Travel Galleries

Pulcino Restaurant, Zurich Switzerland : Wondering all over old-town Zurich reminded me of my visits to the North End of Boston, with all the narrow roads, restaurant after restaurant, all smelling better thant the prior with menus to make you drool, pastry shops and drinking establishments. I honed in on Pulcino through the back alley and courtyard section rather than around front on the paved street or inside... My 1st time at Bindella owned Pulcino's. The service is very attentive and the food was fantastic. I tried their Scaloppine di Vitello with lemon sauce with a pasta side. The veal was tender and perfect and the pasta, holy shit - better than the pasta my grand mother hand made when i was a child... The house wines (in particular the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) which is offered by the glass are of very good quality. Manja!

Pulcino Restaurant, Zurich Switzerland

Wondering all over old-town Zurich reminded me of my visits to the Nor ...

Updated: Mar 30, 2013 5:39am PST

Avicii Hotel : Avicii, one of the top EDM Djs in the world has taken Ultra and MMW on step further. He has rebranded the Marlin Hotel at 1200 Collins Ave in South beach, to the Avicii Hotel. Guest will be afforded luxury rooms, private parties on site, and depending on the package chosen, an assortment of Avicii wardrobe and merchandise including robes, shirts, slippers, linens and more, tickets to Ultra Music Festival and state of the art accommodations. The rooms are fully electronics and controlled with an iPad - the blinds, AC, fans, TV (Apple TV hidden in the huge mirror on the wall) And the toiletries are also Avicii brand - and the bathroom mirror comes with a personal message for each guest written by Avicii. Dont miss the Avicii Signature cocktails. A site to see... You never know who might be roaming the halls. We had the pleaseure of meeting Cazzette during our tour.

Avicii Hotel

Avicii, one of the top EDM Djs in the world has taken Ultra and MMW on ...

Updated: Mar 15, 2013 10:46pm PST

La Brea Tarpits : Located withing minutes of LAX, opening 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily except for: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (fourth Thurs. of Nov), and Christmas (Dec 25) 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Visit this magnificent museum of fossils and artifacts. There are over 3 million ice age fossils from 650 species. From a Columbian Mammoth tusk to a Sabre Toothed Tiger down to a tooth of a baby field mouse. You can also seethe current excavations iin the active tar pits, including Project 23. "In 2006, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) began work on a new underground parking garage. During the course of construction, 16 new fossil deposits were discovered, including the semi-articulated, largely complete skeleton of an adult mammoth. How could we get out of the way of the bulldozers but save the fossils? We built large wooden boxes around each deposit, 23 in all. The boxes were moved to their present location immediately north of the Pit 91 complex, and excavation began on "Project 23." In addition to the boxes, there were 327 buckets of fossil material recovered from the LACMA salvage site for paleontologists to clean and sort through. It's going to keep us busy for years!" Explore plants from the last Ice Age in our Pleistocene Garden. Discover what an actual excavation site looks like at Pit 91. Come see the Columbian mammoth statues at our Lake Pit. Stop by Project 23 to watch our excavators (and if you can't see them, you should be able to hear them chipping away!) Visit the Page Museum to experience fully articulated fossil exhibits of Ice Age animals discovered during Rancho La Brea excavations.

La Brea Tarpits

Located withing minutes of LAX, opening 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily exc ...

Updated: Feb 10, 2013 8:03am PST

Hilton, San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter Area : 401 K STREET, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, 92101, USA TEL: 1-619-231-4040 - We decided on this hotel when planning our trip to San Diego for its location and we were not disappointed. Great location at the entrance of the Gaslamp quarter, next to bars and restaurants and 20 mins walk to US Midway and the waterfront. Also, across the trolley tracks is the San Diego Convention Center, 10 minute drive from San Diego International Airport and cruise port. The hotel itself is very lovely, with very functional rooms: great beds for a good night. The convention center is just across the street and the trolley stop is nearby. The property has a smaller, more intimate feel and public areas are nicely decorated and comfortable. The concierge offered up some great places to eat. A great property and helpful staff.

Hilton, San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter Area

401 K STREET, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, 92101, USA TEL: 1-619-231-4040 - ...

Updated: Feb 10, 2013 7:36am PST

Montage Resort and Spa - Laguna Beach, CA : Montage Resort and Spa 30801 South Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 715-6000 http://www.montagelagunabeach.com The 5 star hotel is gorgeous with gorgeous views. Each employee I have come in contact with has been super nice and friendly. I always get a friendly "Hello, Good Afternoon or Good Evening". After I was finished in the salon last night I wandered the grounds looking at the pretty lights, amazing sunset and view into the Pacific.. The entire hotel is decorated so beautifully. The pool area is magnificent and the grounds are well kept. The view of the pool from the entryway is gorgeous, especially at night. The lounge/bar in the front looks like an awesome place to sit and have a drink.

Montage Resort and Spa - Laguna Beach, CA

Montage Resort and Spa 30801 South Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651 ...

Updated: Feb 10, 2013 7:24am PST

empty gallery

Hampton Inn and Suites, Camarillo, CA

Updated: Feb 03, 2013 11:51am PST

Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW : Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW 10925 Stonelake Boulevard, Austin, Texas, 78759, USA TEL: 1-512-765-9996 A clean property that offers a good breakfast, small gym, pool (in the summertime) and proximity to the NXNW area of Austin. Experience apartment-style living in our all-suite hotel located in a park-like neighborhood convenient to Austin restaurants, entertainment and businesses. This all-suite hotel is an ideal launching pad for touring Austin’s attractions such as the Texas State Capitol and the Arboretum. This property is approximately 20-25 minutes from Austin Airport.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW

Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW 10925 Stonelake Boulevar ...

Updated: Feb 03, 2013 11:39am PST

Chesterfield Hotel and Suites, South Beach, FL : South Beach, Miami, FL - Located within walking distance to many of SoBe's hot spots (Clevelander, Mansion, Twist, Art Deco District, Ocean Drive, great shopping and so much more), this trendy Miami Beach boutique hotel offers rooms with plasma TVs and free shuttle services to Miami International Airport, which is 11 miles from the hotel. Guests can enjoy the stylish on-site Safari Bar. Contemporary rooms at Chesterfield Hotel & Suites have hardwood floors and mahogany furnishings. Amenities include a CD player, iPod docking station and minibar. Each room provides cable TV. Guests of the Chesterfield can enjoy a drink at the Safari Bar or relax on the rooftop deck that sports built into the deck mattresses and a hot tub. The on-site I Love Sushi restaurant is open for lunch and dinner while the Delight restaurant is open throughout the day. Shopping options such as Barneys New York and Polo Sport Store are within the same block of the Chesterfield. The South Florida Art Center is 1.6 miles away. I would stay here again, as the service was good, cleanliness, proximity and value. I hear that there is a 7-8PM free happy hour. Overall a good experience.

Chesterfield Hotel and Suites, South Beach, FL

South Beach, Miami, FL - Located within walking distance to many of So ...

Updated: Dec 15, 2012 3:30pm PST

Intercontinental - Chicago Ohare : Reported by Randall Conley - I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Intercontinental hotel at Chicago O’Hare. Upon arriving, you are immediately transformed into an artistic experience as the lobby, surrounding halls and restaurants are fill with the impressive artwork of local artists. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and I soon was relaxing in my very luxurious king size suite. My favorite part of the room was the bathroom shower with glass surrounding you on all four sides and a waterfall showerhead. The room made you feel like you were on vacation at a luxury spa. The property features two bars, a theater and two 5 star rated restaurants on property, McCormick & Schmick’s and the Capital Grille. Although not near the nightlife of downtown Chicago, I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling in the area. On a recent business trip to Chicago, I have the pleasure of staying at the Intercontinental hotel. A business colleague recommended we meet at McCormick and Schmick’s restaurant that is located right on the hotel grounds. McCormick and Schmick’s is part of a large chain of upscale restaurants that started in the Pacific Northwest and prides itself on the Quality of its fresh food. The atmosphere is very pleasant and would be equally great business or romantic dining. I had the sizzling Atlantic Salmon with Asian pepper sauce and it did not disappoint. The real treat was the seasonal dessert special pumpkin cheesecake.

Intercontinental - Chicago Ohare

Reported by Randall Conley - I recently had the opportunity to stay at ...

Updated: Dec 06, 2012 8:11am PST

Bad Ragaz, Switzerland : Located about 60 miles east, southeast of Zurich, this quaint town boasts proudly of its art, history, scenery, biking, trails, gorge, thermal spas, resorts, restaurants, golf, lakes, skiing and so much more. Bad Ragaz (Bad translates to Bath due to these thermal spas) in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley at the foot of the Pizol has a long tradition as a health spa. Today it is a wellness resort with top-class hotels, thermal baths and golf courses. The warm (37°C) healing waters bubble up from inside the mountain in the deep, mysterious Tamina Gorge in nearby Pfäfers. The natural spectacle of the Tamina Gorge: a wild, mysterious, narrow gorge near Pfäfers with cliffs up to 200 fees high, where the most prolific radioactive thermal water (pure, warm spring) in Europe gushes from a chamber deep in the mountain at 36.5°C Ancient Bad Pfäfers: beautiful walk from Bad Ragaz through the thermal ravine to Bad Pfäfers where kings and princesses once bathed, and where there are now two museums and a Paracelsus memorial. Tamina Thermal Springs: the thermal spa centre near the Grand Hotel has two indoor pools and one open-air bath with whirlpool, water chute, waterfall, spa bath, spa grotto with massage jets. Pizol: at 2220m, the home mountain of Bad Ragaz offers a wonderful view of the Rhine Valley right across to Lake Constance and plenty of trails for hikers, Nordic walkers, cyclists and skiers.

Bad Ragaz, Switzerland

Located about 60 miles east, southeast of Zurich, this quaint town boa ...

Updated: Sep 20, 2012 6:09pm PST

Ibis Zurich Messe-Airport, Zurich Switzerland : September 2012 - This Ibis is ideal for convenience to the airport. The Ibis shuttle picks up guests right at the airport and also provides transportation back. One of the things we enjoy about this location is that it's easy to take a variety of walks to explore the area. Ibis has small, clean rooms, great location and sub-par breakfast that is $15 with some local cheeses, cereal, breads and coffee. The hotel bar was pretty active late night...

Ibis Zurich Messe-Airport, Zurich Switzerland

September 2012 - This Ibis is ideal for convenience to the airport. Th ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 6:08pm PST

Zurich, Switzerland : September, 2012 - About 15 minutes from Zurich International Airport (by train), Zurich boasts a fantastic transit system that effectivley and efficiently wisks you through the varios city centers and highlights. Also included with your daily tram ticket (@CFH 8), are water taxi rides. It is a walking city with minimal auto traffice but tons of trams.The largest city in Switzerland is a major contemporary art and shopping destination. Important artworks are displayed in the Kunsthaus and the Rietberg Museum. Those who consider shopping an art can hone their skills along Bahnhofstrasse and Niederdorf. Chagall's stained glass windows in the FraumÃnster amaze. Zurich's 500 clubs and bars, including several in swimming pools, pulse with life 'til the early hours. This city on Lake Zurich has excellent public transit and a free bike rental system. OMG, the food and pastries are amazing, albeit pretty pricey and the streets appear pretty safe and clean.

Zurich, Switzerland

September, 2012 - About 15 minutes from Zurich International Airport ( ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 5:57pm PST

Dresden and Radeberg, Germany : September 2012 - I wish I had more than a few hours in the historic city. We took a quick tour of the downtown area and saw some spectacular views and historic landmarks. Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque and rococo city centre. A controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II killed thousands of civilians and destroyed the entire city centre. The impact of the bombing and 40 years of urban development during the East German communist era have considerably changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semper Oper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has regained importance as one of the cultural, educational, political and economic centres of Germany. Radeberg (although no pictures are posted here) is a small town located approximately 20 kilometres north-east of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. The town has an Evangelical and a Roman Catholic church, and an old castle. Its principal industries are the manufacture of glass, machinery, furniture and paper, and it produces a light lager "Radeberger Beer" which is largely exported. The Radeberger Brewery was founded in 1872, and is part of the Oetker Group. It brews Radeberger Pilsner, a 4.8% lager...

Dresden and Radeberg, Germany

September 2012 - I wish I had more than a few hours in the historic ci ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 5:49pm PST

Hotel Sardona : Bad Radaz, Switzerland - www.sardona.com - Hotel Sardona is a wonderful B&B on the outskirts of the quaint, artsy, historic Bad Ragaz (Bad translated means Bath) apptly named for the Thermal Spas naturally in the area. Owners Bruno und Vreni Mörgeli are gracious hosts and always present and informative. The hotel consists of 27 rooms, single and double mixed with nice furnishings and landscaping. Breakfast is included in the room rate. They also feature a wonderful restaurant serving lunch and dinner. It is a warm property with a lot of wood fininshes and furnishings. Rooms are typical European (small) and include, TV, hair dryer, work table for laptop and phone. Bring shampoo and soap. Bathrooms are all porcelin tiled. From Zurich you can take the train into Bad Ragaz. It is about a 1.5 hour ride along the lake and countryside. Sit on the west side (of the southbound) train for best views. Also see our review of the town, Bad Ragaz...

Hotel Sardona

Bad Radaz, Switzerland - www.sardona.com - Hotel Sardona is a wonderfu ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 5:43pm PST

Schloss Eckberg, Hotel and Restaurant, Drenden Germany : September 2012 - Dresden, Germany - Schloss Eckberg is one of three magnificent residences overlooking the Elbe on the outskirts of Dresden. It is set in very attractive and extensive grounds where lawns, treees, and fountains abound. The Schloss, a nineteenth century extravaganza, provides some rooms and the restaurant, but also in the grounds is the modern Karvaliershaus, where the rooms are very reasonably priced. You have to watch carefully to spot the entrance, and then turn in through the gate to find you are in the castle grounds. We parked near reception, in the lodge, were welcomed, and taken to our room in the Kavaliershaus. We had a spacious ground floor double room, which had views into the woodland. To get to breakfast we had a gentle stroll through the gardens to the Schloss itself. It was a suberb breakfast with lots of choice, cereals, fruit, breads, cooked dishes and a large pot of coffee or tea if preferred. The view from the dining room is amazing, over the terrace and gardens down to the Elbe, including several of the bridges. The spires of central Dresden can also be made out. The gardens are planted with flowers including lots of roses at the top and become more informal as you walk down the steep bank. At the bottom we managed to find the way through to the riverside walk and followed it upstream, noting the marks which showed how high the Elbe had risen during the various floods.

Schloss Eckberg, Hotel and Restaurant, Drenden Germany

September 2012 - Dresden, Germany - Schloss Eckberg is one of three ma ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 5:35pm PST

Continental Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland : September 2012 - I had a short stay for a business trip in this hotel. Very comfortable for a business or pleasure traveler.The area is quiet and a short distance to old-downtown. The staff were very nice and helpful. The location is very close to the tram station, only 5 minutes walking and 10 minutes to Zurich HB (main train station). Beds are very comfortable and sheets are really soft which are not very normal things in European hotels. My room was a king superior which was quite spacious, well appointed and very comfortable and quiet. Internet is always available and of good speed with good connection but you have to remember to ask for a pass code for each device. The service was very good. We had a bit of small talk, which made it feel less formal and more friendly. The hotel has a special design, as most MGallery hotels are.

Continental Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland

September 2012 - I had a short stay for a business trip in this hotel. ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 5:28pm PST

Aura Grand Resort - Cozumel, Mexico : This review deserves to start off with “a fantastic vacation and all around experience was found at Aura, Cozumel”. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the duration of the trip. As equally impressive is the staff at Aura. Morning through the late hours, the staff is pleasant, personable, cordial and always patient and courteous. After an extensive search and reading many reviews, we decided on the all-inclusive resort that offers only ocean view suites, some with swim up porches and others with private pools (not hot-tubs, concrete pools of the top floor above your suite). All options offer its own experience, we stayed in the suite with private pool. It is very cool, others we met had 2nd floor balconies and others had swim-ups – all were pleased. Rooms are neat and clean and pretty well maintained. Maybe a little dated on the furniture. The landscaping and beach areas were also well groomed. We met many folks that were repeat visitors (years and years). This is an adult only resort (no kids allowed). Families are at their sister property (next door). Adults can share both properties. The bars serve all day and into the night. No dancing per say though – its what you make it – lots of good folks to hang with. The food quality and selection at the restaurants at Aura is good. You won’t go hungry. Options are limited at Aura (one restaurant and bar food or room service 24 hours). You can go to Sabor and selection increases with a good Asian Fusion, Italian, buffet and grill, along with bar food. Reservations are not available and during our stay, the Asian Fusion had 45 minute wait times and stop adding to the wait list at 9PM sharp. Long pants and closed shoes are required for men eating inside at night. The on-site dive shop (Dive Palancar) offers Discovery diving lessons as well as full dive trips, snorkeling, para-sailing, hobie-cats, deep sea fishing and jet ski rentals… In other words, you’ll never run out of things to do, unless you want to relax, then there are many ways to do that too. Our Dive Master (Fabien) was great, very patient and thorough for beginners and technical for the experienced. Luis (photgrapher from the dive shop) comes down, shoots your dive, edits pics and provides DVD for a nominal fee. His pics are included in this pictorial. Tips for the trip – bring water shoes, thermal cups with lids (over-sized are OK, they will fill these and they are very convenient), lots of sun block, pool floats (they have a few, but JIC), bug spray. Don’t’s for the trip: Unless you are interested in buying more vacation time in Cozumel or Cancun, don’t be fooled leaving airport Customs and security. They will lead you right to time-share sales folks that are good at what they do. They have good offers, but can consume ½ a day if you’re not careful. We spoke with folks that did get all the perks, but at a price… Service at the resort is top notch...seriously! Food and drinks (top shelf) are good, and plenty of it. The staff is so friendly. Although tipping is not required, I suggest bringing a bunch of singles (and $5’s) to show your appreciation. Their English is very good too. You’ll learn the buzz words needed during your stay. Oh and you’ll see in my pictorial that I like sunsets... Aura sunsets are amazing… Hope to see you there someday.

Aura Grand Resort - Cozumel, Mexico

This review deserves to start off with “a fantastic vacation and all a ...

Updated: Aug 07, 2012 6:40am PST

Falls View Water Park : Niagara Falls, Canada - The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is Niagara’s newest and largest indoor waterpark, located on North America’s largest hotel and indoor waterpark complex, Falls Avenue Resort. Directly across the street from Niagara Falls in, Ontario, Canada. There’s 125,000 ft.2 of water fun for everyone at The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. Sixteen of the fastest slides around, some standing six stories high, one with a vortex plunge bowl to intensify the winding trip down. Get soaked with spraying water cannons and jets or time it right and 1000 Gallon Tipping Bucket will get you. Later, ride the waves in the oversized wave pool, or relax in one of the adult only Jacuzzis. Tikes have a blast too, wet fun at the Tiny Tots Splash Pad with slides and sprinklers made just their size or dry fun at the Beach House Play Area with rope ladders to climb and Tiki towers to explore. The outdoor pool and sundeck are open year-round, making certain there’s something for all to enjoy at The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. Features: 16 different slides Water cannons 1000 gallon tipping bucket Wave pool Jacuzzis. We went as two adults without kids. I would rate it more of a kids waterpark and the best age would be 8-10yrs and then you would be able to play on everything there. The place was clean and nicely kept but after a few hrs we left because there is not much to do besides the eight waterslides and so we went to the casino below. The wave pool barely made waves, and the outdoor pool was packed. My favorite thing there was the plunge waterslide. Oh and dont bring a towel...they are complimentary! The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark features direct indoor connections to three superior Niagara Falls hotels, the Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn for your accommodation needs.

Falls View Water Park

Niagara Falls, Canada - The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is Niagara’s ne ...

Updated: Jun 25, 2012 7:50pm PST

Edge Water Restaurant, Niagara Falls : The food was pretty good; the pricing was pretty typical for the location (right at the falls). The view was great; you can sit outside to eat, and pretty much every seat will give you a nice view of the falls. If you're at the falls around lunch time, this would be an ideal place to take a break and eat... Staff was helpful and the beer was cold...

Edge Water Restaurant, Niagara Falls

The food was pretty good; the pricing was pretty typical for the locat ...

Updated: Jun 25, 2012 7:46pm PST

Niagara Falls, Canada : Niagara Falls is a top destination with a split personality of sorts, picture a citizen of both the United States and Canada. Views are generally accepted to be better on the Canadian side, with more to do and Ontario's excellent wineries adjacent. A Fallsview room, where you can look out and see the falls, is a real plus--you may even be able to watch the fireworks over the falls from your room (fireworks are only on Fri and Sun nights in the summer) . Be careful, though--one hotel is said to have let trees grow tall enough to block the view from their lower "fallsview" rooms. Fallsview rooms command a premium; you may want to look out your room's windows promptly upon arrival, to make sure that the view meets your expectations. (Complaining the next day may not be quite as effective.) To avoid the crowds on the Maid of the Mist or Journey Behind the Falls, arrive early in the morning when the attractions first open. You will be amazed at how quiet and empty things are.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Niagara Falls is a top destination with a split personality of sorts, ...

Updated: Jun 25, 2012 7:37pm PST

Crowne Plaza - Niagara Falls, Canada : This is a very beautiful, old hotel on the end of the strip near Rainbow Bridge. Close to all the attractions The staff and everyone there were very nice. We had a nice room on the 8th floor. The room was on the corner and afforded a view of the Falls Panorama. Any lower and it would have been cut off... The room was small but comfortable. The pool and hot tub are on the 3rd floor, and we had to go through a maze to get to them! The top storiy was a 3 acre water park, fun for the kids for sure. Over all it was a very nice place to stay. Loved the old pictures and history all over the hotel too.

Crowne Plaza - Niagara Falls, Canada

This is a very beautiful, old hotel on the end of the strip near Rainb ...

Updated: Jun 24, 2012 8:35pm PST

Hilton Suites, Toronto - Markham Conference Centre and Spa : This Markham hotel is a 25-minute drive from downtown Toronto and Lester B. Person International Airport. The all-suite hotel offers a full-service spa, on-site dining options and free wired internet. A neat, clean hotel with friendly staff and nice amenities. Hilton Suites Toronto-Markham Conference Centre & Spa features a separate living room and bedroom in every spacious suite. Two 32-inch flat-screen TVs and a MP3 docking station are also provided in each suite. Guests at the Markham Hilton Suites can use the modern gym or the 24-hour business center. A gift shop and hair salon are also available. The Essence of Unionville restaurant at the Hilton Suites in Markham is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel's Empire Court serves Asian cuisine and The Absolute Lounge offers light meals and beverages. Room service is available. Be aware, parking charges vary as does internet service fees in room. Wireless is free in the lobby.

Hilton Suites, Toronto - Markham Conference Centre and Spa

This Markham hotel is a 25-minute drive from downtown Toronto and Lest ...

Updated: Jun 24, 2012 8:35pm PST

Holiday Inn - Centerville, Montreal QC, Canada : Ideally located in downtown Montreal, the Holiday Inn Montreal Midtown hotel is a four star hotel near Place des arts & Old Montreal and just minutes from the financial district and the city's extensive underground shopping and dining center. This downtown Montreal hotel is located one mile from the Montreal Convention Centre and 10 miles from Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL). Conveniently situated near Montreal attractions, our hotel is downtown in and provides easy access to McGill University (1 mile), Bell Centre, Notre Dame Basilica, Olympic Stadium, Casino de Montreal, La Ronde Six Flags Amusement Park (2 miles) and Mount Royal (4 miles). Located on Sherbrooke Street, the hotel is close to Ste. Catherine Street and St. Laurent Boulevard restaurants and boutiques. Montreal museums, like the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Arts, and Old Montréal are also favorites with Montreal visitors. During your visit to Montreal, enjoy your stay at one of the most welcoming downtown Montreal hotels. It includes the city's largest indoor, heated and salt water pool as well as a whirlpool, sauna, massage center, fitness center and salon for a relaxing stay. Our hotel in downtown Montreal also features our restaurant, Ace Bar & Grill, with continental favorites and offering room service. On your next visit to Montreal, discover the new relaunched Holiday Inn Montreal.

Holiday Inn - Centerville, Montreal QC, Canada

Ideally located in downtown Montreal, the Holiday Inn Montreal Midtown ...

Updated: Jun 21, 2012 9:00am PST

Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, Nevada - Feb 2012 : February 2012 - Reno, NV - One of best hotels in Reno, hands down! there in 'slow' season and it was the driest winter in 160 years (so the cab diruver told me). Quite temperateand skiing at Tahoe was not that good i heard. The gambpling at the Grand Sierra was, for the ost part, decent. Slow in the say but definately picked up at night and drew pretty young and inexperienced crowd. No mistaking, there were some seasoned gamblers and a lot of locals came in. The area for the kids in Fun Quest is a little smaller than a decade ago but still enough to have plenty of fun. They also have bowling which is a little pricier than your average bowling alley. It costs $4.00 to rent shoes and $4 dollars per game per person. Not outrageous but not cheap either if you plan on playing multiple games. This place also has a lot of nice slots and tables. They advertise that their slots are 40% "looser" but that is just a marketing scheme and means nothing. They do however have a lot of very entertaining slots with interesting bonuses. I don't really gamble to win money, I just play penny slots and look forward to the mini games on the digital slots. They have many of those here. I also love they have offer free drinks (with a tip of course) to gamblers. I know many casinos do this but its just a bonus that this casino does it also. Finally what made me give this place 5 stars is their beautiful gym. I LOVE their gym. It isn't that big but they have everything I need. Lots of free weights, tredmills and even a rock climbing wall. I also love that since its Reno, most people are busy gambling and not exercising so I get the place to myself. Rooms are in great shape but the halls were kinda dingy. The lat pic was from the lobby enterance and is of Mount Rose in Tahoe, about 30-45 minute drive from the resport. Overall, a pleasant experience.

Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, Nevada - Feb 2012

February 2012 - Reno, NV - One of best hotels in Reno, hands down! the ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2012 5:10pm PST

NYC and the Double Tree Guest Suites, Times Square : New York City - December 2011, Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St Patricks Cathedral, Midtown, Double Tree Suites, Radio City Music Hall, Wellington Hotel (Borat)

NYC and the Double Tree Guest Suites, Times Square

New York City - December 2011, Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller ...

Updated: Dec 05, 2011 6:17pm PST

Hyatt Regency, Chicago - O'Hare : This is a great hotel, great location, close proximity to O'Hare, the Convention Center amd the "L" train to down-town (45 minute trip, and $5 round trip). Free shuttle every 15 minutes to O'Hare. We stayed in the round tower where the rooms were a little odd shaped, and the bathroom was a little small and only had a shower rather than a bath. The granite filled lobby, restaraunt, bar and rooms were well appointed, clean and spacious. There is alos a bar on ther Vernada that revolves around in 1 hour. Great view of the surrounding area (14th floor). The staff were friendly and curtious. I am not sure if there is an overnight parking fee if you have a car... Would stay there again. 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018

Hyatt Regency, Chicago - O'Hare

This is a great hotel, great location, close proximity to O'Hare, the ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2011 6:19pm PST

Marriott, Hoffman Estates (Schaumberg) : This Marriott located near Schaumberg, Ill is a well kept property with large, clean rooms and comfortable beds and linens. A warm and friendly staff escorted me to my room and toured the property. The work space in the room was generous, and the $10/day fee for internet is annoying - thats just me though. The food served at the on site restaraunt was fantastic and the filet served at the banquet was perfect. The meetingi rooms were comfortable. The indoor heated pool was empty and the gym had pretty ne wequipment. There is not a lot of anything else near by except a large shopping center with some chain restaraunt. Chicago Marriott Northwest - 4800 Hoffman Boulevard · Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60192 USA

Marriott, Hoffman Estates (Schaumberg)

This Marriott located near Schaumberg, Ill is a well kept property wit ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2011 6:15pm PST

Sea World, Orlando : Seaworld is a fantastic place. Neat, clean, well groomed and loaded with wild life, both aquatic and land based. Attending in September is a great time since crowds ar esmall and lines are short. Lines for all the rollercoasters (Kraken, Manta and Journey to Atlantis) were sub-ten minutes. So much to see for yourself.

Sea World, Orlando

Seaworld is a fantastic place. Neat, clean, well groomed and loaded wi ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2011 4:46pm PST

Key West B&B, 2011 : September 2011 - Key West B&B located at 415 William Street, Key West - (305) 296-7274 (http://www.keywestbandb.com) is a remarkable 113 year old house within walking distance to Duval St, Sunset Pier, may fine restauants and many great attractions. The accomodations and decor are well taken care of and immaculate condition. The motif is a coloful Caribbean style with lots of flair. Upon arrival, Liz was quick to greet us, show us our room and and provide a tour of the property. The kitchen was charming with fresh coffee and a fresh baked strudle of some sort each morning. Squeeze your own fresh OJ (yum) and fresh assortment of fruits, cereals and breads. We lucked out with a front row parking spot that we maintained for the weekend. I imagine parking can be a problem in a busy season. We were on the 2nd floor with a shared bathroom, actually there are 2. Never a problem or bottleneck and always clean. There is a small pool in the back and a wonderful hammock on the 2nd floor balcony. A great piece of equipment. Although there were many other guests in the house, we never heard them. As you can imagine in a 113 year old house, 'in-the-window' air conditioners are the only choice. A little noisy but not worth dwelling on. In summary, a faulous home, a great rate, great location. 4 stars from us. There are no TVs in the house but this affords more time to look at the art that abounds throughout common areas and quest rooms. Give em a call and tell them South Floria Free Press sent you. A quality B&B.

Key West B&B, 2011

September 2011 - Key West B&B located at 415 William Street, Key West ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2011 6:46pm PST

Costa Rica, Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula : March 2011, There are many activities in the local area ranging from the sublime to extreme. We opted for adrenaline filled adventures. First we visited Miss Sky Canopy Tours (www.missskycanopytour.com) located just outside of town. Upon arrival at the office, you get suited up in your harness and helmet to get ready for your 4 hour tour. Apparently there are several different ‘paths’ that they can take you down with more to come in the future. They took our group of 22 people down 11 lines. The max seems to be 13 and minimum is 8. After leaving the office, you hop in the back of a large open truck with the guides. After traveling for about 15-20 minutes up the mountain we arrived at the summit. A breath taking view. I can tell you that half the fun was the trip up hill, you’ll see what I mean. Set amidst the unequalled beauty of a Costa Rican forest wilderness is the self proclaimed longest canopy tour in the world. Traversing majestic mountain ridges and valleys, soaring high above multiple ravines, with breathtaking vistas of rivers, waterfalls and the Pacific Ocean. Comprised of 21 exhilarating runs, a stopover at the waterfall (during dry season, the waterfall is dry too) and river pools, the ultimate stage emerges from the serene forest, crosses high above beautiful River Nosara. Although I don’t recommend it, this adventure included a family with a 5, 7, 10 year old children. They had a ball, but the mother was neurotic. Suitable for nature lovers, adventurers, families and all who wish to experience the ultimate canopy tour adventure; Miss Sky Canopy promises to be the experience of a lifetime. Bring your camera and hold on. Next adventure we rented quads (ATV’s) from iQuad ATV Rentals (www.iquadnosara.com) in Norsara located at The Gilded Iguana. The reasonable rate of $65 for the entire day or $40 for half day was great. The quads are pretty new and in good shape. We did an unguided tour (guides are available for additional fee) and ended up at the most spectacular secluded (almost private) beach I have witnessed. These go pretty fast (up to 70kmph) and go all day on a tank of gas. They want you to fill up before returning the quad. The roads are dusty (really dusty) so bring a bandana (or something to cover your nose and mouth) and sunglasses or goggles. We opted not to where the optional helmet which may help a bit, but would be hot… Get off the beaten track and go to the parts of Costa Rica only an ATV can reach! There is so much to see & do in Costa Rica: Beautiful mountain ranges, beaches, rivers, waterfalls & a mass of wildlife! Oh yeah, the main attraction is surfing. Also you will find river rafting, sport fishing, golf, nature trails, caving, and simply tanning on the pristine beaches a great pastime.

Costa Rica, Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula

March 2011, There are many activities in the local area ranging from t ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2011 6:31am PST

Lagarta Restaurant and Sunset Bar : March 2011 - Playa Pelada, Norsara, Costa Rica Lagarta Restaurant, Lodge, Sunset Bar and Biological reserve is located at the end of a long gravel road and where Rio Norsara meets the Pacific Ocean. It is well worth the trip through the jungle. My review includes only the restaurant and Sunset Bar but in speaking to the owners (Regina and Amadeo Amaker) the rest of the property is as much a charm. As you noticed, there are a lot of sunset pictures here. I enjoy nothing more (well there are other things actually:)) then a grerat sunset and these by far were some of the more perfect sunsets i have witnessed. For dinner, I came in late and they were kind enough to seat me and chat. Regina is a great hostess and waitress, full of her European charm (she and Amadeo are from Switzerland, in Costa Rica 7 years). The seafood is fresh, I enjoyed the local sea bass and garlic shimp. Each meal prepared to order with exquisit presentation, includes a starch and fresh vegetable. Amadeo inspects each plate prior to serving. My guests enjoyed the bacon wrapped shrimp and pork loin. Both were perfectly prepared and served in 'typical Coasta Rican fare'. For desert let me tell you - the coconut flan is fantastic... And the cheese cake, although good - was not like my moms NY style cheese cake, which i warned Regina would be tough competition to prior to tasting. Lagarta only turns the tables once a night, so be there an hour os so prior to sunset, have a relaxing Mojito, listen to the ocean coming in, and havea nice dinner. For folks staying at the lodge, there is also a very cool "romantic" private area to be served for dinner. I am told this area is only availabe to guests of the lodge. Check out thier web site at www.lagarta.com.

Lagarta Restaurant and Sunset Bar

March 2011 - Playa Pelada, Norsara, Costa Rica Lagarta Restaurant, ...

Updated: Mar 21, 2011 2:09pm PST

The Gilded Iguana Lodge : March 2011 - Guiones Beach, Norsara, Costa Rica March 2011, The Gilded Iguana (www.thegildediguana.com) is a small comfortable lodge with 12 rooms ranging from 1 to 4 person capacity. Half offer air conditioning (not really required in March). The sounds of the jungle abound in the early AM. The staff is very friendly and English is well spoken here. The property includes a pool, restaurant and bar. Breakfast and dinners are reasonable and ‘typical’. You will find ‘typical’ Costa Rican food everywhere. Typical includes a meat (chicken, beef or fish), rice, beans and a salad. The coffee is good and strong. The crowd consisting of Gringos (Americans) and Ticos (locals) is warm and friendly, swapping stories of their day surfing and of ‘home’. Most seem to stay for weeks, rather than days and are primarily there for the surfing. A great surfing beach is 200 meters down the street (Playa Guiones). There are surf shops, restaurants and bars surrounding the property. This is also where you can rent the quads as seen in my other review as well as surf rentals and lessons. Say hi to Coco, Junior and Kristine for me.

The Gilded Iguana Lodge

March 2011 - Guiones Beach, Norsara, Costa Rica March 2011, The Gi ...

Updated: Mar 21, 2011 2:05pm PST

Bella Vista Mar Lodge : March 2011 - Norsara, Costa Rica Upon arrival I was greeted by Alexa Bolles who manages this jewel of a property located at the tail end of a long dirt and gravel road. The property is located mid-hill over looking Playa Pelada and Guiones beaches. The breeze is great and the propery is well maintained. The day prior to my arrival, there was a wedding at sunset with many of the party staying on site for a week or more. A nice family vacation. The wedding was catered on site for the 25 person party. The pool was sparkling and refreshing, the open air lounge are was well appointed. All the rooms have an ocean view, and are clean and modest. Make sure to bring soap, shampoo and toiletries. Breakfast is included with your stay, includes options like banana pancakes (mmmmm), omlets, bacon, fruit juices and of course the Costa Rican coffee... www.bellavistamar.com

Bella Vista Mar Lodge

March 2011 - Norsara, Costa Rica Upon arrival I was greeted by Alex ...

Updated: Mar 21, 2011 2:02pm PST

Alaska Cruise : Cruise on Radiance of The Seas, Royal Caribbean. I had heard all the hyperbole about Alaska and how it is a must do cruise. I, frankly, did not buy all that stuff as I believe that if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t true. I was wrong. It is all true. Alaska is a must see destination. This is a review of the 7 Day Alaskan cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. The cruise embarked in Steward, AK and 7 days later terminated in Vancouver, BC. This was our 4th cruise with RCI since April 2002. The weather was chilly and clear with the occasional bit of overcast. It drizzled on 2 days and both were sea days. The weather at our Alaskan ports were considered by locals to be warm and sunny with warm being relative to our location. Being from Florida, it was chilly for us. Every port was between 40F-60F) and cloudless. The nights were so clear that we even saw the Northern Lights the night we left Skagway. The Gods were indeed smiling on the Radiance during the entire cruise, save those 2 sea days that it rained. Embarkation was a breeze. We arrived at the port around 11AM after a 3 hour bus ride from Anchorage Airport. It took all of 5 minutes to get our Sea Passes and before noon we were on board. This was our first time on the Radiance but 4th time on the Radiance class so we were well acquainted with the ship prior to boarding. The ship is in excellent condition and it was continually being maintained throughout the cruise. We had a balcony equipped cabin which we really didnt use all that much. Opt for a larger cabin with a view and see all you want on deck. Food. No complaints. Food in the MDR was very good and in many cases excellent. We ate most of our breakfasts in the MDR and our lunches in the Windjammer. Our Waiter, Asst Waiter and Head Waiter were great and they took excellent care of us. Ports. Ketchikan. We took the Misty Fjords Float Plane adventure. Although it SEEMED pricey at $265 PP the value was excellent. We booked this through the Cruise Line but you could easily do it yourself at Taquan Air. We have no regrets about taking this excursion. It is a WOW excursion. Icy Strait Point. In the morning we did the zip line and again we felt we got great value for the price. I am somewhat afraid of heights but you are so well secured into your seat that I felt exceedingly safe. There is a 45 minute drive to the top of the zip line that was very enjoyable and well narrated. When we took off it did not really feel like I was moving at all. It was as if I was stationery and everything was coming towards me at a leisurely rate. This ride is not scary and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Do not let fear of heights deter you from taking this excursion. In the afternoon I chartered a boat for whale watching. We went through Glacier Wind Charters with Captain Shawn. When compared to the ships excursion the charter was about twice as much per person. Now think about 150 people crowded onto the ships excursion boat for a very limited amount of time whale watching while we had 6 people on a 38 foot boat for over 2 hours of whale watching. No comparison really. If you are serious about whale watching do a charter. I could go on for hours about what Capt Shawn showed us. This was the highlight excursion of the cruise!!!! Juneau. We took a helicopter tour to Mendenhall Glacier. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing... Hubbard Glacier. Although you do not leave the ship this is a great experience. We saw so much calving ice falls that the small to medium ones we stopped photographing while we waited for the biggies and we saw a lot of biggies. Debarkation. Again great. We were called within 1 minutes of our scheduled time, and due to cruise ship planning, endured a 3 hour bus ride from Vancouver to Seattle, where we boarded our plan for another 12 hour plane journey back to FL. Phew... We have done many Caribbean cruises and enjoy all the sun and fun. This was a complete deaprture from that but a must see/do experience for a once in a life time experience. Bottom line is that Alaska is an absolute amazing place and everyone MUST see it at least once in their life and a cruise is the only was to see it.

Alaska Cruise

Cruise on Radiance of The Seas, Royal Caribbean. I had heard all the ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2011 9:23am PST

Costa Rica - Arenal and Fortuna : Arenal - La Fortuna, Costa Rica - Arriving in San Jose Airport, we hired a private driver to bring us to Arenal. It was a great idea as we saw the country side views, vistas, flora, fauna, roads, towns and amazing views at our pace. We were able to ask him to stop for food, drinks, pictures as the drive time was about 3 hours covering about 50 miles. Yea, the roads are mountainous, curvey, wet and dangerous but no fear. We stayed at the Las Logos Spa and Springs Resort (www.hotelloslagos.com) in one of their 'standard' rooms. Clean, air conditioned with flat screen TV, refridgerator and shower with a view "up the hill". The weather was usually cloudy/foggy - albeit warm so our view of Arenal Volcano was limited. On a clear day, it would be spectacular. A buffet style breakfast was included every day, coffee was good (and strong) and the dinner menu was expensive and average food. They also had a nightly buffet that ranged from $20-25 - also average. A cab ride to Fortuna was about $7 each way and less than 10 minutes. In town you could find a plethora of restaurants ranging from Burger King (we didnt go) to seafood, chinese, steaks, Italian and more. eat in town... Imperials and Pilsen are the local beer and not so bad (and inexpensive). The resort offered many attractions, including a full service spa (mud massage gets a thumbs up), canapy tours, horseback riding, ATV's, nature path with great views of the volcano, wet bar in the large hot springs pool (at least 5 springs pools of varying tempertures) with slides and awnings, butterfly garden, frog garden, alligator/croc farm, leaf cutter ant farm and hanging bridge. The staff was very friendly and spoke a decent amount of English. The Costa Rican money is Colones and coversion rate is (at the time) about 520C to $1. There are tons of activities for the thrill seekers and many more conservative activites as well. We opted for the more aggressive type which included Sky Tram and Sky Trek (www.skyadventures.travel) zip lining with 8 lines as high as 600+ feet above the canopy and as fast as 45-50 MPH - wahoooo. We also did white water rafting down the Balso River (class2/3 rapids) with Wave Expeditions (www.waveexpeditions.com). This was about a 4 hour tour with a lot of adrenilin pumped. This would be OK for 1st timers, a family with young children or older folks. It requires a lot of work and is still aggressive. Next time, i would go for a class 3/4 down the Toro River though. They send out a photographer and i recommend buy the picture disc ($25) - they did a great job getting us down the river and photgraphing it (pictures included here). We also spent a day ATVing through farms, muds slinging, country roads and down to a river - guides were great and ATV's were fast. The tour begins with instruction on how to operate the vehicles and safety rules. Once ready to take off, the group will travel to see farms in the area, several towns outside of La Fortuna, the Arenal Waterfall and the Arenal River. You will trek through roads which can only be accessed by ATVs, giving you a true off the beaten track experience. Along the way, you will take breaks to cool off in a nearby swimming hole and eat a snack. I also recommend renting a car for a day or 2 (or 3)... You can go back country and see so much more as well as commuting into town at your leisure. There is an Alamo store there and a local one too. Like i mentioned earlier, there are also tons of other activities. We worked with a local travel specialist in La Fortuna (www.AnyWhereCostaRica.com) with several phone and email exchanges. Harold was our agent who gave us excellent support and recommendations. He did not try to inflate or appease - he gave us good, credible information that made for a great trip. My only dissappointment was not getting to have a drink with him on New Years Eve (thats when we were there). All images were taken during our stay. We would be glad to answer any questions about this trip. So much more to add but i have to leave some things for you to find out for yourself. I don't think you will find anything to complain about. CAll Harold and tell him we sent you. Pura Vida.

Costa Rica - Arenal and Fortuna

Arenal - La Fortuna, Costa Rica - Arriving in San Jose Airport, we hir ...

Updated: Jan 21, 2011 2:10pm PST

Don't forget, tell a friend and we'll see you at...
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.
Copyright© 2004-2013 TRP, Inc. All Rights Reserved
...