Taken from NYC.gov.

Citi Bike, the new bike share program operated by NYC Bike Share, has finally arrived in New York City, after many years of planning. Launching May 27, 2013 (for paid, yearly members first, June 2 for everyone else), New York City becomes one of the largest cities in the world to offer a public bicycle sharing program for residents and visitors alike. Initially, there are about 6,000 bikes, all parked at several hundred locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. If the program works well enough, Queens will soon be added, possibly followed by the other boroughs after.

How Citi Bike Works

Citi Bike bicycles are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. At each Citi Bike kiosk, a customer will have the choice to purchase either a 24-Hour or 7-Day Pass; those wishing for a longer term can sign up online for a yearly pass. There aren’t any human attendants, but each person will be able to complete the rental on the touchscreen panel, which will also have a map of the surrounding area and neighborhood and a docking system that releases bikes for rental with a card or key. To unlock a bike, 24-Hour and 7-Day Pass holders can print their ride code at the Citi Bike kiosk after they purchase a Pass. The code simply gets typed into the 3-digit keypad on any dock with an available bike, and presto! Annual Members simply dip their own unique key into the key slot at any dock with an available bike. To re-dock a bike, firmly push the bike into the dock and wait for a green light to blink on the dock to confirm it’s been properly locked.

How Much Does Citi Bike Cost?

Click on the tabs below to see pricing and time limits for each Citi Bike Pass option:

The trick to get longer rides and subsequent rides without paying the overtime rates is to get to a dock and restart the timer. 24-Hour and 7-Day Pass holders must request a new ride code to unlock another bike. Just swipe the same card you used to purchase your pass at the kiosk and a new code will be generated for you (the debit/credit card you used will not be charged again).

Citi Bike Locations

To see a current map of Citi Bike kiosk locations, check out the dedicated Google Map here. There also is an app that will be available for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

Points to Remember about Citi Bike

• You must be 16 or older to ride a Citi Bike.
  
• A $101 security hold will be placed on your credit or debit card for every pass you purchase.
• You may purchase up to two Passes per credit/debit card.
• The seat post can be adjusted up or down for a more comfortable ride; for future rides, remember your seat height setting by referring to the markings on the side of the seat post.
• Each bike has a front basket for carriage of lightweight items.
• Use of helmets is recommended but not required.
• There are currently over 700 miles of dedicated bicycle lanes in NYC, with more added frequently.
• For an immediate subsequent trip, allow at least two minutes between rides for the system to process.
• When you dock a bike, don’t leave the bike until you see the green light!
• If a bike station is completely full, you can select “Request Time Credit” at the kiosk. You will then have 15 minutes added to your ride time at no charge. Select “Find Nearby Stations” on the start screen of the kiosk to find a neighboring station with available docks.

As the service is new in New York City, it may not work perfectly. Although there were many years of planning and research into bicycle sharing programs in other cities, New York City is unique and thus presents unique problems. Citi Bike pricing is reflective of the high prices that is synonymous with New York City; for long trips, they actually encourage you to try out a private bike rental place, such as from a bike shop. Citi Bike rentals are great for short one-way trips or bidirectional trips to the grocery, rides that are short in duration. For more information, check out the official website.

*Nifty Fact: The largest public bike-sharing system in the world is in Hangzhou, China, where there are around 69,500 bikes and 3,000 docking stations.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

Nowadays, in the travel industry, there seems to be a niche for everything. Just a few posts ago, I mentioned a new cruise ship that will cater specifically to action and adventure junkies, with facilities such as a skydiving simulator on board. And just like there are all sorts of crazy specialties that cater to specific people, there are tours all over the world that take their guests on niche adventures. And now for one that sounds slightly more unique than most: Corrupt Tour.

Actually, Corrupt Tour has been around for over a year now, since February, 2012, but they have been really finding their way. Located in the Czech Republic’s capital city of Prague, Petr Sourek left his gig as a professional translator to found this tour company that shows locals and visitors alike just how rampant corruption is in his home city. As he told me in an email, “typically, corruptions feeds on business. I wanted to reverse this. Corrupt Tour Agency is a business that feeds on corruption. Corruption is the raw material of our tours. One may entertain the idea of corruption running out as fast as gas and oil. We do not! We are proud of making money from corruption – for a long time underestimated and certainly renewable natural resource!”

Prague is a city that may be known to tourists as home to baroque architecture and history, but the locals have come to know Prague as a hotbed for immorality, crime, bribery, and other sorts of corruption. Marianske Square, where the City Hall sits, is not-so-lovingly referred to as Mafianske Square by the locals. As the Wall Street Journal put it, “CorruptTour seems unlikely to run out of material soon, in a country where the scandals often veer into soap-opera territory.”

*Images above are from the Prague Crony Safari Tour, courtesy of Corrupt Tour.

Currently, Corrupt Tour is offering three different tours:

The Prague Crony Safari – This safari aims to splash some humor on the mass corruption that takes place in this capital city. Guests on this tour will visit “the habitats” of many convicted criminals “out in the wild” (where they currently live). As Corrupt Tour delightfully put it, the Crony Safari is “a safari of the habitats of cronies in the wild. Inconspicuous nests to divert unwanted attention. Ostentatious dens to intimidate the meek. The Safari takes care to keep pristine the natural habitats of these national treasures.” Depending on traffic, this tour goes on for about 2 – 3 hours and costs 30 EUR/ person.

Hospital on the Edge of the Law – Though Prague has become known for its corruption in all sorts of areas, from governmental to mafia-related strong-arming, this tour explores the niche within a niche – hospital-related cronyism and immorality. As per Corrupt Tour: “A completely new kind of soap opera! Three Prague hospitals notorious for graft and sleaze, three episodes of a never-ending story, three new types of heroes who help the archetypal characters from soaps to  navigate the labyrinth of bureaucracy.” Price and estimated duration is the same, 2 – 3 hours (depending on traffic) and costs 30 EUR/ person.

The Prague Best of the Worst – This tour is more of an overview into all the different kinds of corruption that plagues Prague. As per Corrupt Tour: “The Prague Monuments of Corruption deserve World Heritage Status. We show you really the best of the worst. You’ll be amazed how well the Prague corruption monuments are preserved. More recently, some monuments of corruption we have been visiting for a year suffered slight damage. Corrupt Tour can’t be held responsible for their destruction. Police, state attorneys and NGOs are responsible for this vandalism. Corrupt Tour hopes responsible politicians step in and protect corruption heritage for the future. Corruption is mankind’s heritage after all.” Duration is  2 – 3 hours (depending on traffic) and costs 27 EUR/ person.

*Images above are from the Prague Best of the Worst Tour, courtesy of Corrupt Tour.

Please check out their website to learn more about these unique offerings.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

 *Click on image for full-sized view.

I was quite fortunate to live in California for a year, some time ago. My brother and I settled down in San Francisco’s East Bay, in the triangle of towns known as Concord, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek, located in Contra Costa County. Coming from New York, I was excited about the quieter, slower lifestyle, the friendly people, and the natural beauty all around. One beautiful site was basically in my backyard, this Mt. Diablo State Park.

The centerpiece of the Mount Diablo State Park is the namesake peak, Mt. Diablo. At the highest point, it is 3,864 feet (1,178 m) tall, allowing it to be visible from throughout the entire San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond even. One late summer/early autumn day, my brother and I decided to drive over and check it out.

The views from the top on a clear day (which I was lucky enough to catch) are amazing. You can see far, far into the distance. The drive up is quite fun, too. The tiny roads wind in and out of the mountains, slowly elevating us while teasing us with quick glimpses of the panorama below.

If you’re ever in San Francisco or the Bay Area, please check it out! Here are a couple more:

Check out the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s page on Mt. Diablo HERE for more information.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

Norwegian Breakaway, taken from buildingbreakaway.ncl.com.

Here are some of the relevant travel news headlines and stories from the previous week through today:

• Etihad, SAA sign codeshare deal – Etihad Airways has expanded their African footprint by agreeing to a codeshare deal with South African Airways. (All Africa)
• Five Travel Problems and the Sites That Try to Solve Them -

  Many travel problems have been solved through technology, but plenty still exist. Here are five sites that attempt solutions. (NY Times)

• Etihad expanding NYC service – The Abu Dhabi-based airline will expand its daily flight to JFK by switching to 328-seat Boeing 777-300ER jets on June 1 from the 240-seat Airbus A340-500 jets that it currently uses. (USA Today)
• Saudi Arabia to get 200+ hotels in next 2 years – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is really expanding in the hospitality sector, with 214 new hotels to be built in the next two years. (Arab News)
• JetBlue plans new flights to Haiti – As the New York City-based airline continues to expand, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will now be served with daily, nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and South Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Miami Herald)
• Norwegian Breakaway arrives in its new home, NYC – One of the largest cruise ships has arrived in New York City, where it will be based. The Rockettes and Mayor Bloomberg held an opening ceremony for the ship that will be able to hold up to 4,028 passengers. (Travelers Today)
• United to resume Dreamliner flights – After months of woes due to mechanical problems, United Airlines will restart Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” flights on May 20. (USA Today)

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

Well, okay, it’s not so new. This unique art installation has been displayed at the Barbican Centre’s The Curve Gallery in London since October of 2012, but it is now heading to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City on next week, on May 12.

Rain Room is the latest work by a young experimental practice called Random International. Random International aims to create artwork that explores behavior and interaction, utilizing factors such as light and movement.

Rain Room seems to do just that, and in interesting and technologically-advanced way. Here’s the gist of how the Rain Room works:

In a room that is about 100 square meters (1076 sq. ft.), visitors will wander through the space which is continuously pouring water down as rain. What makes this installation unique is that nobody gets wet. All the other sensory triggers are there that are felt during a walk through rain, such as the moisture in the air and the smell and sound. The technology that facilitates this is a big part of the art. Overhead tracking sensors that respond to movement and are aware of human bodies constantly track visitors’ movements whilst in the Rain Room, immediately cutting off the “rain” directly above each person as they move around. In essence, rain is falling all around you, but you cannot get wet.

Below is a slideshow of some images taken from when the installation was at the Barbican Centre, and below that is an explanatory video:

*All Photos of Rain Room Barbican, courtesy of Random International. Watch the video below to see it in action:

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

*Click on image for full-sized view.

I lived for a year in the San Francisco Bay Area, and before I moved back home to New York City, I decided I should see some sites on the West Coast that were easily accessible for me. One weekend, my then-girlfriend and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip to Reno, Nevada.

They call Reno “the Biggest Little City in the World.” The drive to get there is quite rural, and the 200 miles took just about 3 and a half hours, with stopping. As we neared the city, we could see the lights, emanating in the distance. And then, all of a sudden, we were there, passing through the iconic Reno Arch.

The Arch in Reno is just one of those landmarks that are quintessentially American. The arch that is in its place now is the third incarnation, since it has been built three times since its original fabrication in 1926. I passed through on the way in quite late at night, which makes for a nice photo with the arch all lit up; on the way back to California, we left during midday, stopping once more to capture the iconic sign in daylight.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

Taken from NYC.gov.

Here are some of the relevant travel news headlines and stories from the previous week through today:

• Craving Wi-Fi, Preferably Free and Really Fast - Mobile devices grow more powerful by the day, and hotels, airports and airlines are struggling to keep up with customer demand for high-quality Wi-Fi service. (NY Times)
• Bike-share program finally launches in NYC – The nation’s largest bike share program has just started after long delays in New York City, called Citi Bike; overweight riders prohibited. (Biz Insider)
• Airbnb to now verify renters’ identities – The popular home-sharing startup has launched a tool that verifies user’s identities, with the hope that it will help it to appeal to more customers. (CNN Money)
• Boeing plans longest-range jet – Boeing is trying to produce a new leader in the longest-range aircraft category with the 777-8X, which would have a range of up to 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km). (Times India)
• Southwest Airlines plan on becoming truly international – The US airline, which bills themselves as the largest domestic carrier, wants to be an international force by 2015. (Skift)

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

All around the world, the economy is foremost on almost everyone’s minds. An unfortunate yet understandable cost-reducing measure to make up for smaller operating budgets and a dwindling population of travelers has been for airlines to raise costs. From increased fees on services such as checked baggage to raising the threshold for award travel redemption, these costly new expenses for us travelers have been touted as necessary by the airline industry to stay in business.

But savvy fliers have been fighting these costs for some time using what’s called travel hacking or fare hacking. So, now let me introduce you to a tried and true method of hacking airline ticket costs. It’s called:

Hidden City Ticketing

You don’t have to be an expert to understand this, since hidden city ticketing is a relatively simple tactic to grasp. It works best for last-minute travelers who are interested primarily in getting from one place to another, without so much worry on the return trip. Basically, it goes like this: To travel from Point A to Point B, it may be cheaper booking a ticket from Point A to Point C, with Point B as the layover city. Then, the remaining ticket(s) (from Point B to Point C) is/are discarded, as Point B was the traveler’s original intended destination.

(*Please note, I am writing this on May 1, 2013, though it will be posted later.)

For example, let’s say that we need a flight from New York City to San Francisco, to make an emergency appearance; remember, this fare hacking tactic works best for last-minute, one-way fares. So, I looked up flights leaving on May 2. If I look up one way flights from New York to San Francisco, here are my cheapest options:

As you can see, the cheapest options are with Sun Country Airlines, though not so feasible, as they each have a 27- and 17-hour layover in MSP, respectively. The $314 option with US Airways is decent, but still with a 4-hour layover. If we wanted a nonstop flight from NYC to San Fran, here is the cheapest:

Nonstop, so much better on time, but look at that price! A small fortune, I’m sure you’ d agree. Now, keeping these fares in mind, let’s see what we can come up with using the hidden city tactic. Point A is New York, Point B is San Francisco, but let’s book a ticket from New York to a Point C, with a layover in San Francisco. I found that many flights booked from NYC to Burbank, California (BUR/Bob Hope Airport, our “Point C”) have a layover in our intended Point B, San Francisco. So, here’s what I found:

$221 for a flight from NYC to Burbank, with a layover in SFO. Essentially, this is $221 for a nonstop flight from New York to San Francisco, since you will discard of the second portion of the ticket that continues on from SFO to BUR. Not only is this “nonstop” cheaper than a regular nonstop without the hidden city ticketing tactic (which was $505), it is even significantly cheaper than a one way ticket to SFO with a layover (which was $292).

Legal? Round Trip? Answers and more examples on the Next Page ->

Travelers everywhere are extra-prone to being the targets of petty crime. Pickpocketing is one of the simplest and most common of these crimes against travelers; every day, thousands of tourists around the world fall victim to being pickpocketed. Between the extra items that a traveler may carry (compared to a local), the potentially vast differences in clothing and gear design, and the common clueless look that most tourists wear, it is often easy to spot a tourist, especially to a pro pickpocketer.

To help combat this age-old crime, Johanna Denize, a Swedish native now residing in Washington, D.C., created a new line of clothing dedicated to travelers.

Called the Clever Travel Companion, the company offers several clothing options that all have a common, zippered pocket as its main feature. As each of the articles of clothing are meant to be worn under other layers, the zippered pocket essentially becomes hidden; Passports, money, documents, and other items stored in the zippered pocket are then thought to be out of the way of the main targets of pickpocketers, such as the front and rear pants pockets.

Currently, there are three basic clothing options in the Clever Travel Companion line:

Women’s underwear.

The underwear are the only ones that aren’t unisex. For women, they come in the “boy shorts” style, with one pocket on either front side. For men, the underwear are a tight-fitting boxer-brief kind, also with two pockets in the front, one on either side. Though I like the idea of this, I find a few things that turn me off about it, albeit slightly.

Men’s underwear

The first is that it is essentially located in the same spot that travelers aiming to thwart pickpocket thieves are trying to avoid – the front two pockets – though it is one layer under the front two pockets. Another thing is that it seems to be positioned right where there needs to be fluid movement. A person wearing this with a rigid passport inside may find it uncomfortable as they sit down or ride a bike, perhaps.

Long johns

Then there are the long johns, a thermal cotton layer meant to wear under an outer layer, such as jeans. Like the underwear, the long johns feature two front pockets, one on either side. Also like the underwear, I find this option seems as if it would inhibit full movement.

Finally, there are the shirts. Actually, there are two styles, one a standard, crew-cut, cotton tee, and the other a sleeveless tank top. These are my favorite in the Clever Travel Companion line, as they seem to make the most sense without sacrificing comfortability. However, unlike the other clothing options, the tank and the tee only have one center pocket, located mid-chest, as opposed to the two pockets that the others have.

tank tops

Though I like the tee/tank the most (I have the t-shirt myself), I think that this option doesn’t do as well in hiding the valuables as the others. For example, a rigid passport or identification card may show through the outer layer and not conform well to the curvature of the chest area, especially for women with larger breasts.

All in all, I am in favor of this unique clothing line. It is a step in the right direction, and even if these items are not worn with an outer layer over them, the zippered pockets are an extra defense against pickpocketing thieves. For the full effect of the security that these items are intended to deliver, wear them as an inside layer under other clothing, to hide the fact that there is even something there to steal.

T-Shirt

To try them out for yourself, head over to the Clever Travel Companion’s Website.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.

Sarovar Hotels, taken from ahmedabad.com.

I have done several of these in the past, but one reader asked me specifically for some words and phrases that deal with hotels and similar lodging. So, I figured I would do another post as I researched them for myself. Here are some terms, along with some that I’ve already included in past posts:

• Group Rate – A negotiated rate on travel, perhaps a stay or vacation plan, that incentivizes for a large crowd that books together. 
• No Show – A customer or guest, such as at a restaurant, hotel, or flight, that does not arrive for their reservation and does not give warning of their change of plans. A no show may be charged a fee or could lose some or all of their deposit, in some cases.
• Bed Night (or Bed/Night) – In the hotel industry, a bed night is a measure of occupancy of one person for one night.
• Room Night (or Room/Night) - In the hotel industry, one room per one night.
• Occupancy – A percentage rate used by places of accommodations that indicate the amount of rooms sold per night.
• Property – A general term that may be used by a place of accommodation that denotes the facility.
• Standard Room – This is usually the cheapest room in a hotel; the most basic room sold, with the most basic amenities. May also be called a “Single Room.” Will usually have one double- or Queen-sized bed.
• Double Room – A basic room, but outfitted to easily and comfortably accommodate two guests, usually with one Queen-sized bed or two double- or twin-sized beds. Since a “Double Room” has no guarantee of two separate beds, to differentiate, those with two beds are sometimes called a “Double Double Room.”
• Suite – A fully-equipped room, usually including a bedroom separate from the living room area. A suite will most likely have a small kitchenette, and perhaps a bar or dining table to eat at.
• Peak (Season) – Primary travel season.
• Off-Peak (Season) – Slowest travel season.
• Bed & Breakfast – Typically, a home that a proprietor has converted into accommodation(s) for the public. Each room becomes a separate unit for rent. The breakfast part is where it is common for the host to include a family-style breakfast for all their guests. Typically, the breakfast is served at a specific time, and all guest are expected to sit around the table communally and participate.
• Boutique Hotel – A type of hotel, usually smaller, that conforms to a niche. Though the definition is abstract, a boutique will usually offer fewer rooms, but more personalized service.
• Adjoining Rooms – Two hotel rooms that have a door connecting them from the inside; may be booked separately, and in that case, each side can be locked for privacy.
• Half-Board – In hotel parlance, a rate that includes one or two meals, usually breakfast and lunch, or a brunch.
• Full-Board – In hotel parlance, a rate that includes three full meals. Also called the “American Plan.”
• Amenity – Any item or service included in a hotel room at the standard cost. Amenities may include coffee makers, hair dryers, etc.
• Bellboy – Also called “Bellhop” or “Bellman,” a person that is hired by the hotel to assist guests, such as with luggage.
• Concierge - An employee of the hotel whose primary task is to serve as the liaison between the hotel and non-hotel attractions, facilities, services, and activities; may have a desk separate from the general check-in counter.
• Quad – A hotel room that can accommodate four people.
• Triple – A hotel room that can comfortably accommodate three people.
• Cash Bar – Also known as an “À la Carte Bar,” a bar located within one’s hotel room that is pre-stocked with an assortment of snacks and beverages (and sometimes other things, like condoms, grooming kits, etc.) that will be billed to the room and guest upon checkout, if the items are used or consumed.
• European Plan – A room rate that includes no meals.
• Incidental Charge – Items and services billed to a room after their use, such as movies, phone calls, etc.
• Late Check-out – A more exclusive perk for some guests that allow a few extra hours to check out from the normal hours.
• Early Check-in – A perk that allows a guest to check in at an earlier time than the standard check-in time.
• Overstay – A guest who stays past their expected check-out time without properly altering the reservation.
• Extended-Stay Hotels – A type of hotel that specializes in guests staying for a longer average time. These hotels may usually have a minimum stay (such as a week or so), and they may include suite-like rooms to make these guests more comfortable.
• Motel – A combination of “Motor Hotel,” this is a kind of hotel that is generally cheaper and with less frills, and most often rooms that are accessible from the outside, not from within a central lobby.

And here are some of the ones that I’ve included in previous posts, but just as relevant and important:

• A La Carte - When referring to food, perhaps in a room-service or restaurant menu, this indicates that each single item is priced separately. Menu items that are a la carte are priced per item, not as part of a set meal.
• Average Daily Rate (ADR) - The ADR is the total revenue income from rooms sold, divided by the number of rooms. For instance, if a hotel made $150,000 while selling 200 rooms, its ADR would be $150000 / 200 = $750. This is useful to determine the average costs of hotel rooms when searching for rooms by price.
• Average Published Rate (APR) – This is the rate obtained when a hotel averages all the various room-types they offer(single, double, suite, penthouse, etc.) throughout all the seasons of the year(different times of the year has different rates), in order to get one average rate for the hotel.
• Extended Stay (hotel type) - This is a term that usually means that the hotel or resort property quotes their prices in longer segments than daily rates. Usually, the property will quote per week, and this kind of accommodation is more suitable for families or groups, as it typically has more amenities; extended stay properties usually must have a kitchenette that includes a stove-top burner. Generally, a 5-night stay is the minimum for an extended stay hotel.
• Bed Tax – Also known as Transient Occupancy Tax, it is a City or County tax added to the price of the room.
• Rack Rate – The list price of a hotel room before any discounts or promotions.
• Mattress Run – I’ve listed this before, but figured that I’d better include it here, since it deals with hotels. Similar to a mileage run, a mattress run is executed when a traveler, who is a member of a hotel chain’s frequent stay program, stays a few nights at a hotel with the sole purpose of bulking up on whatever points the hotel’s program offers. The benefits of doing mattress runs include possible free nights earned, higher status in the program, and more amenities, services, and upgrades offered as the result of the higher status. Hotels typically have offers where guests can earn an increased number of points for stays during these promotions, which are when a lot of mattress runs are undertaken.
• American Plan – Sometimes referred to as the Full American Plan, Full Pension, or Full Board, this is a plan where the room rate includes three full meals per day and per guest.
• Modified American Plan – A rate plan where breakfast and dinner is included in the price, but not lunch. Also called half pension or demi-pension plan.
• Continental Plan – A hotel rate that includes a continental breakfast, but no other meals.
• American Breakfast – A breakfast, usually either a self-serve buffet-style, including juices, coffee, cereal, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and other various things. Much more food than the “continental breakfast”.
• Continental Breakfast – A small breakfast including items such as coffee, tea, juices, pastries, bagels, rolls, and fruit. Typical in lower-rate hotels and motels, as well as in Europe.
• Quin – When referring to hotel rooms, it is a hotel room that can accommodate five people.
• Shoulder Season – The time between high and low seasons, or peak and off-peak seasons. Usually rates are lower than high season, but with temperature and crowds that are similar. Cynics might say that the shoulder season is a term that hotels and airlines use to charge the high rates of peak season, while being able to offer attractions, staff, and resources typical of the off-peak season.
• House Limit – The maximum amount the the hotel will allow on credit before requesting payment.
• E-Key – Key that is used to prevent hotel guests from entering their rooms. May be used when a guest goes over the house limit and doesn’t pay.
• Trundle Bed – Bed that stores itself under another bed, usually on casters.
• Frequent Lodger – The hotel industry’s equivalent of a frequent flier; one who stays at a particular hotel chain of properties, mostly to reap rewards from a frequent lodger program.
• Blackout Dates – Dates where special fares or promotions do not apply, typically existing around holidays, peak seasons, or special events. Many frequent flier programs have blackout dates when rewards may not be redeemed.
• Maximum Stay – The longest period of time a traveler can stay at the destination while still qualifying for the promotional or discounted fare.
• Person Trip Visit - A term that is used to denote every time that a single traveler goes over 100 miles or stays overnight away from their primary domicile; whether for business or for leisure, a person doing completing either of the two is making one person trip visit.

There are probably dozens more that I could have added, but these are some of the most important and widely used. Check out the Dauntless Jaunter Glossary Page for more terms and definitions.

Christian “Krzysiek“ Eilers is a twenty-something who constantly likes to look at the next flight out of JFK. His life goal is to visit every country in the world; as a young adult working full-time while also taking classes, he often settles on visiting the near countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean, knocking these off the list as it is less of a financial strain than Europe or Asia. Caffeine is his vice, and if he doesn’t have a coffee in his hands, then it’s probably a green tea. A native of New York City, when he is not traveling, he can find an abundance of cultural influences right in his own city, enough to keep him satisfied until the next country’s beckon cannot be ignored any longer.