Archive for February 2010
Explore Exciting Entertainment in New York City
The mention of New York City conjures up a cascade of images to scroll through your mind. Taxicabs, Broadway plays and a round-the-clock bustle are all stereotypically New York. Taking the pulse of this city, however, requires a stroll through Times Square and the Theatre District.
Hotel high-rises meld with corporate skyscrapers which give way to a cultural mecca filled with theaters and arenas. This city never sleeps because of its never-ending schedule of plays, shows and performances. Booking accommodations at a Times Square hotel will give you ready access to this city’s most famous venues.
Radio City Music Hall
Completed in 1932, Radio City Music Hall is just around the corner from Times Square, playing host to legendary entertainers over the past 70-plus years. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and countless others have graced the stage at this landmark for decades. Today, you’ll find the top performers in the world stopping by, including Aretha Franklin, Tori Amos and Ron White.
If you’re traveling during the holidays, make a point to take in one of the arena’s most popular events: the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
With its “Mighty Wurlitzer” and “Great Stage,” Radio City is as much a historical landmark as it is an entertainment venue.
Broadway
Stretching the full length of Manhattan, Broadway Avenue is home to more than 40 large theaters, making it the focal point of what is known commonly as the Theatre District. When planning your trip to New York, keep in mind that typical Broadway performances run Tuesday through Sunday afternoon. From classics including Hair, South Pacific and The Phantom of the Opera to recent productions such as 9 to 5 and The Little Mermaid, there is something for everyone.
Carnegie Hall
This renowned concert venue has been in existence since 1891 and was built for the performance of classical and popular music. Hailed for its acoustics, Carnegie Hall has hosted many of the most exceptional philharmonic and symphonic orchestras in the world. Among other notables in secular and sacred music who have performed at Carnegie Hall are Leonard Bernstein, Nick Lowe, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Just a half mile from Times Square, Carnegie Hall offers an exceptional opportunity to hear musical performances you might not otherwise be privy to.
In the spirit of a true New Yorker, you’ll most likely choose to walk to most of these hotspots. Take care to find a Times Square hotel that is convenient to these and other attractions in midtown Manhattan. Having lodging that’s just steps away from everything you want to do will allow you and your family to experience all the entertainment available in the Big Apple.
Author Bio:
Barbara Wade writes articles for The Muse Hotel New York. With inspired accommodations that provide travelers an urban oasis, this Times Square hotel offers a convenient, central location in New York City. Visit http://www.themusehotel.com.
Closer Destinations – A Recession Wedding Trend
By: Alexine
Recession Time Wedding Trends
In times of financial difficulty it is sometimes hard to really enjoy planning such an expensive event as a wedding. With rising costs of food, entertainment and travel one could argue that it is easier to put off the wedding until times change. However, many people have overcome the difficulty and gone ahead with their wedding plans. Here are some of the most popular recession time wedding trends and tips on how to make them work for you.
Closer Destinations
The wedding budget in recession time does not allow for far away destination weddings. However, that does not stop people from having fun getaway weddings here amongst our own continental forty-eight states. Places like Branson, MO are gaining as popular locations for weddings due to their great accommodations and fun activities for families.
If you have a Branson, MO wedding then your attendees can go to your wedding and have a fun family vacation all in one. This saves the trouble of people having to choose between coming to your wedding or having a family vacation.
Shorter Guest List
This is one of the most popular wedding trends these days due to the fact that providing food and beverage for more people makes your wedding bill outrageous. Not to mention you have to use a larger venue. This means you have to work really hard on the bride and groom guest lists. We all know it is not so fun when it comes to cutting people out.
To make the cutting part easier, put your guests in order of importance on each list. Sometimes a best friend is more important than a second cousin you haven‘t talked to in years. Never feel bad when making this type of a decision because this is your wedding and unless someone else is paying for it those types of decisions are yours to make.
Wedding Dress Rental
While renting a wedding dress was not popular a couple years ago, this trend has taken off due to the recession. Before women saw the few hundred dollar difference between renting and buying as a minor decision but now days every dollar counts. One could argue that the ninety-nine dollar sales at bridal shops are a great price and less expensive than renting but you will discover they do not offer the greatest selection of wedding dresses.
Every bride wants to look and feel her best on their wedding day and having the perfect dress is first in line. Don’t be afraid to rent your wedding dress. It’s not like people will come up and ask you at your wedding if your dress was purchased or rented.
Inexpensive Honeymoon
One of the forgotten but fun parts of the wedding these days is the honeymoon. Many people have taken this off the to-do list right after their wedding due to how expensive they can be. However, creating an inexpensive honeymoon has become a popular trend with all the special offers these days.
There are some all inclusive deals with air fare, lodging and food/drink that are pretty reasonable because of the recession. If you can afford a little more than your wedding then you just might want to check out some of the all inclusive deals that are out there. Go to some of the airlines and resort websites and check out what the specials are. Sometimes they are even better if you wait until really close to your departure date.
Spending Wisely
With all the financial worry these days you have to really focus on enjoying the wedding planning. As mentioned above, there are many different trends people are following in order to have a special wedding during this recession. Do not let the financial struggles make you cancel the wedding. Instead try and make it happen using one or some of the ideas above.
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life so make sure that you can enjoy every moment of it. Spending less does not mean that it will be not as fun or not as special. In the end money does not buy happiness so focus on enjoying the friends and family at your wedding and not how much you spent on each part of putting it together.
Tips on Packing Light
I travel a lot. I mean a lot – like I’m uber Platinum level at my favorite airline. Unfortunately, travel is business, so its not all fun and games.
By nature I would pack everything but the kitchen sink, so learning to pack light has been something I had to focus on. Over the years, I’ve developed some tips that have helped me. I’ll share these with you in the hope you too can learn to pack lighter.
1. Plan ahead. As funny as it sounds, if I plan what I’m going to take ahead of time I actually pack less than when I make a mad dash around the closet throwing clothes in a bag.
2. Pack coordinated outfits. If you pack clothes that mix and match you can stretch your outfits. The easiest way to accomplish this is to pick a theme color and pack around it. Okay, this doesn’t mean you have to be a goth, there are colors other than black. The idea is to minimize the pairs of shoes, gloves, socks, pants, etc you need if the colors are complementary.
3. Make a packing list. If you make a list, you will be more likely to include everything you need and you’ll show up with complete outfits.
4. Put toiletries in travel size containers. Why carry a large bottle of shampoo when you only need a three globs for your trip? Reducing the size of these cuts unnecessary weight and reduces the amount of space it will take up in your luggage.
5. Download ebooks and read them on a kindle or ipad rather than hauling several books with you. I used to drag several books with me, now I just switch on my reader.
Packing light will save your back, allow you to carry your bag on the plane with you, and means you won’t lose everything you own should the bag get stolen.
All Inclusive Resorts: Read Before Going!
All Inclusive Resorts: Read Before Going!
by Julian Lenox
All inclusive resorts are famous worldwide because they offer fun activities, amenities, all meals, and drinks. You do not have to pay anything on top of your bill, and you can just kick back and enjoy a nice holiday. However, some all inclusive resorts are not what they seem. A lot of tourists ended up quite disappointed after staying at this so called all inclusive resorts.
Whenever you stay in an all inclusive resort, you are totally isolated from the country you are visiting. For many people this can be disappointing, because they do not get to know the country they have chose for their holidays. However, if you are well aware of this, you would expect the resort to offer you everything you need and more.
Some tourists find that staying in an all inclusive resort can be very boring. Especially, if they do not offer enough activities. Some resorts in Crete have this problem. In addition, the food that they offer is terrible, which can make your stay a real nightmare.
Some other all inclusive resorts are quite dirty, and break environmental rules. Other resorts do not even offer a private beach. They just count with a swimming pool and a bar. Amenities are not included. They do not offer any activities like water sports.
Tourists tell terrible stories about all inclusive resorts that do not offer anything for fun. They can be call all inclusive only because they offer food and drinks, but that is it. Most guests are ready to break out as soon as they get there, because they get unbelievably bored.
Some all inclusive resorts offer smelly tiny rooms, and some do not even have showers. The worst all inclusive resorts are not really all inclusive. They have a rule of only one drink per person. If you want to have more drinks, you have to pay for them.
If you pay for an all inclusive resort stay, you obviously expect quality service and entertainment. In some cases, they offer a night show, but it is so poor and boring that you end up going back to your room. To make matters worse, some resorts charge you an extra fee for air conditioning or fan in your room.
Obviously, if you are going to stay at an all inclusive resort, you are expecting to find a swimming pool. Although in most cases you do, in some you will find a murky swimming pool, totally uninviting, and you will not dare to take a dip. All inclusive resorts can be really disappointing.
When you plan an all inclusive resort vacation the first rule is not going for bargains or cheap deals, because you will probably end up on a shabby hotel, which is far from all inclusive. Also, it is advisable to read some online reviews on the resort you chose, to know what to expect.
About the Author
Head of Advertizia, Julian J. Lenox writes reviews and articles for Travel and Tourism Top 100, a devoted Travel and Tourism websites analysis reserve. Learn more about Best All Inclusive Resorts.
Valentine’s Day at London Hotels – An Exotic Way to Express Love
Valentine’s Day at London Hotels – An Exotic Way to Express Love
The Festival of Love- Valentine’s Day is on 14th February and everyone is busy in the preparations for the grand celebration of this special day. Every lover wants to make the day memorable in his/her life and for that you must have some plans. But still, if you are just thinking that where should you hang out on this lovely day then London can be a wonderful romantic city to spend Valentine’s Day.
On the birthday of the great Saint Valentines, all London city is sweet scented with the fragrance of love. So for this grand occasion how hotels in London can be left back. Famous in the world’s hospitality sector, London hotels are dreamland of every honeymooner and romantic traveler and there’s a lot new to experience in this season of love.
Treat your beloved with luxurious night stay offers in several luxury hotels of London. There are various luxury and five star hotels that announce a wide range of special Valentine’s offers. If this season you are celebrating your first Valentine then why not make it a long-lasting memory with extraordinary yet striking packages by the renowned hotels of England’s capital. Reflecting the grandeur attached with British hospitality, there are multiple romantic restaurants in London that equally make your date more pleasing and adorable.
If you don’t want to spend a lot but still wants to make your Valentine’s Day memorable then also you have a numerous options available. The capital has plenty of cheap and cheerful choices for you to select for special Valentine accommodation. But don’t go on their price range, these cheap hotels London won’t leave you looking like a skinflint either.
On a whole, various hotels are offering special Valentine’s packages but some of the renowned names have something unique than others. The iconic landmark of London, The Ritz Hotel has 3 offers, starting from 13th February celebration package to Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance to Valentine’s Afternoon Tea package. To make your afternoon more delightful and memorable, its afternoon tea package also includes a glass of rose champagne, sandwiches, scones and cakes. Likewise, Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel greets guests or couples on the day with a beautiful bouquet of red roses, chocolates and chilled bottle of sparkling wine, as well as an optimum night-stay.
It is well known that love and beauty goes hand-in-hand and to achieve that perfect balance of make-over and glow that floor your heartthrob on your’s feet, just try lavish and special spa Valentine’s offers. From world-class spa centres to beauty saloons to renowned accommodation addresses of London, you can enjoy these beauty-enhancing treatments in any of these available options as per choice. Experience the softness of rose petals or arose your senses with the aroma of chocolate spa therapy or pamper yourself with hydrotherapy, choice is entirely yours. To make your spa treatment an exceptional experience on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, some of the hotels and spa centres also offer couples massage packages. So, be ready to look stunning on the “Festival of Love.”
Gift-exchange is a very favorite and traditional ritual attached with this special day. And if your beloved is a great shopalcoholic then nothing is more wonderful and exciting than a world-class shopping exploration at London shopping streets and street markets. Apart from these, there are various alternatives for celebrating this day in London, from lavish stay to thrilling night-out and from salsa dance to rock-band performances, there is a couple of options for every lover. During day time, you can also enjoy the performances of the renowned artists in the London theatres.
So, get ready to give your Valentine’s Day celebration a heavenly feel this year. Just move, towards London hotels for some gratifying and unforgettable moments and avail great deals with London-Hotels-Bookings.com.
The Author is a contributing writer to the website http://www.london-hotels-bookings.com/ which provides detailed information and booking service for London hotels and cheap hotels in London, as well as best hotel deal in London to travelers from all across the world.
Phone: +44 20 8680 3001 Fax: +44 20 8603 7321
Embark on the Best of San Francisco: Travel the Embarcadero
Embark on the Best of San Francisco: Travel the Embarcadero
By Barbara Wade © 2009, All Rights Reserved
Flanked by a revitalized downtown district and the San Francisco Bay, the Embarcadero (Spanish for “the place to embark”) certainly lives up to its name. Stretching from the intersection of 2nd and King streets near the Bay Bridge and AT&T Park to Pier 45 at Fisherman’s Wharf, this waterfront roadway is a direct line to the best of San Francisco.
Boutique hotel accommodations, sights, shopping, farmers’ markets, entertainment and exquisite food are within easy reach of the Embarcadero. Whether you choose to explore via a traditional cable car ride, by car or on foot, bring your camera and your appetite. Photo opportunities and culinary delights will surround you at every turn in this area of San Francisco.
Luxury Hotel Lodging Puts You in the Heart of the City
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, sightseeing is more convenient in the downtown district of San Francisco with a luxury hotel on the waterfront. Scout the local attractions, then return to your room to store your treasures before heading out for more treasure-hunting or dinner and a show.
The Highlights of the Embarcadero
As you make your way up the Embarcadero, you’ll find many of San Francisco’s best-loved sights:
Rincon Park – Cupid’s Span
Practically everyone has crooned along with legendary singer Tony Bennett as his golden voice sang, “I left my heart in San Francisco.” As a tribute to that classic, sculptors Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen erected Cupid’s Span in Rincon Park in 2003. The bow, with its arrow implanted in the ground, overlooks the San Francisco Bay.
Ferry Building Marketplace
This exuberant marketplace bustles with a flurry of visitors each day searching for the freshest and most unique food and other goodies. Fishmongers offer local varieties of fish caught from the bay. Gourmet chocolates, artisan cheeses, organic produce and other delicious treats can also be found. Enjoy lunch bayside at one of the many exceptional restaurants and cafes, then browse through the large selection of shops located in the Market or from the many local growers’ produce during the weekend’s farmers’ market.
The Embarcadero Center
The Embarcadero Center offers seasonal fun including an ice skating rink from November until January plus year-round attractions such as the Farmer’s Market and the Embarcadero Center Cinema. The cinema is home to many high-profile independent films and ranks nationally among the most successful and prestigious theaters.
Fisherman’s Wharf
An easy ride, compliments of the F Market streetcars, takes you to the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Visit Pier 39 where you’ll meander through a traditional boardwalk atmosphere complete with video arcade, street performers and more. Not to be missed are the sea lions, who have their own docks for dozing; shops filled with souvenirs; family-oriented entertainment and a variety of scrumptious food from street vendors to fine dining.
Gaze across the bay and you’ll see Angel Island, Alcatraz Island (home to the infamous former prison), the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and other popular landmarks of San Francisco.
Boutique hotel accommodations on the Embarcadero also grant you easy access to Moscone Convention Center, Union Square, AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants) and North Beach, just to name a few of the many accessible destinations.
From cuisine to cultural events and food to family fun, the Embarcadero district of San Francisco makes for an exciting destination. Plot your course along this waterfront path and you’ll quickly see why its sights and atmosphere capture the hearts of all who come.
Author Bio
Barbara Wade writes articles for Harbor Court Hotel, a San Francisco boutique hotel. The convenience of staying in the Embarcadero district is yours when you book today. Visit http://www.harborcourthotel.com for reservations.
Dallas Texas: A Brief Overview
Dallas Texas: A Brief Overview
By: Gabriel Adams
Dallas, Texas is the ninth largest city in the United States with a population of 1.4 million people. Dallas is a prosperous business city, with telecommunications, computer technology, banking, and transportation leading the economic adventures of the area. It is also appreciated for the oil and cotton it contributes to the world. The headquarters for many prosperous businesses are located in Dallas, Texas including Mark Kay Cosmetics, ENSCO Offshore Drilling, Southwest Airlines, the popular jewelry store Zales, and 7-Eleven.
If you love to shop, Dallas is the place to be. It offers more shopping centers than any other city in the United States. Unfortunately Dallas also has the highest crime rate in the United States for a city of more than 1 million people since 1987. This is for both petty crimes and violent crimes. More than 3,000 police officers work to make the city of Dallas safer.
The people of Dallas are mostly white, but you will find immigrants from Mexico and a small percentage of other ethnic backgrounds in the area. The Southwest is Hispanic, the Southeast is Black, and the rest is White. Food is a popular item in Texas. The Dallas area is well known for the Frozen Margarita, Mexican food and Tex-Mex. It is also known for great BBQ. People come to Dallas for the annual events, including the Texas State Fair, Cinco de Mayo Events, parades, and food festivals.
Dallas is an area rich in culture and entertainment. The area has wonderful art galleries and performing art centers. They also have a nightlife that is known for the wild clubs and great concerts. Jazz is very popular in the Dallas culture. A part of the Dallas culture that is often not welcomed is graffiti. Some of it is very good though! The tunnels and areas of Dallas have murals on them done by graffiti artists.
Dallas is home to artists who don’t indulge in graffiti as well. They have multiple art schools and art studios. Areas of Dallas contain apartments full of artists and art students just starting out. They actually have their own little community.
Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com
Traveling to Dallas? Why not stay in a lovely Dallas TX Bed and Breakfast. This Dallas Bed & Breakfast may be just the thing for you!
Kerrville, Texas: the Hill Country Paradise
Kerrville, Texas: the Hill Country Paradise
By: Tymon Hytem
If you are looking for THE perfect place to get away from it all, then Kerrville Texas is definitely the place to go. Nestled in the heart of the Hill Country along the Guadalupe River, you will not find any place more breathtakingly beautiful. Kerrville knows how to make the most of the pleasingly agreeable warm climate year round.
In Kerrville Texas, you will be treated to the rugged outdoors with beautiful rolling hills and valleys. You will be able to see many bubbling streams twisting through the trails while enjoying the great Texan countryside. Nowhere will you be able to experience Texan nature and wildlife as remarkable as you will while taking a break from it all in Kerrville.
Year round Kerrville offers many activities. You can catch the sunset while horseback riding. You can enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping sports. You can also take a break along the Guadalupe River with water sports including fishing, canoeing, kayaking or just enjoying the beautiful sites of the river while hiking. You can also enjoy real Texas living by staying at on of the area guest ranches where you can actually experience first hand the day to day life on a Texas Ranch. You will be able to go on a cattle drive, take pleasure in magnificent views while riding on the many trails or just enjoy a good old fashion chuck wagon summer by the campfire.
If these things are not your idea of vacation fun, not to worry, Kerrville has something for you as well. In the recent years, Kerrville has done a complete renovation of the downtown area. While the downtown area might look like something out of the past, with its old Texan style charm that is where the old ends. The downtown area has many contemporary shops, galleries and boutiques for you to browse through while walking through town. There are also many great restaurants to savor during your visit.
Two grand gatherings that you definitely want to plan your vacation around occur at the start of summer and at the end of summer. If arts and crafts are your idea of fun, then you definitely will not want to miss out on the annual Texas State Arts and Crafts Fair that takes place over the Memorial Day weekend. If music of the folk and country western flavor is more your style of fun, then you definitely will want to come on down to the Quiet Valley Ranch over both Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends to enjoy the event. You can also catch a good old fashion Texas style rodeo throughout the summer.
Whatever you enjoy spending your free vacationing time doing, Kerrville has something for everyone. Take advantage of the fun, great restaurants, wonderful music, and beautiful great outdoors while visiting. Enjoy the wonderful ideal climate while exploring the natural beauty of Kerrville. There is no better family style vacation spot then Kerrville, Texas.
Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com
||Tymon Hytem is a native Texan who has lived in the Texas Hill Country his entire life. He is knowledgeable about the lifestyles, foods and travel destinations of Texas. You can find some more information on Texas restaurants, destinations and attractions that you do not want to miss by visiting San Antonio Restaurants and Austin Restaurants .
Austin: Not Just another Texan City
Austin: Not Just another Texan City
By: Tymon Hytem
With such as eclectic mix culture, foods and activities, Austin Texas is not just another cowboy town in Texas. Austin being the Capitol City of the great state of Texas is a beautiful place to visit that has a lot for every vacationer to enjoy.
If you prefer to stay within the city, you will find all sorts of places to explore and things to do. What a better way to see the city then biking along the 10 miles of trails that surround the beautiful city of Austin. There is the beautiful Zilker Park with lots of places for you to listen to free music during the summer months and catch a play. If you even feel inclined, you can sit and watch over a million bats fly out from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge looking for their dinner. It is a beautiful site to behold at sunset.
While visiting Austin, you are in for a real treat. Where else can you visit and taste authentic Mexican food, down home Tex-Mex and good old fashion Texas Barbecue. Once you have had your fill of this Texan style fare, your culinary choices are many especially given the fact that Austin houses several top 10 Chefs.
If it is the more cultural side of things that you crave then Austin is the right city for you. Austin has been called the ‘Live Music Capitol of the World’. Here you can pick from well over 100 venues from Latin to Jazz to Country and Rock n Roll. Whatever you enjoy listening to, you will find a place in the city of Austin where you can hear your favorites played live. There are also lots of exhibits and museums to visit while in Austin. You can see everything from contemporary art to traditional Mexican in one of the several museums in Austin. There is also the Ballet Austin and the Austin Symphony which are an enjoyable evening. Regardless of what your tastes are culturally, you will definitely find something to enjoy in this diverse city.
Austin is also the gateway to the Texas Hill Country. This is a beautiful stretch of land spanning South of Austin. Along the outskirts of the city you will find calming rolling hills and beautiful sunsets along the prairies. You can enjoy all exploring all sorts of natural places within an hour or two of Austin. Each place that you visit will give you a glimpse into the past and bring you closer to the myths and legends. With over 12 different cities to visit there is a lot do to within a short distance from Austin. Not only will you see breathtaking scenery and explore interesting history when exploring the different cities, you will also be treated to diverse music, art and food. Each city has a unique history that is just waiting for you to explore.
As you can see, Austin is not just another small town in Texas. There are a lot of activities, places to visit and things to see and do in and around the city of Austin. And no matter where you are, you are bound to find some of the best foods to enjoy. Make your next vacation Austin Texas.
Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com
||Tymon Hytem is a native Texan who has lived in the Texas Hill Country his entire life. He is knowledgeable about the lifestyles, foods and travel destinations of Texas. You can find some more information on Texas restaurants, destinations and attractions that you do not want to miss by visiting San Antonio Restaurants and Austin Restaurants .