Pay up or else, Ugandan government tells hotel group
Posted August 21, 2009 , add a comment- Wolfgang's East Africa tourism report
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By
Wolfgang H. Thome |
Aug 21, 2009
KAMPALA, Uganda (eTN) - The fallout of the Commonwealth Summit in late 2007 continues to make waves, both in political circles where members of parliament continue to press government for answers on contract awards and funds spent, but also for the business sector, from which government in turn is trying to recover money advanced ahead of guests arriving, to secure their accommodation.
The Imperial Hotel Group was, probably unfairly, singled out by the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for long overdue refunds on accommodation payments advanced but not utilized. While government now says the rooms were not ready at the time for occupancy by visitors, the hotel in turn claims that the rooms booked and confirmed were ready but guests either failed to arrive or opted for cheaper accommodation on arrival, subsequently triggering no show and cancellations fees for the one week summit according to the hotel group’s terms and conditions.
With some US$1.6 million claimed by government, this matter may well head to court, while sources from within the hotel group saying they would vigorously defend themselves against the claims providing evidence of non arrivals of booked parties, lower numbers of guests from those delegations which had arrived. In particular, members of the media block booked at the Imperial Royale Hotel on arrival trying to bargain their room rates down and, failing to do so, walking out – attracting the very no show and cancellation fees the hotel now intends to offset against government’s prepayment.
An Artificial Paradise in an Airplane Hangar: Tropical Islands Resort, Germany, Europe
Posted , add a commentWhen I was little I used to imagine that my street was a cool watery canal. On hot summer days I would pretend to swim home, and then once home, my house became a rain forest, my bedroom a lagoon.
Not very tropical from the outside. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wassmer/1351546487/
It seems that I am not the only one with such imaginings of tropical paradise where none such exist. Meet the Tropical Islands Resort, an artificial paradise in the middle of Germany of all places. The numbers alone astound. Housed under an enormous dome originally commissioned for cargo lifters, the roof stands 350 feet tall and encloses 194 million cubic feet of space. The waterpark is 710,000 square feet; the pool can accommodate up to 8,000 visitors a day. (Hopefully nobody pees in the water.) There are restaurants, shopping, tanning, stage entertainment, daycare facilities, bars and overnight camping on Paradise beach. Admission is 18.50 Euro on weekdays, and 23.50 Euro on weekends. The resort is open around the clock, all year round.
The illusion of ideal. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hagengraf/2269879844/
The resort also includes a rain forest, beaches, artificial sunlight, palm trees, tropical flowers and foliage complete with a backdrop of birdsong. There is also a “Balinese lagoon” with whirlpools and a waterfall, a “south sea” with an impressively large white sand beach, a tropical village, and a rainforest section with winding walkways.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hagengraf/2269930112/
Along the south side of the dome hang transparent panels, allowing natural sunlight to help brighten the interior during the day. The internal temperature is always kept at a comfortable 77-82 degrees Fahrenheit with 50-60% air humidity year-round, creating a miniature sub-tropical eco-system smack dab in the middle of Germany.
Of course those that built this indoor paradise did not just think of aesthetics. About 80% of the resort’s square footage is used for green space. Water from the pools is reclaimed to water the plant life, which grows in a rich, custom-made soil made up of sand, organic waste, clay, and tree bark. The dome’s transparent panels are also UV permeable, exposing the plants to natural sunlight and allowing the building to operate as a giant greenhouse. At times the high humidity causes water condensation to collect on the inside of the dome before finally falling. This produces light, spontaneous rain showers on occasion, adding to the tropicality of the airplane hangar.
Complete with culture. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hagengraf/2269212985/
Honestly, this is what I imagined as a child walking home on hot summer days, only my ten year old mind could not fathom the enormity of reclaimed water, waterfalls, artificial birdsong under a Balinese lagoon. Even more honest: my 36 year old mind has trouble fathoming it, too. I think this is something I have to see for myself, a Utopian paradise housed under a hangar in Krausnik, Germany.
Bank Holiday Travellers Warned to Book Car Hire Early
Posted , add a comment) Bank Holiday travellers looking for car hire could face high prices or no availability according to leading car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk, which is already reporting shortages in key locations such as Alicante and Malaga this August.
With recession fears leading many rental companies to cut stock levels as they predicted falling demand in 2009, customers are now suffering the impact with hefty price rises and lack of availability over the peak summer months.
Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “Lack of car hire availability is proving to be a big problem for many travellers this summer. The car hire companies have scaled back in light of the credit crunch, but visitor numbers during peak periods have held up. It’s customers who are being let down, with some paying hundreds of pounds more for their car than they did a year ago.
“Travellers need to book early and look beyond the big brand names. We compare up to 50 rental companies on our site, meaning that if one supplier has sold out one of the smaller suppliers may still have some availability. It’s all about shopping around and booking in advance to avoid getting caught out.”
A week’s Bank Holiday car hire in Orlando currently starts from just £15* a day, with prices from £18* a day in Crete, from £17* a day in Newquay and from £23* a day in Malaga.
Gareth adds: “The popular Bank Holiday locations such as key resorts in Spain are already busy, so travellers may well find that any cars they can book are charged at a premium. If you’re desperate for a car, do try looking a little further afield - for example at a downtown location, rather than the airport ? it may be less convenient for pick up, but the price could be significantly less.”
Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from up to 50 rental companies, including Alamo, Budget, EasyCar, Holiday Autos and Sixt in over 9,000 locations worldwide.
To compare the latest car hire deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk. *Prices based on a one week rental from 29 August and are subject to change.
About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006.
In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 35 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 9,000 locations.
Websites searched include Alamo, Budget, EasyCar, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk
Media Contact
Rachel Builder & Debbie Williams
Context
T: 01625 511966
F: 01625 511967
carrentals@contextpr.co.uk
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The Cody - Luxury and Comfort in the Heart of Rodeo Country
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The Cody Luxury Hotel, photo courtesy of The Cody’s website and used with permission.
Typically, I write for the Uptake Vacations Blog. It is there that I’ve been regaling our readership with the tales, trials, and tribulations associated with an epic 3000 (well, 3026 when it was all said and done) mile road trip my husband and I took a few weeks ago.
When the opportunity arose to write about a truly awesome experience I had in one of the hotels we stayed in during our vacation, the kind editors at UpTake allowed me to cut loose wreak havoc tell you about it here, in the Hotels Blog.
My friends, if you are ever in Cody, Wyoming, please be sure to stay at The Cody. We were treated to a truly unparalleled experience that I will try to adequately describe for you, here.
First, the stats. The Cody is a green-friendly, luxury hotel that opened about a year ago. The 75-suite establishment offers amenities of the highest order - each room includes flat-screen televisions with DVD players, refrigerators, high-speed wireless internet access (free!), and beautiful western-themed decorations and furnishings. The free continental breakfast is more like a buffet, offering pastries, cereals, breads, fruit, coffee, juices, teas, and milk - served in a beautifully appointed dining room. Complimentary refreshments are also served every evening. An indoor pool and hot tub is available for use year-round, and spa services are also offered. The hotel is located just 45 minutes from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and a mere five minutes from all of the entertainment, dining, and shopping that downtown Cody has to offer. The arena of the famous Cody Nite Rodeo is located just a few hundred yards up the road.
When I first walked into the lobby to check in, I was truly impressed with the atmosphere. The decor was chosen with care and reflects the western roots of the area. Local artwork was tastefully displayed, multiple sitting areas were scattered around for a quick rest or impromptu business meeting, and the overall impression I had was of a truly restful, elegant gathering area.
The staff was incredibly polite, efficient, and portrayed a real interest in ensuring our stay was a memorable one. Bags in hand, we followed the directions to our room. I was behind my husband, struggling with a bag, when he opened the door to our Jacuzzi King Suite. His slightly awed, “Oh, wow,” got me to hustle in behind him. I was greeted by this view (literally, I told my husband, “Freeze!” while I dug out the camera):
I can tell you right now that photos are not going to do this place justice. Standing at the door, what you see here is a writing desk to the right, where I set up my laptop. A fireplace (working!) with a buffalo head above it. A sitting area in front of the HUGE flat-screen television. To the left is a wet bar with a refrigerator and microwave. Directly across is the door to our balcony, and to the left of that is the king-sized bed that we literally had to climb into, and then sank into, each night.
The shot above was taken while standing in front of the fireplace. You can see the full bed, with the jacuzzi tub next to it (we took advantage of that both nights we were there). To the left of the jacuzzi is the entrance to the separate bathroom with full tub and shower (and even a bathroom scale, which I assure you, I avoided), outside of which (not pictured) is the dual-sink vanity and full-sized closet.
The shot above was taken while standing in front of the jacuzzi. It further demonstrates the size of the room, and the unique “Annie Oakley” themed decor.
Another example of the decor: the shot above is of a chair made of buffalo hide, and features an Annie Oakley scene imprinted upon it. Touches like this exist throughout the rooms and common areas of The Cody. I spent a good half-hour just wandering around our room and appreciating the furniture, the wall hangings, and the attention to detail in which The Cody excels.
Rates during the peak season range from $209 to $219 per night, and drop off to between $99 to $109 during the non-peak season. The hotel can also arrange package deals for some of the popular local attractions. AAA and other discounts can be applied, so be sure to call the hotel directly to get the best rate.
Suffice to say, we were actually sad to leave our hotel room when our stay in Cody was at an end. How often can a travelling person say that, truly?
Three Beaches of Downtown Chicago
Posted , add a commentFor most people, the word ‘beach’ conjures visions of crystalline Caribbean waters, exotic South Seas islands, or coastal destinations around the U.S. Few would think of the Midwest, yet smack dab in the heartland a series of beaches encircle Lake Michigan like a string of pretty pearls. On a recent trip to Chicago I walked three miles along its lakefront, from the southernmost end of Grant Park to the northern tip of the Gold Coast, to visit the city’s three downtown beaches.
12th Street Beach, a delightful crescent cove at the foot of the Adler Planetarium
I began at 18th Street, where a narrow parcel of land known as Northerly Island juts into Lake Michigan. In 1909, renowned architect Daniel Burnham developed the Chicago Plan, which envisioned several man-made islands along the shores of the cobalt lake. Northerly Island, the only one that was actually built, was created from landfill and later converted into a peninsula. Now home to the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Field Museum, the peninsula is commonly referred to as the Museum Campus. Here I discovered 12th Street Beach, a half-moon crescent cove hunkering at the bottom of a grassy slope behind the Planetarium. With its new beach house and free parking, 12th Street Beach is ideally located for a combined day of museum-going, picnicking, and sunbathing.
Swimmers, cyclists, joggers, and roller-bladers mass along the wide promenate connecting Ohio Street Beach with Oak Sreet Beach
From the Museum Campus I walked north along the lakefront. To my right, thousands of boats bobbed in the gently undulating waters of Lake Michigan. Grant Park stretched on my left, offering myriad opportunities to rest at landmarks such as Buckingham Fountain and the peaceful Cancer Survivors Garden. At Randolph Street I followed Lake Shore Drive as it curved to the east, crossing the Chicago River and strolling past the behemoth Ferris wheel at Navy Pier before entering Milton Lee Olive Park. Meandering pathways guided me back to the shores of the lake and Ohio Street Beach, a tiny pocket of sand tucked between Lake Shore Drive and a breakwater.
Oak Street, crown jewel of the three beaches in downtown Chicago
Although Ohio Street Beach has no services it provides excellent access to Oak Street Beach, a mile or so to the north, via a wide promenade that runs along the water’s edge. I walked its crowded length, keeping one eye peeled for mow-you-down cyclists and the other trained on swimmers clad in sleek neoprene suits and skullcaps who swim a mile along the promenade each day, weather permitting.
John Hancock Center looms over Oak Street Beach
Without a doubt, Oak Street Beach is the crown jewel of the three downtown beach parks. Located at the northern end of North Michigan Avenue, it is ringed by skyscrapers and landmark hotels that grace Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Beneath the looming black John Hancock tower, beach-goers sprawl on colorful towels in the wide, soft sand or join a pickup volleyball game at one of several nets set up by the city. Concessions, restrooms, and a waterfront outdoor restaurant are available, but there is no parking; this is definitely a walk-to beach. Strangely, palm trees lined the shore. They were obviously new and recently planted, leading me to speculate whether they could possibly survive Chicago’s often brutal winter weather. I guess I’ll just have to come back this winter to find out; it’s as good an excuse as any to return to this great city!
Article and photos by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
