Sunday, August 22, 2010

California Car Hire Guide

California is the densest state in the US. It is the western equivalent of Florida, as California is also a coastal area but on the exact opposite side. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, making it the perfect beach destination for families living over the West Coast. California's diverse cities are what make it a highly interesting place. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, and the Sea World Marine Theme Park in San Diego are just examples of the nice things to see in California.
California offers an experience like no other. Only from here you can enjoy beach fun and a flourishing city life at the same time. Theaters like the Graumann's Chinese Theater, five-star dining, a thriving nightlife, and the United State's rich and diverse culture are all offered from the same place.
Plan a visit real soon and have the pleasure vacation that you're dreaming of. California has your type of adventure covered. Just make sure that you plan your vacation ahead and book the perfect flight, hotel, and rented car. California is so much fun and so much easier to explore with your own car to drive. The buses and the taxis around here are not that reliable, especially because of the fact that the US is mainly a private car country. Every family has at least one car in their garage for their local transportation needs. This makes the demand for taxis and buses so much lower. Therefore it can be a problem finding a ride on the streets especially during the peak hours when everybody is out and there were a few public transports on the streets.
To book a car, simply log online and search for the best deals in this town. Avis, Alamo, and Dollar can help you find the vehicle that best fits your specific needs. Book a car through a car hire affiliate so you can compare the prevailing rates easily and have the car ready for pick up at the airport or town where you decide to stay.
There are many international car rental companies operating in California. And there's a car that's perfect for you and your family easily available. Get a Hyundai Accent, a Ford Focus, or a Pontiac G6. Bigger cars like the Ford Freestar, Dodge Caravan, and Chevrolet Express are easily accessible too.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Enjoy a Relaxing Weekend at Birmingham

RC Cathedral of St Chad, Birmingham, England, ...Image via Wikipedia
Birmingham is one of the most picturesque locales of England. Situated in the West Midlands County, it is the preferred destination of many who long for some peace and quietude and the locals staying there are all equally peace loving in nature. Although it is second only to London in population, the inhabitants have managed to retain a degree of quietude and instead of feeling crowded, you are bound to like the company that you come across.. It also holds great significance historically, since it was one of the major seats of the Industrial Revolution, and presently is one of the largest and most successful commercial areas in the whole of England. Great sights and pleasing atmosphere makes it a fabulous weekend destination.
Transport: The biggest advantage that Birmingham has due to its central location is that it is well connected by railway, canals, airway and roadways. The Birmingham International Airport welcomes the international travelers, while the Spaghetti Junction, UK's most developed and largest motor junction brings in the neighboring tourists. The city's main station is the Birmingham New Street which connects to all the major railway stations in the whole of England. And the canals are reminiscent of its counterparts at Venice.
Sightseeing: Birmingham is the cultural hub of UK and probably just a weekend will not be enough to experience all of it. The buildings were all mainly built between the 18th and 20th centuries and major constructions took place during the Industrial Revolution.
St. Martin in the Bull Ring and St. Phillip's Cathedral are among the oldest churches and the St Chad's Cathedral was the first Roman Catholic Church to be built in the UK. The Soho House, the Town Hall and the St. Paul's Square is unique in architecture. The buildings of the Reformation and the Victorian era can be identified by their distinct and elegant architecture and designing.
You can enjoy your evenings listening to recitals by world's top musicians in the Symphony Hall and by gazing at the work of the famous artists and sculptors in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
St George's Day and the Birmingham International Carnival are celebrated with great enthusiasm and there is a large conglomeration of tourists on such occasions.
Food and Restaurant: The three most important restaurants in the city are the Simpson's, the Purnell's and the Turners and all three of them are Michelin starred. You can buy your own choice of food items from the Birmingham Wholesale Market at amazingly low prices. Apart from them you also have Bottega Restaurant, Maki Fresh, Café Dupont, The Bright Star, The Wine Loft and many more of them, all bringing you the choicest cuisines from around the world to sooth your taste buds and satisfy your appetites.
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Monday, August 16, 2010

A Honeymoon in Bali

Balinese_dancers UbudImage via Wikipedia
Bali's people and landscape is known to be very exotic and never fail to generate a different unforgettable atmosphere. For honeymooners looking for a special and precious moment to spend, Bali offers not only white sandy beaches, but also peaceful spirituality, remarkable art and intimate natural surroundings. Staying at a luxury Bali villa is certainly a perfect thing to do because of the ultimate privacy and personalized service offered at most of the villas. You will be pampered day and night with Balinese hospitality which is discreet yet friendly.
For many people a honeymoon is the time to spoil themselves in luxurious accommodations. Most of the luxury Bali villas already know what to do and how to satisfy the honeymooners during their stay. The interior and the furniture at the villas are mostly stylish, especially in the bedrooms. The master bedroom usually has special features; with a balcony or terrace that opens to the beautiful landscape and a four-poster canopy bed with crisp linen and mosquito netting. The setting truly reveals a perfect sanctuary for the honeymooners.
For the location, Bali offers many options for the honeymooners. You can stay in the neighborhood of a serene Bali's rural area with rice fields surround the villa. Or you can spend the honeymoon time at a beachfront villa where the sound of the breaking waves will accompany you before you fall asleep. One more option, you can also decide to cherish your precious time at a villa located on the top of a hill, with the 360-degree breathtaking landscape that surrounds the luxury Bali villa.
Bali is the place where 24 hours seem not enough for one day. There are endless things to do. Staying at a luxury Bali villa in the upscale area of Seminyak for example, will give you the opportunity to boost the quality of your honeymoon since you can spend high-quality time together experiencing dinners in the most famous restaurants, shopping in chic boutiques, having soothing Balinese massages or enjoying a fun night at the most vibrant night spots. Staying in the area of Ubud village enables you to do more quiet yet precious activities, such as having a walk among the rice fields or hunting for beautiful artwork pieces.
Whether it is your first honeymoon or the second or even the third, a good planning is very essential. You surely want to make it as perfect as it can be. Finding a perfect luxury Bali villa is not as easy as you may have thought because there are so many options and sometimes you get confused with all of them.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Take A Food Tour Of The USA For A Vacation With A Difference

Boulders on the shore of Lake Tahoe, Californi...Image via Wikipedia
In the modern age, travel is such a large part of people's everyday lives. In fact, given today's fast-paced lifestyle, it's hard to imagine that not so long ago, the idea of going on vacation was a rare luxury rather than a growing necessity. And, as the travel industry across the world has boomed, so too have the number of different types of vacations people in America are taking.
These days, holidays often revolve around a theme: skiing holidays in Lake Tahoe or Colorado are common, as are shopping holidays to some of America's most famous malls. But, if you really want a travel experience with a difference, why not take a food tour of the United States - you'll find a range of culinary delights available to tickle your taste-buds!
Take a trip to the Deep South on a food travel excursion and you'll find a wealth of fine foods to sample and enjoy on your vacation. The culinary landscape of America's southern states has always formed a large part of the lifestyle of its inhabitants; and if you're embarking on a food tour of America, make sure you don't miss out on its special and unique offerings!
Taste legendary American desserts, like Pecan Pie and Mississippi-Mud Pie, as well as authentic Kentucky fried chicken. Whether you're in New Orleans, Atlanta or Austin, you'll be able to sample some of the finest Cajun and Creole cuisine in the US, as well as partake in the long Soul Food tradition! From chitterlings (pig's tripe) to Gumbo soup and Jambalay, food tourists in the Deep South are sure to enjoy an enriching vacation!
Anyone interested in embarking on food tours through the USA should also explore the culinary realms of New England on their excursions. From Massachusetts to Vermont, New England's speciality foods are known for being simple yet high quality cuisine. For instance, New Haven boasts its reputation as the creator of the hamburger - and with a history that dates back to 1895, New Haven burgers are a must-have for any American food fan.
If you're visiting Maine, make sure to sample Maine lobster - the state's most famous export worth over $70 million a year. Legend has it that the lobster industry in the region was once so prosperous that lobster was even fed to chickens! And people visiting New England today will be able to taste this special lobster in one of the many roadside lobster shacks that adorn Maine's coastline.
If you're looking for more exciting destinations to visit on your trip around America's greatest food spots, visit San Francisco during the San Francisco Crab Season, which boasts some of the worlds best crab markets and crab festivals annually from mid-November to June. Inspired by a range of immigrant communities, be sure to taste the region's famous Dungeness crab, which is available in a variety of forms and flavours: from Italian dishes to Chinese and Vietnamese crab recipes, food lovers will adore the range of speciality crab dishes available in San Francisco during crab season!
While you're in California, why not also sample some of the state's local produce? Local farmers markets in California are well known for a range of foods, including artichoke, avocados, goat's cheese and a range of other green produce. And why not indulge in some of California's well-known Napa Valley wine while you're on your food tour? You'll experience the best wine and food the golden state has to offer - a pleasurable experience that is sure to round off your food tour of the USA nicely.
When embarking on a food tour of the US, you're sure to find a range of food and hotel packages to suit your palate - regardless of the destination you visit. So, why not prepare your taste-buds for an experience to savour?
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Importance of Good, Quality Hotel Uniforms

Portrait of a welcoming staff at Osaka Kaiyuka...Image via Wikipedia

Whenever anyone walks into any place of business, one of the first things they notice is how the staff, workers and managers are dressed. Do they all match? Are they color coordinated? Are their clothes stylish and fun, but also give off a vibe of professionalism? There are many ways to go wrong with the types of outfits and that can be something that employers and businesses overlook. For example, when walking into a hotel, who wants the man or woman welcoming them to be in wrinkly clothing or in uniforms that look outdated? This does not lead to the most positive thoughts on that business.
Uniforms hotel styles are very important, although they often go overlooked. When going to a hotel to stay for vacation or a business trip, we often just look quickly over the basic information: where is it located, how much does it cost per night? But when we arrive, it is the actual look that determines whether or not it will be a place we will want to stay again or tell our friends and family about. I know that one of the first things I look at when going into a hotel is how the employees look. In addition to happy, friendly attitudes it is important to see professional uniforms that match with my idea of quality - and sometimes that just does not happen.
When staying at a hotel, most customers definitely want the employees to look clean and smart and excited. And with the right hotel uniforms this is a goal that can be easily achieved. Finding a uniform with strong colors is a very good way to start a search for a new look. Colors such as dark blues, greens and reds are always very pleasing to the eye, along with pastels such as yellow and purple. And they give off a very professional image, all while adding a little fun and color to the hotel. And while the front desk employee is wearing is very important, it is also a good idea to have managers and supervisors looking just as sharp. So instead of boring button downs and pants, why not change things up a bit with a bold uniform polo? This not only looks terrific in general, but having managers look sharp with uniforms that are contemporary and cool gives off the perfect vibe to convince guests to return again and again.
So if you are looking for the best in hotel uniforms then iD by Landau is definitely the place for you. If you want your business looking smart and stylish, then iD by Landau has the best uniforms to offer, such as a uniform polo that shows off your business in the best possible way. So for uniforms hotel that really shine a light on the terrific look and feel of your business, then iD by Landau, is clearly the best way to go.

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5 Ways to Attract People to Your Hotel With Promotional

In a tough economy, the hotel industry needs every edge it can get in attracting customers. Promotional stress toys can offer hotels a great way to connect with customers during this rough economy. If your hotel is looking to succeed in this market, then consider using promotional stressballs in these 5 ways to attract guests like never before.

1. Level with Your Customers with "Stress-Free" Promotion
The problem facing the hotel industry right now, is that many people cannot afford the luxury of a hotel. So, hotels may want to consider creating "stress-free" promotions for people hit by this economy. Advertise "stress-relief" rates for hotel rooms using promotional stress balls. Hand out the stress toys with the actual rates printed on them, and customers may find they can afford to take a few days off of work to rejuvenate. Customers appreciate these kinds of promotions, because it makes them feel like other businesses understand how tough this economy can be.


2. Print Catchy Phrases on Stress Toys 
If you are hosting a promotion for your hotel using promotional stress relievers, try printing a catchy phrase on the stressballs. Something like, "Allow us to unload your stress and relax your spirit" is a catchy phrase that makes guests think twice about purchasing a room at your hotel. Psychologically, if your guests feel like someone can relate with them during this rough economy, they may actually be more inclined to serve your business knowing that your business could be going through the same thing.


3. Use Interesting Stress Toy Shapes
You can use all sorts of stress ball shapes to promote your hotel business. A great idea is to pick out the best feature of your hotel and capitalize on it. If you hotel offers an amazing golf course, why not try promoting your hotel with golf ball shaped stress busters? Or, if your hotel offers something really unique like swimming with the dolphins, then offer dolphin shaped stress toys. People will be more likely to remember your hotel with interesting shapes!


4. Print Social Media Sites on Stress Toys
If your hotel has a Twitter or Facebook account, then be sure to print these social media sites on promotional stress toys. This is a great way to bring your hotel into the era of technology!


5. Hand out Stress Toys at Cocktail Hour
Be sure to hand out stress balls to the current guests at your hotel, in order to create customer loyalty. Maybe your hotel can try hosting a cocktail hour with free wine and cheese. Be sure that each hotel guest also gets a small gift bag with your hotel's stress toys in them. They'll love it!

These are 5 ideas to get you raring to go in promoting your hotel with stress relievers. The possibilities are endless-with just a little creativity, you can make some serious profits during a tough economy without a problem!

Hotel Price Comparison - How to Negotiate a Lower Rate

Tay HotelImage via Wikipedia

The biggest expense that you are going to face while travelling is the cost of hotels. Finding a good deal on a hotel room can save you a lot of money on your next vacation. The problem is that it can be tricky to find the best rate available. This is because hotel prices aren't straightforward, there are a lot of factors that go into them. A hotel price comparison can help you to find the best rate, but there are other ways to get a lower rate.
We are not really accustomed to negotiating
One way that you can save money on the cost of a hotel room is by negotiating. Most of us live in world in which we are not really accustomed to negotiating we usually just pay whatever we are told the price is. In many situations negotiating really isn't an option, you wouldn't haggle with the cashier at the supermarket over the price of milk. However there are some situation in which it makes sense to negotiate and booking a hotel is one of them. It is frequently possible to call up a hotel and ask to speak to the manager and negotiate a better room rate. This is far more likely to work during the slow season when they have empty rooms than it is when the hotel is full. The one difficulty that you may have when trying to negotiate is that since it will be difficult to do a hotel price comparison you will have fairly limited leverage.
Good deal will then get passed on to the traveller
The people who do have leverage to negotiate with hotels to get the best deals work for online booking websites. Sites like Travelocity and Expedia are able to negotiate with the hotels and get much better rates than most people can get on their own. They can do this precisely because they have the leverage that you lack. It is easy for them to make a hotel price comparison since they are negotiating with pretty much all of the hotels. The hotel managers know that if they want to fill their hotel they have to give a good deal to these sites. And that good deal will then get passed on to the traveller.
It is important that you make comparison of hotel prices if you want to get the best deal available. Just remember that the price they initially quote you probably isn't the best price available. Hotel room rates tend to be negotiable, if you ask for a lower price you very well might get it.

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Why You Should Use Online Hotel Reservations

Credit cardsImage via Wikipedia

Before you head out on your next vacation avoid going the traditional route of booking a hotel over the phone. Many times you end up paying full price for a room that you can get for considerably cheaper online. Even beyond that you can be certain that you get the room you want by booking your reservation online as well. None of us likes to get to a hotel tired from our trip only to find out we've been accidentally booked into a smaller room.
Another great feature about using online hotel reservations is you can select from any hotel in the area that you want to stay at, even if your budget wouldn't normally allow you to afford it. With the online system you can browse the different hotels available in the area, and see if they have only a discounted price or if they will allow you to create your own price. This may sound strange, but especially during off peak times many hotels want people to spend something to stay in their rooms to help increase their annual revenue.
When you use an online hotel reservation system you also have the chance to explore the past experience of previous guests who have also booked rooms with the online system. While some may have enjoyed their stay there may be certain areas of concern they have. It could be from unfriendly customer service, to the hotel being in a bad neighborhood. Having access to all this information can help you to make a more educated decision on where you want to stay, as opposed to simply calling around to hotels and seeing who has a room open.
What could possibly be the best benefit of all is the fact that your hotel room is paid for in advance before you get there. The hotel can't change the dollar amount they agreed on at the last minute and demand you pay them more money. With the transaction finalized, you have the comfort of knowing the room is paid for, and that you were able to save considerable amounts of money.
All transactions that are done during the booking process are done on a secure server as well. When you give your credit card over the phone, you don't know the person you are giving your information to and you certainly don't know if anyone else is on the line listening. With the online transaction it is encrypted to a point where no one can access your information, thus protecting your account from any fraudulent charges.
Booking your hotel with an online hotel reservation system is a great and effective way of planning your vacation. Take the time to find the best prices that are available, and book in confidence that your lodging is covered for your trip.

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