For women going places

In a previous blog post Hotel Haven, we looked at the top amenities travelers look for when they book a hotel room. Discounts, pools and extras like spa services ranked high in a survey done by Orbitz.

USAToday then did a story specifically about what Road Warriors want in a hotel stay. Hotels are offering more perks and ramping up their pampering to attract more business travelers as they start to hit the road again in 2011. Readers (mostly male - only one woman business traveler was quoted in the story) have a long list of requests but most have to do with comfort and convenience. They include:

On-site business centers
Good desk and light in room
Microwave oven
Newspaper at door
TV channel guide
Free breakfast
Early check-in

In 2009, womanroadwarrior.com surveyed more than 500 Woman Road Warriors for their hotel preferences.




Our results showed they absolutely want:
#1 - Cleanliness
#2 - Friendliness
#3 - Safety
#4 - Good Lighting (especially in the bathroom)

Some other suggestions for making their stay more enjoyable included:

Free bottled water and snacks
Free wi-fi (this was a must)
Good pillows, linens & comforters
More electrical outlets
Chocolate
Better room service menus
Comfortable reading chairs
Female-friendly rooms
Female-friendly cable channels

What do you want in your hotel stay? Let us know in the comments.

See you on the road!

Road Reporter Vicki Zwart

Labels: amenities, female friendly, hotel, Orbitz, road warrior

What do you look for when booking a hotel room? In addition to free wi-fi, what are the other must-haves when you pick a place to stay? Orbitz recently released a survey of the most searched amenities by customers on its website in 2010.

The results include:

Promotional Offers and Discounts: Customers want more for less. On Orbitz, top searches included free parking and airport shuttle services.

Pools: Everybody wants to take a dip, regardless of whether they’re a single, a couple or family.

The Extras: People want more than the basics when they book a room. Orbitz says they’re looking for spa services and fitness centers. And more guests are searching for pet-friendly accommodations.

The Crosby Street Hotel in New York is one of those places offering its guests more than an average stay. It’s in SoHo at 79 Crosby Street between Spring and Prince Streets and one block behind Broadway.

Its signature room design element is a dressmaker’s mannequin.

Road Warrior Ramey Warren, president of SpeechYou.com (online public speaking training), stayed there recently and raved about the style and roominess of her accommodation. Need a screening room with up-to-date technology, including 3D capability? A place for a client event? Or how about a meeting over a classic afternoon tea? This could be it.

And how many hotels have their own roof-top kitchen garden that supplies its chefs with fresh seasonal produce? Crosby does, along with a chicken coop where designer hens lay unique pale blue eggs.

The Crosby Street hotel is part of the Firmdale hotel group which has six luxury hotels in London, all designed by award-winning designer Kit Kemp. Yes, it can be pricey but check out the Sunday night special for the lowest rates or take a seat at the Crosby Bar and enjoy the design from there.

See you on the road!

Road Reporter Deborah Harter Williams with contributing writer Vicki Zwart

Labels: airport shuttle, amenities, crosby hotel, fitness center, hotel, London, new york, Orbitz, pools, spa services

With Thanksgiving just over two weeks away, you may be getting ready to firm up your travel plans, book your flights and fortify your mental state as stressful thoughts fill your head about possible delays, cancellations and over-bookings. There is a little hope for avoiding that moment when you realize your holiday travel really will be filled with more turkeys than the one you’ll be enjoying at Aunt June’s. Though it may take a little more planning, you could pick a less busy airport. Really, there are some. The Orbitz Insider Index has just released its Top 10 list of least busy Thanksgiving airport alternatives.

1. Akron/Canton Regional, Akron OH (CAK)
2. Oakland International, Oakland, CA (OAK)
3. Dane County Regional, Madison, WI (MSN)
4. Chicago Midway, Chicago, IL (MDW)
5. Providence T.F. Green International, Providence, RI (PVD)
6. San Jose International, San Jose, CA (SJC)
7. Nashville International, Nashville, TN (BNA)
8. Palm Beach International, West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
9. John Wayne International, Orange Co, CA (SNA)
10. Bradley International, Hartford, CT (BDL)

According to the Air Transport Association of America, about 24 million people will be flying domestically over the Thanksgiving holiday, a 3.5 percent increase over last year.

If you’re one of them – here are the airports expected to be the busiest according to Orbitz:

1. O’Hare International, Chicago (ORD)
2. Los Angeles International, Los Angeles (LAX)
3. Boston Logan International, Boston (BOS)
4. New York LaGuardia, New York (LGA)
5. San Francisco International, San Francisco (SFO)
6. Denver International, Denver (DEN)
7. JFK International, New York (JFK)
8. Newark Liberty International, Newark, NJ (EWR)
9. Atlanta Hartsfield, Atlanta (ATL)
10. Washington Ronald Reagan National, Washington, D.C. (DCA)

So obviously, if you’re taking off from one of these spots, planning is key.
Here are some tried and true Woman Road Warrior tips for smooth sailing:

-Start the day with your game face on – expect the best but be prepared to adapt as the day goes on. Make sure you’ve got all the relevant numbers on your speed dial: airlines, travel agent or travel site customer service and car rental. Get busy looking for alternatives at the first sign of trouble
-If you haven't made your plane reservations yet book the first flight out. You'll have the entire day to deal with delays.
-Check in the night before and print your boarding passes at home.
-In your carry-on: a wrap for chilly airplanes, enough food/drink for 6 hour delay, bacterial wipes, iPod, straw.
-Pack light and never check your luggage, that way you avoid fees, lost bags and delays.
-Prepare for the security check line by wearing clothes/shoes you can easily slip off and on. Keep boarding passes, I.D. handy in an easily accessible pocket in your bag and place your laptop in a separate bin. Liquids still need to be in a separate plastic bag.
-And if you’re stuck on a plane, technology can help! Twitter your predicament. Most airlines now monitor social media for customer complaints.

Safe Travels,

Road Reporter Vicki Zwart

Labels: airport security, busiest airport, LaGuardia, O'Hare, Orbitz, Thanksgiving, travel