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Travel Secret:
While we were all complaining about airline ticket prices,
the hotels prices did some soaring of their own. Here are some strategies to get
the best price, no matter where you decide to stay? //
The average cost per hotel night is well over $200 in most
cities, and rising. Cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago now boast
over $300 per night as an average downtown cost.
As a first step, stay away from the chain hotels like Sheraton, Hilton, etc.
While they are nice hotels, they are outrageously expensive. Every town has
non-chain hotels that are as nice, if not nicer, for less money. The local
visitor’s bureau can give you names of hotels in your price range as a
starting point.
Begin by calling the hotel directly for a rate quote. Do not go through
central 800-reservations since they have the highest rates. Ask for any
discounts for AAA, AAPR, Military, or Government. Even if you are not a member
of any of these groups, the price quote will give you a basis to judge your rate
against.
Next, start searching for a better deal. Here are some sources: Limited time
promotions are often advertised in newspapers, and on billing statements you
receive every month. Check these sources for dates that correspond with your
travel plans and book early, since only a limited number of rooms are available
at these rates.
Try hotel consolidators. They purchase blocks of hotel space at a discount
and resell to the public 20 to 70 percent below the rack rate. Try the Hotel
Reservations Network at 1-800-964-6835.
Finally, many discount hotel club directories exist. Try "America at 50%
Discount" (800-248-2783) for over 1200 budget properties in the US and
Europe. Try "International Travel Card" (800-987-6216) for 3,800
properties world-wide.
In the end, your savings will be based on how much of your own time you are
willing to spend to find the best rate. Weigh time spent verses money saved, and
begin your search early. Back
to Top
That's Good to Know:
Last-minute planning doesn't have to mean loosing out on early-booking discounts
and other perks for your weekend getaway// If you find yourself in a position to
make last minute travel plans, there are some good web sites that can help you
save money, and get a deal on an airline ticket. Start with your favorite
airline's web site and sign up for their email notifications, generally sent on
Wednesdays. For an email recap of 20 airlines, register at www.smarterliving.com
for their consolidated service. Another source is www.webflyer.com/@deal/@deal.html
which shows hotel, car rental and international flight
discounts. Back to Top
Featured Destination:
If you only had six hours to see New York City, where should you go?//
Over a long weekend in New York you’ll have to find time to sleep, eat,
shop, and explore. In that time, the average traveler can only dedicate a few
hours to the exploring. Here’s what the locals say you can see in a six hours
drive-around tour:
* The Upper West Side: Lincoln Center, The Dakota , Central Park, Museum of
Natural History
* Harlem and Morningside Heights: Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Columbia
University, Grant's Tomb, Riverside Park, Hudson River, George Washington
Bridge, The Apollo Theater
* The Upper East Side: Upper Fifth Avenue, Museum Mile (i.e. Metropolitan ,
Guggenheim)
* Midtown: Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Garment District, Flatiron
District, Ladies Mile
* Greenwich Village and SoHo
* Chinatown and Little Italy
* Wall Street and The Financial District: Battery Park, Statue of Liberty,
The Stock Exchange, The South Street Seaport
* The Lower East Side and East Village
* East Midtown: The United Nations, Tudor City, Turtle Bay, Park Avenue
You can get exhausted just reading the list! Of course, if you wanted to stop
and see anything in depth, you’d need to add a couple hours per stop. No
wonder people come back to New York City again and again!
Women Traveling Together has a New
York City for the Holidays Tour December 1 – 5,
2001. Back to Top
Safety for Women:
"Eyes Ahead" is not only good for posture, it's good for safety!// In
the military soldiers are taught "eyes ahead." This simply means to
look where you are going, not down at the ground. Women traveling are a much
less likely mark for potential trouble if their eyes are ahead, and they are
walking with purpose. It’s as simple as acting like you know what you’re
doing, and where you’re going, even if you don’t! Studies have shown that
attackers select their victims by their posture and "body-language."
Eye contact is also important. Don’t be afraid to look at the people you are
passing on the street. Again, studies have shown that attackers will avoid
individuals who have made eye-contact with them. It’s good to practice these
skills before you travel, so give it a try the next time you go shopping, or to
the grocery store. Back
to Top
Been There – Learned
This: The 14 women who recently joined Women
Traveling Together in the British Virgin Islands on a Tall Sailing Ship
adventure had a lot of good suggestions for others who may sail the high seas.//
Accommodations: Rustic but functional, with some storage space, but
not much. Bring a duffel bag instead of a suitcase so it can be folded and
easily stored. Water for the shower is on a spring-loaded button that you have
to hold in to get water. We figured out that you could put your foot on the
button, and that left both hands free.
Best Place to Eat: Most of the meals where on-board, and they were
quite good. There were generally two choices for an entrée each night. Before
departing Tortola, several ate at Pussers Landing, a British pub and hangout for
celebrities visiting the island.
Best Things to Do: Go Parasailing, go snorkeling at "The
Indians," dive the wreck of the Rhone, Lay on the beach and read a good
book, sit in the "widow’s net" while under sail.
Things we should have brought with us: At least two swim suits, your
own mask and fins (the rentals caused blisters on the feet because of improper
fit) and mask de-fogger.
Things we should have left home: The make-up and anything resembling
nice clothes. Shorts, swim-suits, and t-shirts are the attire.
Things we could have skipped: The deep sea fishing was a
disappointment. Otherwise, it was the perfect trip. We truly
relaxed! Back to Top
Full List of Trips with
space still open: The recent press coverage Women
Traveling Together received has introduced hundreds of women to the club. As
a result, many of the tours for the remainder of the year are almost full. If
you are interested in any tour, please do not wait to sign-up. You may find it
full.
London's Castles;
15-Jun – 23 Jun; 9 days (2 spaces still open)
France 1-Paris &
Châteaux; 15-Jun – 23 Jun ; 9 days (1 space has come open)
Spa Retreat at
Camelback; 30 Jun – 4 Jul; 5 days (Almost Full)
France 3-Paris &
Châteaux; 4 Aug – 12 Aug; 9 days (2 spaces left)
Italy - Rome and South;
9 Sept – 18 Sept; 10 days
Portugal and
Spain; 18 Sept – 2 Oct; 10 + 5 days
Maine's Coast;
29 September – 3 Oct; 5 days (Almost Full – 4 spaces)
Albuquerque
Balloon Festival; 9 Oct – 13 Oct; 5 days (Standby only – we may
be able to add 3 spaces, so get on the standby list)
Asheville, and NC
Hiking; 9 Oct – 14 Oct; 6 days
San Diego;
28 Oct – 31 Oct; 4 days
San Francisco;
1 Nov – 4 Nov; 4 days (filling up fast)
Australia;
22 Oct – 2 Nov; 12 days
New Zealand;
2 Nov –12 Nov; 11 days
New York City
Holidays; 02 Dec – 05 Dec; 4 days (filling up fast)
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