Half-scale versions of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe rise 50 stories above the Las Vegas Strip, drawing visitors into this resort. Your elegant guest room or suite is decorated in a French Regency style and is both opulent and comfortable. Guests will enjoy Le Boulevard district for their shopping pleasure. The Mandara Spa is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Two attractive wedding chapels are located on site. The hotel is connected to Bally's and MGM via a monorail system.
Rooms & Charges: Singles From 227. Doubles From 271.
Hotel Services: 24-hour room service. Air conditioning. Bar. Business facilities. Computer facilities. Disabled access. Hairdresser. Internet access. Minibar. Non-smoking rooms. Parking. Restaurant. Safe deposit. Sauna. Swimming pool. Television. Whirlpool.
Conferences: Seven ballrooms and salons are available, totaling 140,000 square feet of conference space. Convention hallways resemble the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
Special Features: Nine restaurants offering diverse cuisines can be found at the hotel. Activity areas include tennis and basketball courts and a rooftop swimming pool. Two telephone lines, voice mail and dataport available in guest rooms.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
France moving troops to Chad
PARIS, France (CNN) -- The French Defense Ministry said Friday it is dispatching 140 soldiers from Gabon to Chad's capital of N'Djamena as a precaution to protect French citizens after renewed fighting between government troops and rebels.
The ministry spokesman said concerns were raised over the safety of French citizens by reports the Chad military had been fighting a rebel force hostile to President Idriss Deby north and east of N'Djamena.
A ministry spokesman said because of rebel activity in the former French colony, the decision was made to reinforce the garrison of French troops stationed in the city to "ensure the security of French citizens."
The French move came as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said he is "deeply concerned at the resumption of fighting in Chad."
Ban's spokesman said he "deplores any action that could worsen the already grave humanitarian situation especially in eastern Chad where the international community is actively engaged in activities to provide relief and secure the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic."
On Thursday, after a series of armed attacks in the eastern Chadian town of Guereda, four staff members with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and 28 local and international staff members of UNHCR's implementing partners were relocated to Abeche, about 300 miles to the southwest. Local authorities do not have the necessary means to protect the aid workers, UNHCR said.
Only essential UNHCR staff remain in Guereda for the time being, operating in conjunction with refugee leaders at two camps, Mile and Kounoungou, where up to 30,000 Darfurian refugees reside.
Speaking from Abeche, UNHCR spokeswoman Annette Rehl described Guereda as "a place without law and order (where) people act with impunity." She cited car-jacking as the most pressing security concern there: "They need cars and telecommunications equipment."
The situation was brought to a head by tensions that have been brewing in the area since Monday between opposition forces and the Chadian National Army. She also referred to clashes between two ethnic groups, the Zaghawas and the Tamas, as affecting the local population.
Security concerns for refugees in Guereda remain high.
"If humanitarian workers are not around, it is impossible to provide adequate protection to the refugees," said Jorge Holly, head of the UNHCR field office in Guereda "But the situation here is getting out of control, and we also have to protect our staff and partners."
The U.N. refugee agency has 12 refugee camps, six field offices and over 200 employees in eastern Chad.
Asked when UNHCR staff would return to the camps, Rehl said, "We need to see how the situation moves, we are having security meetings. We have to see what happens in the political context. Tomorrow this could change. This is typical of Chad."Friday, February 1, 2008
England Travel Tips
The days of showing up at a England hotel and paying whatever price is posted are over simply because it is so easy to find cheap England hotels and discounted England hotel rates on travelandplay.com. Some people still call up a England hotel to make England hotel reservations and pay whatever the rate is, however people are wising up to the many cheap England hotel rates to be found online and since saving money is always a motivating factor many people are shopping and booking online and as a result are receiving cheap England hotel rates for the same room in the same England hotel for the same dates.
What you may not know is there are many websites online that focus solely on providing you with discount England hotels, flights, care rentals and the like. So, finding cheap England hotel rates is as simple as searching online. To find cheap England hotel rates you first need to get on the travelandplay.com. Once there, you should go to a search engine to search for cheap England hotel rates. Be specific when using the search engine, however, because you will want to find as much specific information on cheap England hotel rates as possible while weeding out other information. Keep in mind as well that if you do not find the cheap England hotel rates you are looking for on one search engine you can always try another. However, you will find the best cheap England hotel information on some of the larger search engines.
Greece Travel Tips
Do you have your trip planned to Greece? Got the tickets and everything? Did you remember to reserve a Greece hotel room? Not to worry if you haven't. Its quite a simple task especially in the Internet world. Here are some quick tips for you to consider.
First of all, if you want to find a great deal on a Greece hotel, you should think about being as flexible as you can be. If you stay at certain times of the week, month, or even year you can possibly get a better deal. If you can't be that flexible, how about thinking about staying a little farther from your destination. Now, this only works if you are going someplace where there are many people wanting to stay as close as possible. Instead of staying really close, stay a few miles out in a nice Greece hotel. This can save you a bunch of cash. You may need to drive a little farther, but a few cents in gas compared to the extra in the Greece hotel is nothing.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Want to discover one of the world's favorite countries? Here are some basic facts for the traveler in Spain
When to go
In general, late spring and late summer-early autumn are the best times for traveling in Spain. Fair weather is practically guaranteed, and the countryside is at its best.
High summer is stiflingly hot in most inland areas, including Madrid and the inland cities of Andalusia such as Seville and Córdoba. Big cities, especially Madrid, empty during August, with many shops and restaurants closing, though a visit then does have advantages, such as light traffic (you can even find a parking space).
Summer weather is milder along the Mediterranean coast, but July and August in popular resorts such as the Costa del Sol are best avoided unless you like crowds. Summer along the northern coast of Spain, from the Basque Country to Galicia, can be very pleasant.
Winters along the Mediterranean coast are generally mild, but expect occasional heavy rains - alternating with long spells of glorious sunshine - any time between October and April. In inland areas, winter temperatures can reach below freezing and snow is is not infrequent.
Bear in mind Spain's fiestas when planning a trip - be it to go to them, or to avoid them. During major fiestas such as the San Fermin bull runs in Pamplona or the April Fair in Seville, hotel rates double and even so rooms must be reserved months in advance.
Getting There
Practically all transcontinental flights land at Madrid's Barajas airport, so you will need to book an extra flight if you want to travel by air to another destination in Spain. Air fares between North America and Europe are highly competitive. You might find it cheaper to fly to Spain via another European country. Rates between Great Britain and any number of destinations in Spain are especially worth checking out.
Rail communications between the rest of Europe and Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville are very good. There are also regular ferries between southern England and northern Spain. Major cities in Spain are well connected to continental Europe and each other by motorway.
Entry Formalities
If you are a citizen of a European Union country, all you need to enter Spain is a national identity card. In the case of the United Kingdom, which does not issue such cards, you'll need a passport. Visas for stays of no longer than 90 days are not required for travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, but South Africans do need to apply for a visa before they leave.
Language
A knowledge of Spanish will enrichen a trip to Spain, but you can get by perfectly well with English in the major destinations. Spaniards are in general friendly and tolerant towards foreign visitors.
Getting Around
Spain is a big country - the second largest in western Europe after France - so don't expect to "do Spain" in a week.
Flights between Spanish cities are frequent, but the fares tend to be high. Iberia, Spanair and Air Europa are the major operators.
Train service between the larger cities is excellent, and irreproachably punctual, but slower in the case of smaller regional cities. The bus is an inexpensive alternative.
Driving in Spain
Renting a car is a reasonably-priced option, and by far the best way to travel if you want to enjoy Spain's rich and varied countryside. The major international car hire firms operate in Spain; local companies usually charge somewhat cheaper rates. In any case, it is usually a better bet to reserve and pay for your rental car from home, before you leave.
To rent a car you have to be over 21 and have a valid driver's license. Your national license is valid for driving in Spain as a tourist.
Major roads are generally good, though traffic can be heavy on more popular routes, especially on weekends or during holiday periods. Local roads range from good and pleasant to hair-raisingly narrow and winding. Enquire locally before embarking on a driver to a distant village, and don't take a road just because it is a reassuring color on the road map.
Avoid driving in cities: it can be a nightmare experience, especially if you're unfamiliar with the city or with some of the quirkier local driving habits. Park in a guarded parking area, and take a taxi, which are very good value in Spain. In Madrid, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the excellent Metro (subway) system.
Money Matters
The official currency in Spain is the Euro
Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain, Visa and Masters more so than American Express or Diners. Provided you know your Personal Identification Number, you can use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs in Spain. Often, you'll find the rate of exchange is more favorable than if you go to a bank or exchange bureau. When exchanging money at a bank, avoid converting small amounts at a time, as the minimum commission charged can be prohibitive.
Most Spanish banks close in the afternoon, all day Saturday during summer, and all day Sunday year round.
Value added tax (IVA) is charged on purchases, at a rate of 16% for most goods and services (it is 7% for hotel accommodation). If you are resident of a non-European Union country, you can get a refund of this tax on purchases over 100 Euros in certain participating shops. The refund can be claimed at the airport customs office on your departure: you can either get cash there, or have them send a check to your home address or credit the amount to your credit card.
Staying in Touch
To call abroad from Spain, dial the international access code (00), then your country code (such as 1 for the US, 44 for Great Britain), then the number. If you have a phone card from your home company, you can place a call by dialing your company's access number in Spain:
ATT 900 990 011
MCI 900 990 014
Sprint 900 990 013
British Telecom 900 990 044
Mobile phones can be used in Spain provided they conform to the European GSM standard and the "roam" feature is activated.
Hotels
In general, hotels in Spain are comfortable and good value. Hotels in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are around twice the price as hotels elsewhere in Spain.
Hotels are rated from one to five stars, which gives a rough indication of their facilities, but not of the friendliness or efficiency of the service. Fodor's guide to Spain gives good, up-to-date information on hotels in the major Spanish destinations.
Hotels often offer good deals in slower periods, such as summer in Madrid. When phoning for a reservation, always ask for the room rate, and enquire regarding special offers. Spanish hotels do not normally require your credit card number to accept a reservation.
For more advice on choosing where to stay in Spain, see the article by Nick Inman on Hotels in Spain, and check our Guide to Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada and Seville.
Electrical Current
The electrical current in Spain is 200 volts, 50 cycles AC. Plugs are of the continental type, with two round prongs. American appliances require a transformer and a plug adapter for use in Spain.
Have A Question?
If you have a question regarding any aspect of traveling in Spain, you can obtain personalized travel information from the experts by visiting guidebookwriters.com. In addition, you can post a message in our Forum section to request information or exchange views with other travelers to Spain. For useful on-line sources of information for travelers, head for our Links section and click on "Travel".
Festive party mini-cruises
Festive party mini-cruises
Price: from £ 99.00
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
What better way to celebrate Christmas or see in New Year than on on of our Party Mini-Cruises sailing from Portsmouth to France! You sample some splendid sea voyaging in completely different surroundings, with more than a hint of luxury on board one of the super cruise ferries of award winning Brittany Ferries! These fantastic mini cruises offer both style and comfort of a high standard with some great on board entertainment and also let you soak up some Gallic charm in Rouen, the ancient Capital of Upper Normandy. | |
| Tour operated by Mistral European Holidays | |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
