Disney Fantasy docked on New York's West Side

Disney Fantasy docked on New York City’s west side. At over 11 feet long, with 14 decks, 2 Broadway style sows, 6 gourmet restaurants, 5 hot night clubs and one amazing spa, the Disney fantasy is the largest ship in the Disney fleet. 3 pools and a water coaster will make all your fantasy’s come true.

Click here to see and learn more about the Disney Fantasy

Photo courtesy of D.C. All rights reserved.

After I arrived late for a flight, with only 30 minutes to spare before departure and 2 bags to check. Ticket agent Ariel really stepped up and helped me get checked in and on my way in little time. He was extremely helpful and it set the tone for my entire superb trip.

In July, I flew Air Canada to Vancouver. I arrived 57 minutes prior to my scheduled departure and was told I was late and had to take a later flight by Air Canada- granted it was an international flight. I said- I can make this flight if we work fast. After the ticket agent verbally scolded me for being late, she said it was not an option. So they zapped my credit card for a change in fare, and re-tciketing fee-for another flight. After giving me my new ticket for the later flight, the ticket agent actually told me, “You have 25 minutes- if you run you might make your original flight. Amazing.

My flight on Jet Blue today, to Orlando was awesome and actually much like air travel was like for me in the 70’s and 80’s, when airlines actually tried hard for your business.

Ariel, – great job! I will fly Jet Blue to Florida all the time now. Sorry Continental/United, you need to try harder for my 50k air miles year.

Everyone has a personal record for the amount they’ve spent on a hotel room.
Whether it was for a one-off treat or just because everywhere else in town was full, most people have sampled a luxury hotel at one point or another. Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes it hurts. In either case, when the bill came, you probably didn’t want to look!

But for the super rich, the cost of our so-called luxury accommodation is just part of the package. All around the world, luxury hotel suites are designed to cater to this elite, with every imaginable feature, priceless furnishings, lavish service, and a price to match. These boutique hotels are the playgrounds of the rich and famous when they travel abroad – celebrities, millionaires, pop stars, heads of state and royalty are the most frequent residents…Some of them pay and others are invited.

Here are five of the most expensive luxury hotel suites in the world.

Presidential Suite, Hotel Martinez Price: $18,500 a night

Cannes is Europe’s answer to Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that it contains a luxury hotel suite with this kind of price tag.

Decorated in an Art Deco style, it measures 8,000 square feet in total. The wraparound terrace (which can hold over 100 people) is 2000 square feet on its own, and has views of the entire Bay of Cannes.

Other features include a Turkish bath, personal sauna, 24 hour on call butler and a free bar – though breakfast is not included in your bill.

Guests at this famous hotel have included Jodie Foster, Francis Ford Coppola and Monica Belluci.

One Saudi sheik liked the Presidential Suite so much that he wanted to hire it out for five years.

The hotel, confident of being able to fill the suite in spite of its price, refused his request.

Imperial Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva Price: $23,000 a night

You pay for security as much as luxury at this famous hotel suite in Geneva.
Positioned next to the United Nations Headquarters and designed for travelling heads of state, the Imperial Suite features bullet proof glass and bedside alarm buttons, and can only be reached by a private elevator.

With views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, the suite contains five bathrooms, four bedrooms, a cocktail lounge, a library, its own Steinway grand piano and a mahogany dining table that can comfortably seat 26 guests. It costs approximately $23,000 a night. Breakfast is not included but the service can’t be argued with – when one guest requested a bed that could not fit in the lift,
the hotel hired a crane to get it in the bedroom.

The Bridge Suite, Atlantis Hotel, Paradise Island Price: $25,000 a night

The Bridge Suite sits on top of the bridge that connects the two Royal Towers in this resort on the aptly named Paradise Island.
For $25,000 a night you get your own butler, entertainment centre, 50-foot bar lounge, marble baths and a décor described as conveying “regal majesty” by the hotel staff. For regal majesty, read lots of gilded mirrors and windows, golden sofas, and a ten-foot four-poster bed with hand-painted linen sheets. Subdued and tasteful it isn’t, but if you like to see some eye-watering
opulence in your five figure luxury hotel suite, this may be the one for you.

Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York Price: $30,000

This boutique hotel spared no expense when it came to furnishing the penthouse on its 52nd floor.

Gold thread curtains, walls inlaid with mother of pearl, onyx bathroom floors, and even a shark skin coffee table are all part of the package here, along with stunning views over Manhattan and even a waterfall in the so-called Zen room.
For those who like a little more than the standard room service, this luxury hotel suite comes with unlimited treatments from an in-house masseuse, a butler on 24 hour duty and a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas Price: $40,000

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Hugh Hefner’s name is attached to the ultimate in luxury hotel decadence.

At a jaw dropping $40,000 a night, the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa is the world’s most expensive hotel suite, located (appropriately enough) in the Fantasy Tower of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Amongst the eccentric extras are an eight foot revolving bed with ceiling mirrors, an indoor waterfall, an exercise room, sauna, and a terrace pool projecting out over the edge of the Fantasy Tower with the Playboy Bunny logo stamped firmly in the center. And those Girls Next Door segments filmed in the Suite…

Stephanie Clarke is the Managing Director of Concierge Collection, providers of some of the finest luxury hotels in Europe.
Stephanie and her team use their wealth of experience, expertise and contacts to achieve “Beyond Special”.
For Concierge Collection, luxury does not have to have a large price tag but the hotels do have to be unique.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Looking for a casino holiday? Expedia.com has the best range of Las Vegas hotels

An updated ranking is available here

For the last two years I have been telling (almost preaching to) my friends here in Bergen County NJ about the wonderful weekends my wife and I have spent over the years on Long Island’s North Fork. In particular our time spent carousing the wineries and farms during harvest time. We are fortunate to have friends and family out that way so we can often enjoy a weekend on “The East End” without the challenge of a place to stay. Nonetheless on many occasion we have gone out for the day and with an early start the 1 ½  hour drive east of the George Washington Bridge is worth every minute!

On this October weekend we planned to spend a day initiating four of our friends from New Jersey into the joys of the local Long Island wineries and family operated farms…

We started our day by traveling east from the Mattituck home of a good friend. We ventured up to the “middle road” and soon came upon our first stop;  Sparkling Pointe, home of Long Island’s sparkling wine producers. Sparkling Pointe uses the “Methode Champenoise”  a process comparable to techniques used in France to produce Champagne.  Our group enjoyed sampling a three wine flight while listening to live music on the veranda & lush lawn adjacent to the vineyards.

Before we discuss the tasting here’s a little history about Sparkling Pointe. As their website states:

Tom and Cynthia Rosicki established the winery in 2003.

“The soul of Sparkling Pointe was born more than twenty years ago, when the North Fork couple first met at a debutante ball at the Waldorf Astoria. Weeks later, with a bottle of Champagne they toasted their first date. Cruising the Chesapeake Bay on their honeymoon, they stocked their boat with many vintages and types of Champagne and Sparkling Wines. And through the years, they became lovers of the romance and magic of Champagne.”  http://www.sparklingpointe.com/

Steve Mudd was instrumental in preparing the ground and the original plantings as well as influencing Tom and Cynthia’s decision to produce sparkling wine.  Additionally, Sparkling Pointe’s winemaker is Gilles Martin, and their vineyards are the classic Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Production is around 3,000 cases a year.
We enjoyed three wines in our tasting flight. They included:
•    Sparkling Pointe Brut 2006
•    Sparkling Pointe “Imperial Topaz” 2005
•    Sparkling Pointe “Blanc de Blancs” 2004

The Imperial Topaz was the preferred favorite of our group and the tasting notes below adequately describe the wine:
Sparkling Pointe “Imperial Topaz” is created from a blend of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir. It takes on a pale pink color. Aromatics lead toward melon and clean, crisp notes quickly follow. I found the overall experience of the Imperial Topaz to be both enjoyable and intriguing.

It was my personal favorite and as one member of our group put it “Sparkling Pointe is hip, bright & modern. Set in a relaxed environment reminiscent of Napa.”  We strongly recommend you pay a visit to Sparkling Pointe the next time you are out on the North Fork of Long Island.
I want to thank the very helpful & accommodating Samantha Polewac for hosting us during our tasting and for the information she provided on the winery. www.sparklingpointe.com

________________________________________
As we ventured back west on the main road we stopped at Raphael Vineyard. Established in 1996 and situated just 2,000 feet away from the Peconic Bay, Raphael’s features guided tours through the tasting room and its vineyard.

I need to say up front that my first experience at Raphael back in 2001 was good, but I was not overly impressed. However, this time around everything from the sophisticated grounds to the exceptional wines far exceeded my expectation. Our group was impressed from the moment we walked into the large bountiful tasting room, right up until we left with our arms filled with bottles we had purchased as we tasted…

Chip our host for the tasting was knowledgeable & candid in his explanation regarding the maturing and evolution of the vineyard and the winery.  Chip walked us through the history and philosophy that makes Raphael a very special place on the North Fork.  For our tasting at Raphael we stayed with their whites, from the Chardonnay to the Sauvignon Blanc, and a few in between, we found them to be unique, crisp and built upon Raphael’s sustainable vineyard practices, hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation and a natural wine making philosophy.

This short excerpt from their website expresses their dedication to the process and the passion for the result.

The Petrocelli Family strives to produce Long Island’s greatest wines, incorporating both New World advances and Old World traditions We are located on the North Fork of Long Island where the gentle maritime influence of the surrounding water provides a moderate climate allowing our grapes to fully ripen, achieving perfect balance, aroma, and flavor. Using sustainable vineyard practices, hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation and a natural winemaking philosophy, Raphael produces hand-crafted wines that reflect a pure expression of the unique climate and soil of the North Fork.

The winery was designed by John Petrocelli who was inspired by the Italian monasteries of his ancestral home. Our production facility blends classic Mediterranean architecture with modern wine making equipment. By building the winery 12 feet underground we are not only able to make our wines using a gentle gravity-flow method, but were able to construct a very energy efficient building using the earth’s natural 55F temperature to cool the winery in the summer and warm it in the winter.

Our favorite by far: Raphel’s  First Label Sauvignon Blanc.  Our entire group recommends it.  Don’t leave Raphael without a few bottles.

Here are the tasting notes from Raphael’s website.

“Our First Label Sauvignon Blanc is one of 2 separate vineyard-designated Sauvignon Blancs that showcase the distinct differences in the terroir of our vineyard. It’s made from hand-harvested grapes grown on our original, 3-acre founding vineyard block planted in 1998. Gravelly sandy loam soil predominates on this gently sloping, south-facing rise. The grapes are hand-sorted, gently pressed in a wooden basket press and kept entirely in stainless steel to retain the intense aromatics of the fresh fruit and the unique essence of our terroir. Elegant and delicious, this wine offers thirst-quenching flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit and herbs along with a unique saline minerality. A perfect compliment to seafood, poultry, fresh cheeses, and vegetarian cuisine.”
www.raphaelwine.com
________________________________________

Our last stop was at my favorite winery on the east end, Bedell Cellars.  Bedell has been surprising me with an ever increasing array of their Reds. Bedell selections have become my first choice to share with friends at everything from summertime BBQ’s to special family and Holiday occasions.

I find it unfair that some folks continue to refer to Bedell as the “best on Long Island” or to qualify a positive accolade with some unnecessary geographical notation. I say forget the disclaimer Bedell produces some of the best wines not only on Long Island but in the entire USA, period.
Here is some information from their website:

Bedell Cellars is among the oldest and most prestigious wineries on the North Fork of Long Island, America’s ascendant new wine country. A nationally recognized leader in quality, Bedell produces critically acclaimed blends called Taste, Gallery, and Musée with artist labels commissioned from Barbara Kruger, Ross Bleckner, and Chuck Close, respectively. The Corey Creek Vineyards label, also grown and produced by Bedell Cellars, is renowned for its Gewürztraminer and an exquisite Provencal Rosé.

Andrew Mestler the Tasting Room and Hospitality Manager took us though a flight consisting of:  Estate Merlot, Taste Red, Reserve Merlot and ended us with the incredible Bedell Cellars Musee.

Please see the Award & Release for Musee by Wine Spectator.

2007 Musée receives 91 Points
Publication: Wine Spectator
Date: October 26, 2010

Brief: Bedell Cellars announces that its 2007 Musée has been awarded “91 points” by Wine Spectator magazine, the most widely read wine publication. By receiving 91 points, Bedell’s 2007 Musée has become the single highest scoring Long Island red wine in Wine Spectator during the entire 30-year history of the Long Island wine growing region…. read more

Bedell reds are rich, lush and deep. The notes are an abundance of fruitiness. Bedell  has blown me away consistently every time I’ve visited over the last ten years. The atmosphere in the tasting room, the beautiful grounds and the legendary hospitality keep me coming back like a GPS system pinned to only one setting; Bedell Cellars.

I am not a wine expert nor do I claim to have the education needed to dissect wine like a critique for a big newspaper but I know what I like. As a Restaurateur, Foodie and fan of wine I strongly recommend that if you visit only one winery on Long Island let it be Bedell Cellars.

All in all, our group of friends, new to the North Fork had an unforgettable time and vowed to be back. Our supply is running low since our visit a few weeks ago so perhaps we’ll be back sooner than we thought.

In closing I’d like to add that these fine establishments are not simply for the day tripper. Anyone considering a unique venue for a corporate event or a beautiful and romantic setting for a wedding should consider these wineries at the top of their list. www.bedellcellars.com

For more information about booking an event or wedding please contact:

Bedell Cellars

Director Kim MacKinnon via phone at 631.734.7537 x32 or via email at kim@bedellcellars.com.
Please view selected photos from our past weddings and events.

Raphael

Julie Petrocelli Vergari or Lisa Cheek call 631-765-1100 specialevents@raphaelwine.com

Sparkling Pointe

Events/Weddings  631-765-0200 or via email at info@sparklingpointe.com

Why Austin?

Austin, Texas, known as the “music capital of the world” is one of the best destinations for entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and other points of interests.  It is primarily a location for individuals who seek a southern edge with captivating moments.  With its attractive parks and wildlife, Austin will bring you a breath of fresh air to make you want to stay forever.

Zilker Metropolitan Park of Austin contains a variety of things to see and do.  One may canoe on Austin’s Town Lake or hike and bike down the aromatic, greenbelt trails.  The Barton Springs Pool is a perfect natural springs for the habitual swimmers, with the temperature of 68 degrees all year-round.  For the more visual person, stopover by Zilker Botanical Gardens, which includes numerous trees and aquatic habitats.  Austin also offers McKinney Falls with over 700 acres of natural park where one can camp, hike, mountain bike, fish and view most of Austin’s wildlife.
Interestingly, Austin is uniquely designed to attract shoppers of all kinds.

Drive down Congress Avenue, known as SoCo (South Congress Shopping District), where you can find an abundance of contemporary and antique boutiques.  Rest your feet at Guero’s Taco Bar and order their popular fish tacos while washing it down with a nice, cold beer.  When done, venture on over to the Congress Avenue Bridge to watch over 700,000 bats form a Boeing-like jet over the city of Austin. They can be viewed as early as March where flights normally occur during 8:00pm-8:30pm.  It’s amazing and yet, chilling to stand below the bridge and feel thousands of bats fly before your eyes.
The city of Austin also has numerous landmarks and museums including, the Texas Capital.  Visit its 22 acres of surrounding grounds and discover where it all takes place.  And, don’t forget to take photos of all 17 monuments, bordering its leading architecture.

In Austin, one may even find him or herself wondering to the outskirts into a luxurious plantation.  The Plantation House in Pflugerville, for
instance, is famous for “a tranquil place to prepare and reflect” but that’s not the only place to feel the southern breeze.

If you’re looking for more of “the city scene,” hit up Austin’s Warehouse District right downtown and feel the ambiance above The Spaghetti Warehouse, a 4-star restaurant with a spacious rooftop overlooking the city.  The district’s restaurants and clubs were once renovated from working warehouses to romantic restaurants and red-velvet bars.  This area of Austin mainly caters to the older but trendy crowd looking to intimately dine and listen to entertaining music in every direction.  Many tourists get the pleasure of walking down to the very next bar without having to hitch a ride or take a taxi elsewhere.  All kinds of music, from rock n’ roll to country to hip-hop, can be found in places like Speakeasy, Antone’s, Fado Irish Pub, and Cedar Street.  It’s all in the center of Austin; however, you’re guaranteed a great time in any direction you go.

So, “Why Austin?”  Because, you’ll never want to leave!

Whether it’s a night out with the girls or the plan is to hit the town solo, downtown Austin is filled with hot, glamorous locations to see and be seen. Listed as the “#1 City for Singles” in 2003 by Forbes, it may have slid down in the rankings this year, but Austin still holds a nightlife filled with fun and a bit of scandal.

A sexy ensemble is the first necessity for a great night out. Don’t be fooled by the stereotypical Texas western wear: trendy designs and labels have taken over this town’s fashion. Local downtown shopping offers many magnificent independent boutiques. There’s a full block of shops at 2^nd Street  between Colorado and Lavaca, and some delicious lunching spots positioned in between the stores. Don’t miss Girl Next Door, Sana Boutique, and Shiki; which was recently featured in Lucky magazine. Eliza Page is a top shop for killer accessories.

Or, pop out toward the north edge of town to The Domain. An outdoor shopping center, this district feels more like Beverly Hills than the suburbs. Neiman Marcus and Macy’s are currently the main anchor stores, and Nordstrom is scheduled to open in 2010. Other must stop shops include Stuart Weizman, Wellmade, Betsey Johnson, and Bebe. If extra pampering is in order, the MAC cosmetics boutique offers full face make-up appointments. Ask for a dramatic smoky eye with some wild false lashes.

A perfect outfit begs to be flaunted.  For early evening cocktails and appetizers, Key Bar and The Belmont are great first stops. Both have outdoor patio seating with a chic décor.

• Key Bar: Order their specialty “shaker” featuring a mixed drink of your favorite spirit, complimented with a natural juice popsicle. All Good (Grey Goose vodka with lemonade and a raspberry  mint popsicle) is a house favorite. The patio features lounge style chairs set in a rock garden. Stilettos beware!
• The Belmont: This establishment offers Palm Springs, old Hollywood charm, reminiscent of the Standard Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. Updated with southern favorites and a Cuban twist, the Caipirinha cocktail with cachaca liquor, lime, and sugar will outdo any bar’s mojito. Check the events calendar, as the Belmont hosts many fetes throughout the year, including a “can’t miss” Kentucky Derby affair with hats and miniature horses galore.

Dine stylishly at the Malaga Tapas and Bar. Recently relocated to a larger venue on 2^nd Street, this restaurant offers a quiet intimate atmosphere to catch up with the girls before the night’s mayhem gets underway.

Kenichi, a new sushi restaurant in the warehouse district, is also a great option and is quickly becoming a local favorite. Unlike its competitors, it is still possible to walk in without reservations and be seated without an hour long wait. Menu highlights include freshly made wasabi paired with chef sushi selections and vegetable tempura sides (the eggplant is incredible!).

Get the party started after dinner, as no girl’s night out on the town is complete without dancing! Citysearch lists Molotov Lounge as the 2007 audience and editorial winner for the best singles scene.  Other great spots include:

Pangaea: One of the city’s only places to find bottle service, this New York club recently opened its doors in Austin just last year. The owners and staff still maintain their roots in the big city, which means this is a great place to spot celebrity clients and patrons. Pangaea is also host to small concerts, fashion shows, and features guest DJ’s on the weekends.

If the goal is to stick together, hit up a different option. Rain, a new gay bar on 4^th Street is a good alternative. Dance all night with the girls and forget about falling prey to cheesy pick up lines or of losing a friend to an offer of a drink and conversation.

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New Orleans is located approximately 100 miles inland, and we do not anticipate any disruption in guest service or impact to visitors, New Orleans citizens or tourism industry businesses as oil reaches the coastline of Louisiana some 80-100 miles from New Orleans.

According to the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Louisiana Coastline is expansive, more than 7,700 miles long, and provides Louisiana fishermen with an abundance of clean water areas in which to fish. Fishermen and suppliers are confident that there will not be an interruption in the nation’s ability to get quality Louisiana seafood.

According to the Port of New Orleans, The Triumph, a Carnival Cruise Line ship, will dock in New Orleans on Saturday May 1 as scheduled and passengers will disembark. New passengers will embark for a seven-night cruise Saturday evening as scheduled.

Visitors traveling to New Orleans should check www.neworleanscvb.com for the latest information.

The World Cup 2010 action kicks off in South Africa on 11th June and builds towards the tension-filled final on Sunday 11th July. With plenty of excitement to look forward to, football fans can make the event truly one to remember by combining it with an affordable holiday in one of a range of major destinations. Hotels in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Majorca, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Cyprus are all offering special deals during the World Cup next year.

All types of accommodation are also represented, ranging from cheap hotels and apartment complexes offering bed and breakfast or self catering packages to five star all inclusive hotels.

Steven Moore, Head of eCommerce at Hotels4u.com, comments: “Rather than stay at home to watch the World Cup, fans can guarantee themselves some sunshine and a well-deserved summer break. It’s a great opportunity to get together with mates and enjoy football at its best, plus there’s something for everyone. Even if football isn’t your passion, there’s always sunbathing by the pool, relaxing on the beach, sightseeing, shopping, water sports and numerous other activities.”

For more information on hotel deals around the globe during the World Cup 2010 visit: http://www.hotels4u.com.

Originally published Dec 7, 2009

From delicious food to beautiful sandy beaches and a wide range of activities on offer to entertain the whole family, Southern Spain is renowned as one of the top holiday destinations in Europe.

The Andalusia region is particularly worth a visit if you are planning on visiting the South of Spain; a favourite amongst Spanish locals and overseas tourists alike.  What makes this part of Spain so special are its various landscapes which are just moments away from one and another, from the Alpine mountain region to the tropical areas along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. With a variety of large towns and small picturesque villages, there is plenty to see and do.

A particular favourite amongst tourists in this area is the city of Seville which is home to one of the largest Cathedrals in the world.  Completed in the 1550s, the Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic and Baroque architecture, with a striking bell tower.  Inside, you will be amazed by the magnificent interior with impressive artwork, sculptures and the outstanding tomb of Christopher Columbus.  This outstanding Cathedral is definitely worth a visit if you get the opportunity.

If you are keen to enjoy the sunshine of Southern Spain within a modern, extremely popular setting, the Costa del Sol could be the place for you.  Located on the Mediterranean coastline within the province of Malga, the Costa del Sol offers a paradise destination with over 300 sunny days on average per year.   Each glorious beach has a different atmosphere, from vibrant and lively to untouched solitary spots.  For the adventurous traveller, there are a variety of watersports to partake in, such as scuba diving, surfing and parasailing. There is also a host of accommodation available, as well as a wide variety of bars and restaurants.

As you would expect from such an ideal location, the South of Spain specialises in exquisite seafood dishes.  In fact, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world, with fresh fish and salad very popular along the coastline.  As you venture inland, you will find more meat stews and vegetables on offer, providing tasty, nutritional meals for all the family.   Other traditional dishes include Tapas which is the perfect way to try many local foods in bite-sized pieces.

Whether you choose to visit the South of Spain on holiday with the family, for a sightseeing trip or to enjoy a warm, sunny retreat, you are sure to be welcomed by the local people, and will want to visit again and again.

For more travel tips and vacation inspiration, check out the Tripbase
Travel Blog site.

About Tripbase:

Tripbase eliminates the time-consuming and frustrating online search process by providing travelers with personalized travel recommendations for their next trip.

Tripbase was named Top Travel Website for Destination Ideas by Travel and Leisure magazine in November 2008.

The Addams Family – They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. A dream cast takes on the quirky characters in a new and original Addams Family tale beginning March 4. Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth star.

Fences – Denzel Washington and Viola Davis star in the first Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Fences. This is a limited run beginning April 14 through July 11, 2010 with limited availability of theater tickets. We anticipate heavy demand for this show’s performances.

Promises, Promises – Broadway’s first-ever revival of Promises, Promises, starring Emmy Award winner Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as the enterprising associate on the way up, and Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth as the cafeteria waitress whose romantic troubles have got her down. Begins March 27.

The Miracle Worker – Starring Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Tony Award nominee Alison Pill, The Miracle Worker tells the story of real-life Helen Keller, who suddenly lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months, and the extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate with the world, Annie Sullivan. Begins Feb. 12.

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark – Julie Taymor (The Lion King) and Bono and The Edge (of U2) bring to life the iconic superhero Spider-Man, who as high school student Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider and develops astonishing powers. Tentatively scheduled to begin in September.

The most popular arrival method into Catalina Island is via
boat from the mainland in the town of Avalon. Avalon is
considered the central point of the island where visitors
can get information on all aspects of the Catalina
experience from lodging to hiking. Located on the eastern
coast of the island, Avalon is home of most of the hotels,
shopping and dinning opportunities on Catalina. Small
little streets and walking paths criss cross through
Avalon. At the center of Avalon’s shores is its harbor,
home to dozens of private yachts and sail boats.

Avalon is home to over 30 restaurants, hotels and inns. The
accommodations of Avalon range from small bed and
breakfasts to larger hotels. Outside of Avalon, Catalina is
known as a haven for campers and offers a variety of
camping opportunities.

All around the perimeter of Avalon are quaint drives and
hiking trails that branch out from the town center to
points all over the island. For those not inclined to walk,
there are many alternatives including golf cart rentals and
shuttle buses that take visitors from either end of the
island. The hiking trails on Catalina are expansive, yet
beautiful as on many points they afford hikers 360 views of
the ocean. One of the more unique attractions for those
seeking an outdoor and nature experience are Catalina’s
many free roaming buffalo. Originally introduced to the
island in the 1920s, the buffalo were used in many old
western Hollywood shoots. Today the buffalo population is
over 250. The island offers a safari like tour where
visitors sit in back of giant jeeps and are taken through
the area where the buffalo’s roam much like a tour you
would see in Africa.

Catalina offers many opportunities for engaging with the
sea life that surround the island. The island offers one of
the most popular snorkeling and dive spots in all of
California. Catalina’s water temperatures vary seasonally,
from a low in the fifties to a high in the low seventies.
As well as offering excellent visibility, Catalina Island’s
underwater gardens and spectacular kelp forests provide a
beautiful back drop for the diverse variety of marine life
and local fish.  In addition there are many hidden coves,
underwater reefs and cliffs, as well as dolphins, sea
lions, harbor seals and aquatic birds that are both
residents and frequent visitors along the coast of Catalina.

Catalina has many transportation options from the mainland
to the island. Catalina Express, a ferry service is the
most popular and departs with frequent service from the
mainland to Avalon. Visitors can board a Catalina Express
boat in Los Angeles, Long Beach or Orange County. The trip
is about forty five minutes. In addition there are daily
helicopter flights as well chartered and scheduled fixed
wing air service from Long Beach and Orange County.

The island of Catalina is a fun destination that is full of
sights and attractions that are fun for groups, solo
travelers and families. Popular all year round, Catalina is
a quiet and serene retreat that can be an easy escape for
all those visiting or living in Southern California.

—————————————————-
See http://journeycontinent.com for additional information
on what to see and do when visiting Catalina Island.

Bag fees are the new norm and the airline industry’s newest revenue stream. They are most likely here to stay but there are a few ways to minimize the extra cost of packing and bringing a bag.

Keep in mind that by paying for services you use, the base fare is less or so the saying goes. Minimize expenses by sharing baggage to maximize use.   Traveling as a family, ditch the Sponge Bob luggage for a real suitcase, and pack the bags as a family to minimize empty space. Check with your airline because each one charges differently, some are $25 per bag and others are $25 for 2,  some don’t charge at all.

The oldest trick in the book for saving money- Be flexible with your dates – if you can fly on a Tuesday or Weds, you could save a significant amount of money on your airline tickets.

In todays online travel landscape, each site is coming out with new useful tools to find the best fares, tools like calendar displays for low airfares and hotel rates offer a huge benefit to finding the lowest fare. Sites which search multiple sites at once are good too but for the most part I find these meta search sites end up filling up your screen with unwanted pop up ads and a ton of cookies. What I like to do is search each site and print out the results. You will find each site will have a Best Deal from a supplier partner- if you search the big three sites – Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity for hotels in Vegas you will clearly see who is working with whom and you can benefit from a great lead rate.

If you are traveling and need Air and Hotel and possibly a rental car- try booking a package. Some vacation packages can save you on average $340 or more than buying each component separately. All inclusive packages are a great idea for when you are on a strict budget but still want to eat and drink like there is no more tomorrow.

You can also go to locations where your dollar goes further. Destinations such as Las Vegas, San Diego, Hawaii and Florida are promoting rooms less than $70 per night for many peak travel dates- now is the time to shop around.

So what is a good way to shop around when you don’t have a lot of time? Well try setting deal alerts with some of these travel sites- they will notify you of when a fare drops or becomes available. Also- sign up for travel deal newsletters like Dunhill Vacations- they email you the best travel deals available for a given week- for your departure city too!

There are lot of options out there and travel suppliers are hungry for business, with a little bit of work on your part, you can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on that dream vacation.

Do winter storms get you down because they make going
outside such a challenge?  Then what better way can you
make use of your time indoors than to plan a warm weather
vacation?  And one of the best travel destinations,
especially for people who live in the northeastern part of
the United States, is the Adirondack region.

Image via Wikipedia

If you love the wilderness you’re going to adore the

Adirondacks.  Can you close your eyes and see yourself
canoeing down a swiftly moving stream that feeds into a
pristine mountain lake?  Or hiking beneath a canopy of
fresh sweet smelling young buds in the spring, large green
leaves that shade you in the summer, or purple, fire-orange
and gold leaves that almost seem to sear your retinas in
the fall?

If you prefer a more serene, idyllic approach to life how
does this sound?  Curl up with a good book and lounge on a
deck chair by a soft sand beach that’s next to a lake which
reflects the nearby mountain range in its shimmering waters.

Image via Wikipedia

When you travel to the Adirondacks you always have a choice
between “civilization” and adventure.   You can casually
explore the Olympic Village at Lake Placid, stroll down
Main Street in Old Forge, or hike to a hidden waterfall and
enjoy nature’s splendor.

No matter how you spend your day, wouldn’t it be sublime to
be pampered at night?  The Adirondack Mountain region has
more four start resorts than any other area in New York
State.  It offers you more ways to rejuvenate your soul
than just about any other area on the face of the earth.

You can thank the New York State Constitution for this
natural beauty.  It guarantees that Adirondack Park, a six
million acre sanctuary, will remain unblemished forever.
This sanctuary is a place where it is still possible to

walk in the tracks of white tailed deer, black bears, and
beavers.  And when gaze at the sky you can still see bald
eagles soar.

And if you are adventuresome, you can get the action juice
you need taking hot air balloon rides, seaplane rides, Lake

George cruises and more.

The Adirondacks are certain to inspire memories that will
last as long as you live.  Its unspoiled wilderness will
spoil you and the available activities will get your heart
pounding.

If you can’t wait till warm weather, why not  get out of
your snow bound home and head for this region?
Snowmobiling across the Moose River Plains, dog sledding,
and chair lifts up McCauley Mountain, and ski jumping in
the shadow of Olympians are just a handful of things to do
in this winter wonderland.

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Now, if you prefer to stay closer to home yet still enjoy
serene surroundings while having a sense of the wilderness,
take a look at Oxford Garden Furniture at
http://www.adirondackauthority.com/oxford-garden.html

There are many things to consider when planning a trip.
There is the mode of transportation, meals and most
importantly, lodging. This can factor in largely when
taking a family vacation and the need to house more than
just one person arises. By going online and doing a quick
search, you can find some great deals on cheap hotels.

There are a multitude of websites online that offer
discounts and specials at cheap hotels all over the world.
The one you choose largely depends on where you are going
and how close you want to be to the local attractions. Many
of these hotels are not only low priced but offer many of
the same amenities as their high priced cousins.

The largest discounts may be found for extended stays such
as a week or more. The overnight reservations tend to be
around the same rate but when staying multiple days, hotels
invariably offer some type of special rate. This rate can
be even lower if the stay takes place during the week
rather than on a weekend.

There are cheap hotels listed all over the Internet with
their own websites, but it may be more prudent to look over
a booking website. These sites can offer different rates
from various hotels all in the same area and normally have
a description as to what the hotel itself and the area have
to offer. This allows for very easy comparison shopping
when planning a business trip or vacation.

The booking websites will also have their own discounts and
specials that are only available if you reserve the room
through the. For people who travel quite a bit, these
websites will offer discounts such as booking five nights
through them and getting a free nights stay at a hotel of
your choice. This works in the same way frequent flier
miles do for an airline.

The Internet has made it quite easy for you to be your own
travel agent and find the best deals on cheap hotels for
you and your family. This allows more money to be saved and
used towards more important things such as the family day
at the amusement park or dinner out on that romantic
weekend away from the children. There are many of these
hotels that offer weekend getaway packages at a reduced
rate also.

Just because cheap hotels are being looked at does not mean
anything has to be sacrificed in terms of service or
quality. There are many very reputable hotels online with
ratings from travelers groups and patrons who have stayed
there multiple times. These may all be browsed on their
websites and websites of some consumer groups too.

By taking a little time while planning your trip to look
over what is being offered online, you can save quite a bit
of money and get exactly the type of room desired. All this
may be accomplished in a short period of time, right from
the comfort of your own home. This in and of itself makes
the idea of taking a trip that much more enjoyable.

—————————————————-
Thank you for reading our Cheap Hotels article. If you
would like more cheap hotels, cheap hotels motels, or find
cheap hotels information please visit
http://www.cheaphotelsgo.com today.

Bora Bora is an absolutely magical and romantic destination and tops the list for honeymoons on a different level.

Under a one hour flight from the island of Tahiti or Moorea, the island of Bora Bora, with a lagoon resembling an artist’s palette of blues and greens, is love at first sight.

Romantics from around the world have laid claim to this island where the castle-like Mount Otemanu pierces the sky. Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the illuminated lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where colored fish animate the coral gardens as they greet the giant manta rays. This could be easily be described as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury resorts and spas dot the island with overwater bungalows, thatched roof villas, and fabled ambience. Read more at Tahiti Tourism Each week above we will showcase a different property on Bora Bora this weeks its The Four Seasons Bora Bora. Enjoy..

South Congress wasn’t always the destination for a hip night out. Its history dates back to the city’s formative years in the mid 1800s. Originally the main highway and postal route into San Antonio, South Congress didn’t become a local thoroughfare until 1910 when a concrete bridge was built over the Colorado River. During the early twentieth century, the street was lined with booming businesses. Restaurants, motels, gas stations appealed to the tourists passing through. Barbers, beauty shops, dry cleaners, and grocers also opened up for the local residents. Progressive educational institutions helped to support the local economy. The Texas School for the Deaf and St. Edwards University were early establishments on South Congress. Both of which are still core organizations in Austin today.

In 1946, the City of Austin approved a bond to build a new highway. Interstate 35 was built on the Southern end of SoCo and provided travelers with greater speed and convenience. Unfortunately, the change in traffic patterns took its toll on the thriving economy on South Congress. Slowly, businesses began to close their doors and the buildings fell into a state of disrepair.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that this street began to see revitalization. With low real estate prices and tax incentives, small business owners began to see the potential South Congress offered. This street is now the pinnacle of independently owned boutiques and services. Featured in many local and national magazines such as Lucky, shops such as Blackmail, Parts & Labor, By George, and Service are just a few of the cutting edge fashion boutiques. If shops that are a more out of the ordinary appeal more, stop into Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Austin’s largest and most unique year-round costume shop. Uncommon Objects is an antique lover’s dream with unexpected raw materials and finds for the home.

In addition to new shops, there is a full range of restaurants with varied cuisines and price points. Most eateries offer outdoor seating with stellar views of downtown and the Capitol. Great casual dining spots include Home Slice Pizza, Zen, a Japanese fast food spot, and Magnolia Café. Magnolia is a local favorite for weekend breakfast or lunch stop before the big Saturday Longhorn football game.

If a fancier fare sounds like a better fit Mars has an excellent menu with eclectic Asian twists. They feature a full menu of specialty cocktails such as a blended Belini or Lemongrass Ginger Cosmopolitan. Request a seat on the outside deck, as it is a prime location for people watching.

If a quiet intimate atmosphere fits you better after a long day, the San Jose Hotel offers courtyard seating, along with an impressive wine list. This is a preferred location for frequent business travelers, and sparking up a conversation with fellow visitors is a natural occurrence.

For an Italian dinner, walk a few blocks south to Vespaio, an award winning Italian restaurant. The main dining area is indoors; however Enoteca, the newest brainchild from the Vespaio restaurateurs is right next door. Labeled as an “unfussy bistro café,” the menu is strikingly similar to its more formal neighbor, but at a fraction of the cost.

Live music is also a signature feature in SoCo. The world famous The Continental Club features new bands every night, is a great place for mixing and mingling. Count on showing off some fancy two-step dance moves. Even those suffering from two left feet will have a blast out on the dance floor.  For a more relaxed atmosphere, there are two outdoor music spots, Botticelli’s Beer Garden and Guero’s; both are extensions of indoor restaurants serving Italian and TexMex, respectively.

Whatever your pleasure, South Congress is sure to fit. It is a great representation of the city’s personality and flare. The street continues to grow with new apartments, local grocers, and spas. Connecting with its historical roots, South Congress is a wonderful destination for tourist and locals alike.

Carina Van Son is a freelance writer living in Austin, TX and regular contributor to ExplorerPod.com

Lanzarote is the most easterly of the seven Canary Islands – and amongst the most unspoiled.  Thanks to the influence of a locally born artist and architect called César Manrique.  Who managed to secure an island wide ban on high rise development just when tourism started to take off in the early 1970´s.

Manrique was concerned with conserving Lanzarote´s unique and surreal volcanic scenery – which was created by a series of violent eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries.  These totally remodelled the interior of the island – carpeting an area around 200km square in lava, punctuated by the peaks of spent volcanoes.

Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote

At the time these events caused widespread devastation.  But today the region – known locally as the Fire Mountains – is one of the most treasured National Parks in Spain and Lanzarote´s number one tourist attraction.  Drawing close to one million visitors a year.

As well as great weather and unique scenery Lanzarote is home to close to 100 beaches.  Some of which are amongst the most breathtaking in Spain.  Such as the huge bay at Famara on the island’s rugged North West coast.  And the interconnected series of bays and coves at Papagayo in the south.

Tourists will also find that the island is dotted with picturesque and historic towns and villages too, such as Teguise.  Which was the first settlement established by Spain in the Canaries in the early 1400´s.  And which is home to some fantastic examples of colonial architecture such as the Palacio Spinola – once the home of a wealthy nobleman and now a popular house museum.

As well as working to conserve Lanzarote´s unique volcanic scenery César Manrique also created a series of seven visitor attractions across the island.  All of which work in harmony with Lanzarote´s twisted volcanic terrain.

The most impressive of these projects is undoubtedly the Jameos del Agua.  Where Manrique transformed a collapsed lava tunnel into a stunning underground concert venue and nightclub.  Which was declared the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by visiting Hollywood star Rita Heyworth.  A remarkable feat of engineering and creativity which really helped to put Lanzarote on the tourist map for the first time.

Nick Ball is a freelance writer and contributor to ExplorerPod.com. Visit the Lanzarote Guidebook website where you can find out more about the Island of Fire, download a free Guidebook and book holidays in Lanzarote direct online.

The main area of interest when visiting Santa Monica is
along the shoreline where Ocean Ave is the dominant
thoroughfare for which shopping, dining and accommodations
all extend off into separate streets. Tall and thick palm
trees line the sidewalks for the entire length of Ocean
Avenue. Ocean Ave runs in a north/south direction allowing
visitors a constant view of the Pacific. Ocean Ave
straddles a cliff where below are the beaches and bike
paths. Dozens of hotels line Ocean Avenue and face out on
to the Ocean affording guests spectacular views. There are
a broad range of choices in restaurants on Ocean Ave, from
hole in the walls to five star, celebrity driven menus.
Several major streets cross Ocean Avenue and take visitors
into Los Angeles proper and offer additional opportunities
in shopping and dining. These streets include Wilshire
Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway.

The 3rd St. Promenade is only 2 blocks inland from the
beaches and Ocean Avenue. In the last decade the Third
Street Promenade has transformed itself into one of the
biggest shopping destinations in Los Angeles. Extending
almost half a mile from Wilshire Blvd down to Broadway, the
Promenade is a street closed to cars and consists of a
brick road, lined by palm trees, kiosks and dozens of high
end stores from home furnishings to fashion. On the
weekends many street performers come out and perform a
variety acts from music to acrobatic stunts as crowds
gather and watch. The Third Street Promenade is not lacking
when it comes to dining with a variety of choices from
hamburgers to Chinese to Pizza lining the route. There are
two movie theaters and a major mall under construction
slated to open in late 2010 at the termination point of the
Promenade at Broadway. Several streets run parallel to
Third Street including 4th Street and 2nd Street, each of
these streets also provide a variety of shopping and dining
opportunities as well.

Extending off of Ocean Ave and out into the Pacific is the
Santa Monica Pier. With a rollercoaster, Ferris Wheel,
stalls, aquarium and fishing, the average visitor can spend
a day on the pier. The pier is friendly to families and
allows for a variety of fun activities. The Santa Monica
Pier celebrated its 100 birthday in 2009 and to commemorate
the event built a new Ferris wheel; at the top of the
Ferris Wheel visitors can get a 360 view of the shoreline,
all of Santa Monica and down into Venice. At the base of
the pier are many skate and bicycle rental kiosks where the
active traveler can venture up and down the coast to Venice.

Santa Monica is a full destination aside from visiting LA.
In good traffic, Santa Monica is only less than thirty
minutes from Hollywood and twenty from Beverly Hills.

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For additional information on Santa Monica see
http://www.journeycontinent.com .

Cities such as Malaga- the birthplace of Pablo Picasso a , Cordoba and its grand mosque and Seville- a theatrical and festive city that was one of Spains most important cities during its time of Exploration and conquest. The Costa del Sol delivers warm winters, culture and inviting beaches, but also historical significance with one of the greatest examples of ancient Roman Engineering and Architecture.

In Seville you will find the impressive Roman Aqueduct built 2000 years ago and the fortress of the Alcazar, where Isabella was crowned Queen of Castille and Leon and where she was married by proxy to Ferdinand of Aragon, Catalunya and the Two Sicilies.

Another favorite of Spain is Granada- home to the hilltop fortress of The Alcazaba, and the palace complex of the Alhambra, which was the last refuge of the Moors in Spain. The Alhambra embraces hundreds of years of architectural history that includes private dwellings still occupied today. It also includes several churches, a restaurant, gardens, statues and fountains, and the centerpiece 16th-century Renaissance palace. All this overwhelming opulence makes an unforgettable impression, among a honeycomb of palatial interiors, covered passageways, obscure alleys, and several dozen elegant courtyards scattered throughout the Casa Real. This is one of Europes top sights! Check out these videos we picked for you on Spain or read on for a ExplorerPod focus on Barcelona.

Spain is known for its amazing food, tapas (little bite like appetizers), and vino tinto (red wine). Spain also has friendly people, fashionable women, and all night parties at the clubs and bars.

So you must get on Spanish time ASAP if you truly want to experience their culture and nightlife. They do not eat dinner until around 10pm and they do not go out to clubs until after midnight. You go home when the sun comes up. You sleep for a few hours. You eat a big lunch around 2pm. Naps are allowed in the afternoon, but usually around 6pm. And the cycle continues. You can see why Hemingway hung out here quite a bit.

The people in Barcelona are very proud to be Catalan as well as Spanish. They speak with a tiny accent that is different than other parts of the country like Madrid. So do not get discouraged if you cannot understand them and learn the phrase, “Repitan mas despacio por favor” (please repeat a bit slower).

And now…on with the countdown!

In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the exquisite shores of the Mediterranean (in the very north of the Spanish coast), Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain (in both size and population). Way more than just a single city, Barcelona is a metropolis – one that’s amazing in its assemblage of multi-faceted and diverse areas. After an extreme makeover that’s lasted more than two decades, Barcelona has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Those who visit it and are unfamiliar with its history, may be surprised to learn that such a modern and cosmopolitan area even preserves its historic center almost intact.

For those reasons (and, according to every poll worth its clipboard), you’ll be glad to know that Barcelona is also the one European city best loved by visitors; and to the current generation of cultural dilettantes and frequent jetSetters, it’s nearly impossible to imagine that it ever wasn’t! Summer in Barcelona is serious party-time – with week-long fiestas (yes, we did say week l-o-n-g!). But year-round, the city still pulsates and sizzles – always on the very edge of architecture, food, fashion, style and music. And, to top it off: Barcelona is only a short ferry ride from the beautiful island of Ibiza, another destination where partygoers have been raving to the best DJs in the world for decades. We, at journeyPod strongly recommend a trip to Ibiza if you’re a nightowl and on the prowl for some excitement. Once you embark on Barcelona, the buildings – especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudi – will blow you away! The art – with impressive collections by Picasso and Miro – will make you forget where you (who you’re with, what you’re doing…). And, the people – with their passion, exuberance, spirit, and persistent egalitarianism, will completely fascinate you.

For all you foodies out there, Barcelona is a powerhouse of culinary fares that draws foodies from the States, Japan and Australia to check out what’s cookin. There has been a rash of new and amazing dining options, among them are those we’ve listed below. So, no matter what your budget or belly size, you’re sure to find something to suit your craving – everything from tiny tapas to gargantuan feasts. Also, while you’re here – make sure you check out at least one of the many Museos de Jamon (Ham museums). Yes, its true: a museum dedicated to the different types of Ham found in Spain.

Breakfast (desayuno) in Barcelona is usually a no-nonsense affair, lunch (comida) on the other hand – is the the main meal of the day. And, no local would ever even contemplate dinner (sopar/cena) before 9 p.m.. That said, though restaurants tend to say open pretty late (til’ 1 a.m. or so), keep in mind that most kitchens close by 11:30 p.m. For those with an early appetite – don’t panic! If your gastric juices are flowing and you simply can’t hold out until then, you can easily track down something to snack on outside these times.

As most metropolitan cities, Barcelona is bursting at the seams – with pubs, feverish dance clubs, hedonistic gay bars, and a number of jazz and rock venues (with salsa and flamenco never too far away). For those interested in checking out the nightlife scene, you’ll be glad to know that there are five area options in Barcelona:

El Ensanche – Three completely different ambiances in this modernist part of the city. Here you’ll find locals and tourists checking out the gorgeous architecture and the hottest nightspots.

Gracia – This is where most locals are concentrated, like Plaza Rius I Taulet and Plaza del Sol. Everyone can find something to do in this part of the city – just make sure you’ve got your camera and euros in hand.

La Barceloneta – Back in the day, this was a district of fisherman; today, this area has grown to an impressive infrastructure of modern gastronomy. Bring your appetite.

Santolo – San Gervasi – In this part of the city, you’ll discover the highest concentration of young and fashionable locals (especially where the streets of S Santalo and Mariano Cubi cross). They fill the bars (be sure to check out the #1 cocktail, Mr. JJ – a concoction of Jameson, lime juice and vanilla sugar) for good music, good drinks and good fun! And, at Plaza Francesca Macia is where you’ll meet the cream of the crop of Barcelona’s night life.

Las Ramblas – Last but not least, the best known landmark of Barcelona. Strolling down La Rambla (at any hour of the day) you’ll find everything from street performers to outdoor concerts and some of the trendiest bars and restaurants.

Now, what are you waiting for – check out our journeyPod picks and be on your way!

Restaurants

El Bulli – Restaurant Magazine voted this jewel the “Best Restaurant in the World” (April ‘06). And, journeyPod can see why! Located on Costa Brava, 2 hours north of Barcelona, the restaurant is so worth the drive. Matthew Jukes, author of the Wine List of 2003, praises El Bulli for being a “Culinary Nirvana”. Chef Ferran Adria startles and surprises the palate with an unusual menu – choices ranging from butter ravioli wrapped in a gelatin of marine water to peach dipped in liquid hydrogen. His culinary combinations might seem odd but he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest chefs in the world. El Bulli has three prestigious Michelin stars and the waiting list for a table can take up to a year. So, book ahead and then go ahead and tell all your friends that you’ve eaten at the Best Restaurant in the World!

Bestial – Fashion-meets-food in this chic restaurant/bar establishment. A multi-level space with a beautiful waterfront terrace, folks here can relax at their tables, sip fine cocktails and taste delicious Italian-Catalan dishes. Local DJ’s spin ambient sounds to the succulent tastes of Bestial.

Shoko – This Japanese/Mediterranean restaurant fuses Asian and Spanish cuisine- sushi, tapas, steak and seafood – with smooth trance sounds. Guests relax on the terrace as they gaze into the endless sea, while Oriental dance and martial arts demonstrations entertain guests nightly. The venue also morphs into a club at the sound of a gong featuring house and soul. And here’s a tip: try the artichoke and codfish risotto with a glass of the finest white wine.

Tapioles 53 – This relaxing, intimate and friendly venue is a favorite spot among locals. Guest sip sangria at wooden tables and enjoy wild mushrooms picked daily, along with sea salt gathered from natural salt pans in Greece. The best part of this place though is that there is no set menu – Chef Sarah Stothart will greet you personally and tell you what the specials are and how exactly she will prepare them. But, to receive this type of VIP treatment – make sure you have a reservation before stopping by. Tapioles 53 is a true Barcelonian treat!

Mam i Teca – The name comes from an old Catalan expression meaning “food and drink”- which this restaurant has mastered year after year. Mam I Teca is a true tapas eatery that serves only the freshest small plates. For those of you who have traveled to Barcelona – these are not the tapas you see sitting in the window all day. Whether you desire anchovies, cured meats, or feel adventurous and want to try the daily specials such as pork confit and asparagus with shrimp – you simply can not go wrong with any dish here.

Comerc24 – Located in an old salting house, Comerc24 has a remarkable ambience to it. The mood and decor are contemporary and guests enjoy famous melt-in-your-mouth Japanese Kobe steak, Tuna sashimi, or impressive world cheese assortments. So, whatever you might be in the mood for that day, this place is sure to satisfy your taste.

Andaira – An award-winning holistic and natural food restaurant, Andaira was pleasing the locals in the Baleric island of Menorca before it moved to the shores of Barcelona – where it now attracts both the Barcelonians and tourists craving a natural, healthy plate with a great view of the ocean. Chef Carl Borg intrigues folks with his light fare of seafood, vegetables, rice and meats. Guests also enjoy the “surprise menu” which includes an aperitif, 2 tapas, starter, fish, meat and a desert. Tip: Andaira offers a recipe CD to teach you how to re-create these specialties at home, so make sure you ask for it before you leave.

Cinc Sentits – The native, contemporary cuisine at Cinc Sentits attracts the real food conisseurs out there. Located on Calle Aribau, this eatery definitely knows how to make the perfect dish for you. Presentation and taste are impecable and the Wild Mediterranean Sea Bass melts in your mouth. The seasonal “Omakasa” hand-picked from the Chef, lets your tongue explore only the freshest meats and seafood from Barcelona.

Lasarte -Located in Hotel Condes de Barcelona, Lasarte is the winner of 3 Michelin stars. Chef Martin Berasategui pleases his guests with the perfect Catalan concoction. The decor is sheek, and beautiful white murals adorn the walls. The food and wine also speak for themselves. Definitely try the caramelized green apples with foie gras and smoked eel – just some of the restaurants specialties.

Moo – Hello all you wine conisseurs. We have not forgotten about you! So, you might just want to remember this three letter restaurant while traveling through Barcelona. The sommelier will introduce you to the perfect wine that pairs well with the sauces, texture and overall taste of the food you order. Try the layered orange cream, saffron flan, honey and brioche (can you tell that we at journeyPod have quite the sweet tooth?).

Caelis – Located in the Hotel Ritz of Barcelona, this gourmet restaurant allows guests to enjoy Chef Romain Fornell’s French and Catalan magic while sitting under beautiful chandeliers in an old palace style restaurant. Whether you order fresh caviar, escargot, scallops or jamon iberico, Caelis is sure to leave your palette and your belly satisfied.

Ravalo – This Pizza terrace destination is a cozy spot which will make you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of Venice. At Ravolo you can enjoy buffalo mozarella and carpaccio before tasting the award-winning pizza. Seafood lovers will enjoy the Pizza Barcelona – a combination of fresh seafood on top of the perfect thin crust pizza. An intimate spot that’s also great for people-watching, Ravolo lets you have it all – including your chance to sip on traditional Italian Prosecco and devouring the homemade tiramisu.

El Raco de Can Fabes – Located 30 minutes outside of Barcelona, this gourmet 3-century old citadel (located in the heart of an old Catalan village) is a true gem. The restaurant has received, quite deservingly, three Michelin stars for presentation and quality of its handcrafted food. The crayfish entrees at El Raco de Can Fabes will leave you pleasantly satisfied. Just make sure you take a stroll through the cobblestone village before heading back to the city.

Bars & Nightlife

La Paloma – Despite the neighbourhood’s efforts to silence it, La Paloma recently celebrated its 100th birthday. And talk about a transformation. The red velvet-lined foyer reveals a lavishly restored belle epoque theatre and dancehall complete with shimmering chandeliers and plush balconies. Though it’s a strange spectacle for those who arrive early – Grandma and Grandpa in full evening wear still foxtrotting after the ballroom sessions finish and the house and broken beats begin at 2:30 a.m. On Thursday nights, the Bongo Lounge DJs mix funk and Latin rhythms with psychedelic lights and live jazz, while Vegas-style go-go dancers compete for attention. No matter what – this is a great place to end the night off right!

Razzmatazz – If you have ever tried to find the right music to appease all the very different interests of your friends, then this place is your savior! Razzmatazz is the place to be – and five thousand clubbers can not be wrong. The mother off all warehouse super-clubs (not to mention, the best live venue in all of the city), Razzmatazz caters to every clubbers’ need – including its choice of Rock, Pop, Indie vibe and House in the different rooms. One of Barcelona’s most popular spots, doors here open at 1 am. (and the place now offers clubbers the chance to take in all of its five spaces for a single admission price.). So, whether you’re a goth, punk, mod, technophile or electrotrash, young Catalans (and tourists) from Badalona and beyond trek here to dance until they drop. This is a place Jarvis Cocker, Miss Kittin and Dave Clark, as well as bands from Air to Blur, call home when they visit the city.

CDLC Barcelona – This exclusive club (aka – Carpe Diem Lounge Club) is the darling of of the Barca football team (it’s owned by the wife of ex-Barca man Patrick Kluivert) and other celebs. The hub to the fashion crowd of Barcelona, CDLC works hard to be the most exclusive club on the nightlife circuit – even going so far as to refuse entry to its own invited VIPs. But hey! If Rod Stewart got in, you shouldn’t have a problem either! Once you embark inside this hot spot, you’ll find a space to suit any one of your moods – from the swanky bed-sized sofas, to the fast-moving dance floor and beachfront terrace. Resident DJ Anne-Miek and other Int’l guests play soulful, vocal house.

Dostrece – A sexy cocktail bar with Brazilian flavor, Dostrece boasts eclectic decor that adorns the walls as guests sip on their favorite Brazilian concoctions. A skilled bar staff here also puts every muscle into making sure that the caprioska you just ordered has been squeezed to perfection. And before you grab your partner for a whirl across the dance floor (to flamenco and jazz beats), make sure you indulge in the fantastic Spanish meat and cheese tapas that are offered here. A very trendy place in the busy streets of Calle Carme, Dostrece attracts both tourists and locals alike.

Nubaa – There is life beyond Las Ramblas – (tourists often forget this)! One such place is called Nubaa – an affordable night out for travelers and locals. This Mediterranean bar boasts modernist architecture, cutting-edge fashion and Latin Rhythms. As the evening progresses – the restaurant evolves into a fusion restaurant and club with a variety of DJ styles from all over Europe – different from one night to the next. Oh, and here’s a tip: on Sundays, you can bring your laptop for WiFi internet day – so get your group together and sip on Martinis while you surf the net.

Discotheque – At the forefront of the A-list clubs, Discotheque features nights with names like ‘Ken loves you’ or ‘F#@ck me, I’m famous’. Inside you’ll find projections, drag queens, podium dancers and a VIP bar that creates the Ibiza-when-it-was-still-hot vibe. Here is where you’ll also find the young and the beautiful using their looks and attitude to blag their way in. So on that note: dress in your trendiest!

Danzatoria – A beautiful three-story suburban house, Danzatoria is located on a hill that has been turned into a swanky bar. Said to be the place of the attractive people in Barcelona, the crowd here mingles and walks around the corridors of this palazzo. Sangria at Danzatoria is the (good) strong kind – not the watery mixture you might find in the cafes at the plazas. FYI: Hen and stag parties often use this venue to celebrate their last night of being single and MTV has been known to host a party or two here.

La Fira – It’s called a ‘bar-museum’, but don’t worry – you don’t get served a history lesson along with your pint of lager when you drink at this fairytale-themed bar. A perfect spot for the child-adventure-seeker in you, guests at La Fira can get their fortunes told, ride on the roundabouts and make fun of each other in the distorting mirrors. And for fun, half-naked men serve cocktails while guests enjoy the bizarre amenities. This boutique style lounge screams a good time!

Particular – Situated around a villa, guest at Particular can relax in this homey-feel of a surrounding. Sophisticated and stylish, the interior decor is hacienda-on-sea. And the crowds who frequent the place sip on wine as they’re nestled in the garden overlooking the gorgeous city. So, if you’re looking for great views (perfect for picture-taking) and a nice relaxing time, head on over to Particular.

Elephant – This dream-like club, with its amazing bamboo garden, colonial sculptures and Arabic influences will make you feel like you’ve just stepped into a page of the Arabian Nights. And, if you have a Porsche and a model girlfriend, this is also the place where you’ll meet your night owl peers. Housed in a converted mansion, Elephant boasts bronzed elephants which tower over the hip and fashionable crowd as they socialize and party till the early hours of the morning to Latin house, R&B, club, chill-out, and 80’s music. The big attraction is also the outdoor bar and terrace dance floor.

Sala Apolo – This 1940’s dancehall – located in the center of town – is host to some of Barcelona’s best live performances from well-known artists, world-famous DJs and fun cover bands. Themed nights are the name of the game here. Thursdays to Saturdays you’ll find everyone from Lee Scratch Perry to Gotan Project; Wednesday nights feature Canibal Sound System – which truly stretches the term “Latin music” to include hip hop and funk. Bottom line: it’s a fun time – no matter which night you decide to check it out!

Shoko – Located on the beach next to the well-known twin towers, this trendy Japanese restaurant, lounge and club is home to the movers and shakers of Barcelona. An oasis of good vibes, Shoko features lighting and decor that’s been carefully selected by a feng shui designer to make sure that the guests are most relaxed. This nightlife destination has it all – a bamboo room, a chill-out veranda, private room and lounge. A must visit dinner and night spot.

The Fastnet Bar – Attention all you serious beer drinkers and avid football fans – this Irish pub will be your second home during soccer season. Located on a Boulevard overlooking the marina, The Fastnet Bar features a wide variety of ales, lagers and beers. With its wooden interior, this place is the perfect pub to get cozy in the wintertime, to sip on your Baileys and coffee and to devour a traditional English bacon n’ egg sandwich.

Shout out to Maria Luisa for her expertise!

Written by journeypod.com – your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, the hottest nightlife, and the coolest restaurants. It’s the insiders guide to luxury and vip access around the world.

More on Barcelona and video footage on tour- http://www.explorerpod.com/share-your-experiences/world-traveler-features

From Seattle Center to Westlake Center to the Pike Place
Market, the usual visitor attractions become just a little
more special on a chilly winter’s day. Throngs of excited,
bundled-up families and couples sample the seasonal
offerings at Westlake such as Quest carousel rides, or the
kettle corn and elephant ears nearby. Vendors make balloon
animals for the kids while loud Christmas music blares in
the background making sure no one misses out on Seattle’s
holiday spirit.

Make it an overnight trip and it’s even better. First,
you’ll be sure to see the numerous Christmas lights along
downtown streets including the famous star on Macy’s, the
Space Needle lights and many other special seasonal
touches. And, by staying overnight, you can turn a shopping
trip into a true getaway.

Our base of operations was a Seattle landmark, the
Edgewater Hotel. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember that
the Edgewater was made famous in the mid-60’s when the
Beatles stayed in one of the waterfront rooms and caught
fish out their window. In fact, it became the obvious
choice for many famous rock groups that came into town
during that period to play for one of Pat O’Dea’s
spectacular rock concerts.

Today the Edgewater has a classic elegance that combines
the best location in Seattle with an updated interior
design that evokes the Northwest’s rich Native American
heritage. The first thing we saw when entering our
waterfront room was a Washington State Ferry – just out the
window and across the waters of Elliott Bay. Our view made
us feel like we were traveling on a cruise ship with
nothing but water between us and the ferry. This, of
course, is the major attraction of the aptly-named
Edgewater – a location literally out on the water with
incredible views of Puget Sound and nearby islands.

Our room featured many Northwest accents such as a log
headboard on our comfortable king-size bed, bark trim and a
wood panel above the corner fireplace, Native American
designs on the carpets with knotty pine baseboards, and
Indian characters and designs on the wood-frame
entertainment center. In the bathroom, a large claw-style
bathtub looked awfully inviting, while the modern colors
and fixtures made the room look like something you would
see in a magazine on interior design. The floors were amber
quartz slate, while the room also included a glass-enclosed
European spa shower.

With a room at the Edgewater – which features a constant
parade of boats just outside your window — there is the
temptation to just stay there and enjoy the endless sights
and sounds. But we came to Seattle to check out the city’s
Christmas activities so first stop was the Pike Place
Market, a few blocks and easy walking distance from the
Edgewater.

The market is one of Seattle’s most recognizable symbols -
right up there with the Space Needle. That probably has
something to do with the way TV sports announcers always
make a point of showing footage of the market while
broadcasting Seattle Seahawks or Washington Huskies sports
telecasts. Typically the shot is one of the fish handlers
throwing King salmon – thus we were pleased that, upon our
arrival, the fish were indeed flying. Just like the 50 or
so other visitors standing around watching, we had seen for
ourselves the famous Pike Place Market fish throw.

Those fish handlers in their sweat suits, hoodies and
aprons aren’t the only reason to stop by the market at
Christmas time. The market goes all out in its decorations
and, in fact, has Christmas trees available – not that we
wanted to cart one back to the Edgewater. Take a walk just
north of the first fish market and you enter a beehive of
activity where it seems like just about anything you want
is for sale – fresh fruits and produce, honey, herbs, dried
flower bouquets, jams and jellies, nuts, fruits,
chocolates, tee-shirts, purses, you name it. There actually
are several fish markets in the same building, as well as
restaurants where you can dine on fresh fish before you
even leave the market..

Just across the street from the market, in front of the
Starbucks, a musical group called Slimpickens was warming
up the crowds with lively 1930’s style music played in a
four-piece configuration: guitar, stand-up bass, violin and
washboard. Dressed in 30’s garb, the group also seemed to
be getting a Depression-era response to their music: lots
of smiles and toe-tapping, but not many coins dropping into
their prominently placed cup.

Along about here we encountered Piroshky, Piroshky, a tiny
take-out restaurant serving up fresh Russian piroshkies for
just under $5. These were just baked and, if you’re
wondering, the piroshky is a little like a flakey turnover
filled with meat, cheese or other fillings. They’re
delicious and, for us, provided a quick and inexpensive
lunch.

Some friends of ours went instead to Von’s Grand City
Cafe#233;, just a few blocks from the market on Pine Street
where the meal was fine but they reported back that this
was the first time they had encountered canned champagne.
They ordered a split of champagne and the can that was
delivered to their table had a straw attached – which our
friends said reminded them of the fruit drink boxes they
get for their kids. Of course that’s what visiting the “Big
City” is all about – experiencing new things.

A few blocks from the market is Westlake Center, a modern,
multi-story shopping center with upscale stores and -
because of its location near Macy’s and Nordstrom — the
epicenter of retail activity downtown. It’s here that, for
just $2 each way, you can hop on board the Monorail -
originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair – and
zip over to Seattle Center where their Winterfest
celebration has continual holiday entertainment and one of
the coolest model railroads and miniature Christmas towns
your kids will ever see.

Soon it was time to head back to the Edgewater, where we
watched the fog roll in and marveled at how the few
sailboats that were out on this wintery day were able to
dodge the Washington State ferries. Thank goodness for
foghorns and radar, we would guess. We took a short, brisk
walk over to the Spaghetti Factory for an inexpensive but
tasty dinner.

The night was restful and, when the sun came up the next
day, the skies were blue and the views from our room were
like a picture postcard. No need to lose that view while
having breakfast — downstairs at the Edgewater we stopped
in for a hearty meal with the best views in town at the
hotel’s award-winning Six Seven restaurant. We were
pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices, given the
restaurant’s prime location and upscale reputation.

More downtown exploration was on tap for our second day,
with no shortage of merchandise available at unusually good
prices. Soon it was time to go home, but it wasn’t like a
trip home from the mall in which you’re exhausted and swear
never to go shopping with the multitudes again. Yes, we’d
accomplished our Christmas shopping all right — but we
also felt invigorated by an unforgettable holiday trip to
Seattle’s Winter Wonderland.

For more information on the Edgewater Hotel, please visit www.edgewaterhotel.com.

First, check for businesses that are LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the nationally accepted accreditation for buildings that were constructed using sustainable methods and materials; that use sustainable operations (such as ecologically sound waste disposal) for routine maintenance and management; and that run on clean water and energy systems.

Also find out whether the products used in the hotel, such as toiletries and cleaning supplies, are environmentally friendly. If there is a restaurant attached to the hotel, the food it serves should be fresh, local, and organic.

Green hotels should have systems in place to reduce waste and encourage conservation. Some examples are recycling programs for waste materials both large and small, and energy-efficient lighting or air-conditioning units that only function when a guest is present in the room. Other small, but important clues that a hotel is truly green: It incorporates local plants and trees into the décor (instead of using hard-to-maintain imported greens), it doesn’t offer complimentary newspapers, phone books or other paper products unless requested by a guest; and uses dispensers instead of individual amenity bottles.

With a little homework, it’s not hard to find excellent, high-quality green hotels that you can feel good about supporting while you travel.

Eileen Loh is a free lance writer and world traveler. You can read more of her work here

This historic neighborhood in downtown Washington D.C. survived race riots, inner-city turmoil and recession; after an epic renovation it’s now one of the most culturally significant neighborhoods in the nation’s capital. Museums, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, shops, salons and a seasonal farmer’s market dot the streets, while parks and plazas create inviting public spaces. Several apartment buildings and condos keep the vibe decidedly local, as residents mix with shoppers and tourists to create a thriving 24-hour community. Even the subway stop that serves Penn Quarter — the Gallery Place/Chinatown metro station — carries out the area’s aesthetic with a big, bold Chinese fan spreading over one entrance.

Penn Quarter is a great jumping-off point for those who want to see the Smithsonian museums and the National Mall. Park there, grab a bite, tour the museums and mall, and come back to Penn Quarter for dinner, drinks, theater or a night on the town. Here are some don’t-miss destinations in this cool neighborhood. — Eileen Loh is a free lance writer and world traveller. You can read more of her work here

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

8th and F Streets NW

Washington DC

(202) 633-8300

Free Admission

www.npg.si.edu

This branch of the Smithsonian Institute portrays significant figures in U.S. history through visual arts, performing arts and new media.

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM

800 F Street NW

202-EYESPYU (393-7798)

www.spymuseum.org

Admission $14 and up.

With more than 600 items related to the field of international espionage, this is one of the more interesting interactive museums around — guests are given five minutes to memorize a “spy profile” that they’re supposed to use as their cover throughout their visit. Visitors can participate in more elaborate spy games too.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
401 Constitution Avenue, NW (4th and Constitution)

Washington, DC

(202) 737-4215

www.nga.gov

Free Admission

Some of the world-renowned works of art here include pieces by Rodin, Degas, Titian, Rembrandt, Goya and Rafael. It’s best known for its spectacular Italian Renaissance art collection.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

8th and F Streets NW

Washington DC

http://americanart.si.edu

(202) 633-7970

Free Admission

This is the definitive museum for all regions and movements of American art. Its Lunder Conservation Center is one of the few places in the world where one can see behind-the-scenes preservation work on valuable pieces of art.

HARMAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS/ SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY

Lansburgh Theatre: 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC

Sidney Harman Hall: 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC

(202) 547.1122

www.shakespearetheatre.org

Ticket prices vary

Called “the nation’s foremost Shakespeare company,” this regional troupe often features notable guest actors. It focuses mainly on works by The Bard and occasionally presents productions by other classic playwrights as well; its summer Free For All productions attract theatregoers by the thousands.

RESTAURANTS, BARS & CAFES

COWGIRL CREAMERY

919 F St. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 393-6880

www.cowgirlcreamery.com

California’s beloved crafters of organic, artisan American cheese have brought their internationally acclaimed cheeses here, to their only East Coast shop. One of the Cowgirls (co-owner Sue Conley) hails from D.C., so the store’s down-home feel is no accident. Sample and choose hand-crafted cheeses from around the world, select a bottle or two of great wine, and maybe grab a gourmet sandwich or salad to go.

D’ACQUA

801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 783-7717

www.dacquadc.com

Cesco Ricchi and Chef Enzo Febbraro bring the tastes of their native Italy to the Penn Quarter, to high acclaim. On sunny days, sit outside and listen to the bubbling of the Navy Memorial fountains next door as you enjoy the Tuscan flavors that made Ricchi one of the most successful restaurateurs in Washington.

FADÓ IRISH PUB

808 7th St. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 789-0066

www.fadoirishpub.com

Come here for the rugby and footy games shown live by satellite; stay for the inspired bar food including Smithwick’s mini-burgers, Fadó’s signature potato bread and Guinness BBQ wings.

FOGO DE CHAO

1101 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 347-4668

www.fogodechao.com

Nobody does meat quite like South Americans, as this Brazilian steakhouse so deliciously reminds its aficionados. Authentic Gaucho chefs from southern Brazil will slow-roast more than a dozen types of meat and carve it right in front of you. Pair it with such accompaniments as garlic mashed potatoes or a fresh selection from the huge, bountiful salad bar.

JALEO

480 7th St. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 628-7949

www.jaleo.com

This smart Spanish tapas restaurant, founded by celebrity chef and neighborhood anchor José Andrés, features exquisite small-plate offerings. The dishes are an homage to classic Spanish flavor profiles, with some experimentation thrown in. Fantastic ingredients, such as Ibérico ham or housemade chorizo, provide the foundation for the excellent tapas.

POSTE MODERNE BRASSERIE

555 8th St. NW

Washington DC 20004

(202) 783-6060

www.postebrasserie.com
Old meets new meets delicious at this classic American restaurant. Set in the original 1841 General Post Office, Poste Moderne is home to the most modern sustainable and eco-friendly standards applied in U.S. eateries. Chef Rob Weland uses the freshest organic ingredients from regional farms, dairies, ranches, and the Penn Quarter farmer’s market.

TEAISM A TEA HOUSE
400 8th St. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 638-6010

www.teaism.com

The gourmet teas and herbal blends are the main draw here: blacks, greens, whites, Chais, oolongs and tisanes to your heart’s content. Its simple, classic, Asian-inspired fare covers everything from kebabs to bento boxes and includes tasty choices for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets.

TENPENH

1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 393-4500

www.tenpenh.com

Influences from all over Asia converge at TenPenh: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam are all represented here. Asian-Pacific-inspired contemporary cuisine rules the menu, highlighted by exciting sauces and decadent desserts.

ZAYTINYA

701 9th St. NW

Washington, DC

(202) 638-0800

www.zaytinya.com

All the best flavors of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean can be found in Zaytinya’s mezze, or small plates. James Beard-winning chef and neighborhood champion José Andrés, renowned for tapas-style dining, directed the inspired menu here. Contemporary meets classical Greek, Turkish and Lebanese cuisine, and its extensive wine list showcases the little-known Eastern Mediterranean wine region.

PENN QUARTER WINTER SPECIAL:

FIFTH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MARKET

Penn Quarter, F Street between 7th and 9th Streets

Dec. 4 – Dec. 24, 2009

Noon-8 PM daily

This popular holiday market has become a wintertime staple in Penn Quarter for locals and visitors alike. Featuring works from more than 150 talented artisans and craftspeople, this is a fantastic place to pick up that one-of-a-kind gift. Enjoy the live entertainment as you browse through handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings, textiles, artisan foods and more.

BARS & RESTAURANTS

OYA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

777 9th St. NW

Washington DC

(202) 393-1400

www.oyadc.com

Like the cuisine, the décor of Oya is stylish and contemporary, while maintaining a sense of warmth. Eye-catching, artful plates feature comfort food with an Asian flair — try the chicken pot pie with edamame, shiitake and leeks; or the mac’n’cheese with lobster, saffron pasta, mascarpone, cheddar and panko. They also offer beautiful sushi dishes and a wide international selection of wines and sakes.

BIBIANA

1100 New York Ave.

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 216-9550

www.bibianadc.com

This chic and artful enclave is home to authentic Italian cuisine prepared simply and elegantly, with thoughtful marriages of flavors and textures. With a knowledgeable staff that can tell you anything you want to know about the foods and wines, you are guaranteed a memorable dining experience. Recommended: wood-fired pizzas, house-made lemoncello, and the juicy, crispy and tender “Anatra” Muscovy roasted duck breast with grilled peaches.

THE PASSENGER

1021 7th St. NW

Washington DC

(202) 393-0220

This train-themed bar hearkens back to the days of upscale rail voyages, riding the tracks between stylish and saloon. With lots of dark wood, gilt, and paintings by local artists, it’s both a comfortable place for a good draft beer or cocktail made to order, and a swank hangout in which one can see and be seen. Their twist on upscale bar food includes a Kimchi hot dog, chili half-smoke and panini.

DOS BRASAS
1890 San Diego Ave.
San Diego, CA
619-291-6116

It’s easy to fly right past this cheery, lopsided little building just off I-5, but if you’re traveling the San Diego Freeway in search of excellent guacamole, pull off between Old Town and Midtown and find Dos Brasas. Here the guacamole is bright spring green and satiny, save for flecks of garlic – tasty enough to appease even die-hard lumpy guac lovers. Fresh, light and deceptively savory, it makes warm baskets of salty homemade tortilla chips simply a vehicle for the guacamole. Also recommended: the piquant carne asada, whether in tacos, tostadas, chimichangas, tortas or burrito form.

LEONARDO’S MEXICAN FOOD
3852 Mission Blvd.
San Diego, CA
858-539-2280

San Diego surfers and beach bums knew about fish tacos before anyone else in the culinary world, and so any fish taco joint just steps off Mission Beach had better get it right. Leonardo’s doesn’t disappoint, with hunks of whitefish fried in a thin, crispy beer batter that holds the juices at bay until your first bite. Here they wisely keep it simple with diced tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, generous sprinkles of cilantro and green onions, and garlic mayo. One of these will answer even the fiercest post-surfing hunger; two of them, and you’d better stay out of the water for a while to digest.

Eileen Loh is a free lance writer and world traveller. You can read more of her work here

For more on San Diego, check out our San Diego Destination Guide

But what many people don’t know is the fact that many airlines will actually upgrade economy ticket passengers to business or even first class absolutely free. You just need to meet the airlines policy guide as to who gets what. Pretty much all airlines have guidelines for this, and if you know what you are doing you can take advantage and get free upgrades worth big bucks.

Here are a few tips for you to try for yourself. This is inside knowledge from staff of the most popular airlines, used by the select few in the know. Now you can be one of them!

1:  Appearances count. It stands to reason that you are very unlikely to be upgraded if you turn up at check-in wearing flip-flops, an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt. You need to look the part. Smart casual is fine, business suit and tie is not essential. Decent footwear, smart trousers and shirt, jacket optional (depending on the weather maybe).

I’m not being sexist here by not describing what ladies should wear. I’ll credit readers with enough intelligence to work it out. OK then, smart shoes, trousers or skirt, nice top, jacket optional again. I reckon you’ve got the idea by now.

2:  Make sure you arrive at the check-in with plenty of time to spare. Get there nice and early. The personnel will usually know exactly how many travelers are on the flight, and where they are sitting. They will know if there are any seats not being used in business and first class. First come, first served.

3:  Be nice, polite, and friendly. Don’t go in shouting the odds about how you know there are seats to spare in business and you want one. Check-in staff see hundreds of people, if not thousands, a day. They work long, hard hours and are not paid a fortune. It’s a pleasant surprise for many of them if they are greeted pleasantly and treated like human beings.

Read their name tag and use their name, smile, perhaps a little joke. Trust me, this will pay dividends more often than not.

4:  It really does help if you are a frequent flyer. Most airlines now have frequent flyer programs, air-miles etc. Join as many of these programs as you can. These days it’s really easy to do online. You don’t actually have to fly that much, just join the programs. Then you are on the airline’s register of frequent flyers, and this will come up on the screen at the check-in. Obviously the more you fly a particular airlione over another, the more value your frequent flyer membership will hold and the more value you have with the airline.

This doesn’t automatically guarantee you an upgrade. However, if there are seats available when you check in you are much more likely to be offered one. The airline business is becoming increasingly competitive, and they like to reward their frequent flyers, and they like to be seen doing it.

5:  Finally, remember the old saying “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” using the tips above, just ask politely at the desk if there are any seats available in business or first. Also if the staff are very busy, and hassled, with little time for niceties then don’t ask just then, wait till you get to the boarding gate and try there. You might get a pleasant surprise.

Business and first class is a great way to travel. Enjoy your flight!

—————————————————-
If you want to find out more hints and tips on all aspects of travel, all over the world (and at home) just go to
http://www.loads-of-stuff.com

Anywhere from 500 to 200 people come to these get togethers
at the Aliso Creek Beach to drum down the moon. Created by
Billy Fried, the founder of LaVida Laguna and the CEO of
CalActive, the full moon drum circle is only one of their
many events offered free to anyone interested.

Though you should check the website to find the exact date,
the drum circle corresponds with each month’s full moon,
taking place only a few miles away from the premiere Orange
County beach resort, the Montage and the Aliso Creek Golf
Course, as well as many other hotels and inns, making this
drum circle a great choice for travelers as well as local
residents.

A pot luck precedes the main event, so be prepared to bring
food to share. The pot luck begins at sundown and continues
for hours, lasting until ten at night. The drummers crowd
around a huge bonfire, keeping you nice and warm while you
play or listen to some talented musicians.

You may want to show up early to have some fun in the sun
beforehand, or stay late to enjoy bar-hopping in Laguna
with some of the drummers you meet. Also, the location
makes for an absolutely beautiful occasion, so remember to
bring your camera. Every month, Fried reserves a fire ring
and brings some chairs around for guests. If you’re new to
the event, add yourself on to the LaVida Laguna email list
in order to find out information about upcoming events in
the community hosted by the group.

Instruments of all kinds come through the Laguna Beach Full
Moon Drum Circle; from bongos to djembes, cajons to
triangles, cow bells and tambourines. Though you may attend
the drum circle hoping to bang on your bongos, many dancers
attend the full moon drum circle as well. Don’t be
surprised if you’re drawn up to dance around the bonfire.

Although you don’t have to bring your own drum, as many of
the participants will bring extras that they’re happy to
share, its best to bring some extra firewood to help out
with the bonfire. Less people show up during the winter, so
be sure to bring the extra wood to stay warm.

Participants who have enjoyed the Laguna Beach Full Moon
Drum Circle love the feeling of togetherness gained from
the drum circle. Though you may be comfortable sitting on
the sand, participants suggest bringing a chair to help
keep you at ease during the long hours of playing.

The Full Moon Drum Circle is held at one of the most
beautiful locations in the world? Who would want to miss
it? But just be warned – this drum circle is prepared to
get loud.

—————————————————-
http://www.X8Drums.com is the destination for percussion
enthusiasts from around the world who seek personal expert
advice and exceptional selection when purchasing a djembe,
didgeridoo, cajon and bongo drums.

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Make your hotel stay in Laguna Beach a Green Stay at the Laguna Eco Inn

Before you begin your trip, be sure that your pet is “up” for the journey. This means a visit to the vet for a medical checkup and to ensure that your pet is up-to-date with all necessary vaccinations. Be sure to tell your vet about your plans to travel by air. Your vet can recommend to you whether your pet is medically prepared for this method of travel. However, you must also take into consideration the demeanor and temperament of your pet when determining whether airline travel is a good choice for your little friend. You know your pet best. Once you’ve got the green light, here are some tips that will help make you and your pet’s air travel happy and safe.

- During your pre-trip vet appointment, ask your vet to issue a health certificate for your pet. This typically needs to be dated within ten days of departure. Carry this with you while traveling with your pet, as it may be required at different points throughout your travel.

- Have everything packed early and leave early to allow plenty of time to deal with normal air travel as well as your pet’s needs. Keep yourself calm before the flight as pets sense your stress and anxiety.

- Select the right airline approved pet carrier. Carriers are available in both hard-sided and soft-sided. Soft-sided carriers are more suitable for carry-on and tend to fit better under the seat. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as far as the appropriate size carrier for your pet. The proper size carrier should allow your pet to be able to lie down comfortably, stand up and turn around. Ensure for proper ventilation and comfort.

- Give your pet at least a month before your flight to become familiar with the travel carrier. This will minimize his or her stress during travel.

- Consider booking a non-peak flight, which typically means less passengers and more cabin room. This will help ease potential stress for your pet.

- Use direct flights. Changing planes with your pet may cause undue stress on your pet, particularly if layover time is not adequate for a pet walk and bathroom break.

- Always travel on the same flight as your pet. Ask the airline if you can watch your pet being loaded and unloaded below the cabin.

- When you board the plane, notify the captain and at least one flight attendant that your pet is traveling with you and whether your pet is with you or below the cabin. If the captain knows that pets are on board, he or she may take special precautions.

- Do not ship pug-nosed dogs or cats such as Pekingese, Chow Chows, and Persians in the cargo hold. These breeds have short nasal passages that leave them vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke in cargo holds.

- If traveling during the summer or winter months, choose flights that will accommodate the temperature extremes, particularly if your pet is traveling below the cabin.

- Try not to fly with your pet during busy travel times such as holidays and the summer. Your pet is more likely to undergo stress during hectic travel periods.

- Fit your pet with with a collar that can’t get caught in carrier doors. Affix two pieces of identification on the collar-a permanent ID with your name and home address and telephone number and a temporary travel ID with the address and telephone number where you or a contact person can be reached.

- Affix a travel label to the carrier with your name, permanent address and telephone number, final destination, and where you or a contact person can be reached as soon as the flight arrives.

- Bring along a current photo of your pet. This will make it easier for others to help you find your pet should your pet get separated from you.

- Make sure that your pet’s nails have been clipped to protect against their hooking in the carrier’s door, holes, and other crevices.

- Do not give your pet tranquilizers unless they are prescribed by your veterinarian. Make sure your veterinarian understands that the prescription is for air travel.

- Do not feed your pet for four to six hours prior to air travel. Small amounts of water can be given before the trip. If possible, put ice cubes in the water tray attached to the inside of your pet’s kennel. A full water bowl will only spill and cause discomfort.

- Carry a leash with you so that you may walk your pet before check-in and after arrival. Do not place the leash inside the kennel or attach it to the outside of the kennel

- When you arrive at your destination, open the carrier as soon as you are in a safe place and examine your pet. If anything seems wrong, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Get the results of the examination in writing, including the date and time.
Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular pet travel site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the United States, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.

- Travel to and from a regional airport. These are generally quieter than the main airport, so with less flights taking off and landing, there is less likelihood of a problem that could cause a delay

- Try and travel early in the day i.e. if there is a choice of a flight go for the earliest possible one in the morning. Often a delay, for example technical reasons, could cause a knock on effect to other planes so if you are one of the first planes out then there are less planes around to have already caused this problem. This also means that if you are on the first flight, the plane has arrived the day before so you are not waiting for it to arrive

- If you can be flexible with the day you fly, choose in general quieter days of the week like a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to travel on – if the airport is quieter, then again there is less likelihood of a problem. Avoid times like Friday evening or Monday morning – Choose an airline that has a big fleet – preferably located at the airport you are traveling from, so if something technical happens to your plane you won’t have to wait long for a new part or new plane – If you can try and travel with the national airline of your country of destination, quite often this airline will get preferential treatment at the airports in their home country. Although it should not happen, the reality is it does. The national airline will often dominate the airport and provide the handling services to other airlines, which can mean at times of delay local airlines are able to take off and land whereas others don’t.

- Choose an airline that has a good crew representation at the airports you are traveling to. Again, this is another good reason to choose a national airline as crew, both cabin and pilot are only allowed to be on duty a certain number of hours regardless if they are flying or not. A delay can therefore be extended if a new crew can’t be found quickly whereas travelling with an airline from its home base will probably be able to put a new crew in place quicker

- Choose an airline whose business model works based on a quick turn around i.e. it’s not in their interest either to be sat on the ground in a delay

- Check online for the delay statistics of both the airline and the airports you are traveling through and choose an airline with a good record for delays

- Avoid airlines that are controlled by unions. Strikes are one of the main reasons for delays

- Don’t cause a delay yourself. Be vigilant at the airport, listen to messages, read the boards and follow signs carefully allowing plenty of time to get from one place to another

- If you can avoid flights with a change of plane or touch down this will take out a point in your travel where delay can happen. If you are forced to travel on a connection, then make sure you are booked with plenty of connection time

- Adverse weather is one of the biggest factors that can cause a delay. If you are booking your business or holiday flight at the last minute, take into consideration the airport you are taking off from or landing at weather conditions and the forecast

- If you can avoid having checked luggage, this means if something does go wrong and you have to catch another flight, you are not prone to waiting for your luggage and can act quickly. I have known people in the past to courier their luggage to the destination as opposed to taking it on the plane. If you are delayed, pay attention to announcements, arrive in good time at your gate, avoid if you can showing your frustrations to the staff at airports. Generally, the people who you speak to are only the messengers and not the creators of the delay. I once knew a girl who worked on a check-in counter and she said once someone was so rude to her that she “accidentally” labelled his bag to the wrong destination ! Generally, in delay situations it’s everyone for themselves, once you are talking to someone, don’t go anywhere until you are protected on another flight.

If you can afford it, travel in business or first class. Airlines treat their higher fare paying passengers much better than their economy passengers. Also, if you have a loyalty card make sure the airline knows you have this as again they look after you better.

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Booking a cheap holiday is not easy – you need to know where to begin to achieve this. Once you understand why cheap holidays exists it should be easy for you to find one. http://www.packyourbags.com

Though Koh Tao is known as the “quiet” island, there’s still a lively enough party scene at night to maintain a fun vacation vibe. The main street, just steps off Sairee Beach, is lined with kitschy boutiques, bars, restaurants and convenience stores, all in the midst of a network of resorts and their partnering dive shops, which offer deals on lodging/scuba packages. Down on the southern coast at Chalok Baan Kao you’ll find a few more oceanside cafes, bars and resorts – the shoreline is rockier, so the beaches less populated and the scene much more sedate, and those who prefer privacy over a party will want to head here.

PeeWeeRock

Most resorts on Koh Tao are of the “beach bungalow” variety, ranging from wooden un-airconditioned huts to luxe versions with all the amenities including beautiful tiled interiors, native artworks, Jacuzzis and more. The bungalows sprinkled around the beaches create a friendly visitor community; the ones nestled into the cliffs provide spectacular ocean views. Get to know the friendly locals, some of whom have never ventured past the waters off Koh Tao in their lives, and they may let you in on some of the island’s hidden natural gems.

Worth doing:

- Dive (or learn how). Scuba is the island’s biggest draw, and for good reason – these crystal-clear blue waters are so rich in coral and tropical marine life that they draw experienced divers from all points of the globe. If you don’t dive, you can get your internationally recognized PADI Open Water certification in a few days, learning how to scuba dive in some of the best conditions in the world.

- Rent a motorbike. Tour the island’s hot beach spots and zip through the jungle in the center of the island.

- Go bouldering. Gorgeous granite boulders scattered around the beach and in the jungle are perfect for new and experienced climbers alike.

- Boat tour with a local. Plenty of Koh Tao residents will gladly take tourists all around the island on their fishing boats, where they’ve stored snorkeling gear and fishing lines for just such an occasion. You can take your fresh catch back to local restaurants and have them cook it how you want it.

- Kayak to Ko Nangyuan. This tiny, pretty island is a short paddle off Sairee Beach – bring your beach gear and crash on the sand, or stay in your kayak and check out the fabulous coves and inlets around the island.

Thailands Sairee Beach

Eileen Loh is a free lance writer and world traveler. You can read more of her work here

If you don’t have much time to spend, but want to pack your
getaway with memorable experiences, the San Diego
waterfront should be right at the top of your list.

Of course most people will spend more than a night once
they’ve driven down to California’s southern-most city and
the San Diego area will offer up more than enough
fascinating experiences to last for an extended vacation.
The consistently sunny weather and beaches alone are enough
to convince most vacationers this is a good place to be.

But a “quickie” to San Diego also has its rewards and may
be more in line with the dwindling vacation allowances we
see today as companies push harder for productivity. A lot
of people don’t have a lot of time, so zero in on the San
Diego waterfront and Gaslamp District – it’s all close by
and there are plenty of fun attractions that are cheap and easy.

We headquartered at the new Omni Hotel which was built in
conjunction with the city’s new Petco Park and opened in
April 2004. It goes without saying that the Omni would be
the perfect location to stay while you’re in town for a
Padres game – the ballpark is right next door and even
connected by a skybridge – but it’s also an excellent
choice to take full advantage of San Diego’s historic
Gaslamp District, the 14-square-block area that has been
dressed up to become the heart of San Diego’s nightlife.

The gleaming new Omni represents the best in downtown
hotels – our spacious suite was like a home away from home
with the most stylish of modern décor and furnishings,
warm tones, a big comfortable king bed, a handy desk and
seating area, and an oversize bath area, which seems to be
a trend in modern hotel layouts. Out the picture windows we
had a 13th story view of the Coronado Bridge and San
Diego’s South Bay. This could have been one of those
accommodations we would be content to just lounge around
all weekend in a bathrobe but, with San Diego right
outside, we were anxious to begin exploring.

The Omni is at the southern tip of the Gaslamp District so
with just a little walking we quickly came upon dozens of
dining opportunities – literally all types of cuisine, each
restaurant offering a twist to bring people in the door.
Options here run the gamut from the messy ribs at Dick’s
Last Resort to the impeccable presentations offered at
George’s on Fifth, from exquisite Persian cuisine at Bandar
to the bar food at Moose McGillycuddy’s. Sidewalk cafes are
big in the Gaslamp – even on this Thursday night the
streets were alive with groups of party people, X and Y
generation couples and even many families. The best place
to observe all of this was from our table right out on the
sidewalk, where we enjoyed scrumptious Mexican food prepared by La Fiesta.

Fashion boutiques, trendy stores and, yes, a few tacky
tourist shops are interspersed between the restaurants and
nightclubs. Many of the ornate historical buildings have
been refurbished and, just to keep things interesting, the
merchants in the Gaslamp bring out re-enactors dressed in
period garb to help explain the history of the Gaslamp
Quarter. As we strolled through the Gaslamp, groups of
costumed re-enactors were positioned on several of the
street corners where each of the actors assumed the role of
a historic San Diego citizen. Staying in character, the
re-enactors then dispensed a good measure of San Diego
history while staging a kind of mini-play for fascinated visitors.

The energy of the Gaslamp Quarter is undeniable and staying
in a downtown hotel allows the visitor to take full
advantage of the nightlife – no worries about driving home,
no concern about even driving from club to club. The
Gaslamp Quarter is all right there within easy walking
distance and, even late at night, seems remarkably safe for visitors.

Following our restful night’s sleep, the next morning’s
activities began with a visit to the San Diego Maritime
Museum down on the waterfront. The Omni is several blocks
from this part of the waterfront so we drove – but parking
on the waterfront is plentiful and reasonably priced. For
those interested in things nautical, this part of the San
Diego waterfront will make you feel like a kid in a candy
store. Among other historic vessels on display, the
Maritime Museum includes a 1962 Soviet submarine, the
1863-vintage Star of India — one of the world’s oldest
working ships – the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley, and the
H.M.S. Surprise, a replica of an 18th Century Royal Navy
frigate that was used in the filming of the movie Master
and Commander – the Far Side of the World.

Visitors can stroll through each of these ships and view
historic displays, photos and information panels that help
give one a sense of how everyday life really was on board
one of these historic vessels. The submarine is cramped
beyond imagination and actually requires some physical
dexterity just to walk through it. The H.M.S. Surprise is
fun to explore and entertaining for those who remember the
movie Master and Commander. With the largest interior
space, the Berkeley offers even more variety of exhibits
based on the history of maritime activity and how these
vessels do what they do. The Star of India can be toured at
the dock and, periodically, the ship will take visitors sailing.

Maritime history of another sort is featured in the new USS
Midway museum, also located along this general part of the
San Diego waterfront. Just visiting an aircraft carrier,
for one thing, is a treat unto itself. But in the Midway’s
case, there is a 47-year history that is good to keep in
the back of your mind as you get a real sense of what it’s
like to live and work on an aircraft carrier.

This emphasis on the military didn’t end with our tour of
the USS Midway. Next it was time to take a harbor cruise on
the 150-foot Adventure Hornblower, where we were treated to
some great views of sea lions and other sea life and where
we again got a close-up look at U.S. Navy firepower. The
captain on our cruise boat told us that our one-hour cruise
was the best he’d had all week – it included a great view
of the USS Shilo (“the most powerful warship on the
planet”) as well as a nuclear submarine returning to base.
Sprinkle in a military jet or helicopter buzzing by every
now and then and you could not forget the importance of the
U.S. military in San Diego.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: San Diego is about 125 miles south of Los Angeles
and easily reached by freeway. In addition, there are excellent air and rail connections.

WHAT: San Diego’s downtown/waterfront area is an amazing
collection of activities and attractions all relatively
close to one another and blessed with the nation’s best weather.

WHEN: Any time of year. San Diego’s climate is sunny and
comfortable year-round with the possible exception of May
and June, which sometimes are more overcast – but still quite comfortable.

WHY: A great getaway for a night, or for an extended vacation.

Want even more to do in San Diego, check out our Guide to San Diego

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Cary Ordway publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered are
http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations

Italy offers a lot of great locations to visit along its
coastline that combine culture with fun in the sun.

Italian Beach #10: Posada, Italy

Posada is located in Nuoro, an ancient town and the main
center in the historical district. The 14th century castles
are enough to bring any tourist to their knees. The culture
in this coastal city is breathtaking and overwhelmingly
beautiful. There are plenty of sights to see in Posada, and
especially the beaches where you can relax after seeing all
that Posada has to offer.

Italian Beach #9: Vendicari, Italy

At the costal paradise of Vendicari in Syracuse you can get
in touch with nature. This gorgeous beach gives people the
opportunity to walk along unpolluted and untouched beaches,
this is the beach where you can see turtles lay their eggs
and many different breeds of birds navigate to this coastal
city, probably for the same reason tourists do. Its lush
climate is a big plus for vacation goers.

Italian Beach #8: Salina, Italy

On the Aeolian Islands there is an island called Salina,
above the sea with beach access. Volcanoes can be seen from
every end of this city. In Salina, water sports are
abundant; from water skiing to scuba diving, this city has
plenty to offer. Water sports combined with Salina’s great
selection of hotels and restaurants make this city an
excellent vacation spot.

Italian Beach #7: Domus de Maria, Italy

In Domus de Maria,a popular attraction that brings tourists
into Cagliari is the camping. In this city you will be able
to camp on the beach in a tent, Vendors are everywhere so
there is no need to bring your own camping supplies, just
rent it at one of the many affordable vendors. Camping here
hardly feels like camping, with crystal blue water and
white sandy beaches you may never want to go back home.

Italian Beach #6: Castilglione della Pescaia, Italy

A beach in the Maremma countryside is Castilglione della
Pescaia. This beach is a touch of old world living. A
beautiful countryside surrounded by blue waters and
gorgeous architecture is most famous for its untouched and
unrivaled surroundings. In this coastal city you will be
amazed by what you see, it is almost too much for the eyes
to take. The Medieval castle located on the coast is a
popular tourist destination and should be on everyone’s
list of things to see.

Italian Beach #5: Capalbio, Italy

A beach well known for not being well known is Capalbio. It
is an ancient village surrounded by Maremma countryside
that has stayed just how it was for years. It is visited by
many important people throughout the year because it is so
private and has an atmosphere that is rich with the past.
It is also a city famous for its hunting opportunities. It
may be more expensive than other beaches but definitely
worth the visit.

Italian Beach #4: Isola del Giglio, Italy

If you are looking for a great beach with a beautifully
rich underwater life a truly natural selection for your
beach destination is the Isola del Giglio, located on the
Tuscany Coast. With its beautiful sandy beaches and
surprisingly blue coves, it is just the place to relax on
your next vacation. This beach is a popular tourist
attraction but overwhelmingly popular, no floods of
tourists.

Italian Beach #3: Taormina, Italy

Taormina is another beach in Sicily, well not just another
beach but THE beach. The Italian North Beach Taormina is
referred to as the jewel of Sicily and Italy and rightfully
so. With the picturesque beaches and diverse activities
happening all the time it really has something to offer
everyone. From beaches to windsurfing with some wine
tasting on the way, this coastal jewel is a right choice
for any person.

Italian Beach #2: Mondello, Italy

If you’re looking for a coastal village where you can go to
the beach during the day and then visit an array of
restaurants, bars, and other unique shops then Mondello, in
southern Italy right next to Palermo (One of Sicily’s
largest cities), is an excellent choice. Mondello is very
popular during the summer months because of its famous
sporting events and excellent restaurants.

Italian Beach #1: San Vito Lo Capo, Italy

A good place to start for a blend of culture and fun in the
sun is San Vito lo Capo, a beach that sits in the western
coast of Sicily in Trapani. This island by the Sea is most
famous for its national park called “the Zingaro”, host to
beautiful secluded beach. It is also well known for the
houses right on the beach so fishermen can fish for tuna.
This small coastal village is a beautiful place to visit to
enjoy the surf and some turf. This is arguable the Best
Italian Beach.

Picking a beach in Italian Coast can be somewhat difficult,
so many to choose and so little time. With 90% of Italy
being coast there is an endless array of beaches, each
having something different to offer to tourists and local
natives. If you have a desire, one of these beaches could
fill it.

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Jason Boehle, adventure traveler and creative writer
invites you to visit http://www.goldenbooktraveler.com for
more European travel resources like this one.

Photo By Mike Loh

We originally flew to Shanghai to watch the total solar eclipse of 2009 from the mountains just west of the city, but the crappy weather made us decide to catch a last-minute flight much farther west to Chongqing. Then we drove another 2 hours north to a little town called Lin Shui (“trees and water”) and found a little recreation center on top of a mountain where a couple hundred locals had gathered to watch the phenomenon.

Not only were we the first foreigners that several of them had ever seen in person, but it appeared that many of them didn’t really get what it was they were about to see … most didn’t have eclipse-watching apparati and so the extra couple dozen eclipse glasses that brother/teacher Steve had brought, really came in handy.

We made a bunch of new friends, felt like celebrities as we posed with the locals who were really excited to talk to us and take their pictures with us, and watched the moon encroach upon the sun in clear daylight for the better part of an hour until with only a sliver of sunlight left, and the eeriest alien light you ever saw, darkness descended upon the land and stars came out, cheers went up among the crowd, we all high-fived and then stared at the amazing total eclipse of the sun — a glowing ring in the sky — for the better part of five minutes. Now I am hooked on total eclipses, and if anyone wants to meet me on Easter Island for next year’s eclipse, holler.

Read the guide to Volunteering Abroad.

]]> http://www.explorerpod.com/eclipse-chasing-in-szechuan-province-300/feed/ 0 http://www.explorerpod.com/pet-airways-travel-for-your-best-friend-299/ http://www.explorerpod.com/pet-airways-travel-for-your-best-friend-299/#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:34:25 +0000 ExplorerMan http://www.explorerpod.com/?p=299 Ever wonder what happens to your pet when it disappears into the belly of the aircraft? A new airline takes off today from New York and its definitely not your parents airline, unless of course your a dog, cat or other animal.

Pet Airways departed today from New York bound for Chicago with a full plane full of dogs and cats. The all pet airline, which serves 5 key US markets- Chicago, DC/Baltimore, Denver, New York and Washington. The key differentiator of this airline is that pets fly in the comfort of the main cabin, not in the dark and dingy cargo hold ensuring a pleasant and safe travels for all pets and peace of mind for pets owners.

For more information, visit http://petairways.com/

]]> http://www.explorerpod.com/pet-airways-travel-for-your-best-friend-299/feed/ 0 http://www.explorerpod.com/dubai-paradise-in-the-desert-297/ http://www.explorerpod.com/dubai-paradise-in-the-desert-297/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:12 +0000 ExplorerMan http://www.explorerpod.com/?p=297 Its amazing, Dubai has transformed itself from a baron desert landscape to a world class Tourist Destination. It is also helping to keep luxury travel a hot product during rough times in the travel economy.

Not sure where to go for your next trip? Looking for a new Luxury destination? Dubai is where you can ski, sunbathe at the beach and jump on a dune buggy for a desert safari all in one day! The second largest Emirate of seven in the United Arab Emirates located in the Persian Gulf, Dubai is the Las Vegas of the Middle East.

A relatively new tourist destination, Dubai has gained significant popularity among tourists in recent years. A desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies and excellent tourist amenities, this destination is just a short 5 hours from Europe and 3 hours from most parts of Asia. A perfect spot for shopping, partying, fine dining, sports and some (dare we say) sinful pleasures, Dubai is truly a city of all superlatives – fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest!

Dubai combines two cities, Dubai and Deira – both of which lie on opposite sides of water, and provide a paradise for sightseers. All those who visit will be amazed at the diversity of the architecture and the cultures that this destination encompasses – ranging from traditional Arab houses, to magnificent modern towers of steel and glass.

With a population of close to 1 million (only 19% of which are local Emirati), you can imagine the assortment of people currently occupying this great city. With 365 days of warm sunshine, Dubai is a destination that offers a sub-tropical climate most of the time – making it a perfect place to visit all year round. (Though summers can get quite humid, so we recommend visiting in the spring or fall.)

For those of you hungry for some celeb gossip – The Palm Islands (the world’s largest man-made islands which are being built on the coast of Dubai) are the future homes to celebrities like Tiger Woods and David Beckham, and sources say Rod Stewart has just recently purchased England, part of the World Island.

Folks planning to visit Dubai should keep a look out for future developments like Hydropolis, billed as “the underwater ultra luxury resort hotel” that will be structured in three elements: a land station, a connecting tunnel and a submarine complex. The world’s first, Hydropolis will be located on the Jumeirah coastline of Dubai, already home to the Buri al-Arab, the world’s first seven star hotel.

Distinct for many obvious reasons, Dubai is also a Mecca for great food (and service). Boasting more than 450 restaurants, from Cajun to Persian and anything else you can think of, you’ll find every cuisine for every taste. Just know this: most of the best restaurants are within the hotels. Going out for dinner will easily become a new hobby – in Dubai, you’ll be treated like royalty wherever you go. The service found in the food establishments here is unparalleled! And the quality of food will likely make you crave seconds (just forget the fact that you’re watching your waistline).

Dubai also has an amazing nightlife scene that has come of age in recent years and is filled with many upscale wine bars, nightclubs and beach bars. Unlike the weekend-obsessed Europeans, people in Dubai party all week long! (Thursdays tend to be the biggest night out). Just keep this in mind: Dubai is a Muslim city and most of the bars that serve alcohol are only found in hotels and tourist areas. You’ll learn quick that Dubai has some interesting laws regarding clubs – they all must close by 3 a.m., you must b e 21 to drink/25 to enter, and no club is allowed to refuse entrance to anyone (L.A., Miami and Vegas should take some pointers from these guys!). So, whether you’re in the mood for grinding to the latest dance hits and funky bands or grooving and chatting up with the scenesters – Dubai has a wide variety of places to choose from. Here are our journeyPod Picks below:

Restaurants

Ashiana – Located in the Sheraton Dubai Hotel and Towers, this Northern Indi

an restaurant is the most acclaimed eatery in Dubai. With its excelled service and food, Ashiana is the perfect place to impress your business clients, and family or friends in from out of town. The warm ambience is provided by the well decorated interior and the popular Indian band make this both a fun and tasty treat!

Al Boom Floating Restaurant – Located on a dhow (a lateen-rigged ship with one or two masts), this seafood restaurant features some of the freshest fish in the country. So fresh, in fact, that guests can choose the fish themselves and request the style and seasoning they prefer. The nightly dinner cruise at Al Boom Floating Restaurant makes this a unique experience you’ll want to enjoy over and over again.

Bice – Locals swear by it! Bice is, by far, the best Italian restaurant in Dubai. Located in the Hilton Jumeirah Hotel, the restaurant offers authentic Italian food served in a modern and stylish setting. Guests here can sip on Italian Prosecco on the terrace while taking in the fabulous view of the Arabian Gulf.

Verre – Gordon Ramsay has done it again with this successful venture located in the Hilton Dubai Creek. The minimalist decor and romantic lighting make this a great restaurant to celebrate anniversaries or other special occasions. Guests can enjoy fine wine and specialties like poached chicken on a bed of tagliatelle.

Al Mahara – Named one of “the 50 best restaurants in the world”, this underwater-themed restaurant begins with a 3-minute mock submarine ride from the reception to the dining room of the Burj Al Arab restaurant. Tables are situated around a giant aquarium and the inside is classy and upscale. As the name (which translates to “oyster”) suggests, the dishes here are mainly seafood, though there is fusion with meats and Asian flavors. With a dining experience as amazing as this, it’s no wonder this place drives so much attention.

Blue Elephant – Thai food has never tasted this good! This hip spot located in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, serves the best Pad Thai anywhere (and we mean, anywhere). Chill out to the funky music, watch koi carp swim lazily past your table and indulge in award-winning cuisine all under one roof. With more than 11 restaurants worldwide, Blue Elephant is a chain restaurant you can actually admit you like without having your friends make fun of you.

Casa Mia – This quaint restaurant with amazing outside seating is often overlooked, yet the service and ambience (particularly in the evenings) makes you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of Florence. And, it’s the homey touches that make Casa Mia live up to its name! The interior is designed to look like the cellar of an Italian farmhouse, with an abundance of barrels and vaulted roofs. The menu impresses also – the Caprese salad has the freshest buffalo mozzarella, which, quite literally, melts in your mouth. After dinner, just make sure you pop into the Irish pub next door for an after dinner drink.

Al Qasr – Centrally located in the Arabian water village of Madinat Jumeirah, this is the perfect beginning to a fun night out. The taste of California mixed with authentic Moorish cuisine makes this a unique place to dine.

Sphinx – Step into this Middle Eastern vault and experience great steaks and seafood. If you find yourself indecisive go ahead and order the surf and turf, which is a local favorite. Located in the Pyramid Center of the Wafi Mall, Sphinx has been amongst the city’s finest restaurants for many years, and with good reason. The setting is spectacular and a trip to this hopping spot makes you feel like you’ve just stepped onto the set of “The Mummy.” They have a Wafi Pyramid complex, Egyptian style decor and candlelit lighting. If you can, order the lobster bisque and delectable fried goat cheese.

Salmontini – Located in the Mall of Emirates with a spectacular view of the slopes of Ski Dubai, this trendy restaurant holds true to its name as they feature some of the best salmon and martinis in the country. Folks can entertain their guests with a view over the snow and slopes. Psst… Ski Dubai is the Middle East’s first indoor skiing facility. Sitting at this fun restaurant with the view of the snow will make you think that you are watching from a coffee shop in the Swiss Alps.

Bars & Nightlife

Peppermint – On the top of our list, this uber-cool club is only open on Friday nights! Everyone who is anyone meets here (located at the chic Fairmont Hotel) for the best Ministry of Sound DJs like Ferry Corsten and David Vendetta. VIP tables sell out fast and the competition to get into Peppermint on Fridays is something everyone aims to win with as much passion as the camel racers. Remember this: make sure you have your entry pass – otherwise, it’s impossible to get in without it. Once inside, you’ll be astounded by the pulsating, lights and crowd.

360 degrees – Looking for the total Dubai experience? At 360, you can grab a shisha, sink into a comfy sofa and be surrounded by a buzzing vibe set out in the middle of the Gulf. Located at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, 360 degrees is a “beacon of cool” that draws the city’s hippest crowd – who come out in their most exotic swimwear to relax and listen to the spinning tracks of Dubai’s coolest DJs. With the opportunity to catch the sunset, 360 offers a stylish rooftop terrace that overlooks the ever-changing coastline. For those who want to continue the evening, when you’re done chilling to the house tunes, you can hop aboard a golf buggy for a cruise around the yacht-drenched marina.

Irish Village – Widely popular among locals and tourists alike, Irish Village alone is good reason to visit Dubai. The folks who frequent this place can be found sharing stories and jokes over multiple pints of lager. With a warm and friendly staff, this pub welcomes everyone – and you’ll feel like a regular instantly. With a beer in hand and a resident live band playing top songs, this’ll easily become your new favorite hangout while in town.

Atlantis – Want to visit a place that makes you feel like you’re 20,000 leagues under the sea? Atlantis sends you underwater while you dance the night away. Attached to the famed Hard Rock Cafe, Atlantis is the place to see and be seen. And, the beautiful crowd who adorns the club night after night is always dressed-to-impress. House, R&B and Techno fill the walls of this cool hotspot.

Ginseng – Like its name, this place is alive and well each and every night. An Asian inspired lounge, bar and restaurant, Ginseng is located in the Wafi Center Mall (next to the Planetarium Nightclub). Both stylish and sophisticated, the menu here features a combination of new-age cocktails and contemporary Asian-style Tapas. With Asian murals and calligraphy garnishing this chic destination, along with its colorful libations – Ginseng is a great place to get your night started. Psst the place is small – so try to call ahead for table reservations.

Agency Wine Bar – Hello to all you wine lovers out there! We have found your new favorite bar. With a selection of 500 wines to choose from, this dark cocktail style destination will make you leave your worries at the door. Enjoy South African Shiraz and nibble on a cheese fondue at this fashionable lounge located in the Emirates Tower.

Kasbar – Like the song… this place definitely rocks! With its eclectic selection of live music and traditional Arabic decor, Kasbar is a favorite for those in search of a little more than just a dance club. All three levels are packed full of people grooving to a mixture of pop, techno and Arabic beats. And, what’s best is that the DJs here know how to keep the party alive all night long.

Buddha Bar – It’s hard to find a city that doesn’t list Buddha Bar as a top nightlife destination. And, Dubai is no exception to this rule. This Asian inspired ultra lounge, bar and restaurant continues to shine every night – with its giant Buddhas, Oriental furniture and eclectic sounds. Just make sure you keep your feet placed firmly on the ground as Buddha Bar sends you into a state of utter happiness.

Rock Bottom Cafe – Unlike the name suggests, this is the top spot to be at on a Thursday or Friday night. With its 60’s and 70’s ambience, Rock Bottom brings back memories of peace and flower children. But despite its decor, this place is anything but a time warp. One of the city’s most happening spots, Rock Bottom features a live band and a contemporary menu. On Fridays, you can even show the crowd who the next “American Idol” will be (Karaoke night). Though any night you come, dig into the delicious grub and watch the latest DJ spin his magic on the turntables.

Scarlett – A themed restaurant and trendy bar located at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Scarlett’s serves up American and Tex Mex favorites and is a perfect venue for a family meal, party or after-work drink. Scarlett’s showcases South American accents and provides a warm and low-key atmosphere to the venue’s large space. Whatever you do, just don’t forget to try the traditional and long-time favorite Sangria. And if you find yourself with nothing to do on Saturday – check out Scarlett’s Salsa lessons!

Dubai shout outs to Bill, Diana, & Chris!

In an age when we have all become environmentally conscious, the Everglades National Park is a great place to immerse your self in the wonders of Mother Nature. The park covers more than 1.5 million acres. It was established in 1947 and it was the first large park set up with “biodiversity” or species protection in mind. Previously most parks were established to preserve scenic sites.

The Everglades has a variety of habitats including saw grass, freshwater marsh, mangrove forests and coastal areas. It is home to more than 400 species of birds and numerous species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and plants. Speaking of plants, you will be able to view 24 species of orchids in this park.

So, what’s there to do in this park? Well, you could spend a morning in the field and take photographs of exotic birds, or take an afternoon hike or tour with a ranger, and for “nightlife” you could enjoy the glow of a campfire.

If you are an outdoors type, then this is the place for you. The park offers a variety of camping, boating, hiking and fishing options as well as guided tours.  The tours are of two varieties: ranger led tours and tours offered by companies who have a licensed concession arrangement with the park.  The tours bring you right up close to the living beings and natural environment as well as providing you with background knowledge of this important eco system.

For all you history buffs, I recommend a tour of the Nike Missile base.  During the height of the Cold War, this base was set up to provide surface-to-air missile protection against a possible Soviet attack. The base remains virtually the same as it was in 1979 when official use of the site was terminated. Tours to this area are already filled up for 2009, so if you want to see it, be sure to make a reservation.

The park is on the southern tip of Florida and is accessible from most parts of Florida. It is open 365 days of the year and the main park entrance in Homestead, Florida is open 24 hours a day. The other entrances are located in Everglades City, Flamingo and Shark Valley.

The National Park Service Everglades website (nps.gov/ever ) offers good tips about visiting. One thing that is important to consider is their advice regarding pets. They say “If traveling with your pet please be aware that pets are not allowed on most trails in the park.  For the health and safety of your pet it would be better to leave them at home or board them at an appropriate facility while you visit the park.”

Are you planning a Florida vacation? If so be sure to visit the Orlando area and its many theme parks and attractions, and if you have some more time, then you might also want to visit Florida’s southern tip and explore the Everglades National Park.

So, if you have the time, head on down to the tip of Florida and enjoy the beauty of the Everglades National Park

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Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is
the proprietor of DisneyRents.com

The Glass House Mountains and the spectacular countryside aren’t the only attractions of a Sunshine Coast holiday just north of Brisbane, Australia. Another viewing adventure is nearby. Just off the coast in the crystal blue Pacific waters another adventure awaits. Every year from
June to November more than 9000 humpback whales make the journey northward from Antarctica and winter in the warm
waters off Queensland.

Getting to see a humpback whale is one of nature’s most amazing experiences. These creatures are giants. Humpbacks are the world’s fifth largest whale, and they are beautiful to behold. The humpback whale can be nearly seven times the size of an African elephant. But he humpbacks aren’t
content to merely allow you to watch them. Humpbacks like to entertain their fans. You can see and hear a fascinating show. Whales have as many as 40 different tones, and while you’re listening to the symphony you can watch them soar out of the water before crashing back and diving below, leaving turbulent seas in their wake.

Researchers studying the humpback whale have learned that the whales have a complex method of communication, and some scientists even believe they have a level of intelligence on par with that of humans. Evidence of this can be seen as well has heard, particularly in the care mothers give to their young. Some of these wondrous sites unfold so close it seems just an arm’s length away. Imagine being so close to a whale blow that you can feel the spray. Imagine being able to look into the eyes of such a massive and magnificent creature.

Humpback whales may have the lead roles in the show, but they aren’t the only performers. Dolphins are also stars of the pageant, and they are not at all shy. Imagine seeing a whale interacting with a group of dolphins. Sharks and turtles often make more than a mere cameo appearance, and this fantastic aquatic cabaret unfolds in the Sunshine Coast’s brilliant waters – waters warm enough for swimming year round.

Another type of whale can also be spotted taking a Sunshine Coast holiday and presents a rare treat. Those embarking on humpback whale watching tours occasionally see white whales. These beautiful creatures are unforgettable. Yet as magical as an appearance of a white whale may seem, nothing can upstage the humpbacks themselves.
Whale watching wasn’t always the main interaction between humans and whales. In fact, only in recent years has whale watching become a popular activity. As recently as the 1960s whales were slaughtered by the thousands.  The whales seem to understand that times have changed, and they are becoming more and more accustomed to the sight of adoring fans in whale watching boats. Whereas once the whales once
might have fled oncoming vessels, they now seem attracted to the boats full of adoring fans.

Before venturing out into the azure blue waters on your Sunshine Coast holiday,it’s best to plan a head. Whale watching is becoming more and more popular every season, and the tours fill quickly. You don’t want to miss this grand opportunity.
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Roger Laganin runs ocean front accommodation at the Catalina Resort, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia where you can enjoy your Sunshine Coast holiday. Find out about their special deals for a limited time only at =>http://www.catalinaresort.com.au

Movies shape how we see the world. Movies also shape the world we expect to see when we go out into it. Few things inspire us to travel like a well chosen backdrop. It paints romantic visions in our heads, visions that often linger for years.

Sometimes the reality of a place matches or exceeds our vision, and sometimes it falters. In the end, anything that inspires us to travel, to break the bonds of the everyday, is a force for positive change.

Here are a few films, old and new, that have inspired me to travel or that kept me sane between journeys. I hope they do the same for you.

The Mosquito Coast (1986) – Based on the bestselling novel by Paul Theroux. Disgruntled inventor Harrison Ford takes his family to the jungles of Central America to found a town and goes insane in the process. Filmed in the lush, steamy jungles of southern Belize, the film and the book inspired me to travel to Nicaragua’s Mosquito Coast back in 2000.

The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003) – The most accurate film I’ve ever seen on Mongolia’s south Gobi region. Apart from a few minor scenes, the film was shot by following the day to day lives of a family of nomads. As luck would have it, the filmmakers arrived during the camel birthing season. A natural drama ensued when a mother camel rejected its calf, endangering the life of the newborn creature. The reconciliation between the two camels, brought about by a traditional shamanic ceremony, is one of the most moving scenes ever set to film.

The Tempest (1982) – A little-known film by John Cassavettes, starring a very young Molly Ringwald, Susan Sarandon, and Raul Julia. The Tempest is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, filmed on a stunning Greek island in the Ionian Sea. I first saw this back when cable TV was new, during a free weekend preview of the movie channel. It had me dreaming Mediterranean dreams long before I was old enough to know where the Mediterranean was.

Mountains of the Moon (1990) – Based on the life of Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton. Burton spoke some 29 languages and dialects, was a prolific writer and translator, and one of the greatest explorers and travelers of all time. He was the first European to enter the Ethiopian city of Harare, was co-discoverer of the source of the Nile, and was one of the few foreigners ever to make the pilgrimage to Mecca in disguise. Burton was also a master of the sword. On one expedition he fought off an attack by Somali tribesman that saw him wounded through the mouth by a spear, the scars of which are visible in all his later photographs. Whenever I begin to feel like I’ve accomplished something, Burton’s
example puts me to shame.

Before Sunrise / Before Sunset (1995/2004) – The quintessential traveler’s films, Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset perfectly capture the feeling of the all-consuming road romance. They go further in considering what would happen if we said ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’ at that one crucial juncture that could change the course of our lives. Set in Vienna and Paris (respectively), both films are steeped in Old Europe’s streets, and they capture those rambling traveler’s conversations better than any other film I know.

Summer Lovers (1982) – Every guy’s Mediterranean dream – a summer-long threesome on a beautiful Greek island. It’s a film about freedom, individualism, charting your own course and creating your own personal morality. It explores what it’s like to completely let go of the preconceived, immersing yourself totally in the present. Stunning scenery and an absence of tan lines make this classic a winner.

High Road to China (1983) – A little known and vastly underrated film by Tom Selleck. This film captures the spirit of high adventure and stubborn independence, and includes jaw-drop footage of Central Asia and the Himalayas. Plus, it’s got biplanes in it. Who wouldn’t want to rip around the world in one of those?

The Lover (1992) – Lush scenery of French colonial era Vietnam circa 1929: crumbling moss-eaten architecture, exotic street scenes, slow lazy ceiling fans, and lines of afternoon light casting rectangles of shadow through slatted wooden blinds. The film reminds us that sometimes those blinds also conceal illicit pleasures. You can almost feel the heat and humidity steam through the lens. And the heat between the main characters doesn’t hurt either… The Lover perfectly captures the feeling of old Hanoi.

The Dreamers (2003) – A shocking coming of age story set in Paris in the turbulent summer of 1968. A young American exchange student goes to the decadent City of Lights to study French, where he falls into a bizarre love triangle with a brother and sister and is drawn into their strange, sheltered world. Though controversial when it was released, the film is oddly enchanting rather than lewd, and it conveys a vivid sense of what Paris must have felt like during that turbulent summer of riots when social norms were shattered.

Lost in Translation (2003) – This film portrays the dazzling disorientation of Tokyo and the loneliness and exhaustion of culture shock better than any I’ve ever seen. It reminded me of the many times I’ve been cast adrift on a hostile shore, and it brought back so many vivid memories of everything that’s surreal about Tokyo, where.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) – Based on the posthumously published diary of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, the film chronicles his coming of age journey through South America. Shot on location in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. I read the original book of Guevara’s travel journals years ago, and feared the film would be an overblown foreshadowing of the world figure he would later become. That wasn’t the case. The movie stayed true to the road trip lark of the book, complete with the sort of South American scenery that’ll have you lacing up your hiking
boots before the credits begin to roll.

The English Patient (1996) – Romance and archaeology in the Sahara desert in an age when high adventure was still a possibility, and when parts of the globe remained undiscovered. The film contains stunning desert footage, and was based on the real-life search for the lost city of Zezura. Yes, it’s a bit of a chick flick, but if you love the desert you only have to switch off the sound and feast on the imagery.

So that’s it. Twelve picks to inspire wanderlust and Vagabond Dreams.

What are your special travel films? I’d love to hear about them.

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Ryan Murdock’s pursuit of travel literature has taken him to some of the world’s most unforgiving places, including Mongolia, Tibet, Nicaragua, and North Korea, by Russian jeep, motorcycle, dugout canoe, horse and camel. Please visit http://www.ryanmurdock.com to learn more about his adventures and to follow his Road Wisdom blog.

If you are planning a golf trip to Florida an Orlando vacation villa can offer you several advantages over a hotel room. However, before discussing these, there are many reasons why Florida is attractive to golfers, and Orlando in particular – particular if you are married with
children.

If you are keen on golf, and can think of no better way to spend your annual vacation than on a golf course, there is nothing to hold you back – except your partner and the children. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, statistics show that one partner frequently does not have
the passion for the game of the other, and that the children can place a great strain on couples at vacation time.

What can you do when one half wants to get out on the golf course and the other half does not? Not only that, but if the kids want to do something else – you have absolutely no chance of swinging a golf club, unless you are to pay for it with silence for the next few months.  That’s where Orlando comes into the equation.

Be honest with your partner and family and you will feel a lot better.  Argue between a golfing holiday or a family vacation and you will lose – or if you win, you don’t really win, and you know it. So be honest.  Do a deal.  You will all go to Florida – to Orlando, and they can visit Disney World and go shopping while you go golfing.  Not only that, but you won’t stay in a sterile hotel, but in a beautiful Orlando vacation villa where the kids can each have their own bedroom.

Stress to them the option:  a hotel where either the kids share your room, or they have their own room at great cost, and the two of you won’t know what they are getting up to.  You will worry about it, and your vacation will be the less enjoyable because of it. The menu will be limited to what is on the hotel menu, and won’t be able to drink too much in the evening because of the prices.

Then offer the alternative. An Orlando vacation villa with a bedroom for each of the kids with their own bathroom.  A private pool and Jacuzzi, wide screen TV and DVD player, and even a games console. Their very own kitchen, so that they can cook their own steaks, make their own burgers or just rustle up some supper at night before bed. Supermarket drinks at supermarket prices, so you can sit and relax by
the pool at night. They visit Disney, and you go golfing.

You can explain that it’s not wasted, because you need some work on your drive and your swing, and you can sign up for some lessons at the Brad Brewer Golf Academy. Even the kids can get lessons and start to learn the game, and you will look after them while your partner goes shopping. That’s what you call compromise, when you both bend a little to the benefit of both of you and the children win all the way
through.

That’s one way of getting a golfing vacation in Orlando. The other is if you both enjoy golf, and that is the ideal situation.  Even then, a holiday villa makes more sense than a hotel, partially because of the independence and privacy it gives you and partially for price.  Independence
in that you can eat at any time, and not only when the restaurant is open. Privacy because you are not sharing your space with strangers:  you can do your own tidying up and cleaning, as many prefer to do, and you can relax by yourself.

Price can also be relevant, particularly if there are more than two of you. Three hotel rooms can cost significantly more than one Orlando vacation villa that can sleep up to six or more, and the villa offers you all the home entertainment that a hotel can, and then more. You don’t
share your pool with 200 others in your villa, and you don’t pay bar prices for your drinks as you relax poolside watching the sun go down.

Without a doubt, Orlando is a great place for golfers that need somewhere to interest the other half of their family. If you choose an Orlando vacation villa as your accommodation, there is no need for anybody to lounge about a golf complex while their partner receives coaching or
plays a round, but they can take advantage of everything that Orlando has to offer them and the children.

Not just Disney World, but also the Titanic Exhibition, Boggy Creek and World of Orchids, and they can even go ballooning. There is much more to Orlando than just Mickey Mouse!

Beautiful, relatively undiscovered Tropea lies between the gulfs of Sant’Eufemia and Gioa overlooking the sea. You’ll love its untamed white sandy beaches, old houses, and ancient churches. Its Norman Cathedral displays unexploded U.S. World War II bombs that bear a note of thanks to the Madonna. Near the main square is the medieval Santa Maria della Isola church and monastery. Tropea’s most (in)famous
citizen, Umberto Anastasio, aka Alberto Anastasia, a leader of Murder, Incorporated died in a hail of bullets in New York City.

Reggio di Calabria is Calabria’s oldest and largest city. It hosts the National Museum of Greater Greece, a very important archeological museum. Look for the two statues of bearded warriors. The famous poet Gabriele D’Annunzio called the seaside Falcomata promenade the most beautiful
kilometer in Italy. Make sure not to miss the old city’s Greek walls and Roman baths. Other sights include the church of Saint Gaetano Catanoso, the Venetian-style Villa Zerbi and the Town Art Gallery.   The mile-high Aspromonte mountain range has a spectacular view. You can find a ski
resort at Gambarie east of Reggio di Calabria and an absolutely spectacular sanctuary Madonna di Polsi with an annual fair in late August and early September. Gerace sits on a hill composed of sixty-million-year old fossils from the sea. Experts think that this site been populated for
ten thousand years. Churches to visit include the Norman Cathedral, the Thirteenth Century Church of St. Francis with a beautiful Baroque altar, and the Tenth Century San Giovannello (Little St. John). You’ll really enjoy Gerace’s medieval town and the remains of an old, perhaps Tenth
Century castle.

Stilo was founded by the Greeks. In 1940 the area was the site of the Battle of Calabria, one of the biggest naval encounters of World War II. Its most impressive sight is the beautiful Ninth Century Byzantine Cattolica di Stilo. Other churches include the Cathedral, the Church of San
Domenico, and the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino. And don’t forget to visit the Norman Castle and the Fountain of the Dolphins.

Reggio di Calabria ’s best gelateria, Tonino in the Corso, makes a red onion ice cream (and others based on squid ink and nduja, the local spicy salami). Most Calabria wine comes from its northern sector. If you can find it, try the sweet Greco di Bianco DOC wine grown from a southern
Calabria version of the Greco grape, and the similar non-DOC Greco di Gerace.

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Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his wine
website http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.

This is a great opportunity to experience world renowned dining at a fraction of the cost. Go for it!

New York City’s marketing, tourism and partnership organization, said NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2009 will run from Jan. 18-23 and Jan. 25-30. For added value, Sundays have been added to the dining program for the first time and prices for the program remain unchanged with three-course prix-fixe lunches for $24.07 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $35.00 (excluding beverage, tax and gratuity). This is the city’s largest Restaurant Week ever with more than 250 participating restaurants, and more than 100 participating restaurants offering pre-fixe menus on Sunday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 25. Reservations open to the public on Jan. 5, 2009 and will be available at www.nycgo.com. “NYC Restaurant Week continues to bring together New York City’s best restaurants to offer fine dining at an unbeatable price,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “With an expansion to include pre-fixe menus on Sundays, we now offer New Yorkers and visitors even greater value at more than 250 restaurants.”

Now in its 18th year, NYC Restaurant Week brings together some of the City’s most celebrated dining establishments — including Café de Artistes, Gramercy Tavern, and La Goulue — with some of the City’s most contemporary and sought-after hot-spots- including Bar Boulud, Apiary, and Nobu. Notable newcomers this year include Lever House Restaurant, The Palm Tribeca, Union Prime, Fishtail by David Burke, Dovetail, and Country. NYC Restaurant Week Founding Sponsor American Express and NYC & Company have partnered to support City Harvest. American Express and NYC & Company will donate $.25 per transaction when diners pay with any American Express Card at participating restaurants during NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2009, up to $10,000. This partnership helps City Harvest reach its goal to rescue 20 million pounds of excess food from the food industry and deliver it to more than 600 community food programs throughout the five boroughs using a fleet of 16 trucks and volunteers on foot. For more information, a complete list of participating restaurants and a selection of this year’s prix-fixe menus, call 311 or on Jan. 5 visit www.nycgo.com.

Montana became a state on 9th November, 1889 as the 41st state of US and in 1894 Helena outbid Anaconda to become state capitol, the result of the famous ‘War of the Copper Kings’.

The US Govt. acquired the Louisiana territory and then later Montana was carved out of it. Thirteen states in total were carved out from the old Louisiana territory.

Fort Owen State Park is the site of first white settlement in Montana and  the fort was built hereas a regional trade center in 1850. All the furnishings and artifacts are saved in the restored rooms and the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Walk along the steamboat levee and see the part of the town once called ‘the bloodiest block in the west’ and also view the ruins of Historic Fort Benton. Created in 1864, Fort Benton became the hub for trade and travels in north-western US and Canada. Many vessels used to dock in its harbor bringing and taking many traders.

At Sluice Boxes only camping is permitted, but no amenities are provided. At least it has a trail going to the Lewis and Clark Forest and Little Belt Mountains. It is located in north central Montana and fishing is permitted on its streams.

Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark is a rock that’s rising 200 ft above the Yellowstone River. Various markings on the rocks depict that people used to meet, camp and hunt centuries ago. It also has a carving of Captain William Clark’s signature and date of 1806 where interpretive tours are also available.

It later became the military HQ. Most of the original buildings still stand and it became the State agriculture experiment station in 1911 and continues so to-day.  Fort Assinniboine Historic Site, Northern Agriculture Research Center was built in 1879 and was the largest military fort west of Mississippi River. Its length was 40 miles and the breadth was 15 miles.

Fairmount Hot Springs Resort is a place, which offers its visitors lots of Massages and makes them feel totally relaxed. It also offers them lots of water related activities making best of Montana in one place. A real wild and roaring destination and its original structures still standing like Hotel, Temple and the town jail.

Spanish Peaks Brewery and Italian Caffe is a place where tourists who want to fill their stomachs can come. It offers you various Spanish ales and Italian food for lunch, dinner or just for taste. On Sundays it offers drinks at discounts.

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We know travel budgets are much tighter this summer and to help you out, we’re providing “stimulus value vacation” ideas to help you plan a memorable vacation experience. It includes a list of FREE items from outdoor concerts and recreation to events and transportation. That “adds value” without invading your budget. Many of our partners have anteed up with very good values and discounts on lodging and dining, too, like 30% off lodging and a 3-course dinner for $15.00 at a fine local’s favorite restaurant!

Visit www.StimulusVacations.com for great ideas and savings!

For the past 15 years, 6-8 of my closest girlfriends have been getting together every year for a 5-7 day girlfriends’ get-a-way vacation. There are times when the group is larger or someone cannot make the trip. However, we’ve rarely missed a year doing this, and there is never less than 6 women on the trip. We normally rent houses near, or on the beach, or we’ll get a duplex at a resort. However, because of our group size, and the space required for us to feel comfortable, we normally look for vacation homes to rent.

Many people, mostly men, are constantly asking what is the purpose of these vacations, without men. Our response is that we do it to reconnect with each other, relax, and just get away from it all. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is that we typically come away with some revelation after many thought provoking conversations, or a new way of dealing with an issue that’s been troubling us.

As you can imagine, over these 15 years, there have been many life altering events that could have ended our vacations such as, marriages, divorces, graduations, illnesses, and even deaths of parents. Still, we’ve managed to continue our tradition, especially when it’s been a tough year. Actually, it’s less expensive than seeing a therapist.

By the way, we come from 3 different states, yet we don’t mind the travel because we always have a wonderful time. So, what happens when we get back home to our families? Well, let’s just say, when we’re happy, their happy.

Now, let’s look at how you and your girlfriends can start an annual retreat of your own. Of course, you can set up your get-a-way vacations any way you want, however below are some basic guidelines that we follow.

Adhering to a Specific Time of Year

1) Select a time of year for your vacation. Make this the
same every year. You may need to work around school dates,
especially if someone in your group has school age children
or are teachers. Also, the time of year is important as the
high season can be expensive.

We, the majority of the time, plan our vacations for around
mid-October, as the children have grown up. Keep in mind,
that maintaining consistent travel dates from year to year,
will increase the possiblility that everyone can attend.
Your girlfriends will have plenty of time to make
arrangements at home, if they can plan a year in advance.

Number in Group

2) A large group will certainly help keep the costs down
per person. However, the greater your number, the more
space you will need and each person’s cost will rise.  Our
usual contribution for accommodations is approx $120-$150
person.   In addition, most vacation property owners charge
for each person over a certain number. From experience, we
prefer to keep our group number to no more than 8.

Making Reservations

3)Give everyone 3 choices and have them make a selection on
which vacation home they like most. Of course, try to make
sure there is something for everyone. Ultimately, the
majority will rule. When we are ready to make the
reservation, we have one person contact the property owner
and their card is given for the initial deposit.
Afterwards, she communicates to us the amounts we owe, and
when she needs payment.

We then make sure all the monies are paid before we check
in. The property owners normally don’t require final
payment until 30 days before arrival. This gives each
person ample time to pay the person who has given their
credit card for the deposit.  Also, a good idea for
selecting one person to handle all the financial
transactions is that property owners will have one point of
contact and one credit card to work with.

Sleeping Arrangements

4) Since there is likely one master bedroom in the house,
we rotate from year to year who gets that room. Sometimes,
the person scheduled for the master bedroom may want a
different room. In this case, it goes to the next person. I
know this might sound a bit regimented, but it’s all about
fairness. By and large, we are very laid back and do not
impose rules.

Division of Expenses

5) We like to cook our own meals and shop at the local
grocery stores. We very much enjoy grilling our food. Also,
one night is usually reserved for a special recipe,
compliments of one of the ladies. Lately, though, we’ve
decided to allocate one night to fine dining at a local
restaurant. At the end of the trip, we divide the costs
evenly among all of us. There are some items that are
individually purchased, and it is understood that the costs
for these items are not shared.

Planning Activities

6) Our vacations are unstructured, and no advance
activities are planned for the group; afterall, structure
is what we want to get away from! Everyone has their own
agenda. We only require that there is a walking trail or
exercise provisions are provided. However, if a group
activity is planned and all want to attend, that is fine,
but not required. One of your friends might want to stay
behind and read a book that she has not had time to read.

Be Careful Adding to the Established Group

7) This is important. Be very careful about adding to your
group as personalities can clash. If someone new is invited
to join one year, try to make sure they can fit in. You
know your friends and their characters. If the new person
doesn’t get along with everyone, there will be conflicts
and eveyone will be uncomfortable. Let the guest know what
to expect and what your typical days are like. Let her know
that there is no schedule to follow. At the same time, give
your group some background information about the new
person, so they will be prepared.

A Tradition Worth Preserving

To sum it up, we undoubtedly cherish the relationships we
have with our husbands, significant others and other family
members. However, our women friend relationships can be
supportive and rewarding, helping our lives to become more
balanced.

So, get your friends together and start planning. You will
create many years of rich memories. We all agree that these
vacations have gotten us through many difficult times. Our
families understand how important this annual holiday is to
us, and I think they look forward to it as much as we do.
(LOL)

That’s a wrap. Now go play and have fun!

—————————————————-
Debra Barrow owns a small homebased business, and is also an Affiliate Marketer, specializing in online stores. She
has backgrounds in education and corporate business and financial analysis. She is a member of IAHBE, International
Association of Home Based Business Entrepreneurs, a division of SFI (Strong Futures International) http://www.digitalbooksandmore.com

Alonso de Ojeda discovered Curaçao in 1499. In that time the inhabitants where colossal Indians and therefore the Spanish
named the island ‘Isla de los Gigantes’ (island of the giants). Just 20 years later the name Curacao appeared on the Portuguese land map. Opinions differ about the origin of the name. It is probably that the Spanish named the island ‘Corazon’ (heart). The map makers gradually changed the name to Curacau or Curaçao.

The island was in Spanish hands until 1634 when the Dutch reconquered it. In 1815 the Dutch took control over the island after a fierce battle with the French and English. The colonial status of Curaçao and the other islands of the Dutch Antilles changed in 1954 when the Dutch Antilles regained full selfgovernment within the Kingdom.

The island of Curacao is holding a Craibbean Treasure Hunt where you can win trips or a treasure valued at $500,000.  Visit http://www.curacaotreasure.com/ to enter to win.

Under the new policy all types of humanitarian aid to Cuba from clothing to personal hygiene items, to seeds and equipment can now be sent.

Of the 1.5 million Cubans living in the US, nearly all have family in Cuba still and were limited to one trip every 3 years, back in March, President Obama introduced a bill allowing family to travel to Cuba once per year. The new policy allows those with family in Cuba to travel there as much as they like with as much money as they want to bring. A significant shift in policy.

Traveling to Cuba was not only very restrictive but also expensive to do legally as one had to first fly to the Bahamas, Canada or Mexico to get there now the costs to fly to Cuba are less than half  hovering around $400 R/T from Miami to Havana or Habana.

RICHMOND, Va. – Got your motor running?  Looking for adventure?  Beginning April 4, motorcyclists with a Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia passport can head out on the highway and find adventure at more than 50 premier tourism destinations and attractions throughout the commonwealth and win some great prizes as well.

The Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia is a motorcyclist’s dream, celebrating 40 years of “Virginia is for Lovers” – not to mention the movie Easy Rider and Arlo Guthrie’s The Motorcycle Song. Through October 2009, riders and their passengers can express their passion for riding and for Virginia by collecting prize points when their passport is stamped at each participating location.  More stamps mean more fun and more prizes.

Participants completing the entire tour with a total of 164 points will receive a Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia jacket and be in the running to win one of the following – two season passes for Virginia International Raceway 2010, a 1000-watt generator from Fredericksburg Motorsports, a $500 gift certificate from California Sidecar Factory in Nellysford, a $500 cash award from Dr Pepper, or a two-night stay at Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County.

For riders accumulating more than 100 points, names will be entered into a random drawing for prizes ranging from gift certificates from motorcycle dealers across the state, overnight stays at participating hotels and resorts, motorcycle tires, tour books and cash awards.

The official kick-off of the 2009 Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia is at Kings Dominion on Saturday, April 4.  On-site registration is available from 10 a.m. – noon along with special half-priced tickets for admission to Kings Dominion for riders presenting their ride passport during the official kick-off.  Read More on motorcycles at IronBikerNews.com

Australia’s Queensland coast is a great place for anyone’s vacation. There are plenty of things to occupy any interest. But for families having their vacations in Sunshine Coast accommodation in particular there is a wealth of things to do and see.

Activities:

The Australia Zoo is one of the top spots for tourists to
visit. Steve Irwin made his zoo a nearly household name,
and thousands of tourists and locals flock to this
attraction each year. There is plenty to see, and an entire
day can be devoted to the zoo itself. Right next to the zoo
you will also find Aussie World and Underwater World.
Underwater world is the largest aquarium in Queensland,
with over 25,000 sea creature to see.

The Sunshine Coast also has over a dozen National Parks
that can be visited. These parks offer plenty of forests to
explore and waterfalls to visit on the trails and tours.
There is a lot of wildlife to be seen in these parks. There
is also ‘bushwalking’ you can be involved in. These guided
tours can take you into more remote parts of the jungle,
where you can experience the solitude of the area. If you
have older children, treks in any of the Parks can be a
rewarding, unforgettable experience.

If you have younger children, or if you need a break from
hikes and nature, there are many famous places to sightsee
at. At ‘The Big Pineapple,’ you can visit a pineapple farm
and visit many shops and educational sights. There are also
many roads that offer fantastic views on the way to your
next destination. Planning these roads into your travels is
recommended and worth it.

Most of all, usually only a stone’s throw from your
Sunshine Coast accommodation, don’t forget to set aside
some time to visit the beaches. World famous, these beaches
are one of the main draws for visitors to the area.
Opportunities for family fun abound here.

Sunshine Coast Accommodation:

Wherever you go, you will be able to find lodging. There
are lots of hotels and motels, along with inns and even
hostels. If you are looking for reasonably priced lodging,
there are some local hotels that won’t cost overly much.

If you are looking for a more luxurious stay, a Sunshine
Coast resort will often offer large rooms, spa treatments,
a pool, and other amenities. A resort like this will cost
more than a smaller hotel, but the memories created will be
totally unique.

Food:

There are just too many places to eat to list them. The
Sunshine Coast offers some very unique dishes, partially
because of the unique ingredients that can be naturally
found there, and also due to the unique cooking styles and
combinations.

Some popular things to try while visiting the Sunshine
Coast include Morton Bay bugs, Kenilworth cheeses, locally
produced wine and ginger products. The list goes on and on.

Near your Sunshine Coast resort you will usually find that
many of the restaurants are unique to the area, instead of
being part of a large chain. Whatever kind of atmosphere
you are looking for, you can find it! There is everything
from outdoor dining in a completely casual atmosphere, to
gourmet excellence with top service.

What makes the restaurants on the Sunshine Coast so popular
is the warm, friendly atmosphere and superb service. Some
restaurants hold dinner shows, so be sure to look into
these.

Shopping:

You will also find a great number of markets near your
Sunshine Coast accommodation. Here you can peruse locally
made crafts and goods, along with food and entertainment.
Check the times and dates for these markets before you go.
Some are only open a couple times a month, and some have
certain hours that they are open. Keep in mind that many of
these markets have entertainment for children, so it is
really an all-ages place to go.

The Eumundi Market is the largest to be found on the
Sunshine Coast. It is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, and
boasts over 300 stalls to be explored. Whatever market you
are visiting, it is a god idea to arrive early in the
morning to ensure the best buys and parking.

Wherever you go, there is also bound to be local shops that
are worth seeing. Local shops often reflect the flavour of
the region. This is a great place to find quality souvenirs
to take home. Your Sunshine Coast resort will be a big hit
with the whole family. There are plenty of activities and
places to go that have something for every age. Be warned,
there is so much to do, you will have trouble fitting it
all into your schedule.

——————————

The legendary street we know as the Bowery ( a derivative of the Dutch word for “farm”, bouwerij) was at one time a Native American footpath which wound through swampy marsh and thick forest between modern day Battery and Central Parks.

8th Street (and what is now called St. Marks Place between 3rd avenue and avenue A), was a smaller path which crossed the Bowery path at modern-day Astor Place. Between 1812 and 1816, 2nd and 3rd Avenues were developed and ran through what had once been Peter Stuyvesant’s farm (roughly spanning modern day 4th and 23rd streets.)

E. 8th Street was created in 1826, and the first block of St. Marks Place (E.8th Street between 3rd Avenue and 2nd Avenue) was developed by English born real estate developer Thomas E. Davis in 1831.

Davis, capitalizing on the success of neighboring Astor Place, erected a handful of generous-sized town houses on spec (some of which still exist), and sold them off to some of New York City’s elite.

Residential development slowly expanded east along St. Marks Place between the 1830s and 1850, when Tompkins Square Park was opened to offer the wealthy community a large open-space recreational area.

By the end of the century, with the large influx of European immigrants arriving on the Lower East Side, many local estate owners started selling off their lots to tenement developers, and the area’s working-class roots began to take hold.

By the 1950s, students, artists, musicians, and free spirits of all persuasions moved into the area. Here they settled in among the remaining Ukrainian and Polish working-class and the newly arrived Puerto Rican immigrants who settled in Alphabet City.

During the 50s, widely influential cultural movements emerged in the neighborhood, including Bebop, the Beatniks and the Abstract Expressionism; In the 60s, the “alternative” arts and theater experiments and radical activism; Nuyorican music, arts and poetry of the 1970s; the Urban Contemporary Graffiti and Pop artists of the 80s, truly an age of experimentation and creativity in America.

St. Marks place (as well as the greater lower East Side) has played an important role in political, artistic, social, and medical advancements in the United States. Some of the worlds most influential people spent time here.

So, next time your strolling around comparing prices on everything from tattoos to bubble tea, consider the following events in St. marks history:

4 ST. MARKS PLACE:
The Hamilton-Holly House is an 1831 landmarked, Federalist style building which has housed the clothing store Trash And Vaudeville since 1971 (and has sold spandex to famous and not so famous rock and rollers ever since.)

Founding-Father Alexander Hamilton’s widow and his son’s family were the original occupants in 1833 (Alexander Hamilton was killed in a pistol duel with Arron Burr a few years prior.)

8 ST. MARKS PLACE:
In the 1860s this was the site of Madame VanBuskirk’s abortion clinic; by the 1870, it was home to the New York Cooking School; by 1888, it was home to an Italian Restaurant where the city’s first mafia killing was recorded.

17 ST. MARKS PLACE:
In 1885, this was the site of the first Hebrew-Christian Church in America, whose goal was to convert Jews to Christianity.

19-25 ST. MARKS PLACE:
Now home to a sprawling mini-mall, this was originally the site of three buildings built by Thomas E. Davis in the 1830s. It was, in different incarnations, the site of everything from a National Guard riot, a German singing hall, a Polish community center, a banquet hall which hosted speeches by Theodore Roosevelt and William Randolph Hurst; and a famous mob shoot-out.

Oh, that is just up until the first half of the 20the century. By the 1960s, this was home to the famous Electric Circus and Dom nightclub, which hosted performances by Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead and gave birth to the careers of Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground, among others.

24 ST. MARKS PLACE:
This building housed the offices of the Children’s Aid Society in the 19th century. The Children’s Aid Society was founded in 1853 on 9th Street and Avenue B (across from St. Brigid’s Church) where between 1853 and 1929, more than 150,000 abandoned, abused and orphaned children were rescued from the streets and slums of New York City and taken by train to start new lives with families on farms across the country.

In just a five-month period over the winter of 1875, the Children’s Aid Society’s five Manhattan lodging sites provided lodging for 68,982 needy, and served about 277,200 meals.

28 ST. MARKS PLACE:
From 1967-71 the storefront was occupied by Underground Uplift Unlimited (UUU), a head shop that invented and produced iconic buttons and posters with slogans like “Make Love, Not War” and “More Deviation, Less Population”. UUU was the largest seller of protest pins in the country and sold hundreds of different political, social and Vietnam protest pins for 25 cents each, many of which today can be worth hundreds of dollars.

30 ST. MARKS PLACE:
In 1967, American counter-culture icon Abbie Hoffman invented the YIPPIE movement in this building, where he lived with his wife Anita Hoffman. The Yippie offices then moved to 9 Bleeker Street (which is now a Yippie museum/cafe).

This is just a SAMPLE from ONE block of St. Marks Place.

To read more details about these events and others, visit: [east-village.com]

The East Village History Project [east-village.com]

There are myriads of reasons that people travel. Business,
adventure, romance and family visits are at the top of the
lists. Obviously, if you are in business you cannot choose
to forego traveling, but should you give up on travel if
your reasons for doing so are personal?

In spite of the recessionary economy, the travel business
is one of the largest global markets. There are still many
companies out there whose business it is to make travelers
comfortable and happy.

The travel market has not shut down because of the economy.
Instead, many travel agencies, hotels, tours and airlines
are coming up with ways to attract customers. They are
making it their priority to help travelers save money and
time on travel. If you do a search over the internet, you
will find that the travel business is alive and well – and
more than willing to customize packages according to your
needs.

Because there are fewer people traveling, prices have
dropped to lows that haven’t been since in years. When they
demand goes down, the prices do too. Those who had given up
on travel plans may be able to find a vacation destination
that suits them. Family packages are just as cheap as ever
and in many cases, less expensive than they were just a
couple of short years ago.

The economic recession has most of us on pins and needles.
An uncertain future and the fear of losing money meant for
nest eggs or retirement has put a tremendous amount of
stress on most people. While you may be tempted to give up
your travel plans, the fact is that with the less expensive
rates available, it may well pay you to take your vacation.
You need rest and relaxation more than ever!

Take a trip to see your family. Discounts on airline
tickets and hotel rates are available right now but the low
rates will not last. When the economy does manage to
recover, prices will go back up and vacations will be less
affordable than they are right now in this troubled economy.

It is worth your time to at least talk to a travel agent
and see what type of package they may be able to put
together for you and your family. It is a travel agent’s
job to find the best deals on the best destinations and
make sure you are completely satisfied with your vacation.
The job description of a travel agent does not change
according to recession. You can count on even better deals
now than you could count on before. When you do choose to
check out an agency, make sure the place has a good
reputation and you will be glad you took advantage of the
affordable travel rates. Don’t let uncertainty keep you
from enjoying a vacation when the recessionary economy has
made it possible for you to take a trip now that otherwise,
you may not be able to afford.

——————————

For the purposes of this article, we shall use a Florida
vacation, which is one of the most favorite vacation
destinations in the United States. The good thing about
Florida is the wealth of things to do; from amusement parks
to the Everglades, a vast variety of interesting adventures
await you. The wonderful thing is that a lot of the
attractions in Florida are free or available at a nominal
cost. A day at the beach will not cost a thing and visiting
the Everglades won’t cost very much at all. Since you will
be saving on vacation accommodation and food, the price of
the pay attractions won’t seem so bad.

The best part about Florida for this example is the number
of vacation rental properties available. Many of these
vacation properties, such as condos and houses, are
available for cheaper than most hotels. Many are available
for only $99 a night! What is spectacular about this price
is the fact that you get a whole house for less than the
cost of a hotel room. In addition to more room, you will
have more privacy. One great part of renting vacation
properties is that many of them have a pool or access to a
pool; often they have hot tubs as well. Why pay more for
one room when you could have an entire house and amenities
for the same price. Holiday accommodation has never been so
easy!

Another attractive aspect that vacation rentals afford is
the central locations many are in. Getting a condo or house
in central Florida allows you to visit sites all over the
state, if you wish. In or near central Florida, you will be
within reasonable driving time of many attractions,
including the ocean. Many of the beloved theme parks in
Florida are located centrally, near or in Orlando, and many
other places can be reached by freeway. This is just
another benefit of self-contained holiday ccommodation in
Florida. Self-catering is the best part of a Florida
vacation; while renting your own vacation property, enjoy
home-cooked meals instead of paying outrageous prices at
the glitz restaurants. Don’t limit yourself to fast food
because of a small budget; enjoy steak and barbequed
chicken in your own private yard. The benefits of
self-catering include the ability to have a large breakfast
before heading to a theme park; this way, you have to have
only lunch and a snack at the park, while later retiring
home to sup.

Enjoying your vacation will be far easier if you save money
on things like accommodations and food. Spend money only on
things that are fun and entertaining. The benefits of
self-catering will include a variety of dinners while
vacationing, an avoidance of fast foods, home-cooked meals,
and money saved. Enjoy your vacation by saving money with
self-catering.

—————————————————-
Richard Greenwood heads up the team at Australian holiday
accommodation website:
http://www.makemystay.com.au
The site connects travellers seeking quality accommodation
directly with the owners of independent self contains
holiday apartments, cottages and homes.

Problem is, it can be a bit of a crapshoot making your
selection. Everybody advertises with words like “romantic”
and “special,” but not all getaways will measure up to your
standards. What to do?

Sometimes, as with our recent trip to the Central
California Coast, it’s just the luck of the draw. We
happened on a place that, on the outside, looks a bit
ordinary. But its location was perfect so we took a chance.
We’re glad we did.

We found our little diamond in the rough in the coastal
village of Cayucos, a burg of a couple thousand people -
most of whom seemed to be out of town during our spring
visit. It’s just north of Morro Bay and is located on
Estero Bay, where you’ll find top grade packing sand
stretched out before you on a long, wide beach with waves
that seemed to be created especially for mid-level surfers.
The town is situated against a backdrop of the greenest
hills you’ll find in California.

On the Beach Bed and Breakfast is situated on precisely the
best property in town – just footsteps from the pier, as
you might have guessed. Everything is within walking
distance – several restaurants, a grocery store, shops of
all persuasions and, of course, the beach.

On the Beach is a relatively new inn and the owners
obviously have put a lot of thought into how to make the
rooms memorable. Each room is about 50% larger than a
standard hotel room, and the high ceilings add to the
spacious feel. Balconies open to a wide view of the beach
and the pier. With our second story unit, we felt secure
enough to open the balcony door for the night and let the
sounds of the ocean waves lull us into a very restful sleep.

Our first clue that this was a special place was the
guestbook We started reading through two years’ worth of
entries and began to blush. Not that it was X-rated, but
let’s just say if those walls could talk, they’d have a few
stories to tell. One couple shared with future guests their
experience of spending an entire 24 hours in the room,
where they said they had plenty to keep them occupied.

It’s a bathrobes-in-the-closet, chocolates-on-the-pillow
kind of place, replete with the oversized whirlpool tub
that, on high speed, pounds every one of your aching
muscles back into shape. Special touches include plush
pillow-top mattresses with elegant duvet style bedspreads
and matching decorator pillows and shams. There is a
hand-painted side table and two fabric-covered side chairs
as well as a Queen Anne armchair with matching ottoman.
Primp yourself in the freestanding full-length mirror. If
you need a fireplace, you have one. Even the walls are
unique – no ordinary wallpaper here, but Fortuni paper that
helps to give the accommodations the look you would find in
an exclusive boutique hotel.

Also under the heading of “extras you don’t always get with
your romantic getaway,” we would put the three mini-meals
offered free daily. Not only is there a continental
breakfast each morning down in the lobby bar, but there is
a mid-afternoon wine-tasting, and an early evening dessert
buffet.

We didn’t feel we necessarily had to spend 24 straight
hours in our room, so we were rather quick, really, to hop
down to the beach and pier. The pier’s a little like being
on a boat – it’s just rickety enough that the end of it
sways while you are rethinking your decision to walk to the
end of the pier. But the pier does offer a birds-eye view
of the surfers below (which, I swear, spend 20 minutes
paddling for every one minute they are riding), and it
really gets exciting when they jump OFF the pier into
frothy water so far below it was scary.

The requisite seagulls were out in force, helping to
validate our seaside adventure and add to the overall
ambience. The town is just two or three blocks long,
depending on how you define a block. A couple doors up is
Schooner’s Wharf – highly recommended to us for dinner but
closed for spring cleaning during the short time we were in
Cayucos. The Pier Café was a good substitute though -
superb clam chowder and great fish combinations served in
rather unpretentious surroundings just footsteps from – you
guessed it – the pier.

Note to husbands and boyfriends: The shops in Cayucos open
kind of late so tell your significant other that you want
to be sure and allow time for shopping and have scheduled
shopping for very first thing in the morning so as not to
miss it. Plan lunch in San Luis Obispo and, when the shops
are – surprise – not open, explain to your significant
other that, while you’re deeply disappointed, you will need
to get on the road in order to have time to explore San
Luis Obispo.

There is plenty to do in Cayucos, so it’s not mandatory to
leave. The California Coastal Trail is a nine-mile
round-trip hike through the bluffs and beaches of Cayucos.
More beaches are down at the Cayucos State Beach. There’s a
fresh water pool at Hardie Park, which is a short walk from
On the Beach. And, up the road about 25 miles is Hearst
Castle.

From the looks of On the Beach guestbook, not many folks
made it as far as Hearst Castle. A lot of the past guests
seemed fairly content to limit their exploration to the
inside of their room. At least it would seem that most
people found this to be a very special romantic getaway
indeed.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Cayucos is about 20 miles north of San Luis Obispo
and just four miles from Morro Bay, where you will find
many additional restaurants and tourist services. On the
Beach in is easy to find in Cayucos. Just go to the pier.

WHAT: On the Beach is a rare find: great accommodations in
a perfect place with friendly innkeepers. Rooms are
surprisingly luxurious and well-appointed with mini-kitchen
facilities.A whirlpool is in the room, and a hot tub is on
the inn’s roof top. The beach is out your door and window.

WHEN: Reasonably good year-round weather means this
destination is good anytime. It’s nippier in the winter and
much cooler than beach temperatures in Southern California.
But in spring and summer it warms up nicely. Midweek, you
can pretty much have the place to yourself in the spring.

WHY:  It’s a great getaway from either Los Angeles or San
Francisco and is almost equi-distant. A wonderful place to
restore your spirit and forget about work.

HOW: Call the inn directly at 877-995-0800 or visit
www.californiaonthebeach.com.

——————————

The flight was part of a test to analyze the fuels effect on mechanical systems, as well as to assess the economic viability of conducting more ‘Green Flights”.

The fuel was derived from algae and jatropha plants and was used in only one engine. Sounds like a big step in the right direction. Read more on being Green at GreenandReady.com

While not on a par with Squaw Valley or Heavenly or other
major California ski resorts, the Bear Valley ski area is
still a prime candidate for a weekend or even an extended
skiing vacation. As we discovered in early February, Bear
Valley offers a surprisingly complete ski vacation
experience – no frills, to be sure, but still rewarding and
well worth the trip deep into the Sierra Nevada range.

If designer clothing stores, zillion-dollar condos, and
Hollywood-style glitz are part of your criteria for a ski
vacation, this ski area might not be the best choice. If
wide-open ski runs, no lift lines and plenty of groomed
snow are more important to you, then by all means give Bear
Valley a try.

Coming originally from the Pacific Northwest, we could not
help but compare Bear Valley to one of our favorite ski
areas in Washington state – a place called Mission Ridge in
a town named Wenatchee. Since the population in that area
is small compared to the cities that feed Stevens Pass,
Snoqualmie and Crystal Mountain, Mission Ridge is able to
maintain plenty of wide open space on its ski runs, even on
weekends.

Similarly, Bear Valley is less accessible than the many
larger ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area. Bay area and
Sacramento residents can drive Interstate 80 to the Tahoe
area and find a selection of ski resorts a short distance
off the interstate. To reach this ski area, you have to
drive two-lane roads through the foothills and mountains
for close to 100 miles.

But when you get there, most skiers and snowboarders will
find it’s worth it. Our mid-week skiing was some of the
best we’ve experienced – plenty of groomed intermediate
terrain serviced by a variety of lifts that never seemed to
have lines. It was ski down the run, get right on the chair
and do it all again and again until just a few hours into
our day we were growing exhausted. We probably skied in
four hours what it would take us a full day to do at a
resort with moderate lift lines.

There are no gondolas or high-speed quad chairlifts at Bear
Valley, although there are 10 lifts altogether, mostly
doubles and triples. About 1280 acres are available for
skiing and snowboarding; some 100 acres are in an area
where they can make snow – although at 7,750 feet, it’s
likely Mother Nature will supply all the snow you need.

We mentioned the intermediate skiing because that’s our
favorite – but rest assured this ski area has many black
diamond or expert ski runs for those looking for more of a
challenge.  The day lodge is situated mid-mountain with
lifts going both up the mountain to 8495 feet, and coming
to the lodge from the lower part of the mountain. Most of
the expert runs are located on the lower mountain.

The area’s day lodge also was wide open and easy to
navigate. Instead of masses of people waiting in line to
get their food and find a place to sit, we stepped right up
and got our cooked-to-order Philly cheesesteak sandwiches
in just a few minutes. And there was no shortage of menu
options – lots of different types of food from sandwiches
to Asian cuisine, from soups and salads to major meals.

But the Bear Valley experience is much more than a daytrip
- or at least it should be given the time it takes to get
to the ski area. For our trip we booked lodging at the Bear
Valley Lodge, one of just a few hotel-type facilities near
the mountain. Located about three miles from the mountain,
the Bear Valley Lodge seems to be the hub of activity in
the area and proved to be a good choice for accommodations.
While showing some of its age – it was built in the 60’s -
the lodge proved to be a comfortable, convenient base of
operations. A ski shuttle bus will take you to the
mountain, and you can even ski all the way back to the
lodge.

When we say comfortable, we are not comparing the lodge to
the high-end condos you find at most major ski resorts. The
rooms at Bear Valley Lodge are more like a motel unit with
two double beds a bath area and a TV/entertainment area
that included HBO. But small touches – such as the bay
window looking out onto the snowy landscape or the pine
furniture – helped to make this feel much cozier than a
motel room.

The four floors of rooms at the Bear Valley Lodge look out
onto the Cathedral Lounge, a large open space in the middle
of the lodge that offers guests a place to sit and read and
enjoy the fire in the massive stone fireplace. Photos are
mounted along the walls depicting the history of the lodge
and Bear Valley ski area. Celebrities such as Spider
Savich, Claudine Longet,  Merv Griffin and several others
are shown skiing or otherwise enjoying Bear Valley.

Adjacent to the lounge are several shops including an
old-fashioned general store – with a deli to get quick
sandwiches and soups – and a surprisingly complete ski shop
with all of the latest ski equipment, clothing and
accessories. But keep in mind this is not the type of
resort where you can spend hours shopping when you’re not
on the slopes; your down time here most likely will be
spent in front of the fire reading a good book.

During our brief stay we dined in the lodge’s Grizzly
Lounge – mainly because the other lodge restaurant, the
Creekside Dining Room, was closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The
lounge food was good and included a few menu items from the
Creekside. We did learn that the Creekside has recently
employed a well-educated and accomplished chef that has
proven both creative and popular with guests – so we were
disappointed we didn’t get a chance to sample the Creekside
cuisine.

We also enjoyed a meal down at BaseCamp, a lodge that is
just a short walk from the Bear Valley Lodge and the only
other hotel-style lodging this close to the ski area. The
meal at BaseCamp was well prepared and we especially
enjoyed learning more about Bear Valley from our English
waitress who chose to move here from England because of the
area’s excellent intermediate skiing. The BaseCamp,
incidentally, offers the lowest cost rooms in the area with
“bathroom down the hall.”

There are also condo and cabin rentals available in the
Bear Valley area, as well as the Tamarack Lodge further
west on Highway 4. Prices in general will be less at
BaseCamp, moderate at the Bear Valley Lodge and Tamarack,
and more when you rent an entire vacation home.

While in the area, there are several small towns and
attractions that are worth a stop if you have the time. To
reach Bear Valley in winter, you’ll be traveling through
the historical town of Angel’s Camp and then a similar but
smaller Gold Rush town called Murphys.

But our suggestion would be to allow plenty of time for
skiing. You’ll want to ski or board Bear Valley just as
long as the weather – and your legs – will hold out.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Bear Valley Ski Resort is on Highway 4, about 52
miles from the foothills town of Angel’s Camp, and 130
miles from Sacramento.

WHAT: Bear Valley is a throwback to skiing in the ’60’s and
’70’s – no high-speed quads or gondolas but lots of wide
open groomed terrain in a gorgeous setting.

WHEN: Winter gets plenty of snow for skiing and other snow
sports; the area also is a popular summer recreation area
with numerous lakes, hiking trails and a pristine forest.

WHY: It’s refreshing to ski where there are no lift lines
and little pretense – most of the “beautiful people” went
to Colorado; the home-growns stayed here. Economically,
this ski vacation is quite affordable.

HOW: For more information on Bear Valley Ski Resort, phone
(209) 753-2301 or visit www.bearvalley.com.

—————————————————-

Brisbane is located on Australia’s east coast and is the
capital of Queensland. With a population of around 1.9
million people it is the country’s third largest city after
Sydney and Melbourne. There is a good rivalry between
cities in Australia and residents of the southern cities of
Sydney and Melbourne often joke of Brisbane being a big
country town and not as happening as their cities. Brisbane
may be a more relaxed city which is no bad thing but this
city can compete in other ways with excellent cafes and
restaurants, an excellent music and nightlife scene and
plenty to see and do. You can’t help but enjoy the
sub-tropical climate and are bound to enjoy many days of
sunshine in Brisbane.

Getting there: From within Australia you can easily reach
Brisbane by air or road. Brisbane airport is well served by
all the major domestic airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Blue
and Jetstar. It’s about a ninety minute flight from Sydney
to Brisbane and around two hours from Melbourne. If you’re
traveling by road then it’s a good ten hours on the road
from Sydney so best to break it up if possible and explore
some of the coast on the way up such as Byron Bay or Coffs
Harbour. If you’re coming to Brisbane from overseas then
the airport is well served with direct flights from Asia
and connections from other parts of the world such as
Europe and the US. Airlines that fly into Brisbane include
Singapore airlines, Emirates, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.
Once you land you can either get the Air train into the
city or catch a taxi which will take around 20-25 minutes
to get into the city.

Getting Around: Once you in Brisbane the central areas can
be accessed easily by foot or public transport. The public
transport is operated under the name of TransLink and
allows the use of a single ticket for bus, rail and ferry.
Make sure you explore the river using the fast and smooth
City Cat catamaran ferries. If you’re staying in the CBD
itself or near the river precinct of Southbank then you
will be able to explore much of the centre easily by foot.
The city centre is quite compact. However, if you need to
get further away from the centre then Brisbane sprawls out
a long way and you may find car rental a good option. There
are many Brisbane car rental companies to choose from
including all the big names and a number of local low cost
operators. A word of warning. If you choose a low cost car
rental firm then read the small print in detail. A couple
of the firms charge admin and other fees in the event you
cause damage to the car and hide this in reams of small
print on the contract.
What to do: Brisbane has plenty to do but here are a few
suggestions to get you started. * Explore the river via the
Citycat ferries. Check out the luxury houses along the way
and make stops to see New Farm Park or get off at Bretts
Wharf to visit the new cruise ship terminal called Portside
Wharf with riverside shops and restaurants. *  Visit
Southbank Parklands on the other side of the river to the
city. Stretching along the river for over a kilometre this
area is home to great cafes and restaurants, Streets beach
which is an artificial beach and lagoon which is free all
year round and is home to the cultural heart of Brisbane
with the performing arts centre, galleries and museums. *
Visit the eat street areas of the inner city suburbs of
West End, Paddington and Oxford Street in Bulimba. *  Shop
on the Queen Street Mall in the CBD which features a great
range of stores including department stores Myer and David
Jones. *  Play a game of bare foot bowls at Merthyr Bowls
Club on Oxlade Drive in New Farm. Access is easy via the
Citycat ferry using the New Farm Parklands stop. *  Head
east to Moreton Bay and take a ferry over to North
Stradbroke Island, one of the largest sand islands in the
world and home to some great beaches. *  Use Brisbane as a
base for nearby destinations such as the Gold Coast, the
Sunshine Coast and Australia Zoo which is one hour north of
Brisbane by road.

Where to stay: There is a wide range of Brisbane
accommodation on offer. The good news is that much of the
Brisbane accommodation on offer is of a very good standard
and good value.

At the more expensive end of the spectrum are the big hotel
chains in the city centre such as the Hilton, Marriot and
Sofitel. These have the advantages of good location and
facilities though value for money is sometimes not as good
as the alternatives.

One of the best Brisbane accommodation options is the use
of self contained holiday accommodation such as holiday
apartments for rent. There are a good number of serviced
apartments available in the city centre and nearby areas
such as South bank parklands. The serviced apartments tend
to be great value for money, especially for families who
might otherwise need two hotel rooms. The apartments offer
bedrooms, separate living areas with a full kitchen. As
well as getting much more space than a hotel room you can
also save money by cooking some of your meals in the
kitchen rather than having to east every meal out.

When to go: Almost any time of the year is good for a visit
to Brisbane as it has a warm sub-tropical climate and over
three hundred days of sunshine per year. If you are used to
colder climates then you may find the summer months of
December to February a little hot. The temperatures during
these months often range between 28c and 34c as well as
being humid. These summer months are also the wettest. You
don’t tend to get many dull and dreary days with rain
though. Typically they come in the form of thunderstorms
that build up during the day and are short but sharp!

Personally my favorite times of the year for Brisbane are
the in between seasons of Spring and Autumn which are still
nice and warm but not too hot or humid. Winter in Brisbane
is not exactly cold either. Winter is the driest time in
Brisbane so expect a good number of sunny days.
Temperatures drop to single digits at night in winter but
still often reach the low twenties by the middle of the day.

Brisbane is increasingly a popular destination for
Australian and international travelers so make sure you
make it part of your trip.

——————————

In addition, the Hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Bradley Pacana, is now a board member of The Philadelphia Green Hospitality Association, an eco friendly association in Philadelphia.  In his new role, Pacana hopes to further the eco friendly association’s mission where hospitality and environmental professionals can join together to create sustainable “Green” practices.

The Rittenhouse Hotel, located at 210 West Rittenhouse Square, has received five out of five stars from Allstays.com for its Green practices.  The hotel uses cotton towels and sheets, promotes green aspects, educates guests, participates in Green Programs, has non-smoking rooms, and performs environmental cleaning.

The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia at Ten Avenue of the Arts has also received five stars for its green initiatives.  The hotel has been recognized for its towel and sheet programs, energy conservation, composting, fresh air, water conservation, and durable service items.

Located at One Logan Square, Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel is recognized as a green hotel for diverting some 120,000 pounds of kitchen waste a year by sending table scraps to a farm to be composted.  The hotel saves a big chunk of change on dumping fees and the compost is brought back to the hotel to much flowerbeds.

If you are planning a trip to Philadelphia soon, be sure to stay at one of these recommended green hotels in the 8^th most sustainable city in the United States.

Dine at a Green Restaurant in Philly

Surely you will need to eat at some point during your stay in Philadelphia.  If you would like to stay with your “Green” theme while here, you are in luck.  In the restaurant business there are so many little things that restaurants can do to help the environment and make positive change.

The White Dog Café, located at 3420 Sansom Street, is a not-to-be-missed destination for organic and sustainable food.  Management has a passion for eco-friendly practices and cuisine is American with an innovative mix of Native American and South East Asia accents.  Dinner features incredible options like sherry cumin-glazed lamb sirloin, seared Alaskan halibut, and pan-crisped Peking duck breast.

The Pita Pit, located at 1601 Sansom Street, is Philadelphia’s first certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association.  For less than $7, meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans can sink try a pita bursting with toppings, cheese and house-made sauce.  The Pita Pit employs a low-water system, biodegradable cutlery and carryout bags, and a strict recycling program and has reduced its carbon footprint by sourcing local food.  The Philadelphia Pita Pit makes sure to use compact florescent lighting, motion sensor lighting in bathrooms, sustainable food (vegetarian vegan options), non-toxic cleaning supplies, a local produce company to minimize fuel and consolidate orders to decrease deliveries, bleach free recycled napkins and bags and besides recycling, their employees use personal mugs and silverware to minimize waste.  They also refrain from using Styrofoam. The Pit will continue to meet the marks / criteria provided by the Green Restaurant Association by implementing four new environmental steps per year.

You will also want to try Derek’s Restaurant, at 4411 Main Street, which serves locally sourced organic food.  With deals like a three-course lunch for $20 or a three-course dinner for $30 offered daily, you can taste a lot without breaking the bank.  Derek’s features fancy cocktails, brilliant dinner creations and tasty desserts.

For you seafood lovers, check out Otolith Sustainable Seafood at 143 -147 West Girard Avenue.  This restaurant is an ambitious venture which seeks to raise the local profile of sustainable seafood – products caught in American waters by those taking factors like population count, waste and fuel costs into consideration. Otolith offers hard-to-find fresh-frozen seafood, ranging from smoked black cod, pink shrimp and spot prawns to Bering Sea scallops and five types of salmon.

Recently opened Root Restaurant at 1033 Spring Garden Street is another great choice. The message is straight forward and the message is clear; simple presentation of the finest ingredients available. All menu items are made in-house; from the bread to the maple bacon ice cream. Meats are organic and the produce comes from local farms.

Notable Sustainable Sites
If you would enjoy eating and experiencing a truly sustainable site in the city, check out the recently completed Comcast Center at 17^th and Arch Streets, the tallest building in Philadelphia standing at 975 feet tall. With its ambitious incorporation of eco-friendly technologies, the Center is also the country’s tallest “Green” building.

The cutting edge sustainable design of the Center can be found in nearly every aspect of the building.  The Comcast Center uses 40 percent less water than a typical office building, and fixtures will save more than three million gallons of drinking water annually.  Waterless urinals in all restrooms will save 1.2 million gallons of urinal-water use every year.

Shading on the plaza reduces the heat-island effect caused by pavement by 70 percent.  A glass curtain blocks 60 percent of heat while allowing 70 percent of the sun’s visible light, reducing energy used for air conditioning while utilizing natural light to its fullest.  An under-floor water loop is used to cool the winter garden and the sixth floor atrium floor during the summer and warm it during the water, saving energy.

Another one of the new building’s main draws is its awesome selection of eateries. The Market at Comcast Center, located right below the building’s main lobby, has more than 24,000 square feet of food retail and some 20 storefronts for your enjoyment.

Places like Bucks County Coffee Co., Di Bruno Bros., LaScala’s, Mexican Post, Sook Hee’s Produce, Susanna Foo’s Dumpling Kitchen, Under the “C” gourmet seafood and Tokyo Sushi give you a wide variety of culinary tastes to try.

Sustainable Transportation
While you are enjoying staying at these Green hotels, eating at Philly’s sustainable hotspots and seeing Green sites, don’t forget to save some gas in an effort to Go Green.  Why not try a popular car-sharing program?  Philly Car Share or Zipcar are two of the major players, and they have several convenient locations around the city.  Philly Car Share is one of the largest regional car-sharing programs in the United States.  They recently lowered their mid-week rates on hybrids and also offer free rail passes so customers can get to and from the car share location.  Membership-based ZipCar has over 20 spots to pickup cars.  Both programs are cheaper than regular car rental and allow you to return the car at any time, without the hassle of a line.

Or try the City’s public transportation options.  The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) offers a line that connects directly to the airport and $7 gets you to 30^th Street Station for an Amtrak connection or to Suburban Station, where Philly’s day guests can purchase regional rail tickets for destinations outside the city.  Bus, subway, and trolleys are $2 per ride, or $1.45 if you purchase multi-packs of tokens.

Karen Toner is a free lance writer for ExplorerPod.com

Our recent weekend in L.A. reminded us of just how much
there is to see and do in that city at any time of the
year. We visited places we knew as well as attractions we
were exploring for the first time. We did a lot of things
right, but also learned some lessons for future trips to
the city. But, most important, we simply had fun.

On this trip we combined a little business with pleasure
and that meant I had to be in the city for business before
my wife and daughter could join me. Schools nowadays are
getting a little touchy about letting kids out for their
parents’ vacations or getaways, even though we still
maintain our eight-year-old daughter is indeed learning
something every time she travels.

So we decided my family would join me, after school was
out, by taking the Amtrak train from the San Diego area
into L.A. where I would pick them up. The trip up on the
train was just a couple of hours, so that part went fine.
The problem was it took me only slightly less time to
travel from Santa Monica to the downtown LA train station.
That’s 15 miles in one hour, 45 minutes. You do the math.

Note to travel diary: Never plan to do any L.A. driving on
a late Friday afternoon. Weekend visits should start Friday
morning or Saturday morning – but not Friday afternoon.

Aside from that little miscalculation, our trip from that
point forward was fun, relaxed and full of interesting
things to do. We checked into the Hotel Oceana, a
completely updated, upscale lodging on Santa Monica’s
picturesque Ocean Avenue, where our third-floor suite had
spectacular views of the ocean and, in the distance,
Catalina Island. This hotel proved to be ideally located
near the beach as well as the popular Downtown Third Street
Promenade shopping district.

The mood of the Hotel Oceana is colorful and breezy and
what you would expect to find in a Caribbean resort.
Entering our suite, we were struck by the colors – bright
yellows, greens, pinks – and by the spaciousness. If you’re
looking for a suite that has lots of room to move around
in, this is your place. The bedroom was a typical size, but
the living room area had room for a couch, table and
chairs, and then another whole section of the room that had
a small dining table, mini-bar, and work desk.

Both rooms had picture windows offering panoramic views of
the ocean. A big-screen flat panel television also was
available, and the bath area was also unusually spacious
with a tile bathtub enclosure as well as a European
spa-style shower. A double marble vanity rounded out the
stylish bathroom decor.

Such attractive accommodations just seem to put you in the
right mood for a weekend of exploration and good times.
After dinner and an early turn-in, we were up early
Saturday ready to spend some time in Santa Monica as well
as at nearby attractions we had selected.

Santa Monica is a playground for L.A. TV and movie people
that is all neatly compressed into 8.3 miles strategically
bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains on one side and the
Pacific Ocean on the other. The words “trendy” and “hip”
seem to pop up a lot in the descriptions of the some 400
restaurants packed into this little piece of real estate.
Throw in a few art galleries, some luxury hotels and – oh
yes – celebrities, and you have the makings of an
eye-popping diversion from your everyday hometown.

As we took a short walk to the Santa Monica Pier, it seemed
like half of L.A. was down here jogging or walking. Wide,
tree-lined and well-landscaped Ocean Avenue stretches along
the coastline offering about as pretty a downtown street as
you’ll see considering this is all modern office buildings
and not historic mansions.

The Santa Monica Pier is the dominant feature on the
water’s edge – and also over the water — and is a favorite
for families. The pier is home to a variety of fascinating
tourist shops, carnival rides, seafood and other
restaurants and even a trapeze school that was drawing a
crowd every time one of the students would go up and risk
life and limb to swing on the high trapeze.

Just up from the pier are blocks and blocks of shopping in
the popular Downtown Third Street Promenade, an area where
city fathers have taken a street and turned it into a
pedestrian mall. There are fascinating shops and an unusual
number of movie theaters along this walkway that seems to
attract people from all walks of life – young and old,
wealthy on down to the homeless.

Santa Monica is only a few miles from Hollywood so, just
for fun, we decided to drive over to the Hollywood Museum,
near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Hollywood
Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood. The museum does not
advertise much and has been building its business through
word of mouth and walk-in traffic since it opened just a
few years ago. Gradually the word has gotten out that this
four-story museum is loaded to the rafters with props and
memorabilia from hundreds of Hollywood’s most famous movies.

The items on display cover both movies and television and
span the history of motion pictures. You’ll see things like
Sylvester Stallone’s boxing gloves from Rocky, or a
complete selection of Marilyn Monroe’s dresses, or the
actual jail cell where Anthony Hopkins was incarcerated in
the Silence of the Lambs. Big displays are presented for
movies like Dreamgirls, Gone with the Wind, Planet of the
Apes and many more. Walls are lined with old Hollywood
publicity photos of the stars and famous Hollywood
restaurants and haunts. Located in the old Max Factor
building, the museum truly is a trip down memory lane and
is well worth spending an hour or two immersing yourself in
all things Hollywood.

On Sunday, we drove over to another L.A. attraction we had
always wanted to visit:  Will Rogers State Historic Park,
just three miles from our base at the Hotel Oceana. The
famous writer and celebrity made his home in Beverly Hills,
but had a weekend ranch in the hills above Sunset
Boulevard. Rogers moved to the ranch in 1928 and eventually
the small original cottage was enlarged to its present size
of 31 rooms. Rogers loved horses and the entire household
has a Western feel with its Indian rugs and baskets,
saddles and even a polo field on the property where Rogers
could indulge in one of his favorite pastimes. The park
service offers a brief 20-minute tour of the house that is
both interesting and entertaining.

A lot of people visit the Will Rogers State Historic Park
simply to take advantage of the park-like grounds and the
trails you can walk on the 186-acre property. We took the
loop trail, which is a moderate hike that offers panoramic
views of Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills – a great
place to get a little exercise while sampling what seem to
be an endless number of L.A. attractions.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Santa Monica is just west of Los Angeles and on the
coast south of Malibu. It’s easy to reach by taking
Interstate 405 or Interstate 5 to Interstate 10 and driving
west.

WHAT: Santa Monica’s a great base of operations for a
myriad of attractions, from Hollywood to Malibu.

WHEN: The weather in Los Angeles is sunny most of the year
- about 343 annual days of sunshine to be exact – so
there’s no bad time to visit.

WHY: The scenery’s great, but there’s also an electricity
that comes with a getaway so close to celebrities and the
entertainment business.

HOW: For more information on Santa Monica, visit the Santa
Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.santamonica.com.

From Seattle Center to Westlake Center to the Pike Place
Market, the usual visitor attractions become just a little
more special on a chilly winter’s day. Throngs of excited,
bundled-up families and couples sample the seasonal
offerings at Westlake such as Quest carousel rides, or the
kettle corn and elephant ears nearby. Vendors make balloon
animals for the kids while loud Christmas music blares in
the background making sure no one misses out on Seattle’s
holiday spirit.

Make it an overnight trip and it’s even better. First,
you’ll be sure to see the numerous Christmas lights along
downtown streets including the famous star on Macy’s, the
Space Needle lights and many other special seasonal
touches. And, by staying overnight, you can turn a shopping
trip into a true getaway.

Our base of operations was a Seattle landmark, the
Edgewater Hotel. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember that
the Edgewater was made famous in the mid-60’s when the
Beatles stayed in one of the waterfront rooms and caught
fish out their window. In fact, it became the obvious
choice for many famous rock groups that came into town
during that period to play for one of Pat O’Dea’s
spectacular rock concerts. Read More On Seattle…..

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is offering a Stay and Ski for Free package from November 26 through December 17, 2008 area lodging properties in Gunnison, Almont, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested are working together to bring you a great deal! Just buy lodging and get two FREE lift tickets. For every night you purchase, you get two FREE lift tickets (based on double occupancy)! It’s that simple. Visit GCBSkiFree.com for details!

Just a 4 hour drive from Denver without the I-70 traffic (you actually get to drive and not use your brakes)!; 3 scenic hours from Colorado Springs and 3 easy hours from Grand Junction. What are you waiting for? Visit GCBSKIFree.com

When it comes to rivers, we offer a wide variety. Test the limits of your larynx with a rapids-inspired rush. Or give your adventurous self the day off with a leisurely ride down a lazier river. Just you, your tube and not a care in the world.

Read More on Texas and watch the video.

But let’s start by answering the fundamental question of
all would-be scramblers. How do you define scrambling? It’s
a pastime somewhere between steep walking and rock
climbing. It’s not really climbing, but it certainly isn’t
hill-walking (known as fell walking in this part of the
world). You’ll always need your hands to hold on – together
with your feet and any other spare part of your anatomy!

If you want something more exciting than fell-walking,
scrambling is an exciting step upwards which will add huge
interest to a day out. And for rock climbers, a day spent
scrambling is a great rest-day alternative.

But what may appeal to you most is the chance to get off
the beaten track. Scrambling usually takes place off
conventional trails and footpaths, so even on the busiest
days you have the chance of solitude.

The Lake District has many varied scrambles, ranging from
steep ridges and buttresses to water-filled ghylls and
ravines.  There are many guide books available which take
you through the classic and more challenging routes. They
are graded from 1 to 4 – if you’re a beginner, you’ll want
to start with Grade 1, the easiest.

Although the easiest scrambles are well within a fit
walker’s capacity, unroped scrambling in exposed situations
can present some risks. If you want to try it, make sure
that you are well-briefed, and ensure the weather is
suitable – wet rock in particular can be very dangerous.

To learn more about scrambling contact the British
Mountaineering Council on 0870 010 4878 or visit
www.thebmc.co.uk

And so – you’ve decided you want to try it: where to go
first? Jack’s Rake in the Langdale Pikes is a classic
scramble, well known to generations of walkers.

You start in Langdale from the Stickle Ghyll car park, and
ascend up to Stickle Tarn in one not-so-difficult ascent.
This gives you the chance to survey the Rake, a diagonal
traverse of the face of the crag opposite you. The cut of
Jack’s Rake makes its way from the bottom right to top left
of Pavey Ark – and it’s easy to see. Now’s the time to
rethink your plan for the day if your nerve gives way!

The exposed areas can be seen clearly. If you decide to go
ahead, walk around the tarn to the foot of Jack’s Rake and
look up the crevice in the rock. The first feature point is
a sole Rowan tree about a hundred yards ahead – beyond
that, it’s easier to go on rather than turn around.

For most of the ascent you climb inside a rock groove.
which makes this feel very safe for beginners. Although
there are tight spots the rock channel offers comforting
protection from exposure to the drop down to the tarn.
However, bear in mind that there are some very exposed
sections later on!

After you’ve passed the Rowan tree, there’s a small flat
piece of ground with no edge protection – perfect for
viewing the scenery! The path is wide, but step off and
you’re going to be falling off the cliff and down to the
tarn. Be very careful where you tread!

The next stage of the climb has a few scary moments -
mostly involving smooth rock which is slippery when wet, or
tight crevasses which you cannot squeeze through, and so
must traverse on the edge of the rock face. And near the
final ascent comes the most exposed bit of Jack’s Rake: a
sharp turn to the right to gain the summit, with a sheer
drop below you to the left. Like so many frightening
situations, it’s better if you don’t stop to think, grasp
your handholds firmly, and haul yourself up.

Finishing the scramble is a moment of triumph, and if
you’re a novice Lake District Scrambler it will give you
fantastic memories for years to come!

—————————————————-
The Lake District Guide contains hundreds of pages of
information on Lakes hotels and other accommodation, as
well as restaurants, walks, places to go and things to do.
The full route of Jack’s Rake is included! In fact, we have
all the information you’ll need for a great holiday in the
Lakes. Find us at http://www.lake-district-guides.co.uk

Peddler’s Village

Located in the heart of beautiful Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Peddler’s Village has something for everyone from 70 specialty shops and six restaurants to the luxurious 70-room Golden Plough Inn and the Giggleberry Fair family entertainment center.

Plan a trip to welcome the holidays and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the annual Peddler’s Village Christmas Festival on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7.  The Village grounds will be festively decorated for the holidays with fruit wreaths, and greenery.  By evening, one million twinkling lights will transform the village into a winter wonderland.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 1:30 pm on Saturday in a horse-drawn carriage as part of an old-fashioned parade through the Village to Giggleberry Fair.

Be ready for a mouth-watering holiday extravaganza as you stroll through the Village’s free gingerbread house and competition and display through January 3, 2009.  The competition includes categories such as Traditional, Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building, Amateur, Unusual Three-Dimensional Creation, and Children’s.  This visual delight is on display at the Village Gazebo.

For those of you who would rather make your own holiday decorative wreaths (or as gifts for others), don’t miss the Fruit Wreath Demonstration on Wednesday, December 3^rd from 10 am to 12 noon.  Learn how easy it is to make your own door or window decoration for the holidays from fruit in the traditional Williamsburg style.  Ann McAloan, floral designer and owner of Annie’s Floral Farm in Jaimson, Pennsylvania, will showcase models of different styles and instruct so you can do-it-yourself at home.

The Village has expanded greatly since Earl Jamison founded it 46 years ago.  Today, Peddler’s Village offers its visitors a wide array of dining options, including the Pine, Cock N’ Bull, Sweet Lorraine’s, Hart’s Tavern, Peddler’s Pub, Painted Pony, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, Colonial Kitchen Diner, and House of Coffee.

Longwood Gardens

Christmas at Longwood Gardens, 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows, is an annual event in Kennett Square, PA, that you won’t want to miss.

The Gardens presents ice skating performances at an outdoor rink near the Chimes Tower.  National, world and Olympic skaters – including Olympic pair team Scott and Philip Dulebohn and Olympic ice dancer Alexey Beletsky – perform for 20-minute skating vignettes daily.  Bring your camera!  Skaters will meet and greet the audience and pose for pictures following each performance.

In addition to ice skating, the dazzling floral displays, stunning trees, holiday music, 500,000 outdoor lights, and dancing fountains create a Christmas fantasy at Longwood.  Holiday concerts in the ornate Ballroom include organ sing-a-longs, and evening choral and bell choir performances throughout the season.  While enjoying these sites, feast on scrumptious buffets, including Thanksgiving Buffet, Breakfast with Santa (December 13, 14, 20 and 21), and the Yuletide Buffet.

Center City Philadelphia

If you are visiting Philadelphia this holiday season, don’t worry, there’s plenty to do to enjoy the season here in the heart of the city without travelling to the suburbs.

Be there on December 17 as the magic of the season comes alive as more than a half-million outdoor lights adorn a forest of trees that enchant both young and old.  The Lighting Kick-off ceremony at 6:15 pm occurs at The Bellevue at 200 South Broad Street.  Stay from 5:30 – 7:30 pm to celebrate with ongoing entertainment and food.  Guests will be treated to savory offerings from Cadence Restaurant at the Kimmel Center, The Palm, XIX, Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia, Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, and the Union League of Philadelphia.

Since shopping can sometimes seem “boring” and like a “never ending chore” to those who dread lines, check out the Holiday Light Show and A Christmas Carol’s Dickens Village while at Macy’s at 13^th and Market Streets. Put it on your Macy’s Christmas list so you don’t forget these fabulous holiday events.

The Holiday Light Show (November 28 – December 31) is a Philadelphia tradition that dates back half a century.  This show is spectacular with snowflakes, ballerinas, and reindeer floating beyond the four-story velvet curtain of the Grand Court atrium.  During the show, more than 100,000 bright, energy-efficient LED lights combine to create fantastic holiday images.  The display is accompanied by festive music from the world-renowned Wanamaker Grand Organ.

Squeeze in a family history lesson about the time period of the 1800’s as Dickens Village on Macy’s third floor this holiday season.  Here Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to life with more than 100 fully animated figures reenacting 26 of the story’s most memorable moments.

Written by Karen Toner for ExplorerPod.com

Looking for something uniquely Philly? Check out the Cheese steak wars

It is places like that which can easily be missed, and with them many of the real attractions of Paris, including the Latin Quarter, the artistic Left Bank and Montmartre (named after the hill it surrounds), the only real village left in Paris.  You have to be careful with your choice of tour company if you are not be stuck with nothing more than the popular tourist attractions in Paris and miss the real city.

Most people don’t get the opportunity to visit France very often, so not only is it important to visit the right places in Paris, but also to check out some of the other delights that France has to offer, and there are luxury tours available to Paris and the Riviera available that enable you to make the best of your visit to Europe. The French Riviera, known to the French as the Cote d’Azure, is the playground of Europe, where the jet set spend much of their time (and their money).

You should visit Cannes, famous for its film festival, and also pay a trip to Golfe Juan, situated between Cannes and Juan les Pins, where Napoleon stayed when he escaped from Elba, prior to raising an army and marching off to meet his Waterloo and eventual imprisonment on St. Helena.  Nice is also on the French Riviera, and you can’t possibly visit that part of the world without a visit to Monaco, driving round the famous Grand Prix street circuit and chancing your luck on the tables at Monte Carlo.

There is a lot more to Monaco than just the world-famous beaches and casinos, however. There is the Prince’s Palace, home of the royal family, and where Grace Kelly used to reside when she was Princess here. If you like architecture, the Grand Casino and Paris Opera House are sheer architectural wonders, and for the historically minded there are Monaco Cathedral and the Napoleon Museum, while the Oceanographic Museum is also worth visiting.

Such a vacation is the holiday of a lifetime, and you don’t want your luxury tour to Paris and the Riviera spoiled by poor accommodation and travel, or by unexpected costs for which you might not have budgeted. It is important, therefore, that you make sure that your vacation is all inclusive, even down to free baggage handling at your hotels.

Air travel should be at least business class, and TGV rail travel first class. Your hotels should also be of superior quality, as should your transfers to and from the hotels. A trip to Paris should be one of the highlights of your life, and by including the Riviera on your itinerary, you will make sure that this is the case. Many vacation packages leave you a little disappointed at the end, but if you plan properly and choose the right tours and resorts, organized by some of the most experienced vacation planners in the world, you should have a trip to remember.

However, for the ultimate in luxury tours to Paris and the Riviera, you want personal attention. Not just the attention that a tour guide gives to you and the rest in your group, but to you and your partner personally. You want luxury tours that are designed for two people, and that offer personal limousine travel.  You want your own car, your own driver and your own guide, your own tour round Paris, Cannes and Monte Carlo, and your own dinner table with the flexibility to rearrange timings to meet your personal needs, not those of the majority.

That is true luxury, and if you can’t live better while away from home, then why bother leaving? That’s the type of vacation you should be looking around for, so keep that in mind when searching for luxury tours to Paris and the Riviera.

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If you are seeking luxury tours to Paris and the Riviera that offer you personal service, business class flights and first class rail travel, try http://www.ultitude.com , where you will find tours to Paris that are designed just for you and your partner, offering the highest quality accommodation and cuisine in addition to trips to Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo.

Here are three examples of great getaways for holidays, or for any other time of year that you can take the kids along.

San Francisco

San Francisco has a plethora of attractions for the small-fry ranging from theme parks to museums to aquariums to islands where you can enjoy great hikes and spectacular views of the bay. While many see San Francisco as a  romantic city, the truth is you can have just as much fun when you take the kids along.

Start by booking a Kids Suite, like the one we reserved at the Hotel Union Square in the heart of the city. This is not the kind of place where you’re going to see kids running up and down the hallways or groups of teens hanging out the lobby. This is a more sophisticated hotel that just
happens to offer some of its accommodations in a special format that appeals to families.

While parents will love the fact that this is a boutique hotel – with all the extras that the term implies such as brick walls, mosaic murals, warm colors and stylish furnishings – the kids who share the Kids Suite with Mom and Dad are in for an extra special treat. The suite actually is a spacious high-ceiling corner room that has been subdivided into a parents area and a kids area. A
free-standing partition also serves as a storage device where games, toys, dolls and anything your kids could want are ready to use anytime.

There is a bed for the kids, and on the kids desk is a Mac computer ready to fire up and play games on the internet. But the piece de resistance is the 47″ flat panel HD TV hanging on the wall with a Wii game system attached – an incredibly fun diversion for kids and adults alike. The Wii system lets you play tennis, baseball or golf or other sports by holding remote controls in your hands and “hitting” the ball with the same physical movements you would use in the real sport. We literally spent hours playing these games with our eight-year-old – one of the most unusual and fun experiences we’ve ever had with our kids in a hotel room.

When you do venture outside, there are many family activities in the city, especially near Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39: Aquarium by the Bay, the Venetian Carousel, the Cinemax theater, arcades, street performers and dozens of sea lions napping near the pier. From here, you can take a ferry to Angel Island, a popular island where visitors hike trails and visit more than 100 historical buildings.
Another great attraction in the city is the hands-on science center called the Exploratorium, located near the Presidio at the end of the waterfront near the Golden Gate Bridge. And then there’s Golden Gate Park, where there is a children’s playground including a restored carousel,
Alcatraz Island, where you can take a self-guided tour of the famous prison that was closed in 1963, and the San Francisco Zoo, which offers hours of enjoyment for the whole family.

For more information on Hotel Union Square, phone 1-800-553-1900 or visit www.hotelunionsquare.com.

Resort at Indio

Another “adult” place that can also be fun for the kids is the Greater Palm Springs area. On our most recent trip to the desert we based ourselves a few miles east of Palm Springs in Indio, a comfortable neighborhood, but perhaps less extravagant than some other parts of the valley. Out
on the eastern edge of the valley cities, this area is now undergoing a major transformation with several new housing developments that feature modern, spacious homes set alongside man-made lagoons and canals, all five minutes from the freeway. It is in this same area that a major new
resort complex – the Resort at Indio – was built just in the last few years.

This group of condo-style buildings includes 453 units altogether, built around what almost looks like a water theme park full of swimming pools, whirlpool spas, giant sprinklers for the kids, ponds, canals and even a man-made river to float down on a resort-provided inner-tube. There
are a couple of huge swimming pools – the largest being almost 5,000 square feet. The resort also includes tennis courts, a basketball court, a recreation center with pool, ping-pong and other games, and a modern workout gym.

Given the recreational opportunities, it’s not surprising that the Resort at Indio is especially popular with families. During our visit on an unseasonably warm spring weekend, family groups large and small were taking full advantage of the pools and other facilities. With hundreds
of deck chairs and plenty of space to accommodate them, families were spending hours poolside. Come mealtime, many would walk the short distance back to their condo units and fire up the barbecues available on their decks and patios.

As you might expect, the accommodations are really vacation rentals, not hotel rooms – each unit comes with a complete kitchen, multiple bedrooms, living and dining room areas. Since the resort is almost brand-new, everything is in top shape with the latest appliances, colors and decor.

This is the kind of place where you can settle in for a few days, let the kids play and meet other kids and just relax. Within easy driving distance, you’ll also find fun family excursions such as Patton Museum with its World War II tanks as well as other fighting equipment and memorabilia.
There are many hikes in the general area, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is another fun family adventure.

For more information on the Resort at Indio, phone 800-867-2095 or visit www.greatpricedcondos.com/id/.

Greenhorn Guest Ranch

To our way of thinking, one of the most ideal family vacations we have taken is when we visited Greenhorn Guest Ranch, about an hour’s drive west of Reno in California’s Plumas County.

Sometimes you just know when you’ve come home. Within about 30 minutes of our arrival at Greenhorn, we were chowing down on their Friday night barbecue of scrumptious, fall-off-the-bone ribs with all the fixin’s. The owners of the ranch, Trish and Ralph Wilburn, were strumming their guitars and singing western songs by the campfire. Soon, the kids in the group were scurrying to get their marshmallows and chocolate so they could get more smores than anyone else.

Out there, the Big City might as well have been on the moon; which, incidentally, was just starting to rise to take its place among the sparkling stars visible above the towering dark pine trees’ surrounding the ranch.

The Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch is where you go to get a healthier heart. Not that barbecue ribs and steaks and big breakfasts of bacon and sausage and biscuits are going to unclog your arteries. The heart we’re talking about is the one that helps you look at the world and shape your
reactions to it. It’s the one that sometimes gets a little overwhelmed with the day-to-day and forgets about the big picture.

The big picture is considerably brighter after spending a few days with fellow ranch visitors of all ages, shapes and sizes. Some of the people visiting the Greenhorn know about horses and may even have horses of their own. Others aren’t sure which stirrup to step into first. Some are constantly running from one ranch activity to the next. Others are just content to sit on their cabin porches and inhale the Great Outdoors. Most people who visit the ranch spend at least a couple of hours each day on the back of a horse.

Cabins are cozy and the food’s good at the Chuckhouse dining room. Coming up Thanksgiving Week, the food will probably be pretty spectacular with a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner as well as many holiday activities such as wreath-making and a horse-drawn wagon ride to cut down your own Christmas tree. Guests don’t have to book the entire week; you can come for just a night or two to get a taste of this wonderful family experience.

For more information on the Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch, please go to www.greenhornranch.com or call     1-800-334-6939 .

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered
by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com .

I found out about the Gibbon Experience shortly before I left for Laos. The description of the Gibbon Experience – an eco-tourist forest conservation project where visitors live in canopy-level treetop houses and fly above the rainforest on ziplines – was enough to make my friend Dani and I quickly rearrange all our (admittedly shaky) travel plans and veer up to Bokeo Province.

The “veering” wasn’t as easy as all that. Once on an overnight train from Bangkok to Vientiane, we were confident that an overland trip thorough Laos wouldn’t be that bad; in fact, it’d probably be fun. A relatively painless border crossing at the Friendship Bridge and we were in the Lao capital, Vientiane.

We didn’t get to see much of the capital, so I’ll never know if it had any Western-style attributes that many other Southeast Asian cities possess: malls with high-end shops, chain restaurants, Starbucks. What we saw was a sleepy little city, with temples and wats as in Thailand, no buildings taller than three stories and little English spoken. I needed to buy a camera battery recharger, and so we asked where to get one. We were told in the “big mall” – it turned out to be a vast concrete building with a giant marketplace selling cell phones and washing machines alongside souvenirs and clothes. Upstairs was more of a “mall” environment with individual shops, all very local and very Lao. Its food court, thankfully, had pictures of the dishes, so all we had to do was point. Dani had a Lao phrasebook that never seemed to contain any of the things we wanted to ask. We mostly used sign language.

There was no train to Bokeo Province. The bus station housed double-decker buses that looked quite nice on the outside, but was fairly cramped on the inside. Our bus had a toilet, but the bathroom would be filled with luggage the entire trip, so we couldn’t use it. Dani and I were seated in the way back, against the rear of the bus, on chairs that couldn’t recline anyway. The back row had five bucket seats; we saw that four people had crowded into the three seats next to us.

The trip was about 22 hours. Right before we left, the bus driver distributed plastic bags to all the passengers, to the horror of Dani and I, who thought they were expecting everyone on board to throw up. We found later that this was more of a bag for people’s spit, but it didn’t matter: some of the passengers just spat on the floor anyway. The driver stopped every few hours to allow a bathroom break — usually by a few roadside food stalls, so passengers could buy something to eat, but Dani and I had come prepared with snacks. The bathrooms were usually outhouses, with a “Lao-style” toilet bowl sunk into the ground. A couple of times in the night, the bus stopped for extended periods of time and turned off all its electricity, waking us up within moments when the airflow turned off and the oppressive Southeast Asian heat took over. At random intervals during the night, we were awakened by the blare of very loud Lao pop music. None of the other passengers said a word, and as our Lao language book did not contain the sentence “Please stop annoying us with that noise,” we didn’t either.

We rolled past beautiful rolling landscapes, red clay cliffs, increasingly large mountains, lots and lots of huts with satellite dishes outside, and some really nice, French Colonial-looking houses every once in a while. The roads started to get steeper, the mud started to get deeper and the bus really started to shake, bounce, and pitch. A couple of times it got stuck in the mud, or had to stop behind another vehicle who had. When this happened, we all had to file off the bus and wait for the driver, his helper and a bunch of assorted passengers and passers-by as they got the bus through.

We made it to Louang Prabang, ate an incredibly delicious noodle bowl at the bus stop café, and then got in a mini bus for what should have been a 4-hour trip to Louang Namtha. I squeezed into a seat next to another passenger and Dani curled up on the engine cap between the driver and front-seat passenger, who must have been his wife. We made great time, rolling by scenic Lao mountainsides and villages, when the van suddenly came to a halt. All the traffic around us was stopped. There was a large truck in the middle of the road ahead, completely mired in bumper-high mud, blocking traffic in both directions. We had to wait for hours until a crane and a bulldozer had to clear the area and yank out the truck (which promptly became stuck again about a quarter of a mile later).

The crane then plowed into the red clay and rocks of the mountainside, digging up dry rocky dirt to fill up the mud pits and make the road navigable again, at least until the next downpour. Because it was rainy season, this repair job probably lasted about four hours. Late at night we got to Louang Namtha near the Chinese/Burmese borders. We found a guesthouse, showered, and fell into a grateful sleep.

The Gibbon Experience

The morning after our 30-plus-hour bus odyssey through Laos, Dani and I woke up fully restored after a night on a flat mattress. We stopped for a couple of tropical fruit smoothies — one of the great things about Southeast Asia — and some groceries before getting onto another bus that would take us down, this time, to Bokeo Province and the gibbons. Another fantastic noodle bowl later and we got onto a bus heading toward the Thai border. This trip was relatively uneventful, save for the amazing mountain scenery passing by our window. It took us to Houayxai, a pretty little Mekong River town where the Gibbon Experience office was located. We got a room at a guesthouse near the office, and checked in with them. It seemed that because we had not confirmed our reservation online, we couldn’t go out in the next day’s expedition. I felt like an idiot – I thought that surely, no one else would know about this gibbon thing, right?

Turned out it was hugely popular and drew people from all over the world. We would have to stick around and wait for a couple days to see if anyone canceled their reservations, or failed to show up. We didn’t mind hanging around this cute town for a little while, anyway. It had Lao and Chinese markets, some ornate Buddhist temples (where Dani and I posed with young, orange-clad monks) and a cute little tropical bar with pillows on the ground, art on the walls, candles and incense burning, and a potted marijuana plant for decoration. On our second day there, we got the good news that people had failed to show up, leaving open slots on the next day’s expedition for us to fill.

Our party consisted of Dani and me, plus five others of varying ages and nationalities. Early the next morning we got up early and were driven about two hours into the mountains. The van suddenly stopped at a tiny roadside grocery stand and we were told to get out, because this was the beginning of our trek. It was the rainy season, and the mountain roads weren’t navigable by any vehicle larger than a motorbike. During the dry season, the van would continue to drive up into the mountains closer to the Gibbon Experience, but in the rainy season we had to walk up.

So walk we did — for six hours, under the beating sun, up and down wet clay mountain roads, up and down forest footpaths on muddy ledges no wider than two feet, slipping on the red mud. It seemed as though there were never any flat parts to the trek; it was either up or down, usually pretty steep either way. It was exhausting, dirty, and draining. Five hours in, we reached a tiny village — little huts, this time without satellite dishes, and a tiny store with a bench out front where we collapsed to rest. We gratefully bought water and Cokes, ate, and gathered our strength for the last part of the trek, arguably the hardest. It took a little over an hour, mostly on a very steep and muddy uphill, through the forest. Most of the paths were a series of slippery steps. A few of the people in our group had been traveling and jungle trekking for months, and it wasn’t nearly as rough on them as it was on me. I thought I could possibly die, right there in the Lao jungle. Staggering up the last flight of mud steps, I could hear the sound of laughter and hollering above me … we were finally at the Gibbon Experience.

We had arrived in a clearing with two large hut-like structures. One was an outdoor kitchen where all the Gibbon Experience patrons’ food was cooked on open fire. The other was essentially a giant room for sleeping. It had an outside front porch and a long table. Between the two structures was a volleyball net and about 20 young Lao men, barefoot, playing a volleyball-like game, except with a smaller straw ball, and kicking it instead of using their hands. It was kind of like hacky-sack volleyball. We sat and watched them play for a while. It turned out they were our guides, the local Lao who brought tourists through the jungle, trekking and on zip lines, and who maintained the six tree houses that the Gibbon Experience had built.

One of the guides, named Charlie, distributed climbing harnesses to us all, and we stepped into them and cinched them around our legs and waists. Attached were a safety rope and a zip line wheel pulley, covered in a strip of car tire. The tire was our brake, Charlie told us. He led us into the woods, up and down another muddy path until we got to the first zip line terminal, a steel cable with one end wrapped around a tree and the other extending over the treetops and into the distance.

As we’d learned in our safety video back at the office, each zip line is one-way only. When green tape was wrapped around the cable at the terminal, that meant it was an outgoing line and okay to ride. Red tape indicated it was an incoming line and you couldn’t clip on there. One by one we climbed a wooden platform up the tree, clipped our safety rope into the cable … slid our roller onto the steel cable and locked it into place … undid our safety rope and clipped it onto the zip line … and jumped off the platform, whizzing into the void.

A mixture of panic, as I hurtled over a 3-story drop — and exhilaration, as I flew across the line, my wheel buzzing noisily next to my ear — accompanied that ride and every other time I climbed onto a zip line. I couldn’t believe how much fun it was, like flying, and how unbelievable to look down onto tall treetops and look out over a sweeping green Lao mountainscape.

That first cable took us to Treehouse 1, a necessary point along the Gibbon Experience’s zip-line network. There was one cable leading into the treehouse, and two leading out in different directions. The treehouse itself was a childhood fantasy come true – three levels embedded in the thick fork of a ficus tree, with a kitchen and bathroom, all with running water. The bathroom was the Lao bowl in the ground that … opened up into the void below, where a compost heap fermented. We all chose our beds (cot mattresses on the ground) and took showers. A Lao guide zipped in with a giant bag on his shoulder, from which he unloaded our dinner … meat, rice and vegetables contained in metal camping pots and clamped together. He distributed dinner and grinned as he clipped onto the outgoing line and zipped off, dangling almost upside-down to wave goodbye to us as he flew away.

That night, as we’d been warned, tree rats chattered and scampered around us; one of them chewed through our canvas bed net and ran across my head. We didn’t get much sleep. At dawn I heard a ghostly hooting sound; I thought that must be the biggest owl I’d ever heard. It got closer and closer, until I was convinced he was right above our thatched roof. The next day I learned that was no owl; that was a gibbon, and it would be the closest I would get to a gibbon during my jungle stay.

The next day veered between us using the zip line network — clamping on, zipping, climbing uphill to the next zip line, clamping on, zipping, climbing — until we were exhausted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner came to the tree house via our acrobatic tour guides. We figured they must have the best jobs in the world. We were also visited by forest patrol rangers zipping around the network with AK-47s strapped onto their backs, on the lookout for poachers; and our housekeeper, a young Lao woman who bunched up her native sarong, zipped over, pulled a broom and other housekeeping items from her bag and proceeded to clean our entire treehouse top to bottom before zipping off to the next house.

Go Eileen Go

That night, I wanted to zip again, but nobody else in my group wanted to come. Charlie said he would accompany me – zipping through the forest alone is ill advised – and he and I walked up the muddy jungle paths. He was learning to speak pretty good English. Every time we zipped to another platform, I’d go first and wait for him to follow, and I noticed that both of us had the same huge grins when we landed. It surprised me: any job, no matter how cool, must get kind of routine after a while, right? But he said this was always fun, every day, every time. I believed him. I hated to leave.

Eileen Loh is a freelance writer and World Traveler. You can read more fo her work here

As the city celebrates, there is no excuse for not finding a way to join in the fun.  Here are some suggestions and ideas to help our Phillies fans engage in the playoff spirit.

The best way (and probably most expensive one) to get in on the playoff fun is to attend a World Series game at Citizens Bank Park.  Although standing room tickets usually go for about $14, some fans are paying up to $600 for a chance to stand to see the home team make some home runs! There is plenty to do at the ballpark for fans of all ages – run the bases, play ball park pinball, and try pitch ‘em and tip ‘em in the unique Citizens Bank interactive game area located at the stadium entrance.  Before you partake in the festivities, take a stroll to Ashburn Alley where fans can watch batting practice (with Cole Hamels!) 2 ½ hours prior to game time.  Most importantly, come pumped for the game!

If you want to be real close to the action but just can’t get a ticket, McFadden’s is the place to be.  With 33 HiDef plasma televisions and two giant projector screens, this bar has become the premiere sports destination in Philly.  It makes for the perfect venue to meet pre-game, post-game, or watch the game.  McFadden’s full menu and great draft and bottled beer selections contain something to suit every taste.

There are plenty of ways for the Phillies littlest fans to get in on the spirit too.  First, those littlest will need a friend first! This will mean building a Phanatic friend.  Fans, young and old, can pick out a miniature Phillie Phanatic, stuff it and dress it in one of the Phanatic’s outfits.  This exclusive Citizens Bank Ballpark feature is managed by Build-a-Bear Workshop and is located on the main concourse near Section B5.  With their new (customized!) phanatic friends, children under 8 can head over to the Phanatic Fun Zone where they can climb, explore, play games and have the slide of their life as they venture through the largest play area in Major League Baseball.  After that, head over to the Phanatic Shoe Slide behind Section 317 on the terrace level.

If you are looking to gather with some friends to watch the game but don’t want to have to clean up after, check out these two great Philly sports bars.

Chickies and Petes, well-known in Philadelphia and now parts of South Jersey, is one of, if not the best, locations to watch a big game at in Philly.  In spite of the notion that many patrons are there “just because it’s Chickies” it is hard to ignore these attractive features…

Those crab fries have just the right amount of old-bay seasoning to leave your mouth watering the next day…

Plenty of big-screen televisions…

It’s truly a “Philly Institution” from its very beginning…

The sandwiches on the menu are perfect for game-watching – not too fancy but enough to satisfy your game-time hunger…

Reasonable prices (we won’t approach the Chickies prices at Citizens Bank Ballpark or the Lincoln Financial Stadium since they are not the same…)

For the next big game you should definitely check out Chickies and Petes – after all, ESPN named it the third best sports bar in the country! There is sure to be a convenient location for you, South Philly, Northeast Philly (two locations) or South Jersey (two locations).

Or try the Field House, located in Convention Center near City Hall.  Although this bar is somewhat new and doesn’t have quite the “following” as Chickies does, it will get there one day soon.  This is the only sports bar in Philly to my knowledge that has televisions on every booth table.  Can’t beat it! Saturday afternoons are made easy here for those die-hard college football fans that just have to see two games at once. It’s possible at the Field House with the ability to have one game on the big screen and another game on your table.  Seating is not an issue here.  The menu is great for sports fans. The “Field of Fries” menu includes The Vet, Shibe Park, Camden Yards, and Brew City Fries.

Should the Phillies win the World Series, be sure to join other enthusiastic fans in celebrating this momentous occasion at one of our city’s biggest intersections. These include Frankford and Cottman Avenues in the Northeast section of the City or Broad and Snyder in South Philadelphia.  Here you will find the die-hard fans honking, hollering, hooting, and of course, many news helicopters. Don’t miss a chance to be on television!  And be sure to stay tuned for the announcement about the celebratory parade down Broad Street – we have waited 25 years for this kind of festival party!

One last thing, if you are looking to “Philly-ize” everything around you because you are just SOO EXCITED about this World Series, try these fun things:

-          Download Phillies wallpaper from their Web site for your computer

-          Shop Phillies clothes (Modell’s, vendors, Foreman Mills)

-          Join the Phillies Fan Club

-          Decorate your house and car

-          Dress your kids in Phillies gear and take pictures

-          Pull out next year’s schedule and plan your games to attend

-          Read “Phillie Phanatic Happiest Memories” to your little friends

-          Write your game thoughts on fan blogs

-          Tailgate (even if you don’t have a ticket)

-          Make signs and stand on your corner asking Phillies fans to beep (only in Philly is this acceptable of course)

-          Buy 2008 Phillies Yearbook and plan how you could try to get some autographs

-          Pull out some baseball trading cards and organize with Phillies players first

-          Dance on your kitchen table the way the Phanatic dances top of the bull pen (only when you are home alone of course!)

-          Stand in line a few hours for an autograph of one of the players on the National League Pennant-Winning Team at one of the local stores hosting a meet and greet

LET’S GO PHILS!!!!!

Karen Toner for ExplorerPod.com ( Karen lives in Philadelphia and is a huge Phillies fan)

The luxury Golf and Spa resort is being designed by Denton Corker Marshall at an estimated cost of Euros 129 million, of which a large part will be spent invested in restoring several existing buildings to reflect the character and history of Sicily whilst still maintaining a high level of sophistication and luxury.

The 200-room and 50-suite resort will incorporate two champion 18-hole golf courses, a 9-hole golf course, sports facilities and a real estate development as well as a 2000sq m hydrotherapy Luxury Spa which is being designed by Kyle Phillips. It will consist of 16 treatment rooms, 3 hydrotherapy rooms, 5 thalassotherapy pools, gym, large swimming pool and a dietetic restaurant.

The Rocco Forte Collection already boasts successful Spa resorts in Germany, Belgium, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, England and Russia.

Austin City Limits

The Austin City Limits music festival (or ACL to the locals and music biz) stems from the popular television show of the same name. This three-day fiesta attracts visitors from all over the country and features over 130 musicians on eight stages in Zilker Park. Produced by C3 Presents, the 2008 festival anticipated more than 65,000 attendees. Artists in this year’s lineup include Beck, Ingrid Michaelson, N.E.R.D., Gnarls Barkley, Erykah Badu, Tegan and Sara, as well as G. Love and the Special Sauce, just to name a few. Fan favorite performances included John Fogerty, Foo Fighters and the up and coming Band of Horses. Concertgoers each year have experienced all genres of music performances, ranging from Country to Hip Hop, and Indie to Rock.

Purchase ACL tickets early! Three day passes tend to sell out fast; however, individual day passes are usually available up until the start of the festival ($80 a day). For out of town visitors, the Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers hotel/ ticket packages with discounted weekend-long passes starting at $155.00 (go to www.austintexas.org ) Three-day passes also offer unlimited entrances and exits from the park, as tickets are exchanged for wristbands upon arrival.

Parking spots and cabs are extremely hard to find. Wait times for taxis can be upwards to two hours. Even downtown parking spaces fill up in the early morning hours. The best bet is the Park and Ride festival shuttle, which offers many pick-up and drop-off locations.

With the warm weather extending well into the fall, expect the temperature to hover around 90 degrees. Dress cool and comfortable. Bring hats, plenty of sunscreen, and wear comfortable shoes.  Many people sport swimwear to the event. With a convenient “in and out” wristband and the Barton Springs swimming pool nearby, a quick dip to cool off is very tempting. Other things to cart along: portable lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, an umbrella or rain coat (just in case), plenty of cash (ATM lines will be long), and ID. Unfortunately outside food and beverages are not allowed.

Create a plan of action if meeting up with a group. This year text messages were delayed as long as thirty minutes, due to many users overwhelming the cell phone towers. A somewhat loose schedule with a map and specific meet-up locations (food vendors, stages) is a better idea if the group decides to split.

Music isn’t the only highlight during the weekend: many local restaurants set up shop as well. ACL offers more than the typical county fair hot dog. From healthy vegan cuisine to grease-dripping burgers, food vendors are sure to appeal to every appetite. Dine Texas style with some down home barbeque from the Salt Lick or Stubbs, or opt for fish tacos from Wahoos. Amy’s Ice Cream and iced tea from Sweet Tea Leaf are sure to cool anyone off. New additions to the festival cater to a greener cause, making ACL a more earth-friendly production. C3 Presents has banned vendors from using plastic bags, and beer was sold in recyclable cans.

Austin City Limits encompasses the city’s culture at its finest. Bohemian, eclectic, and rockin’: it’s no wonder this concert weekend tops the nation’s outdoor music festival and attracts visitors from around the globe.

For more information about the festival and the 2009 details go to http://www.aclfestival.com/takeover/

Written by Carina Van Son for ExplorerPod.com   Looking for more on Austin, click here

At night, Philadelphia is sizzling with activity – it’s an exciting, welcoming place to sip cocktails, hang out with friends, catch a sporting event on at a sports bar, or hit the clubs!

Whether you’re dancing or partying in Center City somewhere in Rittenhouse or Old City or just trying to grab a drink to relax at a local pub, you are sure to have a good time as long as you thoroughly access your goals for the night and review your options!

Here’s some thoughts on where to GO or MAYBE GO for Philly Nightlife….

GO GO GO GO GO!!

Denim Nightclub and Lounge: Philly’s HOT After-Hours Nightspot

Denim Nightclub and Lounge is one of Philly’s hottest weekend and after-hours nightspots.  As a frequent patron, I can testify that this Rittenhouse club is fun, fashionable, and always home to a sociable and happening crowd.  One downfall is that after midnight there usually is a line to get in.  Do not be discouraged – think of the line as a symbol of the club’s solid reputation and that there has to be a grand reason why others are waiting to get in!

Inside Denim you will find a room for every taste.  There is a lounge area for groups that want to socialize amongst themselves, several dance floors, a VIP lounge upstairs (special access required), and spacious areas nearby the bar if you want to take in the crowd and scene.  The unique design of the rooms will make you feel comfortable and at-ease and you will second guess whether you are in Philly (if you are a local!).

The best part about this club is the music selection which reflects the mood of the crowd.  Since the DJ plays Latin, Swing, Big Band, Lounge, 80s, Old School, Hip Hop, and Trip Hop throughout the evening, there has to be a favorite song played for everyone in your group.  If you enjoy dancing, this is the place for you because the dance floor really is moving (and not full of people standing still!).

The service here is top-notch and high-quality with experienced bartenders.  The bar area is staffed sufficiently so you will not waste your night waiting.  Although there is a cover charge at Denim, it is worth it because it is a guaranteed excellent time and scene.  Most importantly, you can stay an hour later than most other nightspots.

If you are plan on going, dress appropriately. Since this unique and sophisticated nightspot is so HOT, you will want to look HOT!  (Dress code requires proper attire, no athletic wear, sneakers, or work boots.)

Denim is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 pm – 3 am.  The occupancy is about 350 people – make sure you are included in the count this weekend!  Also, the club offers many special offers and promotions to those who sign up for text alerts on Denim’s Web site.

32 Degrees Is One of Philly’s Finest Bars

32 Degrees Lounge night club in Old City is one of the area’s hottest places to be on a Saturday night.  There area about ten solid reasons to check out this happening club.

# 10 – There are various rooms with different atmospheres to suit your style.  At the bar area patrons kind of “hang out,” and on the dance floor people the scene is lively.

# 9 – The name “32 Degrees” is unique.  Almost every temperature-related bar takes on a “hot” name.  For example, there’s The Heat nearby, and Tiki Bob’s with palm trees to remind you of warmer cities.

# 8 – The crowd keeps coming here.  This is not a place that is hit or miss.  There always seems to be a decent-sized crowd coming and going throughout the night.

# 7 – Dancing! Patrons here actually dance.  The dance floor keeps a crowd and the DJ is excellent, playing a great mix of hip hop, R&B, and current hits.

# 6 – Drinks here are on-target.  Can’t complain about one mixed drink here being too strong or too weak.  Nor have I ever heard a bartender here say, “Can’t make that,” or “Don’t have that mix.”

# 5 – Clientele here is very professional.  Patrons here are courteous, not rude, dressed to impress, and sociable.  This bar is definitely one of Philly’s better night scenes.

# 4 – The atmosphere is inviting.  Red and black lights line the walls and make the club seem very similar to a Miami or Atlantic City nightspot.

# 3 – Service here is excellent.  Unless it is ridiculously crowded, the bar is staffed sufficiently and the servers are there to please in a timely matter.

# 2 – What better to hang out at then an Old City club?  At, 16 South 2nd Street, 32 Degrees is conveniently close to many other bars, allowing you to stop by without being committed to stay in one place all night. (Also, many other nearby clubs charge a cover and 32 Degrees does not.)

# 1 – VIP here is awesome!  Here’s a secret – it is not that difficult to gain access.  One weekend’s VIP had a well-recognized Philly fan favorite – Ryan Howard!  Side note …he’s really personable.  Anyway, VIP here is known to attract some local celebrities like Howard.

MAYBE GO……

Continental’s Full House Calls for Better Customer Service

Although Philadelphia’s upscale Continental Martini Bar is known for its sensational cocktails and has a reputation as one of Old City’s hottest nightspots, this martini bar has difficulty accommodating too many patrons.  The staff appeared overwhelmed the first weekend in April when the warm weather brought everyone out from winter hibernation.

At the upstairs’ bar, patrons waited approximately 15 minutes for bar service, which was not the greatest when we received.  Because there were only two bartenders at an area that calls for at least five servers, the staff was making mistakes under pressure.  Drinks were made too strong, or not strong enough, and patrons had to be sure to verify their cash received back after paying.  In addition, one employee informed patrons to move out of the aisle, disregarding that he was separating crowds.

During my brief time there, the upstairs was at its maximum capacity and patrons were no longer allowed in this overcrowded area.  This created a problem for those customers that had to leave their “upstairs friends” to use the restroom downstairs.  People had to leave (including me!) because my “restroom” friends were not allowed back upstairs.  Speaking of the restroom, this upscale bar may need to consider hiring a bathroom attendant to handle some patrons’ foul accidents.

My suggestion to the staff is to stop wearing those tacky pink golf shirt uniforms because they clash with the hip atmosphere.  Maybe being outfitted in new trendy attire will allow this staff to handle larger crowds on crazy, crowded nights!  If you are there on a crowded night, just be sure to inform Continental’s staff that friends cannot be separated and leave each other during the night!

WHY GO?

To its credit, the Continental usually offers a great weekend scene, as many night-life lovers frequent it for its drink and meal menu.  It is a place where you can stay all night and move from room to room to experience a variety of atmospheres.  In spring and summer months the outside deck is a great place to enjoy the warm weather.

Continental Martini Bar is on 134 Market Street in Old City Philadelphia.

Northeast Philadelphia’s Grey Lodge Pub: For Beer-Lovers Only

Contrary to their Web site stating that they are not your typical Northeast Philadelphia bar, the Grey Lodge Pub has the same thing as most other Northeast Philly bas…beer lovers, slow-operating bar tenders (and an under-staffed bar), poorly-located darts (in front of the restroom entrance??), customers looking to get drunk ASAP, small restrooms, a broken juke box (which does eat up your money), and some patrons looking like they have just rolled out of bed.

In the past I have given in and showed up at this pub against my will to please friends. This bar is strictly for beer-lovers. Many locals rave over the wide selection of beers, all hand-tapped. They must be the same patrons who vote for many of the competitions this bar has won, including City Search’s award for being one of “The Best Beer Selections in Philly,” and being ranked highly in Esquire Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Bars.”

Do not bother asking for a mixed drink here, they will make it too strong or too weak. If you go, be ready to stand in your initial spot all night as many patrons do not move around in an effort to cover their protected bar area all night. Forget about meeting new people or evening combining your group with another group for to create a better scene…patrons keep with the friends they came in with.

Their Web site also says there are “lots of fun things to do” here. It is hard to create a fun environment when the clientele is mainly focused on beer-beer-beer. If you are a beer fanatic and you live anywhere near this place, take a shot there (not literally). If you like non-beer drinks, an opportunity to socialize, hear decent music, dance, and get service in a somewhat timely manner, do not waste your time here.

WHY GO?

In an effort to pretend like they are not your typical Northeast Philly bar, The Grey Lodge does have many monthly events such as Quizzo, dart contests, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

For those of you who prefer more of a social environment and are not fascinated by the unique beer on tap of the day…such as today’s Victory Throwback Lager and Oskar Blues Old Chub – do not be fooled!

Lucky Stripes Lane Staff Bowls No Strike on Customer Service Efforts

WHY GO?

Center City’s Lucky Stripes bowling lounge appears trendy, fun, and hip. The bright lights, music, and lounge areas are very cool…my first impression was great considering I am not a bowling enthusiast.  The Philadelphia lounge has visibly demonstrated their Hollywood roots and maintained a “vintage lounge” look.

CONSIDER…

My rating started to decrease with the extraordinary cost for a drink, even though they have some fun ones like “Cosmo Bubbler” and “Jumpin’ Jolly Rancher.”  I do not mind an expensive drink if it’s worth it – but at a bowling alley?  There are some unique menu times served up here, including Chicken Pillows, Cheeseburger Fries, and Birds-in-a-Nest.

After finding out the bowling rates on a weekend night, I decided I would just hang out.  Lucky for me, (no pun intended) my friends had made the same decision to pass on the bowling.  My wallet was not wiling to give out about $80 for an hour of bowling.  (Estimate includes $65 lane fee for an hour on the weekend, $7 person fee, and $4 for shoe rental.)  This cost is extremely high compared to other local bowling spots.  One Northeast Philadelphia bowling alley costs $3-5 per game; patrons usually can play two games in an hour.  Since bowling is not activity of first choice, I think I will bowl there one night for a much less expensive evening.

Anyway, the night was going fine (not bowling, just socializing) until around 1:30 am.  My group made our way to the restroom after just having ordered a round of drinks.  Apparently our appointed “drink watcher” turned his head for a brief second and the bus boy had emptied our drinks saying that he had to because it was near closing (which, is technically 2 am).  After much “to-do” the bartender was directed by the manager to make us another round.  To our surprise, these drinks were non-alcoholic, they contained only cranberry juice.  When we approached the manager for a second time, he was uncaring and unwilling to give our money back.  He also stated that a few customers would not make or break his successful operation.  The service was awful here, down the line from manager to bus boy to cleaning staff.

Lucky Stripes is voted as one of “the city’s best.”  I disagree – the service is terrible, and the drinks, if they are not thrown away too early, are overpriced.  A dress code is strictly enforced here because it’s really more of a club atmosphere than a bowling alley.  I recommend some customer service classes for the staff here.  If you are a bowling enthusiast, this trendy lounge is probably not going to satisfy your bowling needs.  If you are a hip night-owl, this lounge looks cool and trendy but be to ready to wait for overpriced drinks and rude service if anything goes wrong.

(Keep in mind that most of the “Press” on their Web site consists of excellent reviews from media who have visited their LA-based lounge or other lounges nowhere near Philly.)

Written by Susan Toner for ExplorerPod.com

Susan Toner is a fantastic contributing writer to ExplorerPod.com who will be sharing her unique perspective on the City of brotherly Love. Enjoy her local expertise on Philadelphia, PA.

One can easily find various locations with the help of an online shop when it comes for vacation and holidays. From Europe to America, Australia or Japan everything is just one click away.

One of the most interesting and visited countries in Europe is Italy with lots of turistic objectives worthy of visiting.

Whenever visiting Europe, don’t miss the pleasant opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful countries lying on a peninsula, Italy as art, nature, history, romantic breath taking sights and tasty food are waiting for you. There is practically no place in the land that does not offer some interesting view for tourism or culture.

More than half of world’s historic and artistic heritage is to be found in Italy and over 3000 museums are spread throughout the territory. The whole region is fairy tale like and if you are in the mountain side and wish to bait in the sea, just change direction, turn around and your way will lead to the seaside. As a total opposite level of the sea, standing at almost 11,000 feet, Mount Etna dominates the Sicilian skyline, being the most active volcano in the world. It has erupted around 200 times, even lately in 2001, with lava flows reaching within mere miles of the nearby town of Nicolosi.

Not covered by lava, but calmly being sprinkled by water lies Venice, the most beautiful and romantic tourist attraction. Here even the ambulances are waterborne as water, boats, gondolas and bridges are the first things man meats during a visit to this city. There is no possible wrong turn in the city, as every canal in the maze leads to a beautiful destination. Each year, the city’s water levels rise, but this doesn’t seem to stop the tourist torrent, peaking at Carnavale time, the annual celebration before lent. Other tourist attractions include St. Mark’s Basilica, also known as “The Church Of Gold” and traveling with gondolas through tiny canals and under bridges while listening to great stories told the boat men. Riding down the famous Grand Canal will lead you to Ca’ Rezzonico and Ca’ d’Oro, the former famous for its ornate ballrooms and aristocratic balconies, the latter for providing shelter for the great works of Titian, Mantegna and Carpaccio. The Academy Gallery is also a breath taking attraction, where many of the city’s masterpieces are displayed.

Not far from the beautiful city of Venice stretches the island of Murano, famous from its hand made glass objects and jewelry. This year’s glass Christmas tree has qualified for the Guinness Book of World Records being the tallest glass tree in the world.

Moving towards the centre of the country is the capital, Rome luring thousands of tourists with its grandiose buildings and the Vatican. Located on the north side of Vatican City, a spiral ramp leads visitors inside the Vatican museum, an array of corridors and papal spaces. As the next step, the tour must lead you to the most famous room in Italy: the Sistine Chapel. But before you get there, there are a multitude of other things to see, primarily the Raphael rooms, being private quarters built for Julius II with the artist’s frescoes spread across the walls and ceiling.

Located in Campo dei Miracoli stands not quite straight the leaning tower of Pisa, representing 14,500 tones of civic pride, adored by both locals and visitors.

Don’t also miss the little Italian Riviera, Camogli, a beautiful fishing village with a small harbor and colorful houses. Camogli also has an interesting old town, shops and seafood restaurants and hiking trails, not far from Genoa.

Moving towards the southern part of the country, rich vestiges of ancient Greece please the tourists. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to the city of Selinunte, both in Sicily and on to Paestum and the Homeric charm of the Campi Flegrei in the region of Campania, beautiful sights and friendly people assure an excellent staying. Tuscany is famous for its historical and impressive art pieces, proudly presenting masterpieces like Giotto’s paintings, and fathers of the Renaissance, like Lorenzo de’ Medici, Michelangelo Buonarotti, Leonardo da Vinci, Filippo Brunelleschi, Sandro Botticelli and many others.

Visit this overwhelming country and let yourself be spoiled beside the beautiful monuments from the special taste of its cuisine, the fine wines, the design and fashion style as well as the sight of a speeding red Ferrari sports car, all reflecting Italy’s beauty, impetuosity and heritage.

About the Author:

Provided by Kianna Smith

July 17-18

Donnie & Marie

MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre

July 18

De LA Soul

HArd Rock Hotel and Casino

July 18

Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick

Mandalay Bay Events Center

July 18-20

TYrisha YEarwood

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

July 19

Coldplay

MGM Grand Garden Arena

July 24

Less Than Jake and Goldfinger

House of Blues / Mandalay Bay

Jule 24-30

Craig Feruguson

MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theatre

July 25-26, August 8-9

Jay Leno

The Mirage

July 25-27

Kool & The Gang

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

July 26

Ringo Starr

Terrible’s Star of the Desert Arena

July 31-August 3

Don Rickles

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

August 1

Motley Crue

Mandalay Bay Events Center

August 1-2

Kevin James

The Mirage

August 2

Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo

Terrible’s Star of the Desert Arena

August 2

Little River Band

Cannery Casino & Resort

August 2

Rod Stewart

MGM Grand Garden Arena

August 2

Marshall Tucker Band

Boulder Station

August 7-20

Tom Jones

MGM Gand’s Hollywood Theatre

August 8

Steely Dan

Palms Casino Resort

August 8

The Romantics

Santa Fe Station

August 8-9

Jerry Seinfeld

Caesar’s Palace

August 9

UB40

Red Rock CAsino, Resort & Spa

August 15

Hall & Oates

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

]]> http://www.explorerpod.com/las-vegas-live-music-and-comic-scene-181/feed/ 0 http://www.explorerpod.com/a-hotel-for-motorcycle-enthusiasts-180/ http://www.explorerpod.com/a-hotel-for-motorcycle-enthusiasts-180/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 ExplorerMan http://www.explorerpod.com/?p=180 Mototrcycle enthusiasts will finally have an upscale place to call their home on the road. The boutique inn name “The Iron Horse Hotel” will open this month in an old turn of the century briock building in the heart of Milwaukee, only a short walk from the Harley Davidson Museum, which opened for business this July 12th.

Owners want riders to kow this is not a “themed hotel” but it does offer amenities specifically for bike afficionados such as tiled entrances with boot benches, with space for helmet storage and coat hooks made of cast iron which can easily handle a 65 pound leather riding jacket. Your bike will also get 5 star treatment at the Iron Horse Hotel. there’s covered parking and an on-site bike wash. The roar of your bike is welcome at this hotel. Check out – TheIronHorseHotel.com or the Harley Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com Source  www.ironbikernews.com

PHNOM PENH

RAFFLES HOTEL LE ROYAL

92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh

Sangkat Wat Phnom (Five stars)

From the moment you step into the intoxicating ginger-scented lobby of Raffles Hotel Le Royale – greeted by a doorman in traditional Khmer costume – you know this won’t be an ordinary hotel stay. Buddhist sculptures, and a welcoming beverage of freshly squeezed juices garnished with an orchid, are just the beginning of your enchanting “Raffles Experience.” Rooms and suites contain a satisfying blend of the old and new; ornately carved wooden furniture, turn-of-the-century paintings and claw-foot tubs coexist with plush bedding, top-of-the-line bath products and wireless Internet access. The public spaces are no less gracious. Outdoors, tropical blossoms drift down onto the twin infinity-edge pools; indoors, a sweeping hardwood staircase and French Colonial architecture lead you to five-star dining at Restaurant Le Royale, cocktails at the spirited Elephant Bar, and soothing services at the impossibly luxe Amrita Spa. This is Cambodia’s oldest hotel: Cambodian King Sisowath Monivong was among the guests at the Hotel Le Royale’s grand opening in 1929. The building experienced a history both magnificent and turbulent, surviving the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1997 it reopened under the storied Raffles Hotel group, and underwent a top-to-bottom restoration.

The hotel maintains an upscale literary and cultural bent: One of its suites is named for Somerset Maugham; Cambodian-themed paintings, sculptures and photographs abound; and the always accommodating staff will tuck a bedtime story onto your pillow. With outstanding amenities (including one of the best breakfast buffets in all of Asia), flawless pampering and attentive guest services that have come to define the Raffles name, it’s no wonder such luminaries as Jacqueline Kennedy, Charles DeGaulle and Charlie Chaplin have enjoyed a fabulous stay here.

Services/ Facilities/ Amenities

- Two swimming pools

- Apartment suites for long-term guests and residents

- Business center

- 24-hour front desk

- 24-hour concierge

- Four hotel shops

- 24-hour room valet

- 24-hour laundry services

- 24-hour airport limousine services

- Banquet, meeting and private dining facilities

- International business center

- In-room wireless Internet access

- Seven dining/ cocktail outlets

- Room service

- Fitness center, saunas and steam rooms

- Baggage hold

- Parking

SIEM REAP

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum

Established in 1932 and one of the few buildings in Cambodia to survive the Khmer Rouge regime, the Raffles Hotel d’Angkor is one of the country’s most historical buildings. Built to accommodate the wealthy passengers of steamship lines and air routes who were stopping off at Siem Reap to view the “long-lost Kingdom of Angkor,” the original Grand Hotel d’Angkor offered guests the most modern comforts available at the time. After an extensive renovation when the Raffles Group took ownership in 1994, the building still boasts Art Deco period architecture and a marvelous wooden-and-iron lattice elevator that was lovingly and painstakingly restored. The hotel’s longstanding tradition of unsurpassed service and charm holds true today: the 35-meter pool and terrace, surrounded by intoxicating Frangipani trees, emulate ancient Khmer baths; guests can choose from a range of accommodations such as free-standing villas, studios and Personality Suites; and the heavenly Amrita Spa lives up to its Hindi namesake: amrita, the nectar of immortality. The always accommodating staff will truly answer their guests’ every whim – from processing their international documents for them at the border, to tracking down a local vehicle license plate for an eccentric collector. Located just 8 km from the splendid ruins of Angkor Wat, the Raffles Hotel d’Angkor is an idyllic haven for culturally sensitive international travelers.

- Two swimming pools

- Villas, suites and guestrooms

- Business center

- Tennis park

- 24-hour front desk

- 24-hour concierge

- Three hotel shops

- 24-hour room valet

- 24-hour laundry services

- 24-hour airport limousine services

- Banquet, meeting and private dining facilities

- International business center

- In-room wireless Internet access

- Seven dining/ cocktail outlets

- Room service

- Fitness center, saunas and steam rooms

- Baggage hold

- Parking

read the Blog post on Phnom-Penh – City of Contradictions

More on Cambodia and the Mekong River Border Crossing Here.

Choosing a Caribbean Island Vacation is difficult because to the outsider the Caribbean is just the Caribbean, with each island being much like the other. The insider will however tell you that each island has its own identity, none more so than Antigua.

The island of Antigua is always associated with Barbuda, but this article isn’t about Antigua and Barbuda, but about what it is that should make you want to choose Antigua for your Caribbean Island Vacation.

Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, north of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the south and east of Nevis, St Kitts, St Barts, and St Martin. It is some fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide, totalling 108 square miles. This means with its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, there is plenty Antigua to explore, and furthermore there is lots to see thanks to the close links with Britain and the British Navy in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

Visitors who have chosen Antigua for their Caribbean Island Vacation, also inevitably visit English Harbour which is Antigua’s evocative historical district, around Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. The whole harbour area was the headquarters of the fleet in Nelson’s time. There are historical buildings and fortifications to be seen around the park.

Antigua’s beaches are of course a huge reason for taking a Caribbean Island Vacation here. The majority of the beaches are on the west coast , which is the more sheltered calm and protected part.

All of the beaches are open to the public and each has different characteristics, so the main difficulty you will have is finding the perfect Antigua beach for you. One piece of advice is to never go to isolated beaches on your own, and another is to make sure you get good directions before you go.

On the northwest coast you will find Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, both highly developed and great resort beaches. Closest to St Johns are Fort James, and Deep Bay. In the winter surfers go to Galley Bay and the four beaches at Hawksbill are impressive, just beware that one is a nudist beach.

On the southwest and south coast of Antigua are where you will find the less visited and developed beaches because the area is quite hilly. A road winds along the coast here and you will find beaches like Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point.

Rendezvous Bay, and Doigs Beach are especially very quiet beaches but not easy to get to. If you are looking for an Antigua Beach to relax on after visiting English Harbour then try Pigeon Point.

On the east coast, the south east corner is Half Moon Bay, is a national park, and if you want a family beach, then this and Long Bay which is as far to the east as you can go are both outstanding. The beaches facing east are quite rough but great for beachcombing.

Whether it is history and sightseeing or beaches, Antigua has something for everyone as a Caribbean Island Vacation

For more information on Caribbean Vacation Spots go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

Choosing a Caribbean Island Vacation is difficult because to the outsider the Caribbean is just the Caribbean, with each island being much like the other. The insider will however tell you that each island has its own identity, none more so than Antigua.

The island of Antigua is always associated with Barbuda, but this article isn’t about Antigua and Barbuda, but about what it is that should make you want to choose Antigua for your Caribbean Island Vacation.

Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, north of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the south and east of Nevis, St Kitts, St Barts, and St Martin. It is some fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide, totalling 108 square miles. This means with its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, there is plenty Antigua to explore, and furthermore there is lots to see thanks to the close links with Britain and the British Navy in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

Visitors who have chosen Antigua for their Caribbean Island Vacation, also inevitably visit English Harbour which is Antigua’s evocative historical district, around Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. The whole harbour area was the headquarters of the fleet in Nelson’s time. There are historical buildings and fortifications to be seen around the park.

Antigua’s beaches are of course a huge reason for taking a Caribbean Island Vacation here. The majority of the beaches are on the west coast , which is the more sheltered calm and protected part.

All of the beaches are open to the public and each has different characteristics, so the main difficulty you will have is finding the perfect Antigua beach for you. One piece of advice is to never go to isolated beaches on your own, and another is to make sure you get good directions before you go.

On the northwest coast you will find Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, both highly developed and great resort beaches. Closest to St Johns are Fort James, and Deep Bay. In the winter surfers go to Galley Bay and the four beaches at Hawksbill are impressive, just beware that one is a nudist beach.

On the southwest and south coast of Antigua are where you will find the less visited and developed beaches because the area is quite hilly. A road winds along the coast here and you will find beaches like Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point.

Rendezvous Bay, and Doigs Beach are especially very quiet beaches but not easy to get to. If you are looking for an Antigua Beach to relax on after visiting English Harbour then try Pigeon Point.

On the east coast, the south east corner is Half Moon Bay, is a national park, and if you want a family beach, then this and Long Bay which is as far to the east as you can go are both outstanding. The beaches facing east are quite rough but great for beachcombing.

Whether it is history and sightseeing or beaches, Antigua has something for everyone as a Caribbean Island Vacation

For more information on Caribbean Vacation Spots go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

I still recall my road warrior days. It seemed like every other week, I was hopping on a plane for Orlando or Vancouver or Palm Springs or Washington or Chicago or Toronto.

It might not be Rome, Paris, and Monte Carlo, but Washington, Toronto and Orlando are pretty classy places. I went to crucial meetings. I was an important person. I was a frequent flyer.

However, after a while, all the towns begin to look the same. One airport hotel looks amazingly like another. Surely the taxi driver in Washington and the taxi in Orlando were twins separated at birth. I was yearning to just stay put. I had had enough of hotels and restaurants

Traveling sounds glamorous until you have to do it over and over and over. Especially when you have a family, you want to spend some time at home between the episodes of jet lag. Comfort becomes a much bigger deal, and you want every place to feel like home.

You just can’t do that in a hotel. Not in a Marriott. Not in a Sheraton. Not in a Hilton. I wish I knew then about two other options.

Private Vacation Homes (or rental villas)

Private vacation homes, known also as holiday homes or villas are essentially houses that rent on a weekly basis. They are not much help for fly-in meetings. For those, only an airport hotel will do.

But if you plan to be in town for the better part of the week, there is nothing like kicking back in your own private home – a rental home, of course. “Hotel rooms are cramped; a villa is spacious with room to walk about. Hotel rooms have a TV and desk in the bedroom; a villa has surround sound TV and stereo with comfortable couches and chairs in various parts of the home. A hotel has a public pool; a villa has a private pool,” says Florida vacation villas rental agent Stewart Granville. “It’s private. It’s comfortable. It’s like a home away from home.”

Mr. Granville notes that a vacation home rental also serves as an office away from home, with one room dedicated to the office. “In a villa, you don’t have to sit on your bed when you type those memos. And what a great way to entertain business contacts.”

Mr. Granville specializes in renting America’s vacation heartland: Orlando, Florida, vacation homes. Business travelers often bring their family along to enjoy Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and other famous theme parks. The family plays while the business traveler works. When the meetings are over, they all head for Disney together, perhaps for another week. With family in tow, a private rental home makes much more sense than a crowded hotel room.

Bed and Breakfasts

Bed and Breakfasts are also an option. Although they do not offer the same privacy and space as villas, they are warmer and more homey than a hotel. And like a hotel, they rent by the night, not by the week.

Is a bed and breakfast for you? If a relaxing atmosphere is more important to you than room service, a bed and breakfast is for you, yes. They are comfortable and relaxing, so the business traveler can walk confidently into his meeting free from stress and worries.

Bed and Breakfasts are growing more popular for weekend getaways in the country, but most major urban centers have bed and breakfasts right in the heart of the city…and these are ideal for road-weary business travelers.

So forget about room service and the mint on the pillow. For a stay of several days, the business traveler can rent a spacious, private vacation villa. And for just a night or two, it’s a warm and comfortable bed and breakfast.

* Chichen Itza

The most famous of the historic sites in the Cancun area of Mexico, Chichen Itza is a restored Mayan city, and contains a huge, spectacular temple among other attractions. This site is also home to the largest known Mayan ball court, and tours are given daily throughout the site or you can explore on your own. It is a day-long trip, as it is about 200 km from Cancun, but it is well worth the drive. You can either rent a car or take a bus. In fact, many hotels in the Cancun area offer guided bus tours to Chichen Itza. If you’re going to tour the site on your own, get there early to avoid the tour bus crowds.

* Coba Ruins

Also a famous ancient Mayan city, the Coba Ruins is the oldest of the Mayan sites in this area. This area is extremely remote, and only a few of the structures were uncovered and restored, leaving almost all of the six thousand buildings still covered by jungle. Here, you can see Mayan stone roads, as well as the tallest pyramid in the vicinity of Cancun. The Coba Ruins are also a bit of a drive from Cancun, but again, many Cancun hotels run tours to this destination via free or low-cost buses.

* Tulum Ruins

If you want to see some Mayan ruins without sacrificing an entire day to a tour, check out the Tulum Ruins, which are closer to Cancun. This location is unique because it is built along the coast, making the structures there almost lighthouse-like. A large wall surrounds the city, and the only way to explore inside is through one of the original tunnels. Be forewarned, however, that this historical spot is extremely popular for tourists and often quite crowded.

* La Destileria

One of the most traditional activities in Mexico is the making of tequila. La Destileria isn’t exactly a historic site like the ancient ruins listed above, but at this museum and restaurant you can explore the history of this liquor. Guided tours will teach you how tequila is made, and at the end you get to try samples of the tequila that they make right there at the restaurant.

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Cancun Vacation Packages

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But for the super rich, the cost of our so-called luxury accommodation is just part of the package. All around the world,
luxury hotel suites are designed to cater to this elite, with every imaginable feature, priceless furnishings, lavish service,
and a price to match. These boutique hotels are the playgrounds of the rich and famous when they travel abroad – celebrities,
millionaires, pop stars, heads of state and royalty are the most frequent residents…Some of them pay and others are invited.
Here are five of the most expensive luxury hotel suites in the world.

Presidential Suite, Hotel Martinez Price: $18,500 a night

Cannes is Europe’s answer to Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that it contains a luxury hotel suite with this kind of price tag.

Decorated in an Art Deco style, it measures 8,000 square feet in total. The wraparound terrace
(which can hold over 100 people) is 2000 square feet on its own, and has views of the entire Bay of Cannes.
Other features include a Turkish bath, personal sauna, 24 hour on call butler and a free bar – though breakfast is not included in your bill.

Guests at this famous hotel have included Jodie Foster, Francis Ford Coppola and Monica Belluci.
One Saudi sheik liked the Presidential Suite so much that he wanted to hire it out for five years.
The hotel, confident of being able to fill the suite in spite of its price, refused his request.

Imperial Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva Price: $23,000 a night

You pay for security as much as luxury at this famous hotel suite in Geneva.
Positioned next to the United Nations Headquarters and designed for travelling heads of state,
the Imperial Suite features bullet proof glass and bedside alarm buttons, and can only be reached
by a private elevator.

With views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, the suite contains five bathrooms, four bedrooms,
a cocktail lounge, a library, its own Steinway grand piano and a mahogany dining table that can
comfortably seat 26 guests. It costs approximately $23,000 a night. Breakfast is not included but
the service can’t be argued with – when one guest requested a bed that could not fit in the lift,
the hotel hired a crane to get it in the bedroom.

The Bridge Suite, Atlantis Hotel, Paradise Island Price: $25,000 a night

The Bridge Suite sits on top of the bridge that connects the two Royal Towers in this resort on the aptly named Paradise Island.
For $25,000 a night you get your own butler, entertainment centre, 50-foot bar lounge, marble baths and a décor described as
conveying “regal majesty” by the hotel staff. For regal majesty, read lots of gilded mirrors and windows, golden sofas,
and a ten-foot four-poster bed with hand-painted linen sheets. Subdued and tasteful it isn’t, but if you like to see some eye-watering
opulence in your five figure luxury hotel suite, this may be the one for you.

Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York Price: $30,000

This boutique hotel spared no expense when it came to furnishing the penthouse on its 52nd floor.
Gold thread curtains, walls inlaid with mother of pearl, onyx bathroom floors, and even a shark skin coffee table
are all part of the package here, along with stunning views over Manhattan and even a waterfall in the so-called Zen room.
For those who like a little more than the standard room service, this luxury hotel suite comes with unlimited
treatments from an in-house masseuse, a butler on 24 hour duty and a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas Price: $40,000

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Hugh Hefner’s name is attached to the ultimate in luxury hotel decadence.
At a jaw dropping $40,000 a night, the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa is the world’s most expensive hotel suite,
located (appropriately enough) in the Fantasy Tower of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Amongst the eccentric extras are an eight foot revolving bed with ceiling mirrors, an indoor waterfall, an exercise room, sauna, and a terrace pool projecting out over the edge of the Fantasy Tower with the Playboy Bunny logo stamped firmly in the centre.

Stephanie Clarke is the Managing Director of Concierge Collection, providers of some of the finest luxury hotels in Europe.
Stephanie and her team use their wealth of experience, expertise and contacts to achieve “Beyond Special”.
For Concierge Collection, luxury does not have to have a large price tag but the hotels do have to be unique.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

So following are the tips listed to refrain you from falling prey to perpetrators and avoid any kind of miss-happening:

- Don’t list your actual home address on any of the luggage tag. If you are on a business trip then it is better to put the company’s name and address on the tag. Also use tags which are covered from outside.

- Always carry important papers with you and never ever try to check anything that you simply do not want to lose in ant case. Have photocopy of driver’s license, passport and credit cards with you.

- Do not project your appearance to be of an affluent one, so avoid gold chains, expensive luggage, watches and rings, or any other paraphernalia that could draw attention towards you. It will be a better thing to leave your ornaments and other precious things at home.

- Always carry a flash light with you so that in case you suddenly are in dark in any unfamiliar place then you can be on the safer side.

- Stay in those hotels where cards are used to open the doors of room and make sure the room you are staying in has a deadbolt lock and a peephole. Also it is better to secure the door and chain by putting rubber stop under it.

- Before traveling any unfamiliar place make you well acquainted with the travel schedules and other important information so that you cannot be duped by anyone.

- If you are traveling with your family and have children then bring along with you photograph of them so that in case you get separated then you can use them.

- Have discussions with your family to tell them in advance what to be done in case get stuck in any problem like get separate from each other, whom to call in any emergency and should know necessary contact numbers. This way they will get mentally prepared for any of the problem they might come across in any future event.

- If you rent any car at the travel destination then do it from any reputable company so that in case you have any operational problem during any travel you know whom to approach. – Have basic first aid kit with you which should have bandages, mosquito repellant, diarrhea medicine, iodine, and other medicines with you.

So whenever you undertake any journey you are well prepared to handle any of the problems. So happy journey!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

When we think of chartering our own aircraft however, what comes to mind are busy executives, Hollywood stars and politicians jaunting around the globe in multi-million dollar business jets that can cost as much as $6,000 or more per flight hour to rent. There are less expensive fractional aircraft ownership alternatives available on luxury turboprop aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12, but the cost of these shares is still out of reach of many middle income travelers and small business owners.

Recent advances in the design of today’s efficient composite general aviation aircraft such as Cirrus Design’s slick SR-22 Turbo G3 have pushed the performance envelope of smaller four passenger aircraft far beyond what was imaginable just a few years ago. The SR-22 has a maximum cruise speed of 219 knots true airspeed (252 miles per hour), but is usually operated more closer to 220 miles per hour. Compared to your Grandfather’s old plane that lumbered along at 125 miles per hour, modern luxury four-seat aircraft can seriously shorten trip legs and make multi-city day trips possible.

Realistically, we all cannot afford to fly by expensive aircraft charter. But what if the fares for private air charter ever dropped to a price point that was affordable to all of us? By flying the Cirrus SR-22, one charter network is now flying business and pleasure flights for under $500 per flight hour for the whole plane.

Stratus Alliance is a network of independent, FAA-certified charter operators strategically placed around the country that is capitalizing on the efficiency of the SR-22. Stratus Alliance is able to book what they call “destination direct” charter flights for up to three passengers per flight to nearly all of the small municipal airports within their service area, which includes the East Coast and Texas.

The use of the smaller airfields surrounding every city in the land is the new secret weapon of these new charter travelers. When the competition is stuck at the gate while the airline tries to decide if they should cancel their flight, a traveler on a chartered SR-22 will have already launched for a flight to a small airport just a few miles from where they need to be. When other travelers are trapped on the tarmac awaiting departure, the people who arrived on a chartered SR-22 will have already finished negotiating a couple of morning deals.

As more and more people discover the ease and affordability that comes from flying single-engine air charter, industry experts expect this new single-engine charter model to blossom into a nationwide powerhouse. Right now, medium-sized corporations can only afford to fly their upper management via private air charter, while their sales, technical, engineering and support personnel must roll the dice and put up with the undependable schedules that comes with flying commercial. As more of these companies realize they can now get their key personnel on site quickly with a “moment’s notice” flight, we’ll begin to see a whole new level of competitiveness evolve.

Copyright (c) 2008 Dan Pimentel

Author Dan Pimentel owns an Oregon creative agency found at http://www.celestedaniels.com and writes about aviation business topics. For more information about the air charter network mentioned in this story, visit http://www.stratusalliance.com .

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Finding happiness is easier than you might think. Happiness is all around us, and all we have to do is hop in the car and hit the road to find it. Actually, there is more to true happiness than just jumping in the car, but for many people, self-actualization does involve discovering new places, new cultures, beautiful nature and secret little hideaways. Kathleen Walls, publisher of American Roads Magazine, and David Leonhardt, publisher of Your Daily Dose of Happiness share a few of their favorite “Happy Trails,” hoping you, too, will find happiness there.
MOJAVE DESERT
For a Canadian, snow is no big deal. This year, we’ve been shoveling it since early November. But to find snow in a desert, that really made my eyes pop. It was noon, and it had rained in Palm Springs, California, the previous evening. But the famous Mojave Desert is actually quite high up in the mountains, and the rain fell there as snow. Just how amazing was it to see snow tucked up against the north side of a cactus? Amazing enough that, through my jetlag, I delivered a mostly impromptu speech on the sighting at my Toastmasters club.

If you want to see snow sidling up to a cactus – what a photo op! – head for the desert in January or February, and make sure to choose a desert with a high altitude. The Mojave Desert proved most effective for this. Now, should I mention the Joshua trees?

YELLOWKNIFE
It really is hard to fill one’s eyes with wonder, what with Star Wars and The Lord of The Rings and so many special effects that make a person just want to yawn. Then, every now and then, one comes across something truly unique, something that actually does make your eyes pop with wonder. Such is Yellowknife, a town built on a peninsula of rock in the Arctic.

What is unique about this town are the houses in the old city. There are some amazing mansions hoisted up on the rock. Well, at least some corners are on the rock. Others are on stilts one or two stories high. Each house is unique, and so are the various contraptions to keep them level on this uneven land. (Why would anybody choose this spot to settle in the first place, with so much flat land all around?)

The second amazing feature is the shanty-town shacks scattered among the mansions. In every other city, the slums and the ritzy parts of town are separate, but not in Yellowknife. I found that a truly stereotype-shattering sight.
LUSK CAVERNS, GATINEAU PARK
Happiness is spelunking. Let’s face it, you’ve done a million vacations on the road and in the air and on the water. How many have you done underground? Two, in my case. Once in Pennsylvania on a boat, and once in Gatineau Park, in Quebec.

If you think of a cave as something cavernous, these don’t qualify. The two caves are merely a passage for a stream that flows underground for a few yards. The first cave is just right for little children, who can wade in the gently-flowing water.

The second cave is a little more challenging, as the water pools into a miniature underground lake. In the spring, when the water is high, there’s not much room for a head to pass between the water and the roof of the cave. Of course, you have to be daring to brave the cold spring water. June is a great time to visit; by August there’s not as much water. And can there be anything happier than splashing in water while exploring a cave?
MOBILE ALABAMA: MARDI GRAS
Happiness is watching the sunrise over Mobile Bay. And what better time to visit the city by the bay than Mardi Gras, when the historic city puts on it’s party face. This traditional celebration was brought to Mobile by the French even before it was established in New Orleans. That history is preserved at the Mardi Gras Cottage Museum located on the grounds of Oakleigh, an antebellum mansion located in the historic section of this fun city. Centuries of Mardi Gras history are packed into this little cottage. Be sure to visit Oakleigh while you are there. In fact Mobile is packed with great historic sites from the French Fort Conte to the U.S.S Alabama, These sites have been carefully preserved or restored

Take time away from the celebrating to visit Bellingrath Gardens and home, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Weeks Bay Preserve, and Mobile Botanical Gardens (which will introduce you to the ecological diversity of Mobile as well).

Then there are all of those parades. All of which are guaranteed to make you feel good.
MACON GEORGIA: SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
For some people, sports equate happiness. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame’s 46th Induction Class, which will be held February 7-8 2003, will includes two female pioneers, arguably baseball’s greatest home run hitter, one of football’s best place kickers, a Peach State high school coaching legend, and one of Georgia’s most celebrated golfers.

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is the newest of Macon’s attractions housing memorabilia of pro and amateur athletes in all fields. You can even experience the thrill of driving in a Nascar event without the danger. Climb into a racecar and take the wheel in a fast paced race. Hear the sound when you ram the fence. Experience the thrill of the track. Then get the results of your foray into professional racecar driving. Depending on how well you drive, the results may or my not make you happy. The museum is sure to be a crowd pleaser for sports fans and non-fans alike
FORT VALLEY GEORGIA: FESTIVAL OF CAMELLIAS
Flowers are a sure mood lifter, so don’t miss the Festival of Camellias at Massee Lane Gardens in Fort Valley Georgia encompasses the entire month of February when camellia blooms are at their peak.(Something is out of place in this sentence.) The flowers begin to show color in October and continue through late March.

Not only camellias show their beautiful faces here. Each season provides a new delight for the eyes with roses, flowering bulbs, day lilies and much more. Even the path winding throughout the gardens is unusual. Scattered randomly through it you will find ancient millstones gathered from middle Georgia. Also along the path you spot granite mile stones from the Old Wire Road witch ran from New Orleans to Washington, D. C. The road was so named because it was the route of the first telegraph lines in the southeast.

After you have absorbed nature’s outdoor offerings, visit the two museums housing the largest public collection of Boehm Porcelains. Here you will find nature reproduced so exquisitely you will sometimes think you are looking on a live bird or a blooming flower.
ATHENS GEORGIA: TASTE OF ATHENS
Food is sure to make everyone happy and Taste of Athens, a community fund raiser, is sure to make you feel good all over. You get to sample all of the exotic restaurants Athens Georgia abounds in all under on roof and contribute to a good cause at the same time this February 23th.

Athens’ restaurants are hard to beat both in number and in excellent cuisine. Harry Bissett’s New Orleans Cafe and Oyster Bar, where you experience the ambience as well as the authentic food of “The Big Easy”. It’s housed in an old bank building and the mellow brick walls are reminiscent of some of the French Quarter’s courtyard restaurants. The majority of the food served here is spicy, for example The Blackened Redfish, gumbo and Crawfish Etoffee, but there are enough less heated dishes to suit any taste. Any festival that brings all of these culinary delights together makes me happy.

It looks like for David, happiness is scenery, and for Kathleen, it’s festivals. Whatever it is about traveling that turns you on, now’s the time to hit the trail. So “Happy Trails to you until we meet again.”

Don’t forget to take in some of the secret treasures of central Florida

Orlando is one of the top tourism destinations in the world. It features Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. People come from every continent to take in these famous theme parks, and especially to meet Big Mickey.

But there is another Orlando, a city full of unexpected smaller attractions, that you might want to take in when you want something a little different or just a break from the crowds at Disney World.

Kissimmee Rodeo. No, that’s not a misprint. The rodeos of the west have come to the south-east – and they are just as much fun. Try this for something different.

Inland manatees. People often forget that Florida is more than just one big theme park and the host to spring brake excess. It is also home to many natural wonders. Blue Spring State Park is tucked in between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Although it is an inland park, they have 153 manatees this season, more than ever before.

Private Villa Rentals. You don’t have to crowd the family into a cheap motel room in the Orlando region. Nowhere in North America are there so many private villas for rent (vacation home rentals). Look also for rental villas in Orlando.

Mystery Dinner. Half way between Orlando and Disney World, it’s no mystery why this show packs a full house. This is your chance to participate in a real murder mystery

Farm animal adventure. Every child loves to pet animals. No, it does not replace Walt Disney World, but it might make a nice little break in the middle of the Disney excitement, and it is just a short distance south of the Disney park.

Ahoy there, Captain. Not just the manatees have found their way inland. There are pirates in Orlando, and they offer an interactive family dinner spectacle.

Riverboat Cruise. It’s not the Mississippi, but the “Rivership Romance” cruises along the St. Johns River, providing a first-hand connection with Florida’s rich, natural heritage. Dining and dancing accompany the natural beauty.

A taste of Chicago. Don’t be surprised if you wind up eating with a gangster or two. Or if the police burst in on your dinner to make a bust. This is a living tribute to the legendary Gangland Chicago, and you are invited to participate in the action.

It’s a pity that these gems hide in the shadow of Planet Earth’s biggest theme park . You won’t want to miss Walt Disney World, but take some time out to see what others have missed. Your friends back home will be impressed.

I have taken advantage of many airline travel deals in my life, which have let me go to places which would normally be out of my price range. I have gotten air ticket deals to Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and even Sweden. The only problem with these great airline travel deals is that they tend to come at the expense of convenience. They are often last minute travel deals, are occasionally carried by second or third string airlines, and do not always allow you to chose the destination that is at the top of your list. But all of that suits me fine. I am quite flexible about where I go, if you want to know. What matters most to me is to have the freedom to travel abroad and check out new places which I have never seen before. And airline travel deals let me do that just fine.

If you are looking for good airline travel deals, here is the advice that I have for you. It is easer to find out about the destinations of air ticket deals which are being offered and see if they are right for you then it is to wait for that one particular destination or other which you had your heart set on. After all, lets face it: there are places all over the world which are fun to explore, so why hold yourself back just because you are unfamiliar with this or that destination.

Source: Free Articles

1. Make your reservation as early as possible. At least 14 days in advance, but aim for at least 21 days in advance. After this time, the air tickets can easily more than double in price.

2. Be flexible with your travel time. Changing the day or the time of day can drastically reduce the price of your air travel. The best day to fly on is Wednesday, which is also the best day to book the flight on. The cheapest time to fly is early morning or late evening.

3. Fly during the off-season. Prices are a direct result of supply and demand. As demand goes down, prices go down as well, benefiting flyers.

4. Shop all the airlines. This is the most possible using a couple of key air travel finder companies that I recommend on my site. Being able to check all the airlines at the same time can get you the best deal.

5. A stopover instead of a direct flight can result in huge savings.

6. Membership in some clubs like AAA can get you discounts. With air travel prices at an all-time low this isn’t as influential on the price as it is shopping between the airlines themselves. You get much better deals using an air travel finder to check prices of the different airlines against each other.

7. Look into air travel packages. Purchasing your air travel, hotel, and rental car through the same place usually gives a huge discount. Using a bigger air travel finder will allow you to do all of this on the same website. I have recommendations for this on my site as well.

The prices on air travel tickets are a direct result of competition, inventory, and demand. Competition is the airlines competing with each other. Inventory is how many seats are left open on a given flight. Demand is how many people are looking for air travel tickets. By choosing the least-crowded flights that are the least in demand, you get the lowest price. It’s really that simple.

As you can see, there are many ways to get better prices. If you use a major air travel finder and choose the best days and times to fly, you can often get unbelievable deals and save a hefty amount of money in the process.

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LONDON

Despite its population of over 7 million, more than 30% of London is made up of parks and green space – greater than any other city of its size in the world. Home to Britain’s national art collections, the Royal family and a host of major attractions, London’s rich history (and over 200 museums) offers travelers a unique experience. The city also offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the world – from major department stores (you have to check out Harrods) to designer boutiques and street markets, the choices here are incalculable. And as if that wasn’t enough, London is also pretty darn hard to beat when it comes to nightlife. There are immense choices in restaurants (over 6,000), pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs – not to mention, live music and comedy venues.

So, at any time of day, whatever your mood – London has something for everyone. Whether it’s shopping like the girls from “Absolutely Fabulous” or watching the latest music talent bloom in front of your eyes. London is home to great musical giants like: Coldplay, Pink Floyd, and a little band we have all come to know and love: The Rolling Stones. Whether you are strolling along the streets in Windsor, buying art in Notting Hill, celebrity spotting in Piccadilly, riding the London Eye for the spectacular views, or trying to spot Prince William downing a lager in Chelsea- the possibilities are endless here. No spot is the same. And remember, you can take the tube each day to a new stop, just don’t forget to “mind the gap” when you do.

With so many choices (particularly where food is concerned), London also has real international flavor, with all tastes and budgets in consideration. Known as a Culinary hub, London is a true paradise for food lovers – offering everything from Indian, Mediterranean and Oriental, to traditional and Arabic restaurants – on (what seems like) every corner. Hungry for traditional Bangers n’ Mash, or Faggots and Peas? Pop into any of the millions of pubs you see. But here’s some advice: when in a pub, make sure you go to the bar to order your cider and Steak and Kidney Pie directly – not from a server- they don’t often exist at pubs! And know this: when you stroll around town, you’ll likely be greeted by the smell of fresh Fish n’ Chips that lingers in the air (a nice late night snack after partying at one of the journeyPod picks below).

Here are a few tips: Whatever you decide, you must have the quintessential English afternoon tea – a perfect way to end a hard day of shopping or sight-seeing. And, no matter what you think: black pudding is not a dark chocolate cake!

Now that we’ve got your attention, check our journeyPod picks to some of the best places on the London restaurant and nightlife scene. These spots are just too good to miss.

Restaurants

Sumosan – The hottest name to drop in the Socio-culinary cycle, Sumosan is located on Albermarle Street in Mayfair. Celebrities like Will Smith, Laurence Fishburne, and Christina Aguilera rave about the food and are avid regulars when in the area. Guests enjoy Japanese gastronomy with a hint of western sophistication as they watch pages of Cosmo spring to life before them – beautiful models and actors grace the interior of this ultra sleek hotspot. After hours, J-Bar opens – the capital’s most famous private members club that opens its doors to the fortunate, posh crowd of London who enjoy the award-winning Sumosan punch and dance to the latest beats from the DJ. Tip: Find a way to get your name on the VIP list – if not, you can always try the: “I’m David Beckham’s cousin.” fib – it is so worth it!

Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s – BBC watchers of the show “The F word” will be glad to hear that now they can taste the meals they see being prepared at home at this great location. Part of a chain of excellent restaurants (with its latest addition at the London Hotel in NY), the food is a nice balance of meats and seafood. London’s only triple Michelin-awarded Chef Gordon Ramsay – known for his perfectionism and sharp tongue – dazzles guests with his gourmet heaven at Claridge. Celebrity guests such as Sharon Osbourne sip on oysters, and savor favorites like the Monkfish filet wrapped in Parma ham, fricassee of lentils, chervil papardelle and a horseradish veloute. Just make sure you bring the plastic! Prices are a little steep – but if you know good food, you’ll relish each moment at Claridge. The restaurant is located on Brook Street.

Nobu – Located in the stylish Metropolitan Lane area, Nobu is part of the Myriad Restaurant Group that continues to please customers with the freshest and most carefully constructed Japanese dishes. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa amazes his guests with his innovative creations, especially the Omakasa (Chef’s choice). This dish offers a succulent combination of tempura, yaki and ponzu prepared dishes. The menu is similar to that of Nobu NY – with guest favorites such as the black cod with miso and yellow tail with jalapeno. The decor is minimal, with cream leather seating and neutral tones that make the colorful food really pop! The view of Hyde Park from the restaurant is breathtaking and a spot on the veranda during the summer can be a challenge. Zagat survey agrees, by awarding this awesome restaurant with a well-deserved Michelin star.

Amaya – Located on Halkin Arcade in Chelsea, Londoners agree that this curry spot is by far the best in the city. Amaya gives sharing dinner with friends a new name. The restaurant is decorated with colorful murals, glass chandeliers and Indian statues. Chef Karunesh Khanna leaves guests speechless as plates of biryani, oysters in a coconut sauce, lamb chops and beautifully spiced lobster are placed in the middle of the table for everyone to share. Hungry yet? The restaurant is located at 15 Halkin Arcade.

Locanda Locatelli – Giorgio Locatelli once said: “An Italian’s role in life is to feed people. A lot. We can’t help it.” He does what he preaches, at his charming northern Italian restaurant located on Seymour Street. From Fresh made pasta to amazing risotto dishes, pasta-terians (like us) know good pasta dishes. And his are better than good. Try the Gnocchi di patate e funghi a tartufo nero – trust us! Decorated in modern furnishings, Locanda Locatelli is fine dining with an impressive wine list.

Hakkasan – Offering the ultimate Chinese dining experience in London, Chef Alan Yau has committed himself to bringing back the dragon when it comes to food and decor. Chinese lanterns hang above happy guests enjoying Szechwan chicken in the most cozy blue and purple seating. The drinks are unique and have been designed by guru cocktail-maker Dick Bradsell – who fuses together a mean and carefully concocted Asian martini. The staff is attentive, the food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is light and comforting. Hakkasan is located at 8 Hanway Place.

Gilgamesh – Located in the Stables Camden Market, Gilgamesh is by far the most intriguing restaurant, bar and lounge in all of London. Ancient sculptures and a hand-crafted mural from India tell the story of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, half mortal and half god. Guests get cozy in beautiful plush seating as they enjoy fresh sushi and a Kutu specialty martini made up of chili, mint, pink grapefruit and Tangeray Gin. The restaurant is a spectacle in itself, constructed as a replica of a palace that was built in the Babylonian times. Gilgamesh is also an establishment divided into a restaurant, tea house, terrace bar, lounge and a VIP Babylon lounge. This is a very cool spot. And, if you really want to read more about Gilgamesh, check out www.gilgameshbar.com.

Loch Fyne – From the shores of Loch Fyne in Scotland, this restaurant provides only the freshest fish and shellfish to ever hit your palate. Are you craving the other white meat? Then let us order for you: start the night off with a romantic appetizer of oysters with a champagne sabayon sauce, then try the traditional Bradan Rost- a roasted salmon char grilled with a whisky and wild mushroom sauce. A must try when in the UK! What’ that…you can’t fit the London restaurant into your busy London itinerary? Don’t you worry – there are over 20 locations across the UK to choose from and this is no ordinary chain.

Nozomi – Opened by Marios George (famous in the nightclub industry), Nozomi is a chic restaurant/bar in Chelsea that boasts classy 1920’s decor. Known for its excellent Japanese cuisine, the locals swear by the sushi. Nozomi is also known for its attractive, stylish clients who, after enjoying Asian tapas, party the night away to the best pop and disco songs from the last few decades. The trendy bar at Nozomi can be found on the lower level (the restaurant is on the upper level). Nozomi is located at 14-15 Beauchamp Place.

City Spice – Located on Thurland Street in Brick Lane next to many other competitive Indian restaurants – City Spice is definitely the way to go when you’re in the mood for this cuisine. A very modern eatery, City Spice features a wide range of delicious Indian dishes – many which are exclusive and cannot be found in other restaurants outside of India. Two of these dishes include the Chicken Khotta Mutta (a sweet and tangy, BBQ-spiced appetizer) and Sab’makamaza (a tandoori meat and vegetable dish prepared with green chilis in a clay oven). To all you late-nighters, City Spice is opened till 2 on weekends.

LONDON

Bars & Nightlife

Ministry of Sound – Mention these three words to any clubber and they’ll know exactly what you are talking about. This place is so hot they put out their own CD each year! The quality of DJs that spin here gets better every year as scouts travel the distance to find out who’s hot. The venue is dark – garnished with flat screen TV’s and an impressive sound system. The sizzling crowd that frequents Ministry of Sound can sip on their mixed drinks (always order “on the rocks” or “straight up” to get your money’s worth) at the sophisticated white bar, while the fashionable crowd shows off their designer wear on the catwalk overlooking the bar. Ministry of Sound is located on Gaunt street, Elephant and Castle. Here’s a tip: Pre-book a guest list to shorten the wait at the door, otherwise, be prepared with patience.

Milk and Honey – Wanna feel like you’re stepping back into time with Howard Hughes and Ava Gardner? Put on your best pearls and bring along your Meerschaum cigarette holders – this is a place that teleports you back to the roaring 30’s. A speakeasy-style, reservations-only trendy new bar, Milk and Honey is located on Poland Street in Soho. As vibrant as it sounds, this hard-to-find hotspot boasts a decor that can only be described as classy, with dark, cozy booths to get into an intimate discussion with that certain someone. The music here is 30’s jazz and swing, so grab your partner and sway to the Glen Miller Orchestra’s “Moonlight Serenade”. Milk and Honey provides an exclusive feel with secret upper-floor accommodations for members who want to pay the annual fee. Here’s a tip to remember: make a reservation by calling in advance since turning up at the door won’t work (especially as we’re not allowed to tell you exactly where it is!)

The End – Situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, this killer club has staged every known DJ! For you music fans: Daft Punk had their first performance on the stage here. Easily the best sound-system in London, crowds continue to spend their nights bobbing their heads and worshiping the celebs and resident DJs who frequent this place and manage to keep people dancing with a flick of a finger. The End is colorful with a metallic theme to it, and guests can relax in the lounge-style room (reminiscent of a giant cabana) before heading to the main dance floor. The End is located at 18 West Central Street.

Fabric – Built on the site of a Victorian meat cellar, Fabric has established itself as one of London’s premier club venues and the nightspot to be at when in London. With a regular lineup of top DJs taking to the decks, Fabric is a true super club. You’ll get the best of both worlds by reclining in bed-seats and enjoying a dry-martini before going wild on the dance floor. Located at 77a Charterhouse Street, Fabric spins house, trance, rap and salsa on different nights and with multiple rooms for different styles. The club also stays open till 3 a.m. when the rest of the town goes down to sleep!

Volupte Lounge – From flappers and magicians, to jazz and teatime treats, this cheeky club tucked behind Chancery Lane is a world of pleasure and exquisite delight that combines everything naughty with everything nice, and where anything goes! Add some cream teas, cigars, organic cocktails, cabaret and comedy – and you’ve got yourself a quirky little spot with divine three-course meals. Volupte Lounge also boasts a two-floor bar with secret zones, nooks and crannies. For daytime entertainment, Volupte offers “Afternoon Tease” – where innovative cocktails (like the Japanese Slipper) are served during sultry performances from the likes of Tallulah Mockingbird. Look for husky singers belting out Nina Simone or bold burlesque strip tease acts – just perfect for a girly afternoon outing! With an emphasis on the burlesque and vaudeville – you can’t go wrong at Volupte Lounge, located at 9 Norwich Street.

Eclipse – Among the many restaurants and bars of Notting Hill, lays this small bar decked out in daring contemporary decor. Comfy leather seats, short tables, and open fireplace add to the charming atmosphere, but your eyes will be drawn to the green bar and dramatically suspended lampshades. The Barmaids and Bartenders are extremely attentive and not bad to look at either (a hint for the newly single people out there)! The locals that hang out here are charming, unpretentious and just darn cool. Try the Watermelon martini with fresh chunks of fruit – which also make the trip to Eclipse so worth it. Thursdays through Saturdays the lounge attracts popular DJs that play some of the best music in London.

Cherry Jam – Notting Hill’s best kept secret (did we just let that slip?). This laid-back bar says “hasta la vista” to the velvet rope and VIP rooms and instead delivers a no-hassle, fun night out. Often touted as a “24-hour food, club, music and arts venue,” music is often the main deal here. They offer special nights with live bands, rotating DJs and a mix of funk, retro pop and soul. Cherry Jam hosts art exhibitions and film screenings throughout the year – attracting an eclectic and interesting crowd. Tip: Since orders for cocktails at the bar can run pretty deep – order pitchers to share.

Art Bar – Located on popular Walton Street in Chelsea, this stylish watering hole showcases art along its walls making for a rather inviting atmosphere. The bar also features a large plasma screen that displays fashion TV – which the crowd doesn’t seem to notice, since its usually too busy checking each other out! A very hip spot, this destination draws affluent locals who enjoy a drink or two. And since the cocktails are so good, folks tend to get pissed (British for drunk) – so approach with caution! If you get hungry, don’t fret -a variety of International dishes are served at the bar.

Beach Blanket Babylon – This triple threat (lounge, bar and club) nightspot is a fairy tale- styled destination that boasts the eclectic decor of a French Country Chateau combined with Gaudi-esque architecture. With furnishings that set the scene for a truly unique and magical experience, upstairs at Beach Blanket Babylon you’ll find a bar that has vintage jewelry hung up on the walls to go along with some of the most expensive drinks in London. The centerpiece of the club is Crypt, a gothic-themed room with an open fire-place. The club is a maze of bridges, walkways and tunnels – and after one two many martinis, you’ll feel like a drunk Alice in Wonderland. Definitely a funky, quirky venue that serves up a fun time! Beach Blanket Babylon is located at 45 Ledbury Road in Notting Hill Gate.

Hawley Arms – Our picks would not be complete without listing this awesome pub. Located in a fairly quiet area near the Stables Market in Camden, this pub is the king of pubs when visiting London. The can’t miss green exterior and recently renovated Hawley Arms attract the locals, as well as a few tourists who sit together and enjoy a nice tall stout beer. This is also a perfect place to take the weight off your feet or to park family members who may not be so enamored with the market as you are. Kelly Osbourne has taken dad to this pub for a nice father-daughter chat over a pint of Old Bob and excellent fish and chips. And, with an awesome jukebox, great drinks and a really welcoming atmosphere, why not check it out?

London shout outs to Bill,Diana and Dana Z.!!!

Written by journeypod.com – your guide to luxury travel around the world. We give you VIP access to the hippest hotels, the hottest nightlife, and the coolest restaurants. It’s the insiders guide to luxury and vip access around the world.

Before we give you the lowdown on one of our favorite cities in the world, we have a few tips to pass along about Spain & Barcelona in general:

Spain is known for its amazing food, tapas (little bite like appetizers), and vino tinto (red wine). Spain also has friendly people, fashionable women, and all night parties at the clubs and bars.

So you must get on Spanish time ASAP if you truly want to experience their culture and nightlife. They do not eat dinner until around 10pm and they do not go out to clubs until after midnight. You go home when the sun comes up. You sleep for a few hours. You eat a big lunch around 2pm. Naps are allowed in the afternoon, but usually around 6pm. And the cycle continues. You can see why Hemingway hung out here quite a bit.

The people in Barcelona are very proud to be Catalan as well as Spanish. They speak with a tiny accent that is different than other parts of the country like Madrid. So do not get discouraged if you cannot understand them and learn the phrase, “Repitan mas despacio por favor” (please repeat a bit slower).

And now…on with the countdown!

In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the exquisite shores of the Mediterranean (in the very north of the Spanish coast), Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain (in both size and population). Way more than just a single city, Barcelona is a metropolis – one that’s amazing in its assemblage of multi-faceted and diverse areas. After an extreme makeover that’s lasted more than two decades, Barcelona has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Those who visit it and are unfamiliar with its history, may be surprised to learn that such a modern and cosmopolitan area even preserves its historic center almost intact.

For those reasons (and, according to every poll worth its clipboard), you’ll be glad to know that Barcelona is also the one European city best loved by visitors; and to the current generation of cultural dilettantes and frequent jetSetters, it’s nearly impossible to imagine that it ever wasn’t! Summer in Barcelona is serious party-time – with week-long fiestas (yes, we did say week l-o-n-g!). But year-round, the city still pulsates and sizzles – always on the very edge of architecture, food, fashion, style and music. And, to top it off: Barcelona is only a short ferry ride from the beautiful island of Ibiza, another destination where partygoers have been raving to the best DJs in the world for decades. We, at journeyPod strongly recommend a trip to Ibiza if you’re a nightowl and on the prowl for some excitement. Once you embark on Barcelona, the buildings – especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudi – will blow you away! The art – with impressive collections by Picasso and Miro – will make you forget where you (who you’re with, what you’re doing…). And, the people – with their passion, exuberance, spirit, and persistent egalitarianism, will completely fascinate you.

For all you foodies out there, Barcelona is a powerhouse of culinary fares that draws foodies from the States, Japan and Australia to check out what’s cookin. There has been a rash of new and amazing dining options, among them are those we’ve listed below. So, no matter what your budget or belly size, you’re sure to find something to suit your craving – everything from tiny tapas to gargantuan feasts. Also, while you’re here – make sure you check out at least one of the many Museos de Jamon (Ham museums). Yes, its true: a museum dedicated to the different types of Ham found in Spain.

Breakfast (desayuno) in Barcelona is usually a no-nonsense affair, lunch (comida) on the other hand – is the the main meal of the day. And, no local would ever even contemplate dinner (sopar/cena) before 9 p.m.. That said, though restaurants tend to say open pretty late (til’ 1 a.m. or so), keep in mind that most kitchens close by 11:30 p.m. For those with an early appetite – don’t panic! If your gastric juices are flowing and you simply can’t hold out until then, you can easily track down something to snack on outside these times.

As most metropolitan cities, Barcelona is bursting at the seams – with pubs, feverish dance clubs, hedonistic gay bars, and a number of jazz and rock venues (with salsa and flamenco never too far away). For those interested in checking out the nightlife scene, you’ll be glad to know that there are five area options in Barcelona:

El Ensanche – Three completely different ambiances in this modernist part of the city. Here you’ll find locals and tourists checking out the gorgeous architecture and the hottest nightspots.

Gracia – This is where most locals are concentrated, like Plaza Rius I Taulet and Plaza del Sol. Everyone can find something to do in this part of the city – just make sure you’ve got your camera and euros in hand.

La Barceloneta – Back in the day, this was a district of fisherman; today, this area has grown to an impressive infrastructure of modern gastronomy. Bring your appetite.

Santolo – San Gervasi – In this part of the city, you’ll discover the highest concentration of young and fashionable locals (especially where the streets of S Santalo and Mariano Cubi cross). They fill the bars (be sure to check out the #1 cocktail, Mr. JJ – a concoction of Jameson, lime juice and vanilla sugar) for good music, good drinks and good fun! And, at Plaza Francesca Macia is where you’ll meet the cream of the crop of Barcelona’s night life.

Las Ramblas – Last but not least, the best known landmark of Barcelona. Strolling down La Rambla (at any hour of the day) you’ll find everything from street performers to outdoor concerts and some of the trendiest bars and restaurants.

Now, what are you waiting for – check out our journeyPod picks and be on your way!

Restaurants

El Bulli – Restaurant Magazine voted this jewel the “Best Restaurant in the World” (April ‘06). And, journeyPod can see why! Located on Costa Brava, 2 hours north of Barcelona, the restaurant is so worth the drive. Matthew Jukes, author of the Wine List of 2003, praises El Bulli for being a “Culinary Nirvana”. Chef Ferran Adria startles and surprises the palate with an unusual menu – choices ranging from butter ravioli wrapped in a gelatin of marine water to peach dipped in liquid hydrogen. His culinary combinations might seem odd but he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest chefs in the world. El Bulli has three prestigious Michelin stars and the waiting list for a table can take up to a year. So, book ahead and then go ahead and tell all your friends that you’ve eaten at the Best Restaurant in the World!

Bestial – Fashion-meets-food in this chic restaurant/bar establishment. A multi-level space with a beautiful waterfront terrace, folks here can relax at their tables, sip fine cocktails and taste delicious Italian-Catalan dishes. Local DJ’s spin ambient sounds to the succulent tastes of Bestial.

Shoko – This Japanese/Mediterranean restaurant fuses Asian and Spanish cuisine- sushi, tapas, steak and seafood – with smooth trance sounds. Guests relax on the terrace as they gaze into the endless sea, while Oriental dance and martial arts demonstrations entertain guests nightly. The venue also morphs into a club at the sound of a gong featuring house and soul. And here’s a tip: try the artichoke and codfish risotto with a glass of the finest white wine.

Tapioles 53 – This relaxing, intimate and friendly venue is a favorite spot among locals. Guest sip sangria at wooden tables and enjoy wild mushrooms picked daily, along with sea salt gathered from natural salt pans in Greece. The best part of this place though is that there is no set menu – Chef Sarah Stothart will greet you personally and tell you what the specials are and how exactly she will prepare them. But, to receive this type of VIP treatment – make sure you have a reservation before stopping by. Tapioles 53 is a true Barcelonian treat!

Mam i Teca – The name comes from an old Catalan expression meaning “food and drink”- which this restaurant has mastered year after year. Mam I Teca is a true tapas eatery that serves only the freshest small plates. For those of you who have traveled to Barcelona – these are not the tapas you see sitting in the window all day. Whether you desire anchovies, cured meats, or feel adventurous and want to try the daily specials such as pork confit and asparagus with shrimp – you simply can not go wrong with any dish here.

Comerc24 – Located in an old salting house, Comerc24 has a remarkable ambience to it. The mood and decor are contemporary and guests enjoy famous melt-in-your-mouth Japanese Kobe steak, Tuna sashimi, or impressive world cheese assortments. So, whatever you might be in the mood for that day, this place is sure to satisfy your taste.

Andaira – An award-winning holistic and natural food restaurant, Andaira was pleasing the locals in the Baleric island of Menorca before it moved to the shores of Barcelona – where it now attracts both the Barcelonians and tourists craving a natural, healthy plate with a great view of the ocean. Chef Carl Borg intrigues folks with his light fare of seafood, vegetables, rice and meats. Guests also enjoy the “surprise menu” which includes an aperitif, 2 tapas, starter, fish, meat and a desert. Tip: Andaira offers a recipe CD to teach you how to re-create these specialties at home, so make sure you ask for it before you leave.

Cinc Sentits – The native, contemporary cuisine at Cinc Sentits attracts the real food conisseurs out there. Located on Calle Aribau, this eatery definitely knows how to make the perfect dish for you. Presentation and taste are impecable and the Wild Mediterranean Sea Bass melts in your mouth. The seasonal “Omakasa” hand-picked from the Chef, lets your tongue explore only the freshest meats and seafood from Barcelona.

Lasarte -Located in Hotel Condes de Barcelona, Lasarte is the winner of 3 Michelin stars. Chef Martin Berasategui pleases his guests with the perfect Catalan concoction. The decor is sheek, and beautiful white murals adorn the walls. The food and wine also speak for themselves. Definitely try the caramelized green apples with foie gras and smoked eel – just some of the restaurants specialties.

Moo – Hello all you wine conisseurs. We have not forgotten about you! So, you might just want to remember this three letter restaurant while traveling through Barcelona. The sommelier will introduce you to the perfect wine that pairs well with the sauces, texture and overall taste of the food you order. Try the layered orange cream, saffron flan, honey and brioche (can you tell that we at journeyPod have quite the sweet tooth?).

Caelis – Located in the Hotel Ritz of Barcelona, this gourmet restaurant allows guests to enjoy Chef Romain Fornell’s French and Catalan magic while sitting under beautiful chandeliers in an old palace style restaurant. Whether you order fresh caviar, escargot, scallops or jamon iberico, Caelis is sure to leave your palette and your belly satisfied.

Ravalo – This Pizza terrace destination is a cozy spot which will make you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of Venice. At Ravolo you can enjoy buffalo mozarella and carpaccio before tasting the award-winning pizza. Seafood lovers will enjoy the Pizza Barcelona – a combination of fresh seafood on top of the perfect thin crust pizza. An intimate spot that’s also great for people-watching, Ravolo lets you have it all – including your chance to sip on traditional Italian Prosecco and devouring the homemade tiramisu.

El Raco de Can Fabes – Located 30 minutes outside of Barcelona, this gourmet 3-century old citadel (located in the heart of an old Catalan village) is a true gem. The restaurant has received, quite deservingly, three Michelin stars for presentation and quality of its handcrafted food. The crayfish entrees at El Raco de Can Fabes will leave you pleasantly satisfied. Just make sure you take a stroll through the cobblestone village before heading back to the city.

Bars & Nightlife

La Paloma – Despite the neighbourhood’s efforts to silence it, La Paloma recently celebrated its 100th birthday. And talk about a transformation. The red velvet-lined foyer reveals a lavishly restored belle epoque theatre and dancehall complete with shimmering chandeliers and plush balconies. Though it’s a strange spectacle for those who arrive early – Grandma and Grandpa in full evening wear still foxtrotting after the ballroom sessions finish and the house and broken beats begin at 2:30 a.m. On Thursday nights, the Bongo Lounge DJs mix funk and Latin rhythms with psychedelic lights and live jazz, while Vegas-style go-go dancers compete for attention. No matter what – this is a great place to end the night off right!

Razzmatazz – If you have ever tried to find the right music to appease all the very different interests of your friends, then this place is your savior! Razzmatazz is the place to be – and five thousand clubbers can not be wrong. The mother off all warehouse super-clubs (not to mention, the best live venue in all of the city), Razzmatazz caters to every clubbers’ need – including its choice of Rock, Pop, Indie vibe and House in the different rooms. One of Barcelona’s most popular spots, doors here open at 1 am. (and the place now offers clubbers the chance to take in all of its five spaces for a single admission price.). So, whether you’re a goth, punk, mod, technophile or electrotrash, young Catalans (and tourists) from Badalona and beyond trek here to dance until they drop. This is a place Jarvis Cocker, Miss Kittin and Dave Clark, as well as bands from Air to Blur, call home when they visit the city.

CDLC Barcelona – This exclusive club (aka – Carpe Diem Lounge Club) is the darling of of the Barca football team (it’s owned by the wife of ex-Barca man Patrick Kluivert) and other celebs. The hub to the fashion crowd of Barcelona, CDLC works hard to be the most exclusive club on the nightlife circuit – even going so far as to refuse entry to its own invited VIPs. But hey! If Rod Stewart got in, you shouldn’t have a problem either! Once you embark inside this hot spot, you’ll find a space to suit any one of your moods – from the swanky bed-sized sofas, to the fast-moving dance floor and beachfront terrace. Resident DJ Anne-Miek and other Int’l guests play soulful, vocal house.

Dostrece – A sexy cocktail bar with Brazilian flavor, Dostrece boasts eclectic decor that adorns the walls as guests sip on their favorite Brazilian concoctions. A skilled bar staff here also puts every muscle into making sure that the caprioska you just ordered has been squeezed to perfection. And before you grab your partner for a whirl across the dance floor (to flamenco and jazz beats), make sure you indulge in the fantastic Spanish meat and cheese tapas that are offered here. A very trendy place in the busy streets of Calle Carme, Dostrece attracts both tourists and locals alike.

Nubaa – There is life beyond Las Ramblas – (tourists often forget this)! One such place is called Nubaa – an affordable night out for travelers and locals. This Mediterranean bar boasts modernist architecture, cutting-edge fashion and Latin Rhythms. As the evening progresses – the restaurant evolves into a fusion restaurant and club with a variety of DJ styles from all over Europe – different from one night to the next. Oh, and here’s a tip: on Sundays, you can bring your laptop for WiFi internet day – so get your group together and sip on Martinis while you surf the net.

Discotheque – At the forefront of the A-list clubs, Discotheque features nights with names like ‘Ken loves you’ or ‘F#@ck me, I’m famous’. Inside you’ll find projections, drag queens, podium dancers and a VIP bar that creates the Ibiza-when-it-was-still-hot vibe. Here is where you’ll also find the young and the beautiful using their looks and attitude to blag their way in. So on that note: dress in your trendiest!

Danzatoria – A beautiful three-story suburban house, Danzatoria is located on a hill that has been turned into a swanky bar. Said to be the place of the attractive people in Barcelona, the crowd here mingles and walks around the corridors of this palazzo. Sangria at Danzatoria is the (good) strong kind – not the watery mixture you might find in the cafes at the plazas. FYI: Hen and stag parties often use this venue to celebrate their last night of being single and MTV has been known to host a party or two here.

La Fira – It’s called a ‘bar-museum’, but don’t worry – you don’t get served a history lesson along with your pint of lager when you drink at this fairytale-themed bar. A perfect spot for the child-adventure-seeker in you, guests at La Fira can get their fortunes told, ride on the roundabouts and make fun of each other in the distorting mirrors. And for fun, half-naked men serve cocktails while guests enjoy the bizarre amenities. This boutique style lounge screams a good time!

Particular – Situated around a villa, guest at Particular can relax in this homey-feel of a surrounding. Sophisticated and stylish, the interior decor is hacienda-on-sea. And the crowds who frequent the place sip on wine as they’re nestled in the garden overlooking the gorgeous city. So, if you’re looking for great views (perfect for picture-taking) and a nice relaxing time, head on over to Particular.

Elephant – This dream-like club, with its amazing bamboo garden, colonial sculptures and Arabic influences will make you feel like you’ve just stepped into a page of the Arabian Nights. And, if you have a Porsche and a model girlfriend, this is also the place where you’ll meet your night owl peers. Housed in a converted mansion, Elephant boasts bronzed elephants which tower over the hip and fashionable crowd as they socialize and party till the early hours of the morning to Latin house, R&B, club, chill-out, and 80’s music. The big attraction is also the outdoor bar and terrace dance floor.

Sala Apolo – This 1940’s dancehall – located in the center of town – is host to some of Barcelona’s best live performances from well-known artists, world-famous DJs and fun cover bands. Themed nights are the name of the game here. Thursdays to Saturdays you’ll find everyone from Lee Scratch Perry to Gotan Project; Wednesday nights feature Canibal Sound System – which truly stretches the term “Latin music” to include hip hop and funk. Bottom line: it’s a fun time – no matter which night you decide to check it out!

Shoko – Located on the beach next to the well-known twin towers, this trendy Japanese restaurant, lounge and club is home to the movers and shakers of Barcelona. An oasis of good vibes, Shoko features lighting and decor that’s been carefully selected by a feng shui designer to make sure that the guests are most relaxed. This nightlife destination has it all – a bamboo room, a chill-out veranda, private room and lounge. A must visit dinner and night spot.

The Fastnet Bar – Attention all you serious beer drinkers and avid football fans – this Irish pub will be your second home during soccer season. Located on a Boulevard overlooking the marina, The Fastnet Bar features a wide variety of ales, lagers and beers. With its wooden interior, this place is the perfect pub to get cozy in the wintertime, to sip on your Baileys and coffee and to devour a traditional English bacon n’ egg sandwich.

Shout out to Maria Luisa for her expertise!

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The park is comprised of six islands with a total of approximately 668 upland acres and more than2,500 acres of surrounding mangroves and tidal flats and sea grass beds. Officials finalized acquisition plans in 1968, then was opened to the public in 1972. Caladesi Island was created in 1921 after a savage storm created Hurricane Pass and separated it from what was then Hog Island. The origin of the name is uncertain, however, it first appeared in print in the early ’30’s.

Farther in is the maritime hammock, which provides a more stable environment because of higher elevation and a relatively closed canopy. Live oak, red bay, sabal palm and Southern red cedar thrive here, protected from salt spray and increased water evaporation. The “high ground” of Caladesi is free from floods except under extreme storm conditions. Slash pines dominate the open canopy forest that contains an understory of wax myrtle and palmetto. Park staff keep growth under control with ecological burns during the lightning season, providing maintenance while minimizing danger.

Mangrove forests prevail on Caladesi’s eastern coast. One of the few trees that thrives in salt water, there are three species that shelter the island and nurture many of its animal residents. Given time, the mangrove roots trap additional soil and actually add to the island’s size.

ACTIVITIES

Fishing, shelling and nature studies are ways to enjoy a visit to Caladesi. Boaters can enjoy day use or overnight stays in the 108 slip bayside marina, or in calm weather, anchor offshore. There is no camping on the island.

Picnic pavilions, bath houses and a park concession provide additional amenities that make a visit to Caladesi more enjoyable. Some facilities and activities are accessible to the handicapped. Beach wheel chairs are available for visitors with physical limitations.

FERRY SERVICE

Ferry service is available from the mainland, weather permitting. The ferry departs hourly. For additional ferry information call (727) 734-5263.

For more information on Caladesi Island State Park, write to:

Caladesi Island State Park
c/o Honeymoon Island Administration
# 1 Causeway Blvd.
Dunedin, FL 34698

or call (727) 469-5918

or visit www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/default.asp