Friday, November 18, 2011

Hotels & Motels

The city of Cedar Rapids, the second largest city in Iowa, was founded along the banks of the scenic Cedar River and flourished as one of the early settlements in the state. Second in size only to Des Moines, Cedar Rapids motels, hotels, B&Bs and other lodging options offer a wealth of choices to suit a host of needs. In the late nineteenth century, the very first choice in accommodation in Cedar Rapids was built right on the river bank by Osgood Shepard, a woodsman and early Iowa pioneer. The tavern and inn became the first building erected in the city, now home to more than 140,000 people.

There are several excellent budget hotels to choose from throughout Cedar Rapids. Based on the age-old theory of getting the best value for the money, the many options for cheap Cedar Rapids lodging won't force you to choose by price only. Discount Cedar Rapids motels and hotels offer excellent package rates, and week and weekend deals are plentiful around the city. Throughout most Iowa towns and cities, affordable lodging is a mainstay. Cedar Rapids hotels like The Hampton Inn afford guests a great atmosphere, many great extras such as onsite parking and breakfast, and provide many conveniences inside guest rooms like coffee makers, hair dryers, and free wireless internet. If you're a regular fitness fiend, the "Nordic Rooms" are your best bet, featuring either a treadmill or elliptical inside the room.



For a step up in luxury and refinement, The Marriott is one of the best choices in area hotels. This Marriott hotel is twenty minutes from nearby Coralville and Iowa City and close to downtown and the University of Iowa. Collins Road, within walking distance of the Marriott, is brimming with incredible choices in shopping, dining, cultural attractions, spas, and golfing. All guest suites provide high-speed internet access, work stations ideal for business travelers, convenient room service, luxurious bed linens, quality duvets, and many other lavish extras. Two-room suites are also available and feature a spacious living room, wet bar, and separate bedrooms. Unlimited local calls are another bonus for visitors.



If you're planning on visiting Cedar Rapids for a brief time only, you might want to forsake top luxury hotels and stick with one of the great Cedar Rapids motels. Situated between Waterloo, where a wealth of Iowa history awaits, and Iowa City, the Super 8's location is great if you plan on venturing outside the city during a brief stay.



There are Cedar Rapids hotels throughout the city within walking distance to a number of great attractions for those without car rentals. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the many exciting recreational opportunities available, especially those having to do with the river like kayaking and canoeing and fishing in Iowa's one and only inner-city trout stream.


Cheap Cedar Rapids lodging can be found close to a variety of interesting attractions, sights, and things to do. With a large number of area trails for hiking, numerous nearby golf courses, and located only a half hour from Iowa City, Cedar Rapids takes the lead as one of the most diverse and exciting areas in Iowa.
Other nearby attractions include the Amana Colonies, IMAX Theater, Riverside Casino, and the Science Museum. For great shopping, head to Coral Ridge Mall. The Super 8 not only offers cheap Cedar Rapids lodging, it also provides a fairly impressive list of amenities for such low rates. Complimentary high speed internet, parking, and breakfast are all included. Shuttle service to and from nearby airports is also provided. For significantly less than other Cedar Rapids hotels, Super 8 also provides suite rooms with sofa sleepers, free local calls, microwaves, refrigerators in select rooms, and convenient guest laundry.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Summer Travel

It’s the first official day of summer and we know that many of you have planned or will be planning trips during this peak travel season. We have compiled some tips for you to use on your next trip. From saving money, TSA tips and more, we’ve got you covered for summer travel.

Tips for Saving Money:

1)Refunds: If your airfare drops, check into getting a refund. There are different fees and policies for ticket refunds depending on the airline. Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines all will offer refunds if the price of their airfare drops. A few of the airlines charge change fees so the refund may not be worth it in the long run but its worth checking out.
2) Research, Research, Research: Use sites like Bing Travel, airfarewatchdog.com and hotels.com to find the best fares and room rates. Bing Travel will forecast if they think fares will go up or down based on patterns seen. Look out for flash sales on hotel rooms. Also, call hotels in the area and ask them for unpublished rates. Sometimes you can find better deals this way.
3) Coupons: Find local deals where you are traveling via Groupon, Living Social and the hotel that you are staying at on your trip. Sign up for G-Trot to get more information on social deals. Don’t be afraid to search online for specials and deals for your destination.
4) Save on Gas: All of us are concerned about rising gas prices. Use tools like AAA’s mobile app, aaa.com/mobile to find the lowest pump prices in the area you are driving. You can boost the gas mileage on your car by driving the speed limit and not accelerating or breaking suddenly.
5) Trip Insurance: Look into trip insurance. This protects your trip from unforeseen circumstances such as weather that may cause your trip to be cancelled. www.insurancefortrips.com is a great resource.


Tips for traveling by plane: (information found on www.travelsense.org)
1) Arrive Early: Those who arrive earliest for an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying on board.
2) Keep a close on all belongings: Be aware of your surroundings and keep a close eye on your tickets, wallets, purses and other belongings at all times.
3) Avoid getting bumped: Get an advanced seat assignment. Check in online within 24 hours of departure. If all else fails get to the airport early.
4) Know your Airline’s limits: now all the size and weight limits of your airline for your luggage. Weigh your luggage beforehand to ensure it is not overweight.
5) Remember 3-1-1: You may take toiletries that 3 ounces or less that fit in a one quart-size clear plastic bag and one bag per person must be placed in the screening bin.


Tips for Traveling by car:
1) Plan your itineraries and arrange accommodations well in advance. Hotels, restaurants and rental car places get booked quickly during the peak summer travel season. Ask your travel agent for special deals. Make sure you have an appropriately sized vehicle that will accommodate your travelers, luggage, and souvenirs you may buy.
2) Get a Tune up. If you are traveling with your car, make sure you have your oil changed, and your brakes, fluids, tire pressure and windshield wipers checked.
3) Get an early start: Travel during late night or early morning hours to avoid traffic gridlock. The worst times are typically after meals since most travelers wait to leave after they have eaten. Make sure that your driver is rested and prepared with the appropriate directions for your trip.


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Hotels

  Founded in 2005, the company set out to revolutionize a stale and overpriced industry with a new brand that reflects the image and desires of Generation X and Y (the current group of travelers 18-39) who next year as a group are expected to account for over 349 million nights in hotel rooms. By combining the best in modern design, technology and a low-cost structure, management believes it will have the ability to rapidly expand into a nationally leading hotel brand.This is the best hotel.

 The Burj Al Arab (Arabic ,Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,050 ft), it is the second tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel.However, the structure of the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang North Korea, is 9 m (30 ft) taller than the '"Burj Al Arab'", and the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, topped Burj Al Arab's height at 333 m (1,090 ft), becoming the world's tallest hotel. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat.This is the best hotel.

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