TRAVEL-O-FOCUS

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Not far from central Hong Kong, the Wan Chai neighborhood has earned a reputation as one of the world’s best red light districts. The area is much tamer today than it was in its heyday during the Vietnam War, when visiting American servicemen spurred a boom in Wan Chai’s brothels and massage parlors. Although the area these days is far from the den of sin it was when it was immortalized in print with the 1957 novel (and later movie) The World of Suzy Wong, if you walk along the stretch of Lockhart Road just South of the Star Ferry pier at night, you’ll see loads of ladyboy streetwalkers and semi-legal girlie bars. I visited Wan Chai to take pictures, check out the clubs, and meet the people who buy and sell sex in Hong Kong.

As I walked through Wan Chai, several streetwalkers solicited me. Most of these sex workers appeared to be transsexuals. Several of the shemales openly advertised themselves as ladyboys, while other prostitutes with clearly visible Adam’s apples were less forthcoming. One transsexual streetwalker was practically begging me to go with them to a nearby alley. As I declined, the price kept dropping even though I repeatedly stated that I wasn’t interested in paying for sex. The hooker seemed desperate and drug-addled.

The area is also filled with a thriving bar scene, including ordinary watering holes that are popular with Western expats and seedy night clubs promising “models” and “dancers” where sex is obviously on sale. Women sit on stools in front, calling out to passersby. There are purportedly ladies of every nationality available in Wan Chai, but I almost exclusively saw Thai and Filipina women with a smattering of Chinese girls mixed in for good measure. Some of the clubs also had older madam-types out front who tried to entice me to stop in their bars as I walked through the street. All the sex workers and pimps on the street were very nervous about having their pictures taken, and it was difficult to snag even long-distance photos of the brothels.

In front of the “Waikiki Club” I was approached by a woman who told me her name was “Mona.” Mona said she was from Bangkok and had been working at the bar for about four months. I asked if she planned on going home and she said she would be finished with her job there after six more months. I asked if she liked working in Hong Kong and she shrugged and began telling me that I smelled good. We were joined by a middle-aged woman who called herself “Mama” and told me I should come in and see “her girls.” I asked her what went on in her club, and she told me that I was a “nice boy” so she would “take care of me” and the ladies at Waikiki “do sex real good.” I asked her how much it would cost to get laid, and she only replied that I should come in and buy a drink and she’d get me a “special price.” “Mama” also told me that I could take one of the girls to a nearby hotel. She said there were a car and driver ready to spirit me away with the woman of my choice. I said “no thanks” and as I walked off the “Mama” followed me down the street for a good distance trying to get me to turn back.

My next stop was the New Makati Pub & Disco, a conventional bar next door to the Waikiki, where I found several businessmen having some after-work drinks. I bought a Jack & Coke and approached a group of suits who were chatting in English. I asked them if they ever visited the brothels in the area and most of them looked at me skeptically over the rims of their pints. One of the men perked up and, with a knowing smirk, asked me if I needed any “recommendations.” I told him I’d buy him a drink if he was willing to speak with me about the Wan Chai sex club scene. The man who told me his name was Jack (his name and certain identifying details have been changed for the purposes of this post, but the name he gave me was similarly single-syllabled, and I suspect it was an alias). He was a twentysomething who claimed to be in the midst of spending a year in Hong Kong working for an American bank. Jack told me that he used to frequent the brothels in Wan Chai, but he’d since “learned from his mistakes.” He said most of the madams will try to “hustle you” by getting you to pay an exorbitant fee for drinks before listing a variety of additional fees for the sex acts.

According to Jack, “you’re better off using the escort services in Hong Kong . . . the girls are prettier and even though it sounds more expensive, it costs about the same.” I asked Jack if he had a specific escort agency that he preferred to use and he would only tell me that “there are a lot of good ones in Hong Kong.” (I guess Gridskipper readers will have to stick with our Hong Kong Escort Guide when they’re in the market for companionship). After less than fifteen minutes, Jack was working his way through his third drink on my tab, and I felt emboldened to ask him how he felt about participating in the notoriously violent, dangerous, and exploitative world of prostitution. I said I was curious to know if he was ever bothered by fears of STD’s or worried that he was supporting violent pimps and/or human traffickers. After a brief, awkward silence Jack said “This whole world is fucked, you can’t even buy clothes without giving money to something bad.” He then quickly changed the subject by asking me about myself. Jack appeared to have been disturbed by my question, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but think that he had made a surprisingly good point.

http://gridskipper.com/65449/inside-wan-chai-hong-kongs-red-light-district

Some crazy Frenchman was seen climbing up the 59th floor at Hong Kong’s Four Seasons hotel yesterday. Ok, so he’s not exactly just any senile Spiderman-wannabe. In fact, he’s Alain Robert, a renowned environmentalist with phenomenal building scaling skills and a penchant for risk-taking. He’s completed more than 80 climbs in hopes of raising eco-awareness — he also likes candle-lit macrobiotic meals and measuring his carbon footprint every night before hitting the hay. Video of the awe-inspiring climb after the

“Forget hotels,” says AirBed & Breakfast, a company that helps people around the world network to find the next best affordable alternative to hotels (sans vacation rentals): inflatable air mattresses. If you’ve got a mattress, you’re in. Anyone can “post a room” on the company’s webpage, set a desired price for a guest’s night stay in their home (usually somewhere between $85- $100), sit back, inflate the mattress and let the guests roll in. While the rise of hotel prices has directly increased growth in the vacation rental industry, as a culture we are beginning to see a shift from the vacation norm to the vacation extreme, as these ‘alternative lodging’ options are entering the market.

Renting a room/air mattress is a simple concept, cheap alternative to a hotel and creates opportunity to meet and live with diverse people.  But lets be honest, we are a skeptical culture surrounded by legal and safety concerns. What about theft?  Or better yet, personal safety with the host you’re staying with? How can one be guaranteed a good experience when the mantra seems to be, “Just roll with it…”

Staying with a complete stranger no doubt requires a leap of faith on the traveler’s part, but AirBed & Breakfast does allow both hosts and guests to create profiles with photos, links to their own personal WebPages, as well as rates and guest reviews.  For those familiar with the long time successful, “couchsurfing” concept (www.couchsurfing.com), this should all ring a bell.

The “Couch Surfing Project,” launched in January 2003 by Casey Fenton and a number of other founders, after Fenton got a cheap ticket to Iceland for a long weekend with no hotel or hostel destination, and nothing other than his luggage, and well, his ticket.  Fenton ended up meeting students and young adults his age in Iceland and “crashed on their couch,” had the weekend of a lifetime, and thus the concept and later the company was born.

Ultimately, one thing in the current events of travel is clear: rising hotel costs is driving consumers to look for new alternatives, whether they be vacation rentals or air mattresses. Airbeds and used couches in strangers’ homes may not be for everyone, but for the traveler strong of heart, they certainly provide an interesting alternative to hotels.

http://blog.flipkey.com/2008/09/05/forget-hotels-share-your-air-mattress/

Imagine your ideal vacation escape. For some this may entail hiking the Appalachian Trail in Asheville, for others standing atop Peak 9 in Breckenridge on a cold, sunny morning. Perhaps the perfect vacation for you is figuring out a way to see every sight in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, or making certain that you see nothing at all but the ocean and the sun. Those who find it easy to imagine the idyllic, but lack the desire to put their thoughts into words are now in luck. Hotels.com now provides a search process that appeals to the senses and allows vacationers to dream their way into vacationing with “The Visualiser“.

Through “The Visualiser,” travelers are led to what Hotels.com deems their ultimate vacation destination and hotel after self-selecting a series of photos, each depicting unique vacation activities and placed in separate categories.  For example The Visualiser asks the user to determine their desired style of restaurant, idea of a fun night, suitable room, nightlife, and with whom the traveler will be vacationing with- kids, friends, partner, etc.

The last step asks users to check their age bracket and select their destination city with cities represented from all of the world- Paris, London, Dublin, New York, or for the adventurous spirit, “Surprise me!”

Those who have used The Visualiser can quickly see that it is a faster alternative in hotel hunting than filling out vacation preferences manually or with drop bars. However I found the accuracy of finding your ideal hotel based solely on pictures is still a work in progress. With that said, it is a fun process and it adds an element of ‘discovery’ to what I have historically considered a canned process.

Given the unique advantages and availability of vacation rentals in many of the world’s most interesting travel destinations, the concept of The Visualizer would find a well-aligned audience with the vacation rental category. For instance, I would argue some of the examples provided in the introduction of this piece would be undeserved if the consumers were not able to discover available vacation rental accommodations in addition to the standard hotel options.

http://blog.flipkey.com/2008/09/23/hotelscom-introduces-%E2%80%9Cthe-visualizer%E2%80%9D/

So you might expect Flagstaff Arizona attractions to include plenty of outdoor recreation and you won’t be disappointed.

Flagstaff has one of the best selections of hiking and biking trails, right next to town, in the U.S.

You can hike through wildflower-filled meadows, mountain bike forested trails, climb dormant volcanoes and ski and snowboard those volcanic peaks in winter.

Not an outdoor junkie?

No worries. Flagstaff Arizona attractions offer everything from art galleries and museums to shopping and nightlife.

.caption{font: 8pt Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #999966;}

A walk past the historic buildings of downtown is a one of the most popular Flagstaff Arizona attractions

Into history? Just take a stroll through downtown Flagstaff with its historic 1900s-era buildings.

Want to see something even older?

The Flagstaff area has long been home to several indigenous cultures including the Sinagua, Hopi and Navajo peoples.

Explore their cultures at the wonderful Museum of Northern Arizona, one of the best Flagstaff Arizona attractions.

Or visit one of the many American Indian ruins nearby.

For an out of this world experience, drive up Mars Hill to the Lowell Observatory.

Here you can look through the same telescopes that astronomers used when they discovered Pluto and helped map the moon for the Apollo missions.

No matter what your interests, there are plenty of Flagstaff Arizona attractions to keep you entertained.

Downtown Flagstaff and Heritage Square
Downtown Flagstaff is one of our favorite Arizona downtowns. This is also one of the most popular Flagstaff Arizona attractions because it’s a great place to stroll and gaze at the renovated, historic buildings. Or grab a bite to eat at one of the many great restaurants.

Window shop or run up your credit card at the interesting boutiques and eclectic galleries which offer all manner of arts and crafts, from Native American art and jewelry to contemporary glass and paintings. If you’re in Flagstaff in summer, don’t miss the free outdoor entertainment series in Heritage Square.

This open air gathering place hosts live music on Thursdays. We’ve enjoyed Latin music and dancing lessons and Middle Eastern music and belly dancing. On Friday nights there’s “Movies on the Square,” a popular family outing.

Details: Downtown Flagstaff off of Route 66. The downtown is bordered by four streets, from north to south: Elm Avenue, Agassiz Street, Beaver street and Butler Avenue. San Francisco Street and Aspen Avenue are the heart of the area. Heritage square is on Aspen between Leroux and San Francisco Streets.

Lowell Observatory
Flagstaff’s clear mountain air makes it a perfect spot for stargazing. That’s why Percival Lowell founded Flagstaff’s first astronomical observatory here, perched high on Mars Hill in the forest, in 1894.

The Lowell Observatory is famous for its discovery of Pluto in 1930. Today, it is still an active research facility, making discoveries in Kuiper Belt Objects and the outer solar system, near-Earth asteroids and surveying nearby galaxies.

Visit this most fascinating of Flagstaff Arizona attractions during the day and you can tour the historic telescope and grounds. At night, peer at heavenly bodies through the historic Alvin Clark refractor telescope – the very telescope Percival Lowell used to observe Mars. The Steele Visitor Center has cool interactive exhibits and a 3D digital space theatre.

Outside, take the easy, paved Pluto Walk – a 350-foot model of our solar system. After our visit to this most fascinating of Flagstaff Arizona attractions, we felt like we had traveled the universe. And to think it was only a 1-mile drive from downtown Flagstaff!

Address: 1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 233-3211
Admission: Adults: $6, Senior/AAA/College: $5, Youth (5-17): $3, Kids under 5 and members: Free.
Hours: Daytime and evening hours vary throughout the year. Call for current hours before you visit. Lowell Observatory is closed on all major U.S. holidays.

Museum of Northern Arizona
The town of Flagstaff is practically a newborn when compared to the history of the Colorado Plateau, which stretches back centuries. The Museum of Northern Arizona is one of the most interesting Flagstaff Arizona attractions and is the place to discover the ancient cultures, archeology, geology and natural history of the region.

Nine exhibit galleries have beautiful displays showcasing everything from dinosaur fossils and Pueblo pottery to Hopi katsinas and Western landscape paintings. The exhibits on the native peoples of the area are superb. Afterward, stop in at the gift shops for excellent pieces of Native American art, books on natural history and native cultures and souvenirs.

Before you leave, take a moment to sit under the massive ponderosa pines outside the main door where bird feeders attract many animal species including Lewis’ woodpeckers and Abert’s squirrels.

Address: 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 774-5213
Admission: Adults: $7, Seniors (65+): $6, Adult Students (with ID): $5, Native American (7+): $4, Youth (7-17): $4, Children (0-7) Free
Hours: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm. Closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Outdoor Flagstaff Arizona Attractions

Flagstaff Arboretum

Nestled among the ponderosa pines, this scenic botanical garden is one of our favorite Flagstaff Arizona attractions. The Arboretum is home to one of the largest collections of high country wildflowers in the U.S.

You’ll also see over 2,500 species of high elevation flowers, trees and shrubs, many of which are native to the Colorado Plateau region. There are 200 acres of themed gardens and nature trails with lovely views of the San Francisco Peaks.

The Flagstaff Arboretum is a great place to get tips on waterwise gardening and gardening in short season climates. During our walks around the arboretum, we’ve enjoyed seeing local Flagstaff wildlife such as cottontail rabbits, woodpeckers and ground squirrels. A pond is home to two species of endangered Arizona fish.

Birders, take note: more than 100 species of birds have been sighted here. Don’t miss the spectacular Birds of Prey flight demo held daily.

Click here to read our Flagstaff Arboretum review for more details.

Arizona Snowbowl
Perched up high in the San Francisco Mountains, the Snowbowl is a scenic ski resort nestled amid the alpine landscape of the Coconino National Forest. This is one of the most popular outdoor Flagstaff Arizona attractions.

The Snowbowl’s four chair lifts take you to the 32 runs available for downhill skiing and snowboarding.

The Sunset Terrain Park has obstacles, spines, rails and fun boxes for both skiers and snowboarders. Two day lodges offer everything from equipment rental and food to sports shops and lessons. For overnighters, you can stay in the lodge and cabin rentals at the base of the mountain.

In summer, ride the Arizona Snowbowl Skyride up to the top of Agassiz Peak for amazing views and hiking at 11,500 feet. During our visit, the ski lift was stopped because of a summer thunderstorm. An early arrival will help you beat the summer afternoon rain and lightning. Take a ride during autumn and you’ll see some spectacular fall color as the many aspen trees turn from green to gold.

Address: The Arizona Snowbowl is located off of Highway 180, then north on Snowbowl Road. P.O. Box 40, Flagstaff AZ 86002
Phone: (928) 779-1951
Admission: None. Call for lift ticket prices.
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm daily. The Summer Scenic Skyride operates daily 10 am to 4 pm, weather permitting.

Buffalo Park Urban Trail
There aren’t any bison here, but there is plenty of room for you to roam. You won’t see many tourists at this Flagstaff Arizona attraction, but you will see locals walking and biking the 215-acre Buffalo Park’s easy, level trail.

The wide path loops through large meadows dotted with wildflowers in spring and summer and skirt the edge of the forest. They’re perfect for a leisurely stroll. The San Francisco Peaks provide a stunning backdrop, making this park a good stop for taking photos. Pack a picnic lunch and take the whole family.

A word of caution, keep an eye out for summer afternoon thunderstorms, which may have you going back to your car quickly. We enjoyed our walk in the park, but when we saw the approaching rain and lightning, we knew it was time to go.

Location & Directions: Northeast Flagstaff. Take Route 66 to San Francisco Street. Turn north on San Francisco and drive about ione mile to Forest Avenue. Turn east on Forest and proceed about 0.8 miles north to the signed turnoff, which is next to the U.S. Geological Survey offices.
Address: 2400 Gemini Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001
Phone: City of Flagstaff Parks & Recreation (928) 779-7690
Admission: None
Hours: 5 am to 10 pm daily.
Length: Two mile loop.
Difficulty: Easy.
Elevation Change: None.

Red Mountain Trail
Flagstaff is rich with hiking opportunities and the Red Mountain Trail is one of our favorites. This mostly level, high desert trail is lined with wildflowers in season. It passes through fragrant stands of juniper and pinyon pine and leads you right into the heart of an eroded volcanic cinder cone that’s almost 1 million years old and nearly 1,000 feet high.

The strangely carved red rock walls are pockmarked with holes that are often used as nesting sites by falcons and eagles. Oddly shaped rock towers, known as “hoodoos”, inky black lava crystals and tall ponderosa pines decorate the u-shaped amphitheater at trail’s end.

Best of all, there are few visitors because Red Mountain is a 25-minute drive north of Flagstaff. On our hike, we had only flocks of ravens, pinyon jays and swallows to keep us company. It’s a perfect Flagstaff Arizona attraction to get away from it all.

Location & Directions: The trailhead is 25 miles northwest of Flagstaff on Highway 180. Turn left at the Forest Service sign marked “Red Mountain Geologic Area” just after Milepost 247. A ¼ mile graded dirt road (passable by all vehicles) leads to the parking lot at the trailhead.
Length: 1.5 miles one way.
Hiking Time Estimate: 1 hour but allow more time to explore this unusual geologic wonder.
Difficulty: Easy, however the last portion of the trail follows a dry stream bed. You’ll have to climb a short ladder to reach the inside of the amphitheater.
Elevation Change: About 150 feet.
Season: Year-round.
Management: Coconino National Forest, Peaks Ranger Station.
Phone: (928) 526-0866.
Access Fee: No.
Notes: There is little shade along the trail. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Carry plenty of drinking water; there is none at the trailhead or along the trail.

Kachina Trail
Groves of massive-trunked, fluttering-leafed aspens await you along this scenic trail within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness, one of the most spectacular Flagstaff Arizona attractions.

Starting near the base of the Arizona Snowbowl, the Kachina Trail follows the San Francisco Peaks middle slopes, gently rolling through an old growth forest of giant Douglas firs, spruce, ferns and moss that looks like a home for elves.

Occasional clearings give views down to the prairie below or the peaks above. In spring and summer, the meadows are filled with a variety of wildflowers. Keep an eye out for wildlife including mule deer, Clark’s nutcrackers, gray squirrels and Stellar’s jays.

In the fall, this area is a blaze of autumn color as the aspens turn golden, and bull elk bugle as they gather their harems of females.

Location & Directions: 17 miles north of Flagstaff. Drive 7 miles northwest of town on U.S. Highway 180. At Snowbowl Road, turn right and drive 7 miles to the lower Snowbowl Ski area. Park in the first parking lot on the south (right) side of the road, where you will see a sign for the Kachina Trailhead. The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot.
Length: 5 miles one way
Hiking Time Estimate: 2.5 hours one way, depending upon your physical condition.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: 740 feet. Most of the hike follows the contour between 9, 200 feet and 8, 800 feet.
Season: May to November.
Management: Coconino National Forest, Peaks Ranger Station.
Phone: (928) 526-0866.
Access Fee: No.
Notes: This is a non-motorized, multiple use trail for hiking and equestrian use only. Bring water as there is none along the rail or at the trailhead. Watch for lightning during summer afternoon thunderstorms. To avoid an uphill hike on the return trip, park a second car along Freidlein Prairie Road near where the Kachina Trail ends.
Flagstaff Arizona Attractions: Day Trips

Wupatki National Monument
Set amid the spectacular Painted Desert northeast of Flagstaff, this stunningly beautiful park preserves five pueblo ruins. Three ancient cultures came together here: the Anasazi, Singua and Cohonina. These ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni people built impressive sandstone structures perfectly adapted to the rigors of the Colorado Plateau climate.

An excellent visitor center at the Wupatki Ruins details the history and lifeways of the people who lived here. Afterwards, take a self-guided tour through the 100-room Wupatki, the largest of the pueblos.

Be sure to stop at the Nalakihu citadel. Our walk to the top of this tall structure was a memorable experience, where time seemed to stand still as we gazed out across the quiet grasslands towards the San Francisco Peaks. The panoramic views and solitude are worth the trip alone.

Location & Directions: Northeast of Flagstaff, off of Highway 89A. Drive Highway 89A north out of Flagstaff for 12 miles. Turn right at the signed turnoff for Sunset Crater-Wupatki National Monuments. The Wupatki Visitor Center is 21 miles from this junction. A 36-mile paved road links the two parks.
Management: National Park Service
Phone: (928) 679-2365
Admission: $5 per person for 7 day access. Fee is good for entrance to both Wupatki and the adjacent Sunset Crater National Monument. Children 16 and under are free.
Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitor center is open daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, except December 25 (Christmas Day).
Notes: Wupatki is at a lower elevation than Flagstaff, so it is generally 10 to 20 degrees warmer. Summer daytime temperatures routinely exceed 100°F. Bring a hat, sunglasses and wear sunscreen. Snow and freezing temperatures may occur in winter.

Make sure you have a full tank of gas before venturing to the monument. We recommend you pack a picnic lunch. The visitor center does have vending machines with limited items. Do not climb on the walls, remove or disturb any features. These sites are sacred to the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo people.

Sunset Crater National Monument
Over 900 years ago, a series of massive volcanic explosions erupted from the 1,000 ft. high cinder cone now known as Sunset Crater. An 850-foot fountain of fire laid down a blanket of lava and falling ash covered over 64,000 acres of the surrounding countryside.

The cooled lava then became a bizarre landscape of dramatic, weirdly-shaped rock formations. Today, you can hike the easy 1-mile Lava Trail loop where you can see the hardened black lava up close and walk to the base of the cinder cone. The rich ore deposits around the park also created meadows filled with wildflowers.

The Sunset Crater Visitor Center has interactive exhibits where you can find out more about volcanoes and the geology of the area. Although the park is a bit of a drive out of town, this is one of the most popular Flagstaff Arizona attractions for its relatively level trails, picnic areas and campground as evidenced by the bus loads of students during our visit.

Location & Directions: Northeast of Flagstaff, off of Highway 89A. Drive Highway 89A north out of Flagstaff for 12 miles. Turn right at the signed turnoff for Sunset Crater-Wupatki National Monuments.
Management: National Park Service
Phone: (928) 526-0502
Admission: $5 per person for 7 day access. Fee is good for entrance to both Wupatki and the adjacent Sunset Crater National Monument. Children 16 and under are free.
Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitor center is open daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, except December 25 (Christmas Day).
Facilities: Picnic tables, campground, bookstore, restrooms.
Notes: Hiking to the top of the Sunset Crater volcano and backcountry hiking is prohibited to protect the fragile geologic and archaeological features. Stay on designated trails. Use extreme caution when hiking as the lava is sharp, brittle and unstable.There is no food at the monument. We recommend that you bring a picnic lunch.

http://www.arizona-vacation-planner.com/flagstaff-arizona-attractions.html

by: Emma Lelliott

Havana is a city steeped in history, and there’s certainly plenty of culture and echoes from the past amongst many of its main tourist attractions. But for those who really want to absorb themselves in a historical holiday in Cuba, these luxury hotels in Havana all have their own claims to fame. From famous events to people, these Havana hotels all have a story to tell within their walls…

Hotel Ambos Mundos

While few would argue that the Hotel Ambos Mundos is the best hotel in Havana, it does have one very strong endorsement - one that the management has been promoting for decades: between 1932 and 1939, Ernest Hemingway stayed at the hotel, and room 551 is where he wrote the first few chapters of “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. It was clearly his favourite room, and is now preserved as a shrine to the legendary author, with his affects - including the typewriter he worked on - exactly as he left them when he moved into his own house 9 miles outside of Havana. Local drinking establishments Hemingway was said to favour include La Bodeguita and La Floridita, so if you work up a thirst on your Cuba holiday, you can enjoy a mojito to Hemingway’s specifications.

Hotel Riviera

Notorious gangster Meyer Lansky (known for his work in The Commission and heading up Murder Inc. in the US) used his relationship with corrupt Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar to build this casino and luxury hotel in Havana in 1957. It was short lived though, as Zaldivar was overthrown by the Cuban revolution just two years later, and the casino was shut down, with the hotel becoming property of the state. In its two years of Vegas style glory, it managed to attract celebrities from around the globe.

Hotel Nacional

The Nacional hotel in Havana has the longest list of celebrity visitors in the whole of Cuba. Holiday making celebrities included actors Errol Flyn, Marlon Brando and Buster Keaton, historical figures Winston Churchill, Alexander Flemming, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, and even various Italian-American gangsters such as Lucky Luciano and Frank Costello.

Santa Isabel Hotel

The Santa Isabel is another luxury Havana hotel that’s popular with celebrity visitors to the island. Amongst the likes of Jack Nicholson, Jake Bloom, Bruce Willis, Sting, Naomi Campbell and Robert Plant are heads of state including King Juan Carlos II and former US president Jimmy Carter. His 2002 visit was the first person to hold that high office to visit the island since 1928 when Calvin Coolidge attended the Pan American Conference in Havana.

Hotel Inglaterra

Although time has been less kind to the Hotel Inglaterra, its heritage speaks for itself. As well as hosting guests from the world the arts (Garcia Lorca, Sara Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova) and sports (Jose Raul Capablanca and Ramon Fonst), the Inglaterra was host to Cuban national hero José Martí’s famous speech in homage to Manuel Marquez Sterling in 1879. More recently, the hotel has hosted Frei Betto - one of the creators of the Liberation theology.

While some of these Havana hotels may not be the most luxurious in town, what they lose in features and decadence, they more than make up for in character in history. If you want to walk in the footsteps of Winston Churchill, Federico Garcia Lorca or Ernest Hemingway, the historical hotels of Havana provide the perfect place to hang your hat on a Cuba holiday.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/5-historic-hotels-in-havana-576580.htm

The members of the international jet set crowd are always on the lookout for new vacation locales  and over the last few years celebrities like Italian Designer Valentino, hotel heiress Nick Hilton and Hollywood bigwigs like Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow have all found their summer nirvana on the sun dappled and lavender scented island of Hvar which is situated in the Adriatic sea off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.

Azure waters and the rugged coastline of Hvar photo credit Lena ni

With the war having ended in the mid nineties, Croatia’s Dalmatian islands like Hvar, Vis, Kor?ula and Bra? which are blessed with seemingly endless days of sunshine, cerulean waters, craggy landscapes and historic towns with wonderful seafood restaurants have become the new hot spot for the world’s glitterati. However it is not only the celebrities who come to Hvar and these other Croatian islands, as many ordinary folk have also realized that these islands have much to offer and provide great bang for your buck in the European summer months when other perennial summer favorites like Saint Tropez, Mykonos, Ibiza are often overcrowded with the hordes.

Recent estimates in fact indicate that in the month of August, the population of the town of Hvar actually swells from 5000 to 30,000 visitors a day. This just shows that Hvar is fast gaining in the popularity stakes and will soon be up there with the best even though it still doesn’t have an airport for a direct air link to the rest of Europe and the world. Most international visitors, who do not sail to Hvar on their own luxurious yachts, seem to arrive on the island by flying into the city of Split and then taking the passenger catamaran across the Adriatic Sea from Split to Hvar.

Your self contained vacation rental in pretty Kalober bay

You can actually book your ferry ticket online at the website of the Jadrolinija Ferries and it is actually advisable to do so in the month of August when ferry tickets are often sold out. You can alternatively also take the car ferry which comes into the neighboring town of Stari Grad and then take the bus to the town of Hvar but of course this is a much slower journey which takes longer.

Your sunny vacation rental at avelini in the district of Majerovica

The best way to enjoy the many charms of this beautiful island is to book a vacation rental in or around Hvar town. Once you have your own vacation rental you can embrace the laid back pace of the island where the philosophy of Fajka reigns supreme. Similar to the Spanish concept of siesta, the philosophy of Fajka asks you to have a proper leisurely lunch at one of the waterfront cafes of Hvar town and then return to your vacation rental located close by take a nap so that you are refreshed and rejuvenated for your nocturnal exploits.

There is enough to see and do on the island of Hvar and here are some of my suggestions for enhancing your pleasure on this exclusive but accessible island:-

Take a walk on  Riva

Riva is the waterfront promenade of Hvar which is dotted with cafes, restaurants and bars. It is here that the exclusive yachts and super cruisers come to dock in the summer. The townspeople of Hvar and tourists alike like to walk on the promenade in the evenings and gawk at these gigantic yachts which belong to the rich and famous.

Riva,promenade of Hvar photo credit munksynz

Enjoy a glass of the local red

Hvar actually is one of the two premier winemaking areas of Croatia. Its sunny Mediterranean climate and terrain produce excellent quality Plavac Mali grapes which are used to produce some great red wine. Be sure to indulge in some when you vacation in Hvar.

Go Clubbing

Hvar boasts of a rocking nightlife and has many bars and clubs that are located on its waterfront. One such waterfront bar called Carpe Diem seems to be the current favorite on Hvar’s nightlife scene

Buy some Lavender scented goodies

Lavender grows in abundance on the island; do buy some hand made lavender oil or some dried lavender flowers which are excellent as moth repellants to protect your expensive cashmere sweaters or to just remind you of your idyllic time on Hvar.

http://blog.vacapedia.com/2008/10/08/come-join-the-party-on-the-idyllic-island-of-hvar/