New York City Hotel Sells ‘Slumber Parties’ In New Multi-Person Rooms

by McLean Robbins on

It’s not what it sounds like – or is it? NYC’s The Out Hotel, the city’s first hotel targeted specifically at the gay audience (they call themselves “straight friendly”), is attempting to sell a hostel-style living situation where guests pay $99 per night to score a bed and an overnight reservation. These full-bedded bunk-bed style rooms will hold up to four guests and are charged per bed, and come with personal TVs, a bathroom, shower, full-length cubbies and privacy curtains.

While the concept is nothing new – hostels have been doing this for years – putting this type of accommodation just steps from Times Square and Broadway could do one of two things. The concept could be wildly successful, the perfect respite for budget-savvy solo travelers looking just to catch a few winks and maybe make a few friends in the process, or…. it could turn into a bit wilder. And don’t think about cuddling close to save money – the rate is for one person per bed only.

Either way, it’s a decent deal for a solo traveler with more liberal privacy issues. Rates with two doubles are going from around $309 a night for a weekend stay.

Omni Hotels & Resorts Partner With Joining Forces To Hire Servicemen And Women

by McLean Robbins on

Omni Hotels & Resorts is doing its part to increase employment for American Veterans thanks to a new partnership with Joining Forces, announcing a plan to expand recruitment of servicemen and women over the next three years.

Joining Forces is an initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to give opportunities in the areas of employment, education and wellness to service members and their families who earned the support through their service to the country.

“Omni respects the sacrifices made by service members and their families as the backbone of the armed forces,” said Joy Rothschild, senior vice president, human resources for Omni Hotels & Resorts. “This partnership enables Omni to recruit dedicated, service-minded associates and gives Joining Forces another channel to achieve their mission.”

Joining Forces is dedicated to hiring or training 100,000 veterans and spouses by 2013. Omni has planned expansion in its Dallas-Fort Worth headquarters, as well as planned hotels or additions in Dallas, Amelia Island and Nashville.

Marriott and Starwood also participate in the program.

Would You Sleep In A 300-Year-Old Ceibo Tree In The Galapagos Islands?

by Jessica Festa on

On San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands, you can find a unique accommodation that is part treehouse, part underground cave. Known as El Ceibo, the property is located in the El Progreso neighborhood and features the largest tree on the entire island at 48 feet high. Moreover, at $20 a night, it’s also one of the best deals in town.

Ceibo is actually the name of a tree, and there are only three of the species on the island. While this particular tree is 300 years old, the cabins were added 22 years ago, with the bar and restaurant addition being only 15 years old. An overarching theme in the Galapagos Islands is ecotourism, and El Ceibo compliments this with the walls of the bar being made of thousands of recycled glass beer bottles. In the yard, you’ll find metal and stone statues, hammocks and tropical plants.

The treehouse accommodation has a surprisingly cozy atmosphere. There’s a small kitchen and bathroom, as well as a loft where the bed is. You can choose from an array of entry and exit methods, like a precarious swinging bridge and ladder, ropes or a fireman’s pole.

The cave is less comfortable, but surprisingly nice for being made at the bottom of a tree. You enter through the tree trunk and go down a steep ladder (shown above). The room has a bit of a musty feel, and the kiddie-sized toilet will make you laugh. The bed, however, is pretty comfortable. Likewise, some wall art and a vase of fake flowers help to add a kind of homey ambiance to the room.

The price is $20 per night to sleep in the treehouse or cave, or $5 to camp. If you’d like to just explore the property, the price is $1.

12 Tips For Saving Money On Food While Traveling

by Jessica Festa on

When traveling, one of the biggest strains on your wallet is the cost of food. The problem isn’t that there aren’t affordable food options, but more that many people are unsure of how to navigate the dining scene in foreign locations. Instead of asking your hotel for recommendations or going to restaurants that “look nice,” use this guide to find budget-friendly meal options when traveling.

Stop Thinking “Everything Is So Cheap”

This is a dilemma many travelers face when in low-cost countries, or simply when they find a snack they enjoy that is less than $3. Instead of thinking you don’t have to worry about purchasing something because “it’s only $1,” think about how all those “it’s only $1” times add up. Moreover, if you’re the type of person who needs to eat something in between lunch and dinner, opt for a big lunch on a set menu. In most countries, you can find filling and cheap lunch specials and combos during this time, which can also help you eat a smaller dinner.Picnic

Not only does picnicking save you money, it’s also fun to put together. Instead of having one big meal, you’ll be able to taste a lot of different foods. For me, a good picnic includes bread, cheese, fruit, cold meat, dip and a dried vegetable. Along with saving money, having a picnic is also a great way to meet other travelers. You can either ask someone from your accommodation to go in on the food with you, or offer someone something where you’re eating. For example, when picnicking in the parks of Europe I would often offer someone some of my fruit in exchange for some bread, and I’d end up with a lunch partner.

Dine Locally

Eating at local restaurants can save you an exorbitant amount of money. Not only that, but the food is usually better. Don’t go to places with an English menu, and peek in to see if there are mostly locals inside. When traveling through Peru, a girl I met – who had eaten at the touristy restaurant the hostel had recommended – was ecstatic at how cheap food in the country was. “I paid $8 for a big antipasto plate,” she gushed. As I’d been eating at local restaurants and paying less than $2 for a huge soup, entree, desert and juice, I found this pretty expensive.

Don’t Eat At The First Place You See

When traveling, many people will see a place that looks good, or just go to the place recommended by their hotel. By doing this, you may be missing out on a great deal. When in Banos, Ecuador, with a friend, we decided we were getting a little tired of local food and wanted Mexican. We saw a place that looked good near our guesthouse, but decided to walk down the street a little bit more. About three blocks farther, we found a place that allowed us to have wine, beer, two appetizers and a huge entree for what one appetizer and one small entree would have cost at the first restaurant.

Eat Street Food

Street food is my favorite thing in the world. I’m always amazed at the unique entrees, and how inexpensive they are. While many people associate street food with Asia, there are many countries around the world with delicious offerings. I love chocla con queso in Peru, plantains with cheese and mayonnaise in Ecuador, choripan in Argentina, fried chicken and yams in Ghana and a giant salted pretzel in New York.

Buy Large Waters

If you’re in a city where the tap water is undrinkable, purchase a gallon bottle of water and use it to refill your smaller one. While it may not sound like much, a huge water is usually less than a dollar more than a small one, and lasts for days. And of course, if the tap water is drinkable, drink it.

Book Accommodations That Serve Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and one you shouldn’t skip to save money. Before booking your accommodation, make sure they include breakfast in the rate. That way, you can fill up on free food and eat lighter later in the day.

Do Some Research

While you could spend hours scouring the streets for a good place to eat, doing a simple Google search could save you a lot of time. I like to skip the tourism board and business sites and check travel forums and blogs to see what other people found on their travels.

Skip The Cocktails

While it can be nice to have a cocktail with dinner, it will usually tack on quite a bit of money. Think about it. Say you have one $5 drink with dinner each night. At the time, this will seem like no big deal. However, after a week you’ll have spent $35 extra dollars, and after a month $150 or more. Along with saying no to alcohol with dinner, I also bring my own water bottle so I won’t have to buy a beverage at all.

Check For Extra Fees

Certain things that may be free in your home country when eating out may not be complimentary in the place you’re visiting. For example, in certain countries it’s common to charge for condiments and the use of the table. Likewise, the breads and small appetizers the server automatically brings over may have a charge associated with them. Make sure to ask and, if they’re not free and you don’t want them, have the server take them back, as you’ll get charged for having them on the table.

Stay At Accommodations With Kitchens

Grocery shopping and cooking your own meals is not only healthy, but also budget-friendly. It’s also fun to discover new grocery items you don’t have in your home country. In Argentina, I traveled with a girl who dined out for every meal while I cooked for myself. After doing the math, I realized she spent in two meals what I paid for four entire days of food. Even if you don’t want to cook every meal, incorporating it into your eating itinerary will save you a lot of money.

Pack Your Own Lunch For The Airport And Excursions

It’s nice when tours include a lunch in the price, but if they don’t it’s best to pack your own. Tourist sites and airports usually charge a crazy amount of money, and usually don’t have the best food, anyway.

Play The Stock Market At The Waldorf-Astoria

by McLean Robbins on

As the Facebook stock continues to end the day in the red, summer bar goers can take advantage of betting against the social network in NYC. The Waldorf-Astoria’s Bull & Bear Steakhouse is now offering cocktail discounts based on the stock’s performance that day.

How does this work? Basically, the worse the stock does, the better for your drink prices. A one to five percent drop in stock means $1 off $5 off your evening drink, cocktails like Strawberry Caipirinhas and the Old “Waldorf” Fashioned. For example: a 1.25 percent drop in stock that day means a $1.25 discount on cocktails. Of course, there’s a catch. To take advantage of the offer, patrons also must show they “Like” the Bull & Bear Facebook page.

Known as one of the leaders in New York’s cocktail culture, The Waldorf-Astoria and Bull & Bear’s mixologists offer an array of signature drinks including the Strawberry Caipirinha, Silver Coin Margarita and the Old “Waldorf” Fashioned.

Looks like this is a time to bet against Facebook – assuming you don’t own stock, that is.