You say International Top 10 Hip Hotels 2006

You say International Top 10 Hip Hotels 2006
By Mandy Chagger

What a fantastic year 2006. After getting feedback from clients about hotels from around the world that are hipper than hip, I have listed ten cosmopolitan retreats below. Outstanding designs, great locations and trendy bars and restaurants make each of these hotels a unique experience. So in no particular order.

1. Soho Grand Hotel (New York) a favorite with stars of the fashion and entertainment industries, the Soho Grand is ideally located for exploring the trend-setting shops and galleries in the surrounding area.

2. Pavillon De Paris Hotel (Paris) Within walking distance of some of the most attractive areas of Paris, this design boutique hotel is high on the style stakes offering hi-tech furnished rooms and a relaxed ambiance.

3. Lloyd Hotel (Amsterdam) a design hotel located in the fashionable Eastern Docklands area of Amsterdam, the Lloyd Hotel offers individually styled guest rooms furnished by Dutch artists within easy reach of the city centre.

4. Hotel Birger Jarl (Stockholm) Located in the centre of Stockholm, Hotel Birger Jarl is a uniquely-designed contemporary testament to Swedish creativity. The rooms mix fun modern touches with authentic Swedish dcor.

5. Bryant Park Hotel (New York) Bold colours and modernist furnishings fill this stunning 25-storey building opposite New York's Bryant Park and close to 5th Avenue. Sip Martinis in the hotel's candlelit Cellar Bar or enjoy views of the park and meals in the Lobby Bar.

6. Clift Hotel (San Francisco) This Ian Schrager hotel incorporates Philippe Starck furniture, guestrooms draped in leathers, silks and velvets and blends tradition with cutting-edge design. Rooms offer great views of the city while the Asia de Cuba restaurant is one of San Francisco's hippest venues.

7. Art'Otel Mitte (Berlin) Beautifully decorated hotel in Berlin's historical Mitte district, decked in art by contemporary artist Georg Baselitz. Stylish rooms offer plenty of comfort while the hotel's restaurants offer a variety of modern cuisine.

8. Avalon Hotel (Los Angeles) Just a short stroll from the world famous Rodeo Drive, the Avalon features an hourglass swimming pool and 68 separate guest rooms all benefiting from separate sitting and dining areas; many of which have private balconies.

9. Andel's Design Hotel (Prague) Surrounded by the shopping complexes of the renovated Andel City, Andel's Design Hotel epitomises the area it inhabits. Expect architect-designed guestrooms with heated bathroom floors and minimalist but comfortable furnishings.

10. Aleph A Boscolo Luxury Hotel (Rome) A short walk from the city's famous Spanish steps (and many of its better shops), the Aleph and its award-winning design are housed in a Renaissance building on a quiet side street. Massage and saunas are available in the hotel spa.

Free Venue Finding Service UK & Worldwide+ 44 (0)8700 490000 FREE call back serviceFree Hotel Accommodation Booking Service UK & Worldwide+ 44 (0)8707 520433 FREE call back service

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San Francisco Bay Charter's Handbook Suggested 2 Day Trip

San Francisco Bay Charter's Handbook- Suggested 2 Day Trip
By Bob Diamond

Suggested 2 day trip

South Beach Harbor at Pier 40 in San Francisco is a great destination for a first overnight cruise. It's a reasonable distance from Redwood City. At about 20 miles, it's only 4 hours away even at the stately speed of 5 knots. The harbor is easy to find, easy to get in and out, and easy to maneuver in. There are facilities such as heads and showers and lots of restaurants and other shops ashore.

We suggest you plan your trip on a weekend when there is morning maximum ebb approximately between 9:00 and 10:30. This will give you a favorable current heading up to San Francisco in the morning and favorable current coming back in the afternoon the next day. If you leave Redwood City as late as the time of maximum current, you'll be arriving about the time the current goes slack. This would give you plenty of time to get to South Beach and may even give you enough time to sail past Pier 40 and the Bay Bridge to check out the North Bay, Alcatraz Island, etc. before settling in at South Beach Harbor.

Make your reservations with harbor office at (415) 495-4911. The overnight fee is $1.00 per foot. There is also a $50 key deposit, which can be done with an authorized credit card. The harbor master monitors VHF channel 16 if you need to call via marine radio.

Pac Bell Park is within walking distance and there are several restaurants in the area. Take advantage of the extra time the next day to explore the North Bay a little before heading back to Redwood City. Just allow about 4 hours of sailing time from the Bay Bridge for the trip south. It's likely you'll have the wind in your favor the whole way and if it's a normal spring or summer day there will be lots of it. What a way to finish a weekend sail!

For more information please visit our website at http://www.spinnakersailing.comFor this article in its entirety including links and photos go to: http://www.spinnakersailing.com/noframes/charters/sbcharterhandbook.htm

Bob Diamond has been head sailing instructor at Spinnaker Sailing since 1984.

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Tips For Choosing The Best Cruise Vacations

Tips For Choosing The Best Cruise Vacations
By Paolo Basauri

How would you like your next cruise vacations to be? The single most important part when looking for the best cruise vacations is planning. And planning begins with choosing not only the right destinations but also the right cruise line.

It all depends on what your preferences are (weather, duration, comfort, etc) That picture may look nice on the brochure, but can you really stand the Caribbean Sun? You may also check in what type of cruise youre preparing to embark. There are many types of cruises available: family cruises, Christian cruises, all inclusive cruises, Christmas cruises, golf cruises, single cruises, luxury cruises and more, each one with their own particularities and activities within the cruise

As you see choosing the best cruise vacations is not that easy because then you have to pick the cruise line, and there is some heavy competition, among the cruise lines are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America plus a lot more. But dont despair, a good travel agent will definitely help you tailor the best cruise vacations you can have.

Here are some tips you should take in consideration when planning for the best cruise vacations:

Keep in mind your lifestyle. Does the cruise activities and fellow travellers feel right for you? Thinking about this will help avoid feeling uncomfortable during your trip. Some cruises even require you to have certain type of clothing if you want to attend their restaurants or events.

Plan ahead how the weather is going to be. Nothing is more frustrating that vacations going bad because of the weather, if you cant stand too much sun you should think twice going on a Caribbean Cruise.

Consider the itinerary. The pace of the itinerary is also important, some cruises spend more time at sea than others.

Be on the lookout for unnecessary charges.

Get all the help you need from your travel agent. Ask all the questions you have. Trust me, it is better to find out about some things before taking the cruise.

Final tip, just have fun! This should be the top priority on a vacation. If you feel you will spend more time in your vacations worried, take another cruise.

Paolo Basauri, is an expert author who writes for Best Cruise VacationsA site specialized in cruise travel all over the world.

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2007 Thoughts on Starting a Boat Cleaning Business

2007 Thoughts on Starting a Boat Cleaning Business
By Lance Winslow

If you are indeed a nautical type person then there is no doubt that a small business of your own in the marine industry sub-sector might be a great way to make a living. Of course we all know that it could cost hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to start a marine type business and most people don't have that kind of money available. This is why I have written this book on Boat Cleaning and Detailing. You see, Boat Cleaning and Detailing can be a lucrative business, but only if it is done correctly.

In this article I want you to think about and discuss how to set up your own Boat Cleaning and Detailing Business, as well as how to market and grow the business. You should also discuss strategies for getting the best types of customers without spending thousands of dollars on advertising budgets. Additionally once you get all the work at the local marinas then you will need to know how to care for your customers boats correctly. You should indeed discuss techniques on how to detail and clean many different types of boats and surfaces.

Boat Cleaning and Detailing is a specialty type service and it requires a little bit more than setting up a simple auto detailing business. Perhaps you already own an auto detailing business and you simply wish to expand into the marine sector. If so you will find the tips in my articles and the marketing strategies exactly what you need. You may also find that many of the skills that you already have are easily transferable.

Although this is my set of articles on this subject I have written nearly a 500 pages of manual for my Franchising Company and our franchised outlets; The Detail Guys (www.DetailGuys.com ). Perhaps this article is of interest to propel thought in 2007?

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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Racecourses UK Let Your Imagination RIDE!

Racecourses UK Let Your Imagination RIDE!
By Mandy Chagger

I bring you thirteen of Europe's premier racecourses to offer space for conference & meetings. From South Downs to Cumbria Hills, allowing to be inspired by 3,000 acres of land, enjoying the glorious views.

1)Aintree Racecourse Home of John Smith Grand Stand National, Aintree offers a variety of suites within its three grandstands, providing you the versatility to host a wide range of events, It has expansive exhibition space, exclusive conferences suites with panoramic views of the racecourse, over 30 glass fronted syndicate areas with natural daylight. Aintree is located on the A59, just 1 mile from the M57 and M58.

2)Carlisle Racecourse the border of the city of Carlisle has a history of horse racing spanning five centuries, so naturally Carlisle Racecourse is at the heart of civic pride. The legendary Red Rum romped home first here in every year that he won the Grand National. The Grandstand is the ideal venue for meetings, seminars, and exhibitions product. Having 10 function rooms available over three floors including an exhibition hall, seven syndicate rooms, only 2 miles from the centre of Carlisle, is accessed from Junction 42 of the M6.

3)Cheltenham Racecourse The Regency town of Cheltenham is set in the stunning beauty of the Cotswold with the racecourse at its heart. Hosts a quarter a quarter of a million visitors. The rooms can accommodate anything from an intimate meeting in the Grandstand to a conference for up to 2250 people, Centrally located in the heart of England within a few miles of junction 9-11a of the M5 and easily accessed from the A40.

4)Epsom Downs Racecourse Has hosted The Derby, Europe's most famous flat race, since 1780. Epsom Downs also hosts over 450 other events each year running from conferences to launches. Situated in the heart of Epsom Downs, the venue is easy access from London only half an hour from Gatwick,

5)Haydock Park Racecourse Housed within 127 acres of beautiful parkland, Haydock Park Racecourse enjoys the best of both worlds a lush green setting and a central Northwest location halfway between Liverpool and Manchester , offers 6 large rooms with capacity for upto 500 guests One mile from junction 23 of the M6 or A580.

6)Huntingdon Racecourse Voted Best Small Racecourse in the South Midlands and East Anglia by the Racegoers Club, The Racecourse is an intimate racing venue. The course is less than 5 minutes from the pretty market, the conference accommodation in the Goodliff Stand includes six syndicate rooms, each with private balcony. Racecourse is centrally located just half a mile from the A1 (M) link road on the A14.

7)Kempton Park Racecourse Recently transformed into Europe's premier floodlit racecourse, offers 50 racing fixtures, which can be enjoyed after an off-site meeting or client conference. Its famous Boxing Day racing has featured champions like Arkle, Best Mate and desert Orchid. Only 35 minutes from London the six conference suites can cater for theatre or boardroom, Kempton Park is on the A308, one mile from junction 1 of the M3.

8)Market Rasen Racecourse is a bastion of summer jump racing and known for its informal, relaxed atmosphere, there is a range of flexible event accommodation over two floors, with larger rooms and bars, Market Rasen is 12 miles North East of Lincoln, at junction of the A46 and the A631.

9)Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse at the heart of the most famous centre of thoroughbred horse-breeding and horseracing in the world. The conference centre at the Natwest Rowley Mile Course features 685m of marble floored exhibition area with a nine screen video wall and four large plasma screens. Just 12 miles from Cambridge and 60 miles from London.

10)Nottingham Racecourse Is just two miles from the lively and historic city of Nottingham, yet surrounded by the 280 acres of flower and lawns of Colwick Park. All suites are have ample natural daylight and view over the course. The Racecourse is on the A612, easily accessible from the M1, A1 or A46.

11)Sandown Park Racecourse is a big, bright versatile and inviting for organisers and visitors alike, The venue features over 500m of exhibition space and six distinctive suites in the Grandstand. Sandown Park is signposted from A3 and a few miles from junction 10 of the M25.

12)Warwick Racecourse- The historic market town of Warwick provides the backdrop for Warwick Racecourse. The castle with its magnificent turrets and towers is only a mile to the east of the course. The original Grandstand event rooms dating back 1808. Warwick Racecourse is just off the A429, two miles from junction 15 of the M40.

13)Wincanton Racecourse In the heart of glorious Somerset countryside, Wincanton Racecourse is thought to have played host to one of Britain's earliest steepchase races. It offers conference space to accommodate 120 and 12 smaller breakout rooms. Wincanton Racecourse is on the B3081 just off the A303 between London and the Southwest.

Free Venue Finding Service UK & Worldwide+ 44 (0)8700 490000 FREE call back serviceFree Hotel Accommodation Booking Service UK & Worldwide

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Mexican Waves

Mexican Waves
By Sumit Sharma

Temples and cathedrals along with fully equipped beaches are attractions worth looking forward to on a Mexico tour. Lively and colorful is how one will describe the tourist attractions of Mexico.

Mexico City, the capital city is replete with many green spaces and quiet back streets which lend a special charm and atmosphere to the attractions. Next only to the Red Square in Moscow in size, is the Zocalo in the center of the Historic Center. Tourists can visit this place any evening to witness the Mexican army take down the giant Mexican flag flying in the middle of the square with grand ceremony. To the north of the square is another attraction, the Catedral Metropolitana which exhibits a surplus of architectural styles. A tour of the cathedral prominently figures the Kings Chapel and its altar. If you move a little east of the cathedral, the excavated site of the Aztec Templo Mayor (Great Temple) is an attraction in ruins. Keep a visit to the prettiest colonial villages Coyoacan and San Angel for the weekend. This is the time when you will find its attractive squares and streets come alive with an influx of students, artists, musicians and can purchase some fine good quality handicrafts and artworks.

An attraction you would not like to miss is Teotihuacn in South-central Mexico and known as the city where the Gods are born. Here, you can view the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the citadel with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent) and the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl (the plumed butterfly).

http://www.stayresmexico.com/mexico-tourist-attractions.html

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How To Plan Your Own Golf Vacation

How To Plan Your Own Golf Vacation
By NamSing Then

Playing golf is one of the passionate hobbies of the upper echelons of the society. Sometimes these people take a few days off their busy schedule and visit Golf courses or villas elsewhere in the country to enjoy the pleasures of playing Golf over there. They hardly mind packing off and traveling hundreds of miles just to play Golf; because they love Golf Vacation.

There are many places in US, which offer exotic Golf vacation, the list seems to be endless. From Palm Springs in California, Austin and Barton creek in Texas, Biloxi in Mississippi, Las Vegas in Nevada, Brooksville, Dayton Beach, Orlando, Miami and a dozen more in Florida there are several others located in different States of US.

There are clubs and organizations that specialize in offering Golf package tours and vacations. They take care to provide everything right from lodging, fixing tee times and arranging car rentals. Infact, you can select from over 600 Golf courses at over 250 different resorts and hotels. All you have to do is just get an online quote after you decide.

Plan your entire trip, in four easy steps
1.Select your destination
2.Select your hotel
3.Select your golf course
4.Optionally select your car rental
You can compare the prices of different packages and choose that which suits you best.

Of course, some would love to play Golf built on seaside shores as in Vero Beach, Florida which is a most charming coastal town. Here, Grand Harbor is a private, gated community golf course offering a wide variety of world-class amenities.

Its not only professionals who go on golf vacations, but even beginners who want to learn the game go one vacations to America's favorite Golf Schools, offering two, three and five day packages at over 50 locations across the United States. Every year, thousands of student graduates over 20 years passing out, these students return season after season to refine their playing skills, relax and enjoy the amenities that many of these locations have to offer. These clubs have dedicated teaching staff who sincerely care to teach and improve your golf playing skills. Their relaxed teaching structure lets you work and also have fun at your own pace, whatever your age or level of ability be Beginners and intermediates are just as welcome as low handicappers. Some of these clubs even offer discounts for senior citizens (60+) and military personnel. They can offer specialized private lessons and have golf schools for women, beginners and juniors.

In general, a Golf vacation could be as exciting and thrilling as any other vacation say to the sea-shore or mountains or water falls.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his websites Golf Vacation Resources, Golf And Spa Vacation and Orlando Golf Vacation

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The Laphroaig and Lagavulin Water Dispute on the Isle of Islay

The Laphroaig and Lagavulin Water Dispute on the Isle of Islay
By Ron Steenvoorden

The name Laphroaig is Gaelic and means The beautiful hollow by the broad bay. Laphroaig is one of the oldest distilleries on Islay and this story shows that, despite whisky distilling is often romanticized, it was also a dangerous occupation.

After the Rebellion of 1745, which was actually a civil war, the clearances started and in that period three Johnston Brothers came to Islay. Their purpose was farming and they occupied different parts of Islay. Two of their sons, Donald and Alexander, started their own farms at Laphroaig around 1810 and started distilling soon afterwards. When Alexander died in 1836 Donald became the sole owner of Laphroaig. At that time the Campbells, who owned Donalds land, leased a plot to James and Andrew Gairdner who built a rival distillery next to Laphroaig. They installed two experienced Clackmann distillers, James and Andrew Stein, to take charge. Donald Johnston, owner of Laphroaig at the time, was deeply disturbed finding out that the new, Ardenistiel distillery, proposed to use the same watersource. Water that made a vital contribution to Laphroaig's unique character. Specially when Donald was about to expand his business leaving him with a too small water supply.

Donald appealed to the judiciary the probems he had with the sharing of the water supply and the fact that the expansion of his business wasnt possible without a proper watersupply

The dispute lasted almost 6 years and ended abruptly when Andrew Stein fell ill with fever and died soon afterwards. His brother James, who couldnt cope distilling alone, stopped and moved to Port Ellen. In June the following year Donald himself died in a tragic accident at the Laphroaig distillery. It was a hard life in those times....

The Ardenistiel Distillery was also known as Kildalton (1849-52) and Islay (1852). This distillery was taken over by Laphroaig in 1853.

Laphroaig became a successful whisky distillery and the neighbouring Lagavulin distillery built identical stills to try and get the same taste as Laphroaig. The Lagavulin distillery however got its water from the other side of the hill which was the reason for the different character of Lagavulin whisky and not succeeding to copy Laphroaig. It is also said that the location of the maturation houses from Laphroaig, being so close to the sea, make a difference in the taste.

I am a regular visitor of Scotland and the Isle of Islay in particular. Islay has a rich and interesing history and I publish information about Scotland and Islay on my three websites:
http://www.scotlandview.co.uk
http://www.islayinfo.com
http://blog.islayinfo.com

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