How To Contact an Airbnb Host (Without Making a Reservation)

April 3, 2019 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Here’s how to prevent making a costly, hundred-dollar mistake. Because been there, done that.

Hacks Health Hotels

The Hotel Gym May Be The Best Source for Free Bottled Water

April 1, 2019 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

The hotel gym. You know, that place no one uses.

Hotels Lodging Loyalty

Marriott Bonvoy New Members Get a Free Night After Two Stays

February 19, 2019 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Because everyone had better things to do on Valentine’s Day, most people might have missed the fact that Marriott has decided to rebrand its loyalty program to Marriott Bonvoy.

Cruises Hotels Lodging Sea Transit

New To Cruising? Differences Between Staying on a Cruise and a Hotel

December 13, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

There’s something about cruising, if done right, is absolutely magical. (It mostly has a lot to do with waking up on the water.)

Connectivity Hotels Lodging Transit

The Guide To Hotels That Have Free Wi-Fi

November 13, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Long gone are the days where an arm and leg had to be paid for Wi-Fi.

Food Hotels Lodging

The Quickest Way To Deal With a Hotel Room That Has No Microwave

November 5, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

No, there’s no stupid “steam the veggies in the shower” trick here.

Culture & Science Hotels Lodging Safety

Preventing Hotel Robberies and Theft

September 18, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Is the likelihood of getting a hotel room robbed higher than being robbed on the street? Unfortunately, no one really knows.

Airbnb Lodging Money Vacation Rentals

The Airbnb Service Fee Is Refundable if a Reservation Is Canceled Within 48 Hours

August 1, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Airbnb has long held one of the most convoluted cancellation policies in the hospitality industry, mostly due to the fact it acts as a third-party broker between hosts and guests.

Connectivity Culture & Science Features Guides Hotels

How To Do a Digital Detox (Without Going Mental)

July 17, 2018 Erica Ho 5 minute read

Notice how nothing seem to get posted last week?

Budget Cars Flights Hotels Money Technology Transit Trip Planning

The VPN Money Saving Trick Also Works for Rental Cars and Hotels

July 10, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It’s not just for airfare: thebestvpn recently took an in-depth look about how much more travelers can expect to save on car rentals and hotels by using a VPN.

Food Guides Hacks Hotels Lodging

How To Cook in a Hotel Room in its Full Ghetto Gloriousness

May 29, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Nothing says *first-class travel* like… making a grilled cheese on a hotel iron?

Business Food Gear Health Hotels

Cooking Gadgets for the Road That You Never Knew You Needed

May 1, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Did you know it is possible to soft-boil an egg in a coffee pot? Neither did I, but living on the road does weird things to a person.

Airbnb Featured Guides Lodging Vacation Rentals

How To Live In Two Different Places at Once

March 20, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

First-world problem, right? Perhaps, but there are many reasons why it would make sense to establish two different residencies at the same time. Because, maybe, you’re sick of living out of a hotel?

Business Hotels Lodging Loyalty Luxury

Mandarin Oriental Launches a Loyalty Program (Get an Extra Night)

February 27, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

How about a free upgrade without having to jump through hoops?

Airbnb Lodging Money North America Vacation Rentals

This Is How Long You Have To Rent out on Airbnb To Break Even

February 7, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

So, exactly how many nights do you have to rent out a place on Airbnb to break even?

Hotels Lodging Money Reference Charts

This Chart Outlines Every Major Hotel Chains’ Cancellation Policy

January 18, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Times’ achangin. That includes hotel cancellation policies, which before, often let guests get away with murder. (Not literally, though, scarily, seems to have been a thing of late.)

Airbnb emergency Lodging Vacation Rentals

How to Deal with Airbnb Cancellations Because of Craptastic Weather

January 5, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

I bet there are a lot of people that are interested in this answer.

Airbnb Lodging Trip Planning Vacation Rentals

Be the Best Housesitter That You Can Possibly Be

July 25, 2017 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Thank goodness that it is the summer, and people need all sorts of plants watered.

Hotels Lodging Money Trip Planning

Can Booking.com Penalize Canceled Bookings (Sans Credit Card)?

April 26, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

The 24-hour hotel cancellation policy is pretty standard, so its should be little surprise that Booking.com charges a penalty for last-minute cancellations.

Hostels Hotels Leisure Lodging Trip Planning Vacation Rentals

How To Completely Wing a Trip (and Still Have a Place to Sleep at Night)

February 22, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Trust me, people find places to sleep. It’s more a matter of where, and for how much.

Airbnb Culture & Science Health Hotels Lodging Vacation Rentals

You Probably Don’t Want To Know How Often Bed Bugs Are Found in Hotels

February 13, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Ignorance is bliss, ignorance is bliss.

Airbnb Features Guides Lodging Tools Vacation Rentals Videos

The Quick Guide to Airbnb Co-Hosting

January 11, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Not feeling like dealing with a listing?

Hostels Hotels Lodging Safety Transit

Should You Go for It? Half of Travelers Still Use the Hotel Safe

January 10, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Perhaps because I believe if people are out to steal things there’s usually nothing you can do to stop them, I don’t put too much stock in using the hotel safe.

Airbnb Business Lodging Reviews Trip Planning Vacation Rentals

Review: Airbnb Business Is a Serious Must for Corporate Travel

October 3, 2016 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Let’s not forget how useful having an actual kitchen really is.

Health Hostels Hotels Lodging Trip Planning Vacation Rentals

Preventing Bed Bugs From Traveling With You

August 23, 2016 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Not the best souvenir to take home. But it does happen, and when it happens, it’s like Freddy Krueger. Not like the original Freddy Krueger movies, but Freddy v. Jason bad.

Food Hotels Lodging Luxury Money

An Ode to the Hotel Minibar (No Touching!)

May 11, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks Less than a minute to read

There are only so many five-dollar bags of chips and six-dollar cans of diet coke someone can consume before they ask, “What’s the point of it all?”

Budget Lodging Money Technology Trip Planning

A Woof! Over Your Head: Travel and Tails Lets You Pet Sit for a Free Night

May 5, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 1 minute read

Things I like: vacations and pets. Things I don’t like: paying for stuff. What to do?

Itinerary Lodging Reviews Trip Planning

Planning Tool TripCreator Gets Put Through the Paces

April 11, 2016 David Lytle 1 minute read

Out of Iceland comes a nifty new travel planning platform, and we take it for test drive.

Airbnb Airlines Bus News Safety

News Roundup: Alaska Airlines Buys Virgin and Zika in the South Pacific!!

April 8, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 2 minute read

A United Airlines flight attendant makes a break for it, Alaska Airlines acquires Virgin America, Zika virus updates and more—this week in travel news.

Gear Lodging Packing

Don’t Pack It, Rent It: You Might Want To Have These Items Delivered

March 28, 2016 David Lytle 2 minute read

Everyone loves having a meal delivered to their hotel room from the onsite restaurant. Room service is a quintessential perk when traveling.

Hotels News Safety Security Technology Travel

News Roundup: The World’s Largest Airship, American Hotels In Cuba y Más

March 25, 2016 David Lytle 1 minute read

The world’s largest airship is unveiled in the U.K., a cocaine-smuggling flight attendant, American hotel companies planning to change the landscape of Cuban resorts and more—this week in travel news.

Airbnb Lodging Money Opinion Trip Planning Vacation Rentals

Thinking About Airbnb Abroad? Why You Might Want To Think Twice

March 8, 2016 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Because I understand the pitfalls of traveling internationally (there are so many things that can go wrong) and the weakness of some of Airbnb’s claims, I prefer not to use them when traveling abroad. Here’s why.

Budget Hotels Lodging Travel Trip Planning

This Is the Best Hotel Search Engine for the Cheapest Rooms, Tested

March 2, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 3 minute read

Hotel search engines, or aggregators, have been around now for more than a decade, but which ones actually return the best prices? Time to put it through the test.

Business Connectivity Hotels Lodging Technology

The Best Place To Take a Business Call on the Run

February 8, 2016 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Need to make a business call while you’re running between meeting locations? Look for these quiet spaces when a Starbucks just won’t do.

Hotels Lodging Money Reference Charts Travel Trip Planning

The Only Way To Avoid Hilton’s Sneaky Cancellation Fee

January 25, 2016 Erica Ho 1 minute read

In late 2015 Hilton announced that it would be unrolling a new fee—$50 to cancel a room reservation. But, there is a simple way to become exempt from that rule.

Airbnb Lodging Vacation Rentals

Essential Tools for Managing an Airbnb When You’re Not There

December 14, 2015 Erica Ho 2 minute read

The key to running a great Airbnb listing is having somebody who works from home who can also manage the property. But sometimes that’s not possible when you’re in Bora Bora.