Holiday information - The insiders guide to researching and having a problem free holiday.
- Vacation rentals / Self Catering See separate descriptions
- Hotels: Hotels will be larger properties of over 25 rooms, they will usually have an on site restaurant, fitness centre, free or pay for parking, with a choice of standard room (two queen-beds) with private bath, king room with private bath, and some suites. Breakfast will often be extra.
- Resorts: There are 2 types of Resort - the Hotel Resort and the Condominium, Townhouse or House Resort.
- The Hotel Resort will generally have additional activities on site that could include: skiing, golf, Spa, Hot air balloons, Cooking School, Horse Riding, Tennis, Fishing and Boating, etc. They may have some longer stay accommodation as apartments, condo’s or townhouses. They will have individual reservation policies and will require credit card details. Most will offer special packages that will include a choice of activities linked to accommodation and meals.
- The Condominium or House Resort will have a village atmosphere and be made up of a collection of Condo’s, townhouses or 2, 3 or 4 bedroom houses, clustered around communal facilities (that might include: swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centre, club house etc) that are all available to rent. They will probably be in a mountain or seaside location. These can be rented by the week or by the night in some locations; there may be some conditions on minimum length of stay during holiday periods. They will have individual reservation policies and will require credit card details.
- Inns & Country Inns: By loose definition the term Inn can include all bedroom providers whether they have 5 bedrooms or 70 bedrooms; it is often used as a marketing name. Generally an inn will have more than 12 bedrooms, with its own restaurant providing evening and maybe lunch time meals. Many Inns have a children over 12 only policy, see individual descriptions for details. Many will have a 2 night minimum stay with a 3 night minimum stay on holiday weekends. The rooms will be priced as double occupancy; few will reduce the price for a single traveller, there may be an additional charge for an extra person. A deposit of 1 nights’ stay is usual for a reservation by credit card, maybe 50% of stay for a longer period, with a check in between 3.00 pm and 8.00pm (later by appointment), and check out before 11pm. Check the cancellation policies before you book. Practically all Inns are non smoking and do impose a major cleaning charge on those guests found smoking in their rooms. Some allow pets at an additional charge. Breakfast will normally be included but check.
- B&Bs – Bed and Breakfasts are licensed private homes where your host also lives and will have up to 12 letting bedrooms. They will provide a Full or Continental Breakfast but will not have an “eat in” restaurant and they do not provide evening meals. Many B&B’s have a children over 12 only policy, see individual descriptions for details. Many will have a 2 night minimum stay with a 3 night minimum stay on holiday weekends. The rooms will be priced as double occupancy; few will reduce the price for a single traveller, there may be an additional charge for an extra person. A deposit of 1 nights’ stay is usual for a reservation by credit card, maybe 50% of stay for a longer period, with a check in between 3.00 pm and 8.00pm (later by appointment), and check out before 11pm. Check the cancellation policies before you book. Practically all B&B’s are non smoking and do impose a major cleaning charge on those guests found smoking in their rooms.
- Motels and Motor Inns: The traditional motel has parking outside the door to your bedroom unit. There may be a choice of room types including single queen bed, two queen or two double beds with private bathrooms. Some have microwaves and fridges, cable TV, coffee maker, alarm clock, communal ice machine. Some have outdoor seasonal swimming pools, laundry facilities and they may provide a help yourself Continental Breakfast on disposable plates with plastic throw away cutlery. These will take reservations in advance but most people will drive in. The quality can vary from excellent and spotless to the other end of the spectrum.
- Handicap / Disabled Access See this section
- Taxes: Each State has its own lodging tax that is charged over and above the advertised room rate and is quite often not mentioned on accommodation supplier’s websites. These can be complicated with extra local taxes If in doubt ask - here are some guidelines as on 23rd July 2009.
- Internet access & Wi-Fi: Some properties may have a dedicated computer for guest use in the lobby, some provide a Hard Wire access that may be free or chargeable, these are the best, and some provide Wi-Fi access that can be free or chargeable. The quality of the Wi-Fi connection will depend upon how near your room is to the antenna and strength of signal can vary from good to almost non existent. If internet access is essential then ask when making your reservation.
Connecticut 12%.
Rhode Island 7% + any local city taxes – Newport 6%
Massachusetts 5.7% + any local city taxes typically 4%
(Boston, Cambridge, Chicopee, Springfield, West Springfield & Worcester an additional 2.75% Convention tax).
New Hampshire 9%
Maine 7%
Vermont 9% + any local city taxes typically 1%