Okay, seriously, we are not suggesting that somebody from London or New York or anywhere really is going to drop everything and plan a vacation to Atlanta. But it is a city on the rise with a ton to offer. So, if you’re coming down here for business or to see friends and family, you now have a lot more upscale options. Actually it makes for a great road trip or weekend getaway if you are in the Southeast. To some people Atlanta is their New York when it comes to shopping and nightlife. I mean, we do have the only IKEA for miles and miles…
So what’s new in Atlanta? For starters nobody down here ever says Hotlanta. So please check that phrase at the city limits. Head downtown to the new trendy Glenn Hotel and you’ll discover b.e.d. b.e.d. is a restaurant/lounge combo great for people watching and sipping cocktails with friends. Other b.e.d.s are in NY and Miami, but somehow Atlanta is lucky enough to get the third one. Not sure who we bribed to jump ahead of Vegas and other cities, but we are damn glad your’re here. The VIP rooftop bar has the best views in town.
Checkout the largest aquarium in the world only a few blocks down the road. Waste the afternoon away in Piedmont Park and then grab a drink at the Park Tavern. Hike up Stone Mountain if you need to get away from it all.
Here are our journeyPod picks to give you some ideas:
Bars & Nightlife
Atlanta has many areas for going out. So pay attention people. You can really do some damage with this info. Buckhead no longer rules the scene. The current epicenter would have to be Midtown. If you are looking to chill with friends, then duck into the Highlands or Decatur. If you want something alternative (pronounced All-Tur-Nah-Tive) then try Little Five Points or East Atlanta. But the main action and largest collection of bars and clubs is really in Midtown (or at least in our little twisted world it is).
Here then are our journeyPod picks to keep the good times rolling:
Bazzaar: step into this intimate Midtown enclave to see where all the beautiful people are hiding.
Compound : the best dance club in the city and no hassles when you wear your Pumas…plenty of space for indoor and outdoor raging in Midtown.
eleven50: the only stop in town for international superstar DJs is an old time theater redone as a hot Midtown club.
Fever: the party is alive and well as it rolls across all twelve of their posh rooms…located on Cheshire Bridge Rd.
Halo: diverse Midtown crowd and still on top of its game five years running.
Loca Luna: feel the entire place pulse as you sip mojitos to the hardest working band in the city…located in Midtown.
The Local: the only true bar in town for those nights when you leave your dancing shoes at home…located in Midtown.
Cosmo/Lava Lounge: two clubs for the price of one offer endless rooms of music for any mood in Midtown.
MJQ: dance the night away and for the love of God they have no guestlist but they are in Midtown.
The Mark: the action and scene go underground at this downtown club.
journeyPod.com is the only place you need to visit for information on the trendiest bars and restaurants, the most luxurious hotels, and the most exclusive parties and shops for discriminating travelers. Visit journeyPod.com for the lowdown on where to go in Atlanta, New York, Miami, LA and other major cities around the world, and listing to our monthly travel podcast for the best in upscale travel and entertainment. If you like the finer things in life, journey to journeyPod.com!
Tags: atlanta, atlanta bars, atlanta nightlife, luxury travel, travelatlanta, atlanta bars, atlanta nightlife, luxury travel, travelShare This
There is an old saying - ‘you get what you pay for’. If that’s true then what would you expect for nearly $11,000 a night? If you said gold leaf, your own butler, 13 different pillow options, one Jacuzzi and a revolving bed then the Burj Al Arab in Dubai is the hotel for you.
Forbes magazine rates the Burj Al Arab in Dubai as one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Prices start from $1,770 a night for a basic suite and range up to $10,890 per night for the Royal Suite. Whilst the Burj Al Arab is the most expensive hotel in the Middle East, it is by no means unique. The luxury hotel market is growing by the day with more and more developments on the way. Forbes has quoted the Smith Travel Research as saying that the average luxury hotel price has risen 16% in the 12 months prior to May 2006. Developers are taking advantage of this growing market and planning more high class hotels for the region.
A range of boundary setting luxury hotels are expected in the region with Donald Trump, Giorgio Armani and the Versace Group all planning to take advantage of one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations. And the little luxuries seem to be limitless. The beachfront palazzo planned by the Versace Group will regulate the sand on the beaches to prevent burned feet. Perhaps gold flip flops were considered but were ruled out because they were just too heavy!
Africa and Asia also have their own prestigious group of jaw dropping luxury hotels for the occasional millionaire. The Londolozi Tree Camp in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the six specialty tree-top suites start at $1,916 per night, and each comes with a private plunge pool. Rates include three Pan-African meals and two game drives per day, plus bush walks, and guests can view elephants, lions and leopards. Now that’s value for money.
Does anyone have an American Express gold card I could use?
Drake & Cavendish provides a luxury hotel research directory featuring over 5,000 luxury hotels in over 700 resort locations around the world. As a content provider we are committed to developing entertaining and informative travel related information. You can read further articles and details at http://www.drakeandcavendish.com
Tags: dubai, holiday, hotel, luxury, travel, vacationdubai, holiday, hotel, luxury, travel, vacationShare This
I learned how to travel light from lightweight backpacking, then found it was just as useful to keep it light on trips overseas or driving across the country. The last time my wife and I went to Ecuador, I had 10 pounds of luggage, all in one carry-on bag, and Ana had just 8 pounds in her carry-on bag. This wasn’t a short trip. We spent six weeks in Ecuador, at times on glacier-covered mountains, and at other times lounging on Pacific coast beaches.
Travel Simplicity
Why travel light? Travel simplicity. Everything is simpler when you travel light. With only carry-on luggage, we were on our way to a restaurant in Quito, while others were still waiting for their checked luggage. When we took busses our luggage was safely with us, not on the roof or in the hold below being cut open, like one time when I was in Mexico. While others struggled down the street with three heavy bags, we had our hands free and were walking comfortably because we use daypacks or small backpacks. We had less to lose, less to be stolen, less to wait for, less to pack and unpack in hotels, and less to worry about.
Light Travel Issues
There are a couple minor problems when you travel light. First, expect an extra question or two from the customs officials at the airport (Six weeks with only this?). Second, a small bag won’t work if you plan to bring back many souvenirs. In this case, you can still go light. Just plan to buy a second bag at some point during the trip, to carry your acquisitions. As for the seemingly obvious issue of not having enough clothes and other things all in one or two small bags, I’ll explain below why that isn’t as big a problem as you may think.
How To Travel Light
Silk shirts weigh 3 ounces, and travel well if rolled up. Nylon dress socks weigh less than an ounce, and they are cool and comfortable. Poly-cotton blend t-shirts weigh 5 ounces. Supplex or other lightweight travel slacks weigh 9 ounces, and are sufficient for a fine restaurant or a walk in the woods. All of these weigh less than half of the typical travel choices, and take less space, yet function the same. There is no sacrifice involved here. For this exercise in travel simplicity, you even get to go shopping for new clothes.
You don’t have to buy new clothes, however. You don’t have to buy a scale and count ounces to travel light. Just choose the lighter alternative whenever you can. Set aside your lightest jacket, socks and pants for your next trip. Travel simplicity is the goal, not more complicated planning.
More Ways To Travel Light
Money replaces weight, especially in the form of a debit or credit card. Why carry two pounds of your favorite shampoo when you can simply buy small bottles as you travel. It really won’t cost much more to buy things wherever you go, instead of carrying your bathroom and wardrobe with you. Also, you really don’t know exactly what you’ll need, particularly on an overseas trip. Buy what you need as you need it, and you won’t have a pile of useless things in your luggage. Don’t we all regularly unpack things at home that we never once used during the trip?
Take a lesson from long-trail hikers (backpackers who travel a trail for months). They send things, such as new shoes, to a post office on their route, ahead of time, so they’ll be waiting for them. They also send home things they no longer need, such as a winter coat. The latter may be a useful practice for other travelers. If you buy bulky gifts for family or friends, why carry them around for weeks? Put them in the mail.
A Lightweight Travel Example
What I Took For Six weeks in Ecuador:
* 8 pairs of thin nylon socks (less than an ounce per pair)
* 2 silk shirts for restaurants and discos (3 ounces each)
* 4 poly/cotton blend t-shirts (5-6 ounces each)
* 5 pair of light underwear (2-3 ounces each)
* 1 extra pair of lightweight slacks (9 ounces)
* Single layer nylon shorts for hiking or swimming (2 ounces)
* Thin gloves (1 ounce)
* Thin hat (1 ounce - honestly)
* Thin wool sweater (11 ounces)
* Waterproof/breathable rainsuit (14 ounces for the set)
* Light plastic camera (3 ounces)
* Sunglasses (1 ounce)
* Small chess set (3 ounces)
* Bathroom kit (5 ounces)
* Maps, notebook and various small things (3 or 4 pounds)
My pack weighed ten pounds, and my wife’s weighed 8 pounds. We never felt deprived. I’m not suggesting that you start counting the ounces (that comes from my backpacking days), or that you buy all new lightweight things. Without spending money or thinking about it too much, you can just start setting aside your lightest shirts, socks, etc., so you can travel light on your next vacation.
Steve Gillman first hit the road on his own when at sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States and Mexico at 17. Now 40, he continues to travel and backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and information on travel and lightweight backpacking, can be found on his websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com, and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com
Tags: carry on, lightweight travel, simplicity, travel, travel light, travel simplicitycarry on, lightweight travel, simplicity, travel, travel light, travel simplicityShare This