Hotel and Travel Deals Blog

Where else in the world can you find the hotel in the world’s tallest building, the world’s only 7-star hotel and a hotel with a refrigerated beach—all in one place? Dubai: the continually evolving desert oasis; a Middle Eastern mecca for glitz, glam and, some would say, gaudiness. Dubai luxury hotel construction is rampant, as is the quest for bizarrely unique architecture and breaking world records. With interest for United Arab Emirates (UAE) travel still hot, new Dubai hotel properties continue to pop up, adding to Dubai’s growing list of adjectives:

HOTEL IN THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDING*: Armani Hotel in the Burj Dubai. My fellow Amazing Race 15 racers arrived in Dubai last Sunday, paying a visit (which thankfully did not include bungee jumping) to the world’s tallest building. Not only does the Burj Dubai’s 206 floors (measuring a whopping 2,684-feet) house office and residential space, but 37 of the lower floors will include the world’s first Armani Hotel. Of course the building and hotel have to be completed first, so in the mean time we will keep our fingers crossed that Giorgio Armani’s impeccable classy taste shines through. *The “world’s highest hotel” is currently the Park Hyatt Shangai.

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From urban retreats located in hundred-year-old buildings with quite a history to desert oases offering cattle drives and Jeep tours to tropical getaways that provide your own personal “wellness consultant”—Fall 2009 is proving that new hotels are to be found in any climate. Responding to the continued economic hardship, these hotels are not only offering swanky designs and creative extracurricular activities, they’re offering deals all over the place. If you don’t mind being amidst hardhats, take 50-percent off one property’s rates and at another, enjoy unlimited golfing on a Jack Nicklaus-designed course:

Hotel: AMES BOSTON | Boston, MA

Opening: November 19, 2009

To Note: Housed in a 14-story, 1889-constructed building that was Boston’s first skyscraper; traditional East Coast architecture complete with Romanesque arched windows and original fireplaces; “Benjamin Franklin Meets a Supermodel” tag line from its parent company, Morgans Hotel Group.

Ames Boston Hotel Deals

Hotel: INK48 | NYC, New York

Opening: Currently in “Rough Draft” Phase but still accepting reservations; full opening January 15, 2010

To Note: This new Kimpton Hotel property is offering (surprise, surprise) 48-percent off for staying while the property is still being constructed—that means no fitness room, restaurants or spa (but a hip, lower rate NYC hotel room with room service still at your beck and call); the 1,000 square-foot “Heaven Over Hell’s Kitchen Suite” includes a private 2,200-square-foot rooftop terrace and over-sized deep soaking Jacuzzi overlooking the NYC skyline

Ink48 Hotel Deals

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Being susceptible to allergies can be difficult enough on a day-to-day basis, but traveling to hotels with potential allergy-inducing factors can be even more burdensome. Let’s face it: hotel rooms are not known for being the cleanest, most sterile of environments. While many hotels are pledging to add allergy-friendly rooms, there aren’t many currently. Hopefully, we here at DealBase will help alleviate the headache (and onslaught of sneezing) related to finding an allergy-friendly hotel room—and perhaps even an Allergy-Friendly Hotel Package or a Free “Upgrade” to a PURE Room.

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It’s no surprise that Las Vegas is the most popular destination for online hotel deals here at DealBase; not only does Sin City afford fun for all ages, but it’s 120,000+ hotel rooms consistently offer heavily discounted value-added deals. We sat down for a Q&A with Jen, one of our DealBase Expert Deal Finders to learn the insider info on how to find the best Vegas hotel deals.

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From Miami to Vegas to Cancun, hotels have been the home to many a reality show. Recognizing the potential for spotlighting their properties, many hotels are jumping at the opportunity for playing host to a reality show. Just look at MTV’s The Real World Vegas, which teamed up with The Palms in 2002 to create the “Real World Suite” that STILL to this day is consistently booked.

While as a former reality show contestant, I can’t divulge any insider secrets as to where exactly I stayed on The Amazing Race (minus countless red-eye flights) I can say that it’s not like being put up in a Vegas penthouse suite or a swanky desert resort every night. If you’re looking to live it up like a reality show star (sans an Amazing Race one), these properties will give you that “15 minutes of fame” feeling—even if just for a night.

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Japanese culture has been infiltrating the U.S. for decades but never have I seen an interest in this island nation than of late. While my personal connection with Japan resides solely in running around downtown Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing and taking part in a Japanese game show as a contestant in the reality show, The Amazing Race, I was still able to catch a glimpse of the ultra modern buildings—many that are home to Tokyo’s best hotels. So what hotels would I want to stay in upon a return [non-reality show] trip to Tokyo? Since I’m a deal lover, I’m interested in hotels that still offer the type of deals that we find on DealBase (as we expand into our DealBase coverage of Asia).

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DealBase.com looks everywhere to find the best travel deals, hotel discounts, and promo codes, so we wanted to share which travel companies are doing what on Twitter. If you’re looking for hotel deals, airfare discounts, travel promotions, or just wanted to tweet some feedback to a travel company, you can use this comprehensive and definitive guide to hotel, airline, and travel deals on Twitter.
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One of the easiest ways to find big-saving travel deals is during the off-season: certain months marked by unfavorable or extreme weather but fewer crowds, shorter lines, less traffic and more savings. We’ve rounded up American travel destination favorites, explaining when (and why) off-season travel is more than doable—especially when off-season travel deals abound.
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Here at DealBase, our goal is to help you become a smarter and more informed hotel travel shopper. Many of you have been following our travel tips and insights as you race to find the best hotel deals and discounts before they’re all snatched up. This week we’re spotlighting the person behind such informative research (like the list of Top Hotel Brands with Free Breakfasts, or the Most Glamorous Penthouse Suites in Las Vegas). Our Travel Editor, Jessica Stout, has traveled the world on a variety of budgets, and we sat down with her to get a little more information about the person behind the pen (or keyboard!).

Q. How’d you get such a passion for travel?

A. My passion for travel began during college while I was studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Spain was not only my first trip to Europe, but my first introduction to traveling solo. I traveled to over 10 countries that year, all on a whim. It was an incredible experience to learn about multiple cultures in relation to what I was accustomed to in the States.

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After Labor Day, travel thoughts turn to Fall deals. This is a great time to find hotel deals in locations that may be too hot or humid during the summer, but just the right temperature before winter. Here at DealBase, we’ve seen a wave of new golf-related hotel deals and discounts in South Carolina. Home to over 360 golf courses, South Carolina offers a wide arrange of packages for golf diehards and non-players alike. For example, the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center offers a “Golfer with Non-Golfer Package at Glens Group” from $186/night (26% off), with free breakfast for two and three free rounds of golf for one.

Once you’ve selected your golf package and are preparing to fly to South Carolina, we’d like to provide an additional travel tip to help ensure a good time. Make sure you’ve got a sturdy golf travel bag that can withstand the rigors of plane travel. (Remember that YouTube video about broken guitars? You don’t want to find a dent in your 9 iron, trust us.) We found this and other travel bags on Become, a shopping site that we visit when we need a break from all of our intense hotel deal analyzing.

And, to make sure you don’t pick up someone else’s bag at baggage claim, you might consider purchasing a bag in a color other than black. Spyder golf travel bags come in a variety of colors, for example, though pink may not be your first choice.