18 Jan 2015

Almost all travelers now use the internet for travel bookings

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Since the advent of online travel booking and the explosion of booking services like Priceline, Expedia and Travelocity, the scales continue to tip in the favor of those who wish to plan their adventures online. The expansion is almost complete, with 90 percent of travel bookings today originating online, up from 50 percent just a few years ago in 2006.

I know that definitely holds true for me. Today, I do almost all my hotel booking through online booking services. I get much better deals, and I like the fact that if there are any monetary issues, I have one source to go to (the booking service), instead of following up with individual hotels.

Roll, roll, roll - your clothes (and other packing tips)

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

When a woman is packing her suitcase, she often runs out of space. This short video offers a wide array of tips to help ease the packing stress. Everything from making a list to rolling your clothes is included. Also, it helpfully reminds women about the TSA’s strict rules about liquids and recommends that she leaves space for souvenirs.

2 Feb 2015

Should we tip hotel housekeepers more - or pay them more?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Marriott is starting a policy of placing envelopes in the Marriott rooms as a reminder to tip the housekeeping staff. The American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests that we tip housekeepers anywhere between $1-5/day for their housekeeping services. However, almost 1/3 of those who stay in a hotel don't leave a tip.

28 Jan 2015

Wow! Virgin Hotels says that WiFi is a right - not a revenue stream

Submitted by Anonymous

At Virgin Hotel Chicago, wireless internet is available to hotel occupants free of charge. Many hotels charge customers for the right to use and access the wireless internet at a hotel. For example, Marriott, a 4-star hotel, can charge over $10/day per device. That means that, if you carry the usual 3 WiFi devices, you can easily be charged over $30/day for WiFi.

27 Jan 2015

Should negative TripAdvisor reviews be banned from the public?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Should our opinions and ratings of businesses be banned from the public? Lets look at Yelp and TripAdvisor. Governor Brown of California recently signed off on a so-called anti-disparagement clause.

26 Jan 2015

How to save money while traveling solo

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Traveling can be costly. In fact, it is the cost that often keeps people from traveling as much as they would like. This is especially true if you are traveling on your own and have no one to split costs with. Yet, there are some simple tips that you can employ to make traveling solo more affordable than you thought it could ever be.