cheap places to stay
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/where_to_stay/article6295801.ece
food
try "Spring Boutique" US chef Daniel Rose's project, an epicerie-cave opened Nov 09 in the 1st arrondissement
racines 8 passage des panoramas
http://www.guest-travel-writers.com/paris-for-romantics/
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
conde nast traveller's 2009 hotlist of hotels
1. AMAN AT SUMMER PALACE
BEIJING, CHINA
2. AMAN NEW DELHI
INDIA
3. ANANTARA PHUKET RESORT & SPA
THAILAND
4. ATLANTIS THE PALM
DUBAI, UAE
5. BANYAN TREE SANYA
CHINA
6. BORGO SANTO PIETRO
TUSCANY, ITALY
7. CARBON
GENK, BELGIUM
8. CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
TUSCANY, ITALY
9. CAVALLO POINT
SAN FRANCISCO, USA
10. CITIZEN M SCHIPHOL
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
11. CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE
UGANDA
12. CRAZY BEAR
BEACONSFIELD, ENGLAND
13. DESERT ISLANDS RESORT & SPA
ABU DHABI, UAE
14. DIVA
MALDIVES
15. FONTAINEBLEAU
MIAMI BEACH, USA
16. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL FIRENZE
FLORENCE, ITALY
17. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MACAO
COTAI STRIP, MACAU
18. FOUR SEASONS RESORT BORA BORA
FRENCH POLYNESIA
19. FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAURITIUS AT ANAHITA
MAURITIUS
20. GEEJAM
JAMAICA
21. HILTON MOSCOW LENINGRADSKAYA
RUSSIA
22. HOTEL DU VIN POOLE
DORSET, ENGLAND
23. HOTEL MONTEFIORE
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
24. HOTEL SANTA TERESA
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
25. HOTEL TUGU LOMBOK
INDONESIA
26. KEMPINSKI HOTEL DUKES' PALACE BRUGES
BELGIUM
27. LA CASONA CUSCO
PERU
28. LE COUVENT DES MINIMES HOTEL & SPA
PROVENCE, FRANCE
29. LEGADO MITICO SALTA
ARGENTINA
30. LONDON WEST HOLLYWOOD
LOS ANGELES, USA
31. LYDMAR HOTEL
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
32. MAMA SHELTER
PARIS, FRANCE
33. MANDARIN ORIENTAL BOSTON
USA
34. ME BARCELONA
SPAIN
35. MOLORI LODGE
SOUTH AFRICA
36. MONDRIAN MIAMI BEACH
MIAMI, USA
37. MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS
LOS ANGELES, USA
38. MURMURI
BARCELONA , SPAIN
39. MYHOTEL BRIGHTON
EAST SUSSEX, ENGLAND
40. NIMB
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
41. NO. 1 PERY SQUARE HOTEL & SPA
LIMERICK, IRELAND
42. NUSS BUENOS AIRES SOHO
ARGENTINA
43. OPPOSITE HOUSE
BEIJING, CHINA
44. POD CHENNAI
INDIA
45. POSADA PUERTO BEMBERG
ARGENTINA
46. PUMULANI
MALAWI
47. PUR HOTEL
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA
48. SAL SALIS NINGALOO REEF
AUSTRALIA
49. SANTORINI GRACE HOTEL
GREECE
50. SIX SENSES DESTINATION SPA PHUKET
THAILAND
51. SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE
AUSTRALIA
52. ST MORITZ
CORNWALL, ENGLAND
53. ST REGIS BALI RESORT
INDONESIA
54. THE CLUB AT THE SAUJANA
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
55. THE DOLDER GRAND
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
56. THE GEORGE
HAMBURG, GERMANY
57. THE GREENWICH HOTEL
NEW YORK, USA
58. THE MANOR
SOUTH AFRICA
59. THE REGENT GRAND HOTEL BORDEAUX
FRANCE
60. THE VINE
MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
61. THOMPSON LES
NEW YORK, USA
62. TITILAKA
PERU
63. TORRE DI MORAVOLA
UMBRIA, ITALY
64. URBN SHANGHAI
CHINA
65. W HONG KONG
CHINA
66. W ISTANBUL
TURKEY
67. WITT SUITES
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
68. XUDUM OKAVANGO DELTA LODGE & XARANNA OKAVANGO DELTA CAMP
BOTSWANA
69. YORK & ALBANY
LONDON, ENGLAND
70. ZARAFA CAMP
BOTSWANA
BEIJING, CHINA
2. AMAN NEW DELHI
INDIA
3. ANANTARA PHUKET RESORT & SPA
THAILAND
4. ATLANTIS THE PALM
DUBAI, UAE
5. BANYAN TREE SANYA
CHINA
6. BORGO SANTO PIETRO
TUSCANY, ITALY
7. CARBON
GENK, BELGIUM
8. CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
TUSCANY, ITALY
9. CAVALLO POINT
SAN FRANCISCO, USA
10. CITIZEN M SCHIPHOL
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
11. CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE
UGANDA
12. CRAZY BEAR
BEACONSFIELD, ENGLAND
13. DESERT ISLANDS RESORT & SPA
ABU DHABI, UAE
14. DIVA
MALDIVES
15. FONTAINEBLEAU
MIAMI BEACH, USA
16. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL FIRENZE
FLORENCE, ITALY
17. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MACAO
COTAI STRIP, MACAU
18. FOUR SEASONS RESORT BORA BORA
FRENCH POLYNESIA
19. FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAURITIUS AT ANAHITA
MAURITIUS
20. GEEJAM
JAMAICA
21. HILTON MOSCOW LENINGRADSKAYA
RUSSIA
22. HOTEL DU VIN POOLE
DORSET, ENGLAND
23. HOTEL MONTEFIORE
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
24. HOTEL SANTA TERESA
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
25. HOTEL TUGU LOMBOK
INDONESIA
26. KEMPINSKI HOTEL DUKES' PALACE BRUGES
BELGIUM
27. LA CASONA CUSCO
PERU
28. LE COUVENT DES MINIMES HOTEL & SPA
PROVENCE, FRANCE
29. LEGADO MITICO SALTA
ARGENTINA
30. LONDON WEST HOLLYWOOD
LOS ANGELES, USA
31. LYDMAR HOTEL
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
32. MAMA SHELTER
PARIS, FRANCE
33. MANDARIN ORIENTAL BOSTON
USA
34. ME BARCELONA
SPAIN
35. MOLORI LODGE
SOUTH AFRICA
36. MONDRIAN MIAMI BEACH
MIAMI, USA
37. MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS
LOS ANGELES, USA
38. MURMURI
BARCELONA , SPAIN
39. MYHOTEL BRIGHTON
EAST SUSSEX, ENGLAND
40. NIMB
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
41. NO. 1 PERY SQUARE HOTEL & SPA
LIMERICK, IRELAND
42. NUSS BUENOS AIRES SOHO
ARGENTINA
43. OPPOSITE HOUSE
BEIJING, CHINA
44. POD CHENNAI
INDIA
45. POSADA PUERTO BEMBERG
ARGENTINA
46. PUMULANI
MALAWI
47. PUR HOTEL
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA
48. SAL SALIS NINGALOO REEF
AUSTRALIA
49. SANTORINI GRACE HOTEL
GREECE
50. SIX SENSES DESTINATION SPA PHUKET
THAILAND
51. SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE
AUSTRALIA
52. ST MORITZ
CORNWALL, ENGLAND
53. ST REGIS BALI RESORT
INDONESIA
54. THE CLUB AT THE SAUJANA
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
55. THE DOLDER GRAND
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
56. THE GEORGE
HAMBURG, GERMANY
57. THE GREENWICH HOTEL
NEW YORK, USA
58. THE MANOR
SOUTH AFRICA
59. THE REGENT GRAND HOTEL BORDEAUX
FRANCE
60. THE VINE
MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
61. THOMPSON LES
NEW YORK, USA
62. TITILAKA
PERU
63. TORRE DI MORAVOLA
UMBRIA, ITALY
64. URBN SHANGHAI
CHINA
65. W HONG KONG
CHINA
66. W ISTANBUL
TURKEY
67. WITT SUITES
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
68. XUDUM OKAVANGO DELTA LODGE & XARANNA OKAVANGO DELTA CAMP
BOTSWANA
69. YORK & ALBANY
LONDON, ENGLAND
70. ZARAFA CAMP
BOTSWANA
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
China Suzhou
http://www.regalia.com.cn/en/locations/regalia-resort-and-spa/home/index.aspx
Regalia Resort and Spa is about 1 hour drive from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Regalia Resort and Spa is about 1 hour drive from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
5 crazy? places to visit (from WSJ)
There's no shortage of destinations for adventure travelers. Intrepid souls can cliff dive, rock climb, or trek across the desert. That's not enough for some folks' wanderlust, though. They want to venture to destinations that are downright terrifying for most of us. Here are just a few of the scary locales you can pack a bag for.
AFP/Getty Images
The newly-renovated Ishtar gate in ancient Babylon, some 100 kms south of Baghdad. According to archaeologists, heavy U.S. and Polish military presence in the historical city in 2003 and 2004 caused irreparable damage to the fragile walls of the archaeological wonder.
1. The Other Way to Get Shipped to Iraq
Most people would do anything they could to avoid seeing war-torn Iraq, but if the travel bug bites you, England's Hinterland Travel can probably arrange a tour of the country for you. Last month the New York Times reported that the first officially sanctioned tour of Iraq by Westerners since 2003 was underway. By working with the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Hinterland was able to take an eight-person group of tourists to see places most of us will only hear about on CNN, from Basra to Baghdad.
More from Mental Floss
Mental Floss Magazine
Mental Floss Lists
Mental Floss Quizzes
Heading into a war-ravaged country might not sound like your idea of fun, but if you're really set on taking in sights none of your friends have seen, this might be the way to go. Hinterland Travel is offering upcoming tours that include not just Iraq, but also northwestern Iran. Since these aren't exactly vacation hotspots, the three-week itineraries are pretty reasonably priced at just 1,900 British pounds plus airfare and meals. Of course, you'll be effectively uninsurable for the duration of this little jaunt, so you might want to bring some extra cash along in case anything goes wrong.
2. See Rumi's hometown in Afghanistan
AFP/Getty Images
Hazrat-i-Ali, also called the Blue Mosque, in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, north of Kabul. The Hazrat-i-Ali shrine, the main architectural element in Mazar-i-Sharif, was covered with earth to escape the ravage of Genghis Khan in 1220 and remained lost until it was uncovered during the rebuilding work in 1480s.
If you want to visit a nation currently at war but don't feel like making the trip to Iraq, then Afghanistan could be your dream destination. Whether you want to see the very recent effects of the military conflict in the country or take in the truly remote parts of its geography, there are tour companies that can make it happen. Afghan Logistics & Tours offers six, 10, and 15-day tours for Westerners to see what Afghanistan's like. The tours include visits to the Masjid Now Gumad, or the Nine Domes Mosque, one of the world's oldest mosques, and Balkh, home of the 13th-century poet Rumi.
But just how dangerous is it to visit Afghanistan? According to the tour company's site, it's not too bad if you stay in the right parts of the country. Then again, the company also seems to do a booming business in armor-clad Toyotas, so you might want to be a bit more cautious than usual if you book one of these trips.
3. Colombia's Gorgeous Scenery
Associated Press
Three yellow-eared parrots perch on their nest high in the Andes of Central Cordillera, Colombia. This parrot, Ognorhynchus icterotis, thrived in cloud forests of the northern Andes a century ago. Now, it is among the world's most critically endangered species. Fewer than 75 are known to exist.
Moving right on down the State Department's list of Travel Warnings, we arrive at Colombia. Although the State Department concedes that kidnappings have fallen from their peak earlier this decade and narco-terrorism isn't quite as bad as it used to be in urban areas, it still strongly advises against traveling to Colombia. In fact, it won't even allow its own employees to travel by bus or leave urban areas.
That said, for just $1600 per person a tour company like De Una can give you a three-week tour of Colombia that hits all of the country's natural beauty, involves whitewater rafting, and takes you to see coffee production. The upside is that you'll get to take in some breathtaking scenery. The downside? If narco-terrorists kidnap you, they're not likely to let you go anytime soon. Last summer the Colombian government finally rescued a group of kidnapping victims, including three Americans, who had been held for over five years.
4. Visit Sudan for the Pyramids
Associated Press
Some of Sudan's 144 pyramids of the Meroitic kings and queens in Meroe, 125 miles north of Khartoum. The Meroitic site lacks running water, electricity or toilets.
It's no secret than things are tragically awful in Sudan, but that doesn't mean you can't still make it your vacation destination. Bestway Tours and Safaris offers a two-week tour of the country for $3180 per person. Although the nation is in rough shape now, it's got a long history that dates back for thousands of years. Sudan is still littered with Nubian ruins and pyramids, and these tours take in a lot of this ancient history along the Nile delta– certainly fascinating for anyone interested in antiquity.
Even though this kind of tour mostly goes through the opposite side of the country from war-ravaged Darfur, the State Department still strongly advises against all travel to Sudan. The warning reminds potential travelers that both terrorists and the Sudanese government have a tendency to target Westerners for physical threats or seizure of property and financial assets. If you've got the cash and stomach for it, though, you can probably see some really terrific ruins and monuments.
5. Transylvania
Associated Press
Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania, known as Dracula's Castle.
"Wait, there's no such thing as vampires." Yeah, you're probably right. However, if they actually do exist, Transylvania seems like it would be the place to find them. That's why the Company of Mysterious Journeys offers several "Dracula tours" throughout the region that include all of the high points of the famous vampire's legend, including visits to Castle Dracula and a tour of places involved in the life of the historical Dracula, Vlad the Impaler. The tours vary in length from a weekend to over a week, which would ensure that you get all the Dracula you can handle.
AFP/Getty Images
The newly-renovated Ishtar gate in ancient Babylon, some 100 kms south of Baghdad. According to archaeologists, heavy U.S. and Polish military presence in the historical city in 2003 and 2004 caused irreparable damage to the fragile walls of the archaeological wonder.
1. The Other Way to Get Shipped to Iraq
Most people would do anything they could to avoid seeing war-torn Iraq, but if the travel bug bites you, England's Hinterland Travel can probably arrange a tour of the country for you. Last month the New York Times reported that the first officially sanctioned tour of Iraq by Westerners since 2003 was underway. By working with the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Hinterland was able to take an eight-person group of tourists to see places most of us will only hear about on CNN, from Basra to Baghdad.
More from Mental Floss
Mental Floss Magazine
Mental Floss Lists
Mental Floss Quizzes
Heading into a war-ravaged country might not sound like your idea of fun, but if you're really set on taking in sights none of your friends have seen, this might be the way to go. Hinterland Travel is offering upcoming tours that include not just Iraq, but also northwestern Iran. Since these aren't exactly vacation hotspots, the three-week itineraries are pretty reasonably priced at just 1,900 British pounds plus airfare and meals. Of course, you'll be effectively uninsurable for the duration of this little jaunt, so you might want to bring some extra cash along in case anything goes wrong.
2. See Rumi's hometown in Afghanistan
AFP/Getty Images
Hazrat-i-Ali, also called the Blue Mosque, in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, north of Kabul. The Hazrat-i-Ali shrine, the main architectural element in Mazar-i-Sharif, was covered with earth to escape the ravage of Genghis Khan in 1220 and remained lost until it was uncovered during the rebuilding work in 1480s.
If you want to visit a nation currently at war but don't feel like making the trip to Iraq, then Afghanistan could be your dream destination. Whether you want to see the very recent effects of the military conflict in the country or take in the truly remote parts of its geography, there are tour companies that can make it happen. Afghan Logistics & Tours offers six, 10, and 15-day tours for Westerners to see what Afghanistan's like. The tours include visits to the Masjid Now Gumad, or the Nine Domes Mosque, one of the world's oldest mosques, and Balkh, home of the 13th-century poet Rumi.
But just how dangerous is it to visit Afghanistan? According to the tour company's site, it's not too bad if you stay in the right parts of the country. Then again, the company also seems to do a booming business in armor-clad Toyotas, so you might want to be a bit more cautious than usual if you book one of these trips.
3. Colombia's Gorgeous Scenery
Associated Press
Three yellow-eared parrots perch on their nest high in the Andes of Central Cordillera, Colombia. This parrot, Ognorhynchus icterotis, thrived in cloud forests of the northern Andes a century ago. Now, it is among the world's most critically endangered species. Fewer than 75 are known to exist.
Moving right on down the State Department's list of Travel Warnings, we arrive at Colombia. Although the State Department concedes that kidnappings have fallen from their peak earlier this decade and narco-terrorism isn't quite as bad as it used to be in urban areas, it still strongly advises against traveling to Colombia. In fact, it won't even allow its own employees to travel by bus or leave urban areas.
That said, for just $1600 per person a tour company like De Una can give you a three-week tour of Colombia that hits all of the country's natural beauty, involves whitewater rafting, and takes you to see coffee production. The upside is that you'll get to take in some breathtaking scenery. The downside? If narco-terrorists kidnap you, they're not likely to let you go anytime soon. Last summer the Colombian government finally rescued a group of kidnapping victims, including three Americans, who had been held for over five years.
4. Visit Sudan for the Pyramids
Associated Press
Some of Sudan's 144 pyramids of the Meroitic kings and queens in Meroe, 125 miles north of Khartoum. The Meroitic site lacks running water, electricity or toilets.
It's no secret than things are tragically awful in Sudan, but that doesn't mean you can't still make it your vacation destination. Bestway Tours and Safaris offers a two-week tour of the country for $3180 per person. Although the nation is in rough shape now, it's got a long history that dates back for thousands of years. Sudan is still littered with Nubian ruins and pyramids, and these tours take in a lot of this ancient history along the Nile delta– certainly fascinating for anyone interested in antiquity.
Even though this kind of tour mostly goes through the opposite side of the country from war-ravaged Darfur, the State Department still strongly advises against all travel to Sudan. The warning reminds potential travelers that both terrorists and the Sudanese government have a tendency to target Westerners for physical threats or seizure of property and financial assets. If you've got the cash and stomach for it, though, you can probably see some really terrific ruins and monuments.
5. Transylvania
Associated Press
Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania, known as Dracula's Castle.
"Wait, there's no such thing as vampires." Yeah, you're probably right. However, if they actually do exist, Transylvania seems like it would be the place to find them. That's why the Company of Mysterious Journeys offers several "Dracula tours" throughout the region that include all of the high points of the famous vampire's legend, including visits to Castle Dracula and a tour of places involved in the life of the historical Dracula, Vlad the Impaler. The tours vary in length from a weekend to over a week, which would ensure that you get all the Dracula you can handle.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Darjeeling India
New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling - The toy train on the Darjeeling Himalayan section is not merely a source of delight for the young and old, it also represents the engineering skills of the highest order. This 83 km. long section connecting Darjeeling with the railhead at Siliguri is of great importance and has been bestowed World Heritage Site status.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
lord howe
Lord Howe Island Capella Lodge 2 hours from Sydney on Q. Links (same chain at Southern Ocean Lodge @ Kangaroo Island)
Sat 24 Oct 09 07:40 Sydney 09:30 Lord Howe Island QF2256 1h 50m
Mon 26 Oct 09 14:10 Lord Howe Island 16:10 Sydney QF2261 2h 00m
Sat 24 Oct 09 07:40 Sydney 09:30 Lord Howe Island QF2256 1h 50m
Mon 26 Oct 09 14:10 Lord Howe Island 16:10 Sydney QF2261 2h 00m
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