Oh That's Good!

Tel Aviv Celebrates 100 Years

Joe — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:49:09 +0000

We’ll be honest here. When we think of Tel Aviv we don’t think of vacation. We think about what we hear and see on the news and truth be told that doesn’t look like fun to us! But despite that, the city of Tel Aviv is celebrating it’s 100th Birthday!

Founded in 1909 as a suburb of Jaffa, the modern city of Tel Aviv will celebrate its centennial this year with a year-long schedule of festivals, concerts, exhibitions and performances. Centennial events scheduled to take place include:

·The Gala Celebration on April 4th at Rabin Square, featuring a 360-degree rotating sound and light show, a massive fireworks display and a concert by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta. Also scheduled to perform are prominent Israeli entertainers including Barry Saharof, Miri Massika, Matti Caspi and Shlomo Gronich.

·Tel Aviv will host two nationwide sports competitions this spring: the 3- or 26-mile Tel Aviv Marathon on April 24th and the International RS: X Class European Windsurfing Competition from June 10-20, which is expected to draw hundreds of windsurfers from around the world, including recent Olympic medalists.

·Tel Aviv will host its annual White Night Celebration on May 27th–an all-night festival featuring live music, actors and stagecoaches taking place on the famous Rothschild Boulevard in the center of Tel Aviv. The Carmel Market will remain open all night and a special photography exhibit documenting the market’s history will be on display.

·A free, outdoor production of Verdi’s Requiem will be performed by the prestigious La Scala Opera House as part of the Centennial Summer Highlight on July 16th in Hayarkon Park. Also, the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center will host a series of free outdoor musical events throughout July and August, including Saturday night jazz and classical music concerts.

·Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s Blue Festival–a celebration of Mediterranean culture, music and food, will take place on the recently renovated port, parks and streets of Jaffa from June 17-18.

·Other events scheduled to take place during Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s centennial include the month-long International Art Biennale (ARTLV) from September 9, which will showcase contemporary works in dozens of exhibitions, the city-wide Teen Festival–which includes pop concerts, sport activities and dance festivals; Tel Aviv’s Fashion Week from October 19-22, and the Green Festival, a dedication of the Green Route along the Hayarkon River and a centennial bike ride on October 17th.

For a complete list of centennial events: www.tlv100.co.il.

Kenwood Inn Wins Top Honors

Joe — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:58:34 +0000

Kenwood Inn

(Kenwood, California- April 2, 2009)– The readers of Condé Nast Traveler have recognized the Kenwood Inn and Spa (http://www.kenwoodinn.com/) as one of the top resort spas in the United States in the magazine‘s April Spa Poll issue. The awards are derived from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey, the largest independent poll of consumers’ preferences. Over 32,000 readers voted this year as spas were rated excellent, very good, good, fair or poor for Location, Spa Facilities, Treatments, Spa Staff, Rooms, Service, and Food/Dining. Criterion scores, representing the percentage of respondents rating a spa excellent or very good, were averaged to determine the final score. Of the top three overall highest ranking spas, the Kenwood Inn was only slightly outscored by two properties in Hawaii; however it was the only property of all 38 to receive three, perfect, 100-point scores for Treatments, Spa Staff and Service. The complete results of the awards can be found in the April issue of Condé Nast Traveler, or on the magazine’s website at www.cntraveler.com.

Kenwood’s full-service spa highlights the organic products of ARCONA; pure, natural, active ingredients that create powerful results for the face and body along with treatments that utilize vinotherapy and the healing power of grapes. The benefits of wine drinking have been medically documented and doctors around the world recognize the penetrating, protective qualities of topical treatments based on oils extracted from grape seeds. Kenwood’s products incorporate vinotherapy; using red wine extracts, Chardonnay and Riesling oils with additional ingredients chosen for their ability to heal and protect the body, mind and senses. Popular treatments, unique to the property, include: a Wine Country Facial, Kenwood Harvest Sugar Scrub, and the Kenwood Wine Wrap with an optional Wine Bath soak add-on.

David DiLoreto, CEO for Vero Westside/Kenwood Holdings is ecstatic over receiving this recognition: “To be called out as one of the top resort spas in the U.S.A. brings acclaim and validation to our unwavering commitment to provide an amazing, quality guest experience. Our team takes great pride in the services and treatments they offer to satisfy our regional, national and international guests who have high expectations for their Northern California wine country visit.”

TripAdvisor.com’s Top Bargain Family Hotels

Joe — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:46:59 +0000

TripAdvisor.com has come out with a ranking of the Top 10 Bargain Hotels for families. Four of the top ten hotels are, not surprisingly, located in Orlando. If ever there was a family focused travel market it’s Orlando!

Have a place you’ve stayed that’s a bargain for your family? Let our readers know and post a comment!

Top 10: Bargain Family Hotels

1. Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Orlando, Fla. (Pictured)
2. Homewood Suites Orlando/International Drive, Orlando, Fla.
3. Bar Harbor Motel, Bar Harbor, ME
4. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Orlando, Fla.
5. Palmetto Inn & Suites, Panama City Beach, Fla.
6. Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando International Drive, Orlando, Fla.
7. SpringHill Suites Hershey, Hershey, Pa.
8. Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites, Anaheim, Calif.
9. The Sea Hawk Motel, Ocean City, Md.
10. Black Hawk Motel, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Free Hotel Rooms in Thailand!

Joe — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:12:07 +0000

Laguna Resorts & Hotels are taking on the economic woes head-on and offering 100,000 free room nights at their participating hotels. All visitors need to do is apply for the free-night voucher to stay at one of the Laguna hotels, Banyon Tree in Phuket (careful how you pronounce that one!) and Bangkok and Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket: no minimum stay is required. Campaign is through the end of April and the booking period is through May 12, 2009. Free stays are valid until December 15, 2009. For more info, visit www.lagunaphuket.com.