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The Smarter Way to Travel™

Tag Archive: hotel

  1. Top 5 Fanciest Hotel Rooms in the World

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    If you could stay in the fanciest hotel room in the world, where would it be? Where are the best VIP hotel rooms.On the off chance that you’re not willing to spend $50,000 a night, read on anyway so you can at least pretend you’re in one of these magnificent, palatial suites. There’s no better motivator for working hard and saving up than an insight into the world of luxury travel.

    Raj Palace Hotel – Jaipur, India

    This hotel is the embodiment of opulence and indulgence and was the hotel of choice for the Maharaja himself. The Shahi Mahal Presidential Suite is the room we are focusing on here, simply because it is on a whole new level of luxury and takes the definition of VIP into new realms of excitement. Gold leaf is the main décor of the room, along with dangling chandeliers and stunning, ornate furniture. With six bedrooms and its own theatre, you certainly won’t be pushed for space and all this for a mere $45,000 a night.

    Hotel Cala di Volpe – Porto Cervo, Italy

     The Mediterranean Coast is by far one of the most stunning places on the planet but along this shimmering shoreline not all hotels were created equal. The Hotel Cala di Volpe’s Presidential Suite is the kind of hotel room that dreams are made of – but it actually exists. The suite consists of three luxurious bedrooms, each kitted out with the kind of bed you never want to get out of and an interior design fit for royalty. Stay here and you’ll also be able to take advantage of your very own solarium and private pool.

    Burj Al Arab – Dubai

    Everyone knows about the famous, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab that sits pride of place on the sparkling seafront of Dubai. Famed for being the first seven star hotels in the world, the entire hotel is a beacon of luxury, from the hotel rooms to the restaurants. Turn your attention to the Royal Suite and you will understand the true meaning of VIP. With a rotating, four-poster bed, a gold plated iPad and a 24 hours butler service, you’re not going to want for anything during your stay in this unprecedentedly impressive hotel.

    Hotel President Wilson – Geneva, Switzerland

     The Hotel President Wilson has gained a worldwide reputation for being the most expensive hotel on Earth but, it must be said, the hefty price tag of $83,200 seems almost justified when taking a look at the Royal Penthouse Suite. With a private terrace offering uninterrupted views of the Alps and Lake Geneva, a personal butler and every amenity you could possibly wish for, this magnificent suite is one of the most perfect places you will ever see. The only problem is, you definitely won’t want to ever leave!

    Four Seasons Hotel – New York City, USA

    We couldn’t complete a list of the best hotel rooms in the world without choosing one of the most luxurious hotels in the best city in America. The Four Seasons Hotel offers the Ty Warner Penthouse for its VIP guests and just a glimpse at the photo is enough to make us drool. The suite offers 360-degree views of the city, guests have their own private spa and the bathroom is fashioned from rock crystal. As an added bonus, if you want to explore the city, you can make use of your very own chauffeured Rolls Royce.

    If we’ve whetted your appetite for fancy hotel rooms, why not book yourself a little getaway? http://travelingdream.com/ has everything you need for the perfect vacation.

  2. How to Travel Responsibly

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    With more and more people jetting off to foreign lands every day, there is an urgent need for people to be mindful when they travel. This means doing your bit to minimise the impact you have on the environment and the countries to which you travel. Of course, you do not need to stop travelling altogether, but there are ways to make sure that you travel responsibly. If you are ready to step up your travel game and be the ultimate responsible traveller, here is a list of ways you help the cause.

    Stop Using Plastic

    The hot topic in the environmental world is single use plastic. I’m talking plastic straws, cutlery, bags, even tampon applicators. Anything that is made of plastic and gets thrown away straight after being used. If you can find alternatives, such as paper straws and reusable bags you will make a huge difference. So much of the plastic we use ends up in the sea and is swallowed by our precious marine life. Let’s keep our sea creatures alive by scrapping single use plastic altogether.

    Choose an Eco-Friendly Hotel

    It is becoming increasingly common to find eco-friendly hotels and lodges scattered throughout the world. These accommodations make sure that the way they operate leaves their carbon footprint as small as possible. There are some that even manage to be carbon neutral. Collecting rainwater, using locally sourced produce, and generating power with solar panels are all things you should look for to see whether the hotel is eco-friendly or not.

    Limit Your Flying

    Flying is often unavoidable when it comes to travelling to your vacation destination. However, there are still ways you can fly responsibly. If possible, fly direct as this means you only take one flight as opposed to two or even three. If there is no possibility of a direct flight, you could donate money to a carbon mitigation program afterward to offset your carbon footprint.

    Avoid Animal Cruelty Activities

    You know all those photos of people riding elephants and playing with tigers? Often these projects are scams and rather than the sanctuaries they make out to be, they are little more than torturous prisons. Animals are maltreated to the point of exhaustion or even death just so you can have nice Instagram snaps. Say no to riding elephants or anything that involves direct contact with animals in captivity.

    Buy Local

    There are always opportunities when you travel to buy locally. Not only does this give you fantastic local products, be it food, clothes or souvenirs, but you will be putting money straight into the hands of local people. It is tempting to hand over money to corporations you already know and feel comfortable with, but ask yourself: who needs it more?

    Do Not Give Money to Street Children

    I really cannot stress this enough. Children are hard to say no to and trafficking gangs know this. Too many children have been bought by gangs and forced to work in the streets begging for money. If you give them money, you perpetuate this cycle. If no-one gave money to child beggars, the traffickers would have to change tactics. If you have snacks or juice on you then this is a much better thing to hand over.

  3. How To Complain About A Substandard Hotel Experience

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    There are few things worse than booking the holiday of a lifetime only to have it ruined by substandard hotel service. You’ve got the sun shining, the beach glistening and the cocktails flowing but back in your room it’s a completely different story. Maybe your hotel room is damp or the bathroom looks like it hasn’t seen a cleaning product in far too long, whatever the case, it is important to know your rights and know how to effectively complain about your experience.

    Firstly it is important to know exactly what to expect before you go. Read reviews online and do a bit of research about the hotel before you book. This way you will be able to tell more easily if the hotel is not performing like it should. If you book your hotel as part of a package there is a chance you might be given one of the cheaper rooms, so be sure to clarify this with the agency when making your booking.

    Once you are there it was be very easy to tell if your room is up to standard or not. If you are paying top dollar then you should expect next to perfection. This means everything is clean and comfortable, the room is sound proofed and all the amenities it should have are present and in good working order. As soon as you notice anything not quite right with the room you should report it immediately to the Duty Manager. Do not suffer in silence! You should get what you paid for.

    The majority of the time hotel complaints are dealt with effectively and the issue will either be resolved or you will be offered a different room or financial compensation. If this is the case then your job is done and you can enjoy the rest of your holiday. If, however, the hotel is not co-operating sufficiently then you have a bit more work to do.

    If you cannot resolve your issue at the hotel then you will need to make a formal complaint and submit it in writing. Take the names of the people you communicate with at reception, take photos of everything wrong with your room and make sure to be specific about exactly what was wrong with the hotel room. The more details you provide, the more credible your complaint and the more likely you are to be compensated for your poor experience.

    If you booked your hotel room as part of a package then your first port of call should be the agency through which you booked. You can contact the Association of British Travel Agents if you need more help dealing with this. If you booked the hotel independently then you will need to contact the management of the hotel. It is also worth noting that if you paid for you accommodation on credit card then you should be able to get some assistance from your credit card provider.

    So, in brief, as soon as an issue arises, calmly and politely explain to the management what’s wrong and ask if they are able to fix it. A big smile and a pleasant demeanour are worth their weight in gold in this situation and doesn’t cost a penny so don’t lose your cool until you absolutely have to.