Check out the article to view
MSNBC's top 10 places to find travel bargains in 2010.
If you're looking for an
amazing hotel deal, you won't find a better one than at Value Place.At Value Place, we don't need to discount
because our weekly price is always right.Plus, our rooms are crazy clean and security is a top priority.Visit ValuePlace.com
to take a video tour and make
a reservation.
Have you found an amazing
travel deal lately?Please leave a
comment and share it with us!
Are you among the nearly 40
million Americans who will be traveling for the holidays this
year?A lot of planning goes into those
holiday escapades, we know!But, in the
midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season, it's common to let a very
important thing slip from the forefront of our minds -- safety.
I don't mean to be a Grinch, but push those visions
of sugarplums dancing to the side for just one moment, please, and give
some thought to the following list of things NOT to do when traveling for the holidays.
5 Things Not to Do When Traveling for the
Holidays
Tips provided by Value
Place's Bob Creech, Sr. Vice President of Safety and Security
1.Don't Wing It
It sounds like a great idea to whisk your loved one off for
a secret holiday vacation or whimsically hop in the car and drive several hours
to visit grandma, right?Spontaneity can
be a good thing, but not when it comes to travel plans.While you don't need to broadcast your plans
to the world or have every detail plotted out, you should at least do the
following before hitting the road:
Tell at least one
person:Whether you're flying or driving,
share your travel itinerary with someone in case there is an emergency.Be sure your friend has your contact
information, knows the route you're taking, and has the name, address and phone
number of the place where you'll be staying.
Know your
destination:Have maps, phone numbers and
addresses handy, and pre-program them into your cell phone or GPS.Don't wait until you're on the road to ask
for directions.
Pack a safety kit:If you don't already have one in your car, put one together before you
leave.Click here for a list of
items to include in your kit, and don't forget to pack your cell phone
charger!It's also a good idea to bring
a list of the phone numbers of your credit card companies, insurance
representatives and bank, as well as your vehicle's license plate and VIN
numbers.If your wallet or car goes MIA,
you'll need this information.
2.Don't Be Too Nice
It is the season of good cheer, but certain acts of kindness
can get you into trouble.For instance,
if someone in a parking lot asks you for change for a $5, politely say you
don't have it and keep walking!Never
pull out your wallet or open your purse in a situation like this, or it could
quickly be snatched.Same goes for your
cell phone.It's never wise to let
someone "borrow" your phone regardless of the "emergency" they are having.Offer to place a call for them.
3.Don't Let Your Guard Down
Staying healthy and safe while traveling can be as simple as
trusting your senses.We are much more
perceptive than what we give ourselves credit for.If a situation doesn't seem quite right, it
probably isn't.Get out of it by
walking, running or driving away.A few
other things to keep in mind are:
Never open your hotel door for a stranger, even if the
person claims to be hotel staff.Call
the front desk first and ask if they sent someone to your room.
Never leave valuable items in plain sight inside your
vehicle. Even an empty box or bag can be tempting for a thief.
Don't touch your face or food before washing your
hands.When you travel during the
winter, you are much more likely to come into contact with flu or other viruses
that can ruin your festivities.Keep a
mini bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you, and use it often.
4.Don't Leave Obvious Signs that You're Gone
Tell a friend or neighbor that
you're leaving town.Ask if they'll pick
up your mail and newspapers, or have
the delivery held until you return.Don't leave them pile up!This is
one of the first things thieves look for, especially in rural areas.It's also a good idea to plug a lamp into a
timer so it switches on in the evenings.This gives the appearance that you're home.Also, if you have a Facebook, Twitter
or other social media account, do not post messages that let people know that
you're out of town.
5.Don't Select a Hotel Based on Price Alone
Value Place is a
low price leader in the lodging industry, and knows that affordable rooms are
very important to our guests.But safety
is even more important.We go to great
measures to surpass industry standards in security and cleanliness.We recommend you do your research before
making a reservation at any hotel to see how it measures up in these safety areas:
Location:Is the property in a safe area of town.Check it out yourself online on Google
Maps.
Lighting:Is the parking lot well lit?Are
the common areas inside the hotel well lit? Are there security cameras?All of these things significantly enhance the
safety of a property and deter theft.
Room Entry:Only stay in hotels that have interior room entry, meaning
the doors of the rooms open to a hallway inside the building.Rooms with exterior entries are prime targets
for thieves.
A little travel safety prep
work can make all the difference between having a holly jolly Christmas and
feeling like you got a lump of coal in your stocking.
Looking for more travel
safety information? Check out the Value Place Blog entries on:
Do you do a lot of
traveling?Do you have a favorite
vacation destination, but the cost of lodging makes it nearly impossible to
visit as often as you'd like?Does your
work take you away from home for weeks or even months at a time?
Value Place would be a great
place for you!We invite you to check us out.Guests who have stayed with us often ask when
we're going to build a property in the cities to which they frequently travel
or would like to visit.
Posted by vpfsnews on November 29, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Value Place guests are not
shy about sharing
their feedback about their stay.We
receive oodles of comments everyday through this blog and on ValuePlace.com.Some recent ones include:
"My wife, 2 children & I were
recently relocated from FL to Asheville, NC.However, we had a little over a month
before our house was ready so we stayed at the Value Place & are so happy that we
did!! Not only was the hotel very clean & accommodating, but the staff made
us feel like we were part of the "family". And whenever we needed
anything from towels to directions, Tallmadge
was right there to get what we needed or direct us where to go!! This has been
our most pleasant experience at a hotel!!Thanks to the Asheville
Value Place staff -- U ROCK!!!!!-Greg and MelodieI., MiamiFL
"The fact you don't accept pets is a
big NO NO!I will be moving to the Tallahassee area soon and
was thinking of staying at Value Place
for at least a month during my transition. You just lost a customer because of
your pet policy."- Debbie L.
Hundreds of pleased guests
just like Greg and Melodie are currently staying with us while they are waiting
on the completion of their new homes.We
are happy to provide a home away from home for them.Others, like Debbie, are not pleased with our
no pet policy; however, that policy is in place for the protection and
wellbeing of our guests and property.
What do you have to say about Value Place?Please leave a comment and share your
feedback.
But, I also think about
something else (and am starting to dread it already).We have a really big family, and we typically
all try to stay together in the same house for Thanksgiving.But, every year there is a squabble over who
gets to sleep in the beds and who has to sleep on the couches and air
mattresses - ugh!Can you relate?
This year, my family will be
gathering in Des
Moines, IA, and several of us have decided to say NO to the couch and stay
at a Value Place!We know we'll enjoy Thanksgiving and each
other's company even more this year (our aching backs will thank us, and it's
easy on the wallet, too!).
Top 5 Reasons to Stay at Value Place this
Thanksgiving:
5.Relatives' smoking has you choking:Don't expose yourself and kids to harmful second
hand smoke.Sleep in a smoke-free
environment.
4.Cook in an un-crowded kitchen, and have extra fridge space for leftovers:There's
no need to fight over cooking space while preparing your feast.Every Value Place room is equipped with a
kitchen that features
a stove, microwave and full-size refrigerator.Just think... you can make the mashed potatoes in the morning in your room
and bring them to your gathering.Then,
bring all the other leftovers that won't fit in grandma's fridge back to your
room.
3.Control the remote:Don't care to watch football all day long?Escape to your room for some channel surfing
and a nap.
2.Have your own bathroom and shower:No more waiting in line or
running out of hot water!
1.Sleep in a bed:Enough said!
To find a Value Place near your Thanksgiving travel
destination and to make a reservation, visit ValuePlace.com or call 800-ValuePlace.
Thousands of people stay in Value
Places across the country every night.Some stay with us for business, some for vacation and others because
they are in the middle of a move and need a temporary place to stay before
settling into their new home or community.
We are privileged to have
the opportunity to meet and hear the stories
of so many interesting people.
We'd like to hear your story,
too.If you've ever stayed at a Value Place, leave a comment and tell us why
you stayed with us and the city where you stayed.
Fancy robes, whirlpool tubs,
a state-of-the art fitness center and pool... why pay for things you don't
use!?At Value Place, you only pay for what you
want.
As recently reported in Lodging Hospitality and DailyFranchiseNews.com,
our budget lodging concept has turned traditional hotel thinking upside down
and focuses on nuts and bolts instead of bells and whistles.
This nuts and bolts
philosophy combined with our stringent safety and cleanliness standards has
enabled Value Place
to thrive, while the rest of the hotel industry is struggling through one of
its deepest downturns.
Great news
for all of you out there who feel you could use a little more sleep.You get an extra hour this weekend thanks to
the ending of Daylight Saving Time.
Standard
time returns at 2 a.m. this Sunday, so remember to turn your clocks back one
hour before going to bed Saturday night.However, if you live or are traveling in Arizona
or Hawaii,
you may leave your clocks alone - these two states
do not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Daylight Saving Time returns March 13.
Do you know
the history behind Daylight Saving Time?Visit standardtime.com to
find out.
Looking for
a great night sleep while traveling?Visit ValuePlace.com and make
your reservation today.
Tammie created the
incredible upside down cheerleader costume for her daughter - check out the
picture of it below:
We are pleased to provide Tammie
with a $50 Visa gift card for her money-saving, do-it-yourself creativity.Interested in replicating the costume for
your kids for next Halloween?Here's how
Tammie made it:
"I made a stuffed head and attached it to a
sweatshirt and then put the pom poms at the ends
of the sleeves with my daughter's shoes attached to the bottom. I took an
old pair of pants and cut out the front and attached a piece of black panty
hose to the front so that she could see where she was going. I attached a
pair of stuffed sneakers to large wooden dowels
that she could hold onto and attached them to the sweatshirt. Her hands
control the feet and her feet control the hands. It is hilarious."
Congrats to all of you out
there who saved money this Halloween by making your own costumes, and a special
thank you to everyone who entered our "Costume
to DIY For" contest.
