Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and hotel

Avoiding a bed bugs infestation

grrarrgh00 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:14:13 -0800

I just woke up from a night in my Amsterdam hotel room and realized my bed has bed bugs in it. How do I make dead certain these things don't return with me to the US? Also, what should I expect from the hotel? I've spent the last two nights in a boutique hotel in Amsterdam.

Last night, I came back to my room and relaxed for a while reading on the bed. When I got up, I saw that there were bites down the back of one arm, but I didn't pay much attention; I thought an ant might have gotten into my jacket or something. I slept through the night, but when I woke up, I discovered another bite on my other arm. I suspected something was up, got up immediately, and inspected the sheets. I saw one dead bed bug, and several more live ones crawling around. (Ick.)

I'm downstairs in the lobby now, waiting for the hotel's housekeeping manager to arrive. I imagine I need to get all of my clothes laundered; they were on a seat touching the bed all night. What should I do with my luggage? How do I get into a set of uninfested clothes (I'm currently wearing the outfit I wore last night when I got in)? What other steps can I take?

Also, do you have any tips on interacting with hotel management about this? What should I expect from them? If they offer to launder my things, should I let them?

I had originally planned to transfer to another hotel today (this hotel was covered by the conference I was speaking at; I had previously reserved another room for myself at a place in a different part of town). Should I call them and explain the situation? Is there a chance I could get my things treated well enough today that bringing the infestation with me wouldn't be an issue?

Thanks much for your help with this. These things are so nasty.

Hotel recommendations for Capitol Hill in Denver?

jroybal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:49:50 -0800

Can anyone recommend a decent hotel in Denver, somewhere in or around the Capitol Hill area? Up to maybe +/-$125 a night. Clean, good location to do shopping/sights/etc, but otherwise no major restrictions. My partner and I will be there for a long weekend in December and plan on doing some stuff northwest of Capitol Hill (Buell Theater for Spring Awakening, Denver Art Museum) and southeast of Capitol Hill (Room & Board, Nordstrom). A hotel in any of those areas would be great. I was looking at The Burnsley Hotel on Grant St.--any experiences there? Finally, any recommendations for good stuff for us (two mid-twenties guys) to do in the areas near your recommended hotel? Theater, shops, restaurants--we're pretty open. Thanks in advance.

No room if you 'aint hitched?

smoothvirus — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:06:18 -0800

Do hotels or motels refuse to rent rooms to unmarried couples anymore? I took my girlfriend on a romantic getaway to the beach this weekend, and while I was not very concerned about it, I did wonder if it would be a problem. Back in 1991, I visited a platonic friend in Indiana and when she reserved the room for me, she had to lie and tell the manager that I was her cousin, even though she was not spending the night in the room. We were not romantically involved but the manager would not rent a room to an unmarried couple. This was a major chain motel in a big city in Indiana. I did go out on the Internet to see if this sort of thing still goes on but did not find anything, save one notable exception.

P.S. My girlfriend and I had an absolutely wonderful stay on Cape Hatteras in North Carolina this weekend. Go if you get the chance!

Are the taxes on an American sweepstakes win by a Canadian worth our while?

stungeye — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:28:22 -0800

SweepstakesFilter: My wife (a Canadian like myself) recently won a large number of travel rewards points from an American chain of hotels. Help us determine if the prize is worth keeping considering what we'll have to pay in taxes to the IRS. We have confirmed the legitimacy of the prize. (The contest was handled by ePrize and we've been in direct communication with a rep from the hotel chain.) To redeem the prize we have been asked to fill out an IRS W8BEN Foreign Status form. The instructions for the form state that "Foreign persons are subject to U.S. tax at a 30% rate on income they receive from U.S." Unlike casino winnings (for which the 30% tax can be recouped by a Canadian winner) I cannot find any information on the foreign tax liability for points-based sweepstakes.

When asked about taxes, a representative from hotel chain said the following:

"Although I cannot provide you with tax advice, it is likely that your tax liability will not be based on the published retail value of the points, but instead based on internal costs to provide the points."

The published retail value of the points was $35,000 and we've been told that the internal cost will be around $15,000. The points can be cashed in for approximately 12 round-trip overseas flights, or (for the sake of monetary comparison) converted into $10,000 worth of Amazon gift-cards.

So here are my questions:

Have you been in a similar situation? Care to share your "Canadian winner of US sweepstakes" taxation experience?

Can you suggest a firm to contact that will know how to deal with this situation? (So far the Canadian tax advisers we've contacted haven't been overly helpful.)

Should we accept the prize, even if it means paying $4,500 to $10,500 USD? (The former being tax on internal costs, the later being tax on the retail value of the points.)

If we accept the points and are surprised with a giant tax bill (say the full $10,500) can we return the prize to avoid the taxation?

East Lansing hotels?

rocket88 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:16:41 -0800

MSU Football road trip advice: Where to stay in or near East Lansing, MI? I'm planning a trip to Michigan State this November for some football, and need advice on where to stay. Some of the prices I'm seeing make me suspect that local hotels/motels jack up their prices on home game weekends. Is this true? If so, how far away do we need to stay to avoid this? My group just wants a couple of nice clean rooms in a non-sketchy neighborhood but not too pricey. We're traveling from Southern Ontario.

Where to stay and what to see in Berlin?

gramcracker — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:11:41 -0800

Where should I stay and what should I do in Berlin for a 4 day trip? (Single, clean, safe, cheap, easy to get to the major sights.) Heading to Germany to see a friend who recently moved there, but going to spend some time in Berlin first, never been there. Single, late 20s gay traveler, see the museums, shop a bit, maybe grab a drink. Neighborhoods/sights/attractions to avoid or not to miss? Thanks!

Un poquito mas baratito en DF?

cachondeo45 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:04:26 -0800

Which hotels do you recommend that are close to (within 15 minute walk or 10 minute combi ride) MELIÃ MÉXICO REFORMA but far more affordable and in safe areas? Conference in Mexico City (Woo!) but I can't afford the conference hotel on Paseo de la Reforma. I found a few hotels closeish that are around $68 / night, which seems much more reasonable. I will be sharing the hotel with three other people and am not adverse to a B&B or an apartment.

We will be there from Nov. 18 - 22.

I will be staying by myself until Nov. 27, so if you have additional recommendations that are WAY cheaper for just one or two people in a hip and safe part of town, that would be great!

Oh, and FWIW, we all speak Spanish at a near-native level.

Best non-expensive hotel in Oaxaca?

toomuchkatherine — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:35:32 -0800

Best reasonably priced hotel in Oaxaca? We're two people, traveling to Oaxaca the week after Labor Day. In search of a not too pricey hotel to stay in for a few nights at the beginning of our stay...and maybe a hotel to splurge on for one night at the end. Ideas? Anyone ever stated at the Hotel Monte Alban on the Zocalo? Or Casa Oaxaca? Those are the two we're thinking of for moderate and splurge, respectively.

Cheap, but fun Europe!

lattiboy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:19:10 -0800

Help me plan an October European vacation (starting/ending in Madrid) on the cheap! Since AskMe was SO helpful last time, I thought I'd try a bigger project:

I picked up a pair of airline tickets to Madrid for an incredible price about a month ago and now I'm freaking out about 10 days in Europe and the costs associated with that. I'll be traveling with my fiance and we're open to just about anything (we would like to avoid non-private hostel rooms). The travel dates are from October 1st until the 10th.

We'd like to see as much as possible (Paris and London especially) for as little as possible.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

PS The conversion rate being what it is, if EASTERN EUROPE is realistic, I'm all over that!

What should I do and eat in Beijing for 36 hours?

damiano99 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:51:05 -0800

TravelFilter: I have 36 hours in Beijing. What should I see (serious amateur photog) and where should I eat (dim-sum preferable.) Bonus: Good hotels with Internet access. Any help or suggestions appreciated!

Visiting the City by the Bay

wintermute2_0 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:05:49 -0800

Where should I stay in San Francisco and how well can I get around without a car? I'm travelling to San Francisco in late September and I'm wondering if anyone has tips on reasonably nice hotels that are close to a BART station in a centrally located portion of SF. I use a wheelchair and won't have access to a car (unless I use a taxi). My budget is about $200/night.

I was in SF about 12 years ago and saw a bit of the Wharf, Golden Gate Park, and Haight-Ashbury. Will I be able to see other parts of the city using public transportation? Can I get to places like Marin County?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Looking for a comfortable, family-friendly hotel in Fort Lauderdale

crunchtopmuffin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:42:42 -0800

Anyone have a recommendation for a nice, family-friendly hotel on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale? We're traveling in August with our daughter who will be 9 months old at the time. I'm thinking something along the lines of the Westin Beach Resort. Does anyone have any personal experience they can share about any of the hotels there?

And a couple of related questions for bonus points:

Do the hotels usually charge to hang out on the beach space adjacent to their hotel?

Any suggestions for fun family activities?

Thanks!

Find me a nice and cheap hotel in Mykonos...

dawdle — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:54:36 -0800

What is a great hotel on Mykonos that won't break the bank ? We are travelling to Mykonos for a wedding July 24-27th. Having checked out the prices of hotels online, many of them break my budget.

We'd like to pay $100-$175 / night yet still have a sea view and a balcony if possible. Caveat is it MUST be clean and extra points if it looks like a typical Greek villa ( white walls, blue accents )

Hotel or Ryokan (or both) in Tokyo for four nights in July?

dubitable — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:34:20 -0800

Hotel or Ryokan (or both) in Tokyo for four nights in July? Which is it? We are trying to figure out if we should stay in a hotel or a ryokan, or some combination of both (one night in a ryokan for the experience?) for the short time we are in Tokyo this early July. Our price range is probably hovering around 10000 yen a night or so (we can go a bit above that, but not too much).

Our considerations: we want an "authentic" Japanese experience (yes, I know, hahaha), so if we are just getting some silly approximation for western tourists, we'd rather stay in a hotel, 'cause at least we'd get our own bathroom with a toilet with a remote control and one of those deep tubs (that seems just as "authentically" Japanese to me, but what do I know). We are probably going to want to eat out most nights, so it may be a waste to stay in a ryokan where dinner is served, not to mention the curfew restriction we've heard most ryokans have. We are also aware that July is not necessarily the most comfortable month to be staying in Tokyo, so a place with good A/C is probably a must.

I guess it's probably clear we are leaning towards a hotel, but I want some second opinions:

Why would you stay in one or the other? What would we be missing out on if we stayed in one vs. the other? Is it worth it to stay in a ryokan for one night, just to experience that, or is it silly to try in Tokyo? While we're at it, any particular places of either type you recommend?

Thanks!

Flights and hotels for two

girlmightlive — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:52:44 -0800

It's easy to search for flights and hotels for one destination, but I need to search for flights and hotels for two. I actually did find a site that let me search this way, but of course I can't remember what it was. Any ideas? Thank you.

Help me make my Japanese island paradise holiday happen!

doctorpiorno — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:21:01 -0800

Is there any chance I can still find a place to stay in Okinawa during this Golden Week, or is it far too late already? Any advice, suggestions or resources welcome. I have been living in Tokyo for a bit over one year and a half now, but unfortunately all things must come to an end and I'll be going back to Europe in early summer. One of the places I definitely want to visit before leaving for good is Okinawa, which I have inexplicably managed to miss visiting so far, partly because I did not feel like traveling there alone would be much fun.

Good news is, a friend of mine has now expressed an interest in joining me for the trip, but he's only available during the Golden Week long weekend (2nd to 6th May), just when everyone else in Japan will be cramming into every available hotel room in the area. I don't mind the crowds too much, but all the obvious airlines and hotels seem to be booked up to kingdom come or ludicrously expensive (800$ for a JAL round trip ticket from Tokyo!?).

My lack of ability to come up with anything other than the most obvious hotels, airlines and travel agents is clearly not helping. I am pretty sure there are cheaper alternatives a bit off the beaten path, but I will be damned if I can find them with my paltry Japanese Google-Fu skills.

Does anybody in the Hive Mind know of any travel agent that could still make this happen in spite of the short notice? Any recommended hotel somewhere that might have a couple beds (or a broom closet) available? Maybe a nice little ferry service that can take us to Okinawa for a sane amount of money, even if it takes a while? I feel like I am in way over my head in this... Help!

Thanks in advance everyone!

Should I be booking rooms for Ireland travel in April?

kturner — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:04:57 -0800

To book or not to book? Hotel rooms for end of April in Ireland. I want to travel without booking but always fear finding only expensive rooms.

A hotel in Provincetown, MA?

cymru_j — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:12:47 -0800

Can anyone recommend a hotel or inn in Provincetown MA (or vicinity)? We're looking for a hotel or inn in Provincetown MA or the vicinity. We'll be visiting for the first time and don't really know the area, so any suggestions about towns, beaches, are also welcome.

We'll be spending a weekend in May and aiming for accommodations that fit these criteria:

-reasonably priced (under $200 a night, if possible)
-on the beach
-preferably with balcony
-quieter, not the club scene
-some great eating nearby

Thanks, guys.

What was a "Modern European Hotel" in the US in 1920?

tnygard — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:55:31 -0800

What was a "Modern European Hotel" in the US in 1920? Hi all, I am researching a cartoonist who lived in an American Midwestern boarding house that advertised itself as a "Modern European Hotel" in 1920. Do you have any idea what that meant? What amenities might there have been? Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry? Did this indicate a "nice" place or a not-so-nice one?

My sense is that this was a cheaper boarding house, and people were mostly living there long-term. Using the census records I determined that fellow boarders included a bookbinder, a waitress, five salesmen (one travelling), a grocer, two musicians, an auto tire worker, a live-in staff of four, the proprietor, and eleven unemployed wives and children. Perhaps some of you have seen "Modern European Hotel" used in novels or some other source from that era? Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts!

How dangerous could it be, really?

FatherDagon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:05:26 -0800

Staying at the Clermont Hotel in Atlanta this weekend - any firsthand info I should know? So some friends and I are heading down to Atlanta this weekend for the Scion Rock Fest (cheesy name for a great metal lineup) at the Masquerade, and I've decided to take a walk on the nasty side and get rooms at the Clermont Hotel, which is the attached building to the infamous Clermont Lounge. The reasons are threefold - it's something like two blocks from the metal show, so we can just walk back from there after being thoroughly inebriated, it's 39 dollars a night per room, and I have a sick fascination with being in terrible places. From what I've heard, the Lounge is seedy but amusing, a local institution, etc etc etc; however, the Hotel itself is The Place That Man Should Not Tread... which amuses me to no end. We'll be bringing our own sheets/pillowcases/etc, just in case. I'm not that worried - according to this article, there hasn't even been a murder in the hotel since 2001! Any locals have first-hand experience with the place?

Panama City here I come!

pamspanda — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:54:37 -0800

Planning May '09 vacation to Panama City - please recommend a newer hotel - on the beach - in the mid-to-upper range price. I have not been in many years and need your help.

Can hotels charge more for handicap accessible rooms, and do they have to make these rooms available to handicapped individuals?

sirhensley — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:50:30 -0800

Can hotels charge more for handicap accessible rooms, and do they have to make these rooms available to handicapped individuals? I have a hotel reservation made for my brother-in-law for Saturday night. He is in a wheel chair and requires a room that he can move around in and shower in. I just spoke to the hotel and they told me that our reservation (paid in advance - non refundable) is for a standard room and the only rooms with wheelchair accessible bathrooms are the deluxe king rooms (which cost a bit more). Additionally, I was informed that these rooms are already occupied by guests.

My questions are:

1) Can hotel (specifically in California) legally require a handicapped individual to pay for a more expensive room in order to get an accessible bathroom? This seem very odd to me.

2) Can hotels give out the handicap accessible rooms to anyone, even if they have no disability, while leaving those with a disability out of luck and stuck with a room that can not accommodate their needs? I can understand if the hotel is booked completely full, but dont understand how they can give the accessible rooms out first and hang those who actually need them out to dry.

Please help me understand what is a legal requirement/obligation versus optional policy.

Thanks

A safe and affordable hotel in Panama City?

2oh1 — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:42:14 -0800

travelfilter! Any recommendations for an affordable hotel in Panama City? A friend of mine is planning on spending 11 days in Panama with her mom. My friend is a woman in her late 20s and pretty adventurous, but her mom... not as much. They're looking for a hotel for at least the first night or two so they'll have a place to stay when they arrive in the country (in Panama City). $25 a night or less (ish). The goal is to have a hotel booked before they arrive. Any parts of town you'd recommend? Or avoid?

My friend has the Panama Lonely Planet guide, but while looking up recommended hotels, she's gotten a lot of conflicting advice.

Subway to Boston from where?

starman — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:50:51 -0800

Place to stay on the outskirts of Boston? We're looking for a place to stay in Boston for a night or two this summer. We'd like to avoid crazy traffic and stay somewhere we could subway into the city. Any recommendations for specific places or areas?

Extra points if it has some nice walks/neighborhoods/etc. around it. (Is the Harvard/Cambridge area a good way to go?)

Bangkok stay, recomendations.

Neonshock — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:57:05 -0800

Wheres somewhere great and cheap to stay for a couple of days at the beginning and ending of ten days in Bangkok, Thailand? Im heading out to Kou Tau to see my friend between these periods so getting between the train station and airport is the only real factor, other than it being cheap to moderate. What would you recomend?

(I know this has been asked before and Ive looked, but its been a while)