Deals on Beach Hotels for Thanksgiving Weekend

With winter fast approaching, it’s a great time to start daydreaming about (and hopefully planning) a getaway someplace nice and warm. But, once you see the prices of accommodations in ocean-side towns, it’s easy to scrap the idea altogether. But, don’t give up your hopes of a nice vacation just yet! If you’ve been dreaming of sandy beaches and the calming sound of ocean waves, and can’t afford the sticker shock of pricey hotels on the waterfront, read below for our tips for getting the best deal on your next tropical getaway!

Arrived Too Early for Check-in at the Hotel?

In everyone’s perfect vacation fantasies, you arrive at your destination and your room is ready as soon as you’re ready to check-in. Unfortunately, rarely does reality follow your well-laid plans. Unless you get lucky or get there after the stated check-in time, chances are good that you’ll arrive at your accommodations before your room is actually ready. In those instances, you could choose to pout or throw a fit, or you could follow our great tips on what to do when you arrive too early to check-in. 

Alexa May Be Listening During Your Next Hotel Stay

While it may seem like something you’d read on a conspiracy theory site or even in a science fiction book, it’s true: hotels may be listening in via Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa. Amazon just signed a deal to outfit many Marriot & Westin hotel rooms with their Echo devices to assist travelers in their quest for the perfect vacation. But, there are mixed thoughts regarding this partnership. Some people are thrilled with the convenience of having a personal vacation concierge while others are worried about their family’s privacy. If you’re planning to stay in a hotel anytime soon, read on to get the scoop on this futuristic move! 

 

Why do hotels want to upgrade with Alexa? 

Hotels are trying to keep up with industry standards and are getting increasingly more tech-dependent, so it’s only fitting that hotels would start to implement the tech that we are using in our every day lives to make vacation stays even more magnificent. And despite some patron’s concerns about privacy, most people in the hospitality industry agree that having a virtual assistant in every hotel room would be beneficial not just for the short-term satisfaction of customers, but for the long-term goals of the hotel industry.

Pilot In-Flight Messages Decoded: The Seatbelt Sign & Other Jargon

If you’ve ever been 30,000 feet in the sky (with your anxiety just about as high) and hear the seatbelt sign activate, you know that you’re supposed to stay seated until the sign turns off. But what about when the seatbelt sign flashes numerous times or chimes without the pilot making the “fasten your seatbelt” announcement? Those cues aren’t for the passengers to buckle up but are actually secret codes the pilots use to communicate with the flight staff, along with the codes used verbally via the speaker system. Flying can be a stressful time, and being sky-high with the pilot using secret codes can be confusing. To put your mind at ease and make you feel more in the loop, read on so you can learn all of the airline lingoes you’ve always wanted to know! 

Is it Ok to Talk Up the Person Next to You on a Flight?

No one ever wants to be rude on an airplane. Everyone is stuck together with no escape for hours on end, so you don’t want to make enemies. But what is considered good etiquette when it comes to striking up a conversation? It seems weird to just ignore someone sitting next to you for an entire flight, but it may be a prudent way to avoid hearing someone else’s entire life story. Unfortunately, there is no general rule of thumb regarding talking to your seatmate during a flight.

I’ve met some great life-long friends on flights and I’ve also severely regretted opening my mouth a few times when I’ve gotten dragged into debates or people’s life drama. But, if you’re the type that likes to chat, read on for our guide to talking to the person next to you during your travels.