How star ratings work
It is very rare for people to select a hotel without looking at the star rating that it comes with – and no doubt you will do exactly the same. But do you know how star ratings in spa hotels work? In simple terms, hotel star ratings are given to an establishment in order for guests to be able to measure the value and overall quality of the hotel and all its facilities.
In Britain, star ratings tend to range from one star, which is the lowest rating, to five stars, which is the highest. If a hotel is given a one star rating, this normally means that the hotel is not luxurious but still provides a basic standard of service. It will also represent the hotel’s facilities, including eating options and staff service. As you will have already guessed, a two star hotel is one up from the lowest ranked, is standard, and will generally provide an eatery within the establishment and will have staff that are on hand to serve you meals. Three stars, however, are given when the establishments really start picking up a gear and are classed as comfortable places to stay. The staff at the hotels will generally be smartly dressed and the food will also be known to be of good quality. The restaurant part of the hotel will also be open to residents and non residents. Four and five star hotels are exactly how you would expect. Four star hotels offer a real sense of luxury and all the staff are very professional. They also tend to be uniformed and are on hand to provide a first class personal service. A four star hotel will also have top of the range facilities and eating options will be of the very highest standard. Five star hotels tend to go that little bit further, if that is possible, and they provide accommodation of the very highest luxury. They ooze class and have plenty of top quality public areas dotted all around. They also tend to have award-winning dining facilities and an extensive menu and wine list, as well as going that little bit further when it comes to facilities – some have a multilingual service available for instance. The personal service for guests also tends to be exceptional, with many guests often greeted at the entrance at five star hotels. In many instances, they will also have their luggage carried for them and will also be able to receive room service.
There are also a number of other factors that are taken into account when deciding what star rating a hotel should receive. Little things such as the general size of the hotel and rooms, the décor, furnishings, and the location of the establishment, all play a part in the process, as does the proximity of the establishment to local amenities and attractions such as beaches, shops and restaurants. Technology also has a big impact upon star ratings. Hotels with Wi-Fi and Cable TV, for instance, will always score higher.
Knowing how star ratings are decided is vitally important and will ultimately help you make an informed decision when it next comes to you selecting somewhere to stay.
Read MoreTop tips for lowering the costs of your holiday
One of the biggest single expenses of the year is the annual family holiday. Costs look set to rise now that passenger duty is increasing by another 8% and hotel rates are up by 4% compared to 2010. This makes it all the more important to cut unnecessary holiday costs and to make your holiday budget stretch as far as possible.
Read MoreFlying with young children
Photo by Neleman/Getty
Flying is bad enough these days without having young children in tow. If you want your own family holidays to go smoothly, follow our simple, hard-earned tips.
Read MoreInternational Golf Travel Market coming to the Algarve in November 2012
The 15th International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), which is widely regarded as one of the main events on the golf industry calendar, will be held in the beautiful Algarvenext year. The event will take place between the 12th and 15th of November 2012 at Vilamoura.
At this year’s fair, which was held in Belek, Turkey, the Algarve region was chosen and announced precisely because it is one of the most beautiful and popular golfing regions in Europe.
Peter Grimster, the event organiser, was delighted with the choice, commenting: “Portugal has been at the heart of the golf tourism industry for the past three decades and it has become one of the best destinations in Europe. The quality of the golf courses and resorts is exceptional and we will have all of the necessary logistics to organise a truly fantastic event.”
The event is the perfect chance for golfers to meet suppliers and media representatives of the sport in a golfing extravaganza. In what is an ever-popular region amongst golfers, the international event is set to provide an economic and touristic boost to golf in the Algarve region. Reed Travel Exhibitions is already gearing up to host another successful event next November after the success it enjoyed this year.
The Algarve Tourism Association was always confident in the region being announced as the venue for the event and has commented on the decision in a statement: “The region’s excellent infrastructures, with 250 square kilometres dedicated to golf and the luxury hotels, led to the Algarve being chosen as the host for this prestigious event.”
Golfers from around the world converge on the Algarve year upon year for some exciting and altogether rewarding rounds on the links. It is widely regarded as one of the top golf breaks destinations not only in Europe, but around the world, so next year’s event is set to be one to remember.
Image from BillGoff.com
Read MoreHow to Smoke on a Plane
It wasn’t that long ago that I was sitting in the back of a DC-9 flying from Miami to Newark choking on clouds of smoke. An hour before, Reagan had given one of his ‘super power’ speeches on a TV, barely visible through blue plumes in the bar. I was headed to basic training and I didn’t care how smoky it was. In a few short hours I wouldn’t be able to smoke for 8 weeks. Determined to get as much tar and nicotine into my system as possible before walking through the gates of hell, aka Fort Dix New Jersey, I puffed away with the best of them.
I can only imagine what it was like for non-smokers to be stuck on a plane filled with smoke. It is no wonder that smokers are looked down on these days. Like every other aspect of our lives, technology has caught up with smoking. Electronic cigarettes are becoming more and more popular every day. I see them in clubs, restaurants, airports and even airplanes. E-Smokers are not immune to the occasional sideways glance though. Mostly out of curiosity, but on occasion annoyance. The casual passerby would assume the person was smoking a regular cigarette.
How E-Cigarettes work
A look and feel similar to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes deliver a dose of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Unlike other stop smoking aids, you get a billowy cloud of smoke when exhaling; so it feels like you are smoking, not substituting. The cloud of smoke is actually harmless water vapor that has no odor to bother non smokers.
How to smoke on a plane
If you are going to draw attention to yourself, draw inquisitive over negative attention. Toy guns are not allowed on aircraft, not because they are dangerous but because they give the perception of danger. No one on the plane would care if you had a toy gun in your bag for your nephew’s birthday if they knew it was a toy. Take a toy gun out on a plane and wave it around and you have serious problems. Be very open with people around you on the plane with an electronic cigarette. Before using it ask the people next to you if they have ever seen one. Show them that it looks like a cigarette but is not. Always refer to it as a nicotine inhaler. Never use the word cigarette. Explain how it works. Make sure they understand that you may exhale a small amount of water vapor. The longer you hold it in the less vapor you exhale. Assure them there is no odor or second hand smoke.
What Electronic Cigarette is best
There several brands available. I decided since I had committed myself to quit smoking that I would try all the major brands. Blu came out on top. Based on price and quality, Blu leads the pack (pun intended). I found a couple brands that had a cheaper trial offer, but I didn’t care for them. The longer term price for refills was no bargain with the cheap trial offers. With Blu the price is 75% cheaper than smoking cigarettes; it is durable and looks better. I had the choice of white or black and chose black. Since I wanted to be able to use the electronic cigarette in places I couldn’t smoke, I opted for something that looks more like a pen than a cigarette to draw less attention to myself.
For anyone that travels and smokes or for anyone that wants to quit smoking or even if you don’t want to quit, I strongly recommended checking out Blu at www.Blucigs.com
Read MoreTravel Tip- Carry-on Luggage Allowances
Different cabin bag rules at the many airlines often makes it difficult for travelers to know what cabin bag size they may bring on the flight. At Carry-on luggage allowances you will find info about how big the maximum carry-on baggage may be at the listed airlines. the site tells you the exact height, weight and length for your cabin bag.
Most airlines limit the size of carry-ons to approximately 45 linear inches, meaning the largest bag you can carry onto a plane will be about 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Bags may also be limited by weight, but if you meet the size limitations, the weight should not be a problem. Most U.S. airlines allow a maximum of about 40 lbs. It’s a different story if you are traveling overseas, where the weight limits are much more strict.
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