save on your next online accommodation hotel

Image via WikipediaI can't believe that I haven't been back to Singapore for almost three months! It's one of the longest time I have been out of the country. That would also mean I'm looking at a mob since I haven't cut my hair for three months! I know, friends are still shaking their heads that I only cut my hair in Singapore :P Not that I haven't tried looking for a reliable hairdresser here but I just haven't found one I'm happy with.

I would be taking a couple of days break from blogging since I won't be lugging my laptop with me. Plus it's only a short trip. For those who are thinking of traveling far in the next coming months. Here are some coupons if you are booking your accommodation hotels online. Do take the opportunity to save on your online accommodation booking:

Get $20, $30, $50, $75 or $100 back with your next Hotel Stay!



$20 off with 3 Night Booking
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$20 off with 3 night booking!

$30 off with 5 Night Booking
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$30 off with 5 night booking!

$50 off with 8 Night Booking
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$50 off with 8 night booking!

$75 off with 10 Night Booking
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$75 off with 10 night booking!

$100 off with 12 Night Booking
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$100 off with 12 night booking!

search for discount hotel rates and the best accommodation deals in a breeze

Ever felt like you have lost track of dates and time? I do. The past few days have gone so fast that I didn't even know that we are already approaching October! With so many tasks on my plate, I'm finding it hard to juggle with the little quality hours left for my internet marketing work.

There are currently two internet marketing projects brewing in my home office kitchen and as I work on these in the next couple of weeks, I also need to confirm our family vacation itinerary and plans. Comparing discount hotels rates and the best accommodation deals for our family has been a breeze with the following search hotel search tool I've been using. If you haven't tried it, you should. Simple enter your destination in the hotel search box and you will be presented with hotel search results of more than 30+ travel search engines. It's hard not to find good discount hotel rates and the best accommodation deals that way.

find cheap discount deals and cheap hotel deals in just one step

Searching and finding cheap discount hotels and cheap hotels rooms can be a tiring one if you don't know just where to search. For those who are new to booking your hotel accommodation online, you are missing out a great deal. Not only does online hotel accommodation booking saves you time, it saves you money too.

But with so many travel and hotel search engines out there, it can be difficult to identify which hotel booking site is offering you the cheapest discount hotels or best hotel deals. Instead of searching through one, three or five online hotel booking sites, you can now find out the best hotel deals in just one step. Don't believe it? Why not enter your destination and watch how this travel search engine find you the best cheap discount hotels and lowest hotel rates.

loving eggs n things at waikiki!

Whenever it comes to food during our vacation, we tend to be easy and flexible. After a few months of research from travel guides and websites, I heard about this fabulous place for breakfast - Eggs N Things.



We finally found our way there yesterday morning to discover a queue outside the shop. It was great that it was only 5-10mins walk from our hotel so we didn't take too long to find the place. One peek at the shop and you know that these people are there for some real American breaky. The pancakes arrived in stacks and the fluffy omelettes in a plate full, topped with either rice, potatoes or buttermilk pancakes. It was hard to find a table with no leftovers - I mean, the portion was seriously big enough to feed a hungry family! In this place, people don't talk about corporate performance management or whatsoever, you can tell they are only ready to pig out!

For some reason, every tourist or local seems to know the reputation of this infamous breakfast joint!





We are certain that this won't be our first and last visit... in fact, we were there again for lunch today. So if you are in Waikiki, be sure to check out Eggs 'n Things!

last but not least tips for your cruise holiday

Here is one last thing to note when planning for your cruise vacation...

To travel lighter, find out about equipment that will be available on the ship. For instance, if the cruise line provides irons or hair dryers, you won't need to pack yours. I won't bother most ofthe time :P Also pack your own sample size shampoo, toothpaste, and other toiletries because these items will cost more in the gift shop though some luxury cruises will provide all amenities. You should have access to laundry facilities on your cruise holiday, so you don't have to take a huge amount of clothing. Be sure to pack a formal and or semi-formal outfit if you will be taking part in these sort of activities on your cruise holiday.

more cruise vacation tips

Let's get back to the budget. Where you cruise to on your holiday can make a big difference in your cost as well. If you pick a popular spot, you can travel cheaper than if you choose a less popular spot. Another consideration is whether you really care about those ports of call. If you just want to stay on the ocean liner and enjoy the luxuries, book a cruise that doesn't stop anywhere. These "cruises to nowhere" are just as luxurious as the others but cost less.

To be safe on a cruise holiday, don't take a lot of expensive equipment or jewelry with you. Make sure your passport, health insurance, and other papers are up to date.

tips for that memorable cruise holiday

So where do you start when planning a cruise holiday? First, ask yourself, what is your budget like?

When scheduling your cruise holiday, you should be aware that there are off and on season dates, and that you want to schedule your trip in the off season to get the best deal. What you may not know, however, is that cruise lines actually change prices a number of times throughout the year.

Ask and find out when their absolute lowest season prices are. In addition, keep your plans somewhat flexible so that you can change ships at the last minute. Sometimes a ship is not filled to capacity, so the cruise line will sell the last few tickets at a real bargain. It is always to their advantage to sail filled to capacity because people on holiday spend money on souvenirs, drinks, etc. Use this knowledge to get a really great deal. But if your dates are not flexible, don't wait too close to your travel dates to do your booking or you may not end up going for that cruise holiday at all :P

Is anything more luxurious than taking a cruise holiday?

I had a nice lunch with my good friends, Tracy and Eliza yesterday afternoon. We were talking about cruises and we all agreed that the Alaska cruise should be one that was not to be missed.

Is anything more luxurious than taking a cruise holiday? Traveling to exotic locations on a luxury ship, catching sunrays, and breathing the salty breezes can renew and replenish anyone, no matter how shopworn from the cares of work. However, a cruise holiday requires planning in order to be the best it can be. I'll be sharing in the next few posts of some tips to have a cruise experience you will remember. (since I'll be going on one myself soon :P)

travel tips: preventing motion sickness 2

This is a continuation of our travel tips on how to prevent motion sickness:

3) Do not read or focus on a stationary object. Keep your eyes on the horizon or the scenery in front of you, not to the side.

4) Try to get as much fresh air as possible. For eg., you can keep the car windows open or sit on the ship's deck.

5) Ginger is an effective remedy for nausea so chew on candied or preserved ginger.

6) If you are travelling by car, offer to drive. The person at the wheel hardly gets motion sickness.

travel tips: preventing motion sickness

I used to get motion sickness when I was younger but somehow, I grew out of it in my teengage years. In the next few of posts, I'll be sharing some tips on how to prevent motion sickness:

1) Avoid heavy, oily and spicy foods before leaving on your trip. The urge to throw up is caused by excess bile so a light and plain snack can helped to overcome this discomfort.

2) If travelling by car, train or boat, stay in a position near the front of the vehicle where there is less motion. On an airplane, request for a seat over the wing of the plane and avoid the tail section. On a ship, get a cahin hear the middle of the craft, close to the waterline where there is less rolling and pitching.

How to choose your UK accommodation?

One of the places in my 'must see' list is the UK... London, Italy, Spain, Prague are the tops in the list! Yet, I have heard much about how expensive accommodations can be in the UK where even 3 star hotels can cost around $100. So it is worth spending time researching and comparing hotels and prices once you have decided where you are travelling.

With so many accommodation choices and options, how do you go about with choosing the right place to stay? Here are my suggestions on choosing a hotel in the UK:

1) It is useful to find out WHERE exactly the hotel is located.
Is it near the heart of town? How far is it from the airport? Is it near any places of attraction?

2) What sort of rooms are available?
Deluxe? Superior? Bedding configuration? Smoking/Non-smoking floors?

3) What are the rates for different room types?
Any discounts or promotions available during your travel period? Does the rate include breakfast or taxes?

4) Are credit cards accepted?
The types of credit cards the hotels accept. Some smaller establishments such as Bed and Breakfast or Guest Inns accept only cash.

5) Can you book online?
If yes, will you be issued a confirmation number? What are the cancellation policies? Any additional charges when booking online?

6) What are the facilities available in the hotel?
Internet connectivity? Business services? Restaurants? Kitchenette? Leisure or recreational available?

7) Is it child-friendly?
This is important as not all hotels esp adult hotels accept children. Some hotels only accept children above a certain age.

With the above suggestions, you can also find out detailed information of hotels and plot out your itineraries with information available online. View the different kinds of accommodations from country retreats to classic hotels, to luxury ones or those in the heart of the city.

Whatever it is, do your research and plan before you travel. This will ensure a smooth vacation for you and your family.

Sharlene's travel advice

I got an email from a friend, Sharlene who is currently living in London with her hubby. They took a holiday during the easter weekend to Brussels and Brugge and had a great time.



A drama took place then during the trip. Her purse was pick pocked but thank God that she realised it in time and her purse was safe. She listed downsome pointers you might find useful when you travel:

- always put your wallet in your front pants pocket

- put only minimal cash and cards in your wallet

- use a money belt for the rest of your cash

- do not be friendly, nor enter into conversation with anyone. i.e. just give an assertive 'No' and walk away briskly no matter who the person is. whether needy, busker, friendly local, etc. approach everyone as suspicious. sad as it is, this is what the world has become. can't trust anyone. risky to be the good samaritan :P

- make sure that person keeps a distance from you if you want to engage them

- travel in big groups (don't travel alone)

- be aware of your surroundings and people following you

- be sensible about the street you use

- always padlock your backpack as you walk the city

- never loose sight of your bag, better still, keep your hand on it all times

- scan copies of your passport, drivers licence and credit card numbers and store it in your online email account (yahoo,gmail). of course be sensible in what and how you store your credit card numbers online (use some creativity to encrypt it so that it is not obvious in case your email is compromised. plus there is no need to store the expiry and verification code). in the case of losing your items, you can access it quickly over the internet and cancel your credit cards immediately. visa international can stop your card immediately if you give them your card number. if not, they will have to contact your bank to find your card details (which takes longer)

Our First New Zealand Trip dot Com

One of the things that got me hooked on blogging was when my family took our first new zealand trip in Oct 2004. My husband was so eager to get me started on starting our first website that he agreed on a handsome budget for our vacation. And it was one of the best vacation our family had taken since Clayton was born.

It used to be hosted with Sitesell but recently, we had migrated it to our own hosting as it was too expensive to maintain a site with Sitesell. Due to that, we had to change our domain name and thus, it was as good as starting a new site.


This New Zealand trip site contains reviews of all the hotels and accommodations we stayed and places we visited in both the North and South Island. It documented our entire itinerary for the trip. So if you are planning to visit New Zealand one of these days, this site will be a great guide for you. Check it out and tell me what you think and if you have any questions, just ask!

Bang for your Buck!

Most of us love to travel but going on a holiday can be costly unless you do some careful planning. Here are some ways to save:

• Airfare
Compare carrier: Unless you are going on a package tour, you can save quite a bit by choosing the right airline to fly with. The carrier you chose can vary between S$200-S$500. Look out for promotional prices and travel fairs.

Direct flights usually cost more than those with stopovers. But don't forget that you will waste more time for transits or stopovers.

Flying by day or night can also determine a price difference. Depending on destinations, some carriers charge more for night flights than day ones.

Peak or off-peak? As we all know, peak periods (school holidays or holiday season) can be dearer. You can save about $300 when flying on non-peak periods.

• Accommodation
Spending your nights in a three-star would cost less than a five-star hotel. Chances are, you won't be spending that much time in the luxurious room. Check on last minute deals (ratestogo.com or wotif.com) which can be cheaper than usual. Tip: Avoid doing this during peak season. Last minute deals mean you can't book way way ahead.

• Sightseeing
If you are on budget, choose a package where everything is included.Travel agents can get better rates with no hidden costs. However, all-sights inclusive option can mean lesser flexibility.

I learn about this fantastic website from Creamaid called Luggage Online which actually has '50 Best Sites Which You've Probably Never Heard Of'. You can find all sorts of resources in these listed sites when planning for your next vacation. You can read about real travellers' experiences, view photos of your desired destination, compare hotel prices, search for information, plan your itinerary from these sites. There is something for EVERYONE - backpacker to vegan traveller!

I think this is an amazing resource, a bookmark every traveller msut keep!