Are hotel loyalty programs worth the trouble?

For some of us, frequent-flier programs are no longer worth the bother. For others, the same can be said of hotel loyalty programs. According to a new survey from hotels.com, those who belong to loyalty programs are finding a number of shortcomings:

 * Ninety-three percent want improvements made to their memberships. 

 * Almost six in ten (59 percent) want fewer restrictions on how they can use their program benefits.

  * More than one-third (37 percent) don’t think the value added bonus is ever really as great as the program wants them to believe.

 * Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) don’t like the fine print that comes with benefits.

* Nearly half (49 percent) didn’t book anything in the last year using their reward travel benefits, such as a hotel stay, a flight or a car rental. 

Now, hotels.com isn't exactly neutral in this matter, since it is promoting its own program, welcomerewards, which it calls "a simple program that offers one free night after every 10 nights booked." But the most enjoyable part of the survey centers on what most people (93 percent) would give up to get a free hotel night:

* 71 percent would give up clothes shopping.

* 65 percent would abstain from chocolate. 

* 31 percent would drop their cell phone. 

* 29 percent would give up watching television.

Or so they say.

Worth quoting

“He who has seen one cathedral ten times has seen something; he who has seen ten cathedrals once has seen but little; and he who has spent half an hour in each of a hundred cathedrals has seen nothing at all.” 

                                                                                                                                      -- Sinclair Lewis

A Family Adventure Retreat in Vermont

In Ludlow, Vt., Okemo Mountain Resort's Family Adventure Retreat, Aug. 14-17,  is designed for families with children  7 and older. It includes three nights of lodging and two full days
of activities with options for children only, adults only, or for the entire family together.  Total cost for the long weekend, including activities, equipment, guides, lunch on Sunday, and lodging, starts at $369.60 per person, for a family of four with two children.

For details, click here.

Fascinating facts

Forty-six percent of the world's water -- about 6 sextillion gallons -- is in the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic has 23.9 percent; the Indian, 20.3; the Arctic, 3.7 percent.

Telluride ski pass sale starts Aug. 3

The Telluride Ski Resort has announced 2009-2010 season pass pricing, keeping rates the same as last season. However, if four adults purchase season passes together during the annual Pass Sale Aug. 3-Oct. 30, the price drops to 2007 rates. An individual adult season pass will cost $1,198 when purchased during the sale, but the 4Pass will cost $998 per person.

Go to www.tellurideskiresort.com or call 970-728-7517

What's in a name?

Just beyond Hope, Idaho, there is a resort community named Beyond Hope.