USA Hotels and Destinations – Page 5

Hipmunk Hotels: History, Culture, Leisure, and Fun in Hartford, Rochester, and More

February 14, 2016Posted in USA Hotels and DestinationsTagged Bangor, destinations in Northeast USA, Hartford, hotels in USA, hotels northeast USA, Jersey City, Rochester, Statue of Liberty, USA Hotels and Destinations, Woburn7 Comments

liberty state park, manhattan skyline, jersey city, nj

Colonial history and a strong influence of European culture make the Northeastern Woodlands special in its own way. Picturesque landscapes, dense forest and verdant valleys along the river Mississippi promise for a refreshing retreat. However, you need to choose your Hipmunk hotels northeast wisely to make the most of your holidays there.

Woburn, MA

Image via Flickr by Vath Sok

A sparsely populated city in Massachusetts, Woburn exudes typical small-town aura with scenic charm and an inviting atmosphere perfect for refreshing weekend breaks. With bountiful nature, beautiful Horn Pond hiking trail, Vinkari Safari children’s activity center, and LazerCraze games park, Woburn has something for everyone. Interestingly, hotels in Woburn, MA come with impressive rooms and wide range of amenities at affordable rates so that you can simply relax and enjoy instead of worrying about expenses on vacation.

Jersey City, NJ

Image via Flickr by SachinDaluja

Jersey City serves as the gateway to some of America’s most popular tourist attractions – the Statue of Liberty and New York City. You will find some economical accommodations near Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves the city. However, hotels along the Hudson River waterfront, although much dearer, offer excellent view of the river and the Manhattan skyline across it. Interestingly, tourists visiting NYC prefer hotels in Jersey City, NJ to hotels in Manhattan as the former allow bargaining. W Hoboken, DoubleTree by Hilton, and Hyatt Regency Jersey City are some of the popular hotels offering magnificent riverfront views as well as premium amenities.

Rochester, NY

Image via Flickr by Rick

Rochester offers wide variety of accommodations, starting from low-cost inns and B&Bs to posh hotels with world-class amenities. Airport shuttle, concierge, swimming pool, spa, and fitness center are some of the amenities you’ll find at the high-end hotels in Rochester, NY. The downtown area, dotted with eateries, nightclubs, bars, and coffee shops, is an ideal place to experience the life and culture of the city. Although spring and autumn are the best time to visit the place, summer is the most happening season in Rochester with consecutive music and art festivals and live shows.

Hartford, CT

Image via Flickr by Onasill ~ Bill Badzo

Situated along the Connecticut River valley, the picturesque city Hartford awaits you with lively music and a rich heritage. The city, being an important financial hub and the capital of Connecticut, offers all the comfort, convenience, and entertainment options vacationers seek. Hotels in Hartford, CT offer rooms and amenities tailored to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers. The city also has a historic background. Legendary author Mark Twain lived in this city. His home is now open to public as Mark Twain House and Museum. Don’t miss the Travelers Tower, which offers a 360-degree panorama of the city.

Bangor, ME

Image via Flickr by Josh Delp

Bangor, a less-traveled destination in the Highlands in Maine, has plenty in store for visitors. The small city comes alive with folk, music, and art festivals during the summer months. Moreover, the Appalachian Trail, Mount Katahdin, Moosehead Lake, canyons and waterfalls in this region set the stage for outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. Super 8 Motel, Howard Johnson Inn, Quality Inn, and Bangor Motor Inn & Conference Center are some of the popular, low-cost hotels in Bangor, ME.

The Price You’ll Pay for Love This Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2016Posted in USA Hotels and DestinationsTagged Boutique hotels in the US, hipmunk hotels, USA Hotels and Destinations, valentines day2 Comments

valentine's day, valentines day destination, romantic hotels, usa hotels

This post was posted by The Hipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on January 21st.

It’s a fact: on Valentine’s Day, romantic items are more expensive.

Flower shops sell roses for two to three times their usual price. Restaurants replace their normal menus with special prix-fixe (read: pricier) options. And of course, nice hotels boost the nightly rates on their rooms.

The typical hotel rate on Valentine’s Day is 25 percent more than it is on the same day just one week before — though some cities experience a much larger surge in demand than others. We decided to look at the average price Hipmunk travelers paid when booking a hotel room in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day last year (a Saturday), compared to the price on weekend prior.

So where exactly do hotel prices surge the most on Valentine’s Day? You may be surprised at what we found:

Far and away, Reno, Nevada is the most marked-up place to book a hotel on Feb. 14. Ironically, Reno is something of a mecca for those wishing to engage in “anti-Valentine’s Day” activities: the city offers a Vampire pub crawl (for “those who think V-Day sucks”), as well as a slew of discounted gambling and drinking options. Las Vegas, Nevada (62 percent increase) and Atlantic City, New Jersey (25 percent), both similar destinations, also make appearances on this list — though traditionally romantic cities like New York (70 percent) Miami (53 percent) and Honolulu (26 percent) are considerably inflated as well.

Feel bad that Valentine’s Day is coming up and you haven’t booked a hotel room yet for your special evening? Worry not: as it turns out, no one plans ahead when it comes to booking V-Day hotel rooms. According to search results for “Valentines Day” in our database, 69 percent of bookings are made last-minute, in early February.

Below, we’ve plotted out when people actually search for Valentine’s Day rooms. As you can see, pretty much everyone procrastinates on planning!

So which cities are the most popular in terms of hotel bookings? Since the vast majority waits to book, we took a look at Hipmunk’s historical data from 2015 to see what destinations were trending last year:

Now for the most important question: How much is a room on Valentine’s Day going to set you back?

For the typical U.S. city, the average price of a room on Valentine’s Day last year was $171. Using our data, we’ve parsed out the average prices of some of the most popular cities for bookings on that special day:

Lastly, we wondered which of the above cities were the most romantic destinations, in terms of boasting the most hotels listed under Hipmunk’s “romantic” filter, an internal ranking system which tags hotels as romantic based on such features as neighborhood, food scene, and amenities like pool, spa, balcony, and kitchenette.

Whether you’re looking for a $400 per night splurge in Key West, Florida, or a $95 getaway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, we wish all you lovebirds out there the best of luck in planning your Valentine’s Day!

And one last friendly reminder: if you’re looking to book a hotel, you can use the “romantic” filter on the Hipmunk hotel search to find an extra special room for the occasion– or just email Hello@Hipmunk.com with a Valentine’s Day hotel request and let us do the searching for you.

Hipmunk Hotels: Destinations in Hawaii for Best Winter Escapes

January 30, 2016January 31, 2016Posted in USA Hotels and DestinationsTagged beach vacation, destinations in Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands, Hotels in Hawaii, Maui, tropical vacation8 Comments

Sprawling ocean, exotic flora and fauna, and immense scope for water-sports and adventure activities attract travelers to the Hawaiian Islands year round. Whether you seek adventure or simply need a relaxing break from your hectic schedule – this beautiful archipelago in the south has something for everyone.

Image via Flickr by Kanaka Menehune

The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands and several islets. These islands are home to top-notch hotels and resorts. However, if you find difficulty in choosing a destination in Hawaii, here is a quick guide to help you.

Kailua-Kona, HI

Image via Flickr by Curt Smith

Once a small fishing village, Kailua-Kona is now the major port town on the island of Hawaii. It is also the right place for the travelers who want to experience the rich culture of Hawaii. The region, known for its excellent coffee beans, is home to volcanoes, waterfalls, green vegetation and natural wonders like black sand beaches. Go snorkeling at the Kahaluu Beach or enjoy a stroll along the beautiful Alii Drive. The charming coastal town is home to an array of affordable hotels, eateries and shopping districts. From low-cost, Bed-and-Breakfasts to five-star hotels in Kailua-Kona, HI there are accommodations for for all budgets.

Kapaa, HI

Image via Flickr by Robert Linsdell

Kapaa or Kapa’a is a picturesque town in Kauai, one of the major islands in Hawaiian Islands. Kapaa’s famous Coconut Coast houses an array of cheap to moderately priced hotels and resorts. If you can splurge on accommodation, there is also no dearth of three and four star hotels in Kapaa, HI. Being the largest town on the island, Kapaa serves as the main commercial district in this region and is home to several shopping malls. With lush greenery, coral reefs, rugged cliffs and canyons, Kauai has a lot to offer other than its scenic beaches and quaint coastal towns.

Waikoloa, HI

Image via Flickr by Hilton Waikoloa Village

Overlooking the Anaehoomalu Bay, Waikoloa beach offers plenty of opportunity for family vacationers to relax and enjoy on the beach. You can take part in the beach games, snorkel into the ocean and explore rich marine life there, or simply sit by the bay and watch sunsets at Waikoloa. Visiting in spring can get you discount on the price of the hotels in Waikoloa, HI as it is the end of the high season for tourism. The big event of Lavaman Waikoloa Triathlon is a bonus for those who are planning Waikoloa tour in March. Well, only for those who enjoy sports and outdoor activities, otherwise the place becomes crowded with tourists swarming in for the event.

Wailea (Maui), HI

Image via Flickr by Joe Parks

If you are searching for a destination, where you can relax and unwind by a quiet beach, rejuvenate your senses with a spa massage and take some time off to a beautiful golf course, you should book hotels in Wailea (Maui), HI. The beautiful Wailea Community is one of the chief attractions in Maui. With many hotels and beachfront accommodations at varied price, Wailiea in Maui offers the natural beauty and recreational amenities you need for a perfect tropical vacation. The Makena Bay area in the south of the island is less crowded, hence offers quiet surroundings and some of the affordable hotels with quality service.