TRAVEL

Accommodation I'd Like To Stay In: Hotel Rooms With Charm, Off The Radar

Istanbul - Witt

When the former investment banker Tuncel Toprak dreamed up this passion project more than five years ago, he smartly turned to another local upstart, the innovative design team Autoban, for design expertise. The team created 18 loftlike contemporary suites with kitchenettes using a bold global palette of materials: bathrooms of gray Italian marble, walls of mirrored French tile and laser-cut floral motif headboard panels. Just as chic as the interiors is the hotel’s location: far from the tourist crowds in the cozy neighborhood of Cihangir, the West Village of Istanbul. The Witt isn’t a hotel or an apartment; it’s the cool Istanbul pied-à-terre you’ve always wanted, with a Turkish breakfast spread and casual, friendly service included. And if you book one of the back suites on the top two floors, you’ll also have a mesmerizing view of minarets and the Bosporus. Rates are from 169 to 389 euros; Defterdar Yokusu No. 26, (90-212) 293-1500, wittistanbul.com. GISELA WILLIAMS

London - Number Sixteen

The Firmdale group, helmed by its owners, the designers Kit and Tim Kemp, is known for the luxury service and upscale amenities that its properties (like the Covent Garden, also in London, and Crosby Street in New York) all have in common. But Number Sixteen represents a different sort of British hospitality, a more discreet, cozy and make-yourself-at-home kind, with an honesty bar, tree-filled garden and roaring fireplace in the chic but comfortable drawing room. The rooms are charming, linked through three landmark Victorian town houses with exemplary beds. That it is set in South Kensington, a chic neighborhood with a mix of residences and shops and close to many museums adds to the appeal. Doubles from £185, or $292 at $1.58 to the pound; 16 Sumner Place, (44-207) 589-5232, firmdalehotels.com. ONDINE COHANE

Taken from an article in The New York Times

The best time to book a flight.

Latest fare analysis suggests that the best ticket prices may be available about 21-24 weeks in advance of the date of travel, or as a rough guide, about 6 months ahead. Of course, this applies mostly to travel from the US, but then the indicators at the point of travel would be roughly the same. Previously, it was thought that the best time would have been 6 weeks before travel. Someone needs to do an assessment for local travel.

Hotel insider secrets

1. Third party sites such as TripAdvisor offer the best way to find a good hotel deal.2. "At the end of the day, book on the hotel’s Web site. If you find a deal on another site, you will rarely find it higher at the hotel’s, and you’ll have more flexibility with reservations."3. The best way to get an upgrade? "Always pack your smile. A front desk agent has a lot of control over what room you have, so always be polite no matter how bad your trip has been. They might try to up-sell you and offer a better room at a discounted rate. Or, if you’re really nice, they might give you a complimentary upgrade, with the hope that you’ll return."4. "Tip your housekeeper every day because it’s not always the same person cleaning your room. If it’s a three-star hotel, give $3 or $4; if it’s a four-star, give a little bit more; if it’s a five-star you can afford $20 or $30 a day. A doorman makes an hourly wage and it’s less than anyone else’s in the hotel. If he does his job and is making my life easier, I always tip him."

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/travel/anthony-melchiorri-host-of-hotel-lmpossible-shares-tips.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120414

Handy Travel Tips

There's an art to avoiding checking baggage

NEED TO KNOW

• Never check baggage - you can get away with a single carryon
• Pack half as much and bring twice the cash
• Bring more business cards than you think you need - especially for Asia

We've asked seasoned business travellers to share their hard-earned packing tips.

1. Never check baggage – unless you can afford a stressful wait at the carousel, which can range from a few minutes to an hour. Having no checked baggage will not only save you worrying that it might be lost, but will also increase the number of options you have when you need to standby for an earlier flight, or switch airline carriers due to a cancelled flight. You'll also never have to worry about your luggage not making a tight connection.
2. Check the weather at your destination - pack accordingly.
3. Lay out all your items on a bed and then take half the stuff and double the money. You can almost always buy items at your destination.
4. Pack a pair of running shoes and two pairs of shorts, two pairs of socks and two singlets. Use them. Wash your gear in the sink immediately after a workout and they should be ready for the next day.
5. Black is your friend –  it matches everything. One pair of black jeans, two black t-shirts, black socks and business attire will get your through a long trip.
6. One set of toiletries –  have it packed and ready to go.
7. Always place the items that airport security wants to see in one of the outside pockets of your hand baggage.
8. Light pyjamas (or as Virgin calls it, a "flight suit") can make a big difference to how much sleep you get and how you feel on arrival. These will keep you warm in the middle of the flight and have you feeling much fresher.
9. Bundle wrapping is one way to minimise creases ...
   
   Bundle Wrapping Photo credit: OneBag.com
10. Take photos of valuables (including your bags) for insurance purposes. 
11. Business cards - budget approximately 5 cards per meeting if travelling to Asia. It's also important to learn the exchange etiquette in your destination country.
12. Charge all your electronics before you get on the plane – best done the night before.
13. Include all the video cables you might need if presenting.
14. Minimise adapters by charging through the USB on your laptop.
15. US power plugs are the smallest and most used internationally (on planes, in hotel bathrooms, etc). Buy a US plug cable and then find the smallest adapter to the local standard – this will keep space needs to a minimum.
16. Clean house – once every three months, take everything out of your bags. Challenge everything. When was the last time you touched it or used it on a trip? Throw it away or leave it at home if you will not need it overseas.

http://www.beready.net/travel/top-expert-travel-tips-part-2-packing