The Handy Reference Guide to Travel Sites and Resources

I gave a talk to a handful of people recently and gave them these as sites to be aware of.

Organizing sites:

Trip It: Organizes your flight, hotel, and transportation into single trip itineraries. An App is also available. This is probably the current industry leader for organization.  

Mileage Manager: This site does charge a nominal fee to keep track of all the mileage and discount programs.  But worth it for those who travel a lot, particularly if you book your own.

Travel news and blogs

http://elliott.org/: This is a GREAT site. If you run into a customer service issue/scam, this guy will go to bat for you and help you fight. There is an e-newsletter you can sign up for too. 

http://www.travelindustrywire.com/: Subscribe to their free weekly e-letter to keep up on travel industry news. 

Budget Travel: Though mainly designed for vacationers, they have an e-letter that has really useful information. 

http://www.johnnyjet.com/: I like this site because it has fun things and helpful tips. 

The Air Travel Rights You Aren't Aware of (and How to Get Them): An article to bookmark with helpful links, particularly if you need to file a complaint.

Airports

Travelnerd.com:  Terminal maps, fee calculator, parking and ground transportation info, rates, and coupons, 

Smart Layover: http://smartlayover.com/  If you get stuck, this site (and app) tell you where to find a spot to nap, gate info, layover details, and day-use hotels. 

Gate Guru: http://gateguruapp.com/  This app has detailed info on more than 200 airports and will tell you where to go and what is near your gate, help with layovers, etc.

Air Booking

Yapta.com:  Connected to Kayak, this site lets you search flights and track the ones you like before or after you book. You get an email when a fare drops. Some airlines refund fare drops in the form of credits; I collect money easily because of this site.  If you use a travel booking software, you can use Fare IQ. 

Kayak: Basically Yapta with a fare predictor and a few other features Yapta doesn’t have.  

Bing.com/travel:  I’m not a huge fan but I will often check their fare predictor.

Hipmunk: I don’t LOVE this site but it is a favorite with many.

Hotels

Tingo.com: Hotel-booking site that automatically refunds price drops. 

The Suitest: One to keep an eye, it still has a way to go in usability but a great way to find if you are getting a good deal on a room and particularly helpful when you are looking for a particular type of room, i.e. suites.

Google.com/hotelfinder: Works so nicely with Google maps, though I often just plug a meeting address into Google.com/maps and then do a search nearby. 

Car Rental

AutoSlash.com: Finds the best discount code and applies it

Avis Business:  The best  business program I work with. Works with all size companies, in most situations other employees can drive without signing on or paying fees, and always an upgrade coupon for any length of rental. And you can book with a preferred driver number for others (unlike Hertz which requires you to have their password).

Food and Beverage Guidelines

Per diem rates: The US General Services Administration sets guidelines for food and beverage allowances by region/city. Very helpful if you are operating on a per diem basis for travelers or simply want to set a ceiling for allowable expenses.

Travel Coordinator Education programs

The Travel Institute: Low cost certification with online education. A caveat: a friend who has traveled for years and started her own travel agency says she hasn't been impressed with the knowledge of those who seek certification from online programs.

Social Conscience

ECPAT-USA: I’m a huge fan of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) and have spoken with Carol Smolenski, President. Support those in the travel industry who have established protocols for dealing with the travesty of child prostitution and trafficking. Marriott and Disney have refused to sign this code. Hilton, Delta, Carlson and Wyndham are huge supporters.

Kimpton's Leap Day Sale

Photo credit: priyanphoenix from morguefile.com

Kimpton Hotels are usually up to something a little different. When I stayed in one with my family a few years ago, the surroundings were plush and comfortable, but what made an impression was "Mike," the fish that lived in a bowl in our room.

Now, Kimpton's three Alexandria, VA hotels (just outside of Washington, D.C.) are running a great promotion. On Leap Day, you can book a hotel stay for 29% off for dates between March 1 and April 15, 2012. Rates start at $113 a night (a steal for a luxury hotel in the D.C. area). To book, go here or call 1-800-KIMPTON and use
rate code LEAPYR.

Hotels for Families

Light Suitcase Traveler has been away traveling with three young children and is still in recovery mode.

While away, she discovered the wonderful new concept from Marriott: TownePlace Suites. These hotels have joined Embassy Suites as the first place I look when traveling with my family. We stayed in a suite with two bedrooms, a living area, full kitchen and bathroom for $159/night. This included breakfast for a family of five and allowed my husband and I to get a good night's sleep without children night noises. Check them out.

Tipping, Oh Tipping

I go into a virtual panic when it comes to tipping. I'm pretty secure on what to tip the waitstaff; I paid my dues as a waitress and I know when I'm getting good service and when I'm not. I can usually tell when my waiter is doing poorly because of bad management (too many tables, covering for someone who isn't being responsive) and when they really aren't focused on the job.

But tipping the taxi or shuttle driver? My hairdresser? The maid at the hotel? I get flummoxed trying to decide what's cheap and what's over the top. Especially when I do tip and come back to my made-up hotel room to find my tip still there.

So I happily anticipated Bankrate.com's A cheat sheet on tipping do's and don'ts. And it was helpful. And overwhelming. There is enough information here to require me to carry a cheat sheet at all times.

Here is my guide: When someone in the service industry goes out of their way to help you out, tip what you can and think is appropriate. I try to keep in mind that most in the service industry are not pulling big salaries; most are trying to pay the bills and might dream of sending a child to college. If they are doing good work, a moderate tip is appropriate. If they are doing great work, well, be prepared to tip accordingly.

Making sure you have the right change is a whole other problem.

For Control Freaks Everywhere: Room 77

If you hate being too close to the elevator, want to be on the top floor, and want a good view, Room 77 is for you. Room 77 has floor plans for more than half a million hotels in 32 cities and will give you room recommendations based upon your personalized preferences. You can link straight to hotel websites to make reservations. Keep in mind that while you can always request a specific room, most hotels will not guarantee you will get it.

Recession Blues: Lodging

Just like flying and renting vehicles, hotel rates are going up. But unlike airfare, where prices have gone up and less is included (food, beverages, baggage), hotels are doing a better job of offering amenities that can save you money.

More and more budget chains are offering free wireless internet and a complimentary breakfast. And the savvy leisure traveler can take advantage of special deals from Groupon and other pre-purchase sites that include amenities like free spa treatments and dining credits.

When you book matters too. In Manhattan, rates for bookings 61-90 days out are up 18% over a year ago. But for last minute travelers who book 0-6 days out, rates are up only 2% over a year ago. If you can handle the suspense, you can get a great last minute deal from sites like Priceline and Hotwire or Hotel Tonight.

So while lodging isn't getting cheaper, it isn't all bad news. You can still get a great deal if you are flexible and patient. 


Sources: Expedia's Average Hotel Rate Climbing Fastest This Year, USA Today.
HRG: Global Corp. Hotel Rates on the Rise, Business Travel News

Breaking the Hotwire Code: How to Make Blind-Booking Not So Blind

Love a good getaway? But a little scared to blind-book a hotel?

Try cracking the Hotwire code by using Bid Goggles. Bid Goggles has you enter the Hotwire amenities and other info and then gives you an idea of what the hotel will be. I tried it for a Labor Day getaway to Vancouver, BC and it gave me two possible hotels. Then I took a minute to determine if these hotels charged for parking and were in a good area for the sites I want to see.

There are other sites out there that will do the same thing. Better Bidding is one; Hotwire Revealed is another. Better Bidding is so complicated I didn't even bother. Hotwire Revealed doesn't include Canada, but is a good place to firm up the info you've received from Bid Goggles. (A second opinion is always a good idea.) Try it. And take an impromptu Labor Day getaway.

If You Need New Towels....

Recently a friend stayed in a hotel I recommended to her. The Hotel Grand Pacific is one of my favorite hotels and so I was surprised when she responded to my question of how she liked her stay with "It was ok." I kept asking her what made it less than "great" and she went through the list of everything she loved and finally came up with this: "They never changed our towels."

"Ah," I responded. Because how do you exactly say "You don't get out much do you?"

Last week, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, a four-diamond hotel in the swank suburb of Seattle, one of the U.S.'s most green-conscious cities. A polite little sign in the bathroom said "To conserve valuable resources, we will not change your towels or your bedding unless you call and request that we do so."

The Hyatt and Hotel Grand Pacific are not alone. If you are staying in a nicer hotel in any major metropolitan area, you can count on a greener policy of not changing the linens daily unless requested to do so. It might apply to the towels as well. Before you let that bother you, remember you can always ask for new towels or clean sheets and you will have them shortly. Don't you wish that worked at home?

Hot Deal: Victoria's Beautiful Hotel Grand Pacific

Last year my family and I had a chance to stay at Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, B.C. It was by far the best hotel experience we have had. The staff were amazing and when we arrived they already had the pack'n'play set up in the room for our baby and an extra set of towels.

View from our room at the Hotel Grand Pacific

A side view of the hotel

The hotel sits right on the Inner Harbour next to the Houses of Parliament with a view of The Empress Hotel and the Marina. The four-star accommodations are lovely.  Don't miss the indoor pool with natural light pouring in from lofty solar panels, ozonated, and with a 2' foot wading pool for the kids. And the fully equipped gym, hot tub, sauna, and steam room are the best you will find anywhere. 

So now Groupon and Expedia have teamed up to bring an amazing deal on a one-bedroom suite at the Hotel Grand Pacific. To purchase this deal for as low as C$99, go here.  Purchase before July 18 for stays through March of 2012. Whether you take the family or celebrate an anniversary, you will love your stay.

Need a Hotel Tonight?

Chances are if you travel often you are going to need a last minute hotel at some point. Now mobile phone users have a free, easy app that gives them access to great deals at the last minute. Hotel Tonight allows you to view hotels that have rooms available same-day. Booking is not blind so you can choose the area, type of hotel, and even view pictures before making a decision. And then you can book from you phone. Same day rooms are typically discounted, so you might just start living on the edge a little. Just for fun.