We’ve collected airmiles for years now and have always heard of people cashing in on their airmiles and making use of them to travel for free.  This year we are planning to visit Disneyland with our kid – so we are also cashing in on our airmiles and flying economy to Orlando Florida and we heard that Westjet – the airline we chose to travel in – had very good seats for our trip.   They have skullcandy headphones for kids when they watch their movies on the plane.   My kid had asked me if she can bring home those skullcandy headphones after using it – and truth be told I don’t even know if we can.  I guess if she liked it so much we can buy it from the airlines or search for them for sale online.   I hope we get good seats with our airmiles – even if we don’t get the skull candy headphone for free -  a 4hrs flight and a layover of 3hrs is not exactly fun if the seats on the airplane isn’t good.

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.

]]> http://www.isbreading.org/2012/01/the-joule-dallas/feed/ 0 http://www.isbreading.org/2011/12/travel-health-kit/ http://www.isbreading.org/2011/12/travel-health-kit/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:48:06 +0000 breading http://www.isbreading.org/?p=3604

I loved traveling as you all know – but I`m also worried when I travel that I might fall sick or worst – if the kid gets sick and everytime we do stay in a hotel that is dusty I get a very bad headache or migraine. Chronic headache is actually my greatest enemy when I am traveling  – therefore, I never leave home without my travel health kit – and I tell yer – I feel a lot safer when i have all my back up medication and anything that I might need in this travel health kit.   I take a small portion of whatever I need, from tylenol to band aid with me when i travel and of course medication for my headaches/migraine is a must and if I don’t get an attack, it will not go to waste, I can always use it on my next trip.  But of course, I do check for expiry dates and make sure I change them ever so often if I haven’t used them for the last 6 months.  So if you are traveling for vacation or work  – make sure you pack your health travel kit with you – for you never know when you might need it.

We loved the Bellagio Fountain when we are in Vegas and our timing always seems to be pretty great when the show begins. and this time of the year – I bet they are playing Christmas songs to go with the show.  The show is pretty magnificent – I’ve seen people cry when watching the water fountain go – it’s quite funny to be honest.  But for those watching for the first time – I can fully understand why they can get so overwhelmed because it has gotta be the most beautiful show to enjoy with a loved one or yourself.

If you asked me I prefer the night shows a lot more.   The shows are from 3pm – 7pm on weekdays for 30 mins and watch them in the evening from 7pm – 12am – shows lasting for only 15mins.  I prefer the short shows.   On weekends the show starts earlier but end at the same time.   Free to watch – so when you are in Las Vegas, make sure you spend some time watching the Bellagio Fountains and if you are lucky – you can see some street performers as well.

One can choose to take a scenic flight on this small planes or a helicopter ride if you don’t want to spend hours on a bus tour – which was what we did.  We figured a helicopter ride would be more fun  we were traveling with kids – but a planer ride was just as good – according to my cousins who went up in a 4 engine plane with Scenic.We chose the Grand Canyon Deluxe and it was worth every penny we paid for. They pick you from your hotel and there were quite a number of people waiting for the same tour but of course different planes and helicopter – then they showed us some safety video and we were on our way.The Scenic flew us over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and finally the Grand Canyon – so if you are in Boulder – make sure you take book a tour to see the Grand Canyon.

I’ve stayed at the Trump Int’l Hotel, Las Vegas with my boss and engineers when I was working for a Spanish company in Madrid – because we needed to be there to look into a project for parking meters – I think it was a tender followed by some negotiation with the clients.  Anyhow, we were at the Trump International many times and each time I arrived in Las Vegas and enter the hotel I’ll have to say – I loved the grandeur of the hotel – unfortunately, there is this damn train that I can’t seem to get away from – and it definitely disrupt my sleep – so much – that I had to buy ear plugs. Other than that – the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas – treated us well – and we love the rates there.

And since there is no casino here – we could have our business meetings in the hotel itself and for those who loved to gamble or try their luck – the Ceasar casino and Wynn are not far from the Trump.  The strip and fashion mall  are just opposite of the hotel  – so if you need to shop or eat or do anything – they are just within walking distance.  Another thing to note is the resort fees that they charged – my hotel bills were paid by the company – but every time I see someone check in or out – there were always a big argument about it.   Different people were charged differently too – so irregardless whether you use the pool, gym or the shuttle you still have to pay this resort fees.

I do love the room, they were big and spacious and the penthouse that my boss stayed in on the 65th floor – was awesome – they even have their own butler there for the boss – I was so jealous!  but my boss had offered me his penthouse – but of course I didn’t change room with him.

I think every room has it own jacuzzi tub – and I do enjoy it a lot.

We eat our breakfast by the pool every morning before heading out to our business meetings – it’s nice to see people swimming first thing in the morning – but we were all dressed up in business suits.  Lots of sunbed here – no worry about not getting your tan.  For a little over a $100 a nite at the Trump – we cannot ask for more.

]]> http://www.isbreading.org/2011/12/trump-intl-hotel-las-vegas/feed/ 0 http://www.isbreading.org/2011/11/traveling-on-motorhome-for-bluegrass-festival/ http://www.isbreading.org/2011/11/traveling-on-motorhome-for-bluegrass-festival/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:34:58 +0000 breading http://www.isbreading.org/?p=3485

My in-laws will travel to as far as USA for the bluegrass festival in their motorhome – and now that they are both retired – it’s a great opportunity for them to travel as much as they want.  With a good motorhome insurance they can go just about anywhere in the world – without worrying about anything.   I told the spouse that when our kid is grown up – we should be like his parents and travel around in a motorhome – it’s a great way to travel – but i don’t want a huge motorhome   – a medium size one is great for us and with all the comfort of home and not having to stay in crappy hotels – i loved it.  I think my in-laws like their motorhome when they travel is because they can travel the way they like and freely.

I think most of my vacations are for shopping and it’s specific shopping needs for different places – like my eyelash growth products , I need to get it at a specific country and a specific mall.   And usually when I am on a shopping vacation – I try not to bring too much in my luggage with me – that way – I have lots of space to buy new stuff – to bring home with me.  My shopping spree can sometimes be quite adventurous and if I needed something badly – and I can’t get it from one mall – I would hunt it down – from place to place.  But like every woman who goes on a shopping vacation, we usually come home with more than we had planned to buy but we can’t help it – we love looking pretty right?  and eyelashes, beauty products  – like Kose – where I can’t get it here – I just have to get it when I go on vacation.