Tagged With "Airbed and Breakfast"
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Free wi-fi is a nice perk that should be a part of the standard room fee. Years ago the introduction of coffee pots and coffee packets in the rooms were a big step in the right direction. Some chains offer a free breakfast, so why not wi-fi. Free wi-fi is just another step in the right direction.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Technically, it would be possible to create very large WiFi zones, whether free or paid. But since someone gets paid (either on the meter, or a fee for the project) and there is a cost to constructing/installing the equipment to broadcast that signal...it won't happen unless someone is paying. In the case of the hotel, picking up on rbciao's point about breakfast--have you noticed that the free WiFi and the free breakfast tend to come with the budget chains, while the high-end places charge...
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Maybe it's the old capitalist coming out in me, but I think "should" is a strong word. Free access to wi-fi certainly helps me determine where I'll stay, just like free breakfast is...but if a hotel has enough other amenities so that people are willing to pay for it's wi-fi then so be it...although it is easy enough to get free somewhere, I don't value it enough to pay for it.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Originally Posted by JohnT: Maybe it's the old capitalist coming out in me, but I think "should" is a strong word. Free access to wi-fi certainly helps me determine where I'll stay, just like free breakfast is...but if a hotel has enough other amenities so that people are willing to pay for it's wi-fi then so be it...although it is easy enough to get free somewhere, I don't value it enough to pay for it. I agree with you John, that market forces will drive this. But the demand for "free"...
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Re: Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at TravelGumbo!
GarryRF, You must try the King (Elvis Presley's) favorite sandwich. Peanut butter and banana, fried in butter. Forget about the cholesterol -- give it a go. It's much better than it sounds! Part of the joy of traveling is trying the food. Like "pudding" with your full Irish breakfast (don't ask if you don't know). I remember driving through rural southern Australia and seeing the following sign at a restaurant: "Bugs, $10". I don't know about you but I wouldn't pay anything for a plate of...
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Re: Capital of Culture Series: Liverpool
In Europe, I have had good luck finding value accommodations at Booking.com and Europe-Stays. com. Those sites list hostels with their ratings and prices. A quick peek for June shows several promising choices for around $ 21 USD per bed per night. Unless you just want company, you might budget hotels pricing similar to the hostels. They often charge per person, not per room, which is a big help for the solo traveler. Tune Hotels will work for the London part of your trip, but they are not in...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
HistoryDigger, I'll explain. At the end of the first day of tulou visits, the large tour bus rendezvoused with a small van and it was indicated that I should bring my things and come with a young man. Since no one could explain, I had to simply trust and go along, an interesting sensation. I later realized that I was the only one who had opted for the second day. The young man drove me to a very basic village of mostly new buildings built, I suspect but of course don't know, for...
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Re: Walking through New Orleans...nibbling
What's gonnin' on Paul? No breakfast at Angelina? No muffaletta at Napoleon House? No pastry at Sucre? Appreciate you got to Cochon, but did you go next door to the butcher? And the best shrimp and grits in town is at Atchafalaya.
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Re: Got some time? Viking sets 8-month cruise
You need to get dressed before breakfast ? That would spoil the best part of the day when we all talk to each other - in our PJ's ! We did 2 months "Around the World" - Physical and Mental exhaustion. Worse than the Marathon my wife and I did.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 26, 2015: Breakfast on the Okavango Delta
What an excellent trip to have taken! Another unforgettable experience to add to your collection. Breakfast looks good too :-)
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 26, 2015: Breakfast on the Okavango Delta
Breakfast was great, Mac, but you can't beat the view! Fortunately no large carnivores found us while we were enjoying this break.
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
I think you're exactly right, PortMoresby. For quite some time, we've looked mostly at the inexpensive chains precisely because they offer clear and valuable perks: Free breakfast, free parking, free WiFi. Our occasional high-end hotels through Priceline have sometimes moved the per-room fee down to a lower tier, but after you've paid $20/day for parking, $11.99 a day for WiFi...not so lower! The two-tier WiFi issue is becoming a bug for me, too. I recently stayed at a DoubleTree by Hilton...
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Re: New trend: airport lounges for non-members
It is a pleasure, as well, when making early morning connections in Europe. I've had lounge access through various credit cards for the past few years and truly enjoyed breakfast in a lounge while waiting for the next flight, and even the ability to doze a little, knowing that a) the seat is comfortable, b) my bag is safe and c) the agent at the desk will remind me it's time to walk to the gate! Even at $35 a pop...likely worth it.
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Re: Holiday Inn Express to Offer Selfies on Pancakes
I'm not an ad executive, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently, so that qualifies me to tell them. This is a horrible campaign. Couldn't they of come up with a selfie free breakfast campaign instead?
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Re: Beating Jet Lag
You're quite right DrF ! Usually when I return on a long flight the cabin is like a Doctors waiting room. Coughing and sneezing and spluttering. Headache. But the Dreamliner was - a dream ! So much healthier and with the windows darkened 'til just before breakfast - most people slept well - even the babies on board
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Re: How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
I've noticed the press in general is more positive in their reporting for companies such as Airbnb and TripAdvisor when they became mainstream.
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Re: How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
In the beginning, it wasn't so much not positive, as puzzled by what this strange new thing was. All the early articles try to explain by comparing with hotels, couch-surfing, etc. These days, things are often described as being "Airbnb-like." One of those Times articles, in late '09 or early '10, was the first I had noticed and it was a revelation, because we simply don't like hotel rooms. We love being able to be in two or more rooms, and do some cooking and feel like we're living...
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Re: How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
The NY Times wasn't so much negative, but I remember reports elsewhere that were strongly negative .I'm just not seeing the quanity of those negative stories .
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Re: How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
The most negative feelings I've seen expressed online directed at Airbnb have been on forums, almost all from those not adventuresome enough to try it but who consider themselves "in the know". I think it must be terribly frustrating for those who'd like us to think they know everything, but who know nothing but hearsay about what's really become a movement. I've been verbally turned on when I've posted anything positive, accused of shilling for the site, among other imaginary sins. I always...
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Re: Marienplatz: Heart of Munich
On my only visit to Munich, a couple of hours between trains, I had Marienplatz to myself at dawn as I walked through looking for a place open for breakfast. So for those wanting to avoid the crowds you mention, that's the time.
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Re: Walking the Burgundy Canal
Every walk is different, of course, so planning, for someone like me who isn't a distance walker, is essential. I can walk comfortably up to about 10 miles with my little pack, more if I must but try to avoid it, so there's no rush in the morning to be out early. I enjoy a leisurely breakfast and head out mid-morning. I'm never in the position of looking for a place to overnight because I've reserved in advance, either well in advance or at least a day or 2, knowing where I'll be. In France...
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Re: France, Britain at swords points over croissants
I think they need an impartial judge, like me, to go test out both shapes of the croissant. I might need to stop in Italy for the cappuccino. And since I like yogurt for breakfast too, I might have to go to Greece and Bulgaria to settle which ones better.
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Re: France, Britain at swords points over croissants
These matters are too weighty to be settled by a single judge—a panel of judges is needed. My bag is always packed... Rob...are we flying Norwegian? perhaps we can check their breakfast on the way...
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Re: A kind word for Booking.com
That's good to know. Many companies don't understand how important good customer service is. Booking.com is my preferred hotel booking site when I travel abroad because they do such a good job describing the accommodations. You'll pretty much know exactly what kind of room to expect. Also, if you are a frequent user you qualify for your their "genius" discounts from select hotels -- an extra 10% off. Nice! For example, when we visited Palermo, we stayed at a top quality hotel with excellent...
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Re: Luxembourg Pastry shop, Old City
We really enjoyed Paul's as well. Everything was always perfectly fresh and perfect! An excellent budget travel tip for those looking for an inexpensive breakfast or lunch while in Europe. And everything in their counter does reach out to your psyche with an "Eat me" message!
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Re: Granville Island Market, Vancouver. 1) The Produce
Completely agree, Garry! Can't beat the quality of food from a Farmer's Market. Besides all the lovely produce, there are dozens of food vendors will to cook you breakfast, lunch or dinner, or make that cup of latte or glass of lemonade. Great place to spend a morning!
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
We must have passed Pigeon Point on our way to see the seals on a February visit to SF about 10 years ago...I wish I had known! Besides the seals, the highlight of that trip was breakfast in a roadside diner surrounded by avocado farms...a product reflected in practically every breakfast on the menu!
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Re: Tuktoyaktuk: A village on the Arctic Coast of Canada
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: Thanks for this post, Tom, and I also appreciate your involvement with TravelGumbo. A few questions. The town seems too small for even basic tourist services. Did you just camp, or was there someplace you could stay? Also, a question about waste water. With permafrost, how is this drained from the homes so that it doesn't freeze in the pipes? The town has a few places for accommodations including bed & breakfast places and two grocery stores but...
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Re: Pancakes, Bacon & WiFi: what travelers want
I'm not very surprised that free breakfast and free wifi are important to travelers. Given a choice, I'd rather have the wifi than breakfast. I use my computer a lot and the freedom wifi gives me to go about my business is critical to my travels. I don't book rooms that lack wifi anymore.
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All the Tea In...Charleston?
Tea gardens, as the farms are traditionally known, no matter the size, have been seducing me for over a decade. In Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces of China, Himachal Pradesh and Darjeeling in Himalayan India, in the Cameron Highlands of...
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Should a budget traveler "splurge" sometimes?
I read an interesting post written by Rick Steves, discussing the importance of splurging a little even when you're on a tight travel budget. Rick Steves is somewhat of a travel icon these days, and a very wealthy man who can spend as much or as...
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Hotel rooms for Millennials
I thought most folks more or less wanted the same features in a hotel room, namely a good night's sleep, free parking, free television and free internet. Plus or minus free breakfast. It seems I am naive. Modern hotel rooms are...
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Hostels are Growing Up
Hostels aren't just bare bones places to stay anymore. They still feature the social aspects of hosteling, but there are large numbers of "Luxury Hostels" popping up, especially in Europe. Things like infinity pools, breakfast on demand,...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, February 25, 2015. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is celebrating its 450 th birthday in 2015 and everyone’s invited! It was in 1565 that Pedro Menendez of Aviles proclaimed the land for Spain. The first Catholic mass was held at what is now the Mission de Nombre de Dios by...
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Mary's Hash House, Las Vegas
Anyone who stumbled onto this blog searching for "hashish" might as well leave, because that's not what this post is about. It's about good food, not good weed. The Las Vegas food scene has changed a lot since I first visited the...
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Part I covered three Greenlandic towns I have visited but my real passion is being out in West Greenland’s wilderness. So this part is about what it has to offer those willing to get out there on foot and under canvas! I...
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Casas Particulares in Cuba
Visiting Cuba has forever changed the way I view accommodations when I travel now. For one I was always a chain hotel kind of girl racking up my points and being loyal to said luxury chains. I had the option to book luxury hotels in Havana...
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When do we want it? Now! What do we want? Read on...
But does it have WiFi? A new survey tells us that WiFi is holding its place as the #1 desired hotel amenity—but not as many people listed it as #1 as last year. Breakfast held #2. And almost nobody cares about the mini-bar with its...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 14, 2015: Taplow House Hotel
Taplow House is a rambling Edwardian English country house hotel on the outskirts of the village of Taplow, not far from Windsor, across the Thames from Maidenhead. I’ve stayed there twice, at the end of one segment of the Thames...
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How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
Everyone knows Airbnb, though what people think of it, or think it is, varies widely. And, over its world-conquering and controversial history, a lot of minds have changed. As a barometer, a staff writer at Skift, a travel-industry news site, has...
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Amtrak's Auto Train - Relax your way to Sunshine
There is a rhythm to train travel that is different. This is especially true when you are taking a train for a long distance. I recently took a round trip excursion on Amtrak’s Auto Train. And it immediately reminded me why I enjoy train travel...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 4, 2015: Breakfast Time
I was out at Pioneer Acres, an annual farming show in central Alberta, when I came across this little guy in the field. He was just taking a breakfast break and I could't resist trying to get as close as I could for a picture. He...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 15, 2015: The Tea Lady, Istanbul
Tea, we discovered in our week in Istanbul, is a necessity of nearly every meal and occasion, and one fraught with ritual. It must be made with the right tea, it must be steeped for a long time and then diluted to the right color, and served in small...
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A Busy Weekend in Philadelphia
A few weekends ago, my fiancé, my best friend and I decided to go to Philly for an overnight trip. Our goal for the weekend was to see all the touristy parts of Philadelphia. When we got to Philly from NYC, we headed straight for the L...
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Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
My adventure in Kenya begins in Maasai Mara, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. With more than 200 square miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest, the Mara is joined by privately-owned...
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Back to Oaxaca: Michael's House
PortMoresby finds her perfect place in Oaxaca, Mexico, in a strikingly modern house tucked into Xochimilco, the oldest neighborhood in the city.
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Strasbourg: Self-service tour of Alsatian food
PHeymont tries something new: A self-service gourmet food tour, organized by the Strasbourg Office de Tourisme.