Thriving During the Holidays: Shaking off the Stress with Hotels.com

     Thriving During the Holidays: Shaking off the Stress with Hotels.com

Top Travel Tips and Hotels for Surviving the Holidays

PR Newswire

DALLAS, Nov. 29, 2012

DALLAS, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a report from AAA earlier
this year, approximately 43.6 million Americans traveled during the
Thanksgiving holiday period. What's more, the same report stated that in the
upcoming December holidays an estimated 40 percent of Americans plan to
travel, compared to just 22 percent in 2011.  Hotels.com®, a leading provider
of lodging worldwide, wants to make your holiday travel a bit easier with
these top holiday travel tips and by revealing hotels that go the extra mile
to deliver a little more holiday cheer this season.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121129/DA20486)

"We want to make everyone's holiday just a little bit sweeter by sharing some
useful and practical tips that we could all use this season," said Taylor L.
Cole, director of public relations and social media, North America at
Hotels.com. "And, if you won't be home for the holidays, or simply want a
unique holiday experience or getaway, check out some hotels that are going
above and beyond with unique decor and entertainment that everyone will
enjoy."

Holiday Travel Tips

 1. Airport Security.  Although some rules and regulations, like the
    3-1-1-Rule for liquids, gels and aerosols, have remained the same, a few
    rules have changed. Now travelers 75 and older and children 12 and under
    get to keep their shoes on while going through security. Also, give ample
    time to get through the security lines. It's impossible to gauge the
    length or the speed of the lines, so be conservative and factor in extra
    time.
 2. Gifts. Don't wrap gifts before going through security – they may just get
    unwrapped. Pack the tissue and wrapping paper in your suitcase so you can
    wrap presents after arriving at the final destination.
 3. Social Media and Mobile App Deals. Many hotel and travel social media
    channels and apps, including the Hotels.com Facebook page and Twitter
    handle, provide last minute deals and sales, which is great when trying to
    decide between the comforts of a hotel or a relative's couch. The
    Hotels.com mobile app available for Apple, Android, Blackberry and Windows
    phones and tablets, features specialized offers, including exclusive
    mobile deals and over 20,000 last minute deals.
 4. Find bonus amenities. Look for value-added amenities and services when
    booking a hotel, such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, free parking
    and more. These perks provide additional value and can help stretch your
    dollar during the holidays.
 5. Use the concierge. A hotel concierge can be an effective helper when it
    comes to storing and delivering presents.

Hotels Spreading the Holiday Cheer

There are a variety of hotels going above and beyond to ensure an extra
special holiday season for travelers and guests.

  o Little America Hotel. A well-known hotel near the Interstate 40 in
    Flagstaff, Arizona, Little America Hotel is decked out in millions of
    lights. Families climb aboard an elf-driven trolley and ride through the
    magic portal to Santa's workshop. All along the way, Christmas music
    rings, lights flash and the magic begins.
  o Gaylord Hotels. All four hotels – Washington, D.C., Nashville, Orlando and
    Dallas/Fort Worth –  present individual unique holiday decor and
    entertainment, including ICE!™ - an indoor wonderland where families can
    explore 10 different holiday scenes created entirely of two-million pounds
    of ice. ICE! is hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a
    chilling nine degrees. This holiday season, guests can experience ICE!
    featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar (at Gaylord Palms and Gaylord
    Texan); and ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Shrek the Halls (at Opryland and
    Gaylord National).
  o The Venetian and The Palazzo. These two Las Vegas sister hotels will stage
    Winter in Venice from now through January 6, 2013, with a six-week run of
    Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Las Vegas in The Palazzo Theater, a nightly
    parade, tree-lighting ceremonies, a 3D light projection show and an ice
    skating rink above the Grand Canal.
  o Hyatt Regency San Francisco. It doesn't snow in San Francisco — unless
    you're inside the atrium of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, across from
    the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero. Here, it snows three times a day
    indoors starting November 30 through December 31. The hotel also installs
    the Department 56 Snow Village, a 200-piece little winter wonderland with
    a train running through it.
  o Coeur d'Alene Resort. This Idaho ski resort town boasts the largest
    on-the-water resort holiday light show and The World's Tallest Living
    Animated Christmas Tree in America (twice the height of New York City's
    Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree) at Coeur d'Alene Resort from now
    through January 1, 2013. Experience the resort's "Journey to the North
    Pole," a 40-minute cruise to visit Santa Claus at the North Pole workshop.

Press Contacts:     
Megan Tyrie, Finn Partners for Hotels.com    
Phone: 212-593-5815    
Email: megan.tyrie@finnpartners.com      

Taylor L. Cole, APR    
Hotels.com North America    
Phone: (469) 335-8442    
Email: taycole@hotels.com

About Hotels.com^®

Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking brand. Through its global
network of websites, Hotels.com, LP connects travelers with over 160,000
properties around the world, ranging from international chains and
all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with
all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com, LP benefits
from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, obtaining the
best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and
promotions. There are more than 7 million Guest Reviews on the websites from
users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an
informed choice when booking. Through Hotels.com, LP's industry-leading
loyalty program Welcome Rewards^®, customers can earn a free night for every
10 nights stayed at more than 85,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee,
if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com,
LP will refund the difference. Travelers can book online or by contacting one
of the multilingual call centers. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets
can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/ enabling customers
to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com
publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room
price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced
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