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Surf with a legend with this unique hotel package

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

Are you a keen surfer with some extra cash? Then this clever hotel holiday package by boutique hotel chain Joie de Vivre is bound to excite you.

Joie de Vivre Hotels is giving surfing enthusiasts the chance to relive Endless Summer, the iconic surf documentary from 1966 that helped launch surfing. The film features California surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson travelling the world - from West Africa to Australia to Tahiti - in search of the wildest waves.

And for $5,200, the "Endless Summer Ultimate Surf Package" gets you surfing time with Robert August at some of Southern California's most legendary breaks.

After a day in the ocean you can kick back with August and his son, surfer Sam August, to chat over cocktails and appetizers on the beach.

The package includes a beach-front room at the Pacific Edge Hotel in Laguna Beach, plus surfing filmmaker Bruce Brown's "Ultimate Summer" DVD set and a six-pack of Karl Strauss' Endless Summer Lager. You can even request one of August's custom-made boards for an additional charge.

The package is available now through March 31, 2012.

What other kinds of instant-access packages would you like to see a hotel company provide?

 

Texas Pinball Festival

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The 2011 Texas Pinball Festival will be held this weekend from March 25th-27^th with over 10,000 square feet of pure game room fun!

There will be over 175 pinball machines, classic video games and other game room goodies set up on free play for everyone to enjoy the entire weekend, leave your quarters at home!

Plus many vendors, collectors and hobbyist from the area bringing parts, supplies, game room memorabilia, pinballs, slot machines, jukeboxes & video games for sale.

The Texas Pinball Festival will be open for night owls until 2am on Friday and Saturday evening including a cash bar with food and drinks and a variety of adults and children's tournaments will be conducted throughout the weekend to test your pinball skills against others for trophies, ribbons and cash prizes. 

Celine Dion's new show is a thundering success

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The reviews are in on Celine Dion's new show at Caesars Palace and it seems the Canadian songstress is a huge hit.

After a 3 year break from Vegas some thought it could be a disastrous comeback but she is currently being compared to Frank Sinatra as she sings her classics to the accompaniment of a 31-piece orchestra.

Newsweek called the international superstar the 'biggest act since Elvis,' while the addition of a 31-piece orchestra 'brings to mind Vegas's Rat Pack glory days.'

Dany Bouchard of the Journal de Montreal called it 'a resounding success that definitely trumps the sold-out first run.' He said the big-band spectacular ‘combines the energy of a pop show with the refinement of a classical music concert. If Las Vegas was counting on Canada's greatest pop superstar to help drag it out of the recession once and for all, Celine just might deliver.'

Would you go to see Celine Dion on your Las Vegas trip?

 

St Patrick's Day Celebrations

Check out this photo gallery from USA Today with lots of colourful images of St Patrick's Day celebrations around the world.

http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/St.-Patrick%27s-Day-celebrations-around-the-world/G2117,A8719

Think you've got the world's best job?

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Tourism Queensland has come up with another competition that’s bound to capture people’s imaginations around the world. The Million Dollar Memo is new campaign targeting the global incentive travel market by offering companies and workplaces around the world the opportunity to compete for AUD $1,000,000 worth of travel experiences to Queensland, Australia.

"Great companies are built by the great people within them, so we'd like to reward that hard work by giving one lucky company the chance to win the Ultimate Reward - AUD $1,000,000 worth of Queensland travel experiences for their staff," said Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes.

"We've sent the Million Dollar Memo to thousands of companies and workplaces worldwide, inviting them to showcase their organization to a global audience by telling us why they are the best company in the world and why their employees deserve the AUD $1,000,000 worth of unique travel experiences to Queensland.

"It doesn't matter if you work for a global sporting company, a software giant or a small-town bakery, if you have 3,000 employees or only three – the Million Dollar Memo is open to companies and workplaces around the world," Hayes said.

All you have to do is create a convincing one-minute video explaining why you have the best job in the world and why Queensland is "the ultimate reward destination."

After two rounds of on-line voting and judging by committee, 20 individual finalists will be shipped off to the Australian state for a Survivor-esque Incentive Challenge Event.

The contest is open to anyone from any workplace. Videos must be submitted by May 1st. Finalists will be paired down to 50 and then a final 20 (including "People's Choice" favorites). The winning company will be announced August 31^st.

 

 

 

Atlanta the world's busiest airport

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International is the world's busiest airport with Beijing's Capital International a close second.EnlargeClose

Beijing surpassed London's Heathrow Airport in passenger traffic last year, becoming the second busiest airport in the world, according to a preliminary report released yesterday by Airports Council International.

Heathrow’s figures were affected last year by snow storms, a volcanic eruption in Iceland, and strikes by airline workers that led to massive cancellations of flights.

Beijing's ascent highlights the rise of the Asia Pacific region which is on the cusp of becoming the biggest air travel market in the world, mostly because of China's increasing economic dominance.

"Given China's massive population base, a population that is increasingly able to travel by air, and China's role in global commerce and tourism ... China will be the primary driver behind much of the region's growth," says Henry Harteveldt, airline analyst with Forrester Research. "Given the current situation in Japan, it's possible that China's growth and dominance may become even more pronounced, as travel within, from and to Japan will undoubtedly soften to some extent near-term."

But Atlanta, a hub for Delta and low-cost carrier AirTran, held on to the top spot.

"Atlanta has the benefit of having a very strong global carrier, as well as a strong low-fare airline," says Deborah McElroy, executive vice president for policy and external affairs for Airports Council International, North America. "That blend allowed the airport to be able to better withstand some of the challenges of the economic recession. Having the two hubs with a varied traffic mix was one of the reasons they were able to retain that top spot."

The report was based on the responses from more than 900 airports globally and the final survey will be released later this year.

What's the busiest airport you've ever been in?

Woman sues over Vegas stag party antics

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Now we all know what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there, but as one man recently found this isn’t always the case.

The Las Vegas Sun has reported that a Chicago woman filed suit against her ex-fiance last Friday, after she found text messages showing he was intimate with a woman he met during his Sin City stag party.

Lauren Serafin filed suit against Robert Leighton, charging that he was unfaithful and failed to repay the $62,814 she spent on a wedding and honeymoon that never happened.

Both lawyers, the couple planned to marry last August but she says claims while her fiancé was in Las Vegas for his stag party, he met a woman and partied with her in his hotel room.

"Defendant, seemingly believing that 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,' denied that anything happened between himself and Danielle in Las Vegas," the lawsuit says.

Serafin says that after first denying a hookup, her onetime bridegroom told her he would not marry her, the lawsuit says. It adds that Leighton later admitted to the indiscretion, and that "Danielle" apologised to Serafin, "claiming defendant deceived her as well by not advising her that he was in Las Vegas attending his own bachelor party and that he was engaged."

The lawsuit also says Serafin made nonrefundable deposits for the reception, honeymoon and more and "suffered humiliation" when she had to explain to everyone why she would not be walking down the aisle. Leighton declined comment.

Top 10 restaurants in Las Vegas

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

If you’re off to Las Vegas on holiday this year you will be overwhelmed with the host of dining possibilities. Don’t fret however because an opinionated guide book to Sin City eateries has just been published. Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants is collaboration from three of the town's top restaurant critics. There's much disagreement on the pages of the book but here are the top 10 restaurants according to critics John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini.

*ALEX at Wynn Las Vegas (now closed)

*BARMASA at ARIA

*Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Encore Hotel & Casino

*CUT at The Palazzo

*Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand

*L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand

*Picasso at the Bellagio

*Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace

*RM Upstairs at Mandalay Bay

*Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at the Mandarin Oriental

As you can see the list is heavy on luxury Strip resorts and if you visit most of these restaurants prepare to drop some serious money. The book does spotlight some lower-cost locals' favorites too though, such as China Mama and Raku in Chinatown, and M&M Soul Food Cafe. Star-watching venues include N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms Casino Resort and the Mon Ami Gabi bistro on Las Vegas Boulevard, part of the Paris resort.

Readers, what's your favorite Vegas restaurant?