Remember that bit in Cinderella when the pumpkin turns into a coach, rags are transformed into a gown and mice become coachmen? By inviting a concierge to plan your holiday, you too shall go to the ball, with all the style, service and splendid accessories you could wish for.

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One service offered by a concierge is the hire of luxury cars and boats. Don’t get stuck with a pumpkin, make sure you have the luxury car, 4×4 or yacht of your dreams by simply telling your concierge what you’re after and letting them take care of it for you.

If you want a chauffeur then this shouldn’t be a problem either. What better way to be delivered to the door of a restaurant or club where you have a VIP reservation?

A Suitable Palace

Once you’ve decided where you want to spend your luxury holiday, let your concierge find the perfect pad to suit your requirements.

Concierge services typically have expert knowledge of the area and will be able to find you luxury villas or apartments in stunning locations. Are you after a private balcony, an infinity pool, or a solid gold bathtub perhaps? Ask and it shall be done.

Fairytale Feasts

On your luxury holiday, why should you be in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove! A concierge can bring in catering staff or even a gourmet chef for the evening to do all the hard work for you.

On the other hand if you fancy dining out, then ask your concierge to make you a reservation at the best restaurant in the area. They will most likely know the staff and be able to get you special treatment and of course, the perfect table.

Mary Poppins

Concierge services can even organise a nanny for the kids, meaning you can spend time romancing and relaxing on your luxury holiday. You can enjoy your fairytale feasts and fancy soirees safe in the knowledge that your kids are being well cared for.

Pampered like a Princess

Concierge services can arrange private yoga, pilates and spa treatments to happen all in the comfort of your luxury villa, meaning that you don’t even have to leave the poolside if you don’t want to.

Let them know what your dream schedule is and they will plan it for you, bringing in local practitioners for your own private sessions and therapies.

Have you ever tried out a concierge service for your holiday? Let us know all about your fairy godmother!

Sophie McGovern writes for Dynamic Lives, a company that organise bespoke holidays and exclusive villas in Europe and Sri Lanka. She enjoys travelling the world and looking for new adventures in interesting places.

In the UK most flights take off early morning to pick up customers up later in the day who are returning home and this means that check in is nearly always very early and if you have a long way to drive entails getting up just past midnight.

Having done this on many occasions when flying from any of the London airports, I find it takes at least a few days to recover and relax. Holidays are long looked to events and arriving at your destination tired and probably a little stressed is not the best of starts and far from the image you have carried in your mind.

More often than not, we now book into a hotel close to the airport and travel down the previous day. Apart from not having to get up so early, it allows you to unwind knowing you have ample time to get to the airport and it becomes part of your holiday stopping off for a spot of lunch and a relaxing meal in the evening.

In fact, if you compare the price of Gatwick airport parking with Gatwick hotels with parking you will be pleasantly surprised at how little you have to pay if you use a budget or even a 3 star hotel and well worth the money to get your holiday off to a stress free start.

Corporate Owned vs Privately Owned

With so many vacation rentals being “ma and pa” owned this may be a better way to spend your money. You may see some upside to this; instead of giving your money to a big hotel corporation you may want to help out the the aforementioned “little guy” owned private vacation rentals. Many times the rate you will pay to stay in a vacation rental will be higher then what you will pay for a hotel room, but, the amenities you will get as part of staying in a vacation rental can far outweigh what you will get in a hotel room.

A vacation rental will often be located in local subdivisions or neighborhoods and will give you a more culturally integrated experience. You can often bike or walk around these areas. If you have a Hawaii rental car, you can park easily and have much shorter distances to haul any luggage or groceries. Hotels are often either in isolated areas that limit accessibility to the rest of the island, and make venturing out a trek, or they are in the heart of Waikiki and other hubs that feel overcrowded and hectic.

Amenities

While paying for a hotel room is probably quicker and easier it by no means gives you the comforts of home. One of the biggest upsides to getting a vacation rental is the amenities that will already be included in the price you pay. You will get some of these added luxuries just to name a few…

• Extreme privacy
• More square footage
• Multiple bedrooms
• Full kitchen
• Separate living room
• Separate dining room
• Fitness room
• WiFi
• Big screen TV
• DVD player
• Game/Movie room
• On sight laundry
• Your own pool and/or jacuzzi
• Yard
• Patios
• Balconies
• Gardens
• A friendly more personable feel

Remember all vacation rentals are different, you may not get all these in one booking.

Pet Policies

For those of us who like to travel with our pets, some vacation rentals can be very accommodating to them; though sometimes an extra fee may be added to the final price. Some hotels may allow pets to stay, but in general not many guests enjoy seeing random animals in the lobby of their hotel. With a vacation rental you don’t have to worry about this. Your pet can run and play in the private yard. You will also savor the fact that you are not spending more money paying someone to feed and watch your pet while you are away.

Owner Knowledge

Hotels will probably have a directory and phone book to help you get around, and they may even have a person that will give you directions to a sight or attraction you want to see, but booking a vacation rental gives you the added bonus of having access to the owner’s knowledge of the area you are staying. Don’t be too shy to ask about these things, most times owners will share the ins and outs of the area. More importantly they can tell you the very best sights and attractions to go and see as opposed to the places that are just tourist traps and really aren’t worth your time. You can also get easy directions as well as a more personal one on one experience. You will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of attention a vacation owner rental will give to you. Don’t be surprised if there are flowers or even some kind of local gift basket waiting for you when you arrive.

Choosing between a hotel room and a vacation rental does not have to be a hard task. Booking vacation rentals online has become much easier in the past few years, thanks to sites that consolidating listings. There are pros and cons for both choices. When it comes down to it, it is all about the personal experience you are looking to create. Staying outside the confines of a hotel and opening yourself up to a more private, personal trip could be the difference between a vacation and an experience you will cherish for years to come.

Cell Phones on the Ship

Before using your cell phone on the ship, check and see what you’ll be paying per minute. Often the charges are quite high, up to around $3.00 per minute in some cases and sometimes more. Wait to go on shore to use your phone or laptop if possible.

The Casino

So you’re excited to go to Casino? Well set a predetermined daily amount before you get there and stick to it. You can do very well in these casinos but not as well as say a Vegas casino. Remember it can still be fun as long keep in mind your limit.

Cruise Gift Shops

Many cruise gifts shops can make stray heavily from your budget. They tend have a lot of overpriced items that can be obtained in port for a lot less money. Check out the items you like in the gift shop and see if you can find them elsewhere.  I am not saying not to buy a few items, but a set a limit and stick to it.

On-board Art Auctions

You will most cruise ships have some type of art auction on board. These tend to be the perfect place to find some great pieces at a reasonable price. People tend to be sucked into these auctions and end not ever hanging these pieces up or displaying them. Remember only buy what you know you’re going to use. With a little research you would able to find the same pieces of art for a better price of the ship.

Food, Food, & More Food

Many cruises have onboard restaurants that have varying cuisine but are not included with your ship meal plan. Remember you have already paid for the food in your initial purchase, so take advantage of that fact in order to save money. Consider only attending these types of restaurants for special occasions or as treat for yourself.  This will help keep you on budget.

These tips should to drastically keep you on budget on your next cruise. Remember to all research your cruise ship’s onboard activities, and food options. This way you can plan ahead on what you would like to participate in.

When considering making online hotel reservations, always seek out reviews that are independent of the site. The hotel’s site may only list biased reviews that are in favor of the hotel. It only takes a few minutes to do and may spare you from booking a room with a hotel that has a bad reputation. Keep in mind to check the hotel’s rating, and try to get reviews from a reliable source on the web.

Location is key. You should always do a little research on the surrounding community or area before making online hotel reservations. This is especially true if you have never visited in the particular area. Is the hotel in a safe place? This should be one of the top priorities. Safety ratings of a particular region or city are typically available on the web, and it should be one of the first things you check out.

Online hotel reservations can be convenient and save you money. Play it safe and smart. Know what it is that you are looking for and investigate before booking any online hotel reservations.

Start by visiting Hotels.com and then enter the information about your trip. Where you are going, when you need the hotel room, and how many people will be staying with you. Then it will take you to your hotel selection page. Here you can narrow done your hotels by amenities, guest rating, star rating, price, or even by hotel name. Once you click on the hotel that you are interested in, it takes you to a page that tells you about your selected hotel. If you like the hotel and the price, you then book your hotel reservations.

If you don’t have a specific trip that you are trying to make travel reservations for you can use the deals button on the top of the Hotels.com homepage. This page takes you to the top deals for all the most popular cities, then you can plan a trip around your hotel booking.

Hotels.com is very easy to use and helps you find great prices on travel reservations. You know exactly what type of room you are getting, and you know all the details of the hotel. With Hotels.com you will get the exact travel reservation that you want, your not surprised with a substandard hotel.