Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island - Luxury Included Vacation, Montego Bay

My girl friend and I recently stayed at the Sandals Royal Caribbean from and unfortunately, we had a negative experience when we first arrived. When I originally booked this trip, I reserved the Royal Grande Luxe Beachfront room. Approximately a week before our trip, Tim from Sandals emailed and called me to tell me that we could upgrade our room to the Royal Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Concierge Room for the length of our stay for $150. I told him that it was very important to us that the upgraded room was “beachfront” and had an “ocean view”. He assured me that it was. I asked if he was sure because “beachfront” and “ocean view” were our priority. He assured me again that it was. Well, it was not. The room overlooked the pool and was not even close to the beach. In fact, the only way you could see the beach or the ocean was to walk out on the balcony, hang your head over the rail and look 90 degrees to the right. I told the representative that this room was unacceptable and that we would like to have the Royal Grand Luxe Beachfront room that we had originally booked. They said that this room was unavailable. I asked to speak to the manager. After a very long delay, a manager finally came in. He repeated that this room was unavailable. After a very long, uncomfortable, stressful and frankly angry discussion, they “found” the room that we originally booked. I then asked for the upgrade charge to be refunded. The manager said that it was unrefundable. This is when I really got upset. We had now been there for over two hours, our hopes of getting on the beach the first day were gone. We had to fight to get the room that we originally booked and now I was told that after all of this, my $150 was not going to be refunded. I was so about to leave Sandals and go to the Ritz.


















The manager offered to give me a $150 hotel credit. I said I just wanted a refund. They refused. We were at a standoff. I was upset. My girlfriend was upset. This was ruining our vacation. The manager finally said that he would “give” us concierge service in our room. This was not what I wanted, but I told him fine, just so we could end this unpleasantness. This really left a sour taste in our mouths for the rest of our time there. I wrote to the Sandals home office, hoping that they would do the right thing. They did not respond to my first letter at all. I wrote to them again and almost two months later they responded. They refused to do anything and the letter was very condescending. As a result, I will never go to a Sandals again. They are liars and thieves, plain and simple. Sandals...I hope you enjoy the $150 you stole from me. You have a new enemy.

Alagna Travel Guide

Alagna Valsesia is a small ski village where the road literally ends. Alagna is located in Piedmont and is found at the base of the mountain "Monte Rosa".

Monte Rosa, meaning 'Pink Mountain' got its name by an ancient local idiom: "rosa" come from "rosà" meaning "ice, iced" in the local idiom of Valle d'Aosta. Then Monte Rosa means Ice Mountain. Alagna's nickname is "Freeride Paradise" and is a very hot spot for skiers and snowboarders.

The actual town itself has a very nice Alpine charm and offers restaurants serving regional specialties such as Polenta or Miaccia. Polenta is a cornmeal dish served hot with toppings such as meat sauce or cheese. Miaccia is almost like a folded crepe. Other regional items include Toma cheese which is typical of this area.

If you love chocolate, Mirella's Bar is the place for you! This café / pastry shop is a great find and a great place to stop!

If you love the mountains, Alagna is a great place to come. Not only is it popular with those involved in winter sports but even if you are not interested in that, Monte Rosa offers an array of amazing views and down below in the town of Alagna you can take walks, wander through shops and experience the wonderful hospitality that The Italian Alps has to offer.

Hawaii travel

We scoured the web looking for great Hawaii travel resources to help with your Hawaii vacation planning. Look at us as your complete vacation guide to speed you through the planning process.

Each year, more than 7-million visitors flock to the Hawaiian Islands.

They travel to Hawaii for various reasons: To check out world-famous beaches up close and personal, or maybe they just want some peace and quiet somewhere off the beaten path. The beautiful Hawaiian islands offer these and much more for the traveler who wants to experience the friendly locals, strong traditions of indigenous Hawaiians and the natural beauty of the Islands.

Booking a vacation is easy! Just pick your hotel and flights and your vacation package is complete.

It's our goal to...

» Save you time with your planning for Hawaii vacations;
» Save you money on your next trips to Hawaii;
» Help you avoid the mistakes of others;
» Introduce you to informative new resources about Hawaii travel;
» Save you hours in frustrating and fruitless searching for travel resources;
» Entertain you while showing you the beauty & uniqueness of Hawaiian islands.

Welcome to the Hawaii Vacations & Travel Guide, dedicated to making your vacation the wonderful moment of a lifetime.

New feelings at My Son Sanctuary

More than once someone has asked me, “You’ve visited the My Son Sanctuary many times, have you seen the ancient Cham tower complex has something new?” Surprised and embarrassed, I see the question is interesting, so I make a decision to visit My Son again to find something new at the complex.

One afternoon, under the influence of the question, I came to My Son, which is more thoughtful, older, more secreted and more mysterious than ever.

At the time, there was a tourist group from Japan who were enchanted to the point of being motionless and silent by the legendary space at the tower worshipping the goddess Ganesa. Passionately contemplating the towers sinking down to the darkness, they accidentally missed the moment of harmony between day and night in My Son.

This time, I recognized a newer My Son. Moreover, in the moments between sunset and night, the entire valley was swept by soft breezes and gentle light as the steps of a goddess drifting away. Another time I visited My Son at night. Under the moonlight, the towers seem to be more illusory yet more striking in the darkness. Separated towers seem to join together with groups of towers. At night, there seems to be no limit of space.

The valley looks like an installation work of art, somewhere ordered, somewhere ridiculous, somewhere modern and somewhere primitive. The moonlight makes everything look closer and more solemn.

One morning I woke up with My Son under the glistening and cozy sunlight shining on the legendary valley. The shadows of the towers stretch down and pile up on each other, covering the mossy black rocks. In the morning, My Son looks younger in its tranquility.

The My Son Sanctuary, located in the central province of Quang Nam, is famous as a complex of religious monuments of the Cham people. The Chams erected these monumental towers of baked brick and sandstone on square or rectangular foundations. The base represents the world of humans, the tower body represents the world of spirits and the tower head (typically lotus shaped) the realm between the two worlds.

The builders of My Son derived their cultural and spiritual influences almost exclusively from India in the form of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Shiva was the central figure of worship whose images abound among what remains of the Cham monuments.

The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage.

Pinar del Rio Travel Guide

About 200 kilometers west of Havana one will find the city of Pinar del Rio. The city is a must to visit if you go to a Havana. The city itself is not very interesting and compared to swinging Havana and other cities farther east a bit boring. But what it lacks in athmosphere it makes up in natural beauty. A bit to the north of the city lies the small village of Vinales, which is surrounded by one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world.
Karst formations with tabacco plantages between them make for a spectacle. One can easily hike there for a very pleasant day. To the south-west of the city you will find the village of San Juan y Martinez. The capital of the tabacco planting of Cuba and the world. Lots of people will offer you to show you their farm and explain you all about the process of making the best tabacco in the world. It is also a great spot to buy the famous cigars, although these can't be legally taken from the country because you will not get the official purchase receipt you will get in the government stores, which you need for customs.

Seychelles Travel Guide

The Seychelles are right in the heart of the Indian Ocean between the African East Coast and India. They are a bit closer to Africa geographically speaking but culturally it is an amalgam of european, african ,indian and chineese cultures which can be found in the language creole based on french the cuisine french base with indian spices and chineese way of cooking and tfinally the music which comes predominantly from african roots music mixed with european country dance which has give rise to the sega beat unique to the indian ocean region, and geologically speaking it is maybe closer to the Indian subcontinent. The Seychelles are the only granitic islands in the world (all the others are volcanic or biological in origin) which accounts for it's unusual rock formations. The islands were "left behind" as the Indian sub-continent moved northward on its way to collide with Asia.

The seychelles consist of 115 islands, all of the type "tropical paradise used in Bounty commercial".

Mahe is the biggest island. It is dominated by a mountain range that forms the backbone of the island. The highest peak, Morne Seychellois, reaches a height of 905metres and provides a perfect backdrop to the capital city Victoria. Nearby is the beautiful Ste Anne Marine National Park

Praslin is the second biggest island. One century ago, General Gordon (of Khartoum) visited this island and became convinced that it was the location of the original earthly paradise, the Garden of Eden.

But La Digue is probably the most beautiful island. An aura of charm and tranquillity surrounds La Digue. This island is accessible by boat and helicopter; by boat about one and a half hours from Mahé and thirty minutes from Praslin. For years the way of life on La Digue has remained unchanged, transport is mainly by ox-cart or bicycle. On La Digue, time seems to stand still.

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, Singapore

Description

The Shangri-La Hotel Singapore which sits amid fifteen acres of luxuriant botanical gardens is a short stroll from the main entertainment and shopping belt of Orchard Road. The hotel is situated nearby Traders Hotel, Singapore and Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort on Sentosa Island.The hotel provides peaceful gardens, large free-form pool, world-class dining options, 127 serviced apartments comprising of one, two and three-bedroom units for guests wishing a longer stay, 24-hour room service, airport transfer, babysitting/child care, business centre, butler service in suites, city shuttle service, facilities for the physically challenged, florist, foreign exchange counter, gift shop, hair/beauty salon, laundry/valet service, non-smoking rooms, parking facilities, safe deposit box, taxi/Limousine service, 24-hour business centre with amenities, etc.The 750 luxury guestrooms and suites in three distinctive wings, the contemporary Tower Wing, the tropical Garden Wing, and the exclusive Valley Wing. The rooms offer enclosed balconies, the tropical Garden Wing, which overlooks the tropical atrium and swimming pool, and the exclusive Valley Wing, which has a private entrance and reception, complimentary broadband Internet access, Satellite/cable TV, in-house movie channels, coffee/tea making facilities, mini-bar, Wedgwood tea sets with a selection of tea leaves, international direct dial telephone, voicemail, electronic safe, and much more.

Amenities

Air Conditioning (In Room)	Newspaper (Free)	Refrigerator
Iron	Telephone	Television (Cable/Satellite)
Non-Smoking Rooms	Television	Daily Maid Service
In Room Broadband Internet Access	Safe (In Room)	Coffee Maker
Whirlpool	Telephone (Voicemail)	Kitchen/Kitchenette
Balcony/Terrace	Mini-Bar

Hotel Details

760 Rooms / 24 Floors	Built in 1971	Babysitting or Child Care
Electronic Key	Laundry/ Dry Cleaning Service	Multi-lingual Staff
Sprinkler in Rooms	Car Rental	Common Area High speed Access
Complementary Transportation	Smoke Alarm in Rooms	Photocopy Service
Computer Use Available	Administrative Services	Concierge Services
Uniformed Security on Site	Barber/Hair Stylist	Common/Public Areas Accessible to Wheelchairs
Business Center	Currency Exchange	A-V Equipment Rental
Fax (For Guests)	Complementary Coffee	Gift Shop
Concierge/ Club Floor	Room Service	Restaurant in Hotel
Health Club	Health Spa/Massage	Pool (Outdoor)
Tennis (Outdoor)	Pool (Children)	Hot Tub

Wisconsin Travel Guide

Much of Wisconsin's popularity is due to its natural beauty - two Great Lakes, the famous Mississippi River and extensive forests and lakes. From top-notch outdoor recreation to world-class events, attractions and lodging, visitors enjoy four seasons of unsurpassed travel opportunities.

The north offers the vast pinestral forests of the Northwoods . Shimmering lakes and thousands of waterways each extend their own appeal. Highlights include the OcontoArea , ParkFalls and Superior.

The heart of Wisconsin, the center of the state, pulses with the quiet activity of small towns surrounded by rugged natural beauty. Located on rivers, at the edge of lakes or in the shadow of one of the state's highest peaks, these home towns have individual graces that recommend themselves to visitors. Their welcome mats are always out.

The eastern part of the state along Lake Michigan is a wonderful combination of scenic agricultural landscape, beautiful woodlands and lakes, and growing urban centers. This is also home to the almost religiously regarded Green Bay Packers football team. The cities of Appleton, GreenBay and Milwaukee are all in this area.

Southwestern Wisconsin, also called the Driftless Region because it has never been tilled by glaciers, brings you striking rock formations, steep hills and hidden valleys, ravines filled with ferns and woodland flowers as well as man-made delights and diversions. Viroqua, in the center of this region, is a great place to begin your Driftless adventure. The Capital city of Madison is located in the eastern edge of this area.

Manila, Philippines Information by Rough Guides

Fourteen cities and three municipalities make up what is officially known as Metro Manila, referred to by most residents and visitors simply as MANILA, a massive, clamorous conurbation that covers 636 square kilometres and is home to almost 10 million people. To add to the confusion the old part of Manila – the area near the old walled city of Intramuros – officially remains the capital and seat of the Philippine government. In practice, the seats of government are all around Metro Manila, with the executive, administrative and judicial branches in Manila, the Senate in Pasay City and Congress in Quezon City.

At first sight Manila (in this book, the word refers to the whole conurbation) is intimidating: noisy, unkempt and with appalling traffic. There are few open spaces and only a handful of remarkable buildings. Signposting has improved in recent years, but is still woefully inadequate or misleading. Finding your way around is made even more difficult by the absence of significant modern or historical landmarks – most of the buildings are low concrete structures built in a hurry since the end of World War II. Skyscrapers have gone up in some of the business districts, but none is as notable as Hong Kong's Bank of China or Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers.

Manila has no proper city centre. To some Manileños, the central business district of Makati is the city centre, to others it might be Quezon City or the Roxas Boulevard/Manila Bay area. Each is a city in its own right. Roads run everywhere like capillaries, and suburbs act as connecting tissue between new centres of population. It is this apparent lack of order, though, that imbues Manila with character. Its flaws are what make the city human, giving it an anarchic charm that sweeps you along. Manila is also a city of striking emotional counterpoint. Frothy mansions belonging to tycoons and politicians fight for space with squalid shantytowns built along railway tracks. One of the problems Manila faces is the unceasing influx of provincianos, people from the provinces who believe the streets are paved with gold, most of whom end up squatting illegally on any spare scrap of land they can find. The fight for space is intensified by the city's apparently insatiable appetite for shopping malls.

To understand Manila completely, to get under its skin, you need a grasp of its complex and sometimes tragi-burlesque history. It has been razed by an earthquake, bombed, occupied, bombed again and rebuilt. It has expanded inexorably, but public services have not kept pace. The result is a rakish megalopolis that lives on its wits and maintains a frenetic pace 24 hours a day just so it can get things done. The roads are always busy and the buses always full, but in Manila you learn to go with the flow, never worrying about whether you'll be late or whether your taxi is going the wrong way down a one-way street. The Filipino maxim bahala na – what will be will be – applies as much to Manila as it does to life.

Despite its problems and troubled history, Manila is a sociable city, with a populace who take pride in their cultural affinities to the West and their embrace of all things American. Most tourists, however, use Manila as a transit point, a place to spend a day or two on the way to the islands and beaches of the south or the mountainous tribal areas of the north. A couple of days is all you really need to explore the key sights in and around Intramuros, the city's only notable historical enclave, its stone houses and grassy courtyards much as they were when the Spanish regime came to an end in the nineteenth century. If you've got a bit more time on your hands, take a wander through nearby Binondo – Chinatown – or head out of the city on a day-trip. There's plenty to see and do in the vicinity of the capital, from the Manila Bay island of Corregidor, a fascinating reminder of the horrors of war, to the rapids and waterfalls at Pagsanjan.
Manila also prides itself on the quality of its nightlife and the ability of its residents to kick up a good time. For many tourists, this will be their enduring memory of the place: funky bars and nightclubs in areas such as Malate and Makati whose attraction stems from their egalitarian nature. It doesn't matter who you are or what you are, you will have fun in Manila. All you have to do is take a deep breath and dive in

Tagaytay, Philippines Tourism

Located just outside Tagaytay City, Phillipines, the Days Inn Tagaytay boasts incredible views of Taal volcano. This hotel is close to championship golf courses at Nasugbu and Batangas.
The Days Inn Tagaytay features a roof deck restaurant that serves international cuisine. The bar provides glass panels that overlook Taal Lake. The hotel features five meeting rooms, the largest of which accommodates 300 people. The hotel's business center features copying and fax services. The hotel includes an outdoor pool with children's pool and a fitness center. Spa services include massage, body wraps and facials. The hotel also includes an on site florist and gift shop.

This property features 65 guestrooms and suites with balconies or terraces that present spectacular views of Taal and the volcano. Accommodations include microwave ovens, refrigerators, minibars and private bathrooms with showers. Suites feature kitchenettes and jetted tubs.