BARGAIN HOTEL FINDER
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7 REASONS TO TAKE A VACATION or HOLIDAY
We tend to take vacations for granted, sometimes even skip them altogether. This is a mistake. Time off from our regular routine is essential to our continued well-being. And for some very surprising reasons.
1. SLEEP BETTER. Yes, we do sleep better when separated from the stresses and strains of work and everyday life. Also, hotels tend to be quieter than our own homes. The best are built away from busy roads, railway stations and suchlike and are often insulated against noise. Our body trains itself to ignore the usual clatter that goes on when we sleep, but the sleep patterns are not as deep as those achieved on vacation. Good, deep sleep is the secret of a healthy life.
2. HEALTH IMPROVEMENT. It is quite normal to start a vacation with a "cold". This is the body's way of sorting itself out at the start of a break and is sometimes called 'post-stress syndrome', usually lasting 2-3 days. When relaxing away from home, long-term ailments such as upset stomachs, aching limbs and migraines usually dissipate or can even disappear altogether.
3. LONGER LIFE. Tests have shown that people who take regular vacations will live up to 8.6 years longer than those who do not.
4. HAPPIER. Time away make us happy. Once we get over the hassle of getting there, it's up to us to enjoy ourselves as much as we can. Show the world the happy you.
5. FITTER. People are usually more active when on holiday. Sixty-eight percent of us who swim do most of it whilst on vacation. And when was the last time you found time for paragliding or visiting churches when not on vacation?
6. RECONNECT WITH YOUR PARTNER. It's too easy when at home, rushing off to work and so on, to take your loved ones for granted. Vacations are the perfect time to spend extra time with your husband, wife or partner. A candle-lit supper for two perhaps? It has been shown than during vacations the sexual appetite can increase in males by up to 65% and in females by up to a whopping 78%.
7. MAKE THE CHILDREN HAPPIER. A family vacation brings the family together. Research has shown that children look on family vacations as the happiest times of their lives. How can you refuse them?

HOW TO GET THE VERY CHEAPEST HOTEL ROOMS
Hotel rooms are sold at a variety of prices. People in the next room can often be paying up to ten times what I am for an identical room. Yes, an identical room on the same floor of the same hotel, with the exact same breakfast...
So how do I do it? For the first time I will reveal the secrets of booking bargain hotel rooms.
1. Internet Prices Are The Cheapest Prices. The web is the way to shop for the keenest accommodation deals. I just did a test. I picked a hotel in central London as an example. I called them up by telephone and asked for a single room for three nights in two weeks' time. They quoted me £149 a night, excluding breakfast. After a spot of haggling this was reduced to £139 with breakfast.
The same room was £89 a night on gtahotels.com (without breakfast, but you can get a hell of a feast for £40!) and £94 (with breakfast) on Hotelopia.
2. Use Specialist Hotel Discount Websites NOT The Hotel's Own Site
The same room for 3 nights on the hotel's own website was £129 a night. Go figure!
3. Ask For An Upgrade. When you arrive and check in, discreetly ask the receptionist for an upgrade, free parking or whatever. You never know... there may be an extra bargain to be had!
4. Be Geographically Flexible. Arm yourself with a map of the town you want to stay in. Central may be more convenient, but often most bargains will be had at places a little further out. But beware of edge of city locations. London, for example, is a big place and you can spend quite a lot of your time (and money) traveling to and from the city centre.
5. Only Consider Good Hotels. It may be obvious, but you can easily find yourself in a terrible hotel for a cheap rate. Look at the picture (if supplied). Check out the star-rating. I find that three-star usually covers all my needs (unless I'm on a real budget I don't look at anything less) but remember: four- and five-star hotels can often be had for almost the same rate as a 3-star. Check before you book. Afterwards can often be too late.