Fabulous Las Vegas!!

Shimmering from the desert haze of Nevada like a latter-day El Dorado, Las Vegas is the most dynamic, spectacular city on earth. At the start of the twentieth century, it didn't even exist; at the start of the twenty-first, it's home to well over one million people, with enough newcomers arriving to need a new school every month.

Las Vegas is not like other cities. No city in history has so explicitly valued the needs of visitors above those of its own population. All its growth has been fueled by tourism, but the tourists haven't spoiled the "real" city; there is no real city. Las Vegas doesn't have fascinating little-known neighborhoods, and it's not a place where visitors can go off the beaten track to have more authentic experiences. Instead, the whole thing is completely self-referential; the reason Las Vegas boasts the vast majority of the world's largest hotels is that around thirty-seven million tourists each year come to see the hotels themselves.

Each of these monsters is much more than a mere hotel, and more too than the casino that invariably lies at its core. They're extraordinary places, self-contained fantasylands of high camp and genuine excitement that can stretch as much as a mile from end to end. Each holds its own flamboyant permutation of showrooms and swimming pools, luxurious guest quarters and restaurants, high-tech rides and attractions.

The casinos want you to gamble, and they'll do almost anything to lure you in; thus the huge moving walkways that pluck you from the Strip sidewalk, almost against your will, and sweep you into places like Caesars Palace . Once you're inside, on the other hand, the last thing they want is for you to leave. Whatever you came in for, you won't be able to do it without crisscrossing the casino floor innumerable times; as for finding your way out, that can be virtually impossible. The action keeps going day and night, and in this windowless - and clock-free - environment you rapidly lose track of which is which.

Las Vegas never dares to rest on its laurels, so the basic concept of the Strip casino has been endlessly refined since the Western-themed resorts and ranches of the 1940s. In the 1950s and 1960s, when most visitors arrived by car , the casinos presented themselves as lush tropical oases at the end of the long desert drive. Once air travel took over, Las Vegas opted for Disneyesque fantasy, a process that started in the late 1960s with Caesars Palace and culminated with Excalibur and Luxor in the early 1990s.

These days, after six decades of capitalism run riot, the Strip is locked into a hyperactive craving for thrills and glamour. First-time visitors tend to expect Las Vegas to be a repository of kitsch , but the casino owners are far too canny to be sentimental about the old days. Yes, there are a few Elvis impersonators around, but what characterizes the city far more is its endless quest for novelty . Long before they lose their sparkle, yesterday's showpieces are blasted into rubble, to make way for ever more extravagant replacements. The Disney model has now been discarded in favor of more adult themes, and Las Vegas demands nothing less than entire cities . Replicas of New York, Paris, Monte Carlo and Venice now jostle for space on the Strip.

The customer is king in Las Vegas. What the visitor wants, the city provides. If you come in search of the cheapest destination in America, you'll enjoy paying rock-bottom rates for accommodation and hunting out the best buffet bargains. If it's style and opulence you're after, by contrast, you can dine in the finest restaurants, shop in the most chic stores, and watch world-class entertainment; it'll cost you, but not as much as it would anywhere else. The same guidelines apply to gambling . The Strip giants cater to those who want sophisticated high-roller heavens, where tuxedoed James Bond lookalikes toss insouciant bankrolls onto the roulette tables. Others prefer their casinos to be sinful and seedy, inhabited by hard-bitten heavy-smoking low-lifes; there is no shortage of that type of joint either, especially downtown.

On the face of it, the city is supremely democratic. However you may be dressed, however affluent or otherwise you may appear, you'll be welcomed in its stores, restaurants, and above all its casinos. The one thing you almost certainly won't get, however, is the last laugh ; all that seductive deference comes at a price. It would be nice to imagine that perhaps half of your fellow visitors are skilful gamblers, raking in the profits at the tables, while the other half are losing, but the bottom line is that almost nobody's winning. In the words of Steve Wynn, who built Bellagio and the Mirage , "The only way to make money in a casino is to own one"; according to the latest figures, 85 percent of visitors gamble, and they lose an average of $665 each. On top of that, most swiftly come to see that virtually any other activity works out cheaper than gambling, so end up spending their money on all sorts of other things as well. What's so clever about Las Vegas is that it makes absolutely certain that you have such a good time that you don't mind losing a bit of money along the way; that's why they don't even call it "gambling" anymore, but "gaming."

Finally, while Las Vegas has certainly cleaned up its act since the early days of Mob domination, there's little truth in the notion that it's become a family destination. In fact, for kids, it's doesn't begin to compare to somewhere like Orlando. Several casinos have added theme parks or fun rides to fill those odd nongambling moments, but only ten percent of visitors bring children, and the crowds that cluster around the exploding volcanoes and pirate battles along the Strip remain almost exclusively adult.

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Glorious Greece

Greece was the birthplace of European civilisation. The period from 700BC saw the rise of the great city states of Athens, Corinth and Sparta, frequently engaged in long struggles for supremacy, and uniting only when faced with the common threat of invasion by the Persian Empire. The zenith was reached in the fifth century BC when Athens became the cultural and artistic centre of the Mediterranean, producing magnificent works of architecture, sculpture, drama and literature.

Greece today offers the traveller the comforts of modern Europe in close proximity to the stark beauty of the ancient world. There is no denying that the historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern Western world - in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. Reminders of the country's glory are all over Greece - from Athens' Parthenon and Delphi's Temple of Apollo, to the ruins on Crete of the Minóan city of Knossós, a civilisation reaching even further back into history.

Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean are Greece's 1,400 islands, the largest of which is Crete, each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Skópelos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Páros where the worship of Dionysus, the god of revelry, continues to the beat of garage and house music. Athens's previous glory in sports was restored when the Olympic Games returned home in 2004.

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to wish all fathers out there a wonderful Father's Day and let's keep up the good work by raising our children to be the best that they can and to respect others!!

Great day to all!!

Ask me questions or info!

In my rush to get started, I forgot to mention that if you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to leave me a message or to e-mail me at hotelbuddy.net@gmail.com.
It will be my pleasur to assist you in any way possible and allow you make a more informed decision concerning your travel plans.


Denny

Hotel ratings how reliable are they?

One of the toughest questions that I had to answer involved the accuracy of the hotel ratings provided by the travel wholesalers. Quite honestly those ratings were always a thorn in my side. It was obvious that many wholesalers would overrate some of their properties in order to generate more sales. It was a practice that I totally disagreed with because it misled the consumer and ultimately I was faced with an irate client upon their return from their vacation even if I tried in vein to deter them from a particular property. Unfortunately, vacation travel is a very lucrative business and most companies are in it for the $$$$$$ and nothing else.

Now before booking a particular hotel I suggest that you apply the following criteria:

1- Visit the hotel websites directly and carefully read the amenities that are offered as well as the type of rooms. Many times you can reserve a better or larger room with an oceanview for just a few dollars more.

2- Confirm the meal plan i.e. all inclusive, breakfast only etc.

3- The proximity to the beach, town and activities

4- Compare the hotel to other properties that you have visited in the past to see how it measures up

5- Visit an online site to read reviews submitted by other travellers that have stayed at the hotel that you're interested in. I suggest which is a very popular site

6- If dealing with an agent directly, ask if they have already sent other customers there and if so what were their comments. Normally, a good travel agent will always call back his client in order to gather feedback on the trip. Actually, this is part of offering outstanding customer service and even if the client has a few complaints he will always appreciate the callback.

7- Share your experiences with your family, friends, co-workers etc. in order to receive many varied opinions to be able to formulate a more informed decision.


In short, we have so much information available to us via the internet, take the time to properly research the property you are most interested in before you reserve in order to avoid ruining your vacation.


Have a great trip!!!!

Travel Insurance - Don't leave home without it!!!

In my 20 years in the travel industry I could never understand why people were comfortable buying home, car and life insurance but considered travel insurance a "SCAM". There were times I would be pulling my hair literally when my clients were finished purchasing a $5000-$6000 honeymoon package but refused to to insure themselves for a couple of hundred dollars. They would tell me " You're trying to make more money from us". Even though that is true and the commissions are pretty high, they didn't understand that depending on the type of package that they reserved they could stand to lose everything!!
It's quite simple actually. Most clients don't understand that travel agents are simply a middle man and as such need to follow the rules and regulations put in place by the wholesaler, tour operator, airline etc. A travel agent is there to research and try to find the best deals for his clients. Most importantly, a good travel agent will also educate his clients on how everything functions and the penalties involved in case of cancellation. This way the client can make an informed decision and feel more comfortable about buying travel insurance.
There are many forms of travel insurance:
- Complete package covering expenses such as medical, cancellation etc
- Strictly medical insurance in case of an accident or illness while on vacation
- Luggage insurance
Nowadays, many gold and platinum credit cards will offer complete or partial travel insurance when the client pays with one of those types of cards. As well, group insurance plans at work will more often than not offer some sort of medical coverage.
These are the types of questions that an experienced agent will ask his clients in order to be able to make the proper suggestions.
In short, not buying travel insurance could turn out to be the biggest mistake a traveller can make before embarking on his trip!!!
Check your bags, verify your passport and BUY travel insurance 3 very important steps before you say "BON VOYAGE"

http://www.hotelbuddy.net

Booking Online Versus Your Local Travel Agent

As we are all aware in recent years the travel industry has gone thru an amazing transformation with the popularity of online reservation sites. Unfortunately, just like any other online industry there are always pitfalls that could wind up destroying your dream vacation.

I've been involved in the travel industry for the better part of 20 years and I've witnessed and lived many horrendous events. We need to look at the pros and cons of booking online yourself compared to going to your local travel agent.



1) Booking online:

PROS:

- flexibility of reserving when your local agency is closed

- feeling of a job well done by handling everything on your own

- convenience of not having to commute

- the possibility of reserving at a better price

- access to a wealth of information readily available online



CONS:

- if you're not a seasoned traveller you could wind up reserving something not to your liking

- lack of support offered if the site is an affiliate of a larger company

- if you don't like your trip you have only yourself to blame!!!


2) Booking with a local travel agent:

PROS:

- you are to able rely on the agent's experience and knowledge to get valuable information before reserving

- in case of an emergency or if any trouble arises you have someone backing you up and readily available to offer support

- a travel agent can provide the proper information concerning the various insurance options. Travelling without insurance is a definite NO-NO

CONS:

- you might wind up paying a little more with the introduction of travel agent service fees particularly on airline tickets

- having the misfortune of landing on an agent that has even less knowledge than yourself for where you are planning to travel



Of course every traveller has a different level of experience. Therefore, if you are frequent traveller booking online should not discourage you. On the other hand if you travel less frequently you are advised to visit a local travel agent and before you do so choose an agency that has been in operation for years in order to avoid any pitfalls.