price protection Two more hotel companies have come out with Internet rate guarantees. Carlson Hotels Worldwide said that customers will always find the best available rate for its brands—Radisson Hotels and Park Plaza Hotels—on their own Web sites (www.radisson.com and www.parkplaza.com). If a consumer finds a lower price elsewhere on the Web, Carlson will honor it and give an additional 25 percent discount. WestCoast Hospitality, parent of WestCoast Hotels and Red Lion Hotels (www.westcoasthotels.com, www.redlion.com) went even further, promising that if a consumer could find a lower rate somewhere other than the chains' own Web sites, he or she can stay free and receive a $100 voucher for a future booking.
road workouts Want to get in a workout during a long layover? Some airports are actually adding fitness clubs, and in other cases they are available close by. Search for one at or near your next layover airport by going to Airport Gyms (www.airportgyms.com). It has listings for the U.S. and Canada. You'll find contact information, exact location, cost of a day pass, and in some cases, listings of the kinds of equipment and services available at the club.
inside knowledge A helpful site for road warriors and leisure travelers alike is The Travel Insider (www.thetravelinsider.com). It has plenty of useful articles about travel and technological resources for business travelers, reviews of the premium cabin service offered by major international airlines, advice on booking and buying travel, and lighter fare like "scary, silly and stupid security stories" and acerbic comments on airline management. You can also sign up for a free weekly newsletter.
tech touches Doubletree Hotels said that all of its 160 properties will have high-speed in-room Internet access installed by the end of this year. The service will be guided by on-screen instructions and supported by a 24-hour toll-free phone line. Charges will vary by location. Guests will also be able to use the in-room Internet connection to transmit print jobs wirelessly to a centrally located printer at the front desk or business center. To find out which hotels already have these services available, go to www.doubletree.com.
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