Month: December 2017

What Makes the Perfect Restaurant

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There’s no easy formula to create the perfect restaurant. Unfortunately, individual tastes and preferences will almost always conspire against anyone ever reaching perfection. However, what one can easily learn to understand is the difference between creating a good restaurant and a bad one.

It would be much easier to reference the points that make a bad restaurant, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out most of these. So it is therefore the good points that people go away remembering that are important.

Great dining is all about atmosphere. A relaxed environment that encourages good quality social interaction will lead the diner to feel as comfortable out as they would in their own home. If you can create this aesthetic, then you will be half the way there. If your quality of food is good, then you will have the whole package, and your customers will leave remembering great food and the fact they had a great time.

The place itself should be busy – although not too busy – and a good level of service is very important. Aim for discreet but attentive, getting the balance of somewhere bang in between overbearing and ignorant. Leaving the right time between courses is also important, and to do this you will need the final part of what makes a great restaurant: the right design.

Commercial kitchen design can make the difference between a confused and stressful area and one that is not only harmonious but also extremely productive. The restaurant design itself should also lend a cohesive quality to the dining experience allowing enough room between tables for people to not feel like others will be intruding, but close enough so they don’t feel like they are completely alone.

To create a great restaurant, you need to start with the basics, and the right commercial kitchen design and the right restaurant design are the first places you should start.

The Article is written by www.franciscatering.com providing Restaurant Design and Foodservice Equipment Services. Visit for more information on www.franciscatering.com Products & Services

Modern Navigation System For Enhanced Sea Travel

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When traveling by ship or boat, the common navigation tools are compass, maps and charts. These are traditional tools that have become useful for thousands of years. Travelers are common with these tools and adept at using them. As technology advanced, it didn’t only update navigation methods but also transformed the way sea navigation is done. New marine equipment and electronics are now available for consumers. GPS Garmin marine is one of the most common GPS electronics that is used to determine your location when at sea. People operating boats don’t have to panic when lost at sea. Knowing your location will easily eliminate the idea of being lost. With the advancement in marine communications, it is also easier to be in touch with the local authorities to let them know of your location.
Unlike land transportation, the sea is a vast terrain that does not have street signs that will help easily determine location. So a Garmin marine GPS system is like a virtual map that can provide location information and routes to take. It is especially designed for boats and ships to provide nautical information and charts.
For their own boats and vessels, many have already chosen to install this kind of equipment. They have experienced a new sense of control and manageability when traveling. Choosing a particular route towards a destination can be provided by the auto-guide function that is available in more advanced equipment. There are also alerts and warnings provided by the system when there are approaching vessels, other types of ships or natural obstacles like a small island.
Safety of everyone is a very important and must be considered as a priority when traveling by ship. Some ships can also avoid natural disasters by having a good navigation system that provides information on routes that are safe to pass. The risk that comes with sea navigation can be lessened.
For modern marine electronics and equipment, it is important that consumers rely on trustworthy manufacturers. One of the popular and well-recognized GPS systems is Garmin marine GPS. A lot of retailers and manufacturers can provide exceptional quality of modern marine equipment and products that can enhance navigation experience.

Hotel And Leisure Industry Greening

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More energy and water is wasted because of guests leaving appliances on and being careless with water usage. The hotel and leisure industry ultimately poses a large threat to the environment, and alternate water and energy conservation methods are needed to combat this problem.

Various hotels and gyms have gone green and begun to enforce water and energy saving systems to assist efforts to help the environment and to protect the earths natural resources. Recycling has also been instituted to reduce pollution and reduce waste material.

Saving energy in the hotel and leisure industry
Minor and major changes have been made to hotels and gyms to assist in decreasing the amount of power used in establishments. Small changes such as energy saving light bulbs, timers which turn off lights at times of day when they are needed least and the raising of awareness amongst guests and clients about the importance of conserving energy.

Larger changes include smart lighting, passive infra-red sensors, solar panels for energy creation and heat recovery systems.

Smart lighting is a system which adapts the strength of indoor lighting according to the weather. When the weather is dark and gloomy, the indoor lighting increases but when the weather is bright and sunny, less lighting is required inside and the indoor lighting is dimmed.

Passive infra-red sensors detect movement, and when rooms or certain areas in a large room such as a gym studio are empty and the sensors do not detect movement, all electrical appliances are turned off.

Solar panels generate energy through the absorption of sunlight. This avoids pollution as the energy is created from sunlight only and does not require the burning of fuels to create power. Solar power also lowers costs as the panels create their own power and do not need to use energy created in power plants.

Heat recovery systems are especially effective in gyms. Excess energy from the air conditioning system can be used to create power for heating shower water and swimming pools, as can solar power.

Water-wise campaigns for saving water
Water is a precious resource which is running out. On a daily basis, billion of litres of water are wasted by carelessness and frivolity, especially in the hotel and leisure industry. Water conservation efforts have become a priority to many establishments as to prevent the depletion of the planets limited water resources.

Bathroom and kitchen fittings have been replaced with ones which are more economical in terms of water use. Aerated taps and water saving shower heads use far less water and amount annually to massive savings. Proximity sensors have also been introduced to reduce water waste as they detect when people are within close distance to the taps which automatically turn off if there is nobody close-by.

Two way flush systems have also been installed to save water. A two way flush allows for light and heavy flushing according to what is needed, instead of the old flush systems which all used a large amount of water for flushing.

The use of recycled grey-water has been instrumental in saving large quantities of fresh drinking water which would have otherwise been used to flush toilets and irrigate the plant life in gardens surrounding hotels and gyms. Grey-water is used water from showers, wash basins and washing machines which is then recycled and used for flushing and irrigation. Previously, grey-water was cleaned with harmful chemicals before its second use, however recent water recycling systems use an ultra violet cleaning device which is not harmful to the environment but highly effective in killing bacteria.

Hotels have begun to ask guests to place any towels in the bath-tub which they would like washed. This saves water because normally, all towels are washed each day, using far more water than when only dirty towels are washed.

The hotel and leisure industry has also introduced water saving practices in their gardens. As well as the use of grey-water to irrigate plant life, the removal of alien vegetation helps to conserve water as these plants consume so much of it. Borehole water is now used by many hotel and leisure establishments to save water.

The millions of hotels and leisure establishments worldwide can make a significant difference to stop the depletion of water and electric resources. Through conserving water and electricity with the use of water-wise bathroom systems and behaviour, the amount of water and energy wastage and pollution can be reduced.

Golden Triangle Tour 5 Days – Acquire An Experience Of A Lifetime

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The most enjoyable way to spend a leisurely, yet fulfilling holiday in India is with a Golden Triangle Tour. This is a journey through three capitals, and a holiday which takes you to the most endowed lands there are to see. The first halt is the capital of the country, Delhi. You will next be taken to the capital city of the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur. And finally, your tour concludes with the architectural capital, Agra.

5-Day Tour Itinerary

DAY 01: Arrival Delhi
After your arrival in Delhi airport, our local guide will pickup you up and transfer to your hotel. Relax in the rest hours of this day and also visit the traditional bazaars as well as historic and monumental sites in Delhi. Overnight at Delhi hotel.

DAY 02: Delhi to Jaipur: 258 kms/ 6.5 hrs
Today, we take our morning breakfast, and visit Laxmi Narayan Temple and Giant Shiva Statue. Then we drive to Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur, transfer to hotel. Visit and shop at textile industry. Other attractions of Jaipur are the City Palace of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal or Wind Palace and Jantar Mantar or Observatory which was built by Raja Jai Singh. Overnight at Jaipur Hotel.

DAY 03: Drive Jaipur to Agra: 240 km/ 5 hrs
We visit Amber fort in the morning. Then via Fatehpur Sikri, we drive to Agra. Mughal Dynasty’s Fatehpur Sikri with magnificent red sandstone building, built by the Moghal Emperor Akbar to commemorate Saint Salim Chisti, who blessed Akbar with three sons. Marvel at such graceful buildings as the Jami Masjid, the tomb of Salim Chisti, the Panch Mahal, Diwan I Khas and other palaces. The monuments are examples of the fusion of Islamic architecture with Hindu and Jain decorative art. After arrival in Agra, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Agra.

DAY 04: Agra to Delhi: 210 km/4.5 hrs
After taking morning breakfast, we make a sightseeing tour of Agra. Visit the Taj Mahal, a finest amalgam of love and architecture – one of the wonders of the world. We also visit Agra Fort, a large fortified strategic point of Mughal Empire. In the afternoon, we drive to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, we visit the monuments of Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, India Gate, Parliament House, Birla Temple, and Raj Ghat. In the evening, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Delhi.

DAY 05: Depart Delhi: Farewell Friend
Your Golden Triangle India Cultural Tour concludes today. We hope you enjoyed the tour with us. A representative from Himalayan Glacier Trekking will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey.

Golden Triangle Tour 5 Days is a wonderful option for those who want to experience India’s cultural heritage. Book Golden Triangle tour offers enchanting attractions such as palaces, forts, havelis, heritage monuments, colorful bazaars and much more.

Vacation in Sunny, Artsy Carlsbad

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Sunny, always artsy Carlsbad, perfectly situated between glamorous Los Angeles and San Diegos more laid-back surf scene in beautiful Southern California, boasts an array of restaurants covering a melting pot of cuisines, has great shopping and some of the best Carlsbad package hotel deals around. What a great excuse to visit the scenic seaside Village.

Carlsbad Village is a relaxed seaside village ripe for visitor discovery, beating with the heart of a lively modern city. In Carlsbad, something wonderful appears to be around every corner.

Carlsbad Attractions

Carlsbad is home to many Southern California major attractions including LEGOLAND California Resort, the seasonal Carlsbad Flower Fields, an indoor go-kart speedway for racing action, shopping at the Carlsbad Outlet Mall, and has close proximity to San Diego golf and surfing, the Del Mar Racetrack, La Costa, Camp Pendleton, and more! Whether youre planning a family vacation, a day at the beach with friends, or a couples romantic getaway weekend, youll find all the fun, action, and adventure travel packages you would ever need to find in Carlsbad.

Hotels

Located along the beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline and graced with a mild climate year-round, seaside Carlsbad offers an idyllic setting for your next vacation getaway. Whether on an action-packed getaway or a relaxing retreat, you will find amazing hotel, motel and resort lodging accommodations that range from beach-side bungalows to luxury resort hotels and everything in-between.

Ocean Palms Beach Resort (http://www.opbr.com/) is one of the finest hotels and resorts in the Carlsbad Village. Located just steps away from the beach, at Ocean Palms Beach Resort you will enjoy the perfect setting for your San Diego beach vacation.

Vacation in the Sun: Carlsbad California

No matter what your hotel, motel, resort lodging taste or vacation budget, Carlsbad caters to the lavish and thrifty alike.

Ocean Palms Beach Resort is the perfect southern California vacation getaway, especially if you want to relax and soak in the sun while enjoying the world-famous surf, shopping, golf, spas, and numerous dining opportunities.

With its many oceanfront rooms available for vacation and weekend getaway lodging alike, Ocean Palms Beach Resort guests experience cool ocean breezes, warm sand, and exotic Pacific Ocean sunsets while enjoying affordable, comfortable guest rooms and the resorts always friendly service.

Some of the many amenities of the Ocean Palms Beach Resort vacation/resort seaside property include: complimentary wireless Internet on-site, cable TV, phones with voice mail, two beach access stairwells, just across street from the resort, lush tropical garden courtyard, a comfortably heated pool and toasty-warm Jacuzzi spa, picture-perfect patio picnic areas with gas barbecues, outdoor fireplace and fire pits, fully equipped workout gym, an exclusive guest-only use putting green, and on-site laundry facilities.

The location is perfect for wedding stays and has a Conference and Reception Center on site. People are saying great things about this beach vacation destination. Check out recent reviews of the Ocean Palms Beach Resort at TripAdvisor.
Ocean Palms Beach Resort regularly offers special rates for returning visitors. Call (800) 88-BEACH to make your beach vacation reservation today.

Beaches

Carlsbads mild weather and stunning beaches make it one of the perfect southern California destinations all year round. The seven miles of surf, sand and sun beckon for endless outdoor activities. Soak in the sun, catch some waves or stroll along the shore. You can count on Carlsbad beaches for ocean fun anytime of the year.

Nature, Outdoor Activities and Surf

Over the years, Carlsbad has maintained its vast, beautiful outdoor spaces so that they may be enjoyed by bikers, kayakers, fishers, bird-watchers, and others. Home to an extensive trail system that ranges from leisurely to strenuous, youll find open hills, covered paths, expansive beaches and quiet lagoons where the mild, ocean air can be savored.

Kayak into the sunset at the 400 acre Agua Hedionda Lagoon, hike and explore Carlsbads extensive trail system with your four-legged buddy, play a few rounds of golf on La Costas world-class course, enjoy some rest and relaxation at Skinsational Skin and Body Spa or maybe have real fun go-kart racing at the zippy indoor K1 Speed.

More athletically minded? Check out the Carlsbad Marathon and Half, the World’s Fastest 5K or the Carlsbad Triathlon, a sprint-distance 1K swim, 25K bike ride and 5K run put on each July by the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Department. In 2012, it will be held Sunday, July 8, 2012 and start at Tamarack State Beach; known by many locals as the areas ideal surf spot. Other top-ranking Carlsbad surf spots: Warm Water Jetty (by the large electric power plant), Terramar (near the lagoon) and Carlsbad Pipelines (where Carlsbad Village Drive dead-ends at the water) are the most popular with surfers in the area.

Golf

In Carlsbad, golf isnt just a game, its an experience. Beautifully designed, world-class courses offer unmatched amenities, such as GPS-equipped golf carts that help gauge your next shot, gorgeous clubhouses to relax in, golf classes with top golf pros, and nearby resorts and spas for when youre done playing and want to unwind.

Spa

Starting with a simple mineral spring in 1882, Carlsbad has grown into an unmatched destination for personal pampering. Tranquil in all aspects, the mild weather and beautiful Carlsbad Village setting are now home to the most advanced and inventive spa techniques. From yoga to mud baths to massage, theres something perfect for brides, friends, groups and couples.

Events

Carlsbad is sure to make your next family reunion or corporate meeting a memorable one! The entertaining Carlsbad Music Festival, exciting sports events, breathtaking Flower Fields and LEGOLAND attractions are just some of the exciting happenings youll find at this beautiful village by the sea.

Arts and Culture

The Village is home to one of the largest one-day festivals in the nation: Carlsbad Village Street Faire. The event draws lots of activities to Carlsbad: artistic, cultural, musical. Whether your tastes lie in fine arts, live concerts, classic cars, or craft beers, Carlsbad pleases visitors, travelers and locals alike.

Shopping

Shopping in Carlsbad provides the enticing combination of upscale offerings and a casual atmosphere. Walk tree-lined streets to discover art galleries, garden shops, jewelers, clothing stores, boutiques and a farmer’s market with goodies galore. Venture further southeast from the Village proper for more shopping options at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets or to The Forum Carlsbad.

Soak in the Sun: Carlsbad, California
Whether youre planning a family vacation, a day at the beach with friends, or a couples romantic getaway weekend, youll find all the fun, action, and adventure travel packages you would ever need to find in Californias favorite seaside Village destination: Carlsbad, CA.

What Types of Amenities Should a Luxury Vacation Rental Include

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People who love to travel often have standards for the accommodations they select.Travelers want impeccably clean housing with finely appointed furniture, kitchen facilities, and perhaps an outdoor place for relaxation, such as a deck or patio. Many travel in order to escape their daily routine. For this reason, a luxury vacation rental should include some pampering of guests as well. The luxury traveler responds positively to on-site concierge services, delivery of extra towels or linens, or even a nice gift basket or bottle of wine in their room upon arrival. Some vacation rentals make it easy for guests to schedule a massage therapy session with a local masseuse. All of these extras make for a stress free travel experience.

In my opinion, the luxury vacation rental should be attentive to guests needs in a way that other accommodations are not. Following is my checklist for luxury vacation rentals. If youre paying a premium for a place to stay while traveling, the expectation is higher.

Review the list and see if you agree with my specifications. Though a luxury vacation rental may not include all of the items on this checklist, it should include most.

– Luxury bedding and linens
– On-site pool or pond for outdoor relaxation
– Privacy that cannot be found in condos, duplexes, or even cabins sited close to each other without a natural landscape buffer.
– It is not necessary to book a vacation cabin miles from civilization to get privacy. There are many luxury vacation rentals close to the shops and restaurants of small towns and cities such as Asheville, NC.
– A private hot tub in each cabin or vacation rental
– Fireplaces for the winter months, preferably wood-burning fireplaces
– Wi-fi Internet at no added cost
– Flat screen televisions
– Washer/Dryer in the vacation rental or cabin
– Fully appointed kitchen with updated appliances
– DVDs available at no cost for the use of guests
– Work-out room or gym
– Attractive interior design and windows that offer an expansive view of the outdoors
– Games on premises ( ping pong, horseshoes, basketball, foosball, etc.)
– On-site concierge services
– On-site office and maintenance staff that is trained to provide the best possible service and respond to guests needs in a timely fashion

Travel to an unfamiliar location can sometimes be stressful. Staying in a luxury vacation rental where excellent accommodations and service are provided puts guests at ease and allows them to let go and truly enjoy their time away.

Many vacation homes, condos, cabin rentals and other types of accommodations claim to be luxury vacation rentals and are really mundane accommodations with very little, if any, service. Most often, these accommodations may have some of the amenities listed above. However, a staff that is lackadaisical, or unresponsive to guests needs can spoil a good vacation. So can dated facilities or worn furniture, appliances or fixtures, bugs or lack of attention to detailed cleaning.

Adding amenities is simply not enough distinguish a resort, cabin or vacation home as a luxury vacation rental. The amenities must be high quality and consistent. Perhaps even more important is the fact that many luxury vacation rentals cannot deliver on the promise of superior service. Nothing ruins a good vacation more than experiencing a maintenance problem and being unable to get it fixed.

If you do enjoy a truly luxurious vacation somewhere, you should respond positively to the experience in person, in writing, or even online. If you and your loved ones have a bad experience while staying at a vacation rental, the same holds true. This type of critique might encourage owners or stakeholders in vacation rentals to improve upon their facilities or staff. These days the consumer demands more than ever, especially if he or she is paying a luxury price.

Do not be silent if you are dissatisfied with your luxury accommodations. Let management or the proprietor know. If you feel they have not addressed your concerns, then make your opinion known online at sites like TripAdvisor.com. or the Google Places pages.

Before booking a luxury vacation rental, it makes sense to conduct research on customer opinions about the rental online. Look at Google Places pages or TripAdvisor.com to see guest comments about their stay. For those who use Facebook or Twitter, these are also good sources of information.

Look for places with a history of being in business, but recent comments are more helpful that old comments that may not reflect the property’s current condition. If the comments are negative, does the owner or management respond to these concerns publicly? If the answer is yes, you may have a winner. If the answer is no, then the luxury vacation rental you are considering might not be right for you. If a vacation rental has no reviews, look out! It may be one of the many rentals dumped on the market by distressed owners in the current depressed housing market. In most cases these owners have neither the resources or the experience to meet the standards for a luxury vacation rental.

For more information about luxury vacations, visit http://www.ashevillecabins.com/blog.

A homely milieu in apartment leisure hotels

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Looking towards an extended stay in one of the finest leisure hotels? Are you traveling alone or with your family? If you are with your family, you should prefer staying in resident leisure hotels. Well, the services and facilities not to mention hospitality are the same in both regular and apartment leisure hotels. The key difference is the perfect milieu of a home away from home. It is at home only that you can think of stretching without inhibition, enjoy the pleasure of walking without shoes, speaking with the other members in your own way without hesitation, snoring without care and the list goes on. This can happen in apartment leisure hotels. So, in case of an extended stay, there can be no other better option to stay in such category of hotels. You will not regret at all. As you can make this space your own, you can feel complete solace. There are few leisure hotels chains in India that also run apartment hotels other than the regular hotels. So, travelers are only spoilt for choices.

Get geared up to get pampered yourself in a sophisticated milieu away from home by staying in one of the finest apartment leisure hotels in your chosen destination. If it is Mumbai, go online and search for such hotels in Mumbai. There is no dearth of hotel information and listing online. If you are already availing the services of some hotel chain group, you may visit its corporate site and look for the various options. There are also counted few chains that offer the best rate guarantee, i.e. the lowest rates in similar category hotels at that point of time. If you happen to book your accommodation in one of these excellent apartment leisure hotels in Mumbai, you do gain a competitive advantage. And once you stay, you will know the difference. You will not feel like staying anywhere other than apartment leisure hotels whenever you happen to go on vacationing!

Generally, the categories of rooms offered in most apartment leisure hotels in Mumbai are one, two, and three bedroom options. You will be full of praises for the complete interiors, right from the typical flair and style of the dcor and furniture, gorgeous upholstery, silk cushions, vibrant colours, spacious bathrooms, and much more. If you want to save on your pocket, go for advanced bookings; the earlier you book, the more you save.

Hit the Road for an Affordable Summer Vacation

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Summer is around the cornerprime time for vacations! But that is where we are all putting on the brakes. We are peering into our wallets and finding a little less now than we are used to. We feel the need to forgo some of our usual luxuries. So, the ten day cruise or five-star resort may be out of the question this year, but we can still have a great vacation. The great American road trip is alive and well, and more affordable than ever. Whether you intend to create an epic cross-country adventure or just need to get the family out of town for a long weekend, it is time to hit the road!

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) says that according to a study by PKF Consulting, an international tourism consulting firm from Alexandria, VA, road tripping can be 50-70% more economical than traveling any other way. The 2008 study compared the cost of 12 popular vacation types including all inclusive vacation packages, cruises, car and hotel road trips and road trips with various kinds of recreational vehicles. The study focused on vacations three to fourteen days long for a family of four with two adults and two children.

A ten day cruise or an all inclusive package vacation will cost over $7,000, according to the study. Even factoring in ownership and maintenance costs, a road trip for the same amount of time will cost less than half. Jumping in the car and finding hotels and motels along the way will cost just over $3,000. You can save even more money by taking a moterhome or travel trailer. The study said, that “RV vacations are by far the most economical — 50% less than car/hotel vacations, 60% less than bus/hotel vacations, 60% less than train/hotel vacations, 70% less than air/hotel vacations, and two-thirds less than budget cruise get aways.” Driving a motor home and staying in campgrounds will cost just over $2,000 for ten days. A family with a folding camping trailer will spend just over $1,600, about $40 per person per day. These costs included other factors such as park entrance fees, camping fees and food.

If you do not own a travel trailer or other recreational vehicle, renting is an option. While renting may make the trip slightly more expensive, there are good deals to be found. Travel trailer rentals can start at $50 per day and go up to $400 per day for a class A motor home depending on amenities, location, and time of year you choose to rent. Discounts are often given for rentals of seven days or more. Limited term insurance can be added to your regular vehicle insurance or purchased through most rental companies.

The cost of fuel is a major concern on any road trip. However, according to the study, fuel costs would have to more than double to affect the affordability of a road trip or recreational vehicle vacation, when factored as part of the overall costs and compared to other types of travel vacations. The PKF study was conducted in spring 2008 when gas prices were about $3.63 per gallon, more than a dollar more than current spring 2009 prices.

The study attempted to quantify measurable travel costs, but doesnt talk about the non-monetary benefits of a great road trip. Traveling the open road is freeing and relaxing. For a fraction of the cost of other vacations, you can experience amazing countryside, explore unique natural wonders, and reconnect to the great outdoors. A road trip, particularly in a recreational vehicle, gives you flexibility to create quality family time and find freedom from the usual day-to-day stresses. A road trip can be good for the soul and that is priceless, without draining the pocketbook.