Ask Gadling: Getting the most (hotel) bang for your buck

by Melanie Nayer on

We’ve talked a lot about hotel promotions and packages, but how do you choose what’s best for you and your budget? That’s the topic of this week’s question, from Cindy in San Antonio, who wants to book a nice hotel without paying for unwanted amenities.

“I want to go on vacation this year, but I’d also like to get the most bang for my buck. I don’t want to seem greedy, but I want more than just a hotel room and I don’t want to spend money on things I’m not going to take advantage of, like free water sports or spa gift credits. How do I get the most bang for my buck at hotels, without having to compromise my vacation?”

Gadling: Your question isn’t out of the ordinary and certainly isn’t greedy. It’s completely natural for you want to the most for your hard-earned cash, especially when you travel. I’m here to tell you it’s possible to travel in style, without breaking the bank. Here are a few tips before you book:

1. Think outside the box. Just because you’re familiar with some hotel brands doesn’t mean you should exclude others. Many people fall into the “I can’t afford that” or “It’s too basic” frame of mind without even checking out the hotels first. Hotels like Hyatt, Marriott and Wyndham have ‘upscale’ brands that act like resorts and offer different amenities and packages from their flagship hotels. In the same way, luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons offer vacation packages that include everything from dinners to spa days to tours, and more. The cost for these add-ons is often less than what you would pay if you priced it out a la carte, and you get the service that luxe hotels are known for. Don’t shy away from boutique brands, either. Hotels like Kimpton’s and Affinia’s are smaller than big name hotels, but they offer the same amenities (sometimes more) and host special ‘theme’ packages depending on the time of year you travel and what you’re looking for, including family packages, girlfriend getaways and city tours.

View more Ask Gadling: Travel Advice from an Expert or send your question to ask [at] gadling [dot] com.

2. Use loyalty points. If you’re a member of a hotel’s loyalty program, look to them first before booking. Hotels will cater to their loyalty members, even if you don’t have enough points for a free night. Just having a membership goes a long way these days (and the memberships are free!). If you’re not a member of any hotel loyalty programs, check with your credit card company or airline rewards programs. Credit card companies offer great travel deals that allow you to gain points when you book through them, and they also have promotions that are specific to them so you might find something that suits your tastes and isn’t offered on the hotel’s websites. The same logic applies to airline miles programs – airlines and hotels have teamed up to offer packages that include airfare and hotel stays, so it’s likely you can save money and stay at some great properties.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you find a hotel and package price that’s perfect, but the package offerings aren’t quite right, call their customer service line and ask for some re-shuffling. Tell the agent exactly what you like and don’t like about a package, and ask if they can accommodate you with another package for the same price, or throw in a few of the things you’re seeking. Many times, the hotel will sell you the package with all the inclusions, and give you the extras you’re seeking for free. Valet service or free parking, free WiFi, additional beds (which often come with a charge) and credits in either the restaurant, bar or spa are common requests that hotel’s often accommodate. Remember, this is the hospitality business – their job is to cater to the customer, so ask for what you want and you’ll be surprised at what you get!

Enjoy your vacation, Cindy, and remember: you work hard for your money, so make it work for you!

Marriott International launches water conservation project in China

by Melanie Nayer on

Marriott International is doing more than building hotels in China. The hotel company, which currently operates 45 hotels in China under the JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott, Marriott Executive Apartments and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel brands, announced Monday it will invest $500,000 in seed money to support a water conservation program in China.

The “Nobility of Nature” program aims to protect the largest source of fresh water on the planet, with a focus on work in Sichuan Province, the area hit hardest by the 2008 earthquake. In addition to the planned water conservation announcement, the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in China have committed to reducing their water and energy use by 25 percent by 2017.

According to a press release from Marriott, the water project will assist rural communities in Sichuan Province with sustainable businesses, such as mushroom farming and honey production, which will place less stress on the environment.

“Marriott is committed to doing business in China and to the well-being of the Chinese people,” said J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International. “There’s a Chinese proverb, ‘when drinking the water, consider the source’. Water is the key to prosperity and sustained economic growth. Helping to develop viable ways to preserve the water supply and conserve water in our hotels is important to our business, our associates and our customers.”

Marriott plans to add an additional 25 hotels in China by 2013, and each hotel is expected to contribute to the water conservation program. Specifically in China, Marriott’s hotels have reduced water usage by 13.5 percent and energy use by 15.7 percent in the past two years. This isn’t the first time Marriott and its employees have come to the aid of Sichuan Province. In 2008, the company raised more than $3 million to help provide disaster relief to victims of the earthquake which took the lives of nearly 70,000 people.

Marriott International will work with Conservation International and the Government of Pingwu County to provide training and resources to the local communities involved in the project. For more information click here.

Five travel gift ideas for Mother’s Day

by Tom Johansmeyer on

You need options – fast. Mother’s Day is less than month away, and moms want to travel. They want to get out on the road, be treated like royalty and experience all the luxuries for which they don’t have time day to day. With a whole world at your disposal, how do you choose? Well, I poked around and thought you might be interested in the following deals for Mother’s Day. Here are five ideas that will at least get you started.

1. Residence Inn by Marriott
At all 588 hotels, Residence Inn will be dishing out 50 red roses for moms – that’s 29,400 red roses you don’t need to remember to buy! Also, all guests – kids and dads included – will get free hot breakfast every day, free internet access and plenty of space in the guestrooms.

2. La Posada De Santa Fe Resort & Spa
Art, culture, fine dining and pampering are the norm in Santa Fe, and La Posada does it right. With its Mother’s Day Celebration package, good from May 1, 2010 to July 5, 2010, the resort kicks in a $200 spa credit (good at the RockResorts spa), a pair of specialty turquoise margaritas at the Staab Lounge and a bottle of champagne with chocolate-diped strawberries.3. ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa
Is there a stylish mom you need to take care of next month? ONE Bal Harbour has the answer. Ship her off with her friends for a girls-only getaway, where she can truly get away from the demands of motherhood for a little while. The resort’s “Sun, Stay and Shop” package includes two cocktails at the hotel bar, breakfast every day and a VIP shopping experience that’s got a car service, personal consultation and a special discount at Saks Fifth Avenue’s 5th Avenue Club.

4. Concorde Hotels & Resorts
Get mom off to the City of Lights this Mother’s Day for three night at the century- old, landmark Hotel Lutetia. With the “Centennial Offer,” this Parisian hotel includes a double room, buffet breakfast daily and a 100 euro gift voucher (for a celebration dinner, maybe?).

5. Abercrombie & Kent
Okay, this is top of the line. If you’re a fan of our Daily Pampering column, consider this to be up your alley. Check out an A&K “Journeys for Women” trip, which give moms and daughters the chance to bond while experiencing a foreign culture.

JW Marriott plans 40 hotels in India by 2013

by Melanie Nayer on

Executives at the JW Marriott offices are busy planning the future. First came the announcement that JW Marriott plans to double its hotel presence in Europe by 2015, and now the hotel group plans to add another 40 hotels in India by 2013.

So, just where does the luxury hotel brand plan to put all of these hotels?

“We will be opening five JW Marriott hotels in Chennai, Bangalore, Pune (two) and Chandigarh by this year-end,” JW Marriott Group’s Area Vice-President for India, Malaysia and Pakistan, Rajeev Menon told the Press Trust of India. Additionally, Menon said Marriott plans to open two Marriott Courtyard hotels in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

With new hotels means new jobs, and according to Menon, the JW Marriott will be helping to boost the employment market by hiring an additional 3,000 workers to service the additional 10,000-plus rooms the Marriott company plans to open in the next few years.

The JW Marriott India properties will feature all the luxury amenities customers are used to including spas, fitness centers, on-site restaurants and bars, swimming pools and in some cases, private night clubs.

Hotel Review: JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton wake up downtown L.A.

by Melanie Nayer on

L.A. LIVE – the sports and entertainment complex that envelops the Nokia Theater and STAPLES Center – is hoping to change the way people view downtown Los Angeles. Thanks to the stadiums, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping and outdoor pavilions that opened in October 2007, downtown Los Angeles was revived with a faint heartbeat. Now, two new hotels are opening their doors in an effort to wake up the district and give people a reason to spend the night in downtown L.A.

The J.W. Marriott Hotel Los Angeles and Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles make up the $2.5 billion building in heart of the L.A. LIVE complex, boasting 1,001 rooms total (878 rooms in the J.W. Marriott and 123 rooms at the Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Residences). While the hotels share the space as part of the luxury brand’s global portfolio, the two brands maintain their individuality in design and style.

J.W. Marriott hotel designers took advantage of the lobby’s open frame. The neutral colors on the walls and rugs are contrasted with modern furniture in reds, purples and animal prints, emphasizing the enormous space while still giving travelers a comfortable place to rest upon arrival. A few steps past the check-in counter, however, and you’re transported to a futuristic display of lights, mirrors and lots of action.

The hotel is home to one of L.A.’s newest dining destinations, L.A. Market. The full-service restaurant created by the “Rock-n-Roll” celebrity chef Kerry Simon is sourced from organic, sustainable and local sources, and combines his flare for everyday foods with his bold personality. The sushi pizza is a favorite of hotel employees, and Simon’s signature burgers are worth every bite. The Mixing Room – located across the lobby from the restaurant – takes guests on a mixology escapade of signature cocktails and cosmic creations in an all white-and-gold furnished space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Nokia Plaza.


The J.W. Marriott guest rooms occupy floors 4-12 and are substantial in size and stature. There’s a 4000-square-foot fitness center and a pool for those who want to soak in the California sun. While guests of the J.W. Marriott have access to the Ritz-Carlton’s 8000-square-foot spa, some areas of the hotel remain exclusive to Ritz-Carlton clientele.If the J.W. Marriott is the meeting space of L.A. LIVE’s grand collection, the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE is the area’s exclusive retreat.

In contrast to the J.W. Marriott’s bold lobby design, the Ritz-Carlton entrance is dimly lit from a Swarvoski crystal chandelier set against deep mahogany wood. Recognizable on the outside by its glass facade, one of the most mesmerizing parts of the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, is its variations in the color of blue glass on every floor. Symbolic of the ocean or the sky (depending on how you like to view hues of blue), the LEED-certified structure almost looks as if its draped in diamonds when viewed from the right angle. Guests of the Ritz-Carlton have exclusive rights to the 3,400-square foot Club Lounge, rooftop pool and private fitness center.

Ritz-Carlton’s 123 guest rooms and private residences are located on the upper floors of the building but the pièce de résistance of this gem is the 24th floor restaurant, which offers views of Los Angeles from every table. During my tour of the hotel, a private dining area and wine cave were under construction, but will open in time for its first guests on April 2.

The outdoor pool on the 26th floor is also exclusive to Ritz-Carlton guests and comes shaded with cabanas and a rooftop bar and restaurant. If you’ve ever wondered what Los Angeles looks like from above, this is the spot to be.

While it’s likely you’ll be visiting the hotels as a guest, it’s worth noting the building’s gargantuan meeting space. With almost 100,000-square-feet at its disposal, the hotel is primed for conferences and events of all sizes.

The J.W. Marriott is currently open to guests, and the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles will take its first reservations on April 2. Spending time in downtown LA just got a little more exciting.