The Drake hotel review

The Drake only opened in February 2004, but it has already earned a following that includes some famous faces (musical group the Black Eyed Peas and actress Heather Graham have stayed here).
Part of the appeal is the hotel's rags-to-riches pedigree: Formerly a flophouse in a run-down Toronto neighborhood called Parkdale, the Drake was rescued by owner Jeff Stober, who injected C$6 million (US$4.8 million) into creating a boutique hotel. The renovation is gorgeous, and Stober's timing was excellent -- when he bought the property in 2001, the steady march of gentrification had already begun on Queen Street West. Even though the Drake is on its western fringe, Parkdale is less shabby and more chic, and there are some terrific restaurants, galleries, and shops within walking distance.
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The 19 guest rooms are absolutely tiny -- they range from 14 to 28 sq. m (150-300 sq. ft.) -- but they are cleverly designed and have good amenities (CD/DVD players and lovely linens, for example). Still, the rates have gone up steeply since the hotel opened, and spending a minimum of C$159 (US$127) per night for a 150-sq.-ft. "Crash Pad" is hard to regard as a deal. I do love the neighborhood and the property, but you're definitely paying a premium for the "cool" factor if you stay here.

The Drake's strength is in its public spaces, and for a property this small, it has an awful lot. There are a restaurant and bar, a rooftop lounge, and a cafe; an exercise studio for yoga classes and a massage room; and a performance venue, the Underground, that features live music. There are also works of art throughout the hotel.
The Drake has been warmly welcomed by Toronto's arts community, and this is the one hotel in town where you're far more likely to meet city residents than visitors. Still, there's no getting away from the facts that this hotel is far from the downtown core and that access to public transit is limited to the Queen Street streetcar.

Great family vacation this summer

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Just how much fun is a family vacation with small children in tow? That can depend on whether you spend more time sweating and waiting in line than enjoying a ride at an amusement park. Or, if after a morning of activities enjoyed by young and old, you are reclining at the edge of the pool with a cool drink watching the kids have a great time.

To make your vacation more fun and less stressful, planning the fight activities and place to visit are key.

"Our number one recommendation always is to be sure you choose the fight resort or location for the trip," said Ray Anne Ryan, president and owner of Travel Affiliates, which has offices in Gulfport and Ocean Springs. "Choose a place that is kid-friendly with children's program. For restaurants, you want kid-size prices and kid-size portions for the best value."

Best bet? Place with a pool

Cruise ships are a popular choice for families because there are appropriate activities for all ages of children. And no matter what the destination for a vacation, a pool can make all the difference.

"Depending on the ages of children, they just love a pool," Ryan said. "And they love other kids. You can choose a condominium environment with the beach, or head to the mountains as long as it has a pool. The children always love time in the water."

By choosing a hotel with a pool, it is possible for parents to indulge their own special interests such as visiting museums and other cultural institutions.

"It opens the door for parents to visit an area that might have special interest for them," Ryan said. "It is possible to stay away from a crowded amusement venue and still have a wonderful time for the children and the parents. It can be a little lower key, less energy expended and more relaxing. Age appropriate activities are the key. A lot of cities now have children's museums and children's activities."

Visiting a major city like Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York isn't what most people think of as a family vacation. The beach, the mountains or an amusement park are the most common choices. But cities can also be exciting places to visit.

"Our clients enjoy cities," Ryan said. "That is something many families don't think of. Some of our cities have wonderful opportunities for families. Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York, for example, are wonderful places with the museums and age appropriate activities for children. I hate that families don't always consider cities. A lot of times it can be very affordable with good air rates, and good weekend deals at hotels. It can really be a great buy. You can go to Atlanta and, instead of going to Six Flags, do things in the city area with the children's museum. You have a morning outing and then go back to the pool."

There is nothing like a lost kid to put a real kink in vacation fun. Plan ahead for good communications. A lot of families now have cell phones for the adults and kids. Walkie talkies are another option.

"We like to have contact with our children," Ryan said. "We like walkie talkies in some destinations to help you stay in touch."

Family cruisin'

Marion E. Kohut, travel consultant, Roberts Travel, Columbus, agrees that cruises are an excellent option because parents can relax for a major part of the day while kids get to be kids.

"Most of the cruise lines have activities planned at least six hours per day for the children and staff there to take care of the children," Kohut said. "They are with kids their own age. The teenagers are together. So, cruises are a really good choice for children. It keeps them busy. They won't get bored. Cruises give parents a break."

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Help along the way

Another option, particularly for large families, is bringing along a teenager to help with younger children. Kohut said often it is someone who is a regular babysitter for the children.

Just like adults, some children are better travelers than others. And it may be best to wait until kids are seven years or older to better appreciate international travel--and the very long flights sometimes necessary to get to foreign lands.

Kohut recommends planning ahead to have games, books and snacks for the kids when traveling. And don't rush it.

"Always check in early," she said. "Don't get behind schedule with kids. All in all, most children travel well these days because they are pretty well scheduled at home, as well. And when you reach a destination, plan in some down time. Don't try to do too much."

While traveling with young children can be stressful, you might want to enjoy the family vacations as long as they last.

"Teenagers often don't want to travel with their parents anymore," Kohut said. "So get in the trips when they are smaller."

A lot of resorts are now specializing in family vacations. Besides the usual theme park destinations, many Caribbean resorts offer special family packages.

"They have camps, day care, organized games and projects for children," says Saundra Lane, manager, Mainstream Travel, Greenville. "That has become a real popular thing. Some resorts you can actually get sitters or nannies to stay with your children. These people have been thoroughly checked out. We do use that option a lot when families go snow skiing and take younger children."

Thinking big

The family vacation doesn't have to be limited to the immediate family. A vacation can be a chance for extended families perhaps scattered around the country or world to come together.

"We have actually seen where entire families have reunions and do vacations," Lane said. "I'm doing a cruise now for 60 people who are doing a family reunion."

Lane has another tip. Don't think you need long periods of time off to have a family vacation. Long weekends where the family leaves on Thursday and returns on Sunday can be a great way to have some fun without spending a fortune.
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It can be interesting - Travel insurance

Beautiful Prague

Czech Republic today is one of the most attractive sites in Central Europe, and Prague-Magic, Well, Gold is the most popular and beloved central Czech town of tourists.

Excellent rest saturated excursions and high quality care in the famous Czech spa attracted each year more and more Russians to surf on the Czech Republic. A high level of service, combined with the relatively low prices compared to Western Europe are solid and important factors in the selection of Russian consumers of this area. For nearly 10 years, our great pleasure to tourists throughout the year go to the Czech Republic : have the opportunity to get to know his beautiful Prague, enjoy the beauty of Karlovy Vary, may look at the mysterious interiors of the Czech castle Gluboka Vltava and Zhleby and learn secrets of the ancient medieval cities, Cesky Krumlov and Kutna Hora. You can book hotel and save up to 75%

Carlsbad

Carlsbad is the largest and most famous spa in the Czech spas, in the city, there are 12 with a temperature of 40 to 73 degrees. The best known is a source of spring, where the water rises key punches in a geyser, reaching a height of 10-15 metres. Carlsbad mineral water have on the body significantly, reaching effects, and their chemical composition are among the most efficient in the world. Spa treatment is in the city very long and constantly evolving tradition. Carlsbad is located in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains Krushnymi, at the confluence of two rivers, and Tepla River. This beautiful city parks, fine, historically valuable buildings and perfect hotels, beautiful products of porcelain and glass, and, of course, mineral sources, which went from mysterious depths beautifully decorated pavilions.

Zhleby Zhleby Castle, the residence of Czech ancient feudal kind Lihtenburgov, located in a beautiful forest. This is the only castle in the Czech Republic, which is really cast. His castle architecture recalls medieval knight housing. Crossed the threshold of the castle, you can find antique tale of brave knights, beautiful ladies, and wise kings. Ancient castle chapel, a Renaissance staircase, veranda and chivalrous knights' halls, Tirolerisch room, bedroom and galleries, all visitors will be able to lock on the history of the Middle Ages.

Gluboka over the Vltava

The 83-metre-high cliff with 13 century stands the most beautiful castle Bohemia. It was rebuilt several times, most recently in the form of copies of Windsor Castle in England, and is now only in the style castle in the Czech Republic. The castle contains a rich collection of furniture, a Dutch painting ages 16-17, weapons, pottery, glass and tapestries.

Kutna Hora

The city Kutna Hora one of the world's monuments under the protection of UNESCO. Successful exploitation of silver ore in the Middle Ages, Kutna Hora was the second most important after Prague in the Czech city of the kingdom. Wealth and prosperity to the Architectural off, during which were built excellent facilities : Late church of St. Barbara, Italian palaces, which began to mint the first Czech coppers, brick house.

Cesky Krumlov

The city Cesky Krumlov based in the 13 st century Vitkovtsev dynasty, and at that time, when the city was owned by the powerful and wealthy of the Communist dynasty Rozhmberkov, he became the center of South Bohemia. Excellent Renaissance buildings, rich paintings decorate the walls of buildings in the Land Technology, uzenkie streets - all in a climate of the Middle Ages, quiet and conducive to a great pastimes.

Prague is one of the most elegant and beautiful cities in Europe. The architectural ensemble of the city combines all styles represented in the history of art, and coexisting harmoniously on the streets : Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, classical, modern.

Capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, is the nine hills, which opened many unexpected and beautiful species of the Prague Kremlin and the Royal Palace. Especially beautiful panorama of the main city Vltava River, which divides the city into two parts. Each is unique in its own way, and known for its historic districts-District, the Party of Malaya, Old City, New City and the Jewish Quarter. On the river, in the city lie seven scenic islands, one island Camp. A couple Vltava maked over 18 bridges, the oldest and famous of which is Charles Bridge, known for his sculptures of saints and arcades.

Dozens, hundreds of sculptural compositions found in the city : the squares, streets, in yards and on buildings, in parks and succulent. Many generations of artists and musicians, Mozart, List, Beethoven, Goethe, Chapek, Gashek, Fly-draw in Prague source of his inspiration, the great artists lived here, and did hailed Prague in their works.

Today, Prague is not only a beautiful decoration and architectural monuments of past eras, but a great center of modern music, drama and poetry of Europe.

Destinations and our dollars

Do you want to take a cheap summer vacation in a foreign country. What are some fun spots where your dollar will go far?

The dollar has been weakening against most currencies over the past several years, but there are still some good deals out there - especially in Latin America and Asia.

Countries like Argentina and Costa Rica and cities like Bangkok and Beijing have been popular vacation spots for decades, but over the past year they have experienced big jumps in tourism as the dollar loses its buying power in old European standbys, such as London, Paris and Rome.

Travel booking Web sites saw travel to South America rise by 7 percent compared to last year; travel to Central America rose 14 percent and travel to Asia rose 17 percent. The Caribbean has also become even more of a vacation mecca, with travel rising more than 20 percent since a year ago.

Part of the reason has been the dollar, which still buys a lot in Latin America and Asia but is weakening in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Over the past five years, the euro has gained about 50 percent against the dollar, and the British pound has strengthened by about 30 percent. You'll save money practicing your French in Montreal instead of Paris, but you won't pocket as much as you might think: the U.S. dollar's worth about 1.11 Canadian dollars now.

It's not just the exchange rate in some regions; inflation can give tourists extra sticker shock. Ireland, Greece and Spain saw costs rise more than 3 percent last year, higher than the United States' rate in 2006 of 2.5 percent. The United Kingdom had inflation of 3 percent, and Australia and New Zealand - whose currencies have also strengthened against the U.S. dollar in recent years - saw inflation of close to 4 percent.

A frugal traveler's best bets are places that may cost a lot in airfare, but where lodging and food more than make up the difference. Do the math: it may take an extra $300 to fly to Buenos Aires than to London, but if your hotel is $100 a night cheaper, you're saving money after just a few days. And $40 in the Argentinian city can buy you a fancy steak dinner for two that would cost you twice as much in Europe.

If you're wedded to Europe, consider heading east. Travelers hoping for big bargains in Prague might be disappointed, the Czech capital is still cheaper than big cities in Germany and Austria, but its days as a struggling student's haven are over. Better deals can be found in Eastern European countries such as Latvia, Lithuania and Croatia.

Other exchange rate-conscious travelers may want to consider Japan. It's still a pricey destination compared to other countries (Tokyo topped the Economist Group's list of most expensive cities to live in for more than a decade until last year) but the yen hasn't risen against the dollar over the past five years. Also, Japan's inflation has been virtually flat, so U.S. travelers who visited there many years ago might be pleasantly surprised to return and find prices haven't soared as they have in European cities.

In may London goes green Here you can read more about travel insurance

5 Destinations of the year

I you're going to spend the time and money on an international jaunt, why limit yourself to just one city? Each of the countries below offers a quality gay experience throughout their nation with a range of cities and destinations that would appeal to any LGBT traveler. But beyond the mere excitement of foreign travel, each has made broad gestures -- whether in social policy or market outreach -- to show the world that it respects gay travelers as well as its own gay citizens.

1. Mexico
2. Canada
3. Great Britain
4. South Africa
5. Spian


Here`s a list by gay.com

3rd biggest travel destination?

China is likely to replace the United States as the world's third most popular tourism destination next year, a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) official said.



Now, China ranks fourth, after France, Spain and the United States.



Last year, China accounted for 5.8 percent of the global tourism market, a growth of 0.3 percent compared with two years ago.



Twenty-nine percent of tourists who traveled to Asia and the Pacific last year also visited China.



Xu Jing, regional representative for Asia and the Pacific of UNWTO, said the market share percentages of China and the US last year were very close.



"I am confident China will overtake the US next year," he said at the 2007 China (Qingdao) International Olympics & Tourism Forum, which concluded on Friday.



UNWTO forecast last year that China would become the most popular destination by the year 2020. At the beginning of this year, it revised its forecast to 2015. Xu said the forecast was revised because of the rapid development of the country's tourism industry.



The number of overseas travelers to China has increased from 10.5 million in 1996 to 49 million in 2006. The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, will further boost China's tourism market.



The Pacific and Asia Travel Association said inbound tourism to China will increase by 5 percent year-on-year between 2007 and 2009.



[by China Daily]