Specials Packages Hotels In California | "Easter Getaway Transport Guide – Road, Rail, Air Travel And More"

Source      : http://www.guardian.co.uk
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Weather forecasters are predicting the recent cold weather will continue until the end of April. This means Britons' short-term travel plans are likely to be heavily disrupted by the ongoing wintry conditions.

Here is a round-up of expected conditions on the roads, railways and at airports and ferry ports.

Road travel

• The RAC expects more than seven million motorists to be out and about over the Easter weekend.

• Outstanding roadworks are still in place in some parts of the country, including on the M1 near Milton Keynes and part of the M4 near Reading. Disruptions are expected in both directions on the M25 between junctions 23 and 27, and junctions 5 and 7.

• Check the AA traffic news site for the very latest updates.

Trains

• The number of trains running over the Easter weekend will be up 10.6% on 2012, with 73,312 services predicted to be running, compared to 66,012.

• Engineers are expected to be out across the Easter weekend, but Network Rail says several areas will be subject to major improvement works, including London to Milton Keynes and Stevenage, and around the St Pancras area in general; between Lincoln and Sleaford; between Newcastle and Carlisle; and between Glasgow Central and Crossmyloof/Pollockshields. Station improvement works will be carried out at Reading and Birmingham New Street, which may also cause disruptions.

• Check with National Rail for planned engineering works or to check your journey before you travel.

Planes

• If weather conditions deteriorate passengers at all airports should call ahead to make sure their flights are still scheduled to depart.

• Heathrow airport is predicting that today will be its busiest departure day with more than 116,000 people heading abroad for last-minute skiing or guaranteed sunshine over the Easter weekend.

Coach travel

• National Express says it is usually able to run services whatever the weather, although inevitably there may be some delays. When it is bad enough for it to suspend services it will post a notice on its website.

• If passengers are in any doubt about how the weather may affect their service, they are advised to ring 08717 818178. You can also use the company's Twitter feed – @nxupdates – for latest service updates and @nxcare for customer service.

London Underground

• The Jubilee, Metropolitan and Northern lines are all subject to part closure over the Easter weekend, from Good Friday until Easter Monday.

• There is part closure of the Circle and District lines on Easter Monday.

• All other lines are open and should be running smoothly. Check the planned works calendar for more information.

• Check the live departure boards for up-to-the-minute updates

Ferries

• A cross-Channel ferry strike has been called off, alleviating the possibility of extended delays for passengers at Calais, Dieppe and Cherbourg among others.

• Check ahead with your ferry provider for any expected disruptions and delays.

Weather warnings

• Forecasters predict the cold weather will be in place across the Easter weekend for the vast majority of the country, although it should at least be dry.

Frank Saunders, Met Office chief forecaster, said: "The prospect of drier and brighter weather will be a welcome relief for many, but the prolonged low temperatures will mean that any lying snow will be slow to thaw. People should be aware of the potential for tricky driving conditions if they are travelling this weekend."

• Check with the Met Office website for short- and longer-term forecasts.

Travel hotspots – browse our collaborative map of where to avoid

Guardian readers have plotted the black spots to avoid on busy bank holiday weekends and getaways – click on a balloon to find out more about which area to avoid.

Rancho Bernardo Hotels In California | "World’s ugliest tower finds respectable purpose as a one-room hotel in Prague"

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It’s a room with a view.

A tall television tower in the Czech capital of Prague that has been called one of the world’s ugliest buildings has a new and unique attraction: A one-room hotel looking out on the city from 70 meters (230 feet) above ground.

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But some might argue the best thing about the view is that you don’t have to look at the tower itself. The tower, which stands 216 meters (709 feet) tall, is a dominant but controversial landmark of the city skyline.

Prague is sometimes called the city of 100 spires, but the tower stands out amid the picturesque cityscape of centuries-old churches and other historic sites. It’s the city’s tallest building, at the equivalent of about 70 stories high, and it was a despised symbol of the communist regime that started building it in 1985. Locals have gradually come to accept it since its completion in 1992, but a 2009 international survey placed it second among the ugliest buildings in the world.

The tower already features a restaurant and observation deck offering a breathtaking view of the city, but a recent, thorough renovation of the spire added the hotel room, cementing the tower’s status as an attraction for both locals and tourists

The room is considered so luxurious that it’s being advertised as six stars. It opened Feb. 13 and is available for 1,000 euros (about $1,300). Guests also get a limousine and driver, but really, it’s all about the view. One wall facing east consists almost entirely of a giant window, and you can enjoy that view from a spacious bed. There’s also a bathtub in the bathroom behind a glass wall, with a floor higher than the rest of the room, offering another comfortable place from which to look out.

With a view no other hotel room in the city can beat, demand is growing, said Lucie Cerna, sales manager for the project known as the Tower Park Prague. Cerna said the room is now booked for about two nights a week with a number of reservations in the near future. On Valentine’s Day, six people wanted to book it, and “a man has booked the room to propose to his fiancee.”

“I think it will be used for special occasions,” said Cerna. “It won’t be a common hotel. It’s an exclusive space with an exclusive view of Prague.”

Just a few steps down a spiral staircase from the room is the restaurant, which together with a cafe and a bar opened in October. It’s become a popular spot, where visitors are advised to book reservations at least a week in advance. Former President Vaclav Klaus was among those who’ve dined there.

Chef Ondrej Soukup offers a wide range of cuisines, including Asian and French, but he recommends Czech meals, including his specialty, a neck of lamb. But due to limited space in the tower, the kitchen is located slightly above the restaurant, and the staff must use a small lift to deliver meals. “That’s the only weak spot here,” Soukup said, placing a plate of food on the lift for the 12-second delivery.

For a small entry fee, visitors can also look out from the observation deck at the mostly medieval spires that give Prague its charm. In contrast, the TV tower, located in the Zizkov neighborhood, has always been controversial.

The tower, constructed to provide television and radio transmissions, was built on the site of what was once a 17th century Jewish cemetery. The project was ridiculed by many Czechs at the time, who called it a “space rocket,” ”Bilak’s needle” and “Jakes’ finger,” named for notorious hard-line communist leaders Milous Jakes and Vasil Bilak.

After the 1989 Velvet Revolution that replaced the communist regime with a democracy, some locals demanded the tower’s removal. But protests gradually died out after the level of radiation from transmitters was declared safe. Despite the later survey declaring its ugliness, in a 2003 survey, the TV tower even beat in popularity the well-known tower of Old Town City Hall.

The tower is also famous for one other thing: Giant three-dimensional babies, 2 meters (6 feet) long, appear to be crawling on the exterior. The babies, created by artist David Cerny, were originally installed as a temporary work in 2000, but they proved so popular that they were made a permanent feature, adding a humorous element to the tower Czechs love to hate.

If You Go…

Tower Park: Located in Prague. Restaurant, observatory and hotel room. Admission to the observation deck is 150 Czech koruna (6 euros, $7.60) for adults. Discounts for seniors, family groups, children and students.

Courtyard Hotels In California | "Land Rover's Range Rover Sport makes world debut"

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Land Rover, citing the New York area’s market as its largest in the world for its Range Rover Sport SUV, brought an all-new version to the 2013 New York International Auto Show on Tuesday night.



Designed as an amalgamation of the compact Evoque crossover and the full-size Range Rover -- the unofficial minivan of Beverly Hills -- the Sport draws design cues from both.

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The second-generation Sport is 2.5 inches longer and rides on a wheelbase that’s 7 inches longer than its five-passenger predecessor. This allows Land Rover to squeeze in a third row of seats in the back of the 2014 model, which fold flat when not in use. But before you start planning a road trip with six of your buddies, note that the company makes it clear that these seats are “designed for occasional use” (meaning children).

Photos: 2014 Range Rover Sport makes world debut

Despite this growth, Land Rover says the Sport went on a diet similar to the one endured by the larger Range Rover that debuted in 2012. The automaker says the new Sport is around 800 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Much of this massive weight savings came from switching the steel unibody mounted to a separate chassis to a single, all-aluminum unibody setup.

PHOTOS: Highlights of the 2013 N.Y. Auto Show

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Land Rover said it was also able to shave weight by using aluminum in the doors, sub-frames, and various components. Such a dramatic weight loss will undoubtedly help the Sport’s fuel economy, though Land Rover didn’t disclose mpg expectations.

Also helping save gas is a new eight-speed automatic transmission that replaces the older models’ six-speed unit, an engine start/stop function, and regenerative charging for the electrical system.

The Sport will come with one of two engines. The base V-8 of the previous model is gone, replaced by a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that makes 340 horsepower. Despite having less power than the older base V-8 models, the substantial weight savings mean the new V-6 model is faster. This Sport SE will start at $63,495, which is about a $2,000 increase.

A 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 -- good for 510 horsepower -- will be optional. Again, the weight savings pay dividends in this vehicle’s speed; Land Rover says the 5-second zero to 60 mph time of the 2014 Sport Supercharged is almost a full second faster than the earlier version. Supercharged models will start at $79,995.

Despite the overt acknowledgment that the Range Rover Sport is favored by a metropolitan buyer, Land Rover insists it is plenty capable, should an owner deign to get it dirty.

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A Terrain Response 2 system will automatically choose from one of five settings, each of which alters the response of the engine, transmission, differentials and the air suspension. The five settings are default, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl. The standard air suspension also has two ride heights, should your trek to the Hamptons encounter particularly heinous terrain.

The Range Rover Sport’s debut came just hours after Land Rover’s sister company, Jaguar, announced a pair of ultra-fast versions of existing cars. The 550-horsepower XJR will look to challenge Audi’s S8 and Mercedes-Benz’s S63 AMG, while the track-oriented, 550-horsepower XKR-S GT coupe is the most ferocious street-legal version of the XK coupe the company now offers.

Jaguar Land Rover is wholly owned by Tata Motors. The Indian company is coming off a strong year of sales in 2012, in which it enjoyed a 30% boost in vehicles sold compared with 2011. China became Jaguar Land Rover’s biggest customer base in 2012, followed by Britain and then the U.S.

Specials Packages Hotels In California | "Golf Travel"

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EMERALD COAST, NICARAGUA—Golf turns up in the most unlikely places. During his trip to the moon in 1971, Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard whacked a couple of golf balls into deep space.

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Recently, the game has surfaced on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast . Central America may not be quite as distant as the moon, but this part of the world is mostly unexplored and is nearly as exotic. The Mukul Resort, which just opened at the beginning of February, is part of a new beach community that curls along a virgin 6.5 kilometre stretch of Pacific Ocean sand on Nicaragua’s west coast. The mountains and tropical coastal forest roll down to the very edge of the ocean and the squawks and chatter of the monkeys and the rainbow coloured birds ring out through the stillness. Now though, there is the occasional thwack of the golf ball. The resort includes the Guacalito Golf Club which was designed by Scottish golf architect David McLay Kidd, known for his awarding winning work at Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the Castle Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. The course, which also opened at the beginning of February begins and ends at Manzanillo Beach and in between rises and twists over the forest and the hills. The green at the eighth hole can only be reached by a suspension bridge built by local craftsman and is attached firmly to the mighty guanacaste and tamarindo trees. The 18th green, the exclamation point of a stunning par 3, seems to slide right into the beach, so that after the round, you could walk off the course and straight into the Pacific surf. The current green fee at Guacalito is US$145.
The multi-million dollar development is the brainchild of Don Carlos Pellas, one of the most influential men in Central America. The family’s 135 year old company has interests in financial services, sugar, healthcare, technology, transportation and Flor de Cana rum. The resort includes beach villas and cliffside bohios and when the Pellas family isn’t in residence, guest can book suites in their 20,000 sq. ft. beach home.
Montecristo Lifestyles Estate is another oceanfront, real estate community located on the coast of Nicaragua which is currently making its debut. Montecristo will also feature a major golf course, a 7,060 yard layout that begins along the river plain and then climbs into the mountains, with big time views of the ocean and rivers. The front nine is expected to open later this year.
Nicaragua isn’t the only spot in Central America where golf is booming. In January 2011, the Black Pearl Golf Club opened on Roatan, a Caribbean island that juts up out of the ocean about 65 kilometres off the coast of Honduras. (Sunwing features flights to Roatan from Toronto.) The island is best known as the former hideout for 17th century pirates and more recently the scuba and snorkeling set who love to explore the stunning Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef on the planet. But golfers too are making their way to Roatan for the course designed by the father and son team of Pete and Perry Dye. The dad is infamous for his nasty island green at the TPC Sawgrass in Florida and he’s added a similar challenge at Black Pearl. The 11th is a 157 yard par 3 with a slippery green popped in the middle of a lake. The tough tee shot is leavened with a stunning view of the Caribbean.
Costa Rica also sports some good golf. The Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica features an Arnold Palmer design which opened in January of 2004. Ranked in the top 100 courses you can play outside of the United States by Golf Digest, the course traces the high ground of the Peninsula Papagayo with views of the ocean on most of the course. The signature hole is the #6, El Bajo, a 446 yard par 4 where the tee shot plummets 200 ft., down to a valley that leads to a green notched into a cliff above the water.
To paraphrase the late, great Stompin’ Tom Connors, ‘Golf is everywhere man, golf is everywhere.’
Ian Cruickshank is a Toronto based writer. His column usually appears on the fourth Saturday of each month.
JUST THE FACTS
The Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica features an unlimited golf package starting at US$495. Guests can play as much golf as they want during their stay and also receive complimentary Titleist golf club rentals, practice range access and a US$50 spa credit. Children 12 and under play for free at the resort with a paid adult round.

California Vacations Hotels | "12 apps to de-Apple your iPhone and make it work smarter"

Source      : http://www.guardian.co.uk
Category    : California Vacations Hotels
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The chances are, if you've bought an iPhone, that you think pretty highly of Apple – or at least highly enough to opt for its iOS software over rivals Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.

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With that in mind, filing lots of Apple-made apps that come preloaded on an iPhone into a junk folder and replacing them with those made by other companies may sound counterintuitive. But that's what an increasing number of iPhone owners are doing.

Why? In some cases, the alternatives are better. For example, 10 million people downloaded the Google Maps app in the first two days after its release in December 2012, which followed earlier publicity about problems with Apple's own Maps application.

De-Appling an iPhone isn't just a response to big problems, however. Apple tends to release a major update of its iOS software once a year, and then minor updates throughout the year which rarely tinker with its preloaded apps. That annual update cycle means plenty of room for clever developers to come up with apps whose features go beyond what's available in Apple's software.

Apps such as Mailbox and Haze have brought slick swipe-based controls to email and weather respectively; Camera+ has features that keen photographers love; Sunrise Calendar is a cleverer take on diary management; and Opera Mini will save you lots of money on roaming data charges, for example.

In other cases, people are choosing alternatives to Apple apps because they're using (or may use in the future) devices from other companies, and want the stuff they buy to be available on those too. An ebook bought from Apple's iBooks store will only work on iOS devices, but one bought from Amazon's Kindle store will be readable on a range of devices through that company's apps. Buying MP3s from 7digital reduces the pain of porting your music collection to non-Apple devices.

Apple has made noises in the past about rejecting apps from its App Store if they mirror features in its own software. Yet the fact that the 12 apps listed below are available in the store shows its policies are sensibly flexible.

Apple wants you to use and enjoy your iPhone more than it wants to lock you into every single one of its own apps. With that in mind, here's a snapshot of some popular alternatives worth a space on your homescreens.

California Vacations Hotels | "Airline customers are using Twitter to fast track their grievances"

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Keith Pape was not in a good mood on a recent Tuesday. Who could blame him – the Los Angeles-based ad agency exec needed a fast flight out of Austin, Texas, but when he showed up at the airport early looking to fly standby on an earlier flight on American Airlines, gate agents stopped him cold.
Told that the ticket he'd purchased didn't allow him a slot on the standby list for his flight to Dallas-Fort Worth and that he'd just have to sit and wait, Parks did what many travelers do these days when finding themselves in airports or on airplanes with too much free time on their hands. He logged on to Twitter to express his frustration.

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"Just told my ticket doesn't allow me to sign up standby for earlier flight," he complained to @AmericanAir. "That is stupid."
Just six minutes later, one of the staffers that manage American Airlines' busy Twitter account addressed Pape directly, explaining that most fares do not allow for free standby, but that if Pape would like to follow the airline on Twitter and direct-message his details, they'd be happy to take a look at his ticket and see what the deal was.
"I will," Pape replied. "But I've never been turned down for standby on any other airline…this sucks."
"We're sorry for your disappointment," the American staffer tweeted quickly, before turning their attention to his case.
Half an hour later, not only was Pape onboard an outbound flight, his tune had completely changed -- not only was he happy, he was defending the airline to his own followers, one of whom had some choice words of his own for American.
From Pape's initial complaint to "#grateful"? Barely an hour.
Pape's experience is not uncommon. Customers displeased with unhelpful airline representatives behind desks in airports, or long waits on customer service phone lines are finding Twitter a far more effective forum in which to air grievances, an accessible panic button in times of trouble, or at least serious frustration.
In the time it took you to get through to a customer service representative, you could have tweeted your question or comment. And, depending on the airline, you might have already received your answer.
More than 200 airlines now tweet
According to aviation industry consulting firm SimpliFlying, 213 airlines were on Twitter as of this month. With millions of followers, many of them have discovered that the faster they stop negativity in its tracks, the better.
Still, having a Twitter account isn't the same as actually using it; according to SimpliFlying's research, just 24 of the airlines generate the majority – or 80 percent – of the content, meaning that many simply just aren't competitive. According to brand social media research firm Unmetric, American's average reply time, or ART, is currently the best in the business, at less than fifteen minutes on average.
Other airlines are improving their presence as time goes on; they've perhaps learned that there is a certain risk involved in letting online reputations go unmanaged. Sometimes, there are legitimate but small issues that can spiral out of control if not checked immediately.
Take, for example, the high-profile incident in 2010 when director Kevin Smith went to war with Southwest over the airline's policies regarding customers of size. Within minutes of being booted from his flight for not fitting into one seat, an angry Smith took directly to Twitter, followed by his fans, who all-too-eagerly rallied to his side.
In this case, the airline representative assured everyone that the matter was being investigated and that it would be resolved, later following up with an explanation both of the policy and of how they handled Smith's situation. The speed with which the situation was handled was both instructive and impressive.

Next time you've got angst at the airport, or in inflight? Don't fight with the gate agent or the flight attendant, don't grumble to yourself – grab your phone or laptop and start tweeting. You might be surprised at the response (hopefully in a positive way).

Weddings & Events Hotels In California | "Virginia Beach Elevates Giving to the Next Level"

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“Bring it to the Beach” isn’t just a catchy phrase our Meeting & Conventions sales teams use to entice business to Virginia Beach. Sure, they’d be thrilled to host your next conference, convention or sports event, but what they’d more enjoy is the chance to help your group make a significant mark on our city that will remain long after your return home.

The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (VBCVB) is proud to have created a culture of compassion and empathy for our local community and the world. Corporate social responsibility, or CSR, is not an occasional activity for us. As a bureau, our staff is involved in local give-back efforts throughout the year.  When our sales teams are on the road, they arrive with enthusiasm and their sleeves rolled up, ready to support whatever community project their host city has organized.  We’re leaders in the CSR realm; we walk the talk.

So we were intrigued last year when we recognized a movement within the travel and tourism industry:  meeting planners were interested in learning CSR opportunities which could be easily and seamlessly included into their conference itineraries. Sensing an emerging trend, the VBCVB decided to take the wheel and develop a program that would take CSR to the next level.

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Our vision was realized this past fall with the rollout of a program we named “One Beach, One World.”  A comprehensive CSR initiative, “One Beach, One World” offers visiting groups the ability to build a customized CSR event into their agenda.

Currently, there are 11 local non-profits and one international organization aligned with OBOW with contacts in each entity ready to work with willing groups.  Based on area research and environmental scanning, there are involvement opportunities in six focus areas:

Several factors determine the type of project created for a particular group, including how much time a group has, how many volunteers will be involved and finally the needs of the designated organization.  In rare cases where a hands-on project may not be realistic, a monetary donation is welcomed, as was the case for our first official OBOW project.

The organizers of the 2013 Bank Travel Conference desired to support our military community during their meeting in February; however, they found themselves under strict time constraints.  We were able to successfully match them with Vetshouse, Inc., an OBOW partner which helps homeless veterans. Their unique 12-month program provides living quarters in a group environment, assistance in job hunting, transportation, and personal skill and development guidance.

At their opening gala held at the Virginia Beach Military Aviation Museum, Bank Travel officials made a $1,000 donation to Vetshouse.  This match was a perfect fit and mirrored the success we envisioned during the conceptual stages of OBOW.

Hotel Fitness Center In California | "Pros and cons of Fibre Channel and Ethernet storage"

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A big growth area in recent times has been in the use of Storage Area Networks (SAN) and Network Attached Storage (NAS). Generally speaking, a SAN uses Fibre Channel as the communication protocol for provisioning of storage. A NAS usually uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol; storage provisioning can be done by using NFS or other file sharing applications. There are a couple of variants, namely Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). FCIP and FCoE are not widely used at present; usually their use is confined to inter site links. This post looks at some of the differences between Fibre Channel and Ethernet. Before beginning, a definition: when Ethernet storage is mentioned, it means storage that uses Ethernet at layer 2, IP at layer 3 and TCP at layer 4.

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Reliability

Fibre Channel is often compared favorably to Ethernet in terms of being a lossless protocol. Frames sent must be received in order and are not (as is sometimes the case with Ethernet) dropped by the switch. Network storage that uses TCP has a built in error-correction facility, as TCP guarantees in-order delivery of packets. What TCP cannot do is guarantee against re-transmissions when frames are dropped by switches. However, it should be borne in mind that TCP was designed at a time when networks were less robust than today. It was expected that networks would become congested and overload switches, causing packet drops. Ethernet networks these days are far more reliable.

Speed

Probably the key advantage that FC SANs once held was the speed. This may still be one of the aspects that separates FC SANs from Ethernet ones, particularly given that a Fibre Channel SAN basically is isolated from the Ethernet. However, one should also take a look into what the future holds. The respective standards bodies (www.FibreChannel.org and www.ieee802.org/3) give us an idea of where each is at in terms of line speed. For Ethernet, we can see that 10GE is here now, as is 40GE. 100GE is right behind. For Fibre Channel, the picture is a little slower. 16GFC is around, though 8GFC is more likely to be found. 32GFC is some way off; likely to be around 2014.

LUN masking

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The idea of “LUN masking” exists in both Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks. However, there is an additional layer of access control in Fibre Channel at the switch level. This is known as “zoning”. Zoning associates the machine addresses of a server with the storage device. It acts as an additional security mechanism. No such mechanism exists in Ethernet storage, although you could argue that a VLAN performs a similar role.

Cost

Cost considerations are another factor. A Fibre Channel SAN involves putting in Fibre Channel (or FCoE) switches, as well as storage. A NAS is probably a little bit less; even if you procure new switches, Ethernet switches are usually much cheaper than Fibre Channel switches. The other aspect of this is trained staff. Getting trained staff for Fibre Channel networks is, of course, possible, but if you have a network admin already, then they will know enough to integrate the NAS into the network and set up a VLAN. The allocation of LUNs is a relatively simple process on most Network Attached Storage devices.

Size and cost are deciding factors

Ethernet storage is a better fit for small to medium businesses, as it offers the robustness of Fibre Channel, but doesn’t require extra switches and specialized cabling. The cost of deploying a NAS is therefore less. For the enterprise, the days of Ethernet storage are probably some way off; Fibre Channel is still firmly entrenched. But with increasing virtualization, Ethernet storage is likely to become more attractive, particularly for new roll outs.

The differences between Fibre Channel- and Ethernet-based storage are significant. Whilst Fibre Channel is a specific storage protocol, Ethernet is a LAN protocol. Ethernet has undergone many changes since its inception, and combined with TCP/IP can be utilized successfully for NAS. Both types can fulfill a business need, and will probably exist side by side for some time yet.

Affortable Hotels In California | "There's no such thing as a free education"

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In the latest Spectator I describe one of the most enjoyable weeks I've ever spent – four days as a guest teacher ("writer-in-residence") at my old school Malvern College. There's a convention one is supposed to observe when writing about such things: you have to make out that teaching, a bit like nursing, is the noblest professional calling there is and that really teachers ought to be paid at least as much as hedge fund managers for the shockingly demanding and matchlessly important work they do.

Actually, I part-agree with this. Teaching well is extremely demanding and quite fantastically exhausting. At the end of every class, you feel totally satisfied and exhilarated – but also so drained it's as if you've just had a whole month lopped off your life. It seems to me entirely proper that the most dedicated and inspirational teachers (and I met many at Malvern, particularly the young men and women who run the various boarding houses) should be incentivised and rewarded with higher salaries or bonuses.

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At the same time, though, teaching is a vocation. If you're in it for the money, you've made a bad call. When you're standing up there, engaging with a bright, enthusiastic or just amusing class you think to yourself – at least I certainly did – "This is the best job in the world." And the reason it's so good is not because of the long holidays or the use of the school gym or the pension rights but because teaching, when it goes well, is pure joy.
Most teachers, I think, even the many whose politics are diametrically opposed to mine, would secretly agree with me. The most important thing of all for a teacher is – or should be – to be placed in circumstances where you are properly able to teach. That means, at minimum: a strong academic ethos; a firm disciplinary structure; commitment from the pupils and parents. Without all these, what you're doing is not teaching – it's riot control or social work.
Now the first two of these necessary conditions are up to the school itself – as you see demonstrated in most private schools, grammar schools and our better comprehensives. But the third condition is largely beyond a school's control.
How, though, can you possibly teach well if the pupils really can't see the point of being in your class and there's no back-up from the parents? You just can't. And this, I believe is where our education system has gone wrong both in Britain and much of the rest of the world where it is considered a "right" not a "privilege." Of course, everyone should be able to have an education – I'm not quibbling with that. But what I do believe is that, as with the NHS, when you have a service offered by the state free at the point of delivery the value of that service is cheapened in the eyes of the consumer.
It's not unlike with one of those all-you-can-eat-buffets, where the food is so cheap you no longer see it as a dining-out treat but as something almost contemptible.
We need to restore the connection in parents' heads between the service their precious darlings receive (everything from childcare, heating and food to exercise and enlightenment) and the value of that service. Education is not free. Teachers need salaries, pensions; schools need upkeep. That money has to come from somewhere, yet it's clear from the negative attitudes of many parents that they don't appreciate this. If they did appreciate this, maybe they'd be a bit more demanding in the standards they expected of their children's schools and also in their expectations of their children's behaviour. Maybe in turn children would work harder. Maybe too, if parents were liable to some degree for the cost of their progeny's education they would think that bit harder before having more children than they can afford: the strivers already have to, so why shouldn't the scroungers too?
I admire Michael Gove's educational reforms but they don't go far enough. There should be no such thing as a "free" school. Education's too important for that.

California Vacations Hotels | "Why this blog is a waste of time for travel brands"

Source      : http://www.football.co.uk
Category    : Hotels Carolina Beach NC
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels



What follows is one of those periodic navel-gazing exercises. If you have no interest in the rather strange world of travel blogging, stop reading now and find something more interesting instead (may I humbly offer you this post).

Reading from the many round-ups of the recent travel blogging conferences the route to getting a return on the considerable effort involved in managing a blog appears to lie in building a relationship with travel brands. Whether they sell hotel rooms, airline tickets, travel insurance or magic vests, those responsible for promoting these brands are the people who see the best reason to engage with the blogging community. There appears to be a fairly happy exchange taking place between those who own a travel blog and those who want to have their business promoted on their sites.

California Vacations Hotels

It makes perfect sense of course. Companies allocate a proportion of their budget to getting the message about their products or services to as many of their potential customers as possible. As travellers themselves, who better to act as their advocates than travel bloggers? And the best part of all for the travel companies is that it’s so cost effective. Instead of paying large sums of money for PR, marketing and advertising, now a blogger can get your brand in front of a new audience for a fraction of the cost (a trip or a product sample is the normal currency of payment). As for the bloggers, they get access to travel or travel-related goods which would otherwise be, in most cases, beyond their financial means.

And it is here that I lose interest in the business of blogging. I don’t write on this site to make friends with travel brands, be their advocate or introduce them to my readers. That should probably take me off the radar for those brands (and their PR agencies) looking to ‘reach out’ to the travel blogging community. Rightly or wrongly, I started this blog as a place to publish my own musings and try and develop my writing. Over time I’ve become more determined to keep it like this and not go down a commercial route.

If someone pays me to write (thankfully this does occasionally happen), they are taking my work and publishing in their pages or on their site, not mine. It’s a simple rule but one that helps me make consistent decisions about the ‘mutually beneficial opportunities’ that are presented to me on a daily basis.

Does any of this matter? Not really I suppose. But before people make their offers of exciting collaborations or amazing blog trips, I do wish they would look beyond my site statistics and read a little bit of what’s on here. My About page makes my intentions clear, as does the contact form that presumably people use to find me. If those looking for suitable travel bloggers for their new project did a basic check they’d quickly see that I am not what they are looking for and would turn their attention to someone far more useful.

California Vacations Hotels | "Champions League Draw: LIVE"

Source      : http://www.football.co.uk
Category    : Hotels Carolina Beach NC
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels



The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw is upon us!
11:37 - Representing Real Madrid CF at the draw, the club's legendary former striker Emilio Butragueño said of his team's pairing with Manchester United FC:
It will be a thrilling experience for everyone. Manchester United are not only a great team but a great organisation known around the world. We are happy for that, we have a great relationship with them. But we know it's going to be tough, Sir Alex Ferguson has been there over 25 years and he's a fantastic manager – he knows how to get the best out of his players and they have top players, but we are Real Madrid and we will try our best.

California Vacations Hotels

[On Cristiano Ronaldo] I am sure it will be a special game for him. He's a great professional. I'm sure he's going to do his best to help us qualify. It's going to very, very special for him.
[On the José Mourinho meeting Sir Alex Ferguson again] I know they have a great relationship. We are very happy with him and I hope he's going to lead the team to the Champions League [title] to make our fans feel proud of the team.
This tie is going to be difficult. The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world. Playing against Manchester United is going to be another factor for our players. They will think "I want to show what I'm made of" [against such lauded opponents]. It's very important for us to get our injured players back but the first leg is two months away so I hope we will be at our best and I hope we will be on form. It's unpredictable.
11:28 - FC Bayern München chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge has spoken: "I think we enter his match as the slight favourites, but we can be making the mistake of underestimating them. Arsenal have struggled at times in the league over the last few months, which a look upon the standings in the Premier League will tell you. But by no means will this be an easy game for us. I look forward to our game in London and back home in Munich.
Lukas Podolski as a former Bayern player is certainly a familiar face. I hope that we can be as successful as Schalke were in London, where they managed to secure a 2-0 victory. We want to set the foundations with a good performance in London, that would make things easier for us in our home game. I wouldn’t call this a lucky draw, but one that we can overcome. I look forward to seeing my old friend Arsène Wenger and I hope that we can reach the next round.
11:16 - After drawing FC Barcelona, AC Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini said: "Last season we faced them twice [the group stage and quarter-finals], this time only once fortunately. We are now used to play in Catalonia. We are all very close to Tito Vilanova and his family and we wish him all the best for his surgery. We hope he will be on the bench against us. We are improving and I'm sure we will continue to do so until February. We face a perfect machine even if they had more problems than usual this season in the group stage. Let's just hope we will qualify this time around. This is the highest hurdle we could face but if we manage to pass it we can go all the way.”
11:10 - There is reaction in already from Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon. He told Sky Sports:"We believe that over two games anything is possible. Juventus are littered with world-class stars and have been great for 18 months or so now but we’ve been pretty good too. The draw could have been kinder, but it could have been worse."
10:57 - What games are you most looking forward to seeing?
10:55 - Wow! Some amazing games to come out of that draw... Real Madrid V Manchester United! The return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
10:52 - Porto V Malaga
10:51 - Valencia V Paris Saint Germain
10:50 - Real Madrid V Manchester United
10:49 - AC Milan V FC Barcelona
10:47 - Shakhtar Donetsk V Borussia Dortmund
10:47 - Arsenal V Bayern Munich
10:46 - Celtic V Juventus
10:45 - Galatasaray V Schalke
10:36 - The draw ceremony is under way...UEFA.com Kevin Ashby is in the draw hall and will be tweeting all the choicest morsels.
10:27 - The balls are ready and waiting...
10:05 - Hello and welcome to UEFA.com’s live coverage of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw. Proceedings get under way at 10:30 GMT, so stay here for all the build-up.
Two seeding pots have been formed: one consisting of group winners and the other of runners-up. Seeded group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 12/13 and 19/20 February and at home in the return matches on 5/6 and 12/13 March. No team can play a club from their group or any side from their own association. The draw will be conducted by UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino and UEFA director of competitions Giorgio Marchetti, assisted by final ambassador Steve McManaman.
Below we have the group winners as well as the runner-ups, their history in the competition and the people they could be paired up against.
Group winners

A: Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
Can play: Arsenal, Milan, Madrid, Shakhtar, Valencia, Celtic, Galatasaray
Qualified as: runners-up, France
Last season: UEFA Europa League, group stage
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 4
Previous European Cup best: semi-finals
B: FC Schalke 04 (GER)
Can play: Porto, Milan, Madrid, Shakhtar, Valencia, Celtic, Galatasaray
Qualified as: third place, Germany
Last season: UEFA Europa League, quarter-finals
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 4
Previous European Cup best: semi-finals
C: Málaga CF (ESP)
Can play: Porto, Arsenal, Shakhtar, Celtic, Galatasaray
Last season: N/A
Qualified as: fourth place, Spain
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: none
Previous European Cup best: N/A
D: Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Can play: Porto, Arsenal, Milan, Shakhtar, Valencia, Celtic, Galatasaray
Qualified as: champions, Germany
Last season: group stage
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 5
Previous European Cup best: winners x 1
E: Juventus (ITA)
Can play: Porto, Arsenal, Madrid, Valencia, Celtic, Galatasaray
Qualified as: champions, Italy
Last season: N/A
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 12
Previous European Cup best: winners x 2
F: FC Bayern München (GER)
Can play: Porto, Arsenal, Milan, Madrid, Shakhtar, Celtic, Galatasaray
Qualified as: runners-up, Germany
Last season: runners-up
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 15
Previous European Cup best: winners x 4
G: FC Barcelona (ESP)
Can play: Porto, Arsenal, Milan, Shakhtar, Galatasaray
Qualified as: runners-up, Spain
Last season: semi-finals
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 16
Previous European Cup best: winners x 4
H: Manchester United FC (ENG)
Can play: Porto, Milan, Madrid, Shakhtar, Valencia, Celtic
Qualified as: runners-up, England
Last season: group stage/UEFA Europa League, round of 16
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 17
Previous European Cup best: winners x 3
Runners-up
A: FC Porto (POR)
Can play: Schalke, Málaga, Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern, Barcelona, Manchester United
Qualified as: champions, Portugal
Last season: group stage/UEFA Europa League, round of 32
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 16
Previous European Cup best: winners x 2
B: Arsenal FC (ENG)
Can play: PSG, Málaga, Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern, Barcelona
Qualified as: third place, England
Last season: round of 16
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 14
Previous European Cup best: runners-up
C: AC Milan (ITA)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Dortmund, Bayern, Barcelona, Manchester United
Qualified as: runners-up, Italy
Last season: quarter-finals
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 15
Previous European Cup best: winners x 7
D: Real Madrid CF (ESP)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Juventus, Bayern, Manchester United
Qualified as: champions, Spain
Last season: semi-finals
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 16
Previous European Cup best: winners x 9
E: FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Málaga, Dortmund, Bayern, Barcelona, Manchester United
Qualified as: champions, Ukrainev
Last season: group stage
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 7
Previous European Cup best: quarter-finals
F: Valencia CF (ESP)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Dortmund, Juventus, Manchester United
Qualified as: third place, Spain
Last season: group stage/UEFA Europa League, semi-finals
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 8
Previous European Cup best: runners-up
G: Celtic FC (SCO)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Málaga, Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern, Manchester United
Qualified as: champions, Scotland
Last season: UEFA Europa League group stage
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 6
Previous European Cup best: winners x 1
H: Galatasaray AŞ (TUR)
Can play: PSG, Schalke, Málaga, Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern, Barcelona
Qualified as: champions, Turkey
Last season: N/A
Previous seasons in UEFA Champions League: 10
Previous European Cup best: semi-finals

Hotel With Outdoor Pool | "5 signs of a baby-friendly hotel"

Source      : http://www.foxnews.com
Category    : Hotels Carolina Beach NC
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels



Congratulations, new parents, on your bundle of joy. Your life has completely changed, you’ve never been as tired in your life—and you definitely could use some R & R. What might surprise you is that these first few months before your baby starts to crawl is a magical window for your first family vacation together.
Infants typically take regular naps and don't need a lot of bells and whistles to keep them occupied, so rookie parents don't need a roster of family-friendly activities or a slew of recreational amenities to ensure a great first trip. Even so, it’s important to choose a hotel that provides what you need to be comfortable and relaxed. Here are five signs of a baby-friendly hotel.

Cribs on demand. If your hotel can lend you a crib and set it up in your room for your baby, it means it’s accustomed to hosting families with babies and toddlers. Even if you co-sleep or plan to bring your own travel crib, it’s still a good idea to ask if cribs are available. Another good idea: Learn how to childproof your hotel room.

 Hotel With Outdoor Pool

Wheelchair accessibility. If a resort is fully wheelchair-friendly, it’s also stroller-friendly. Easy navigation without having to dodge obstacles and staircases can make all the difference when it comes to fully enjoying a property. Got a reluctant napper? A long stroll around a large, sprawling property can be just the ticket for scoring some quiet time.

In-room fridge and microwave. Dozens of all-suite hotel chains offer full kitchens and floor plans with separate living and sleeping areas, which make them the ultimate in baby-friendly accommodations. Still, all you really need is a fridge for cold storage and a microwave to heat baby food and sterilize bottles and utensils. In a pinch, an electric travel kettle is a handy take-along.

Kid-friendly dining. Your baby might be too young for PB&J sandwiches and chicken fingers, but ask if there’s a kid’s menu anyway; it’s a tell-tale sign that the hotel’s restaurant caters to children. Babies need a safe and comfortable place to sit during family mealtimes, so inquire whether high chairs are available at all of the on-property dining options. Arriving for an early dinner seating ensures that you’ll get a table and be served promptly, before the wait staff and kitchen get busy.

Low-key evening entertainment. A resort with an on-property nightclub may remind you that it’s been a while since you painted the town red. Still, chances are you won't appreciate loud music pulsing below your hotel room after a certain hour. At many an island resort, the pool area is transformed into a music venue at night, so request a room away from the action if your baby is a light sleeper.

Hotels Carolina Beach NC | "Future Travels & New Adventures…"

Source      : http://www.runawayjane.com
Category    : Hotels Carolina Beach NC
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels



There have been a lot of things happening for me this year as a travel blogger and with my future travel plans. With that in mind I thought it would be nice to do a little ‘update post’ to let you know what’s been going on…

Blogmanay – Reaching 80 Million Twitter Impressions

Hotels Carolina Beach NC

I took part in a unique blog trip at the beginning of this year titled ‘Blogmanay’. The trip involved 20 travel bloggers and I spending New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay as we call it in Scotland) in the Scottish capital city, Edinburgh. Aside from being just an all round fantastic trip that lasted right up until 9th of January, collectively we managed to reach 80 million twitter impressions, 1.2 million Instagram impressions, and create many blog posts all about the event. The trip was a huge success for all the bloggers involved, event sponsors, and for Scottish tourism. It made for a great start to the year to be part of such a successful campaign, but also just to see a bit of my own country for a change too. As a direct result of this trip I’ve made it a long term priority of mine to see more of my home country in future months and years to come – which I plan to mix in with lots of international travel in years to come!

Speaking at TBU Conference in Rotterdam

I’m pleased to announce that in May I will be speaking at TBU (Travel Bloggers Unite) conference in Rotterdam this year. I’ve attended TBU a few times now in Porto and Umbria, so to come back as a speaker this time in Rotterdam is a great honour. I’ve always had a keen interest in helping other bloggers and helping the travel & blogging industries progress, so to be able to share my knowledge at the conference and meet up once again with all my travel blogging buddies is something I’m really looking forward to.

ITB Berlin

I’m off to Berlin next week for ITB, a major travel trade show event. The plan is to do a lot of networking and take part in scheduled meetings with the view of creating more travel & blogging opportunities for myself and this blog. However, with Berlin being one of my favourite cities in Europe, I’d be lying if I said a big appeal of this event wasn’t simply hanging out in Berlin for a week with some of my friends! If it wasn’t for the lack of sunshine and my near-addict like need to visit new places, I’d move to Berlin in a heartbeat! If you’re looking for a cool (and cheap) place in Europe to base an online start up there is not better place. As always I’ll be staying with the folks at PLUS Hostel Berlin.

Denmark & My First New Country of the Year

It’s unusual for me to get to March these days and have not yet visited a new country, i.e. a country I have not visited yet before. Since the Blogmanay campaign finished I’ve had to put a focus on work lately, and have been at home doing that and spending some quality time with my family. However, with my itchy travel feet in full mode at the minute I couldn’t resist making plans to visit a few friends in Copenhagen at the end of the month. I have never been to Denmark. I was supposed to go for a conference there a few years ago and had to pull out last minute due to illness so it’s with much delight to finally get there and make it my first new country of the year!

Argentina & Beyond!

I booked tickets spur of the moment to Argentina recently, with departure set for September. South America as a whole is a continent I have been wanting to visit for quite a few years now. As some of you who read this blog will know however, it is only in the last year that I have actually started taking flights again (I have a fear of flying) and for a good few years my travels were focused on Europe & North Africa as a result. It was much easier to travel to those destinations without getting on a plane from my home country of Scotland. Crossing an ocean however is another matter.

In the end I decided that if I wanted to go the only feasible and affordable option was going to be getting on that flight, and so for the last year or so I’ve been building myself up to taking another long-haul flight once again by taking shorter flying journeys. In doing so I’ve discovered that the anticipation and memory of flying is actually a lot worse than the real thing! I am still indeed shitting my pants about it, but not quite to the same extent that I once was, and I’ve decided I no longer want to be a pussy!

However, giving myself until September for departure is going to prove challenging in other ways too. Patience has never been my strong point, and when it comes to travel I have always worked best when booking last minute and arriving in a destination with no plans. Unfortunately it was not quite possible to do that with this trip so it will be interesting to see how I get on and what happens between now and September without me literally going crazy and trying to lie low in some European country somewhere until the time comes.

Learning Spanish

With a long stint in South America ahead I’ve been getting the Spanish books out once again, or the Spanish apps rather, and trying desperately to cram in as much knowledge of the Spanish language as I can ahead of time! I previously lived in Seville for a summer so there are many who would think I should be speaking fluent Spanish by now. The truth is I lived in a bubble of international travellers for too long while I was there and probably didn’t learn as much Spanish as I could have. The good thing is though I understand a decent amount of Spanish and can understand most Spanish accents (as the Sevilla accent is possibly the hardest to understand in the whole of Spain) so hopefully with a lot of practice my speaking will catch up considerably soon! Either way I’m enjoying the learning of it, despite the fact that languages has never been my strong point.

Affortable Hotels in California | "Top 10 Sites in Jordan to Visit on Foot"

Source             : http://www.runawayjane.com
Category       : Affortable Hotels in California
By                 : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels

Affortable Hotels in California

This is a guest post by David Hanson. David works for Headwater holidays – a tour travel company who offer walking holidays in Jordan and further afield. Below he’s given us his insight on the top 10 sites to see in Jordan that you can visit on best on foot.

Jordan is one of the most underrated countries on the planet from the point of view of western travellers and, as such, it rarely features in round the world itineraries. But this one small nation has a wealth of treasures just waiting to be discovered by those who venture there. Read on for a top 10 list of places to visit and things to experience that is more befitting of a continent than a country smaller than England.

1. Petra

The rose-red Nabataean city of Petra is Jordan’s most visited tourist attraction, and with very good reason. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, it dates back to around 300 BC and walking around this archaeological wonder feels like a genuine honour. The rock-hewn architecture of the Treasury (as featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and the Monastery is both awe-inspiring and spell-binding and an absolute must for any Jordan itinerary – especially for fans of Dr Jones!

2. Wadi Rum

Another of Jordan’s film stars, the evocative dunes of Wadi Rum featured in Lawrence of Arabia, Prometheus and other big budget movies. About 75 miles South of Petra, the area is a fantastic place for trekking, climbing and experiencing the famed hospitality of the Bedouin people. It is also a great spot to indulge in a bit of sandboarding; you can use a conventional snowboard on the steeper dunes, but take plenty of wax or you’ll certainly trash your board.

3. The Dead Sea

Ok, you won’t actually walk in it (or on it, sadly) but the Dead Sea is undoubtedly one of Jordan’s most well-known and satisfying places to visit. The healing properties of the water and mud are renowned but the main reason to come here is to experience the feeling of super-buoyancy in this saline-rich sea – and perhaps to get a few silly snaps of you reading the paper while floating to your heart’s content.

4. Jerash

One of the best-preserved Roman towns in the world, Jerash has been inhabited by humans continuously for over 6500 years. Strolling round its impressive columns and colonnaded streets even the least imaginative soul can picture life as it may have been back in the golden age of Jerash under Roman rule.

5. Aqaba and the Red Sea

Two seas in a list of places to visit on a walking holiday may be excessive but given Aqaba’s wonderful climate and the crystal-clear turquoise blue waters of the Red Sea (which does make you question where the name came from!) it merits inclusion. A sensational spot for snorkelling or SCUBA diving, the resort is also within easy reach of Wadi Rum or a longer jaunt up to Petra.

6. Kerak

The crusader fort at Kerak (sometimes written as Karak) dates back to the 12th century and was still in use until 1917. It is well-preserved and strolling around the imposing compound is a great way to while away an afternoon.

7. Madaba

The Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics that reside in Madaba have led to it being dubbed the “City of Mosaics” and the impressive artwork are both fascinating and magnificent. The most famous mosaic is the Map of Jerusalem, containing around two million tiles and dating back to the fifth century. And I thought my 500-piece jigsaw of Petra was tough!

8. Amman

The capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (to use its full title) is a pleasant Middle Eastern city notable for its ancient citadel which overlooks the modern areas. If you are walking around ancient Amman, it can easily be navigated on foot with plenty of opportunities to stop and sample the delicious local food and get to know some of the wonderful people who live in this eclectic hotchpotch of history and culture.

9. Hammamat Ma’in

Hot waterfalls? Yes sir. This hyper-thermal waterfall is like a desert oasis and it is said that Herod the Great enjoyed the medicinal properties of the very same waters. Relaxing beneath the falls as the naturally-heated waters (at a temperature of around 45 degrees Celsius) pound your aching muscles is a wonderful sensation whilst the indoor Roman baths offer a little more luxury for those who seek such things.

10. Mount Nebo

According to the Bible this was the place where Moses was shown the Promised Land and, according to both Jewish and Christian tradition, where he is buried. It’s a fine walk to the church and monastery at the top the views are magnificent so it is definitely worth the effort, as is a trip to Jordan in general.

Luxury Hotels in California-San Diego | "Finding Europe in the Heart of Montreal"

Source      : http://www.aorafting.com
Category    : California Vacations Hotels
By          : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels



Montreal is one of Canada's biggest and most visited cities, but it is not these features that draw us to the province of Quebec. Instead, it is the city's unique claim of being the second largest French speaking city in the world, next to Paris, that makes it a must see destination for many in North America. With a large population of French speakers and immigrants, a number of European traditions and styles carry-on throughout the city making Montreal one of the few places where Europe shines outside of the continent! (Photo "Old Montreal" by rossi2213)

Want Similarities? Look For the Buildings



If there is one feature about Paris and greater Europe that is present in Montreal, it would be through the style of the many churches found throughout the city. One church in particular stands out as being a match so close to its Parisian counterpart that they even share the same name: Notre-Dame. From the external facade to the intricate details found on the inside of the church, you may forget for a moment that you are in Montreal and not the heart of Paris! (Photo "Notre Dame of Montreal" by edustos)

This architectural similarity should not be surprising; however, as Montreal (and Quebec province) was founded by French explorers before becoming a British colony in the late 1700s, several hundred years after the French counterpart Notre-Dame had already been completed. These similarities continue on throughout the city and make for a great day exploring for all those looking at catching a glimpse of the European inspiration at every turn. From the modern convention center to the remaining buildings from the world expo and Olympics of the past, Europe shines everywhere.

Montreal is Not Just Europe - It is Everything

 Luxury Hotels in California-San Diego

Calling Montreal a strictly European-inspired city is not entirely a fair statement on our part. While it is true that the culture of Europe thrives in the city from the mannerisms to language and restaurants, there is far more than that. In fact, Montreal is everything!

Over the years immigrants have flocked to the city in hopes of building a better life and ethnic neighborhoods have sprung up throughout all of Montreal and the surrounding region. It is because of this variety that the city can claim that it is far more than any one European city; it has everything, and the subtleties have begun to blend together throughout the years making Montreal one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America. (Photo "Oratoire St Joseph" by mompes)


Although every culture in the world has influneced how Montreal has evolved in recent years, there are many local specialties that are completely unique to the city. Take poutine as an example. A rarity in Europe, you would have a hard time trying all of the styles found throughout Montreal, as each ethnicity has its own take on the local treat.

While Europe does shine in nearly every corner of the city, through the food, architecture, and even language, a visit to Montreal is what you make of it. For those who take the time to branch out and explore, you'll truly find that Montreal is not only a beautiful city by European standards, it is a city of the Earth- one that all nationalities can enjoy!

California Vacations Hotels | "One Year of Travel Hacking - Credit Card Rewards Points Update"

Source       : http://www.aorafting.com
Category    : California Vacations Hotels
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels

California Vacations Hotels

Last year we published an article about three credit cards we were looking at opening in order to start our massive mileage run.  While we will never be extreme hackers that open dozens of cards across different networks, we saw benefit in opening a select few to help fund out future travel plans without being tied down to many new cards we never plan to use. Our goal for the year and a half that followed was to use these cards as much as possible on our everyday expenses in order to amass over 300,000 airline miles and >$750 in free cash to travel on.  How are we doing with our goal? Well, as it stands right now we're almost at our target and haven't even finished opening half our accounts!  (Photo "Mock Credit Card" by highwing)

What Cards Do We Have?

The three credit cards we were each looking at opening at the beginning of this project included the United MileagePlus Explorer card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, and the Chase Sapphire Rewards Card.   As of this post, we currently have the following in our possession:
Two (2) United MileagePlus Explorer Cards
One (1) Chase Sapphire Rewards Card
Zero (0) Capital One Venture Rewards Cards
Our logic for these cards is simple.  The United and Chase Sapphire Cards allow 1:1 points transfer to airline miles on the United Airline Network.  By combining all of our points into one alliance we will have maximum savings for our future travel plans while opening a minimal number of cards.  Couple in sign-up bonuses of 40,000 to 50,000 points and you can earn serious miles pretty quickly!

We would have a fourth card as of publishing this post; however, we had a set back in that one of our applications for the Chase Sapphire card was denied due to "low income." We will be asking to be reconsidered here in the next few weeks upon the basis of looking at our combined income, which often has positive results, and are hoping for the best.  We have not applied for the Capital One Venture Rewards Cards yet as we are hoping the "Double Miles Challenge" comes back this Spring as it has been available in recent years (and is the basis for us looking at the card which will be outlined below).

How Many Miles in One Year? 275,000



To accurately outline how many points we have in our collection, it is best to break this category up into three topics:  Points from Spending, Sign-Up Rewards Points, and Miles from Flying.  Only in separating the three will our current balance of 275,000 miles make sense.
Points from Spending: 60,000 miles
You may be wondering how someone spends 60,000 dollars in a year?  Well, in a word, we didn't.  I was lucky enough to just break the $25,000 spending bonus on my credit card in 2012 and got an additional 10,000 miles as a reward.  The perk of paying your $1,100/month rent, entire wedding, and honeymoon on credit card is a whole lot of miles in the background for things you would have bought anyway.  But in an effort to point out the need for fiscal responsibility, I paid the balance off immediately and only did it for the miles. (If you cannot do this, then mileage runs are not for you).
Sign-Up Rewards Points: 140,000 miles from Three (3) Credit Cards
With the two United cards offering a rare promotion of 50,000 miles and the Chase Sapphire card offering a promotional rate of 40,000 points for sign-up, these were the easiest miles we earned.  The annual fee and nominal spending requirements to earn the points are a small price to pay.  As a trade off we now have cards that give us free checked bags with United, double points per dollar on airline bookings, airfare lounge passes each year, priority boarding, and no foreign transaction fees. Sweet!
Miles from Flying: 75,000 miles
We cannot say very much about our miles from flying as it is what it is.  From many trips in my day job to Canada to our honeymoon in Europe and our flights in early 2011 from Asia, we had a few large chunks holding over in our accounts.   The only perk noting in this segment was that I flew enough in 2012 to hold Silver status on United which gives frequent upgrades and mileage multipliers on your flights that helped push this points run very high, very fast.
Free Money to Travel: $0
Our free money to travel will be tied up to the Capital One Venture Rewards Card "Double Miles Challenge" program hopefully being offered later this spring as has been offered in years past.  The promotion offers a miles match from a card you earned in the previous year, doubled in a 2:1 pay out, and converted $1 for every 100 miles you have.  So if you earned 50,000 miles from spending like we did, they will double it to 100,000 miles and pay out $1,000 in cash after you meet the minimum spending requirement for the card.  Not a bad plan for the final topper to a mileage run that began at the start of 2012. While the 300,000 airline miles from the previous cards will be worth far more than $500 per card, the opportunity for quick cash is something we can't pass if it comes up again this year.  After all, you would think we planned it this way.  (We did).

What are we going to do with all of the miles and travel money we collect with our rewards cards? Well, you'll find out about that as the year progresses as we are hoping to leverage it to well over $30,000 in free travel!