 Dear friend, Here's an opportunity for you to enjoy holiday @ your own Log on sifi blog @ boomtime2007 as user for details, write details on gest book for further application for holiday homes ,by back offer is avilable for details contact |
The first thing you ought to do is resolve as much at the start as you can. That means things like interchanging currency when necessary, glancing at maps of the area, renting a means of transportation (did someone say Harley?), booking a flight, and selecting a hotel that fulfills your needs. The good news is, all of these jobs have become much easier and cheaper through the internet, so before contacting a travel agent, you could save some money by looking up good deals on the web.
When it comes to finding the perfect hotel, remember to look at your choices cautiously. Some items to consider would be how it is ranked; is it a two star hotel or a 4 star one? Where is it's location? If you are going to Disneyland but the hotel you reserved is in San Francisco, you will waste quite a bit of your journey behind the wheel. How long are you planning on being at the hotel, and if you are going to be there, what sorts of conveniences do they furnish? I am sure that I will never forget the time I went out on vacation to relax by the pool, only to discover that the hotel I was at didn't have one. I am sure that I must've appeared strangely out of place walking around the lobby with my inflatable ducky around my waist and no pool to be found.
A good rule to stick by when packing is not to get out of control. Keep it simple, traveler. Begin by getting familiar with the temperature so that you know what you had better pack, but avoid over-packing. Remember, if you forget something, odds are that you can purchase a replacement. As a matter of fact, take as few clothes as possible. I suggest packing older clothing which can be discarded along the way. Depending on where you are, you may discover charities that would be happy to take extra clothing off of your hands. Besides, this will make additional space for souvenirs.
When it comes to entertainment, avoid getting too out-of-control. For instance, don't pack more than one book. If you are able to read an entire book, give that one away and go buy another one. It's time to get out and go to the store anyway, you bookworm. Instead, bring something to take notes with and write your own book. This does not necessarily mean the company laptop. Do not use this rule as an excuse to bring your work with you. If at all possible, leave every thought of work behind when you travel. Though it might seem awkward at first, pencil and paper work fine for taking notes.
Two valuable things to think about including in what you take are Pepto-Bismol, in case something doesn't agree with you, and hand sanitizer; the kind you don't need water for. Please remember, no matter what situation you find yourself in, don't let the sanitizer replace taking a shower.
When you are departing for your adventure to Columbia, you and your family will want to carry plenty of what you need for picture taking. If you are behind the times and still use film, consider moving up to a digital camera. With a digital camera, I can see what I am taking as I go along. The only things I need are batteries and memory space. Now that you can get a wonderful digital camera for under $200, your excuses are dwindling away. Various tourist destinations have stores that will transfer your pics from your memory card to a CD, allowing you to take even more pics to torment friends and family with upon your return home.
I just can't stress enough the value in keeping things simple. Prepare wisely by taking care of everything you can ahead of time. When it comes to travel, remember, the internet is your friend. Pack, plan, and keep entertainment basic to help make sure that your vacation to Columbia is a relaxing and memorable one. I hope that this humble advice will become beneficial to you as you prepare yourself to embark on your vacation.
I've been musing about airports and thinking about my experiences at Melbourne and Perth airports last week and what made them so bad, and reflecting upon what makes an airport cool, what kind of things would actually make the experience so much more fun! The factors that make Melbourne so unpleasant are the lack of comfortable seating and places to relax, poor business and communication facilities, dismal retail and dining options, limited opening hours, a dirty environment, and a distinct lack of character. So that means my ideal airport would be exactly the opposite, and possess the following characteristics:
* an abundance of comfortable seating, from reclining chairs to chill-out sofas and ottomans, in various formations and environments to suit different moods and needs;
* state-of-the-art communications and public business facilities (not only in airline lounges), from free easy-to-access WiFi throughout the airport and desk space with powerpoints for those who want to set up their laptop and work to reasonably-priced pay-by-the-hour lounges for those with long layovers who want to get serious about working;
* a wide range of useful and engaging retail outlets, from gourmet delis and a supermarket to excellent bookshops (not only stocking airport novels) and newsagents, to quality gift stores specialising in local products, and travel shops that don't only sell suitcases, but offer up everything from travel gadgets to tech accessories;
* an array of quality drinking and dining options and no franchises for starters: I want to see clean, quality cafes, restaurants and bars, ran by independent owners who care about what they're doing, and have a desire to sell more than muffins and soggy plastic-wrapped sandwiches. I want fresh food, made-to-order, and variety. Why can't airports have stand-up Italian-style cafe bars where you can grab a macchiato from an barista who knows not to ask "Is that a short mac or a long mac?" And why not proper fine-dining restaurants or chic bistros for those of us with long waits between connections? Obviously there's a place for fast food but can we please give the McDonalds and Subways a miss and only allow quality options, like a wood-fire pizza place or a Japanese sushi bar?
* everything should be open as long as flights are operating: there are many 24-hour airports dotted around the world that can manage this, Dubai for one; there should be no reason to close anything if there are still people streaming through the airport;
* the place should be gleaming; everything in the airport should be shiny and clean, and smelling fresh and lovely - from the public seating to the toilets to the floors throughout - there's just no excuse for grubbiness at a developed city airport in this day and age;
* the airport should be well-designed; from the practical stuff (security, check-in, baggage drop, signage, transport, traffic flow) to the aesthetic (departure lounge seating, shop-fronts, dining experiences, etc), the airport should look cool. It should not only be functional - it should work and be comfortable - but it should have form and style. Airports should look chic and inviting. They should make us want to spend time in them instead of wanting to get the hell out of there the first chance we get.
What do you think? What makes an airport cool for you? My favorites include Copenhagen, Amsterdam's Schiphol, Dubai and Hong Kong, but even they're not perfect. Do you have any favorites?
Perfectly placed in Brighton's Regency Square, Hotel Una is a cosy boutique hotel spanning three floors of a Georgian townhouse. Open since 2006, each of its 20 rooms are named after rivers of the world and decorated with an individual twist. WTG's Caroline Lewis takes a look.
Hotel Una is located in one of the most regal spaces in Brighton – the large rectangle of Regency Square, right off the seafront and smack in the middle of Georgian architectural supremacy.
Behind a sensually lit facade, sits a tiny reception and an even smaller lift. But inside, wood panels and elegant lighting make sure everything looks sleek rather than stuffy. It's small scale but neatly done.
Despite the majorly modern interiors, Hotel Una has remained true to its heritage and situation - contemporary lighting, original artwork and avant-garde furniture haven't done away with the Regency architectural feel.
Once I was whisked up and installed into 'Wista', one of the luxury rooms, I began to feel at home. The room was like a city apartment with separate bedroom, enormous TV and lengthy sofa. Aside from the duvet (give me some goose down and I'm anyone's), favourite features had to be in the bathroom - sparkly black walls, Molton Brown goodies and a hugely oversized shower head. In the morning, an over-eager chambermaid burst in, in search of either a clean room or a glimpse of me in a towel. I think I'll go for the former.
In other parts of the hotel, 'Eden' is one of the largest rooms. It has the fortunate position of overlooking the sea through windows that are both high and wide, making it beautifully bright and breezy. If this wasn't enough, the view out to sea can be admired from inside the freestanding bath that's perched close to the window. More? It has a balcony, the bed is super kingsize and the sofa is upholstered in finest dark brown leather. The current guests had initially booked for two nights but were still there after six.
'Danube' can have similar superlatives applied - it's another with the tempting bath-with-sea-view option.
Views aside, down in the basement there are rooms that have their own private mini spa. Spacious 'Aragon' and secluded 'Belise' have private saunas and whirlpool baths and the resident masseuse will come to you for treatments that include hot-stone and Thai massage.
Hotel Una's self-declared Premier Room is 'Quaile' - and it's a truly luxury suite. Attributes include a full home cinema plus leather recliners, a private bar with complimentary spirits and an Illy espresso machine and a large meeting table for eight.
There is a small dining room at Hotel Una where you'll feel cosy rather than cramped - but if you prefer, fill out the form and have your breakfast brought to you. The choice is impressive but, for the best porridge you'll ever eat, go for the Scots porridge with maple syrup. Served up on a huge tray at the time you choose, I opted for a leisurely 9am. Leaving that duvet was a struggle.
Hotel Una also has a (contemporary-styled, of course) bar that's open for non-residents till 11pm and for residents all night. Stop for coffee in the day or a sophisticated drink at night. An exclusive range of spirits is stocked, including a fine selection of cognacs such as Hennessy Paradis.
The owners have worked hard to create an atmosphere that makes you feel decadently relaxed and sumptuously comfortable. Their aim is to make you want to keep staying that one extra night. And with the stylish surroundings, unbeatable location and friendly staff, you might just want to.
Hotel Una
55/56 Regency Square
Brighton
BN1 2FF
Tel: (01273) 820 464.
Website: www.hotel-una.co.uk