Saturday, May 5, 2007

Travel Trends

A Monthly Column
Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large


Earth Day, The Environment, and You
April 2007

Everything feels different this earth day because finally the US Government is recognizing what some scientists and a few politicians have long argued: that everything we humans do indeed has an impact on the environment. Or as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change put it "that recent regional changes in temperature have had discernable impacts on many physical and biological systems?Observational evidence from all continents and most oceans shows that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases." Earth day somehow feels more urgent. More like a priority.

Here at Travelocity we've understood this importance. I'm proud to have been instrumental in launching Travelocity's program called Travel for Good. Among other things it was constructed to enable people to travel in a way that was ethical and responsible. Therefore we offer the opportunity for travelers to offset their travel through our Go Zero program. We hoped that by being the first in the industry to offer this program we'd start a trend. And we have. Interest in the environment, caring for it and ensuring that it will be around for generations is finally taking center stage.

This is critical to the travel industry because so many of the places in jeopardy are beloved tourist destinations. Beaches and charming seaside communities are threatened by rising oceans, glacier melting will thwart adventure travelers around the globe, wondrous flowers could become extinct along with thousands of other plant and animal species, coral reefs could disappear from our oceans -- all a result of climate change we're bringing upon ourselves.

When put like that I think any travel-loving person will realize that now is the time to act so that we prevent further destruction from happening. Forget preserving these places for our grandchildren -- don't you want to get out and experience the places you have yet to see?

I know I do. Yet I am a realist as well as a traveler. And both of these attributes are inherent to who I am. I could not give one up any more than the other. But I've discovered that I can travel in a way that is forward thinking, that is preservation minded, that is ecologically responsible - therefore combining these two very strong parts of my personality. And so can you.

The following list contains just a few of the companies in the travel sector aside from Travelocity that I've seen getting into the green. Enterprise rental cars adds fuel efficient hybrid cars to California fleet; Vail Resorts plans the largest green resort village in North America; Fairmont Hotels has a green partnership that works towards increased sustainability at all of their hotels; Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Breckenridge and Aspen all are working to contain emissions at their mountains. We should all support them and think about other ways we can cut our own carbon and reduce our footprint.

These tips will help you tread more lightly when you're on the road:
  • Don't leave the lights on in your hotel room, or the TV or the AC for that matter.
  • Don't leave your cell phone, computer, PDA, and the like plugged in. Remove all the plugs from outlets when you're not using them and you'll save energy.
  • When you're in a new place try and buy local items and eat local foods.
  • Walk or take public transport wherever possible.
  • Don't buy any endangered species items
  • Oh, and if you leave a light on at home while you are away. Be sure to make it an energy saving bulb and put it on a timer.
All of these small reductions can yield big differences in our footprint every year. So this earth day start implementing your own changes. If you need a little more inspiration, watch my friends the eco-bunnies. We can all take part in changing the world - one trip at a time.

Happy Earth Day.

For more travel tips and advice, check out Amy Ziff's blog: The Window Seat, at http://windowseat.travelocity.com. To suggest a topic for a future column or to tell about a travel experience of your own, please email Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com.

The opinion expressed in this article is not necessarily the opinion of Travelocity.


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Friday, May 4, 2007

Hotel Reviews

When Everyone's A Critic
TIME - May 2, 2007
Some of those sites, like TripAdvisor, which is dedicated to user hotel reviews, are demonstrating that this new wave of consumer empowerment is now ...

TripAdvisor Rates Nisbet Plantation One Of Its “TOP FIVE CARIBBEAN ...
Hospitality Net (press release) - 21 hours ago
“TripAdvisor hotel reviews written by past guests are one of the most influential sources of planning information for millions of travelers and to be ranked ...
For what it's worth: Hotels run TripAdvisor reviews on their sites
Travel Weekly (subscription), NJ - Apr 23, 2007
TripAdvisor, a leader in the growing field of consumer-written hotel reviews, began distributing them to hotel Web sites for free several weeks ago. ...
Practical Traveler | Online Reviews The Web Gives Hotel Guests the ...
New York Times, NY - Apr 8, 2007
For small hotel groups like his, Mr. Fant said that online hotel reviews have helped level the playing field. “I have the same exposure through these Web ...
Best Wi-Fi hotels in 2007: deals, special offers
Los Angeles Times, CA - May 1, 2007
I know that wireless internet access (and ease) is a quality they highly regard in accommodations and consider it in each of their hotel reviews. ...
What hotel ratings mean to travelers
Salt Lake Tribune, UT - Apr 28, 2007
... then compared AAA and Mobil ratings with the ratings at several travel Web sites and with Trip Advisor, a Web site that posts consumer hotel reviews. ...
Luxury Latin America Launches as New Upscale Tourism Site
PR Web (press release), WA - Apr 6, 2007
Candid and detailed hotel reviews cover only the most luxurious hotels and resorts in Latin America, from Mexico through Central and South America. ...
Las Vegas: Summer escapes from Southwest
Los Angeles Times, CA - Apr 22, 2007
NB: Read The Moveable Buffet and Richard Abowitz’s take on Las Vegas hotel reviews on TripAdvisor. Use the new message boards or our comments below to ...
LUV
Agoda Makes Olympic Effort to Support Beijing Games
Emediawire (press release), WA - Apr 20, 2007
Precision Reservations.com, PlanetHoliday.com, and hundreds of other internet sites use Agoda to provide hotel reviews and content, hotel inventory, ...
Hotel shell games
SmarterTravel.com - Apr 4, 2007
Probably the best place to start is TripAdvisor, the Internet's largest database of hotel reviews compiled by ordinary travelers. ...

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Thursday, May 3, 2007

Complete List of Online Booking Services

  • 1-2-Book Hotels
    Provides reservations through room wholesalers and global hotel chains.
    www.12bookhotels.com
  • 123 Discount Hotel Rooms
    Book online for hotels, rental cars, and more.
    www.123discounthotelrooms.com
  • 1st Choice Hotels in Las Vegas Online
    Offering online reservations.
    www.1stchoice-hotelsinlasvegasonline.com
  • 247365hotels.com
    Reservation service for hotels throughout America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
    www.247365hotels.com
  • 4 USA Hotels
    Provides online reservations for discount hotels.
    www.4usahotels.com
  • 99Venus
    Offers hotel reservation booking services for hotels in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Bali, and Indonesia.
    www.99venus.net
  • A-Z Hotels
    Offers hotel reservations worldwide.
    guide.a-z-hotels.net
  • AAA Hotels Network
    Directory of hotels and resorts around the world, includes pictures, information on rooms, facilities, rates, and discounts.
    www.aaahotels.net
  • AboutHotel.com
    Directory of hotels offering discounts in Asia, Europe, America, Australia, and Africa.
    www.abouthotel.com
  • Accommodation and Hotels Worldwide
    Offers online reservations and a directory of hotels worldwide.
    accommodation-and-hotels-worldwide.co.uk
  • Accommodation Search Engine Network
    Tool for both business and leisure travellers seeking to find the right hotel, motel, hostel, self-catering flat, bed and breakfast, and more.
    www.ase.net
  • AccommodationLine
    Booking system for hotels throughout Europe.
    www.bookeurohotels.co.uk
  • Accommodations Contact
    Hotel representative serving the Washington, DC area and most major cities throughout the United States.
    www.rooms4u.com
  • Accorhotel.com
    Provides reservation services for chain hotels with locations worldwide.
    www.accorhotel.com
  • Advance Reservations Inn Arizona
    Statewide bed and breakfast reservation service.
    www.azres.com
  • AdvanceBookings.org
    Multilingual web guide for hotels in countries around the world. Includes last-minute and advance booking offers with discounts and an interactive map of cities hotels worldwide.
    www.advancebookings.org
  • Agoda.com
    Book hotel reservations online, find member rewards programs, and read reviews for hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Americas.
    www.agoda.com
  • Airfares-Hotels-Cars.Com
    Offers online hotel reservations from an international selection.
    www.airfares-hotels-cars.com
  • AirportHotels.com
    Shop for hotel reservations near the airport and beyond. Provides low rates on rooms and suites near major airports and all points in between.
    www.airporthotels.com
  • All Cheap Hotels
    Offers property guide for low rates at hotels from boutique to luxury, includes online services.
    www.allcheaphotels.com
  • All Getaways
    Online guide to getaways and vacations with detailed descriptions, itineraries, and maps. Also offers online booking for hotels and motels.
    www.allgetaways.com
  • All Rooms Hotel Guide (1)
    dir.yahoo.com/.../Reservation_Services/All_Rooms_Hotel_Guide
  • All Travel England
    Offers accommodation search, car rental reservations, destination guides, attractions, vacation packages, and more.
    www.alltravelengland.com
  • All-Hotels.com
    Geographical meta-index worldwide. Includes booking online, hotel search, and currency converter.
    www.all-hotels.com
  • AllTheHotels.net
    Offers reservations and information services for hotels around the world.
    www.allthehotels.net
  • Alpharooms
    Online reservation system with live availability checking for hotels and holiday apartments worldwide.
    www.alpharooms.com
  • America Hotels
    Guide to hotels, motels, and travel in the U.S.
    www.americahotels.us
  • American Accommodations Network
    Online reservation service for hotels nationwide.
    www.americanhotelnetwork.com
  • Apartment Service, The
    Specialist apartment search facility and apartment guide for serviced apartment accommodation for corporate interim housing world wide.
    www.apartmentservice.com
  • ARES: Best Western Hotels, Motels and Inns
    Lodging directory and reservation service.
    bw.chain.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Days Inn Hotels, Motels & Suites
    Lodging directory and reservation service.
    di.chain.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Holiday Inn Hotels
    Online reservation service for Holiday Inns and Holiday Express hotels.
    hi.chain.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Hyatt Hotels
    Worldwide lodging directory for Hyatt Regency, Park, and Grand Hotels.
    hyatt.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Marriott Hotels and Resort Reservations
    Guide and reservation service for Marriott hotels worldwide.
    marriott.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Ramada Plaza Hotels, Inns and Limiteds
    Lodging directory and reservation service.
    ramada.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Sheraton Hotels, Suites & Resorts
    Lodging directory and reservation service.
    sheraton.hotels-us.info
  • ARES: Westin Hotels, Suites & Resorts
    Lodging directory and reservation service.
    westin.hotels-us.info
  • Asia Hotels Network
    Offers online booking for special hotel rates in Asia including Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and more.
    www.asiahotelsnet.com
  • AsiaRooms.com
    Provides online hotel and resort booking services in East and Southeast Asia.
    www.asiarooms.com
  • Astral Hotels
    Offers hotel reservations at locations worldwide.
    www.astralhotels.co.uk
  • Australia-Hotel-Reservations.com
    Offers reservations for hotels located throughout Australia.
    www.australia-hotel-reservations.com
  • B&V Apartment Hotels
    Reservation service for short term rental of studios and apartments through Western Europe.
    www.apartmenthotels.com
  • Bancotel
    Online reservations and information on accommodations in hotels worldwide.
    www.bancotel.com
  • Best Hotel Discount
    Rating guide and reservations to hotels and other lodging in major destinations worldwide.
    www.best-hotel-discount.com
  • Best Hotels & Resorts
    Offers a detailed selection of luxury properties with photos, amenities, rate information, and more.
    www.besthotelsresorts.com
  • Best Reservations
    Room reservations, meetings, convention and wedding planning, airfare, and car rental.
    www.lasvegasres.com
  • Best Vacation Deals
    Reservation on hotels in Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, and Las Vegas.
    www.bestvacationdeals.com
  • BestHotels.com
    Online booking for hotels and vacation rentals worldwide.
    www.besthotels.com
  • BidSmartForHotels.com
    Helps users generate effective hotel bidding strategies using Priceline.com.
    www.bidsmartforhotels.com
  • Book Hotel Offers
    Offers online booking of hotel accommodation in Europe.
    www.book-hotel-offers.co.uk
  • Bookings
    Offers reservation system for hotels around the world.
    www.bookings.coms.ph
  • BookThat
    Searchable online reservations database of Europe based self-catering villas, gites, and cottages with availability details.
    www.bookthat.com
  • Brand Name Hotels.com
    Offers reservations services for major hotel chains worldwide.
    www.brand-name-hotels.com
  • Break Away
    Provides online availability checking and reservation service for hotels in the U.K.
    www.breakaways.co.uk
  • Camelot International
    Representing London hotels, luxury apartments, small country hotels, stately homes and castles.
    www.camelotintl.com/index.html
  • Capital City Reservations
    Worldwide hotel reservations, serviced apartment bookings, and restaurant guides.
    www.capitalcityone.com
  • Caribbean Trip
    Reservation referral engine for Caribbean hotels, resorts, and villas searchable by island with reviews, message boards, and lodging information.
    www.caribbeantrip.com
  • Caribbean Vacation Network
    Offers accommodation reservation services for hotels, resorts, and more in Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and St. Lucia.
    www.caribbeanmagic.com
  • Central Reservation Service
    Free hotel reservations in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Orlando, Miami, and other cities.
    www.crshotels.com
  • Cheap-Hotel-Rates.net
    Offers accommodations throughout the world. Online and toll free reservations available.
    www.cheap-hotel-rates.net
  • CheapAccommodation.com
    Compare prices and make reservations at hotels around the world at CheapAccomodation.com. Find deals on rooms at B&Bs, villas, apartments, hostels, and resorts.
    www.cheapaccommodation.com
  • Cheaphotels.ie
    Offers discounts on hotels in Ireland and worldwide.
    www.cheaphotels.ie
  • Check-in
    Offers last minute hotel deals for accommodation in Australia.
    www.check-in.com.au
  • cheephotels.co.uk
    Offers reduced rates on accommodation in cities throughout Europe, as well as other locations worldwide.
    www.cheephotels.co.uk
  • Chic Retreats
    Stay at carefully chosen boutique and hip hotels and villas with no more than 30 rooms. Chic Retreats members are entitled to many benefits, including reduced rates, upgrades, complimentary dinners, and other exclusive offers.
    www.chicretreats.com
  • Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH)
    Make a reservation online at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Clarion Hotel and Resort, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, or Rodeway Inn worldwide.
    www.choicehotels.com
  • Choose Hotels
    Offering reservations for accommodations worldwide.
    www.choosehotels.com
  • Chopsticks Travel Network
    Offers hotel discounts and affiliate bookings for Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States.
    www.chopsticks.com
  • Christian Stukenberg Travel Consulting & Hotel Marketing
    Offers a database of hotels in Germany.
    www.cst-online.com
  • City Reservations
    Provider of hotel reservations for the United States and Canada.
    www.cityreservations.com
  • Clever Traveler
    Offers discounted hotel, condo, and limo reservations for domestic and international locations, as well as destination guides.
    www.clevertraveler.com
  • Click and Go Now
    Offers worldwide reservations, car hire, and more.
    www.clickandgonow.com
  • CNG Travel Group (3)
    dir.yahoo.com/.../Reservation_Services/CNG_Travel_Group
  • Colby International
    Specializing in bed and breakfast and apartment rentals in the USA and Europe.
    www.colbyintl.com
  • Colours Destinations
    Reservation center for gay and lesbian travellers. With info on Hotel Colours in Costa Rica and several hotels in Miami's South Beach and Key West.
    www.colours.net
  • Copenhagen à la Carte Hotel Packages
    Offers hotel packages in Copenhagen and Malmö, including free boat tours, and admission to the sights.
    www.copenhagenalacarte.dk
  • Cosmotourist Travel & Hotel Reviews
    Cosmotourist helps travelers prepare and plan trips around the globe. Travel information provided by users and editors along with online hotel reservations.
    www.cosmotourist.com
  • Cross-Pacific.com
    With database of hotels around the world categorized by room rate.
    www.cross-pacific.com
  • CTPlanner
    Full-service travel agency providing online booking for luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.
    www.ctplanner.com
  • Deals On Hotels.com
    Search for discounts on hotels and make online hotel reservations.
    www.dealsonhotels.com
  • Design Hotels International
    International consortium of hotels of distinctive architecture and interior design.
    www.designhotels.com
  • Destinia Hotel Reservations
    Search and book hotels worldwide, with online availability, discount reservations, full information, photos, and reviews. Also offers car rental, flights, and destination guides.
    destinia.com/hotels/en
  • Direct to Hotel
    Make hotel reservations to major hotel chains throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
    www.direct-to-hotel.com
  • Discount Hotel Reservation
    Worldwide hotel, bed and breakfast, and apartment reservation service. Also offers online booking for tours and attractions.
    www.discounthotelreservation.org
  • Discount Hotel Reservations
    Allows people to find hotel rates in cities worldwide. Features rates for special events and sold-out dates.
    www.discounthotelreservations.net
  • Discount Hotels & Hotel Reservations
    Discounted rates and online reservations for hotel rooms, airline tickets, and car rentals.
    www.discount-hotels-hotel-reservations.com
  • Discount Hotels and Hotel Chains
    Offers online reservations for luxury hotels to budget hotel chains.
    www.discount-hotels-hotel-chains.com
  • Discount Hotels and Motels
    Discount reservations for hotels and motels worldwide.
    discount.hotels-us.info
  • Discount-Lodging.com
    Provides online and toll-free reservations for hotels, motels, and resorts.
    www.discount-lodging.com
  • DiscountSuite.com
    Lists family friendly suite hotels, including recommendations and the ability to book online.
    www.discountsuite.com
  • Discover Hotels
    Offers online reservations for hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts worldwide. Also features guides, special offers, and more.
    www.discover-hotels.info
  • E-Hotel Booking Centre
    Offers booking services for city and resort hotels in the Pacific Rim.
    www.e-hotelbooking.com
  • Easi Book
    Offers hotel booking services and discounts at corporate rates for business travellers in the U.K. and Europe.
    www.easibookinfo.co.uk
  • EcoRes Travel Limited
    Promoting and booking ecolodge and adventure resort based vacations throughout the world.
    www.eco-res.com
  • Electronic Representation Services, Inc.
    Is a travel reservation service for hotels, motels, inns, condominiums, suites, resorts and other lodging properties
    www.erslodging.com
  • Elegant Resorts
    Offers car and hotel online reservations.
    www.elegantresorts.com
  • Elite International Hotel Sales and Marketing
    Specializes in marketing and reservations for fine hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, and other travel related services.
    www.eliteluxurytravel.com
  • Escapade
    Offers online reservations for vacation rentals and hotels in Spain, France, Andorra, Florida, the Caribbean, and more.
    www.escapade.es
  • Eurohotels
    Offers worldwide database of hotels and reservation services.
    www.eurohotels.com
  • European Hotels Representation
    Reservation services for a collection of hotels in Europe and South America.
    www.europeanhotels.com
  • Excelloz.com
    Features travel reviews and reservations to hotels in Asia, Europe, and the world.
    www.excelloz.com
  • ExploreTheGreatOutdoors.com
    Provides links to centralized camping reservation systems for U.S. state parks.
    www.explorethegreatoutdoors.com
  • Expotel Interactive
    Find and book hotels around the world.
    www.expotel.co.uk
  • Express Hotel Reservations
    Booking service for hotel reservations featuring personalized interaction, competitive prices, and no prepayments.
    www.express-res.com
  • fast HOTEL search
    Lists hotels worldwide and offers online bookings.
    www.fast-hotel-search.com
  • FASTnet Hotels & Travel Online
    Offering online booking on worldwide accommodations, specials, car rentals, and country information.
    www.fastnet.com.au
  • Five Star Alliance
    Searchable directory of worldwide luxury hotels with personalized recommendations and online booking.
    www.fivestaralliance.com
  • Four Corners Hotels
    Discounted reservations at first class hotels worldwide. Four Corners Hotels provides lodging deals for popular destinations.
    www.fourcornershotels.com
  • Freeroomz
    Discounted hotel rooms with real time availability and secure online reservations.
    www.freeroomz.com
  • FuntastikTravel America
    Offers reservation services throughout the U.S. and the world.
    www.funtastiktravel.com
  • GORP Places to Stay
    Searchable or browsable selection of hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, and resorts worldwide.
    gorp.worldres.com
  • Great Escapes Hotels
    Features online reservation services to a collection of luxury getaways, resorts, and designer hotels around the world.
    www.great-escapes-hotels.com
  • Great Hotels Online
    Offers hotel reservation services including real-time preferred rates, latest room availability, and online booking worldwide.
    www.greathotelsonline.com
  • Greek Reservation Services
    Hotel reservation service based in Greece offering services to book hotels, ferry boat tickets, and rental cars.
    www.grstravel.com
  • GTA Hotels: Gulliver's Hotels and Tours
    Offers rating, description, pricing, and more for hotels all over Europe, including Turkey, Greece, Spain, and Romania. Also includes a searchable database.
    www.gtahotels.com
  • Guide-to-Hotel.com
    Hotel reservations service for lower bandwith viewing.
    www.guide-to-hotel.com
  • guide2hotel.com
    Hotel directory featuring thousands of pictures, video presentations, and an online booking feature.
    www.guide2hotel.com
  • Holiday Accommodation
    Offers apartments, villas with pools, and hotels, in Europe, Mexico, and Florida.
    www.holiday-accomm.com
  • Hong Kong Hotels
    Lists rates and offers the opportunity to reserve rooms.
    www.hk-hotel.com
  • Horse XXI
    Offering free hotel reservations.
    www.horse21.net
  • Hot Rate Hotels
    Offers online hotel reservations to discounted hotels across America.
    www.hotratehotels.com
  • Hotel Accommodations Online
    Provides hotel information and reservations worldwide.
    www.hotelaccommodations.com
  • Hotel Detective
    Provides a worldwide reservation service for hotels, bed and breakfasts, and apartments with ratings and reviews.
    www.hoteldetective.net
  • Hotel Express International
    Offering worldwide reservations and a membership discount program.
    www.hot-ex.com
  • Hotel Insider
    Reservations, online bookings, travel shop, books, and more.
    www.hotelinsider.com
  • Hotel Plus Destination Portal
    Offers listings for hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts throughout the world.
    www.hotelplusportal.com
  • Hotel Reservation Services
    Offers reservations for hotels in New York City, Miami, Orlando, and Hawaii.
    www.hotelresservice.com
  • Hotel Reservations
    Offers reservations for cars, hotels, airlines, and more.
    www.hotelreservations.com
  • Hotel Reservations Discounts
    Offers hotel reservations in major cities such as New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, and more.
    www.hotel-reservations-discounts.net
  • Hotel Results
    Offering discount hotel rates in major international cities.
    www.hotelresults.com
  • Hotel Travel.com
    Offering local guides and accommodation information for destinations throughout Asia.
    www.hoteltravel.com
  • Hotel-Discounts.ch
    Hotel reservations in cities across the USA, Canada, and Europe.
    www.hotel-discounts.ch
  • Hotel-Hotline.com
    Offers information and toll free numbers.
    www.hotel-hotline.com
  • Hotel-Rates.com
    Offers hotel rates worldwide. Online and toll-free reservation services available.
    www.hotel-rates.com
  • Hotel.com
    Featuring listings for hotels in major cities worldwide.
    www.hotel.com
  • Hotel.us
    Provides discount hotel reservations online and by phone.
    www.hotel.us
  • HotelAdvice.com
    Directory and booking service for hotels worldwide.
    www.hoteladvice.com
  • HotelBook
    Hotel reservations for business or leisure travel worldwide.
    www.utell.com
  • HotelCenter-USA.com
    Online hotel reservation service allows booking of accommodations across the United States and Canada.
    www.hotelcenter-usa.com
  • HotelChatter
    Collaborative web publication for travelers who research and purchase hotel reservations online.
    www.hotelchatter.com
  • Hotelcity.com
    A directory of hotels and guest houses worldwide. Features online reservations, local information on each country including links for weather, currency rates, maps etc and comments from other travellers.
    www.hotelcity.com
  • HotelCoupons.com
    Discount coupons for hotels, motels, and special attractions in the U.S.
    www.hotelcoupons.com
  • HotelDiscounts.com (1)
    dir.yahoo.com/.../Reservation_Services/HotelDiscounts_com
  • HotelGuide.com
    Searchable international directory for hotels and other types of lodging.
    www.hotelguide.com
  • HotelHotline.com
    Provides discount reservations and a directory of hotels and resorts worldwide.
    www.hotelhotline.com
  • HotelLeisure.com
    Offers online hotel reservation services for special rates in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.
    www.hotelleisure.com
  • HotelLocators.com
    Make hotel reservations for cities across the United States.
    www.hotellocators.com
  • Hoteloverview
    Offers online booking with photos, detailed descriptions, locations, and availability for hotels worldwide.
    www.hoteloverview.com
  • HotelPriceWatch.com
    Online reservation system for hotels worldwide.
    www.hotelpricewatch.com
  • HotelQuest.com
    Provides online reservation service for hotels in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
    www.hotel-quest.com
  • Hotels 2k
    Directory of hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, farm holidays, and other lodging offering online booking across Europe.
    www.hotels-2k.com
  • Hotels Abroad
    Offering hotels located in Western Europe.
    www.hotelsabroad.com
  • Hotels and Discounts
    Offers discounted hotel accommodations throughout the world. Includes city destination guides.
    www.hotels-and-discounts.com
  • Hotels Area
    Book online reservations for hotels, bed and breakfasts, and several other types of accommodations all over the world.
    www.hotelsarea.com
  • Hotels By City
    Offers online hotel reservations.
    www.hotelsbycity.net
  • Hotels Combined
    Multi-site hotel rate comparison engine that lets users find the lowest rate and displays all hotel information on single page.
    www.hotelscombined.com
  • Hotels Express
    Provides online worldwide discount hotel reservations.
    www.hotels-express.co.uk
  • Hotels Online
    Online hotel reservation service, allowing users to book hotels from around the world.
    www.hotelsonline.net
  • Hotels Reviewed
    Features reviews and a hotel rating system.
    www.hotelsreviewed.com
  • Hotels Search Engine
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My Hotel Advisor

Seven Amazing Travel Secrets

By Donna Rosato
Money Magazine at CNNMoney.com

When I travel, I almost always get an aisle seat in the front of the plane. I never have a problem upgrading to a nicer room at hotels. And I often drive away from the rental-car lot in something a lot snazzier than the tiny hatchback I paid for online.

How do I do it? It's not what you think.

Yes, I've covered the travel industry for more than a decade, and I've interviewed hundreds of road warriors (and, years ago, was one myself), but I'm not a big frequent flier, and I don't ask my contacts in the travel world for favors. It's just that I've learned how to game the system.

Go to CNNMoney.com to view the slideshow.
travel

In the wake of this doozy of a holiday travel season, my colleagues and many readers urged me to share some of my best tips.

Each of them has saved me time, money and aggravation whenever I've had to leave home, and led to a better business trip or vacation. There's no reason they can't do the same for you. You don't even need a cape.

Speed Through the Airport

"Tell me if this sounds familiar: You pack everything the night before, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and arrive with more than an hour to spare before it's time to board your flight.

Then you see the security line: hundreds of people corralled into a double-back snake that makes your local DMV look like a model of efficiency. The last thing you want to do is join that line.

So don't. That's probably not the only way to your gate. Hundreds of people can't be wrong. Yes, they can. Many large airports have additional screening points that, while a little out of the way, more than make up for the inconvenience by being rarely used.

So how do you know whether the airport you fly out of has a "secret" security line? The battle's won before it's even fought: Log on to the Transportation Security Administration's Web site, which lists security checkpoints at every U.S. airport and publishes average wait times by the hour at wait-time. (tsa.dhs.gov)

There you can find out that, for example, the wait time at Newark Airport's Terminal C, Checkpoint 2 is an average of 11 minutes at 10 a.m. on a Sunday. At Checkpoint 1? Two minutes.

It helps to know your airport's layout too. In general, airports shaped like a horseshoe (such as Dallas/Fort Worth International) have multiple screening points. If the terminals are connected beyond security, you can enter through the least busy line and make your way back to your gate.

At airports with one central security checkpoint (such as Denver), the shorter lines are usually the ones at the outer edges, away from where most of the traffic is funneled.

And airports with hotels attached, such as Detroit Metro (the Westin) or Dallas/Fort Worth (the Hyatt), often have a separate security entrance for hotel guests, but anyone can use it.

Scoring a Room in a Sold-Out Hotel

You know those convenient 800 numbers that every hotel chain has to connect you to their centralized reservation centers? Ditch 'em. The people in a call center in Omaha don't have the power to manipulate a particular hotel's inventory the way managers who are on-site do.

Instead, figure out which hotel you want to stay at and call it directly. If you're still out of luck, consider a reseller's Web site. Hotels, like airlines, overbook reservations because they know that not everyone is going to show up. But some of their inventory goes to third-party travel sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and Travelocity, which contract with hotels ahead of time to sell a preset block of rooms.

Last August, I was looking for a room in Chicago in October (I was running in a marathon). I searched several sites, and at Quikbook.com I found a room at Kimpton's Hotel Allegro -- it turned out to be 1 1/2 miles from the starting line. Even better, the Quikbook rate ($184 a night) was $20 cheaper than the hotel's group rate, which was no longer being offered.

Upgrade Your Room Without Paying More

Scoring a hotel room upgrade is all about timing. It's going to be easier during slower times, surely, but it also makes a difference when you ask for the upgrade.

A few seconds at check-in can make all the difference. If you wait for the front-desk person to hand you a key, you're likely to get the least fancy accommodations. But if you make nice, telling them it's a special occasion or that you have a lot of work to do, and you do this before they've locked you into a particular room, it's much easier for the agent to hook you up.

Even if that moment has passed, all is not lost. Two years ago, when my husband and I went to St. Thomas for his birthday, our original room was a dark cave directly above a noisy outdoor bar. A quick trip back downstairs, a little explaining that it was a special occasion (while kicking myself that I hadn't mentioned this when I checked in), and we were reassigned a room with an ocean view and a private balcony.

Get the Most for Your Miles

Randy Petersen is the master of frequent-flier miles. As the editor of InsideFlyer and WebFlyer.com, he'd better be.

I asked Randy about reward travel, and he said he has one cardinal rule: If you don't find what you want online, talk to a live person. You may have to pay a fee to talk to an airline reservation agent, but it's worth it: Your odds of getting what you want greatly increase.

That's because airline reservation agents can access inventory from partner airlines. This is something that you can't do online. They can also easily try different routings, using connecting flights or alternative airports.

Booking in advance is helpful too, but even if you don't need to have your travel plans figured out a year ahead, you can still take advantage of the way the system works.

Most airlines make seats available 330 days in advance, but frequent-flier inventory isn't always loaded into reservation systems that early. According to Petersen, the sweet spot for finding open seats to go with those miles is three to six months ahead of your trip, which is a lot more realistic than planning a year ahead anyway.

A First-Class Seat for a Coach Price

The airlines have a secret. Actually, they have several, but this one's the most useful: In many cases, you can buy a first-class ticket for little more than the walk-up coach fare. The trick is searching for a fare code designation that's called a "Y-up" or a "Q-up."

How do you find these magical fares? Check out FareCompare.com, which has an online tool that searches specifically for them. Recently I was able to nab a first-class seat from New York to Atlanta for $649 -- only $100 more than the available coach fare.

Y- and Q-ups won't be cheap when compared with advance-purchase fares, but they're not much more than a last-minute coach ticket. Search for the fare yourself, then suggest it to your corporate travel office -- they may not even notice.

Upgrade Your Rental Car for Free

Whenever I need a rental car, I pay no attention to the different vehicles offered on a rental web site and book the cheapest car available. It's not that I love econo-boxes but that I know I'm likely to get upgraded to a better car for little or no extra cost.

Rental-car companies overbook, just like airlines, and the economy cars are usually the first to go. By booking the most popular model, you're likely to get a better car without even asking for it.

What day you're walking onto the lot can also make a difference: In big cities, companies that rent cars to business travelers during the week will often hand you the keys to a nicer car at no charge if you show up in the middle of the day or early in the week -- when most business travelers have cars out.

And the reverse is true at resort destinations, which do the bulk of their business on weekends. The best time to score a free upgrade there is on Saturday afternoon, when most of the lower-end cars have been rented out.

Play the Bumping Game

Overbooked flights are becoming more common. The number of people bumped from a flight jumped 24 percent from January through September last year (the latest statistics available from the Department of Transportation) -- but if you have some flexibility in your schedule, you can score free tickets and some nice perks in exchange for giving up your seat.

When you get to your gate, ask if the flight is overbooked. If it is, ask what the airline's initial offer is and get on the volunteer list. Being on this list doesn't obligate you to take what the airline is offering; it just gives you the right of first refusal.

If you don't like the compensation package, decline it and either stay on your scheduled flight or see if the package increases when the airline makes an offer to your fellow travelers. This is your chance to hold out for big money, since gate agents can sweeten the pot until they get enough volunteers.

Also, keep in mind other flights that are headed to your destination, including connecting flights and flights to neighboring airports (they may be more convenient than what the airline suggests).

If you're offered a free ticket, ask if it has any restrictions, like expiration or blackout dates, and make sure you get a confirmed seat on your next flight -- you don't want to give up one seat just to get involuntarily bumped from another.

If Your Flight is Canceled...

Call the airline's reservation number immediately (program it into your cell's speed dial before you leave). You'll get rebooked faster than if you wait in line at the gate.

Booking a Flight in Three Easy Steps

There are tons of Web sites out there looking for your dollars. Instead of searching all of them, I simply take these three steps in sequence. When I've gone through all of them, I know I've got the best deal, and I didn't spend hours to find it.

1. Surf smart. Your Web browser has a cache, a short-term memory of recently visited sites. If you don't empty it before you search, you may be looking at an out-of-date Web page and won't find the best deals available. Look under your File or Preferences menu and select "Empty cache" before you browse.

2. Use a fare search engine. Instead of constantly flipping between the Big Three travel sites (Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity), go to Kayak.com, which searches 120 travel and airline sites and doesn't charge any booking fees.

3. Confirm your price. Once you've found your flight, go to that airline's Web site and search for the same dates and times, just to make sure you're not missing out on an exclusive deal that's available only through its site.

If You Get Stuck in a Middle Seat...

Check in online as early as possible (usually one day before departure) to see if new seats are available. If not, ask at the gate; airlines release more seats before takeoff.

If the Airline Has Lost Your Luggage...

File a report at the airport and get the local number of the lost-baggage office to check in. Forget the national 800 number; that office could be thousands of miles away.




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Atos Origin renews Premier Travel Inn contract agreement Consultant News
Premier Travl Inn renews payment processing deal with Atos ComputerworldUK
all 7 news articles » EPA:ATO - LON:WTB

AME Info (press release)
Dry hotel chain plants new property
ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates - 7 hours ago
Flora Group Hotels has joined the strong contingent of chains launching residential-style properties in Dubai at this year's Arabian Travel Market. ...
Planet Group Launched At The Arabian Travel Market 2007 Middle East Events (press release)
Planet Group launched at the Arabian Travel Market 2007 AME Info (press release)
Flora Group Hotels unveils sixth Dubai property AME Info (press release)
AME Info (press release)
all 5 news articles » SEA:PPT

The Southern
Popular guide to cheap travel turns 50
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, CA - 8 hours ago
"The dollar a day concept doesn't make sense when it costs $100 a day if you're lucky to find a hotel room," said Michael Spring, Frommer's publisher at ...
Travel guides mark 50th year Myrtle Beach Sun News
Remembering ‘Europe on 5 Dollars a Day‘ The Benton Crier
all 27 news articles »
Shula's Hotel Scores With Switch to TravelCLICK for Comprehensive ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 23 hours ago
TravelCLICK's Travel Agent Media Preferred Placement will enable Shula's Hotel to gain a global presence and capture the attention of travel agents at the ...

XPRESS
Hotels Still Big Business
XPRESS, United Arab Emirates - 2 hours ago
Confidence in Dubai’s hospitality sector was evident at the Arabian Travel Market where a range of luxury hotels and new hotel chains, like Singapore hotel ...
Japan unveils increased Middle East investment at Arabian Travel ... AME Info (press release)
Japan plans ME investment boost Middle East North Africa Financial Network
Japan plans Mideast investment boost Gulf News
Travel & Tourism News Middle East - ArabianBusiness.com
all 7 news articles »
Top tourism operators push state for more support
MLive.com, MI - 9 hours ago
Travel Michigan is the state agency that promotes tourism. Steve Yencich, president and CEO of the Michigan Hotel, Motel & Resort Association, ...
Tourism: $30M for new ads DetNews.com
Coalition seeks more money to target Cheboygan Daily Tribune (subscription)
Michigan Hopes to Increase Tourism WNDU-TV
all 13 news articles »
Business flyers ponder hotel location
Just the Flight, UK - 19 hours ago
... findings from the 11th Barclaycard Business Travel Survey have suggested that 75 per cent of business travellers prefer a good location for their hotel, ...


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