Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing
When Irish hearts are happy
All the world is bright and gay
Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing
When Irish hearts are happy
All the world is bright and gay
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure, they steal your heart away.
Sure, they steal your heart away.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
FROM SANDY AND DONNA
PARTNERS N TRAVEL
Monday, March 14, 2011
"Pink Palace of the Pacific" renovation complete
A few years ago we attended a travel conference in Hawaii that was held at the beautiful Royal Hawaiian. It remains my favorite in Waikiki and hope to stay there again on my next visit. The grounds are exquisite as are the views of Diamond Head. I look forward to seeing all the new upgrades and renovations that have been made to this already wonderful hotel.
Sandy and I are both Destination Specialists in Hawaii and will be glad to assist you in planning your Hawaii vacation or honeymoon..........Donna
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort,
completes its $70m. renovation.
The Royal Hawaiian is the perfect fit for The Luxury Collection brand, a diverse ensemble of more than 75 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries that offer unique and indigenous experiences; because throughout its illustrious history, the palatial grandeur of The Royal Hawaiian has left an indelible mark on the history of luxury travel for generations of world-travelers seeking an authentic taste of Hawaii.
The completion of The Royal Hawaiian marks another landmark year for The Luxury Collection on the heels of announcing The Liberty Hotel in Boston as the 100th property to join Starwood's Luxury Brands: St. Regis & The Luxury Collection, and its first in Boston. With this milestone, Starwood continues to stand out as the world's leader in luxury hospitality with more hotels in more markets than any competitors in this segment, offering guests exceptional service levels and luxury experiences in a wide range of destinations across the globe.
"We are extremely pleased to announce the new Royal Beach Tower experience at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort - one that will offer a luxuriously contemporary setting for discerning global travelers," stated Kelly Hoen, general manager of The Royal Hawaiian. "The Luxury Collection brand allows freedom for each historic resort to exude its own personality, so we have been able to celebrate The Royal Hawaiian's sense of place while offering two distinct experiences from our Historic Wing to the new Royal Beach Tower."
In 2009, The Royal Hawaiian made its debut as a Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts property after re-imagining and renovating the resort's Historic Wing rooms, bringing locally-inspired furnishings, artwork and color templates to the forefront with a nod to the resort's historic past. Now, the redesigned Royal Beach Tower rooms and suites will offer a counterpoint with a distinctly breezy, airy, beach-inspired feel with modern, chic touches, while still maintaining the signature mold of luxury for which The Royal Hawaiian is known.
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| The fabulous view of Diamond Head from the Royal Hawaiian |
Celebrating its new beach-inspired theme, the new rooms combine exquisite, contemporary Hawaiian furnishings in light colors reminiscent of driftwood with design elements that tell the story of Helumoa, the area in which this historic property stands. Each room is adorned by lounge chairs and ottomans designed by luxury furnishing leader McGuire, Indonesian tables carved from local tree trunks, Asian-inspired nightstands created by Cheng Meng, lanai furnishings were custom made by Italian furniture-maker Roberti as well as beach glass-inspired lamps. The Tower rooms' redesign also includes a spectacular transformation of the bathroom area with brilliant speckled mosaic glass vanity walls and mirrors. Adding a signature local touch, each room also features original artwork by celebrated local artists Solomon Enos and Carl Pao, who were commissioned to create paintings through inspiration from the hotel and its surrounding area.
The Royal Hawaiian features 35 suites including 18 oceanfront and six two-story exclusive suites, more than 66,000 square feet of beachfront space and world class signature restaurants and lounges, including the world-famous Mai Tai Bar and Waikiki's only beachfront luau. With the completion of the final phase of its renovation to the resort's Royal Beach Tower, this timeless resort has received $70 million in upgrades, making it one of the most iconic Luxury Collection properties in the North American portfolio.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Love Boat's Captain Celebrates Birthday!!
Princess Cruises's Photos - Gavin MacLeod's 80th Birthday Party Aboard Golden Princess!
Gavin MacLeod, Capt. Stubing from television’s “The Love Boat”, salutes as crew members and friends sing happy birthday as he celebrates his 80th birthday onboard Princess Cruises Golden Princess cruise ship, Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2011 in the Port of Los Angeles. The cake is a 5 foot long replica of The Pacific Princess, the original Love Boat.
Did you watch "The Love Boat" and dream about going on a cruise?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
10 Most Travel-Inspiring Films of the Year
Peter Mountain / Sony Pictures Entertainment / GK LLC
"The Tourist" throws Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp into a twisted skein of intrigue set in, and around, an equally twisted skein of Venetian canals.
ARTHUR FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL 
We love the Oscars as much as the next guy, but there’s no adventure in watching movies from your couch. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 films that will make you want to get out of the house, hop a flight and see the world.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may have winnowed all the films of 2010 down to the 10 best, but our own Academy of Trips and Bargains has put together a list of its own. These 10 movies showcase some of the most travel-worthy spots around the globe, from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the natural tranquility of Bali. And should these films sufficiently inspire you, we've made planning a vacation easier by including flight prices (for June and July—an ideal time to visit these places) and suggestions for each destination's best hotel, inn or villa. So get ready for some of 2010's best silver-screen sightseeing.Slideshow: 10 most travel-inspiring films
Ireland: 'Leap Year' The flick: A bit like a gender-switched version of 1952's "The Quiet Man," an American, Anna (Amy Adams), takes a trip to Dublin, Ireland, but when inclement weather waylays her in the countryside, she ends up falling for the roguish charms of a local man named Declan (Matthew Goode).
Key scene: The film's happy ending doesn't take place at the end of a rainbow, but it's still gold: The rugged Declan proposes to Anna on a cliff overlooking the crashing Atlantic. And right at the magic hour, no less.
- Why it's an inspiration: Anna travels from the southwestern Dingle Peninsula all the way to Dublin on the northeast coast — a four- to five-hour drive—which allows you to take in everything from Eire's rolling glens to the country's lovely capital city, with its Victorian pubs, flowering gardens, Georgian architecture and the striking Dublin Castle (included in the film).
Where to stay: The three-star Clarence Hotel, owned by Bono and the Edge of U2 (how much more Irish can you get?), is perfectly situated in the Temple Bar area, the city's cultural quarter. Theclarence.ie, doubles from $147
New York: 'Date Night' The flick: Beleaguered parents Phil and Claire Foster (NBC sitcom brethren Steve Carell and Tina Fey) find adventure even in a post-Giuliani Manhattan, as their quiet, romantic night out goes awry, starting with a case of mistaken identity that turns into a zany after-hours escapade that includes a frantic car chase in a taxi and a massive political cover-up.
Key scene: OK, the Fosters' trip to a boathouse in Central Park is not under the best conditions—at gunpoint, actually—but it is a good reminder that the park's real-life Loeb Boathouse, with its open-air seating right on the edge of the lake, is an ideal place to rent a rowboat or enjoy a relaxing round of drinks.
Why it's an inspiration: From the trip through Central Park to a frantic discussion in Times Square to the hilarious cabbie (played by comedian J.B. Smoove) during the chase sequence, the film provides a whirlwind, action-packed tour of some of the most unique sites across New York City. In addition, there's the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, not to mention all the museums, Broadway shows and fine dining. If you do decide to visit, don't worry — crime in New York is on the decline (and has been for two decades). So chances are, you won't end up in the same predicament as these two.
Price check: Going round-trip in the summer without any layovers will run you about $359 if you're coming from San Francisco (JetBlue) or $243 if you're coming from Chicago (American Airlines).
Where to stay: You can't leave New York without visiting Bloomingdale's, Central Park or the Museum of Modern Art, and The Pod Hotel, in East Midtown, is close to all three (it's also not far from Rockefeller Plaza). The fact that it's young and hip — with funky murals, asymmetrical couches and retro light fixtures — is just a bonus. Thepodhotel.com, doubles from $139
Related: Top 10 Best Beaches from the Movies
Verona and the Italian countryside: 'Letters to Juliet' The flick: While traveling with her fiance in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," a fact-checker for The New Yorker(Amanda Seyfried) discovers a decades-old letter from a would-be Juliet to her own Romeo and sets off on an adventure to find its author. Along the way she finds love and a much happier ending than Juliet ever got.
Key scene: The pivotal portrayal of the wall at the Casa di Giulietta, where people the world over come to post their amorous requests (and where the leading lady discovers the letter that changes her life). It's is an open invitation to all hopeless romantics.
- Why it's an inspiration: The whole movie is practically a gilded postcard from the most beautiful places in northern and central Italy, including the regions of Siena, Soave and Lake Garda. These regions are packed with Tuscan vineyards, rustic villas, marble cathedrals and, of course, glorious Italian cuisine. It's enough to make you realize, come the end of your trip, that parting really is such sweet sorrow.
Where to stay: Where else but the two-star Hotel Giulietta e Romeo? Named after the star-crossed pair, the 30-room hotel even has two balconies as a nod to their late-night wooing. Giuliettaeromeo.com, doubles from $132
Beijing: 'The Karate Kid' The flick: So karate is technically Japanese—but this remake of the 1984 teen classic relocates the bullied-kid-learns-martial-arts story from L.A. to Beijing. Jayden Smith (son of Will) plays Dre Parker, the awkward 12-year-old who learns the tenets of self-defense from Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan.
Key scene: Real training takes too long—that's why we have montages! The aerial shots of Dre running up and down the Great Wall of China as part of his regimen will make you want to see the enormous world wonder yourself, but likely at a more leisurely pace.
Why it's an inspiration: The film is a breathtaking ode to one of the most populous (and historically fascinating) countries on Earth. Dre visits the Forbidden City while on a field trip, trains along the Great Wall and strolls the labyrinthine streets of Beijing. Tantalizing shots of the city skyline and the famous Bird's Nest stadium remind us that the city has a modern side as well. "The Karate Kid"also showcases the mist-enshrouded Wudang Mountains in southern central China, where Han takes Dre to learn about the origins of kung fu at one of the region's many Taoist temples. The cheapest and most direct way to follow in their footsteps is to take a train from Beijing, but it's far—20 hours one way ($25 round trip).
Price check: A search for tickets in June reveals that Air China will take you to and from Beijing nonstop for $1,454, if you're starting in Los Angeles, and $1,514, if you're starting in New York.
Where to stay: In another life, Beijing's two-star Lu Song Yuan Hotel, with its tea room and 19th-century stone architecture, was the residence of a Qing dynasty general. Today, it's a 59-room hotel that places you firmly in China's storied cultural past while providing easy access to sights such as the National Museum of China and Tian'anmen Square. The-silk-road.com, doubles from $88
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