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reviews of interesting places of the world

Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles

October 10th, 2011 by No comments »

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles

Built in 1923 in the Italian-Spanish Renaissance style, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel is the grande dame of Los Angeles hotels.

This lavish property served as a set locale for many films including Chinatown, Ghostbusters, A Star is Born, and Wedding Crashers, as well as dozens of television shows like The West Wing, 24, Nip/Tuck, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. It was also an early home to the Academy Awards.

With 683 guestrooms and suites, two restaurants, the famous Rendezvous Court for afternoon tea, and the Gallery Bar, the Biltmore takes up a full city block. The location on Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles is close to the Staples Center, the NOKIA Theater, the Museum of Contemporary of Art, and Dodger Stadium. » Read more: Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles

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Posted in Hotel

Tags: USA

Westin Maui Resort and Spa is Heavenly Hawaiian Experience

October 8th, 2011 by No comments »

Come play in The Westin Mau’s 87,000 square foot aquatic playground

Heavenly Experience in Hawaii

I have a confession to make. I’m one of those people who like staying in luxury hotels. What’s not to like about having someone make your bed, arrange a massage on your behalf or share a mai tai and sunset by the swimming pool? Better yet, I am able to return to my Heavenly Bed – if I’m staying at a Westin property – and get a good night sleep.

One of my favorite Westin properties is The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, situated along the popular Ka’anapali Beach in Lahaina, Maui. If you have kids, or are a kid at heart, you will love splashing about in the 87,000 square foot aquatic playground. With five swimming pools, this place is a virtual water world of fun. There is an adult only swimming pool and the Jacuzzi is a bit hidden if you want some alone time.

If you are looking for thrills, plunge down the water slide, with its 270- degree turns and 23 foot drop. More thrills can be found riding the waves of the Pacific, or for those looking to relax and chill, grab a lounge chair and simply watch the waves roll in. If you like snorkeling, I recommend you walk along the beach trail to the Sheraton, where Black Rock of Kaanapali meets the ocean – it’s more protected and turtles hang out there. » Read more: Westin Maui Resort and Spa is Heavenly Hawaiian Experience

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Posted in Hotel

5 Worst Things to Forget on a Trip

October 6th, 2011 by No comments »

We’ve all been there – you’ve just arrived in Paris, or Rome, or New York (or wherever this month’s travel adventure is to) and you look in your bag only to suddenly realize… you forgot IT. You freeze. Your mind retraces your steps. And even though you can envision exactly where it’s sitting on your dresser, you still check 20+ times in your bag (as if the gods of travel will somehow hear your pain and magically IT will appear). But it doesn’t. It’s too late to go back. It’s too late to undo it. It’s done… IT is forgotten.

So, what mysterious item are we referring to? You tell us! We recently asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers to do just that, to vote on the worst item one could forget on a trip. Here are the results, do you agree?

Note: We intentionally did not include passport as a option, because without that, you can’t even take your trip!

#5. House Keys

This item is a bit unusual as you don’t really need your house keys ON the trip itself. This is the type of item you don’t realize you’ve forgotten until you’re standing outside your house after a 2 week vacation and suddenly realize you’re locked out! Annoying? Yes. But since I suppose it doesn’t ruin your vacation until the vacation is already over, I guess understand why it was voted as #5.

#4. Cell Phone

For some reason cell phones (and similar electronic devices) create very mixed reactions amongst travelers. Some, couldn’t imagine a trip without it, and others wouldn’t even consider bringing a cell phone on their trip. What kind of traveler are you?

#3. Medications

As Paula Mclaren pointed out, “you can get the rest from friends..but not your meds…” I suppose the importance of this item depends on the type of medication you forgot. Advil? No biggie. Random medication for your rare yet life threatening illness? Biggie!

#2. Camera

As Christina Reynolds argued on our Facebook wall, “defo camera! no memories :O( which means no awesome pictures to upload to Viator.com after your trip!” (okay, we may have added that last part…)

*And drum roll please…*

#1. Credit Card / ATM Card

Because… as Joe Butkovich pointed out so accurately, “you can’t replace anything else you forgot with out the money!”

Thank you everyone who participated in this poll. Special thanks to our token favorite answer from Kenny Chen, “Viator customer service number”!

So, what’s the worst thing YOU’VE forgotten on a trip?

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Posted in Travel Tips

Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo

October 4th, 2011 by No comments »

The trip to Tokyo can be a fabulous experience when you stay in the Peninsula Hotel. This is one of the renowned hotels of the country and people often come to stay there for the purpose of making their trip to Japan a memorable one. The hotel is placed in a strategic position as it is near the royal palace and the Hibiya Park. The 5 star hotel is placed beside the shopping capital of Tokyo Ginza and you have to walk just 5 minutes to reach the arcade. Just 10 minutes walking distance will take you to the popular Kabuki-za Theater. The tour in Japan can be lifetime experience if you stay in Peninsula Hotel Tokyo. The hotel has 5 chic restaurants and one among them is Peter that offered a grand view of Tokyo from its 24th floor.

Rooms

The guest rooms of Peninsula Hotel Tokyo are highly spacious and you will be furnished with all possible amenities in it to make your stay convenient. The rooms have high speed internet connection in it. Guests are offered a refrigerator, plasma television, and a fully furnished mini bar. Talk the basis and sophisticated electronic facilities like telephones. The couples can make their evening romantic as the hotel has mood lighting. The sitting area is separated in the room to give special private to the guest’s bedroom.

Recreation

The Peninsula Hotel is furnished with a well-equipped gym and the health clubs where the guests can work out easily. The health club has 20 meter indoor pool that stays always heated for sauna or steam bath. Guests can get help from personal trainers as expert trainers are always available in Peninsula health club.

Dining

The dining restaurants are fabulous in Peninsula Hotel as there are 5 different restaurants for dining. Hei Fung Terrace, Kyoto Tsuruya, The Peninsula Boutique and Café, and The lobby are the five different places where you can have taste the delicacies of the world. You can taste different cuisines like Cantonese, haute and seasonal fares in the restaurants in Peninsula.

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Posted in Hotel

Pondicherry – The Land of Tomorrow

October 2nd, 2011 by No comments »

With beautiful paved roads and trees shading the whole area, I walked across the road only to be met by a fellow pulling a rickshaw. He came up to me and asked where I wanted to go. Seated in the rickshaw I tried to bask in the glory of this fascinating city I had come to – Pondicherry . Earlier a French colony, Pondicherry today is Union Territory in India. Pondicherry literally means new village. The entire city is based on the pattern of French construction with a grid pattern. The whole city is divided into sectors which are perpendicular to each other. There is a French region here and an Indian region. The French portion of the city is known as the Ville Blanche which in French means the White Town. The Indian portion is known as the Ville Noire or the Black Town. The French influence is still seen here in the form of the names of the roads and the villas here. French villas are very common in the city and the buildings built in the colonial style still are seen in the beautiful city of Pondicherry. The large doors and windows and the verandahs outside the house are typically French and people in Pondicherry still speak a lot of French. Even today there are a lot of people here living with French passports. The French Consulate is a major French monument existing even today besides the French Institute of Pondicherry, the Alliance Francaise and the Lycee Francais de Pondicherry.

The locals here speak a variety of languages ranging from Malayalam to Tamil and from Telugu to French. French is the official language in the Union Territory, Tamil in the Government. Pondicherry has a lot of Tamil influence as it is near the state of Tamil Nadur. Koel, Squirrel, cannonball’s tree flower and Bael fruit tree occupy special position as the state bird, animal, flower and tree respectively.

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Posted in Interesting Places

Paradise Lost In Adventure

September 30th, 2011 by No comments »

Sprays of water, enough excitement and dollops of adventure – Isn’t this you look out for when on an adventure spree? So it is but obvious this kind of challenging activity should be sought for as the ideal getaway and what better sport than river rafting to resort to.

Rafting is an exciting outdoor sport that is mainly done with the help of an inflatable boat. One has to navigate an entire river with the help of this boat and the roughness of the water and the unpredictable flow thrills the raft lovers. This is almost a leisure sport today and dates back to the 1970s. sometimes it could be dangerous so caution is the keyword.

River rafting

With the multi layered boat which is very durable the boat comes in different shapes and sizes and one only has to learn to know to maneuver it. In India, river rafting is a popular sport and the river rafting at River Ganges is considered one of the best. The River Ganga, the sacred Indian river, revered by all and worshipped fervently. This river provides one of the best rafting locales with its mystical nature and rapid flow. The smooth flowing river gives enough thrill and excitement to the rafters and the starting point is crucial to have perfect pleasure.

River rafting in Ganges

With Rishikesh as the ideal starting point, the long path of 36 kms to Kaudilyala is very exciting and joy unfounded. The 12 major rapids provide river rafting in Ganges a perfect score and the adventure lovers would never go back disappointed from here.

Many rafters across the world come here and the very fact that they are in the world famous River Ganges, overwhelms them. With the number of rafters overflowing, the river with its rapids needs the alert maneuvering of the rafter to have a well planned experience. » Read more: Paradise Lost In Adventure

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Posted in Activities, Light Info

When Celebrations are Tenfold – Dussehra

September 27th, 2011 by No comments »

So Navrathri is round the corner and you would certainly be getting ready to get involved with all the fun, enjoyment, and celebrations that are related to it. Come the month of September and India is agog with activity and entertaining activities. Indians indulge themselves in lot of festivities and the festive mood is what energizes them to carry on with the day to day activities at other times. Festivals are the way they take a break from their monotonous life and get to meet friends, relatives and enjoy with their near and dear ones. Dussehra is one such festival which the Indians celebrate with a lot of enthusiasm and happiness.

Dussehra celebration

Occurring normally in the Hindu month of Ashvin, that would be around September or October of the Gregorian calendar, this festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. It symbolizes the victory that Lord Rama had over the demon king of Lanka Ravana. It also shows how Goddess Durga triumphed over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus Dussehra on the whole is a celebration of good over evil and has a lot of enthusiasm coupled with energy involved. Celebrations are the name of the festival and the entire country is a great festive mood during this time. Dussehra also brings the end of the hot summer month and welcomes the winter months with great gusto. The seemingly hot months seem to end and the Indians now look forward to getting cozy in the coming winter. » Read more: When Celebrations are Tenfold – Dussehra

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Posted in Culture, Featured

A Day Trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto

September 22nd, 2011 by No comments »

I suspect that even Chuck Norris would quiver a little at the sight of Niagara Falls. I’m sure many turn up thinking they’re about to see one of the highest waterfalls in the world, but that’s a mistake. The Falls at Niagara aren’t particularly lofty, but they sure are powerful. It’s the force and volume of water passing over the brutalised escarpment that are spellbinding, not where the water is dropping from.

The falls at Niagara have the power of four Great Lakes behind them. The water is bottle-necked in the Niagara River after passing through the system in Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie and Michigan. It will eventually make its way to the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River.

And this bottleneck, coupled with the need to drop elevation over the escarpment, has created what is justifiably one of the world’s greatest natural tourist attractions. Standing by the side of the falls, you can feel the ferocity as well as hear it. You’re constantly spat at from the angry, watery snake pit beneath the Horseshoe (or Canadian) Falls, where the river smashes and explodes after being thrown over the edge. » Read more: A Day Trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto

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Posted in Interesting Places

Tags: USA

When stars twinkle during the day – Diwali

September 18th, 2011 by No comments »

Whenever you feel you have to see stars during day, then just wait for the one Indian festival Diwali. This festival is so important for all the religions in India that come October and November the whole of the country gets ready to celebrate one of the grandest festivals ever in this part of the world. For the Hindus, the festival signifies a lot of activities that are done together traditionally. For the Jains, the festival of Diwali is the time of getting salvation. It is believed that the Jain guru Mahavira attained enlightenment at this time. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali as the freedom day of Guru Hargobind who saved around 52 kings from the captivity of the Mughal Emperor.

Across the world, the festival is celebrated in the countries of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Guyana, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago and Malaysia besides, Suriname and Singapore. Diwali is actually “Deepavali” which in Sanskrit means the row of lamps.

Diwali Festival 2011

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Posted in Interesting Places

Numero Uno – Travel Tips

September 15th, 2011 by No comments »

It is not always that you are a part of a group while on a tour. There are so many instances when you are all on your own. You could have gone to that small office conference and then decided to take a tour of the place you have landed in. Single women traveling is quite common today and it is a good idea to know when you are alone or numero uno then there are certain points that you should remember.

For examp Travel tips for women travelling alone le always have a copy of your important documents in your hand bag. While you are on a tour or visiting a place alone, then remember that is not advisable to keep all the money in the same bag. Spread it around, put a little in your carry bay a little in your suitcase a little in your purse etc.

Old lipstick carriers are always good storehouses of anything that you need to keep that would require a lot of cushion. So use these carriers to keep your earrings. There is normally a small mirror in it so all you have to do is put it in your bag and use the mirror to change the earrings and voila you would be ready. So you wouldn’t have to worry about losing your earrings.

If you are out on a casual outing then keep our outfit comfortable and casual. A formal wear in such outings looks out of place. Avoid too bold colors and don’t make yourself noticed in brash dressing.

Live in Rome as Romans do. Follow the numero uno trend of the place. There is no point in wearing a short top with hot pants in a country like Iran. So follow the habits of the place and don’t get yourself noticed.

Instead of a heavy handbag, keep cute small bag or a bag that can go around your waist. It is a numero uno tip.