Hotel Travel Tips

World Hum Travel Movie Club: ‘Eat, Pray, Love’

2010-08-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long four years since Elizabeth Gilbert’s travel memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, began its extended stay on bestseller lists around the world. Now, after much anticipation, the film adaptation has arrived. But will the bestseller spawn a blockbuster? World Hum Travel Movie Clubbers Eva Holland and Eli Ellison set aside their half-eaten pasta dishes, rolled up their yoga mats and pedaled their Balinese bicycles to their neighborhood theaters to find out.

To: Eva
From: Eli
Subject: Nervous breakdown

Yesterday I hit rock bottom. While folding my girlfriend’s panties I realized the sad old laundromat is a welcome escape from the daily flood of phone calls from debt collectors and frantic “When can I expect this?” emails from my editor. My romantic relationship? It’s fine, so she tells me. But my pet cat does have tapeworms. And my car’s “Check Engine” light just went on, again.

You see, I’m as whiny, privileged and self-centered as Julia Roberts’ rendition of Elizabeth Gilbert. Never has a man been more ready to weep over travel treacle. Did I cry? Affirmative. A big crocodile tear rolled down my cheek during one scene, though I’ll deny that in court. As for the other two-plus hours of self-discovery prattle, they were mostly pure torture.

Having not read the book, I can only speak of the mess on screen, which often felt rushed. You read that right. If EPL had taken time to develop some kind of connection between Liz and the other come-and-go characters (especially in Italy), I’d have gladly sat through three hours.

As is, one of the few times EPL felt genuine was during the brief scenes between Liz and Tulsi (Rushita Singh), a 17-year-old girl she befriends at an ashram in India. After the girl’s arranged Indian wedding, they share a scene in which Liz devotes her recital of the Guru Gita to Tulsi. ‘Twas this that brought said tear to my eye. Sure, it’s designed to do that. But I’m a sucker for mush when it works. Not five minutes later, the searching-for-redemption “Richard from Texas” character (Richard Jenkins) blubbers through a confessional so affected and so clearly intended to trigger tears, I ceased to care. I sat back and shifted into full escapism mode.

As cinematic travel porn, it doesn’t get much better. Italy is like I remember it: Roman ruins, busy cafes and beautiful chaos. I’ve not visited India, but when the time comes I’m going on a God quest in an “air-conditioned meditation cave” just like Liz. Bali, near the top of my see-before-I-die list, looks fab. However, by the third act all I wanted was some high-def SCUBA footage of tropical fish, and for Liz to shaddup already.

I know you’re a rom-com sap. And I know you liked the book, but come on, you can’t tell me this is worth 10 bucks and two ass-numbing hours.

To: Eli
From: Eva
Subject: Eating popcorn and praying for the end

I’d like to disagree with you, Eli—because I loved the book, because I had medium-to-high hopes for the film, and, if nothing else, because a little conflict would make for a better movie club. But dammit if that two-point-five hours didn’t feel more like seven. Put bluntly: I was bored out of my tree.

You mentioned that the flick felt rushed; you’re dead on. There was a lot of ground to cover here, both physical and emotional, and all too often the effort to jam it all in resulted in choppy story-telling and, as you say, a superficial array of secondary characters. The result: I had serious trouble getting invested in the action. Why was Liz so unhappy in her marriage at the outset? Why was David, the young beau who swept in post-separation, so infatuated with our broken-down heroine? Why did those handsome, multilingual, thoughtful Italian men seem content to spend their days explaining their language and their country to a melancholy foreign woman?

I never got my answers, and I didn’t much care: I just wanted all the eating, praying and loving to end.

Let’s talk positives briefly. You’re right: The travel side of things was fantastic. I may not have cried on cue (unlike some supposedly-jaded critics I know) but the Italian scenes elicited numerous stomach grumbles, and I thought some of the movie’s lighter, funnier moments—Liz’s early, rapid-fire exchanges with Richard from Texas, for instance, or the snappy dialogue from stalwart friend Delia—were well written and well paced. Flavors of the month Steven, David and Felipe (played by Billy Crudup, James Franco and Javier Bardem) were welcome human additions to the geographical eye candy. But was it worth it? Unequivocally, no. Consider me officially disappointed with the travel movie event of the summer.

To: Eva
From: Eli
Subject: Chick power

Why was David so head over heels for Liz? Unlike me, he really seemed to enjoy folding his girlfriend’s delicates. Why was Liz unhappy in marriage? Its institutional trappings have deadened her soul and she owes herself independence. Come on, Eva, you’re supposed to be lapping up this chick power stuff.

Be honest. You loved the book? I read a few sample pages on Amazon. It’s well written, I suppose. But in the first chapter it’s already apparent her journey is too premeditated, too neat. The movie felt this way as well. Pretend the book didn’t exist and it’s easy to picture the Hollywood pitch meeting: “Julia Roberts finds herself in Italy, India and Indonesia. We get three hunks to go along with the three I’s, and BOOM, summer vacation box office gold, baby!”

EPL grossed a healthy $23.7 million in the US this weekend, but I think once the bad word of mouth gets out, this picture’s sunk. Not even the travelogue aspect can save this bore. Sure, it’s pretty to look at, but I can O.D. on glistening plates of pasta and aerial shots of the Colosseum watching Food Network and Travel Channel.

Before I go reclaim my manhood by watching some football, I pose a final question. I remember reading a scathing review of that other summer travel chick flick, “Sex and the City 2,” which said the movie was self-indulgent, unfunny and glorified “hedonism as the new feminism.” Don’t you think the same could be said about EPL?

To: Eli
From: Eva
Subject: People and places

“Hedonism as the new feminism”? Sure, I can see that. After all, we’re talking about a movie that presents multi-course Italian liquid lunches and subsequent new-fat-pants shopping sprees as rebellious push-back against modern-day beauty standards for women. Nothing a credit card can’t solve, right?

But here’s my real issue: It’s been said many a time, that a great travel story often rests on the shoulders of its characters. Or, put differently: The people make the place. And yeah, I did enjoy the book—in large part, I think, not because I have any desire to set out on a year-long spiritual journey of my own, but because the people in it felt real to me. And, as we both agreed above, that fullness of character just didn’t translate to the big screen. So you can cobble together an army of arty shots of fresh Roman asparagus and sad, lingering shots of dusty Indian children and you can place your actors in front of a thousand perfect Balinese sunsets—and director Ryan Murphy pulled out all the stops on that front—but if I don’t care about the people, I’m not going to care about their journey. End of story.

Travel Tips: Pack Smartly, Pack Lightly

2010-08-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

When it comes to travel tips, there is a list for just about everything. Best this. Best that. Worst this and worst that. And more and more lists and tips are popping up devoted strictly to technologic travel gizmos - phones, netbooks, apps, games - but sometimes you need plain old-fashioned travel tips. With the fall and holiday travel season flying into full mode soon, try these few tips for passport perfect smooth sailing.

The number one rule of travel is to ditch the heavy suitcase. Unless you're riding at the front of the plane in those bigger, nicer seats that allow 70 pounds per bag, then you're in last class where I sit and where we're allowed only a miserly 50 pounds per bag.

First thing you should do is weigh your suitcase, as you may be surprised at how heavy it weighs. I bought a stylish set several years ago, but was astonished when I realized the largest piece, the one I travel with the most, was a hefty 15 pounds. After deducting the 30 pounds or so for my super-duper high maintenance beauty and hair products, only 5 pounds were left for clothes and shoes. No, ma'am, that wouldn't do at all.

After much shopping around and research, I traded in the Model-T behemoth for the snazzier and affordable Sausalito Superlights collection from Ricardo of Beverly Hills (www.RicardoBeverlyHills.com). Named to National Geographic's Ten Best of Everything, the Ricardo brand carries extremely lightweight luggage. The Sausalito Superlights is expandable and has a four-wheel spinner, and best of all the biggest 28-inch upright weighs less than 10 pounds, ideal for high-maintenance heavyweights like me.

Always travel with an alarm clock and flashlight. Since I don't own a watch, I've had a small battery-powered Timex Indiglo (www.TimexAudio.com) travel alarm clock for years that I bought on sale for a mere $5. Not all hotels have clocks, especially those overseas, and wake-up calls can be unpredictable. Plus, I can't count the number of times I've been in hotel power outages and have been grateful for my tiny travel flashlight. Now the Indiglo comes with a built-in flashlight, so for less than $20, you get both in one convenient battery-operated package. Without the extra weight of a separate flashlight, you can score yet another pound for more makeup if you're a lady or Adam Lambert.

Too many times I've heard horror stories about liquids exploding in luggage. One friend related how a bottle of olive oil that she was bringing back from Italy burst open in her suitcase and ruined everything. For another friend, it was wine. A bottle of shampoo exploded in my carryon and the gooey mess actually dripped out of the overhead bin and onto my head. So, then, after that fiasco I learned to stuff plastic storage and grocery bags into the suitcase. Anything that can leak or spill, like shampoo or olive oil, goes into the bags. But you can use them for any number of things, including storing wet clothes, dirty socks, and other unmentionables.

An all-purpose small first-aid kit is good, too. Pack it with aspirin, bandages, sinus medicine, anti-itch cream, antibiotic ointment, and insect repellant. At least you'll be prepared in case you're attacked by a swarm of hungry mosquitoes, a grumpy orangutan, or if you fly, a cranky seatmate who apparently has yet to have his morning coffee. If you're going into a foreign country, like Kenya, Mexico, or Newark and accidentally drink the water, an anti-diarrhea medicine can spare you much anguish and embarrassment caused by nasty water parasites.

Other items I put inside my checked luggage include a copy of my passport just in case I'm bopped on the head and my purse is stolen, a collapsible corkscrew when a bottle of wine is appropriate, and a sewing kit complete with safety pins because buttons pop off, seams rip, and sweaters unravel - and that's just in a Lady Gaga video.

My purse is filled with packets of tissues, a Tide Stick, Shout wipes, and Wet Ones single use antibacterial wipes. Some smaller airports don't have jetways, which means running for the plane in rain, so it's a good idea to carry a small collapsible umbrella and rain poncho.

You're more likely to spot George Clooney than a washcloth in a European hotel. Take one or two with you, and if it's not dry by checkout time, stuff it into one of those handy plastic grocery-store bags you've brought along. Also pack a small roll of duct tape. Luggage handles and zippers break, and duct tape is a quick fix. And if you wear glasses, an eyeglasses repair kit is an essential item. Keep an older pair in your luggage in case of major breakage.

Ladies and Adam Lambert, this paragraph is just for you. Throw in a couple of pashminas, wraps, or scarves. They weigh practically nothing and can jazz up an outfit from casual to classy in two seconds flat. For those bad hair days, either a baseball cap or a soft collapsible hat works wonders to hide unmanageable locks.

If you travel overseas and become sick because of those parasites, get bitten by cobra, or trampled by an elephant, your health insurance probably won't cover those costs. That's why you need travel insurance. There are several excellent companies like TravelEx and On Call International.

Here's the rundown of the invaluable coverage you can get for just a couple of hundred dollars. On Call International (www.OnCallInternational.com), for example, helps travelers and their families, including missionaries, students, faculty and others, more than 50 miles away from home in emergency situations. Their Global Response Center is available anytime, day or night, from anywhere in the world. Depending on your plan, they help with emergency medical services and evacuation, lost or stolen document, translation services, and lost luggage. Additionally, On Call International has a 24/7 nurse helpline staffed by U.S.-licensed nurses to provide medical advice.

One last thing. If you're traveling to a Third World country where poverty abounds, take older clothes that you can leave behind. Believe me, they will go to good use. I once left a pair of shoes at a hotel in Uganda because I had accidentally stepped in rhino poo at a wildlife sanctuary. When I checked out of the hotel, I saw a young man taking them out of the trash and smiling as if he had stumbled upon a million dollars. When I started to protest that they were practically worthless, I was assured by the hotel clerk that someone desperately needed those ratty, smelly shoes and wouldn't have to go barefoot any longer. That takes the adage of someone's trash is someone's treasure to an entirely new level.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

2010-08-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Throughout the Caribbean, there are countless “all-inclusive” resorts, but many of them very broadly define the phrase, which makes it difficult to budget for a trip when you anticipate being hit with lots of hidden charges and up-sells once you arrive.

Thankfully, this is never the case at St. Lucia’s gorgeous Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. Here, all-inclusive really means just that: All meals and beverages, land and water-based activities, fitness classes, airport ground transfers, evening entertainment, gratuities, and camp-like activities for kids and teens are all part of the bottom-line price.

It is located along St. Lucia’s south coast, right on the ocean–a low-rise resort complex with 254 guestrooms and suites that offer extremely clean, comfortable, spacious and modern amenities. Each room is air-conditioned, equipped with satellite TV, oversize bathrooms, a fully stocked mini bar and a mini-fridge, plus high-speed Internet access. However, what you’ll remember most about the rooms is the oceanfront view that the majority of them offer.

Right on the property, and included in the price, are several rather elegant full-service restaurants. For example, there’s Silk, which serves gourmet Asian cuisine, as well as Bellagio, which offers fine Italian cuisine. If you’re looking for something less formal, the resort offers a traditional buffet-style dining experience, plus several poolside cafes and snack bars.

Regardless of where you dine, however, the food is top-quality, tasty and plentiful, and with the exception of premium liqueur, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included and readily available–day or night.

When it comes to on-property activities, there’s a gorgeous, virtually private beach, and several extremely large swimming pools. For kids and teens, there’s also a full water park featuring multiple water slides, as well as a staffed kids club which offers organized, camp-like activities.

At the fitness center, which is open to all guests, there’s a full workout facility, plus fitness and yoga classes are offered on an ongoing basis. There’s also a tennis center (which includes four courts), plus two full-size basketball courts. Every evening, the resort hosts live entertainment and theme nights.

While not included in the all-inclusive rate, the resort is home to the Kai Mer Spa–a lavish full-service and world-class day spa, where you can experience a full menu of massages, body treatments and facials. Special packages are offered to couples, plus specialized treatments are available for teens, as well as for mothers and daughters.

Since it’s located right on the ocean, a wide range of water-based activities are offered at Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. In fact, it’s here that the independently operated, award-winning 2Elements Kitesurfing and Windsurfing School is located. This is one of the very few places in the world that offers certified kitesurfing instruction. The 10 hour kitesurfing program is taught over a five day period, and concludes with participants receiving an International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) certification card. If you participate in this program, you will be an accomplished kite surfer at the end.

What’s really nice about this resort is that it regularly hosts destination weddings, honeymoons and romantic getaways for couples, and has an entire cluster of buildings (and a separate swimming pool) dedicated solely to adult guests. However, the resort also has separate accommodations specifically for families traveling with kids and teens, located on the opposite side of the complex.

While it’s easy to spend an entire week at Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa and never leave the property, if you do opt to go sightseeing or want to experience local activities and attractions, you have plenty of affordable options–from guided island tours to snorkeling or scuba diving excursions.

There are also rainforests and botanical gardens to explore, plus zip-lining, bicycle tours, and a nice selection of duty-free shopping opportunities. The resort’s Activities Desk can help you schedule tours and off-site activities, coordinate a rental car, or schedule taxi service to anywhere on the island.

So, whether you’re planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, a romantic getaway for you and a loved one, or a tropical family vacation you won’t soon forget, there are few prettier places to stay in St. Lucia than the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the top-notch, extremely friendly service that’ll make you feel well cared for throughout your stay.

Depending on the season, all-inclusive rates range from $310.00 to $650.00 per person, per night (based on double occupancy). December 21st through April 9th is the resort’s peak season. Special rates are available for family suites with connecting rooms. If you visit the resort’s website, you’ll find discounted packages and money-saving promotions offered throughout the year.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Vieux Fort, St. Lucia

(866) 978-6226 (Toll-free from the U.S.)

(758) 459-6000 (Direct Number)

www.cbayresort.com

As we enjoy the last of blissful sunny days, cookouts, and playing in the sand, we want you to share a photo of your Favorite Beach Vacation with us. You might win a free $250 (USD) Visa gift card which you can use for any upcoming travel plans you might have. Click here to learn how to enter.

Starwood Hotels Launches Websites in Portuguese

2010-08-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(HOT 47.59, +0.87, +1.86%) announced today the launch of its websites in Portuguese, including all Starwood branded websites, the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) website SPG.com and the corporate homepage Starwoodhotels.com. With the addition of Portuguese, Starwood now offers websites in eight languages including English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Mandarin and Japanese. While a few rivals offer website translations, Starwood is the first global hotel company to provide comprehensive online booking in Portuguese.

Over 180 million of the world's nearly 240 million Portuguese speakers live in Brazil, which is the largest tourist destination in South America, with 5.78 billion dollars in international tourism revenues in 2009. Starwood currently has six hotels in Brazil under its Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands in many of the country's most popular destinations such as Rio, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. In recent years, Portuguese speakers around the world have significantly increased their Internet use, online purchasing and international travel.

"With nearly 80% of all future Starwood hotels opening outside the United States, it is more important than ever that we reach out to our global guests in their language," said Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Portuguese is one of the world's most spoken languages and Brazil is one of the world's most dynamic emerging markets. It's now going to be a seamless experience for Portuguese speakers to book travel and redeem Starpoints(R) at SPG.com, where they will enjoy direct access to the world's largest portfolio of luxury and upper-upscale hotels."

"The launch of our websites in Portuguese comes at a time when Starwood is eyeing Brazil as one of the most promising markets for future hotel development," said Osvaldo Librizzi, President, Latin America for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Brazil is poised for a surge in both international and domestic tourism as it prepares to host both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. New direct flights from major markets such as London and New York will make it easier to attract additional business and leisure travelers. With the addition of Portuguese, we will be better positioned to not only communicate with our guests and frequent travelers about travel within Brazil, but also provide them with information regarding destinations around the world."

About Starwood Preferred Guest

The SPG program's breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world's most sought after collection of hotels, reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights, thelobby.com and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 940 participating properties, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at spg.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world's most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com or call (877) -- STARWOOD.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

eReaders are the Newest Hotel Perks

2010-08-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

In the swaddled, rarified world of hotel elite programs -- the robes, the private check-ins, the buttery bowls of complimentary popcorn-- the latest perk is a humble one.

Stay in the lap of luxury . . . and read.
This week, Fairmont hotels announced that eReaders would be made available at certain hotels, but only to guests staying on the Gold Floors -- the "exclusive oases" that have Gold reception desks manned by Gold staff members who dedicate themselves to Gold guests, who are elite. The eReaders will be stocked with a variety of Random House titles; the concierges will be briefed on the content, allowing them to make recommendations to the discerning customer.
"It speaks beautifully to the research we've just conducted, to get at the true passion communities that [our guests] feel deeply about," says Alexandra Blum, the executive director of brand development and global partnerships at Fairmont.
Those passion communities are . . . ?
"We believe that traditional loyalty programs are no longer sufficient to truly engage the affluent."
Ah. One can only remain impressed by wireless Internet access for so long. One can only watch so much HBO, HBO2, HBO Comedy, HBO Family and HBO Signature before one develops eye strain. At a certain point, one hates the sight of one's in-room business center, and one realizes that the mark of true elitism is a return to old-fashioned pleasures.
At Miami's Epic Hotel, guests are presented with pre-loaded Sony Readers. The truly decadent may choose to have genuine paper artifacts delivered to their rooms, ordering books off the "virtual nightstand," a sort of literary room service menu.
In Newport, R.I., the Forty 1 North boutique hotel places iPads in every room.
None of them can compete with New York's Library Hotel in terms of literary luxury; each room is themed with a section of the Dewey Decimal System, oceanographers in 900.003, Slavic language devotees in 400.001. The hotel has a total of 6,000 volumes -- real ones, not Kindled.
The association of books with escapism developed with railroad travel, says James West, the director of the Center for the Book at Penn State University. Inexpensive "railway editions," the precursor to airport paperbacks, would be sold in stations along the route, encouraging passengers to escape the heat and stench of the steam engine by burying their noses in books.
Advertising soon followed -- colorful magazine campaigns of sandy beaches and dog-eared Harlequins -- and advertising has kept up: A new slot for the Kindle begins with a close-up of the product, panning backward to reveal its owner is a man on the beach. A ukulele, the official instrument of leisure, plays in the background.
"Someone going into a luxury suite and having a Kindle," says Robert Darnton, a book historian and director of the Harvard University Library, "could be the equivalent of a traveler in the 19th century who stops off in a reading club" to rent one of the latest novels. "These would be people who were fairly wealthy," Darnton says.
Here we are, back again.
May I bring you a complimentary hot chocolate, sir? A selection of pillow options in a variety of firmness? Or just the latest Jonathan Franzen?

The Architectural Wonder Taj Mahal Palace Hotel reopened with Flag Hoisting on Independence Day

2010-08-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Taj Mahal Palace hotel of Mumbai was opened after renewal on Independence Day.

The five star luxurious hotels is 107 year old immaterial possession, which is located in Mumbai facing the gateway of India with the birdâ€™s eye view of Arabian Sea. It is a marvel designed by Sitaram Khanderao and D.N.Mirza which is beautified with numerous chandeliers, beautiful ceilings, collection of artistic paintings, graceful pathways etc. It was commenced on 1903 and has hosted various celebrities like, â€˜The Beatles, Bill Clinton, Kings, Prince of Walesâ€™ etc.

Taj Mahal Palace hotel belongs to Tata Group of hotels and resorts, which is world wide renowned for their hospitality and facilities. It consists of a building and tower with 565 rooms, 46 suite rooms, 11 restaurants and 22 floors.

Taj Mahal Palace hotel was attacked by terrorists continuously causing damages alongÂ withÂ roofs of the hotel which was destroyed completely on 26^th November 2008.Almost 167 people were killed at that time and 293 were hospitalized. The Management team of hotel told that it will take 12 months to completely restore the heritage.

Now on 64^th Independence Day the suites of Taj Mahal Palace hotel that were on the sixth floor which covered about 5000 sq.feet was reopened again to the people with more safety measures like levers to pull the emergency window and multimedia system being placed in all these suites. Further the restaurants inside the hotel like â€˜Sea loungeâ€™ and Golden Dragon had been given life with better facilities.

Taj Mahal Palace hotel was built as a mix of Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture.Â Various designer firms from all over the world like BAMO from US, Wilkes from Malaysia, James Park associates from Singapore, Lissoni Associates from Italy were involved in renovation of the Palace.

The Best Tourist Attractions In London

2010-08-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

London gets visitors from all over the world and many take time out of their busy schedules to fit in some sightseeing. But with so many attractions on offer, which are the best ones to choose?

Lovers of history and the royal family will certainly want to make a visit to Buckingham Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in London.

The palace has 775 rooms which include 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. Although it is used for many important events by the Queen, the state rooms at Buckingham Palace are open every year to visitors and tourists (during the months of August and September.)

The opening hours and dates for 2010 are as follows: 27 July-1 October, 09:45-18:00 with the last administration at 15:45. It is an exciting experience and appeals to all. The admission prices are very low, charging only 17.00 for an adult, 15.50 for over 60’s and students, 9.75 for under 17’s and under 5’s are free!

Another fantastic attraction is The London Eye. Since it opened in March 2000, it has become the most popular tourist attraction in the UK. It’s the world’s tallest observation wheel with a height of 443 ft and is located in a brilliant position on the South Bank of the River Thames. The London Eye is perfect for views of London and on a clear day you can see for up to 25 miles. It is the perfect alternative to going and seeing all the sights individually. The wheel has 32 unobstructed glass capsules, which individually can comfortably carry 25 people.

The London Eye has disabled access so is accessible for everyone. The Eye takes 30 minutes to complete a full rotation and moves so slowly it’s hardly noticeable. It’s open from 10am-8pm 7 days a week with tickets for an adult at only 13.50. There are also many packages available when booking the London Eye which are all designed to help save you money. You can hire it for a party or for a romantic date with the other half!

Book the best Hotels in London, and enjoy a trip of a lifetime in the world’s best city. Let us find the best London Hotel for you today.

Tourist Attraction in Jodhpur, India, Travel Guide

2010-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Tourist attraction in Jodhpur, India, Travel guide
Jodhpur Located from New Delhi approximately 580 km and it was built by Maharaja Rao Jodha of the Rathore dynasty. Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar desert.

Jodhpur, the Blue City

Jodhpur, also known as the Blue City. Because, many building in this city was painted blue color.

Jodhpur, the Blue City

Tourist Attraction
Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state is one of the largest forts in India. The fort is situated on a lofty height, 122 m above the city.

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Moti Mahal in Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

The cannon located on Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace located at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, is one of the world is largest private residences.Umaid Bhawan Palace was called Chittar Palace during its construction due to its location on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Jaswant Thada
Jaswant Thada is an architectural landmark located in Jodhpur. It is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899.

Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur

Clock tower
Clock tower located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan, India, is a great classic clock tower in India. At at night time, it will open the light so colorful.

Clock tower, Jodhpur

Transportation
The city is very well connected with Road, Rail and Air. The railway station is also the originating point for various trains like Jodhpur Indore Express, Jodhpur Bhopal Express, Jodhpur Puri Express etc.

Mount Huangshan Tourist Attraction

2010-08-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

Mount Huangshan lies in beautiful south area of Anhui Province of China. It was listed in “the legacy register of the world” by UNESCO in 1990. Mount Huangshan is the travel scenic spot featuring natural landscape. The strange pine, strange rock, the sea of cloud and hot spring are known as four wonders of Mount Huangshan. The scenery makes visitors acclaim as the acme of perfection.

Mount Huangshan Strange Rock

The peak of Mount Huangshan is precipitous, tall and straight. The strange rocks gather here. The shape of stone is in different pose. Some stones like people or things, other stones like bird or like beast, the image is lifelike.

Mount Huangshan Strange Pine

There are many pines on Mount Huangshan, and the posture is various. The root of the pines are inserted the rock deeply. Some pines grow in the cliff.

Mount Huangshan The sea of Cloud

Mount Huangshan peak is high. There is dense forest with heavy rainfall. The clouds converge into the massive and vast “ocean” after raining, make people have a sense of the fairyland.

Mount Huangshan Hot Spring

Mount Huangshan hot spring lies under Purple Cloud Peak. The hot spring contains many kinds of beneficials microelements to human body. Water quality is pure, temperature is suitable, can drink or bath, temperature is 42 degree all the year round.

Plans for Greening Hotels Are Stalled by Recession

2010-08-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hotels eager to satisfy the growing desire of business travelers for eco-friendly lodging are finding that their environmental ambitions have run headlong into the harsh realities of the recession.

When the economy was thriving, developers were promoting environmental flourishes like roof gardens, floors of reclaimed wood, and solar panels. When the Orchard Garden Hotel opened in San Francisco in 2006, it incorporated furniture made from sustainably grown wood.

But now, with reduced operating budgets, hotel owners are putting off the kind of sweeping projects that were common during the bull market and instead focusing on smaller environmental initiatives that don’t cost as much and may even save money at the same time.

“Big-ticket items that have long-term return on investment have definitely been put on the back burner,” said Steve Faulstick, general manager of the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Ore., and a board member of the Green Meeting Industry Council. “We’d love to be completely green and sustainable, but we’re not going to do that at the expense of laying people off.”

The lodging industry is still working its way through a prolonged slump. Hotel occupancy rates have recovered slightly from the trough of 2009, especially at business hotels in major cities. But they remain depressed over all, and average occupancy for all domestic hotels in the second quarter of 2010 was 60.7 percent, compared with the 69.3 percent the industry enjoyed in the third quarter of 2000, according to STR Global. This makes it extraordinarily difficult for hotels to pay for big-ticket green renovations, especially with a tight credit market.

“The traditional sources of that financing, which are local and regional banks, are stressed by their commercial real estate exposure,” said David Loeb, senior research analyst at investment firm Robert W. Baird & Company.

This curb on green projects comes even as a growing number of corporations are reviewing a hotel’s green credentials when they solicit bids for contracts. In a business climate where trips and meetings are subject to greater scrutiny, companies are “really trying to look like good corporate citizens,” said Nancy J. Wilson, principal of MeetGreen, a company that plans events along eco-friendly guidelines.

The technology company Cisco asks hotels about several areas of environmental awareness, like recycling protocol, the use of eco-friendly housecleaning products, linen-reuse policies and water conservation. Those that have programs addressing at least five categories are identified on the company’s in-house travel booking tool with a green leaf symbol, according to Pam Honeycutt, Cisco’s travel manager for the Americas and Europe.

Evaluating a hotel’s operational impact on the environment is difficult given the lack of an industry standard, she said. “There’s not one definition of what a green hotel would be,” she said. “They all get there by doing multiple things.”

To address this demand without going into the red, hotels are looking at what Mr. Faulstick calls “low-hanging fruit.” Lacking the capital to sink into extensive, and expensive, retrofits, hotels are turning their attention to small-scale conservation programs that will satisfy corporate buyers. As a bonus, many of these programs also reduce their operating budgets in the form of lower energy and water bills.

This includes practices like training staff to switch off lights and TVs in guest rooms, encouraging guests to embrace less-frequent sheet and towel changes and installing lower-cost green fixtures like water-conserving showerheads and compact fluorescent light bulbs. “Low-flow faucets and toilets can bring an immediate savings of 10 to 20 percent,” Mr. Faulstick said.

Most of the criteria Cisco currently uses when measuring a hotel’s eco-friendliness are these kinds of low-cost operational tweaks. Once the economy and hotels’ finances improve, though, Mrs. Honeycutt says she will probably assign greater weight to green overhauls requiring greater capital expenditures.

For now, many business travelers are welcoming these more limited initiatives. While staying at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego for a real estate conference last November, Paul Indrigo was offered a $5 voucher for the in-house restaurant for each day he chose not to have housekeeping change his linens. “There was some effort made to make you feel like you’ve done something good to conserve,” he said. “They were definitely trying to get a message across.”

Westin’s parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is exploring other ways to save both money and resources. At its Element brand hotel in Lexington, Mass., energy- and water-efficient products like compact fluorescent light bulbs, Energy Star-rated appliances and low-flow plumbing fixtures in guest rooms save the company about $52,000 annually, according to Brian McGuinness, a senior vice president at Starwood.

Since energy use is the second-largest expense a hotel incurs after salary and benefit costs, practices that reduce this are widely embraced. David Jerome, a corporate responsibility executive with the InterContinental Hotels Group, says the economic downturn accelerated the company’s green plans. One program intended only as a pilot is being expanded to the InterContinental’s entire portfolio because of the potential cost savings.

Hotels have had to strike a balance, though. They need to simultaneously keep their green initiatives unobtrusive so that guests don’t feel inconvenienced, but make them visible enough to satisfy environmentally-conscious travelers.

According to Bjorn Hanson, dean of the Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University, market research shows that even guests who identify themselves as environmentally aware won’t pay more or accept inconvenience in the name of traveling green. For example, when bottles of shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries are replaced with wall dispensers, guests complain, he said.

Mr. Jerome said the InterContinental is trying to focus on environmental steps that guests either won’t notice or won’t mind. “We don’t want the guest to feel like it’s all up to them,” he said. “We have to balance the guest experience versus the environmental benefits.”

Marriott International is using unobtrusive green elements in a pair of new properties near Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Both new properties, the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, incorporate money-saving green elements like low-flow plumbing, water-conserving landscaping and energy-efficient lighting, along with an emphasis on natural light.