How To Find A Secret Hotel

For some travelers it is a bargain, for others it is a bit of fun. Over the last few years, four and five star hotels in capital cities have been offering what appear to be superb deals. Online booking agents provide a brief description of anonymous hotels in various locations. Take a gamble, book into a hotel that appears to suit your needs and receive a discount of between 35% and 50% on the room price. You find out the name of the hotel only after your booking is accepted.

Secret hotel deals work on customer and seller psychology. Hotels can`t cut their room prices like a high street discount store is able to. They have fixed costs whatever their room occupancy. They don`t want to have unsalable, empty rooms, but if they fill their rooms at deeply cut prices, their running costs increase and they stand to make a loss.

Four and five star hotels build a reputation on the back of quality and service, rather than price. Customers gambling on a secret deal are looking for this service. Those travelers who just want to find a cut price hotel for the night tend to opt for a budget chain hostelry in a less elegant part of town. If the secret hotel offers a free bottle of wine on arrival, their customers may be tempted to use the hotel`s restaurant rather than going out for dinner.

Major city hotels depend highly on business traveller trade and tend to adjust room prices to reflect this. Prices are higher during the week than at weekends. If a city centre hotel has weekend rooms on offer via an online agency, the discount may not be as great in cash terms as its seems as a percentage of the perceived room price. Customers, for their part, can easily find out the name of a hotel from the booking agency`s online description, hotel websites in the city in question and a variety of search engines. So they may not be opting for too secret a deal, but they keep the perception that they are buying value for money.

Mystery hotel deals began as weekend room offers by capital city-based hotels. The business is spreading to regional cities, as well as countryside and beach resort hotels that have greater mid-week room availability than at weekends. Booking times vary. Customers may be able to reserve a room up to three months ahead in some hotels, or just a day ahead in others to take advantage of a sudden cancellation. Just fill in the online booking form and sites such as secrethotels.org will arrange your bargain break.

A Somewhat Stress-Free Airport Departure is an Achievable Dream

Traveling through an airport is no piece of cake, but if you prepare for everything well in advance and decide to travel light, the odds are that things will go swimmingly. Every traveler's dream is to get from the sliding doors, through check-in, past security, and to the plane in ten minutes. With everything from security checks to problems with your ticket as possible curve balls, your airport adventure has a 50/50 chance of being an experience from hell. Instead of clicking your heels together and wishing it all just came true for you, it's a good rule of thumb to be prepared. Like a well-oiled machine, using these tips will help runs things a little more smoothly when you're trying to catch your flight.

Take Carry-On Luggage Only

USA Today highly recommends traveling with carry-on luggage exclusively. This eliminates wasting time on check in and saves time by avoiding the huge wait for luggage. Weight limits for many airlines have been decreased. Some airlines have a weight limit of 50 pounds total for checked luggage. You might as well pack carefully and save time with an efficient carry-on package.

Keep Electronics Secure

When you are at the airport, be careful not to use a Wi-Fi public hotspot with insufficient encryption. If you do, someone could possibly discover your personal information and try to use it. When you use a public wireless network, you should assume that anyone can access your computer. Lifelock's experts provide advice on how to secure your computer and protect your data from hackers while using a wireless device.

• Use a Firewall -Those users who have Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Windows Vista and Windows 7 have firewalls built into their operating systems.


• Hide Your files – Check the network's website and read their privacy statement to learn about the type of encryption they use. If they lack this information, you would be wise not to use the network. If you don't have an operating system with encryption tools, consider getting one.


• Don't Type Personal Information – When on a public network, don't ever enter your credit card, banking information, social security number or password.
  


• Disable Wireless - If you are not using the Internet, simply turn off your wireless network.

Dress For Success

USA Today also recommends dressing for the easiest passage through security. Avoid metallic jewelry and other metallic items. Wear shoes that easily slide off. Shoes with complex lacing and buckles can leave you barefoot and hopping around for more minutes than they're worth. Don't forget to wear socks to protect your feet from being totally bare and exposed to airport bacteria. Make sure you have a convenient, but safe, place to stow your ID and boarding pass, which may be asked for more than once.

Know TSA Rules

TSA has many rules regarding security. Those who are not aware of them can slow down the process for everyone else. The TSA rules, which can be downloaded for viewing, change frequently, so it's a smart idea to regularly keep up on them. The categories for prohibited items are:

• Sharp objects


• Sporting goods


• Guns and firearms


• Tools


• Martial arts and self defense items


• Explosive and flammable materials, disabling chemicals and other dangerous items


• Other items

See, airport experiences don't have to be so hard. A well-planned, well-prepared traveler is a happy one. Heeding these tips will help you go from stop to stop in no time and off to your destination.

Hawaii's Enchanting All-Day Farmers' Markets

Most people don't need their arms twisted to consider visiting Hawaii. The beautiful beaches, laid back atmosphere, amazing scenery, and warm weather attracts tourists year-round to the Hawaiian Islands. What many people may not know is that when the sun goes down and the sunbathers and surfers abandon the shores, there is still plenty to do in Hawaii. The islands are home to enchanting nighttime farmers' markets that are a must-see for tourists.

What to Expect at a Farmers' Market

Farmers' markets are a place for the local vendors to set-up concession stands and make goods available for purchase. Although local produce and other food items from local farms are staple items for sale at farmers' markets- visitors may find a range of goods for sale from used farm equipment to flowers.

Farmers' markets are a great place for people who enjoy fresh, organic food to shop. Farmers all also on hand to answer any questions about growing practices.

A typical farmers' market is not just a place to pick up groceries. Travelers and locals in Hawaii can find ready-to-eat Hawaiian specialties next to stalls selling locally grown fruits and vegetables. Flowers, craft items, and clothing may also be found. The charm of a farmers' market is not limited to delicious food. Storytellers, musicians, artists and performers contribute to a festival-like atmosphere. Attending Hawaiian markets can be equally relaxing as entertaining.
Farmers' markets are important for the local economy in Hawaii and all over the United States. Small farms rely on these markets to bring in a significant portion of profits. Locals also view markets as opportunities to catch-up with the news of their friends and community, and opportunities to meet new people.

What to Bring to a Farmers' Market

When traveling to a Farmers' Market, be sure to have a personal shopping cart and some canvas shopping bags. This will free your hands and make shopping a real pleasure, not just a rush to empty your hands from all those bags of produce you are sure to buy.