All Things Alceste

Don’t underestimate the difference that staying in a boutique hotel can make to your next journey.

How often do you hear someone say, “I can’t wait to stay in the hotel”? Discussions about forthcoming holidays nearly always centre on the things we want to do, or the places we’re looking forward to seeing, and the place where we’re staying doesn’t feature at all. All that changes once you’ve booked into a boutique hotel.

These hotels have been lovingly created by their owners in order to offer you an experience, not just a place to stay. The belief that your holiday or business accommodation should be well designed and provide great service is one that has resulted in hundreds of “boutique” hotels opening up around the world, to cater for the increasing number of travellers who want to stay somewhere special.

Anticipation

Anticipating your holiday is one of the things we all love. In the weeks before we leave home, we get increasingly excited and really look forward to taking a break from our everyday lives and having new experiences. This anticipation can often be flattened when we reach the hotel, which turns out to be impersonal and indifferent; unless you’ve booked boutique:

? Welcoming ? boutique hotels are designed to be welcoming, so you are looked after from the minute you arrive.

? Different ? you’ll notice lots of differences from regular chain hotels as soon as you arrive. From the way you check in to the design of the rooms and the public spaces, and the facilities on offer, you’ll know immediately that you are staying in an individual hotel.

? Design ? all the things you want to do with your home but haven’t had time to do. It might be polished wooden floors or spectacular artwork; Egyptian cotton bedding or funky armchairs. It’s this design and detail that makes boutique hotels different from all other traveller accommodation.

? Facilities ? large hotels have pools and spas, but they’re impersonal. The facilities at small, individual hotels are designed to make you feel at home whilst indulging in treatments or taking advantage of concierge services.

The experience

The low number of rooms at most boutique hotels defines your experience: you’re one of a small number of guests who are benefiting from the great designs and flawless service that these hotels provide. You immediately feel more relaxed and you’re able to enjoy your holiday as an all-round experience. Book again for next year, so that you can tell everyone how much you’re looking forward to staying in the hotel.

So, this is the Brazil. This is what Rio de Janeiro is really all about. When the Carnival arrives, companies close down, shops shut their doors early, and streets are closed off to make way for dancing, parties and parades. This awe inspiring festivity not only provides entertainment for the thousands of people attending the Carnival, but also for the millions watching it on their televisions, giving them a chance to learn about the true culture of Brazil.

The next Carnival starts on Saturday 25th February 2006, and ends on Fat Tuesday leading up to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar. This happens to be during the hottest time of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, when summer is at its peak. When that Saturday arrives then it’s Carnival all over the place, in the streets and squares, bars, clubs and other venues, taking over the whole city of Rio and culminating in the Rio Carnival Parade also known as the Samba Parade.

The Rio Carnival is an event of mere days, but the result of months of preparation. The most giving and hardworking hands during the months before are often the ones most overlooked by outside eyes. These are the people who make the Carnival what it is, they add an ingredient that couldn’t possibly be replicated by the largest tourist operator, most experienced guide or multi million dollar sponsor. They are the people from Rio de Janeiro’s poorest neighbourhoods, the so called favelas or shanty towns.

So where did you think all the magic and thrill Carnival is famous for started? From the production of the elaborate costumes to the performance and choreography of the costume bearers, residents of the favelas are deeply involved with every aspect of the Carnival. More often than not, this is done through their participation and membership to a local samba school.

The samba schools, with members reaching the thousands, will get together on a regular basis throughout the year for rehearsals and samba nights. All the samba schools have rehearsal spaces, called samba courts, or locally known as quadras de samba. They open, in most cases, at weekends for anyone, including tourists like you and me, as long as you pay the small fee at the door. To anyone who’s not been to one of these places they can only be described as nightclubs with samba.

This is the best way to make contact with the real samba and people of Rio de Janeiro. The nights are totally informal, and members of all ages including many old people can go to the party of any school. Most are quite far out of from the main parts of Rio de Janeiro and some of the areas they are situated in can be rough. To this end I would recommend going with a group in a package including a local escort, and round-trip transportation. Once you’re inside, it’s very safe. I would recommend not going flashy or having anything valuable with you except of course your camera. This is only due to the high density and energetic atmosphere of these events and you are more likely to lose or damage such items rather than have them stolen.

So maybe you are planning to come to the Rio carnival, or maybe not and you just want to sample some of the rich carnival energy that lasts all year round in this city. Either way, visiting a Samba school is a great pre-Carnival excursion.

If you are coming for the main event then remember it also means a bit of preparation on your part too. You should not only get your flight, but do a bit of research on your Carnival tickets in advance. Try to plan your Carnival activities ahead to sample the immense variety on offer. Include in your must-do’s the Samba Parade, street parties, and balls. You should also really organize your accommodation for the carnival well in advance. The best hotels, especially around Copacabana and Ipanema, are booked up early, so it’s advisable to make your hotel reservations as soon as you have decided to attend this spectacular event.

The next article in this series is titled ‘Rio Carnival ? The Main Event’.

Reached a stagnant point in work? It’s time for you to treat yourself to a stag weekend in Edinburgh. Chillisauce will ensure that it turns up to be your best stag weekend till date. What’s more, all the stag weekends are custom made according to individual requirements. What are you waiting for? Just let Chillisauce know of your choice and relax as it prepares for you the vacation of a lifetime.

Exciting Stag Weekend Activities in Edinburgh

Just name it and you will get it! Edinburgh is filled with fun filled outdoor activities. Participate in the Extreme Quad Biking in Edinburgh and feel the excitement as you speed past the dense woodlands for about 1.5 hours. Experience the thrill of riding a 400cc Honda Pilot while you try the Off Road Karting. One of the most effective team building corporate events is the Paintball where you are given the feel of a real fighting experience with suit, paintball marker, mask and other equipments.

Well, that’s not all. Feast your stomach on a wide range of kebabs and other delicacies while watching some of the best comedy acts on stage at Comedy Club in Edinburgh. Got all your colleagues along with you? Well, you can surely go for a football match. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Chillisauce will arrange for a 5-a-side Football Tournament with a minimum of 3 games, comprising 45 minutes of football. The winning team gets a case of Carlsberg while all the players are treated to a delicious buffet. If you want to have more fun just check out Chillisauce’s corporate event planners in Edinburgh.

Water Activities in Edinburgh

Get prepared to fall in love with the crystal white waters of Perthshire while you are enjoying your stag weekend. As you go river rafting, suddenly there will be a 18 foot drop into the mystical Loch Faskally and you will feel as light as a bird. The river will take you for a joy ride along the Tay valley, through the hills and dense forests. You can also go for Canyoning on your stag weekend at Edinburgh where you will be taught the techniques of launching, flying, balancing and landing safely in the water.

Reviving Corporate Team Spirit at Edinburgh

The games are diverse, but the efforts are united. It’s a place where you feel the importance of each and every individual while working as a team. Stag weekend in Edinburgh is the best way to bring out the best in you and your team through rounds of exciting and thrilling outdoor activities.

General summary of city:

The city of Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is a modern city that is rich in medieval and art-nouveau buildings. Brussels is steeped in rich history with plenty of museums and galleries and a pulsating cultural life.

Brussels is also the administrative center of the European Union, which has earned the city the title ‘the capital of Europe’. The business sector in Brussels is booming with international agencies taking root in the city, however not at the expense of the rich cultural history. The juxtaposition of past and present is evident in Brussels with blocks lined with international businesses and their advanced steel and glass high rises which are only a few steps away from cobbled streets and medieval architecture that speaks of the city’s flavourful past.

With a mixture of French and Flemish culture and language, Brussels is steeped in history and culture, with something for everyone to enjoy. The nightlife culture of Brussels, complete with clubs and pubs to enjoy add to the eclectic ambience of this fair city in Belgium. During the day, as business booms throughout the week, there is a wide variety of attractions for visitors and locals to enjoy, regardless of age. Families enjoy Belgium for its unique atmosphere which embraces every aspect of family life and socialization for adults.

Places of interest:

Brussels boasts over a century of history which lends too many intriguing sights to visit and see in the city and immediate area. Brussels possesses the most fabulous market square and the highest concentration of restaurants in the entire world.

The Petite Rue des Bouchers, which translates to street of the butchers is located in the medieval center of Brussels and is most famous for the simple fact that every building on the street is a restaurant. The roadway is very narrow and is closed to automobile traffic, which allows for the restaurants to boast their wares in spectacular fashion, while on wider parts of the road, restaurants feature outdoor eating areas.

The central market square in Brussels is known as the Grand’ Place, which is notably the most beautiful in the world. A 15th century Town Hall dominates the Grand’ Place with hundreds of small statues and an elegant tower is surrounded by 17th century buildings with golden inlays which surround the entire square. Other places of interest to visit is the Manneken Pis, the Saint Michael cathedral, the Atomium, the Palais de Justice as well as a plethora of parks including the impressive Bois de la Cambre and the forest to which it once belonged, the Foret de Soignes which features birch trees that are hundreds of years old.

Brussels features many interesting sights for the whole family – business people, families, nature lovers, culture devotees and historians alike.

Things to do:

There is a wide variety of things to do in Brussels, regardless of your age or fancies. For those who love to dine, you could spend an eternity sampling all the wonderful restaurants and eateries in Brussels, which boasts itself as having the highest concentration of restaurants in the world. The restaurants in Brussels feature a wide variety of food types and styles for anyone’s palate.

For those who want to take in the rich history of Brussels, there is a surplus of museums that boast the wonderful and flavourful richness of a millennium in Brussels.

Sightseeing is plentiful in Brussels with many 15th and 17th century buildings around the city. Declaring a beautiful surrounding with intricately designed buildings from these centuries, the city of Brussels promises a wonderful view in any direction. With beautiful boulevards, picturesque squares, parks and a very active cultural life in every sense of the word, there is something for everyone in Brussels. You can take in a movie or a play at a theatre, enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants, and visit the monuments and places of great interest that abound in this beautiful city.

Brussels is steeped in over 1000 years of history and beauty for each individual to unfold whether visiting or moving to the city.

Food & Drink:

Brussels is all about the food. Because Brussels has the highest concentration of restaurants in all the world, the dining industry is literally one of the most prolific in the city. The Petite Rue des Bouchers (the street of butchers) is literally lined with restaurants. Every single building on the street is a restaurant that caters to a variety of flavours and tastes.

Throughout this beautiful historical city, restaurants, eateries and quaint cafes abound, offering up a dish of enlightening flavor to satisfy any palate. There is, of course, plenty of French food and Flemish food, but with the coming of immigrants to Brussels, there is an increasing variety of foods from other cultures and countries throughout the world. Within the streets of Brussels, you can find Western cooking, Lebanese flavourings, Greek, Mexican – really any ethnic food flavouring that your heart could desire.

To go to Brussels means to enjoy good food in a beautiful atmosphere. Brussels is known world wide for its upper class restaurants and small, cozy eateries that are both quaint and classy.

Hotels & Accommodation:

Silken Residence
Le Châtelain All Suites Hotel
Hilton Brussels
Minotel Chambord
Le Méridien Bruxelles
Eazires Europarthotel Avenue Louise
Hotel Villa Royale
Hotel le Dixseptieme
Sun Hotel
New Hotel Charlemagne
Hotel L’auberge Du Souverain
Aristote
Hotel Continental
Hotel le Chantecler
Hotel De Fierlant
Hotel Erasme
Rijckendael Hotel
Eurostars Royal Embassy Grand Place
Entertainment:

Brussels is very much a city of the night. There is a bustling nightlife in Brussels in the many clubs, discotheques, bars and restaurants. There is always something to do in Brussels.

During the day, the museums offer a great deal of entertainment for the entire family. With the wealth of history and past culture in Brussels, everyone in the family will find the museums, galleries and culture centers interesting and intriguing.

There are a wide variety of cultural festivals that are also offered throughout the city at various times of the year ranging in depth from family fun to adult entertainment.

Fun for the whole family is offered in the heart of Belgium in the capital city of Brussels. Movie theatres, shopping centers, parks, forests, museums, cultural centers and places of interest abound in this gorgeous city. Boredom is nearly impossible in Brussels – there is always something to do or see in this fair city. A rich social life is just around the corner in Brussels, all you have to do is see what they have to offer during your visit.

According Real Federacion Española de Golf, their research has revealed some interesting statistics. According to them there were 35,462 registered golfers in Andalucia in May 2003 and has increased incredibly over the years. In 1983, the number of registered golfers in Costa Tropical was 33,711 as compared to 25,700 in the other areas of Spain.

Ramon Davila, the President of Andalusian Association of Land Developers of Residential and Sporting Tourism has said that there is a requirement for another 30 golf courses in the region. Golf has become a popular sport over the years in this region because of the number of foreign tourists visiting each year and because of the climate. Andalucian climate just seems to be so perfect for a game of golf.

Right now there are 9, 18, 36 and 54 holes golf complexes available to tourists as well as part-time residents in this region. Some of the top regions with golf courses include:

Huelva
There are several golf course projects in the pipeline and under construction in Huelva like the 36-hole course at Ayamonte and a par 72 championship course as well as a par 71 measuring 6,300m. One of the popular places for playing golf in Huelva is the Islantilla golf resort, which is a 27-hole golf complex. The El Rompido Golf & Beach Resort is situated just an hour away from Huelva.

Cadiz
One of the popular golf courses here is the Novo Sancti Petri that has been extended from being a 27 hole to 36 holes and is expected to be increased to 54 holes.

Golf Courses in Almeria
Almerimar Golf course: 18 holes/72 par
Cortijo Grande: 9 holes/36 par
Los Moriscos: 9 holes/36 par

Golf Courses in Cordoba
Cordoba: 18 holes/72 par
Granada: 18 holes/70 par
Los Moriscos: 9 holes/36 par
Pozoblanco: 9 holes/36 par

Malaga
The Flamingos Golf course is situated on the Marbella side of Costa Tropical. This golf course has been re-designed to host the European Seniors Tour Matchplay Championship. The Villa Padierna golf course is owned by the Grand Luxury hotel and it houses an Academy too. The Flamingo Blanco golf course is an unusual course because it has a par of 59.

The Marbella Club Resort is planning to build a second golf course similar to the previous Dave Thomas course and it is going to be built right in the hills of Costa Tropical. This golf course is being built for the guests at the Marbella Club, Hotel Torrequebrada and the Puente Romano.

There are many more golf courses being built and some are still in the pipeline but it seems that this is going to be the next top Golf destination in the world.

For most of us, choosing a backpack isn’t really that big of a deal. Whether we’re grabbing one for our kids first day back to school or need one to carry the bits and goodies of life around, a backpack is a simple contraption without too much room for error. Lately however, the backpack world has taken a turn for the complicated, requiring insight and understanding before hitting the “buy now” button. It has finally become possible to mess up the ordeal of backpack ordering.

Its obvious, I believe, the difference between a backpack for taking a quick hiking trip somewhere and storing books on the way to class. These two types of backpacks have always been rather distinguishable from each other and (as and sixth grader will explain should you try to stuff the books into the one designed for hiking) completely not interchangeable based on social standards more than functional-ability. Its also rather obvious that you dont order a backpack with a cute little cartoon character on it for a child past the second grade without being specifically asked to do so. You can completely ruin your childs first day back to school by sending him as the only kid with a little kid backpack when all the other kids have graduated to big kid backpacks. It might not be a big deal to you, but it is to them.

This scenario has ruined many various first days of school for various children. Of course, we should never allow our children to believe that it is okay to judge a person by their backpack, but our kids have to live in the shadow of the opinions of their classmates. Girls arent immune from all of this, but the fourth grade boy who shows up with Elmo slapped on his backpack is definitely in more trouble than the girl that does it. This is one of the unfortunate side effects of our society.

Aside from all the usual backpack difficulties one may have when trying to select the right kind, there is now a new type which has hit the market, one which is throwing the less technologically savvy for a loop. It was one thing when we brought computers into our homes, to sit placidly on the desk where they were to be until their eventual death. Now, because we have computers that like to travel, they come with their own special backpack, ready to go in an instant. It created such an awkward scene, when well meaning parents or grandparents wrapped up a new backpack for one of the many gifts of celebration only to find that somewhere in the stack of gifts the child was expecting a laptop to fit into their new backpack. Because of course children know about these things the instant that they hit the market. Who knew that the handy Velcro strap inside was designed to hold a small computer instead of keeping books from jostling about? Oh, well. Live and learn and then consult the internet before making your next purchase, even for something that used to be as routine as a backpack.

So how does one avoid these simple and honest mistakes? Were not talking about a complicated piece of equipment that should require hours upon hours of research. We are talking about a bag, that we put stuff in, and carry it around for our own personal use. This should not be a complicated deal, in fact it should be one of the simpler aspects of life.

In order to avoid some of the more unreasonable discomforts of life, youre going to have to start reading labels. Not glancing over them as I still tend to do, but really reading them, looking at them for a clue about what they actually are. I did manage to find a backpack not long ago that was definitely designed for a small child (it had the tell tale Disney character on the back of it) with a laptop. What kindergartener is going to need to haul their $2000 laptop to school is beyond me, but there it was. A laptop backpack designed for a five year old. Reading the label affirmed this, as laptop backpacks quite simply state â??laptop backpacksâ? somewhere on their labeling.

Reading labels can help keep you out of a world of trouble with other bags and luggage as well, although I can honestly say that I can squeeze my clothes into most designer bags regardless of what they were originally designed for. What matters most is the recipient of the bag. Most often, bags are designed for a specific reason so that they work well with that reason in mind, leaving them falling short as stand ins for other types of bags. Some people will vehemently disagree with this statement, claiming that if its a bag, you can just work with what is in front of you. This is partially true. Many people will find trying to use a laptop backpack to lug their books around works only if they have a few books. Eventually, the books no longer fit correctly because the space designed for the laptop is too small to support a great deal of books. Its simple like that. Once you identify the type of bag it is, your backpack shopping worries are pretty much over. Thankfully, the small disasters of life are just as easy to avert as they are to get into.

One of the things that marks out a boutique hotel from others is the high standard of service it offers.

Why do hotel services matter? As long as the bed’s comfortable and the food’s edible, does it matter how the hotel treats you? For discerning guests, the answer’s “yes”. A hotel’s reputation is often based on its service ? from the quality and availability of its food to its ability to handle complicated or sensitive requests. It is this type of service that many travellers believe is lacking in large hotels, which is why boutique hotels have high standards of service at their core.

What is good service?

People often complain about the service at their hotel, but what are they complaining about? Often it’s to do with the amount of time they spend waiting; waiting to check-in, waiting for someone to answer the phone, waiting for room service, waiting for food in the dining room. Slow service and lack of grace from staff is usually what causes complaints.

Boutique hotels believe that good service is:

Immediate ? there’s no question of staff at a boutique hotel forgetting that you’ve ordered a drink. The service is designed to be almost anticipatory, making sure that you receive everything you ask for and that nothing is left out.

Pleasant and friendly ? one of the most common complaints about hotel service is about attitude. No-one wants to be treated badly in a place where they are paying to stay. Boutique hotels ensure that staff are polite and friendly at all times, so that you feel comfortable asking for help.

Memorable ? good service is not just about getting the minimum you expect, it’s about getting much more ? to the point where it is one of the most memorable things about your stay.

Intuitive ? it feels good to be greeted personally when you return to a hotel for a further visit. You notice if your favourite drink is available or if they’ve previously made a note of any allergies or particular likes, so that it almost feels like visiting old friends. Intuitively good service like this makes a real difference to guests.

Hotels shouldn’t be blinded by the trend for quirky design or hip accessories and forget the basics of good service. Those that do won’t make it into the boutique category of hotels, whereas those hotels that make the service one of the most important aspects of its offering will undoubtedly win fans from guests and travel writers alike.