Travel

Have you always dreamed of running your own travel lodge? Or maybe you inherited one and you’re looking for tips on how to make it successful. Perhaps you’ve recently gained employment as a manager of a travel lodge. Whatever the reason for needing information, running a travel lodge can be an exciting but challenging endeavor.

Here are some tips for running a travel lodge that will help you keep customers coming back again and again.

Train Your Employees

Think about it this way: your employees are the face of your business. They are the ones interacting with customers, taking care of their needs, and trying to ensure that they have an enjoyable stay.

You want to make sure that you hire qualified staff and provide adequate training for all of them. You want everyone to know the policies and procedures so they can handle any situation that comes up. For example, offer customer service classes to help them understand how to handle difficult customers for the best possible outcome.

Also, be sure to provide ongoing training and development opportunities for your employees.

Provide Quality Accommodations

Your customers are coming for a comfortable, clean room that meets their needs. Make sure you have quality beds, linens, mirrors, bathtub stoppers, furniture, etc in every room. Then take steps to ensure that all rooms are regularly cleaned with a system in place for promptly addressing any maintenance issues that arise.

You should also pay attention to the amenities you offer. Provide WIFI, workspace areas, good lighting, easy access to outlets, complimentary toiletries, and other conveniences so customers feel taken care of during their stay.

Create a Pleasant Environment

The atmosphere of your property is just as important as the accommodations you offer. You want common areas like lobbies, dining rooms, and outdoor spaces to be inviting. Consider adding a few touches like plants or artwork to give an extra bit of charm.

If you can afford it, consider hiring a live band or providing other entertainment for guests. This will help make your travel lodge stand out from the rest by further creating a memorable experience for visitors. For example, you could host a weekly outdoor movie night with complimentary snacks, or offer special discounts for guests who take part in activities organized by your staff.

Promote Your Property

Finally, you need to be sure that people know about your property. Reach out to local businesses, schools, organizations, etc to provide information about your property and its offerings.

Consider joining online travel forums and social media to get the word out as well. Then, you want to create a website with information about your property, amenities, and rates to attract new customers.

By following these tips for running a travel lodge, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful business. With the right combination of excellent customer service, comfortable accommodations, a pleasant environment, and effective promotion, you can become the go-to destination for travelers in your area.

 

Given the current state that we are in now, many people have turned to online shopping to practice social distancing and minimize contact.  From food to furniture, everything can be purchased online.  If you are thinking of purchasing a vehicle online, well it is not something undoable in this age of Covid-19.  It is entirely possible to complete the process of purchasing a car without having to leave your home.  The good thing about buying a car online is that it saves you the time and stress of haggling with a dealer.

Below are some steps you will have to take to buy a car online:

• What kind of car are you interested in?  What are the features do you want and most importantly, what is your budget?  Once you have decided on the car model, do research online to find out more about the car that best suits your needs.
• You can search for the car from your local dealer’s website or on websites like Cars.com. As soon as you have found the exact car that you want to buy, you have to contact the dealer to make sure that the car is in stock or contact the owner of the car to begin the purchase process.

Once the deal is closed, it is time to ship the car back to you.  Some dealerships are able to deliver the car to your home.  Or if you are buying a car from another seller who is out of the state and you are unable to collect it yourself, don’t worry because there are a number of transport companies that can deliver it to you at a reasonable rate.

There are dozens of auto shipping companies out there and it can be difficult to find the good ones. This is where Shiply, an online shipment marketplace can help to find an affordable and reliable car shipping service.  You just have to fill out a simple form with the details like make, model and size of the vehicle as well as the pickup and delivery locations. The car shipping companies will then send you quotes straight to your inbox, giving you the chance to easily assess your options and compare quotes for moving your car.  Can’t get any easier than that eh?

The cost of shipping a vehicle will depend on the following:

• Distance: It is cheaper to deliver between two major cities compared to shipping between smaller cities or towns because there are more carriers covering these routes. Another thing that affects the price of auto transport is the distance of the drop-off location.
• Size of Vehicle: Bigger cars cost more to transport compared to smaller cars because they take up more space in the carrier.  Heavier cars also add more cargo weight and more fuel is required to transport them.
• Season:  Weather can impact the price of the shipment as well as the delivery timeline.
• Duration:  The faster you want your car to be transported, the more expensive it can get.

 

 

If you are looking forward to relaxing and enjoying your next holiday with the hope of coming back very fresh to face the new challenges of work and your normal activities, then you might want to go on a spa holiday. If you are wondering what benefits you are going to get from going on a spa holiday, this article will discuss some of the major benefits.

Detox
Our environment today has a lot of toxins. In some cases, we even work in factories where a significant quantity of emissions that can affect an individual is produced. If you want to detoxify yourself (get rid of toxins from your system, then taking a spa holiday would be ideal for you. Toxins are harmful to individuals both physically and mentally. To avoid such complications, a spa holiday might just be exactly what you would need. You can read spaseekers reviews to see the experience of other customers they have helped to detox during a spa vacation.

Stress Management
Another reason why a spa holiday could be good for you is stress management. Our daily activities put us through a lot of stress as we strive to make ends meet, work diligently, get our paychecks, buy our needs, take care of our loved ones and try to make the best out of life. Sometimes, it is best to just take a break. The break could then be a spa holiday where you would get nice massaged that relieve you of stress and aching muscles.

Weight loss
Stress has been consistently linked with weight gain. This is because we could get overwhelmed by things and we begin to eat excessively. With spa holidays, we could get relieved of the stress and with the stress out of the way, we might reduce those activities that make us gain weight and we could start shedding all the excess weight that we got.

Improved confidence and self-esteem
Spa holidays could give you time to relax and reflect on things around you. It is often difficult getting enough time when you are not on vacation. The quality time during the vacation could help you come to terms with a lot of things, help you reflect and find solutions to major problems. By the time the spa holiday should be rounding up everything about you would have increased including your self-esteem and self-confidence. This would go a long way by the time you are back to help you become more productive and happier.

Skin management
Another benefit of a spa holiday is skin management. The oil and other things that would be required for giving you a massage and other spa activities would be beneficial to your skin. This is apart from the fact that your spa holiday could include sun tanning and other activities that would be beneficial to your skin. Thus, it is expected that you would come back from your spa vacation with better skin.

Pain management
A spa holiday is one of the easiest ways to relieve your body of pain. Massages and other things you would be involved in during a spa holiday would mostly be geared towards relaxing you and taking away every pain from your body.

 

Regardless of how much you think you’re the perfect driver, chances are, you’re not. While some people intentionally commit traffic violations, others don’t even realize how many they’re making a day. Some may be closer to harmless, while others are extremely dangerous.

In order to make sure that you avoid getting into a car accident, take a look at some of the most common mistakes you could be making more often than you realize.

Using Headlights Only At Night

Many people assume that their headlights are only necessary at night. However, your chances of getting into an accident are significantly lower if you keep your lights on at all times.

It’s especially important in weather conditions like rain or snow where visibility is limited even in the daytime.

Speeding Through Yellow Lights

Everyone knows the stress of being in a hurry somewhere when their light suddenly turns yellow. Out of panic of being trapped behind the dreaded red light, we speed up trying to beat the clock.

Unfortunately, the yellow light is supposed to evoke the opposite reaction in drivers. The idea is for drivers to slow down so that they’re ready to come to a complete stop before the red.

Drivers speeding through yellow lights is one of the most common causes of accidents at intersections.

Remaining In The Passing Lane

The purpose of the passing lane on the freeway is for passing. The idea is to merge back into traffic once you’ve passed. However, all too often drivers use this lane to drive at a speed which may even be below the limit.

This is a quick way to make other drivers furious, and potentially even get a ticket.

Passing School Zone Speeds On Weekends

Some areas only strictly enforce the school zone speed during school hours. However, it’s unwise to assume that all school zones are the same. Some schools have traffic speed cameras which will ticket you regardless of the hour of the day.

Speeding in a school zone can have a significantly pricy traffic fine attached to it, so always make sure to watch the signs closely.

Failing To Slow Down In Puddles

When driving through puddles, it’s important to slow down. Not only can you do serious damage to your vehicle depending on how deep the puddle is, but you can also cause your car to hydroplane, resulting in an accident. It’s not always easy to see the depth of a puddle ahead of you. Therefore, when you see a puddle approaching, always slow down.

Don’t be one of those drivers that are shocked when they get into an accident one day. You can prevent a considerable amount of collisions by recognizing common mistakes and how to avoid them.

 

Vegas is an unforgettable location with tons of shopping and attractions. You’ll have some of the best food of your life, and enjoy one of the best nightlife scenes on the planet.

However, it’s essential to know that the city of sins can eat you alive if you aren’t careful. In order to make the most out of your stay, you’ll need to follow the right tips to steer clear of common newbie mistakes.

If you’re planning on a trip to Vegas in the near future, then take a look at some of these important tips.

Not Everything Goes In Vegas

A lot of people assume that everything is legal in Vegas, from prostitution to drugs. This is not the case. If you get caught with drugs, you’ll be charged the same as if you were back at home.

It’s critical that you follow the same rules that you would follow at home in Vegas. The authorities don’t take illegal activity lightly, so unless you want to spend your trip in jail, you should stay within the law.

Stay Hydrated

Most people who go to Vegas drink alcohol. After all, it’s the city of sin, right? However, what a lot of first time Vegas tourists don’t realize is that they’re in the desert. When you drink a lot of alcohol, you will dehydrate yourself. Combined with the extreme heat, you can easily suffer heat stroke.

It’s important to stay as hydrated as possible. Try to alternate alcoholic drinks with water. This is especially important if you’re outside in direct sunlight. Since there are so many outdoor pool parties in Vegas, it’s easy to find yourself unaware of just how much sun you’re taking in when you’re outside having a good time.

Take Gambling Lessons

If you’re considering gambling, but have never done it before, then you should take lessons. Poker, blackjack, and other table games require a certain level of skill. When you’re putting your hard earned money on the line, it’s best to know what you’re doing.

It will require a small investment to pay someone to teach you. However, the cost compared to potentially losing thousands in a game is hardly comparable.

Don’t Buy Drinks At the Casino

A lot of newbies arrive at the casino and order a drink at the bar and then start gambling. However, in an effort to get you to keep gambling, the casino will actually bring you free drinks. The idea is to keep the booze flowing so that you lose your inhibitions and spend your money more freely.

If you’re planning on gambling, you might as well save your money, and take the drinks for free from the friendly waitress instead.

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.

The UK is a wonderful part of the world and is full of history, great landscapes and unique dishes. But what are the best things about the UK and where should you travel to? we’re going to take a look at this now:

It’s Easy to Travel in and Around the UK

The UK is quite small when you compare it to other countries and it has some great transport links. You can pretty much get anywhere in the UK by bus, train or car. Some cities even have trams that will take you from one side of town to another. What’s more, is some beaches have funiculars. A funicular is a type of carriage, similar to a train carriage that is operated by cables. These cables help the funicular move up or down a very steep slope.

If you plan to travel long distances you may want to think about jumping on a train. Trains in the UK can take you just about anywhere and in some cases, you may be helping to keep some of those quieter stations open.

It’s Home to Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites

If you want to find yourself a cheap break in the UK you may be pleased to know that this country is home to approximately 30 UNESCO world heritage sites. This means you have the opportunity to visit some incredibly beautiful and historic sites such as:

• The Derwent Valley Mills – Known as the birthplace of factory systems, worker’s housing and the water frame.
• The Lake District – Scenic landscapes, literature and visual arts.
• The Forth Bridge – A cantilever railway bridge located in East Scotland.
• Ironbridge Gorge – A transport infrastructure, worker’s homes, mines and the first bridge to be made from iron.
• Saltaire – A village that was built by a mill owner for his workers.

Amazing Beaches

While the UK may not be one of the world’s warmest countries it still has some amazing beaches. With a coastline that’s almost 19,500 miles long, there are plenty of beaches just waiting to be visited. Beaches in Cornwall are particularly beautiful as are those in North Yorkshire and Saltburn-by-the-sea.

Diverse Cities

The UK is full of some amazingly diverse cities that offer something for everyone. London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and Cambridge, to name but a few. With 66 cities just waiting for you to visit them, if you want to stay in a city you certainly have a lot to choose from.

Every city in the UK is different and they all have a unique history, culture and story. Try to visit as many cities as you can as there really are some incredible sights to see. While many people stick to staying in London they are missing out. Travel further north or west and see what the UK’s cities have to offer.

The UK is full of great transport links, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, amazing beaches and diverse cities. Whether you already live in the UK or you plan to visit this country you are certain to have a great time.

 

Many people sour on their RVs because they end up paying too much to finance it. This leads a really bad taste in their mouths when they have to also pay for gas and other things in order to move it around. In the end the RV often ends up in the yard collecting dust today however If you live in Florida, there is easy Florida RV loans refinancing programs that can help you save money and lower your RV payments.

Once you get a better feeling about your RV you can remind yourself of all the wonderful reasons that you purchased it. Here’s some of the best reasons to take your RV on the road.

Connect With Nature

When you get your RV refinanced you can feel great about going out and driving the American roads.  People that own RVs often say that one of the major benefits of having one’s being able to get out into the open air and connect with nature. When you are driving down the road, you get a chance to see things that you would never notice if you are on a train or in a plane. The United States is such a beautiful country and you’ll get a chance to see it all up close and personal. If you have kids, this is a great way to show them beautiful countryside and even cities from a different point of view. You and your spouse can use these opportunities when you are in your IV to educate them and to get them to appreciate how important it is to be responsible when you were out in nature.

Choose Where You Want to Go

One wonderful thing about the United States is that there are RV parks in access for RVs in every area of the country, no matter where you want to go in the country you will always be able to find the place where you can park your RV and drive it is well. You can choose whether you want to go to the wide open spaces of Alaska, the hot desert of Arizona and Nevada, the Everglades of Florida, with a beautiful pine country of New York or Vermont. Each of these areas of the country has great access for RVs and presents a beautiful place for you to take your family.

Have Multiple Vacations

An RV allows you and your family to have multiple kick vacations. You can start in one location that is warm and humid and end up in another location that is snowy and cold. You can literally have two completely different style vacations in one vacation. Or you can decide to drive to completely different types of topography and climate as you see fit.

Because you are taking your hotel with you on wheels, you can stop wherever you like and decide to stay as long as you like when you own an RV. You can also change your plans based on how great a time you are having. If you decide that one places perfect for your vacation you can stay there longer or if you decide that you want to change your mind and spend a short of time at that location, you simply drive away to a place that you find more acceptable. With an RV you never have to worry about having your vacation spoiled.

 

 

Going on vacation to Florida is nothing short of a big deal. If you plan to visit all of the theme parks in the area you’re in for a great time. However, a vacation in this part of the world can be quite expensive so you may need to cut back on your spending where you can. The good news is this article explains how.

Stay in an Off-resort Hotel

While you may be tempted to stay in a hotel that’s in one of the resorts/theme parks chances are they will be a lot more expensive than you think. Hotels in theme parks can be wonderfully colourful and exciting but if you want to save money you need to stay elsewhere.

There are plenty of hotels in and around Florida, some are even in short driving distance of those major theme parks. This means you can potentially be at the theme parks early without having to pay more than you really need to.

Pre-Buy your Tickets

If you pre-buy your tickets you’re likely to save a bit of cash. You usually get some sort of offer that means you have an extra day or two’s entry for free. You may also want to pre-buy your theme park tickets to avoid queues as they can get quite long. Simply show up with your tickets and you’ll get in so much quicker.

If you can, why not buy some queue-jumper tickets? They don’t cost very much and they could move you right to the front of the queue. Queue-jumper tickets are usually offered when you pre-buy your tickets and are part of the deal. If you do not want to pay a little more to jump the queue, be prepared to spend at least 30 minutes in a queue when it’s busy.

Take a Picnic with you

There are many restaurants in each of the theme parks but they can be a little pricey. If you want to save a good bit of money you may want to take a picnic with you. You can buy food in any of the shops that surround hotels. Buying food and enjoying a picnic can be a lot of fun as you’ll have the chance to enjoy some local foods. You will, of course, save quite a bit of money too, and that’s not a bad thing.

Don’t be Fooled by Cheaper Prices

Many visitors to any theme park anywhere in the world are fooled by supposedly cheaper prices. However, you will only save money if you were going to go on that ride or buy those products anyway. Of course, if you like the price and you want to buy that t-shirt, for example, you should. Just be aware of those bargains and remember you don’t have to part with your hard-earned cash if you don’t want to.

It is entirely possible for you to save money while you’re on vacation in Florida. Use the above tips to help you enjoy your vacation of a lifetime.

 

Jason Proch and I have been in business for around 5 years now after meeting at a new York business conference. Back then he had a brilliant idea for a fintech startup which was why he made the trek from the UK over here to America, in the hope fo gaining some support, which he did of course in myself. It took us some time to work out whereabouts we would run the business and eventually decided that the American market was probably the better place for it, which means that Jason had to relocate. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching his integration into New York society and I asked him last week what tips he would give to a fellow Englishman coming here to live, here is what he had to say.

Rudeness

On the face of it, especially when compared with the UK, New Yorkers can appear to be very rude indeed and they come across brash and aggressive. In reality however this is how the city has made them and it is less about aggression or brashness and more about simply being direct. People don’t have time a city like this for idle chit-chat or standing on ceremony, so they just cut to the chase.

Nice Guys Finish Last

Running on from that last point about directness, if you plan to come and stay here for a while then you must lose the manners somewhat and sharpen your elbows. In my first few weeks here I was the usual English gentleman with manners, holding doors open for people, giving up cabs for an older lady, smiling at strangers and generally being polite. What I very quickly learned was that if you have this attitude you will get swallowed alive in this city. You will spend all day waiting for a cab, you will be holding that door open for hours and you will be perceived as weird for smiling at people. This is not a town for a gentleman, there is a time and place of course, but rather this is a town where you have to be a matador in order to survive,

Tourists

Although if we are speaking technically,  I am a tourist, I feel like after a couple of years here you earn the right to be frustrated by other tourists. I consider myself a part of the system here in New York now as opposed to a visitor and is why I can say that tourists can be a real frustrating part of your day. Filling up the subway, causing traffic, blocking the pavement and swarming like bees around places of interest. I know that I cannot stop tourists from coming to New York, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot be frustrated by them, and you will too.

The only other complaint that I would have about my new life is the severe lack of tea in this city, or at least a good cup of black tea, everyone seems to be too focussed on ‘cool and chic’ fruity teas, a common frustration which us Englishmen must go through.

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.

If you enjoy traveling in a group then why not look to take matters into your own hands for your next trip and use a charter bus rental. No matter where you happen to be going, if you plan on traveling by road then there are a huge amount of benefits to traveling on a charter bus, and doing so can actually help you to have a great deal more fun as you travel to your destination. A group of friends and myself go away each year and in the last 2 years we have used a private bus rental, which has really improved the trip on the whole, and here is why.

Cost Effective

A private charter bus rental is far cheaper on everyone than taking multiple cars or buying bus and train tickets. This really was what motivated our decision to charter a bus in the first place, yet we didn’t realize just how much money we would be able to save. In doing this we have trimmed the cost of our trip by at least 30%, giving us more money to spend on better hotels, nicer places and better experiences.

Together 

When we all used to travel down in separate cars we would be constantly talking to each other on the phone or sending messages, yet now we can do this in person. Something which we all love about the bus is that we are all close and we can all have a chat to one another as we go, without worrying about who will be driving. I must say that this additional togetherness has also enhanced the fun that we have when we all go traveling together.

Responsibility 

There was always 2 or 3 of us who needed to be designated drivers in the past, being responsible as the others had fun, in order to drive them back safely. With the chartered bus however this is not the case and now we can all have a good time without worrying about who is driving. The chartered bus service not only takes us to our destination but it is there for whenever we need it, to take us out somewhere during our time away.  

Less Mileage

As one of my friends pointed out last week, each time that we took our car away in the past we would be running the risk of accidents, adding mileage to the car and of course the extra miles would take its toll on the car which could’ve easily caused a breakdown. With the bus however none of this matters any more and nobody is putting extra miles or extra stress on their vehicles. In the long run the benefit of this will be that it saves us even more money, money that we would’ve spent on our vehicles.

If you are taking a road trip this year, why not consider a charter bus service, I would definitely recommend it.