Favorite In Room Hotel Movies

NxTv a major provider of in-room moves to hotels has just released a nice little piece of trivia - the most watch in room movies for last year ! Now of course they don't mention the X rated stuff - nobody watches that - er right. 

OK here is the most watch in room movies of last year:

1. Borat

2. The Departed

3. Casino Royale

4. Knocked Up

5. Wild Hogs

6. 300

7. Spederman 3

8. Blades Of Glory

9. Night At the Museum

10. Bourne Ultimatum

Nice to see the culture of Borat is a solid # 1 !

Have Cruise Ships Lost The Art Of Cruising ?

It seems as cruise ships become more like floating shopping malls the very essence of cruising is being lost. Time to relax on the deck with a good book , good food and the smell of the sea.

This year new and large cruise ships being built will add a staggering 20,000 new berths a week or more than a million in the year. Travel pioneer and author Arthur Frommer says " they will be less like ships and more like amusement parks and shopping malls". 

The Queen Victoria for example will offer "bungee jumping" ,"clown acts" and "circus training programs". Add to this rock climbing walls,boxing rings,bowling alleys and spa cabins. Some of the ships are getting so big they are offering a 'ship within a ship" - an exclusive area where you will feel like you are on a small ship - go figure !

Its probably little wonder that while these massive monsters of the seas taking up to 5,000 passengers are being flocked to so too are the wonderful small cruise lines like Silverseas where a cruise is still a cruise !

Top 10 Places To Visit In 2008 For UK Travelers

Expedia has just released its survey taken in the UK where it asked its users to nominate the Top 10 places to visit in 2008. The list will surprise many with some fresh new names popping are. The Top 10 are:

1. New Zealand

2. Argentina

3. Cape Verde

4. Alaska

5. Reykjavik

6. Berlin

7. Boston

8. Liverpool

9. Abu Dhabi

10. China

Hottest Winter Beach Destinations For US Travelers

The hottest winter beach destinations for US travelers ? Maui ,  Hawaii hits # 1 spot in a recent US poll outpacing the ever popular Florida.

However with over 700 miles of sandy beaches Florida delivers 5 of the Top 10 beach destination spots.

The Big Island in Hawaii came in at # 3 with California beaches San Diego coming in at # 5 and Santa Monica # 9.

Outside the US, Cozumel,Mexico continues its run at the top for US beach travelers.

Majority Of Aussies Want To Be In 'Mile High' Club !

Nothing wrong with your average Aussie Traveller ! Research by local firm Total Travel just released shows a staggering 60% of Australians are either members of or want to join the 'mile high club' ! 

In case you dont know (please!) this Mile High Club means having sex on an aircraft.

Of the 1200 interviewed, half said they wanted to do it but had not yet. 12% proudly said they were already a member. I guess that includes British actor Ralph Fiennes and a female Qantas trolley dolley who had it off in the business class dunny. Popping up in the survey was the new Airbus 380 with its double beds on board . Nice but maybe not as fun as the washroom. That being said 42% said that getting hot and sweaty in a cramped aircraft toilet was not a turn on.

Where The Stars Vacation Secrets

While us mere mortals pack the bags and head to the same old same old for our hard earned vacation "A" list celebrities are on the constant look out  for the new "in" spot. Here are the current front runners:

Portofino, Italy.On the north west coast of the Italian Riviera. the former fishing village has played host to everyone from Elizabeth Taylor,Richard Burton & Sinatra  along with the new stars like Brad Pitt & Johnny Depp. Seriously upmarket.

I le de Ra , France. A favourite of Johnny Depp. the small island is connected by a bridge to La Rochelle and fronts the Atlantic Ocean.

The Fregate Island Private. No paparazzi allowed here ! One square mile Indian Ocean resort is a haven for honeymooners and "A" listers who do not want to be seen. A favourite of Pierce Brosnan and Michael Douglas.

Four Mile Beach Port Douglas,Australia. Gateway to the Barrier reef and Daintree Rainforest everyone from Bill Clinton to Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackmann & Sean Penn have visited.

The Mystique, Carribean. 1400 acre island home to visits by the likes of Prince William & Kate Middleton. 12 tranquil white sand beaches, two hotels and 120 private villas await you !

The Worlds Best and Least Known Beaches

Serious beach vacationers are always on the look out for that 'undiscovered gem'. 'Hotel & Resort Insider' has just published their list of some of the sexiest but lesser known beaches that leave Bondi & Copa for dead !

Eleuthera - Bahamas. 100 mile ribbon of land adorned by lush pineapple plantations and stunning beaches. Situated a few km's east of Nassau.

The Pinneys Beach - Nevis. A 4 mile stretch of volcanic sand along the west coast of the egg shaped island. Lined by swaying coconut tress and features wonderful calm waters.

The Punta Cana. On the eastern most tip of the Dominican republic and known as the 'new Cancun'. Full of luxury resorts to take advantage of its pristine position.

The Caprera Island. One of 7 islands in the Maddalena archipelago with the beaches  kissed by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Cousine Island,Seychelles. Small lodges and stunning beaches tucked into a National Park. No wonder George Harrison called the Seychelles home !

Hot New NYC Hotels For 2008 !

Trying to book a decent hotel in the Big Apple is sometimes like winning Lotto. The hotel you want is never available and you end up in some low rent dump at ball breaking prices !

2008 is set to see some glitzy new offerings coming to New York that will put some travel fun back into the city.

The big buzz is Robert De Niros new TriBeCa Hotel - the Greenwich Hotel. With its lantern lit swimming pool, a branch of LA's hot Ago restaurant,handcrafted bricks and stunning wood floors, this is the hot NYC place to be seen in 2008.

Also in TriBeCa is the Duane Street Hotel  (See Photo Above) while uptown is the stunning redo of the iconic Plaza Hotel complete with white gloved butlers and 24 carat taps.

Favorite UK hotel the Firmdale is also set to jump the Atlantic towards the end of 2008. It aims to be NYC's greenest hotel- with eco everything- as well as one NYC's finest !

Urban Airline Travel Myths Debunked

We came across a really interesting little story regarding Urban Airline Travel Myths. You know those little secrets claimed by well worn travellers to get them into places you never could ! Well turns out they are about as reliable as the old "crack the complete alphabet on the inside wrapper of Wrigley's chewing gum and win a life time supply" - remember that one as a kid !

Here are two airline urban travel myths that turn out to be ...er well crap actually !

The Airline Secret Code. You may have heard that when in trouble just utter the phrase Rule 240. Once said, so the myth goes, you will instantly go to the top of check in line and be placed on the next available flight with any airline. Er sorry folks there was such a rule in the US but it disappeared in 1978 when the airlines were deregulated. So next time you mumble Rule 240 don't been surprised if you get Rule 1 thrown at you - move to the back of the queue !

Dress Up And Get Upgraded. Gone are the days when you could recognise First Class passengers by their Armani suits. Now even A list celebs travel in track pants , sneakers and a 3 days growth ! With the airlines now recognizing who are the best passengers from frequent flyer profiles they are the ones likely to get any upgrade rather than your well dressed  hustler from the back of the bus. The golden rule - forget it. Just go comfortable - in coach !

Oh and while we are on the subject of well travelled travel myths here are a couple of more that are equally as dubious :

Crime Rings Stealing Kidneys. Yep we all know about that one when your in Vegas or New Orleans, drugged and wake up in the morning in the ice bath less your old kidneys....please. South of the border the myths goes that in Mexico they steal your testicles ! At least women travellers are safe there ! These myths probably are believed by people who always carry a clean hanky in their pocket !

Then there is the story of the kid that crashed the plane by playing his Game Boy. Rightoh then. Another popular one is the magnets in the tray tables on airplanes make your lap tops go crazy.

Happy travelling everyone !

Vegas Hotel Best Luxury Hotel In US

And the gong goes to.......The Signature At The MGM Grand.

Voted in the Travellers Choice Awards run by Trip Advisor the hotel was singled out for extraordinary service AND  extraordinary value !

And whats a #1 hotel give you for your buck ? All Valet parking ,balconies in most suites,flat screen TVs,oversized marble/granite bathrooms. a 30,000 sq foot fitness centre, five swimming pools and a full wedding chapel ! Oh theres also a lion habitat with 6 animals - hmmmmm.

The price is good too. Rates start at $US200 a night with two bedroom suites from a very reasonable $US510. Check it out next time your in Vegas !

Five Of The Worlds Most Unique Travel Experiences

Intrepid travellers are always on the look out for unique experiences. Here is our Top Five to check out in 2008.

* Your Own Private Tomb Tour. For just $US2,224 you can get a private tour of Setis Tomb in Egypt. Discovered in 1817 it has only been open to the public for 20 years. Considered to be one of the most beautiful and best preserved in the Valley of Kings it is the final home for Seti 1 who ruled in the 14 century BC. Further details at Cultural Crossroads.

* Live With A Real Tribe. For $US3,210 you can live for 3 days with the Antandroy tribe in Madagascar. Considered to be the most fiercest and tradition bound tribe in the country watch out your not on the menu ! During your stay you will meet with the local healer, learn how to use a sling shot for hunting,take a zebu cart to the local market and visit ancient tombs deep in the forest. Its the whole Raiders Of The Lost Ark experience ! For more information Absolute Travel.

* Go Hunting Dinosaur's. For a mere $US5,000you can go on a summertime dinosaur dig in Montana with Jack Horner (betcha his nick name was 'Little" !),world renowned paleontologist and technical advisor on Jurassic Park movie. Contact Off The Beaten Path.

* Sleep With Emperors. For $US500 you can take a private tour of Chonghuagong-Qing dynasty emperors Qianlong's private chambers in China. Normally closed to the public the Emperor ruled from 1735-1796. You'll see fine examples of jade,ceramics and rosewood furniture amongst other treasures. Contact Imperial Tours.

* Alone In The Basilica. For $US850 you can have your own private time and tour of Venices St Mark's Basilica. You'll also be shown the crypt which is off limits to the public and the foundations of the church built in the 1oth Century. 

Filthiest Hotels In The UK!

Hot on the heals of TripAdvisors list of the filthiest hotels in the US, the UK is not to be outdone with some real shockers ! The list of the ten dirtiest hotels in the UK saw no less than 6 repeat offenders with three from the same Britannia hotel group.

The #1 grot box  is the Nanford Guest House in Oxford (photo opposite)which has the dubious achievement of moving up from #2 place last year ! The Top Ten list of hotels to avoid in the UK are:

1. Nanford Guest House,Oxford.

2. Manor Court Hotel,London

3. Britannia Hotel, Stockport

4. Europa Gatwick Hotel

5. Whiteleaf Hotel , London

6. Park Hotel , London

7. County Hotel,Carlisle

8. Britannia Hotel Birmingham

9. Eden Plaza Hotel,London

10. Britannia Country House,Manchester

Hotels On Sale Announces Hot Rates For 2008

Hotels On Sale has just announced even greater price reductions for 2008 !

Click on now and save heaps !

Hotels On Sale Australia

Hotels On Sale New Zealand

Hotels On Sale UK

Hotels On Sale USA

Hotels On Sale Singapore

Hotels On Sale South Africa

Virgin Atlantic To Test Biofuel on 747!

In another sign of how serious we are all taking global warming a Virgin Atlantic 747 is using biofuel on a demonstration flight next  month.

Virgin claims it is the first time that a commercial aircraft has run on biofuel and it could be the way of the future. The 747 will fly from Heathrow to Amsterdam with no passengers on board (just in case it doesn't work !)

The Filthiest Hotels In The US

Well respected hotel and travel site TripAdvisor has revealed it dirtiest hotels in the US. They might be cheap folks but here are hotels to avoid if you are travelling to the States.

Described as "beyond scummy" the zero stars Hotel Carter in New York City came in first place. TripAdvisor said " On inspection the room was dirty,the sheets were not fresh,and there was obvious evidence of vermin. It was entering the bathroom that we decided to leave due to a filthy toilet and a dirty pair of ladies briefs hanging on the wall ". Wonderful !

Hotels to avoid are listed as follows:

Ramada Inn Niagara Falls , Days Inn Nashville ,Red Carpet Fort Lauderdale, Regency Inn & Suites New York,St Augustine Beachfront resort in St Augustine Florida,Travel Inn Inn , Miami,Eden Roc Motel in Wildwood New Jersey,Days Inn Lancaster and Pacific sands Motel in Santa Monica

Crusing Reigns King Of Vacations

No wonder cruise companies are building bigger and bigger ships. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) a whopping 12.6 million people went cruising in 2007 !

CLIA said that there surveys showed that "when compared to other types of vacations,cruising holds the highest percentage of particpants who express supreme satisfaction". Cruise guests also said that the 'all inclusive' fares made cruising great value where other vacations involved paying for meals,entertainment,beverage and transport.

Hot Tips For Hot Destinations in 2008

So your tired of the same old same old when it comes to your annual vacation. Here are some insider tips on some of the hot/best value destinations for 2008.

* Argentina. Its back ! This is the hot rediscovered destination for '08. Its great value to with the peso up from 1,3 to the pound in 2002 to 6 to the pound at the moment. Undiscovered northern regions like Salta & Jujuy are gaining momentum.

* China. Driven by the upcoming Olympics this will be one of the big destinations in '08. One of the hot new spots is the Nine Villages Valley in Sichuan now made more accessible with the recent opening of a new airport.

* Macau. The new 'Vegas Of The East' and many say a lot better.

* The Inca Trail,Peru. You can now do it in comfort with new lodges featuring en suite and hot showers.

Meanwhile iconic guide book Lonely Planet forecasts the the two big themes for travel in 2008 will be travelling to Muslim countries like Brunei,Mauritania,Tunisia,Turkey and Uzbekistan. The other 'hot ticket; is visiting countries to see endangered species whether it be Komodo dragons in Indonesia, Siamese crocodiles in Vietnam or giant armadillos in Bolivia.

New For 2008 -Nude Cruising !

Taking off on vacation looks set to take a whole new meaning with a growing trend in Europe -nude cruising !

Cruise travel agents Bare Necessities and Castaways Travel are offering nude cruise departures for 2008. These cruises are generally charters of mainstream cruise lines.

Bare Necessities currently lists 6 nude cruises in 2008 including the South Pacific, Greek Islands ,Eastern Mediterranean. Don't forget your sunscreen !

See It Before It Goes - World's Most Endangered Travel Places

A recent Reuters report lists some of the most endangered tourist spots in the world. Whether it be through war, environmental or over tourism here are some places you need to see quick before they disappear:

* Dampier Rock Art Complex, Murujuga, Australia.The largest collection of rock art in the world that dates back to 10,000 BC. Industrial development has already damaged 25% and the discovery of natural gas in the area threatens it further.

* Sonargaon-Panama City ,Bangladesh. This ancient city boast architecture dating back to he 15th century. Plague by a host of problems both natural and man made this area is in real area of being wiped out.

* Chinguetti Mosque,Mauritania,West Africa. Located in one of Islams seven holy cities the Mosque was constructed in the 13th century and was a stopping point for Sahara traders. Natural problems from soil erosion to flash flooding to extreme temperatures threatens this UNESCO World heritage site,

* Panama Canal , Panama City,Chargres River. An engineering feat where up to 340 ships a day pass through is becoming silted up decreasing the amounts of ships that can pass.

* Dhangkar Gompa , Himachai Pradesh , India. One of the five major Buddhist monastic centres and built thousands of years ago erosion is causing this important site to literally fade away.

* Old Damascus , Syria. One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world is now being slowly demolished by modern construction.

* Babylon,Iraq. 80km south of Baghdad, Babylon was originally a city of Mesopotamia, regarded as one of the cradles of civilization. Slowly being wiped out by modern warfare.

* Leh Old Town ,Ladakh,India. A rare medieval city of the Himalayas. Changing weather appeterns and heavy rains are threatening the unique architecture.

* The Coral Triangle , Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. Located in the seas between Indonesia,Malaysia and the Philippines the area is hoe to over 450 types of coral. A recent study found 70% of the coral is in danger of being wiped out by over fishing ,coral bleaching,sedimentation and pollution.

* Greenland. The ice is melting folks as global warming keeps on coming. see it before it goes.

Hot Hotel Secrets For 2008

Nothing impresses more at a good dinner party than to drop a few hotel names that are not that well known but soon will be ! The Times Of London has just released its picks for the Hot Hotels For 2008. Stick this list on your fridge and go forth and impress !

*Le Couvent d'Herepian,Languedoc Roussillion,France. Very chic, a converted convent with just 13 suites.

* Bob Marley Resort,Nassau,Bahamas. Opens in March. Owned by Bob's wife Rita. All of the 16 suites are named after Bobs songs and the hotel will feature nightly reggae ! From 250GBP gunga not included !

*Carbon Hotel,Genk,Belgium. Strange name but apparently very funky with a hot spa. Opens in April.

*La Casona Inkaterra,Cusco,Peru. At the gateway to the Inca rooms this new 11 room boutique hotel opens next month. The best in 'colonial chic' with heated floors , wireless Internet and I-Pod stations.

*Alila Villas Uluwatu,Bali. Opening mid year this stunning new resort sits on a cliff top overlooking the ocean with each villa has its own pool and garden.

* El Silenco Lodge & Spa,Costa Rica. Set in 500 acres of tropical jungle - 16 suites all with hot tubs.

* Six Senses Hideaway,Zighy Bay,Oman. Oman is sooooo chic and this new five star resort allows you to arrive in style by paragliding into the reception area from a nearby mountain ! The hotel has 82 pool villas, a mile long beach and a dramatic mountain top restaurant.

* Tierra Atacama Hotels & Spa,Chile. Situated on the edge of the Atacama desert this newly opened hotel is a 'must' visit in 2008. You can relax in the hotels pools of volcanic mud from the nearby Lican-cabur volcano.

* The Other Side,Neiden,Norway. Strange name but the place to stay and see the Northern Lights Opens in March.

* The Lodge,Verbier,Switzerland. Latest addition to Richard Branson's Virgin Limited edition in this popular ski resort. Opens this month.

*Midland Hotel,Morecambe,Lancashire. This art deco gem opens in May after a 7 million pound restoration. Stay where Noel Coward,Laurance Olivier & Coco Chanel slept !

*Layla Hotel,Liverpool. New chic SAS hotel due to open in September overlooking the Mersey.

* ABode Manchester. Opens in spring. The fourth in the funky,fun & good value ABode chain.

* The Vincent,Southport,Lancashire. Opens in April with minimalist rooms that look like a Manhattan hideaway.

* The Augustine,Prague. Open in summer. This new 101 room hotel overlooks the castle with stunning Baroque features.

* Vain Boutique Hotel,Buenos Aires. Opens this month with 15  high tech minimalist rooms. The hotel lives up to its name with mirrors everywhere.

* Beyaz Yunus,Olu Deniz,Turkey. Just opened ion this beautiful resort town which is know for its lobster dishes. Each suite has a private terrace with a hot tub overlooking the sea.

Tips For Savings Money At Hotels

How many times do you spend the time to itemize your bill at check out at your hotel ? We found a great tip to check on overcharging. Every time you make a tip make sure that the bill ends up with same digit. As an example tip odd amounts so that your bill ends in say a nine. It then only takes a minute to skim down your bill on check out to make sure all items end in a nine !

If you have the time to be flexible book your hotels rooms at the last minute and call the hotel directly - not through their central reservations systems. Ask for the 'duty manager' and ask him what is the best deal he can do on a room for tomorrow. before you call check what the going rates are on a number of Internet hotel sites and on the hotels site directly so you know your getting a good deal !

Free High Speed Internet !  Often you can get a better deal than what the hotel charges by just bringing your own ADSL cable and plugging into the jack instead of renting one from the hotel. Sometimes the service is password protected and sometimes not. Also with everybody going wireless these days chances are you can pick up a free wireless connection from your room courtesy of someone else in the hotel or a nearby Starbucks!

Ask for a 'corporate discount'. Hotels rarely check that you're company is registered with them and will normally volunteer a corporate discount rate.

And finally never be afraid to say " Is that really the best rate you can do ?". There's a pretty good chance you will get a better rate !

Travel Rewards For Getting Old !

OK so you heading towards retirement and its time to splash out on some long deserved travel.Many travellers over the age of 50 or 55 don't realize that  age has its discounts in the travel marketplace. When your booking your travel always carry your ID card with your birth date and ask if there are any special 'seniors discounts'. Here are just a handful we have found:

* Free cruises for single men.Because unattached males over a certain age are rarer then hens teeth two cruise lines , Royal Cruise Lines and Delta Queen Steamboat Co, offer free travel to single men over 50 who will act as paid hosts for single woman on board the ship. Duties include dancing,dinner parties and mingling - but please no 'funny' business !

*Great Britain Heritage Pass. Gets you into over 600 castles, palaces & homes. Contact the British Tourist Authority.

*Great Britain By Rail. Whopping seniors discounts on first class travel throughout the UK.

*National Parks Passport in the USA. Lifetime admission to all US Federal Parks,monuments and recreation areas if your over 62 and discounts on camping,boat launching etc. Contact National Park Service.

*Travel Discounts. Always ask if your airline, car rental company or hotels offer 'seniors discounts'. You will normally find you get a 10% cut. Sam applies for Car Insurance.

* Save up to 50% on Cruises. Retirees have lots of time on their hands and if your willing to go on short notice you can save heaps.. Check these agencies -  Moments Notice ,Vacations To Go or Last Minute Travel Club.

Worlds Most Expensive Restaurants

Getting a little tired of your average take away and think its time to grab the missus and splash out a bit ? Well Hotel & Resort Insider have just published their list of some of the most expensive restaurants in the world. Here's what you get for your cash :

*El Bulli. Located at Roses,Spain the restaurant is only open for 6 months of the year but when they do open go hungry ! At $US270 you can sit down to a 30 plus course menu. Yep that's 30 courses folks !

*Masa. Its in New York where nothing is cheap but Masa packs the big punch ! Fresh fish and shellfish is flown in daily from Tokyo (now there's a carbon footprint for you !). The cheapest Sushi dish on the menu will set you back $US24.

*Aragawa.Next time your in Tokyo and feel like a good steak this restaurant will make your wallet lighter at $US550 per steak ! Its prime hand fed Wagyu beef folks.

*Joel Robouchon. A french gem located in the MGM Grand you will pay about $US360 for a 3 course dinner -each !

*Alinea. Its in Chicago and when you consider you get a 24 course meal for your $US195 its probably not too bad.

*Tetsuyas. An icon of Sydney dining where you need to book months in advance. A 10 course Japanese feast will run you at $US195 a head.

*Restaurant Gordon Ramsey London. Well it is London after all so noting is cheap but 7 courses here will set you back $US224.

*The French Laundry. A San Francisco foodie icon. None courses for $US240.

Hot Diving Vacation Secrets For 2008!

If you love going off on a diving vacation here is our list of hot diving spots your should check out in 2008 !

* Blue Hole. Located at Lighthouse Reef in Belize this near perfect blue hole was thought to have been created in the Ice Age. Some 110 foot under water the cave features stalactites and stalagmites 

* Bonaire. In the Dutch Caribbean some 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela this destination has been rated #2 in the PADI network.

* Cocos Islands. Some 300 miles from the coast of Costa Rica the area abounds in dolphins , tuna,giant marble rays, hammerhead sharks & whale sharks.

* Northwest Point Drop Off. In the Grand Caymans. Consistently rated # 1 for the ultimate dive experience.

* Stingray City. Also in the Grand Caymans and known for its giant sting rays.