Kasalong Riverkwai Resort
•The Best Resort of Thailand (Kanchanaburi)•

We aim to be a high-performance hotel management company, helping hotel owners succeed through in-depth management systems, extensive training & support, comprehensive marketing direction, thorough accounting controls and invaluable human resources programs.

Xenia provides professional marketing, sales and awareness programmes; standard of operation analysis and recommendation reports; auditing management policy, finance and purchasing systems; security and safety recommendations; FF&E and pre-opening consultancy; IT system integration and recommendation.

The focus of Xenia Hospitality Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary partners and associated companies, The Quality Group, Quality Travel and Spa aim to manage and own hotels, resorts and spas throughout Thailand and South East Asia.

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Kasalong Resort
Address: 199 Moo 2, Amphur Muang,
Latya-Srisawas Rd., Amphur Muang 7100. Thailand

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A Hot Spot Destination for Travelling Pensioners

There is no better place in the world to spend a holiday than Spain. Spain offers a myriad of recreational pursuits and you will have little or no problem finding splendid accommodation in Spain. In fact, when you plan a holiday in Spain you’ll have few worries in terms of arranging your itinerary: this will allow you to focus on other important things concerning your plans. Purchasing travel insurance is extremely important whenever you are travelling and you should not consider a holiday without it.

It is important to remember that you travel to relax and enjoy yourself. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why travel insurance for pensioners is so necessary. With travel insurance in place you can concentrate on enjoying your holiday and get on with visiting all of the fabulous sights in Spain.

Mark Santilli, a frequent traveller, warns about the dangers of not having travel insurance: “I never thought that travel insurance was important. I quickly found out how wrong I was when my wife and I went on a trip to Australia and my wife became seriously ill. Our regular insurance didn’t cover the emergency treatment she needed.”

It is in no way safe to conclude that the new European health insurance card offers enough cover to you and your family. In fact, travel insurance for over 70's will cover many things that the new European health insurance card will not. In reality, travel insurance may cover unexpected cancellations, missed departures, lost travel documents, accidents, the loss or theft of baggage, travel delays and certain medical expenses that regular insurance just will not cover. For all intents and purposes then, if you are looking to completely relax and unwind while visiting Spain, or any part of the world, it is truly wise to make a small investment in travel insurance.

Spain is truly a fantastic place to visit and you’ll love travelling from one major city to the next, checking out all of the historical sites that Spain has to offer: cities like Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Ibiza, Madrid, Malaga, Marbella, Oviedo, Palma, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Santander, Seville, Valencia and Zaragoza. What draws tourists to Spain year after year is the incredible history embedded in each city. Such a history can be thoroughly explored by viewing the unique architecture in each city and by visiting the many cultural sites that hold historical significance: sites that are scattered throughout the country of Spain.

Madrid, the capital of Spain and one of the most popular tourist attractions, possesses fine accommodation and cuisine. The Adler Hotel, the Petit Palace Italia and the Aptos Eurobuilding 2 offer comfortable and affordable accommodation to the tourist. The Adler Hotel, erected in 1884, is located at Calle Velazquez 33, Goya 31 and is the site of a former palace which has been completely remodelled to meet the comfort and needs of today’s traveller. The Adler hotel has 6 floors and 45 rooms to choose from. You will find that the Adler Hotel offers every possible amenity including air conditioning, broadband internet access, satellite television, telephone access and an in-room mini-bar. Additionally, the Petit Palace Italia, erected in 1902, is located at Gran Via 32 and offers similar amenities as does the Aptos Eurobuilding 2, situated at Orense 69.

You find that there are restaurants of all styles everywhere—restaurants that provide the finest cuisine that Spain has to offer. For instance, when visiting Madrid you will discover that many of the restaurants are but a short distance from your chosen accommodation. If you are looking to get a taste of Spanish cuisine there is the Combarro Restaurant but if you are seeking contemporary cuisine, visit the Zalca?n. Likewise, breakfast and brunch are regularly served at the Chocolater?a San Gines and if you desire Indian Cuisine the Annapurna you will have no trouble satisfying your appetite.

Of course, you don’t merely visit Spain for its fine cuisine and comfortable accommodation. In fact, pensioners visit Spain so that they can partake in Spain’s magnificent history while they rest and relax on their holiday. There are well over 50 museums and galleries in Madrid alone. Be sure that you can spend all of your time in Spain enjoying the sights—get travel insurance for pensioners—feel safe about your trip and most of all enjoy the sun and the culture.

Sweden

The prime reason tourists visit this country is for the winter and snow. Winter activities in Sweden in the midst of nature are liberating experiences. Riding a snow mobile is the top one among all activities. Riding a snow mobile is very easy. Simply sitting on a snowmobile and revving the accelerator can take you to remote mountaintops and across alpine lakes. If you are averse to the idea of using smoke-spewing machines in the midst of pure nature, then skiing is the best option. Sweden has resorts to suit varying levels of experience of skiers. From the snowboarder's wild paradise in Lapland to the family resorts in the southern mountains, Sweden’s resorts accommodate all types of skiers.

If it’s the water that attracts you, then Sweden with 3000 kilometers of shoreline spoils you for a choice. Fishing, swimming, diving, surfing and deep-sea explorations are some of the activities that you can indulge in Sweden. Cruising in the Baltic Sea can be added to your itinerary. The ports of call would introduce you to the history of Sweden, through magnificent palaces, castles and museums. In term of cities, Stockholm, Goteborg and Malmo are fast emerging as Europe’s top city vacation destinations.

A trip to Sweden is incomplete without a stay in the famed ice hotel in JukkasJarvi. Getting off at Kiruna airport and heading towards the ice hotel by dogsled is a perfect prelude to a more interesting event – staying in a hotel that is entirely made of ice. The suites, beds, pillars, lobby and bar, everything that a hotel should have is made of ice. The drink in the bar comes in glasses made of – ice, of course.

There are other hotels in Sweden rated by the Sweden Hotel and Restaurant association, which cater to tourists with all kinds of budgets.

Austria

If the buildings keep you awe struck for their magnificent architecture, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps invite you to play with nature. In Austria you could watch water cascading down in the triple level waterfall at Krimml, explore the largest ice caves near Salzburg, attend an orchestra in Vienna, visit the Mozart museum in Salzburg and appreciate art and architecture that reach Baroque perfection.

Skiing, the favorite past time of Austrians has resulted in the conversion of villages to skiing resorts. People from all over the world frequent skiing villages on the Alps. Austrian skiers rank top in the world and Innsbruck is a popular skiing destination and the snowboarding capital of Europe. Towns like Kitzbuhel are not only visited for skiing purposes but because it has become a party place and a meeting place for the high society. There is a very popular annual reindeer sled race held in Austria. This race is the best in the Europe.

Austria is a must visit country for the lovers of Mozart’s music. The cycle of musical festivals in Austria is unceasing. If it’s a lavish ball in January, its Shrovetide carnival in February a celebration of return of spring with masks and processions. Vienna International Festival in June and Slazburg festival in July offer arts and music programs respectively.

Ambassador hotel and Grand Hotel Wien are two five star hotels in Vienna. Schloss hotel IgIs and Europa Tyrol hotel are the two five star hotels in Innsbruck. Slazburg doesn’t have any five star hotel. But there are a number of 4 star and lower priced hotels to accommodate burgeoning number of tourists.

The Master Within

Recently I had the opportunity to meet a long term mystic. During a lecture he was presenting on a mystic's role in society, he uttered the words "inner warrior," while looking directly at me. I had never met him and wondered if he knew I was the author of Mystic Warrior. His lecture was fascinating and I couldn't wait for a chance to speak to him without distraction.

In accord with the universal law of attraction, my intense desire precipitated our meeting quickly. Less than an hour later, at the hotel lunch buffet, he was walking towards my table carrying a plate of food. I jumped up and invited him to join us, which he accepted.

I asked him whether he knew I had written Mystic Warrior. Calmly, he smiled and answered that he didn't. He explained that when he lectures, "it's not me that's speaking, but rather, the 'Master Within.'" He was referring to the divine aspect at the heart of every soul - the divine aspect that all mystics strive to tap into.

Then I asked him the question that his lecture had triggered. "Is it permissible, from a mystic perspective, to use your spiritual power to intervene and thwart the 'evil intentions' of someone that is 'abusing an innocent?'"

Now you must understand the significance of this question from a mystic perspective. In the mystic's view of the world all is one. There is no good vs. evil. The cause of "evil" is ignorance.

What I was asking is, what is worse, using your power to control someone or allowing that someone to control another? This is the mystic equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster plot crisis. In the movie, Superman, for example, it's when Superman has to decide between saving the world or Lois Lane. Either way, someone is going to lose. Philosophers describe it as "the lesser of two evils."

First, he explained that I was assuming the act to be "evil," and that was only my perception. Next, he explained that my perception of the "abuse" could also be mistaken. He went on to state that there could be a number of reasons why inaction might be better than action for all parties involved. Karma may be involved. The dispute may go back lifetimes. There was no possible way I could take into consideration all the factors that were governing the parties' behavior. The best course of action would be for me to send unconditional love to both parties.

I held my tongue and told him I understood all that. Then I added, "What if you knew the person's motivation was pure self interest?"

"How would you know?" he countered.

"What if the first party communicated that to you?"

He nodded, but repeated his assertion that the safest course of action was to send unconditional love.

Then I asked, "What if the abuse affected a large number of people?"

He paused and looked at me. He recognized that this was a topic I had pondered at great length. Every answer he had offered, I had already considered and came back with another question. That's when he asked, "Who is directing you?"

He wasn't referring to some external source. He was referring to one of the most fundamental teachings of mysticism, teachings that have been conveyed by numerous, great religions.

I smiled and he recognized that I understood him. I started to laugh.

I sat back in my chair, awed by the elegance of such a simple question and the thoughts it had spawned. The kingdom of God lies within. The goal of the evolving soul is to align his will with the will of God. If you want to know how to handle any situation, consult the Master Within.

Now it's true that there are plenty of psychopaths that claim God told them to do some despicable act, and we can be confident they're mistaken. And it's also true that a person's understanding of the Master Within will change over time, as the person's wisdom increases and his or her ability to attune with the one source of all creation improves.

But as a fundamental guide to how you should act in every situation, there is no simpler and more elegant advice than to ask for direction from The Master Within

Living Cheap

Does living cheap mean being miserable, or giving up what you want? Not at all. In my own case, it meant getting the things I really wanted. Spend less on each thing or activity, and you can have more of them, right? The key is to spend less and still get what you need and want. I'll tell you how I managed it.

Living Cheap - Housing

The first house I owned was a mobile home on a small lot. I paid less than $20,000, and had payments of $257 per month. With taxes, insurance and repairs, it still cost less than rent. With three bedrooms, an expanded living room, and a nice fenced-in yard, it was very comfortable. Eventually I sold it for $45,000.

Two things that I did made it even cheaper. First, I paid down the mortgage as much as I could when I was working. Within five years I owed nothing, and from that point on it cost an average of $300 per month to pay for the utilities, phone, garbage collection, taxes, insurance, and repairs. This is living cheap.

It became even cheaper when I found that I could easily rent the other two bedrooms. I got $65 per week for one, and $75 or more per week for the other, and I included all utilities. I found decent young guys to rent to, and the rents added up to $600 per month, making this more than cheap living, and even better than free housing. I was making $300 per month AND living for free.

Living Cheap - Think And Plan

With lower expenses I could work less, so I could get by without a car. This saved even more money. An occasional bus fare, and the used bicycle I bought didn't add up to a fourth of what it cost to have a car. I needed to plan my trips around town a little better, but it was worth it.

Until I was almost 40, I never paid more than $40 for a piece of furniture. You have to know what is important to you. I DID pay $220 for a high-tech sleeping bag, because ultralight backpacking was important to me. On the other hand, since I couldn't tell the difference between a nice, clean used couch for $30 and one that cost $900, I bought the former.

I found that when I worked less, I had time to more carefully consider my options. Time can save a lot of money. I paid half of what others paid for groceries, and when I did get a car, I found a repossessed one worth much more than what I paid. When I went to Ecuador for a month, it cost $1,040, including airfare, hotels, meals, a guided climb up a 21,000-foot mountain - everything. It was possible because I had time to search for the deals.

I never cared much for jobs, and I worked only part-time for years. I played chess, wrote poetry, and read good books. I traveled several times a year. I met the love of my life in South America (happily married for almost 5 years now). This was all possible not because I made a lot of money, but because I spent less than I made, and used the difference for the things that mattered to me.

This article isn't meant as a how-to guide. I explain how I traveled and bought things so cheaply in many other articles. This is simply to get you thinking about the possibilities, and to point out some principles. What are the principles? Find ways to pay less without getting less. Don't buy things you don't need. Spend a less time working and more time thinking. Stay out of debt. Finally, know what is truly important to you, because this is what you can have more of by living cheap.

Why You Should Travel To Hong Kong For The New Year's Parade

The New Year's parade in Hong Kong is an event not to be missed! The city is dressed up with bright decorations and colorful lights for its biggest celebration of the year, and thousands pour into Hong Kong to take part in the festivities.

Winding along Hong Kong's picturesque waterfront, the New Year's parade is filled with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. Representatives from Hong Kong and countries all over the world sing, dance and play music. The songs of marching bands fill the air along the parade's route as performers in bright costumes prance along the streets.

The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is being celebrated for the coming year, there are always plenty of lions and dragons in the parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion heads leap in the air as long dragons held aloft by more than twenty people snake past the enthralled parade watchers.

The New Year's parade is the biggest event of Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration. Close to 300,000 people attend the parade and millions more watch it on television. In recent years the parade has taken place in the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light displays.

The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong's most important and well-loved holidays. Each year one of twelve different animals is celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. Many of the city's towering skyscrapers are decked out in glittering lights for the holiday. Throughout the three-day celebration, dancers in colorful costumes perform lion and dragon dances in the streets, malls and hotel lobbies. Traditionally, people exchange small, red envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower markets show up all over the city during the holiday, selling plants and flowers with special significance, and stores and restaurants display flowers meant to bring immortality and good luck.

The New Year celebration usually begins anywhere from January 21 to February 19, depending on the year. While the holiday officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong it is celebrated for three days, with the New Year's parade taking place on the first day. January 29, 2006 is the first day of the forthcoming new year.

The day after the New Year's parade a brilliant display of fireworks lights up Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks can be viewed from the waterfront or from boats cruising the harbour. On the third day of the celebration a large horse race takes place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively race is a favorite for gamblers and horseracing enthusiasts.

It's no wonder why so many travel to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern day fun at one of the world's biggest Chinese New Year celebrations.

Romantic Weekend Getaways

omantic weekend getaways can be a second honeymoon or your first vacation together. When you don't have the time or money for a long trip, try one of the following.

Luxuriate Together

Spending time at a nice hotel is the most obvious and common romantic weekend getaway, and with good reason. It is wonderful to be waited on and relax in a hot tub together. The best hotels for this will have a pool, a hot tub (preferably in the room) and even a lounge where you might be able to go dancing.

In Michigan, this might be the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. This is where they filmed the Christopher Reed movie, "Somewhere In Time." There are no cars, so you'll have see the island together by horse carriage.

Romantic Weekend Getaways - Outdoors

If you both enjoy getting outside, you may want to consider a camping weekend. Whether you want to really rough it, and put on the backpacks, or just rent an RV and find a beautiful park to visit, this is a great way to have some quality time together. Wherever you live, there are great outdoor destinations within a couple hours.

A great example is the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, near Safford Arizona. There are two hot spring pools to soak in, and millions of acres of desert to explore. My wife and I loved collecting beautiful rocks together, and sitting around the fire with fellow campers each night. We also enjoyed regular soakings in the hot springs.

Doing Something New Together

It can be very romantic to share new experiences together. Even when things don't go as planned, you are creating common memories that bring you closer together. Why not try something new this weekend?

An example of this could be mountain biking in Moab, Utah. If you live near Seattle, you might consider a guided climb up Mount Ranier together. If you are near the coasts or the Great Lakes, you could take a charter sailing or fishing trip together. Amtrak has some great scenic routes you could travel in a weekend.

Are romantic weekend getaways expensive? Sometimes, but the only requirement is that they are romantic. There is a way to get away no matter what your budget is. Why not start planning now?

About the Author: Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on romantic vacations, plus travel stories, tips and information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Ten Moving Tips

These moving tips may include a few things you hadn't thought of, or things you just need to be reminded of. Forget that safe deposit box, for example, and you may have to drive a long way to get at it. Ten more moving tips follow.
1. Get rid of things. Consider carefully what you need to keep. People spend hundreds of dollars to move things that will undoubtedly be thrown away some day. It's not just a matter of the expense, but the hassle too. Moving time is the best time to get rid of the things you really don't need.
2. Have a yard sale. It's a good way to get rid of those things, and you might even raise enough money to pay for the move.
3. Use lists. You will forget things, especially if you don't have a list or two. Start with a list of things to do before the move. It may include getting school documents transferred, filling out change of address forms, returning borrowed books and movies, transferring prescriptions, getting maps, and arranging utility shut offs and start ups.
4. Make the the moving company reservation a month ahead. You wouldn't want to find out they are booked up on the date you need them.
5. Pack early. It's hard to say how long it will take until you are doing it. Start early to avoid running around looking for boxes at the last moment.
6. Have an "essentials" box. This will have things to make your arrival easier, like toilet paper, paper plates, soap and such. Pack the box where it is easily accessible.
7. Check weather reports. It's no fun arriving in a snowstorm with your coat packed away somewhere. Allow for extra moving time if the weather is going to slow down traffic.
8. Notify family and friends of your new address and phone number(s). Do this before you have the phone shut off.
9. Save your receipts. Save receipts for moving expenses, like gas, hotel rooms, and anything else related to the move. Then ask your accountant or tax preparer if you are eligible for a tax deduction for moving expenses.
10. try to re-establish your routines quickly. It helps to quickly re-establish routines in your new home, so if Friday night is movie night, don't break with tradition. Moving is less traumatic if you have some consistency in daily life. If you are moving with children, this may be one of the more important moving tips.

Travel Tips

There are common sense travel tips, like "Check at least three web sites to get the best deal on plane tickets." Then there are the tips that are more along the line of "secrets." These are the little-known tricks learned by experience. Here are some of the best of those.Cheap Travel TipsFind out where local visitors from within the country stay. The cheapest "tourist hotel" I could find when in a resort town in Mexico was $135. I asked a local businessman where to find a cheap room, and got one for $10. There wasn't a swimming pool, but the room was spotless. I was there to travel, not to lounge, so this suited me fine.Negotiating room charges is common in many countries. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. The trick here is to be sure that there are other options, then make your final offer and walk away. Most owners will call you back and lower the price.Consider hostels, if you don't mind sharing a room. They're much more common overseas. This saves you a lot if you are single, because you pay for the bed. I once spent four days in a hostel for $4 per day, breakfast included. I shared a room with several others, and a TV room with travelers from 16 countries.Hotels in the U.S. are less likely to negotiate, but we have done it. Most small chain motels are not company-owned, but franchises, so it is usually the owner behind the counter. Paying for several nights in advance, or just starting to walk away, has resulted in discounts for us many times.Travel is often only as cheap as your plane tickets. For international travel, search the fares to several countries that you would like to visit. Go to the cheapest one now - the others will be cheap another time, and a savings of $500 can buy a few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation some other time.Anywhere you go, there are things you can do to keep it cheaper. Eat where locals eat, for example, instead of at tourist restaurants. See the free and cheap attractions first. You might have so much fun that you'll never get around to doing the expensive things. Higher prices mean better quality with travel bags, but not necessarily with travel experiences.Other Travel TipsE-mail important documents to yourself. These should include a copy of your passport, other IDs, phone numbers of the U.S. Consulate offices where you'll be, and your itinerary or e-tickets for any flights. In this way, even if you are robbed and lose everything, you'll have access to all the important documents from any internet cafe in the world.On a streetcar, I once had a pocket unzipped and the wallet removed without feeling a thing. Many pickpockets are experts. Fortunately, it was a "decoy" wallet, with nothing but a few pieces of paper, and a fake credit card. Other ways to protect money, cards and documents include putting a bill or two under the inner sole of running shoes, safety-pinning a hidden pocket inside your pants, and hiding cash in several different places.I see young travelers in other countries walking anywhere they feel like it at night, and then being shocked that they are robbed. Aren't there places in New York or Chicago where you wouldn't walk at night? Ask the locals where it is safe and where it isn't, and trust your intuition when it warns you. Leave expensive clothing and jewelry at the hotel when you are just out for a walk. Safety tricks are the most important travel tips.

Finding Cheap Hotel Rates

The days of showing up at a hotel and paying whatever price is posted are over simply because it is so easy to find cheap and discounted hotel rates online. Some people still call up a hotel to make reservations and pay whatever the rate is, however people are wising up to the many cheap hotel rates to be found online and since saving money is always a motivating factor many people are shopping and booking online and as a result are receiving cheap hotel rates for the same room in the same hotel for the same dates.

What you may not know is there are many websites online that focus solely on providing you with discount hotels, flights, care rentals and the like. So, finding cheap hotel rates is as simple as searching online. To find cheap hotel rates you first need to get on the Internet. Once there, you should go to a search engine to search for cheap hotel rates. Be specific when using the search engine, however, because you will want to find as much specific information on cheap hotel rates as possible while weeding out other information. Keep in mind as well that if you do not find the cheap hotel rates you are looking for on one search engine you can always try another. However, you will find the best cheap hotel information on some of the larger search engines.

Once you receive your cheap hotel results all that is left to do is start researching the websites. While many websites will have similar discount rates, some will be more expensive while others will have the lowest cheap hotel rates. This requires a little bit of research, but when it comes down to saving a lot of money and cheap hotel rates it is worth it.

Enter the hotel information or the general location where you are interested in staying, and then search for cheap hotel rates. You will be surprised at the difference if you already called to request rates from the same hotels.

Once you have found the cheap hotel rates that meet your needs, simply book online and always write down your confirmation number so you will have your cheap hotel rates.
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Choosing a Hotel for Vacation

When it comes to choosing a hotel there is certainly a lot to consider. From where you are going to stay, to how much you can afford to spend; careful planning and research are both vital elements.

Setting a Budget

When you are choosing a hotel, it is important that you set a budget before you start your search. Through setting a budget initially you can easily write off options that are too expensive before you become attached. When setting a budget it is also important that you take account of other related expenses. For example, some hotels will provide bed, breakfast and evening meals, whilst others will not account for this in their cost.

Choosing a Location

When opting for which hotel is right for you, it is important that you consider the location of the hotel. If you are going on vacation to visit particular attractions, then it would certainly be a good idea to consider the hotels proximity to these attractions. A simple way to do this is to go online and use a service where by you can enter the zip code of the hotel and the zip code of local attractions. The online service will then tell you the distance between the two. Another important reason to consider location is when you prefer to stay in a place that is quiet, or alternatively when you would rather stay in a place that is vibrant and full of life. Through failing to take this into consideration, it is possible you will not enjoy your holiday as much as you would have liked.

Doing Research

Before you stay at a hotel it is best that you research it before you place a booking. One good way to do research is online. It is often possible to find information from other people that have stayed at the hotel, which can be a great way to get a third party perspective. Another way to get information about a hotel is to phone the hotel directly and ask them a few questions. This will often allow you to get to grips with how friendly there staff are, as well as verifying how easy the hotel is to contact. Although their opinion may be somewhat tainted, a travel agent can also act as a great resource for giving you relevant information on a hotel.

Keeping Everyone Happy

When it comes to going away to a hotel, it is usually the case that more than one person will be traveling with your party. Therefore it is important to ensure that everyone is happy with the choice that you make. Although everyone canâ??t get what they want all of the time, it is possible that a compromise can be reached. If you have to you may choose to have a vote in order to come to a decision, but it is much better if everyone can agree among themselves; that way nobody will be too disappointed with the choice that is made.
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Hotel Website Design

•if you turn on the television or radio, you will be bombarded with ads from Internet websites promising to find the cheapest rate on everything. As the public is becoming aware of the availability of the Internet to access any information they want, so too are they flocking to the Internet to check their destinations before they arrive there. Gone are the days of a traveler jumping in the car and stopping in the evening at the first motel they can find. Now a days hotel guests want to see everything up front, from the rooms to the outside of the building, all of it affects how a consumer decides which room in which hotel to rent.

•A hotel that does not have a website now may as well be invisible. Consumers are fussier than they have ever been, and, to many, not having a website shows a lack of popularity or professionalism. As the youth of today grows, this opinion will only become more noticeable. Having a hotel website design may become necessary simply to survive the cut-throat industry.

•For hotels that have website designs, you might want to look and see exactly how appealing and easy to navigate your design is. Consumers are looking for a seamless, recurring design that is easy to navigate and is appealing to the eye. In a case study we did, we found that simply by redesigning an out-dated site, the hotel was able to generate the same amount of page views that they had had in an entire year in only ten weeks after the site was re-launched.

•An important part of
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Hotel Tips for Thrifty Travlers

All you crave after a long day of traveling is a comfortable place to rest your head with a comfortable bed of course at a reasonable price. Where you stay when you stay in a hotel can make or break a trip. Here are some ways to make the most of your time when it comes to hotels. There are ways that an expensive lodge can actually turn out to be a cheaper expense than sleeping at the discount motel. When comparing lodging rates, look at the whole offer. Oftentimes, the more expensive hotel has included services in their rates that can reduce spending in some areas. For example, are any meals included in the rate? There may be a continental coffee and muffin or a whole breakfast there. Additionally, there may be special deals for seniors or kids. Most expensive hotels likely have a pool, fitness facilities, a spa, or reading facilities that could supply low-cost fun on a dreary day. Depending on the hotel's location, you may decide to rent a car to drive throughout the area. Or, the hotel may have a shuttle service to and from the airport or nearby amusement parks, which will save you time and resources on gas and parking fees. To simply save money on room rates, make your reservation as soon as you can. A certain number of the cheapest rates are often available to the initial few that reserve on a certain day. If possible, be flexible as to your travel plans. The affordable rates will be found while traveling on the off-season and during times when the hotel tends to possess empty vacancies. Business hotels will have discounts on the weekends, while resorts will have specials during the week. If you are looking into booking two individual accommodations, try a suite. However, remember to check how many bathrooms are available so as not to be cramped. Shopping on the internet is a quick and simple way to analyze room rates of many hotels in an area. Additionally, it will possibly give you an good feeling of the hotel?s facilities and a star rating (1-5 stars), which can help you make the best decision for your trip.

Travel Planning: Do You Have All That You Need?

Travel planning can be quite complex. There are many areas in which you will need to insure that you have what you need. It can be business travel or recreational. The point is that you'll need to pull together everything that you need and keep it with you. This can be quite difficult especially in those last minutes before you leave. There is just too much to do and who knows what you'll forget.
To help you with your travel plans, here are some key elements that you should consider.
? Make sure to first plan for your transportation. Gather your information for air line tickets, for transportation to the airport, and then transportation once you arrive at your destination. You'll need easy assess to your flight numbers, your reservation numbers and your credit cards so that these elements can go easily.? Next, consider your hotel stay. What elements do you need here? You'll need to keep track of your hotel's location, the reservation numbers and your credit card information for them. This will help you to get in quickly.? You should also plan to keep identification close by at all times.? Planning to assess your email while away? Need to check your bank information while you are out of town? You should also consider traveling with your user identification and password information for all of the accounts you are likely to tap into. ? Don't forget to take with you a list of important people and their phone numbers. You never know when you'll need to call on your neighbor to check out the house or the phone number to your pediatrician in case a child gets sick.
When you take the time to organize these elements, your traveling planning is easier to keep track of. You can rest easier when you know that everything that you need is carefully organized just in case you need to access it

Romantic Weekend Getaways

Romantic weekend getaways can be a second honeymoon or your first vacation together. When you don't have the time or money for a long trip, try one of the following.
Luxuriate Together
Spending time at a nice hotel is the most obvious and common romantic weekend getaway, and with good reason. It is wonderful to be waited on and relax in a hot tub together. The best hotels for this will have a pool, a hot tub (preferably in the room) and even a lounge where you might be able to go dancing.
In Michigan, this might be the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. This is where they filmed the Christopher Reed movie, "Somewhere In Time." There are no cars, so you'll have see the island together by horse carriage.
Romantic Weekend Getaways - Outdoors
If you both enjoy getting outside, you may want to consider a camping weekend. Whether you want to really rough it, and put on the backpacks, or just rent an RV and find a beautiful park to visit, this is a great way to have some quality time together. Wherever you live, there are great outdoor destinations within a couple hours.
A great example is the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, near Safford Arizona. There are two hot spring pools to soak in, and millions of acres of desert to explore. My wife and I loved collecting beautiful rocks together, and sitting around the fire with fellow campers each night. We also enjoyed regular soakings in the hot springs.
Doing Something New Together
It can be very romantic to share new experiences together. Even when things don't go as planned, you are creating common memories that bring you closer together. Why not try something new this weekend?
An example of this could be mountain biking in Moab, Utah. If you live near Seattle, you might consider a guided climb up Mount Ranier together. If you are near the coasts or the Great Lakes, you could take a charter sailing or fishing trip together. Amtrak has some great scenic routes you could travel in a weekend.
Are romantic weekend getaways expensive? Sometimes, but the only requirement is that they are romantic. There is a way to get away no matter what your budget is. Why not start planning now?
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About the Author: Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on romantic vacations, plus travel stories, tips and information, visit:

Outsourcing F&b of a Hotel

A hotel is supposed to focus upon its lodging services, that being its core business. It is obvious that all other businesses including the F&B department are meant to support this business goal. But, the fact that F&B facilities can augment the room occupation in hotels is often overlooked. This is all the more true in case of convention centers and resorts.

The slack season can be overcome by marketing the F&B facility of the hotel. The presence of a good eating joint in a hotel widens its customer base manifold, and allows people not interested in lodging, getting interested in your hotel.

The F&B revenue in hotels is neglected because it is presumed that profits from it will never be able to match up with those of the rooms division. Unlike stand alone restaurants, hotels pay no heed to the profits from F&B. Definitely, promoting a hotel in its entirety seems to be the more intelligent choice than simply promoting the restaurant of the hotel. While the room bookings contribute to a massive 70% of the hotel’s revenue, the restaurant is considered to be doing extremely well even if it earns a mere 20% of the hotel’s total revenue.

Improvement of the F&B operations of your hotel is definitely not a one step effort. These norms might be of help.

Restaurant should have a hotel guest list

Many times customers charge bills to their rooms. It is necessary for the restaurant staff to know if the guests have indeed registered in the hotel and have credit available with the hotel for the charge of the restaurant. For this purpose it is necessary that the restaurant staff has an updated list of the hotel guests.

Restaurant should have control over small things.

Little things make a lot of difference. Like the temperature inside the restaurant. The restaurant should have control over such seemingly petty matters, instead of going with the hotel. This is so because the requirements of the hotel and the restaurant might differ.

Keep the staff uniformed

A non-uniformed staff betrays the un-professionalism of the eating joint, so make it mandatory for the staff to be uniformly clad. Insist on standard footwear and accessories, with professionally done name tags that carry the hotel or restaurant’s logo. A well-groomed staff with a particular behavior standard will contribute constructively to the hotel’s image.

Keep a check on the kitchen staff

Kitchen staff loitering in areas other than the kitchen in shabby attire is not a pleasant sight to customers. Allow them specific time to relax and ask them to be in the kitchen for the rest of time. Lengthy calls must be banned, and restricted to a specified time. Also, make sure the kitchen staff is shipshape all the time.

Liquor norms

Since liquor is served in the restaurant under the license of the hotel, the restaurant lessee must provide training to the liquor servers, and provide the hotel owner with the documentation of the training including the course name, content, instructor and the employee identification of the attendees. Unacceptable behavior on the part of the restaurant’s liquor servers might negatively affect the hotel’s image.

Jointly market the hotel and restaurant

Since an increase in revenue of any one will mirror the revenues in the other, it is necessary that the hotel and the restaurant be publicized together. This can be carried out through various promotional methods. Make the front desk staff of the hotel distribute discount coupons for the restaurant at the time of check in. Rooms must have a menu of the restaurant with its open hours and room service menus made available to guests. Vehemently pursue the promotion of the twins as a whole, particularly during slack season. Try to include tailor made breakfast in the room rent, and make available professionally made menus in the food and beverage service of the meeting rooms. Try to include a representative of the restaurant in the committee meetings of the hotel.

Make an asset out of the restaurant

To extract complete benefit from the restaurant, it is necessary that the restaurant and the hotel be looked upon as a single entity and be advertised together. This advertising budget must be fixed according to individual stakes. Analyze and reallocate these expenses each month and be fair in the practice. Do not lease the F&B operation only to collect rent and escape the hassles of running the venture. The restaurant will contribute to the overall profitability of the hotel. Keeping this in mind, create an asset out of the much maligned F&B facility in the hotel.

Wrap up.

Condemning the leasing out of the hotel’s F&B facility is definitely not the solution. Even leased F&B facilities of hotels augment the overall income and lure more patrons to the hotel rooms than otherwise. Only care has to be taken to maintain the same standards as that of the hotel in matters of disciplined staff. Both the hotel and the restaurant should be marketed together in order to reap maximum benefits from the venture.

Hotel Reservation Services

•Say your wife’s been hinting about a romantic rendezvous to Paris this summer, yet you have no idea where to begin. Planning that perfect weekend or dream getaway may be a challenge in itself, but finding the right hotel can pose an even greater obstacle for travelers. Hotel reservation services are an answer to anyone’s cry for help when struggling to find a decent hotel room with loads of features.

•Hotel booking sites are taking the hotel reservation process to a whole new level, as more and more sites recognize people’s desire for convenience. No one wants to get the shock of their life when stepping in a one-diamond rut they expected to be reminiscent of the Waldorf Astoria. 6StarReviews.com makes note of one reservation service, Hotels.com, which offers vacation bookers options like 360-degree room tours, extensive customer reviews and local maps and activities so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises upon check-in.

•Many hotel reservation services offer those booking hotels options like travel insurance, comparable price matching and vacation packages unavailable elsewhere. Ok, so maybe a romantic getaway to France doesn’t fit your bill, but skiing is your hidden passion.

•There are many ski resort packages for your inner athlete, and if you have kids, many hotel reservation sites offer Disney vacations at amazing rates. Booking through online hotel sites allows travelers the flexibility they need to compare pricing, find special add-ons and sort hotels by price, hotel class or even category.

•Imagine a virtual collection of every hotel listing in every city in the world, complete with color photos, ratings and unbeatable sales. This is what a run-of-the mill hotel reservation service provides you with, so your next beachside weekend in Nantucket is just what you had in mind.

Hotel Reservation Services

Say your wife’s been hinting about a romantic rendezvous to Paris this summer, yet you have no idea where to begin. Planning that perfect weekend or dream getaway may be a challenge in itself, but finding the right hotel can pose an even greater obstacle for travelers. Hotel reservation services are an answer to anyone’s cry for help when struggling to find a decent hotel room with loads of features.

Hotel booking sites are taking the hotel reservation process to a whole new level, as more and more sites recognize people’s desire for convenience. No one wants to get the shock of their life when stepping in a one-diamond rut they expected to be reminiscent of the Waldorf Astoria. 6StarReviews.com makes note of one reservation service, Hotels.com, which offers vacation bookers options like 360-degree room tours, extensive customer reviews and local maps and activities so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises upon check-in.

Many hotel reservation services offer those booking hotels options like travel insurance, comparable price matching and vacation packages unavailable elsewhere. Ok, so maybe a romantic getaway to France doesn’t fit your bill, but skiing is your hidden passion.

There are many ski resort packages for your inner athlete, and if you have kids, many hotel reservation sites offer Disney vacations at amazing rates. Booking through online hotel sites allows travelers the flexibility they need to compare pricing, find special add-ons and sort hotels by price, hotel class or even category.

Imagine a virtual collection of every hotel listing in every city in the world, complete with color photos, ratings and unbeatable sales. This is what a run-of-the mill hotel reservation service provides you with, so your next beachside weekend in Nantucket is just what you had in mind.

Online Hotel Bookings Nice And Easy

The birth of internet made the process of booking a room more easy for your business trip, vacation or weekend getaway. Online hotel bookings help you to plan your vacation or business trip easier and more affordable. In olden days it was very difficult to find and select a hotel far away from your home.

The development of technology and internet simplified the process and now-a-days it is very easy to book a room from you home computer. Online hotel booking help you to find a hotel with the facilities you wish to have. Some times you need a simple and affordable place to stay and some times you wish to stay in a luxurious room, it doesn't matter. You can select and book any type of room you like via internet.

The internet has developed a revolution in the field of hotel booking services. It is now very easy to find a hotel anywhere in the world within seconds. You can book your favourite room any time of the day from anywhere in the world.

The most important advantage of online hotel booking is convenience, you can book your room by simply sitting in home. Internet helps you to browse through the hotels around the world and compare the facilities and rates easily. When you choose your favourite hotel for your accommodation, simply you can complete your reservation when required. Some of the hotels also offer same day hotel booking online. It is very helpful for those who plan their weekend getaway in last minute.

Most of the hotels offers competitive pricing because it is very easy to compare the prices of one hotel to another. Some online booking service provider's websites even allow you to compare the prices of multiple hotel when selecting your online hotel bookings. By this way it is very easy to find well-equipped hotel rooms in cheap price. It is better to find a larger online hotel booking service provider, if you are looking for a cheap hotel room.

Some of the service providers won't allow you to choose your hotel, they only allow you to select location and quality of the hotel. Considerable discounts on hotels may be available in off-seasons. Some may give great discount in season also due to the competition in the field. You will get much greater discount, if you allow the online hotel booking service provider to select your hotel and flight.

You can save much by selecting the services of online hotel booking service providers. You can definitely save on airline flights, car services, and even entertainment. You will get considerable discounts if you allow them to select all services you need. It is sure that you can save a considerable amount and have extra funds to enjoy on your trip.

Utilize the serve of online hotel booking service providers when you are planning for a trip. The benefit is that you can find the best prices on hotels and save much. Online hotel booking services are ideal for both short and longer vacations.

There is no administrative cost for hotels to provide this service. The booking software can be connected regularly through aggregators. Most of the hotels offer online booking services to remain competitive in today's travel market.

Each and every customer looks to book their hotel rooms early and conveniently.Some of the hotels keep their own online booking software and some utilizes the services provided by some of the large online booking service providers. Whatever it is, it is sure that online booking service will benefit both small and large hotels.

Online hotel booking is the best ways to book rooms in your favourite hotels. It will be more convenient for both the customer and the hotel. It helps the customers to plan their vacation properly and will reduce the operating cost and employee time of the hotel. Customers can enjoy the easiness of online booking and can find the cheapest hotel rooms with excellent facilities.

Customers can compare the prices and facilities from one hotel to another by utilizing this facility. Planning a vacation has never been easier and more reasonable than now. Easiness, affordable pricing, and simple comparison shopping make online hotel bookings accepted to all.