Euro Travel & More

So Dealfind had a deal for the Delta Hotel in Fredericton and since it was a Delta Hotel, I figured I would look a little closer into it.  This is for a 2 night stay in New Brunswick for a Premier Room Overlooking the Saint John river for $150.  Not a bad deal at all – since hotel rooms are usually about $100 at least even for Priceline and a 2 night stay with $20 food voucher – now you can’t go wrong with that can you.  But wait a minute – don’t forget to read the fine prints below – there are plenty of restrictions as you can see and after reading some reviews on the hotel – the river view is nothing that special.

Expires on 30-Jun-2012. Buy up to 5 vouchers for yourself and unlimited as gifts. Limit 5 vouchers for personal use. By reservations only, please book online at DeltaFredericton.com, enter your DealFind voucher code under “Promotional Code/IATA#” to redeem. For inquiries, please call 1.888.462.8800. Package includes 2 nights accommodation in a luxury premier room overlooking the St John’s River and a $20 voucher valid towards food, beverage and alcohol. Voucher valid from Thursday to Sunday. Subject to availability. Voucher not valid from, March 20, 2012, April 12-14, 2012, May 3-5,10-11,31, 2012 and June 1-2, 2012.  Not valid for groups. Not valid with other offers. No cash back or credit. Not valid for taxes. Cannot be redeemed before Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

Living Social and Beyond Boundaries Travel had a special deal for A 4-Day, 3-Night VIP Trip to Orlando Theme Parks for a Family of 4 – for $875.  This is for the Melia Orlando Suite Hotel at Celebration.  But wait a minute before you book – make sure you read the fine prints.  At first I too thought it was an excellent deal – but luckily I read the fine prints and found out that it was a per person rate and that you have to make good with your book before the end of February 2012.   So when a deal is too good to be true – it is usually not as good.  So make sure you read the fine prints before booking else I would have lost my money for nothing.  When there are so many kind of conditions to the special deal – it’s not such a special deal anymore.

Vouchers cannot be combined to extend stay • Reservations are required; subject to availability and must be made by February 28, 2012 • Not valid on existing reservations • Price is per person; rooms accommodate up to four people • This price is only valid when four people are in the one bedroom suite; voucher can be applied to the trip price for less than four people per suite • Additional fee applies for rooms under 4 people • For 3 people in a room it is an additional $60 per person; paid at booking • For 2 people in a room is is an additional $130 per person; paid at booking • For 1 person in a room is is an additional $350 per person; paid at booking • Taxes and fees are not included and will be collected at redemption • There will be no refunds once booking is made through Beyond Boundaries. Cancellation will result in being charged the full amount • Bookings subject to Beyond Boundaries Terms and Conditions • Airfare not included • All deal components must be redeemed during one stay and by one person • Disclaimer – Beyond Boundaries Travel and Living Social are not affiliated with Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. This event has not been planned, approved, or licensed by Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. Beyond Boundaries Travel do not claim or imply any rights to any Harry Potter intellectual property • HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.(s12) Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2012 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. These themed tours are not official Harry Potter tours and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers and/or J.K.Rowling and her representatives and/or Universal Orlando.Downtown Disney is a trademark of The Walt Disney Company • Other conditions apply• PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON January 28, 2017 • PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON June 4, 2012

I was only in Dallas once with my ex-boss who was looking for Tubing Bender for a project we were on way back in 2008, since I was in Canada – it would be easier to bring me a long than his engineer in Singapore.   We stayed that The Joule in Dallas on Main Street  – I think I liked the location best – and because it right where the central area was – it was definitely convenient for us to go about our business and to receive business associate in the hotel or a nearby cafe.   I don’t remember them having a business center but they did have some PC  – and internet connection that you can hook your laptop to at the lobby.  The staff were extremely friendly and they did have a restaurant inhouse – Charlie something  – I can’t remember the name.

The rooms were very nice – and modern – I liked the colors immediately – it didn’t feel like I was sleeping in a hotel – it was like an apartment.

Like I said – everything was pretty modern – right up to the bathroom experience.

Loved the outdoor pool – for in Canada – most hotels has indoor ones.  I really wouldn’t say that it’s a boutique hotel – because they had a lot of rooms – the concierge was pretty helpful if I remember correctly.   Anyhow, we found our tubing bender in Dallas and return home after a 3 days stay.  So if you are in Dallas looking for tubing bending – stay at the Joule, Dallas.

We had never stayed at the Niagara Falls before but since there was a special deal on Dealfind one day – we decided to make a trip up to the Embassy Suites by Hilton.  We arrived late in the evening and it was a very busy spot as you can see.  Located at Fallsview – with casinos like 2 blocks away – its definitely a great location for those who wants to try their luck in the casino.

As for us – we turned in early and got up early too – just so we can talk a walk around and see what Niagara falls have to offer us.

With TGIF just behind the hotel and the Keg in the hotel itself – you don’t even have to walk out of the hotel if you don’t want to.  I think the best part of staying at the Embassy Suites is the spectacular view of the Horseshoe fall on the Canadian side.  But be warned to stay on the upper floors else you will be disappointed.

The rooms were huge and clean – but it had seen better days – the aging of this magnificent hotel is showing  – another few more years – they would definitely need some renovation.   And what’s with hotel and their bed cover colors – those are the most deary looking ones – but most hotels have the same type of bed covers.

The outlaws room – which was just as huge.

A little kitchenette – great for family who has kids like us.

A jacuzzi for those romantic evenings – don’t forget to bring some bubble bath and rose petals.

A very awesome view from our room – we were pretty pleased.

A pretty big pool which gets really busy with kids during the weekend – so if you have kids – don’t worry about them not having fun – they will make friends really quick like mine.

Surprisingly, they have a big business center at the Embassy Suites even though the room has wireless.

The lobby was really nice – but I won’t go to the Manager’s reception if I were you – they served us drinks in a plastic cups!  hahahah!! too funny! Overall, it was a good stay and we will return if we had just a good deal for the room.  The rooms were like $149 a night but it included food vouchers for The Keg Steakhouse and casino chips of up to $50 and some manicure spa thing for $50.  A pretty good deal if you asked me – so we can’t complain eh.

Like most people here in Canada – we all rushed out to the south for the warmth and better weather – and you can’t really blame us when it is freezing cold here.   Last year, we had decided that we wanted to head to Jamaica and we wanted an all inclusive resort – so when the cousin reported that the Grand Palladium was darn good – we had to check it out.

The Grand Palladium has a grand lobby and you would love the resort as it is huge – so be prepared for some good walking exercises while you are there.  The location is also not bad – but you do have to travel quite a bit to other places depending on its traffic that day.

The grounds are immaculately kept and the staff are pretty awesome – they made our stay a very enjoyable one.  And what I loved about the resort most is that we weren’t hustled at all – like most all inclusive resort in Cuba or Mexico whereby they tell you all their sad stories and sometimes curse you for not buying their wares.

The beaches are wonderful – the little huts are great for children who don’t want to be in the sun for too long – we like the sunset cove beach very much.  I could lived like this forever – hahah!

The pool was huge and the pool bar was just right there – very convenient for those who loved their drinks when they are swimming – as for us – we only had the punch and water for the spouse as we both don’t drink – the house wine was ok – but I prefer ice wine which they didn’t have.

Our suite room was huge and so were the friends who came with us – love the bathroom shower and the tub as well.

This is the sunset cove.

An awesome looking sunset that makes you think of all the wonderful things in life.  The Grand Palladium also has a kid’s cove for the kids and many entertainment in the evening – definitely a great place to relax and recharge.  Lots of restaurants to choose from Mexican and the international buffet – plus American food.

While some people say it’s a budget hotel – I didn’t really think it was – rooms were like $200 a night – so I don’t really think it’s budget hotel.  But it sure was pretty sleek looking and almost geeky like inside.

The staff very pretty nice and the hotel lobby and general area were kept clean – and overall it’s alright – but don’t expect any frills even though you paid so much for the hotel.  Now the plus – about Alma Barcelona is – it’s right in the middle of everything within walking distance – so the locality is great.  It seems like a pretty safe neighborhood to stay in and getting a cab is pretty easy and it’s not expensive like most people say about 10 euros. The shops around the hotels are all high end stuff so if you want to shop for more reasonable price stuff head out to Plaza Catalunya.

Modern looking room – clean and comfy and a bit futuristic looking as you can see.

A basic looking bathroom – but adequate.

This is the bar in the hotel but since there are many restaurants and cafes around the hotel, we usually choose to eat out instead of paying lots for the food here.  There is room service but I think they stop at 10pm if I am not wrong.  There isn’t a real concierge in this hotel – and the staff recommendation for restaurants wasn’t the most accurate. Overall, it’s a great place to stay for a few days – and if you are a single geeky male – this place is awesome – and if you are in for the location – great – but for that price – I think I prefer a more feminine hotel and that’s just my perspective – not kid friendly either.

We like resort as soon as we arrived, we were given a warm welcome by the front desk and shown to our rooms promptly.   Only minutes from the airport – this resort was managed by the Hilton group from what we’ve heard.  We had a whole strange of the Ocean view for watching the sunset and sunrise – additionally – there were restaurants, grill and a bar for those who wants to stay in the resort and relax.  About 10 minutes towards Kapaa, you can find beaches you can swim in – so don’t be disappointed that you don’t find one in the resort itself.

We loved the pool and since we didn’t have any kids with us – we were able to sun tan as long as we want.

Beautiful palm trees and lots of greens.

Waterfall by the pool.

Hot tubs and gym were available here – and they weren’t even crowded.

We took morning laps here before breakfast.

The rooms were nice and clean and unlike some resorts in Hawaii – this one is carpeted – I don’t like the ceramic flooring.  A free shuttle service is offered by the resort to the surrounding shopping center – and if you want to drive around the island you can – it’s pretty easy to get around. Parking was a wee bit expensive for a resort – but oh well, it’s better to have our own car since we like to venture out and check out the island.  Live music in the bar for you to end the evening and retire to bed.

So you are thinking of bringing your kids for a vacation this Christmas – but of course – you need a hotel that is kid friendly and have certain amenities for kids as well.  But you also don’t want to pay top dollars for just accommodation alone for you want to leave some spending money so that you and your kids can buy some souvenirs home right?   I can understand it completely – but do you want to just choose a hotel with a pool and pool safety fence or do you want also restaurants for them to eat in – as well as an amusement park nearby for convenience reason?  What about the rooms?  do you want a hotel to provide those free roll-in bed or a sofa bed?  yes you have to take all these into consideration.

The Westin Chosun is one of my favorite hotel when I am in Asia – not only is it reasonable in prices – it is kid’s friendly as well as very near a shopping market.

The Myeong dong market is like a cluster of shopping center together – they have loads of high end shops here – and you can shop till you drop.  I loved the street food on the Myeong Dong Market – and everything is just so cheap there.

The interior of the Westin Chosun is pretty luxurious as you can view from this picture – very much like a Japanese hotel but much bigger rooms.  The pool is an olympic size pool and you can see children playing at the children’s pool and although they do not have safety fences like the B & B’s in the West – you also will be in awe of the Olympic size pool that most western hotels do not have but definitely kid’s friendly.

I had been meaning to write about White Point Beach Resort for a few weeks now – and yes – for those who have been to White Point Beach Resort – you will be kinda sad like I was.  I know that White Point had planned to renovate in 2012 from a  government  loan and now to have it destroy by fire – will cost more money to renovate? or will the insurance take care of it.  What was the caused of the fire – I don’t think we know anything about it till now.  The resort had been operating for many, many years now and is a very popular destination for weddings and holiday makers.  Below are some pictures of the resort taken during our various visits throughout my years in Canada.

I love going to Ipoh in Malaysia – of course  there is more than just Roti Prata in Ipoh – in fact lately Ipoh had been quite the vibrant town with lots of resorts everywhere.   But I do like the roti prata in Ipoh – the fluffy piece of flour – and a good bowl of curry to dip them in – and if  you are lucky – you may even get a piece of chicken or lamb.   From the Strawberry park to the Banjaran Hot Spring Resort – depending on your budget – I say Ipoh, Malaysia is a fabulous place to visit if you are in Asia.  But the Banjaran Hot Spring Resort is my destination when I visit Asia next – or should I say when I go home next.