Sunday, November 22, 2009

Best Luxury and 5-Star Hotels in Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy, the largest and most populated city with 2.7 million people all around the metropolitan. With its thousand years gone by, Rome still holds the Catholic Church and has full control to the Vatican City as its supreme region.

In today's fast changing technology, Rome still sets and maintained its history, purity, humanity and sanctuary together with his medieval renaissance. A center of attraction due to its enormous state- of- the- art works and pre-historic monuments, extravagant basilicas and churches, and vast array of unique and excellent art galleries. There are also lots of prestige and luxurious hotels and accommodation for tourists and vacationers all around the world.

Some of the best and luxurious 5- star hotel in Rome:

St. Regis Grand Rome Hotel

St. Regis Grand Rome Hotel, the very first deluxe hotel in Rome and is located just a block away from Spanish Steps, Via Veneto and the Trevi Fountain. After its renovation in 1999, St. Regis Grand Rome Hotel reopened and regains its position as the most excellent hotel in Rome and is included in one of the best hotels around the world.

An outstanding accommodation awaits the hotel's clientele, with its world- class Empire décor; each room has a unique Roman scene hand-painted mural, chandelier by Murano glass featured in the bathroom facilities with contemporary added amenities such as direct telephone line, in-room safe deposit box, hairdryer, refrigerator and cable television with satellite for the convenience of their visitors.

Hotel room amenities include a satellite or cable TV, mini-bar, air conditioning, direct phone, refrigerator, safe-deposit box, rollaway beds, bathroom telephone, hairdryer and butler service. It has four restaurants inside the premises: Vivendo Restaurant, Le Grand Bar, Di Vino private wine cellar and Grand Hall Lounge.

Hotel services and facilities are seemingly endless. There's butler service, babysitting, business center, a concierge, laundry service, private garage, rent a car, wake-up calls, shoeshine service, a multilingual staff, florist, 24-hour room service, parking, and convenient access for physically challenged guests. Leisure facilities include a fitness center, sauna and massage rooms. The conference and banquet facilities consist of 15 meeting rooms, wireless high-speed Internet access, secretarial service and fax service.

There are many attractions worth visiting nearby. A few of these are the famous Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Via Veneto, Villa Borghese, Galleria Borghese Museum, Saint Peters Basilica, Palatine, Pantheon, Forum Romanum, Roman Coliseum, Vatican City and Castle Saint Angelo (Hadrian's Mausoleum).

InterContinental De la Ville Roma

InterContinental de la Ville Rome Hotel is a five- star luxury hotel that lies in the center of Rome situated at the zenith of a well-known Spanish Steps. The ideal location of the hotel is outstanding for tourist enthusiasts for a stop-over in different places in the famed Eternal City. Guests can also visit the peaceful Villa of Borghese or the classy Piazza di Spagna.

InterContinental de la Ville Rome Hotel features La Piazzetta de la Ville, the pride of fine Italian and international cuisine, serving buffet lunch options, appetizers, pastries, cakes, tea and coffee daily.

Hotel room amenities consist of cable/satellite TV, DVD / CD player in suites, connecting rooms, high-speed Internet access, pay per view movies, safety-deposit box, individually controlled air conditioning, mini-bar, two-line telephone with voicemail, private bathroom with bathtub and bathrobes, sofa bed and work desk with lamp.

La Piazetta Restaurant is located inside to cater to your Italian and international cuisines cravings. You can go to La Saletta Lounge for light meals, snacks, tea, coffee and other treats. And lastly, relax and unwind in I Due Murano Bar with live piano music and evening cocktail lounge.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Why Venice's Hotels Have a Sinking Feeling

Why Venice's Hotels Have A Sinking Feeling

One of the most unique European cities is, without a doubt, Venice. No place on Earth is quite like this well preserved city, whose canals, gondolas and gondoliers have earned it a permanent place in the hearts of romantics everywhere. Like many magical places, there is a drawback to Venice's special charm: it is sinking. The water and canal ways that make Venice so unique may eventually lead to its downfall - but it's hardly a recent phenomenon. Venice hotels and other buildings have been grappling with this issue for centuries. Why is Venice flooding? What can be done about? Read on to learn more.

A City Borne Of Necessity

When Venice was first settled, people didn't choose the location due to its perceived romantic or scenic qualities; no one envisioned the canals and fame that would come later. Instead, an invasion by Attila the Hun in 452 propelled many Italians to the coastal regions; a group of small islands within a lagoon is where Venice eventually ended up developing. From the beginning, then, Venice was waterlogged. Its founders fought against the marshland upon which they built the new city, using canals to get around the obvious problem of having little solid ground to work with in the area.

Flooding Plagues Venice

Venice has always struggled with flooding. Hotels in Venice, like many other places here, routinely have to set up wooden walkways on the outside so people can gain entry during excessive flooding. Floods are most common during the high tide seasons of autumn and spring. In addition to devising clever ways to keep these flood waters from infiltrating Venice hotels, the citizens of Venice have to contend with a problem that renders the gorgeous Piazza San Marco completely submerged in water at least once a year. Tourists who come here with hopes of experiencing this stunning part of the city are crestfallen to learn that the piazza is completely inaccessible at such times.

Is The Problem Getting Worse?

Throughout most of its history, Venice has been sinking at a rate of approximately 7cm per year. When it was discovered that artesian wells might be to blame, they were banned in the 1960s. However, buildings, streets and hotels in Venice continued to experience noticeable sinking. In fact, it's been calculated that the city sank an incredible 24cm in a single year recently. Global warming is being blamed for this increase, and the management of many Venice hotels and other establishments are getting behind different ideas to curb the problem. Some believe steel gates might work, and inflatable pontoons are being developed to block the major lagoon entrances during high tides. With any luck, these efforts will save this magical city from disappearing forever.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cheap Rome Hotels - Most Practical Way to Explore Rome

Rome! Well, the mere mention of this word makes the hearts hop 'n' bop in joy! Why not, such is the charm of the place! Rome lets you enjoy like a freewheeling bird. You can mosey on down to the moor to feel the gentle breeze wafting the scent of the pure air; you can zap into downtown shopping malls for a shopping extravaganza; go back to the past through the great old architecture, or you can go to a night club to be on the razzle! Rome has it all for you!

No wonder over 80 million tourists come to Rome every year. In fact, tourism is Rome's biggest industry. Well, if you too are homing in on the idea of getting away from your hulking work pressures for a while; a sumptuous Rome vacation would be an apt choice! And you don't have to worry about your sojourn! The cheap Rome hotels provide you with swish 'n' swanky accommodation to enjoy your vacations up to the hilt.

Set your sights on the wondrous Rome sights

Nicknamed "The Eternal City," Rome is chock-full of bright and beautiful places. Rome boasts of great beauty, contrast and life that include Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum, Assisi and Orvieto, Naples and Pompeii, Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, Capri, Palazzo Colonna, Palazzo Carpegna, Palazzo Altieri, Palazzo Barberini, Palazzo Braschi, Palazzo Doria Pamphili, Caravaggio, Palazzo di Venezia, Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Lateranense, Palazzo di Montecitorio, Palazzo Chigi, Palazzo della Cancelleria, Palazzo Spada, Palazzo Farnese, Palazzo della Sapienza, Palazzo Corsini, Palazzo della Civilta' del Lavoro, Palazzo dei Congressi, Palazzo dello Sport, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, and a lot more!

This is not all! There are hordes of other mesmerizing places that you would love to see. Hey, you don't have to be a vagabond to visit all these places! Rome equips you with so many traveling options that you can easily travel the length and breadth of Rome in a quick span of time.

There is a wide array of cheap Rome hotels in different Rome regions. Bolstered by expertise, some sites can rightly understand your exact requirements. Accordingly, these sites can carve out the right cheap Rome hotels package for you to ensure that you get a hip 'n' chic hotel ambiance that suits your style as well as wallet.

AIRLINE-RESERVATIONS.US weaves the right ambiance as it can really jazz up your stay at Rome with an enchanting ambiance. The site provides you with top -drawer yet hotels that are imbued with facilities you need for a great holiday. To know more about cheap Rome hotels, log on to http://www.airline-reservations.us now!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Hotels-Accommodations Venice Hotels on Grand Canal By Teodora Atanasova Article Word Count: 361 [View Summary] Comment

There are a number of star Venice hotels that cater to the needs of vacationers looking for comfort and luxury during their stay. But before we explore the Venice hotels on Grand Canal let us learn a little bit more about the Grand Canal itself. The Grand Canal is the main corridor for boats and other small vessels used for commuting within the city of Venice. Water buses are operated through these water corridors which form the main public transport for the city. There are also private water taxis operated by private owners that tourists and locals can use to get from one part of the city to another. But the most popular and sought after means of transport for tourists who like to travel through the canals of Venice is the gondola.

The gondola is basically a row boat which has been used traditionally for centuries as the main form of transportation though the maze of waterways and canals that flow through Venice. While the gondolas are still used as a means of public transport, their main role is providing rides for tourists from across Europe and around the world that come to Venice mainly to enjoy these rides along the canals in the city. The gondolas also take part in special Regattas that are conducted periodically. The canal is quite shallow and is around 5 meters deep almost throughout its length. It starts at Saint Mark Basin and ends in the lagoon near the main central railway station at Santa Lucia.

Visitors traveling along the canal can feast their eyes on the architectural beauty of the buildings spanning from the 13th to the 18th centuries that line the canal on both sides. Some of the famous buildings include Ca' d'Oro, the Palazzi Barbaro, Ca' Foscari, Palazzo Dario, Ca' Rezzonico, Palazzo Barbarigo and various others. Over the entire length of the canals, only four bridges can be seen built over it. In fact till the 1800s, the Rialto was the only bridge built over the canals. The Venice hotels on Grand Canal provide a truly incredible experience for guests that can almost never be found anywhere else in the world.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Cheap Charming Rome Hotels - Five Top Winners

Although there are many charming discount hotels in Rome, many are cheap without the charm. While you'll want to do some research of your own, we've listed our top picks for stylish and safe Rome hotels that are also easy on the budget.

These are small tasteful lodgings with consistently high visitor reviews, excellent customer service, clean accommodation, unexpected amenities, great value, and plenty of panache. They're also very popular with tourists, so you'll want to book your stay well in advance. All quotes are for double rooms, except where otherwise indicated. Prices are general and can fluctuate.

Paba
Via Cavour 266
Colosseo & Monti

A 2-star hotel with consistently fabulous reviews, double rooms at Paba start at around £80. Paba is a non-smoking hotel with private baths, balconies, and terraces. The hotel is located on a busy but quiet street within easy walking distance of almost everything.

The neighbourhood is arty and bohemian with many small shops and hideaway eateries. Paba features seven rooms, each one unique, and includes breakfast delivery to your door. The building is deceptively unpretentious from outside, but guests agree that the inside is impressive.

1 Step From St. Peter
Via Giovanni Bettolo 52
Vatican & Prati

Located in the Vatican City, this hostel is nestled in a majestic and quiet neighbourhood with wide boulevards, newer elaborate architecture, and groomed courtyards. Rooms are large, sunny, and spacious, with tall windows, high ceilings, and polished wood floors.

1 Step From St. Peter is close to Vatican attractions, while the rest of Rome is easily accessible by subway. Doubles start from £73, and the 1920s building also offers dormitory beds from £41 per person. There's a mini-rooftop "love nest" apartment with private kitchen, enclosed solarium, and spectacular views from around £130.

The Home In Rome
Via Ravenna 34
Piazza Bologna

The Home is a Kosher Hotel in the very popular Jewish neighbourhood of Piazza Bologna in the heart of the city. This B&B is a 5-star lodging priced to compete favourably with even discount hotels. Rates start at £81.

Amenities include children's facilities, an on-call physician, and full business centre. The well-appointed rooms are spacious and comfortable. The neighbourhood features a kosher deli, kosher restaurants, and a synagogue.

Guests rave about the fresh delicious breakfast, extraordinary customer service, all-day availability of snacks and beverages, and clean rooms. It's a ten minute walk to Piazza Bologna, and the adjacent metro station gives easy access to other Rome attractions.

The Daphne Veneto
Via di San Basilio 55
Piazza di Spagna

The Daphne is in the prime Piazza di Spagna area, close to the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, Trevi Fountain, and the Via dei Condotti with its outdoor cafes and elegant, high-end boutiques.

Daphne Veneto features eight beautiful, spacious rooms, stone-tiled bathrooms, terraces, balconies, massage service, and mobile phones and laptops for guests' use. A non-smoking hotel, the Daphne provides a complimentary breakfast described by one guest as "scrumptious".

Prices start from £82, but can go higher during busy seasons. Combining prime location with affordability, The Daphne Veneto is an exception among Rome hotels.

Maria-Rosa Guest House
Via dei Vascellari, 55
Trastevere, Historic Centre

Located in an historic neighbourhood with many sidewalk restaurants, groceries, and laundries, Maria Rosa occupies the third floor of a restored 19th century building. Trastevere is a medieval neighbourhood that's enticing and peaceful by day, while energetic and vibrant by night.

Unlike most discount hotels, Maria-Rosa features beautifully designed rooms with parquet floors, charming attention to detail, and lots of greenery to make it feel homey. Most of Rome's tourist attractions are within easy walking distance, while buses and trams are steps from the front door. Prices start from £73.

Max is an author, writer and editor. He is married with two children and a cat and lives in south east London.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

The Smaller Italian Lakes

When people speak of traveling to Italy to visit the lakes, they are always talking about the same three: Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Garda. While these lakes are definitely beautiful and certainly worth visiting, there are many more hidden gems in Italy that are not nearly as touristy, but still beautiful.

One such lake is Lake Lugano, not nearly as popular as the others, but just as beautiful and still in the same region of Lombardy. This lake has shores on both Italy and Switzerland. This lake is very famous for the fishing available there as well as the numerous cherry trees that are along its shores.

Lake Iseo is also located in the Italian Lakes region, between Lake Garda and Lake Como. It is the location of Monte Isola, one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and also the biggest island of any of the lakes in the Southern part of Europe.

Lake Trasimeno is another gorgeous lake in Italy. This lake is known for having very verdant surroundings full of vegetation. There are numerous olive trees on the hills, and numerous vineyards in the area. All kinds of foods are growing along its shores.

Lake Idro is another great lake to visit. Unfortunately, it is currently the center of a lot of controversy due to the pollution being dumped into the lake there by electric companies. Right now a lot of environmental groups are working to put an end to it. Regardless of the situation, it is still a breathtaking view to take in.

When you are planning your Italian Lakes Holidays, but sure not to forget these little lakes too!

For free information related to Italian Lakes Holidays, please go to Holidays in Italian Lakes. This website has information about travel tips, the italian lakes, Italian culture, planning your Italian Lakes Holidays villa purchasing information, and more!