Wyndham Rewards earned a reputation to deliver the best value among hotel rewards programs , but the good days are over, no more ice cream for you! After revolutionizing hotel award programs by introducing a flat reward rate of 15,000 points for a free night at any of their hotel or vacation rentals, Wyndham Rewards is now turning back time … Continue reading
Updated 2019: Jomtien is my favorite beach in the Pattaya area and if you are looking for a budget hotel right on the beach, the bbhouse is a great option. You get a modern and clean room, with a/c, fridge and a good shower with friendly service just steps from the beach and lots of restaurants, bars and shops. There … Continue reading
It has been a tough time for European airlines – after the bankruptcies of Air Berlin and Alitalia and the collapse of Monarch and Primera, another low-cost carrier has abruptly stopped operations, stranding thousands of passengers. German leisure airline Germania declared bankruptcy on Monday, halting all operations. Passengers who are booked on a flight as part of a tour package … Continue reading
Updated 2019: Ryan Air is the low-cost carrier everybody loves to hate: With fees for everything from boarding passes to seats and luggage. They’ve been in the news for horrendous name change fees and a CEO musing about fees for onboard toilet use, earning them a nasty reputation. I took a number of dirt cheap flights with Ryan Air in … Continue reading
I chose the Best Western Seehotel Frankenhorst near Schwerin as my final stop on a road trip along the Eastern Seaboard of Germany. The country-style rooms, lakeside setting and beautiful pool and wellness area look great online, but my stay was ruined by the lack of advertised air conditioning in a record-hot summer and atrocious service. The high price and … Continue reading
The last-minute hotel booking site HotelQuickly has gone under, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded without hotel rooms and with worthless vouchers instead of refunds. The company based in Singapore was a copy cat of successful hoteltonight, offering last minute hotel stays at low prices. Meta-search sites that compare hotel and flight bookings across hundreds of sites and focus only on … Continue reading
The Kindness Hotel Hualien offers large, modern rooms near the train station with friendly service. The included breakfast and dinner, as well as drinks and amenities like bike rentals and a laundry room, make it very good value. If you are planning a visit to the nearby Taroko Gorge, the Kindness Hotel Hualien is a great base for your stay, … Continue reading
The Country Inn & Suites Dixon is a road-side hotel of California’s I-80 from San Francisco to Sacramento. It offers a large, clean room in good condition. You get a solid breakfast, friendly service and good amenities, including a pool, gym and laundry room. I liked the thoughtful touches in the room that made it feel a little more upscale … Continue reading
WOW Air was one of the low-cost carriers that sparked the fare wars over the North Atlantic, with one-way fares as low as $69 one-way, forcing competitors to respond. From their base in Iceland, they were able to fly across the Atlantic with narrow-body planes, which made for cheap, if uncomfortable flights. Now, their local competitor Iceland Air responded and bought … Continue reading
Most Low-Cost-Carriers (LCC) limit the size and weight of our cabin bags and even full-service airlines have introduced “Basic Economy”, limiting you to hand-luggage. If you want to avoid those pesky checked bag fees, you’ll need a “Personal Item” that fits under the seat in front of you – you’ll need to pack light (read my tips to do it) … Continue reading