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Summer Rates Or Peak Periods |
So the summer is here.. and school is out .. and the wife wants a vacation .. just because it is the summer. But with summer rates or what we called peak periods - the hotels are asking for an arm and a leg for your room rates. When one usually pays like $85 + taxes for a room other than the summer period.. they are now asking for $155. Almost 50% more.. ??!!!?? Now you asked yourself, it is like the wife choosing Black Friday to go shopping.
So you asked .. what is the difference right..?? it’s the same room, same amenities.. same location. So you try to speak with the Front Desk Manager.. and she wouldn’t budge. So no vacation..?? Well.. the peak period is actually the only money making season for the hotel, therefore all hotels charges premium.. and some will even block some rooms away.. for their VIP guests. Does it make any difference if you booked earlier or later..?? nope not exactly but having said that.. if you are a regular guest at the hotel or you have a corporate rate with the hotel, you might be able to negotiate for a better rate.
Back home in Asia, if you know another hotelier, your chances of a long staying rate is definitely a plus but don’t forget the front desk manager needs to meet her quota and the sales team needs to make sure that they are selling their rooms like hot cakes… else they are answerable to the share holders. So when it comes to peak periods.. or the summer rate.. you pretty much need to fork out that amount. But if i managed to negotiate anything better this summer.. i’ll be sure to let you know.
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Online Radio While Traveling |
Traveling as much as I do for work, it’s great to find an online radio that is absolutely free and many stations where you can choose from. From easy listening to hard rock and even kids station. I was introduced to John Chow dot com blog by a friend and saw that he had this awesome radio contest giving away $4000 in cash! John Chow is a pro blogger who helps others make money online and you’ve gotta give it to that guy for making $40K a month just by working a few hours and insist that delegating is what makes him most successful. I am darn lucky to make it on time for the contest as it was extended due to some mis-communication. This contest is sponsored by OnlineRadioStations.com and it’s very easy to go about this site and nothing you cannot find on this site when it comes to music.
This is a free online radio streaming site for just about anyone who has access to the internet with 5000 live stations to choose from. For someone who travels a lot like myself and the laptop, it’s great to be able to listen to your favorite music and not those in your hotel rooms. My favorite station has got to be the christian and country music station. Check it out yourself - now I never have to listen to hotel music anymore - and if you travel a lot like I do, I’m sure you know where I’m coming from.
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Flying Kids |
So the summer is here and you are sending your kids over to dad for a visit or visiting grampie in another state. And you are wondering if it is safe for them to fly solo and would the airline staff take care of them? And what happened if they missed their connecting flight? Have I seen kids flying alone? Yes but not in Asia though - well not as young as they would here in the West.
So what are the tips one can offer for your kids flying solo? And what to look out for? my buddy asked me. While I would never let my kid fly solo unless she is 15 or 16 - the airline does allow minors more than 5 yrs old to fly alone with no connectiions. Those under 5 must have a older person (12 yrs old) to look after them. While they are never really alone, the airline will assigned someone to look out for your kid.
When you make the reservation for your kid to fly solo, please make sure that they know he or she is flying alone of if there are any special needs. Make sure they know who is picking your child up from the airport and sending them to the airport or all the telephone numbers they can contact you by during an emergency.
On the day of the flight, please make sure you check in at list 1.5hrs or 2 hrs earlier, that way you can get your child settled down and calm his nerves as well as yours. Plus you want to recognise the flight attendant you hand your kid over with and run thru’ last minute instruction with your kid.
Dress your kid in his or her most comfy clothings and a very light jacket. Depending on how long the flight is, one must pack enough of his favorite snacks as well as games or drawing book to keep him/her occupied. Don’t forget that favorite bear or soft toy. Include some cash for emergencies and also a call card for him to call you in case there is a flight delay.
As for the parents - don’t leave the airport before the flight takes off, for if there is a flight delay, you don’t want to leave your kid sitting in the wait area for hours alone right? So good luck to all those minor flyers!
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Hotel Amenities |
When i first started traveling, I look forward to see which hotels have what kind of bathroom amenities and in fact, I sometimes bring them home for my next trip to the beach or even camping. But as the years go by and i became a more season traveler and staying even longer in different countries, I bring my own shampoo, moisturizer and soap - why? because nothing beats the right stuff for your own skin type. Do I find it a hassle? Nah..! i pretty much pride myself for being a season traveler, so it’s great to be different from your regular vacationer.
So who does take hotel amenties home? or worst - some even take the bathrobes and iron home with them. Yes! working in the hotel industry for this long, you’ve seen just about everything - I have someone who tried to bring the consoles supplied free for the guest home. One even brought the fax machine home. I don’t think the housekeeper mind that you bring home those bathroom amenities or the coffee or hot chocolate home but if during check out and they found a missing .. TV .. then of course you will be charged on your credit card for the missing item - be it a bathrobe or even a towel. Afterall, all these cost the hotel money eh. So be careful when you next take something from the hotel - you may be caught stealing and you may get charged for it.
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Traveling The World |
Many people and friends that we know are pretty envious that me and my spouse ire able to travel around the world because of work. Yes we are very happy and privileged to be able to experience everything at very little cost to ourselves but if we didn’t constantly upgrade ourselves, I don’t think we would be getting a job that we want nor enjoyed.
Upgrading is important but like many busy adults with family and a regular job I can understand it can be hard but an option is to take an online course such as the ones offered at Lewis University for MS in Information Security. One can check out more information about them by simply visiting them online and learn more about it thru’ their virtual open house. No excuse not to upgrade oneself now eh.
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Extra Fees For Airline Passengers |
A little bit ridiculous .. ? yes.. ! but they are still doing it. I remembered those days when i was still a student and traveling around Europe and was told that I wasn’t strong enough to sit at the exit row seat because during emergencies they would need someone strong enough to open the exit door of the airplane. In my humble opinion.. if there was an emergency .. and a matter of life and death .. even if you were a midget.. you would muster enough strength to open that door.
But now.. all you need to do .. to get that seat .. is to fork out an extta $20 .. so i heard. So what happened to that logic ..?? i guess airlines are more hard up for the money.. than the real safety of its passengers these days..?? Even in times like this .. where ppl are being retrenched and companies cutting their budgets .. the airlines still feels a need to drain the passenger as much as they can.
US Airways and United are hitting passengers up for $5 to pay their baggage fees at the airport instead of online. United implemented the fee June 10, while US Airways will put it into effect July 9.
If you want to select an exit row seat on AirTran and enjoy the extra legroom, expect to cough up $20.
Allegiant Air, a smaller national discount airline, charges a $13.50 “convenience fee” for online purchases, even though most other carriers encourage purchases direct from their Web site.
European discounter Ryanair charges for something everyone has to do if they want to fly: check in. It’s 5 euros, or about $6.75, to check in online, double for passengers who pay at the airport. Ryanair plans to eliminate airport check-in desks.
Spanish airline Vueling charges a fee to pick a seat. Any seat at all. A “basic” seat behind the wing runs 3 euros. For 30 euros, travelers can choose an aisle or window seat and guarantee that the middle seat will remain empty.
I don’t think many ppl are happy about it .. especially those frequent flyers.. it’s so inconvenient.. to have to fork out extras.. especially when you need to make that traveling claim from the accounting department of y our office. I know all about it.. and usually i forked them outta my own pocket instead.
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Safest Destinations For Your Vacation |
My g/f from the other side of the world asked me which is the safest vacation place that one can bring the whole family. And of course, the first thought would be Singapore - some may say that i’m biased since I’m from Singapore.. and lived almost half my life there, but truth be told.. i’m not the only one who thinks that as well. Expert from Yahoo Travel feels that Singapore is not only safe but squeaky clean.
But what if you are one from Singapore then? Well even for those who needs the Philips Heartstart Onsite, i can strongly, recommend New Zealand - that was on my mind .. for second place for the safest destination for a vacation. The kiwis are especially nice ppl and they are practically no natural disaster there.. nor have we heard the terrorist wants to do anything to New Zealand. So yes.. if you are looking for a vacation place… try New Zealand or Cyrus below.. recommended by Yahoo Travels.
Cyprus is another place that bucked its traditional image. The 1950s struggle for independence against the British and the Turkish invasion of 1974 and its contentious aftermath color perceptions of the eastern Mediterranean isle. But with the Orthodox church and the traditional Greek family as the twin pillars of society-and a booming economy since entering the European Union in 2004-the island has evolved into a haven of serenity. Recent moves toward rapprochement between independent Cyprus and Turkish-controlled North Cyprus have also contributed to the overall sense of calm.
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Niagra Falls - Canada |
Don’t get it wrong, I wasn’t in Niagra Falls in this weather. Both times I went.. it was colddddd….!! once in December.. and another time in late March. The first time I was at Niagra Falls.. was in late December.. or was it early January..?? somewhere around those times.. in 2001. And guess what I did..?? the spouse’s cousin .. made a wrong turn.. that led us straight to US grounds.. and i didn’t have any papers with me.. except my credit cards..!!! yes..!!! we were grilled.. and i had to go into the office.. to swear that I’m not an illegal immigrant.. and so forth. How embrassing was it now..!!! Luckily, I wasn’t on any social security disability either.. now that would be funny.. if i only had that card eh.
Well.. the summer is almost here.. and a trip to Toronto .. this time with the kid .. and visiting her godma would be kinda fun eh..?? it is definitely a thought. .. afterall, i want nice pictures like these.. and not iced up ones that i currently have.
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Flying With Your Pets |
Can you fly with your pets.. my girlfriend who was moving to Paris asked me one day. And the answer is “YES” .. depending on which airline you fly, certain airlines only allow your pets to me in the cabin with you.. while others insist that they fly cargo.
These days, due to animal rights..?? or feelings..?? the airlines pet customers are dealt with .. with a lot of care. Like having kids in the cabin or flying with the airlines, some PS3 players for the kids are installed while your pets are fed with gourmet pet food.
For pets traveling in the cabin, AirTran charges the least among big carriers at $69. Most U.S. airlines charge between $100 and $125, but bringing a pet in the cabin on Delta and Northwest flights costs $150.
For those traveling as checked baggage, Delta and Northwest are the most expensive at $275. The least expensive in this category are Alaska Airlines and Midwest at $100, and Frontier which prices its checked pets fees between $100 and $200.
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Smoky Mountains Park - 75th Anniversary |
If you haven’t been to smoky mountains park - this is the time to go .. because on June 15 2009, they mark their 75th Anniversary. I did go to the smoky mountains before and stayed in log cabins and took in the520,000 acre of the Land of Blue Smoke. Well, not all 520 000 acre .. but a small fraction of it.
What can one do.. at the Smoky Mountains..??? well most ppl go hiking .. and enjoy the 800 miles of trail and the waterfalls. I hear they attract more than 9 million visitors every year and whatever you enjoy, there is something on those mountains for everyone. The air is fresh .. and my i can leave my acne problems and acne treatment at home for a while.
