Tagged: hotels

Renowned Ocean Liner Reborn as Floating Hotel in Dubai

The retired Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner, which the Cunard Line operated from 1969 to 2008, has been transformed into a floating hotel in Dubai.Docked at the city's Port Rashid for a…

In New York City, Rapidly Shifting Hotel Prices, Shorter Dining Hours, and More

Every year at this time, I update the book Frommer’s EasyGuide to New York City. This involves spreadsheets of pricing, hours, and more, meaning that I’m easily able to graph the…

Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas Getting a Virgin Hotels Makeover

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is entering Virgin territory. The hotel—located just off the Strip on Paradise Road—has been acquired by the growing Virgin Hotels chain,…

Makeup Mogul Bobbi Brown Opening Her Own Hotel in New Jersey

Makeup designer and skincare expert Bobbi Brown is going from fashionable boutiques to her own fashionable boutique hotel. Known for creating a popular line of understated cosmetics…

Disney World Now Charges for Parking at Hotels, Decreasing Their Value

Update: Disney Parks finally rescinded fees for self-parking at Walt Disney World resorts in January 2023. Click here to read about that.It used to be one of the great courtesies of…

Privacy vs. Security: How Hotel Guests Can Get Around the Rise in "Room Checks"

I do a strange thing in hotel rooms sometimes: I host a live radio show. When I'm on the road, thanks to the magic of Skype, my room becomes my studio. And it used to be a quiet, easy…

The Notorious B 'n' B: Infamous Historic Buildings That Are Now Hotels

You can’t blame a building for whatever shady, salacious, or downright gruesome dealings go down there. So why let a little mayhem scratch places off travel itineraries? The opposite…

No More Airline Miles for Hotel Stays Among Changes to Hilton's Loyalty Program

Hilton Worldwide is making changes to its 70-million-member hotel loyalty program, Hilton Honors.Among the most consequential of the updates: Starting April 1, members will no longer…

Robert De Niro’s Hotel Brand Goes On a Building Spree in 2018

Nobu Hotels, co-owned by actor Robert De Niro, star chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and movie producer Meir Teper, will have a busy 2018. The upscale chain is adding new properties in Chicago;…

Hyatt's Cancellation Rules Worsen for Consumers

Hyatt Hotels has made it more expensive for you to cancel a reservation. At most of the company's 700-odd properties, customers must now cancel at least 48 hours ahead of their planned…

Great Traditions Worth Experiencing at World Hotels

Hotels can be destinations, too, and sometimes checking into a historic property is reason enough to travel. From afternoon tea at the Ritz in London to the obsessive polishing of the…

Marriott's New Shower Doors Record What You Doodle on Them

This winter, Marriott introduces what it calls "Splash of Brilliance," which are special shower doors that record whatever guests trace onto them and emails an image of it. You…

The Trends That Will Shape Travel in 2018

Glance at a list of recent travel trends and you’ll be struck by something. Where we visit, the ways we get there, and what we do upon arrival are all shaped by events in the wider…

Hotel for Liberals Coming to Washington, D.C.

Well-to-do liberal travelers with lodging preferences that are more detailed than "anywhere but a Trump hotel" now have a brand aimed squarely at securing their business. In 2018,…

Family-Friendly Hotels in Washington, D.C.

Taking the family to Washington, D.C.? Make sure you book the best hotel for your crew's needs and budget, whether that means finding a location close enough to have a view of the…

Hotel Chain Brings Real-Time Sign Language Interpretation to Guests

Travelers who are deaf or hearing-impaired can now make use of a cool new free service at Room Mate Hotels, a Spain-based chain with 22 properties in cities around the world, including…

After Las Vegas, Should Airport Security Measures Now Be Applied to Hotels?

The recent horrific shooting in Las Vegas has touched off a number of articles and proposals by travel writers on the relationship of hotel security measures to acts of…

Arthur Frommer: Resort Fees are Immoral, But More Hotels Are Imposing Them

At a large and growing number of U.S. hotels, final room prices have recently risen by thirty to sixty dollars because of "resort charges" billed to hotel guests. This has happened…

Hot Tips on Hotel Stays from Top Travel CEOs

So what do the masters of the travel universe have in store for us vacationers? I attended the Skift Global Forum, an industry conference, and in between the speeches on marketing and…

Industrial Crane in Copenhagen Converted to Luxury Hotel Room

Looks like we have a new entry to add to our ever-growing list of the world's strangest hotel rooms. This one can be found in Copenhagen, where an old crane once used by the coal…

Airbnb Now Has More Rooms Than the Top 5 Hotel Companies Combined

Airbnb passed a big milestone recently.The San Francisco-based home-sharing service now has more than 4 million listings in 191 countries. That's more inventory than what the world's…

New Zealand Mud Fest, Costly Hotel Cancellations, and Nevada's Clown Motel for Sale: Today's Travel Briefing

JULY 31, 2017 — Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's hotels, motels, and mud pits. IT'S BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO CANCEL HILTON AND MARRIOTT RESERVATIONS (Los…

Another Big Hotel Chain Makes Cancelling Costly

In June, Marriott changed its rules about cancelling hotel reservations. Before then, customers usually could cancel a room all the way until the day of check-in, sometimes the day…

Mexican Mansion of Drug Kingpin Pablo Escobar Turned Into Luxury Hotel

A mansion that once belonged to '80s drug kingpin Pablo Escobar has been turned into a luxury hotel in Tulum, Mexico.After sitting vacant for the last 14 years, the 35-room…

Rising Oktoberfest Beer Prices, Taj Mahal Restoration, and Sleeping at Pablo Escobar's House: Today's Travel Briefing

JULY 10, 2017 — Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's hotels, festivals, and architectural marvels.SCAFFOLDING TO COVER TAJ MAHAL DURING YEARLONG RESTORATION…