Phonebloks: The Lego Style Smart Phone

How many times has only one part of your phone been damaged, requiring you to get a whole new phone? If your camera or speakers break, you're forced to buy a new phone even if everything else still works. Dave Hakkens’ new invention may be the answer to this annoying problem. Hakkens’ Phonebloks is a cellular phone with removable parts – think Legos.

Phonebloks has detachable components on both the front and back of the device. These parts can be upgraded or replaced individually allowing the user to pay for only the part they may need. The device is held together by a pegboard style case. The pieces fit into this case with a replaceable screen that is mounted on the front.

The device also allows users to customize their phone specific to the way they plan use it. Want to be a photographer? Get a high resolution camera. Music obsessed? How about a larger storage block so you can store thousands of songs? Users can also create their own blocks since the platform will be built on open software.

Since Hakkens put the video for Phonebloks on YouTube on Tuesday, the internet community has exploded with support for his idea. He plans to use a service called Thunderclap to send out messages on Facebook and Twitter about the phone. Already over 81,000 people have already signed up to help spread the word, showing that this idea might change the way we use and replace smart phones.

For more information please visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/phonebloks_n_3908611.html

Haunts Around the Country: Halloween Travel

From the Exorcist to The Amityville Horror, haunted happenings have always frightened and fascinated tourists. With Halloween just around the corner, what better time to experience some of America’s most haunted places? Here are some of the most haunted places in the U.S.

Lake Placid, New York holds a 5k Zombie Run every year. They are also host  a “Trick-or-Treat” pub crawl where adults can relive the fun of Halloween all over again. Aside from the annual events, Fort Ticonderoga, located in Lake Placid, is rumored to be haunted. So if you're a more daring traveler you can take a tour and attempt to spot a ghost or two!



The Golden Stage Inn in Ludlow, Vermont was a stagecoach stop back in the days of the Wild West. Under new ownership it was turned into a hotel – one home to a ghost in the attic. Since the discovery many patrons have had there own encounters with the ghost. Some guests have noticed TVs turning on and off on their own, lights turning on and off, and contractors have claimed to have heard footsteps only to turn around and no one was there. This historic hotel prides itself on being a friendly haunted hotel and attracts many ghost hunting guests. 



Telluride, Colorado is a town filled with ghost stories and known for the paranormal. You can  grab a flashlight and listen to ghost stories outside of the Telluride Historical Museum. If you're looking for something a little more thrilling, you can proceed to take a tour of the dimly lit museum that was once a hospital in 1896.



So if you're looking for a new spooky adventure you may want to visit one of these towns, and maybe even have a ghost experience of your own!

For more information please visit http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-towns-for-halloween

Hotels Situated on Great Locations

Location, location, location!! Location is always important in the real estate and hotel industries.  As properties continue to find new ways to entice guests we found a few locations that definitely sparked our interest...

The Amankila hotel in Bali is located right on the Lombok Strait, giving guests a beautiful view. The suites are all free standing and feature canopied beds, patios with coconut shell tables, and cathedral ceilings. The hotel also features gorgeous infinity pools for guests to relax in.

The Blantyre is a Tudor style country house covered in ivy, situated on 117 acres in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Rooms have huge fireplaces and an extensive book collection. The main dining room serves country cuisine with a French twist and in the winter the tennis courts are transformed into an ice skating rink.

The Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora lets you watch the sun rise over the Pacific or the sun set over their gorgeous lagoon with Mount Otemanu as a back drop. Buildings have walls made of volcanic stone with mother of pearl accents. Suites include overwater platforms that allow guests to stare at the sky, or even spy dolphins in the ocean around them.

From tucked away escapes to exotic island hotels, the location is always key when selecting your accommodation.

For more information please visit http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/10/hotels-best-locatios-cincinatti-bali-turks-and-caicos-colorado-botswana

Disney Treasures Come Home to Chicago

Disney is beloved by all, young and old, and right now the Museum of Science and Industry has the "Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives" on display. Walt Disney was born in Chicago, so it only makes sense that the celebration of his life and work would take place here as well.

The exhibit starts with Disney's birth on the South Side, in 1901 and carries on after his death in 1966 - proving that he has truly created a legacy. Johnny Depp's pirate costume is on display from Pirates of the Caribbean, and for older Disney fans take a peek at the original Mickey Mouse watch!

Disney didn't just make movies, he revolutionized the industry. Snow White, the first color animation feature was a huge gamble which paid off with millions at the box office. His company invented the multi plane camera, allowing for a more efficient depth of field. Disney was also an early user of the new media of Television with The Wonderful World of Disney becoming a Sunday night staple.

 

Chicagoans young and old can enjoy the exhibit, and if you're not from Chicago, it's worth the trip to see some of Disney's treasures!

For more information please visit http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-16/entertainment/chi-disney-exhibit-museum-of-science-and-industry-20131016_1_walt-disney-archives-science-and-industry-mickey-mouse

Underground Escapes: Cave Hotels

Usually people want a room with a view and hotels often highlight their beautiful views. These hotels however, are unique in that they don't have windows or a view, but still offer great stays!

The Locanda di San Martino Hotel e Therme in Matera, Italy is a gorgeous hotel and spa that brings to mind the baths of Ancient Rome. It was carved out of limestone rock thousands of years ago, and has hydro massage and many other spa treatments to reduce stress. The hotel is also located at the center of Matera’s historical district.

The Argos in Capadocia in Turkey is a 53 room underground hotel complex. Rooms are connected by tunnels and they are said to have been inhabited by ancient Christians and Monks. Some of the rooms are outside of ethereal underground pools - this combined with the unique rock formations makes the hotel seem like something out of a fairy tale. There is also a vineyard on the property meaning there is no shortage of people looking to drink some wine and stay underground.

The Grand Canyon’s Cavern is a unique hotel with history. It is so far underground that during the Cuban Missile crisis President Kennedy used it for a bomb shelter. Today however, guests can stay in one of the hotel’s 48 rooms - so deep underground and missing natural light that no animals live down there at all. Because of the limestone the air is virtually moisture free, making it the largest dry cavern in the U.S.

While these hotels aren't for the claustrophobic - if you're looking for a change of pace, a cave hotel might be just right for you.

For more information please visit http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/17/travel/cave-hotels-windowless-lodging/index.html

Secluded Hotels

In today's fast paced world sometimes you just want to get away from it all. Why not try a hotel that helps you escape and unwind? We found a few hotels secluded from the outside world, and while some may be hard to get to they just might be the key to relaxation and retreat from your busy life.

The Green Magic resort in Kerala, India is a childhood dream come to life as the hotel consists of multiple tree houses. Hanging bridges connect the tree houses – some of which are as high 115 feet above the ground. For the less adventurous guests there are some properties on ground level.  Access to the tree houses is via a cane lift which resembles a giant bird cage.

 

Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida is all in the name – the property literally lets you stay under the sea. Guests have to scuba dive through a beautiful lagoon filled with tropical fish and jellyfish in order to get to the hotel. Your baggage follows behind you – but don’t worry it’s placed in water proof suitcases. 

 

The Tikichik Narrows Lodge in Bristol Bay, Alaska is 300 miles away from the nearest road system making it accessible only by seaplane. The lodge employs four full time pilots to fly guests from Dillingham, Alaska to the resort and back. Once guests arrive they can enjoy freshwater fishing or take a guided tour in the Alaskan wilderness to view Grizzly Bears.

 

Are you dreaming up your next getaway yet?

For more information please visit http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/05/remote-secluded-private-hotels-islands-photos

AdTrap: Internet without Advertisements

One of the biggest annoyances of the modern age is dealing with unwanted ads, from YouTube to Google, ads are everywhere and ad blockers only do so much. AdTrap, a new device that started shipping in August blocks the ads before they even reach you, making an ad free browsing experience possible. The company's motto is "the internet is yours again", a throwback to the early days of the internet when there were no ads.

AdTrap is a white rectangular box that resembles a wireless router and blocks the ads before they reach your computer or mobile phone. It retails at $139, which seems pricey when ad blockers are free, but it blocks much more than an ad blocker. The company has already retained lawyers to deal with any potential disgruntled websites or advertisers, since sites like CNN rely primarily on revenue from advertisers to make their money this could hurt their bottom line. Another drawback is there are popular websites it doesn't work with such as Hulu, but they say they are working towards making it work there as well.

AdTrap could be the next big thing, or it could fall to the wayside, it all depends on two things: how badly consumers don't want to see ads and how badly websites want to keep advertising revenue. Only time will tell which side wins.

For more information please visit http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/28/tech/ad-trap-internet-ad-blocker/?iref=obnetwork