"hotel" news and stories

When people are on a holiday, they start to say things like "it's ok, you're on vacation!" and "you should be able to enjoy yourself!" These statements are innocuous in general, but when they're applied to the second piece of chocolate cream pie on your plate during dessert, it can be problematic. People gain weight when they're on vacation and in the weeks leading up to it in a sort of pre-vacation indulgence binge. A hotel in Germany, the Hotel Ostfriesland, has an unusual pricing structure that was motivated by one guest's desire to lose weight. The owner charges by the kilogram.

It all started when a guest complained that she was gaining weight every year and, when she dropped 77 pounds in a year, joked that she should get a discount. And she did. The owner of the hotel has everyone hop on a scale to determine their room rate. Of course, he does have a maximum fee of €39 per night for a single room, which, at his rate of .50 euros per kg, comes out to be about 172 pounds. If a guest weighs less than that, they get a discount. If they refuse to get on the scale at all, there is a €51 (224 pound) double-room charge, though no one has yet refused.

At the moment, the charging structure appears to be working. The hotel owner said that he has had no complaints and that many people enjoy the fact that they can get a discount, sometimes going as far as stripping down (the men, not the women) to try and lower their rate further.

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The folks at Zagat recently compiled a list of the top 100 hotel restaurants in America for an article in USA TODAY. Ratings were based on food quality, décor and service. The French Room in The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas, made the top of the list, which is available here. The list, complete with reviews, addresses and phone numbers, is also available for download as a notes file for your iPod. I went ahead and loaded it onto my iPod and, indeed, I was able to browse the list with my little scroll wheel. I'm not sure why this list needs to be on anyone's iPod, but nevertheless, it's available. Of the 100 restaurants listed, 20 are in California and 13 are in Massachusetts. At number three on the list is The Dining Room at Little Palm Island Resort (right), a luxury resort in the Florida Keys that can only be reached by boat. More complete Zagat guides are also available for other mobile devices like PDAs and cell phones.

Are your kids already requesting a trip to Disney World for their summer vacation, or maybe you haven't decided where to go for some rest and relaxation this year? There is no reason not to factor food into the equation and if you're looking for something really fun, the Disney Pop Century Resort in Florida may be just the ticket. Not only can you relive just about every trend of your childhood at the brightly colored complex, but the food is just as exciting as the architecture. Retro-chic classic comfort foods, like fried chicken and mashed potatoes are served in a TV tray, and tye-dyed colors swirl through timeless favorites like cheesecake and fluffernutter sandwiches. All the food is served in a casual, food court-style setting, which makes it perfect for families with small children, offering something for everyone.