By Fred Wright, Jr.

Bargain Bed
In a different corner of the UK, a new series of bargain room venues has been launched. The first easyHotel, which offers beds starting at GBP 20 per night, has opened in central London, just off Cromwell Road. Each room comes with a double bed, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and a pay-as-you-view TV at GBP 5 (US$ 5) for 24 hours. Most rooms have no windows, and they come in sizes labeled “small,” “very small” and “tiny,” meaning 80, 70 and 60 square feet (7.4, 6.5 and 5.6 m²) respectively. Another easyHotel is scheduled to open this month in Basil, Switzerland. For more information, go to www.easyHotel.com.

Sweet Ride
A touch of luxury awaits in the Scottish Highlands as a hotel and restaurant offers a drive-a-Jaguar package which starts in Edinburgh. A selection of classic cars is available for guests to choose from and motor from Edinburgh to The Airds Hotel. The price varies with the classic car — a 1966 E-Type Jaguar package is GBP 1,140 (US$ 2,065), an Aston Martin V-8 package is GBP 740 (US$ 1,340). Other auto options include Porsche and Ferrari. Each car comes with a treat in the glove box — a box of barley sugar sweets. For more information, contact Andrew White at andrew@triggerfish.co.uk.

Yes, Darling
Resorts and hotels on and around Sanibel Island, Florida, have designed special packages for the 16th annual “Ding” Darling Days eco-festival, which runs October 9-15 at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge as well as other island venues. Sanibel was one of the areas of Florida hardest hit by last season’s hurricanes, so this event also celebrates the area’s nearly fully recovery. The festival includes a Kids Fishing day, live animal presentations, lectures, a nature photo contest and island eco-tours. Participating venues include Sanibel Harbor Resort & Spa, the West Wind Inn Gulf Front Resort and Sanibel Inn. For more information, call 239-472-1100, ext. 221, or go to www.DingDarlingDays.com.

Will it Fit in My Suitcase?
What better souvenir to bring back from a visit to Italy than art object or antique picked up at the annual Florence Antique Biennale, the oldest continuing running community art and antiques fair in Europe. There will be 88 international art dealers, including 13 from France, Spain, England, Sweden, Monaco and the U.S. The fair runs September 30 to October 9 and is being held in the Palazzo Corsini, one of Florence’s most luxurious palaces, located on the banks of the Arno River. For more information, go to http://www.palazzocorsini.it/index_eng.htm

Lights, Please
The U.S. east and west coasts are peppered with lighthouses, and many are open to tours during the day. But this summer, visitors to the Point Arena Lighthouse on the southern Mendocino Coast in California can take after-dark tours of the 1908 structure, climbing all the way to the top (115 feet, 35 m) as the keepers have done for nearly a century. Night tours are planned for 8 to 10 p.m. every Saturday in August. Cost is US$ 5 per person. For more information, call 877-725-4448 or go to www.pointarenalighthouse.com.

Credit Card Check
Ever wondered just how much your bank credit card is charging you at an ATM on the road? Especially outside the U.S.? Now you can find out ahead of time and avoid the “sticker shock” when the bill comes. A new web site — www.BankRate.com — has compiled data to show consumers the exact charges they will be incurring for many credit and debit cards, charges, which are often hidden and impossible to see on a bank statement. There is also an article that details the problem at www.BankRate.com/currencyconversion.