READERS' CHOICE: Which Is The Most Improved Hotel Chain?

By Budget Travel
October 3, 2012

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be asking for a few of your favorite things, both large (airline, cruise port, national park) and small (which hotel has the best toiletries?). Then we’ll compile your suggestions and let you vote for your top pick in May. Come back often—we’ll be posting a new question almost every day.

Today’s question:

Which is the most improved hotel chain? Have the rooms been renovated? Are the lobbies spiffier? Is the service better? Tell us why your favorite hotel chain deserves a second look from other travelers.

Previous questions:

What is the best airport to get stuck in?

What is your favorite cruise line?

What is your favorite ski area? Foreign or domestic.

What Is Your Favorite Under–The–Radar Girlfriend Getaway?

Which airline has the nicest flight attendants? We know you have your favorite.

Which city has the most user–friendly public transportation system?

What is your favorite rental car company?

What is your favorite historical spot in America?

What's the top destination on your bucket list?

Which airport features the best food?

—Marc Peyser

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Mark Your Calendar: The 2012 New York Times Travel Show

If you happen to be in the New York City area this weekend, stop by the Javits Center for this year's New York Times Travel Show for the chance to see cultural performances, attend seminars by the biggest names in travel, and learn about all the places you've been wanting to check off your bucket list. While the event is open Friday, March 2nd, to travel professionals only, doors will be open to the general public on Saturday, March 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults—$12 if you use promo code SOCIAL when ordering online—and free for those under the age of 18. A number of travel seminars will be offered throughout the weekend, with most focusing on popular destinations and how to plan the trip of your dreams. Fans of The Travel Channel will be able to hear Samantha Brown, host of Great Weekends, speak about her experiences of life on the road on Saturday at 2 p.m., while Man Vs. Food star Adam Richman will discuss his food adventures around the world on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Arthur and Pauline Frommer will address new developments in travel on Saturday at 11 a.m. and will speak about popular new travel destinations at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Patricia Schultz, author of the popular 1,000 Places to See Before You Die books, will give a presentation featuring favorite places from her second edition, with a book signing to follow at the Mobile Libris bookstore on site in booth 927. Foodies rejoice! There will be a number of international culinary demonstrations hosted by the South Beach Wine and Food Festival this year featuring presentations by celebrity chefs Seamus Mullen and David Burke, New York Times Food Columnist Melissa Cook, as well as food entrepreneurs Jonathan Waxman, Joey Campanaro, Daniel Holzman, and Bill Telepan. Bring the whole family along—anyone under the age of 18 is free—and visit the Family Fun Pavillion, equipped with exotic animals, a rock–climbing wall, and the chance to try out scuba diving in a four foot swimming pool. You can also catch a cultural performance on one of the world stages highlighting traditional and modern music, rhythms, and dances from Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and around the world. Have you ever been to the New York Times Travel Show—or any major travel expo in your area? Tell us about your experience below! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Secrets to the 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports 12 Elevators You Need to See to Believe 5 Credit Cards Every Traveler Should Consider

READERS' CHOICE: The Best Airport To Get Stuck In

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be asking for a few of your favorite things, both large (airline, cruise port, national park) and small (which hotel has the best toiletries?). Then we’ll compile your suggestions and let you vote for your top pick in May. Come back often—we’ll be posting a new question almost every day. Today’s question: The best airport to get stuck in: No one wants to get stuck at the airport, but it happens to everyone and, in some cases, the experience isn’t complete torture. Some airports have wonderful art displays. Some have great bookstores or places to eat. Or maybe it’s chairs comfy enough to nap in. What’s your favorite airport to get stranded at—and why? Previous questions: What is your favorite cruise line? What is your favorite ski area? Foreign or domestic. What Is Your Favorite Under–The–Radar Girlfriend Getaway? Which airline has the nicest flight attendants? We know you have your favorite. Which city has the most user–friendly public transportation system? What is your favorite rental car company? What is your favorite historical spot in America? What's the top destination on your bucket list? Which airport features the best food? —Marc Peyser MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL World's 16 Most Picturesque Villages Secrets to the 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports 21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

Theme Parks

Water Parks as a Way to Escape the Cold?

It's the dead of winter and summer seems very, very far away. Some folks are lucky enough to be escaping the cold (like my manager who wisely booked a trip to Florida). Then you have people like me who used their vacation time to escape a cold and rainy city (New York) to travel to a cold and rainy city (Dublin). I don't regret the decision—I was visiting a friend—but now that we're solidly in February and I haven't been anywhere warm in months I'm starting to long for a reason to break out my swimsuit. I shared my longing with a friend who looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and said "you're a travel editor, shouldn't you be able to figure out a way to get a warm weather fix in February?" Oh yeah. Right. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('fa4c734d-d46d-41c6-be57-a196bbae878d'); Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info) I tossed around the idea of taking a 3-day weekend somewhere warm—maybe Florida, or the Caribbean. There are certainly plenty of deals out there, but I want to save my vacation days for a big trip this summer. Then I happened upon an article we did last year—a round up of the ten best indoor water parks. The first line grabbed me: "no matter how cold it gets outside, you'll always find temperatures in the 80s in these indoor water parks." That's it! Visions of lazy rivers, waterslides and wave pools filled my head. As it turns out, those aren't the only places that give you an outlet to splash around when the mercury is close to zero. We also have a list of the top hotel water parks in the U.S. (Of course, come summer there are even more options—check out our favorite 15 water parks nationwide.) Upon closer investigation, however, I discovered that none of these places are within driving distance from where I live. Fortunately, a quick Internet search revealed an indoor water park much closer to me—Greek Peak in upstate New York—and, yes, I'll be going there next weekend. Out of curiosity, a question for my fellow travelers in colder climes—how far will you go to escape the chill? Do you plan your winter retreats far in advance like my colleague? Or are you more inclined to play things by ear? Vote in our poll or share your thoughts below. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 10 Indoor Water Parks in the U.S. Top Hotel Water Parks Best U.S. Water Parks

France to Require Breathalyzers in All Cars, Including Rentals

The French are cracking down on drunk driving in a way that may surprise American visitors. Starting in July, all motorists—including those in rental cars—will be required to have a breath alcohol testing instrument on hand. If a driver is pulled over by police for some reason and is found not to have the kit in their car, the fine will be €17 (or about $23). Breathalyzers ("drunk-o-meters") are designed so that drivers can test themselves to check they are under the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. Hertz rental cars will provide the breathalyzers for free, a spokesperson said by e-mail. Avis and Budget responded to my request on this topic by saying: "We’re looking at it, but have no comment at this time." The companies have a while to decide: Enforcement of the law begins November 1. An interesting question is how they devices will be explained to customers. Companies may need to explain the devices to American drivers in advance, given that most French cops will be unlikely or unwilling to speak English. Otherwise, there may be a lot of confusion as an officer asks a driver to find and use the breathalyzer-type device—and the American driver doesn't know there is one in his or her auto's glove compartment. American visitors to France may be surprised to learn that alcohol limits are tougher there than in the US, despite the country's foreign reputation for a relaxed attitude toward wine. The French limit is 50mg in 100ml of blood. That's much stricter limit than in our country, which has limits of 80mg in 17 states and 100mg in 33 states, says a US government survey. In France, motorists found over the limit 50mg face fines starting at €135 (about $180), a fine that's tougher than in much of the US. France has been on an aggressive program to reduce fatalities from drunk driving. A decade ago, it had one of the world's highest fatality rates. It now has one of the lowest. In France, single-use Breathalyzer-type kits cost about 1 or 2 euros, or for less than $2.50 generally. If you drink alcohol, you can use the kit to make sure you're within legal limits before driving. For more info on testing, see alcoholtest.org. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Rental Cars May Soon Be Safer Thanks to an Angry Mom Rental Cars: The Safety Mistake Travelers Often Make Zipcar Is Driving Competition in Rental Cars