Archive for the ‘Hotel Deal’ Category

8 Tips For An Affordable Yacht Charter Vacation

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Chartering a private yacht for a vacation may sound like something only the rich and famous can do, but the truth is that it can be quite affordable, in fact even less expensive than staying in a hotel for a week.

Here are 8 ways that can help you save a bit of money and still have that perfect vacation:

1. Travel with friends. Getting a bunch of people together to share the costs is always a great strategy for keeping expenses down, whether you rent a villa or charter a yacht. I recently found a luxury catamaran (bareboat) in the Seychelles that sleeps 12 for $4,825/week - that’s $402/person!

2. Take advantage of the weak economy. Many boat owners and charter companies are faced with fewer bookings and are consequently cutting rates and running specials. One way to stay up to date with the latest offerings is to sign up for newsletters from charter companies, magazines and other publications from the part of the world you are interested in.

3. Negotiate the price. Again, thanks to the less than stellar economic climate, prices are not set in stone, even if you charter through a company. Also ask about the hidden or extra costs - can they be included in the listing price?

4. Save on airfare. Many charter companies have special deals with airlines flying to their charter base - make sure to ask before booking anything.

5. Last minute charters. If your schedule is flexible, you can save quite a bit by booking a charter last minute. You may hear about them in the newsletters mentioned above, or set up a few Google alerts to make sure you get the latest offers to your inbox in a timely manner.

6. Travel during shoulder season (in between high and off season). This is the best time to travel: the weather will still be nice, but the crowds are gone, and prices on everything will have gone down. If you’re going to the Mediterranean, consider traveling in September or early October. For the Caribbean, late April to mid-June is the best time.

7. Early boarding. Typically, you arrive at the charter base the night before the charter start date and have to spend the first night in a hotel. Ask if you can get “early boarding” or “evening boarding”. There might be a small fee for it, but it’ll be less than a hotel room, plus you save yourself the inconvenience of having to unpack and pack things twice.

8. Exchange boats. Swapping homes has been a popular way to vacation for decades now, and this great, affordable way to vacation has caught on in the boating communities around the world. If you don’t own a boat yourself, but if you’re an experienced boater (you’ll need documentation to prove it of course), see if you can do a home/boat swap: your home for someone’s boat for a week (or longer).

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Where to Look For Cheap Hotel Rates

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

Everywhere you go when you are trying to make your travel plans is offering cheap hotel rates. Have you ever compared them to the actual rates at the hotel? Sometimes you will find these websites are the same or even more expensive. Now what would be the point of booking with a third party, as opposed to the hotel, if you were not saving money. Here is how to find real cheap hotel rates without spending hours looking for them.

The first thing you want to do is go to the terms of the website you are on and make sure they are offering a price match policy. It is not that you will constantly find lower prices and that you will need them matched, what that means is the website is in control of their pricing. If they are not in control of their pricing then they won’t match. The reason is the hotel will actually be billing you and the website can’t do anything about the price.

Next make sure that you are paying for the room up front. This is not a cheap hotel rate if you are paying when you get to the hotel. The websites offering true cheap hotel rates will require you to prepay because that is what they have done. If you are paying when you arrive then you have booked a hotel through the hotel, regardless of where you saw the rate. These rates are not discounted and you either need to find another website or book directly through the hotel.

The number one mistake people make when trying to compare prices is to look at the nightly rate. The nightly rate is not what you want to compare. There are a lot of different taxes and fees that you pay with a hotel room. The best way to find out is to go through like you are going to book and compare the final totals to eachother.

That is really all there is to identifying cheap hotel rates websites and comparing prices. Now just go book your room, as soon as possible. The earlier you book the more money you will save.

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How To Find Best Hotel Deals And Cheap Holidays

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Finding a hotel with low cost and convenient location is definitely something we all consider while searching for cheap package holidays abroad, flights or cruises. When it comes to traveling in major cities or popular attractions, visitors are bound to shell out more money if the hotel is closer to the city or attraction point.

Staying in the suburbs is often considered to be the best way to save money. But, it might cost you more in terms of time wasted in reaching a place, or an additional money spent on gasoline. Travelers should make sure to compute all these costs so that they do not end up spending really low but on a less convenient hotel.

There are many last minute all inclusive holiday deals available through which you can save big bucks at hotels without compromising on quality and commuting factor. If you are a defence officer, or have a senior citizen status, you are entitled to family discounts when booking hotel rooms. There are many credit cards and auto clubs like offering discount schemes to their members. So, before you check in to a hotel room, enquire about the available discounts.

Most of us don’t know that self catering cottages and hotels have some reserved low cost rooms that are available at low prices. If you try to book the last room at a hotel, it will be costly than the first one. So, try to shop for a hotel room as early as possible to get the best deal. But living in a budget hotel should not mean compromising with the safety and cleanliness options. Make sure that the hotel is situated at a good place and has high standards of hygiene.

Before you book a luxury hotel, if possible, check out the nearby attractions and proximity of the place from restaurants. This will save you from staying at a dangerous and a far away neighbourhood.

For finding a bargain hotel, it is always advisable to consider recommendations of others who have been to that particular place. They are the best source to tell about the safety, quality standards as well as services of the hotel. Who knows you can even get to know the name of the finest restaurant or a cheap shopping area.

Internet is another option for getting information about hotel bargains. Many hotels feature pictures of their rooms, tariff, available packages and sometimes the route map. The information will definitely make your task of finding a good hotel easier. Along with this, there are many websites where travelers post reviews about a place or a hotel. You can also consider their suggestions before booking a late hotel room in the winter or summer.

Finding a good budget hotel near the beach or attraction point is not at all a difficult task, if you will seek help from all the discussed sources. This will not only save your money, but also double the entire holiday experience.

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Italy Budget Holiday

Monday, April 20th, 2009

The toughest question that is asked by everyone prior to planning an outing is “what destination we should go for holidays?” Undoubtedly there are several spots in the world which are worth seeing but Italy is acknowledged to be in the wish list of many people because of several reasons.

Magnificent cultural attractions and historical monuments make Italy the most sought after pick for countless travelers. Italians are exceedingly affable and their generosity attracts people to visit this place year by year. The climate is amazing, and you would find the finest beaches of the world here. The list of attractions in Italy is infinite. For budget travelers, Italy is again the place that has quality budget accommodation. The top hotels in Italy offer cheap accommodation with state of the art facilities.

Italy is a significant place. Colosseum in Campitelli and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento are two historic places worth seeing for persons who are keen to know about the wonderful empire of Romans. Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola in Napoli are two most legendary places of Italy that should be visited by all visitors. For religious persons, Vatican City is an inspirational place which gives religious feelings.

For people who are interested in open-air adventure, Italy offers a tour of countryside and farmland. These places are rich in many ways; you would find famous vineyards and oil groves here.

Travelling in Italy is enjoyable and you have comfort to employ a car and access remote places. Nevertheless, the petrol costs are probable to be repellent and therefore it is not a simple alternative. Train is known to be the most convenient and cheaper alternative to go around and it also gives you chance to mix with locals.

Italy is one of the places where you would find most delicious foods of the world. Italian cuisine can be very expensive and it varies extensively between different areas in the country.

However, for budget visitors it is always a useful idea to obtain the ingredients of their selection from the market and cook at their own. Cafes do present amazing recipes and dishes, but at the same time they are extraordinarily high-priced principally for budget travellers.

Booking your budget holiday for Italy can be difficult. However, in today’s world you have plenty of options to choose the best deal and package. You can take services of travel agent who would offer you a package deal with air flight, accommodation, airport transfer, and car hiring. This is the best option for people who are busy and don’t have enough time to book their holidays. You may have to spend a little extra but it is always worth getting in return.

The internet is a wonderful source of getting your wanted information. Booking budget holidays through internet is one of the most excellent and recommended alternative for each person. You can browse inexpensive holiday deals of various places in Italy. Not to mention, there are a lot of companies and agents prepared to assist you if you are not sure what should be your priority in booking your dream holiday.

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Steps To Find Cheap Holidays to Spain

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Spain is one the most admired destinations for holidays. Each year thousands of tourists go to Spain to observe its remarkable culture and marvellous beauty. Spain had been home to many civilisations, and each realm left a part of their customs in Spain which made Spain a multicultural land. Nevertheless, Spain still has an elite culture which is a blend of these cultures.

Each year thousands of people plan their holiday trips to Spain to get a fun filled holiday with lots of sightseeing and relaxation. However, most people think that holiday trips to Spain are very expensive and that ordinary people can’t afford them. Well, this may be somewhat right as luxurious trips to Spain are very expensive and only those with plenty of cash with them can afford these trips.

However, you should not let down your hopes because not all trips to Spain are costly let apart the extravagance ones. Due to the development in the tourism industry in Spain, most travelling agencies have started to offer high luxury holiday packages which are why the holidays to Spain are measured comparatively costly. These packages are highly advertised which is why most people notice them and their high prices. The reality is that there are still many low-priced holiday trips available to Spain and anyone can find them with just a little effort.

The most vital and largest source for congregation of information is the internet. You can search about anything on the internet and inexpensive holiday trips to Spain are no omission to this experience. There are many websites which provide information about how to get cheap holiday packages to Spain, and also describe the proper process as well as providing a huge database of places to visit in Spain.

You can also find the websites of various travelling agencies which have all information about their procedures, rates, and package features. Thus, you can search these websites and compare different packages and analyze them in terms of cost effectiveness. Everyone has the common sense of judging what would be beneficial for them. Thus, you can use these websites and get all the information about any package, and compare it with other packages to get the best deal.

There are various other ways by which you can manage your travelling expenditures to minimise the cost of the holiday. There are a few things which take most of your travelling budget such as accommodation, airfares, food, and transportation costs. Thus, by controlling them you can control the budget and make a cheap trip to Spain.

Accommodation takes most of the fiscal plan for a tour. These days’ hotels are very costly and thus opting for a high luxury hotel is totally out of question. However, there are a lot of other options available which can decrease accommodation costs appreciably. For example, instead of staying in a high-priced hotel, you can simply go for a regular hotel or holiday rentals which are cheap and provide rational comfort.

Airfares are also one of the major cost controlling factors in a holiday trip. You can simply choose inexpensive flights in order to compromise high luxury for lower fares. Nevertheless, they still offer reasonable comfort and facilities to their passengers.

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Vacations You Can Buy For Cheap

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

We all benefit from a vacation from time to time. However, in an economy crisis, vacationing can be a financial challenge if you don’t plan with a mind for saving. Cost is always a factor, but there are ways that a family can still enjoy their vacation without breaking the piggy bank.

Here’s how:

1. There are a few great travel discount websites like Hotwire.com and Priceline.com what give you an opportunity to get the lowest possible rates for hotel rooms, car rentals, and flights. If you don’t stress over the name of the hotel but want to be sure to get the quality, these websites offer a fabulous option. You can expect to save up to 70% off!

2. Think about doing a home trade. People all over the world are willing to trade their home with another family for a period of time so that each family can vacate in the area of their choice. You could possibly explore the beautiful city of Paris or the historical streets of London without paying a dime for a hotel! There are also websites for people that are interested in swapping houses. However, always do your homework before going or letting someone come into your home. Get references, do what you need to do to protect your valuables, and always make sure to get photos and area information before making any agreements. Safety is much more important than saving a few bucks.

3. Consider listening to a time-share pitch. These 2 hour meetings are worth every moment that you get to spend in the luxury hotel that they usually put you up in. Many times, they will throw in a show or free dinner for two. Remember, just because you listen to someone trying to sell you on the idea for a couple of hours doesn’t mean that you have to actually buy. But, if you do decide to go into it, time-shares are another way of possibly saving on vacations and future travel.

4. Vacation clubs and rewards programs are fabulous! With reward programs, people can take advantage of all types of possible opportunities for saving. Cost-conscious vacation shoppers can earn points or money toward future travel perks such as free hotel stays, upgrades on flights or car rentals, or other freebies just buy signing up for a FREE rewards program. Another option for saving is the tried-and-true vacation club. With these clubs, you can tuck away a few dollars every pay period to save for a vacation. That way, it’s not a big financial hit and you can use your money during the time of year when you can get the best possible vacation deal!

About the Author:

Stop by at:  www.makeendsmeetonline.com and collect a FREE Ebook called “15 Top Ways To Save Money” written by Alexandra Vrugt.

A Help for Finding Cheap Holidays

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Our daily life is hectic and from our busy schedule we can’t extract much time for fun. Holiday is what we all await every year for relaxation and joy. Planning a holiday is a big challenge; it can be expensive if you don’t know how to shop around the best deal. We all have two options; one is to take the services of a travel agent or do everything by ourselves. We will look here what may be the cheaper option for people who are planning to go for holidays.

First off, things depend on the entity needs of people planning to go for a vacation. Keep in mind that there may be two parties involved when you are going to book for your holidays. You might be dealing with a representative but that agent really buys rooms from tour operators. You sometimes have to pay more because the travel mediator might not have the room you are looking for and he might sell you two rooms to cover your family’s needs. In such cases dealing directly with trip operator can be a good choice or you can directly book your room with the hotel. It will save you a lot of money and you would also get what you are expecting in your perfect holiday housing.

Dealing directly with the hotel is always the best option as there is no third party involved. You get what you ask and you don’t have any doubt if you are misguided or being told lies. Booking directly is cheaper and you also can be benefited with best deals and discounts.

For people who do not have time to book for their holidays, travel agent is the best option for them to stay stress-free. A travel agent comes with a package deal, including flight, hotel, airport transfer and car. You may have to pay a little more but it is worth of the facilities and services you are getting in return. After the deal, you don’t have to be worried about anything; travel agent is now responsible to do all the hard word for you.

One other most important thing is the added security when booking to a travel agent. You never know if the airline will go bust or the hotel will close, alternative arrangement is the responsibility of the travel agent. Your tour operator should be a member of Association of British Travel Agents. It would protect you against non-flight related issues. Always keep such issues in your mind before you take services of any travel agent.

It is always advisable to book in advance for your holidays. Booking at least two weeks before is good to get good deals. Booking in advance most often comes with discounted rates and you also have plenty of time to manage things before your departure.

If you are interested in ski holidays then travel agent should be your first choice. They offer ski packages which include ski hire, tuition and clothing which is needful for skiing.

Last but not the least; always book your trip on the internet. You can discover thousand of agents and companies offering inexpensive and cut-price deals. In addition, if you are not certain where you should go for your holidays, you would learn information of thousand of greatest places in the world. You can choose the place according to your fiscal plan and can have fun of life span.

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Why Florida Short Term Rentals Beat Hotels

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

The majority of visitors to Central Florida choose to do what they’ve always done and stay in a hotel room when they visit - but the alternative of Florida short term rentals is on the increase, particularly for families and larger groups of tourists. Why is this happening?

Hotel and motel rooms are fine but unless you spend a fortune they provide only the basics in terms of space and convenience. When the whole family shares one bedroom and time in the single bathroom is strictly rationed, that’s not a recipe for most families’ ideal accommodation! And if you have young children, you can forget any lazy nights watching the television if you want them to sleep.

One way to overcome the tension is to give serious thought to Florida short term rentals for your vacation accommodation. With multiple bedrooms and bathrooms plus extra living space it’s a far more relaxing way to go.

Vacation homes and condos equipped for short term rental are as close to having your own home comforts in Florida as you can achieve. The majority are owned by individuals who like to take their own vacations in Florida and who then offer the property for rent to cover some of the costs. The properties are fully stocked with linens, towels and everything else that is needed to live comfortably and casually during your time there.

Typically, homes range in size from two bedrooms to six or more bedrooms and most have two or more bathrooms. Most have a least one master bedroom and in the bigger homes there may be as many as three master suites. Unlike some holiday homes, especially in the UK, all the bed linens and towels are included so there will be more space in your luggage for your clothes.

Homes have a fully fitted kitchen with a stove, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, blender and enough pots, pans and cutlery for the number of guests the house caters for. Some homes have a separate laundry room but most provide a washing machine, tumble dryer, ironing board and iron to cover all your laundry needs.

Home entertainment is another area that has seen much development in short term rental homes in recent years. Owners have added DVD players and VCRs (as well as big screen televisions in a lot of cases) and not just in living areas - look for some homes to have a television in every bedroom!

All of the newer single family homes have a private swimming pool and some have added hot tubs or spas. Games rooms are becoming a standard feature (foosball, darts, pool, ping pong are some of the options) so that a relaxing day away from the theme park doesn’t mean a lack of entertainment. Condos have access to one or more communal swimming pools, many offer club house and fitness rooms for visitors and some have play areas for children.

Florida short term rentals are therefore a much more attractive option than a hotel room:

* The children have their own room - no more sharing with parents.

* It can work out cheaper than an hotel - especially for larger family groups.

* Renting a place that enables everyone to have their own space makes such a difference to family relationships and is so much more relaxing.

* There’s more flexibility - you don’t always have to eat out.

* You have everything provided for you in the completely furnished home

* For those days when you just want to laze about or when it’s too hot to go out, you can enjoy the television or a movie as an alternative.

All of which means that Florida vacation home rentals should be high on your list of priorities when you’re booking your next Central Florida vacation.

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Ideas For Cheap Vacations

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

by Alexandra Vrugt

Everybody needs a break at some point. Who can’t use and appreciate a restful vacation? But, a vacation seems to lose some of its relaxation when there is a big price tag attached to it. It is so much better when you can buy for cheap a great vacation package that your family can enjoy without returning with empty pockets.

Here are a few ways to save on your next vacation:

1. Try a website like Priceline.com or Hotwire.com where you can either choose your own pricing for hotels, flights, and car rentals, or you can exercise flexibility with regard to the hotel name and save a ton of money. These websites can offer discounts as high as 70% off of the regular rate!

2. Swap houses! This is a popular way to save on vacation costs. There are plenty of people in some really cool and exotic places that are willing to switch homes for a period of time. You may only have to pay a portion of the utilities to cover your stay. Imagine being able to buy for cheap a Paris vacation home or London flat! Craigslist.org is a great place to look for people that are willing to make a swap. Do your best to investigate the area of the vacation home and get plenty of pictures from the owners. Of course, make sure to always check references and never leave anything of considerable value in your home. Even though you want to save, you always want to be safe.

3. Consider listening to a time-share pitch. These 2 hour meetings are worth every moment that you get to spend in the luxury hotel that they usually put you up in. Many times, they will throw in a show or free dinner for two. Remember, just because you listen to someone trying to sell you on the idea for a couple of hours doesn’t mean that you have to actually buy. But, if you do decide to go into it, time-shares are another way of possibly saving on vacations and future travel.

4. Join a vacation club or use a rewards program to save! These two options will allow you to buy for cheap and without paying in a lump sum. Vacation clubs are usually an installment program that will allow you to save a few dollars at a time. The members also have access to different deals and savings programs that other are not privy to. Reward programs are fabulous ways to get free hotel nights, car rentals, or upgrades. They are also perfect savings tools because most reward programs do not require you to pay anything! You sign up for free and accumulate points or rewards toward free future travel. Sometimes, you don’t even have to buy anything before you start receiving insider travel discounts. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

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Stop by at:  www.makeendsmeetonline.com and collect a FREE Ebook called “15 Top Ways To Save Money” written by Alexandra Vrugt.

Low Cost Orlando Vacation Package Tips

Monday, April 6th, 2009

For many travelers an Orlando vacation package is the dream of a lifetime. Why would it not be when you think of all the Orlando area has to offer? Not only are there the four Disney World theme parks and two water parks but also Sea World and Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Whatever your age, be it two years old or eighty years old or anywhere in between, there is something for everyone.

A common challenge for many folks is finding an affordable Orlando vacation, because the costs of your travel, accommodation, meals, and theme park admissions can be daunting. But there are some things you can do to keep Orlando vacation expenses to a minimum and here are some tips on how to do that:

* Although booking separate flights, accommodation, car hire and theme park tickets may seem to give you more flexibility, this is often the most expensive option. Instead it is worth checking out companies that offer these as a complete Orlando vacation package. Reputable firms often get huge discounts and are able to pass the savings onto you.

* Try to be flexible about the dates you want to travel: If you can only travel during peak periods, you will certainly pay premium prices. However, if you can travel at off-peak times, you’ll find a great number of deals from which to choose. A greater flexibility in your vacation dates will give you a much wider opportunity to find a cheap Orlando vacation package.

* It is well worth doing research to find out if any of the thousands of hotels offer accommodation extras. If you can find a hotel that offers deals on length of stay and also includes some theme park passes these often work out as better value for money than a similar hotel nearby that has a non-negotiable room rate per night and with no other extras included.

* Review your options for theme park tickets. Different Orlando vacation packages will present you with a multitude of options for theme park tickets and it’s up to you to figure out what’s really important for your own vacation. For example, an apparently less expensive package may cost you a lot more if your plans include repeat visits to the Magic Kingdom and your package price doesn’t cover them all.

* Think about timeshares: If you’re looking for a cheap Orlando vacation and you’re not a timeshare owner, check out the resort companies that offer unbelievably cheap Orlando vacations in return for sitting through a sales presentation. If you’re prepared to give up an hour or two of your time and you have no problem in resisting the very slick and persuasive marketing messages, you’re unlikely to find any better bargain.

So if you work with these tips, you can have that once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Orlando for less than you might have initially thought. Time and effort is required to do the necessary research, but you’ll end up with an Orlando vacation package that meets all your needs and saves your cash into the bargain!

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Stop by at:  www.makeendsmeetonline.com and collect a FREE Ebook called “15 Top Ways To Save Money” written by Alexandra Vrugt.