Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year!

Best Wishes for a Great 2009!

Photo: People dancing on New Year's Eve (1935) at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco

Courtesy of: San Francisco Public Library, Historical Photos

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I hope you enjoyed your holiday! I had a fun eight days of Chanukah, but I must say I'm glad that it's over. Time to relax and take a breath.

I've enjoyed reading my favorite blogs with beautiful photos of Christmas trees and decor, so I thought I'd share a little of my Chanukah with you. We attended 4 Chanukah parties during the 8 days. It was fun seeing family and friends. The traditional meal is potato latkes, (potato pancakes) which reminds us of the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. I guess you could say I'm "latked-out" for another year!

Glitter dreidel box by Denise Sharp

Every year I have a small Chanukah party with about 10-ish people. It's always challenging finding fun Chanukah decor since it's technically not a religious holiday and has become more commercialized since it falls around Christmastime. Other than the cardboard "Happy Chanukah" banners and party shop variety, there is not a lot of whimsical decor. I had been talking to Denise Sharp and she mentioned that she had these cute glitter dreidel boxes. I bought two of them and they worked great with my small centerpiece.

I decided on a white/gold/silver color theme with a bit of blue. I'm not a big fan of dark blue, but I actually found Chanukah party "poppers" and couldn't resist using them as table favors. I pulled out the sterling flatware and cloth napkins. That's big for me since I don't entertain much. Some white rose bouquets in small silver vases with a hint of purple flowers were on the dining and coffee tables. We served fresh latkes hot off the pan (they don't taste the same reheated), chicken, veggies, etc. Chanukah sugar cookies and ice cream, chocolate Chanukah gelt (coins), small gifts for the kids. Then there are the traditional Chanukah prayers and songs.

We lit the menorahs and there were candles lit all over the house. I must say that there is a certain amount of "Christmas-envy" when you're Jewish, with all of the traditions, decor... Christmas is magical! Chanukah is called the "festival of lights" and has its beautiful traditions as well. I decided that instead of stressing over "cute" Chanukah decor, I'm going to start collecting menorahs (I currently have two). There are so many beautiful antique and new menorahs, and they look amazing when lit up during the holiday.

My cousin has a collection of about 10 menorahs, 8 of which are diffferent wire animals. I'm going to purchase this one here.

Thanks for letting me share my Chanukah. Hope you had a great holiday! My house still smells of greasy cooking oil, but that will dissipate soon. Until next year...

Monday, December 22, 2008

A BIG Surprise!

Today my friend Kimberlee (of Edgar & Edgar) stopped by and brought me the sweetest gifts! A GIANT vintage paper mache walnut box! Before you scratch your head, there is a story behind this...

One day I was taking photos of Kimberlee's house and couldn't help but notice her great collection of vintage walnuts. This started me on yet, another collection. I bought some walnuts from Kimberlee and then started receiving them as gifts. Now Kimberlee gave me the largest walnut I've ever seen! I must add that she has quite the knack for presentation. The gifts were wrapped in black and white with her custom, Edgar & Edgar ribbon!

What a cute holiday card. She attached a pink shield-shaped card with a gold lions head. Clever Kimberlee.

Kimberlee decorated a large chocolate bar with a black silhouette bird and a large star. Beautiful!

An antique dome with my collection of walnuts

My husband bought me this "real" walnut pendant that has a little pocket knife in it. Quirky and fun. Okay, I'm a little odd.

And last, a close-up of my walnut. Thanks so much Kimberlee! I am really touched. Perhaps we'll inspire some bloggers to collect walnuts?

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Hotels in India - Finest Examples of Great Hospitality by dsouza-hotel

Hotels in India - Finest Examples of Great Hospitality -hotel
by dsouza

Tourists to India are rewarded with unique and great experiences to savor. Historical cities, exotic cuisine, rich culture & tradition, rich cultural heritage, exotic lifestyle, beautiful art & architecture, stunning mountains, shimmering sand dunes, breathtaking beaches, beautiful islands, scenic backwaters, magnificent monuments, generous people, etc all give many reasons to tourists to visit India. It is a dream destination for many and more tourists and why not when one will find magnificent monuments & architecture through out the country. Several magnificent forts and elegant palace, converted into heritage hotels, are providing a new meaning to India tourism. Representing a special touch and giving a new meaning to the country are the splendid hotels of the country. Some of hotels are globally famous for their world class accommodation. Some of are considered as major landmarks of the country.
Catering to all kinds of tourists and visitors, hotels of India endeavor to make the stay of their guests a pleasurable and comfortable stay. In fact, hotels in the country are the finest examples of great Indian hospitality. Tourism and hospitality industry is on book in India. Almost part of the country is worth exploring and deserving. Cities of the country are not to be miss destinations having several tourists can find several hotels - luxury as well as budget hotels. The country has numerous tourism opportunities with wonderful holiday options and excellent accommodation. Due to availability of excellent accommodation, numerous tourism options, and great hospitality, India has come to front position amongst the most famous and visited tourism destination in the world.
Goa, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, etc are predominant destination of India, known for excellent tourism and wonderful accommodation. Tourists can find several heritage, star, and budget hotels in these cities offering excellent accommodation and hospitality. Tourists can find several heritage palace hotels in Rajasthan, India. Staying at palace hotels of India can be rewarding experience of your India tours and travel. In Goa and Kerala tourists can find several star hotels and world class resorts. Despite star & heritage hotels, there are also budget hotels in India catering low budget tourists. There are several cheap hotels in India offering luxurious accommodation. In fact there are both types of tourists - high budget and low budget - can find well accommodation in India.
India hotels are not only meant for making your stay comfortable but they also offer tours packages that are alluring enough to let go. They offer local tour packages to explore their surrounding. Some of them also offer car rental services to explore surrounding in more and more convenient ways. Some of them also provide facilities like Ayurvedic massage, Ayurvedic treatment, spa and numerous recreations activities as well as comfortable stay. In fact, they are committed to make your stay and holidays in India comfortable and memorable. Hotels in India make sure tourists that they don't offer excellent accommodation only but also memorable holiday. They sure that their customers not only enjoy their holidays but also come around in the future as well.
About the Author
Dsouza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for India Tourism. and India Tours Package. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.tourismpoints.com/ Mob no.: 09911918545, Email: info@etradeservices.com

Happy Chanukah!

{Sweden, 1956}

Holiday Deals & Hotels in Australia by Victor Tuszing-hotel

Holiday Deals & Hotels in Australia-hotel
by Victor Tuszing

Australia is an immense country which actually occupy the whole continent that lies in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. To this land where deported in the 19th century many of the convicted people of British Empire, so 200 years ago Australia has been a huge open-air prison! But the facts changed in time and now this country is a proudly member of the Commonwealth and one of the most developed states of the world. Among others, tourism industry is nowadays well developed and holiday deals to Australia are more and more requested by travel agencies from different countries such as New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, United Kingdom or South Africa.Hotels in Australia are mostly modern and can be found everywhere in the country, from cosmopolitan cities like Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Cairns, Darwin, Perth and Victoria up to isolated small towns settled in desert. Being a continent, Australia has all types of relief, starting from sea, going over arid deserts and ending at high mountains like Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 meters) in New South Wales and Mount Bogong (1,986 meters) in Victoria. Regarding to its administrative form, Australia is divided in six states (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia) and two territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory), but not all of them are equally well developed economically. Also, there are a few areas which depend also to Australia like Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, and Macquarie Island.Due to its huge size, Australia has a lot of travel destinations and tourist attractions worth to a visit. Holiday makers interested foremost in cultural trips should visit the bigger cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Victoria), while the outdoor activities lovers and more adventurous tourists should head to Cairns or to attractions located in desert like Uluru and Ayer's Rock. Cairns, even if is a small town, offer interesting holiday deals to vacationers who love scuba diving and this happens because Cairns is located very close to the Great Barrier Reef, part of Coral Sea and the biggest coral formation of the world. Tropical waters that wash the coral reefs house an impressive big number of animal species and different types of aquatic vegetation, so divers of all ages and all skill levels feel like in paradise and gain everlasting memories after a few hours of underwater adventure! Because of the many tourists who visit the region there can be found many budget and upscale hotels, some of them with 4 and 5 stars on doors. Some of the best ones of the luxury accommodation units are Hotel Hayman Island Resort Great Barrier Reef, Hotel The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa, Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns, Hotel Sea Temple Resort & Spa, or Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, but the complete list should include also other hotels built in the region. Tourists with medium size vacation budget have not to worry because there are offered also travel deals by a few very good 3 star hotels like Hotel Cairns Queens Court, Hotel Figtree Lodge, Hotel Comfort Inn Tropical Queenslander Holiday, Hotel Ferntree Rainforest Lodge and others.Cairns is a tourist hot spot of the tropical side of the continent, but of course that great holiday deals to Australia in excellent luxury or budget hotels can be found in all its states and territories. Due to the size of the country vacationers should choose smaller regions to visit and to enjoy natural and cultural wonders from there. In fact, many tourists have already fallen so deep in love with this country that come back year after year and try to enjoy as much as they can of the splendors of the continent from the "end of the world"!

About the Author
Australia Holiday Deals is a web site owned and developed by Conqueror Web Design & SEO Romania Outsourcing. The content of this article and of the entire site belongs to Conqueror Web Design.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Travel Deals & Hotels in Montana-hotel

Travel Deals & Hotels in Montana-hotel
by Victor Tuszing

Montana, as its name shows, is one of the most mountainous regions from the entire United States. Rocky Mountains of Montana are separated in the following ranges: Absaroka Range, Anaconda Range, Bear Paw Mountains, Beartooth Mountains, Big Belt Mountains, Big Sheep Mountains, Bitterroot Mountains, Bridger Mountains, Cabinet Mountains, Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Continental Ranges, Crazy Mountains, Elkhorn Mountains, Gallatin Range, Highwood Mountains, Judith Mountains, Lewis Range, Livingston Range, Madison Range, Mission Mountains, Pioneer Mountains, Salish Mountains, Sapphire Mountains, and Tobacco Root Mountains. In all this regions have been developed many vacation resorts dotted with vacation rentals, restaurants, shops, and entertainment units.

Being a veritable "Switzerland" of the United States, is no wonder that travel deals to Montana are very popular among outdoor activities lovers. Hotels in Montana offer accommodation to different categories of vacationers, from hikers to skiers and from fly-fishers to passionate hunters. As anyone can guess, all this find in Montana wide "wild" regions to enjoy their passion. Montana's Glacier National Park has 1.4 million acres of stunning land and is perhaps the most famous of all parks and recreational areas of this state (the other ones being Big Hole National Battlefield, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Nez Perce National Historical Park, and the Yellowstone National Park). In the Glacier National Park tourists can explore more than 50 glaciers, over 200 lakes and countless streams, while hikers can enjoy more than 730 miles of hiking trails!

Special attractions for vacationers of all ages are the hotels settled in the ski resorts of Montana. In Whitefish, Bear Paw Ski Bowl, Big Sky ski resort, Moonlight Basin ski resort, Blacktail Mountain area, Bridger Bowl & Maverick Mountain resorts, ski resort of Discovery Basin, Great Divide, ski resort of Lost Trail Powder Mountain, ski resort of Montana Snowbowl, Red Lodge Mountain resort, and Showdown ski area (to mention just the most visited of them) are many hotels of different categories which welcome vacationers with affordable travel deals, high level of comfort & services, and tasty foods. In this ski resorts are, of course, a huge number of ski slopes of different levels of difficulty, so passionate skiers and snowboarders have just to find accommodation into a comfortable hotel or vacation rental and head to the closest ski-elevator!

During spring, summer, fall or winter, nature is always splendid there, travel deals to Montana attractive, hotels comfortable and people extremely friendly. Indifferently which is the main passion of a tourist, he or she will find in Montana a land where the active or passive relaxation is the most rewarding! Still, tourists are warned: after a few days of vacation in Montana they will take a very dangerous virus (a virus called "passion for Montana"!), which will make them coming back year after year to enjoy the treasures that this state has to offer!

About the Author
Montana Travel Deals is a web site owned and developed by Conqueror Web Design & SEO Romania Outsourcing. The content of this article and of the entire site belongs to Conqueror Web Design.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Advertising as Art

Paris Hotel Boutique 2008 holiday card by Creative & Co.

I am so impressed with the work of Coleen Rider, of Coleen & Company, an antiques & vintage décor retail studio located in Los Angeles. In addition to selling her fabulous wares at her studio and online, Coleen has just launched, Creative & Co., where she specializes in e-mail ad campaigns & promotions, website ads and graphic design work. I was so taken by Coleen’s e-cards that I commissioned her to design my Paris Hotel Boutique holiday card (above).

Coleen & Company's 2008 holiday card

Coleen & Company's 2007 holiday card

Coleen has an amazing eye for color and juxtaposition. It was so much fun working with her on my card. She has a unique process for developing her artwork by getting to know her customer and tailoring her design to capture your personality & viewers. We collaborated about ideas by Coleen inquiring about everything from my favorite colors to what message I wanted to convey, then translating it into online art form.

Coleen's element of whimsy is what really excited me. I told her to surprise me with the card and when she e-mailed me the draft, I was more than thrilled! The most exciting part about working with Coleen is that her artwork is one-of-a-kind and doesn’t look like a mass-produced commercial e-mail. Thanks Coleen for creating my fabulous card!

Coleen & Company studio in Los Angeles

If you want more info and rates about Creative & Co., contact Coleen Rider at 310-839-2908 or e-mail, info@coleenandcompany.com.

All photos courtesy of Coleen & Company and Paris Hotel Boutique

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Lovely Package

Oh no, yet another blog to add to my reading! I stumbled upon this blog, while reading d. sharp journal. I've spent most of my morning looking at all of the lovely packaging. What fun gift boxes at Maison Bertaux in London (above), designed by Harriman Steel. "Shop at Maison Bertaux, it’s where fashion meets cake." How cute are these? If you are in London, I'd definitely purchase something there, just to present someone with one of those boxes!

I'd love a bottle of St-Germain, designed by Sandstrom Partners. “St-Germain is an artisan French liqueur made from hand-picked wild elderflowers." An elegant bottle for your to serve your guests with!

The vintage-style imagery & quirky humor is great on these mints by Red Dog Candy, box designed by Moxie Sozo.

Okay, now you can see what I've been doing this morning. Check out Lovely Package-- "the leading source for the very best that package design has to offer."

Photos courtesy of lovelypackage.com

Saturday, December 6, 2008

J. Crew and the Liquor Store

I was excited to read MA Belle's post about the J. Crew men's shop in New York City. J. Crew's first menswear-only boutique takes the place of the former Liquor Store Bar in Tribeca. The store was designed by Andy Spade and his business partner, Anthony Sperduti.

The vintage decor looks phenomenal with its dark paneling and antique displays, leather club chairs, old books and more. They even carry a new line of Red Wing boots, so worn that they look like you've worn them for a lifetime. Old school pieces such as vintage Timex watches add a touch of vintage. It's refreshing that they didn't "modernize" it and kept all the original fixtures such as the bar and fireplace. Now this looks like a fun place to shop!

I love the black and white theme with the old liquor signs...so chic!

What a great idea to use the bar rail to display ties. The hatstands are great!

Such a great juxtoposition of style. Love the old fireplace and lady portrait above it!

Andy Spade's advice for cultivating personal style; "Go back to your history and where you came from. Research things that are special to you and not available to everyone."

All photos courtesy of J. Crew and Brian Berman

Christmas is special time to enjoy Seattle attractions-hotel

Christmas is special time to enjoy Seattle attractions-hotel
by Cary Ordway
Given the fact that Seattle may be lucky to get a week of snow each year, this Northwest city might not be an obvious choice for a Winter Wonderland to experience the joys of Christmas. But what it lacks in snow, it makes up for in festive spirit and Northwest residents discovered long ago that a trip to the city for Christmas shopping can be rewarding indeed.
From Seattle Center to Westlake Center to the Pike Place Market, the usual visitor attractions become just a little more special on a chilly winter's day. Throngs of excited, bundled-up families and couples sample the seasonal offerings at Westlake such as Quest carousel rides, or the kettle corn and elephant ears nearby. Vendors make balloon animals for the kids while loud Christmas music blares in the background making sure no one misses out on Seattle's holiday spirit.
Make it an overnight trip and it's even better. First, you'll be sure to see the numerous Christmas lights along downtown streets including the famous star on Macy's, the Space Needle lights and many other special seasonal touches. And, by staying overnight, you can turn a shopping trip into a true getaway.
Our base of operations was a Seattle landmark, the Edgewater Hotel. If you're old enough, you'll remember that the Edgewater was made famous in the mid-60's when the Beatles stayed in one of the waterfront rooms and caught fish out their window. In fact, it became the obvious choice for many famous rock groups that came into town during that period to play for one of Pat O'Dea's spectacular rock concerts.
Today the Edgewater has a classic elegance that combines the best location in Seattle with an updated interior design that evokes the Northwest's rich Native American heritage. The first thing we saw when entering our waterfront room was a Washington State Ferry - just out the window and across the waters of Elliott Bay. Our view made us feel like we were traveling on a cruise ship with nothing but water between us and the ferry. This, of course, is the major attraction of the aptly-named Edgewater - a location literally out on the water with incredible views of Puget Sound and nearby islands.
Our room featured many Northwest accents such as a log headboard on our comfortable king-size bed, bark trim and a wood panel above the corner fireplace, Native American designs on the carpets with knotty pine baseboards, and Indian characters and designs on the wood-frame entertainment center. In the bathroom, a large claw-style bathtub looked awfully inviting, while the modern colors and fixtures made the room look like something you would see in a magazine on interior design. The floors were amber quartz slate, while the room also included a glass-enclosed European spa shower.
With a room at the Edgewater - which features a constant parade of boats just outside your window -- there is the temptation to just stay there and enjoy the endless sights and sounds. But our main objective this trip was to check out the city's Christmas activities, so we walked over to Pike Place Market, just a few blocks from the hotel.
The market is one of Seattle's most recognizable symbols - right up there with the Space Needle. That probably has something to do with the way TV sports announcers always make a point of showing footage of the market while broadcasting Seattle Seahawks or Washington Huskies sports telecasts. Typically the shot is one of the fish handlers throwing King salmon - thus we were pleased that, upon our arrival, the fish were indeed flying. Just like the 50 or so other visitors standing around watching, we had seen for ourselves the famous Pike Place Market fish throw.
Those fish handlers in their sweat suits, hoodies and aprons aren't the only reason to stop by the market at Christmas time. The market goes all out in its decorations and, in fact, has Christmas trees available - not that we wanted to cart one back to the Edgewater. Take a walk just north of the first fish market and you enter a beehive of activity where it seems like just about anything you want is for sale - fresh fruits and produce, honey, herbs, dried flower bouquets, jams and jellies, nuts, fruits, chocolates, tee-shirts, purses, you name it. There actually are several fish markets in the same building, as well as restaurants where you can dine on fresh fish before you even leave the market..
Just across the street from the market, in front of the Starbucks, a musical group called Slimpickens was warming up the crowds with lively 1930's style music played in a four-piece configuration: guitar, stand-up bass, violin and washboard. Dressed in 30's garb, the group also seemed to be getting a Depression-era response to their music: lots of smiles and toe-tapping, but not many coins dropping into their prominently placed cup.
Along about here we encountered Piroshky, Piroshky, a tiny take-out restaurant serving up fresh Russian piroshkies for just under $5. These were just baked and, if you're wondering, the piroshky is a little like a flakey turnover filled with meat, cheese or other fillings. They're delicious and, for us, provided a quick and inexpensive lunch.
Some friends of ours went instead to Von's Grand City Café, just a few blocks from the market on Pine Street where the meal was fine but they reported back that this was the first time they had encountered canned champagne. They ordered a split of champagne and the can that was delivered to their table had a straw attached - which our friends said reminded them of the fruit drink boxes they get for their kids. Of course that's what visiting the "Big City" is all about - experiencing new things.
A few blocks from the market is Westlake Center, a modern, multi-story shopping center with upscale stores and - because of its location near Macy's and Nordstrom -- the epicenter of retail activity downtown. It's here that, for just $2 each way, you can hop on board the Monorail - originally built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair - and zip over to Seattle Center where their Winterfest celebration has continual holiday entertainment and one of the coolest model railroads and miniature Christmas towns your kids will ever see.
Soon it was time to head back to the Edgewater, where we watched the fog roll in and marveled at how the few sailboats that were out on this wintery day were able to dodge the Washington State ferries. Thank goodness for foghorns and radar, we would guess. Just a few minutes walk from the Edgewater is the Spaghetti Factory, where we enjoyed a tasty but inexpensive dinner.
The night was restful and, when the sun came up the next day, the skies were blue and the views from our room were like a picture postcard. No need to lose that view while having breakfast -- downstairs at the Edgewater we stopped in for a hearty meal with the best views in town at the hotel's award-winning Six Seven restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices, given the restaurant's prime location and upscale reputation.
More downtown exploration was on tap for our second day, with no shortage of merchandise available at unusually good prices. Soon it was time to go home, but it wasn't like a trip home from the mall in which you're exhausted and swear never to go shopping with the multitudes again. Yes, we'd accomplished our Christmas shopping all right -- but we also felt invigorated by an unforgettable holiday trip to Seattle's Winter Wonderland.
For more information on Seattle, go to www.visitseattle.org . For more information on the Edgewater Hotel, please visit www.edgewaterhotel.com About the Author
Cary Ordway publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Vintage Bus Signs

Vintage Bus Signs from parishotelboutique.com

I just adore vintage bus signs! The provenance combined with the old typography makes them extra special. And, they are great pieces of art. I have one in my dining room and people seem to be intrigued by it. It's sort of one of those quirky, unexpected pieces that add a spark to a room.

Vintage Trolley Sign from parishotelboutique.com

I currently have some for sale on my website. This extra special trolley bus sign (above) is from Bournemouth, a large coastal resort town on the south coast of England. Cricket, Tennis, Circus, Carnival, Pageant...it doesn't get better than that! I've never seen a sign like this before. The town of Bournemouth hosted many events of the Festival, hence all the activities on the sign would make sense. Upon research, Bournemouth sounds like a great tourist town with lots of history, great beaches, culture and a professional football club, too!

Bus Roll Sign Photo from Desire to Inspire

I love these photos from Desire to Inspire's blog. They add that perfect touch of whimsy!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Mom & Pops

Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season. Please support your local shops and boutiques. During these tough economic times, they need our support. And, if you're like me, I much prefer the experience of shopping charming, unique shops, as opposed to large chains.

Mouche Packets from bellocchio

Today I'm off to one of my favorite little shops, Bell'occhio, here in San Francisco. It's a charming shop, full of curiosities. The owner Claudia has a keen eye. Each purchase is beautifully gift-wrapped and I never walk out empty-handed. After that, I'll mosey over to North Beach and visit some of my favorite boutiques. Tomorrow I'll head over to the San Francisco Antique & Design Mall to look for some one-of-a-kind items. It's much more fun than fighting crowds of shoppers downtown, and a way to find something unique for that special person.

Chocolate bars from bellocchio

Paris Map boxes from bellocchio

North India Tours - Luxury India Travel Services-hotel

North India Tours - Luxury India Travel Services-hotel
by goutham

NorthIndiaTravelServices.com is the one step online resource to tour and travel services in North India; was created two years before, for provide best travel services and customer satisfaction. We believes in best tour and travel services and good relationship with tourist or customers who come to visit India provide them language supporting tourist guide for both domestic and overseas clients, best accommodation and lodging options in luxury and budget hotels in Delhi, Agra Jaipur, Shimla, Mussorie Nainital.

If you plan travel and tours to India must visit the sightseeing places in North India. Adventure tours and pilgrimage tours in the Uttranachal/Uttrakhand, Camel Safari Desert Tours in Rajasthan and Golden Triangle tours combine the places Delhi - Jaipur - Agra tours. Agra is famous due to the incredible and wonderful Taj Mahal, Wildlife and Sanctuary. North India is famous for its natural beauty and during the vacation tours and holiday trip you can enjoy the hill station tours in shimla, mussoorie and cultural and wildlife tours, sanctuary, in Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir -the only heaven in India.

Travel agents at Northindiatravelservices.com help to make your journey pleasure inbound tours inside India. Best deals to visit Rajasthan, Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Agra (The City of Wonderful Taj Mahal), Gaya- the Buddhist place, and other memorable tour destinations provide you best support round-the-clock.

Vacation tours to Rajasthan, Haridwar, Rishikesh and the highness Himalaya you will find the complete 24/7 hour supports, stay options in luxury and budget hotels in North India. Bharatpur Ghana Sanctuary in Rajasthan, Corbett-National-Park in Nainital Uttrakhand has a rich tourist attraction.

North India Travels services provide travel to north India by airs, railway and the bus, coach and luxury car. Our tour Operators and travel agents provide round-the-clock support to tour bookings, hotel bookings; provide complete tour information, air bookings, and car hiring services. The train Palace- on- Wheels to Visit the complete Rajasthan will make probably memorable. Make your tour itinerary to visit the incredible North India.

About the Author

Author Gautham is an associated member and editor of the company Cosmovision Tours. With a Vision to provide and set up best tour and travel services in India. He has a dream in his eye to make best tour informative, and travel services provider to CosmoVision Tours with the help of NorthIndiatravelservices.com

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Luxury Living At The MGM Grand Hotel And Casino Las Vegas-hotel

by Larry Austin

If ones idea of a holiday includes gambling and partying till the break of dawn, then Las Vegas is definitely the place to visit! Those wanting to truly immerse themselves in the city's energetic atmosphere should look for accommodation in the area known as "The Strip" where one will find most of the famous casinos and resorts such as the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

Situated along the south side of The Strip, the MGM Grand Hotel is a well known Las Vegas landmark that caters to those looking to enjoy some luxury living and personal pampering! Located only around 2.5 miles from the McCarran International Airport, the hotel is ideal for those planning to explore Vegas and is suited for business travellers as well.

Of course most people visit the city in order to hit the jackpot and at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas one can try to do just that! Home to its very own luxurious casino, the hotel offers a variety of table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Craps. Poker players can make their way to the stylish Poker Room which is open 24/7, while the casino also has a modern race & sports book centre as well as numerous slot machine games including one that offers a million dollar prize! Guests stepping outside the MGM Grand Hotel will soon find themselves surrounded by the chaotic carnival setting of The Strip which is an experience in itself. The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum are only about 1.5 miles away, while the popular Fashion Show Mall and the New York-New York Hotel with its rollercoaster ride are also easily accessible.

Other attractions along The Strip worth visiting include the fascinating water fountain ballet at The Bellagio, the King Tut Museum at The Luxor, the Sirens show at Treasure Island, Circus Circus with its live acrobats, the erupting volcano at The Mirage and the Grand Canal at The Venetian.

Home to a captivating lion habitat, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas is an attraction in itself and guests staying indoors will have plenty to keep them occupied. Those after some much needed R&R can head to the onsite Grand Pool Complex, the lively Wet Republic Ultra Pool area or to the Grand Spa & Health Club. Retail therapy is on hand at the hotel's many designer boutiques and luxury shops.

Entertainment at the MGM Grand Hotel comes in way of Cirque du Soleil's thrilling "KA" show, the titillating Crazy Horse Paris cabaret as well as a wide range of sporting events and performances that take place at the Grand Garden Arena and the Hollywood Theatre respectively. Corporate clientele have access to over 593,000 square feet of meeting space including a modern conference centre and a ballroom.

Dining options abound at the hotel which is home to such fine-dining establishments as the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak and a restaurant run by the renowned French chef, Joel Robuchon. Meals in a more informal setting are available at Emeril's and the Grand Wok & Sushi Bar. The nightlife at the MGM Grand is a mixture of sophisticated style and a trendy club atmosphere which can be found at such hotspots as the Tabu Ultra Lounge, Studio 54, Zuri and Centrifuge.

The rooms at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas are tastefully designed and provide guests with an intimate living space in which to chill out in. The rooms have air conditioning, cable television with pay movies and high-speed wireless and / or wired internet access (additional cost) which is ideal for those needing to email back home. An in-room safe and an iron / ironing board are also available, while guests wanting to truly live it up can book one of the Terrace Suites, the Celebrity Spa Suites or Skylofts Penthouse Suites.

Surrounded by all the excitement of The Strip, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is a great place to experience the non-stop thrills and spills of Las Vegas, even if lady luck does not make an appearance on ones holiday!

About the Author

Larry Austin is a freelance journalist, currently working for RoomsNet.com and who writes on topics related to travel, hotels and destination reviews. MGM Grand Hotel is one of the most popular holiday visiting place in Las Vegas and Roomsnet.com is a specialist for Hotel Booking.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, 1937, Pinocchio floating through Times Square with his 44-foot nose (photo from flickr)

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Tips for selecting Singapore Hotels-hotel

by Kevin Laura

Many people like to live like the locals when they visit a new place or country. They are mostly on the lookout for a home outside their home. Others have varied choices. Some like comfort, some desire modern facilities, some look for glimpses of the past and nostalgia, while still others look for economy.

Since its independence from British in 1963 followed by its separation from the Malaysian Federation in 1965 when it gained complete sovereignty, the Republic of Singapore has gradually evolved into one of the richest economies of the world. Trade, manufacturing and tourism are the three pillars of its economy. Naturally this has resulted in a steady stream of visitors to the country. These visitors looking for accommodation of their choice is a natural corollary to such situation. An attractive place for the multination corporations, it is the fourth largest center for foreign exchange trading in the world.

What the best hotels in Singapore has to offer

Despite rapid urbanization, most of the top hotels in Singapore have continued to maintain their link to the tradition and heritage while providing its visitors all the modern facilities. Most of them are also located close to the Grand Hyatt, known for its abundant beauty.

When you reside in one of the best hotels in Singapore it not only offers you all the amenities but also the facilities to visit a number of places that are worth visiting. For example, there is the Botanic Garden, and art and craft shopping complex that are two of the most popular and visited sites in Singapore.

Singapore hotels are good for relaxation as well as business

Top hotels in Singapore are the sources of great inspiration for you when it comes to business oriented works. At the same time they are equally great for recreation and relaxation. You have swimming pools, spa, games facilities for indoor and outdoor games, gyms for work out and a number of other avenues to relax your over burdened mind and body.

These hotels also provide you with a unique blend of the modern and traditional. You will find a judicious yet very attractive mixture of modern and traditional architecture together with sophistication. If you are a lover of the past heritage, you can also find colonial luxuries in a few places like the Raffles or the Fullerton hotels. The styles are exemplary and the cuisine is delicious.

Great hospitality is a great influence

Wherever you might be staying in Singapore, either in the luxury hotels in Singapore or in some of the budget or economy hotels you will never find scope to complain about the hospitality in these hotels. The services are one of the best in the world and the food is special not found in many places across the globe.

Getting the taste of local life while staying in a Singapore hotel can make your experience a special treat of your life. The experience will certainly be unforgettable in your life. The best thing about the hotels in Singapore is that they try to match all your requirements with utmost sincerity and you feel as if you are in a home away from your home.

About the Author

The author is presently working as the Communication Executive in a leading international firm. With his vast knowledge about the hotels in Singapore he has been writing regular columns on Singapore hotel in many travel and tourism magazines. Currently he is also the advisor of the local tourism department's East Asia Travel and Tourism branch.

Creative Gift Wrap

A vintage music-lesson card strikes a personal note paired with a costume jewelry brooch and a bright blue ribbon.

It's so much fun using vintage finds to dress up a package. And... it is a great way to recycle. Aren't these fun?

Recycle vintage boxes and tins, such as these French pastel chalk boxes, to hold gift cards, spa certificates, or concert tickets. Silk ribbon and tiny ornaments add festive flair.

Images from Country Home Magazine - December 2008