Travelers’ Choice 2010 Awards: TripAdvisor Assigns the Most Awaited Hotel Prizes of the Year
January 31, 2010 | Leave a Comment
TripAdvisor, the most renowned on-line travel community in the world, for the eighth year in a row, has awarded 719 hotels for being the best in various categories according to the travelers’ opinions and reviews in 2010. It is definitely the largest annual competition ever and winning such a prize is considered a honor by every hotel and resort.
“We are very thankful for the prize – Say the owners of the beautiful Hotel Villa Ducale in Taormina, the only Italian winner for the Best Luxury in the World category – It is definitely a real honor and very gratifying for us, because it means that our hard work has not been useless and that our clients have actually realized how much they are important for us all. I can promise this is the most appreciated award for a hotelier and his staff”.
Hotels can be awarded in 10 categories: Best Luxury, Best for Families, Best Bargains, Best for Romance, Best B&Bs and Inns, Best Relaxation and Spa, Trendiest, Best Service, Best All-Inclusive, and Best Hotels by Region.
The feature that distinguishes and makes unique and reliable TripAdvisor awards is that, unlike any other hotel honors in the world, Travelers’ Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews written by travelers on TripAdvisor.
Christine Peterson, TripAdvisor’s Chief Marketing Officer, utters: “The Travelers’ Choice awards once again highlight the finest hotels in the world. They are inspired by millions of real and trusted opinions published on the travel website, that recognize more than 700 hotels for their outstanding service, value and quality”.
The winners
Such a prize is very coveted by every kind of hotels now, cause in these years the awards have become a special kind of “travel guide” for TripAdvisor users searching for the best property to stay in during trips all around the world.
Here is the list of the main winners of 2010:
- Best Bargain in the World: Arcadia Residence, Prague, Czech Republic
- Best Bargain in the U.S.: SeaCoast Inn, Hyannis, Massachusetts
- Best Luxury (4&5 star hotels) in the World: Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic
- Best Luxury in the U.S.: French Quarter Inn, Charleston, South Carolina
- Best for Families in the World: Sirkeci Konak Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
- Best for Families in the U.S.: Desert Pearl Inn, Springdale, Utah
- Best for Service in the World: Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic
- Best B&B and Inn in the World: Casa Portagioia, Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
- Best B&B and Inn in the U.S.: Bayberry House Bed & Breakfast, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
- Best for Romance in the World: Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, Moorea, French Polynesia
- Best for Romance in the U.S.: Spindrift Inn, Monterey, California
- Best All-Inclusive in the World: Drowsy Water Ranch, Granby, Colorado
- Best Relaxation and Spa in the World: La Amada Hotel, Playa Mujeres, Mexico
- Best Relaxation and Spa in the U.S.: Andreas Hotel & Spa, Palm Springs, California
- Trendiest Hotel in the World: citizenM Amsterdam City, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Trendiest Hotel in the U.S.: theWit Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
A special thank to the boutique hotel in Taormina Villa Ducale for letting me interview them and Florence hotel near Duomo Hotel Colomba (top 10 family hotels in the world) for sending me information about the award.
Relax on a Cross Channel Cruise Ferry
January 31, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Although family holidays are intended to provide an enjoying and relaxing time for all, that’s rarely the case 100% of the time, and while families have been enjoying self-drive holidays to France for decades, there’s nothing quite as stressful as a car full of hot, restless kids who can’t wait to get down to the business of having fun!
When planning a self drive holiday to the European continent the first ferry route that springs to mind is Dover to Calais, and while this is the shortest (and often cheapest) option, it’s not always the best or most economical.
Firstly it’s worth noting that unless you’re starting off from the South-East of England then a Dover to Calais crossing is probably going to require you to negotiate the roads around London, including the notorious M25 – a less than ideal start to what is supposed to be an enjoyable and relaxing holiday!
The ever increasing price of fuel should also be taken into consideration – in many cases a longer ferry crossing can make financial sense too. Depending on your final holiday destination the total cost of travel for a short ferry journey and longer driving miles can be comparable to an overnight ferry crossing with less driving required once over the channel. This is especiallly true if you’re planning a trip to Brittany, the Vendee or the Dordogne.
Naturally the added bonus of selecting a longer ferry crossing is that it allows you to spend less time driving and more quality time with your family, plus a longer ferry crossing can make for more of an adventure for the kids. While the Eurotunnel is fast and convenient, ferries hail from a time when the world felt like a bigger place and the pace of life was a little more relaxed.
So, what are your options for alternative ferry routes? Many people find that if starting out from the West of England that Portsmouth or Plymouth are far more convenient ports of departure, and in addition to the accessibility benefits you can turn the longer crossing times to your benefit by taking the opportunity to kick back and relax a little.
While P&O are probably the best know of all UK ferry operators Brittany Ferries run several excellent services on these longer routes, including Plymouth ferries running to Roscoff. All of these longer routes are serviced by a fleet of modern cruise ferries, and if the last time you crossed the channel was more than a couple of years ago then you’ll be pleasantly suprised by advances made in the way of comfort and onboard facilities. These modern cruise ferries have shops, restaurants, bars and cinemas available to passengers and even on an overnight crossing you’ll probably won’t be able to fit it all in!
Accommodation options available on overnight ferries range from basic (but comfortable) club class seats, to stateroom cabins with sea views, although a standard cabin option will suite most families best. Whichever accommodation you decide on you can rest assured that you’ll reach your holiday destination substantially more refreshed and relaxed than if you decided to drive the whole distance!
James is a web developer and internet marketeer with a keen interest in the travel sector. He can frequently be found hanging out in online forums or editing his ferry website which provides information about Plymouth ferries
The World of Drills and Drill Bits
January 31, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Cheap drills can be brought anywhere. The vast world of the Internet alone has numerous special offers and discounts when it comes to drills and drill bits.
Cordless and Rechargeable 3/8 Drill – This product comes with a 12-volt battery and a 21-piece tool set. It is manufactured by Hilltop Marine. This cheap drill originally costs 69 US dollars but you can now avail it for only 32.55 US dollars. That is about 53 percent worth of discount or 36.45 US dollars worth of savings. The shipping weight of this cheap cordless drill is 8 pounds. It features a powerful DC motor with variable speed operation. Its 3/8 Jacobs keyless chuck makes changing the bits easy and fast.
78-piece 18 Volts Cordless Drill set with numerous extras – This product is manufactured and distributed by AWM. It originally costs 99.99 US dollars but you can now avail it for only 54.99 US dollars. That is about 45 US dollars worth of savings or 45 percent worth of discount. This is considered as one of the most sought-after cheap drills in the market. It has everything that you may possibly need for any job at home. This kit provides all the sockets, drivers and bits. The bits of this product are coupled with a very powerful 18-volt drill. It also comes with a flashlight so as to allow the user to complete any projects. The shipping weight is only 12 pounds.
Green Power T 3/8 inch Cordless Drill – This product has a detachable battery. It is manufactured by AWM. It originally costs 49.99 US dollars but you can now avail it for only 38.11 US dollars. That is about 24 percent worth of discount or 11.88 US dollars worth of savings. This is among the top cheap drills that are sold in the market today.
Rock Drill Bits SDS – These 3/8 inches cheap drill bits are manufactured by Fixe. It only costs 10.95 US dollars. These are standard tools that are used in almost all power drills. Almost all hand drill systems accept certain SDS drill bits. These products are carbide tipped and can also be re-sharpened. The shipping weight of this product is only 8 ounces.
The Cordless drills of all shape and size line the shelf of hardware food and house improvement stores all over the place, and they are the must have tool for all kind of DIY projects. With so many dissimilar kinds of battery drills and series drills to decide from, you’ll have to do a small bit of shopping around to make sure you are getting the very best drill for you. Like all cordless tools, fit is the majority significant thing – you want a drill that feel at ease in your hand and one you can use with no trouble. on the other hand, there are a number of other factors you should think, like the features of the drill.
FSU or Florida State Seminoles Pro-Grip Football Drill Bits and Screwdriver – This product is manufactured and designed by Football Fanatics. It originally costs 12 US dollars but you can avail numerous savings or discounts once you order now. This product is probably the most ideal drills in the vast product line of cheap drills in the market. It features a molded rubber grip that is completely comfortable and comes with sport styling.
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