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Inflate your Holiday Experience
Published October 31, 2011 | 
If you have cotton wool dreams of floating away into a blanket of cloud, having the sky romance you with its beautiful views, then a balloon ride might be just the thing to inflate your holiday experience.
Though many would suggest a balloon ride is a hot air attempt to blow romance into a vacation, this romantic cliché will raise your spirits to about 12,000 feet.
When most travellers experience the euphoria of soaring to the highest limits using this archaic form of flight, the very nature of its antiquity wins you over like a period drama.
Suspended in a basket beneath the warm glow of a balloon with the world at your feet makes for an intense experience, cliché or not. But selecting the ideal location that makes the most of perfect view point is vital.
Though the experience of travelling in a balloon alone is a novelty itself, it is the landscape that you fly over which really makes the experience breath-taking. The 360 degree view you encounter is unsurpassable, as you watch the world slowly drift by.
Something magical about Balloon rides….
Gone with the wind might be a popular children’s book, but it’s also the story when you take to the skies in a hot air balloon. And it is because of this gradual movement that the world appears to move around you, like gently rolling a globe towards you using your fingertips.
The origins of the hot air balloon concept date back to China in 220ad, when they released candlelit lamps made of rice paper into the sky to carry their wishes to the heavens. And it wasn’t until 1783 when the concept was finally adapted to create the passenger hot air balloon.
The balloon’s maiden voyage was in France and even to this day offers great flights to explore. Loire Valley in the country’s central region not only has fantastic period landscapes to take a view of, but also offers a variety of several take off spots making flights easily accessible. Located just 200 miles south west Paris, you might be lucky enough to see some of France’s most iconic landmarks – providing the wind takes you there of course. But the green beauty that is sprinkled with the beautiful buildings of Loire Valley makes for a fantastic spectacle.
And it is that very green phenomenon that equally makes Napa Valley a great location for balloon flights. Filled with Californian vine yards, this stateside destination creates a great ambiance, especially in sunset flights providing the perfect setting for only the most romantic couples.
If however you are looking for something different, Serengeti flights far exceed the conventional ways of wildlife watching. The region’s swelling African wildlife offers the perfect opportunity to overview the environment of this Tanzanian destination. Since 1989, there have been over 100,000 passengers that have flown over the country’s woodlands and plains. And with the scope the balloon offers in terms of its abilities to float at low attitudes in close proximity above the animals without startling them makes for a fantastic mode of safari.
The fact is that hot air balloon rides cannot only take you to spectacular horizons literally, they will take you a sunnier holiday experience.
Hello-ween!
Published October 27, 2011 | 
With Halloween clawing its greasy, half dead fingers around the doorframe of your vacation home, there are a few treats to be had where terror tricks are rife.
On the face of it, the tradition of Halloween is somewhat a ridiculous debacle where adults dress up in costume and partake in fright fun. But there are some places that offer more scare thrills than others.
The Village Halloween Parade in New York City is said to be one of the largest events for the 31st October celebrations. More than 2 million people attend the festival a year and with a host of giant puppets, stilt walkers and marching bands, it’s easy to see why. There is even the opportunity to take part and volunteer carrying a puppet. The event is also free of charge making the celebrations cost effective for large parties as well as enjoyable!
The best places to visit at Halloween.
The Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls in Philadelphia is a real spectacle, showcasing Hollywood like effects and employing around 220 actors whose occupational duties are to scare the life out of those who participate in the thrills. The building itself is enough to make the hairs on back of your neck stand on end. Founded in 1829, the prison that housed notoriously dangerous convicts provides the perfect setting for Halloween. Vast in numbers, the actors play on the event’s setting dressing up as insane prisoners and sadistic guards. This is one Halloween event that might be too much for children under the age of 14, though there are family nights available as well providing far less fearsome nights.
But if it’s the not so scary you’re after at a place where the focus is young children then Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disney World Resort offers the perfect setting. Though on any other given day children over the age of 9 years old are not able to dress up, except on Halloween. So if there’s no better reason to go, it’s to be at the number one tourist destination in the world on the day where their normal rules don’t count. As always you can expect an impeccable experience at Walt’s World Resort, though it will cost you a buck or two.
Finally, for a destination you may not have considered as a Halloween host. Kentucky may not be the top US destination in the states, but the Louisville Zoo hosts the world’s biggest Halloween party, as the complex gets completely transformed into a children’s fantasy with characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Shrek. There’s rides and other attractions too, including a hillside awash with 150 plus pumpkins carved by artist whom themes them to stars like Elvis and John Wayne.
Despite what many believe to be another act of commercialistic opportunity, Halloween presents great spectacles across the world that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
This Horseshoe Shape Hotel needs No Luck….
Published October 21, 2011 | 
The ever changing kaleidoscope that is the glittery lights of Las Vegas have beamed out across Nevada for over 50 years. But there has been one shining light more integral to the strip than Thomas Edison invention of the light bulb.
And luck doesn’t come into it for Binion’s horseshoe shaped hotel and Casino, which has stood in down town Las Vegas since the start at a time the city started building the reputation it has today. On this very day, the hotel reaches its 60th anniversary and with it, the acclaim of being one of Las Vegas’ founding casinos.
The name sake hotel was founded by Benny Binion, who was in essence the professor of Las Vegas and many of the principles he schooled into his casino were at the time pioneering, but are now part of the fundamental Vegas experience.
His impressive list of firsts included carpeted floors and air-conditioning, complimentary drinks to those who gambled, a tag on premium steak house and airport limousines for high rollers.
Many of these services are still employed amongst even the newest casinos in Vegas – a bench mark that Binion set over sixty years ago.
Benny Binion started his Vegas venture at the height of when the city’s organised crime syndicates were at their most prevelant. In a generation where tough men ran the glittery strip of Nevada, solidifying that business acumen then should mean that Binion’s should stand the test of time.
Binion’s has been the venue for where the World Series Poker is held and has been since the tournament started in 1970. It is because of this, that Binion’s name carries a lot of weight in downtown Vegas for being the origins of professional poker. Now, Binion’s owners preserve the rights to the World Series Poker name, even though it is now held at the Rio Casino.
That’s not to say that the horseshoe shaped casino hasn’t had its problems. In 2004 the casino had to shut down, after issues were raised regarding outstanding payments for employee benefits. Binion’s didn’t really recover that loss for a number of years, after US marshals seized the cash in the January of that year. It was only 2 years ago, when the casino closed its hotel rooms and coffee shop and it began to look more financially stable with an investment from Harrah’s entertainment only supporting this.
But for the man who started it all, there is no greater tribute than what the Las Vegas strip has become. Since his death in 1989, the city’s modern day impresarios still make time to recognise his memory. Binion will continue eulogised as an entertainment academic who never learned to read. Steven Wynn of Wynn Resorts said; ‘He was either the toughest gentleman I ever knew or the gentlest tough man I ever knew’.
A great innovator, whose achievements continue to shine bright – not just for now, but for the foreseeable future too…
Posted in US Destinations, Vegas Baby! | 
binons, horseshoe hotel, las veags, vegas | 
Leave a comment‘Fall’ in Love with the East Coast
Published October 18, 2011 | 
It’s like no other juxtaposition in the America over in New England. As the leaves on the trees begin to fall and autumn covers the meandering greenery, this north eastern corner of the United States sees the trees get barer and the streets get fuller.
The fall in New England is one of the most spectacular arrangements of natural beauty and attracts millions of tourists each year. An estimated 3.3 million tourists come and visit the flame-coloured foliage, with the majority of those coming from the eastern parts of America.
It was only just a few weeks ago when the torrential storms that hit the eastern coast of America closed miles and miles of state roads, including damage to some bridges. But the damage has been rectified and with all the maintenance now carried out, New England is now ready to open its gates in anticipation for massive crowds.
In Massachusetts where a lot of the damage was caused, many shop owners are questioning whether many of the tourists were here to see the autumn scorched-like landscape, or the damage that had been caused by the horrendous weather.
New England is just coming up to its peak season where tourists ensue the foliage season. Locals forecast that the falls colours will reach their pinnacle on the 24th October.
Vermont is expected to see more than $332 million dollars spent during the fall season, which officially starts in September and finishes in November. The Tourism board has had their marketing campaign running for months, with fears that this season might see a down turn because of the damages caused to the network of roads that lead to the city.
Thus far though, reports from the tourism board indicate that October has surpassed expectations and has remained extremely busy throughout for the duration of the month.
With the weather now brightening up across in New England, experts say that the beauty that the landscape illustrates will only get better as the east coast of America gets ready for an Indian winter.
So this autumn if you find yourself stateside and you are looking to see something that will really light up the cold winter, don’t just watch the leaves fall, watch yourself tumble head over heels when you immerse yourself in these beautiful surroundings.
Cuba is Quickly Becoming a US Destination
Published October 14, 2011 | 
It remains one of the few places on earth where you can go back in time, yet in the eyes of many Americans, it remains one of life’s great vacation mysteries. A country that has been fuelled by communist ideologies, Cuba has been constrained by economic conformity, forcing its habitants back into the ‘60’s as the streets carry the swagger of Grease’s John Travolta.
Its location is just 90 miles off the shores of Florida, but since 1961 when the US government enforced the De Facto Cuban Travel Ban, traveling to the South American country has been problematic, if not impossible. But recent moves by both countries are putting the delights of Cuban travel within reach of those salvating Americans who want to savour its Caribbean flavour.
The movement to reignite American to Cuban relations was implemented back in 2009. Cuban-Americans on family visits were prioritised, however other interested parties who wish to visit such a culturally vibrant country.
And in spite of the history these two countries share, Cuba remains stoic and their willingness to welcome American travellers to their home nation is profound. But before you start to dig out that Geri Halliwell’s Salsa video, there are still some formal regulations you need to overcome.
So, What’s needed to travel to Cuba?
To legally travel to Cuba, US citizens must firstly be in possession of a valid licence that has to be certified by the US Department of Treasury. There are two types of license. The first is general, which applies more to institutions and organisations that wish to visit the country for religious experience, journalism or humanitarian work for example. The second is specific, which applies to everything else. Licenses are monitored on a case by case process and must be applied for in writing.
The likelihood though is providing US citizens can legitimately account for their visit and that they do not hold any criminal records, access to the Cuba will be granted, as the States look to bolster relations with their southern neighbours.
The recent advancements in the relations between the two countries has also seen the number of chartered flights increase to the Caribbean destination. Back in 2010, flights were only running from the three major US Airports, New York, Miami and LA. But now the increase in the volume of flights has seen that number of airports increase, with Chicago and Atlanta now providing regular flights.
So with Cuba’s beautiful surroundings on the American traveller’s radar, this South American country will only increase its popularity as a vacation destination. Not only will this prove insightful for those who choose to visit, it will also give those inhabitants scope for what lies beyond their borders and a potential income that they have yet to experience. Here’s hoping that though this will undoubtedly benefit many, it does not commercialise this spectacularly vivacious country.
Steve Jobs took us to New Horizons
Published October 7, 2011 | 
When you consider the necessities you need for travelling, you’ll cover the travel essentials like your passport, water, airline tickets, money and….. your iPhone.
With news of the death of Steve Jobs this week, many iPhone users have been left evaluating the impact Apple’s visionary founder had on their lives. The implementation of Jobs’ devices into daily life has become second nature and an essential part of day to day life. Impacting industries across the world, his tablet and mobile phone devices are a crucial part element of the marketing jigsaw, not at least for the travel industry.
But moreover, Apples products have streamlined the very way in which we travel, not just the way the industries packages are sold to us. From tube schedules to airline pre-check-in apps, the iPhone has become an integral part of the way we travel. And when we arrive at the destination, our iPhones lets us know where the best restaurants are and translates foreign language into our native tongue.
What the Apple did for the Travel Industry
All in all, whilst airplanes make the world smaller and different foreign cultures make the world brighter, the iPhone helps slipstream those valuable experiences that you encounter. Apple’s devices save time as they decipher the problems that go hand in hand with travel, providing easy solutions, anywhere, anytime.
And let’s not forget one of the smart phones defining components. Now with the capabilities of many high street cameras, the smart phones all in one competences mean that they’re always on hand to capture those must have snap shots.
So, on behalf of those travellers whose lives you have enriched, we remember Steve Jobs.
R.I.P. Steve Jobs – Innovator.
Disney reaches the Big ’4′ ’0′
Published October 1, 2011 | 
It was forty years ago to the day when a Chicago man’s vision for a children’s magical kingdom came to life, like puppet in a Disney fairy tale. But unlike Pinocchio’s transformation into a real boy, this fable exists in the confines of reality just off Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The fact is though, as bigger as the dreams were for Walt Disney, there was no way that he could have expected his vision to become the travel destination it is today. Even for a visionary such as Disney, he would have not had the imagination to see an armada of cruise ships and a staggering 23 on site themed resort hotels the resort boasts in the 21st century.
When the resort opened in October 1971, there was only the Magic Kingdom. Since then, Disney World resort has added Epcot in 1982, MGM Studios in 1989 and the Animal Kingdom followed in 1998.
Even now though, Disney World continues it plans for growth and on this, its 40 year milestone, plans to move the vicinity forward are already in motion. A new resort in Aulani, Hawaii and plans for a new Avatar land in the Animal Kingdom are to name the more exciting plans, but there are also intentions to open another Disneyland in Shanghai as well as adding further cruise ships to its fleet. Even in spite of Disney’s tag as the number one holiday destination in the world and clearing an estimated $900 billion a year, to quote James Bond, it seems the world is not enough.
Before the Disney World empire, Florida was just a swampland, where those how holidayed there would go to the beach and enjoy the warm climate. However, Disney World put Florida on the map, changing not only the state that surrounded it, but the holiday behaviours of millions and millions of tourists. Now Florida vacations are amongst the most sort after in the world and that trend looks set to continue.
What Disney World did was offer something that was bigger than what anyone could imagine, leaping past the competition in elephant strides rather than those of the mouse that has become the symbol of the organisation.
Tom Staggs, the chairman of Disney’s Parks and Resorts, is said to be the man who is bringing forward the visions that Walt once had to accommodate the more temporal Disney goer. And the truth is that his accomplishments have seen not only Disney World change, but his job description too. He now looks after the companies cruise liners and timeshare operations, all of which are rapidly expansive Disney developments.
So for Disney it’s reign as travel destination’s top dog, or should I say mouse, looks set to continue. Heavy investment in its attractions and resorts equates to a better all-round experience. And when you take into consideration that this destination’s vacation experience is already valued amongst holiday goers as a whole, it becomes a pretty impressive target to surpass.
Either way, Disney will remain as the epicentre of tourist activity worldwide for the foreseeable future.
Miami Brings the Heat…
Published September 29, 2011 | 
Miami’s climate might be hot, but the experience of visiting Florida’s highly populated city is even hotter.
And there’s something about the intense heat that intoxicates those who visit this southern tip of America. Miami is a finest blend of let loose behaviour and 9 to 5 business acumen. But the expansive parameters in which these boundaries are set seem to merge, like the financial conglomerates that occupy the cities financial district.
If not at least to live the Miami Vice lifestyle, Florida’s vibrant city has cultivated a fashionable image that has been matured by Hollywood projections. But, even if Will Smith’s hip hop sentiments of Miami are not enough to capture your imagination for a Florida vacation, then let me spell it out for you.
What makes Miami Tourism
The city may well be famed for its beautiful marina, beaches and industrious port, but it’s quickly becoming known for its tourism too. Along with the finance and business districts in Miami, the city’s tourist attractions generate large amounts of income, drawing in 38 million visitors a year. And with the glowing lights of The Art Deco District beckoning those who seek night life thrills like moths to a flame, the cities allures mount a potentially intoxicating Floridian encounter.
Annual events such as the Sony Erikson Open Tennis Masters, Winter Music Conference and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week are to name just a few of the attractions in Miami. But, that isn’t what Miami is about. the ambience the city sets brings about so much more.
Miami’s roots stem back to the back to citrus farming and that zest for life still flows through the city. With mostly Hispanic Latin origins, Miami became a hotspot of cultural diversity, intermingling Jews who seeked refuge after the holocaust, country travellers and outcast gay communities. The results were mad, infusing groups who would not normally mix concocted the most potent of cocktails.
And it is this cultural potency along with the Miami climate that contributes to a perfect backdrop for those beautiful people that revisit the city annually. Though nobody would blame you for discarding what you see in front of you as a mirage, the sexy people that line up outside Fort Lauderdale are no less real than the nightclub that stands behind them.
But this is the image Miami casts. It’s like the screen set from Chris Tucker’s star role in ‘Money Talks’, which funnily enough also stars Charlie Sheen, whose throwaway attitude to women is a fitting comparison to how disposable money is Miami. And that’s what the city represents… fun. It’s an escape from the confines of saving, mortgages and the day to day grind.
There’s nowhere sexier. You walk down the beach, but that’s not sea air that your breathing in – its hormones and coconut lotion. The hard art deco lines the city embodies are mere illusions to what it really encompasses. Instead, Miami should be built up sleek voyeuristic skyscrapers that are intertwined by streets that embrace the city.
All in all there are few places that pass on the feelings of rejuvenation and invigoration like Miami does. All in all, a red hot experience.
San Francisco’s Bridge to a Golden Experience
Published September 22, 2011 | 
If when you sit on the plane for your inward flight home, clawing at the arms of your seat as the electricity of enlightenment courses through your veins, the euphoric feeling can leave you planning your next trip. Though a liberal agenda is not to everyone’s taste, the freedom that it encompasses can turn a city into a beehive of vibrant activity. So when you visit a city famous for its liberalism, the array of colourful memories that are etched in your mind make for a great holiday album. That’s exactly what you sign up for when you visit San Francisco.
Why San Francisco…?
Famous for its steep rolling hills and Mediterranean climate, the city of San Francisco lifts your sprits high, like the very landscape that surrounds it. Great for observing diverse cultures, the city has become America’s fourth most popular holiday destination for its eclectic mix of Victorian architecture and funky social experience.
Haight Ashbury embodies what San Francisco is all about. Named after the two streets where the district is located, it is like psychedelic pill that encapsulates bohemian fairy dust. As you walk around the shops, bars and restaurants, each one is a depiction of the free-loving sixties. For those that experienced the era it will provide nostalgic throwback and for those who didn’t, it’s a funky and trending ambience will win you over.
As one of the most affluent residential in San Francisco, the Mariana District is a great place to visit. Like Central Park in New York, Mariana Green is the nicest park in the city. A great place to walk and jog, if you want to explore San Francisco bay, your best bet is to make your way through the park.
For a great night out and to experience something truly larger than life, San Francisco’s China Town is a mass of oriental activity. As the oldest ‘China Town’ in existence, the area draws in more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge. Host to some of the most fantastic and inexpensive restaurants in the area, it is a great place to eat on an evening. To what might be a surprise to some people, the area is renowned as being one of the largest centres of Chinese activity outside China. It is because of this, competition for Chinese food is rife and of the highest quality. So if you like your Chinese takeaway like many of us Brits do, it promises to be potentially salivating.
After you’ve stuffed yourself with more egg fried noodles than is humanly possible, dancing the night away at South Market is a great way to burn off the calories. A trendy epicentre of party culture, South Market’s clubs light up the sky like a firework and equally pack their glittery punch.
If you’re looking to open your eyes to a real cosmos of light, visiting the Mission District is like walking into a disco ball. The Latino culture combined with the liberalism of San Francisco is a concoction of diverse vibrancy. As you explore the district you’ll encounter a varied spectrum of the arts. From extraordinary street art and building murals to traditional Hispanic cuisine, there is plenty to see there. The neighbourhood has one of the oldest buildings in San Francisco, The Misson Dolores.
San Francisco is like the sleeping giant of travel destinations. It ticks all of the boxes on the ultimate holiday check list. With a great climate, beaches, city sites and culture you’ll question why you have not visited sooner. Its most famed landmark’s name is an apt description for this brilliant city. Like the Gate Bridge, this experience is golden.
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