I've cruised dozens of ships on various lines and in my opinion this is as good as it gets on a mega-liner of 2200+ passengers with 920 crew. Costa's Atlantica was a floating palace of art deco furnishings, marble inlaid floors and millions of dollars invested in original works of art. It exceeded my expectations. Also I normally loose weight on cruises shunning the ships artificial fare. This time I over indulged on varied menus of fresh food. I … [Read more...]
Mt. Rainier, WA – Accomodation
Most of the accommodation closest to Mt. Rainier is in the very small town of Ashford located just outside of the National Park entrance. Ashford is considered the "gateway to Rainier". In addition to the properties mentioned below, additional information is available about regional accommodation on this informative guide here: www.stayinwashington.com The following are select hotels and motels in Ashford. Almost Paradise offers private … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Koreatown
Los Angeles, CA – Koreatown lies in the western backyard of downtown Los Angeles and from this vaguely defined "town", on most days you can easily see downtown Los Angeles (unless its too smoggy of course). This is one of the more densely populated regions of Los Angeles as a result driving can be a real challenge here. Parking lots at the small 2-story malls are very limited, with narrow space, narrow lanes and exits. Trying to turn left is … [Read more...]
Staying in Sydney Hotels on a Shoestring Budget
As a result of hosting the 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney has become known worldwide as one of the most beautiful and friendly cities in the world with it's Sydney Opera House on the harbor, it's beautiful coastline, and the many great places to stay. Perhaps you've finally set aside time for your dream vacation in the oldest city in Australia, or maybe you have a marketing business trip scheduled for your newly formed company, and your first stop … [Read more...]
See all of Sydney but Stay in Style
This article is copyrighted by www.hotelssydney.com But if you plan on staying in style in the city voted for six consecutive years "the best city in the world to visit," consider some of the following accommodations instead. Only twenty minutes from the airport, the Sir Stamford Circular Quay hotel may be small, but the quality will both delight and astound. The classic luxury of the general areas is reminiscent of a private club … [Read more...]
Visit Santa Barbara
Ninety some miles north west of Los Angeles lies the lovely beach city of Santa Barbara, California where you will find some of the cleanest and best tended beaches on the west coast. The city of Santa Barbara which includes Hope Ranch and Montecito has a population of approximately 90,000 (not counting the students who reside at UC Santa Barbara.) yet it hosts millions of visitors each year. The residents of the city are, for the most part, … [Read more...]
Istanbul, Turkey – Around Istanbul
A drive to the towns of Polonezkoy, Sile and Agva (all mentioned below) makes a fun day trip, including a stop at the Black Sea. The road to these towns and back to Istanbul is a small narrow windy road that passes through rolling hills - mostly natural landscapes. The author visited all of the locations below. Agva is one of the main weekend getaways for citizens of Istanbul. It is located directly on the Black Sea. As with many of the other … [Read more...]
Saigon, Vietnam – Lodging
There are numerous hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), ranging in price from around $15/night all the way up to the 4 and 5 star hotels well above $100/night. Many hotels will include breakfast for free. Most will keep your baggage for a little while if you plan on returning or take side trips. The author has stayed in and or visited all of the following hotels. If you have additional hotel recommendations for this page, please email … [Read more...]
Angkor Wat, Cambodia – Lodging
There is a very wide range of lodging options in Siem Reap ranging from cheap bottom of the barrel accommodations, to guest homes, to fancy resorts which are of course priced much higher. A room with air conditioning will cost a few dollars more then one without. Despite the many guest homes and other lodging options, there are still many more being built. Most of the guesthouses will accept major credit cards, i.e. Visa, Mastercard. Many of … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Massage
There are seemingly thousands of massage parlors and day spas in Bangkok ranging from the very cheap to the more luxurious. Districts such as Khao San Road are loaded with cheap massage options. Parts of Sukhumvit also feature an extensive range of massage parlors. FOOT MASSAGE usually lasts from 30 to 120 minutes. Your feet are initially washed in warm water - it is a good idea to show up at the massage parlor wearing shorts instead of … [Read more...]