Let the weekend fun continue! We’re wishing you and yours a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July. If you’re looking for a place to get out of town soon, visit www.countryinns.com to discover our hotel packages for great destinations all across this Country.
Happy Fourth of July!
Did you know that the state of Virginia is the birthplace of more presidents than any other state? Eight of our U.S. presidents were born in Virginia. Learn other interesting U.S. facts by booking one of our Tours & Sightseeing hotel packages. These activity filled destinations make the perfect summer getaway, just in time for Fourth of July weekend.
And, as always at Country Inns & Suites, enjoy complimentary hot breakfast and free high-speed Internet in the U.S. and Canada.
Make this Fourth of July one to remember forever!
A tough economy has made many businesses, and their traveling employees, rethink how they spend travel budgets. Even if your company hasn’t put the squeeze on your expense account, it’s a good idea to watch your spending and show that you have their interests in mind. Being a conscientious traveler is sure to make a good impression no matter how your budget has changed.
At the Airport
If you’re flying to your destination, the first thing you can do to make a difference is to book early. Fares will continue to increase, as your departure date grows closer. If you can, book at least two weeks in advance to avoid price increases.
When your travel day arrives, save money by catching a ride. Parking costs add up quickly and can eat into your travel budget. If you don’t have someone who can drop you off, weigh the cost of taking a taxi from your house versus parking. Many airports also have inexpensive long-term parking with shuttles to and from the terminal. You may even be able to negotiate with some of the companies managing off-site parking and get lower rates for extended stays.
Many airlines now charge baggage fees of about $25 per checked bag. If you’re able to travel with only a carry-on bag, you’ll save on fees and not have to waste time waiting in baggage claim. If you need a larger bag, consider an airline that doesn’t charge fees, such as Southwest. Many airlines also waive baggage fees for customers who have reached a certain status in their loyalty programs.
Take Advantage of Hotel Amenities
Some hotels charge outrageous amounts for amenities such as Internet, parking and breakfast. Even if you find a low room rate, these extra fees can bring your nightly costs to that of a premium hotel. An easy way to make your company’s bean counters happy is to pick a place that includes these perks.
Every Country Inn & Suites hotel offers free hot breakfast and, in the U.S. and Canada, free high-speed Internet. That could mean a savings for a family of four of about $50 a day for choosing one of these properties over other hotels.
Avoid Car Rental “Extras”
Renting a car is more complicated than ever. Do you need insurance? A GPS? A hybrid? Extra mileage? Chances are, you’re fine answering, “No.” Check with your company administrators, but you’re likely to be covered under your company insurance and can decline additional coverage. A GPS can be convenient, but it’s usually not worth the extra cost. And most rentals include unlimited mileage, but check to be sure.
As for the type of car, it’s better to go ahead and lock in the low rate on a compact and upgrade on the spot. The low-price economy and compact classes sell out first so you may get lucky and get an automatic upgrade to the next available car class. Even if you’re not offered an upgrade, you can usually negotiate one at the service desk. You may even get one for free—it never hurts to ask!
Country Inns & Suites is proud to sponsor the Best of the Road tour with Rand McNally and USA Today!
On June 23, five Best of the Road teams will embark on an unforgettable three-week adventure. Teams will depart from New York City and take different routes that will zig-zag across the country with a final stop at Los Angeles. Each team will enjoy a unique journey tailored to explore the country’s best towns for: beauty, patriotism, friendliness, fun, and food.
Traveling a variety of scenic routes, teams will leave no landmark unturned and no local secrets undiscovered, from dining and entertainment, natural landscapes and modern world wonders, to roadside rarities that make up the heart of America.
We’ll be following the team’s progress each day, so be sure to check back for all the updates and highlights! And, for more information on the teams, destinations, challenge and more please visit: http://www.bestoftheroad.com/
Shop for Mom and save 20% at FTD with your Club CarlsonSM membership. Choose from hundreds of ways to express your love and appreciation this Mother’s Day, from fresh plants and flowers to chocolates and spa baskets. Shop FTD now.
If you aren’t a member of Club CarlsonSM yet and want to take advantage of this special offer, join Club Carlson now
Being a Club Carlson member just got even better. For a limited time, two qualifying stays will earn Club Carlson members a free night at over 1,000 Country Inns & Suites, Radisson®, Park Inn® or Park Plaza® hotels worldwide.
Register for the ‘Stay Twice, Earn a Free Night’ Promotion and then complete two qualifying stays between now and June 15, 2011 to earn your Free Night Award. Once earned, the Free Night Award may be booked at any participating Carlson hotel worldwide for stays now through December 31, 2011.
To register for this promotion, and to see full terms and conditions, visit http://www.clubcarlson.com/freenight.
Enjoy more points, more partners and more places with Club CarlsonSM
Welcome to a whole new world of hotel rewards. goldpoints plusSM is now Club Carlson — the global hotel rewards program from Carlson Hotels. Members can enjoy an enhanced collection of superior benefits, service and privileges at any of our more than 1,000 hotels worldwide.
Earn Gold Points®. Get rewarded.
You can earn points for every eligible stay at participating hotels worldwide: Country Inns & Suites by CarlsonSM, Radisson®, Park Inn® and Park Plaza®.
Plus, you can redeem your Gold Points for things like:
Learn more about all the exciting redemption options at www.clubcarlson.com.
Club Carlson – you belong here.
If you are an existing goldpoints plus member, you’re already in the club. Your membership number hasn’t changed – all you have to do is Log-in and start exploring the many advantages that await you as a member of Club Carlson at www.clubcarlson.com.
Not yet a Club Carlson member? Enroll for free today at www.clubcarlson.com.
Now you can access countryinns.com anytime, anywhere from your web-enabled mobile device. Simply enter countryinns.com into your phone’s web browser, and you’ll be able to enjoy many great features of countryinns.com including:
We are so excited about this and know you’ll love it too. Visit us on your smartphone today.
~Emily
The end of winter is a great time to recharge with a break from the day-to-day. To help get you on your way, we’re excited to announce our Spring Getaway Offer for March and April that has you covered with great food or great entertainment.
Book a stay under the Spring Getaway Promotion for two or more nights between March 2, 2011 and April 30, 2011 at participating hotels in the U.S. and Canada, and you will receive:
Spend your spring vacation at Country, and you’ll understand why so many guests are saying, “I love this Country.”
*Visit http://countryinns.com/springgetaway for more details and terms and conditions!
Just in time for the month of romance, goldpoints plusSM members can save 20 percent on all purchases from FTD.com. From flesh flowers and plants to specialty chocolates and spa baskets, you can receive this great discount by visiting http://www.ftd.com/goldpointsplus2.
Show someone the love with this special deal. Not a member? Sign up for goldpointsplus by visiting http://www.goldpointsplus.com.
I Love this Country!
~Emily
