5 Tips for Traveling Around the World on Your Credit Cards

By: Curtis Arnold


Not long ago, it was hard to find anyone at an airport flashing anything other than a corporate American Express card. It was also hard to find airfare under $200. Today, competition among credit card companies for frequent travelers has made perks and bonus programs commonplace. Discount travel options make it more affordable for families and other infrequent travelers to get out on the road more often. Blending both of these trends means saving big bucks on your next road trip, as long as you follow five simple tips:

#1: Imagine Your Worst Case Credit Card Scenario

American Express built their brand on convenience for business travelers. That often meant guaranteeing that a replacement for a lost or stolen credit card could arrive at your hotel within about a day. Not every card issuer can live up to that promise, so plan to carry a mix of cards to minimize your risk:

Carry two credit cards on your trip, but not in the same place. If pickpockets boost your wallet, a backup card stashed in your carry-on can keep your journey going.

Don't carry the same credit card you use to pay household bills. A fraud alert on that account could mean your lights and water won't work when you get home. Ask your credit card issuer for a secondary card with a different account number, or open a dedicated card just for travel.

Ask your hotel how much they intend to hold on your credit card for insurance and incidentals. An overzealous front desk clerk can eliminate your available credit with a single swipe.

Write down the local emergency contact numbers for each of the credit cards you intend to bring, especially if your bank requires you to collect call a special overseas phone line.

Preparing for an emergency saves you the money you'd have to spend on emergency cash transfers, phone calls, and overlimit fees.

#2: Let Your Credit Cards Help You Plan Your Trip

Many credit card issuers now offer travel planning and concierge services as special perks for customers. Basic credit cards often feature online travel discounts run through well-known partner Websites. You can often find special bargains or exclusive access opportunities, especially if your travel plans are flexible. Frequent travelers with higher status can call special concierge teams, who can hunt down special deals or make personal reservations with a card issuers' preferred providers.

#3: Maximize Your Affinity Credit Card Rewards

Marketing relationships between the banking and travel industries have become so close, it's nearly impossible to make a trip without getting some kind of credit card offer or frequent traveler invitation. Even if you don't travel very often, the savings you can enjoy from affinity programs really add up:

Airline credit cards offer free round trips on your first purchase, and mileage bonuses when you pay for your ticket with their preferred card.

Hotel credit cards tempt you with bonus room upgrades, special in-room treats, and discounts on resort amenities.

AAA-affiliated credit cards extend deeper discounts on meals, attraction tickets, and local transportation.

Of course, if you're lucky enough to qualify for a cash back credit card, you can earn between 1-5% as a rebate on every trip-related purchase.

#4: Scoop Up Last Minute or Advance Deals with 0% APR Credit Cards

The travel industry charges a premium for urgency. Expect to pay more if you've positively got to be somewhere on a certain date. However, travelers with flexible plans can use their credit cards to get huge discounts on airfares and hotel rooms. A host of websites track daily deals on resort stays with a simple catch: you pay for your trip in advance instead of at check-out. Float the upfront charge on a 0% teaser rate credit card that isn't due until your trip has ended, and you'll get the best deal without any strain on your bank account.

#5: Eliminate Foreign Transaction Hassles

Traveling overseas used to mean getting gouged at the currency exchange counter. Competition among credit card issuers has streamlined the process of spending money abroad, especially now that merchants in most major cities accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Cards from Capital One and Pentagon Federal Credit Union feature no foreign transaction fees, cutting up to 5% from the cost of your trip. You can even use your hotel's Internet kiosk to transfer cash from your bank account to your credit card balance, freeing up your credit line if you happen to spend too much.

Following all five of these steps may add a little complexity to your travel planning. However, you'll feel better about your obsession when you save up to half off the price of your airline tickets, hotel rooms, and restaurant meals.

Important Note! The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.

8 Simple Rules for Customer Service

The number one questions we are asked as management at Hotel Indigo-Asheville Downtown is, "what makes you so successful?" The answer to this questions is rather simple "Customer Service". From the ownership through the pipe line to staff members, everyone has a clear customer service vision and is encouraged to consistently serve you, the customer.

The truth is "guests" do not choose to come to back and stay with us, because of our promotions, packages & pricing, they choose to stay with us because of our customer service. Any business can use the above methods to attract customers, but the real question is can they provide a "memory" for their customer. We are NOT in the business of selling hotel rooms and/or condos, we are in the business of, "creating memories". 9 times out of 10, people will remember moments more so than days, and that's what we choose to focus our efforts on. Below you will find specific measurable objectives and a neat video, describing our mentality towards those who walk through our door.



1) Answer your phone.

Get call forwarding. Or an answering service. Hire staff if you need to. But make sure that someone is picking up the phone when someone calls your business. (Notice I say “someone”. People who call want to talk to a live person, not a “fake recorded robot”.) For more on answering the phone, see Phone Answering Tips to Win Business.

2) Don’t make promises unless you WILL keep them.
Not plan to keep them. Will keep them. Reliability is one of the keys to any good relationship, and good customer service is no exception. If you say, “Your new bedroom furniture will be delivered on Tuesday”, make sure it is delivered on Tuesday. Otherwise, don’t say it. The same rule applies to client appointments, deadlines, etc.. Think before you give any promise – because nothing annoys customers more than a broken one.

3) Listen to your customers.
Is there anything more exasperating than telling someone what you want or what your problem is and then discovering that that person hasn’t been paying attention and needs to have it explained again? From a customer’s point of view, I doubt it. Can the sales pitches and the product babble. Let your customer talk and show him that you are listening by making the appropriate responses, such as suggesting how to solve the problem.

4) Deal with complaints.
No one likes hearing complaints, and many of us have developed a reflex shrug, saying, “You can’t please all the people all the time”. Maybe not, but if you give the complaint your attention, you may be able to please this one person this one time - and position your business to reap the benefits of good customer service.

5) Be helpful - even if there’s no immediate profit in it.
The other day I popped into a local watch shop because I had lost the small piece that clips the pieces of my watch band together. When I explained the problem, the proprietor said that he thought he might have one lying around. He found it, attached it to my watch band – and charged me nothing! Where do you think I’ll go when I need a new watch band or even a new watch? And how many people do you think I’ve told this story to?

6) Train your staff (if you have any) to be ALWAYS helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable.
Do it yourself or hire someone to train them. Talk to them about good customer service and what it is (and isn’t) regularly. Most importantly, give every member of your staff enough information and power to make those small customer-pleasing decisions, so he never has to say, “I don’t know, but so-and-so will be back at...”

7) Take the extra step.
For instance, if someone walks into your store and asks you to help them find something, don’t just say, “It’s in Aisle 3.” Lead the customer to the item. Better yet, wait and see if he has questions about it, or further needs. Whatever the extra step may be, if you want to provide good customer service, take it. They may not say so to you, but people notice when people make an extra effort and will tell other people.

8) Throw in something extra.
Whether it’s a coupon for a future discount, additional information on how to use the product, or a genuine smile, people love to get more than they thought they were getting. And don’t think that a gesture has to be large to be effective. The local art framer that we use attaches a package of picture hangers to every picture he frames. A small thing, but so appreciated.

Because we choose to always serve the customer and realize that customer service far outweighs slashing prices, and sales promotions, our success will only continue to grow! Thank you for reading...

The Suites at 151 Rate Specials in Downtown Asheville

Hotel Indigo & "The Suites at 151" (http://www.ashevillehotellodgingdowntown.com/), has been open & established since November 9th of 2009. A large amount of guests/locals here in Asheville are aware that that "The Suites at 151" sit atop of our hotel in downtown Asheville. Some are under the impression that the pricing for the condos may be out of their price range.

Quite the contrary. The pricing for these condos are very accommodating. They start at $249.00 a night and go up to $699.00 a night, depending on what time of year that you decide to book. For example, we have a layout that is almost 2,500 square feet, which rents from $499.00 to $699.00 a night, you are able to sleep up to 6 individuals a night, overlooking the blue ridge mountains with everyone being in the same location with a kitchen to boot! You also have the added benefit of being atop Hotel Indigo Asheville Downtown, with a 24-hr phitness center, full service restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. If you are feeling indulgent, you can also order room service, from the comfort of your condo!

We have many opportunities that we are able to entertain with the condos, including wedding parties, social events, corporate functions, anniversaries, and more. If you would like a tour of one of the condos, simply stop by the hotel; we are located at 151 Haywood Street in Asheville, NC. Ask for Jared or Susan, and depending on availability we would be more than happy to take you on a tour.

Hotel Indigo - Lodging Packages

One of the advantages of being not just an Asheville Hotel, but also a downtown location is our vicinity to local hot spots. At Hotel Indigo - Asheville Downtown, (http://www.ashevillehotellodgingdowntown.com/) we pride ourselves on providing our guests with packages that they will not only enjoy, but also see the value in purchasing. Currently, we have restaurant & Biltmore packages, that a guest is able to purchase on-line or directly through the hotel. Additionally, we also offer breakfast, desert, and wine packages through the hotel.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A FREE NIGHTS' STAY & DINNER?

We are in the process of preparing and ramping up for our summer season, and wanted to provide guests/Asheville, with the opportunity to bring to us any packages that they would like to see us offer in the very near future.

Whether your a local or not, help us! What will you receive for your effort? We will provide you with a "FREE" nights' stay at Hotel Indigo - Asheville Downtown and dinner at the Phi Bar & Bistro. Just become a fan of our Facebook Page, post your package idea for us to see, and if your package is picked you WIN!

There are a large array of opportunities for partnering with downtown entrepreneurs for these ideas. We are in the heart of Western North Carolina, surrounded by history, opportunity, and great people, so we encourage you to be creative in your thought process and let us know what you want to see!

Here is the link to our Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Asheville/AVL-Indigo-151/264366473921?ref=ts

Thank you all for your support!

Trip Advisor Hotel Reviews

So what is www.tripadvisor.com, and how do we as hotel consumers get the most use out of the site?

Tripadvisor, is a non-biased user generated review forum where guests/consumers may go on-line and post a review about their most recent experience at a certain hotel. As a general rule of thumb, anyone is allowed to post a review on Tripadvisor however, they do have staff that detects and monitors abusive reports for those looking tarnish.

This is a great tool that hotels as well as guests can use to see what experience others have had in the past at one particular location. Hotels use this as a resource for areas of improvement, where can they grow, what areas need development, what did guests love about their experiences, so forth and so on.

Any Hotel's #1 goal is customer service and if it's not you shouldn’t stay there, we wouldn’t be around if it was not for guests like you. Our goal is not to give the guest a room for the night, but rather an experience they will not soon forget. The majority of people, who stay at a hotel depending on your market, are either leisure, or business travelers of some sort. If that is the case, why are they going to revisit? It is because of the staff, atmosphere, and overall experience. At Hotel Indigo - Asheville Downtown, we create opportunities with guests, because our staff truly is passionate about what they do, and that is customer service. If you have the opportunity to come and check our beautiful hotel, please try us out you will not leave without wanting to come back!

Next time you visit a hotel whether it is our or not, go on Tripadvisor and check out some of the great tools that they offer for guests like you seeking a great place to stay. When you post a review, remember whatever you post will be read by a large amount of people, so be honest and truthful about what you say!

Hotel Indigo-Asheville Downtown Reservation Types

As a hotel manager, one of the most frequent questions that I am asked or challenges that I am faced with, is reservation types. As a consumer occupying a room for a allotted time frame at a certain hotel, we have a wide array of different booking engines that we may choose from. Within these booking engines or resources, there are a slew of different room types, but more importantly different reservation types.

HOW DO YOU PICK....

There are advance booking reservations, breakfast, package, best flex, non-cancelable, and the list goes on....

1.) Your Needs: Choose a reservation type based off of your needs. Do not choose a reservation that is discounted in the short term to save money. Many consumers will book an advance purchase reservation that clearly states that it is non-refundable & non-cancelable to save a small amount, then they are stuck! This is a great option, if you know your plans will not change.

2.) Dates: When choosing your stay dates, hotels have weekend rates and week rates. If your dates are flexible choose your dates wisely to save money. Most hotels also offer AARP & AAA discounts.

3.) Terms & Conditions: No matter what site that you choose to book your reservation through, always read the terms and conditions. These are the places where the hotel or on-line site will go over with you what you’re about to agree to and confirm. This is the most important part, if you find a discounted rate; find out why it is discounted, most likely there are terms to agree to.

Following the above criteria will help save you money and raise your awareness level as to how reservation types vary and why. There are some great rates that you can take advantage of as a consumer, you just have to make sure the reservation type fits your needs.

Asheville Smiles in The Suites at 151

The Suites at 151 is very unique. These condominiums sit a top Hotel Indigo in Downtown Asheville, North Carolina. We proudly opened our establishment on November 9th of 2009, and have been very happy with the outcome of the rented condos. (The Suites at 151) We rent to locals and non-locals alike, for a wide array of offerings including, birthday parties, anniversaries, accommodations’, corporate meeting, wedding parties and more.

Nothing makes a job more memorable than a smiling face of a satisfied customer. One in particular customer leased one of our larger condos, for his wife's 45th birthday party. It was amazing; the husband brought his wife to the hotel lobby beforehand to have a couple of drinks in our Phi Bar & Bistro with some friends. The husband asked for a site tour of the condos, unbeknownst to his wife, her party was just a few minutes away! I being the manager on duty happily took the couple to condo 11A, where you could see the mountains of Tennessee! When she entered her reaction was one that I will never forget, because aside from her wonderful friends, she was completely thankful and utterly surprised by the atmosphere, and how well the secret was kept!

These are the moments that are lasting. Some individuals think that the condos are very expensive to lease however, it is quite the contrary. Our prices for the condos are very accommodating whether it is winter, spring, or fall. Call us directly at 1-877-274-4990 or make reservations online at: http://www.ashevillehotellodgingdowntown.com/suitesat151/index.htm