Step into some hotel elevators and the buttons run 10, 11, 12, 14. The obvious question is: what happened to the 13th floor? Usually, nothing happened to it. The physical floor is still there; the hotel has simply skipped the number 13 and labeled the next level 14. The tradition comes from the longstanding Western…
Many hotels use cotton or cotton-blend sheets, usually in a crisp percale or smoother sateen weave. Thread counts vary widely, but plenty of hotel-style bedding falls somewhere around 200 to 400 threads per square inch. There is no single formula, though. A practical hotel sheet has to feel comfortable while also standing up to frequent…
Hotels can charge your card when you book, before you arrive, or when you check out. Prepaid and nonrefundable rates are commonly charged in advance, while flexible rates are often settled at the hotel. You may also see a pending authorization around check-in that temporarily reduces your available funds or credit without being an additional…
Yes, some hotels have sensors designed to detect smoking or vaping in guest rooms, but they are not standard in every hotel. Conventional smoke alarms can also sometimes react to e-cigarette aerosol. Most importantly, a hotel can prohibit vaping and charge a cleaning or smoking fee whether or not a dedicated vape detector is installed….
If you’re 18, 19, or 20, finding a hotel can be more complicated than simply choosing an available room. Plenty of hotels allow guests under 21 to check in, but there is no universal minimum age across the hotel industry. One property may welcome an 18-year-old while another hotel from the same brand requires guests…
Yes, Priceline is a legitimate place to book hotels. It is an established online travel agency owned by Booking Holdings, the company behind several major travel brands. The more useful question is whether Priceline is the best way to book your hotel. A good Priceline rate can save money, but booking through a third party…
When a hotel rate says “half board,” it generally means your room, breakfast, and one additional main meal are included in the price. Most often, that second meal is dinner. It sits between a breakfast-only stay and full board, giving you some meals at the hotel without tying you to the property all day. For…
Airbnb is often better for longer stays, extra space, kitchens, and private living areas, while hotels usually have the advantage for short trips, on-site service, amenities, and straightforward convenience. Neither is automatically the better choice. For couples, the right answer depends on the destination, length of stay, total cost, location, and how you want the…
There is something unusually satisfying about sinking into a well-made hotel bed after a long travel day. Sometimes the pillow feels so comfortable that you start wondering what hotels use—and whether you can recreate the same experience at home. Hotels do not all use one special type of pillow. Feather-and-down, pure down, and down-alternative fiber…
Open a hotel nightstand and you may find a Bible tucked beside the phone charger, notepad, or room-service menu. It is such a familiar hotel-room detail that it can seem like an ordinary amenity, but the tradition has a specific history. Many of the Bibles travelers encounter were placed through The Gideons International, a Christian…
Finding Port Canaveral hotels with free cruise shuttle service and parking takes a little more research than the search phrase suggests. Some hotels include both benefits with a special Park & Cruise rate, while others offer a free-parking promotion but charge for transportation. A few bundle the shuttle with paid long-term parking instead. For travelers…
Booking a hotel does not always mean paying for the entire stay the day you reserve it. Depending on the property and rate, you may be able to reserve the room and pay at the hotel, or use an installment service that spreads the cost across several payments. Those options can be useful for couples…