Study shows best, worst times to book hotel rooms

MANILA – A recent study revealed the best and worst times to book rooms during the year.

Agoda.com announced on Thursday the results of its latest Travel Smart Study, which is based on data from hundreds of guests who used the hotel booking website in 2013, covering room prices at 25 of the most popular destinations in the world.

It found that those who travel to New York or Rome in January can get rooms that are 40% cheaper than the average room rate, while those who visit Oslo in May could end up paying 50% more.

The study added that hotels in Istanbul are 25% cheaper from December to March, but 50% more expensive in May.

“We know airfares, vacation schedules and the weather are also important factors, but we hope this tool helps our customers save money when they plan their vacations,” Errol Cooke, vice president for Global Hotels at Agoda.com, said in a press release.

Here are the best months to get hotel rooms that are up to 40% lower than average, according to the study:

January – Berlin, Oslo, Stockholm

February – London, Istanbul, Oslo

March – Oslo, Stockholm, London

April – Sydney, London, Dubai

May – Taipei, Dubai, Hong Kong

June – Dubai, Hong Kong, Milan

July – Milan, Dubai, Istanbul

August – Istanbul, Berlin, Riyadh

September – Hanoi, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur

October – Los Angeles, Oslo, Riyadh

November – Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona

December – Barcelona, Stockholm, Istanbul

On the other hand, here are the worst months to book a hotel room as the listed places charge up to 60% more:

January – Dubai, Los Angeles

February – Milan, Vienna

March – Milan, Seoul

April – Amsterdam, Istanbul

May – Stockholm, Istanbul

June – Riyadh, Oslo

July – Los Angeles, Riyadh

August – Hong Kong, Amsterdam

September – Berlin, Istanbul

October – Sydney, New York

November – Sydney, Dubai

December – Dubai, Taipei

Meanwhile, the study noted that the cheapest time to book hotels for many destinations is in January.

The first week of January, in particular, is the least expensive time to travel to Tokyo and Seoul as hotel rooms are a bit less expensive.

June and July are great months to book hotel rooms in Dubai, Milan and Vienna, while hotel rooms are cheaper in Oslo, Stockholm and Riyadh in December.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

TV remotes, bedside lamp switches among dirtiest items in hotels - study

The next time you stay in a hotel, you might want to bring some extra hand-sanitizer.

A study on contamination levels in hotel rooms led by the University of Houston, presented on Sunday at the American Society of Microbiology, reported that two of the most contaminated items were TV remote controls and bedside lamp switches.

Just as badly contaminated were surfaces more likely to be dirty, such as bathroom toilet seats and sinks, the study said.

Of greater concern, the study said, was that some of the highest levels of contamination were found on items on housekeepers' carts, such as sponges and mops. If these items are contaminated, they can lead to cross-contamination of rooms, making entire hotels dirtier.

The researchers sampled 18 surfaces in each hotel room, testing the total levels of bacteria and fecal bacteria on each one. Fecal bacteria was found on 81 percent of all surfaces.

Among the cleaner surfaces in hotel rooms were bed headboards, curtain rods and bathroom door handles.

There are no regulatory limits for contamination of items in hotel rooms, the study said, but its findings suggest possible health risks to people with compromised immune systems.

The collaborative report between the University of Houston, Purdue University, and the University of South Carolina, sampled nine hotel rooms, three each in Texas, Indiana and South Carolina.

While Katie Kirsch, a recent University of Houston graduate who presented the study, admitted it had a small sample size, she hoped it would lead to a body of research that will eventually develop "more effective and efficient housekeeping practices."

Being able to identify which items would be high-risk would let housekeeping managers devote more time to cleaning them, making cleaning efforts more valuable and hotel rooms safer, Kirsch said.

source: interaksyon.com