Get your hot dogs, sunscreen and beer guts ready: Independence Day is just over two weeks away! If you're headed to a big city for some fireworks fun, we'll be taking a look at hotels with prime fireworks views. Have a favorite hotel for gawking at bombs bursting in air? Send it our way.
Hey there, hot wheels: we already gave you our hotel recommendation for a straight up easy (read: lazy) Manhattan Fourth of July, but for those of you who are looking for a cheaper and more do-it-yourself experience, check out Apple Core Hotels.
July 1st through August 3rd, the Apple Core family (Red Roof Inn Manhattan, La Quinta Manhattan, Ramada Inn Eastside, Comfort Inn Midtown and The Hotel at Times Square) is offering -- get this -- a package that includes a bicycle rental in Central Park.
Just when Junior's coming down from his Christmas-induced toy euphoria, postpone the inevitable tantrum with a trip to New York City. From January 2 through February 14th, Apple Core Hotels, a co-branded initiative of midtown Manhattan properties, is offering parents an out. For $150 a night, guests get a night's stay and a free stuffed animal making session at the Toys "R" Us Times Square.
After, the little guy can drag his new companion along for a ride on the 60-foot Ferris Wheel, or on a stroll through Barbie's two-story, dollhouse, depending on his disposition. The Apple Core group includes the La Quinta Inn Manhattan, Red Roof Inn Manhattan, the Comfort Inn Midtown, Super 8 Hotel Times Square, and the Ramada Inn East Side.
The average room rate for NYC hotel has recently surpassed $300. Ouch! But the Apple Core Hotels group is offering some perks to make your trip to NYC a little more bearable.
Their hotels are offering guests free in-room NY state and toll-free phone calls. The hotels also offer complimentary wifi in guest rooms and public areas, daily breakfast (with Red Bull energy drinks!) and complimentary use of the fitness rooms.
Now here's the catch. Apple Core hotels aren't the swankiest in town. They include very budget chain properties such as the La Quinta Inn Manhattan, the Red Roof Inn Manhattan, the smoke-free Comfort Inn Midtown, the Super 8 Hotel Times Square, and the Ramada Inn East Side. However, these hotels aren't getting such bad reviews on TripAdvisor, compared to their counterparts along US highways. In fact, we were pretty surprised at the praise the Comfort Inn Midtown had gotten.
Travelers to the Big Apple will enjoy a gift of free music from iTunes, if they decide to lodge at one of five Applecore Hotels.
Guests who stay three to five nights at one of the Applecore locations (Red Roof Inn Manhattan, Super 8 hotel Times Square, Comfort Inn Midtown, Ramada Inn Eastside, and La Quinta Manhattan) will receive 10 free iTunes on the house/hotel.
Those who choose to stay five or more nights will receive 20! Sound goods but you must make your reservations before May 3rd.
Here's how:
· Make a reservation for 3 nights or more and enter promo code "free music" under special requests. · Stay the required # of nights and the hotel will email you an iTunes electronic gift certificate for either $10 or $20, depending on how long you stay.
Sharing no relation to the media giant, Apple Music, Applecore Hotels is probably looking to cash in on the Apple name (a bit too late we think.)
There's only one thing that they may have not considered. Most of the people who might be interested in a promotion such as this, can steal as many songs as they want from home and rarely pay for music anyway. You can't bribe a person with something free, if they already get it free anyway. Nice try though.
When Apple Core Hotels experienced a drop in occupancy rates this July, the company decided to create a new marketing package deal: "Take the Grandkids, Leave the Parents". It was so successful they will offer it again next year.
The idea to target that audience sprung from the fact that, although kids are out of school for most of the summer, their parents still have to go to work. A vacation with retired grandparents was positioned as a great way to keep the kids busy while touring Manhattan.
If these package deals are priced low enough we might have to borrow a ten year old and feign grandparenthood for a night or two--what? New York City hotel prices are insane.
0 Comments - Add Yours
by Jenna
Travelers to the Big Apple will enjoy a gift of free music from 
