Travel For the Arts and Dance Lovers

If you’ve decided you will be more comfortable on your holiday with hotel reservations in hand but also need budget travel, then you’re going to have some decisions to make. How are you going to get those reservations? Let’s look at the options.

You could use a travel agent. If you’re planning a trip to an exotic location, this might be your best bet. Travel agents know the hotels and lodging in the areas of their expertise, and they can give you good guidance and advice for budget travel.

You could use one of the big Internet booking agencies. Those can help you get pretty good deals. It’s worthwhile to check two or three of them to see how they rate different hotels, so you’ll get what you want. Whenever you’re looking at hotels and bed-and-breakfasts on the Internet, remember, any place can look good with some creative photography.

We recommend avoiding the companies that don’t tell you the name of the hotel until after you make your reservation. Also remember that when hotels are tied to booking agencies, they lose a cut to that agency. You might be just as well off booking directly with the hotel.

It pays to find a good budget travel guide. If you like their philosophy, you will probably like the hotels they recommend. You can call the hotel directly. Chances are you will be able to talk to someone who speaks English. You can contact almost all of them over the Internet these days, either by e-mail or by contacting them through their own web site.

Although budget travel tips are on top of the agenda, you need to take so many other points into consideration to avoid a disappointing vacation, so make a note of the following guidelines…

If you e-mail the hotel directly, tell them the number of rooms you want and how many people per room. They will need to know the date of your arrival and the date of your departure… so the number of nights you will be staying.

Remember that in most places in the world, dates are written with the day/month/year, not with the month/day/year as it is in the U.S. To avoid confusion on any continent, we write the month out rather than using numbers.

Once you hear back from them, if they have a room at the price you want, accept the reservation. You may have to send your credit card number. We’re reluctant to send our credit card number in e-mail. You can call and give them your credit card number.

If you have used the hotel’s own site to contact them, make sure it is a secure site before you send your credit card number to them that way.

Be sure to read the hotel cancellation policies carefully before you make a reservation.

If you make hotel reservations with one of the big travel booking sites or with the hotel itself, beware of non-refundable reservations.

When you make your hotel reservations, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. Print it, and take it with you. Don’t delete the original e-mail until you have completed your trip, and you know you have been billed correctly.

If your travel dates are firm, you’ll find that to get into the most popular and best value hotels, it’s worthwhile to make those hotel reservations ahead.

Eating and drinking in grand style can stretch your travel budget in the wrong way. You want to make your money go further. There are lots of little ways you can save on food when you’re traveling.

If your hotel doesn’t include breakfast in the price of the room, check to see what your options are in the hotel. You will probably save money venturing out to a corner cafe rather than paying the price for the hotel breakfast buffet. In Paris, join the local crowd and have coffee, juice and a croissant.

Have churros con chocolate in Madrid. There are lots of small breakfast places in the U.S. where you can get a great bacon, eggs and coffee breakfast for only a few bucks.

A great way to stretch your travel budget is to enjoy a picnic for lunch or dinner. You can pick up cheeses and meats and breads at local grocery stores and specialty shops. Grab a bottle of local wine. Eat in your room or in a local park with a great view.

Avoid touristy restaurants. If you see a restaurant on the main street that has menus in several languages, it’s going to cost you more. Find a mom and pop place down a side street or go with a recommendation from a local…. like your friendly B-and-B host. Look for “prix fixe” menus or daily specials for great meals at good prices.

One of our most memorable meals was a little restaurant our host sent us to in Assisi. We had trouble finding it… there was no sign. There were only three or four tables. The owner was the cook, his wife was the waitress. Neither spoke English, and she had to get a dictionary to help us order… but the food was terrific, and the bill was surprisingly small.

Find the open air markets in town and eat there. Cafeterias in department stores can also be a good place to find food cheap.

Eat foods that are in season. That’s what the locals do. Today’s fresh specials will cost you less and be healthier. Another way to save like the locals do is to eat and drink what is special in that country. Drink beer in Brussels and Prague, save the wine for Paris.

Remember that in many countries in the world, the tip is included. In those counties, if you leave anything, you should only leave small change. If you’re tipping 15-20% like Americans do at home, you’re tipping way too much and adding that to the price of your trip.

Don’t feel pressed to order too much for dinner. For example, just having a “primi” (pasta dish), but no “secondi” (main dish) in Italy, may be plenty for you to eat… just add a salad, and you’ll save money over a three course meal. Ask for tap water instead of bottled water in counties where the water is safe.

If you just try a few of our tips, you can eat well and still stretch your travel budget to go farther.

London, one of the most visited cities in the world offers hundreds of high quality hotels for visitors. This article will review one hotel from all four categories: budget, moderate, luxury and prestige. The London apartments are very clean and comfortable for each hotel in our presentation. Here are the hotels:

Bedford Hotel – Bedford is a small-sized and friendly hotel, conveniently located in the historic Bloomsbury. This hotel is just minutes walk from the famous British Museum, the historic Covent Garden and the vibrant theatres of the west end. Transport links to and from the Bedford Hotel are perfect, with easy connections throughout London and the United Kingdom via the Euston and King’s Cross stations. If you like driving, car parking is available for an affordable fee in the underground pay garage. The Bedford Hotel has 184 well-furnished rooms, each of them are equipped with a direct dial telephone, satellite television, trouser press, radio and tea & coffee making facilities. They offer a full English breakfast each morning. As a plus, meals, drinks as well as snacks can be enjoyed in Bedford Hotel’s French-style restaurant, bar and coffee shop.

Avni Hotel London – If you are on the look for a stylish but affordable hotel in fashionable South Kensington, the Anvi Hotel London is right choice for you. As this hotel was completely renovated 2 years ago, you will have all the amenities you need at your fingertips. The very modern rooms are very well equipped; they even have duplexes with their own kitchenettes. Each and every single room comes equipped with a direct dial telephone, a flat screen TV with satellite channels, room safe, hairdryer, alarm clock and tea and coffee making services. With lift access to all floors and reception and concierge staff available around the clock, the Anvi Hotel London is relaxing and pleasurable at the same time. The hotel offers a breakfast room on the lower ground floor where very friendly staff will serve you the continental breakfast in the morning. Places like Harrods, the Science Museum and Earls Court Exhibition Centre are easy to get to from Anvi Hotel London.

Caesar Hotel London – The hotel offers an extremely stylish retreat right in the heart of London. Caesar Hotel London is a contemporary, designer hotel that offers all the services and standards you would expect from luxury four star accommodations. The Paddington Station is just a few minutes away. A very short walk from the Caesar Hotel London will see you in the famous Hyde Park, where you have the possibility to discover the exquisite Kensington Gardens, or take a relaxing walk along the banks of the Serpentine. The Caesar Hotel London has 140 relaxing bedrooms, each with their own bathroom, wireless Internet access upon request, a color TV with satellite and pay-per-view movies, radio, hairdryer, 24-hour room service, hospitality tray and direct dial telephone with voicemail. The hotel guests can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the modern X0 Bar, or enjoy international cuisine in the X0 restaurant, where breakfast is served. All the public areas at Caesar Hotel London are air conditioned.

The Hempel – West London’s stunning Boutique hotel, created by highly acclaimed British designer Anouska Hempel, is an architectural statement in original design. Simple and minimalist, The Hempel Hotel is a new experience in hotel living. Situated just north of London’s famous Hyde Park, the hotel is well located for sightseeing. However, the immediate surroundings of Craven Hill gardens secure a protective cocoon of tranquility. The Hempel’s bedrooms are all individually designed with luxury products including bathrobes, slippers, candles and Wi-Fi services. I-Thai is decorated with serenity in mind. The menu and the wine list of the hotel are designed to match your first visual impression so that your whole experience of I-Thai carries a theme. It is a restaurant worthy of a special occasion or an unplanned visit, 50/50 chances. The Conference Room of the hotel has full video facilities and the Jade Room & Garden Bar make good photo shoot locations. The hotel is happy to accommodate garden parties, product launches and even receptions.

All things considered, serviced London apartments are available for all budgets so every tourist will surely find a place to stay, depending on the available budget.