Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Local Celebrity Pool Party - The Standard Hotel - Hollywood

The Standard, located in the heart of the Sunset Strip, is a true original. The Standard caters to a young-spirited clientele who appreciate the hotel's timeless and modern design and offbeat sensibility. The hotel features a floor to ceiling shag carpeted lobby lounge, a live DJ at the Front Desk, an outdoor pool with a sundeck covered in cobalt blue AstroTurf, an ongoing exhibition devoted to fine art video, and live performance art. The hotel is also home to Rudy's barbershop and a poolside desert cafe. Dim lights and beaded curtains set the stage for the ultra-cool Restaurant 24/7, which has a menu crafted to satisfy any craving, any time. The Standard Lounge continues to be one of Hollywood's most fashionable nightspots.

The decor is sleek and classically modern. Highlights include platform beds, silver beanbag chairs, electric orange bathrooms, rockin' mini bars with all the essentials, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs. All guest rooms and public areas, including the pool deck, provide guests with complimentary Wi-Fi access. Hotel guests must be over 21 years of age.

Hot Links: The Standard Hollywood, Hotels in Los Angeles, Los Angeles 411, Vacation Packages

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Immerse yourself in the Colorful Goa Carnival


Celebrated in : Late February and Early March

Goa has always a special pride of place in our hearts. There is much more to Goa than just sun , white silvery sands and golden beaches . In Goa, they say , 'life is beach' . The whole world of Goa together with the lifestyle of the people revolve around these virgin beaches .

Beside the attractive Roman Catholic Churches , blue aqua of the sea , one of the great pleasures of visiting Goa is the Goa carnival. Every year in the month of February, Goa is all bustling with the activity. For the entire year Goan people waits anxiously for this three day long Goa carnival. This is a festival of glitz, glamour , music, dance , and colourful and bright costumes , plays and mock battles . This festival is unmatched to any other festival of India.

The original reason behind the carnival was to celebrate the arrival of spring. It is a legacy of the Portugeese which was originated in the 18th century. But it has still maintain its true essence. It was earlier a Christian festival but now with the change of time it is bringing smile on the faces of other community people. Breaking the barriers of caste , creed , age and status , all Goans and tourists enjoy the carnival to its extreme.

With the arrival of king Momo , chosen by the local people, the three day long carnival begins . King Momo makes a traditional decree by ordering his subjects to forget their all tensions and worries and have a good time.

Panji, the capital city of Goa holds this colorful procession . The riots of color , music dance, fancy parades all these things will at once attract your eyes. One of the major attraction of this event are the historic plays enacted by men only. Even the women characters are also played by the men dressed in colorful female attires. Many competitions, functions are organized and king Momo distributed the prizes to the winners. A great quantity of fenny is consumed during this festival.

Whole Goa turns into a party zones. Live music bands and grand ball dance programmes organized in the evening will surely spellbound you. Goan government organizes special tour packages during this festival . Due to heavy rush , all the Goan hotels filled with tourists . So it is wise to book the hotels in advance .

Come and immerse yourself in the colours of Goa Carnival. Via: Jolly Mazumdar



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Friday, January 23, 2009

Explore Amsterdam


Amsterdam is the capital and the largest city of the Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Holland and has an average population of around 750,000. The name Amsterdam comes from ‘Amstel dam’, which basically means a dam in the river Amstel.

Amsterdam was once one of the most important ports in the world and since the city has expanded, Amsterdam has been deemed as the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands.
The surrounding land around Amsterdam is fairly flat and the city itself has a large number of canals running through it. Also, to the southwest of Amsterdam there is a large man-made forest which can be seen from the city.

Amsterdam is home to a fairly temperate climate, the winters are mild but rarely falls below 0 degrees celsius, and the summers are warm but rarely very hot.

A lot of the buildings and architecture in Amsterdam are fairly old looking but visually stunning none the less. The canals in the city were once meant for defensive purposes but are now used for residential development. Some of the original canals in Amsterdam have been filled in to make way for streets and squares within the city. Thanks to the canals, more than one hundred bridges have been built to enable easy access throughout the city.

Amsterdam is currently the 5th busiest tourist destination in Europe and attracts around 4.2 million international visitors each year with this number growing very rapidly. A lot of tourists who visit Amsterdam like to visit the small, unique shops located in the city that normally have some sort of speciality. Also, a lot of people enjoy coming to the city to experience the bicycle friendly zones and the many paths created especially for this purpose. Getting some exercise while taking in the sites is often one of the most popular pastimes in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has its own airport so flights to Amsterdam are easy to come across; with so many airlines flying there cheap flights to Amsterdam are also very easy to come across. Amsterdam flights from the UK take approximately 2 hours and so are perfect if you wish to get away for a short break. Via: Dan Collins



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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Fergie Ferg and Josh Duhamel are Each Other's "One and Only" - Honeymoon Hotels


Where: North Male Atoll, North Male, Maldives

Fergie (aka Stacy Ferguson) and Josh Duhamel finally got around to tying the knot last weekend in Malibu and the newlyweds are now reportedly at the Reethi Rah One and Only Hotel in the Maldives. Hmm...maybe they got the idea from our Top Five Best Hotels in the Maldives list.

We've always envied the private villas at Reethi Rah, some of which are on the beach and others that are above the waters of the lagoon. But in this economy, the only people who can afford to stay here are money-making celebrities.

The hotel has a honeymoon special that really doesn't seem so special, thanks to the restrictions on it. The package includes a five nights stay minimum, a candlelit dinner (booze not included), a signature honeymoon amenity and flower bed decoration. Honeymooners must show a copy of their invitation or wedding card for this deal. And the dinner is not combinable with any other offer. Um...ok.

Without the honeymoon "perks", rates are currently $1,750 for a private beach villa which comes with its own villa host and assistants. The two-bedroom Grand Beach villa with a private pool is $6,950 per night. Yes. PER NIGHT. Oh and don't forget, it costs $150 each way for the trip from the Male Airport to the hotel via its luxury yacht. We sincerely hope that Fergie and Josh got a price break here for being famous. Oh wait, nevermind. They can afford it.
Via: HotelChatter



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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Celebrity Owned Hideaways


Ever wonder which celebrities have invested their money in the hotel industry? Enter the chambers of this star-studded cast that have given us a glimpse of what their idea of a home away from home should be.

1. Francis Ford Coppola owns three classy wilderness hideaways. The Blancaneaux Lodge nestled in the lush forest of Western Belize. (Rates from $195) Turtle Inn, a Balinese inspired resort resting on the southernmost coast of Belize. (Rates from $250) La Lancha, a luxurious lodge set in the Guatemalan rain forest. (Rates from $210)

2. Jason Priestley owns Terrace Beach resort in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. (Rates from $99)

3. Bono and U2 own The Clarence an upscale boutique hotel in Dublin. (Rates from $435)

4. John Malkovich owns The Big Sleep Hotel, an affordable uber-chic hotel in the heart of Cardiff in the UK. (Rates from $90)

5. Elizabeth Hurley took over a 59-room posh Victorian Inn named, “Number Eleven”. (Rooms start at $380)

6. Kate Pierson of the B-52’s owns the Lazy Meadow Motel featuring Mid-Century modern meets space age decor in New York's Catskill Mountains. (Rates start at $150)

7. Olivia Newton John owns a Gaia Retreat & Spa, a luxurious wellness resort in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales in Australia. (Rates start at $ 995 per person)

8. Doris Day owner of the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California is a pet friendly Spanish style Inn. (Rates start at $125)

9. Clint Eastwood owns the 22-acre Mission Ranch is a 19th century farmhouse located on the Monterey Peninsula. (Rates start at $110) Via: blog.directoryofhotels



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Monday, January 12, 2009

Explore Jamaica


Jamaica is an Island situated in the Caribbean Sea. It’s around 90 miles south of Cuba and 120 miles west of the Dominican Republic. The population of Jamaica is currently estimated at 2,804,332 and the official language spoken is English.

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, and is currently the fourth most populous island in that region. The island is home to some of the most amazing and breathtakingly beautiful beaches that stretch all the way around its coast line, but is also home to the Blue Mountains that are located further inland on the Island. Most of the major towns and cities of Jamaica are located on the coast and so it is easy to see why it is such a popular tourist destination.


Jamaica has a tropical climate with hot and humid weather but experiences a more temperate climate in the higher regions of the island. As Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean it is not uncommon for the island to experience significant storm damage from time to time.

In general, the Jamaican population has a lot of interest in sport. Cricket, football, athletics and horse-racing are amongst the most popular. The Jamaican athletics team is widely well known for doing well at the Olympic Games.

The transport links in Jamaica consist mainly of roadways, railways, ships and air transport. The best way to get around in Jamaica is definitely by bus or taxi.

There are many hotels available for you to stay at and many places to see and visit while on the Island. One of the most popular experiences while in Jamaica is an island tour which takes you on a walk around the waterfalls and mountains of the island. However, many people tend to go to Jamaica for the main reason of relaxing and taking a break in the sun. Via: Dan Collins
Isn't time to Jetset to Jamaica Now?


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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Holidays in Belgium: a Short Introduction


A jester throws toy cats down from the belfry of Ieper on the second Sunday in May. Meanwhile in a parade, dozens of floats and 2,000 actors explore and present the role of the cat in history, literature, and folklore. This is the famous Cat festival of Belgium, an event which happens every 3 years. It is just one of the surprises awaiting the visitor who expects simple normality in this country which is often perceived as straight-laced as befits a city at the heart of EU sobriety.

You get the best of two worlds in Belgium. The north of the country is Flemish, while the south is French-speaking. Small wonder it?s the heart of the EU. Here, you can cut through the European red tape to sample beer, chocolate and other Belgian delights.

Here are 10 great reasons to visit Belgium to help start your holiday planning.

Belgium is a place that buzzes with cutting-edge design and a contemporary lifestyle, while retaining age-old traditions. You can be sitting in an old-fashioned coffee shop one minute and admiring the latest fashions in a trend-setting boutique the next. The country also has a quirkiness that never ceases to amaze - from cheeky statues to weird and wonderful festivals.

Cities: Brussels, with its stunning Grand Place and art nouveau heritage, and picture-perfect Bruges, with its pretty canals and medieval buildings, are the shining stars - but it is also worth discovering trendy Antwerp, historic Liege and quaint Ghent.

Chocolate: Forget the diet and enjoy some of the richest, smoothest chocolate to be found anywhere. Wherever you go in Belgium, you won't have to look far. The country has more than 2,000 tempting chocolate shops.

Beer: Tickle the taste buds with over 400 different types of beer. Some of the best is made by Trappist monks.

Dining: Local favourites include waffles, mussels, and chips with mayonnaise. Gourmets are spoilt for choice. The country boasts more Michelin star-rated restaurants per head of population than France.
Battlefields: Famous battlefields such as Passendale and vast cemeteries such as Tyne Cot are sober reminders of the Great War. The Last Post is sounded every evening at the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the excellent In Flanders Fields museum tells the story of the region's role in World War I.

Beaches: Have some family fun at over a dozen seaside resorts along the coast of Belgium. Top spots include Ostend and Knokke.

Art: Belgium's great artistic heritage is reflected in the grand masters and also in famous cartoon characters. Rubens and Van Dyck lived in Antwerp. Brussels has museums dedicated to Magritte and comic-strip heroes such as Tintin.


Fashion: Funky Antwerp is the capital of cool. Home to one of Europe's leading fashion schools, the city boasts designer boutiques as well as stylish restaurants, bars and clubs.

Countryside: Head for the hills of the Ardennes and explore dense forest and deep valleys. Take a hike or bike ride through wooded trails or try the excitement of canoeing and paragliding.

Festivals: Belgians love to party. Few events are more unusual than the colourful Cat Parade, staged every three years in Ypres to celebrate all things feline.

Continuous availability of bargain flights to Belgium - plus rail too - is another reason to consider a visit to this great country of constant surprises.
Via: Jimi St. Pierre

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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Sightseeing in Amsterdam


Amsterdam is the city for everyone. For those who love breath-taking architecture, culture and history, Amsterdam is for you, with over 37 museums and its picturesque beauty. For those who prefer the party lifestyle, Amsterdam is also for you. With its wealth of bars, restaurants, clubs and cafés, there will definitely be something to tempt you. This is the ultimate diverse city, so don’t let the hear-say of the Red Light District worry you; this relatively small part of the city is overpowered by the rest of the city’s beauty and culture.

For those of you who are interested in the cultural side of this magnificent city you will be in for a treat. A great place to start would be Museum Square, where Amsterdam’s three main museums are located. Here you can visit the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk and the world-famous Van Gogh museum. For fans of Van Gogh, this will definitely be a highlight as it is home to the biggest collection of original Van Gogh paintings in the world- a true must-see. Another museum which should definitely be visited is Anne Frank’s House. This extremely popular attraction is a little piece of history in itself. Here is where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazi takeover of the Jews during World War II. The house itself is very small and is very touching- a great excursion if interested in the era of the Second World War.


A more light-hearted place to visit is the Heineken Brewery. If you have ever visited a commercial brewery before, you will know what to expect, but it is still a fun-filled day out. The tour includes information and demonstrations of how the beer is made, the history of the beer and even has mechanical rides and activities to show you the story of the famous Dutch beer. Another light-hearted activity which is prominent in Amsterdam is one of many people’s favourite past-times- shopping. The city is home to hundreds of shops for those who like to splurge. Surrounding the vast variety of shops are also hundreds of cafés and restaurants, guaranteed to curb your hunger. Amsterdam hosts a variety of styles of restaurants so choice is always available.

After a long day of strolling through museums, visiting Anne Frank’s house, having a few beers at the Heineken Brewery and eating at one of the city’s fantastic restaurants, what better way to burn off the calories than taking a stroll around the city and its countless, yet individually beautiful canals. The scenery is absolutely stunning in Amsterdam and the streets are unbelievably clean. Just walking through this city and taking in the sights makes a fantastic activity, especially at night when the city lights up. Amsterdam is an exceptional city, so be sure to see as much as possible, depending on the length of your stay. You can book a private tour guide to show you the best bits. You can also book a private tour in Amsterdam with a tour guide who will be flexible, and take you around the places you wish to visit on your trip. Whichever way you wish to see the city, you won’t be disappointed.
Via: Rachael Miller



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Thursday, January 1, 2009

Cruise Deals to Europe and the Mediterranean


The sinking economy has a large impact on anyone (Americans) thinking about going to Europe on vacation. Thankfully the Cruise lines are well aware of what is going on with our economy and are offering significant savings and value for cruises ranging from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia. Regular cruisers already understand the savings involved and may want to move on to the bottom of the article where the top deals to Europe are listed. If you are new to cruising, it is important to remember that the price includes all of your meals, your cabin, activities on the ship and in many instances, onboard credit.

These cruises are appropriate for everyone - families, friends and couples. Of course the larger cruise lines will have the largest variety of folks, the smaller and sometimes, more expensive cruises tend to be geared for adults.


Cruise itineraries through Europe, Destination information and Current Deals: Beginning from the North moving South:If you want to see spectacular scenery, majestic Fjords and old European towns, then Scandinavian Cruises are the way to go. There are varying itineraries, but for the most part if you are departing from Norway, you will cruise through the Fjords cross the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes, an outpost near the Russian border. This is a cruise focused on scenery, wildlife and Viking towns. Finland is a popular spot and quite a unique surprise for Americans. Finland has been called "Finwacky" because of the Finnish sense of humor and pastimes. Even if you are visiting the city for just one summer day during a cruise ship port of call, you can check your inhibitions at the dock and get a little Finnwacky, whether you fancy spinning around upside down on a ride at Linnanmaki Amusement Park, lunching at an antique prison turned modern-day hotel or careening through the city to your own rendition of "My Way" in a Karaoke Taxi.

Right now you can enjoy 7 exciting nights experiencing the "Finwacky" culture for yourself starting at $1249 for your very own balcony. Look out into the Mediterranean Sea as you make stops in Copenhagen, Oslo and so much more! Bring the family along and have kids, 17 & under sail free. The sailing is in June, so you may want to pack a little light.

The next set of itineraries is for the Western Mediterranean:The Western Mediterranean offers arts and culture, surf and sand, cafe hopping and boutique shopping, a variety of sights, attractions and activities.

Itineraries that sail the Western Mediterranean typically emphasize ports of call in Spain, France and Italy (with a few interesting detours along the way). These could also include stops in Portugal (primarily Lisbon though Oporto is occasionally featured), Morocco (Casablanca and Tangier), Monte Carlo, Malta and Croatia (Dubrovnik, most commonly). The actual ports of call vary and could include everything from France’s very chic Villefranche to Italy’s open-air museum of Florence.

Some of these fabulous cruises start at just $999 in a Balcony. The cruise is for 7 nights and has a free upgrade from a balcony stateroom to a balcony superior.

Some Great Deals to the Eastern Mediterranean

Moving east some memorable locations for your cruising experience come in the way of the Greek Isles, Turkey and the Croation Coasts. Because the summer months are in close proximity to us here in the America's, June is the best time to go. Sailings in June to explore the Eastern Mediterranean start at just $1399 for a balcony stateroom or you can leave a month earlier in May and pay just $1299 for the same balcony. Imagine waking up to the sites of places like Venice and the Greek Islands.

Alternatively, if you decide that exploring Turkish treasures and the Croation Coasts is something that you would find more enjoyable, you can find some great deals starting at $1119 for a 7 night trip.
Via: Ilizabeth Sutera



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