Hey, Canada! Travel Smart This Summer with These 10 Tips

Hotels.com helps make travel planning easier and more cost-efficient this summer

TORONTO, June 5, 2012 /CNW/ - We all like to travel, whether it's driving across the country in a car or by hopping on a plane to explore a foreign city. The problem is that not only can travel be expensive, but the actual process of planning a trip can be stressful too. Don't sweat it this summer, the travel experts at Hotels.com® have put together a list of 10 travel tips so you can relax and enjoy your vacations this season.

Top Travel Tips:
	1.	Take the time to pack. Putting some thought into the items you take with you will prevent over packing and ensure you have the right items for your travel activities and the weather. It'll also help save space in your suitcase for shopping and prevent those pesky airline fees for extra baggage.
	2.	Protect yourself: Sunglasses and sunscreen are must-haves. Making sure you have shades and lotion that properly protect from UV rays will ensure you have an enjoyable trip...and one where you don't look like a lobster in photos.
	3.	Home away from home? Make sure they've got the things that you want! The Hotels.com Amenities Survey showed free Wi-Fi is the number one request amongst travellers. If you love wireless, free breakfast or parking, make sure you book at a place that provides this service.
	4.	Speak up: If you arrive at your hotel and it isn't what you wanted, ask for an upgrade. Many hotels are happy to move guests into a room more suited to their needs, especially since a happy customer is much more likely to return. Also, don't forget to befriend the concierge when you arrive; they can be a valuable source of information when it comes to what is happening in town.
	5.	Grow those rewards:  Who doesn't like getting things for free? With so many incentive and loyalty programs out there, it's time to sign up. If you want to earn a free night's stay, join the Hotels.com Welcome Rewards™ program where you can get a free night for every 10 nights stayed.
	6.	Maximize time with travel apps: Download free travel apps like the Hotels.com mobile booking apps so you can shop for the lowest hotel prices in your destination wherever you are.
	7.	Stand out from the crowd: Well, your luggage should anyway. To save time at the airport, spend a few minutes making your luggage unique. Whether it's tying a bright coloured ribbon to the handle, or sticking on a patch, it'll save a lot of time at the carousel
Road Trip? We've Got Some Gas-saving Tips Too!
	8.	Lighten up: We're not talking about your weight, although technically that would help, but the weight of your car. The less it weighs the more fuel efficient it will be. So if your trunk is packed, what better time to clear it out?
	9.	Follow limits: Speed limits that is. Driving at a constant speed helps your vehicle run more efficiently and reduces the amount of gas being used.
	10.	Maintenance is key: Simple touch-ups like routine oil changes and keeping your tires inflated to the recommended pressure can also help to improve your gas mileage.

Follow these tips to ensure you travel smart this summer. It also happens to be that time of year when Hotels.com has its annual Summer Sale so if you're looking to save, this is a sale to not be missed. In addition to up to 30 per cent savings, travellers can receive C$25, C$50 or C$100 in prepaid cash cards when booking accommodation in participating hotels.

About Hotels.com®

Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca) is a leading online accommodation booking website with more than 150,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, negotiating the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 6.5 million guest reviews on the site from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through its industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards™, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 65,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will refund the difference. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/  enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at http://www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcomca, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomcaand on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

Hotels.com, Welcome Rewards and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2012 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved

Image with caption: "It's time to celebrate summer, so plan some stress-free travel with your loved ones... just don't forget your shades. (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120605_C5752_PHOTO_EN_14595.jpg

For further information:

Press contacts: 
Lauren Wasley
energi PR for hotels.com
Phone: [phone] ext. 19
Email: [email protected] 

Taylor L. Cole, APR
energi PR for hotels.com
hotels.com North America
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]