Hyatt Hotels Corp. laid off the entire housekeeping staffs at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Hyatt Regency Boston,  and Hyatt Harborside Hotel on August 31 after shift completion. They cited the “challenging economic conditions” as why they cut long term employees and replaced them with workers from an outside staffing firm. The replacement workers are paid about half as much as the dismissed workers. The outsource firm is from Georgia so this hurts the local economy even further as it sends money away instead of keeping it there. They save some of their own money, send money to Georgia and then they probably won’t have a problem complaining to the city of Boston about a pothole or such. This happens in all industries but other hotel brands, including Hilton and Marriott, said they have not outsourced their housekeepers and have no plans to do so at this time. For now, we have a choice on which business practices we should support.

Housekeeping is critical to a hotel. Especially higher end brands that cater to business and luxury minded customers. A recent stay of mine at a Del Mar California hotel was impacted by housekeeping and their disregard for personal property and signage. Why does a company facing less revenue decide that cutting service and responsibility is a way to counter the problem? If you have a problem, you should be able to go to the front desk and have it dealt with promptly and responsibly. With outsourcing, who is responsible if something happens to your business laptop? A third party from another state is involved who may not know who exactly cleaned room 202. The staffing company’s brand is not on the line with the public. Hyatt’s brand is on the line. The hotel brand owns the public face of staff that it may not be able to control or know enough about. They may not know the names or the background checks of the people they are entrusting keys to every room of their customers. I expect that from a $49 motel on Daytona Beach, not $300 a night Hyatt Hotels.

When I trust myself and business property to a hotel, I want responsibility. I want to feel like the staff is compensated to live more than one rung away from living on the street. $8 an hour in a costly city like Boston with no benefits is not to the standard that I think of when I’m paying Hyatt $300 a night. How about you? Should we outsource our business to another brand that appreciates it’s employees and believes in shared sacrifice?

This of course, all ties into many other things going on in the economy. Hyatt is no longer responsible for benefits such as health care either since these are now employees of someone else. 100 people lose income and all forms of benefits and insurance. The replacement workers will have no benefits, no health care, no insurance or retirement. This continuing cycle of the upper crust ripping off and pushing down the middle and lower class has an end game. It’s when people can no longer afford any of the crap that the uppers are selling for their crazy profits. The shell game in which everyone moves money around and the corporations keep skimming it off the top eventually crumbles when the shell has nothing left but empty space under it. Eventually a company will have no customers left and no one will be able to afford to buy into their stock market cons any longer. I just hope people wake up before it’s too late.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles through 2009. The deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions.

It is for new buys after Feb. 17, 2009 and the deduction is limited to the tax on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of an eligible motor vehicle. So it may not cover the entire price of a big new RV but it certainly helps quite a bit. The deduction is phased out for joint filers with modified adjusted gross income between $250,000 and $260,000 and other taxpayers with modified AGI between $125,000 and $135,000.

And please note that you can then take advantage of some great energy credits and improve your RV with solar power as well. Solar credits are up to 30% on Federal now.  I installed solar on my RV a few years ago and haven’t needed the generator since. Plus it means you don’t always need such an expensive campsite and can save more money on camping fees.

If you are planning a weekend trip, the tips below will help you save money:

1. Drive, don’t fly. When saving money is the first thing on your mind you need to consider how you will reach your destination. Driving as opposed to flying will save you several hundred dollars or more.

2. Don’t opt for the best of the best when it comes to lodging. For instance, if you are planning a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach you should stay away from ocean front hotels as they are most expensive. Instead, choose a building that is one street back and you will save yourself quite a bit of money.

3. Don’t eat out (or at least cut back on this expense.) Taking a family of four out to eat will easily cost an average of $40 to $50; and this is if you stay away from high class restaurants. If you do this six times over the course of a weekend you are going to spend roughly $300. When you compare this to buying food at a local store and cooking in your hotel you will see how big your savings can be. This is an example of why we have guides to finding health food stores or your favorites like Trader Joes, Whole Foods or even Wal-mart locations. You can still find your favorites as you travel.

Nobody knows when the economy will pick back up, or when Americans will begin to spend their money again. If you are worried about spending too much this summer, take a weekend vacation.

Does the economy have you down? Don’t worry you are not alone. Many folks are wondering how they are going to swing a fun get-away this summer for their family. If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of camping or even if you are a seasoned camper, this year is a great time to get outdoors for a vacation your whole family can enjoy. I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where camping was part of each summer and I have many fond memories of trips with my parents. My memories start out with camping in a tent, then eventually my parents bought a pop-up camper and even later in life moved on to a self-contained pull along camper. Things sure got more convenient and the sleeping arrangements certainly improved, so I thought my mother would be a great person to ask for tips to save money while camping. With more than 30 years of experience she came up with some of the following that might make your trip just a little easier and keep money in your wallet instead of the camp store.

Take your own wood

Now this might not be possible for everyone, but if you are camping relatively close to home and have the room having some of your own wood can save you big bucks versus paying for it at the campground. We normally traveled by truck and having some of the bigger pieces that keep a night fire going saved us considerable money.

Check your list twice when packing

If you have ever forgotten a necessary item and had to purchase it at the camp store you surely know how expensive it can be. Make sure when packing for your trip you consider all the things you might possibly need to cook, eat, bathe and protect yourself from elements such as the sun and insects. If you are camping at a campground that has public bathing houses you will need your own soap, shampoo, washcloths, towels and shower shoes. If you have kids and are going to have access to either a pool or lake make sure you have water shoes, swimming suits, sunscreen and safety gear for younger children.

Take advantage of travel memberships

When making reservations or arriving at a campground be sure to mention travel memberships such as AAA to see if you qualify for any discounts. Many campgrounds also offer memberships for seniors so if you or a traveling companion have AARP you may also be eligible for a discount.

Check your equipment before you head out on the road

Make sure you have everything you will need to set up camp whether traveling with a tent or camper. If you have propane tanks on your camper make sure they are full before leaving and also check to make sure all your lights are working. Check tires, chains and hoses to ensure your camper is safe for travel and everything is in working order for hook up upon arriving at the campground. There is nothing more frustrating and expensive than having to pay for costly repairs while on the road.

Be prepared to entertain yourself (this tip doesn’t save you money but is important nonetheless)

Sometimes mother nature can throw a wrench in the best plans. Be sure to pack something to entertain yourself if you find the weather is uncooperative for outdoor activities. This is especially true if you are traveling with children who can easily become miserable stuck inside a tent or camper for hours on end. If you are expecting to have access to electricity while camping do not assume it will be available all the time, so pack “traditional” things such as board games, playing cards or books in case the power goes out.

Clearly these are just a few tips for saving money while camping. Luckily camping is essentially a relatively cheap way to vacation in the first place but in an economy where every dollar counts it is important to save money where you can; making it easier to enjoy your vacation and the fun that comes with enjoying time with your family.

Trisha Wagner is a freelance writer for DepositAccounts.com where you can compare rates of deposit accounts from dozens of banks in one place. Trisha writes regularly on the topics of personal finance and saving accounts.

New Age Health Spa, Neversink, NY

They have some great package deals on their website right now. From returning guest deals to specials for bringing a friend.

New Life Hiking Spa at Inn of the Six Mountains, Killington, VT

One great price gets you a room, gourmet meals, a hiking program, exercise classes, use of all facilities and a massage or facial. You can also add on other services as you desire. They are open May to September as I suspect that hiking through deep snow in January isn’t a real treat.

The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, FL

They have some decent spa packages for Miami. And with some long massages for less than a $100, they are reasonable for any place.

Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa, Hana, HI

It’s not easy to find any kind of “value” in Hawaii but the deals here are the best we found with top notch levels of service and quality. They have packages ranging from for the individual to a complete dinner and spa evening in a couple’s own room.

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY

Set at a Victorian castle in a wonderful wooded natural landscape, a world class spa resides to offer some great values. Going back to 1869, Mohonk Mountain House has been offering renewal and rejuvenation to guests. Check their website for a absolutely incredible menu of options including Day Spa Packages if you can resist staying overnight.

Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL

Yes it is a Ritz-Carlton on the list of value spas. You may not have thought that is possible you say? I just assumed that they would be out of reach on price as well when I began reasearching this piece. But they have many full massages below and just above a $100. And as of this writing, you can get a Ritz-Carlton room, a choice of wonderful spa treatments and a luxurious spa robe to keep for just $324. Repeat that line again in your head, thinking of the normal cost of each of those items and you’ll see that it’s a pretty good deal.

Bookmark this page as I’ll keep updating it further as I dig for more deals on an ongoing basis. Please feel free to share any deals you find as well or if you have good or bad experiences with any of these.

Imagine a restaurant charging everyone for drinks and desert whether you wanted it or not. The steak is $30. For $5 more you can have it on a plate. Or maybe one that charges for silverware to eat your food. Sounds pretty outrageous doesn’t it?

Most of these extra hotel fees are hard to find ahead of time. Most of us compare room rates, online or over the phone, when we are planning a trip. These fees are not usually brought up by the hotel unless you ask. Or they are in fine print buried on a web page you probably won’t ever see. You may think you are getting a deal by $20 a night and wind up paying $50 more for your stay than another hotel on your short list. It’s a sneaky way for hotels to act competitive when they are not. Some blind offer type of travel websites are also dealing with problem. You accept the risk to take the lowest rate without knowing the name of the hotel and you are happy until checkout and get the bill. Sometimes it’s included in your end total and sometimes you’re just rudely surprised. They may as well add, “and don’t ever come back!”

Here is a recent example of planning a business trip near a convention. Both hotels were within walking distance of the convention center.

A Marriott brand:

• Room rate: $329
• Parking: $15
• Internet access: free
• Breakfast: free

Pre-tax total around: $344

A Hilton brand:

• Room rate: $319
• Parking: $21
• Internet access: $10.95
• Breakfast on your own, room service or restaurant: estimate $10-15

Pre-tax total around: $361

If you just went by the big bold room rates that came up in searches, and made your decision on price alone, you would have paid $17 more for the one that you thought was $10 less. If it was a hotel that had a resort fee, the difference could have been another $25 or more.

Hotel Resort Fees

This is one of the worst and most costly fees that hotels have levied onto their guests. The more expensive the hotel is, the more this fee tends to be as well. These fees crept into the marketplace before Sept 2001 and then mostly disappeared afterward when travel and business went down. Then they slowly became more common again, adding fees for other things as well.

Sometimes they don’t tell you what the resort fee is for and other times they produce a whole list of things like the pool, the newspaper, in room coffee, fitness centers, maybe free local calls or just the ability to use your own calling card without a surcharge. With cell phones today, the profit on in-room phones has probably plummeted.

In my opinion, these should be optional or ala carte. If you don’t use the pool, the fitness center and all the other stuff they list, then you should be able to refuse that charge. “I want the bed only rate.”

Parking Fees

This is considered normal in most larger cities or downtown areas. I can understand valet charges but self parking is only a few dollars less at many places. So instead of just charging a nightly rate and including a place to park, they charge you another $20 for it. We won’t even get into why hotels never include directions on how to get into the parking garage on their websites. Half the time, the garage is on some side street around the hotel. Mix in a few one-ways and no left turns and you’ve taken an extra ten minute tour of the area. They probably want you to get stuck in the valet line first and not have a choice. “Oh, I don’t want to wait a half hour for the car, let’s just eat in the hotel lobby restaurant.”

Internet Access

Internet access in hotels should be nearing the concept of the color television. It should be a free amenity in a hotel room. But it’s not. Unless you see the word free with it, there is probably a charge for it. If you see “internet available”, it’s a charge. Hotels are sneaky too in how they list it as a room amenity leading you to think it’s free. You don’t know the fee until you arrive. Hilton is an example of this phrasing. When you see nominal charge, it’s at least $10. So for the average short hotel stay, you’ll pay more than your entire monthly internet bill at home. At the extreme, I was at a Sheraton in Germany that wanted $48 (after the euro-dollar exchange rate) for a night of internet access. It is still common to find hotels charging $10-20 for this access.

Tip: If you travel much, invest in a cell data card for your laptop. You’ll save money after a few hotel stays and have internet access in all airports and hotels without fees. Or maybe a group of employees can share one for various trips to reduce the cost.

Hidden Revenue

In many places, taxes are different on the room rate than on all these surcharges. They may even have their parking garage under some other little company name paying a lower tax rate than the big brand name. These tricks can hurt the local and state economy as well. We’ve seen hotels even charge $5 for their fancy new TVs, again not something you can refuse and it’s not listed in the room rate that attracted you.

How to find the fees

The room rate is about the only thing that is commonly shown. The big travel websites don’t show the fees and to be fair, in many cases it’s because they don’t know about them. You can try to inspect the official website, which we link to directly (no other travel website does this) but you still can’t always find the information. We could put a long list here of hotel websites that charge fees but don’t show it on their website. For example, we know there is a parking fee for hotels in San Francisco or New York City but we wish you luck in finding it on most of their websites. The hotels just don’t want to put a $30 parking fee or a $12 internet access fee in plain view on their beautiful website.

When you ask about fees, try to be as general as possible. If you ask about resort fees, they may say no. Later you find out it is a “facilities fee.”

Complain Loudly

Most people do not complain. They pay the bill and then complain to everyone they know and on online review websites like TripAdvisor. The hotel loses potential customers and gets a bad reputation in numerous small circles. If you do complain, you may be able to get the charges removed from your bill.

What kind of crazy fees have you seen in your travels? Let us know and name the places here.

Sign up for clubs

Although they have more information about you, the various club cards will get you some perks as you gamble and stay in the hotels. Keep in mind that Las Vegas is dominated by a couple of corporate groups – MGM Mirage and Harrah’s. Each of the cards covers their various properties. These two companies own most of the Las Vegas Strip.

Stay at the hotel

Hotels may offer special packages combing shows with a room at their hotel. Or it may be a dinner and show package.

The half-price show offices

There are two companies that offer half-price and discount tickets to certain shows in Las Vegas. Locations open around 11am. You’ll see the crowds. Don’t expect the hottest shows to be on sale here but we have seen some pretty big name shows on occasion. They may throw a few tickets to these places for the advertising factor in being listed. You get the show in your head even though the tickets are already gone and then you go buy the higher priced ones.

One company is at the Coke Bottle by the MGM Grand.

The other company has four locations on the Strip: by the Riviera, in front of the Fashion Show Mall, inside the Four Queens Casino on Fremont Street and by the outdoor Hawaiian Market.

Practice your disciplinary skills

If you are willing to sit through a Time Share pitch, have patience and nerves of steel, there are booths that will give you show tickets for listening. If you walk around a few of the casinos, you’re bound to be approached by them. They are very aggressive and may even get abusive if you don’t give in to what they propose. Whatever you do, don’t give in and buy a time share. But if you’re tough, you can get free tickets out of it.

Walk around any hotel

You can kill quite a bit of time just walking around and exploring each of the monster hotel casinos in Las Vegas. Most all of the major hotels are within a 1.7 mile distance on the strip. You can walk (free) up and down the strip, take the monorail (moderate cost but also recommended) or a taxi (expensive).

Walk the malls and shops

Most of the time, this winds up costing you. But if you can walk shops without spending any money, it could be free! There are malls at Caesars, Planet Hollywood (formerly Alladin), Palazzo/Venetian and the Fashion Show Mall by Treasure Island and Wynn. There are also rows of shops at many of the hotels like the Bellagio and Wynn.

Watch out for pickpockets

Okay, these are not free. These can cost you big and ruin a vacation. But they usually frequent the spots where things are free. Always watch your bags and wallets closely. It’s best not to have anything in your back pockets or loose pockets when in crowds. Especially in down economy times.

The Mirage

Completely Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

All of these are free. Zero dollars. I have seen them all and they are all worth some time and a visit. A few of them are worth more than one visit depending on day or night as the experience is different.

Fountains at The Bellagio

• Fountain show in front of Bellagio. The schedule has changed a bit over time and doesn’t run nearly as often as in previous years. It generally runs every night after 7pm and in the afternoon on weekends. Viewpoints include out front on the sidewalk and from the nearby pedestrian bridge.
• Botanical Conservatory in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Glass art on ceiling in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Fountain show in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Statues come to life.
• Aquarium in Forum Shops at Caesars. Fed by a diver twice in the afternoon.
• Live trapeze and high wire acts all afternoon and evening at Circus Circus.
• Laser light show on Fremont Street overhead canopy starting at 8pm.
• Browse the lights and old Las Vegas signs on Fremont Street. Lots of free street entertainment as well.
• The monorail between Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay is free.
• Free wildlife habitat at the Flamingo.
• Free aquarium at the Golden Nugget.
• Outdoor Carnival Court at Harrah’s has music and entertainment nightly.
• Lion habitat at the MGM Grand from 11am – 11pm.
• CBS Television City Research Center. Watch and review tv shows.
• Free volcano show outside in front of the Mirage.
• Times Square Bar has Dueling Pianos show. No cover but if you don’t want to even buy one drink you can see or listen from outside the bar as well.
• Free aerial show at the Rio.
• Siren show outside in front of Treasure Island. Four shows nightly, every 90 minutes from 7pm to 11:30pm.

Say no to extras

All of the waivers, insurance, extra options and special flower print paint job can add $30 a day to a rental. Some times these fees come close to the listed price of the rental itself. If you have your own auto insurance, you shouldn’t need any of these profit margin balloon items. Your credit card may also offer special coverage on auto rentals. Just make sure of what you have ahead of time. If you don’t have any of your own coverage, you may want to pay the ridiculous prices for these items.

Shop a few companies

You can divide prices into two categories. Those at the airport or the terminal and those that are away from the airport. You’ll save substantial money by leaving the airport. Just make sure to weigh in the factor of time and transportation to the rental place for your decision. Prices do vary among the rental companies. Be careful to see the final price. They often lure you in with one price while the final price is much higher with a bunch of hidden fees. AllStays does have car rental options when you book online and we have the same rates as the likes of Travelocity but it’s still best to shop around. We won’t say we always have the best rate. No one does all the time no matter what they may claim.

Check your memberships and benefits

Auto clubs (AAA), groups (AARP), store clubs (Costco, Sams Club), credit cards, your workplace all may have special deals with a car rental company. It’s worthwhile to check them out. If you still get some bills by mail, look through the junk they pile in there for car rental coupons and set them aside. I remember that I used to get a lot of them before switching to online statements.

Fill up the tank

This has always been a good way to overcharge you. If the rental company has to fill it up, they charge a premium for gas. Gas is already high enough without paying more for it. Look for the nearest gas station to the car rental office on your way out. Or use your GPS device to find it. Or take a moment to use online services like Gas Buddy or Google Maps during your trip. The closer you are to the return point, the more full the tank is upon return. Don’t fill it up twenty miles from the return point because you will pay for that gas again.

Follow the rules and fine print

Sympathy and leniency have gone downhill like the economy. Return the car on time and not a minute late to avoid fees and penalties. The companies would be thrilled to charge you for another day and have the car back  an hour late to rent it right out again.

Photo by helmet13 (Flickr)

1. Plan ahead
   Crucial. Only people in movies buy tickets as soon as they arrive at the airport. Here, in the real world, we plan months ahead. I’ve known people to book two years in advance.
2. Shop around
   It goes hand in hand with planning ahead. Don’t just stay loyal to one brand of airline or hotel, venture out to see which company provides the best rates.
3. Budget planning
   Decide how much you have to spend, and stick to your budget.
4. Get a hotel with a kitchen
   Who says you can’t cook on vacation?
5. Ask for discounts
   Sometimes, you’ll get a better price just because you asked.
6. Check out free things to do
   The internet is a wellspring of knowledge. Look up a calendar of events in your destination, and find what’s free or cheap, and blend in with the locals.
7. Share costs with others
   Go on a vacation with your family or friends, and rent a house together. It may be cheaper that way.
8. Stay in a hostel
   Whether backpacking through Europe, or spending a weekend in St. Louis, there’s plenty of hostels that accept out of town tourists on the cheap.
9. Buy a guidebook
   Instead of paying for a travel guide, buy or borrow a book about your destination, and beat out your own path, but make sure you don’t go it alone. Always travel in pairs, with a spouse, or a friend.
10. Pay in cash
    This works every time. There’s something intoxicating about credit cards, it gives us a false sense of security. Use only cash, or travelers cheques preferably, when on vacation to control spending.
11. Rent a car
    Instead of using taxis everywhere you go, a rental car is an inexpensive option that provides you with the most flexibility.
12. Stay at hotels that offer breakfast
    It’s one meal that you don’t have to pay for, which is a great deal!
13. Fly in to a different airport
    Sometimes choosing an airport that’s 20 minutes further away makes $100 difference on your airplane ticket. Once again, comparison shop for the best deals.
14. Drive to your destination
    Instead of flying, driving is a great alternative. Especially if the location is within a day’s trip. Comparing the cost of the car and gas to plane tickets may be worth the travel exhaustion. Plus, you get a chance to sight see.
15. Pack snacks
    It’s tempting to buy candy and other junk food while traveling, but resist the urge, and bring your own. Conceivably, you won’t be traveling to your local Wal-Mart whenever you’re vacationing, so make sure to stock up before you go.

I know these tips have helped me save a lot of money. What are some of your favorite tips? Leave me a comment to let me know!