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Archive for December, 2010

Intercontinental Hotel Paris Le Grand

At the busy core of the 9th Arondissement is located the InterContinental Paris Le Grand. A tribute to Napoleons splendid tastes this Paris luxury hotel exists cheekbyjowl to the Louvre Place Vendome and Opera Garnier. Barely a single hop away is the milling and modish shopping centre that Paris is so famous for the business district and the banking area.

All the 398 guest rooms and 72 suites at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand pay colorful homage to Emperor Napoleons extravagant style. Rich golden shades soothing whites and greens resplendent lamps on tables and exquisite wall garnishing in the shape of tasteful artwork make these rooms a showstopper. From the time you wake up till you retire to bed comfort and luxury remain your faithful cohorts.

As soon as you get up from bed you get to read the morning newspaper. Switch on the color television and stay tuned to the happenings around the world both in French as well as in other languages. But if you want that special movie youd read such rave reviews about or an old favorite you can always order it on payment of course and watch it over the DVD provided by this luxury hotel. The sound quality and stereo will not give you anything to complain about you may be sure of that. But if you want to get your pulse racing without stirring out of your suite there are great inroom video games available as well.

Or if you wish to catch up with your work on your laptop the highspeed internet in your room will connect you wherever you wish. You can also call your office on the two lines the InterContinental Paris Le Grand provides you with. As you step in for a beforebreakfast shower you wont have to worry about missing out on an important call from work or otherwise thanks to the voice mail facility on these phone lines. Your bathroom has everything from bath towels a luxurious bathtub to a walkin shower.

If you book into an Executive Club level suite you are entitled to a complimentary breakfast dinner snacks and drinks apart from all the luxuries enumerated above.
If you dont feel like breakfast or lunch inside your suite and are looking for some sumptuous continental fare the caf La Verriere offers a wide range of palatable fare.

But if you want typical French cuisine we suggest you give Caf de la Paix a try. Apart from mouthwatering French dishes you will also get to sample tonguetickling Japanese and American recipes for breakfast. For dinner we suggest you try a glass of red wine with oysters as a predinner snack you wont regret the experience!

If you wish to swig a drink or cocktail along with canaps before dinner anyway you could also check into Le Bar which is distinguished visually for its highdomed glass ceiling in the center of the luxury hotel among other things.

While staying at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand how could you possibly miss seeing La Maison du Chocolat? Soak your senses in glorious homemade chocolate subsequent to a sumptuous breakfast at the Caf de la Paix.
Plus theres so much more.

About the writer:  Mike Greaves is a selfmade entrepreneur a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has travelled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of Luxury Hotels San Diego New York Luxury Hotels and Luxury Spas .

Common Questions About Cruise Ship Vacations

Cruise ship vacations are one of the most exotic and exciting trips that can be made. One of the most exciting parts about a cruise is that passengers travel to several different places in one trip. The passengers get all of the excitement of taking the cruise and they also get to go on shore to the destinations on the trip.

There are many different kinds of cruises. Some are oriented for destinations some are for ocean trips exclusively some are designed to be romantic some are family friendly and some are designed for senior citizens. All of this variety makes a cruise vacation right for almost anyone.

If you have decided to take a cruise you might wonder about how the trip may go and what kinds of things you should bring. The first thing you should make sure that you have is a passport. This is necessary for any international cruise destinations. If you do not have your passport you will not be allowed into any other country. However some cruises only travel within a specific country. If it is your home country then you do not have to worry about getting a passport.

Another issue that many people wonder about is money. What exactly is included in the price of the cruise package? Usually the package includes meals sleeping arrangements and passage. Everything else will have to be purchased per passenger such as drinks tips travel away from the ship and other items. In many cases the cruise ships run off of a digital system which means that everything is billed to the passenger at the end of the trip.

Another common question about cruise ship vacations is whether or not the passengers have control over their schedules. This really depends on the type of trip. Some cruises are more regimented than others. Some ships only control meal times while others have scheduled events and even scheduled tours of the destination cities. If this concerns you then make sure to ask your travel agent about the ships schedule before deciding on which cruise to take.

What to wear on a cruise ship vacation often worries people. The best things to pack are clothes that match the climate that the ship will be sailing through. If the destination is a cold place then pack sweaters and long sleeves. If the destination is in a warm climate then shorts and tank tops are in order. Ask your travel agent what activities are offered on your cruise and you will be able to pack appropriate clothing from there. Most cruises also have evening activities so packing something more formal is also a good idea.

There are many different types of cruises that focus on a specific hobby. It is a good idea to look at those kinds of cruises before deciding on which one to take. There are cruises that specialize in water parks ice rinks golf courses rock climbing swimming gambling and more. Each of these cruises offer something different for each persons different likes and dislikes. Consider taking a specialized cruise if you are very interested in a particular hobby or activity. You can ask your travel agent if there are any cruises that offer the activity that you love best.

For more information on cruises visithttp://www.discountcruise.info.

About the writer:  Max William is a connoisseur of traveling and entertainment. He loves journeying far and wide in the quest of experiencing different lifestyles and gathering information about the best places to eat drink and stay in the liberal environment at the hedonism 2.

Mutiny To Tahiti And French Polynesia

Since the age of explorers Wallis Bougainville and Cook legendary Tahiti has tickled imaginations worldwide. More recently Tahiti became the most famous Polynesian island of all when Clark Gable 1935 Marlon Brando 1962 and Mel Gibson 1984 played the role of Fletcher Christian in three blockbuster Mutiny on the Bounty films. Even the horrendous French nuclear testing program from 19661996 did little to dampen this image.

For the modern traveler theres no getting around the fact that French Polynesia is expensive. Bora Bora is easily the most upscale tourist destination in the South Pacific with 17 resorts charging over US250 double a night without meals. Yet its also true that you can greatly reduce your costs if you book your top end hotel rooms as part of a package tour. Another option is to stay in small locallyoperated pensions. Bora Bora has seven hostels and pensions in the US50100 range and Moorea has 11. On Moorea you can also camp.

Most visitors get around the islands by air and Air Tahiti operates efficient services to 46 islands and atolls in French Polynesia. Here again you can save money by purchasing one of Air Tahitis 28day air passes. A Society Islands air pass will cost around US400 or US550 if you add on the Tuamotu Islands. The only interisland boat trip which is easy to do is Tahiti to Moorea which operates every two hours and costs US10. Passengercarrying cargo boats do ply from Tahiti to Bora Bora several times a week but theyre basic and the overnight trip can be rough. If you want to experience the boat trip one way youre better off flying from Tahiti to Bora Bora and then returning to Tahiti by boat. I explain why in my guidebook Moon Tahiti.

Car rentals in French Polynesia average US100 a day expensive! Options include renting a bicycle instead of a car on Moorea and Bora Bora or traveling by le truck or public bus on Tahiti. Fourwheeldrive safari tours are offered on all the main islands and these are also cheaper than renting a car. On Moorea Huahine Raiatea and Bora Bora there are sightseeing tours by outrigger canoe.

When to go? May to October is the cooler less humid time although prolonged rainfall is possible yearround. An optimum time to be there is for the Heiva festival on Tahiti Huahine and Bora Bora in early July. Whatever dont miss attending at least one Island Night at a fancy resort for the wild tamure dancing and drumming. These happen several times a week. You can often avoid the high cost of the buffet by settling for a drink at the bar.

One thing you wont encounter in French Polynesia unless you spend most of your time at a large resort is a tourist glut. French Polynesia gets only 200000 tourists a year compared to the six million who visit Hawaii. Geographically Tahiti is actually east of Hawaii and the flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti takes only 7.5 hours just 2.5 hours more than it takes to fly to Hawaii. My most memorable experience in French Polynesia? The cruise to the Marquesas Islands on the Aranui something I hope to do again very soon.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;David Stanley is the author of Moon Tahiti published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Berkeley California. Stanley’s travel photos of French Polynesia may be perused at Pacific Pictures.

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