The Seattle Post-Intelligencer calls Seattle’s fledgling bad art museum which just opened at Cafe Racer in Seattle the equivalent of a shelter with a no-kill policy. And their acronym couldn’t be more inappropriate. Its called OBAMA - Official Bad Art Museum of Art (www.officialbadartmuseumofart.com/).

OBAMA opened last month and hosts its first annual party for itself Friday, Dec. 19th, 7-9 p.m. at its home at Café Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way NE. (206-523-JAVA) Regular hours, 7 a.m.-2 a.m., daily.

If you’re a sucker for punishment, you might also want to visit www.museumofbadart.org/. Anyway, let’s move from bad art museums to cheap hotels and flights for business travelers.

Joe Brancatelli, writing for the Washington Post, has  an excellent article on cutting business travel costs. Stresses on the advantages of planning ahead and booking flights and hotel rooms at least a month ahead of time.

American Airlines is asking $534.50 one-way to fly coach tomorrow from New York to Los Angeles, but only $209.50 if you book just a week in advance. British Airways wants $8,300 for a roundtrip from Chicago to London tomorrow. Plan 30 days in advance, however, and the fare drops to $2,800.

The savings for hotel tooms are equally dramatic. I’ve just booked a stay in a New York Hilton hotel later this month for just $164 a night. The same hotel is asking $230 a night on a walk-up basis.

But more than advance booking, the article stresses on choosing the right kind of hotel for your needs. Like, upscale New York hotels catering to corporate travelers usually pile on everything from spas to conference facilities, banquets and room service into the tab. If all you need is a bed and shower and wi-fi and a desk, along with a place to stash your stuff, there’s plenty of cheaper alternatives. Instead of the Hilton, try the Hampton Inn.

Then there’s extended stay hotels if you’re planning for a week or more. Chains like Homewood Suites or Residence offer lower nightly rates for longer stays, along with additional facilities like fully stocked and equipped kitchens.

Posted on December 3rd, 2008 by Thomas
Filed under: Art & Museums, Hotels, NYC, New York