Elite Travel Portal » United States (USA)

The best of Southern California Beaches

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:53:43 +0000

Southern California beaches, considered as the warmest beaches offers a great entertainment throughout the year. Surfboards, sunshine, sand and swimming are the major attractions for the fun filled vacation at these beaches. There are many beach cities that fall under the southern region of California – Oxnard, Malibu, Ventura, Santa Monica, Torrance Beach, San Pedro, Venice Beach, Solano Beach, San Diego’s Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Colorado Island.
You can check out the different sand colors that are observed. The Pacific Ocean has a medium to pale tan colored sand with few coves and cliffs. The water temperature rises to 70 degrees during the peak in summer season and when it comes to winter season, the temperatures fall below 57 degrees. Air temperatures are also high during summer, reaching to 76 in daytime and 68 during night. This is usually for the month of July to October.
You will find different age groups in all these beaches. Age is no bar to have fun and you can find teenagers, students, children, adults and seniors enjoying the warm beach atmosphere. During the summer time, you are sure to spot more number of teenagers and students who come out to enjoy the lifestyle that California has gained a reputation for – the California cool. You will also come across the foreign nationals who visit the southern California beaches. Southern California, the land of Hollywood, also has many theme parks, the Universal Studios and other attraction that are close to the beaches.
You can visit the Disney land, which is located 15 miles from Orange County beach, which is a part of the southern California beaches experience. You can also visit the county beaches of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.

Grab a guide to Beaches and Parks in Southern California from Amazon.com

Las Vegas Hotel Deals

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:15:13 +0000

If you are a gambling buff and want to make some money while also having a whale of a tie, you would do well to check out some great Las Vegas Hotel Deals. After all, around the globe, people acknowledge the fact that Las Vegas is indeed the Mecca and the ‘real deal’ when it comes to gambling. Not only the games and the casinos, but there is something in the air of Las Vegas that seems so intoxicating as well as exotic. Is it any wonder that people from not only around the US but across the globe seem to be making a beeline for Las Vegas!

While all of this is quite good, there is a downside to it. As is the case with some of the most attractive tourist destinations, hotel rates at Las Vegas can be so prohibitive that you would find it all very tough to get good hotels to make your stay comfortable yet affordable. One of the best known locations is the ‘Strip’ which also happens to have extremely expensive hotels. If you want to make a trip to Las Vegas, it makes immense sense to look online for Las Vegas Hotel Deals. After all, it’s all about planning well and if you plan well in advance. Hotel owners do realize that if they do not offer off season discounts as well as superior services by means of tailor made Las Vegas Hotel Deals, they would miss out on a huge chunk of the budget traveler business that is driving the travel boom across the globe.

Knowing the fact that more than 80% of travel bookings are done online, you would be prudent if you could check out suitable Las Vegas Hotel Deals that provide not only accommodation but also travel and airport transfers, access top casinos and delectable food at very reasonable rates.

Before you leave for Vegas get Blackjack: Play Like The Pros
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Exploring the 5 Boroughs of New York City

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:57:01 +0000

New York City is no doubt the world’s largest and most populous cities. It is capital to the world government, the United Nations. It also hosts head offices of some of the most profitable multinationals on planet earth such as IBM Computer Company, Citigroup and McCann Erickson Group.

Administering New York City is one of the most difficult things to do. It is more than just putting together a superb infrastructure as already exists. It is about uniting the people from the various historical backgrounds, the races and the visitors.

The early city planners considered exploring the 5 boroughs of New York City as a unique model to bring the people together. The zoning of NYC has not balkanized the city, instead it has strengthened the social relationships making it the most cohesive cosmopolitan city.

Now, when exploring the 5 Boroughs of New York City, this is what you expect to see:

Brooklyn: This is considered the city of the immigrants. It is the last born of the city because it came to the fold the NYC in 1898. It is also the most populous with more than 2.5 million people.

Manhattan: This is the financial city of the NYC. It has all the big names in business including the UN headquarters. The popular places such as Madison square garden and the Central park are in this borough.

Queens: This is second to Brooklyn in population size at 2.2. million but has the greatest racial diversity. It has all the three major airports of JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports. It also plays host to USA open tennis tournament.

The Bronx: This is in the most Northern part of NYC and is part of the mainland. It has the largest cooperative housing scheme.

Staten Island: If you want to have a good view of the State of Liberty, then you visit this Island.

Grab the New York City 5 Borough Pocket Atlas on Amazon.com

Sedona Arizona spiritual weekend getaway

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:10:47 +0000

Getaway vacations are not just a good idea for a romantic exercise that is full of an attempt to get the best in wild living, it is also an opportunity to meditate and find a connection in spirit.

Meditation has been proved to have several advantages in management of diseases. Some of the illness that can be managed successfully include hypertension, stress related disorders, terminal illnesses such as cancer and depression. This is why Sedona Arizona spiritual weekend getaway is the best place to be for those seeking a connection with a higher being.

There are several reasons as to why Sedona Arizona spiritual weekend getaway has emerged as one of the best spots in the world for meditation. The natural features such as the rugged mountains and the springs of water provide a Garden of Eden picturesque. The tranquility in this location is just amazing. You will be able to experience serenity beyond the usual.

The accommodation is designed in such a manner that it does not affect the harmony with Mother Nature. The Harmony House Studio is one such place where you will find simple cottages with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Most of the cooking is done during the night when you have the option of making your own food. IN the day and especially if you are part of a group, there would be drives to popular spots and eating of some usual foods.

A standard 3 day meditation and tourism would include 2 nights in this house. You will be able to receive healing for various ailments through the prayers and massage. In addition you can have sessions to manage the emotional feeling s especially those of guilt. The vortex ceremony is synonymous with the Sedona Arizona spiritual weekend getaway. You can spend some afternoons in the spa or climbing the hills.

Pick up Sedona: Treasure of the Southwest at Amazon.com

The Magic of Atlantic City New Jersey

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:57:47 +0000

There are some people for whom vacations mean just Hawaii, Miami or perhaps Las Vegas. But if you want to check out the road less traveled and a holiday destination less mentioned but no less interesting, you would do very well to check out Atlantic City New Jersey. Contrary to popular perception and knowledge, this city has so much to offer those who want a good time, let their hair down and generally enjoy themselves. In terms of sight seeing, entertainment and night life, this city can give other better known cities a serious run for their money.

One of the big attractions at Atlantic City New Jersey is the beautiful sights of the city that are quite captivating which include the sea side Marina as well as the boardwalk which is indeed iconic in its own way. You also have a choice of many enrapturing night life options which include the Party Pit, Gladiator Sports Bar and also the Forum Lounge. People of all ages love to just get their hair down and enjoy the time of their lives in this exciting and thrilling arena in Atlantic City. Apart from this you can also have a look at the Boardwalk Hall which is made famous by the fact that it hosts the inimitable Miss America pageant show each year to the delight of millions of TV watchers around the nation.

If you are an avid gambler, you need not necessarily head out to Las Vegas as you can check out the many casinos at Atlantic City New Jersey. There are also a number of poker tournaments that you can check out so that you can place a bet and see if you can win. Those who love the good life and good times can easily look out for the Comedy Stop Café and the Improv Comedy bar to enjoy a hearty laugh.

Atlantic City: One Hundred Twenty-Five Years of Ocean Madness

15 best places to eat in Chicago

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:41:59 +0000

One thing about Chicago is that you will realize the city is vulcanized into unique metropolis. The most important tip when planning for the 15 best eating places to eat in Chicago is to put in mind this factor and know that you will expect a certain delicacy in one part of the city and another in the other part.

Starting from the Lincoln Park to the Old Town Chicago or the Wicker Park, the Grant Park and Wrigley Field, there are varying experiences. This is what the 15 best places to eat in Chicago are known as the metromix. It is a reflection of the diversity of the people who live in this city.

In the Greek town, Harry Caray’s is one eatery joint that you simply cannot fail to sample. You will be spoiled for choice of the Greek restaurants. The Ann Sather’s is one of those most prized eating points.

For great breakfast, the IMHO is a good place to sample. The Walker Brother’s on the shore is a definitely not a place that can disappoint you. It is very professionally run and serves great pancakes.

Among the 15 best places to eat in Chicago, your list must have the hot spots that serve Indian hot plates. The Khan’s is an all time favorite, their Parantha is just great. Still in the far East is the Semiramis, which serves Persian foods or the Pars Cove on 4639 N Kedzie Ave. Other places to consider for the Middle Eastern cuisine include the Noon O Kabab.

If you want to spend modestly, then S&G is the place to be. This is located at the junction of Lincoln and Wellington on the Northern side.

Bon a petit!

Pick up the Not for Tourists – Guide to Chicago

San Francisco – The city by the Bay

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:03:26 +0000

When you watch this city with the Golden Gate in the front, you cannot avoid but marvel at the creativity behind San Francisco. It is a beautiful creation with a combination of old town and the modern day sky scrapers. It is the most beautiful Bay City in California. The population is close to a million people. Most of these people are from various nationalities and races and therefore one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the USA.

This began to take shape in the 1766 by Spanish missionary settlers who set up a Mission called the Francis of Assisi at the present day Gold Gate. In 1848, the discovery of Gold in California and the resulting rush for it lead to rapid population growth. Other benefits such as the bays have lead to increased business along the bays.

The present day design and the building architecture benefited from the largest modern day history of destruction in the 1906. This was caused by an earthquake of high magnitude and followed by a huge fire that virtually destroyed the whole city and destroyed many lives.

San Francisco is the chief financial center of US. It hosts more than 30 institutions. These have been stable over a long time in history and have not crashed with major financial meltdowns such as the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression.

In fact, the financial stability of these institutions is best known by the fact that two major landmarks were built during the periods of the Great depression. These are the Gold Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge.

The Chinatown is one of the latest attractions and a great place to shop. You will experience real China in the US. The Chinese New Year parade is as spectacular as the one on Hong Kong or Beijing. This is how much the immigrants feel at home in San Francisco.

Grab The Cheap Bastard’s Guide to San Francisco on Amazon

Hawaiian Airlines First Class Review – Part II

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:53:10 +0000

We were airborne and on our way to Honolulu. Out the left window we could see Palos Verdes on a beautiful partly cloudy day. After about an hour into the flight, the flight attendants began service.

We enjoyed hot breakfast including quiche, sausage, eggs, and fresh fruit. The menu was designed by a chef on the islands according to a story on the menu itself.

The breakfast and beverages really hit the spot, so we settled in for a movie.

Five short hours we were on the ground and the pilots were nice enough to let us have a quick photo in the cockpit.

Hawaiian Airlines First Class Review – Part I

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:51:55 +0000

Preflight:

There is no doubt that recently the airlines have been cutting back. I guess I still didn’t expect the cuts to be as noticeable in First Class, but they were.

First let me say that this was our honeymoon trip, so we didn’t want to leave anything to chance, we purchased the first class tickets full-fare.

After paying so much, we wanted the service that went along with it, and were disappointed before we even got on the flight.

The gate agent sent us to the first class lounge to relax before we boarded the flight. The big downer about the Hawaiian first class lounge is that there was no booze. I’m left to wonder why they would even bother to set up a F/C lounge if the perks were just extra peanuts and free coffee/juice.

I asked the person in the F/C lounge if there were macadamia nuts at least, or some sort of Hawaiian themed food, but alas, there was none.

Needless to say, we didn’t stay in the lounge very long before we headed down to the main terminal area at LAX. We at least had to have a couple of Bloody Marys with the great unwashed public (i.e. the non-First Class people). Those drinks hit the spot!

Boarding:
We took every advantage to cut the line, and use the velvet rope privileges that go along with the first class tickets. This means that we were able to board the plane first and observe the rude behavior of a couple of other fellow passengers while they inconvenienced everyone in line. The big drama came when this high maintenance chick couldn’t put her backpack in her preferred storage space. As we settled into our seats, we were able to catch the attention of one of the 2 f/c flight attendants, a female who was long in the tooth finally gave us our champagne and guava pre-departure mimosas.

Washington State’s San Juan Islands

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:48:09 +0000

The San Juan Islands in Washington State are located approximately 150 miles north of Seattle, in the middle of the vast ocean inlet formed by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia. They consist of small groups of picturesque islands and rocky shores covered by dense forests and vast agricultural fields. The largest are San Juan Island, Orca Island and Lopez Island.

You can reach the San Juan Islands by flying directly from Seattle by airplane or seaplane. Or drive 100 miles to the north of Seattle, and then head west to the town of Anacortes. From there, the System of Washington State Ferries will take you to any one of the main islands.

There are those who come to the islands just to relax and enjoy the scenery. You can explore on foot, rent a bicycle or simply drive the islands, visiting the dense forests of redwoods, rocky elevations and small fishing villages hidden in confined bays. A lot of people come to fish in the waters adjacent to its abundant shoals for salmon and cod. There are those who rent kayaks to explore the great rocky walls and be in the midst of the magnificent killer whales as they travel through the Straits or to spy on the majestic eagles flying above the island.

What would a trip to the San Juan Islands be without experiencing the magnificent Orcas? There are three groups or families of these magnificent killer whales living in the waters around the islands. Usually they fish for salmon on the west coast of San Juan Island and almost every day they can be seen near the surface or jumping out of the water along the coast.

The best place to see whales from shore is Lime Kiln Point State Park, nicknamed Whale Watch Park. The rocky outcroppings that surround the small lighthouse offers a clear view of the whales’ favorite feeding grounds where they can be seen almost every day. The best way to see the Orcas up close is to take a charter whale watching boat cruise. All of the charters communicate with each other by radio, so they always know where the whales are.

Kayaking is the perfect way to enjoy the islands and wildlife. From a kayak, moving silently through the waters, you can observe eagles, seals, killer whales and other wildlife in an atmosphere of quiet intimacy. You can join a guided half-day expedition or there are kayaking expeditions that will take you out for several days and include camping on island beaches.

There are restaurants, galleries, shops and boutiques on the main islands and an interesting Whale museum in Friday Harbor. There are no traditional hotels on the islands, but there are many quaint inns, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals.