How to score the VIP treatment while on the road
When Nicole Hockin holiday in Rome at the end, it breaks at the front of the safety line, jump in a private car from the airport and a free night in her hotel when she arrives.
Hockin is not an entrepreneur or a high powered VIP fortunate. Travel blogger Denver is a member of ClearMe, which for $ 179 per year allows members to go through a separate, shorter route to the airport security in Denver and Orlando – and nearly 10 other cities. She is also a member of hotels.com 'loyalty program that allows members welcomerewards win a free night at 60,000 hotels worldwide.
Hockin as simply supported, e-mailing her hotel in Rome and ask for a private car to pick her and her husband to the airport for 50 euros – about the same amount they would pay for the train then a taxi for the hotel.
In these days of price escalation tickets, baggage fees, the cost of the station and nailed on supplements rental cars, it's not easy for travelers to feel the love VIPs.
But as Hockin proves it is possible to put yourself in the driver's seat in what has become a seller's market. A little perseverance and a friendly smile can help.
Deals in the Program demandLoyalty can give passengers more legroom and updates on planes, two for one deals at hotels and VIP cocktail cruise lines. But if you look around, you will find a number of other services that wish to continue chatting all types of travelers.
For example, travelers call the shots at iStopOver.com, a holiday resort. new feature of the site called "WiseAsk" lets ask the people in detail what they want in a vacation rental – such as ". Paris, April, $ 600, 2 bedrooms, bringing my dog and you want pillows "These requirements are then sent to thousands of owners who bid on your business.
Martha Gillette Fayetteville, Ga., has booked his vacation this month using another site, Yuupon.com. She said she hung a deal – $ 255 for a three-day stay at the chic Sandestin Resort in Destin Beach, Fla. But unlike other discount travel sites such as Priceline and Hotwire, Yuupon allows buyers to see exactly which hotel they get, and they can even change your mind. Travelers can cancel, save the vouchers for up to one year or to transfer them to family and friends.
When Gillette was told that the rain was expected during his planned trip, she asked if she could change Yuupon their dates arrive three days earlier. They agreed.
"This is a rare, rare thing to be able to do what I did," said Gillette.
More from TODAY.com
Send your kids to summer camps extreme thesis
TODAY Contributing correspond Sara Haines shares some fun, and extreme Nontraditional camps your kids will love, and Parents magazine's Dana Point Offers Some Advice on Choosing The Right camp.
Reading, writing, rage: Are teachers going too far? Celeb chef Eric Ripert's dishes are pal Anthony Bourdain, hunger-striker weirdest foodMexican gets trip to Royal weddingHow time fries: potatoes outlived Have Their Potential?
And me? Another startup, The MeNetwork meets the needs of travelers by allowing them to apply with their cellphones and send their bids to the request by text message. The passenger in one of 30 cities can send a text message with keywords like "door in Las Vegas" or "Omaha happy hour" for the number "63638." The MeNetwork then sends an offer like 20 percent of their dinner in a restaurant bill or two for a drink in a bar.
Disney also give customers more VIP treatment with an online booking system now in the works that will allow you to reserve time people go to theme parks in the house.
Even Delta Air Lines passengers gives more say in what it takes to get them to agree to be struck in a crowded airplane. The company owns Priceline-style online auctions in which passengers say how much money they take to be hit by a flight. They bid on their own computers or to an air terminal, and the airline starts with the lowest bidder, and give the winners "Delta Dollars" – vouchers for future flights.
Business Traveler Dave Maney find its own way to avoid being struck by an airline – not to mention to avoid paying the costs of baggage – his recent trip between Boston and New York. He jumped from the airplane part.
Instead of booking a flight from $ 200, he went online to buy a ticket from $ 15 to ride the BoltBus. Taking the bus, he got more legroom and Wi-Fi Internet connection, and the trip took the same amount of time as a flight without the hassle of going through security pending the plane and catch a taxi to the hotel.
"I would not say it's for everybody," said Maney. "But it was much better than air travel."
Story: A Guide to Being bumped (or not)
Let yourself wooedWhen it is housing, many hotels are always ready to seduce customers, even if demand is increasing for hotel reservations. Extras like gourmet breakfasts free spa treatments for $ 50 or cocktail hour may actually come with your stay, "said Gabe Saglie, editor of Travelzoo.com, which publishes travel deals and local. "It's about looking beyond the price of the room."
Story: Hotel Improves rats rebounding economy have
In many hotels, concierges often the key to better service for its regular customers pay. They can have free tickets for museums and shows and first-hand knowledge about discounts for restaurants and large, "said Hockin.
Hockin asked concierge to arrange for taxis to be in the corner for her and a bottle of wine and after a half-dozen cupcakes to her room upon arrival. Several times, she even told her how to pay the daily "resort charge" usually tacked on $ 15 a bill on departure.
"That the superintendent be your best friend and know the staff," said Hockin.
Video: Learn the secrets of luxury hotel concierges
Other benefits can be had for travelers who ask. If you stay in one of IHG hotels 4000, they will pay for your baggage fees. Kimpton Hotels offers massages in the room and facials, and upon request, will even lend you a goldfish in your room at night.
At the Hotel Benjamin in New York, the "sleep concierge" set you up with a massage bed, a white noise machine, eye mask, lavender and a turn-down menu of 12 pillows, y including the magnetic therapy pillow and the pillow of water. The hotel guarantees you a good night sleep or you get one night free.
The pillows are good for a huge success Megan Chandler, an Indianapolis TV executive who sleeps badly and moves twice a month for work. She stayed there – with a memory foam pillow – every time she visits New York. With a bit of tipping the hotel staff now knows his name and the front desk manager has even set his cell phone to her.
"Choose a hotel you like and get a loyal customer," said Chandler.
It's A Snap!
Check out the latest photos from msnbc.com readers and vote for your favorite. When you're done, upload your own vacation shots. Find us on Facebook
When Chandler travel elsewhere, it is often called a hotel and ask them to beat the prices of their competitors. "When I want a better deal, I ask a sales manager instead of calling the 1-800 number," she said.
Travelers can also get more attention – and larger discounts – on vacation outside of a city-season or staying on a weekend in a hotel in a business district, said Saglie.
"With thinner crowds, you get more attention," he said.
Checking in your room later in the day can also increase your chances of a free upgrade to a bigger room, "said Saglie. Often, no-show means more rooms are available, and just being friendly can go a long way.
"I have gotten upgrades simply because I'm beautiful and I ask you," said Saglie. "It's unbelievable, but it makes a difference."
© 2011 msnbc.com. Reprints
More Source:
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/funcubei/public_html/travel-feed.com/wp-content/themes/travel-feed/functions.php on line 22
Related News:
- Finding healthy food for children while driving
- Prevent theft while traveling by plane
- Finding healthy food for the children while traveling
- Finding healthy meals for children while traveling
- What do you do if you are arrested while volunteering abroad
- Such as VIP treatment assessed while on the road
- How to score a VIP treatment while on the road
- How To Score VIP treatment while on the road
- How to evaluate a VIP treatment while on the road
- Working with depression while volunteering abroad
Details :
Submited at Sunday, April 24th, 2011 at 1:00 am on Deals by ethan
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback