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.

The most romantic B&Bs for that special occasion

Photo by BedandBreakfast.com

The Francis Malbone House in Newport, R.I.

Let us continue with yesterday's romantic theme.  Not surprisingly, BedandBreakfast.com thinks that B&Bs are the perfect places to celebrate honeymoons or anniversaries.  So its editors roamed America and Europe to compile this list of perfect places for such occasions. The inns were chosen for their amenities, recreation-rich locations, and  decor, hospitality and cuisine. Many cost less than $500 for a two-night stay, but several higher-priced "exceptional choices" are also included.  The list:

WESTERN UNITED STATES
 
Wine Country Inn & Gardens, St. Helena, Calif.

Avalon, A Luxury B&B, Sebastopol, Calif. 

Gables Inn, Sausalito, Calif.

Arch Cape House, Arch Cape, Ore.

Carson Ridge Private Luxury Cabins, Carson, Wash.

Bentwood Inn, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

 
SOUTHWEST & MIDWEST U.S. 

Canyon Villa, Sedona, Ariz. 

Castle in the Country, Allegan, Mich. 

Inn on Lake Granbury, Granbury, Texas

Kimber Modern, Austin, Texas.

St. Croix River Inn, Osceola, Wis.

 SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

Zeigler House; Spanish Moss Inn; The President's Quarters, Savannah, Ga.

The Swag, Asheville, N.C.

L'Auberge Provencale, White Post, Va.

NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
 
Hartstone Inn, Camden, Maine

Hidden Pond; Cabot Cove Cottages, Kennebunkport, Maine 

Brampton Inn, Chesterfield, Md. 

Inn at Cape Cod, Yarmouthport, Mass.

Francis Malbone House, Newport, R.I.

OUTSIDE UNITED STATES

 Humboldt House, BC, Canada

Agriturismo Marciano, Sienna, Italy 

Antigua Capilla B&B, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 For descriptions, photos and rates for each inn, click here.  Also, look for savings with nearly 300 romantic B&B packages in Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States by clicking here.

Worth quoting

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.”

                                                                                                   -- Fitzhugh Mulla

Calm down at the Telluride Yoga Festival

In Colarado,  the Telluride Yoga Festival will be held July 10-12, and the Capella Telluride is offering a Full Yoga Festival Package  starting at $1,095, designed for both yoga enthusiasts and novices. It includes a three-night stay, a full festival pass, a personal assistant, an 80-minute spa treatment at The Spa at Capella and breakfast each morning (with organic, vegetarian and vegan options available). The spa treatment will feature customized aromatherapy blends, treatment salts, muds and oils.

Click here. For hotel details, visit www.capellatelluride.com.

Fascinating fact

The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas washes 15,000 pillowcases each day.

The clock will tick on special Best Western deals

Best Western’s Countdown to Savings begins tomorrow. Participants can score discounts and other savings for a limited time at www.bestwestern.com. Each day has a theme as it offers special rates for hotels.  

Monday: Capital cities. For example, explore NYC for less than $110 a night or Washington D.C. for $90

Tuesday: Fourth of July hot spots . For example, hit up Huntington Beach for $70 or Lake Tahoe for $75.

Wednesday: Destinations with major tourist attractions. For example, visit Niagara Falls for about $80 or Orlando for $70

Thursday: Hotels near popular water parks and theme parks. For example, take in Busch Gardens Williamsburg for $99 or visit Hershey Park and stay for $85 a night

Friday: Pick from a selection of popular destinations including Dallas, San Diego and Honolulu.

But you have to act fast. The promotions are  available only a few hours a day on www.bestwestern.com. If you’ve missed the sale, a clock on the site will indicate when the next deals will be available.

Where to buy stuff confiscated at airports

Ever wonder what happens to objects that don't get through airport security and are confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration? Well, the public can buy most of the items. For a state-by-state rundown from Eyeflare.com, click here.

We're still traveling, but perhaps not as far

Despite the rough economy, most families are still planning summer vacations, but some changes have been made. A new survey yielded these results:

* 82 percent plan to take vacations.

* 33 percent of those families, however, are spending less time or money on trips this year.

* Families who are not traveling cite economic concerns.

* Fifty-six percent are taking shorter trips.

* Forty-one percent are driving instead of flying.

* Forty percent are figuring out ways to eat out less often while on vacation.

The survey was commissioned by Disney Family.com, which has ideas on helping parents make the most of the summer. For the site's travel section, click here.

What's in a name?

Butt Hole Road in South Yorkshire, England, was recently renamed Archers Way. Wonder why.

Telluride has a summer season, too

Mention Telluride, Colo., and most people immediately think of skiing and other winter activities. But there's a lot doing in summer, too, such as music, food, wine and film festivals, and many free activities. What's more, it can cost as much as 50 percent less to stay there. Lodging in both Telluride and Mountain Village now starts at $49 per person per night. A 4th Night Free special is also available, along with golf and spa packages. But let's get to the free stuff. No-charge activities include gondola rides, fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, cultural events and concerts.

Visit http://www.tellurideskiresort.com/ (and never mind that "ski" is part of the Web site's address) or call 800-778-8581.

Here's a chance to give back just a little bit

People who travel to other countries, expecially Third World ones, are often struck by the poverty they encounter. A simple way to help a tiny bit is to visit the Hunger Site. Just a click on the various icons, with no purchase necessary, ensures a donation to fight hunger, improve literacy, protect animals and even help save the rainforest.
Visit http://www.thehungersite.com/.

A travel joke, of sorts

A man was crossing into Mexico on bicycle. At the inspection station the official noticed he was bringing several bags in. What's in the bag?" the guard asked. "Sand," said the cyclist. Sure enough, an inspection showed nothing but sand. Two weeks later, the same thing happened and only sand was found. This went on every week for six months. Then one day the guard happened to meet the cyclist downtown. "Say, you sure had us crazy," said the guard. "We knew you were smuggling something across the border. I won't say a word, but what is it you were smuggling?" And the man answered:

"Bicycles!"

Prices drop on European hotels

TourCrafters is discounting rates on impressive hotels in Spain, France, Greece and Turkey by up to 25 percent. Some examples from Italy: In Rome, the four-star Hotel Cicerone has reduced the price of a double room from $406 to $324 a night. The four-star Hotel Beverly Hillshas lowered its prices from $366 to $304. Florence's Plaza Hotel Lucchesi has reduced rates from $384 double to $306 double. Even in pricey Venice, there savings. The four-star Sofitel has cut the cost of its$528 rooms to $378. And the three-star Hotel Malibran, on a hidden square near the Rialto Bridge, has lowered the price of its air-conditioned, Venetian-style rooms from $220 to $198.

Visit http://www.tourcrafters.com/ or call 800-482-5995.