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Vacation ideas
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 While Hollywood celebrities go to the finest restaurants, it does not mean that they have the finest tastes or their recommendations can be taken seriously. For instance, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Heidi Klum, Eva Mendes, and many others are great fans of fast food, but that does not mean that you should it too.
That is why when Magnolia Bakery in New York City (401 Bleecker Street, in the West Village) was made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker for its cupcakes, I decided to check it out. By the way, the bakery has been in other programs too like Saturday Night Live and the movie "Prime."
Here is the verdict: while it has better cupcakes than most other places, they were not outstanding (I spoke to many other people who lined up with me). I actually liked their banana pudding more. However, since you might go all the way there and stand in line for maybe hours, it does not hurt to at least try one. You can always go back for more if you absolutely love them. |
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Vacation ideas
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It seems that with every terrorism scare, a new rule is imposed on how to travel by air. One thing is clear: we are being forced to put more and more of our belongings into checked luggage and that means more lost baggage. Robert Bennett, CEO of Forever Yours Transportation (FYT), a luggage delivery service, has the following tips - very useful if you are chasing Hollywood celebrities: (Reated: How to spot celebrities)
Check In On Time - An average of 75% of lost luggage is lost or delayed due to passengers checking in for their flight at the last minute. The airlines recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to the flight's departure for domestic flights and three hours prior to the flight's departure for international flights.
Voluntary Bumping - Airlines routinely overbook flights. When a flight is overbooked the airline may ask for volunteers to get "bumped" to the next available flight. Passengers should avoid taking another flight at all costs as changing airplanes at the last minute will require passengers to travel on a different flight from their luggage and makes identifying the passenger's actual flight even more difficult.
Luggage Tags - Each piece of luggage must be properly marked with clearly identifiable tags. Luggage that is separated from other checked luggage will be considered undeliverable without any identifiable tags. Sealed, water proof tags should be securely attached and include the passenger's name and complete address.
Overbooked Flights - Avoid overbooked flights especially during holiday travel times.
Necessary Luggage - Passengers often check in unnecessary luggage. Only check in necessary luggage as unnecessary luggage utilizes valuable space that is needed by fellow passengers. |
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Vacation ideas
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You must have heard the term "destination spa" and wondered what is it. A destination spa is defined as a facility that is dedicated to life enhancement through a full-immersion program of physical activity, nutritious cuisine, wellness education, special interest classes, therapeutic massage and body treatments, according to the definition developed by the Destination Spa Group.
And the important thing to remember is that destination spas, apart from places to recharge and rejuvenate, are also ideal for celebrity watching . So where would the celebrities go? What did surprise me was that two spas that clearly attract celebrities - Mii Amo Spa in Sedona and We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs did not feature in the list. Well, they watch the rankings of Spa Finder and Travel + Leisure magazines, and they are:
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Vacation ideas
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They say that what you do in Las Vegas remains a secret. Well, what about: "What Happens in Vegas, is What's Worn in Las Vegas." In other words, there is a reason why almost all celebrities go to Las Vegas the way the rest of us go to Olive Garden or Red Lobster. But that doesn't mean that at least as long as you are there, you can do things that you only dream about.
Now one company has made it easier for you to dress the part. Remember that no matter how much the limit on your credit card or what car you drive back home, if you are not dressed the part, you may not be able to enter the hottest nightclubs or be treated with no respect at trendiest restaurants.
You must be wondering it must be too expensive then. Jay McCarthy, the president and founder of Hipwear, knows who his target customers are and they have it all in prices ranges, all the way from 575 Denim, hot couture dresses, corsets and suits, to an amazing line of high-end heavy metal inspired jewelry. Adorned with pink "Hello Kitty" Fender guitars, a lounge area with leopard sofa, plasma screen television with modeling footage, and mahogany hard wood floors, Hipwear is a very warm and exciting boutique (across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel). |
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Vacation ideas
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You must have heard over and over again, how apart from sushi, Hollywood celebrities are into yoga. Some are even using it to get rid of their pregnancy weight while others just do it as a fitness activity, and many find it as a great tool of de-stress.
Well, yoga is not for just the celebrities and you too can go on a vacation to a yoga retreat - exactly where the stars and models go. Villa Amor in Sayulita and Las Alamandas in Jalisco are two resorts chosen by Via Yoga, the yoga vacation company.
While Via Yoga vacations are designed primarily for the yoga experience, they’re also very much about fun, adventures, and meeting new like-minded people. Groups are kept at a maximum of 20, smaller than at most retreats. Guests can expect to unwind with the daily yoga classes, meditation, and hours of free time, but can also take advantage of the adventures each resort has to offer. Some guests come for ‘alone time,’ some bring a partner, and others come with friends for a group experience. It’s no wonder that Via Yoga guests return to their daily life with a healthy balance of mind, body, and spirit.
About Sayulita
Sayulita, 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta by car, is a pretty beach hamlet on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Once a quiet fishing village, it is now dotted with charming restaurants and shops. There are vast, unspoiled  beaches with excellent surf, mountains, and lush jungles. For those who like adventures, the region offers many, from some of Mexico’s best surfing to horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and zip-line tours through the jungle canopy.
About Villa Amor Villa Amor is a classically deluxe resort of 35 beautifully decorated open-air villas nestled on a hillside overlooking Sayulita Bay. Each villa is steps away from the beach, with expansive views of the ocean, village, and mountains. About Las Alamandas
Las Alamandas is a 5-star, 14-room luxurious boutique hotel on 1500 acres of private land about two hours south of Puerto Vallarta. The romantic hideaway is a paradise of palms, exotic trees, flowers, wild birds, lagoons, and white-sand beaches. Favored by celebrities for its privacy, Las Alamandas is managed like an elegant estate and provides the highest standards of hospitality. |
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Vacation ideas
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You always read about Hollywood celebrities vacationing on tropical islands but many stars actually choose to wed there. While a beach wedding, sometimes also referred to as destination wedding, is not impossibly expensive for the rest of us, one tropical resort in Bahama is offering you a chance to have your dream wedding for free.
The Bahama Beach Club Resort, a family friendly luxury resort in Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, is offering a complimentary wedding package to couples tying the knot. When a wedding party rents five or more condominiums for a minimum of three nights (unless you have  a wedding like that of Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, you will invite friends and family who would love to spend several days while they are there anyway), the wedding package is free of charge. The all-inclusive wedding package includes a personal Bahamas wedding consultant, a beachfront Bahamian ceremony with a tropical palm arch, wedding cake, fruit basket, bottle of champagne, documentation (marriage license, affidavits and marriage certificates) and a minister or marriage official and all fees.
The island of Abaco is the second largest island in The Bahamas, with a year round population of approximately 14,000. Temperatures in the fall and winter seasons average in the upper 70's and low 80's, in the spring mid 80‘s and the summer upper 80's and low 90's, tempered by cooling tradewinds. Marsh Harbour, the third largest city in The Bahamas, is located just 30 minutes from The Bahama Beach Club. Marsh Harbour is a safe, clean and modern town with a host of charming shops, seaside restaurants, modern supermarkets, full service marinas and medical facilities.
The resort has 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom condos with spectacular ocean views. All condos are spacious (averaging over 1600-square-feet), handsomely decorated and offer comfortable living spaces complete with fully-equipped kitchens, multiple bathrooms, dens, laundry rooms and wireless Internet access. Guests of the resort have access to 3.5 miles of white sand beachfront, 18 holes of PGA Championship Golf, an on-premises bar and grill, vehicle rentals (car, boat, scooter and golf carts), boating, fishing, golf, scuba diving, tennis, island hopping and duty-free shopping. In addition, the resort has children's activity programs; an outdoor swimming pool with in-pool bar, as well as Jacuzzis.
The resort is easily accessed from Treasure Cay International Airport (TCB airport code) which is served by both regularly scheduled (daily connections from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach) and charter flights. |
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Vacation ideas
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Vacationing like Hollywood celebrities is possible (as we have pointed out through tips and ideas on this website), but you can still be smart about it and save even more while enjoying things that stars do. VirtualTourist members have shared their tips on how to have a great vacation without spending the bucks. Below are their top ten money saving travel tips:
- Learn the local tipping etiquette. For services on which you tip 15% at home, you may be able to get away with 5% or even nothing at all. In the Netherlands, for example, tipping is not expected in bars or restaurants, but patrons may leave change up to the next euro in a bar, and up to five euros in a restaurant. In Japan, there is absolutely no tipping and you might even offend the wait staff by tipping - providing excellent service is part of their job and they do it without expecting anything in return.
- Seek out tax free shopping. Some countries -- Switzerland and Poland, for example -- offer tax exemptions for tourists in designated shops. You’ll need to secure proper documentation, so do your research beforehand so you know what to ask for and from whom. In Canada, where all purchases are taxed with VAT, the tourists can claim a refund at the end of their trip. Just get a form, put all the documents together, and your check will arrive in the mail.
Use public transportation when feasible, and inquire about extended passes. In most cities you’ll save time and money when you purchase a daily or weekly pass in advance instead of paying for each fare individually. In London, for instance, a Travelcard is advised if you plan on staying a few days or more. If you buy a (one price for all you can travel within a certain time window) ticket for the Japanese bullet trains (shinkansen) before you arrive, you can save a lot of money. India also offers similar deals on air and train travel to tourists.- When paying by credit card in a foreign country, double-check the currency in which you are being charged. The slip may read "109.00," and you may think you’re paying 109 Mexican pesos (about 10 U.S. dollars), but you’re actually signing off on 109 U.S. dollars. When in doubt, always pay cash.
- Buy sightseeing tickets in bulk. In many cities -- New York, Seattle and Toronto, just to name a few -- you can save on admission when you buy a booklet of passes in advance.
- Before booking a traditional hotel, explore options such as a "home exchange" with another family. There are online services dedicated to the facilitation of such exchanges.
- Avoid fines by researching local tax and transaction laws. In Italy, for example, every sale must be accompanied by a receipt, no matter the amount. And when a receipt is not presented, both buyer and seller can be fined. The law, by the way, is intended to curb tax fraud.
When renting recreational vehicles and watercraft -- like bicycles, golf carts, Jet Skis, canoes and boats -- ask about late-in-the-day discounts. By renting at 4 PM, instead of noon you can sometimes save. - Dine where the locals do. Veer off the tourist path, away from major attractions and hotels, and eat in a restaurant that caters to locals instead of tourists. You may find a cheaper bill at the end of your meal. Last time Starmoo staff members went to Montreal, they stayed in Laval neighborhood (essentially a place where Montreal families live) rather than downtown - the hotels were cheaper, the food much better/cheaper, and they got to enjoy real Montreal.
- When bargaining, dress and act the part. Avoid wearing jewelry or expensive clothing; if the seller senses that you can pay more, they’ll charge more.
- Carry only small bills. It’s tough to bargain when the seller can see that you have enough cash. And if you try to pay with a large bill, you’ll often hear "no change."
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