Fantastic photo

Taken by thepixelmerchant

AWhat They Don’t Tell You About Being A Wedding Photographer

Before you go hire a mate to do your wedding pics, you may want to read this post by Darren who knows a thing or two about photography. It really explains what you buy with a good photographer!


Enjoy

James


What They Don’t Tell You About Being A Wedding Photographer
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/what-they-dont-tell-you-about-being-a-wedding-photographer-2

I’ve been shooting weddings for 18 years and while I do not claim to be a know-it-all, I will say I’ve seen a wide range of the glamorous, and not so glamorous, sides of the business. Many people see the money wedding photographers charge for a day of shooting and think, “I can do that no problem!” While this may be the case, I want to point out some things the glamour side of the business doesn’t tell you about.

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Les Suites Orient on the Bund Shanghai

Les Suites Orient on the Bund Shanghai
http://littlenomads.com/reviews/best-family-hotel/les-suites-orient-bund-shanghai-shanghai-china/

few years you’d think Beijing was unequivocally the capital of the Chinese building boom. But on the Bund in Shanghai, architectural expression has long been the order of the day. It’s here that Les Suites, in their first expansion from Taiwan to the mainland, has set up shop, constructing a brand-new 23-story Art Deco tower as the setting for their latest hotel, Les Suites Orient Bund Shanghai.

(via Instapaper)

Be sure to read the full story and other great reviews on luxury hotels from around the world on www.littlenomads.com

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InterContinental Fiji Review, thumbs up

InterContinental Fiji Review 

View from the Lagoon Suites

Natandola Beach Fiji

Having just returned from a week with the family at InterContinental Fiji Resort and Spa I thought it would be of interest to review 3 top reason to why we still like this resort as place you can visit with the kids to unwind and chill out.

Read about why out kids give the hotel three thumbs visit www.littlenomads.com


Darrens budget hotel experience

My London budget hotel experience


http://www.travel-rants.com/2010/10/17/london-budget-hotel-experience/

London’s best kept secret

Armed with a iPhone, £55 and anti-bacterial hand gel Darren checks into the Hotel Strand Continental, which is according to its website is London’s best kept secret, and you will get to find out why people keep it a secret.

This a great review and will make you think why cheap is not always best. Make sure you check out his video purely disgusting!

If you want more great family travel tips or want to find accommodation that is not dirty - check out www.littlenomads.com 

Kids Stay and Play for free

The BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park in DENILIQUIN, New South Wales is giving you the chance to grab the kids for a great deal

CELEBRATIONS!!! BIG4 Deniliquin has just been awarded the 2010 NSW Inland Tourism Award and the 2010 NSW Best Resort Holiday Park. We are celebrating by extending our KIDS STAY and PLAY FREE Offer through to October 31st 2010!

Pack up the car and the kids because this Package is too good to be true. Pay for a minimum of 2 nights in one of our Luxury 4 Star, 2 bedroom Villas between now and the 31st October 2010 and up to 2 Kids stay Free, + 2 1/2 hour Go-Kart Hires for Free. We love Kids and want to see them having fun.

If that is not enough, then our Giant Jumping Pillow, Solar Heated Swimming Pool, Adventure Playground, tennis and basketball court, and wide open spaces to run, play and ride their bikes is sure to keep them entertained. All this for $95 per night (min. 2 night stay) in one of our luxury 4 Star, 2 bedroom Villas until 31st October 2010. Hurry and book yours today – limited number available. For more details visit littlenomads.com

Amazing Race secrets are out..

Amazing Race NZ secrets are out..watch the video!


http://littlenomads.com/best-family/amazing-race-nz-secrets-are-out/

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism is using the skills of multi-Emmy Award winner and host of hit TV programme The Amazing Race, Phil Keoghan to entice Australians to visit the region.

Keoghan, who signed on earlier this year to promote his home region of Canterbury as a tourism ambassador, has filmed a series of TV commercials and short website films (webisodes) which Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism will use to attract more Australian visitors to its shores.

(via Instapaper)

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley,

Christmas School Holidays at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is just like kids play!

Parents staying at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley this summer can be sure their kids will be kept busy and entertained, with the hotel’s free kids club and newly launched Kids Cafe.

The only hotel in the region to offer a complimentary supervised kids club, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley has a team of professionals dedicated to looking after children while parents enjoy the extensive leisure facilities on-site or head out to explore the surrounding Wine Country.

Available throughout the year for children aged three to 12 years, the Water Dragons Kids Club is a purpose-built mini resort dedicated to younger guests, complete with play equipment, cinema, games and activities.

During the school holidays, kids are kept busy painting, drawing, building and thinking, enjoying a program of fun, supervised activities such as scavenger hunts, pirate games and mini Olympics. Little guests will also enjoy a healthy fruit platter and morning/afternoon tea.

Water Dragons Kids Club offers two sessions, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm, and fun movie nights on Saturdays during school holidays, for an additional charge.

Kids can also make the most of the hotel’s new dedicated Kids Cafe, located in The Gallery adjacent to the Redsalt Restaurant, offering a buffet dinner each night during the school holidays. The menu features favourites such as spaghetti bolognese, mini fish fillets, pizzas and grilled chicken, with fruit salad, fairy bread and a selection of cakes for dessert. A large range of activities, movies and games will also be available to keep kids entertained.

Available from $15 per child, the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Kids Cafe is open from 6:00pm-7:30pm daily throughout the summer school holidays.

Families staying during the school holidays can also take advantage of the new Family Escapes Package which includes accommodation for four (two adults and two children) in a guest room, breakfast daily for the whole family, and children twelve and under dine free in the hotel restaurant (when accompanied by an adult, excluding Kids Cafe), all from $190 per night*.

As a bonus, families taking up the package receive a $50 voucher to go towards their next getaway during the Easter or winter school holidays in 2011. The voucher is redeemable for accommodation at any Crowne Plaza hotel across NSW and ACT.

<a href="http://littlenomads.com/travel-offers/crowne-plaza-hunter-valley-kids-play/">For more information or bookings visit</a>

Written by Travel Editor · Filed Under Travel Offers

Meke Dance Fiji

Taken by littlenomads

Are you a unseen tourist?

UnSeen

http://www.pixelatedimage.com/blog/2010/10/unseen/

why do I see over and over and over and over again the tourists with cameras who act like they’re at the zoo? I see it so often it makes me furious. They walk around, checking things off on their mental checklist

(via Instapaper)

The above blog post by who I think us one of most talented travel photographers really sums up the behavior of so many of us when we wonder with our cameras. 

Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort

Beach Eco Resort, the most ideal Family Fiji Holiday

Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort really goes out of its way to ensure that you and your family have a relaxing Fiji vacation in a truly tropical hideaway setting.

Located about 2 hours drive from Nadi Airport down on the Coral Coast near Sigatoka. Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort is set about 3km of the main road near the local village of Vunaniu. The setting for this personable resort is idyllic, with its stylish bures spread along the waters edge which are linked by the meandering timber board walks which float above the tropical forest floor and under the canopy of tall tropical trees.

The bures or as some say “Bungalows” are divided into two one bedroom apartments with well finished bathrooms, making the accommodation an ideal set up for families with parents on one side and kids on the other side. The rooms all open up on to private deck with a day bed, which is blissful for that sneaky sleep with the sound of the warm tropical waters lapping on the shore and sound of the distance waves crashing on the outer reef.

As the resort only caters for a maximum of 16 guests the resort feels intimate and very personal, with evenings being spent sharing stories of the day with other guests around dinner with the soft sounds of the tropics in the background. It really is a great way to finish a day of activities whether its surfing, exploring the area or just doing nothing by the pool.

What your host Brian and Donna McDonald have done very well is to cater for surfers who are beyond that stage of finding basic accommodation with other party goer backpacker types, and are looking for place that is comfortable which they would be happy to take a partner, family or other like minded surfing friends.

Resort Activities

When it comes to the activities there are heaps of choices from snorkelling, diving, paddle boards, fishing, kayaks and surfing being the main attraction. If your feeling water logged there are many land based activities to choose from. I took a tour with Kevu (one of many friendly staff members) to some local waterfalls using the local buses for transport. On the return we dropped in on the village at the end of the walk to the falls. Where we all kicked back on Fiji time and shared some rugby stories over a cup or two of kava with the village elders.

With surfing the breaks of Fiji being my main focus it was pleasing to surf the famous “frigates break” which is located 1 hour by boat about 30 miles offshore! This is a must break for any keen surfers, the left was working perfectly for my board selection on the day with a high tide dropping to a low in the afternoon. It was the perfect situation for building confidence as the wave started to perfect its curves and shapes as the tide dropped. Two of guys who ventured with us scored some perfect barrels in the afternoon, with Ben from WA smiling all the way back to his new wife on his return, and Hill from San Fran just so stoked to be getting barrelled at Frigates in board shorts!

Read Our final Recommendation at www.littlenomads.com

http://littlenomads.com/best-family/matanivusi-beach-eco-resort-surfing-family-fiji-holiday/


Everyone's Ideas count for holidays

Before Planning Take Into Account Everyone's Ideas 


http://e-marketingground.com/before-planning-take-into-account-everyones-ideas/

if you have paid for nearly every thing for the family holiday well in advance, you have got 1 less thing to be concerned about.

(via Instapaper)

Some great advice on planning a great family vacation. 

How to find Great Value On Family Holiday Deals

Several Thoughts On Finding Great Value On Family Holiday Deals
http://hjdstravelgroup.com/several-thoughts-on-finding-great-value-on-family-holiday-deals/

When you are searching around for your family vacation you are likely to want to save money doing so. If you can still find a quality holiday that is at a much lower price, this would certainly be preferable to pay more than you should.

(via Instapaper)

Some great advice on how to find a cheap family holiday, for more great options for family holidays and vacations. Be sure to check out www.littlenomads.com 

Your Kids School Holidays 2011

School Holidays 2011, Australia : Family Holiday Accommodation and Vacations


http://littlenomads.com/reviews/school-holidays-2011-australia/

The best family holidays often start with careful planning and consulting with the  family calendar of events, and the first thing that should go on the plan is kids school holiday periods.

Book early to avoid missing out because the Queensland school holidays have already started!

My family is furious over hidden airline fees

Travellers furious over hidden airline fees


http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/travellers-furious-over-hidden-airline-fees/story-e6frfq80-1225926741227

A recent study by Flight Centre found that travellers who fly on budget airlines may end up paying more than if they’d chosen a full-service airline due to the increasing number of extra charges, which can easily triple the cost of a ticket.

(via Instapaper)

There are many reasons why the cheapest airfare is not the best.. I think I'll be joining the advocate group for transparency. 

Win a family holiday to Lapland - The Sun

Win a family holiday to Lapland - The Sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/advertisement_feature/monarch/3138190/Win-a-family-holiday-to-Lapland.html


Win a family holiday to Lapland

The whole family could meet Santa in our fabulous festive competiton
On the sleigh to Lapland … the whole family could meet Santa in our fabulous festive competiton

Better value than ever before

MONARCH has been making dreams come true or families for more than 20 years and is one of the longest established Lapland specialists.

DAY TRIPS start from £399 per adult - based on December 11 or 12 departures - saving up to £320 for a family of four.

TWO-NIGHT trips start from £549 per adult - based on December 3 departures - saving of up to £568 for a family of four.

THREE-NIGHT trips start from £599 per adult - based on December 5 departures - saving up to £712 for a family of four.

FOUR-NIGHT trips start from £699 per adult - based on December 11 departures - saving up to £548 for a family of four.

FIVE-NIGHT trips start from £799 per adult - based on December 27 departures - saving up to £300 for a family of four.

Further departures also available from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.

Conditions apply. *Saving of £700 applies to family of four taking a three-night holiday on selected dates in December. Sun readers receive an EXTRA £100 per family of four when taking a three or four-night trip from Gatwick on selected dates (usual discount £600).

http://www.monarch.co.uk/offers/holidays/sun-lapland"> Click here for full terms and conditions.

 

Family activity holidays in Wales

Top cycling rides for family activity holidays in Wales - TravelBite.co.uk


http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-partners/articles/cycling-holiday/top-cycling-rides-for-family-activity-holidays-in-wales-$1378352$1363079.htm

If you’re looking to make the most of your family holiday in the UK, a cycling adventure could be one active break worth considering.

Why holiday photos are important?

The power of the holiday photo


stuart jeffries dad beach

men wore ties. Even at the beach. Today it’s inconceivable that I was part of that black-and-white world and yet there I am, knock-kneed and toddler-bellied, not reaching up to my grandad’s waist.

(via Instapaper)

The photo is so important it paints a world we have come from and I hope one day my kids will enjoy flicking through the family holidays photos.

The above story is well worth a read..

What sucks of most vacation rental sites

the suckiness of most vacation rental sites 


http://www.tnooz.com/2010/09/07/news/the-problem-with-vacation-rental-websites/

Having spent my entire career in travel, and the last ten years in travel distribution, I’m a pretty savvy (I think) traveler.

(via Instapaper)

Some great advice being displayed in this post, really goes to show the power of having great images available and I would add more more thing, fresh photos. No body wants to see photos of the product what it used to look like when it was shiny! Property owners might as well be sure they have accurate pictures and descriptions, as the consumer will be sure to take one and try and compare if it's not!

For great family travel advice and great family holiday vacation ideas be sure to check out littlenomads.com 

Cheap Business class airfares for Australians

Business class airfares plummet
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/business-class-airfares-plummet/story-e6frfq80-1225922129973

Travel.com.au and Flight Centre have reported a significant increase in the number of Australians searching for and booking business class seats, and are advising travellers to take advantage of the current discounts

(via Instapaper)


Looks like a great time to secure some cheap business class seats. For more great deals and cheap family airfares be sure to check out www.littlenomads.com 

Oprah Winfrey to become Australia's next Ambassdor

Oprah to fly her audience to AustraliaImage by littlenomads via Flickr
With some reports in the media today beating the story up and trying to tease the possum with quotes from street "How much is our government is paying her to come to Australia" I thought it was my turn to think on my feet why this could be a good for Australia’s export business, tourism!

Yes it looks true, Oprah is not footing the whole bill and the Australian Government is using some of its dollars to pay for the show! But I actually think it makes sense to leverage a channel such as Oprah to spread the message about our great country Australia.

Personally, I'm not a Oprah fan as I don't fall into the target audience. But this show is one very powerful marketing show, and here are my off the cuff the reasons to why the investment is worth the effort.

The Perfect Social, Talking Storm

The final season episode that Oprah announced that she was taking the audience to Australia was watched by at least 7 million viewers with the majority of viewers being Women. This viewing audience are probably great influencers in their family households when it comes to the decision for a major purchase such as family holidays in the case of the Americans the vacation. Oprah's shows have the ability to move products in the millions; anything she likes and promotes tends to sell. She really is the queen bee when it comes to talk back shows.


The other big bang for buck is that The Oprah Show has global distribution in 145 countries that effectively means that the Australian Shows + the announcement get viewed in 145 countries. How much it would cost to run a TVC campaign across 145 countries to specific target audience? I actually believe $2 Million to $5 Million is value if you consider the cost it would take actually advertised on the time slot of a Oprah show. Considering the Australian Government blowed a cool $40m on creating an Ad for the overseas with the Baz Luhmann Australia AD which costed $40 million.


On the back of a envelope figures

The big questions will it bring visitors to Australia and how much will it generate for the economy. Let’s say there were 600 extra die hard fanatics that wanted to come out to Australian from the USA for 3 nights in Sydney just to be in the same city and maybe attend the show, if they got tickets.

  • Flights Approx: $2,500 Return x 600 = $1,500,000 (lets hope they come on Qantas, for this argument)
  • Accommodation: Conservative $180 a night x 600 x 7 Nights = $756,000 lets half it as they might be twin share $378,000
  • Food and Beverage: tours etc. spending: $150 Each per day x 600 x 8 (days) = $720,000

There is over $2.5 million of potential revenue on some very conservative figures..

So what does the industry say about the show..

Tourism Australia's partnership with "The Oprah Winfrey Show," will see Ms Winfrey, her correspondents, and 300 of Oprah's most loyal viewers travel on an eight-day, seven-night trip to Australia, to film at least two episodes of the program during December.

The "Oprah" show cameras will be on hand to capture their journeys around Australia as well as bring everyone together at the steps of the Sydney Opera House - or as it will be known that week the "Oprah House" - for a spectacular show featuring Australian talent and special guests. Episodes will air first in the US in early 2011 and then roll out to other global markets.

Mr Dixon said the theme of the Australian visit "Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure" is a perfect fit for taking Australia's tourism message to the world.

Conversations


The word of mouth factor for the next 3 weeks from the announcement is worth every cent. Imagine the conversations around the water coolers in the office in the USA, or the social media sites (in which I'm sure the Australian tourism is measuring very closely) in regards to her announcement and show. Simply go and run a search for yourself on Oprah Australia and see what is returned, there is hundreds of results being returned from this announcement, it’s a great PR exercise.

The other positive is the domestic tourism factor is also good for Tourism NSW with the potential to have interstate visitors and intra--state visitors coming to Sydney to go to the show if they get a ticket. You only have to look at the comments on the Oprah site to see the Australian women that are hoping they will get a ticket and would be willing to travel to the show.

Here is hoping that we see more American Families travelling to Australia on the back of the any interest or seeds that Oprah plants in their minds.

Be sure to visit www.littlenomads.com for more great family travel ideas in Australia and best ways to travel with your kids.

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How to get the best airline seat with a smelly nappy

Smelly nappy ... cool! Be sure to check out the diyfather link to making the most from a smelly nappy!


http://diyfather.com/content/smelly-nappy-cool

When you are out and about with your baby and you realise that the little nipper has just done “the business” in his nappy, rather than be annoyed about it - use it to your advantage. E.g. when you are shopping in the supermarket carry your baby at chest height (instead of leaving them in the stroller). You’ll be amazed by how many people will let you go in front at the check out queue.

(via Instapaper)

This is great tip that Stefan has provided be sure to get more great travel tips with your kids over 
www.littlenomads.com

Oprah to fly her audience to Australia

'You're going to Australia!' Oprah Winfrey's amazing holiday gift to entire



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1311694/Youre-going-Australia-Oprah-Winfreys-amazing-holiday-gift-entire-studio-audience-John-Travolta-pilot.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Surprise! Oprah Winfrey sure knows how to do a giveaway… she announced on her show that she would be flying her entire audience on an all expenses paid trip to Australia


Celebrity pilot! John Travolta will be personally flying Oprah’s guests on a private jumbo jet


And the crowd goes wild! Oprah’s audience are thrilled to learn about their fabulous gift

Oprah announced that all 300 members of the audience will be going on an eight-day trip to Sydney, dubbed ‘Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure’.

(via Instapaper)

Wow what a gift for the audience I would go nuts as well! 

Oprah Takes Audience on Trip to Australia with John Travolta

Check out this video on YouTube:

Great gig for Australia

Reason families need travel insurance

Seven-year-old struck down with salmonella on holiday 


http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Seven-year-old-struck-salmonella-holiday/article-2635743-detail/article.html

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Notts girl was struck down by salmonella while on holiday in Cape Verde.

Daisy Lee, from Cossall, became ill while on a two-week family holiday in June at the Riu Funana resort.

Her family have now instructed travel law experts Irwin Mitchell to act on their behalf against the hotel.

(via Instapaper)

For more great family travel advice be sure to check out www.littlenomads.com

Take better family travel Photos

How To Bring Back Boring, And Possibly Horrid, Travel Photos


http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-bring-back-boring-and-possibly-horrid-travel-photos

"have taken boring travel photos.  Sometimes.  Maybe you know you take boring photos and maybe you don’t.  And maybe sometimes, like me, you look back and realize you took some, but not until it was too late"

(via Instapaper)

If your keen to improve your family travel photos, before to check out more great tips from Darren's great blog. Follow the link above. 

Source: digital photography school 

UK Families Seeking Luxury Getaways and Weekend Breaks

Families Are Seeking Luxury Getaways and Weekend Breaks 
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Families-Are-Seeking-Luxury-Getaways-Weekend-Breaks-Despite-Economy-Says-Haven-1317275.htm

The most popular regions for holidaymakers have proven to be Kent, Sussex and Dorset while campers and families or couples with touring caravans opted for Wales, Blackpool and Cumbria. The UK has become an extremely popular location for holidays recently, with airport delays and staff strikes causing people to look a little closer to home for breaks and discovering beautiful parts of Britain that they never even knew about.

(via Instapaper)

Interesting to see that the economic situation is not putting people off their holidays in fact it looks like it's working for the luxury end with families looking for luxury accommodation in the UK.

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Virgin to undercut Qantas on long hauls

Richard Branson vows to undercut Qantas on long hauls | News.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/richard-branson-vows-to-undercut-qantas-on-long-hauls/story-e6frfq80-1225920158347?area=travel

AIR fares from Australia to Europe are set to fall as much as 40 per cent if Sir Richard Branson can fulfil his ambitious plans.

The British entrepreneur yesterday vowed to give established airlines such as Qantas a run for their money on several new routes.

(via Instapaper)

Check out this interesting article on news.com.au 

Loyalty points for Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand partners with Fly Buys

Families that shop and like to earn points which they put towards offsetting the cost of family holidays, will be able to earn points for flights on air nz. Air New Zealand has partnered with retail loyalty program Fly Buys.

The deal will merge both loyalty programs.

"Fly Buys members will be able to redeem their store points against the cost of a flight on the airline, while Air New Zealand Airpoints Program members can accumulate points by shopping at 3,000 participating outlets."

The new program is expected to be launched in November. For family travel information visit www.littlenomads.com


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Family holiday Lindeman island

Lindeman Island in Queensland have a unbeatable family holiday accommodation offer available.

Getaway with the family to beautiful Lindeman Island, at the ONE & ONLY all inclusive resort in the Whitsundays at an amazing rate of $149/night*. The Island is located in the heart of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, Club Med Lindeman Island offers a magical view of the turquoise water and nearby islands. With the most all inclusive package available, Lindeman Island allows you to relax and enjoy your family holiday without worrying about the accumulating costs!

This club med resort was voted as one of Top 3 best Family resort in the Country by Holiday with Kids Magazine this year!

The offer is available until 30 September or until sold out, and us for travel: until 10 December 2010.

For more details check out www.littlenomads.com

Group holidays for mourners help them rediscover joy in life

Springwise: Promising new business ideas for entrepreneurial minds

For people who have lost a loved one, moving beyond grief and mourning can seem impossible. In Germany, leading travel company TUI has teamed up with grief counselor Fritz Roth to offer mourners a 'journey back into life' by stepping out of their daily routine. Starting this month, Reise Ins Leben is offering group holidays to the Mecklenburg Lake District, Portugal, Spain and Greece. The trips follow a specific daily rhythm: mornings are devoted to quiet reflection, afternoons are about venturing into life by going to a beach or a museum, and evenings are focused on life's pleasures: enjoying a good meal or listening to music.

Since everyone is going through the same process, the groups bond quickly, with members offering each other support and encouragement. While death and grieving might feel like taboo subjects at home, the holidays provide an open and positive atmosphere, as well as the time and distance needed to deal with such a key stage in life. All trips are accompanied by grief counselors trained by Roth, and the company advises participants to wait three to four months after a loved one's death before going on a trip. It also recommends traveling without family or friends.

While similar holidays have been offered by smaller organizations, the involvement of a major brand like TUI suggests this could be a significant opportunity for entrepreneurs elsewhere.

Website: www.reiseinsleben.de
Contact: info@reiseinsleben.de

Spotted by: Andy Kurth

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Priceline debuts search for Hotel Freebies

Tnooz

Looking for a free breakfast, a kids stay free discount or a resort credit?

Priceline introduced Hotel Freebies, a way for users to mine the company’s database of published-price hotels and search for free or discounted hotel offerings by freebie type or city.

hotelfreebies

Customers can type in a city name, retrieve properties offering freebies and search by freebie type.

The types of freebies include free parking, room upgrades, free nights, kids stay free discounts, resort credits, extras, golf credits and free breakfast.

Freebies are listed in tandem with room rates.

The other way to search for freebies is by freebie type instead of starting with a city search.

Hotel listings come with an availability calendar pointing users to the most likely travel dates when freebies will be available, Priceline says.

Priceline quietly introduced Hotel Freebies last week “after a major development effort,” a spokesman says.

So, after conducting a Hotel Freebie search for Orlando, Fla., hotels, you can see that the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport hotel is offering a free breakfast, as does the Crowne Plaza Orlando Airport for some room types.

For Orlando, users can narrow their search by selecting filters for instant discounts, free breakfast, hotel extras and resort credits.

And, an ever-updating list of newly negotiated Priceline discounts scrolls by in a right-hand navigation pane, with the words, “Negotiated 3 days ago,” for instance.

Priceline considers itself a venue for value-oriented consumers and Hotel Freebies fits right into its sweet spot.

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TripAdvisor launches private-sale site for highly-reviewed hotels

A subsidiary of TripAdvisor has launched SniqueAway.com, a new private-sale site offering special deals at hotels that earn a minimum four-star rating out of five on its review site. The site will be restricted to a limited group of members who will be allowed to invite their friends to take part in the deals.

iPhone dads - the Wiggles app

Well I guess it was only a matter of time ... The Wiggles have launched their own iPhone app. In fact they have launched 7 iPhone apps (!) One of the seven apps ('Colouring In') is available free of charge from the app store - all the others are paid for apps and will set you back $1.29 per app.

The Wiggles App - Colouring In

So all up you're looking at a spend of $10 if you get them all (not too bad considering what all the other Wiggles stuff costs). Here's a list of the apps with a short description:


  • Big Red Car – Drive the Big Red Car while collecting a range of musical instruments as The Wiggles make their way to their next concert destination.

  • Big Red Plane – Help The Wiggles by collecting their favourite items on their way to Wiggle Bay! Find Anthony’s flippers, Murray’s floatie, Jeff’s surfboard, and Sam’s hat as you fly through the sky in the Big Red Plane!

  • Thirds – The Wiggles are all jumbled up! Sort through a range of heads, torsos and legs to put The Wiggles back together again.

  • Maze – Guide Dorothy, Wags, Henry and Captain Feathersword safely through a set of mazes, while collecting some of their prized belongings along the way.

  • Tea Party – Dorothy is hosting a tea party with all of her friends! Help her prepare her tea party by catching items as they fall from the sky.

  • Dress Ups – Choose from a range of themes and give The Wiggles a makeover. Whether you like the circus, beach or safari, there are a range of costumes for you to dress your favorite Wiggle in.
  • And the free app "Colouring In" (The Wiggles seem a little pale, and need some colour to brighten them up).

    The apps will be loved by all kids who are into the Wiggles ... and perhaps also by kids who are yet to discover what the Wiggles are all about.

    All in all an inevitable move by one of the world's biggest kids brands ... busy iPhone dads / parents will welcome the apps as a way to keep the kids entertained for a while. Time will tell how quickly the novelty of the apps wears off ... either way, probably worth checking out if your kids are Wiggles fans.

    Enjoy!

    -stef

If you are like us we love the iphone and all the children's apps that are availble. This one looks like like a cracker what little ones don't like the wiggles.. toot toot.

Term deposit a better way to travel

Term deposits are a great way to save for a family holiday simply find a rate that you are happy with and pop into the bank. It's like baking a nice wildfire loaf!

As mentioned on news.com.au - Mr Beu says the overriding factor favouring term deposits as a reliable savings vehicle is interest rate certainty.

Rates can go up or down at the drop of a hat but a term deposit means you get that rate, no matter what,” he said.

Another advantage of a term deposit is that the money is locked away from a temptation to spend it.


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New waterfalls discovered at El Questro

Browse > Home / Travel News / New waterfalls discovered at El Questro

New waterfalls discovered at El Questro

September 1, 2010

It’s not every day you stumble across previously undiscovered waterfalls.

But this is exactly what happened to Michael Bass, the El Questro Wilderness Park Manager
who was carrying out a routine aerial burn programme.

“Finding Amaroo Falls was a surprise right out of the blue,” said Michael, more commonly
known as Micko, who has worked at El Questro for eight seasons. “I was speechless when
we landed to have a look. That such a beautiful place was not known about by now was
hard to believe. We did a couple of loops in the helicopter and I was amazed at the make-
up of the falls, a series of falls connected by crystal clear swimming holes that just screamed
‘explore me!’”

“Two weeks later I was back, swimming in the pools.”

Located in the south eastern corner of El Questro, 25km south east of the main activities hub
of El Questro, The Station Township and 25km south of Emma Gorge Resort, Amaroo Falls
are the latest jewels in El Questro’s crown, found purely by chance. And because of their
beauty they have been named Amaroo Falls, ‘amaroo’ meaning ‘beautiful place’ in Aboriginal.

Only accessible by helicopter, Amaroo Falls comprise a stunning collection of around 15
waterfalls and cascades of varying heights from 2 metres to 45 metres. In addition there are
pristine swimming holes and some of the most breathtaking views El Questro has to offer,
sweeping across the south eastern El Questro plateau.

Vegetation at the falls includes Kimberley heather, grevilleas, acacias and spinifex. Being
one of the semi-tropical pockets of El Questro there are also maidenhair ferns with tropical
box trees and rock figs growing out of the walls.

To allow visitors to El Questro to enjoy the waterfalls, the El Questro rangers have
developed the Amaroo Falls Tour. Taking a maximum of just two passengers, the tour is
priced at $650 per person and includes the scenic flight to Amaroo Falls, guided
commentary and interpretation from an El Questro Ranger and a gourmet picnic lunch. Once
at the falls guests can hike, swim, learn about the flora and fauna, or just relax in their own
magical corner of El Questro. The tour takes approximately two-and-a-half hours.

Covering a massive million acres, El Questro is located in Western Australia’s East
Kimberley, 110km from Kununurra.It is a land of red-rock mountains, resplendent river
gorges, boabs and hidden patches of rainforest. And spread out across a million acres, there
are waterfalls, gorges, ravines and cascades that have remained undiscovered for years.

El Questro was first owned by Torrance McMicking who, in 1958, lodged a pastoral claim
and named the property. Several owners later, Will and Celia Burrell purchased the lease in
1991, opening Emma Gorge after the wet season and launching it as a wilderness resort in
May 1992. El Questro Homestead, with its spectacular location overlooking the Chamberlain
River, was opened in September 1992 followed by the Station Campground and Bungalows
a year later in May 1993.

Today, around 3,500 head of cattle still roam the northern flats of the property while visitors
can enjoy a range of accommodation and experiences suited to any style or budget: from the
Station Campground and Bungalows, to tented cabins at Emma Gorge and the luxurious
Homestead overlooking the Chamberlain River.

Additional soft-adventure activities at El Questro include cruises along the Chamberlain
River, barramundi fishing, scenic helicopter flights, enjoying a dip in Zebedee thermal
springs, bird watching, 4WD tracks, gorge hikes and bush walks, history and bush tucker
tours, horse riding and much more.

El Questro Wilderness Park opens from 1 April to 31 October every year, allowing for the
dramatic thunderstorms to pass over the Kimberley and replenish its numerous gorges and
waterfalls during the annual wet season.

For more information go to: www.elquestro.com.au. For reservations, telephone 08 9169
1777

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Intercontinental Fiji Reviews

Sunset Infinty Pool Fiji

Image by littlenomads via Flickr


Researching the best places to stay with the family in Fiji, and you’re  interested in finding out more  about the InterContinental Fiji which is on Natadola beach. To help with your research we have compiled a quick list of reviews and articles on the Intercontinental in Fiji, plus some stunning images from the resort.


Zemanta helped me add links & pictures to this email. It can do it for you too.