Instead of sleeping in a typical hotel or bed & breakfast next vacation, why not bunk in a lighthouse, a train car, or even a jail? Tripadvisor has a list of 10 Quirky Hotels located around the country that will definitely give you a more memorable stay.
Have you ever wanted to spend your vacation in a shack?
This photo of Shack Up Inn is courtesy of TripAdvisor
By now we are used to getting nickel and dimed by the airlines and have adopted some strategies to avoid a few of their extra fees (not checking luggage and taking our own meals on board, for example). Now, Budget Travel reports that some hotels, in an attempt to increase revenue, are taking the same approach as the airlines by charging for services and items that were previously included in the room rate. Consumer advocate, Clark Howard reports he’s recently seen unusual charges such as newspaper fees, automatic safe fees, and mini- bar fees (whether used or not). The best bet is to ask upon check-in about any extra “fees” that may be imposed, reject them, and then carefully review your bill before checking out. Have you been presented with any unusual hotel charges?
Review your bill carefully before checking out of a hotel.
SmartMoney reports on a new trend in the hotel industry – pairing designer brand-names with upscale hotels. Haute couture designers such as Versace and Armani, along with jewelry designer Bulgari, have gotten into the hotel business, which allows them to showcase their products and sell them in the on-site shops. These hotels in locales such as Dubai and Australia (with some slated to open in the U.S.) are more for the fashion-conscious luxury travelers who are not concerned about rewards programs.
Guest room in Palazzo Versace, Dubai
You may want to steer clear of the hotel mini-bar when you travel. Not because of its exorbitant cost (which is reason enough), but because contents may not be what they appear to be. The Daily Beast recently published an article, 12 Hotel Secrets by Hotel Staffs, From Minibar ‘Refills’ to Ritz-Carlton Largesse, revealing how things really work in the hotel world. After reading, you may decide to take your own drinking cup with you when you travel!
The coverlet on your hotel bed is not clean as it appears.
