.  There is, I admit, potential for disaster.

Unless you know what you’re doing.

How Not To Get Screwed Using Priceline To Book A Hotel

(And still save a ton of money on a fancy hotel)

1.  Research neighborhoods in the city you’ll be staying in.

If you’re booking a hotel in a large metropolitan city like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles, Priceline gives you the option to choose from various neighborhoods or “areas”.  Head to a site like UpTake.com and research “Things to do” so you have an intelligent idea of where the tourist attractions are that you’ll want to stay near.

Reading reviews of hotels in the neighborhoods you’re considering will give you a good idea of how safe the area is and how convenient it is to major attractions.

Then, when you go to “name your own price” on Priceline, you’ll see a map that shows the various areas available - and you’ll know which areas would be a good fit for your vacation.

2.  Research prices.

The first step to getting a good deal on a hotel is to find out what everyone else is paying.  Again, using a site like UpTake or Priceline’s main booking site will give you a good idea of the average price for a hotel in the areas you’re interested in staying in.  Do not plan to pay the average price.

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start the actual bidding.

3.  Choose a higher star level than you’re willing to settle for.

I assume that a star rating on Priceline is overly generous.  Better to go in expecting a 4-star hotel and get too much luxury, than to find out that “continental breakfast” qualifies a hotel for a 3-star rating.  Just to be safe, I almost always request at least a 4-Star hotel when I’m bidding on hotels in a large city - even though my frugal princess head could surely survive a night on a 3-star pillow.

4.  Start with 1 or 2 areas and give yourself room to negotiate.

The trick to getting a great deal on a great hotel on Priceline is to give yourself room to go up.  If your original offer is rejected, you have to make changes to your request in order to resubmit.  One of the easiest changes to make is to add more areas to your offer.

So have 3 or 4 potential areas in mind that you’d be happy to stay in if you can save hundreds of dollars - but don’t tell them that unless you absolutely have to.  Your first offer should be your dream scenario.

5.  Start the bidding at 50% of the average price of a hotel.

Again, the key to negotiating with a computer is to play your cards close to your vest.  And I might be mixing metaphors here, but you get the idea.

There are times when you’ll get your first offer will be accepted and you can do the “Ha, ha, common folk!  I scored a great deal!” happy dance.

There are also times when your offer will be rejected and Priceline will be all “are you crazy?  You do know the average price of a hotel in this area is two times what you’re asking us to give you, right?”  Ignore these intimidation tactics.  Bid low and hope for the best.  If the best doesn’t happen, you’ll have plenty of room to go up and still walk away with a great deal.

6.  Have a stop loss point.

Remember all that research you did ahead of time?  Let it tell you when you’re no longer getting a screaming deal that’s worth assuming the risk of letting a computer blindly pick your hotel.  Saving $20 a night on a $250 room is not worth it.  Saving $50 per night over a 4 night stay?  Something to think about.

The bottom line is that Priceline’s name your own price feature is essentially a marketing gimmick meant to attract budget travelers.  But there is real potential there, if you book wisely, to save a considerable amount of money on a great hotel.

Shoot for the Ritz and plan to end up saving a little money on the Hilton.

*PRICELINE, PRICELINE.COM and NAME YOUR OWN PRICE are registered service marks of priceline.com Incorporated

Philadelphia Skyline

The Marriott Philadelphia Hotel at the airport is a wonderful hotel. The room was large and clean, and the bed was very comfortable. I made use of the swimming pool which was actually a very narrow lap pool; at first I found this strange, but then I realized that the arrangement of the pool made it less likely that there would be a bunch of kids in it, so that was nice. The exercise room was next door - you could watch people exercise as you swam.

Considering this hotel was practically on a runway, the hotel room was incredibly quiet. I don’t think I heard any planes, really.

I wish I could comment on the food at the hotel, but I didn’t eat anywhere. There was a large room service menu though! I ordered a glass of wine through room service, and it arrived in less than 15 minutes, which I found impressive.

Check-in was very professional and a real breeze, as was check-out. After checking out, I just went to the second floor and walked over to my airport terminal! It was really easy.

I don’t think this hotel is very close to anything touristy, but it’s perfect for business people who are needed a high quality hotel that’s very close to the airport. I would definitely stay here again.

Photo Credit: Payton Chung