Boston College

Located in: Chestnut Hill, Newton.

Chestnut Hill Reservoir
This national landmark boasts one of the city’s best jogging trails, but it’s just as well-suited to a scenic walk. The view of the Boston College campus is iconic; the spires of Gasson Hall are clearly visible over the trees that surround the reservoir. While it used to function as Boston’s main water supply, it’s now purely recreational and offers such seasonal amusements as a skating rink and a swimming pool.

Oishii Sushi
Chestnut Hill’s favorite Japanese eatery presents as ordinary and cramped, but its patrons swear it offers the best sushi in the Boston area. That’s no easy feat in a city that prides itself on seafood. Aficionados will enjoy their more creative fusions, while everyone can benefit from a helping of blowtorch-seared tuna.

Boston University

Located in: Boston, between the Fenway-Kenmore, Allston, and Brookline neighborhoods.

The Museum of Fine Arts
The MFA’s holdings total over 450,000, making it one of the largest museums in the country. Popular permanent exhibitions include ancient Egyptian artifacts, French Impressionist paintings, Japanese pottery, and eighteenth and nineteenth century American paintings. Additionally, it’s all housed in one of the city’s most recognizable edifices, an immense neoclassical building with columns and a rotunda. The building and its contents are must-sees for any art lover.

Great Bay
This place is the Back Bay’s source for all manner of seafood, from classic fried snacks to modern sushi-like arrangements. Additionally, its Island Bar offers such spirited creations as “Pomegranate Peer Pressure,” a vodka nip, and “Hemingway Didn’t Drink Here,” concocted with rum and grapefruit sorbet. Though its menu caters pretty exclusively to pescatarians, land lovers can indulge in a steak or a pork chop.

Harvard University

Located in: Cambridge

The Peabody Museum and the Harvard Museum of Natural History
The Peabody is one of the world’s most prominent curators of anthropological material; its holdings incorporate casts of ancient monuments, exhibits devoted to North America’s indigenous populations, and an array of artifacts from the Pacific Islands. Also housed in the same facility is Harvard’s famous Museum of Natural History, which displays fossilized creatures, mounted dinosaurs and mammals, meteorites, and the incredibly beautiful collection of Blaschka Glass Flowers.

Café Pamplona
This campus-adjacent classic is one of Cambridge’s most storied eateries; Pamplona is a tribute to its late owner’s memories of her native Spain. Wait staff dress in a sleek uniform and provide entertaining conversation, lending the café a uniquely conscientious atmosphere. Its menu centers around specialty coffees and intricate desserts, though grilled Cuban sandwiches and flavorful soups are also popular with Harvard regulars.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Located in: Cambridge

List Visual Arts Center
The LVAC is the city’s most famous modern art museum, specializing in installation art and multimedia presentations. The institution, housed in an iconic I.M. Pei facility, serves as MIT’s foremost champion of funding for the arts. Permanent collections center on more traditional forms of artistic expression and include paintings by Pablo Picasso, while exhibitions like the constant Media Test Wall screen experimental projects to eager passers-by.

Hungry Mother
A Cambridge favorite, Hungry Mother garners accolades for its down home, family dinner atmosphere and its innovative whiskey cocktails. The menu runs the gamut of Southern fare and includes generous plates of $4 appetizers. Indulge in fried oysters, mushroom gnocchi, pork shoulder, and brown sugar ice cream, and enjoy the campy atmosphere and free logo buttons.

Northeastern University

Located in: Boston, Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood

Fenway Park
Fenway Park may be an obvious choice of a landmark, but its hallowed grounds are one of the most enduring and legendary icons in all of sports. It is, in fact, the oldest stadium in major league baseball. Fans should plan their college visits around game attendance, but everyone can enjoy the park’s historic splendors. A knowledgeable staff offers regular, inexpensive tours of the stadium that focus on landmarks, Red Sox lore, and preservation.

Sorellina
This Back Bay establishment is a local favorite for fancy meals, offering updated iterations of regional Italian classics and a sizeable list of complimentary wines. Entrees tend to be budget-breaking, but diners are eager to sing their praises in spite of the cost. One specialty that won’t break the bank is a plate of Truffle Oil French Fries, perfect for a light meal or a late evening snack.

Tufts University

Located in: Medford/Somerville

New England Aquarium
Boston’s waterfront preservation society operates a series of permanent exhibitions, an IMAX theatre, and an adjacent whale watch. Its main draw is its atrium, which contains a massive cylindrical tank designed to approximate a Caribbean coral reef. The tank houses a slew of species, including sharks, turtles, and colorful reef-dwelling fish, and its base perimeter is home to a few varieties of penguin. Younger visitors will especially enjoy the “Edge of the Sea” tide pool, a touch tank dedicated to New England coastal life.

Tu y Yo
Authentic Mexican cuisine is hard to come by in New England, but Tu y Yo’s fresh fare comes surprisingly close to the real thing. Adventurous diners can sample such delicacies as grasshoppers and frog legs, while others might want to stick to tacos and the infamously delicious sangria. Most patrons say the drink is deceptively strong, so it might serve as an enticement to try some odder menu staples.

Your first entrance exam comes early…are you smart enough to find the best hotel deals in Boston?  Click here for hotel savings anywhere, anytime.

6. The Specialist, 1994

b>IMDB Tagline: “The government taught him to kill. Now he’s using his skills to help a woman seek revenge against the Miami underworld.”

Post-roid Stallone stars as Ray Quick, a CIA explosives expert tasked with the impossibly awesome feat of blowing up a drug lord. His partner in the operation, portrayed by wily James Woods, undermines Ray by going through with the mission after the pair discover a little girl in the drug lord’s car. The little girl explodes, disillusioning poor Ray, who leaves the agency for freelance work in sunny Miami. He remedies his former partner’s ills by never making a mistake when blowing people up for money. Seriously. Look at how localized and precise this explosion is:

Along the line, he meets the severely wronged Sharon Stone, whose character is unfortunately named May. May’s parents were murdered by a Miami drug lord and, as deus would have it, James Woods happens to be working for the very same drug lord. Ray and May fall in love whilst trying to bring down the baddies, there’s a bit of a double cross, and in the end they manage to exact vengeance on that bastard James Woods.

Bonus: reportedly inspired Interpol’s kick-ass song of the same name.

Reenact Your Favorite Moments: It’s bound to be fairly tame, since drug lords are really the only dudes you can explode without fear of legal reproach. Now, don’t get any ideas, because you’re not an expert, and Dimebag Dan down the street is not on any federal want lists. Either you can sit by the Venetian Pool stroking a tennis racket, or you can take a more active, altruistic approach:

Ride around on public transportation, “taking out the trash” Sly-style. The city of Miami will either thank you or incarcerate you, depending on your character and salesmanship.

5. Striptease, 1996

IMDB Tagline: “Some People Get Into Trouble No Matter What They WEAR.”

This movie sucks. In its defense (sort of), it’s reportedly less-than-faithfully adapted from a wildly successful comedic novel, dumbed down for the movie-going audience. Fortunately, it’s peppered with sleaze and Burt Reynolds, who plays a corrupt and murderous politician. Demi Moore plays a troubled heroine, who, despite her steady job and government salary somehow loses custody of her child (portrayed by biological daughter Rumer Willis) to her wheelchair thief ex-husband. That isn’t a strange euphemism; the guy actually steals wheelchairs and sells them, kind of like Bubbles and shopping carts on “Trailer Park Boys.”

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

And, finally, Exhibit C:

To get her kid back from that guy, Moore’s character takes a job at a strip club with the unbelievably evocative moniker “Eager Beaver.” Because this is a Miami B-movie, she finds herself embroiled in a far-reaching political scandal, albeit a very sexy one. Eventually, you know, she gets her daughter back and our mustachioed friend Burt heads to the big house. Ah, justice.

Reenact your favorite moments: Well, obviously, go to a strip club. For entertainment’s sake, make it one with an absurd name. Popular choices in Miami city limits include the Booby Trap, the Pink Pony, and, apparently, Yoekris Reminders, whatever the hell that means.

4. True Lies, 1994

IMDB Tagline: “When he said I do, he never said what he did.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger possesses an unparalleled ability to insert himself into the American idiom, despite his super-thick Austrian accent. Our public will buy him in any patriotic role, including CIA agent and governor. Here, Arnold’s at his most glorious, a secret “Omega Sector” agent married to Jamie Lee Curtis and tangoing with Tia Carrere whilst simultaneously saving the country from evil dentist terrorists, as shown below:

Over the film’s course, our Arnold dispels the threats of Kazakh nuclear warheads, a Palestinian terrorist faction, a wife-stealing chancer played by Bill Paxton, and a sexy but morally bankrupt villainess played by Carrere. The whole mess climaxes in sunny Miami, where Arnold and a military cohort must thwart a terrorist convoy and save Jamie Lee from hostage-hood. As the film’s trailer suggests, all of this action is rooted in lighthearted, familiar comedy of domesticity:

American Arnold may be a super-spy, but his greatest challenge is keeping the spice in his marriage. You get the idea.

Reenact your favorite moments: Unless you’re a billionaire, it’s unlikely you’ll get access to a Harrier to fly through Miami. Why not rent a car and take a ride on the Overseas Highway? As its name suggests, it’s comprised of bridges, and it’s sure to conjure the explosive imagery of True Lies. Plus, it takes you to the Keys.

3. Married to the Mob, 1988

IMDB Tagline: “It’s the Godfather on laughing gas.”

This movie may reek of New York, but its most memorable scenes are wholly Miami. Like when a bereft Mercedes Ruehl blindly shoots up a South Beach hotel room, half-aiming for her estranged husband. While it’s nominally about Michelle Pfeiffer’s mob widow and Matthew Modine’s wussy FBI agent, Ruehl’s Connie is by far the best part. She effectively de-balls her mob boss husband, wrings the shit out of a carton of eggs, and frightens Pfeiffer at every turn. That’s why it’s so brilliant when she shows up, frizzed and fuming, in the pastel 80’s hotel suite where she believes Pfeiffer’s sleeping with her hubs.

Genius. Look at how nuts she is:

Of course, Connie is ultimately sort of unsung. Pfeiffer’s Angela gets all the credit for bringing down the mafia, as well as the new boyfriend with the safe government job.

Reenact your favorite moments: Leave the firearms home and take your mistress to a South Beach boutique hotel. If she’s game and you’re a mob boss, you guys will probably have a good time. Be sure to buy her some expensive jewelry, take your sartorial cues from 1988, and hire David Byrne to score the whole affair.

2. Wild Things, 1998

IMDB Tagline: “Sie würden für ihr Leben gern mit dir spielen! (No Risk, No Fun)”

We’ll never know why the tagline is in German, but consider it a prelude to this movie’s general strangeness. It’s impossible to enumerate the plot twists in a movie that is, essentially, about plot twists. Well, plot twists and threesomes. Suffice it to say that Denise Richards is pretty evil, Neve Campbell is really evil, Matt Dillon is also really evil, and Kevin Bacon is an idiot. If ill-conceived and convoluted plot twists aren’t really your bag, you might still enjoy the movie’s…ahem, visually stimulating qualities. Check out the trailer:

It’s a South Florida classic for paying lip service to swamp-dwellers, and its girls-in-pool scene will live on in raunchy countdown shows for eternity. Plus, there’s plenty of murdering, so it’s never boring.

Reenact your favorite moments: Make a pilgrimage to the filming location, the school with the creepiest name in history, Ransom Everglades. Or, if you don’t want to be arrested for loitering around an educational institution, charter a really awesome yachtand pretend to poison your friends as you sail into the sunset.

1. Miami Blues, 1990

IMDB Tagline: “Real badge. Real gun. Fake cop.”

Words fail this movie and its sheer awesomeness. For starters, this piece of cinematic genius features Alec Baldwin as the vaguest anti-hero ever committed to screen and Jennifer Jason Leigh as, uh, a really nice prostitute. Over the course of the film, Baldwin’s Fred Frenger (that name!) inexplicably fells Hare Krishna, enacts cop-like justice on a would-be attacker, and pretends to Robin-Hooding only to steal women’s purses. All of this action is in the name of avowed self-service, as the trailer will tell you:

The trailer doesn’t really get at how gory and sick this movie (at its best) actually is. Fortunately for the internet audience, this clip contains a lot of violence:

If you’re not clear on the essence or direction of Alec’s character, that’s really okay. It doesn’t seem like the film’s writers were, either. And really, aren’t the scariest villains the ones we just can’t understand?

Reenact your favorite moments: Head to Miami Twice to pick out a good vintage psycho outfit, preferably in suited pastels and with a matching pair of aviators. After you’ve done this, it’s best to walk around purposefully with a briefcase grinning at people. Bonus points for renting an 80’s sports car.

If you plan to visit Miami to reenact (or perhaps film) your own B-movie, be sure to save on your hotel by booking online at Hotels Cheap.

Tourists arrive via JFK, LaGuardia or Newark airports and typically like to flock to Manhattan, which only seems like it has a monopoly on tourist attractions. But these are the best ways to get the full New York City experience. Don’t worry, we won’t send you to Staten Island.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

The Promenade is the perfect introduction to the city’s most picturesque borough. Enterprising pedestrians can cross the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan on foot, walk the promenade, and hit up nearby restaurants and bars on Smith and Henry streets. The promenade is one-stop shopping for all your tourist needs, offering Brooklyn’s best vista of the Manhattan skyline and a foray into the borough’s characteristic brownstone neighborhoods. What’s more, visitors can now catch the Waterfalls installation, a public arts display featuring 100-foot cascades into the East River.

Brooklyn Brewery, Williamsburg

Beer drinkers should be especially keen to brave Brooklyn, if only to head straight to the source for the best microbrews in the city. The Brooklyn Brewery is an ideal weekend destination, hosting several free tours every Saturday afternoon and $4 brews at Friday happy hour. A visit entails sampling a huge range of brews, from the basic Brown Ale and Lager to the heat-packing Monster Ale and Local 1. To make the most of your $4, give the refreshing Pennant Ale a shot. While not the most intensely alcoholic of Brooklyn’s brews, it’s the most user-friendly.

Peter Luger Steakhouse, Williamsburg

Peter Luger’s Williamsburg location is the oldest and most trusted steakhouse in town; its slogan boldly states that it’s been “famous for over 100 years.” This means, of course, that the forces behind Peter Luger’s have had a century to perfect their signature steak sauce and meat selection process. The result of their toil is a highly specialized eatery, offering little in selection besides steak and beefsteak tomatoes, both prepared in the same sauce. It’s not the restaurant to choose if you’re in the mood for Shrimp Alfredo, but for steak lovers it’s Valhalla. Bring plenty of cash, as Luger’s doesn’t take any credit except their own Peter Luger card, and be sure to enjoy a pre-steak aperitif from their “gentleman’s bar.”

The Bronx

Yankee Stadium and the Yankee Tavern

Regardless of geographic affiliations, every sports fan needs to genuflect at the ill-fated Cathedral of Baseball before it’s demolished. For a thorough Yanks experience, head around the corner to the busy 161st street for deep-fried deliciousness at the Yankee Tavern. Around since 1923, this “Original Sports Bar” serves the best pre-game meal in the Bronx. Be prepared to get cozy with the Yanks-faithful, as the tight seating in the bar’s dining room results in some interesting conversation. Think about it this way: the Tavern’s website tells us that back in the day, “the Babe was known for coming in and buying a round of drinks for the house.” He’d want you to have a beer with your neighbors.

Arthur Avenue, Belmont

Compared to its trendy Manhattanite cousin, Arthur Avenue’s Italian enclave is quiet and traditional. Many of its inhabitants advertise it dutifully as “the Real Little Italy.” The neighborhood, housed in the Fordham area of the Bronx, offers its visitors a wealth of available delis, bakeries, and restaurants, as well as the odd pasta maker and pork store. It’s worth the ride on the D train to grab a parmigiana hero from a deli or to sit down for a complete pasta dinner. The wisest of visitors will eschew restaurant dessert menus in favor of a bakery cannoli, packaged in the time-honored manner with a red and white string.

Queens

Jacob Riis Park

The most resort-like escape within the city’s confines is Riis, Robert Moses’ preeminent contribution to the city parks system. The Rockaway oceanfront is easily accessible by subway and bus or, more interestingly, by water taxi from lower Manhattan’s Wall Street. Head to Riis for a basic beach day or a game of Pitch and Putt and soak up the democratizing spirit; the park derives its name from photographer Jacob Riis, famous for his portraits of New York’s underclass. The park’s founders aimed to create a beautiful space for the city’s packed populations, and tourists can capitalize as well.

The Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria

Though it’s currently undergoing major expansion and renovation, Queens’ most specialized museum still affords its visitors insight into cinematic production process and sponsors several film events throughout the city. The completed edifice promises to be one of the city’s premier exhibition spaces, housing an amphitheater and several screening rooms. Currently, the museum hosts a thorough “Behind the Screen” exhibition, schooling patrons in all aspects of film from sound editing to wig application. It’s a must for students and curious audiences alike.

No matter where you decide to stay, click here for unbeatable deals on hotels in New York or anywhere.

Flushing’s Chinatown

The ride to the endpoint of the rickety 7 train is one of the city’s longest, but Flushing’s Asian enclave is worth the schlep. It’s home to New York’s best Chinese food and discount shopping. Be prepared for some adventure on Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue; the neighborhood, at some turns, resembles a real far-Eastern city and many restaurant menus are printed entirely in Chinese. Point to the grainy picture that most resembles pan-fried noodles and you won’t be disappointed.

No matter where you decide to stay, click here for unbeatable hotel deals in the New York area or anywhere.

The State House

Perhaps the city’s most recognizable edifice, the State House’s iconic gold dome was originally a wood and copper construction, plated by Paul Revere. It’s the actual home base of Massachusetts’ state government, but it’s also an architectural and artistic curiosity. Visit the war murals and the House of Representatives chambers for the diplomatic experience. And, for a bit of folkloric Massachusetts kitsch, pay a visit to the Sacred Cod, an immense hanging monument to the state’s fishing industry that was famously stolen by Harvard practical jokers in 1933.

Old South Meeting House

Boston’s erstwhile largest building is now dwarfed by skyscrapers, but its Revolutionary significance makes it one of the city’s most oft-visited landmarks. In its heyday, it was both a Puritan house of worship and a patriot congregation, most famously playing host to the planning of the Boston Tea Party. It now functions as a museum, housing a permanent “Voices of Protest” exhibition that charts the building’s various contributions to the American narrative.

Faneuil Hall

“The Cradle of Liberty,” an infamous meeting place and English-style market, is one of the most popular stops on the Freedom Trail. It now functions as a hybrid of a market and a mall, one in a series of shopping destinations alongside Quincy Market and the North and South Markets. Besides its distinctive façade and pilasters, its most recognizable feature is its grasshopper weather vane. According to popular lore, revolutionaries used the vane as a symbol to indicate loyalties; if a soldier couldn’t identify what was atop Faneuil Hall, he was deemed an enemy spy.

Paul Revere House

The only private dwelling on the Freedom Trail is also its oldest site, existing in downtown Boston since 1680. The house was already something of a relic when patriot Paul Revere moved into it in 1770. A charming contrast to its surrounding apartment towers, the house has operated as a parsonage, a candy store, a cigar factory, and currently as a museum. Among the house’s holdings are accounts and depictions of Revere’s famous Midnight Ride, one of the folkloric gems of the Revolutionary War era.

The Old North Church

A logical next step following the Revere house, the Old North Church is one of the key monuments of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride. It’s the site of the famed “one if by land, two if by sea” signal system, the origin of the Revolutionary message relay. Now Boston’s oldest active church and a National Historic Landmark, the church hosts a gallery of its Colonial-era mementos that includes the original Revere lantern. Also, it regularly produces beautiful music for the whole North End to enjoy thanks to its eight change ringing bells, utilized by MIT’s Guild of Bell Ringers.

Bunker Hill Monument

This granite obelisk is a victim of misnaming, residing atop Breed’s Hill rather than Bunker. Likewise, its namesake epic battle, the first major skirmish of the Revolutionary era, also took place on Breed’s Hill. The obelisk is one of Boston’s most recognizable icons, poised atop roughly three hundred steps and memorializing, in particular, a local doctor and freemason who died in the battle. The site also houses a statue of Colonel William Prescott, one of Boston’s most famous Revolutionary heroes.

Find guaranteed lowest rates and maximum availability on hotels at Hotels Cheap.

The American Airlines Center

This massive Victory Park edifice is home to the NHL’s Dallas Stars, Arena Football club the Dallas Desperados, and most notably the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Its grounds include an open-air plaza with an immense HD screen for game and movie viewing, and in its off season it hosts countless performers on their arena tours.

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame

Absorb some local flavor by browsing this museum’s various inductees. Among the chosen ones are bull riders, calf ropers, steer wrestlers, rodeo clowns, and even the odd cowgirl. Other exhibits showcase covered wagons and Justin boots, and visitors can pose for a costumed, Old West-style saloon photo in the Jersey Lilly Photo Parlor.

Cowboy Stadium

You already know how you feel about the Dallas Cowboys, but your trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to their new iconic arena. Come see what $1.8 billion can buy these days…hint: seating for 100,000, large video screens, and a sophisticated retractable roof. See the Cowboys in action or catch an off-season event.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

The former Ameriquest Field is a design hodgepodge, compiling architectural elements of Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Camden Yards, and Ebbets Field. “The Ballpark” is set to have a new Arlington neighbor in the new Cowboys’ Stadium, so sports fans will be able to visit both of metro Dallas’ favorite venues in one trip.

Ten Sports Grill

Dallas’ most famous sports bar is a haunt for many local athletes; patrons have gotten pictures with the likes of Steve Nash and Charles Barkley. The bar’s especially close to the American Airlines Center, so it’s a good choice for a pre- or post- game brew. If you don’t have tickets for an event, it’s an ideal venue for spectatorship: the bar boasts ten HD TVs, large projection screen, and free in-booth speakers for audible play-by-plays.

Okay sports fans, you can appreciate a winner.  Check out Hotels Cheap for the best hotel deals in Dallas and around  the world.

Washington D.C.’s political epicenter and beloved museums draw major crowds, but comparatively few tourists venture into the city’s residential areas. The following neighborhoods are District locals’ favorites, guaranteed to impart authentic D.C. to the eager visitor.

Capitol Hill

The Capitol Building is one of the District’s main draws, offering constant guided tours and the occasional high-profile meet and greet. Informed visitors will take in the Capitol and decamp to its surrounding residential area, one of DC’s liveliest neighborhoods. Capitol Hill is one of the city’s most beautiful sections, especially in cherry blossom season, and it’s unbeatable for weekend brunch and browsing.

Best Attraction: Eastern Market, which operates as both Flea and Farmers’ markets on weekends, is a vestige of vintage consumer culture in a modern urban center. Vendors offer homegrown produce, arts and crafts, and assorted antique wares to the local weekend brunch crowd.

Best Bar: The Pour House is cheap and friendly, a favorite of young Hill staffers. Happy hour specials are particularly enticing; the bar offers $3 draughts and $5 appetizers every weekday. It’s a truly inexpensive local and up to date sports bar, housing countless HD TVs and screening games from across the Northeast.

Best Restaurant: Tunnicliff’s Tavern is a regular burger joint during lunch and dinner hours, but its weekend brunch is Capitol Hill’s best. Order a seafood-themed dish, like the salmon platter or Eggs Chesapeake, and Tunnicliff’s won’t disappoint.

Chinatown

DC’s Chinatown is a popular stop for sports fans—after all, the adjacent Gallery Place is the home of the Verizon Center, where Georgetown’s Hoyas and the Washington Wizards play their home games. Though Chinatown is only a few blocks in area, its restaurants are guaranteed authentic and its bars are some of the city’s best.

Best Attraction: The National Portrait Gallery, housed in the Old Patent Office Building, showcases one of the Smithsonian’s most comprehensive collections. Its permanent exhibitions include Presidential portraiture, a performing arts component, and a gallery of sports champions, and it features temporary installations devoted to pop-culture figures.

Best Bar: RFD, which stands for Regional Food and Drink, boasts DC’s most overwhelming beer list. Your humble narrator enjoyed a Brooklyn Monster Ale, a Lagunitas IPA, an Avery IPA, a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, and a Rogue Imperial IPA on one particular visit.

Best Restaurant: Of Chinatown’s expected abundance of Chinese eateries, Eat First is the best deal. It’s an especially good choice for tourists, since its menu appears in English and its staff is notably friendly. Its finest dishes include seafood specialties and Roast Duck, all excellent despite its takeout-like aesthetic.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle’s eclectic residences house the city’s best mix of inhabitants. Its cafes are beloved of professors and students, while its bars tend to draw hordes of young professionals. Thanks to a recent influx of young residents, Dupont Circle is no longer just a transportation center and traffic hazard. It’s best to hit up the area in the evening before heading to nearby Adams Morgan for late-night entertainment.

Best Attraction: Though the area serves as the city’s primary nightlife and dining hub, there is some DC museum culture to be had. The Phillips Collection, a smallish space housing an extensive private collection, is one of the District’s hidden gems. Its Impressionist and modern holdings include Renoir’s famous “Luncheon of the Boating Party.”

Best Bars: The Big Hunt is a popular happy-hour melting pot for the city’s many universities, as it offers the neighborhood’s cheapest selection of decent draughts and bar food. Fox and Hounds Lounge is famous for its heavy pours, sometimes giving patrons a full glass of liquor with a chaser of soda on the side. It’s a great bar, but you’ve been warned.

Best Restaurant: Pizzeria Paradiso puts some odd ingredients on its gourmet personal pizzas, but the results are usually outstanding. Go for the culinary specialties and stay to quaff some brews; Paradiso famously offers a wide range of beers that includes Rogue ales and Delirium.

Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan is where the District goes to party and bar-hop into the early hours; a wise old sage once described it to me as “amateur night.” However, beneath its midnight gloss of drunken collar-poppers, the area has a lot to offer its visitors. Tourists regularly flock to the Zoo, though they should be just as eager to explore the Morgan’s wide variety of ethnic cuisines.

Best Attraction: The National Zoo, the home of infamous baby panda and internet superstar Tai Shan, is the area’s most popular tourist spot. It’s extensive, free, and a great way to spend an active afternoon.

Best Bars: 18th street between Columbia Road and U Street is the District’s busiest alcohol-soused drag. The Pharmacy Bar is D.C.’s consummate dive and has the best jukebox in the world. Chief Ike’s Mambo Room, off the beaten path on Columbia Road, is a slightly larger space and hosts the occasional open mic.

Best Restaurants: Mixtec, on the busy corner of 18th and Columbia, has the city’s best nachos and margaritas. The Reef, a slightly pricier option on 18th street, has wild-caught seafood and other eco-friendly fare.

Georgetown

Georgetown, D.C.’s most upscale ‘hood’, houses more than just its namesake university, your humble narrator’s alma mater. GU’s distinctive Healy clock tower looms over a busy waterfront shopping district, an abundance of student-friendly pubs, and blocks of walkable cobblestone streets lined with colorful row houses.

Best Attraction: Shopping. M street’s storefronts and the Shops at Georgetown Park are primarily budget-breaking, but some of the smaller consignment shops offer some relative bargains.

Best Bars: The Tombs, Georgetown’s real life St. Elmo’s, is the University’s favorite establishment for pitchers and study snacks. Rhino Bar, an M street staple, is the neighborhood’s best place to watch a game.

Best Restaurant: The Sequoia is a large waterfront eatery that specializes in intricate seafood dishes. It’s a favorite stop for families visiting the University as well as a haunt for wealthy G-town locals.

Click here when looking for a hotel in D.C.’s neighborhood, or any neighborhood.

First and foremost, book your hotels at Hotels Cheap to guarantee the best online rates and availability!

GasBuddy, which may be the most popular gas price site on the web, offers user-reported gas prices for all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Search by zip code or city and state to zero in on the cheapest prices. The site draws data from 181 local sites for major metropolitan areas, but GasBuddy’s popularity—about 750,000 price spotters—suggests that even rural users will be able to find cheap local gas.

A WAP version—a stripped-down version of the site designed for use on mobile phones—was recently launched at GasBuddyToGo.com. Sign up for SMS updates of lowest local prices by sending your zip code or city and state in a message to gas@gasbuddy.com. Location-based widget bundle WHERE also includes a mobile version of GasBuddy. (Check with your cell service provider for usage costs.) 2) Gaspricewatch.com

Like GasBuddy, GasPriceWatch.com relies on info from volunteer price spotters—about 167,000 spotters keeping an eye on around 130,000 gas stations. Gaspricewatch says that they get 3 million unique page views a month from around 700,000 users. Either click on the map (powered by Google Maps) or enter the address to drill down to the cheapest local prices. A mobile version is bundled with the GetMobio mobile app package (free to download; use with your mobile internet service). 3) EHow’s Car Maintenance pages & Carbibles.com

Taking better care of your car means better gas mileage. You don’t need to pour Evian in the coolant reservoir, but keeping on top of regular maintenance can mean major savings over time. Check out EHow’s guides to basic car care; just be sure to cross reference it. Anybody can write these things, after all. Use carbibles.com to double-check—it’s a master reference of how cars work written by a single author.

4) Gas widget for Macs

This simple, free Dashboard widget displays the lowest gas price in your zip code with info drawn from gaspricewatch.com. Click the number at the upper right of the widget to scroll through local options. Double click the station address to Google Map it. In addition, the widget offers a calculator we haven’t seen anywhere else. Input your gas tank size, average MPG, and how full your tank is; the calculator will tell you the number of miles you can travel on your current fill, as well as value you’re getting compared with the national average (check the star gauge on the right). Visit developer Jason Barry’s page for more info. 5) Gas Alert Savings widget for Mac & PC
Image source: http://l.yimg.com/static.widgets.yahoo.com/shots/42018-shot.jpg

There seems to be a bevy of broken Yahoo! widgets for gas savings last time we checked, but this widget from Automotive.com delivers the goods. During testing on our Mac it took a bit of finagling to get the exact lowest prices displaying, but it did work. You’ll need to install the Yahoo! widget dock and keep it enabled to use it. 6) Political Calculations’ calculators

Blog Political Calculations specializes in analyzing the economy for John Q. Netizen and creating hands-on web tools that save money. Three of Political Calculations’s calculators should cumulatively offer you a goldmine of gas savings. You’re welcome.
Should you move closer to work to save on commuting costs?
Should you trade in your gas guzzler?
How to save money on gas without driving less (Hint: drive slower) 7) FuelFrog.com

Are you one of those people who keeps a notebook in your glove compartment, logging each fill and calculating fluctuations in MPG? We thought not. FuelFrog.com lets you track your fuel economy over time with Twitter. After fueling up, pull out your cell phone and tweet the number of miles you traveled on your last tank, the current price per gallon, and the number of gallons. It beats that sticky Hannah Montana pen and notebook you swiped from your kid. Cleanmpg.com

If you’re handy underneath the hood and committed to saving money on as a lifestyle, you need to know about cleanmpg.com. An active and activist user community discusses hypermiling—the practice of maximizing the gas mileage of a car—and proudly shows off modded cars. 9) Gassavers.org

A community committed to ultra gas savings by any means—wearing ice vests instead of using AC?—gassavers.org doesn’t boast as sleek a design as Cleanmpg, but it’s equally serious about results. If you can roll with the self-proclaimed Right Lane Rollers, join their fantasy football-style fuel economy challenge. 10) IndexCreditCards.com

If you’re savvy about their use and read all of the fine print, gas company credit cards can help take the sting out of gas prices with cash back and frequent buyer rewards. Pundits warn that you might not be saving as much as you think you are, so check IndexCreditCards.com for a detailed, if somewhat plainwrap, listing of cards and their benefits. 11) Traffic.com

Idling in traffic wastes gas—check out this MSN piece if you doubt it—and who loves traffic anyway? The aptly named Traffic.com details local potentially-jam-causing events like concerts, sporting events and roadwork and helps you plan a low stress route. If you frequently drive a certain route, you can map it and request SMS alerts when backups occur. 12) Bedandbreakfast.com & BBOnline.com

Planning a romantic getaway? B&Bs across the country are giving away free gas to stir up business. Check either of the sites above for details—most of the inns require a minimum two-night stay to get the deal. 13) MobileTraffic.tv

Toronto-based MobileTraffic.tv uses your WAP-enabled phone and traffic cameras to let you see conditions along your route. Launched in May of 2008, the newborn site has limited offerings outside of major metropolitan areas, but plans on expanding rapidly. 14) Edmunds.com: “We Test the Tips”

Still fresh after three years, this article from November 2005 tests the most common “facts” on driving tips that save gas. You’ll be surprised at their finding on the windows down vs. AC conundrum. Overall verdict: drive safely and take care of your car. 15) Fueleconomy.gov

The feds, via the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, have created this master site for maximizing your fuel efficiency. Compare vehicles if you’re pondering a new set of wheels, read up on alternate energy and check out tips for making the most of your gasoline dollar. 16) EPA’s consumer site

A listing of eco-friendly car studies, the EPA’s site for consumers includes fuel economy studies and emissions data from the 1980s to the present. Along with consumer friendly fact sheets, you’ll find serious reports for the green policy wonk. 17) Car Talk’s Guide to Better Fuel Economy

The web is full of dubious info on how to up your MPG, so why not consult someone who actually knows cars? Tom and Ray Magliozzi, also known as Click and Clack, are two entertaining brothers who write the column “Car Talk” and host an NPR show. Their tips, illustrated with colorful cartoons, puncture myths and offer a few chuckles.

If you are interested in saving money on gas, surely you are interested in saving money on hotel rooms.  Book here to find the best deals. ]]> http://www.hotelscheap.org/discount-travel-blog/misc/17-great-web-sites-for-saving-money-on-gas/feed/ 0 http://www.hotelscheap.org/discount-travel-blog/misc/the-10-worst-hotel-reviews-of-all-time/ http://www.hotelscheap.org/discount-travel-blog/misc/the-10-worst-hotel-reviews-of-all-time/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:19:31 +0000 Courtney http://www.hotelscheap.org/discount-travel-blog/?p=1289 You might be better off at the Bates Motel or a roach motel than one of these horrors. Below are some of the funniest and most horrifying hotel experiences we’ve found around the Web. (Note: reviews have been edited for grammar and spelling.)

1) “Yours Is A Very Bad Hotel”
The DoubleTree…

Free Weekday Fun

Rock & Roll Karaoke at Arlene’s Grocery, Lower East Side

Arlene’s Monday night program is a far cry from your usual barroom belter. In fact, it involves a live band whose repertoire ranges from Oasis to Dio with some karaoke classics thrown in for good measure. Since you don’t have to pay at the door, you might be enticed to buy a few extra beers and subject the crowd to your interpretation of “Teenage Kicks.” It’s a good idea so long as you’re prepared to sell it. The event’s website plainly states that the band takes its “performing’ responsibilities seriously,” which means that participants should do the same. This reporter’s holding out until the band learns some Morrissey.

River Flicks at Hudson River Park, West Side

2008 is River Flicks’ Summer of Music. The free-of-charge film series hosts rock pastiches and movie musicals on Wednesday evenings, screening the likes of Purple Rain and Saturday Night Fever. If Prince and Travolta don’t entice you to visit the far West Side, there’s always the Friday Kid Flicks series at Pier 46. The latter notably features E.T. and the Goonies, and both events offer free popcorn. What’s more, the series screen the films in the out-of-doors, so viewers can enjoy their park environs to the fullest.

The Best Dive Bars

The Continental, East Village

The geniuses behind Manhattan’s most straightforward dive self-promote with a top 10 list of “Reasons to drink at the Continental.” The two best reasons, as any of their patrons would agree, are their never-ending deal of five shots for $10 and the fact that Iggy Pop drank there. Pretty enticing stuff, especially considering that their prices never rise above $5 a drink and they’ve been known to offer $1.50 PBRs. Located right around the corner from busy St. Mark’s (and some top-notch cheap falafel), the Continental is the perfect end to your night.

The Trash Bar, Williamsburg

The Trash Bar is friendly and limitlessly charming, especially if you enjoy Pabst, free tater tots, and the occasional game of Big Buck Hunter. Its happy hours are an unbeatable deal, offering two-for-one draughts and wells in addition to blessed PBR. Plus, if you’re there for the nightly live music in the bar’s back room, you’ll also enjoy an open bar from 8 to 9pm. Trash is an anchor of cheap in an increasingly pricey neighborhood. Of course, if we’re being open and honest, you’ll admit that you were sold at “free tater tots.”

Cheap Food in Manhattan

Dojo, Nolita

Although this once-glorious establishment lost its East Village location over numerous health code violations, its NYU-adjacent site still embraces the cheap. Its extensive menu of Japanese-inspired and vegetarian-friendly items is ideal fare for the perpetually broke, namely those who can’t be arsed over NYC’s standards of cleanliness. It’s a testament to Dojo that the only menu items over the $10 price point are pitchers of draught beer, and most meals will run you around $5. Though these facts may do little to whet your appetite, rest assured that the food is always unique and delicious. The cold tofu, soy burger, and Dojo Dressing make for one of the best lunches in town.

Gray’s Papaya, West Side

Gray’s is home to the Recession Special: $3.50 for two hot dogs and a drink. The popular chain has 3 West Side locations, all offering exceptional non-alcoholic fruit beverages like piña coladas and coconut champagne. Gray’s hot dogs inspire doglike devotion in some omnivorous New Yorkers, and because of their frequent pop culture mentions have become a tourist favorite. And, to sway the politically-minded hot dog-eater, the Times reports that Gray’s Papaya has endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Free Live Music

McCarren Park Pool Parties, Greenpoint

This storied series is in its last summer at McCarren Park, though hosts JellyNYC hope to move it to another location. Regardless, it’s worth experiencing the parties in their proper pool before the city renovates and repurposes the venue. This year’s festivities include dodgeball tournaments, Brooklyn Brewery kiosks, and an impressive list of participating bands. If you act quickly, you can still catch the Liars, King Khan and the Shrines, the Black Lips, and MGMT.

Summer Stage, Central Park

Hosting several major events each week, the Summer Stage is the most fruitful of free concert series. This summer’s epic set includes Jill Scott, Wyclef Jean, the National, Battles, and Sharon Jones, whose band the Dap Kings are also Amy Winehouse’s erstwhile backers. Unlike some of the city’s more niche-specific events, the Summer Stage and the City Parks Foundation aim to present a broad range of musicians to their “global city.” They also offer the city’s greenest, most bucolic setting in which to witness rock & roll. Visitors will want to peruse Central Park’s lake and Bethesda Fountain before heading to Rumsey Playfield for their choice show.

Now, click here if you are looking for cheap hotel rooms around Manhattan in Chelsea, Times Square, Theater District, Washington Square, Midtown or Upper West Side.

1) SideStep – Once upon a time, Sidestep was a PC-only downloadable app that trawled the web for the best airfares. It was worth the custom application annoyance because it really did find the best deals. Today, Sidestep.com is a sleek, ultra-customizable travel search engine that can index results by dozens of variables. Want to search a few nearby airports, but not all? Or leave in the late afternoon and return in the morning? You can even specify whether you want to sort times by takeoff time or by arrival time. Sidestep auto-sorts and live updates results with the click of a checkbox. In our tests today versus Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, Sidestep still finds the best fares out there. Incidentally, writers at CNN.com, VroomVroomVroom’s Geek Travel Guide and Travel + Leisure all agree with us.

2) Google Maps – Aside from its tie-ins to the entire Google application suite and its ever-increasing map, satellite and street view coverage, the Google Maps/Google Earth network is so thorough that it’s led to domestic lawsuits and censorship by foreign militaries. Recently the site has added click-and-drag route adjustments and terrain views of maps—avoid winding mountain roads—and Google is adding features rapidly. You can download Google Maps for your web-enabled phone for free; carrier usage fees still apply.

3) Farecast – Farecast.com predicts the best dates to buy airfares based on past price trends, but has limited national coverage, and all of its data is U.S. only. In our test of a Labor Day weekend trip from Los Angeles to Des Moines, no predictions were offered, but it recommended to go ahead and buy tickets now (April) for LAX to Boston’s Logan airport for the same dates. Also, the site found some super cheap fares for both trips.

4) SeatGuru – Seatguru.com offers seating charts for more than 300 different aircraft on 45 airlines. If you’re bigger than the average person, hate crying babies, need to have the aisle seat or hate sitting near the wings since you’re always convinced they’re going to fall off, this is your go-to site.

5) Kayak – Travel + Leisure magazine calls Kayak.com the top site overall for booking hotels. Book at more hotels around the world (159,000) than even Hotels.com (70,000) with Kayak’s simple, sleek interface. Some like Kayak for airfares too, but we got the best rates with Sidestep—see #1.

6) Traffic.com – Traffic.com covers 51 metropolitan (i.e. traffic-prone) areas across the U.S. with 0 to 10 jam ratings on local trouble spots. Get warnings about traffic-creating events like concerts, sporting events and natural disasters and sign up for custom SMS, email or cell phone call alerts for traffic flare-ups. There’s also a mobile version.

7) GasBuddy.com – GasBuddy.com finds the best local gas prices in all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Select your state or province, then major metropolitan area, then city, and view a chart of user-reported prices from high to low. Since the prices are user-reported, there’s less data for sparsely populated areas, but with gas prices on the rise, the site has been gaining popularity. The site’s cluttered interface could be cleaned up a bit, but it’s serviceable.

Airport Discount Parking – AirportDiscountParking.com’s name says it all. No more circling the lot and hedging your bets. Make reservations—often at a discount over on-site prices—and print coupons to wield at the parking booth.

9-11) Parking Lot Maps – One of the greatest variables in traveling to a new spot is the parking. Will it be more like San Francisco, with $40 a day structures, or like the Midwest, with wide, bare boulevards? Three sites aim at easing the parking pain by mapping parking lots and structures—SpotScout (U.S.), Findacarpark (Australia), and Parkatmyhouse (the U.K.).

12) Trip Advisor – Scout out the best lodgings with user reviews at TripAdvisor.com. Popular properties can attract dozens of review, and it takes some time to learn to distinguish the cranky reviewers who can’t be pleased by anything from the genuinely helpful. Nonetheless, it’s a huge and active user community with plenty to share. (Check out some of the funniest, most negative hotel stays ever here.)

13) Vroom Vroom Vroom – Vroomvroomvroom.com compares car rental prices from major agencies in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Incidentally, Kiplinger.com recommends that Americans rent from major American companies when overseas—it seems to run more smoothly for everyone, they say.

14) Avoid Airport Delays – The recent grounding of planes for wiring inspections only highlights the growing problem of flight delays. Fight the power with Avoiddelays.com, a site from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association aimed at reporting delayed flights and shaming the most frequently offending airports and airlines. Avoiddelays is powered by FlightStats.com, which offers alerts for delayed flights at selected American airports.

15) Last Minute Hotel Reservations - For a spur of the moment getaway, laterooms.com lists last minute deals at hotels and resorts around the world. Availability varies wildly, but hey, you should have thought of that before you put your planning off to the last minute. For a posh whirlwind getaway, also check LuxuryLink.com—some LuxuryLink users have reported savings of up to 70 percent, according to Kiplinger.

16) Track Mileage Expenses – Despite its rather plain-wrap website, BizMileTracker is a major-league, IRS-approved way to quickly compute miles traveled for business. They say they’ve worked with Canon and Ask.com, among others. Currently, they’re offering free memberships but they usually charge $29. If you drive a lot, you’ll save far more than the $29 membership fee in tax deductions.

17) Save on Currency Exchange – Skip the chintzy, touristy currency exchange kiosks that rip you off—Thomas Cook, are you listening? XE.com is an industrial-strength foreign currency conversion rate site. If you travel with a web-enabled device and are scrupulous about getting the best rates, check XE.com frequently. Also check out the New York Times’s advice on saving when exchanging.

18) Travel Light – Written and illustrated like a folksy textbook with tips for the “compleat traveler,” Onebag.com advertises itself as “the art and science of traveling light.” Although Australia-based, the site aims at an international audience with its universal advice.

19) Create Holiday Checklists – Create customized packing lists at British “holiday checklist service” Dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com. Sign up for custom reminder texts—“Did you water the azealas?”—and print and save packing lists customized by your destination and type of trip. Apparently, it works—the site earned the #7 spot on CNN International’s Top Websites of 2007.

20-22) Make Your Phone a GPS Device – Turn your PDA phone into a GPS device with Telenav.com or 3dTracking.net. No longer restricted to the Nextel network, Telenav charges a $9.99 monthly fee (last we checked) for turn-by-turn navigation on a smartphone screen. 3dtracking offers software that monitors the movements of a GPS-enabled phone—perfect for parents keeping an eye on wandering kids. The first device software install is free; adding additional phones requires a fee. Nextel or Boost Mobile users can also check out Accutracking.com.

23) Make the Most of Your Miles – Got frequent flyer miles with multiple airlines or programs, but not enough to actually take a trip? WebFlyer.com aims to translate, transfer or rearrange those useless points into something usable. The site also boasts “the world’s most popular message board for frequent flyers.”

24) Find a Cheap Cruise – Looking to sail away? At CruiseCompete, travel agents vie for cruise package sales in a LendingTree-style setup that has earned plenty of accolades. Both experienced and newbie cruisers can commune on Cruisemates.com, the cruise lifestyle central, or at Cruisecritic.com, which offers a friendly interface. Neither Cruisecritic or Cruisemates is a booking site, but both sites do link to bargain berths around the web.

25) Find a Hostel – If you’re finally ready to bum across Europe—or across the world—reserve cheapie lodgings at Hostelbook.com. Search and book over 9,000 hostels at the site, or use the Facebook Hostels application powered by Hostelbook. Whether you’re bound for sketchy cots or cushy twin bunks, you’re on your way to cheap digs.

 
and 26) Hotel Booking - Of course, for ensuring the very best rates and availability on your next hotel booking, visit Hotels Cheap. 

Mobile/WAP sites for major airlines

Got a smartphone? Check your flight status, check in, and even use your smartphone as a ticket. The airline sites below will hook you up.

American Airlines
WAP site
Voice, text or email flight status updates
Download timetables

Continental
WAP site
Download timetables

Delta
WAP site (same as main site)

Southwest Airlines
WAP site
Email, text or page flight status messages
Download timetables

United Airlines
WAP site
Download timetables
Text, page, phone or email flight status

US Airways
WAP site
Enroll in flight status SMS updates

Virgin America
WAP site (same as main site)

Virgin Atlantic
WAP site (same as main site)

This was actually a welcome change for some travelers as they then felt that the travel agent was on their side, working to get them the best price and not to give themselves the biggest commission possible. This may be partially true, but not every industry has stopped giving travel agents a commission.

Automobile rental companies, hotels, cruise lines, and other travel agencies still routinely pay agents a commission. This means that you may not be getting the best deal for all of your travel plans through your travel agent. If something seems a bit pricey to you, you may want to check online or call a few competitors directly to make sure you’re getting the best price possible. Use the Internet to your advantage.

It’s not coincidence the travel industry encourages consumers to take it easy and let them make your travel plans for you, but you don’t have to fall for this ploy. As with almost everything in life, being educated and informed will leave you in a better position in the long run.

No, travel agents are not necessary in this new information age.  Take matters into your own hands to guarantee the lowest hotel rates…click here.

(cc: photo credit: travelstar)

A Norwegian cruise ship carrying 300 passengers of varying nationalities hit a glacier over the weekend in the Antarctic region. The MS Fram, which sails for the Hurtigruten cruise line, suffered a power outage of about 45 minutes and this meant the ship drifted into a glacier. The collision was relatively gentle and only a railing and one lifeboat were damaged, and all the passengers were unharmed – if a little nervous.

The good news for the passengers on the MS Fram was that after the power was restored and the ship moved safely away from the glacier, the captain announced that free drinks were available for everyone. The ship returned to anchor in an area free of ice, west of King George Island, and all passengers remained on board.

Hopefully 2008 will bring better luck to cruise ship passengers hoping to enjoy an incident-free journey – perhaps it would be nice to find more ships that throw in free drinks without having a crash first!

Looking for a hotel around your next cruise vacation?  Check out the great rates and availability on hotels here.

(cc: photo credit: RV Bob)

Here’s a summary of the bad news for travelers in the coming year:

1. There’ll be more so-called “convenience fees” (for example, paying an extra fee to ensure that the specific type of rental car you want will be available).
2. There’ll be more energy surcharges – after all, it’s not the travel company’s fault that you’re damaging the environment by traveling.
3. Rental car prices will rise.
4. Road traffic problems in the United States will worsen (Elliott suggests using trains).
5. Cruise costs will increase as cruise companies start charging more often for “extras” that used to be “included”.
6. Hotel room costs in the United States will rise – because there are too many travelers and not quite enough rooms.
7. Airlines will treat customers even worse – despite the pending introduction of a passengers bill of rights in the United States.
8. More travel company, airline and hotel mergers will reduce competition and make things worse for travelers.

Ugh, sounds like a headache.  Relax, relieve your stress, book cheap hotel rooms at Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: baguiobizz)

They say that hotel trends will include:

1. Better websites from hotels to gain customers directly off their sites, rather than through third-party bookers
2. More boutique hotels will open in “bohemian neighborhoods”
3. Hip lounges will replace old-fashioned lobbies
4. More wellness activities will be available, including yoga and diet coaching
5. Learning activities will be offered to guests, like cooking classes or culturally-related excursions

And in restaurants, they say trends will include:

1. An increase in the use of Australian ingredients, especially olive oil, honey and seafood
2. Cupcakes will be the new nostalgic dessert
3. Green behaviors like biodegradable tableware and eco-friendly cleaning products will be used more
4. Unisex bathrooms are taking over from separate male and female bathrooms
5. Organic foods and house-made syrups and preserves will be popular
6. Gastro-pubs will stock a longer list of exotic beers and winelists will go beyond the standard varieties to more unpronounceable kinds of wine from Europe, including Austria and Hungary

For the best rates and availability on hotels around the world, visit Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: taylorkoa22)