Luxury Travel Archives - Page 5 of 10

July 2, 2014 by jfalbelda

Top Things To Do in Atlantic City

As the heat begins to rise in the Big Apple and elsewhere throughout the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, thoughts of escaping the punishing heat of the inner city are beginning to percolate in the heads of many. If you are in this boat as well, perhaps you may have considered spending some time in Atlantic City this summer.

If you haven’t, shame on you! There are plenty of draws that this lively place has to offer anyone in desperate need of a break from the everyday stresses of the big city. The following five reasons will hopefully get you out of your funk, and into a car, train or plane bound for Atlantic City, the East Coast’s most entertaining destination.

1) Hit the beach

Fronted by a boardwalk that put this seaside city on the map back in the late 1800’s, the beach is an attraction that has been surpassed by the gambling institutions here, yet it remains a legitimate place to while away a day or two during your stay here.

The gentle slope and tame surf make this place an excellent place for families and young adults alike, as the lack of dangerous currents on most days are ideal for small children, yet when the swells are higher, inexperienced surfers can learn the ropes of this port without fear of getting seriously hurt (physically or ego-wise).

2) Tear a strip off the dance floor

When a long day of playing in the surf has evolved into night, hit the clubs in search of tunes spun by overly tanned and glammed-up DJ’s. One of the best places to get your groove on in Atlantic City is at The Pool, a nightclub located within Harrah’s casino resort. As the name implies, the club and dance floor is centred around a pool, with cabanas and VIP areas that often attract names like Kim Kardashian and Pauly D, who rose to fame spinning records at this establishment.

3) Shop until you run outta space in the trunk

Atlantic City is also known as a place where one can find an abundance of outlet stores, as common brand name consumer goods can be found at a discount to their normal retail price. Among all the outlets, its largest collection in one spot is the Tanger Outlet mall, where one can find over 100 stores offering the best in clothing, accessories, footwear and more!

4) Go lighthouse peeping

Not all attractions in Atlantic City are centred around modernity, as those seeking out a piece of marine history will want to check out Absecon lighthouse, located within Atlantic City. It ranks as the tallest light in New Jersey, and the third tallest in the United States. Dating back over 150 years, it is a sight that any history buff should take in while exploring the seacoast of New Jersey’s most popular destination!

5) Hit the jackpot … right from the comfort of your pillow top bed

While the floors of Atlantic City’s casinos can be filled with excitement, anticipation, and jubilation, this intense environment may not be for everyone, especially if you are claustrophobic or are heavily introverted. This doesn’t mean you can’t join in the fun though: recently, New Jersey legalized internet gambling within state boundaries, opening up games such as caesars online slots to both state residents and visitors as well.

So hit the jackpot while you are in the quiet confines of your hotel cocoon, having had the Atlantic City experience, and having done it your way!

June 18, 2014 by jfalbelda

The Best Spots to Go Glamping in The USA

For many people, there is no better way to experience the spirit of America than to take to the outdoors. For these folks, this not only includes outdoor activities such as hiking, but also camping, where this group of people spend a night in this environment with little other than a thin layer of nylon separating them from the elements.

For those that are well attuned to the outdoors, this may not be a problem, but for those that take exception to sleeping on the ground with nothing but a sleeping bag between them and chilly evening air, these realities have long driven them away from spending time deep within some of America’s best natural environments. Read More »

May 2, 2014 by jfalbelda

Enjoy the Magic of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships!

Summer is undoubtedly the best time of year to visit Britain, as you’ll get the best of the UK weather. Although you can never guarantee wall to wall sunshine, you get some lovely weather during the summer months of May through to September and there is always lots going on at this time of year, wherever you decide to visit.

Coming up in June is one of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments – the Wimbledon Championships. This fortnight of tennis is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the UK sports calendar, and as it’s the oldest Grand Slam and the only one to be played on grass, it’s one that all the big names in tennis want to win.

This year, the favourite four to win the Men’s Championship are Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. At the moment, Nadal and Djokovic are numbers one and two respectively in the world tennis rankings. Andy Murray won the tournament last year, ending a 77 year period where there hadn’t been a British winner in the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon. Federer is the oldest of the four, but has the best record at Wimbledon, having won the tournament seven times, a feat only equalled by Pete Sampras. This year could be the year that Federer makes history with a record eighth win at Wimbledon. Check out the odds on bet365.

If you’re planning to go to Wimbledon, you will struggle to get a seat in the Centre Court or Court Number One for this year’s Championship as you either have to know someone with a debenture seat that they’re willing to let you have for a day, or to have entered the public ballot between August and December last year. The public ballot is a simple process of sending your name and address in to win the chance of a randomly allocated ticket for any of the matches during the two week tournament. You might get nothing or you might get seats for the Wimbledon final – you still have to pay the face value on the tickets, but it’s one of the few ways to get amazing seats.

Don’t be put off going to the grounds without a ticket though. Wimbledon always reserves a number of tickets for sale on the day – 500 each for the Centre Court, Court Number One and Court Number Two and it’s one of the traditions of tournament to join The Queue to get seats that way. There are also several thousand tickets available each day for access to unreserved seating and standing room on Courts 3-19. It’s great to be amongst the courts and enjoy the refined garden party atmosphere, and you can move from court to court and watch the games on the main courts via big screens too.

Wimbledon is a great day out, and an experience to remember. You just have to hope you don’t pick to go on a day when rain stops play!

January 24, 2014 by Jeremy

South of France – The Lap of Luxury

Southern France is one of those travel destinations that has got it all. Excellent weather, stunning coastlines and, of course, it benefits from the French fanaticism over food and drink. It’s no wonder it is a favourite with British tourists, who can be seen boarding Monarch Airlines flights to Nice in their droves every year. Its coastline position, sun-bleached houses and plethora of great bars and restaurants make it a top place to spend a two-week holiday.

But it’s a mistake to think this charming city is all that southern France has to offer, and the resorts of St. Tropez and Cannes are equally as attractive, offering different atmospheres and attractions. For a more in-depth look at our three favourite cities, read on.

Nice

Luxury is not in short supply in Nice. As a top tourist destination, it is home to dozens of top hotels and resorts of the five-star variety. But even if you don’t want to break the bank on holiday, it’s easy to feel special. Enjoy some of that fine French cuisine at a restaurant on the beach, where the fish is dragged up the sand, prepared by a world-class chef and then placed straight onto your plate. Throw in a bottle of good Bordeaux and some decadent desserts, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect evening.

The city’s famous flower market Cours Saleya is also worth a mention. Frequently named one of Nice’s top attractions, its edges are lined with a plethora of cafes and restaurants, while the stalls themselves contain myriad specimens of flowers of all shapes, sizes and colours. Take a bunch back to your accommodation so you can wake up to them every morning.

Cannes

The razzle and dazzle of Hollywood never quite leaves this splendid city, which has played host to all manner of A-listers thanks to its famous film festival. As a result, there is plenty in the way of luxury to be discovered. The glorious five-star hotels on the seafront are where you’ll find the most pampering and attention. Whether you choose the magnificent Majestic or the art deco-styled Hotel Martinez, you’re guaranteed to find a level of service quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

If you’re particularly interested in luxurious shopping, wait until April to go, for this is where the city showcases its fabulous fashion as part of the Cannes Shopping Festival. Rest assured, all the big names in the industry will be there, showing off a huge variety of tailored-to-fit and ready-to-wear clothing and jewellery. Fabulous, darling.

Saint Tropez

By far the most naturally beautiful setting of our three southern France beauties, Saint Tropez is a collection of multicoloured ramshackle houses collected together on the rocky and wooded peninsula of the same name. Treating tourists to views across the ocean in one direction, and the supreme Maures mountains in the other, it’s no wonder it is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Europe.

As the resort attracts A-listers every year, you won’t be short of luxurious activities. Take to the streets in search of a trendy bar or top restaurant and you most certainly won’t be disappointed. In fact, you’re likely to spot at least three or four on the same street as your hotel.

So treat yourself to a spot of luxury in the south of France for your next holiday. Go on. You deserve it.

January 2, 2014 by Jeremy

Top Things To Do In London

If one were to think of the top things to do in London, any tourist can come up numerous sets of bucket lists to enjoy this city. London is one of the most popular and fabulous cities in the world, alongside New York City, Tokyo, Shanghai and Paris.

One can safely say that London’s entire history is a microcosm of United Kingdom’s saga. London was already inhabited as early as the Bronze Age era. Sooner around 43 AD it became an important Roman outpost coexisting with a number of older civilizations such as the Anglo-Saxons, the Picts and the Celts.

One can pretty much summarize London’s entire history as a straightforward ascending transition where every important era marks its rise to excellence. Today London remains to be the center of trade and economy in Europe. For ordinary travelers, here are among the recommended activities that will help keep one’s positive memory of London cherished.

1. Tour around Buckingham Palace

Among the top things to do in London for tourists, nothing pales in comparison to the enthusiasm that the public shares in touring around the Buckingham Palace. For a lot of avid visitors, this is considered to be a crowning achievement.

After all, nothing could ever be more prestigious than the residence of the most powerful person in the country (and perhaps even in all of Western Europe). The only catch about this vacation plan is that this tour is available only in summer season. In any other months, the Buckingham Palace is unavailable and highly guarded by the ceremonially immovable Beefeater Guards.

2. Visiting Trafalgar Square

For those who have no clear idea about Trafalgar Square and its prestige, one can simply compare it to New York City’s Central Park. Therefore, this centuries old plaza remains to be the most festive place in England during the New Year’s Eve. This square was built to commemorate Lord Horatio Nelson’s victory against Napoleon Bonaparte in leading the British Royal Navy in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

3. Riding the London Eye

The London Eye remains to be the third largest observation wheel in the world, following the New York Wheel and Dubai Eye. Riding Ferris Wheels is more than just a childhood fascination. It gives tourists a splendid panorama of the entire metropolitan area. The London Eye is more preferable to ride at night because it reduces the chances of vertigo (no clear view of how high you are) and it features the city bathed in swarming lights.

4. Watching live sports events

Another of the top things to do in London can bring about a very exciting vacation experience. This city is host to two of the most popular national sports in the country – tennis and soccer. The Wimbledon tradition dates back as far as the late medieval era. There are important football league schedules one can check in order to get a chance to join the crowd.

5. Hitting a nightclub

After a long day of visiting the various attractions in the city, tourists might want to dance the night away at one of London’s hottest nightclubs. Kodo is an intimate venue that plays funk, soul, and R&B music. It features a lively dance floor, but also has plenty of tables for those who simply want to relax and have a drink. Opium is another hot venue in Soho that hosts a number of celebrity guests every week. Those who love hip-hop music and want the opportunity to party with some of London’s most beautiful people should definitely give it a try.

London is a massive city, but getting around isn’t hard given the very comprehensive metro system known as the tube. A good option for accommodation is staying near the airport at one of the cheaper Heathrow airport hotels. You can access the tube easily, and it’s also much easier to reach the airport when it’s time to fly back out!