Topics Include:
Bob Diener, President and Co-Founder, getaroom.com.
www.getaroom.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show welcome Bob Diener, President and Co-Founder of GetARoom.com. Bob has been in the travel industry for 26 years and founded the company that became Hotels.com. After selling the business, he started GetARoom.com, which aims to help travelers save even more by offering unpublished, discounted rates.
"People think they can go online and just find the lowest rate there," Bob says. "But GetARoom has even lower rates: sometimes as much as 25% off the rates you see online for big cities." GetARoom uses an unpublished rates system. Travelers can go to GetARoom.com, put in their destination, hotel category, or specific hotel, and see the lowest published rate. They can also call a special number on the website and ask for the unpublished rate, which is usually 20 to 25% lower than the published rate.
"We have this program set up with hundreds of hotels around the country," Bob explains. "We simply said that we have an audience of savvy travelers; give us a 20-25% lower rate and we'll hide it. We don't publish the rate on the Internet; we just offer it at our call center. We just tell you the approximate savings until you've confirmed the booking. But throughout all of this, you know the actual hotel you're getting. Other companies will give you the exact rate, but won't tell you the exact hotel."
Stephanie thinks this is a very important distinction between GetARoom and similar companies. With the unpublished rate system, users can pick a hotel, see its location, and flip through photos of the property before booking. If users don't want to call, they can book through the website and receive the lowest published rate. Bob points out that the unpublished rate applies to all promotions and special deals. "The unpublished rate savings are on top of the other discounts," he says.
The best bargain in the U.S. right now, according to Bob, is Las Vegas. "The rates are unbelievable," he says. "If you're going, travel during the week, when rates are much lower. We're seeing rates for the Imperial Palace as low as $25 per night, and hotels like Stratosphere are running $25 to $30 midweek. Even places with big 1-bedroom suites, like the top floors of the MGM, are around $81 per night. It's just incredible."
Another spot to look for deals is New York City. "Lots of people go to New York and are disappointed because the rooms are expensive but tiny," Bob explains. "GetARoom just added a group of hotels called Elite City Suites. They've taken brand-new condos and apartments in Manhattan and turned them into hotels. You can get studios or 1- and 2-bedroom apartments throughout the city for $190 to $300 per night, even during busy periods. The buildings are brand-new, upscale, and if you're going with family, they'll give you some extra room."
Booking a hotel in New York City can still be difficult, though. Bob's advice is to book early; the highest occupancy in the city is from September through New Year's. The first two weeks in December, which are prime Christmas shopping season, are particularly busy. He recommends hotels like The District in midtown, which is upscale, deluxe, and runs in the mid- to upper $200s per night; or Fashion 26 Hotel, which is located on W. 26th St. and has rates as low as $158 per night.
For travelers hoping to see Washington, D.C., Bob suggests a weekend trip, when rates are just 30 to 50% of the midweek prices. "The Liaison Hotel, which is part of the Affinia Group, is upscale, in the heart of the city, and runs $119 per night during the weekend," Bob says. Another popular destination is Boston. "We have a deal with the Park Plaza Hotel for rates as low as $97 to $200 per night," he continues. "That's great for Boston, and the hotel is very close to Boston Common, so you can walk to wherever you want to be. Boston doesn't have that many hotels; the city tends to sell out, so book as soon as you can."
Bob advocates booking fast to take advantage of great rates, since travelers can always cancel the reservation. "When hotels get compression – rising demand without many rooms left – they raise the rates," he says. "Lots of hotels let you cancel up to the same day or 24 hours before your reservation, so you can always do that. But if you book early, you've locked in a great rate and won't have to worry about it going up." GetARoom charges a $25 cancellation fee for bookings at the unpublished rate but does not charge for cancellation of Internet rate bookings. Most of the company's hotel partners will allow guests to cancel before 6 p.m. the day of arrival.
In addition to its unpublished rates, GetARoom offers clock promotions, particularly in Florida and California. "Hotels will offer special discounts of 10 to 40% in a very limited time window," Bob explains. "The prices will be in effect for a maximum of 72 hours. If you book during one of these promotions, you can lock in an amazing deal. The whole trick is just to book it before the clock runs out."
To change or cancel a reservation made with GetARoom, customers can go online or call the company toll-free. Bob advises clients not to go to the hotel, explaining that "when you've booked with a reservation service, hotels want you to go back to them so they have a record of your activity." All GetARoom customers receive a full list of hotel policies upon booking, as well as a confirmation and other necessary information.
For travelers looking to go a bit further afield, GetARoom offers discounts in several European cities, including London, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Rome. "In London, there are two standout deals: the Henry VII hotel, which is right by Hyde Park, as low as $75 per night, and the Millennium Hawthorne, a 4-star hotel that's as low as $106 per night," Bob says. In Barcelona, travelers can stay at 5-star properties like the Grand Marina Hotel for as little as $187 per night.
Bob and Stephanie recommend booking overseas travel in American dollars. Again, this helps consumers lock in rates, regardless of currency fluctuations. They also advise a close look at a hotel's rating system. "When you get a quality rating for a hotel, you want to see how it compares to the U.S. system," Bob says. "A 3-star hotel in the U.S. is very different from a 3-star in Britain." GetARoom supplies two ratings: a quality rating, based on American standards, and a guest satisfaction ratings, based on customers who have recently stayed at a property. GetARoom also has a team in Europe that actually goes to hotels and establishes an independent rating for the properties using Mobil and AAA standards.
Related Broadcasts:
Bob Diener also appeared as a guest on the "Travel with Stephanie Abrams!" radio show on September 19, 2010. Click here for shownotes.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2298
For more information visit www.getaroom.com
Fun Facts:
Many European governments have established rating systems that are related to tax codes; highly-rated properties pay more taxes. "Often, you'll find great 3-star establishments running under the radar in Europe because if they go up to 4-star status, their taxes will go up," explains Stephanie. "The star ratings can also be related to the materials they've used: what kind of wood, what kind of stone, and so on. It can get very confusing for travelers."
Guests Include:
Bob Diener, President and Co-Founder, getaroom.com.
www.getaroom.com
Topics Include:
Joan Ruen, Owner, Bluffscape Amish Tours, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.bluffscape.com
www.lanesboro.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show take a spin with Joan Ruen, Owner of Bluffscape Amish Tours in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Although its population is less than 800 people, Lanesboro is known as the B&B capital of Minnesota and has both cultural attractions and outdoor activities to offer.
Joan began operating Bluffscape Amish Tours three years ago. "At the time, I was running a small art gallery," she says. "The gentleman who had the tour business wanted to retire and thought the gallery would make a good venue. Now tours are the only thing we do." The Amish community near Lanesboro started in the 1970s, when about 1500 people from Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin moved to Minnesota in search of cheaper farmland.
Bluffscape Amish Tours are three-hour narrated excursions in a mini-bus or van. "We take people out and tell them about the Amish," Joan explains. "Our guides are very knowledgeable about Amish history, why they relocated here, and their history in Germany. We talk about their culture and daily life and stop off at various locations: several farms, a quiltmaker, an Amish bakery, a basketweaving shop, a furniture maker, and leather workers."
Tours run from Monday to Saturday, April through October. In March and November, tours only run on Saturdays. There are no tours from December through February, thanks to the snowy Minnesota winters, although Joan says that "if someone really wants to go and the weather is decent, we'll go." Where visitors take vans, the Amish only drive horse-drawn buggies. They may use gas or diesel engines to power stationary tools, but they do not use electricity to power their homes.
Joan says it's been a pleasure getting to know the Amish community. "The former tour guide introduced me to the families, and since that time, I've gotten to know them quite well," she continues. "Other families have approached us to ask if we'll stop at their farms on tours. It really was easy to get to know them; they're just very appreciative people, very kindhearted, and they work very hard."
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2248
For more information visit www.bluffscape.com and www.lanesboro.com
Adrienne Sweeney, Director of Marketing, Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.commonwealtheatre.org
www.lanesboro.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show catch a show with Adrienne Sweeney, Director of Marketing for the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota. The theatre company is 22 years old; Adrienne has been there for 10 years. She came to Lanesboro by way of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Tucson, and Minneapolis. "As an actor, you have to go where the jobs are, but I longed for a community theatre," Adrienne says. "You're part of the community and can have a normal life. I didn't think that existed any longer in the U.S."
Fortunately, Adrienne found the Commonweal. Her first show, in 2001, turned into three shows that season and eventually a full-time job, move, and home. Until 2007, the company was in a restored movie theater, but outgrew the space. "In 2007, we opened a brand-new theater right next door," Adrienne explains. "It's very respectful of our historic main street, seats over 200 people, and is very adaptable; the stage can be moved around into any configuration that the production requires." The new theater even has the original seats from the historic Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
The Commonweal Theatre has a strong relationship with the town of Lanesboro. "We commissioned a local artist to do a permanent installation in the public theater spaces, like the lobby, foyer, and restrooms," says Adrienne. "It's now an art gallery of sorts; a beautiful space." Plays on the Commonweal's 2010 schedule include an Ibsen piece, "Enchanted April," "The Turn of the Screw," "Little Women," and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," written by actor and comedian Steve Martin.
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2247
For more information visit www.commonwealtheatre.org and www.lanesboro.com
Mandy Smith, Inn Keeper, Stone Mill Suites, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.stonemillsuites.com
www.lanesboro.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show rest a while with Mandy Smith, Innkeeper at Stone Mill Suites in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Mandy is originally from Dalton, Georgia, but has lived in Lanesboro for four years. "My previous profession transferred me to this area, and then I met my husband here," she says. "I became an innkeeper, and now I get to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world."
The Stone Mill Suites building dates to 1885 and was originally used as a cold storage facility for the local agricultural community. "They would mill ice from the local ponds and use it to store goods in here," Mandy explains. "Freight trains would be loaded up right behind the building and head back east." The building became a hotel about 10 years ago and was renovated to add modern conveniences.
There are nine themed rooms that have a connection to the Lanesboro region or the building's history. For example, the Farm Loft Suite honors the local farmer with a haymow loft and sitting area. (Mandy reassures listeners that all the hay has been removed.) Four of the nine rooms have lofts with sleeping or sitting areas; 4 rooms have iron-claw fireplaces, and 2 rooms have Jacuzzi tubs. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, a mini-fridge, coffee station, microwave, and either WiFi or DSL.
Stone Mill Suites are on the northern edge of Lanesboro on the main street, Parkway Avenue. The hotel is half a block from the Commonweal Theatre and one block from the Root River State Trail, named for the Root River that runs through town. Guests can park their cars and not worry about driving for the rest of the vacation. They can also enjoy a fresh breakfast every morning of locally-made pastries, fresh bread, oatmeal, yogurt, hardboiled eggs from local farmers, and milk served in old-fashioned glass jars.
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2258
For more information visit www.stonemillsuites.com and www.lanesboro.com
Kim Reimann, Owner, Rhinos Pizza and Sub Shoppe, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
Emai Rhinos Pizza or call 507-467-2200.
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show continue their discovery of the B&B capital of Minnesota with Kim Reimann, Owner of Rhinos Pizza and Sub Shoppe in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Kim came to Lanesboro as a teenager and moved there after graduation. She's been there for 20 years and describes it as a beautiful place to live with wonderful scenery. "I'm out on the trail every day, either riding my bike, running, or rollerblading," she says. "I also get out on the river, canoeing and inner-tubing. Minnesota is flat to the west, but here, it's very hilly, which makes it beautiful."
Many travelers think that food is going to be expensive on the road. At Rhinos Pizza and Sub Shoppe, though, visitors can get a fresh meal at a reasonable price. "We make our pizza from scratch, roll out the dough each time, and shred the cheese every day, so it's a fresh product," Kim explains. "On our subs and wraps, we use fresh vegetables, sliced on the premises, so the product is as fresh as can be." Rhinos Pizza and Sub Shoppe is open 7 days a week until 9 p.m. for most of the year and until 8 p.m. on weekdays during the winter.
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2254
For more information Emai Rhinos Pizza or call 507-467-2200.
Travel Tips:
Out of respect for their beliefs, it's best not to photograph the Amish.
Fun Facts:
Tyrone Guthrie (for whom the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis was named) brought the concept of residence theatre to the U.S. from Ireland.
There is also a Lanesborough, Massachusetts, and a Lanesborough, Ireland.
Guests Include:
Joan Ruen, Owner, Bluffscape Amish Tours, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.bluffscape.com
www.lanesboro.com
Adrienne Sweeney, Director of Marketing, Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.commonwealtheatre.org
www.lanesboro.com
Mandy Smith, Inn Keeper, Stone Mill Suites, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.stonemillsuites.com
www.lanesboro.com
Kim Reimann, Owner, Rhinos Pizza and Sub Shoppe, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
Emai Rhinos Pizza or call 507-467-2200.
Topics Include:
Marvin Eggert, Owner and Innkeeper, Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.hillcresthideaway.com
www.lanesboro.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show visit the bed-and-breakfast capital of Minnesota with Marvin Eggert, Owner and Innkeeper at Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Marvin grew up on a dairy farm near Green Bay, Wisconsin, and says the chores were good training for becoming an innkeeper. He came to Lanesboro seven years ago after losing his job.
"We came to Minnesota for vacation; my nephew was getting married in a town about an hour from Lanesboro," Marvin says. "Just before we left, my boss told me I wouldn't have a job when I got home. So I had to figure something out. We had been daydreaming about a B&B, and lo and behold, when we got to Lanesboro, we found a place for sale within our price range. They say innkeepers should buy a house that reflects your character. We're not formal people – the Victorian style just doesn't fit – so we fell in love with this Craftsman-style house. We took a leap of faith and here we are."
The original house was about 2,700 square feet, but Marvin and his wife, Carol, added 1,000 square feet. Hillcrest Hide-Away now has four guest rooms on three levels. "The former owners did a lot of the heavy lifting of updating the house's plumbing and electric," says Marv, "but they only hosted guests in two rooms. We added one room the first year, then added another guest room and more living space." The previous owners did not serve breakfast, but Carol's degree in foods meant she was eager to start in the kitchen. Marv takes care of the landscaping on the property's half-acre lot.
Marv suggests that visitors fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, about 2 hours and 15 minutes away, or the Rochester airport, about an hour away. Travelers can also take Amtrak to Winona, about an hour away, or La Crosse, Wisconsin, about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Once in Lanesboro, visitors can choose from 12 bed-and-breakfasts and several activities. "The town is really built on tourism," Marv says. "It really started with the bike trail going through town, which goes along the river. So there's biking on the trail, plus canoeing and kayaking on the river."
The Root River and its tributary streams are also a destination for trout fishing. "The trout here run about 8 to 10 inches; the biggest are 15 inches," Marv continues. "We have streams that are spring-fed throughout Fillmore County." There are a few fishing guides in Lanesboro and a new trout learning center in nearby Preston will teach visitors about the ecology of trout streams. Marv adds that many motorcyclists love the Lanesboro area's hills and winding roads.
As for indoor activities, Lanesboro is an artists' town. The local gallery, Lanesboro Arts Center, exhibits works by over 80 artists from the region. A nearby museum tells the story of Lanesboro's 150 years of history. According to Marv, the town was created by an investment group from New York state. "The company purchased the land here with the intention of creating a tourist destination," he explains. "They were going to dam up the river to create a lake. This way, they could have a resort where people from the East could come by train and have a getaway in this beautiful valley."
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2249
For more information visit www.hillcresthideaway.com and www.lanesboro.com
Sara Decker, Program and Marketing Director, Lanesboro Arts Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.lanesboroarts.org
www.lanesboro.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show dive into the Minnesota arts community with Sara Decker, Program and Marketing Director for the Lanesboro Arts Center in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Sara has been in Lanesboro for nine years and previously worked at another arts organization in Rochester, Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic.
The Lanesboro Arts Center began fifteen years ago as a center where a local artists' co-op could show its members' work. Today, the center has a gallery featuring more than 80 artists who work in media including painting, photography, fiber arts, jewelry, glass, metal, and wood sculpture. Although many are from Lanesboro, the artists come from states across the region, including Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Iowa. Sara points out that many of the artists exhibited are originally from Minnesota and moved away.
As director of programming and marketing, Sara tries to engage people in the arts with as many different angles as she can. "We do a lot of programming besides just having the gallery open," she says. "Our exhibition gallery, for example, has six themed shows a year. Right now, we have The Art of Food, which features 32 regional artists in media like jewelry, photography, and sculpture. We try to tie the theme in with the community, so we showed food films at a local theatre."
As part of The Art of Food, Sara is also running a Kids Create program in November 2010 where kids can sculpt different foods. "We do Kids Create programs six times a year," she says. "They're free for kids and families and always have hands-on projects. For example, this time, kids could hollow out a cucumber and make it into a boat." Other annual events include arts programs in local schools, an artists' residency program, an iron pour, and the Art in the Park celebration on Fathers' Day. "We have stuff going on all year long," Sara continues. "We try to keep it really creative and to interact with people."
Upcoming events include a fundraising event with a live auction, live jazz band, dancing, and hors d'oeuvres; a reading at the center's gallery with a Winona resident who is an Italian immigrant; and a holiday sing-along with native Minnesotan musician Dan Chouinard at the St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro. How does such a small community put on so many events? "People have a real can-do attitude around here," says Sara. "They think of an idea and how they can do it!"
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2246
For more information visit www.lanesboroarts.org and www.lanesboro.com
Dagmar Lombard, General Manager, Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths, French West Indies.
www.letoiny.com
www.relaischateaux.com
Travel Expert Stephanie Abrams and the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!" Radio Show head to the Caribbean with Dagmar Lombard, General Manager of Hotel Le Toiny on St. Barths, French West Indies. "Far too many people only go to St. Barths when their cruise ship stops nearby," says Stephanie. "But this is an island that offers sophistication at the most relaxed level."
Dagmar and her husband, Guy, took over the management of Hotel Le Toiny three years ago. Prior to moving to the Caribbean, Dagmar worked at the Plaza Athenee in Paris and Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. "It was a great pleasure to work in Morocco; when I talk about it with clients now, it brings tears to my eyes," Dagmar says. Stephanie points out that this gave the Lombards extensive experience in working with an upscale clientele.
Hotel Le Toiny first opened in 1992 as the project of a Frenchman and a Korean. "They had a great idea to build a property for the North American traveler who likes peace and quiet, total privacy, and service," Dagmar says. Later, a group of U.S.-based investors bought the hotel and recruited Dagmar and Guy to breathe new life into the property. Since they had never been to St. Barths, the Lombards visited before accepting the position.
"The island is really a brand in itself," Dagmar says. "It's a pleasure to visit, but living there is another question. So we visited and had a very positive experience. The people are very friendly, it's a very 'French touch' island, and it's small but everything is very accessible and very secure. There are so many great restaurants, too, and the hotel is a hidden treasure, un petit bijou."
Hotel Le Toiny is on Point Toiny on the southeast coast of St. Barths, along a section of untouched coastline. "We're not feet-in-the-sand, but we have great ocean views," says Dagmar. "We also have 38 acres of greenery with very tropical flora." The hotel has 15 villa suites, all individually built with about 1,200 square feet of living space. Each villa also has a private swimming pool.
Related Photo Galleries:
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2278
For more information visit www.letoiny.com and www.relaischateaux.com
Fun Facts:
Jimmy Buffett wrote the song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" about Le Select, a 60-year-old burger place on St. Barths.
Guests Include:
Marvin Eggert, Owner and Innkeeper, Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.hillcresthideaway.com
www.lanesboro.com
Sara Decker, Program and Marketing Director, Lanesboro Arts Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota, USA.
www.lanesboroarts.org
www.lanesboro.com
Dagmar Lombard, General Manager, Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths, French West Indies.
www.letoiny.com
www.relaischateaux.com
