RSSAug|24|2007
Shopping at Sydney: Art
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Arts & Culture, Australia NZ, Destinations, Shopping, Website
When people hear the word “Sydney” the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is a picture of the Opera House. Like any place though Sydney has so much more to offer and will delight any tourist with all the sights to see and all the things you can do. With all the things that can be said about Sydney it was pretty hard for me to choose what to write about today, until I remembered shopping! Shopping for souvenirs might be the last thing to do for many travelers but for shopaholics souvenirs are just an excuse to browse around and haggle. Sydney is a great place for shoppers …
Aug|24|2007
Reliving Harry Potter, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Destinations, News, Travelogger, United States
For avid Harry Potter fans like me, the news that we won’t have to go traipsing all over England, trying to make a pilgrimage to a non-existent (but highly believable!) world of magic, is great news indeed! As I reported in my last post, the Harry Potter-based theme park has finally been conceptualized.
Scheduled to open in late 2009, the Florida theme park has been given the go-ahead by J.K. Rowling, the series’ creator, who became the world’s first billion-dollar author due to Harry Potter’s success. “The plans I have seen look incredibly exciting and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed,” Rowling said of the Orlando park.
According to the press …
Aug|24|2007
Have a Nickelodeon Family Adventure – Water Parks
Posted by Noemi as Around The World, Destinations, Family, Hotels, Resorts, Travelogger, United States
I have never heard of a kid who doesn’t like Nickelodeon, have you? I am not that “old” and I still remember wanting to watch TV during the weekends to see the Nickelodeon shows. I gather that things haven’t changed much for the kids of today. So how about taking the family to a Nickelodeon getaway?
Holiday Inn has just joined the bandwagon and has partnered up with Nickelodeon by transforming the Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort in Lake Buena Vista into the Nickelodeon Family Suites. I am sure, though, that you and your kids would want to refer to this new resort as NickHotel – the promise of paradise for your children.
Aside …
Aug|23|2007
Reliving Harry Potter, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Destinations, News, Travelogger, United States
My world paused last July 21. For the readers who just came from another planet, that’s the day the seventh, and final installment of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was released. On that day, and the next, I closeted myself in the bedroom, refused to answer any calls, and only came out for meals and the occasional bathroom break. Yes, being a self-confessed rabid Potter fan, I spent the day with my beloved Harry, straining my eyes, trying to find out how Harry would get rid of Lord Voldemort once and for all.
Now that I’ve finally satisfied my curiosity (don’t worry, I’m not going to give out any spoilers!), I still find myself unable …
Aug|23|2007
All Inclusives – Busting More Myths
Posted by Noemi as Family, Islands, Resorts, Travelogger
In my last entry, I talked about how misleading it could be to think of an all inclusive vacation as the chance to spend all the time with the whole family. As I mentioned, this shouldn’t be the sole reason for you to pay that much for an all inclusive resort.
Another reason people tend to opt for an all inclusive package is the idea that it will take away all the other tasks that you have to think of while on vacation. As a result, an all inclusive deal should, ideally, present to you the most relaxing vacation you’ve ever had. Why is this the case? It is logical, really. You pay …
Aug|22|2007
Want It Cheap and Quick? Try It In Groups!
Posted by Benj as Tips
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park or just about any famous tourist spot in any corner of the globe, you’ve probably seen people in huge tour buses parked near the sites. Actually, odds are, you’ve been on a group tours package of some sort. Though some people still prefer doing car rentals to drive to various places of interests, the touring industry has always had a strong following due to the convenience of just sitting pretty inside a bus without the problem of navigation, driving and risking getting lost in an unfamiliar territory.
Touring companies often offer day trips to various tourist spots with several stops along the way. This ensures that you get to see many …
Aug|22|2007
Rule 240 Reviewed, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
I started discussing about Rule 240 in my last post. To recap, Rule 240 refers to the obligations that an airline has to a passenger when his/her flights are cancelled or delayed, or connecting flights are missed due to the actions of the airline. Rule 240 also applies only if the reason for the flight delay is within the airline’s control, such as mechanical problems, the late arrival of an aircraft, or a delay due to the crew. It does not include flight delays or cancellations resulting from a “force majeure event”, such as inclement weather, riot work stoppage or other factors that are outside of an airline’s control.
In order to be considered for Rule …
Aug|21|2007
Rule 240 Reviewed, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
If you’re a frequent plane traveler, then there is one airline rule you should know. Airlines seldom, if ever, educate the public about Rule 240. Rule 240 is a term that describes what individual airlines will do in case of cancelled or delayed flights. It’s found in the “conditions of carriage” each major airlines file with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); passengers can find these in the airlines’ websites. Since Rule 240 was originally established in the United States, this rule usually applies for U.S. carriers, and not for airlines outside the U.S., although most major international carriers have their own version of this rule.
Before the days of airline deregulation, Rule 240 used to be …
Aug|20|2007
Seven Wonders Series: Chichen Itza
Posted by Benj as Americas
Chichen Itza was one of the three Latin American sites that were included in the new list of Wonders. The complex is a more-than-a-millennium old complex of buildings and temples dating back from 600 AD. The structures are believed to have been made by the people of the Mayan Civilization. It was hard to imagine how a sprawling community could be supported by the arid area of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Fortunately for the ancient people of the Maya, cenotes or natural sinkholes that provided the much needed water supply for the big city of Chichen Itza.
Aside from the obvious allure of Cancun and other places in the Yucatan that allow tourists access to the inviting waters of the …
Aug|20|2007
I Give You Six Stars!
Most hotels operate by the star system. A 3-star hotel is usually okay while a 5-star hotel is excellent. However, there are other hotels that claim or have been given the honor of a 6-star merit. While the additional star normally measures energy efficiency or water efficiency of electrical appliances, and in some fields of construction and engineering; this excess star is now being used to determine operations as well. And while there are hundreds of 5-star hotels around the world, only a few truly deserve one more star. Among these few is the St. Regis Shanghai Hotel in China.
Your wish is my command…
The hotel is exactly as its name implies. Elegant …
