Luxury Hotels Group Blog » Travel Tips & Advice

Travel like a minimalist

Archie Domville — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 14:12:36 +0000

If you're planning to go travelling, you're probably wondering how much stuff you can squeeze into your bag. Well, stop for a second and think about whether or not you really need all of those things.A few jumpers in case you get cold … in the height of Thailand's summer?Taking one is a great idea, but you really don't need a variety of outfits. You'll just find yourself too hot from carrying around a bag that's twice as heavy because of everything you've managed to get in there.Instead of just putting things into your bag until you really can't get one more thing in there, why don't you try a more strategic approach?Lay out everything that you want to pack and work from there. Eliminate the items that are non-essentials, then have some that are optional luxuries. Pack everything that you know you can't go without - such as underwear, a toothbrush and a swimsuit - and then add in a couple of luxuries if you really think you'll need them.Don't forget - there are shops all over the world. In fact, in many countries, you'll be able to pick up essentials at just a fraction of the cost that you'd pay in the UK - so why not give your back a bit of a break from carrying around a heavy bag and just pick up a few things when you get to your destination?Even if this means spending a little bit in every destination that you reach, the benefits will likely far outweigh the cost. However, try to leave a bit of space in your bag when you leave so that you can fit in these extra items you pick up, or any souvenirs that you may want to keep.

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Top tips to upgrade your travel

Archie Domville — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:04:09 +0000

Everyone would love to be upgraded when they go on holiday. It would be great to be moved into first class instead of economy on the aeroplane, or be offered a more luxurious room at your hotel. On odd occasions you might see someone else getting upgraded and you're left wondering how they've done it.Well, wonder no more, because we've put together these top tips to upgrade your travel and get more for your money.Book in advanceA lot of us wait around to get a last-minute deal for our holiday. While this can really pay off if you're looking for that cheap and cheerful option, if you're looking for luxury it really won't. Luxury hotels sell out pretty quickly, especially during those peak seasons, so you'll get the best package if you book early.Book with a preferred partner programmeThis is a secret that most travellers don't know. You'd assume that by booking directly with a hotel you'll be a priority guest, but there's actually a better way to see perks.Your best bet at an upgrade is to book with a preferred partner programme. This is because top luxury hotels such as Four Seasons, The Peninsula, The Dorchester Collection and others prioritise upgrades booked via their preferred partner programme over other booking channels. Other benefits of booking using a preferred partner programme can often include a complimentary daily breakfast for two, complimentary internet access and a property-specific amenity, such as resort credit for dining or for the spa.Don't travel during peak seasonPricing at resorts is dependent on whether it's peak season, shoulder season or low season. Now low season probably isn't ideal as this is often monsoon season, and peak season will see resorts becoming fully booked quickly, which will make any chance of an upgrade swiftly disappear and could mean that service isn't quite as efficient.Instead, if you aim to travel at shoulder season just a few weeks after peak season, you'll find it's quieter, the staff have more time to provide you with top-quality service, and they just might have a luxury room available that they can upgrade you to for free.

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How to travel with families

Archie Domville — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:43:50 +0000

The thought of travelling with the entire family in tow can seem pretty daunting, especially if this is the first time. Will the kids behave? Are you properly prepared? What if it doesn't all go according to plan?No need to worry though. Be vigilant in your preparations and it should all work out brilliantly. Unfortunately children get bored fairly easily, so if you have a long journey ahead of you then you need to be prepared to entertain them. Why not make them an activity pack? Depending on the age of your kids you can fill it with colouring or puzzle books, small travel games and treats.Alternatively, if you have a tablet or laptop then this could be even better. Give them a game to play or a film to watch and they'll be happily distracted. Plus, you'll be sure that they aren't bothering the other travellers on your flight.However, some things can't be helped. A lot of people, particularly children, suffer from ear pain during takeoff and landing. Get ready with some hard boiled sweets and a drink. Sucking on the sweets can help the pain, as can swallowing something like sips of water. Make sure you're armed with snacks, as inevitably you'll have moans of being hungry. That is, of course, unless you want to fork out for aeroplane food. It can be very pricey though, so if there's a few of you travelling the cost can quickly add up.Most importantly, don't let it stress you out. If you get stressed then the kids will too. The other passengers will understand that kids can be a bit louder, and if you're keeping them entertained as quietly as possible then everyone else will be much happier than if they were running about causing chaos.

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How to travel in style

Archie Domville — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 09:40:37 +0000

Travelling can be a horror for our hair and skin. We try to make an effort with our appearance, but it's not long before we feel positively bedraggled. It doesn't have to be this way though. Take on board these few tips and you can arrive on holiday feeling almost as fresh as when you left.Keep your hair in shapeSomehow, travelling can add volumes to our hair - literally. The humidity on a long flight mixed with the air conditioning can leave us with hair that's considered more than frizzy. No need to worry though. If you arm yourself with a mini hairspray and hair brush to travel with, along with some hair ties and grips then you're all set. If worst comes to worst, that seemingly messy bun is in style at the moment and it can keep your hair out of the way.Stay moisturisedIt's no secret that the air conditioning on flights is a nightmare for our skin. It really dries it out, so when we get to our dream destination we're left with skin that feels tight and flaky. Not the best way to start the trip or for a base to work on that gorgeous tan. Chuck a mini moisturiser in your bag and stay light with the make-up and you can sort this right out. Stay moisturised and you'll be ready for the sun as soon as you arrive.Go comfortableObviously you want to look good, but I can guarantee that you'll soon wish you hadn't worn your nicest jeans and those to die for heeled boots. While you might start the trip looking fabulous, by the time you arrive you'll feel sweaty and horrible, and your gorgeous outfit will have to go back in your case. Instead, pick out some comfier clothes that give your body room to breathe. And maybe keep a mini deodorant handy too. Just these few small things can make sure that when you arrive you feel much fresher and you're ready to grab your swimsuit and hit the pool to work on your tan.

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Hospitality in London is growing fast

Archie Domville — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:36:11 +0000

The luxury hotel industry is growing rapidly in London, as it stands as one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world for this higher level of luxury. While New York remains the top global destination for luxury hospitality, the World Luxury Index report on hotels shows that London, Dubai and Paris are the destinations which are growing their luxury hotel markets the quickest. In fact, in 2013 alone London's luxury hotel market grew by almost 12 per cent.Generally, luxury hotels can be split into three categories: upper upscale, luxury major integrated chain and luxury exclusive. Upper upscale tend to be the most sought after, but the majority of luxury hotels are considered luxury exclusive.The extreme growth of the market is down to the UK consumer. More and more people are booking holidays in this country, but they want luxury. Instead of booking an extravagant holiday abroad, people are now much more inclined to book a series of short weekend breaks; and where better to visit than the capital city?You can now do just about anything that you could dream up in London, so people are doing just that. They want to do it in style though, and are now more willing than ever to pay for this. UK consumers are partly responsible for a 1.5 per cent increase in global interest in luxury hotels. Of the number of people who searched for a luxury hotel in 2013, 13.3 per cent were from the UK - a jump of 8.4 per cent. This doesn't yet match the US, who account for 66.3 per cent of those seeking out luxury hospitality. However, it does indicate a growing trend for luxury in the UK.

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How has technology made check-in evolve?

Archie Domville — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 12:09:16 +0000

Many travellers find their experience is very much improved by quick and efficient service. As such, hotels now use technology to enable a much quicker check-in process.This is often particularly useful for business travellers. You arrive a bit late for your meeting schedule and want to drop off a few bags and jump in a taxi. There's a line in the lobby, but you need to get going. To solve this, try booking with a hotel that offers fast check-in.It's not uncommon for self-service kiosks to now be found in the lobby of your hotel. These are active 24/7, and in just a few simple steps you can be checked in and given the key card for your room.Some hotels have even taken this a step further by sending you the key card to your room prior to your arrival. This way you can just arrive at the hotel and go straight to your room without having to check-in at all. While this might not be a favoured option by some, for those in a rush it's perfect.With smartphone use growing so substantially in recent years, major hotel brands are taking advantage of this and offering mobile check-in as an option. All you need to do is download the app for the hotel and the night before your arrival you can virtually check-in. Then when you get to the hotel your key will be ready and waiting for you so that you can head to your room right away.As well as check-in, hotels are now using technology to speed up the check-out process. Many now have a concierge placed in the lobby with a tablet. They just take your email address and then they email over your receipt. Technology has the power to make your trip much more efficient, and it's clear that hotels are using it to give the best possible service.

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Behind the scenes hotel secrets

Archie Domville — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:26:21 +0000

You probably don't think about behind the scenes secrets of hotels. You just book your room and pay the rate. Well we've been asking around and found out these secrets from the best in the business.Only staying one night? You might get walkedWith the average no-show rate for hotel bookings at ten per cent, hotels aim to overbook to ensure that every room remains occupied. This usually works, as there are often cancellations or bookings that don't turn up. When the numbers don't add up though, the hotel will pay for your night's stay at another comparable hotel in the area.This is most likely to happen if you're only staying for one night, have never stayed at the hotel before and aren't likely to visit again. Also, if you've booked on sites such as Expedia, then you've had a highly discounted rate. The top reason though? If you're being rude to staff. There's a better way to case a pillowTo put on a pillowcase, the housekeepers throw a solid karate chop right down the middle of the pillow and then shove it in, folded like a bun. This method is preferred to the usual method of tucking it under your chin and pulling up the pillowcase because, naturally, staff would prefer not to let 50 pillows a day come into contact with their faces.Book on a discount site, get a discount experienceReservations made through discount websites are often slated for being the worst rooms. This may seem unfair, but let's be honest - the hotel makes the least amount of profit from these rooms. Also, generally they were booked not because of the hotel itself, but because of the good rate. Those guests that book regularly and pay a premium price will find themselves in the highest quality rooms. Tipping makes all the differenceHave you ever slipped £20 to the person checking you in? Well if you have then you'll know that this means you'll probably see the benefit in some way. Suddenly you have a room with a view and you don't have to check-out until later in the day. Definitely worth a tip.

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2016′s latest travel gadgets

Archie Domville — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 09:24:15 +0000

New gadgets are released constantly. There's always a new piece of technology that we want to get our hands on. This year won't be any different, and it seems that now is the time of the travel gadget.In a world where we're constantly on the move, pocket-sized technology is becoming even more popular. Whether it's to take travelling with you, on your latest holiday or for your commute to work, there's an array of must-have gadgets out there to keep us occupied.One that's great for travelling, holidays and music festivals is a portable external battery charger. Some are so powerful that they will provide enough emergency back-up power to charge an iPhone ten times over. Keep this with you and you won't need to worry anymore about not being able to send that text or suffering your commute without the wonderful world of Candy Crush Saga (we all know you still play it).SD cards have been around for years. And if you still take a camera on holiday with you then you know you can't be without at least one. However, instead of filling your camera case with them in case you run out of space, you can now get them with built-in WiFi. This enables you to send pictures directly from your camera from iOS, Android and Kindle devices as you take them. This is brilliant to make sure that you can keep snapping away on your holiday.Are you a music lover? If so, then you'll know how awful it can be if you can't listen to your favourite songs in your hotel room. That's why you need to get your hands on a portable Bluetooth speaker. They're small so can easily fit in your bag, and then you can enjoy your music wherever you are.

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What does luxury really mean?

Archie Domville — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 16:49:11 +0000

The word luxury gets thrown about a lot, so this can leave us wondering what luxury really means. Why is that brand of coffee considered luxury? Why are these considered luxury towels? And what makes this specific hotel luxury?When we're paying for something that's considered luxury, we need it to mean something specific. Using the word to describe a hotel doesn't mean that it's better than any other. It needs to really be shown in what it is that that hotel can offer its customers.The hospitality industry generally accepts hotel star ratings designated by Forbes, AAA, and other critically-minded organisations. But there are no set standards for luxury hotels, leaving both four-star and five-star hotels describing themselves this way.Hotel guests paying higher rates have a right to expect certain luxury hotel standards, in service, in rooms, in dining, and in everything else a good hotel offers. The customer should see a noticeable difference in every aspect of their hotel stay, from the booking process right through until they leave. If the hotel guest has paid a premium price, then they will expect to be treated as such. If they ask for a specific type of room, then naturally the luxury they're paying for should ensure they receive it. In addition, the room should really have that essence of luxury about it. A worn out room with dust on the window ledges won't cut it if you're offering a luxury experience. Rooms should be spotless, with comfortable beds and all the essential amenities the guest expects.The hotel restaurant also says a lot about the level of luxury you are providing. If the quality of the food is low, then the hotel itself will be perceived as low quality. A well thought out menu delivered by a high-quality chef will go a long way towards offering that luxury that is being paid for.

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Use social media to connect with your guests

Archie Domville — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 08:38:54 +0000

It's a digital world out there, and companies are now realising that to get ahead then they need to use all of the technology available to them. When connecting with customers, you need to go to them, and they can now usually be found online.Social media is a tool that has become so integrated with everyday life that people are often left wondering how we communicated before it was around. It's become such a powerful tool, that people across the globe can now use it to communicate and reach one-another. While it was once viewed with apprehension by the hospitality industry because of its transparency, social media is now arguably one of the top tools used by hotels. Yes, it still has that transparency that can cause concern for hotels, but they are now in a position where they're prepared to deal with this situation. If a customer has an issue, they are now much more likely to write this on a hotel's social media page than to call or write to them. This means that complaints can be viewed publicly by anyone who is visiting the social media profile. However, this also gives the hotel themselves the opportunity to publicly respond and deal with it.While this could be seen as detrimental to the reputation of the hotel, if issues and complaints are dealt with quickly and efficiently, and people can see that the hotel is using feedback to make improvements, then it can be turned on its head and made into a positive tool. If, however, hotels aren't responding to complaints or dealing with them in a suitable manner then further issues could arise. Social media is not just a platform for complaints though. Hotels should utilise the platforms available to communicate with customers and build a positive brand.

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