Euro Travel & More

Some 15 yrs ago, some very smart businessmen in Asia came up with this ideal about “No Frills Hotels”.  No frills hotels are actually business class hotels for those who are long -staying guest who doesn’t want to pay a lot for their rooms but still have a great place to entertain and talk business in. These no frills hotels are managed by a reputable group of hotels .. and they are the old boys when they come to the hotel industry or the hospitality industry.  Even though with no frills, one can expect the best technology available within the hotel and in your rooms, with Honeywell Barcode Scanner for most of their restaurants and gifts stores.

It is common to see expresso machines in your hotel room these days.. but the no frills hotels offers your personal fax machine and personal line for your incoming fax.. at no extra cost.  All you need to do is to request it.. or be very nice to the business center’s manager.  Asian hotels and its management wants to give their guests or returning guests the comfort of home away from home and the office within the room environment.  Business guests loves it.. but not so much for those on vacation, for they have no need for it.  Therefore, although the no frills hotels were meant for vacationers.. business traveller actually benefits from it most.  Look at their club floors and you can undertand where i’m coming from.  Your personal butler.. and free breakfast.. and evening cocktails.. and the use of their private lounge.  What else can you ask for right..?

My girlfriends who travels a few times a year for family vacation and sometimes visiting her mother who lives in Australia with her other siblings but she never thought about getting into a frequent flier program. I was quite shocked .. for we all know the benefit of collecting those miles and benefits.

So if you fly often, it is to your benefit to apply for a frequent flyer program.. it is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to fill in a form. From priority boarding to waiving of checked bag fees and free upgrades and many more gifts to exchange your mile/points for.   And now that one of American’s biggest airline is announcing their new expansion on their Frequent Flier program with no lmit to the number of miles rolled over, hurry up and get yours.. if you fly Delta frequently.

Ever been to Borough Market in U.K.? well if you are in the vicinity you have to make a trip there to look at all these wonderful vegies and fruits. One certainly wouldn’t need any appetite suppressants with these eh.   Borough Market is London’s oldest food market. It was established on the south bank of the Thames when the Romans built the first London Bridge. It has occupied its present site for 250 years.  Borough has a long and distinguished history as a wholesale fruit and vegetable market – wholesale trade takes place every night except Saturday from 2am – 8am.

Instead of looking into my auto insurance quote this summer for our summer getaway, i’ve been informed last nite by a fellow blogger about a special to entice Canadians to travel within Canada.  Air Canada and West Jet has one way tickets for as low as $129.

But wait a minute.. you tell yourself.. what’s the catch..??  No catch actually .. a ticket back is the same price.. which is awesome.  Flights within Ontario and Quebec are at $99 one way.   Book by July31 and travel before September – i think.  Awesomeness ..!!!

• FUEL: No fuel surcharge on North American flights.
• LUGGAGE: Check in two bags free.
• EARN AEROPLAN MILES on every flight with Canada’s best frequent flyer program.
• NO BOOKING FEES: book by phone or online. We’re always happy to assist you and won’t charge you a fee.

Hotels, bed and breakfast, restaurants and many tourism and places of interest is affected already because of the low American dollar.  But with the new passport regulation between the U.S. border and Canada, it is making it even harder for the small business owners to stay in business.

For instance, the drop in the number of Americans using the ferry between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, N.S., isn’t as bad as expected. George Driscoll, vice-president of marketing and sales for Bay Ferries, says a survey of possible travellers in the New England states last fall indicated about 30 per cent of them did not have passports.

I was very surprised to read the above .. because we certainly have seen a declined in tourism in our area.  When the claimed that the Canadian brand is strong.. i supposed they are thinking of bigger places like Toronto and Vancouver – i beg to differ here in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

While looking for life insurance quotes online i found this summer travel goodies online.  A round trip on American Airline plus a 4 nite stay at the Fairmount Copley Plaza at only $542 per person + taxes. This offer is good till 7 Sept 2009.  So summer is here.. and everyone needs a break.. and what better way then to get some budget traveling and not break your bank.  Come on.. everyone needs to get up .. and go relax.. and have fun.

Gateways: New York City; add $17 for D.C., $35 for Chicago, $81 for Miami, $97 for Houston, $128 for L.A., $149 for Denver, $197 for Seattle.

So summer is here and like everyone else, I’m sure you are looking to go on a vacation with your love ones or even your best girlfriends.  But are you like me .. ?? who is a stickler and will only stay in one particular hotel or are you like my spouse who loves to try out new hotels and what amenities they have?  or are you one who goes for the deals and promotions?

Tough eh?  all those promotional pamphlets and the pictures on the web – are they true ..??  How do you tell if the pictures you see and the things you read is what they say they have or will do for you?  afterall, you want a great vacation right?

Since every traveler has different needs when searching for a hotel, you’ll need to ask yourself what’s most important to you. Whether you’re looking for a great deal, a great location or a great B&B, I have a tip or two for you in my next entry.  What matters most to you ..??  you can tell me thru’ and email if you like.

A Russian-made Iranian passenger plane carrying 168 people crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday, smashing into a field northwest of the capital and shattering into flaming pieces. All on board were killed in Iran’s worst air disaster in six years, officials said.

Before crashing, the plane’s tail was on fire as it circled in the air, one witness told The Associated Press.

“Then, I saw the plane crashing nose-down. It hit the ground causing a big explosion. The impact shook the ground like an earthquake. Then, plane pieces were scattered all over the agricultural fields,” Ali Akbar Hashemi, a 23-year-old who was laying gas pipes in a nearby home, told AP by phone.

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.