Need a hotel for a Dave Matthews Band concert?

We're currently helping some DMB fans find & book concerts for the current tour, and thought we'd share our findings with the world.

It's taking a while to complete the search in each area, but you'll find the links below for ones that are currently complete (come back often for new locations).




7/9, Hershey, PA (Hersheypark Stadium)
7/10, Pittsburgh, PA (PNC Park)
7/13, Bethel, NY (Bethel Woods Center for the Arts)
7/14, Scranton, PA (Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain)
7/16, New York, NY (Citi Field)
7/17, New York, NY (Citi Field)
7/20, Virginia Beach, VA (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
7/21, Charlotte, NC (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
7/23, Washington, DC (Nationals Park)
7/25, Louisville, KY (Churchill Downs Music Festival)
7/27, Atlanta, GA (Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood)
7/28, Tampa, FL (Ford Amphitheatre)
7/30, West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheatre)
7/31, West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheatre)
8/14, Wichita, KS (InTrust Bank Arena)
8/17, West Valley City, UT (USANA Amphitheatre)
8/20, Chula Vista, CA (Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre)
8/21, Irvine, CA (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater)
8/23, Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Bowl)
8/25, Concord, CA (Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord)
8/27, Marysville, CA (Sleep Train Amphitheatre)
8/28, Mountain View, CA (Shoreline Amphitheatre)
8/31, Boise, ID (Taco Bell Arena)
9/3, George, WA (Gorge Amphitheatre)
9/4, George, WA (Gorge Amphitheatre)
9/5, George, WA (Gorge Amphitheatre)
9/10, Woodlands, TX (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
9/11, Dallas, TX (Superpages.com Center)
9/14, Omaha, NE (Qwest Center)
9/15, St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)

:-)

Worst of the Worst: Palace Resort Myrtle Beach SC

The Palace Resort in Myrtle Beach South Carolina may take the prize as the worst of all the bad hotels we've highlighted here.

Be sure to check out the Palace Resort reviews -- warning, they aren't for those of you with weak stomachs. Here are just a few quotes:

The walls were filthy, the room reeked of mildew, the bed had springs showing through, linens were stained and dingy, mattress was unprotected, with urine stains. The couch was not only filthy and old, but still had food droppings between the arm rests.

The maid came in twice all week, and the second time she asked my wife for a beer.

So -- we definitely won't be recommending this hotel to anyone until they turn things around.

Our very own wikihow article...

We just uploaded a wikiHow article - how to book a room with Resideo.com - check it out:

How to Book a Hotel Room With Resideo.Com

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Finding & booking the right hotel at the best rate can be difficult, but Resideo.com makes it easy!

Steps

1. Head over to http://www.resideo.com/ Click the "Browse hotels" link to get started. You'll be presented a list of countries - choose the country you are planning to visit, then the state and city.
   
2. To check for rates and availability in that city, click the "enter your travel dates" link. Choose your dates, the number of adults & children, then submit the form. After a moment or two, the results will appear. You can choose to sort the results by price (cheapest first), by name or by distance. Each hotel results gives you the option to read more about the hotel or to choose an available room and continue to the booking process.
   
3. The actual booking process is very short. The first page will ask you for all of the pertinent information (name, address, billing information, etc.). The next page will give you a chance to confirm your details before processing. If everything looks ok, click the "Book Now" button. After processing is complete, you'll see your confirmation number and other important info right on screen. An email with all of the information will be sent to you as well.
   

Things You'll Need

• Computer with internet access
  
• Credit card
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Book a Hotel Room With Resideo.Com. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Upcoming trip...

My wife and I have a Disney World trip coming up -- we'll be staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort.

This resort looks amazing, and it's unique in that it's a non-Disney resort, but the only access to it is via Disney property.

It sits on a plot of land surrounded on 3 sides by Disney property & Interstate 4 on the other side. The only entrance & exit is via Disney roads.

Regardless, the Bonnet Creek Resort looks amazing - check out these photos!

According to the TripAdvisor reviews for the Wyndham Bonnet Creek, this place is amazing. We'll have a full trip report once we return.

The "official" Resideo blog

I'm pleased to annouce the launch of the official Resideo.com blog: http://resideohotels.blogspot.com/

You'll find travel tips - discounts rates, hotel news & more. Plus, you'll find the official home of the "Hotels on Twitter" list, which I started last year.

See you there!

Helping hotels on Twitter

It's amazing to see that more than 140 hotels (and chains) are on Twitter. It's clear that more and more hotels will continue to see that being a part of Twitter (as well as taking part in other forms of "new" media - blogs, etc.) is an extremely important, and lucrative, part of their business.

But, getting started can be difficult. Finding someone who knows what to do and how to handle all the different aspects of all of this can be challenging.

Well, I've got the answer!!

No, not really, but that's what this post is all about. I'm looking for ideas from all sides -- from hotels that are looking on how to get started, to potential employees that can be an integral part of your marketing team.

So, is setting up a marketplace-type site the way to go? Can hotels depend on their own staff to learn the ropes and not make huge mistakes that could doom the entire property?

Feel free to email me with your ideas (or questions), or post them in the comments.

Spring Training hotel guide

Looking to take in a MLB Spring Training game this year? Check rates for hotels at the following host cities:

Florida
Bradenton
Clearwater
Dunedin
Ft. Lauderdale
Ft. Myers
Jupiter
Kissimmee
Lake Buena Vista
Lakeland
Port Charlotte
Port St. Lucie
Sarasota
Tampa

Arizona
Glendale
Goodyear
Mesa
Peoria
Phoenix
Scottsdale
Tempe
Tucson

Play ball!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everyone!

Hotels using Twitter

The "Hotels Using Twitter" list has moved! Please update your links. Thanks!

Hotels for wine lovers

The general public has a growing fascination with wine these days, and it's never been easier to learn more about it -- tours are popping up all over.

Looking for a place to stay that will get you started on the right foot? Look no further:

California

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa

@goodgrape says: "Gaia Napa Valley falls into the extreme quality for value category for Napa Valley"


From the mustlovewine.com forums:

Wine Way Inn B&B in Calistoga

Solage Calistoga


Inn at Southbridge

Harvest Inn


Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville


Oregon

Hotel Deluxe

Hotel Monaco


So -- what are your favorites?

Cool (Hotel) Pools

It's cold outside -- so dreaming about a tropical getaway is one way to warm up. Check out these hotels with extremely cool pools. Who knows, maybe you'll find yourself at one this summer!


Hawaii

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

The pool complex includes a sand-bottomed children's pool with a 90-foot water slide and an infinity-edged pool for adults. The 165-foot heated infinity pool includes a Jacuzzi.



Miami, Florida

The National Hotel

The National Hotel houses two outdoor pools, including one of the most photographed pools in the world. This infinity pool extends 205 feet in length and is surrounded by tropical foliage.




Hotel Victor

On site is an outdoor infinity pool overlooking Ocean Drive and the beach.




South Padre Island, Texas

Peninsula Island Resort





Dallas, Texas

Hotel Palomar

The Hotel Palomar Dallas' rooftop infinity pool and fitness center offer views of the Dallas skyline.




San Francisco, CA

St. Regis





Las Vegas, NV (suggested by @fungirl025)

Mandalay Bay

Real California white sand cushions toes at the Mandalay Beach, where a wave pool produces up to six-feet-tall waves. The Beach Concert Series, a seasonal weekend performance, features live entertainment staged over the wave pool. An adults-only, topless beach, Moorea, occupies a secluded spot near the pool area.




Wynn

SXSW 09 - Book your hotels quick!

Hotels for SXSW 09 (South by Southwest), in Austin Texas are booking up fast.

Many hotels offer packages & deals that are tied in with registrations -- that limits the number of rooms available to the general public.

But, it's not too late! Head over to our Austin hotels listing and click the "enter your travel dates" link -- choose your dates, then submit the form. SXSW for 2009 is being held from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 22nd -- so, if you don't find anything available for your first choice of dates, try different ones (extending by 1 or 2 nights, etc.) to see if that increases the availability.

Be sure to visit the official SXSW site for info, schedule & maps, so you can get a better idea of what is happening where.

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

The stories behind the names

Being in the travel industry, it's interesting to see the stories and history behind many of the hotels and chains that we work with. Many of these stories are very detailed, and many have a past that most folks would only dream of being a part of.

My curiosity for such history was piqued this weekend as I was traveling down the interstate with my wife. We were passing an exit filled with all the usual signs for all the usual hotels, and she turned to me and asked where some of them came up with their names -- specifically, Motel 6 & Super 8.

I admit I was clueless. We see signs for these budget chains at just about every interstate exit in the US, but I wondered how they came up with their names? I figured, at first, it must have something to do with the location of the original locations (maybe located on a "Highway 8" in some small town). Well, I was wrong.

The Super 8 chain was named because the rooms were originally priced at $8.88. The Motel 6 chain, when first opened in 1962, offered rooms for a mere $6.00 per night. Genius!

Such a simple explanation, yet it never crossed my mind!

So, next time you are on the road, or reading up on a hotel, take the time to find out about the history of that hotel and/or its parent chain -- you might just be surprised!

Resideo offers info & online booking for many Super 8 and Motel 6 hotels in the US.


Sources:
Super 8
Motel 6

Destination: Anaheim

We highlighted Orlando a few weeks ago, now we move to the West Coast and home to Disneyland: Anaheim, CA!

There are lots of hotels just outside of the Disneyland gates, so finding a hotel and walking to and from the attractions is easy. We recommend the Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites -- it's literally the closest hotel to the Harbor Boulevard pedestrian entrance.

Be sure to fly into John Wayne International (SNA), as it's the closest airport to Disneyland, and not as crowded as LAX.

Head north on I-5 to visit LA: Hollywood, Santa Monica and all the other spots!

Best cities to celebrate New Years

It's December 2008 2009, which means that 2009 2010 is just around the corner! Where and how do you plan to spend the New Year? Here's a list of the best places to celebrate:

New York City
The one and only place to be -- hang out in Times Square and watch the ball drop in style! Hotel rooms are still available...

New Orleans
Roam around the French Quarter and ring in the New Year!

Las Vegas
Whether your on the Strip or Freemont, celebrate in Sin City.

Sydney, Australia
Be one of the first to ring in 2009 2010 in style!

Hotels are limited, so book now!



Sources
Celebrations.com
ShermansTravel.com

Tech geek friendly hotels

As high-tech gadgetry becomes more mainstream (easier to use & more affordable for the masses), hotels have begun to offer features that cater to these items that many just can't live without.

Here are some hotels that are going above and beyond when it comes to these amenities.

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina
San Diego, CA
All rooms provide 32-inch LCD flat-screen televisions and iHome stereo alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, in-room internet access is available for a fee.

The Ritz-Carlton in Denver standard room amenities include CD players, DVD players, clock radios with iPod docking stations and high-speed Internet access.

Visiting Orlando? Check out the Radisson Lake Buena Vista. Rooms feature 37-inch flat-panel TVs & alarm clocks with iPod docking stations. Internet access is complimentary.

Need a bigger television? Hotel Nikko San Francisco has some rooms with 42-inch TVs! CD players and iPod docking stations are available too, but internet access is not free.

The MGM Grand Detroit also offers rooms with 42-inch wall-mounted plasma TVs.

Need more stations? Raffles Dubai features rooms with satellite TV & free wireless internet.

Closer to home, the Stoneleigh in Dallas features a fitness center houses four resistance machines and six television-mounted, iPod-compatible cardiovascular machines.

This trend will only continue, so look for more chains to require their hotels have more & more in-room gadgets.

See you next time!

Getaway: Unique Christmas lodging

Get into the Christmas spirit by booking a unique holiday getaway. Whether it's ice in Florida, or staying in a town called Santa Claus, you'll have fun no matter what!

Christmas House B&B
San Antonio, TX
All year, the living room features a decorated Christmas tree and fireplace. If that's not enough, you can stay in the Santa Claus Room, which is decorated in red with white accents.

Christmas Mountain Village
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

You can always book a room in Santa Claus, Indiana. Be sure to send someone special some mail from the town post office for a unique souvenir!

You can view the local Christmas parade from the front doors of The Milton House Inn in Stanley, VA, which also decorates for the season.

Check out Ice! at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL -- an amazing display made from blocks of ice. Bundle up -- it gets cold in there!

Every room at the Hudson Inn B&B in Romeo Michigan features its own thematic Christmas tree.

The Doubletree Dallas near the Galleria boasts the tallest indoor Christmas tree!

Please feel free to share any other unique places! Happy Holidays!

Destination: Orlando

Escape the winter doldrums and head to Orlando, Florida!

The Christmas season holiday comes alive at area theme parks and hotels:

Gaylord Palms presents Ice!, an amazing walk-through display, where everything is made from gigantic blocks of ice.

The Disney theme parks deck the halls. The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom each have a unique Christmas Tree, as well as various holiday offerings.

Tip: Check out Epcot, where each country in World Showcase features their own unique Santa storytellers.

Lots of hotels are offering substantial discounts:

Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista, from $43/night

Orlando Vista Hotel, from $44/night

Plus many more!

Diversion: Sports and the "Hatred Hierarchy"

Taking a break from the usual talk about travel and hotels today, to wax poetic about sports.

That's right: Sports. Just saying that word makes me want to belch and grunt like Tim Allen. You know what I'm talking about, you do it too.

Anywho -- specifically, I want to talk about rivalries. Good old-fashioned hatred towards your most vile opponent. Colts-Patriots. Seminoles-Gators. Lakers-Celtics. The list goes on and on...there's too many to count, really.

But...what happens when you're with a group of friends, watching one of these games...and your team isn't one of them? Yeah, you may love LSU, but what do you do when you're forced to watch the Florida-Alabama game? You want to get into the game, but just who do your root for when you loathe both teams?

Until now, this predicament hasn't had a name, and your brain has been confused.

Luckily for you, I'm here to tell you it has a name, and it's called the "Hatred Hierarchy". *

It flows through us each time we're near a game on TV, or we're hanging out with friends talking trash about the upcoming games, and our team isn't a part of it.

So, what do you do? Well, you've got some options:

1) Turn away. Don't root for either team, but instead leave and pretend the game doesn't exist. That's no fun, though. If that's not an option...

2) Figure out who to root for. If one of those teams needs to lose in order for your guys to clinch a playoff spot, don't hesitate to scream and hoot and holler for the other guys -- just know, deep in your heart, that you're a true blue fan for your team, and no other. Otherwise, you'll just need to...

3) Consume more alcohol, and continue to blather on and on about how great your team is, and that they shouldn't even be talking about those other teams or showing them on TV...I mean, come on! Oh, remember that bad call 5 years ago that lost us the championship?!? I love you man...

Oops, sorry bout that...so, what's your "Hatred Hierarchy"?



* Wish I could take credit for coming up with the phrase, but I can't. You'll have to thank my wife, Jamie, for that. :-)

2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, FL - Hotels booking up fast!

It goes without saying: Hotels for the upcoming Super Bowl in Tampa, FL (Sunday, February 1st) are booking up fast -- and the hotels with availability are super expensive.

So, as always, we're here to help cut through the crap and help you find the right room at the right price.

First, head over to our Tampa hotels list and click the "enter your travel dates" link. Select your dates (note that some hotels will have minimum-stay requirements in place) and submit the form.

When the results appear -- don't panic. Yes, most places on the default listing are $200+ per night, but stay calm...

If you want to be as close to Raymond James as possible, select the stadium by name from the 'Sort by distance from' dropdown -- that'll re-sort the list, putting the closest places first. As of this post, the closest is 5.74 miles away, a Red Roof Inn near Busch Gardens for $198/night.

There are several hotels near Busch Gardens in that price range, so, if you plan on taking in the park during your visit, then these are your best bet.

However, if price is the biggest consideration, then sort the results by price -- that'll put the cheapest places first.

The Tarpon Inn, about 20 miles out, is only $87/night. This is, at the time of this writing, your best bet for the absolute cheapest room.

Everything else, though, is $150 or more, so be prepared for that now.

So, that about wraps it up for now. I'll do my best to keep an eye on any changes and post them here. If you have any questions, let me know, ok?

See you next time!



Sources:
http://drnigelc.googlepages.com/superbowlhotelreservations