Traveling this season?

Here are a few tips and things to look out for while away from home.

Traveling for the holidays can be easier. Here are a few tips to help avoid a few of the headaches and roadblocks along the way to see friends and family.

Heading to the Airport

Hopefully you booked early, got a good rate and are traveling with some flexibility. If not, you'll be like most of us. You may have already checked in and printed out your boarding passes. Many airline websites let you do this at home. If not, try to find a kiosk at the airport to check in and avoid the lines. If you don't need to speak with airline personnel, don't sweat the lines. Try to use public transportation or get a ride to the airport. Parking lots tend to fill up quickly around the holiday travel season. To reduce the airport shuttle fare, see if you can leave your car closer to the airport, with a friend or even at your workplace.

The Transportation Security Administration provides expected wait times (http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov) for the security checkpoints at various airports. This does not include time for parking and airline check-in. The TSA also has an accepted lock list for your luggage. If you do not use one of these locks, you run the risk of your bag or lock being cut open by screeners. This is also the place where a sense of humor or temper has to be kept buried inside you. Any inappropriate jokes or statements are taken seriously and subject to both civil and criminal penalties, and could cause you to miss your flight.

Every morning, airports around the country start fresh with planes on the ground. The earlier your flight, the more likely it will be on time. Other airports and storms haven't had a chance to create havoc with your holiday. And if you are on the west coast, try to go even earlier. Remember that eastern airports have a head start on messing up your schedule.

Carrying with You

Plastic compression or space bags really do work. They compress your clothes down and let you carry more (and maybe unnecessary) items with you, as long as you don't leave a stray piece of metal or zipper hanging out to puncture it. Try to wear several layers of clothes once in the airport so you can take off or add something to be comfortable. Jonathan Stocker of AllStays (http://www.allstays.com) recommends carrying a calling card to avoid high priced pay phone and hotel charges. "Hotel and airport phone rates vary wildly so a calling card is the best bet. Cell phones don't always work when you want them to on the road. If crossing country borders, we recommend carrying a color photocopy of your passport and credit card phone numbers in your money belt or tucked away in your luggage, somewhere apart from your original. It helps during troubles or if yours is lost. It's also good to print out any emails and confirmations of reservations of both flights and hotels. If over the phone, with us or any travel service, write down the date, time and name of the customer service person."

Screening

To make the screening process a bit smoother this holiday travel season, you may want to empty your pockets, take off your jewelry, your belt and your shoes and put everything into your carry-on as you head into or stand in line. You may also carry a ziplock bag that you can fill ahead of time and drop into the smaller basket at the metal detector. This is handy for keys, change, or anything you want to have immediate access to on the other side of security. Laptops and video cameras have to be removed from cases and placed in plastic bins as well. If you are selected for further screening or pat-downs, you have the right to request a private area. This may not please the screener personnel but it is your right.

Gifts

You may want to check into shipping your packages ahead of time. It's often easier and safer to mail them ahead of time than it is to carry them on or risk loss and damage in cargo. You may also want to look at large merchant websites that have branches in other countries. You could order gifts direct from an international version of Amazon.com within your destination country and save on some shipping charges. If you do carry them, bring all gifts unwrapped to an airport. It is rather sad seeing a beautifully wrapped package opened at the airport, unless you intended to give it to the screener inspecting it. You may wish to use holiday bags or boxes to help hide a gift but still have it be accessible.

Before and during a flight

Drink water early in the day of your holiday travel flight. This gets you well hydrated ahead of time. Keep drinking fluids throughout your travels or as much as convenient. This helps to keep your mucous membranes from cracking which opens you up to more germs. Turn off the air vents or direct them away from you. This is recycled air and you don't need it and it’s germs blowing directly on you. Most airlines have cut back or eliminated pillows and blankets. This is just as well since you don't know where they've been before you got them. Use your own travel pillow and clothes. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it often. Ideally, use it after touching any public surface or money and before touching your food, your face or rubbing your eyes.

Rental Cars

Rental companies assume about 20% in no-shows. So they overbook. Try to get to the counter as soon as possible. Have a family member get your luggage while you go to the counter. Get there ahead of other travelers or you may wind up without a car on a holiday's eve.

Hotels

Book early and bring your printed confirmation with you. Just in case. "Hotels should always honor reservations, but if a mistake occurs, it could affect an entire holiday. Bring your proof of reservation or pre-payment with you," say Jonathan (http://www.allstays.com). Whatever travel website you used, mark down their service phone number along with the number of the hotel so you can call them to help sort it out. Being prepared for anything helps for a smooth holiday." Look for bargains at hotels in business areas, suite hotels and extended stays. Holiday travelers often overlook these classes of hotels and they may offer a great deal with business clients staying home this time of year.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Need a getaway to nature but not totally away?

You can camp and still have that connection to the internet.

Do you go camping to get away from it all and to get back in touch with nature? Or do you have the clicking finger itch to get back online around the campfire. Check your auctions and email under the stars. For better or worse, you can do both these days.

Campgrounds, and later RV Parks, have swept the country as a way to get out on and off the road. From solo trips to family outings to snow birds, people are getting out there and away from every day life between walls. Cell phone service at the campsite has steadily improved and you may register a few bars at the fire pit. But can you register a new domain name and get the important email you missed before wheeling down the old highway?

A new amenity is rapidly being added to campground and RV Park listings these days. Internet access. It may be high-speed wifi, crawling dial-up or a single computer in the corner of the park manager's office but it's there for you. "It's a fast growing service that is requested in RV parks these days," says Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com. "We responded to our customers by adding a directory of campgrounds and RV Parks that offer this service. ( http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/Internet-campgrounds.htm ) The number of listings has tripled in just the last few months. I think more and more people want to stay connected while traveling."

Guests of these new service oriented parks and campgrounds want to be able to check information, stay in touch by email or do a little work while away from home. "They may be living in a rv park for weeks or months out of the year and don't want to have to run out to a library or coffee shop. With more and more parks offering Internet service, one could run an online business or auction shop from almost anywhere."

Wireless or "wifi" service seems to be the fastest growing for Internet campgrounds. A RV park can share a hi-speed internet connection with a router for whoever logs on. There are some that use a dial-up service but that is a bit more complicated. Any park office can add a computer or two in the corner for guests to use but limited access, privacy issues, and scheduling can be more difficult and a hassle at times.

Costs vary from campground to campground but many are free. Some owners choose to offer this as a free perk to lure more guests away from other parks. Or they may charge for the access time. Still others are part of a network of parks using a particular service. A guest can pay a monthly fee and then connect at any park in the country that is on that network. “You could travel the country and have Internet access at your campsite most of the time if you plan it out,” says AllStays.com.

"We're staying on top of it and adding more places all the time. ( http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/Internet-campgrounds.htm ) Most of the U.S. states have places in our directory right now and we would expect every state to have Internet campgrounds by the end of the year. Even a number of state and national parks are getting into this service. We are currently working on listings for Canada and around the world as well," adds Adam Longfellow at AllStays.com

So throw the wi-fi enabled laptop in the car or RV and hit the back roads. You never know when your fingers will itch for the keyboard. Just make sure your fingers are clean after those roasted marshmallows.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Need a romantic spark ?

Lodging that provides special attention so you can pay attention to your special person.

Anytime of year is a great time for romance but February is the month with it marked on the calendar. Lovers, spouses and family face the pressure to search for a great gift. Candy goes quickly and flowers pass on so you may want to go for long lasting memories of a bed and breakfast instead.

AllStays.com, a leading online worldwide bed & breakfast directory ( http://www.allstays.com/BandB/bandb.htm ) has all the listings you need to find the perfect B & B. Whether you want one near you in North America, the hills of Italy, the south of France, or just one that provides that special service, AllStays.com has the place for you.

People searching for the perfect gift for their special person are pleased to find accommodations with romantic touches such as in room Jacuzzis, candlelight dinners, breakfast in bed and wonderful service. From old fashioned New England inns and wonderful romantic bungalows to California wine country inns and secluded villas in Tuscany, B&Bs may offer just the thing to spark or re-ignite the passion in a relationship.

Innkeepers take pride in providing service to each guest that a 3,000 room luxury resort has a hard time accomplishing. You may be one of only a few guests, or even the only pampered guests in locations that cater to one room lodging. They are willing to go the extra mile to make your bed and breakfast stay memorable and special for Valentine's Day or any other time of the year.

Valentine's Day is one the most popular for bed & breakfasts, according to Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com. "They propose marriage, get married, renew wedding vows or just create special memories they can cherish forever. Some people only think about bed and breakfasts for Valentine's Day so there is a rush in reservations. But they really are good for getaways and special occasions all year. Fall colors or spring exploring. They are in big cities, near great attractions as well as in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes you want to go to the middle of nowhere."

Skip the wedding planners and work with a bed and breakfast to make your day special. Many innkeepers will go out of their way to help you create memories. And many have a long history of experiences to help your special moment be the best it can be. They may be a witness, a matron of honor, a best man, a photographer, or even a justice of the peace.

Bed and breakfasts are found at all levels of service. You can be left alone or pampered. You can be in modern luxury or a simple room from a hundred years ago. If you want to share your time with someone from the past, you can even find haunted bed & breakfasts. ( http://www.allstays.com/Special/haunted.htm )

AllStays.com is a bit different in that it links directly to tens of thousands bed & breakfast websites around the world. They do not block the inns contact information or try to be a middle person where a message can get mistaken or misplaced. The information is accurate from the innkeeper and not stale or waiting to be updated from long ago. "We believe your special moment is between you and the innkeeper. We help you and then get out of the way and let you find the perfect place for a weekend of gourmet dinners, breakfasts in bed, roses, truffles and canopy beds.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Passion for yoga?

Take a vacation that comes back with you...and not just on a credit card bill.

Whether you've been doing yoga for years or just began recently, the time to go deeper may be here. Whether you teach others in a local class or practice alone in your own living space, you can take it higher. You can make it a vacation that you can take home with you. A yoga retreat vacation works from the inside out. And the wonderful feeling lasts longer. The return airport trek and the first visit with your boss can't take it away from you.

"Yoga retreats are awaiting you around the world," says Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com. "We have compiled a list of some highly recommended ones all over the globe. (http://www.allstays.com/yoga/yoga-retreats.htm) You can stay in a variety of places in the U.S. or wander to Bali or Costa Rica or India." You may want to just stay a few days to get away and get refreshed. Or you may choose to stay a few weeks to return to your world at another level. To enjoy a full vacation, think about yoga retreats that focus on your mind and spirituality. Some give you plenty of free time and a location that bodes well for sight-seeing or doing absolutely nothing at all. The choice is yours.

If you are concerned about costs, there are yoga retreats for most budgets. You can spend fifty dollars a day and you can spend thousands. The yoga itself can be the center of your time or just a framework for a vacation. Any combination you choose, you will come back in better shape. Both mind and body.

Personal recommendations of a yoga retreat are always best, but if you can't find those in your network of friends, you can browse online and do some research. You may get a feeling from the website, the text and the photos. An unprofessional website or one that gives a negative feeling probably isn't going to represent a yoga retreat that is for you.

You also need to know what you looking to get out of it. Do you want more isolation with a reclusive and intense program? Or do you want to just have fun while learning more about yoga?

Location should factor in your choice. If you don't like the sun, a Mexican yoga retreat probably isn't for you. If humidity makes you uncomfortable, a Caribbean yoga retreat isn't for you. You may choose to go into the mountains instead. And of course, if you don't like the cold or snow, stay out of the mountains.

Whatever your choice, prepare for an intense yet playful vacation. Prepare to be relaxed and be re-energized. Prepare yourself for a yoga retreat.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Need more room? A kitchen in your room?

Extended stay hotels are more popular than ever.

You may not need to throw the leftovers away or sit in the lobby to find a comfortable couch and internet service. Extended stay hotels are more common and more affordable for everyone these days.

Are you a modern day road warrior or just the occasional traveler who wants a few comforts of home? Perhaps you want to save some money and stock your own food and drinks while attending that conference. Maybe you are part of a family who needs to stretch the vacation budget without signing charge receipts or leaving tips for every hunger pain.

One option while traveling would be to look into the growing variations of extended stay hotels. Brands such as Extended Stay America, Homestead and many others are offering higher value for travelers. Facilities that once were only found in suites at high end hotels and resorts are now offered at a bargain price.

Extended stay lodging is now more accessible in all-suite hotels, corporate serviced apartments and limited service hotels. They have built-in kitchen facilities and a residential atmosphere. They often include groceries by providing a small convenience store on property like Summerfield Suites by Wyndham has in most of their hotels. Some others even have social hours and barbeques to make some new friends or do a little extra networking.

Instead of being confined to a month's lease or a weekly rental in a rundown motel, you can find these extended stay hotels across the country in mostly new and convenient locations. Marriott is a leader with Residence Inn, Towneplace Suites, SpringHill Suites and ExecuStay brands. They appeal to a variety of levels and price classes.

"We are seeing more and more business travelers use these types of lodging. We have built out a separate directory for extended stay hotels to make it easier to pick them out of the listings as well," says Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com. (http://www.allstays.com/Extended-Stays/extendedstays.htm) "They are great for smaller companies or business owners who are more concerned with their bottom line these days. Or anyone who just doesn't want to eat out repeatedly during a week. They can buy their own food and drinks at a grocery store or throw the restaurant leftovers in the fridge in the kitchen. Plus many of the extended stay hotels have free high speed internet with a workspace. All at a much lower price than a nice hotel."

The upper level extended stay hotels may even do the grocery shopping for you. Homewood Suites by Hilton offers this service. Other upper level extended stay hotels include Residence Inns and the Summerfield Suites by Wyndham. Midrange brands include Mainstay Suites, Candlewood, Sierra Suites, Staybridge Suites and TownePlace Suites. The economy tier and probably most widespread has Extended Stay America, Homestead Village and Suburban Lodge.

You can stay more comfortably for a longer time at almost any price range you'd like. Even Ritz-Carlton is adding more extended stay hotel suites. You don't have to be a business person or frequent traveler. You just may want to be more comfortable in a room while you are there.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Is it that time of year?

Haunted hotels are getting more active

If you are looking for a chill other than from the cool outside air, you may want to think about a more spooky source. Whether you are on a Halloween getaway or looking for fall colors turning into winter's fallen dead, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From the beaches of Florida and southern plantations in the southeast to the heart of hollywood in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.

AllStays.com has a feature section on haunted hotels and other lodging (http://www.allstays.com/Special/haunted.htm) with links, stories and guest comments. "It is probably the most interesting project when dealing with lodging research," says Jonathan Stocker of AllStays.com. "We started working on it a few years ago, along with our Pet Friendly, Bed and Breakfast and Lighthouse rental directories, to give travelers something different."

There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and AllStays is constantly adding more each month as they find them and try to fill in the history. For something warm and on the high end, you can visit St. Pete Beach, Florida.

"Time is infinite. I wait for you by our fountain . . . to share our timeless love, our destiny is time." Thomas Rowe received the above note upon the death of his beloved Lucinda. The two met in the 1890s when Rowe was attending school in Europe. Lucinda's parents forbade the relationship and the forlorn Rowe returned to America. For years his letters to her were returned unopened. Then in 1925, Rowe built the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The lobby of the hotel included a replica of the courtyard and fountain where Rowe and Lucinda used to meet. Although the fountain no longer exists, employees at the Don CeSar tell tales of seeing a couple who suddenly appear walking hand-in-hand in the hotel and then disappearing.

For another example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the Myrtles Plantation located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It is on the Smithsonian's list of the most haunted places in the world and you could argue that it may have as many ghosts as any place in America. No less than ten murders have been committed here since it was built in 1794 by General David Bradford. It is said that he built it on an Indian burial ground, which is not usually a good start for a haunting depending on how you look at it.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in Hollywood, California, was named after President Theodore Roosevelt. After opening in 1927, it became the center of Hollywood. The first Academy Awards ceremony (then called the Merit awards) was held in the Blossom Room in 1929 and the Academy held their meetings here from 1927 to 1935. Montgomery Clift stayed at the Roosevelt for three months during the making of "From Here To Eternity" and some say his ghost stayed here for eternity. On windy nights, some may hear his bugle playing in the hallway or his room 928. Marilyn Monroe lived on and off in Cabana 246, posing for her first ad on the diving board of the swimming pool. Her own mirror is still there, only now located in the lobby. Some have seen her reflection still gazing back from this mirror.

Not all ghosts behave as though they know they are depressingly dead. A happy ghost known as The Lady in White haunts the Flanders, a grand historic hotel, located on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. Within this architectural masterpiece on the Jersey Shore, Emily, as she is affectionately known, appears and disappears into walls, plays with door locks, unscrews light bulbs, and sings happily in its halls.

If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Haceta Head Lighthouse at Yachats, Oregon. Many say the Keepers House is haunted. The folklore is documented in such notable publications as "Life Magazine." Several books chronicle the tales and the lighthouse and keeper's house are featured in the PBS Television series "Legendary Lighthouses." If you go, look here along the coastline's rocky cliffs for a ghost named Rue. This 1893 Victorian bed and breakfast, which was a former lighhousekeeper's house, says it is home to her. She is believed to be the mother of a girl who fell off the cliffs and died.

Various residents and visitors to the lighthouse have reported similar unexplained occurrences over the years. One family heard screams and would find things moved around or even missing. In the 1970s, a worker cleaning the attic windows said he went face-to-face with Rue, who he described as a woman with silver hair in a long, dark dress. And still others have reported hearing small, light footsteps up top in the attic. And reports have come in of seeing an elderly woman looking down at them from an attic window or spotting a glimpse of a shadowy female shape.

"Many people contact us for our best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright," says Stocker. "Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night. It's fun and adds a little something to another night away from home."

So if you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Need to getaway?

Here are a few places that will get you away from it all.....Far, far away from it all.

Forest Fire Lookout Cabin Rentals
Locations in CA, ID, MT, WA, OR, WY, CO, BC

Rates, accessibility and locations vary.

Season & Amenities: Variable

Contacts: www.ffla.org

Wild Cat Cabin
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, NV

$188 wkd. From south Lake Tahoe, east on US 50, left onto NV 28 at Spooner Junction, right into the Spooner Lake day use area.

Hike 2.5 miles on North Canyon Forest Road

Season & Amenities: Year-round, propane stove, kitchenware, woodstove, water

Contacts: 888-858-8844, www.flumetrail.com

McGuire Mountain Lookout
Kootenai National Forest, MT

$20/nt. From Eureka, take FR 3656 to FR 854. Turn right on FR 494 (Gut Creek Road) and drive 18 miles to the trailhead.

Hike 2.3 miles on the McGuire Mountain Trail

Season & Amenities: May through early November, two single bed platforms, woodstove

Contacts: (406) 296-2536, www.fs.fed.us/r1/kootenai/recreation

Corbin Cabin
Shenandoah National Park, VA

$18/weeknight $28/wkd night From I-66, take US 211 west to Skyline Drive and park at mile 37

Hike 1.5 miles on the Corbin Cabin Cutoff Trail

Season & Amenities: year-round, fireplace, cookware, upstairs loft and bunkhouse

Contacts: (703) 242-0693 www.patc.net

Meadow Creek Cabin
Nex Perce National Forest, ID

$25/night From Us 12 in Lowell, turn south at mile marker 97. After 20 miles, turn right onto the bridge and continue to Slim's Camp.

Hike 14 miles on MEadow Creek Trail #726

Season & Amenities: May 15 to September 15, four single beds and two cots, woodstove with firewood, running tap (bring filter), kitchenware

Contacts: (208) 926-4258 www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce

Falls Brook Yurt
Adirondack Park, NY

$65/night From I-87, take exit 26 to US 9. In Olmstedville, turn right onto Morse Memorial Highway, then right onto O'Neil Road, and right onto John Brennan Road. The Trailhead is .2 mile down.

Hike .6 mile through a white birch stand

Season & Amenities: Year-round, stove, kitchen hardware and canoe

Contacts: (518) 761-6187 www.fallsbrookyurts.com

Pearsoll Peak Lookout
Siskiyou National Forest, OR

Free. From Selma, take US 199 south. Turn right on Onion Camp Road (FR4201) and park at Onion Camp.

Hike 6 miles on the Kalmiopsis Rim Trail

Season & Amenities: June 15 through September 30, bed, footstool and two chairs

Contacts: (541) 592-4000 www.fs.fed.us/r6/siskiyou

Crooked Chute Cabin
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

From $31/night, Take Hwy 17 to Pembroke. Turn left on CR 28, then right on Barron Canyon Road. Park at kilometer 57.

Hike 7.4 miles on the Crooked Chute logging road or full-day paddle.

Season & Amenities: Late April to Thanksgiving weekend, woodstove, four bunk beds, table and chairs

Contacts: (705) 633-5572 www.algonquinpark.on.ca

North Fork Canadian Yurt
Colorado State Forest, CO

From $55/night, From the main Colorado State Froest entrance west of Gould on CO 14, drive 8.5 miles to the end of CR 41

Hike 1.1 mile over gentile terrain

Season & Amenities: Year-round, two bunk beds, foldout table, chairs, burner-stove, wood-burning stove with firewood

Contacts: (970) 482-9411 www.neversummernordic.com

Yellow Mule Cabin
Gallatin National Forest, MT

$20/night, From US 191 in Big Sky, turn right on Buck Creek Ridge Road and follow it to the end

Hike the 8 mile Buck Creek Ridge Trail #10 on a 1,000 foot elevation gain

Season & Amenities: June through October, possible snow early in the season

Contacts: (406) 522-2520 www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin

Information is correct as of September 2004. Please consult with the places direct for current information.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Travel with your furry companion?

Our pet friendly directory is contributing funds to help animal rescue organizations

AllStays.com, which features pet friendly hotels ( http://www.allstays.com/Special/pet-friendly-hotels.htm ) online, has recently updated it's policy on donating funds to animal organizations and is looking for more quality recipients.

"We are currently allocating 1% of online bookings to donate to worthy organizations that support animals. This could be animal rescue, shelters, rights groups or anything that benefits the animals most directly," says Jonathan Stocker of AllStays.com. "We prefer smaller organizations with lower overhead, so most of the funds go to benefit the animals themselves. This could be one or two people benefiting animals or a larger community-based effort. It is something that we have felt strongly about since starting the lodging guide in 2000 and we have been making donations since shortly after then. Any interested organizations can contact us through the website and we'll follow up after going through the information."

AllStays.com highlights pet friendly hotels in it's directory for those who can't leave their furry family members behind while travelling. It is difficult to maintain due to managers and pet friendly hotels that constantly change their policies. A new owner or manager may suddenly change it's policy after a guest has already booked a room in advance. Many hotels that accept pets have had to end the policies due to abuse while others have to put strict rules in place. Some may accept dogs only and others may put size and number limitations on the extra guests. Many hotels in the pet friendly lodging guide have begun charging nightly or per stay fees with some even over $200. Regardless of what anything on the web says, travelers are encouraged to always call ahead and get the current policies. pet friendly hotel hotel directories such as AllStays exist to point you and your companion in the right direction but you need to follow up to be safe.

Stocker also adds, "We never like to see the high end property fees because it seems like they may be taking advantage of a market that really needs this service. Some of them cost more for your pet than for the regular room. And many are very fair with their policies. Motel 6 is an example of a chain that is reasonable for people with pets and is even advertising this feature now."

Whether you are a traveler with companion or a needy animal organization, visit AllStays.com for some help in the right direction.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Is it time to chill down at night?

Some haunted hotels just may chill you to the bone

If you are tired of the summer heat, you may want to think ahead to something a bit cooler. Whether you are getting away this summer or planning for the fall, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From bed and breakfasts in stately old buildings around New England to high-end ocean resort hotels in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.

AllStays.com has a feature section on haunted hotels and other lodging ( http://www.allstays.com/Special/haunted.htm ) with links, stories and guest comments. "It's probably the most interesting project when dealing with lodging research," says Jonathan Stocker of AllStays.com. "We started working on it a few years ago, along with our pet friendly hotel and Lighthouse rental directories, to give travelers something different."

There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and AllStays is constantly adding more each month as they find them and try to fill in the history. For one example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the great Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, CA. This ocean liner, now permanently docked at the Port of Long Beach, was commissioned in 1936 and journeyed a thousand Atlantic crossings. Many incidents of strange rapping noises, moving objects, disembodied voices, and ghostly apparitions have been reported by staff, guests, and investigators on the docked ship. The First Class Swimming Pool, said to be the most haunted place aboard, is haunted by the ghosts of two women who drowned there. One is dressed in 1960s clothing and the other wears 1930s attire. The forlorn ghost of a little boy who fell overboard near the pool has also been sighted in the passageway.

In Washington D.C., there is a hotel with some classic haunting stories that appear to be linked to the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge did not attend his own inaugural ball in 1925 because he was mourning the death of his 16-year-old son. Every year since 1937, on Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day) the lights in the Grand Ballroom flicker and dim at around 10 p.m., the time that the first guests were announced for Coolidge's inauguration. Hotel staff have past reported of finding a plate of exquisite hors d'oeuvres and a glass of fine wine in Grand Ballroom balcony. Neither item had been served at any function on that day. And one elevator refuses to move from the eighth floor to the lobby level until 10:15 p.m. -- the approximate time Coolidge would have arrived at the ball from his waiting room.

If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg, PA, one of the most haunted areas in America. The loss of life at Gettysburg was tremendous, and the entire area is steeped in heavy energy, and riddled with restless ghosts almost anywhere you go in town or around the countryside. The Farnsworth House Inn offers more than just a bed and some sleep. Several of the rooms are haunted with six actually being cited on their web site.

There is the unsolved mystery at the Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast in Massachusetts. Several ghosts and tragic stories abound at The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. The Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado is a popular one because Stephen King wrote part of "The Shining" while staying there. The ABC mini-series was also filmed there on location. Any ghosts you find there are friendly and probably the original owners playing piano or hanging out in the Billiard room. There aren't any evil spirits lurking about.

"Many people contact us for our best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright," says Stocker." Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night. It's fun and adds a little something to another night away from home"

So if you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Cramped spaces leaving you wishing for silence and fresh air?

While on a recent camping trip, I was outside my tent looking up at the brilliant stars in the night sky. The sound of hummingbirds had faded with the last light of the sun and was replaced with crickets cheering wind blown pine needles racing across the dirt to a final resting place. In the past, my evening's entertainment in the wild included a gathering of rabbits, a deer or two, maybe even a coyote howling in the distance, but now I had additional choices of entertainment. I could watch TVs glowing from RV windows. I could listen to a hard rock band blaring from someone's stereo. Or even try to play name that tune with the rhythm and hum of a generator behind me in spot number seventy-two.

"Should we be heading towards map icons and directories that separate "developed" properties versus ones that bring you back to nature in a "primitive" way?" asks Jonathan Stocker, of alternative lodging at AllStays.com. "We hear from many people who would like to plan a trip around quiet tent camping and avoid the more crowded, neighborhood-like atmospheres of some parks out there. And that's difficult to do using most of the websites, books and maps today. You really need to call ahead and check the current status of the park. We provide direct website links and phone numbers but sometimes it has to be to a service field office and they may not know the exact location of a remote campground."

How did camping change for so many of us over the years? It has become a different world in the wild and getting harder to determine what type of campground you are headed to until you have your stakes in the ground. RV's are popular, and are changing the landscape of the wilderness. Whether you are a snow bird, a retiree or just a wanderer, they are great. They provide a home away from home and are still cheaper than motels. You may pay more in gas, but less in lodging and you are in the great outdoors along with your television, stereo, shower and other accessories.

Years ago, campgrounds had more tent sites and a minority number of RV sites here and there. The scale is shifting and it's becoming more common to have a locale with 80 RV sites and 10 tent-only sites. More and more places don't allow tents at all. On a recent trip, Stocker found tent sites that were overgrown with weeds while the RV sites were getting ruts from all the wheels rolling heavy loads over their spaces. One beautiful newly built state campground had closed down in less than a year because the water at the boat launch was too low. Brand new bathrooms, solar panels and picnic tables sat unused except by spiders. They were gated and blocked off in a paradise to the solace seeker instead of charging less money for a different kind of camper? One without a boat or jet ski.

When researching online for campgrounds, the lines of distinction are blurred if not lost. You may find RV Parks and hope they have a couple of tent sites. You may find a cheap or even free campground at the end of a washboard road and hope that it can accommodate your wheel base. But many times you are in for a surprise as the sun goes down and you are a road coffee shy of alternatives. No matter the extent of research, things are different when you get in the wild. Forest and Park services suffer from budget cuts and their condition knowledge and maintenance is not always up to date. You may find varying classes of fees whether you have a RV, use hookups or just pound stakes. Many parks charge full price whether or not you need hookups and water.

Many state and national parks are cramming more spaces into smaller areas and charging more for them, some near $30 in 2004. You may pay a fee closer to a cheap motel and get less space to yourself. It may not be all wide open spaces. In a RV, you can close the windows. Out in your sleeping bag, you may feel like the person snoring in the space next door has rolled into your tent.

If you love camping, you need to keep getting out there in whatever way you may choose. It's just getting harder to get away from it all.

AllStays.com, based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Research, Browse, and book online to stay anywhere on Earth. http://www.allstays.com

Do you have strategies for traveling?

Planning is more important than ever

The freedom to exercise or not, the freedom to travel

We travel and enjoy it personally and professionally. Your choice to travel is your choice alone. If you don't feel comfortable venturing away from home, don't do it. If you do choose to travel, go full steam and enjoy it to the max.

E-tickets or paper? Proceed with extra caution as you book airfare online these days. Take the time to read the fine print before you buy. Electronic tickets have always been a luxury. I've used them since day one and as a person who never checks luggage, it allowed me to go directly to the gate. Today, I recommend getting paper tickets ahead of time. With them in hand and only a carry on bad, you can still bypass the check in counter and proceed directly to the gate. You must have a receipt for your electronic ticket in hand to proceed past terminal security. In some places, this is not good enough. Puerto Rico for example, you must have a paper ticket or a printed receipt from the airline desk. So you may wind up standing in an extra long line instead of avoiding one! A paper ticket solves that issue.

If your flight is cancelled, a paper ticket can be easily transferred to another flight or another airline. An e-ticket puts you in an extra line. You must first stand in line to get a paper ticket and then another line to get it transferred. By that time, the seats may be gone and you may be looking for a hotel room.

Insurance deserves a second look. Previously, I wasn't too keen on insurance as long as I was certain I was going on the trip. Today, I recommend looking at more closely. For a cruise or any major tour package, I recommend it. The initial cost is minimal and but the risk and chance of problems is greater. Always fly in the day before a cruise or tour. With flights getting canceled, bumped and delayed on a regular basis, you can not afford to cut it so close. The price of one night in a hotel is less than the cost of an extra flight to catch up with your cruise ship in another country!

Pack light. Prepare to have your nicely packed travel bag dumped out onto a table in the airport. Using clear plastic bags to separate your items will help. They can segment your items for easy repacking. Buy your toiletries at your destination. Razors, scissors, clippers, aerosol cans may all be confiscated at airports. This only costs you more money in the end and delays fellow travelers. Do not gift wrap presents, as they will only be torn open at the airport. The best thing is to ship them separately or wrap them at your destination.

Charge your batteries. Any electronic device (laptops, cell phones, cd players, games, etc) will be inspected and you'll probably have to turn it on for security to show that it's a real working device.

Sports enthusiasts. Avoid wearing or carrying any clothing you may have used at the gun club or rifle range or anyplace where guns may be fired. Sensors may detect residue from firearms or explosive material. You'll then be enjoying the company of airport security for quite some time as your plane arrives at your destination.

Bring a good book and small change. This is the best advice for an enjoyable trip. No matter how long the wait, if you have a good book and maybe a soda or snack, it will be tolerable. Using the time wisely, enjoyably and productively will reduce the stress of travel this season or any time of the year.

Travel smart and your trip will be enjoyable.

Do you have a hesitation in traveling?

Planning and staying calm is more important than ever

Overcoming flight anxiety leads to a better trip

The fear of flying is more reasonable than ever. The news and reports of airports being evacuated every so often do not help. Flying is safer than driving but headlines can make it seem otherwise.

First, get plenty of rest. Try to get extra sleep before the trip. Eat well and get some exercise ahead of time as well.

Information. Provide family, friends or those at your destination with your travel plans and where you are scheduled to be at various times.

If you take any medications, consult with your doctor to see what is best.

Take a good book, a favorite snack and a small luxury item that you can hold onto in order to make you feel more comfortable.

Avoid the rush. Be on time and try to be a little early. It's much more relaxing to sit at the airport and watch others run and be frustrated than it is to join them. Lines are longer than they used to be.

Breathe. Stop and pay attention to your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths.

Drink. Stay hydrated with water or juice but not so much as to have to use the restroom repeatedly. Use your judgment. Caffeine makes some more jittery so you may want to avoid coffee or some sodas. Alcohol should be avoided. One drink may help you relax, but any more than that and you may lose some control.

Stay calm and relax. Be a passenger, read that book and enjoy.

A great vacation may be nearby

Luxury hotels bring new meaning to service

A resort can be the destination

Travel has changed in recent weeks. Whether you consider flying, driving hundreds of miles or stay within your neighborhood, there may be a vacation that you hadn't considered. A hotel resort or spa.

The worlds top hotels get that reputation by providing luxury and service. It may be by providing you with whatever you want or whatever you don't want. Many of them contain some of the world's best restaurants and stores. You may never even leave the property and have a wonderful, luxurious vacation. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort inside Florida's Walt Disney World for example, can pamper you with food and sophistication or you can exit the door and be inside a crowded amusement park.

Spa resorts are gaining in popularity and we are currently working on a special section just for them. So you can see where they all are, how they rate and what is available.

If are into golf or tennis, there are many top notch hotels that can put you on the green. You don't need a rental car. Just a golf cart.

Even in more fast paced cities, like Las Vegas, you can be spoiled in a variety of ways. You have a choice of at least three hotels that can rank with any in the world. The Bellagio, The Venetian and the Four Seasons will fit your needs in the city of lights.

If you're already in Florida, your near one of the best in the world. The Ritz-Carlton Naples can pamper you like no other on the Gulf Coast. If you're partial to the Atlantic ocean on the east coast, The Breakers, Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons all make Palm Beach worth a visit.

A top hotel in New York City can put you middle of Big Apple and a world of culture, but your room can be your castle in luxury. Four Seasons, The Pierre, St. Regis, The Waldof can all more than fill your needs. Whether you choose to stay inside or venture outside, you will love it either way.

So whether you choose a luxury hotel to get out or to hide away from the world, make it a great visit. They can service your needs and make it so you'll never want to leave....

Our Luxury Hotel Guide

Do you have long standing travel plans?

What to do with that vacation time?

To travel or stay home is a choice with new meaning

Did you have travel plans before September 11th, 2001? Did you alter your travel plans or follow through on them as planned?

This is a question that many in the world have faced recently. None of us wants to let terrorism win in this world. Yet when you alter your plans because of terrorism, some may say that terrorism wins.

Only you can make that decision. I travel often, as part of both my career responsibilities and my love of travel. I currently have plans for an extensive trip to Italy. Have I canceled them? No. Have I at least thought about it? Yes. Any person would these days. How long one thinks about it is the difference between us. The biggest difference in my travel plans is that I will now be saving hundreds of dollars and facing less crowded places.

The important thing to do is to take that vacation if that's what you wanted to do. It may very well be more enjoyable and cheaper than ever. You may wish to just spend time at a nearby spa or resort. Get out the maps or explore this site and see what towns are within driving distance. My best trips have often been at the last minute or over a weekend. Being spontaneous bears fun and adventure (and great deals!).

Last minute deals and bargains abound right now. Take advantage of the great specials around the world or even in your own backyard. If you do fly and want to make it easier, try to pick smaller airports. For the most part, air travel is smoother than ever. It's the larger airline hub airports that make it difficult and have the long lines you see on television. Those are also the default airports for most people's travels. Instead of LAX in Los Angeles, try for Ontario or Burbank. Instead of San Francisco, try for Oakland or San Jose or even Sacramento. And you may want to avoid Denver International altogether. Florida airports are running smoothly and crowds are down so your warm winter getaway will be better than ever.

Traveling abroad, you may want to avoid going to certain eastern countries at this present time, but most in the world are as safe as ever.

The world was affected by recent events and many countries are showing sympathy for Americans as well as all the countries that took a loss. However, these days require caution and common sense. We always recommend trying to blend in with locals in foreign countries and cities and this takes on new meaning these days. Americans can be proud of their country without being an obvious target. Leave the hats and coats bearing American based logos at home. Wear neutral colors and avoid the latest trendy fads. As we usually recommend, at least attempt to speak the native language and follow basic customs. Carry your phrase book, practice the basics like "hello" and make the best of it. Showing an effort to accommodate goes a long way to getting some great foreign hospitality in return.

I hope to see you away from home!

Spring cleaning your garage?

What about your car? Is it ready for the stress of your summer trips?

Optimize your car for the summer road

We clean our garage, our driveways, prepare our lawns for summer but what about our cars? The cars that we rely upon to get us through the heat and stress of a summer road trip. Here are some things to check out and keep in mind.

Under the hood. Take a look at your hoses and belts. Inspect them for wear, cracks, chips or that just-plain-old look. Give a squeeze on the hoses as they should firm but with give. If they are too hard or too soft, replace them. Push on the belts. There should about a half inch movement on them. More or less and they may need to be replaced or adjusted.

Check your fluids. Both level and quality. Check the antifreeze-coolant level, oil and washer fluid. Most other fluids don't need to be refilled. If you see that any of those are low, it is a signal of other problems and should be seen by a mechanic. In fact, an oil change is recommended before any long trips. You may not need it now, but what about halfway through your trip in a strange city? Better to get it changed by the local service that you know and can go back to in the future.

It's a good idea to keep a small stock of fluids in your vehicle on the road. Antifreeze/coolant, oil, maybe even brake fluid and power steering fluid. The containers are small and the price is cheap if it keeps you from being stranded. If you have the room, a gas can is a good idea as well. You may need either the gas inside it or the container for that long walk to the service station you passed while trying to get to the next one down the road.

Check your air conditioning early in the summer. It's best to make sure that it cools your car quickly now rather than on the hottest day of the year when you're many miles from home.

Spare tires are not designed for highway driving, either the speed or more than 50 miles. They are meant to get you to the next service station. Therefore, we recommend you buying a regular tire for your spare. Preferably the same as your other four tires, but a decent used tire will suffice as well.

We want you to have a summer vacation, not a nightmare, and to arrive at your next hotel or stay ready to enjoy every minute of it.

Lost your room?

No rooms left even though you had a reservation?

You are being "walked"

So you show up at your choice of accommodation and you find that there are no rooms. You thought you had a reservation. Now your rights to a room come down to whether you had a guaranteed reservation and what time you arrived at the front desk.

It is always strongly recommended that you reserve your room with a credit card. The establishment agrees to hold your room and if you don't show or cancel by a certain time, your card is charged for the night's stay.

Without a guaranteed reservation, the establishment should still hold your room up until a certain time, usually between 4pm and 6pm. This time varies and you should keep the hour in mind if your travel plans are cutting it close.

Sometimes we meet all the requirements and still find ourselves being walked. The establishment putting you out into the elements should find you another room at a price-comparable nearby property and transport you there. If there is a price difference, they should pick it up for you. You may also ask for additional benefits since they have "walked" you, the customer who indeed has a choice in future travel arrangements.

Such as....

Such as a free phone call to your family or office; Having your calls forwarded at no charge; Future upgrades or discounts to give them another chance at your business.