Choice Hotels is offering one free night with a two-night stay at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites brand hotel in the US. Guests must be members of the Choice Privileges rewards program. This offer is valid through Dec. 31. Call for Choice Privileges details.

Following the introduction of the Westin Heavenly Bed in 1999 in Starwood´s Westin hotels, its sister brand Sheraton has introduced its own signature beds, the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed. The 11.5 inch thick, Sealy Posturepedic Plush Top mattress is dressed with down and allergy sensitive pillows and cotton sheets. The beds also feature duvet patterns with tattersall checks, hound's tooth and pinstripe patterns. The company and its franchisees are investing more than $75 million to put 110,000 new beds in 200 hotels in North America. By the end of 2003, more than 50,000 new beds will be installed in hotels in North America.

Free internet access at hotels has picked up its largest adherent to date: Marriott Hotels. By the end of 2003, Marriott will be offering high-speed internet access at no charge in guest rooms at all 1200 of its Courtyard, Residence Inn, Towne Place Suites and Spring Hill Suites brands. Marriott´s Fairfield Inns will provide the same free service by the end of 2004. Full-service Marriott and Renaissance properties will continue to charge $9.95 a day for unlimited Internet access, local and long-distance domestic phone calls.

As a member of the American Express Representative Network, our Williamsburg agents will be offering American Express Hotel rates. Please ask your agent what the American Express rate is compared to the hotel corporate or rack rate. In most cases, you will realize a tremendous savings!

Hilton Hotels plans to begin testing self-service kiosks at its Hilton New York and the Hilton Chicago properties in the fourth quarter as a first step toward a possible major rollout throughout the hotel chain and its brands.

Avis Rent a Car is offering free services and equipment for disabled customers, including hand controls for brakes and accelerators, panoramic rear-view mirrors and wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses.

The real cost of a rental car averages 24.4 percent more than the quoted rate, which can be attributed to add-ons of various fees and taxes. The biggest increases in car rental cost are in Texas, where renters will pay, on average, 71.7 percent more than the rental rate for a car at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport; 61.1 percent more at DFW; and 55.8 percent more at Austin Bergstrom. Add-ons also exceed 50 percent of the rental rate at Cleveland Hopkins and Houston, Hobby with the lowest levels of add-ons in California.

Alamo Rent-A-Car is discounting car rentals in Europe this fall by lowering rates by 25 percent at more than 800 locations. Reservations must be made by Dec 12 for travel through March 31 (except in Switzerland, where the sale is only valid through Jan 16)

Avis Car Rental is offering a Drive Free promotion. Rent these times for a minimum of two consecutive days each, on a corporate or leisure rental, and get a free weekend rental. Sign up at avis.com and Avis automatically tracks your rentals using your wizard number. Your Drive Free weekend rental voucher will be automatically mailed to you within 30 days of your third qualifying completed rental.