7 Ways for a Clean Hotel Stay

By Kathryn Weber

Most hotels do a good job of cleaning. Some don’t, though. Usually this is a problem at the particular hotel, and not a problem with the chain. And, although stays at upper-tier hotels with good names and high prices will usually be nice, even these hotels can suffer from time to time with cleanliness issues – and I know this from experience. For a short time, I was a mystery guest and performed evaluations of hotels. I had to check everything from whether the security was available to counting burned out light bulbs at the entrance. Unfortunately, my mystery guest experience uncovered too little concern about cleanliness and too much concern with small services most guests don’t use. As someone who still stays in hotels frequently, I want to stay in establishments that place a high value on the two “C’s” – comfort and cleanliness – with cleanliness ranking highest. Here are seven ideas that can help you have a cleaner, more enjoyable stay the next time your living space is away from home.

1. Check carpets and bathroom
Check the tub, counters, and floors, especially around the commode, to see if they have been mopped, leaning in the light to see if there are urine drops or stains on the floor. Look at the edges of the carpet, particularly at the entrance to be certain it was vacuumed.

2. Check for bed bugs
Unfortunately, there has been a resurgence of these nasty creatures and even some of the best hotels have them. Lift the covers and the fitted or bottom sheet and look for the bugs. If you see tiny drops of blood on the mattress or mattress pad, chances are, the bed has them. Look at the cracks of the headboard where the bugs will sometimes hide. If you find them, alert the front desk and wait there to show someone what you have found. Then, consider moving to another hotel or change rooms.

3. Look around the bed and nightstand
Is there excessive dust or crumbs? If so, you might have problems breathing. This is often caused by dust and mold. Hotel housekeepers should routinely use a crevice tool behind headboards to keep them clean.

4. Check the air vents
Many people have problems breathing in hotels. Do you see any black discoloration around the air conditioning vents or AC unit? If you do, ask for another room and explain that there appears to be mold around the air vents that can cause allergies or breathing problems.

5. Make sure there is a luggage rack
Bed bugs are often found in carpets, too, and if your luggage is on the floor, you might just bring a nasty visitor home. Request a luggage rack if there isn’t one in your room. Besides the bugs, it’s easier on your back to have luggage higher.

6. Remote cleanliness
One of the dirtiest items in the room is the television remote. Put it into a plastic bag or use a Clorox wipe and wipe the surface of the remote. Clorox now makes cleaner wipes in convenient travel pouches and these accompany me on every trip. While you’re at it, wipe down the phone receiver and alarm clock too.

Wear house shoes
Pack a favorite pair of slippers in your suitcase and always wear them at every hotel visit. Floors can often be dirty, so having shoes is an added layer of cleanliness. If you make a good sweep of the room and are satisfied with the cleaning, and you pack your slippers and Clorox wipes, chances are you’ll have a pleasant hotel stay without the worry about cleanliness bothering you.
Kathryn Weber is a home and decorating columnist who publishes the Real Home E-Zine. She welcomes your comments and questions. For more information, go to http://www.kathryn-weber.com or email questions to Kathryn@kathryn-weber.com

A Luxury Las Vegas Vacation at the Bellagio Hotel

By Peter Shannon

The Bellagio Hotel is home to the fabulous and famous Cirque du Soleil show “O”. And this is just the start of your Las Vegas vacation fun as the Bellagio Hotel has so much more to offer.

The style of this luxury hotel is taken from the theme of a Roman extravaganza. It sits at the edge of a 10-acre man-made lake which provides you with a host of activities. There are also some 20 restaurants and cafes on site, a 65,000 square foot spa and salon and a numerous other attractions.

Just outside the hotel is the Beautiful Bellagio Fountains. Here you can see an incredible water ballet created by a thousand choreographed sprays that burst into the air and blossom like flowers. The display is accompanied by classical music that matches the beat of the water jets.
They are so mesmerizing that it is not uncommon for Las Vegas visitors to spend an hour or more gazing at the water show, especially at night.

The Bellagio Hotel lobby alone is a show in itself. Over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, each perfectly each hand-crafted, cover the ceiling. In addition multi-colored works of art, called The Fiori di Como, add to the atmosphere

Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are also a part of this amazing city within a city. Here you will find exotic plants from all over the world. It’s a botanical display that rivals the gardens you might find in London or New York City.

At the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art there is a small but quite impressive display of dozens of works by masters such as Picasso, Monet, van Gogh and others. You tour is aided by an audio presentation. Art lovers will certainly find this to be a must visit spot on their Las Vegas vacation.

A large casino is a central part of the Bellagio Hotel site so guests must be over 18 years of age. If fact the casino is so large that you will pass through it while on your way to most of the other attractions on site. In the casino there is plenty of action ranging from $1 slots to poker tables where you can wager $5,000 per hand.

Because the Bellagio Hotel is a luxury hotel, the rates are not for the budget conscious Las Vegas visitor. But even so, discounts are often available for off-periods. Regardless, they will so to it that you get your money’s worth here. This is a place for elegance and pampering with luxurious Italian provincial-decorated rooms and a high-end spa. At the spa the general ambiance is enhance by the music and the unusual architectural features such as the walls made of water.
It’s all designed to completely melt your stress away.

There are over 3,400 rooms at the Bellagio but the staff ensures that every visitor is catered to promptly and in the style expected of a luxury Las Vegas vacation destination. Come visit the Bellagio. You will find out for yourself.

The author of this article, Peter Shannon, is the owner of the popular http://www.1001-vacation-ideas.com - Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Get Your Short-Break Off To A Good Start By Booking An Airport Hotel

By Andrew Bond

Holiday booked? All those last-minute preparations before leaving home can really stress you out. Even after you have packed, you then need to make it to the airport on time and stand in line with hordes of other holidaymakers. By the time you’ve fought your way onto the plane, all you can do is slump back in your seat and hope for no delays.

Even after takeoff, there’s no guarantee you will be in a holiday mood. Even once you have checked into a hotel at your final destination, it may take you a couple of days to get used to doing nothing and truly relax. Unfortunately, by that time, your break is often half or nearly over.

Why not start your break before you even get on the plane? These days, most airport hotels are as geared towards holidaymakers as they are towards business travellers. And with proper planning, a night in an airport hotel won’t eat into your budget for your stay at your final destination.

If your flight leaves in the morning, booking a night at an airport hotel makes even more sense. No need to set the alarm clock and get ready in a rush while hoping the traffic isn't so bad that you'll be delayed. Instead, leave home anytime it suits you the evening before your flight, check-in to the hotel at your leisure and enjoy a nice meal in the restaurant or a dip in the pool. Some hotels even have a gym, sauna or spa.

The next morning you’ll get a friendly wake-up call, and realising you’re about to have a nice breakfast and then get on the plane will put you in holiday mood before you have even got out of bed. No need to worry about traffic jams as most hotels are located within the airport grounds or a few miles. Unobstructed access roads free of commuter traffic will ensure you arrive within minutes. In addition, most hotels offer courtesy vans or shuttles to the terminal at frequent intervals with ample space for your luggage.

If you want to park your car, many hotels also have combined Park and Fly deals with parking for one or two weeks included either at the hotel or the public airport parking lot. These offers can give you huge savings over the published daily parking rates and are best booked online at sites such as airport-hotel-discounts.co.uk, where you can also get details on hotel locations, facilities and rates.

You will arrive at the airport after a good night’s sleep, feeling relaxed and not letting the lines of people get to you. Check-in with a smile and feel that holiday mood take over as you make your way to the departure gate. Arriving at your destination and unpacking your bags in your hotel room will seem perfectly normal, making you feel like you've already been on holiday for a couple of days. Book an airport hotel for your next short-break holiday and make every minute count!

Free lance travel writer Andrew Bond flies very often and always relaxes a day before departure in a convenient airport hotel, he usually books his room in advance with:http://www.airport-hotel-discounts.co.ukhttp://www.save-on-parking.co.uk

Budget Hotel in Turkey - Get Relaxed

By Hawk Thomas

Described in several rhetorical ways and admired by many an eminent personalities of the world, Turkey has been a hot favorite destination of the tourists for decades. Surrounded by sea on three sides, this country gives you splendid opportunities to relish the true and lovely characteristics of nature. Nazim Hikmet defines this place as: “Coming in gallop from far Asia stretched forward like a mare‘s head into Mediterranean Sea - this is our country." How would you not be interested in staying here for a long time? No matter if your budget does not allow you to do so. Budget hotel in Turkey is the ultimate solution to this problem. Istanbul, Ankara and many other cities have fabulous attractions for the visitors.

When you are in Ankara, plenty of impressive museums have rare facts to demonstrate to the visitors. Especially the Museum of Anatolian Culture and the Mausoleum of Ataturk are the most favorites of visitors from all across the globe. Another prime destination is Istanbul which possesses an interesting sight where the Asian continent connects to Europe through two impressive suspended bridges. There is an abundance of attractions in the city. Take a drive along the Bosphorus Bridge at midnight and you will be enthralled to the max. Istanbul has some most beautiful mosques, churches and palaces. Blue Mosque, Topkapi and Dolmabache are some of the mosques and palaces which are reputed worldwide. You can come across the some beautiful churches like Kariye and St. Sophia and Roman temples. However, to enjoy all such assets, you need to stay longer. Budget hotel in Turkey are where you can easily afford to stay for a long time.

Another great sight is Cappadocia. This place is an exemplary destination in terms of natural wonder and innovation skills of human. Some interesting features of this place are soft volcanic rock, churches, shops and courtrooms. You will find more than 1000 churches gracefully existing under the ground.

Hawk Thomas is an associate editor of http://www.stayresturkey.com The website offers exclusive information of Turkey and Budget Hotels in Turkey. We also provide online hotel reservation of hotels in Turkey. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@stayresturkey.com

6 Ways To Make Hotel Bookings Online At Discounts

By Barry Allen


The woes of travelers have been eased by online bookings. The World Wide Web is replete with web directories that feature online bookings for flights, cars, hotels, and more.

There are a great many advantages to making hotel reservations online. You get the best rates, great discounts, and the option to choose from a great many hotels. Today travel has become a consumer’s world and an intelligent consumer can get great discounts and stay at the best hotels without going broke.

1. Log on to the net and look for hotel booking directories. Sites like MSN travel and Yahoo travel will feature a great many reputed Online Hotel Booking Directories.

2. Choose an Online Directory that is established and reputable and features hotels where you intend to travel. Check carefully with the better business bureau and online blogs and forums whether there are any problems with the Online Hotel Directory and if it is well liked.

3. Get quotes from more than one hotel. Make a comparison of the quotes and facilities on offer. Be sure to check whether the online booking will entitle you to any special offers like free pick up and drop or an extra day stay at no cost. To encourage people to use Online Hotel Booking Directories very often there are great offers put in place.

4. Find out whether your credit card or flying miles card or professional membership entitles you to further discounts or offers.

5. Ensure that the payment gateway is secure and that the directory will give you immediate confirmation of and a receipt for your booking. Before filling in your credit card details you must check how secure the system is.

6. Always read through the terms and conditions carefully before making a booking. Protect yourself by ensuring the hotel is situated close to where you need to go and has a good reputation. Check where the hotel is located Vis-a Vis the city center and airport and if it is apart of a big hotel chain.

Many online hotel booking websites offer a loyalty discount and have tie-ups with major credit cards and airlines. So as a customer check all your options before making a booking. Find out whether the rates during the week are higher or lower than the weekends. In the case of business hotels often the week ends are cheaper while in the case of other hotels bookings made for mid-week are cheaper. Many hotels offer food coupons or discounts as well as extra day free stay options during off season or for regular customers or as a promotion offer. Also hotels have in place what are known as corporate and government rates so find out what the various options are so that you will get the best rate.

Book early, confirm your plans, and ensure you have a receipt in hand as well as 24/7 customer service numbers. This will ensure that you can travel with peace of mind.

Barry Allen is a freelance writer for http://www.1866hotels.com/, the premier website to find help on Hotels including topics on discount hotels, cheap hotels, hotel and resort information, make online hotel reservations, hotel deal, special hotel offers and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Art Entertainment Press release site http://www.1888pressrelease.com/Art-Entertainment-0-3.html

What is Small Group Adventure Travel?

What exactly is Small Group Adventure Travel?

Lucky means many things to many people. I have never won a large sum of money in fact I never won anything really. I have a nice place to stay and enough to eat but I work for that so I’m not sure how much it has to do with luck. I find more red lights than green and I never get away with anything that is even slightly naughty. But I am a lucky man.

I have worked in small group adventure travel for 10 years now I have experienced many countries andsights, made real friends and learnt a great deal. Travel makes me happy and a happy man is a lucky man.

Small group adventures is a fast growing sector of the travel industry, some say the fastest, but it's a style of travel that has many misconceptions. Unlike other styles of travel such as cruising, or a beach resort the words small group adventure is quite cloudy for travellers and travel agents alike. So what I want to do, as simply as I can, is clarify what small group adventure is all about.

Adventure- Adventure is the word that starts to confuse us because adventure means different things to different travellers. Think of this type of adventure as a genuine experience of a country and it’s people. So if we are having an adventure in Tuscany, for example, we would stay in a beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, meet Tuscans in a local restaurant eating great Tuscan food. Now if we were having a genuine experience in say Papua we will be trekking through thick jungle, staying in a remote village house and the food, well, it will be local.

Escorted tours in small groups- The words group or escorted tour can conjure up visions of name badges, flag waving guides and one hour toilet stops. Small groups average 12 people of many nationalities from different backgrounds and all ages. Small groups mean more attention from guides and leaders and a lot more freedom. For most it is a relaxed way to travel that gives you freedom and expert local knowledge but takes the hassles of day to day travelling away.
Age- The average age of one of our travellers is 18 to 70. Travellers are attracted to different destinations, level of budget and comfort. This determines what type of person travels on which trip. Generally the group you are travelling with will have chosen that trip for the same reasons as you. Will they be the same age as you? Maybe but you will find you will have a lot in common.

Accommodation- Small groups do not need to book big hotels. Your budget determines the facilities of your place to stay but not the comfort. People travelling on a budget will be staying in basic but clean, comfortable and central accommodation. You can afford something a little more then stay with a Maharajah in his palace or in a family run 4 star boutique hotel. You can afford the best then we will find you the best hotels hand picked for their uniqness.

Responsible Travel- The only time you can have more fun being responsible than not being responsible is travelling. Giving back to people who welcome you to their country is a responsible thing to do. How can we do this? We can use operators that take us to eat in a good local restaurants, that use family run hotels, that use local businesses to help run their trips, we could buy some souvenirs from the markets or visit some sight that is away from the crowds. We could also use operators that have different community projects help those that need help the most. We can even get involved in those projects by donations or spending a couple of days helping out on a volunteer holiday.

This, I hope, clears some of the haze surrounding small group adventures. There are many other questions to be answered I’m sure so you can contact me on the address below.