YMCA

Get the very best Rates on Hotel Rooms It can be fun to go on a trip and enjoy staying in a luxurious hotel room. Yet many people have to pass up that option and go for a more moderate hotel because of the expense involved. There are some good ways to get the hotel you want at a price you can afford though. It does take some research and planning but it can be done. Regardless of the hotel you are looking at, weekends are generally their busiest time. Planning your stay during the week will help you get a much lower rate. You also need to do research to find out the slowest time of year for that given hotel. They will offer lower prices during that time period so that they can sell rooms rather than leaving them empty. If you have any type of membership such as AAA or military, you may be eligible for discounts on various hotels without even knowing it. Call the hotel and ask them what discounts they offer. While you have them on the line ask them to quote you the very lowest price they can offer. Then compare this price to different online sites. Sometimes the hotel offers the best price and other times you will find it online. If you are more comfortable booking with the hotel directly, ask them to honor a price you found somewhere online. Many hotels offer discounts for people who have stayed with them before, even free nights or upgrades after you have stayed with them a set amount of times. If you will be staying at the hotel for several days at a time you will likely get special treatment. This could be a room close to the elevator or with the best type of view. Make sure you mention the length of your stay and what you are interested in when you make the reservation. There is generally no extra cost for such features but make sure you ask before you agree to the reservation. When you arrive at the hotel you can ask them for a free upgrade. If they have the room available they may be able to honor your request. There is no guarantee that it will happen though so be prepared that you will be in the type of room you paid for. If you are visiting the hotel on the off season or during the week you are more likely to get such an upgrade at no extra charge. You may mention that you would really love one of the balcony rooms if they could offer you an upgrade if you want a specific type of upgrade amenity. Many people plan their hotel arrangements way in advance. This is good so that you are guaranteed a room. However, if you can get away with flexible days to stay then you can keep a watchful eye on the very best prices. You can grab some great last minute deals on hotel rooms online at different travel sites. You have to be careful though because you don’t want to end up with no hotel room at all. You can try to work out a deal by simply walking into a hotel in the late evening to see what is still available. You have a good chance of working out a good deal since the room may go unused if they don’t offer it to you. However, they may be viewing it as a chance to get more money for the room since you are looking for one at the last minute. Don’t be afraid to say no to their offer and try to renegotiate it. Too many people simply walk into a hotel, as the price, and then pay for it without any negotiating taking place whatsoever. If you know several other people who will be staying at the same hotel you can ask for a group discount rate. In some cases the rooms all have to be paid for together but the majority of hotels will accommodate individual billing.

Located in the heart of the charming La Jolla village,
the Empress Hotel is an enchanted palace located
just four miles north of Mission Bay.  Adding a
little bit more beauty to the already amazing San
Diego, this hotel is very popular for tourists.

Known for its warm hospitality, the Empress Hotel
has superior accommodations and very attentive
service.  This superior hotel is a great place to
relax and enjoy everything that San Diego has to
offer you and your family.

La Jolla is an upscale coastal resort that sets
amist beautiful cliffs and coves.  La Jolla offers
plenty of shops, fine dining, distinctive galleries,
and amazing beaches.  By staying at the Empress
Hotel you’ll be captivated with the area and
amazed time and time again.

Luxury
If your looking for luxurious accommodations, the
Empress Hotel has them.  Accommodations here
include either one king or two queen beds, available
in several room types, including traditional,
deluxe, empress, and even the empress spa suite.

All rooms at the Empress Hotel feature:
 -  Cable television
 -  A refrigerator
 -  Coffee maker and bottled water
 -  Free local calls and faxing
 -  Voicemail and data ports
 -  Private bath with hairdryer and bathrobes
 -  Iron and ironing board

Services and amenities
The Empress Hotel offers superior service, such as
valet parking, courteous room service, and other
amentities.

The complimentary deluxe continental breakfast here
includes fresh Starbucks coffee, served on the sun
deck every morning.  The Manhattan restaurant is
right around the corner as well, offering some
excellent fine dining.

The hotel also offers an exercise center, spa, and
sauna so that guests can pamper themselves.  They
can also refer you to local spas and other things
nearby that you may be interested in.

For those on a working vacation, the Empress Hotel
offers complimentary Internet access on two
floors.  Private meetings and conferences can be
held in one of the two meeting rooms, available
for groups of up to 50 people.  Both meeting
rooms are equipped with high speed internet
access. 

If your going to be staying in the La Jolla area,
the Empress Hotel is one the best hotels in the
area.  The hotel is in a great location, minutes
away from some of the biggest attractions that
San Diego has to offer.

You can visit Sea World, the Birch Aquarium, and
many other popular tourist attractions.  Best of
all, you can come back to your relaxing hotel
after a day of checking out La Jolla and San
Diego and just relax – the way things were always
meant to be on vacation.

If you’ve ever been to La Jolla, you are probably
aware of the fact that finding a hotel can be a
pretty tough task indeed.  To help you with your
quest, you’ll find some of the best hotels in La
Jolla.  This way, you’ll be well prepared when you
visit again.

1.  Travelodge La Jolla Beach
Located close to the Windandsea Beach, this hotel
is in a quiet area.  There are 44 rooms here, with
a fitness center less than a block away.  Travelodge
also offers free wireless and internet service,
which is great for those who like computers.

2.  Radisson Hotel La Jolla
This hotel offers landscaped grounds with waterfalls,
gardens, and it’s convenient to UCSD and the La
Jolla Village Square.  The hotel has 252 rooms, with
a complimentary airport shuttle.  Located at 3299
Holiday Court, this hotel is an excellent choice
to stay.

3.  La Jolla Village Lodge
The La Jolla Village Lodge is a three stories, and
offers quite a bargain in price.  With 30 rooms,
free parking and a free continental breakfast, the
La Jolla Village Lodge is a great addition to the
La Jolla area.

4.  Redwood Hollow
The Redwood Hollow is more of a studio or one and
two bedroom cottages, offering full kitchens on
1/2 acre of gardens.  Close to the beach, this
lodge offers 11 rooms and plenty of views.  Located
at 256 Prospect Street, you’ll be close to what
you want to do in La Jolla.

5.  Empress Hotel
Located in the heart of the town, the Empress
Hotel is a well known local favorite.  Manhattan’s
restaurant is located off from the lobby, with a
fitness center and sauna onsite as well.  The hotel
also offers 73 rooms, free local calls, breakfast,
and high speed internet.  Located at 7766 Fay
Avenue, the Empress Hotel is the place to be for
those who want to be in the middle of La Jolla.

6.  Grande Colonial
Located on La Jolla’s main street, the Grande
Colonial is one of the oldest hotels in the city.
With 75 rooms and a European style, Grande Colonial
also offers you free ADSL internet and valet
parking.

7.  Hyatt Regency
The Hyatt Regency in La Jolla offers modern design
with all the comforts, although it’s better for
travelers than family vacationers.  The Regency
is located at 3777 La Jolla Village Drive, offers
394 rooms, and plenty of other perks to keep you
entertained and interested.

Universal Studios Tours Hotels

When planning your Universal Studios Tours
vacation, you may wish to stay at a hotel that is
within walking distance of the park. There are only
two hotels within walking distance, and they are
both world-class hotels that are highly
recommended.

The Universal Sheraton Hotel is located at 333
Universal Hollywood Drive. The hotel has served
visitors to Universal Studios since 1969, and it is
known as the Hotel of the Stars. The hotel literally
sits on the back lot of the studio.

Featuring 436 guest rooms and suites, the hotel
often has many famous guests. There is no telling
who you might run into! Although it is in walking
distance of Universal Studios, the hotel staff believe
that everyone should be treated like a star, and
therefore, complimentary tram rides to the park are
offered.

The guest rooms feature high speed Internet
access, air conditioning, an alarm clock, cable
television, and a coffee maker. Hotel services
include a valet service, a business center and
business services, a car rental service, a concierge
service, and room service. There are 21 meeting
rooms on the property, as well as a lobby lounge
and the Baja Beach Club Poolside Lounge.

The Hotel of the Stars is the most popular hotel to
stay at, but if there are no rooms available, you
should consider the Universal City Hilton Hotel. The
Universal City Hilton is located at 555 Universal
Hollywood Drive. The Hilton offers guests fine dining
in several on site restaurants, and has several
lounges on the property as well. The hotel features
a health and fitness center, a business center, and
deluxe room accommodations. Each guest room
at the Universal City Hilton features a view of the
Hollywood Hills, including the San Fernando Valley
and Universal Studios.

These two hotels are highly recommended by
Universal Studios due to their close proximity and
the high level of quality guest amenities and service.
Because of their popularity, you should book your
trip well in advance, and make sure that you make
any special requests for additional amenities or
services at the time that you make your reservation.

Other hotels are available within driving distance of
Universal Studios Tours, but if possible, you should
plan to stay at one of these fine hotels. Again, the
proximity to the park and level of quality service
cannot be topped. You may also be able to get a
special rate on Universal Studios tickets at the
Concierge’s desk of either hotel.

Excalibur Hotel and Casino Brings Magic to Life If you are harboring thoughts of bringing the family for a Las Vegas vacation, then perhaps you should seriously consider a stay at Excalibur Hotel and Casino. This hotel will have you feeling as though you’ve stepped into the fairy tales of your childhood. From the moment you cross the threshold from the outside world to the charmed existence of life in the hotel you will find that you have truly been charmed and are leading a somewhat enchanted existence. Not only is there the magnificent casino to enjoy, there is also the wonderful pool, links golf, the castle walk for your shopping pleasure, and the midway where you can play all kinds of fun and exciting arcade and carnival games. Perhaps one of the most memorable and impressive of offerings is the Tournament of Kings dinner show. This show is offered nightly at 6:00 and 8:30 and you will eat in the manner of those in medieval times, without utensils while watching the evil wizard Mordred as he invades the evening festivities. This show is quite enjoyable and relies heavily upon audience participation. Dining in the hotel and casino can be quite the adventure without the assistance of horses and actors as there are several dining options including the Roundtable Buffet, The Steakhouse at Camelot, Regale Italian Eatery, Sherwood Forest Café, and how could we forget Sir Galahad’s Pub and Prime Rib House? If you’re looking for the fairytale wedding of your dreams, then Excalibur has the package for you. You can even elect to rent medieval costumes in which to get married. There are many different packages available to fit various budgets and wedding needs. Wedding packages vary in price from around $400 plus $55 for the cost of the minister to around $1575 plus the cost of the minister. These are all rather basic packages and do not include extras such as costume rentals, extra poses for the wedding photos, or video and candle services. Before your big day make sure you make liberal use of the spa services available at Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Of course this is a great idea even if you are just hoping to relax while on vacation. You remember relaxation right? That is what you did on occasion before you had children. You should definitely get the royal treatment that is available through the spa and enjoy every minute of your visit. Some of the spa services offered at Excalibur include: facials, wraps, Aveda facials, and various massages. There are add on services that can be purchased and packages available. This is a great way to spend an hour or three before your big day or any day. Once you’ve finished getting pampered at the spa, step on over to Kristina’s Salon and get primped. You can enjoy everything from manicures to full service hair styling services. Whether you are preparing for your big day and saying “I do!” or simply for a romantic evening on the strip this is a great place to begin. Excalibur also offers full service catering and convention services. Whether you are hosting a wedding reception or a company convention we have the facilities as well as the expertise to keep everything operating seamlessly behind the scenes so that all eyes will be on the things that are important. Projections and profits for the corporate conventions and the bride and groom for wedding receptions. Excalibur Hotel Casino can meet almost any lodging and accommodation needs for those staying and playing in Las Vegas, more than that we can provide a great ‘fairy tale’ atmosphere for your family vacation or just your big trip in general. If you haven’t given proper consideration to the idea of staying here during your visit, I highly encourage that you do-especially if you have a little princess in your party that you are trying to impress.

The Disneyland Hotel
For the ultimate Disneyland vacation, you should
definitely stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotel. With
990 rooms in three high rise towers, this is the
original Disney Hotel, located in Downtown Disney.
If you want to truly experience all that Disneyland
has to offer, you must stay at the Disneyland Resort
Hotel.

The guest rooms in the Disneyland Hotel are
astounding. Offering standard rooms and suites,
each room has either a king size bed or two queen
size beds, room service, phones with voicemail, irons,
ironing boards, refrigerators, hairdryers, make up
mirrors, and safes. Cribs and roll away beds are
available, as well as smoking and non-smoking rooms.
The rooms are even sprinkled with Pixie Dust! For
families, the suites are highly recommended. Suites
contain one, two, or three bedrooms, and have all
of the amenities of a standard room as well.

The Concierge service at the Disneyland Hotel
cannot be topped. Concierge service entitles you to
priority check-in, admission to an exclusive lounge,
a continental breakfast, an evening wine and cheese
reception. Nightly turn-down service is included, as
well as DVD players and complimentary movies.
You will also have an unlimited supply of bottled
water and soft drinks. The Concierge serves to
make your vacation as enjoyable and trouble-free
as possible.

Disney touches are everywhere, and this is the
closest you can actually come to living in Never Land.
The swimming pool even has a Never Land theme,
and there are several cove pools and a sandy beach.
The hotel also features a children’s playground, a
volleyball court, and Koi fish ponds. The recreational
area encompasses a 5000 square foot area inspired
by Peter Pan. There are many scenic waterfalls,
tropical foliage, and mysterious caves on the property.
There is even a Team Mickey work out room full of
state-of-the-art gym equipment.

At the Disneyland Hotel, you will feel like your
Disney experience has truly already started as soon
as you walk in the door. This is where the famous
Goofy’s Kitchen is located, as well as The Captain’s
Galley, The Coffee House, Crocs Bits ‘n’ Bites,
Granville’s Steak House, Hook’s Pointe, The Wine
Cellar, and The Lost Bar.

When you stay at the Disneyland Hotel, your
vacation continues even after a day of sight seeing
and attractions in the park. In fact, your Disneyland
vacation begins each and every morning when you
wake up in the Magic Kingdom that the Disneyland
Hotel represents.

My Snowboarding Hotel I always loved snowboarding for as long as I can remember. I love the way that snow boarding is a sport that is filled with excitement and personality. I also loved the way that snow boarding was seen as a kind of extreme sport. It made me feel almost proud of myself that I was associated with this status. When I firstly hit the slopes and tried snowboarding it was actually a very new sport at the time, and had not even nearly been in the Olympics. However, as the trend increased the slopes started to change its ratio of skiing to snowboarding. That is why I wanted to start a business that could benefit from this; I decided on starting a hotel in France that was actually targeting the snowboarders rather than the skiers. You see, the snow boarder and the skier are two very different kind of holiday maker. A snow boarder is more likely to be interested in having a great time, and socialising with younger people, whilst a skier may be away as part of a family vacation. However, I realised that my business was going to be a risky venture because at the same time as I started it, I was scared that snowboarding might not take off in the way that it has. I mean – did you know that know 22% of winter sports competitors are snowboarders? That is an amazing statistic and one that really indicates the kind of thing that I am talking about. Snow boarding is a massive sport, and I actually do not think there has been any other sport in the history of the world that has seen such success in such a short period of time. I should say the success of my hotel has been enormous, because I have been warm and comforting to the snowboarders, showing knowledge on the slopes and snowboarding in general. I am able to tell them what I would do, and give them some hot tips that have been passed on to me from hundreds and hundreds of snow boarders through my hotel. One of the things that I love the most is the way that everyone is always having a good time, and that can reflect on my mood. When everyone in the hotel is enjoying themselves and having a good time, it is easier for me to sit back and have a good time as well. It really is that simple. I am always asked by the snowboarders if I go on the slopes myself, and I always have to say no, almost appearing like I am a kind of half-interested snowboarder. I almost feel my head dropping as I say it. However, the reason for this is that nowadays, I honestly very rarely have any spare time, and it is the sad part of having my own business. My wife always offers to cover, but when she does I always see it as a great opportunity to go down the bank, or do something like catch up with the paper work. When I think about how busy I am I always just stop and think about how lucky I am to have a successful business, and a comfortable living – however my passion for snowboarding that gave me the kick start to get the business underway has now gone.