It’s never really that wise to put a lot of faith in the star ratings assigned to a hotel anywhere in the world. Whether a hotel is right for you or not all depends on what you need - and sometimes a hotel might have a higher rating (and then usually a higher price) than the one next door just because it has a particular machine in its gym or ice machines in the halls, both of which you might not need.

But the case in China is even more extreme, because until last year hotels could retain their star rating permanently, without having to be re-evaluated. That spells danger, right? And a perfect case in point is the Shenzhen Grand View Hotel in Guangdong Province, which was a five-star hotel in name for a long time but really lacking the quality you’d expect.

It turns out that the Shenzhen Grand View Hotel had a whole heap of problems, not least of which was the fact that the general manager ran away with large sum of the hotel’s money, never to be seen again.

The China National Tourism Administration recently stripped its five-star rating, although the remaining hotel staff have vowed to bring the Shenzhen Grand View Hotel back up to five-star standard as quickly as possible. Other hotels continue to be evaluated, but the changes in ratings might not make it into guidebooks or advertising that fast, so be aware that the stars might be a bit meaningless.

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When the Olympic Games hit Beijing in August 2008, you might be excused for thinking hotel rooms will all be fully booked and over-the-top in prices. I remember when I tried to get affordable accommodation at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and got down to the option of a tent on somebody’s roof, for the price I’d usually pay for a decent hotel room.

Fortunately, the situation in Beijing sounds like it’ll be quite different. Although a recent BusinessWeek report carried the headline Prices for Beijing hotels skyrocket, the details make it sound like there will actually be a slight over-supply of hotel rooms come August, and that it won’t be impossible to get a reasonably priced room. You might need to be patient or shop around, though.

Hotels have already dropped the initial requirement that guests book for the full period of the Olympic Games; now you can book for just four or five days. Just the same, with a million Chinese visitors and half a million foreign visitors expected to arrive for the Olympics, it would pay to keep your eye on the hotel prices as they fluctuate between now and the games and grab a booking when you see a half-good deal.

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There’s nothing quite like a New York City vacation, and there’s also nothing quite like the price tag. If you’re thinking about hitting the big apple for a vacation, then consider tacking a Sunday night onto your itinerary.

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You’re traveling to New York City, but you’re afraid that your hotel is going to be less than desirable because you can’t afford to stay at one of the city’s trendy boutique hotels. Consider The Pod Hotel.

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Youth hostels have had a major revolution in the last decade or so, and you don’t have to be under 25 and toting a ragged backpack to check in to one. Nor do you have to share a room with seven snoring fellow travelers. The Base hostel in Sydney is living proof of that, especially after its recent renovations.

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Want to get a little extra out of your hotel stay? Try the concierge floor.

Concierge floors are gaining popularity, especially with the business crowd. Travelers staying on the concierge floor get additional amenities and many are offered around the clock. Imagine the convenience of food whenever you want, free cocktails, or even a butler.

Most concierge suites feature nicer bedding, free snacks and quieter rooms The rooms are loaded with luxury-brand shampoos, soaps and lotions that you can pack up and take home with you.

Business travelers will appreciate the meeting and conference rooms, which can be reserved at no additional charge. Some hotels take their business clients’ comfort even further by offering access to business equipment.

Penny pinchers swear by the concierge floor as breakfasts are almost always provided and typically another meal is also included. Sometimes you can even find a hotel that provides its guests with three square meals a day, all at no extra charge.

If you belong to the hotel’s rewards program then you may automatically be put on the concierge floor. Other people may have to pay a slightly higher price or use it as a bargaining chip to get an upgrade.

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September and October bring the warmest weather of the year to San Francisco and a weekend here at bustling Union Square is a fabulous way to kick off the holiday shopping season.

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Often the cost of accommodation is the most expensive part of a holiday, so learning how to find reasonably priced hotels or hostels that aren’t crawling with cockroaches is one of the secrets of having happy travels without breaking the bank. Budget Travel recently released a new book titled Secret Hotels: Extraordinary Value in the World’s Most Stunning Destinations which aims to give you the tips on finding affordable accommodation in beautiful places.

The secret of Secret Hotels seems to lie in finding smaller hotels that are run by people who love the place where they’ve chosen to live and open a small hotel to make a living there. These kind of people are perhaps not in the habit of trying to get large amounts of money out of others, and don’t have the bargaining power of a big chain of hotels. The difficulty sometimes lies in finding these hotels, which are not always well-advertised or don’t naturally rise to the top on an internet search list. Perhaps that’s where Budget Travel’s book comes in, with tips on locating and booking these small but reasonable hotels.

But remember that this kind of travel does come with a risk; if you book into the Hilton or the Marriott you usually have an unofficial guarantee of quality. Reserving a room in a small, no-name hotel might come with the bonus of delightful hosts or a super-cheap price, but you can’t really be sure until you get there. Then again, isn’t that half the fun of travel?

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You want to do your best to live an earth-friendly existence. But at the same time, you don’t want to compromise your freedom to travel. That’s understandable. Your concern for the world around you is directly linked to your interest in that world, an interest which probably includes seeing as much of it as you can. It’s okay to travel the globe and you can do so an environmentally-friendly manner. You can rideshare or take busses to help save the fuel that you’d use on long drives on your own and you can stay abreast of news about the environmental practices of airlines to choose the ones that are most suited to your ideals and beliefs. But did you also know that you can stay in eco-friendly hotels?

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If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, consider staying at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in Maui.

This hotel was named “#1 Best Value Hotel in Hawaii” by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Kaanapali Beach Hotel is also committed to preserving and celebrating the Hawaiian culture. They offer many traditional Hawaiian activities, including special kids programs.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel features beautiful rooms, award winning restaurants and all-inclusive packages that include air, room accommodations, car rental, recreational activities and much more.

At KBHMaui.com, they also offer a variety of vacation packages geared toward their guests’ specific interests, including the Golf Package, Sun & Sand Package and their Romance Package.

The Romance Package includes room, rental car, buffet breakfast every day, a picnic lunch, a dinner at their restaurant (or Sunday brunch), and a massage or facial for two. Also included is one optional activity of a luau, dinner cruise or surfing lessons.

Additionally Kaanapali Beach Hotel can provide specific packages for seniors, corporate travelers, families and more.

All of this at very reasonable rates.

If you are into snorkeling, Black Rock is just a short walk up the beach from the hotel, where you will find some of the finest snorkeling on the island.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel is partnered with Get2Hawaii’s Online Travel Services to offer guest discounted hotel, airfare and rental car packages.

Visit KBHMaui.com to book your reservation or learn more about Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Look for their special fall packages.

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California is a state which is frequented by a wide variety of travelers, including a number of people who are interested in finding good accommodations on a low budget. Because of this, California is one of the best states in the
United States for staying at a youth hostel. There are a number of great hostels throughout the state that let you enjoy major cities, nearby beaches and famous attractions while meeting other travelers who are also interested in the area. <!–more–>

Four hostels that you might want to check out if you’re interested in spending time in
California include:

• 
  Ocean
  Beach International Hostel – Travelers interested in spending time in Southern California will find that this
  San Diego hostel puts them right near the attractions of the largest southernmost city in the state.
• Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel – Located south of
  San Francisco, this is a hostel that is almost like a bed-and-breakfast in style. It’s in a lighthouse on the ocean with a secluded cove area of its own, an espresso bar and Wi-Fi which makes for low-cost luxury.
• 
  Redwood
  National Park Hostel – This hostel is located right in the midst of the towering redwood trees that make
  Northern California so beautiful. If you’re seeking a hostel in a natural setting, this is it.

• Venice
  Beach Hostel – Interested in spending your money renting surfboards to ride the waves and roller blades for cruising the boardwalk? Save on accommodations at this hostel which is right on the beach. Puts you close to
  Los Angeles if you want to make sure there’s nightlife around as well.

• Vibe Hotel – This unique hostel is right on
  
  Hollywood Blvd.

  If you want the celebrity experience of
  Los Angeles, this is the right spot.

Hostels offer a really great travel experience because they let you converse with other travelers and save on the cost of accommodations. Travelers who prefer their own space can stay in private rooms to get the best of
California hostels while still retaining their privacy.

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Youth hostels have gone in and out of popularity for as long as they’ve been around, but no matter what their current status, they’ve proven themselves to truly have staying power. As a low-cost alternative to hotels, guesthouses, and bed & breakfasts, hostels usually offer several types of accommodations.

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Hotel rates are on the rise within the U.S. and internationally. In 2006 international rates rose a whopping 8.5% and during the same period rates within the American border rose about 3% according to the American Express Business Travel Monitor.

If travel is on your agenda and you want to save money there are still some tricks of travel that will help you either keep that bill down or will give you some perks that make up for the added expense.

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Young or old, everybody’s welcome at the Hostel Celica in Ljubljana, the pretty capital of Slovenia. It’s a hostel that’s become so popular amongst all kinds of travelers that Rough Guides put it on their list of the top 25 ultimate experiences for places to stay, and Celica staff even conduct guided tours of the hostel during the day, for those without the foresight to make an advance booking.

I was one of those. Traveling through Slovenia to Croatia during the summer season, my travel plans had been too vague to be able to make a booking anywhere, and until I visited Hostel Celica, I hadn’t known how much I wanted to stay there. It used to be a prison, and then it was converted into a hostel with each room being individually designed by Slovenian artists. The result is super funky: my favorite room has a bunk bed high above a rough wooden floor, a railway sleeper ladder to get there and a stream of pebbles running down the middle of the room.

Hostel Celica is on an interesting block in Metelkova Street, with nearby buildings used by artists and free thinkers; yet just a few years ago, the area was a base for the Yugoslav army during the local conflicts. With so much to explore, the basic room price of 24 Euro per person (less than US$35), including breakfast (less if you’ll share with more people, or use a bathroom in the hall) is a bargain.

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Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida currently has four value rated resorts on their property. These resorts cater to Disney family travelers and offer the same park benefits (such as Extra Magic Hours, free bus transportation services) as any other Disney resort. If you are traveling to Walt Disney World on a budget and want to experience a Disney resort - these value properties are great finds. Although the room features and layouts of the four Disney value properties are, for the most part, the same, the theme of each is quite different.

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If you are a business traveler on a budget you know the importance of saving money when you travel. Big hotels that cater to business and convention travel often charge excessive per night fees for their rooms. With a little research you can almost always find another hotel in the area that fits your budget and allows you to attend to your business. A good example of this is travel to one of the biggest business/convention cities - Las Vegas. If you are traveling to attend a business meeting or a convention you will probably be directed to the hotel hosting the meeting or to one near the convention center. These are usually top level hotels, with top level prices. In addition to high per night fees you will also be looking at high rates in the restaurants, fees for an internet connection and sometimes even resort or business travel per night fees. This is fine if you are traveling on a cushy travel expense budget, but for most small business travelers we need to get the most for our hard earned money.

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Are you making plans for a summer vacation or your next winter get-a-way? Are you seeking to observe Fall’s many splendored colors in the Appalachian foothills or warm your heart as the first Spring breezes flow ashore in southern California? If so, you can save money on your next trip by making some of the arrangements yourself. Book a hotel room directly and you could save 50% off of your accommodations. Let’s take a look at some nifty options for you!

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