Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up – May. 28th, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on great destinations for romance if you are trying to plan a romantic vacation with your significant other. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

Travel Trends: Train Travel In The USA
Traveling by train is becoming more popular these days as improvements are being made. However, the U.S. is still behind other nations in providing passengers with high speed rail infrastructure. Take a look at this article to learn more.

Travel Aches and Strains Can Be A Pain In Your Back
Sitting in a car or on a plane for hours can often leave you feeling a bit stiff and sore. It’s hard to be confined in such a small area for a long period of time without feeling some sort of discomfort. Check out this article for some great tips on how to relieve the pains and strains of traveling.

Air Travel: Tips For Single Parents Flying With An Infant
Traveling with an infant is never easy, especially when you are alone. Planning ahead, being organized and traveling smart is very important in this type of situation. This article shares with us some great tips on flying alone with your little one.

17 Great Destinations For Romance
Has it been years since you have taken a romantic vacation with your significant other? Sometimes it can be hard to pick a destination that will be sure to help rekindle the romance in your relationship. Whether you want to stay close by or travel halfway around the world, this article discusses 17 great destinations for romance.

Smoothing The Way
People with disabilities often have to overcome some extra obstacles when traveling. However, new rules and regulations have begun to make traveling for those who are disabled a bit easier and not as much of a hassle. This article discusses the improvements the transportation and travel industry are beginning to make in order to make sure everyone can travel with ease.

Ten Ways To Deal With Culture Shock
Traveling internationally to other cultures can be an amazing experience. However, sometimes arriving at a destination that feels very different from where you reside can leave you feeling a bit uncomfortable and out of place. Here are some great tips on how to deal with culture shock.

At Courtyard, Tots Travel Too

Any parent will tell you that traveling with young children can be difficult.  That’s why we’re trying to alleviate some of that stress with the launch of a new program this week called Tots Travel Too™.  This program is now in place at 2,500 of our hotels including all Courtyards in the U.S. and Canada, as well as our Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites brands in those two countries.

The complimentary Tots Travel Too program provides guests, upon request, with a travel crib and laundered COVERPLAY® removable crib slipcover, designed exclusively for our brands, to ensure their “traveler-in-training” can rest comfortably. For some bath time fun, an animal squirty toy comes with the COVERPLAY.  In addition, for parents who may have forgotten to pack their tot’s essentials the front desk will be stocked with complimentary items, including outlet covers, nightlights, baby shampoo, and baby lotion, plus disposable bibs will be available in The Bistro or breakfast areas.

The next time you travel with little ones, Courtyard has you covered!

Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up – May. 21st, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you’ve been having trouble coming up with a vacation destination for a trip in the near future, don’t miss the article on iconic travel experiences.  Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

Airlines See Jump In First-Business-Class Traffic
It looks like first class and business class sales are slowly making a comeback in the travel industry.  The demand for premium seats in March was up by over 10% compared to last year.  Check out this article to learn more.

The iPad As An Inflight Entertainment System?
Airlines may begin to use the iPad as an inflight entertainment system.  With pre-loaded content and a variety of apps to choose from, this could make some flights feel a lot shorter.  Take a look at this article and let us what you think.

10 Iconic Travel Experiences
Have you ever thought about going on an archaeological research trip in Crow Canyon or travel to the birthplace of yoga, Rishikesh, India?  This article describes ten incredible travel experiences that you may have never thought of planning.

Ten Tools To Improve Business Travel
Without the proper planning, it can be hard to go on a business trip that runs smoothly.  From luggage to useful websites to travel gadgets, this article covers ten great tools that will improve business travel.

Looking For A Wi-Fi Hot Spot? Try 10,000 Feet Up
We keep hearing about getting Wi-Fi Internet access on planes, but which airlines are providing passengers with this service and which airlines aren’t?  Check out this article to find out which major U.S. airlines offer this service and what the rest of the airlines have planned.

How To Prepare For Traveling Without Your Dog
If you own a dog then you probably understand how hard it is to leave him, or her, home when going on a business trip.  For many, it is hard to trust others to care for our dogs. Here are some great tips on how to prepare for traveling without your dog.

Top Business Travel Blogs Written by Business Travelers

A few months back, we provided our readers with a list of some of the top business travel blogs today.  To complement that list, we now want to share with you the best business travel blogs written by business travelers themselves.  Through their first hand experiences, these business travelers provide us with great tips, tricks, news and advice that will be sure to help anyone in their future travels.

One Mile At A Time
Why we like this blog: From reviewing different hotels and discussing airline news, to finding out about great deals, “One Mile At A Time” helps provide other business travelers with great insight into the travel world.  This business traveler uses his first hand experience to give his readers great tips and tricks that they can use on their upcoming trips.

Road Warriorette
Why we like this blog: Written by a woman in her late 20’s who travels for work on a weekly basis, this business travel blog is geared towards other women with a similar lifestyle.  “Road Warriorette” discusses what life is like on the road and provides women with advice, observations, and tricks on how to make business travel run smoothly.  This blog also acts as an inviting space for women to share their own travel stories and advice to help each other out.

Upgrade: Travel Better
Why we like this blog: Written by frequent traveler Mark Ashley, “Upgrade: Travel Better” provides readers with travel tips, news and commentary from a consumer’s point of view.  Mark Ashley’s motto for traveling is “Living the first class life, at coach prices.” His blog details his first hand experiences living by this mantra and is written in a very straightforward tone.

The Middle Seat Terminal
Why we like this blog: “The Middle Seat Terminal’s” writer, Scott McCartney, knows it all when it comes to traveling.  His experience has given him enough knowledge to write 4 books on travel and make “The Middle Seat Terminal” a great read for frequent travelers.  From sharing his knowledge on special deals and new baggage rules, to providing personal insights on where to sit on your next flight, Scott McCartney is full of helpful information.

Marshall Jackson On Travel
Why we like this blog:  From discussing airplane food and hotel reviews, to providing you with ideas of productive things to do during a layover, this business traveler has enough first hand knowledge to give his readers plenty of helpful tips.  Blogger Marshall Jackson has worked in the airline industry for more than ten years, making travel a permanent part of his career.  Written with a sarcastic-but-honest tone, “Marshall Jackson On Travel” is an informative and interesting blog to which many business travelers can relate.

Do you know of any great business travel blogs written by business travelers?  Share with us in the comments which blogs you find to be the most helpful.

Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up – May. 14th, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are planning a family road trip this summer, make sure to check out the article on tips for family road trips.  Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

Home Security Tips To Protect Your Home When On A Business Trip
It’s devastating to come back from a business trip and find that your home has been burglarized.  There are several ways to prevent this, which will allow you to have a clear mind when leaving for a trip.  Take a look at this article for some great tips on how to properly secure your home.

5 Fantastic Travel Friendly iPad Apps
Looking for great apps to download on your brand new iPad?  This article suggests 5 travel friendly iPad Apps that will be sure to make your next trip go off without a hitch.

10 Tips For Better Family Road Trips
Summer is a great time to take a family road trip, but before going on a family getaway, you need to make sure you’re prepared.  Here are 10 great tips on how to make your next family road trip run smoothly.

Find Travel Bargains Online
Are you overwhelmed with the number of online travel booking websites?  It can be hard to figure out which travel bargains are alright to book and which ones you should stay away from.  Check out this article for some great online travel bargain tips.

Packing Tips From Travel Pros
Now that airlines charge baggage fees, it is important to pack as efficiently as possible.  However, this can often be a difficult task.  This article shares some packing tips from the people who travel the most, flight attendants and pilots.

18 Must Haves For Business Travelers
From traveling gear to electronics to computer gear, business travelers need to have it all when going on a business trip.  Take a look at this article to learn about the 18 “must haves” for business travelers.

4 Useful Websites for Small Business Owners

Running a small business is a challenging and complex task. Fortunately, the Internet offers a wealth of information, tools and guides from experienced entrepreneurs that can help today’s businesses succeed. The past 5 years, especially, have seen a veritable explosion of online services catering to small businesses that help with everything from storing data to managing finances and traveling economically. The following websites and services are among some of the most valuable and helpful to business owners:

Google Docs
Google’s free web-based word processor enables users to create commonly used file formats such as XLS, DOC and PPT to collaborate and share with others. This allows businesses to easily share files between users in multiple locations, eliminating the need to email back and forth to update and edit important documents. It saves time, and ensures that the necessary information is always available.

Mint.com
Mint.com is a free online money management and budgeting software. After just 5 minutes of set-up time, it automatically pulls together bank, credit union and credit card data, and provides a detailed financial picture. The software can also assist in creating a budget, planning for growth and managing debt. All information is anonymous and contains no account numbers, so the security surrounding it is bank-level.

Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is an independent agency of the Federal Government that exists to aid, counsel and protect the interests of small business owners. The SBA offers guidance in many areas, including training and counseling, information on financial assistance, and advocacy and education on legal and regulatory issues. This agency can connect businesses with the resources they need to be successful. Much of this can be done directly through their content-rich website.

Work.com
Work.com is a community of small business owners and operators with a library of thousands of business-related How-To articles written by peer-vetted business experts. Users can rate the guides, participate in forums to connect with other businesses, suggest guide topics and even use the site to build a reputation for expertise by becoming a guide themselves. The site also serves as a business-to-business search engine and directory.

Courtyard’s Weekly Round-Up – May 7, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are booking a trip any time soon, make sure to check out the article on the most common booking mistakes. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

In-Flight Food Tries To Be Tasty
Many airlines are changing their whole approach to the food that is served while in the air. With more combination meals and a greater variety of options, air carrier food sales are expected to increase. Take a look at this article to learn more.

Five Tricks To Get The Most Out Of Your Travel Wardrobe – Without Compromising Style
Do you often have a hard time picking out what to pack before going on a trip? Thinking about all the different things you need to bring along and if everything will fit in your suitcase can often be difficult. Check out this article for some great packing tricks that will be sure to help you out.

The 10 Most Common Travel Booking Mistakes
Have you ever booked a plane ticket months in advance in order to save money, and then realized that prices went down 4 months later? Many travelers make this mistake at least once in their lives. Check out this article to learn about the 10 most common travel booking mistakes that you should avoid.

35 Travel Tips Revealed: Top Secrets of Travel Writers
Travel writers are usually experts in their field and know the ins and outs of traveling. In this article they have shared with us 35 great tips they feel we should know about.

How To Travel Green
Trying to become more eco-friendly when it comes to traveling? Here are some great tips on how to travel green.

6 Ways To Minimize Business Travel Costs
Traveling for business can sometimes be a bit pricey. However, there are ways to get around this and minimize business travel costs. Take a look at this article to learn more.

How The iPad Is Changing The Way I Travel
Thinking about buying an iPad? If you are a frequent business traveler or leisure traveler, it’s a great gadget to invest in. This article shows you several ways an iPad can change the way you travel.

The Frequent Flier’s Guide To Finding Cheap Airfare
Traveling this summer? Make sure to check out this article before you book your air travel tickets. It has some great tips on how to find cheap airfare.

Save 15 Percent on Weekend Travel All Summer Long with Courtyard

This summer, weekend travelers have another way to save thanks to Courtyard by Marriott.  Nearly 700 participating Courtyard hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada are offering 15 percent off standard weekend rates for stays between May 20, 2010 and September 6, 2010.

But, the booking window is very short – only 2 weeks! – so you have to act fast.  Go to www.courtyard.com/ratebreak by May 16, 2010 to book and use promotional code NF2 for availability.

Many know Courtyard as the hotel brand designed “for business travelers, by business travelers,” but it is also a great choice for those traveling for leisure.  The new lobby is a great environment for families, couples and groups to unwind and relax after a long day of sightseeing or taking in a new city.  Guests can also recharge at The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect.® with an extensive menu and beer, wine and cocktail offerings.

In addition, Courtyard hotels offer pools and fitness centers for recreation or to help guests maintain a healthy lifestyle on the road.  And, all of the hotels offering this discounted rate have free Wi-Fi, so guests have the flexibility to stay as connected or disconnected as they want while they’re away from home.

Again, the time to book is very limited, so we hope you’ll take advantage of this great offer and spend some time at a Courtyard this summer!