Sphere Hotel Concept is Stunning

Amazing hotel designs keep springing up all over the place at the moment. This ?Sphere Hotel' looks so cool and is planned to be located somewhere between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Visitors to the hotel will access it by an aerial route as it?ll be constructed on an artificial island, about 300 meters away from the beach. The Sphere will feature 200 rooms in 14 floors that will comfortably accommodate about 1000 guests, together with public business zones, boutiques, restaurants, bars and numerous other entertainment areas.

The Sphere Hotel is a concept architectural design that aims to promote a healthy and comfortable holiday destination.


Apart from offering a secluded retreat in the very lap of nature, the Sphere will also promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. With moist beach air flowing across the structure, the Sphere will make use of natural air conditioning. While the hotel will exploit the natural light coming through the glass panels to light the rooms during the daytime, on the other, the thermal glass facade will generate adequate solar power to fulfill all energy requirements.

Post Office® Foreign Exchange and Travel Insurance popular as ever

The Post Office� has been named Britain's Best Foreign Exchange Company at the 2008 British Travel Awards - for the second year in a row.

The UK's largest bureau de change provider beat off competition from several major competitors to secure a third* of all votes in the category.

The Post Office� was also voted Best Travel Insurance Company for the third year in a row.

The British Travel Awards is the largest of its kind in the UK. This year more than 90,000 votes were cast by consumers and industry professionals across a range of categories.

Helen Warburton, Post Office� head of travel services, said: "It's an honour to be chosen as the people's favourite travel money provider and travel insurer again this year. We have the largest bureau de change network in the UK handling 14 million transactions annually and issue over one million travel policies every year. We continually review our services to ensure they meet customer needs."

Lorraine Barnes Burton, CEO, said: "The British Travel Awards are highly regarded within the industry and the Post Office� has once again proven that it is a leader amongst travel insurance and foreign exchange providers."

The Post Office� is the largest bureau de change provider in the UK, offering over 72 different currencies with 0% commission on all foreign currency and travellers' cheques. The Post Office� pre-paid Travel Money Card offers customers a secure and convenient way to carry their holiday money.

The Post Office� Credit Card charges 0% commission for all purchases made overseas and also offers customers the flexibility to pay for two large purchases at any time at a discounted fixed rate - ideal for splashing out on holiday!

Customers can buy currency over the counter at over 8,000 Post Office� branches nationwide. The full range of currencies is available on demand at 1600 branches, euros and US dollars are available on demand at more than 2,500 branches and 3,800 branches sell euros over the counter. Customers can pre-order currency for next day collection at any Post Office� branch in the UK.

To find your nearest Post Office� bureau de change branch call 08457 223344 or visit postoffice.co.uk

Dubai - Playground of the Wealthy

Dubai is often featured on this blog, and remains one of the few regions unaffected by the credit crunch, still sailing high on massive oil profits. Flights to Dubai are still available at prices starting from �233 up to �938 for business class.

• Hotels: Luxury is the key word in Dubai, which is home to some of the grandest accommodation on the planet. Perhaps most famous is the landmark design of the Burj Al Arab. Named as the Best Hotel in the World at the World Travel Awards 2007, its sail-like exterior and top class interior offer five-star deluxe treatment. However, more modest facilities are available within Dubai City, such as Grosvenor House and the Grand Hyatt.





Burj-Al-Arab




• Attractions: If you can drag yourself away from the hotel spa, take time to see some of the sites which are located around Dubai City. Although the area is primarily associated with the modern, local history is very accessible in the shape of the Dubai Museum, the Heritage and Diving Village and the old district of Bastakiya.





Dubai Museum




• Shopping: If you've a hankering for designers galore, then Dubai is for you. All the major labels are represented, with many contained in department stores such as Harvey Nichols and within a selection magnificent malls. Local goods are also available, such as traditional textiles in local markets or the Deira City Centre. You may also be tempted by the gold products which are a hallmark of the area - try the Gold Souk for the best designs in various carats.




Deira city center



• Excursions: Nature beckons beyond the confines of the city. Tours can take you by 4x4 into the depths of the desert, some of which is a unique conservation reserve. To make the most of the trip, stay overnight in hotels such as the Al Maha Desert Resort, located in the heart of the region. Desert safaris can offer a package deal with dinner and entertainment.




Al Maha Pool at Sunset



• Family: The Wonderland Family Fun Park is next to the Al Boom Tourist Village, and includes water attractions, camel rides, rollercoasters and indoor games in an air-conditioned centre if the hot weather gets too much.




Al-boom



• Getting Around: Cars are available for rental, either from the airport or from a variety of outlets in the city centre. Most hotels will be able to book tours which run to excursions, while the city area can be walked or taxis taken for longer distances. A local bus service also runs, with details of routes available locally.




Dubai Traffic

Luxury Hotels in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the mecca for playing casino games.

One of the most visible aspects of Las Vegas' cityscape is its use of dramatic themes. The theme of luxury hotels and casinos on the Strip has established the city as one of the most popular destinations for tourists and gamblers.





Due to the number of hotels, choosing a luxury themed hotel can lead to lots of decisions, including:

• The theme
• The Price
• The Location
• Casinos Available
  

There are lots of luxury hotels, but here are a few to view:

Venetion Hotel

Experience the romance of Italy in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Beauty and grace surround you at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, where every detail has been carefully designed to provide you with a memorable stay

The Palazzo Casino Hotel

Each suite at The Palazzo is specifically fashioned with your comfort and convenience in mind. A sunken living room decorated with a distinctly modern European design. Marble-appointed baths with oversized bath sheets










Bellagio Hotel

Contentment and opulence are the hallmarks of your Bellagio luxury hotel experience. A retreat unto themselves, the 3,933 Guest Rooms and Suites are an extension of our AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Las Vegas hotel.

Can't Afford the Luxury?

Of course, if you can't afford the flights and accommodation but still want to play casino games like the ones in Vegas, why not try some online casinos.

Saddam Hussein Luxury Yacht

The government of Iraq is selling the yacht of its former leader Saddam Hussein, Itar-Tass reports. The existence of the 80-meter-long Basra Breeze yacht (formerly known as Qadisiyah Saddam and Ocean Breeze) has been classified for a long time.

It was moored in the south of France along with millionaires? vessels, and is currently expecting its new owner in Greece. The starting price for the floating palace is $20 million.

The floating palace, originally named Qadissiyat Saddam, after a famous Arab victory over the Persians in 637 AD, was made by Danish shipbuilders in 1981, telegraph.co.uk reports

The yacht, now renamed Ocean Breeze and moored off Nice, is an astonishing testament to the playboy lifestyle enjoyed by Saddam and his entourage.

It is decorated throughout with fine mahogany, gold, silver and marble, and was described by its builders as "lavish in every detail and very Arabic in style".

There are bathrooms with gold taps, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, hi-tech entertainment suites and games parlours, including table tennis and pool tables, and flat-screen TVs in almost every cabin.

The yacht was built for Saddam Hussein by Danish engineers. The vessel was complete in 1981. Outwardly, it does not look so modern anymore, although the interior of the yacht was created to meet Hussein?s royal requirements. Gold, marble and other expensive materials along with mahogany furniture were used in the decoration of the luxury yacht. The Basra Breeze also has a secret passage, which allows the owner to access a motor boat and escape in case of emergency. The yacht is also outfitted with two surgery rooms and a special operation room. To crown it all, the yacht was equipped with a ground-to-air missile system, which is not going to be auctioned.

The yacht legally belongs to the incumbent government of Iraq. Organizers of the auction say that it would be na�ve for them to think that the auction market has not been affected with the global economic situation, although they hope for success.

Travel Deals from Recession Fears

If there?s one upside to a downturn, it?s that the consumer suddenly has new power: it?s a buyer?s market. Paradoxically, the eve of a recession might be just the time to consider that long-promised long weekend away because now, more than ever, those hard-pressed hotels want your business. So, in this season of mists, mellow fruitfulness and monetary meltdown, hunt around for a bargain.

Luxury hotels may not slash their rates by half, but there will be special seasonal offers and they?ll often reduce their guests? bills in other ways such as free room upgrades, free meals or free spa treatments. The mantra is: Don?t Hesitate to Negotiate.

Many of Luxique?s selection of 60-odd luxury Paris hotels, for instance, have special offers and packages. Le Meurice, which has a fine location on the fashionable rue de Rivoli, has a range of special offers including honeymoon and family deals as well as a Da Vinci Code package. This includes a private visit to the Louvre Museum with expert guide, a gift book about the Da Vinci Code and free access to the hotel?s sauna and fitness centre.

At another of the luxury Paris hotels, the Plaza Athenee - located between the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower - there?s a string of special offers. They include a festive winter trip that features ice skating and a tour in a horse and carriage. Fans of Sex And The City will know that part of the last TV episode was shot at the hotel, so it?s no surprise there?s an SATC package, promising a Carrie cocktail, a chocolate shoe made by the hotel?s renowned pastry chef and a ?must have? shopping booklet.

Even the smaller boutique hotels Paris are urging you to enter their elegant portals. The Hotel de Vigny, part of the Relais & Chateaux group, just wants you to wallow in the romance of it all. Its special offer is for a one-night stay with champagne, flowers, buffet breakfast, gourmet dinner for two and ?a prestigious jewel.?

Visit the Luxique website for a great selection of Luxury hotels http://www.luxique.com

By the way, one of the great attractions of Paris is a visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, about ten miles from the city centre. It?s been undergoing a refurbishment and the latest section to be restored is the Petit Trianon, the mini-chateau where Marie Antoinette escaped for some rest and relaxation.

The neo-classical building has been renovated to recreate its intimate atmosphere. Curators said their intention was to avoid a stuffy museum feel, making it seem instead as though the 18th century queen and her entourage had ?just stepped away for a moment.?