With travel being the number one search on the Internet, the options for vacation accommodations seems to have exploded overnight. You can purchase a timeshare, rent a condo, stay in a traditional hotel or incubate in an all-inclusive resort. Regardless of the type of accommodation that you are looking for, you can find it in cyberspace...it just takes a little digging and deciphering.
To avoid an unsatisfactory accommodation experience, know what you are looking for Ðhere are some questions to get you started:
- What role will your accommodation have in your vacation?
- If you are planning an action-packed, adventurous vacation, chances are you won't be spending much time in your room so an independent or economy chain hotel might be a cost-effective solution.
- However, if you are planning a romantic escape, your room will help set the tone for your entire getaway. Therefore, consider looking into local bed and breakfasts, country inns and pampering hotels/resorts.
- What is our budget and how much of that budget are you willing to devote to having a place to sleep?
- Your accommodation will be one of your more substantial expenses...so be sure to understand what 'substantial' means to you. Perhaps there are some amenities that you are willing to forgo in order to have additional funds for entertainment options.
- Also don't forget to check with your accommodation as to possible discounts and promotions. Sometimes, waiting one week for your getaway can give you much greater budgetary flexibility.
- How will you be handling your food? Do you need a kitchen, kitchenette or simply a small refrigerator?
- If you are going away for over a week, you might want to investigate renting an efficiency or a condominium. Not only would you have a larger kitchen to cook some of your meals, but you would also have more space for your family. Let's face it...a one-bedroom hotel room can get pretty small after a couple of days!
- Chances are, you are on vacation to escape from the daily worries of cooking, cleaning, housework, etc. so a good portion of your budget is already earmarked for food and beverages. You can save a bit of this money without adding chores by simply keeping a few small snack and drink items in your room's mini-fridge for those 'in-between' meal expenses. Be sure to check out the amenity offerings of your hotel because there might further meal-related opportunities for cost-savings.
Featured Accommodations:
| MD |
Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association - www.ocvisitor.com / www.stayinoc.com
Ocean City hotel reservations, golf packages, dining and restaurant information, calendars, directions and much more. Traveling to Ocean City, Maryland resort town can be the trip of a lifetime. The Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant association is your source for local information.
Mid-Atlantic - Days Inn of the Mid-Atlantic - www.daysinn.com/promo
A sunny, warm welcome. A clean, comfortable room, where everything works. TripRewards, the world's largest hotel rewards program.* At Days Inns our promise is as sure as the sun.
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| NJ |
The Whitesands Oceanfront Resort and Spa - www.thewhitesands.com
The White Sands is your Family Vacation Destination Place!
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| PA |
Carroll Valley Resort - www.carrollvalley.com
Best Northeast Resorts as voted by the readers of Northeast Golf 2005. All-inclusive stay and play packages include unlimited golf on two championship courses, 18-hole cart daily, lodging, dinner, breakfast, taxes and gratuities!
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| SC |
Sea Island on the Beach - www.SeaIslandontheBeach.com/gvg
Sea Island's superb location along a quiet stretch of beach, paired with award-winning dining, elegant surroundings and friendly, efficient service has helped us build a reputation as a great place for those who want more from their vacation.
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| VA |
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center - www.virginiabeachresort.com
Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean in North Virginia Beach, you'll find a year-round beach resort offering luxury accommodations and relaxing surroundings. It's the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center, and it's where you'll have the vacation of a lifetime.
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| WV |
Canaan Valley Resort - www.canaanresort.com
Canaan Valley Resort is the ultimate vacation destination. Nestled amid more than 6,300 acres of state parkland -- on the edge of the Monongahela National Forest -- our inspiring West Virginia resort is surrounded by picturesque mountain terrain and breathtaking countryside.
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