posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 23
Last week we were delighted to have been asked by TheTimes to share our travel tips on where to eat, stay and shop inLiverpool, which is one of the greatest WAG cities, and by default has some of the greatest bling bling shopping. Check out our travel tips here. And in otherLiverpoolnews,Liverpool StreetinLondonis now home to the groovy new Andaz hotel, which is a new, luxury green boutique brand from Hyatt. The Andaz is on the location of the former Great Eastern Hotel and eco features include low water toilets, sustainable food and a computer controlled heating system. Guests will also be able to download iPod playlists from locals groovy people (policemen, artists, architects and hairdressers). Hyatt is also looking to roll out more Andaz???s inChicagoandNew York. AndazLiverpool Street,40Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7QNPhone: 020 7961 1234.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 23
If you dream of outdoor adventure, but don’t really want to rough it or wing it, then check out Nichols Expeditions. Don’t let the fact that they are based out of Moab, Utah deter you from thinking they don’t know about bicycling in Turkey or trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Chuck and Judy Nichols are adventurers themselves and lead many of their own trips. This is how they can give such accurate information about all of their tours on their website. Nearly every detail of the expedition I enjoyed, The Baja Islands Odyssey, was exactly as they described it.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 20
The Petronas Twin Towers here in Kuala Lumpur were once the world’s tallest buildings. From 1998 to 2004 they remained as this, however in 2004 Taipei 101 in Taiwan took the title which stands nearly 200 foot taller! However they still stand today as the world’s tallest twin towers.
The Petronas Twin Towers were designed by the architect C?sar Pelli, and finished completion in 1998. The towers are based upon a Muslim symbol which is throughout the design of the building and also boast the worlds deepest foundations at 120m. I’m not sure if a lot of people know this but two different companies built each tower, they had a race between them. The company who started over a month later actually finished first!
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 18
There is a lot of buzz for a new travel website called Dopplr; buzz is mainly coming from the “web 2.0 blogosphere”, if I may call it this way. Unfortunately, I am not able to give you a lot of details concerning the new website as I have not received an invitation yet. (my email can be found in the contact section of this blog).
What is dopplr?
“Dopplr is an online service for frequent travellers. It was created by an international team of world travellers as a tool for our own use. We liked it so much that we decided to open it up to our global friends. If you travel more than five times a year and have friends who do as well, then Dopplr is for you. How does Dopplr work? It lets you share your future travel plans with a group of trusted fellow travelers whom you have chosen. It also reminds you of friends and colleagues who live in the cities you’re planning to visit. You can use the service with your personal computer and mobile phone.”
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 9
By: John Simmons
“Maui No Ka Oi”, translates quite simply to Maui is the Best! And if you’ve ever traveled to the Hawaiian Islands, you know exactly why this catch phrase is so popular- because Maui, also known as the “Magic Isle”, is filled to the brim with art, culture, and enough history to sink a whaling boat.
The island of Maui is the second most popular tourist destination in this south pacific island chain. Nearly 120,000 people call this 727 sq. mile isle their home, while pineapple and sugarcane are still their key exports. 2.5 million visitors each year travel to the golden-white sand beaches, mile-high mountain peaks and scores of breathtaking, natural waterfalls, all creating an ideal backdrop to the most relaxing vacation of your life.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 5
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a Traveler’s Health section that can be a great resource in planning your vacation. There are tips on traveling with children, travel for the disabled, airline travel, traveling with pets, etc. If staying healthy while on the move is a concern, then check this website out before you go.
posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 2
Surprisingly the Spanish online travel market is not saturated by the emergence of aggregation and comparison engines; there is still space for newcomer(s) to enter this segment of the online travel industry. That’s what Minube.com (that literally means “My Cloud” in Spanish) did today by launching this new flight/hotel aggregator “Minube”.
Minube.com referred itself as being a web 2.0 site. A simple, clean and original design withgreen, red and orange clouds! It uses features that made Web 2.0 sites so convenient such as the suggestion search box; as you type in a query it will display the available cities/countries/airports dynamically via some AJAX. Pretty useful when you don’t know how to spell those Spanish cities or when you don’t know the airport name of your destination.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 23
By Cassie Davis
If you need a true break and are looking for a getaway that is both serene and interesting, Saugatuck, Michigan is definitely the ideal destination. With the water lapping at your feet and a perfect balance of man-made and natural beauty, this town definitely offers all that you could ask for. Located on the bank of Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck is a perfect location to unwind and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
Activities at Saugatuck
While the option of having a lazy holiday is always open, Saugatuck also offers a lot of different activities that can keep you busy through your vacation. If you are a water lover, you could consider sailing boats, yachts, pontoon boats or opt for a peaceful boat ride. If you want an adrenaline rush, you may want to look into the racing boats. Of course, Saugatuck is one of the world’s best destinations for perch fishing, so fishing enthusiasts alike should have no problem keeping themselves busy.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 21
Mother England.
There’s no place like home.
I am always at a loss for an answer when people ask me where I am from. In 30+ years I have moved house 30+ times, so you can appreciate my confusion. I have lived in Cardiff, capital of Wales, for the past few years, but I am (very) English.
I thank Wales daily for her hospitality. She provides a kind of safe comfort, like that of an over-stuffed chintz armchair in the parlour of an affectionate great-auntie; the sort of great-auntie who pinches your cheeks and plies you with cake. However, despite England’s dubious history, England is my mother and therefore has my heart.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 14
Step back in time a bit and consider taking the train to your next ski vacation. RMA Tours is offering great deals from Minneapolis or Chicago to ski destinations in Colorado and Montana - other departure cities are available, just give them a call or visit their website for details.
Enjoy a change of pace with RMA Tours’ Throw Momma on the Train mid-Season Amtrak ski train vacation special to Whitefish, Montana, home of Big Mountain Ski Resort. Starting at $669 per person (based on double occupancy) you will receive round trip coach rail fare to Whitefish, MT from Minneapolis or Chicago, transfers; 5 nights lodging, a 4 day lift ticket taxes ARE included in this price. Rates are good through March 25, 2007.
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