AIR TRAVEL>Discount Airfare

Discount flights are also known as the no-frills airlines or low cost carriers, they are airlines that offer Cheap Flights to your destination of choice.Westjet and Sunwing are the leaders in Discount Flights from Canada.

Other international airlines offer discounted airfares on a regular basis…checking their respective web sites is usually the best way to go about finding these reduced airfares. Often each airline web site will have a special page for marked-down airfares that they are offering as as last minute deal.

The possibilities are endless on where you can go, Discount Flights to Europe, the Caribbean or within Canada are not out of reach with Westjet, and Sunwing When is the best time to travel

When is the best time? Westjet and Sunwing offer Discount Flights 365 days a year, but have amazing deals from time to time, Take advantage of the non peak times to travel and save a bundle.

Discount Flights are available from many carriers, such as Westjet, Sunwing and Fly Globespan

The famous Seat Sale from Westjet, Discount Flights to Montreal, Las Vegas, Maui (Kahului) are just a few. more ( Discount Flights from Westjet )

Discount Flights to Europe from Canada, both scheduled and chartered flights to Belfast, London, Gatwick , Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Paris

Sunwing has some of the best Discount Flights within Canada, Cheap Tickets from Ontario, Western Canada and Atlantic Canada

DESTINATIONS>Europe

According to the world tourism organization, in 2004 Europe travel destinations enjoyed the largest part of the international travel business, with 54% of the market, followed by Asia with 20% and then the Americas with 16%. Why are Europe travel destinations so popular? The reason to travel to Europe may be different for each traveler, but a few of the common reasons are:

Cultural Opportunities: For those interested in museums, arts, history, music or theater Europe travel offers nearly endless opportunity for cultural activity. From London to Paris to Rome to Amsterdam travelers can enjoy some of the most exciting cultural opportunities the world has to offer.

Landmarks: People like to visit and associate themselves with something (or someone) famous. Europe travel destinations are rich in famous landmarks. Some of the most well known landmarks of the world, from Big Ben, to the Eiffel Tower, to the Coliseum are located in Europe.

Roots: People like to visit the countries of their ancestors. Ancient Europeans were wanderers who put up stakes in destinations around the world. Their descendants are now traveling to Europe to return to their roots and see the places their forefathers once called home.

Variety: Where else can you enjoy such a diversity of culture, climate and geography over such a small distance. A traveler to the US will notice relatively small changes when traveling from L.A to New York City, a flight of approximately six hours. Language is the same, food is similar, and culture is not remarkably different. However, a two hour flight from Zurich, Switzerlandto Athens, Greece , will reward the traveler with an enormous difference that is immediately obvious. Everything from language, food to lifestyle is completely and utterly different. Distances in Europe are relatively small and cultural variety is large. This gives the traveler to Europe the opportunity of easily enjoying a diverse range of cultures and lifestyles by making a relatively low investment of time and money.

DESTINATIONS>Bahamas

Blessed with the perfect location—less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida; the perfect climate—averaging a little over 75 degrees; and the perfect environment—crystal clear turquoise blue waters and pearly white sandy beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas is the perfect travel destination for your wedding, siesta, party, honeymoon, or family vacation.

Calm waters and cooling tradewinds have rightfully earned The Bahamas an international reputation for sailing, with regattas and races held year-round. The islands are actually the birthplace of the Gulf Stream, a phenomenon that also accounts for their astonishing variety and abundance of marine life. Legendary gamefish draw sport fisherman in search of the “big one,” and more than 50 international fishing records have been set in these waters. The great writer / fisherman Ernest Hemingway considered the Bahamian island of Bimini a home. The same conditions that make these islands so amenable to sailors and fisherman draw visitors to the vast and diverse underwater parks. With more than 5% of the planet’s reef mass, The Bahamas offer inexhaustible pleasures and challenges to snorkelers and divers.

The natural beauty of the water extends to the thousands of miles of shoreline, which has some of the world’s most stunningly beautiful and unsullied beaches. From the pink sands of Harbour Island and Eleuthera to the deserted strands of the Exumas and San Salvador, there is a lifetime of beaches to experience. Further inland are gardens and National Parks with rare and endangered species, such as the exotic Abaco Parrot and the Bahamian Iguana. Although The Bahamas are as diverse and numerous as the days of the year, the reassuring unifier is the charm and hospitality of its people.

DESTINATIONS>Egypt

Most people who think of Egypt think of antiquities, but Egypt offers much more. Certainly it is a prime location to see our great heritage from the ancient world, including Pyramids and wonderful temples, but it is also part of the Holy Land, and tours to Christian and other religious monuments are popular. Yet Egypt also offers nature and desert treks, great scuba diving and even golf, fishing and birding expeditions. One may choose to relax on the wondrous Egypt Red Sea or Sinai coasts, take in the high culture of Cairo, or even leisurely float down the Egyptian Nile on a luxurious river boat.

The classic tour of Egypt is mostly Pharaonic (Ancient Egypt), though most of the time this will also include some religious and Islamic  sightseeing. The most common classic tour is usually 10 to 14 days, and generally includes Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, though not particularly in that order. Classical tours are often arranged with, or without a Nile Cruise.

Typically, such a tour will begin in Cairo, as that is the major airport where most tourists enter Egypt. However, tours of the Cairo area are frequently split between the beginning and end of the trip. For example, a tour might cover the Giza Pyramids (Great Pyramid), as well as Saqqara (Step Pyramid) and even the Egyptian Antiquities museum on the first day of the tour. Then, after traveling to Luxor and Aswan and returning to Cairo, tours will often visit the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili market in Islamic Cairo and the churches and Coptic museum in Old Cairo. Of course, the tours may not be in this specific order.

Air Egypt is served by international airports at Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada on the mainland, and at Sharm el Shaykh on the Sinai peninsula. The largest and most active airport is in Cairo.

There are non-stop flights from most major African, Asian, North America and European cities. Airline tickets must be confirmed before departure. Check with a travel agent in your hotel or contact the airline office in Cairo. Most major airlines have offices at the Cairo International Airport and downtown in and around Midan Tahrir.

In recent years Cairo International Airport has expanded into a first-class facility. Despite the fact that it is located to the north of the city, most airlines from Europe approach the airfield from the south. In daylight passengers are offered a spectacular view of Cairo, the Nile, and the Giza pyramids.

Best Resort in the American West for Weddings: Don’t Want to Risk A Rainy Wedding Day?

The InterContinental Montelucia Sees, On Average, a Mere Five Inches of Rain a Year!

By Si Si Penaloza

I’m a hopeless dreamer at heart - a lover of travel, history and romance. And if all three come wrapped up in the perfect climate rather than the pages of a Nicholas Sparks novel, then the formula is damn near faultless as far as I’m concerned. Which makes the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa our perfect winter wedding destination, since it combines all three elements.

Perched at the base of Camelback Mountain, Montelucia merges perfectly into the environment like an inverted mirage. Heavy Spanish antique doors and olive wood furniture give an authentic vibe, and walking along the pathways at night, with their hypnotic lighting scheme, is almost a religious experience. Geometric blocks of light, shade and architecture create stunning vistas and windows into the oasis. There’s real beauty in the simplicity - think Goya’s studio meets Penelope Cruz’s bedroom. As the sun begins to dip, the dunes become luminous, looking laser-cut, precise and perfect.

Imagine arriving at your wedding stress-free and energized. Let the dilligent staff do the planning and you’ll enjoy a relaxing day filled with wonder, beauty, and magic. Montelucia can customize the occasion to accommodate any special needs or individual wishes of the wedding couple and include a choice of romantic ceremony locations on the property.

What could be better than exchanging your vows with sensual Andalusia style? Whether you want your Arizona wedding to be a private affair or a full desert cultural experience, Montelucia will make sure your wedding is an perfectly executed occasion.

As Arizona’s only luxury resort with a private wedding chapel, Castillo Lucena, Montelucia offers an ideal atmosphere for the perfect social gala or wedding celebration, accommodating from 10 to more than 1000 guests. Brides and their bridal party can prepare for the event in their very own intimate bridal preparation room - playfully named Isabella’s Parlour -offering privacy and direct access to Castillo Lucena. The Groom and his best man can rehearse vows and speeches in a parallel holding room, Ferdinand’s cellar, which happens to be one of our favorite spaces on the property. Some of Montelucia’s finer vintages are kept in this room, which is adorned with an impressive antique door from the ancestral birthplace of King Ferdinand of Spain.

With more than 27,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, including the astounding 9,216 square-foot Grand Andalusian Ballroom, 4,650 square-foot Junior Ballroom and 16 separate meeting rooms, the resort easily caters to wedding both intimate and grand. Capitalizing on the enjoyable year-round weather is 70,000 square feet of event space in seven outdoor venues. Innovative catered food and beverage service is available for all events.

Montelucia staff are committed to making sure that your unique personality and individuality are expressed for your wedding. From the elegantly catered dinner, to the joyous ‘I-dos’, and the final farewells, Montelucia offers an event your guests will cherish. Your wedding album will capture countless shades of a brilliant Paradise Valley sunset—a spectacular setting to begin a new life together.

InterContinental Montelucia: The New Crown Jewel of Scottsdale

Sun-Kissed Resort Offers Relaxed, Luxurious Paradise

By Si Si Penaloza

Whatever happens, we’ll always have… Montelucia. The first US-based resort for the venerable and global InterContinental brand is a valentine to the art of the amorous - guaranteed to melt the heart of all who visit. It is a also an impressive accomplishment in the hospitality industry’s art of the big gesture. It contains enough piazzas, campaniles and cupolas, stone-clad walkways and quiet cloisters to keep you and your partner in a state of wonder and mutual lust for at least a week. But it’s no dusty outpost, either. It comes alive at night - great music, art and a lively bar scene. The total absence of cars throws me back to another time, where it was throngs of people, rather than cars, that were the dominant kinetic force. A river of pretty bridesmaids flowed past in their summer best, flirting with the boys, chatting. The smell of wood-fired meats from Prado and the aroma of fresh waffle cones from Crave combine to give a heady atmosphere of barely suppressed excitement.

The brand new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa is nestled beautifully in the foothills of spectacular Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The property features 293 guest rooms as well as 34 posh privately-owned villas on 34 acres of lush desert landscape. The resort also offers 24-hour concierge service, six restaurants and venues, the 31,000 square foot Joya spa, multiple shopping areas, an art gallery, a wedding venue and multiple ballrooms, five pools and other luxuries for use by resort guests. Sunsets are exceptional and framed by rugged mountains, palm trees and shimmering water.

One of the most goose-bumpy moments for a seasoned world traveler is the feeling that you are discovering something truly unique - that you’ve stumbled on a well-kept secret. Montelucia, and especially the Joya Spa, felt like that to me: it’s a picture-book place, with colour-washed buildings and detailed architecture. There are beautiful gardens to walk in and Crave Cafe at the entrance which serves fantastic coffee; you could sit there all day and watch the comings and goings from the open air courtyard “lobby”. The courtyard itself is quite chic - lots of cozy places to gather - but it maintains a historical feel, thanks to all the cobbled alleyways and courtyards. You need time to wander and allow yourself to get lost.

Prado, the resort’s signature restaurant, offers wood-fired grilling with a Spanish accent. Within Prado is Mbar, featuring tequila, tapas and temptation in an ambiance perfect for socializing. Kasbah Restaurant and Bar entices guests with a sparkling pool and showcases a Rum Bar that prepares unique poolside cocktails and offers a variety of flavorful pomme frite from around the world. Another poolside option is Oasis Pavilion, a fun place to relax and enjoy items on a tasty poolside menu featuring handmade empanadas. Crave Cafe offers gourmet coffee, gelato, chocolate, wine, and everything you crave.

Montelucia’s Prado will surprise business travelers who often encounter lackluster hotel restaurants or have permanently written off hotel food. Named for the Madrid museum, the restaurant features an Andalusia-inspired menu. The Montelucia resort as a whole captures the more soulful side of Spain and features the ambiance of the southern region of Andalusia, where culture is vibrant and flavors distinctly alive. Prado and the adjacent Mbar focus on fresh drinks and a cultural atmosphere that promises to impress. A venue where food enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs can dine in luxury, enjoying signature dishes and regional cocktails while overlooking the majestic Camelback Mountain.

Chef Claudio Urciuoli couldn’t have asked for a more idyllic spot. The restaurant at this luxe new resort offers an elegant interior that screams relax. The kitchen sources many artisanal products: half the meats on the menu have private labels. Urciuoli samples the sublime ingredients with more of his supremely confident, creative constructions: divine lamb cathedrals, cured sausages over seared artichoke. Hotel food has gone through a renaissance, clearly, at Prado, which offers so many culinary wonders. Dining at Prado proved an extraordinary event.

Joya Spa, the jewel of the resort, is an expansive Moroccan-inspired 31,000 square foot spa, with 5,200 square feet of outdoor space. The spa houses 19 treatment rooms including five opulently over-sized treatment suites with terraces, king size daybeds, dual treatment tables, fireplaces, flat-screen televisions, outdoor and indoor showers, in-suite bathrooms with sunken tubs and direct poolside access. Joya Spa is the first in Arizona to offer a Hammam and Hammam-inspired therapies and treatments. Joya also includes a Wellness Program, the Joya Salon, a fashion-forward luxury boutique, Joya Bazaar, multiple lounges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, juice bar, and Joya Terrace restaurant at Joya’s rooftop pool. The six unique restaurants and venues will more than satisfy any desire. Enjoy a night of a million stars, a stupendous landscape of reddish dunes and mountains.

On my last evening at Montelucia, I took in the energetic vibe of MBar. I wondered if my friend’s girlfriend was going too far. She was dancing free form and barefoot in a clingy summer dress that left little to the imagination. The lively crowd was going wild. There was spontaneous close-harmony singing, a LOT of grilled meat, and toasts in whichever fiery local spirit you chose. The waiters smiled indulgently as they kept the vino flowing. After all, they know all about Prado’s powers of seduction.

4949 E. Lincoln Drive
Corner of Lincoln and Tatum boulevards
Paradise Valley , Arizona
85253
Tel: 888 627 3010 (toll-free)
Tel: 480 627 3200
montelucia.info@ihg.com
montelucia.reservations@ihg.com

Two Seasons Hotel Boracay: From East to West, The Perfect Place for a Rendevous in Paradise

AIR TRAVEL > Tips for Families Traveling By Plane

If you’re planning a family vacation that will take you far from home then you should take special care to plan ahead. Traveling by plane with your family and children, especially younger ones, needs to be well organized to make it an enjoyable rather than a stressful experience. From the entertainment of the kids to planning the minimum amount of interruptions or delays, just a bit more thought needs to be involved.

One built-in benefit of air travel is that older children should be easily entertained by the experience of flight. Smaller children, with more needs and shorter attention spans, will require some creativity to keep engaged. Most important to consider is that anything that you may want to have on hand must be compliant with current rules and regulations of both the individual airline and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

Details about rules and regulations can be found on the web. It will be very important to check the airline restrictions before you pack so that you can include toys, food items and anything else you might need to satisfy the children and keep them busy.

Also, because smaller children are creatures of habit, flight schedules and stop-overs may need to be considered and any deviation from the childrens’ routine can cause quite a challenge - as any parent can attest. A potential problem for families, can be whether you want to bring children on a crowded flight. Its possible to only fly on less populated flights so that the kids have more room to move (and fewer people to disrupt). One trick is to choose off-peak times and dates for your air travel, if possible.

With a bit of extra planning and perhaps a few extra items taken into consideration, traveling by air with your family is still the absolute best way to get where you want to go.

CRUISES > Caribbean Cruise Guide

DESTINATIONS > Caribbean Travel All-Inclusive Resorts

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