tips for travel

Everyone wants to go on a nice
relaxing
and quiet vacation every once in a while
but not everyone has the kind of money that can buy a 5-star hotel stay for the weekend. In that once every few years chance that you have saved just enough for a lush weekend trip
you have the choice to go all out on a first rate hotel and have little left for going around town
or to pick a more reasonably priced 4 star hotel and still have a good budget for seeing the best that the hotel’s surroundings has to offer.

No matter what popular tourist destination you go to
there are 4-star hotels that are more than capable of competing with the first class hotels in the same town. Despite the difference in ratings
it is possible that the only disparity that counts between 4-star hotels and their 5-star counterparts is the price range
especially if you’re one customer who is only slightly particular about the kind and range of services offered in the hotel you choose to stay in. Some 4-star hotels even offer a wider range of amenities than some 5-star hotels at a lower price. Also
some 4 star hotels are considered the best in a certain region
as a 4-star rating is the highest for the hotel grading body ruling that area.

However
notice that the prices also differ according to the hotels’ respective distances from the center of the city or town; the prices reduce as the location moves farther from the center. The factor of how much of the city center you want to see should therefore play a role in planning your luxurious weekend getaway. After all
what you save in accommodations could easily turn into expenses when you need to spend more on transportation between the hotel and tourist spots you intend to visit.

Four-star hotels are also suitable for business travel
as business centers and conference halls are available in most. The business traveler can also benefit from the luxurious service a 4-star hotel offers
as the hotel can easily cater to a mix of business and pleasure. Some can even be a source of inspiration and tranquility
particularly those with extra provisions for privacy
such as soundproofed rooms
and wellness facilities
such as room massage service and a Zen garden.

Here’s a list of 4 star hotels that may be worth spending a weekend in someday: the Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres
which also offers wireless Internet access in some rooms
3
restaurants catering to different tastes
and the option to stay on one of its eight non-smoking floors; the Hotel Forum in Rome
with a roof-garden restaurant overlooking the Venice Square and the Colosseum; and the Elite Hotel Praha in Prague
which is located in a quiet
yet scenic part of town
and features a day bar with a small leisure garden and a grill club that showcases the best of French
Argentinian and Spanish cuisines.

Basically
the difference between 4 season tents and regular tents is that a 4 season tent is tighter
with heavier and tougher outer walls. When it is all zipped up
there is no space anywhere for the ruthless natural elements to get in and disturb your peaceful sleep. In addition
4
season tents are often more durable so that they can shield you safely from extremely heavy storms if need be. This does not mean
however
that you cannot use 4 season tents in more pleasant weather. Many styles of 4 season tents come with the option to unzip the outer fly so that you can catch cool breezes on summer days
while still being able to endure Ice - Age -type of temperatures in the winter.

Basically
the difference between 4 season tents and regular tents is that a 4 season tent is tighter
with heavier outer walls. When it is all zipped up
there is no space anywhere for the elements to get in. In addition
4
season tents are often stabler so that they can resist extremely heavy storms if need be. This does not mean
however
that you cannot use 4 season tents in nicer weather. Many styles of 4 season tents come with the ability to unzip the outer fly so that you can keep cool on summer days
while still braving near-arctic temperatures in the winter.

You will find
however
that the more extreme the conditions for which it was designed
the more specialized a 4 season tent will be. For example
some true mountaineering 4 season tents are not things I would advise you to bring for camping on a warm summer night. The ventilation panels are narrow and the end result is that it will be stuffy and hot at night if you are camping during the summer with them. Additionally
they are made of heavier
stronger stuff
and as a result are an added weight for your normal camping trip in which lightness is a virtue.

And of course
good 4 season tents can come at exorbitant prices
running up to $500 dollars and more sometimes. Compare this to an ordinary 1-2 person summer tent that you might grab at your neighborhood camping store. I got mine for a tiny sum of $30 dollars and
although it provides little warmth
it gives me all the comfort I need during the summer when combined with a decent sleeping bag.

The truth of the matter is
it is important to think about what you will be doing before you go out and buy expensive mountaineering equipment and 4 season tents that you will not need. You must make sure that your equipment fits its purpose.

Finding a hotel that suits your budget comes easy when you take into consideration the activities that you will be busy with
or what you want to achieve during your stay. If being extremely pampered and totally worry-free comes last on your list
then you’re welcome to try a 3-star hotel. This is not to say that 3-star hotels do not offer any degree of comfort or luxury; it just seems impractical to be paying for lavish amenities when you won’t have the chance to take advantage of them.

If you’re a business traveler
who intends to be primarily engaged in
well
business matters
and not that concerned with having a fun and relaxing time
then a 3-star hotel with provisions and facilities that are useful for conferences and business correspondence would be a good recommendation. Furthermore
the affordable price is more attractive if you intend to keep the business expenses low. Also
an in-house restaurant
bar or lounge eliminates the need to go elsewhere for lunch or dinner meetings
and thus saves you time that you can spend preparing for presentations instead.

Meanwhile
on the other end of the tourist spectrum
a weekend traveler who has a planned itinerary can find good value in a 3-star hotel that is within minutes of a popular tourist destination
such as Paris or Amsterdam. Just because you’re visiting a top tourist spot doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on accommodations. For instance
three star hotels like the Hotel Windsor Opera in Paris (only over a kilometer away from the city center) even offers services such as a business center facility
room service
and a fitness center
with rates that are at least about fifty percent lower than the best hotels located in the heart of the city.

While 3-star hotels may be expected to offer more than basic accommodations
it may be best to assess them and make a choice according to your expectations and needs. For instance
you may deem access to a fitness center more important than room service
or prefer Internet access and a business center to availability of a swimming pool. Whatever you prefer
be reassured that you can consult with an online guide and make sure to ask the right questions that will ultimately lead to a pleasant 3-star hotel experience.

Here are other 3-star hotels that may be of interest: the Hotel Sylter Hof in Berlin
which prides itself as a good location for business functions
and is immediately accessible to the city’s major airports; the Hotel Diplomatic in Rome
which is within close range of the Spanish Steps and the Vatican
and boasts of a fitness center
a swimming pool
and impeccable service; the Kensington Close Hotel and Healthy Spa in London
which offers an indoor swimming pool
beauty treatments
a health and fitness club
and three restaurants; and the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas
Nevada
which is a family oriented hotel that offers live circus act performances and boasts of the Grand Slam Canyon theme park.