Tourism is the world's largest and fastest-growing industry, accounting for 10 percent of world economic activity and one in 15 jobs worldwide. Some 750 million people a year currently travel abroad compared to only 25 million in 1950, and each year over 100 million first-world tourists visit developing countries, transferring billions of dollars from North to South. Tourism is the only industry that allows a net flow of wealth from richer to … [Read more...]
Moon Tahiti from Avalon Travel
Avalon Travel Publishing has launched the 7th edition of Moon Tahiti by David Stanley. Since 1989, Moon Tahiti has been the leading travel guidebook to French Polynesia and this new edition incorporates the latest restaurant, resort, and transportation news. Stanley has been covering the South Pacific for over three decades and he knows the region better than any other travel writer. Packed into Moon Tahiti’s 353 indexed pages are 53 maps and … [Read more...]
Get-Aways for the Holiday Season 2010
London and York, two essentially English Hotspots! Many people celebrate the holidays in their own homes that can sometimes be absolutely marvellous, and sometimes not so especially when much planning and work are incurred. Of course, if you are smart, you will check the brochures and airlines for another way to enjoy the holiday season and I am happy to share two wonderful venues with you. Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill Set in … [Read more...]
Moon San Francisco
Moon San Francisco by Avalon Travel This full color guide to San Francisco is categorized by neighborhoods. San Francisco is such a relatively small city that it is fairly easy to walk from neighborhood to neighborhood. This book spotlights these neighborhoods and highlights the fun activities, the best places to eat, sleep and shop. Fold out color coded and numbered maps accompany each neighborhood. In addition, short sections highlight the … [Read more...]
Brand New Pavilion Hotel, Descanso Beach Club and Avalon Grille All Set to Open in May
Pavilion Hotel and Descanso Beach Club Anticipated for May 14th Opening, Avalon Grille on May 24th AVALON, Catalina Island, Calif. (May 12, 2010) - Santa Catalina Island is being reinvented this May with the opening of the new Pavilion Hotel and the completely transformed Descanso Beach Club on May 14 and the opening of Avalon Grille, the new waterfront restaurant, on May 24. The Pavilion Hotel, formerly the Pavilion Lodge, will re-open … [Read more...]
Mutiny to Tahiti and French Polynesia
Since the age of explorers Wallis, Bougainville, and Cook, legendary Tahiti has tickled imaginations worldwide. More recently, Tahiti became the most famous Polynesian island of all when Clark Gable (1935), Marlon Brando (1962), and Mel Gibson (1984) played the role of Fletcher Christian in three blockbuster Mutiny on the Bounty films. Even the horrendous French nuclear testing program from 1966-1996 did little to dampen this image. For the … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Newport Beach
Newport Beach is located about 45 minutes to 1 hour south of Los Angeles. From downtown you would take the 110 South to the 405 South, to the 73 South, to the 55 West which runs right into PCH, Highway 1 in the middle of Newport Beach. Attractions here include shopping, especially at Fashion Island (an open air shopping complex) and touring the fancy homes on Balboa (a small lengthy peninsula just off the coast). During the holidays some of … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Annual Events
The following are annual events held in greater Los Angeles. If you know of an *annual* event not listed below please email dave to have it added. Additional daily events are listed here: www.laweekly.com/calendar LA Event Calendar January - Rose Parade (Pasadena) - Golden Dragon Parade (Los Angeles) - LA Times Travel Show (Los Angeles) February - Academy Awards (Hollywood) - Golden Dragon Parade (Los Angeles) March - … [Read more...]
Return to Ouvea
"Ouvea is everything you'd expect in a South Pacific island. Twenty kilometers of unbroken white sands border the lagoon on the west side of the island and extend far out from shore to give the water a turquoise hue. The wide western lagoon, protected by a string of coral islands and a barrier reef, is the only one of its kind in the Loyalties. On the ocean side are rocky cliffs, pounded by surf, but fine beaches may be found even here. At one … [Read more...]
Palma
Summer time brings a Philippe Starck-designed hotel bringing Palma's Old Town back into the limelight. The capital of the Spanish island of Majorca it now overshadows the beach resorts. Palma ranks among most sought-after European weekend destinations partly due to the affordable renaissance flights from Europe. Palma's resurgence is credited to the revival of the historic center with cobbled streets, stone palaces, quaint plazas and Gothic … [Read more...]