Chateau Victoria
While in Victoria this past weekend we stayed at the Chateau Victoria, and here are my thoughts.
We checked in about 10pm and the guy at reception was really helpful. Asked us if we had been to Victoria before (we pretended we hadn’t so we could hear the spiel). He gave us a map and a print out of all the different restaurants that were good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He told us they had a shuttle service which can bring us to some of the “hotspots” in Victoria, we just have to go down to reception and see if it is available, which I thought was really good.
The rooms have all been refurbished and ours was pretty
nice. King bed was really comfortable. Rooms are much more modern than the
Fairmont. (but you don’t really get that grand feeling because the ceilings in
the Fairmont are so much higher compared to the Chateau) We were on the 3rd
floor, but this was actually ground level, so our view looked out onto the
underground parking entrance, which was also where the dumpsters were, so we
had a few annoying noises, and we weren’t really inclined to open our curtains
because we felt people could just look right in. I would
request a higher floor.
They have a rooftop restaurant called Vista 18 where we went
for breakfast. Breakfast was delicious and staff were really friendly. The
restaurant takes up the whole floor with windows all the way round so it is a
pretty nice place to eat.
Clive’s Classic Lounge is really cool, big old armchairs,
you feel very grande. The bar staff are excellent, they know their drinks and
they aren’t afraid to go heavy on the alcohol!
They have a pool and hot tub downstairs, 6.30am – 10.30pm.
There were no robes or flip flops in our room so we just went downstairs in our
clothes, swim suits underneath. It is a bit odd because there are no changing
rooms or lockers, just a bathroom with a shower, luckily we were the only
people in there for a whole hour so we just left our clothes on a chair.
There is also a small workout room with treadmill, exercise
bike, free weights and a couple of other machines.
Check out is really easy...they slip your bill under the
door about 2am the night before you check out. Just sign it, and drop it off at
reception with your key in the morning.
Overall I would definitely go back to the Chateau. Location
is fantastic, staff are really friendly and rooms are pretty good. Request a
high floor!
Enjoy ~ Anne Marie
Unusual foreign laws, that you should know...
Although there is no word on how often these ordinances are actually enforced, but consider yourself warned.
Feed pigeons in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. The practice was outlawed in 2008, much to the dismay of seed vendors there, because the historical buildings (and many sightseers) were bearing the brunt of the byproduct.
Run out of gas in Germany. More precisely, it's verboten to stop on the nation's fast-paced autobahns, where German motorists tend to get all Fahrvergnugen behind the wheel.
Drive while wearing flip-flops in Spain. It's also illegal to drive with groceries on the back seat of a convertible. Best to stay on your toes no matter what's on your feet.
Spit in public in Barcelona. Not a bad call, and one a few more cities might want to consider.
Wear high heels at Greek archaeological sites such as the Acropolis. Pointy heels pierce the delicate "skin" of these antiquities, officials determined in 2008 when they first sought the ban. Indeed, stilettos can transmit more pressure per square inch than an elephant, experts say.
Drive in Scandinavia during daylight without headlights switched on. The reasoning behind the law is sound: Daylight hours are limited during long northern winters.
Eat during Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates. Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. And non-believers are expected to follow suit. Same goes for Saudi Arabia, where offending foreigners can get their visas canceled for the
infraction.
Step on currency in Thailand. Thai baht bear the picture of the King of Thailand. Defaming, insulting or threatening the royal family is illegal — and so is stepping on paper currency.
Pee in the ocean in Portugal. No word on whether anyone has ever actually gotten busted for this.
.
Cobra Pose - ideal for those with asthma and respiratory problems
Cobra Pose
(Bhujangasana)
Yoga is known
worldwide for being extremely relaxing both mentally and physically. However at
time some of the exercises in yoga can be quite strenuous and hard but the
rewards they give you at the end bring wonders to your mind and soul.
A similar
form of exercise is Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) which although might be a little
tough initially but later when you see drastic results you definitely feel all
the effort worth it.
Here
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) works by toning your abdomen, improving and fixing
your blood circulation and which is an effective way of reducing your stress
and fatigue.
Furthermore
this exercise will open up your shoulders and the back while giving them
immense strength along with opening up your chest.
According to famous yoga therapists Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) is the best and the ideal
exercise for people with asthma and other respiratory problems.
How to do the pose
Start
off by lying on the floor on your belly with your toes flattened and your
forehead lying on the floor.
Make sure that your legs are placed closely together while your feet should
be in slight contact with each other.
Now breathe in while slowly lifting your abdomen, chest and head while ensuring
that your elbows are parallel and near to the torso. Now you have to move the
torso away using your hands’ support.
Here it is to
be made sure that an equal amount of pressure is exerted on both your palms otherwise
you will lose balance and results will not be as good as expected.
Meanwhile keep inhaling and exhaling and release
tension from your shoulders. Now while breathing in and out you have to lower
down your abdomen back to the floor.
Top 7 Beaches around the world, by The Travel Group
Cable Beach (near Broome, Australia): “An
incredible 20 km long, this beautiful white sand beach boasts turquoise blue
waters and exceptional swimming conditions (except in the winter when box
jellyfish enjoy their holidays here!) Try a camel ride at sunset along the
beach – how’s that for a unique experience?” Michele
Long Beach (Tofino, BC)“This deserves to be
on the list at a very specific time of day: early morning at low tide, when
this 11 km beach is completely deserted except for the shore birds and eagles.
Ideally, there will be fog or drizzle or any number of quirky weather
conditions this coastline is noted for to give the beach a surreal quality like
no other place on earth."David 
The Maldives “All of the islands in the
Maldives have fantastic beaches! The sand is the whitest I've ever seen and the
water so clear you can see right to the bottom. Most of the islands have sandy
swimming beaches on part of the island and coral beaches for snorkelling on
another part. The islands are small, actually an atoll rather than an actual
island. Each one has only one resort and you can easily walk the whole island.”Lindy
Hilton Hotel’s Beach (Bora Bora Nui, Tahiti):
“Lovely and sandy, dotted with lush vegetation and palm trees, with perfect
view of the turquoise lagoon in Bora Bora. Some days when it is raining here in
Vancouver I put on suntan lotion: it instantly transports me to this Tahitian
island of Bora Bora – so beautiful they named it twice!” Annie 
Negril Beach (Jamaica, man!) “The softest sand and longest stretch of shallow water and beach I’ve ever seen! No vendors, and sometimes there’s even have a little ray swimming about.” Kleia
Whitehaven Beach (Whitsundays, Queensland,
Australia). “Crystal clear acqua waters and pristine silica sand in a 7-km
stretch! Take a catamaran sailing tour to Whitehave (Camira) and enjoy the
pretty islands of the Whitsundays, a wonderful BBQ lunch, and free drinks.
You’ll even get to play a bit of beach cricket! Heaven on Earth.” Jason 
La Dique Island(Seychelles). “Guarded by the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean, and fringed by reefs teeming with sea life, these beaches lure visitors from around the world and welcomes them with smiles, warmth, and colour. Anse Coco Beach – the most isolated, stunning and unspoiled beach on La Dique, for the more adventurous, is reached by trekking across the island via Nid’Aigle, the perfect beach for rest, relaxation, and solitude. Anse Severe Beach is another gem – famous for its snorkeling and ideal for swimming, located in a secluded spot easily discovered by foot or bicycle. And, finally, Anse Source d’argent is worth checking out – a long stretch of golden, soft white coral sands, flanked by spectacutlar granite boulders. Anse Source is reputed to be the most photographed beach in the world!” Naomi
Amazing Patio's from around the world
Last fall I saw an article on rooftop restaurants and bars around the world. They were all amazing and I now want to visit each one. But this of course this lead to some research. Here are some fantastic ones, which I thought I'd share.
In no specific order
George Hotel, Hamburg
Observe the bustling urban life below, or gaze out at AuBenalster, one of the city's two artificial lakes.
Sirocco Restaurant, Bangkok
Have you been to a roof top patio ? I would love to hear about it, comment below.
In no specific order
George Hotel, Hamburg
Observe the bustling urban life below, or gaze out at AuBenalster, one of the city's two artificial lakes.
Skyline at Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
Looking for a romantic spot, check this one out. This rooftop terrace perches high above the 8 interconnected islands of Giudecca, Venice.
Looking for a romantic spot, check this one out. This rooftop terrace perches high above the 8 interconnected islands of Giudecca, Venice.
The Trafalgar Hotel, London
An amazing backdrop of the London landscape, capturing the sheer splendour of the city, enjoy a coctail while enjoying the views. Each winter the venue is transformed into a winter Wonderland complete with a dome cover to allow all weather usage and outdoor heated lamps to keep out the cold.
An amazing backdrop of the London landscape, capturing the sheer splendour of the city, enjoy a coctail while enjoying the views. Each winter the venue is transformed into a winter Wonderland complete with a dome cover to allow all weather usage and outdoor heated lamps to keep out the cold.
Hotel de Rome, BerlinSet in the history-rich Mitte neighborhood of Berlin, the Roof Top Terrace at the Hotel de Rome has sweeping views of the cities rooftops.
Sirocco Restaurant, Bangkok
It's like dining under the stars, located on the 63rd floor of The Dome at lebua, Sirocco is the world's highest al fresco restaurant. With breathtaking views of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river.
Have you been to a roof top patio ? I would love to hear about it, comment below.
Light the way
London Fog has created a practical umbrella with a build-in LED light in the handle to illuminate your way along a city sidewalk or country road. Best of all, this umbrella is constructed in layers, so if it's blowing hard, the wind can vent through without turning it inside out.
Great place to lay your head in Victoria
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is newly built and the location is beautiful. You would
need to have a car if you want to go to downtown Victoria, but for a weekend
away it would be really nice.
They have a 24hour pool and access to three Seaside Hot
Mineral Pools.
“The Snug” pub is really well known and very popular. It’s
not a big menu but all the normal stuff that you would expect in a pub, fish
and chips, burgers, poutine, and they have a carvery dinner option.
They have probably the best scotch eggs that anyone I was
with had ever tasted, and they are $4!
Rooms are really lovely. Sitting area at the window, big
wooden framed bed.
The bathrooms are the best, there is a shutter between the
bedroom and the bathroom which you can pull back and use the Jacuzzi tub while
looking out the window, and a huge separate shower.
Their shampoo/shower gels bottle look like little bottles of
perfume, very cool.
Nightly turn services and complimentary valet parking.
~ Anne-Marie
Photo Contest Rule & Regulations, 2013
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By entering the competition you hereby accept the Terms and Conditions of the Competition Rules listed below:
ELIGIBILITY
All entries must be photographs taken on vacation within the calendar year of 2013. The contest is open to all employees and clients of The Travel Group. The Travel Group reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. Decisions of The Travel Group will be final. No purchase is necessary. You may submit any number of entries into the contest.
All entries must be photographs taken on vacation within the calendar year of 2013. The contest is open to all employees and clients of The Travel Group. The Travel Group reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. Decisions of The Travel Group will be final. No purchase is necessary. You may submit any number of entries into the contest.
FORMAT
Entries are to be emailed to socialmedia@travelg.com or uploaded to www.facebook.com/thetravelgroup before midnight December 31, 2013. Ideal file size is 400 pixels, if photo is too large it will be resized. Cropping of photos is permitted, tonal or colour corrections are acceptable. However, please do not add borders, frames, text or other graphic treatments.
HOW TO WIN
All photos will be uploaded into an album on The Travel Group’s Facebook page. Final count will be done the end of January 2013.
PRIZES
A prize will be awarded for "Best Photo." Details to follow.
Keep those entries coming, and have some fun !
PAST CATEGORIES
Best Photo http://on.fb.me/I6n4W8
Best Caption http://on.fb.me/TsYt39
Odd or Interesting Photo http://on.fb.me/K8aGWe
______________________________________________________________________________________________
700 - 1455 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2T3
Telephone 604-681-6345 Toll Free 1-800-665-6345 Fax 604-684-9704
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Telephone 604-681-6345 Toll Free 1-800-665-6345 Fax 604-684-9704
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Impressions of Paris & Gascony
May 22 - June 1, 2013Do you have a love of painting, or have always wanted to try? Where else to try your hand at becoming an artist then in the inspirational city of Paris !
Nikki Jacquin is taking a small group of artists to France to learn the art of plein air, a style of painting impressionists use when on location. For itinerary details click here.
To learn more about the accommodation and price (land only)
Annie Smits, The Travel Group would be happy to help you with any of your flight inquiries and make your travel arrangments: Annie annies@travelg.com, 604-605-5178.
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