Outdoor Hotel Suites

When most people picture sleeping outside they think of tents and uncomfortable sleeping bags. However, we have found hotel suites that elevate sleeping outside to a new level. They have comfy beds and luxury amenities – just outside.

Amangiri Resort is located in a remote desert in Utah with beautiful, natural landscape. Amangiri offers suites that have Sky Terraces - these rooms are surrounded by three open walls with a pool below you and the vast night sky in full view above you.

Las Ventanas Al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico is located at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula allowing any guest of this suite a great view of the Sea of Cortes as it is only about 150 feet away. This hotel also provides telescopes in every room so guests can enjoy the view of the sky at night and sea in the day.

L’Albereta is a small hotel hidden among gardens and vineyards in Italy. While only offering five rooms, one of L’Albereta’s elegantly decorated suites has a retractable roof directly above the bed. By simply pressing a button guests can gaze at the stars while still being inside a hotel room.

These are just a few hotels that combine the experience of staying in a luxury hotel with the beauty of being out in nature, for more information please visit http://www.cntraveler.com/features/2010/08/hotel-accomodations-lodges-outdoor-suites-views?mbid=nl_daily_traveler

Uniquely Designed Hotels

Hotels often try to differentiate themselves by offering unique services and amenities, and some hotels are attracting guests in a distinct way. Here are three hotels that are going above and beyond normal expectations by trying out new, interesting designs in architecture. 

The Hotel Unbalance in Lima, Peru looks like a building falling off the edge of a cliff. It is designed to be partially built into the cliff in effort to give it an unbalanced appearance and to maximize the views of the Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains. The Hotel Unbalance will have 125 guest rooms, rooftop restaurants, conference rooms, and exhibition spaces. The property is still in its development stage so it is not known when it will open. 

The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, opening in October 2013, is in the shape of a doughnut – while not visible, the bottom ends are connected by underground floors. The exterior of this hotel also stands out with an LED light system that displays animated textures and patterns. The resort offers 321 guest rooms each with private balconies. 

The InterContinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland is a 19 story hotel and attraction being constructed in an old quarry and set to open in late 2014 or early 2015. Sixteen floors of the hotel will be located underground and built onto the side of the quarry while the other three are above ground. Underground, guests can enjoy luxury rooms, a spa, restaurants (including one underwater), and an aquarium. Above ground, the resort will feature adventurous activities, such as rock climbing and bungee jumping utilizing the hotel’s cliffs. 

Add these to our list of “hotels to visit”! 

For more information please go to http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/08/19/unbalanced-hotel-will-look-like-off-set-picture-frame/

Winning Big: Top Casino Hotels

Casinos and hotels seem to be a perfect pair - Casinos are often associated with money and glitz so it only makes sense that these adult playgrounds be located in some of the best hotels.

 

Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Home to 6 casinos, 2 golf courses, and 38 restaurants, the property offers guests so much variety that they may not have enough time to experience everything during their stay! Foxwoods also offers comedy clubs, a bowling alley, nightclubs, and shopping. Being the largest casino resort in North America there is sure to be something for everyone!

 

 

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore resembles an art gallery with a museum showcasing art from 18th century France. The highest and largest infinity pool in the world sits on the top of this hotel providing great views of the city, so if you want to step away from the tables and take a dip with unprecedented views this property is your best bet!

 

 

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel in China offers guests the largest gaming space in the world at 374,000 square feet with 2,000 slot machines and 500 gaming tables. Its 3,000 luxury suites are also spacious with smallest rooms still measuring 750 square feet. In addition to its luxury suites and casino The Venetian has a high-end shopping mall, fitness center, and international fine dining.

 

 

The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas offers everything a gambler could want, featuring a high limit poker salon with butler service, race and sports book, and a 112,000 square foot poker room.  Located on the popular strip in Las Vegas, the property boasts extravagant guest suites with European inspired décor.

 

 

Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania is the only full amenity gaming resort in the Philadelphia region. The property is home to two hotels, The Casino Tower and Radisson Hotel. The casino also offers 600 slot machines and 50 game tables that are sure to provide a great playing experience!

 

 

The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa is largest hotel in New Jersey and the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City. The casino floor offers daily poker tournaments, 4,000 slot machines, and 200 table games. There is also an event center that hosts large concerts and events, a spa, nightclubs, and specialty stores.

 

 

The chance to win it big seems to be something many people (including us) dream of and something that keeps casino hotels popular travel destinations. The question now is which casino hotels will stay on top and which will be replaced by something new and better?

 

 For more top casino hotels please visit http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/08/13/top-10-casino-hotels-worldwide/

Touch Screens Anywhere

Imagine being able to turn any surface into a touch screen almost instantly, new technology can allow you to do just that. Picture Tom Cruise in Minority Report pulling up information with a swipe of his finger - that could be you.

New software developed by Microsoft and Ubi Interactive allows users to project their screen onto any surface. The best part is touching the projected image allows you to control whatever is on the screen! Microsoft’s Kinect technology allows this to work on tables, walls, or panes of glass. All you need to do is run the software on any PC and connect it to a projector and Kinect sensor.

Having the ability to turn any screen into a touch screen eliminates the need for screen hardware, and allows for businesses to do things such as display interactive product information after hours. Another advantage is you can use this technology with products you already own, such as a PC. Consumers would also need to purchase an Xbox Kinect sensor. The technology itself can cost anywhere from $149 to $1,499 depending on if you want to use it for personal or business use.

This futuristic technology which previously was only seen in movies has become a real life business technology. It seems as if the ability to turn any screen into a touch screen is one many businesses would want so this technology should be here to stay.

For more information please visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227932

Hotels to Help Complete your Bucket List

Travel is all about new experiences and we’ve found some amazing hotels that may just be life changing. Our “bucket list hotels” may expand the globe, but they all have one thing in common – unique offerings that provide guests with once in a lifetime experiences. While everyone’s “bucket list” might be different we found a few hotels bound to satisfy a wide range of individuals…

The Liberty Hotel in Boston located in a 19^th century jail utilizes “incarceration” throughout the property. Thick brick walls, jail cell doors, and original stone floors are used in the design of this hotel, and guests can hang a “solitary” key ring on the door instead letting staff know not to disturb them.

 

Post Ranch Inn in California offers breathtaking views as the hotel is built into the cliffs of Big Sur. All the guest rooms have ocean or mountain views, private decks, and wood-burning fireplaces. Guests can relax on the hotel’s cliff-top infinity spas.

&Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp in Botswana is in a remote location, but offers a unique experience. Guests looking for adventure are sure to find it here with guided excursions included in your stay. You can also get up close to exotic wildlife. Traveling to this hotel is an adventure in itself as it requires transportation by a small plane, safari vehicle, and a boat. 

GoldenEye Hotel and Resort in Jamaica is one of the island’s most historic hotels. It is where author Ian Fleming wrote all 14 James Bond novels. The Fleming Villa even features his original desk and its own private pool. 

Everyone has a bucket list - these hotels offer guests a new and exciting place to stay while trying to complete it. For more hotels that offer exciting experiences please visit http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2013/08/14/travel-bucket-list-hotels-lodgings/2647977/

A New Type of Hotel Guest: Super Commuters

Super commuters, people who travel more than 90 miles to get to work twice a week are a fast growing demographic. They are frequent guests at hotels around the country and therefore, hotels will go to great lengths to satisfy their wants and needs.

Affina Hotels in New York and Washington D.C offer a frequent visitor program with many different perks for guests. Guests commit to spending at least 25 nights a year in the hotel and then they receive 10% off room rates, free local calls, and laundry service. They also get a personal account manager.

The Wolcott in New York is particularly appealing to super commuters who drive because they offer 30-5-% off at neighboring parking garages. They also have on site laundry and free breakfast.

AKA located in New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C, and Los Angeles is designed for super commuters. Zip cars are available to rent on site and they offer many other benefits as well. They will store belongings for returning guests and dry clean clothes while guests are home. They also have a 24 hour fitness center and a private lounge.

These are just a few hotels that go above and beyond for their guests, for more information please visit http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/06/business-travel-super-commuters/2613075/

New in Tech: Thought Controlled Technology

Touch screen devices are becoming the norm these days, but with companies moving on to develop gesture technology what can be expected to be even more high-tech? The answer to that is a project Samsung’s Emerging technology Lab is working on – mobile devices that can be controlled simply by thinking actions.

Samsung’s technology works via electrodes that are attached to the user’s head to monitor brain waves. Users can do anything from opening an app to playing a song all by simply thinking it!

While this may seem like just novelty, this technology could potentially help people communicate. You've probably seen patients who can only blink to communicate like on popular medical shows, such as House or Grey’s Anatomy. This technology could allow people to communicate again.

While this kind of innovation only in the research stages it has potential for a multitude of uses! 

For more information on this new technology please visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227696