Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hostels
In most hostels, group dorms are segregated by sex and you'll be sharing a bathroom; oc-
casionally alcohol is banned. About half the hostels throughout Florida are affiliated with
Hostelling International USA
(HI-USA; 301-495-1240, reservations 888-464-4872;
www.hiusa.org
)
. You don't have to be a member to stay, but you'll pay a slightly higher rate;
you can join HI by phone, online or at most youth hostels. From the US, you can book
many HI hostels through its toll-free reservations service.
Try
www.hostels.com
for listings of Florida's many independent hostels. Most have com-
parable rates and conditions to HI hostels, and some are better.
Hotels
We have tried to highlight independently owned hotels in this guide, but in many towns,
members of hotel chains offer the best value in terms of comfort, location and price. The
calling-card of chain hotels is reliability: acceptable cleanliness, unremarkable yet inoffens-
ive decor, a comfortable bed and a good shower. Air-conditioning, mini-refrigerator, mi-
crowave, hair dryer, safe and, increasingly, flat-screen TVs and free wi-fi are now standard
amenities in most midrange chains. A recent trend, most evident in Miami and beach re-
sorts, is an emergence of funky new brands, such as
aloft
(
www.starwoodhotels.com/alof-
thotels
), which are owned by more recognizable hotel chains striving for a share of the
boutique market.
High-end hotel chains like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton overwhelm guests with their
high levels of luxury and service: Les Clefs d'Or concierges, valet parking, 24-hour room
service, dry cleaning, health clubs and decadent day spas. These special touches are re-
flected in the room rates. If you're paying for these five-star properties and finding they're
not delivering on any of their promises, you have every right to speak politely with the front-
desk manager to have your concerns addressed - you deserve only the best.
You'll find plenty of boutique and specialty hotels in places such as Miami's South Beach
and Palm Beach. While all large chain hotels have toll-free reservation numbers, you may
find better savings by calling the hotel directly, or paying upfront using the hotel website or
a third-party booking site.
Note that it is customary to tip in most hotels of any size or stature in the US. Anywhere
between $1 and $5 is appreciated for the porter who carries your bags, the bellhop who
greets you by name daily, and the driver of the 'free' airport shuttle. Some people find it a
nice gesture to leave a greenback or two on the pillow for the housekeeping staff. Con-
versely, if you're given attitude or any sense of entitlement by any hotel staff member, do
feel free to save your bucks for the bar.
