It Really Is Too Good to Be True

Delicious food means you don't have to leave the hotel

(NEWSER) - With this sort of room service, why leave the hotel at all? Forbes lists eight hotels that are stand-outs for room service offerings:

1. Four Seasons Washington, DC: Gourmet in-room dinner for two served by personal butler.
2. Ritz-Carlton Chicago: Get whatever you want, whenever you want from the kitchen—prepared to your specs.

Secret ways hotels gouge you when you're not looking

(NEWSER) - If you're hurrying to catch a plane, you might sign that hotel bill without a second glance. Avoid unpleasant surprises by looking out for Forbes Traveler's list of hidden fees:

1. Resort fee: Some resorts tack on a $10 to $25 fee per day for use of their facilities... even if you never do. Ask before you book.
2. Phone fees: Stick with your cell phone to avoid pricey surcharges.

Brave travelers can bed down with ghosts at these creepy locals

(NEWSER) - These hotels are known for more than complimentary breakfast. Tripso.com gets in the Halloween spirit with its rundown of haunted accommodations:

1. The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, La.: An abused slave poisoned her master with oleander cake; a host of ghosties now appear at guests' bedsides.
2. Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans: Doors fly open and former staff members roam this building in the historic French Quarter.

Even a pauper can feel pampered at these posh getaways

(NEWSER) - Even upscale chains like Ritz-Carlton will rent you a room for a reasonable price—if you seek out a favorable exchange rate, an independent hotel, or an off-the-beaten-track domestic destination. Forbes finds 10 luxury lodgings that are affordable even in peak season:

1. Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. Domaine Des Hauts De Loire, Onzain, France
3. Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

(NEWSER) - For travelers bored with the conventional comforts of most hotels, MSNBC offers some more creative choices:

1. Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai—desert conservation preserve
2. Anatolian Houses, Turkey—five adjoining volcanic caves
3. Baron Island—nature reserve on volcanic island