Harrods Hotel! Sounds Amazing

The new owners Harrods are considering opening a hotel on the roof of the famous department store, the London Evening Standard reports.

The Qatari owners of the prestigious store think a luxury "Harrods Hotel" would be a hit with wealthy, foreign visitors who like staying in the swanky Knightsbridge district, the story says.

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Swapping Your Home? Here Are Some Tips

Are you planning to take a vacation but worried about the hotel rates and the restaurant bills. This vacation why dont you swap your home. Started somewhere in Europe, home swapping is a very popular trend which allows vacation makers to enjoy the comfort of home while away from home. In case if you have never heard about this term, well home swapping is a way through which vacationers swap their home with other vacationers. For example: You are staying in New York City and you are planning to visit London, with home swapping, you find another vacation maker from London who wants to visit New York City. Since both of you wants to visit each other cities, instead of staying in a hotel you swap your home with that person. Simple. The best part is, there are countless of home swapping websites such as the homeexchange, homeforexchange and homeswapper, which help travelers in finding the right partner.

Home swapping is an amazing way to save money on your hotel rates plus to experience the culture and lifestyle of that particular city at its best, but unfortunately, home swapping also has its share of disadvantage. Here are some simple and common how swapping tips that will help you avoid unwanted trouble while swapping your home.

1. The most important of all is finding the right partner with common interest such as if you are travelling with toddlers, find a partner who also has a toddler. That way you dont have to spend more money on basic stuffs such as toys, story books and so on.

2. If you are using a website to find a swap partner, please stick with a reputed website. You may have to pay a little extra bucks but its worth it.

3. Before finalizing anything, spend some time corresponding with your swap partner. After all you are about to hand over your beloved home to a stranger.
4. Request your partner to leave instructions and details for operating home appliances, including television, washing machine and so on. You too do the same for your partner.

5. Dont forget to ask your partner to leave details of the nearest super market, restaurants, local parks and gardens. Plus the emergency contact numbers such as police, ambulance. You must also leave all the emergency number of your city.

6. Do clean your home before you head out and dont forget to clean up his/ hers home before you move out. Do let them know where you are keeping your house keys, where they will be keeping their keys.

Hints From Heloise: Tips on tipping hotel housekeepers

Dear Heloise:
I just read the comment in your article about tipping housekeepers and maids. I like to tip housekeepers, especially if I am at a hotel for several days. Sometimes they leave an envelope with their name on it. I want to be sure that the ones who do my room are the ones who get the money.

It's very confusing, and I really do care about this because my mother raised me and put me through school on her tips. If I leave a tip in the morning before I leave the room, it might not be the same housekeeper who cared for me the day before.

Rae in Texarkana, via e-mail

Rae, thanks for writing. Here's a hint just for you: Put your tip in one of the hotel envelopes, and leave it at the front desk.
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How to Get The Best Hotel Rate

Two guest paying different hotel rates for the same service and facilities is not a new story. You must have noticed that even though you and the other guests are offered with the exact room with the same facilities and service, still both of you end up paying different room rates. It really hurts when you discover that you have paid more than the others. Here are some simple tips and tricks that will help you get the best available hotel rates.

* For reasons unknown, you will find the online hotel rates much cheaper than regular travel agents. Next time use an online travel site to book your hotel rooms. If you are booking online, the official website of the hotel is the best place to book. Incase if the hotel does not have a website, you may book from an online travel website. But always book your hotels from a reputed travel website.

* Always do a detail research on the rate of the hotel. Compare the rates with different online travel sites before making any final decision.

* A great way to get the best available hotel is call the hotel directly and ask them politely whether you can get any discounts. For members of various clubs and associations such as AAA, you should always ask the hotel whether you are eligible for any special deals.

* Though this idea is a bit risky but works most of the time. Instead of making an early reservation, walk straight to the hotel and try to negotiate the rate with the front desk staff. Many hotels will give you a discount instead of turning you away. Don’t try this during the peak season. This works during the off season when the establishment is running low on business.

* The best way to get the best available hotel rate is by booking way in advance. Nothing can beat booking in advance when it comes to getting the best hotel price.

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