Vacationing in Tree-House Hotels

Remember when you were a kid and used to spend long summer nights in a tree-house with your friends? Well several hotels are starting to offer that experience, but with infinity pools and fireplaces instead of wooden planks and pillows. Tree-house hotels offer a unique experience for the traveler who wants to step outside of their comfort zone, and spend a night under the stars.

The Treehotel in Harads, Sweden has five unique rooftop suites; one which looks like it’s made up of Lego bricks, one that appears to be a bird’s nest, and a suite with a mirrored exterior that reflects the forest on all sides. Guests can access the property through electric stairs, a ramp or a bridge. During the summer the Treehotel offers fishing and kayaking and during the winter guests can take in the famed Northern Lights.

The Tsala Treetop Lodge in Plattenberg Bay, South Africa overlooks the Tsitsikamma Forest, and features ten different tree-house suites. Each one features an infinity pool leading into the ocean, floor to ceiling bedroom windows, and private decks. Access to the property is provided by exquisite wooden walkways. Travelers can relax on the beach or simply enjoy the view.

 Chewton Glen, Hampshire United Kingdom has six spacious tree-houses, each with two private suites, and is located just outside of New Forest National Park. Floor to ceiling windows offer amazing views and the spacious outdoor terrace features a hot tub and day beds. The floors are made of timber and marble, and are heated to provide a cozy feeling. In the morning guests can wake up to breakfast created by a gourmet chef and delivered straight to their tree-house.

Tree- house hotels seem to be a growing market- they offer novelty and nostalgia, appealing to both younger and older travelers. By mixing the novelty of nature and rustic surroundings with gourmet chefs and top of the line suites, hotels may have stumbled upon the next big thing! 

For more interesting tree-house hotels please visit http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-coolest-tree-house-hotels

How smart is your smart phone?

As smart phone technology continues to get more and more advanced, smart phones are beginning to look more like something out of a science fiction novel. They are an increasingly important part of many people’s lives as they can do almost anything. Let’s take a look at a few interesting new features hitting the smart phone market...

One of the recent advancements is Swype, Swype allows for users to type out a word in one continuous motion rather than tapping the individual buttons. This makes typing much easier and faster even on a small screen. It also remembers what words you use most frequently and stores them in a dictionary.

Siri and Google Now may seem like just advanced search engines, but recent updates allow them to do so much more. Siri has creative responses for almost any question you can come up with. With Google Now, you can check traffic and it will tell you what time you need to leave in order to reach your destination based on traffic patterns. It also makes predictions for you about information you may want to know based on your search history, such as notifying you if your flight has been delayed. This type of technology makes it easier to remember appointments or important meetings since Siri and Google Now will remember and remind you.

Even with the advanced touch screens already available on smart phones; did you ever think that you would be able to control your phone without having to actually touch it? Now you can with Samsung’s Air Gesture technology on the Galaxy S4 smart phone. You can simply wave your hand to answer calls, change music, or browse through photos. It also allows you to preview emails and texts by hovering over the screen with your finger.

With LG’s new Cross Tasking feature, users of its Optimus G smart phone can use multiple advanced features of the phone at the same time. One feature of Cross Tasking is being able to view two separate screens on the phone. Now you don’t have to go back and forth between apps if you’re trying to text while also searching for information on the web.

No one knows where the next ten years will take us with advancements in smart phone technology, but we can be sure that whatever new technologies come along, there will always be a bigger and better one to take its place.

For more information on the new advancements for smart phones please visit http://money.cnn.com/gallery/magazines/fortune/2013/04/29/9-ways-smartphones-are-getting-scary-smart.fortune/index.html

World’s First Website

Twenty years ago if you would have told someone to “Google something” they would have been extremely confused. Nowadays “googling” and the internet are essential to our daily activity so much so that the idea of not having internet access at our fingertips may cause us to break out in a panic!

It’s hard to believe that twenty years ago, on April 30^th, 1993 the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) released the world’s first web server to the public. Back in 1993, scientists from different universities used it as a way to communicate and share information. It was also used to transfer files between computers and to remotely access computer networks. It’s hard to believe that when upon first release, it only accounted for 1% of internet traffic!

For the twenty year anniversary of the World Wide Web, CERN has worked to recreate a functioning version of the first website so we can see how it was used in its early days. The original website included only text and information on how to use to internet- no pictures, videos, or advertisements – can you imagine?!?! While we try to wrap our heads around this picture we would like to just say happy 20^th anniversary!

For more information on the world’s first website please visit http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/30/tech/web/first-website-cern/

Perks of using “The Cloud”

Cloud storage allows you to store important documents or files online. Using this can benefit your business in many ways by streamlining the process of saving and uploading files. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using the cloud…

Accessibility: You simply upload your files online using cloud computing apps, such as Google Drive, SkyDrive, or Dropbox. Once your documents are stored on the cloud, you can instantly access them from any device and share them with others. Since the cloud makes it easy to directly upload your files online, you no longer have to email files to yourself. It also eliminates the need for a flash drive.

Security: If you lose your laptop or tablet, all of your important files will already be backed up online. Losing or having your device stolen is stressful enough, but using the cloud can at least give you peace of mind. This is especially valuable if you have important company files stored on your device.

More memory for less: Buying external hard drives can be pricey, but since the cloud allows you to save everything online there is no longer a need for that. It also means you can save money on future purchases by getting a device with less memory, since so much can be stored online.

Overall, cloud storage can be very useful and is simple to use.

Secluded European Destinations

When traveling to Europe there are the common attractions and cities tourists like to visit, but what about going somewhere new? Here are a few little known about, but exciting travel spots.

The Matarranya Region in Southern Aragon, Spain is filled with rivers, mountains, and vineyards. One can go for a peaceful bike ride through the mountains. A notable place to visit here is a 15^th century palace, Hotel Torre del Visco.

                              

Ile de Noirmoutier, France is known for its beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast and diverse wildlife. It is a great place to go sightseeing as you can walk or ride a bike through the multiple villages on the island. 

  

Lodz, Poland is a lively town with its 19^th century industrial center, Manufaktura, now featuring museums, shops, and cinemas. It is home to Hollylodz, an international film school with Oscar winning alumni. The Museum of Art also has the most extensive collection of Polish art.

 

Ikaria, Greece is known for being one of the geographic regions around the world where residents have the highest life expectancy (1 in 3 residents of this region lives over 90). This remote, small village provides an escape from the fast paced world of the tourist filled cities in Greece. In addition to swimming in the crystal clear, blue water, visitors can attend the popular Icarus Festival in the summer that has musicians and singers from around the world.

Which of these cities do you think would provide the most fascinating, new travel experience?

 For more hidden, but exciting European destinations please visit http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/europes-secret-hot-spots

Impressive Airport Hotels

Traveling for business can be tiring so why not stay at a hotel near your airport and save on transportation costs and time?? Let’s take a look at a few of our top airport hotel choices…

Kempinski Hotel Munich is located at the Munich, Germany Airport. This hotel has guest room soundproof windows and blackout curtains so that guests can unwind and if more relaxation is needed the Fit & Fly Spa equipped with an indoor pool, sauna, gym, and solarium is the perfect mini getaway.

The grand Hyatt Dallas/Fort Worth offers a complimentary shuttle service from the terminals at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Guests can stay in sound proof rooms with access to a rooftop pool, spa, cooking school, and nearby golf courses. The availability of 45 meeting rooms and 20 conference suites make it easy for travelers to go straight to their hotel after a long flight and get a head start on their work.

The Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong can be easily accessed from the Hong Kong International Airport by an indoor, climate controlled bridge. This hotel was ranked as the top airport hotel in the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Everything guests may want is conveniently located in the hotel including six restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, conference and meeting facilities, and a spa.

Which of these hotels do you think would make travelling for business more hassle free?

To check out more airport hotels please visit http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/26/travel/worlds-best-airport-hotels/index.html?hpt=tr_t2

Hotels: Today’s Art Attractions

One new way hotels are enticing guests is by appealing to art coinsurers. From paintings in the lobby, to a full art gallery, to simply using new and creative decorating ideas, the using of art to appeal to travelers seems to be a new trend amongst hoteliers. Check out a few of our artsy hotel picks…

The Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht has the largest in-hotel video art collection in the world. Not only is this a striking hotel, it doubles as an art gallery. The décor and visuals are designed by world renowned artists, Yael Bartana, Cristina Lucas, and Martha Colburn to name a few. This hotel is beloved by Amsterdam’s creative community, and has potential to become a huge success.

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris is an art lover’s paradise- only steps away from Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Filled with paintings and photographs from international artists, the property also provides an art concierge to keep travelers informed about local Parisian art events.

The Faena Hotel Buenos Aires is just blocks away from the Faena Arts Center. Both are owned by the same company, the Faena Group, and have helped to create a lively art district. The center features contemporary art from all over the world, and the admission fee is waived for guests of the hotel. The property also offers a unique program allowing artists to stay at the hotel to work on their art.

As hotels focus on appealing to guests through art, which of these do you think would be the most interesting to visit?

For more information on artistic hotels please visit http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/01/travel/artsy-hotels/index.html?hpt=tr_bn6