Posted by Ruth Miller on Tue 10th June 2008 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Travel News
Having traveled around Australia’s finest state - Victoria, many times, I can vouch for it’s attraction.
So it came as no surprise to hear that visitor numbers to Victoria are very much on the rise.
According to recent stats visitor numbers have increased by 0.9% to reach 1.5 million for the year ending December 2007, with international visitor expenditure up by 14.6% to AUD$3.1 billion (£1.5 billion). 211,500 visitors were from the UK although there is no break down of those visiting friends and relatives from those visiting as genuine tourists.
Posted by Ruth Miller on Mon 19th May 2008 at 11:27 AM, Filed in Travel News
London has such a wealth of history and things to do, that it can become a little bewildering for visitors. Even for seasoned Londoners like myself, it’s always surprising how little we actually know about this great city.
Soundmap offers a solution. With five different self guided audiowalks you can spend an hour touring the streets of London with music, sound affects and helpful narration ringing in your ears.
Soundmap say:
“Let Irma Kurtz guide you around the streets of Soho, make Max Decarne your guide to the King’s Road, bring Alex Wheatle along as you amble around Brixton, relish Robert Elms’ anecdotes about Camden Town or bring out the best in Brick Lane with Soundmap’s newest addition to the collection - narrated by Tarquin Hall.
Alternatively, why not follow the blood-soaked trail of Sweeney Todd around the streets where his legend was born in this gripping new audiowalk created in partnership with Warner Brothers. The walk features music from the film, audio clips and an exclusive interview with the film’s director, Tim Burton.”
The walks cost just £5.99 per downloadable MP3 tour (can be downloaded onto a CD as well) and make great-value gifts for Londoners and visitors alike - simply pop on a pair of earphones in at the start of the walk (map provided) and let the narrator do the rest.
In June, Soundmap are launching audio-players with pre-recorded walks that will be available for purchase through the website as an alternative to the downloads.
Design Hotels have announced the opening of the Carbon Hotel in Belgium.
The Hotel is well located in the heart of Genk, a well regarded city in Belgium. The construction is part of a significant reinvigoration of the city centre.
The hotel includes 60 rooms incorporating iPod, television, DVD player and generously stocked mini bar.
The top floor includes a vast, 700 m² spa and healing centre, where a sauna, hammam, chromotherapy, relaxation treatments, massage, cocoon corners, herbal baths, tai chi and chakra are available to guests, as is a large terrace with southern exposure.
The hotel also includes a wine bar, restaurant with an open kitchen, and three meeting rooms amongst other facilities.
Carbon Hotel rates range from 105-300 Euros.
Posted by Ruth Miller on Fri 2nd May 2008 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Travel News
The Salty Monk Bed and Breakfast based in Sidmouth won Bed and Breakfast of the year in the annual Enjoy England awards.
Other winners included Jamie Olivers’s Fifteen in Cornwall which was awarded the Taste of England award and the Devonshire Arms in North Yorkshire was voted Small Hotel of the year.
The Small Visitor Attraction award was won by the Roald Dahl museum in Buckinghamshire.
The new Imperial Suite at the Kempinski Bahia Estepona really does include everything you could ever want in a hotel room. At £20,000 ($40,000) a night you kind of wouldn’t expect anything less I guess.
This rather incredible suite includes:
Read more...
