Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The five most expensive hotels in Barcelona, Spain

The Arts Barcelona

The Arts Barcelona, or to provide their full name the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts Barcelona, overlooks the magnificent Port Olimpic, and is an incredible sight in itself. With 5 different dining rooms ranging from Bites' Chic informal 'to' jacket and tie "Enoteca, there is something for every taste. Filled with twice daily cleaning, baby sitting service on request and free shoe shine service during the night and morning paper give art and whimsythe terraced gardens, swimming pool and numerous bars combine to make this a reassuringly expensive hotel to stay during your trip to beautiful Barcelona.

The Hilton Barcelona

The Barcelona Hilton seems mainly focus on the business meetings and business and is a modern looking 11-storey hotel in central Barcelona is very well connected with the areas of business and tourism connected with Barcelona. The benefits that the Hilton is proudvery activity of computers and internet in every room, a desk and chair, voice mail messaging are standard in all rooms oriented. The wide range of floors in a meeting, executive rooms and executive lounge make it ideal for the businessman.

The Claris

The Claris is a luxury hotel and is managed by the finer things in life as mentioned above, all the visual arts. Several excellent examples of exquisite art scattered around the corridors of thisconverted building and rooms. The reservation is almost impossible without notice years, but the sculptures from the 2nd Century Ages 7 years and 300 mobile makes it a luxury hotel portfolio to waste.

The Ritz

Which city in the world would be complete without a scratch decorate one of the most exclusive streets. Staying at the Ritz you who will be a pleasure and the Ritz in Barcelona is no exception. Now it is calledThe Palace Hotel, Scotch has a bar, shops and stores of beauty, the only reason to leave this hotel because you are your own in Barcelona and there is only so much to see Hotel outside the four walls of the luxurious Ritz. It also features a business center, more than enough for extended business meeting in executive

€ Star Grand Marina Hotel

A great name for a large building. An incredible combination of modern design and architectureis thrilled to have set before you enter your room. The 8-storey building near the sea, Barcelona has put incredible works of art, and you will be met by a massive piece behind the front desk about how to use a large and impressive collection of art from the Grand Marina is another hotel for People with time to walk in love for fine craftsmanship. The 278 rooms offer probably the cheapest of these hotels in large part due to the fact that the Marina Grande was founded only in 2002. While arelatively new to the market, however, the Grand Marina, offer a list more than a little 'impressive first-class services to its discerning guests. Take advantage of more affordable price, because they are sure to increase the time that the rooms are almost always full.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

I Love Touring Rome, Italy - University La Sapienza District Hotels

The University of Rome "La Sapienza", is located in a eastern Rome. This is the largest university in all Europe serving more than 140 thousand students. It was founded in 1303 but many of the present buildings were constructed in the early 1930s. As you might well guess, the neighboring San Lorenzo district has quite an animated nightlife. One of the area's imposing sights is the Castra Pretorio that was built almost 2 thousand years ago at the edge of Rome. After serving as military barracks it became the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale (National Library). Make sure that you see the Arch of Sixtus V and the Church of San Lorenzo fuori Le Mura which gives its name to the district. For your convenience we have listed neighborhood hotels in approximate order of cost, starting with the least expensive. We have personally verified all website addresses making sure that they include English-language pages.

The Hotel Vibel is located south of the University. It is quite close to the Termini railroad station. It has been recently renovated. You will find a terrace and a snack bar. Some of the rooms have a balcony. Given that it's near the university, you may not be surprised that the reception area is open 24 hours a day. The address is Scalo San Lorenzo, 97 - 00185 - Rome.

The Hotel Villa San Lorenzo Maria was built as a noble residence in 1910. This hotel offers a reading room, a TV room, and a bar. Breakfast is served in the garden, if the weather permits. The hotel offers 39 single, double, and triple rooms some of which have small private balconies. The hotel address is Via dei Liguri, 7 - 00185 - Rome.

The Hotel Globus is a Best Western Hotel. It offers 107 rooms, both smoking and non-smoking. They offer some rooms for the disabled. In addition to the usual hotel services they offer a personal shopper and a cartoon party. There is a bar, a restaurant, a TV room, and rooms designed for business meetings that are equipped with the latest technology. The address is Viale Ippocrate, 119 - 00161 - Rome.

The four-star Hotel Ateneo Garden Palace is located in an early-Twentieth Century building. There are 55 rooms including some triples and 6 junior suites. They provide a garden, meeting rooms, and a bar which is open around the clock. The hotel address is Piazza dei Siculi 9-11 - 00185 Rome.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Visiting Cancun on the Cheap

With its whitewashed beaches and azure waters, the Mexican paradise of Cancun balances the peace of the beach with a fun and fabulous nightlife, including clubs such as Coco Bongo and My Place.

When you're not lazing or dancing, you can swim with dolphins, deep sea dive, and snorkel - or golf, shop, ride horses, and drink in the ancient Mayan archeological sites.

In October of 2006, Hurricane Wilma devastated many areas of the Peninsula. But help has since rolled in from all over the world, and many areas of the city have been rebuilt. In some cases, they have been upgraded to higher quality hotels and wider beaches.

Best Travel Times

The hurricane season begins in September, so opt for cancellation insurance when booking flights during this time.

You might also want to consider planning your vacation during the Northern Hemisphere's off peak winter months, because airfares and hotel rates tend to be less inflated. Look for mid-week bargains, which are generally most significant from Tuesday through Thursday. You can save a lot by shopping around for travel packages and discount air travel. Make sure you tell your travel agent about your budget and what kinds of attractions and experiences are most important to you. If you don't work with a travel agent, keep your eye on the major online travel sites to snag the best deals. Here is a web page that compiles and posts updated coupon codes from Travelocity, Expedia, Site59.com and CheapCarribean.com: http://www.momscape.com/discounts/mexico-travel-deals.htm

Keep your eyes and ears open for deals on the following popular hotels, in particular:

- Le Blanc Spa & Resort

- Royal Sands

- JW Marriot Cancun Resort & Spa

- Ritz-Carlton Cancun

- Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort

- Marriot CasaMagna Cancun Resort

- Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun

- Riu Palace Las Americas

- Royal Islander

- Riu Cancun

Surrounding Attractions

There are so many things to do in the Cancun area, you can afford to be selective. Plan ahead for day trips and go early, before the sun gets too hot and the crowds come out en masse.

Here are some popular attractions in the area you'll want to consider:

- Chichen Itza - Ancient Mayan archeological structures

- MayaVenture - A labyrinth with treasure hunts

- Plaza de Toros - A bullring that has bullfights every Wednesday afternoon

- Cenotes - Deep, water-filled sinkholes in limestone

- Isla Mujeres - A small and charming island 8 miles across the baby from Cancun

- Playa del Carmen - Small resort town about 40 minutes south of Cancun by car

- Xcaret EcoPark and Sian Ka'an biosphere along the Riviera Maya

- Xel-Ha - Archeological site and ecopark, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

- Tulum - Best known for its Mayan ruins. Tulum is also the starting place for much ecotourism and adventure travel.

Other Cancun Travel Considerations

If your primary goal is to visit Cancun on the cheap, the best advice is to find accommodations out of the "hotel zone" which is located smack-dab in the middle of the city. There are plenty of things to do there and lots of great places to visit but the hotel and restaurant prices can get pretty steep downtown.

Here is a checklist of items you'll want to pack for your Cancun vacation:

- Clothing: Several pairs of comfortable shorts, tee-shirts, dress slacks, a sundress, sweater or light jacket, socks, undergarments, sandals, tennis shoes, plastic bag for dirty clothes

- First Aid: Pain relievers, eye-drops, necessary medications and prescriptions, band-aids, neck pillow

- Protection: Sunglasses, eye-glasses and/or contact lens, sun-visor or baseball cap, umbrella or rain poncho

- Snacks: Peanuts, crackers and/or potato chips, gum, candy and bottle of water

- Equipment: Camera, extra film, batteries, portable compact disc player with headphones, favorite book

- Documentation: Valid passport, driver's license and/or birth certificate, emergency contact information, money and/or traveler's checks, computer printout of airline ticket confirmation. (Make sure to write the name of your destination hotel inside and outside of luggage and be sure to have an adequate lock on each piece of baggage.)

Here's a helpful webpage with more checklists of things to do before, during, and after your departure: http://www.cancun.bz/vacation_check_list.htm

Vacationing in Cancun need not be expensive because it doesn't cost much at all to lounge on the beach, swim, backpack, picnic, take photos, walk along the beaches and the streets, and to simply sit still and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city and surf.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Guam's Best Hotel Resorts

Are you planning a vacation to Guam? The small island has several hotels to choose from, so I've outlined my favorites to assist you on your first visit.

Most hotels on Guam are found on the main tourist strip, which is in Tumon, either overlooking the beach or just steps from the water. Tumon is also the entertainment destination with restaurants, shopping, shows, bars, clubs and lots of Karaoke! You'll also find boutique shopping (Gucci, Chanel, and more) and souvenir shopping up and down the strip, as well as, restaurants such as  the famous Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe, and smaller cafes and restaurants.

The Outrigger Guam Resort is located right at the heart of this entertainment hub and adjoins The Plaza shops. Entertainment within steps of the hotel is not The Outrigger's only best feature. The hotel is luxurious and inviting, perfect for couples and honeymooners.  Every room has an ocean view! Couples will enjoy the beachfront property with a variety of beach activities, views of the fantastic ocean, the renowned Mandara Spa and delicious meals from their restaurants such as Palm Cafe.

The Westin Resort is located in the heart of Pleasure Island in Tumon, the island's popular entertainment sector. As with every Westin Hotel, the beds are 'heavenly' and the rooms are gorgeously appointed.  Enjoy this resort's beautiful sandy beach where you can go kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, jetskiing and more. Kids can enjoy a variety of supervised activities while parents relax by one of two pools.

The Hyatt Regency Guam is one of my favorite resorts, and my honeymoon hotel almost 15 years ago. Perfect for couples and families with children, this resort has so many great features. Children and adults will love the few water slides around the pools, enjoy a game of water volleyball or float along the river pool. When you're not enjoying the pool, step onto the beach and enjoy a variety of water activities and watch the sun set. This great getaway has the most amazing Japanese buffet - Niji Restaurant - featuring all-you-can-eat, world-class teppanyaki, sushi, and other favorite dishes. One of my favorite Italian restaurants is also found in this hotel - Al Dente. For lunches at the pool and beach, enjoy Breezes, which also hosts island entertainment. For a great all-day international buffet, La Mirenda is popular! At the Hyatt, you'll find everything you need!

For more water fun, visit or stay at The Pacific Islands Club, also located on the Tumon strip. This tropical paradise is fun for kids and adults, featuring its premiere water park with lush landscaping, waterfalls, kayaking river, water slides, beach and ocean activities, swim-through aquarium, water zoo, mini golf and so much more. Take a nap in a hammock under a palm tree. Tan by one of the quieter pools. The hotel also has casual and gourmet dining (my favorite is Bistro with its Lobster Fettuccine), and a fantastic island show with fire, water and Polynesian dance. This resort is not to be missed!

Another favorite is the long-standing Hilton Guam Resort and Spa, one of the largest hotels on Guam. With beautifully appointed rooms and balconies overlooking the garden or ocean, this hotel sits on a cliff overlooking the beautiful ocean and Tumon Bay. A perfect place for couples and honeymooners, the Hilton has a private wedding chapel on a cliff overlooking the beautiful ocean. You'll find pools, easy access to the beach and a variety of water activities. The hotel, as with most on the island, has an amazing choice of restaurants. Roy's, known worldwide for its Asian fusion dishes, is located here. Sunday brunch at the Islander Terrace and live music at Tree Bar should be a part of your visit to the island when you're not trekking.

Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort is another outstanding hotel. With its own private grounds and view on Oka Point, this beautiful hotel is the perfect getaway for couples, newlyweds and those on the way to the altar. This 5-star resort is gorgeously appointed with soft lighting and music, a lush and spacious atrium, large infinity pool and breathtaking view of the Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean. This hotel, formerly the Palace Hotel, is newly designed and luxuriously modern. The Atrio Bar is one of the premiere entertainment venues with live music and dancing. La Cascata is a favorite for international buffet dining. After dining, stroll the beautiful grounds and enjoy the breezes and beautiful sunset.  This hotel is absolutely one of my favorites to visit.

I hope this article has provided you with assistance in choosing your perfect getaway destination. If you're undecided, why not choose 2 or 3 hotels to stay in during your visit? Each hotel has its own unique features to enjoy!  Hafa adai and have a wonderful vacation.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I Love Touring Rome, Italy - Piazza Navona District Hotels

The Piazza Navona close to the center of Rome was once a focal point for medieval jousts and Roman circuses. It is still beautiful and evokes Rome of days gone by. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), representing the four corners of the globe is its centerpiece. Renaissance buildings including palaces and churches abound. You'll love the district's narrow streets and lanes, some of which still are homes to local artisans. For a taste of multiculturalism visit San Luigi dei Francesi, the church of the expatriate French community. You say that you don't speak French; enjoy the art work. For your convenience we have listed neighborhood hotels in approximate order of cost, starting with the least expensive. We have personally verified all website addresses making sure that they include English-language pages.

The Hotel Navona Cheap and Chic tries to live up to its name. This town house located quite close to the Piazza resides in a historic building. This hotel is a non-smoking property. Its reception desk is closed after 10 pm. Continental breakfast is included. The Navona Cheap and Chic address is Via del Governo Vecchio, 118 - 00186 - Rome. Exceptionally, there is no website. That's one way to keep the prices down.

The Hotel Navona is on a quiet side street not far from the Piazza. It is housed in a Fifteenth Century palace which was built over the ruins of the Baths of Agrippa. This family-run hotel has 31 rooms, each furnished differently. Some of the rooms boast coffered wooden ceilings. A continental breakfast is served in the breakfast room. The hotel proprietors offer apartments in the neighborhood. The hotel address is Via dei Sediari 8 - 00186 Rome.

The Hotel Raphael Relais & Chateaux is located in a building designed by the American architect Richard Meier that blends the Renaissance with the modern era. Its lobby displays a collection of ceramics by none other than Pablo Picasso. You'll enjoy the restaurant on the multilevel terrace and on-site tennis. There are 65 single and double rooms and suites. The address is Largo Febo 2 - 00186 Rome.

The Hotel St. George Roma is one of the finest hotels in this lovely neighborhood. It is a five star property and you should expect to pay accordingly. You'll feel like one of those Roman patricians when you enjoy the sauna, Turkish bath, hydro massage, and much more. There's a wine bar and a cigar club, a library and a terrace open only during the summer. There are 64 rooms including 6 junior suites that are all decorated in minimal-chic luxury. Fortune Magazine named it one of the top 10 luxury hotels in the world. The address is Via Giulia, 64 - 00186 - Rome.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Guide to Accommodations in Mumbai

To meet the ever increasing demands of the modern day traveler, Mumbai has come up with excellent accommodation options. The industrial as well as the entertainment capital of India, Mumbai occupies a prominent place in the tourist map of India.

A city of dreams for the young professional, a melting pot of several cultures and a hub of entertaining activities, Mumbai has often been described as the city that never sleeps, but often pauses for breath. If you are worried about the types of accommodation in Mumbai, you can rest assured that you will get options galore.

An oasis of comfort and luxury, these hotels are ideally located to some of the finest places of interest in the city. You can choose to visit the colorful historical, culture and entertaining spots in Mumbai from your address of stay.

This city came into prominence, when it was given as part of dowry to King Charles II in 1661 when he married Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal. Today, it is the capital of Maharashtra and one of the fastest growing cities of India in terms of growth and lifestyle. The various hotels in Mumbai offer tour packages to the major tourist attractions in Mumbai. You can also embark on excursions to the nearby hill stations and ancient caves by availing services of your place of stay in Mumbai.

The reception desk at these hotels is always at your beck-and-call. You can enquire anything you want to know about the sightseeing destinations, what and where to eat and some of the major shopping destinations at the reception desk.

The hotels are perfectly designed to cater to your needs and requirements. The design and décor of the renowned hotels have been carefully thought of. The range of hotel amenities and services has been well chosen to cater to your daily needs and requirements.

From excellent room facilities to dining options, from business and conference facilities to health and recreation options, Mumbai hotels has it all to make your holiday a memorable experience.

From state-of-the-art business facilities to luxurious spa massages, the hotels believe in offering its guests maximum luxury and maximum comfort! Apart from luxury 5 star hotels, Mumbai boasts of a range of budget and economy class hotels also.

If you want to spend a holiday with the best of comforts and conveniences without burning a hole in your pocket, you can simply opt from any of the budget category hotels in Mumbai. Here you will get the best of comforts and that too at reasonable prices.

Accommodation in Mumbai epitomizes unbeatable comfort and luxury. The excellent accommodation options in Mumbai complement your sightseeing experiences to make your trip to Mumbai a wholesome experience. You can choose from 5 star hotels, 4 star hotels, 3 star hotels, economy class hotels or budget hotels according to your taste and requirement. Amongst the most sought-after hotels, a mention must be made of The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, Midland Hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Renaissance Mumbai Hotel& Convention, Hotel Marine Plaza, West End Hotel, Taj President, Ambassador Group of Hotels and Best Western The Emerald.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Exotic Hotels Around The World Without Leaving Yorkshire - Eat Exquisite Food On Your Travels

Our journey took us to the Yorkshire Dales in a place called Asenby near Thirsk. What a wonderful site greets you in the form of a wonderful public house with a thatched roof and lots of strange and wonderful objects strategically placed on and around it. After all it was the Crab & Lobster so a crab and lobster is what we saw. It is the kind of site you see in your lifetime where you wonder if you are still deep in a dream or on some kind of medication. Needless to say we were definitely not on the latter. This beautiful little building is the start of your wonderful weekend break, holiday or maybe even wedding day. More about this pub later.

Just around the back we found the Crab Manor Hotel. As you drive into the graveled car park two large white hounds greet you in a very welcoming way. The dog statues line the way to the magnificent front door surrounded by climbing ivy which reaches right up to the rooftop. In fact as we looked around the whole grounds was a gardeners dream with trees of all colours and species, shrubs plants and flowers. If this was a taste of the opulence inside then we were in for a great treat.

Stepping into the hallway, well, what can I say it is to be seen to be believed. Decorated with beautiful artifacts and antiques, we did not know where to look first. I could see an enormous and I mean enormous yeti in the window of the staircase wearing a pinny. There was the biggest clock I have ever seen in my life on the wall. For anyone with bad eyesight worry not. To tell you everything we could see just from the area we were stood in would constitute pages and pages of description. Take my word for it unusual is the word that comes to mind.

You will be greeted by the receptionist who is also very informative as well as kind and be shown to the room of your choice, which could be the Waldorf Atoria in New York the Cipriana Palace in Venice. La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakesh and many more. We stayed at the Sharrow Bay hotel in Ullswater.

As we walked through the door a Four Poster bed looms ahead of you with drapes and cherubs and beautiful bedding. I could not wait to lie under the canopy and imagine I was royalty at least. Down a couple of steps is the sitting room with television, wonderful furniture and Crisps! Yes crisps not just any old crisps but packaged in a container I have never seen before and enough to feed an army. Biscuits, coffee and teas.

Next we walked into the bathroom and oh my goodness me what a lavish room. Maybe this is where I might stay for the whole two days. Languishing in bubbles till my skin turned into a prune. A Roll top bath stood in the centre of the room was a dream come true, for me anyway. Beautiful taps and tiled floor covering, with elaborate plaster cherubs on the walls.

Having recovered from the shock of all the decor and amenities we were shown then to the Jacuzzi outside which was the icing on the cake. Lights would twinkle in the evening to make it so romantic and create a great atmosphere for any couple.

We changed after a while and went down to the little pub just a short walk away.

Well, what met us was the most twinkly, warm inviting atmosphere I have ever been in. Hundreds and hundreds of curious antiques and "things" everywhere. You would just have to go and see for yourself for me to even touch on what we saw. Yellow tablecloths and serviettes brought out the whole room and we were just dumb struck.

We ordered lamb and our faces both showed the delight simultaneously at the succulence of the meat and the taste as we ate on and on into the night. It is renowned also as a fish restaurant but on this occasion we plumbed for the Lamb. Next time. All the staff were keen to make our evening superb and it was, we could not fault any of it. There was not one single solitary negative comment we could think of.

Our night was wonderful under my royal canopy and when morning came we descended once again down to the restaurant for Breakfast. This time it was in the conservatory. Once again I can only say you would have to go and experience the decor and what I can only say as incredible. For breakfast we did sample the fish, which was on the most enormous plate with as much toast and tea, juice and coffee as you could drink.

I did not want any of my experience at the Crab & Lobster to end it had been a fairy tale stay.

All was not over as the day before I had asked if I could look at the other rooms as well as the Log Cabins in the grounds all with various places in the world as their theme. Not only were we shown around but by the General Manager and indeed the kindest man. He took us to every room and explained the decorations behind them. He spared us lots of time and we appreciated the tour enormously.

If you can go and experience what we did then you will have the most fantastic weekend break, holiday or wedding, whatever you choose to book, you will ever have without the long journey to get there.

I wanted to pass on the whole experience to you, especially as I have not stopped taking about it since.