Hotel chain reviews: Holiday Inn hotels
I can remember staying in Holiday Inn Hotels from the time that I was a young child, it is chain that has been around a LONG time, since 1952 to be exact! The founders of the hotel chain wanted to create inexpensive family accommodations for travelers across the United States…they planned to have a Holiday Inn in each major town across the country.
In the past, Holiday Inn Hotels were considered by most people to be of low quality, though I have found over the years the chain has undergone several changes that have made these hotels a great option for those travelers looking for something affordable, clean and comfortable.
In my experience, Holiday Inn hotels in general have all undergone a revamping which has brought them up to a higher standard than what they once held. Even the Holiday Inn Express Hotels are fine establishments that offer clean and comfortable accommodations. Having personally known someone who was a “staff member” at a Holiday Inn hotel, I know that the staff undergoes more than the average mandatory training that covers everything from customer service, safety, and cleanliness.
Recently, my husband and I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express hotel in Hollywood, California, and we were pleasantly surprised. The amenities were all upgraded and the bed linens and the towels were very comfortable and plush (something that I personally look for!). The staff was kind and accommodating, and we found that our room was cleaned regularly, and very well, each day.
All in all, the Holiday Inn hotel chain is now what it originally set out to be, an affordable alternative for family accommodations across the country. If you’re looking for a clean, comfortable and safe place to stay without paying an arm and a leg, consider this chain of hotels.
A baby boomers guide to vacationing in San Diego, California
Baby boomers are going to love visiting San Diego. There is just a bunch of great things to do and see. You can spend your days relaxing at the beach, shopping until you drop, eating until your are full or golfing until you are a pro. There is so much for you that you will really enjoy a visit to this fantastic and fun town with endless possibilities.
When you go to San Diego, be sure that you get plenty of rest. You will find that there is no end to the activities that you can enjoy, so be sure that you are ready for the undertaking. Plan on bringing the money to spend, because things just are not too cheap, but never the less, worth every penny. Don’t forget that you will want some left over to purchase some great souvenirs, too. What is a trip to San Diego without having some to take home and give to friends and family or to keep for yourself.
Before planning your visit, you should always do research on the area. Make sure that you get the best hotel deals, by comparing the different ones on the internet and find the one that will fit your budget. Also, you can make sure that you get the accommodations that you want with all the amenities that you desire. Often, you can find different reviews from patrons that have stayed at the hotel before and this can give you a great idea of what you are in store for.
Remember that sunny, San Diego, is a place that is always fun. Make sure that you bring along plenty of sunglasses, lotions and a sun hat is a good idea. You want to stay protected from the hot sun, which you will be seeing plenty of.
Did I forget to mention that not only will your days be filled with fun things to do and see, but your nightlife will also be thoroughly enjoyable. Be sure that you try as many of the wonderful restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the area. Sounds exhausting? Yes, but it is so much fun that you won’t mind being a little tired after you visit San Diego.
Tips for finding Las Vegas hotel deals
How much time do you actually intend to spend in your Las Vegas hotel room? With so many attractions and 24-hour excitement, you’ll be lucky to sleep a few hours each night! Why not save your money for fun and gambling by following my tips for finding Las Vegas hotel deals!
TIP #1 – Online sales agencies
Vegas hotels offer online sales agencies blocks of rooms at very cheap rates. These deals are passed along to you! I suggest the following websites for narrowing down your search for good Las Vegas hotel deals!
www.travelworm.com, and www.kayak.com – These websites will show you the best deals from several popular different online sales websites such as:
www.orbitz.com
www.priceline.com
www.hotels.com
www.hotwire.com
www.i4vegas.com
Be sure to check out the above websites because they often offer weekly deals where you can book three nights for the price of two, or they offer perks such as dinners or theater tickets for free or at largely discounted prices with the price of your room.
I’m a big fan of hotwire and priceline (name your own price feature) for booking any hotel room in North America, including those in Las Vegas. With these agencies you book and pay for hotels without knowing the exact hotel name. Sound scary? It’s not! You will know, the location of your hotel within a few blocks, the amenities offered at your hotel and the star rating of your hotel before booking. Unless you have an absolute need to stay in a certain hotel of your choice, this is an awesome money saver! For Hotwire, the closer your book to the date of your stay, the cheaper the rooms will be!
TIP #2 – Register Online by Telephone
Las Vegas hotels are in constant competition with each other to fill their rooms. Register your name and address with individual hotels of your choice to receive online and snail mail special offers for room rates. These rates are often 25%-50% cheaper than you could book the room directly. For a list of Las Vegas hotel web-pages and phone numbers visit www.cheapovegas.com
TIP #3 – Combine with flight and/or car rentals
Often when you purchase your hotel room in combination with your flight and/or car rental, you’ll save up to 20% off on each!
Tip #4 – Check out CHEAPO for sales codes!
Aside from offering fun commentaries and tips about Las Vegas hotels and casinos, Cheapo’s has a page devoted to recent deals enjoyed by travellers. Often the deals page lists special promotional online booking codes at Vegas hotels which will save you additional money or buy you added perks likes shows or dinner!
Tip #5 – Book off the strip
Even the cheapest hotels on the Las Vegas strip can cost you hundreds of dollars each night. Several hotels and resorts are located within a mile or two on either side of the strip as well. Many of these hotels and resorts offer free shuttle service to and from the strip. Quality of these hotels range from shabby to luxurious, but the prices are about half of what you’d find at Strip hotels of corresponding quality!
