If you’re wondering if you should travel during the pandemic, you should consider a few things before doing so. The first one is safety. The next thing is comfort (as in how comfortable do you feel traveling at the moment.) Next, look for are special travel deals.
Safety is a big one. I don’t just mean safety within your final destination. I mean, stay safe and use your best judgment.
When it comes to safety, I go overboard. Especially regarding covid safety. I take hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes to clean surfaces and face masks. Please stay safe and use best practices to avoid getting sick while you’re traveling.
When I say comfort, I mean, if you’re not comfortable traveling to your destination, it’s probably better to reconsider. If you do, chances are you’re not going to have a good time because you’ll be concerned with the virus.
At times, I get so paranoid I don’t want to leave my house, ever. But then I get that need to travel. Travel makes me happy. So, if you’re comfortable enough to travel to your destination, you should do so.
While many things distract us during these times, we should keep an eye out for special deals. Many airlines have great deals to entice people to travel.
Hotels are a little different. Their deals depend on many factors. However, you can find special deals. You just have to be diligent.
Special Deals with Dollar Flight Club
So, what if I told you I found a place that has some of the best hotel deals around at the moment?
It might be hard to believe, but there are massive amounts of deals out there.
There’s also a lot of competition from Expedia, Orbitz, and even Google. This means other companies have to strategize carefully to cause significant ripples in this market.
That’s why I like Dollar Flight Club. They’re trying different things.
If you’re familiar with Expedia and Orbitz and the like, you’ll probably know how they work. However, in case you don’t, let me explain a bit.
These discount hotel companies work two separate ways. They book massive amounts of rooms in order to get a lower price (wholesale price.) Then, they can pass on some savings to the masses, like you and me.
The other way they make money is to charge a 30% commission every time a room is booked. For example, If a small chain wants to use Booking.com’s massive reach, there’s a small price they pay Booking.com.
We, as guests booking these hotels, do not see that. We only see the pretty price tag on the front end.
This is where Dollar Flight Club comes in. To provide us with incredible savings, they’ve decided to flip the commission system on its head.
They’ve told hotels that they don’t want the commission. All they want is cheaper rates. So that 30% commission goes towards the discount instead of the pockets of Dollar Flight Club. I think it’s pretty awesome.
The truth is, its brilliant. It’s helping hotels when it’s needed. But its also a brilliant marketing strategy.
But don’t take my word for it. Check it out yourself.
SLO & Monterey Hotels (Hilton)
Onward to my hotel reports. This time around, we took a train to San Luis Obispo. Its a couple of hours north of Los Angeles, and we needed a break from the lockdown.
But first, we needed to make sure everything is safe. Safe for us and safe for everyone around us. Read how safe my train trip was. I was very impressed.
Both hotels we stayed in are Hiltons.
In San Luis Obispo, the Hilton Garden Inn is tucked away from everything. Not that SLO is a big place, but I enjoy a little bubble to call my own.
Check-in was great. They have plexiglass on the front desk to block any germs from you and from the front desk clerk.
You must wear a mask inside the public spaces at all times. This includes employes. Therefore, the lady who checked us in wore a mask as well.
It felt safe.
There are many hand sanitizing stations everywhere, just in case.
Only two people per elevator are allowed, as well. However, it didn’t look like the hotel had many guests, to begin with.
Hilton gets points for cuteness here. Hilton seals the room to let you know its sanitized for your protection.
In other words, after they clean, sanitize, deodorize, wash, and mop, they add a seal to the door that rips when the guest opens it for the first time. It’s cute and so simple.
They also add a seal to their remote controls. They sanitize the TV remote. In some cases, they wrap it in plastic. Then add a seal you have to rip. I loved these touches.
Hilton really made me feel safe and secure. I think we all need to feel this way at this time. Because without those extra efforts, I probably wouldn’t feel good about my stay here.
Their breakfast is easy and quick. They place all items in a box. You basically grab and go. Everything is clean and easy.
Our Hilton in Monterey was just as safe.
It’s good to know that things are consistent across the board. Knowing everything I know now, I would stay at a Hilton again. They’ve got it down.
What Other Hotels Chains are doing
I’ve stayed at Sheratons, smaller chains and independent hotels in the recent months. So far, they are all trying to match each other.
Every hotel I’ve stayed in feels safe and secure.
Each hotel requires masks inside its public spaces. They’ve all had plexiglass at the front counter.
All hotel restaurants are shut.
Sometimes breakfast is taken to your room. Other times, you order and pick it up at the front desk. But, its always in a box.
These little things vary between hotel chains, but I’ve always felt safe.
Let me break it down for you:
My experience with hotels, airplanes, and trains is good so far. I continue to feel safe.
Recently I stayed in two Hiltons, and both have excellent safety and covid standards.
Considering there is minimal traveling going on right now, many times, you’re the only one in the hotel anyway, which means social distancing is easy.
However, this also means there are many deals available. One company that’s helping with hotel deals is Dollar Flight Club. Check them out.
If you’re going to travel during the pandemic, make sure you feel comfortable doing so. Stay safe and find those incredible deals.