I’ve long been a fan of ‘masked’ hotel reservation sites like Hotwire and Priceline. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, this is how it works. Prior to making a reservation, you are given some information about the hotel you’re about to reserve, but not all information. Typically, you know the general vacinity of the hotel, and the hotels star rating. In the case of Hotwire, you are also provided with a list of hotel amenities such as pool, on-site restaurant, shuttle service to the airport, and so on. If you like the price, you can make a reservation and then learn the hotel name and specific location.
This isn’t for everyone. If you think you might want to cancel your reservation, don’t bother using these sites as they are non-refundable most of the time. Also, if you want to join your friends or colleagues at a specific hotel, don’t use ‘masked’ hotel booking services. But if you’re somewhat flexible on your location and confident your plans won’t change, then these services are great. I’ve been using these sites for several years and have saved a lot of money in the process.
Travelocity is the latest to offer ‘masked’ hotel reservations with a service they call Top Secret Hotels. Top Secret Hotels has actually been offered on their site for some 3 or 4 months, but I wanted to let them work out the kinks before using it and writing a review.
To find out first hand if Travelocity’s Top… Read the rest
travel
'Top, Bob Dylan, Canada, Compete, hotel, hotel booking services, Hotels, hotw, Hotwire, Launches, Priceline, Randy Greencorn, Redwood City, San Francisco, Secret, Travelocity, US
Smuggling is a fascinating part of Dorset’s history and the county’s World Heritage coastline is littered with smugglers coves. This travel tip article is about an exhilarating, yet undemanding coastal path walk. It starts in one such cove, hidden amongst some of England’s most magnificent coastal scenery. It then takes you to a pretty beach in a tranquil bay, before returning to a real smugglers inn which is one of the most picturesque traditional English pubs you’ll find anywhere.
The walk starts at the pub which is unsurprisingly named, “The Smugglers Inn”. You will find it by driving westwards, along the A353, towards Weymouth. About six miles before Weymouth, and after passing a left hand turning, signposted Ringstead Bay, take the next left which is signposted Osmington Mills. There is also a helpful secondary signpost labeled “Smugglers Inn”. Continue along the lane as it meanders fairly steeply downhill for about three quarters of a mile. You will see the Smugglers Inn at the foot of the hillside on your left and the car park on higher ground to the right. You park here. At the time of writing it is a free car park but please understand that it is intended for pub patrons, so remember to have a drink or meal in the inn when you return later.
Walk down the steps from the car park to the inn and look for a narrow path that leads along the left side of the building and goes to… Read the rest
Free Travel Tips
beach, Dorset, England, inn, magnificent coastal scenery, Mills, Osmington, Portland, Ringstead, Ringstead Bay, Secret, Smugglers, smugglers inn, Stewart, traditional english pubs, travel, U.K., Weymouth, Weymouth Harbor
Comments (0) 