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Vacation Tunes

Have you ever heard a selection of elevator music that you actually enjoyed? It’s a rare occasion when a hotel guest begs the receptionist for a copy of the tunes being played in the lobby. Now, in a bold move, Hyatt Hotels is trying to change that. The upscale hotel chain wants your vacation to have a soundtrack. Last week, Hyatt executives announced it is starting a new pilot program whereby the hotel is throwing out the elevator music and crafting unique musical offerings for its lobbies, restaurants, elevators and spas. The hotel will then post the musical selections online … Continue reading →

Indianapolis—Where To Stay

In a previous blog I gave you a rundown of our travel itinerary for our upcoming trip to Indianapolis. Since we are attending a wedding there we will be taking advantage of the special room rates offered to guests attending the nuptials. (See details below.) However, if you are visiting the city and are looking for unique accommodations you might want to consider the following inns and hotels. They may run you a bit more than the local Embassy Suites, but you may find the personalized touches are worth the extra cash. Villa Inn The downtown property is technically a … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits For Adventurous Families

Are you a fan of the reality show “The Amazing Race?” Are your children? If you family is comprised of a bunch of competitive adventure-seeking daredevils I have the ultimate challenge for you. Hyatt Resorts has a new contest open to families with kids aged 9 to 12. It’s called the “Ultimate Adventure Challenge” and the winner earns 50 free nights at Hyatts worldwide. Fifty FREE nights at any Hyatt!!! (Yes, I know!) Here’s how you sign up to win this dream vacation: You must create a 90-second video that illustrates your family’s passion for travel and adventure. The video … Continue reading →

Hot Hotel Trends

When I hear the term economy hotel I instantly think of the types of properties that advertise the price of a room in neon lights on a large sign posted out front. When I hear the term upscale hotel I instantly think of the luxury properties that I could only afford to stay at if I won the lottery. And, when I hear the term “upscale limited-service hotels,” I really don’t know what to think. Well, not anymore. I recently got a crash course in what these types of properties offer travelers. Typically, their interiors look similar to the floor … Continue reading →

What To Do In Case Of A Hotel Fire—Part 2

Have you ever been in a hotel when the fire alarms are going off? (To read what happened to me when a fire alarm went off in my hotel room click here.) Hopefully, your experience was better than mine. If you knew what to do in the emergency I applaud you. If you have no clue what you should do if an ear-piercing wail suddenly drowned out your pay-per-view then read on. The following are a few more tips to help you… just in case. Tip #3—Don’t Panic If you hear an alarm, don’t start running around like a headless … Continue reading →

What To Do In Case Of A Hotel Fire

How many times have you spent the night at a hotel? If you are like me, your answer is: “too many.” Nothing made me believe that more than an experience I had at a hotel last week. It’s a stay I won’t soon forget. At 1:47 a.m. (I know this because I memorized the numbers on the digital clock out of fear) a high pitch wail tore through my hotel room. Within seconds I realized it was the fire alarm. The noise shook me to my core, but curiously it didn’t trigger my feet to move. In fact, I stood … Continue reading →

Tips on Tipping—Part 2

Today we’re talking about tipping. When I’m on the road I often end up trying to figure out whom to tip, how much to tip, when to tip and how to deliver a tip. In my previous blog we covered tipping tips for cab drivers, bellhops, and valets. This blog will cover the other members of the hotel industry that make the bulk of their salaries from guests’ generosity. HOUSEKEEPING STAFF Most people I have spoken to about tipping admit (sheepishly) that they often forget to leave a gratuity for the person who cleans their hotel room each day. It’s … Continue reading →

Tips On Tipping

Traveling and tipping—-the two seem to go hand-in-hand. These days tips are so customary (and expected by those in the service industry) that many people don’t realize that tipping is technically voluntary. When traveling it almost goes without saying that you should stuff your pockets full of cash and be ready to dole it out to practically every person who touches your bags, opens a door, or gives you half a grimace in the hall. The problem for me is figuring out whom to tip, how much to tip, when to tip and how to deliver a tip. The following … Continue reading →

What To Consider Before Staying At A Bed and Breakfast

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away. The holiday falls on a Wednesday this year so you can bet that Bed and Breakfast’s around the country will see brisk business on the days leading up and following February 14th. And why not? Unlike its flashy resort cousin, the B&B is known for providing a cozy, intimate, romantic experience. Well… that is if you pick the right one. The following are some points to remember before pulling out your credit card to book a room: Location. When I was doing research about B&B’s I found that Fredericksburg, Texas (population 9,000) … Continue reading →

Health-Conscious Hotels

In previous blogs I told you about how several major hotel chains including Marriott and Westin have gone nonsmoking. In addition, I’ve discussed how some hotels have implemented more rigorous cleaning procedures to combat germs. Now it seems at least one major hotel chain is taking their guests’ health concerns to a new level. Loews Hotels has just announced that they will be following the lead of a growing number of fast-food chains and the city of New York — it will ban artificial trans fats in food it offers. They make history by becoming the first hotel chain to … Continue reading →