Celestial Seas

Genna Roberts asked:


To keep their customers coming back, the majority of cruise lines now offer some kind of customer loyalty scheme. These vary from each cruise operator and can include future booking discounts, invites to VIP parties, and onboard privileges such as priority embarkation. But is this enough to keep your loyalty? Or are you really looking for cabin upgrades and onboard credit?

Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…

Royal Caribbean International - Crown and Anchor Society

Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of “cruise credits” obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company, you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum, diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member, you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift, as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in, and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.

Celebrity Cruises – Captains Club

Celebrity’s 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level, which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.

The tiers range from Classic, Select and Elite, and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties, behind the scenes tours and at the highest level, guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool, where available, and also a private departure lounge.

Norwegian Cruise Lines – Latitudes Program

As a past guest, NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them, aside from this, many of the benefits of their club, which ranges from bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party, plus priorities over other guests with check in, disembarkation, and reservation only restaurants, having completed 14 cruises, and earned your platinum status, all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant, which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin…

Princess Cruises – Captains Circle

The Captains Circle club features gold, platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include, “exclusive events”, no doubt that will be another captain’s party then, and also a Princess Passport, a scheme whereby guests receive stamps, depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.

As membership increases to platinum status, guests are entitled to priority boarding, free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. (If the basic level is purchased) Guests that reach their 16th cruise, or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club, where extras such as a complimentary mini bar, upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10% discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.

Costa Cruises – Costa Club

Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member, coral member or their highest pearl member, you can receive a 5% discount on any of their cruises. In addition, guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20% discount on wine packages, mini bar drinks and laundry service, 10% off Costa merchandise, and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.

Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership, guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation, a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant, a bottle of wine and welcome gift.

P&O Cruises – Portunus Club

Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with P&O Cruises. Throughout the year, there will be selected Portunus sailings, which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.

At a basic level, ruby members are entitled to a 5% discount on onboard spend, this increases to 7.5% when you reach sapphire level of membership, and gold members can take off an extra 10%. At the highest level, gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.

Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village, Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.

Cunard – World Club

World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver, gold, platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this, members are entitled to a 5% discount of further sailings.

Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin, complimentary internet minutes, and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level, they can expect, in addition to lower level benefits, a 20% discount on dry cleaning and laundry service, 10% off White Star Luggage Delivery service, additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.

MSC Cruises – MSC Club

MSC’s loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic, silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.

At each level, members will receive a welcome cocktail, a 5% discount on excursions and 5% discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member, you are entitled to a 5% discount on most cruises, silver members will receive 8% and gold can take off an additional 10% off their cruise cost.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines - Oceans

Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points, you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this “blue” level, guests will receive 5% off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2% cruise discount, Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise, you will be rewarded with a 4% cruise cost discount, personalized luggage labels, a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.

Carnival – Concierge Club

After your 10th cruise with Carnival, you will enter their membership club at the platinum level, then, those members who complete their 25th, 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25, 50 or 75% of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.

In addition, all platinum members are eligible for priority check in, disembarkation and dining waitlists.

So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in, early disembarkation and a captain’s party invite is certainly better than nothing, but, as a loyal customer, would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?

If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them, get in touch. I’d be interested to hear your opinions.

Stephen Dolan asked:


Those of you who have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to go cruising already know what a wonderful experience a cruise can be. Indeed, it’s more than likely that you probably rate every vacation you take now against the standard set by your cruise.

Even if you’ve never been on a cruise the chances are that you’ve thought of taking one. Unfortunately, deciding to go on a cruise is the easy part. After that you will have a number of important decisions to make to ensure that you pick the perfect cruise for you.

The most important decision you will face after you decide to go on a cruise is where you want to go. When people think of cruises they usually think of the big cruise ships in the Caribbean. Just imagine all that deep blue water and the sun shining down while you sit on the deck and enjoy cocktails. Ahhhh nice! And while that can be a lot of fun, you should keep in mind that you can go on cruises to almost any part of the world. Take a cruise through the Panama Canal, around the Indian Ocean, or follow the western coast of Africa into the Mediterranean.

Keep in mind that you are not just picking which part of the ocean you’d like to see. Almost all cruises will allow you to make side trips inland when the ship stops at a port of call. This can be either on your own or as part of an organized tour group. If you have always wanted to visit Australia, try combining a trip to Australia with a cruise around the Pacific Ocean.

You should also make sure that you can find a cruise that will give you the experience you want. Obviously, a small cruise ship touring around the coast of Alaska will result in a very different experience from a large cruise ship meandering leisurely around the Mediterranean. While there are major differences in the cruising experience, this is not just about picking the right kind of climate for your trip. If you are looking for all night parties and poolside drinks, go on the Mediterranean cruise. If you want a more relaxed trip, curled up under blankets and whale watching, go on the Alaskan cruise.

You should also remember that certain cruise lines focus on different types of customers. There are cruise ships that will cater to those who want to spend all night drinking and dancing, there are cruise ships that focus on retirees and there are cruise ships that cater to a variety of tastes. Families should look for family-friendly cruises. These family-friendly cruises will have children’s activities and places for teenagers to hang out. The Disney Cruise line specializes in family style cruising.

The level of service you will receive is the biggest factor in your final price. If you are on a tight budget, avoid the high end luxury cruise. Instead go with a premium or even mainstream cruise. The location and size of your cabin will also make a difference. If you are really tight for cash, take a small cabin on the inside of the ship. While your food and cabin may not be as grand as fellow passengers on the exclusive decks, you will at least still be able to afford the airfare home. And you will have the same experiences as the higher paying passengers.

If you can afford it, feel free to treat yourself with a luxury cruise and enjoy all the amenities that come along with staying at a fancy hotel. Except this hotel goes to many different and exotic places!!

While cruises are often all-inclusive, there are a number of things you should confirm before leaving home. First make sure that the cruise ship is aware of any special dietary or smoking restrictions. If your cruise ship will be coming into port, inquire if you need to book any shore excursions in advance. And most importantly, ensure that you have a way to get to the starting point and back again when the cruise is over. Some cruises do not end at the same port that they departed from. Ending a wonderful cruise by being stranded at the ship’s last port of call is not the best way to enjoy your holiday! Spending a few days in the last port of call before returning home will top off the perfect end to the perfect vacation. Happy cruising!

Steve Reynolds asked:


A visit to Bangkok is often described by many as a surreal experience, especially when one enjoyed a comfortable stay in one of the exuberant hotels in Bangkok. The splendour of the city lies in the fact that this financial hub of south-east Asia, which has also earned the reputation of being one of the best tourist destinations in the world, has hotels which cater to the needs and budgets of everyone.

Whether you are visiting Bangkok on a business trip or have plans to spend your holidays there, this mesmerizing city has plenty of attractions which have the potential of making your trip an unforgettable experience for you. And staying in a good hotel, within your budget, is only going to enrich your experience to the maximum.

If one’s budget is not constrained, and if one is bent upon indulging in one of the most luxurious stays, then it is best to book one’s accommodation in a five star hotel in Bangkok. One can also choose from a wide array of four, three or two star hotels which offer equally comfortable and high-spirited stays. Most of the star hotels in Bangkok like Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, Conrad Hotel, Grand Hyatt Erewan, Four Seasons and InterContinental Bangkok, match the best hotels in the world, in terms of services or facilities. And if you are one of those who want nothing but the best then, hotels like, The Oriental Bangkok or The Peninsula Bangkok would best suit your needs and style, as they head the list of luxurious hotels in Bangkok.

Most of the luxurious hotels can be found along the banks of River, Chao Phraya. It would not be an exaggeration to call the Riverside area as the time-honoured area of city where the spirit of the city originally lies, and hence the hotels in this area have so much to offer to their visitors in terms of captivating and charming sights. The Riverside, with its clean and serene surroundings, is well connected with other important areas of the city through ‘Saphan Taksin’ which is a key Skytrain terminus. This area is often considered as the traditional spirit of the city and it has lots to offer to the visitors in terms of picture perfect sceneries. Some of the star hotels can also be found in major areas like Silom, Siam Square, Sukhumwit, Surawong, Phloenchit and Ratchadaphisek. One night stay in any of the star luxury hotels costs 2500 baht onwards.

In Bangkok, one can find the mid-class hotels in plenty. Most of the mid-class hotels in Bangkok are very decent and provide all the important facilities and services essential for a comfortable stay. Some of the most well-known mid-range hotels in Bangkok are Chaleena Princess Hotel Bangkok and Citadines Bangkok Sukhumvit. One can also choose to stay in 13 Coins Airport Grand which is a resort with optimum charges. Although these mid range hotels are distributed all over Bangkok, it would not be wrong to say that most of the mid range hotels are concentrated around areas like Silom, Sukhumwit, Surawong and Phloenchit. Most of the mid range hotels are reasonably priced in the range of 750 to 2000 baht per night.

Bangkok is one of the very few capital cities, which has budget hotels distributed profusely over the entire city, and which provide all basic amenities at a very low cost of 50 baht to 750 baht. Travellers looking for budget accommodations can try reasonably priced hotels like Bangkok city Inn Hotel, Diamond City Hotel, Manohra Hotel, Royal Pacific Hotel or Samran Place Hotel. Bangkok also surprises the travellers with the location of these budget hotels, which can be found almost adjacent to the star and luxury hotels. It is in complete contrast with the West where budget hotels cannot be found in the central locations. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Bangkok is one city which allows the budget travellers to enjoy and have fun to the maximum.

If you are one of those fashion conscious people who love to enjoy the nightlife, then it would be best to stay in a hotel at a central location in Bangkok like Silom, Suriwongse Road, Sukhumvit or the Soi Cowboy area. It will not only keep you in close proximity with the hustle and bustle of the city, but will also enrich your nightlife experience. If shopping is your weakness, then you can try staying in Siam Square area which is quite reputed for fun shopping. This area is quite close to Mahboonkrong (MBK) shopping mall. Both these areas can be reached through the Skytrain routes. But if visiting other parts of Thailand is your priority over holidaying in Bangkok, then it is highly recommended that you determine on a hotel near Bangkok Airport.

Any discussion on the hotels in Bangkok would be incomplete without the mention of Khao San Road which is also considered as “the centre of the backpacking universe”. This area is the undisputed favourite of the budget backpackers visiting Thailand and South East Asia. Though this area lags behind in providing connectivity to other major areas of the city, but it is still considered as the best area to stay in, if one wants to enjoy the conventional and ascetic charms of the city.

Mary Hanna asked:


Choosing a travel agent should be easy. Go to travel agents that specialize in cruising. I cannot stress this enough. There agencies that book cruises only and then there are agents within Travel Agencies that are specialists in cruising. Either one of these will fit the bill.

Ask the agent a lot of questions, like what cruise lines that agent has sailed on? They should be very knowledgeable about all the aspects of cruising- food, activities, entertainment, the size of the cabins available, the size of the ship, what kind of facilities and the clientele. To be really sure of the agents’ expertise, ask for a CLIA accredited agent.

Ask about a variety of cruises, not just one or two lines. Some agents push one or two lines because they either have booked a big block of space on a ship or they get a higher commission from a particular cruise line, they call these their “Preferred Suppliers”. Ask them who their Preferred Suppliers are and what lines they have personally sailed on. Many times it will be the Preferred Suppliers but you want someone who has experienced many cruise lines.

Cruise Tip: When choosing an agent, ask how long she/he has worked for the agency. You want one that has been there at least two years, has been on several lines, and can answer all of your questions. It is not realistic to expect the agent to have sailed on all of the cruise lines but you want one that has sampled many.

There are a couple of tricks to get the best priced cruise. Go to one Travel Agent who specializes in cruises; go through the options available for the type of cruise you want. After the agent has narrowed it down she/he will than say it’s time to call the lines and check for availability. The next step is to put a hold on the cabin which she will put in your name. Normally the cruise line will hold a cabin for a week. .

Go home and call another cruise agency and ask for their cruise specialist. Give that agency the same information along with the price quoted by the first agent. See if this agent can beat the price. If she can, go back to the first agent and tell her your mother, sister, friend, was able to get a better price and can she meet that price. Chances are she will, especially if she has placed you on a Preferred Supplier. Don’t feel bad about this. You will probably book with the first agent, and the second agent did not do any work except make a phone call. This will also let you know if the first agent did a good job. If agent number 2 can’t beat the price or quotes you a higher price, bingo, you’ve got yourself a great agent in on the first try.

The third thing you will want to do is check the internet for any deals on that particular ship. You can check by search engine or by going to the individual cruise lines website.

Your local newspaper will have a cruise travel section with lots of ads for cruises and will list discount fares. Or go to your local bookstore and browse the Magazine section for Cruise related publications. And of course the Cruise lines all have websites where you can book directly. But if you are a new cruiser it is best to go to a Travel Agent that knows cruising and can answer all your questions including the pro and cons of each and every cruise line.

Cruise Tip: If you are strictly looking for price, go to travel agents that have booked large blocks of rooms on a particular cruise and they will be able to give you a good discount. Just make sure that this is the type of cruise you want to take. Consider the ships “personality”. There are ships that are completely casual all of the time, or ships that promote partying, and ships were people are elegantly dressed all of the time. Choosing your cruise style is one of the first things you should decide, this will help the Travel Agent find the ideal ship for you.

Copy the list below and take them with you when you visit your chosen Travel Agency (write answers below questions):

1. What is the total price for the cruise? It should include port charges, air fare and transfers to and from the airport.

2. Can any money be saved by traveling on a different cruise line with similar amenities or if I traveled at a different time of year?

3. Does the agency have a way of checking if the rate drops as the cruise date nears? If so, will the travel agent automatically lower my fare?

4. Does the cruise line offer travel insurance and what kind if they do? Does the agency offer insurance or know a reputable company?

5. What is the last day you can cancel without penalty? What are the penalties?

6. What proof of citizenship is expected? What other documents will I need?

7. If I want to change the itinerary or go earlier or stay later is that possible?

8. Who will make my airline reservations? When can I get seat assignments?

9. Find out where your cabin will be and if it is close to the dining room, the elevator, the disco, the pool etc. Ships are large and there will be considerable walking.

10. Arrange with the agent what type of beds you want, queen or twin.

11. Tell the agent when you want to dine and how large the table should be.

12. If purchasing an outside cabin has the agent checked to make sure the view is not obstructed? If this doesn’t matter to you, you may be able to save some money by booking an obstructed view.

13. What are the weight restrictions if you are flying to the port?

14. When will I get my travel documents?

15. If you have a special diet request make it now.

16. If it is your honeymoon have the travel agent notify the cruise line. The lines usually have special gatherings for newly weds.

17. If you are traveling in a large group the cruise line should also be notified.

18. If you have any special needs such as cribs or baby food now is the time to have the agent tell the cruise line.

19. If you have a health issue, ask about the infirmary

20. Do they have any cruise reviews that you can see or get a copy of?

These questions and the information above will aide you in finding the right Travel agent to book your cruise vacation. Just a little bit of work and then you can Set Sail!

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Roberta Groche asked:


It is very difficult project of developing a complete new hotel business or renovating your working hotel. Both the projects involve various stages that require sensitive and expertise dealings with the involved organizations. Many hotel consultants are available that provide services for your hotel development and hotel renovation projects.

The hotel consultants provide assistance and guidance in every stage of your hotel renovation and development projects.

More about Hotel Consultants:

Y. David Kan and its Associates are among the best hotel consultants, who are consulting for more than 35 years to 5 continents. They have provided consultancy and other services for hotel project management, financing and every stage of development process, financial prudence, exhibiting price sensitivity and the awareness of systems and materials at the market. In addition, they help in the deals with the design team members.

With the help of these hotel consultants, your hotel development project will be well integrated with design timetables, financial frameworks, and management of design team members such as suppliers, sub-contractors and contractors. An experienced hotel consultant will assist and guide from the initial stages of construction and development to the successful working of hotel, while being responsible with local practices and local culture to comply with regulations and rules at the present location.

The Hotel consultant also helps in advising other alternatives of agreements for construction. Moreover, they monitor frequently about the progress of hotel renovation or hotel development and its quality. They also offer you with the establishment of specifications of equipments such as furnishings required for hotel renovation or development.

Hotel renovation is one of the most difficult projects, as it requires operation with care to ensure the comfort and safety of guests all the time. The hotel consultants will escort hotel renovation project along with offering assistance and guidance at every stage of renovation. In addition, they also offer:

· Hotel financing reviews

· Analysis and market research reviews

· Establishment of concepts and design programs

· Guidance for establishing overall financial framework and budgets for achieving goals

· Coordination with management to maintain the partial operation while completing the renovation

Y. David Kan and its Associates have experience in negotiating with contractors while maintaining respect to local practices and culture. Moreover, they are familiar with the requirements for the operation of hotel along with the requirements of financial institutions and clients. The hotel renovation project becomes quite easy with hotel consultants.

Overview:

There is no need to re-develop the hotel while facing the need of renovation if you hire a professional hotel consultant such as Y. David and Associates. In addition, they will ease your hotel development project as they provide services for hotel development projects that require integration of financial frameworks, client’s requests, design plans, construction timetables and selection of professionals such as hotel designer, hotel management team members, electricians and others. They are management skilled professionals who are capable to coordinate with organizations involved with the hotel development and hotel renovation projects along with following regulations and laws.

sharon asked:


If you have planned to visit Heidelberg in Germany, which is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, then you have lots of Heidelberg hotels to choose from. Heidelberg is a haven for tourists with its architectural beauty. The Heidelberg hotels cater to the taste of the visitors who throng the city, especially during the seasons. The Leonardo group of hotels in Heidelberg has one unit in Heidelberg, Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg.

LOCATION: Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg is located very close to the centre of the city. It is very easy to reach the Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg by bus, train or car because the central location of Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. Tourists or business travelers find it very convenient to check into Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg to enjoy the comfort and easy access. The famous Heidelberg Castle, the historic old town, is only a few minutes away from Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg by walk. You can visit the oldest university of German enjoying the nice walk along the pedestrian area in this city which is very close by to Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg.

The Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg can be easily located and if you come by car, once you reach the Bergheim road, just within 1 km, you will locate the Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg on the right side. There are many OEG trains from Mannheim airport towards Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof and you can reach the Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg within 30 minutes. Number 32 bus in the direction of  Universitatsplatz from main station comes to Romerstrasse stop and from there it is just a two minutes walk to Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. The Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg is within 20 kms from all major locations in Heidelberg, like old town, Heidelberg castle, pedestrian area, main station, bus stop or Mannheim airport. The tram and bus stops are situated exactly in front of Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg.

ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES: The Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg has about 125 rooms which are very spacious and facing the views of old town, the Neckar and from the room itself you can see the city centre. The Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg has been air-conditioned in all the areas and Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg has a restaurant, terrace where the guests can relax, a bar, luggage services, and safe deposit lockers in the reception. If you prefer a non-smoking room, you can avail them in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. There are indoor parking spaces, lift facilities, and the guests can opt for children’s beds. The guests can also avail the photocopying services and internet services in the reception in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. They can make use of the cleaning/laundry service and the multi-lingual staffs are of great help in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg.

There are 3 conference rooms in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg, where meetings and conferences can be arranged.

All the rooms in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg have been provided with all modern equipments and they can accommodate up to 80 persons. A very heartening factor about Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg is that you can carry your pets with you. There are many floors in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg and there are three categories of rooms, Classic rooms, comfort rooms and superior rooms. In the Classic room category which are located in 1-4th floors, each room is fitted with shower, vanity mirror, TV, radio, telephone, writing table and internet access. A mini bar is attached to the rooms in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg and you can also avail the room service. The rooms in Comfort rooms’ category in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg are located in floors 5-9 and have additional facilities of wake-up calls and room services. The third category, Superior rooms are located in floors 10-11 of Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg and have the advantage of having superior furnishings, best view of the city around, queen or king-size beds, internet connection (ISDN Connection) and facilities found in the other two categories.

You can make reservations at the Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg through phone or email. There is a special area for smokers in Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg. A very tasty and extensive breakfast buffet is available for the guests at this Heidelberg hotel’s restaurant in the mornings from 6.30 am to 10.30 am. The guests can rent bikes to go around the city and can avail the facility of city maps offered by Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg.

Best Western Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg is an ideal place in Heidelberg for the holidayers and they can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and the very convenient facilities to make their holidays a memorable one, always!

Roj Desouza asked:


One can get hotel accommodation at discounted rates at the discount hotels in Gurgaon. The rent tariffs of these hotels have been found to be much less than those of the other hotels in Gurgaon. These discount hotels are located in the prime locations of the city of Gurgaon. Tourists and travelers visiting the city can avail the services offered at discounted rates by these hotels.

Discounts are allowed in all the services offered by these discount hotels in Gurgaon. Not only for accommodation but also for other facilities such as food and other items of consumption are given discounts in these hotels. This is one of the primary reasons that tourists and travelers find it appealing to dine and wine at the discount hotels in Gurgaon. International tourists also find these hotels very much befitting their budget.

Compared with the hotels in the other main towns of the state, the discount hotels in Gurgaon are of special attraction even for the local population. Owing to the success of these hotels, a good number of other hotels are also toeing the line of these hotels. Lying in the National Capital Region (NCR), Gurgaon has considerable commercial significance. The proximity of the city to the national capital lends an added dimension to its significance. There are a number of reputed multi-national corporations having offices in this city.

Budget hotels in Gurgaon consist of hotels of various types. There are star hotels in this category. Also, luxury and deluxe hotels of less costly levels form part of these hotels. These hotels are a boon to those who are in the business field. The businessmen have to be away from home often and have to depend on hotels for their accommodation and food. They can save a part of their expenses by availing the facilities offered by these hotels.

As Gurgaon is lying in close proximity to the national capital, some hotels in Delhi have been trying for some time to imitate the example of the discount hotels. But in fact, the discount hotels in Gurgaon follow their own business strategy. The hotels of other places trying to copy the success story of the discount hotels are liable to taste the bitter fruit of failure. Their attempt to capture the market in the same fashion is liable to backfire.

Kenneth Fox asked:


For those who have wanted to take a cruise but tight budgets just won’t allow it, there are easy ways of finding the cheapest cruises. There are many travel agents out there with great deals for cruises. You can also go directly to the cruise line to see what specials they may be offering.

Sometimes, booking your cruise online can get you a better deal, as many travel agencies try to promote on the internet for travel needs. You can take care of most of your travel needs with just a click of a mouse, making the internet your one stop shop for your vacation. The price you pay depends on what type of cruise you choose.

The next step is deciding which cruise line you want to go with, and there are many to choose from. The most popular cruise lines are: Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess, Costa Cruise Lines, NCL, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Silversea, Windstar Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Uniworld River Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

You can also decide from luxury cruises, sail ship cruises, river cruises, seniors cruising, golf cruises, and anything from weddings and honeymoons to business incentive and education on vacation can also be found.

The cruise industry is growing all the time. More people are taking to the seas for adventure and relaxation. The nice thing about a cruise ship is that it helps you to slow down and take life more casually, because you aren’t racing to get to some destination. Cruising is all about the journey. While the destination may be memorable, even more memories will probably be made on board the ship.

If you’re looking for a luxury cruise deal a traditional travel agent may find you a better deal if they can set you up with a group deal. The agent can book several passengers at once, often getting a “bulk” discount.

You may want to be careful with some of these deals, however, as they may require you to travel as a group and do everything together. And for the hundred or so dollars you may save, you could be relinquishing some personal decision-making in the recreational activities you take part in.

Depending on the type of cruise deal you choose, all-inclusive generally buys you more for your money. These deals supply, as the name implies, everything. Transportation to the port from which you will depart as well as return, all food and beverages during the cruise and entertainment packages while on the vessel.

Depending on how much time you plan to stay in your stateroom, the need for deluxe accommodations should be considered. If you plan to spend the majority of your trip locked in your room, then it may be a good bargain, but the best cruise deal may be found with the smaller rooms you plan to use just for sleeping and storing your belongings.

There are a wide variety of onboard activities to choose from that usually vary from one cruise line to another. This is one of the most important decisions you will have to make, as you want to be sure you will enjoy yourself during your time spent on your trip.

When looking for cheap cruises, you will want to plan your trip with a few extras so you will not be disappointed. It also helps to have a flexible schedule so you can have a better choice of things to do on your cruise.

You will want to travel in the off season to get better values as summer months and holidays tend to raise prices and the good deals go away. This makes it a bit harder if you have children that are of school age as they would have to miss school to go on vacation. During the peak seasons, cruises are usually booked up with regular fares, so chances of getting a good deal then is highly unlikely.

There are many ways to save on your cruise. You just have to do a bit of homework when planning your trip. Many cruise lines will offer a special for families, offering the “children are free” option. This can be an extremely good deal if you have more than one child or if you are traveling with another group that has children.

Check local newspapers as they always show good travel deals and check with travel agencies to see what offers they have available. Don’t forget to check the internet for deals as well. Travel websites are always competing with each other for the lowest rates, so you can use that to your advantage.

Mark Burdett asked:


Just some of the main reasons why a particular hotel becomes famous could be due to its location and its design. This is particularly evident with newer hotels like the Burj al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Whilst the name of the hotel might not be instantly recognizable the fact that the hotel is built on an artificial island and is shaped like a giant boats sail makes it arguably the worlds most distinctive looking hotel. And being 321 metres high certainly adds to its world famous status.

And therefore size could well be important if the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is anything to go by. With in excess of 6000 rooms it goes to show that good things dont just come in small packages.

So if location, location, location really is vital and size really does count then another reason why a hotel becomes world famous could well be because of its historic value. In fact, who had heard of the Watergate complex in Washington DC until events of 1967 and the subsequent political scandal involving Richard Nixon?

The truth is hotels and successful businesses of all types often share one similar trait and this is they are great at communication. For hotels this is particularly important has the running of a hotel is an extremely time consuming and difficult job. Hotel communication is therefore vital to ensure hotel staff, suppliers and visitors are kept secure and safe in a clean and friendly environment.

Hotel health and safety and hotel communication has been made easier in recent years through the use of modern 2 way radio and hotel radios available from leading manufacturers like HYT, Motorola and Kenwood mean that hotel safety and hotel communications is quicker and easier than ever before.

Successful hotels are successful because people use them time and time again and recommend them to others. Successful hotels do this because their staff and suppliers almost blend into the background of a hotel leaving their visitors to enjoy their facilities and surroundings in peace of quiet.

From chambermaids and bell boys, hotel radios are a great way for staff throughout a hotel to stay in touch over a wide area and with no call charges. Hotel communication also benefits kitchen staff, waiters and waitresses as well as receptionists, maintenance staff and indeed anyone working in the hotel or complex.

In a time when businesses throughout the world are struggling, trying to gain a competitive advantage is vital and for hotels, getting their hotel communications right allows them to do this.

Not all hotels can be as famous as the taj mahal but all hotels can improve their hotel safety and hotel communication for less money than they may think.

Vikram kuamr asked:


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With cruise fares as affordable as those offered by DiscountCruiseDeals, a dream holiday can become a reality. And indeed, throw your cares to the wind, exchange the cold for the sun, and exchange your troubles for some love.