Luxury Bus Tours

Whether you're moving to a new, unknown city or just spending a few weeks there on a business trip, luxury bus tours can be a great way to acclimate yourself to your new surroundings.

Moving into a new town - the excitement of getting your feet wet and exploring - can be a blast, and it keeps things interesting. For the explorer-type, taking a tour of the town can sometimes feel like cheating: "what can they tell me that I can't find out myself?" And we all have a little of that in us. But it doesn't have to be that way, as many bus tours are set up to give you the basics, with stories and history to accompany the site you'll see. Columbus didn't sail the seas without some sort of map and a crew of navigators to help him out. A bus tour can give you the key places to start as you explore your new territory.

The same goes for business trips, and maybe to a greater degree. If you're in town for three weeks, you might spend the first week just finding out the recommended places to eat, the best nightlife spot, or even where not to go after dark. Even though you're there on business, you most likely aren't going to be working the whole time. Might as well know what you're up against and how to make the most out of your visit.

A lot of cities have more than one such service, and the task is up to you to find the best one. Find one that has experience - not necessarily how long they've been in business, but how well they know the town. How well the employees with whom you're going to have interaction know the area. The best ones will be able to answer questions about the city, and have a passion for it.

And don't overlook the prime opportunity to get to know some new people while on the tour. The other passengers most likely have stories similar to yours and want to get to know the area just like you! Use that as a conversation-starter and find out what they know. Exchange information.

Many top tours also offer perks like refrigerators and Wi-Fi service as well. That way, you can make a day of it, bringing a lunch and your laptop, and not even have to miss a beat when it comes to catching up on your work, blog, etc.

So look around and remember how valuable - and fun - a tour like this can be on your new adventure.

Original article

Impress Your Mates With Monaco Grand Prix Hospitality

As an accidental globetrotter I have found myself in some weird, wonderful and far-flung places. From the jungles of Borneo - after a friend of mine decided to not go through with her wedding, and subsequently there was room for me on her 'honeymoon'; that was one was definitely far-flung - to a week long Buddhist retreat in a sodden Devonshire field; that was a weird one. One of the most wonderful however was a taste of the high life in Monte Carlo, thanks to a generous friend with a spare Grand Prix hospitality ticket.

I have holidayed in the South of France many times, but my first time in Monaco was simply stunning. It may be a small principality minding its own business along the Cote d'Azur but it has an atmosphere that is larger than life; tranquil yet full of vibrancy, simply being there makes you feel like you are one of the privileged few. When you have a chance to sample the Monaco Grand Prix hospitality that feeling becomes pure bliss. This is what dreams are made of. My friend and I had the privilege of staying in a private Monaco apartment that seemed to tower above the streets because of the steep terrain. We had a view of some of the circuit, but our hospitality package had us booked on a super yacht, where we were in for a sumptuous Grand Prix treat.

To say that the accommodation on multi million pound luxury yachts is opulent is an understatement indeed, and when you are being waited on by the best hospitality staff in Europe, you can be sure that it is a pretty perfect experience altogether. Dom Perignon, fine foods and fabulous weather combined to make us almost dizzy with a taste of how the other half live. Although this was a rather extravagant opportunity for a humble travel writer, I discovered that the opportunity to have a slice of the Monaco Grand Prix hospitality pie is not as far out of reach as it first appears.

Sure, if you want to arrive by Lear jet with helicopter transfers, party in the Amber Lounge and spend a whole week in one the most prestigious berths in the port during the Grand Prix week, it is going to cost a small fortune; this is the playground of the rich and famous after all. But if you hop on an easy Jet flight, grab a regular hire car (not a super car as per some of the hospitality packages include) and lounge around on a luxury yacht only during the race, I can assure you, you'd be saving a lot of money.

At the end of the day, simply visiting Monaco is amazing (I have since been back on non-race weekends), visiting during an F1 event is another world, and having the opportunity to mix with the world's elite for whom Monaco Grand Prix hospitality is a mere weekend away (a bit like regular Joes booking a holiday cottage one bank holiday), then the experience is inter-stellar. Take my word for it, make doing something like this one of those things to do before you hit some aging milestone that has a big fat nought on the end; it really is a wonderful thing to do.

Gino Hitshopi is a seasoned travel writer specialising in reviewing luxury breaks and prestigious sporting events overseas. For more information about Monaco Grand Prix hospitality please visit: http://www.paragonhospitality.co.uk/monaco-grand-prix.html

Original article

The Biggest Superyachts in the World

As the ultimate symbol of material success, the superyacht has long been the play-toy of the mega rich. Over the years every aspect of the mega yacht has vastly improved, from sheer size to interior design and technological capabilities.

Synonymous with wealth, success and luxury, the realm of superyachts and the luxury marina lifestyle is confined to a select few, including Donald Trump, Roman Abramovich, and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

The Russian billionaire Abramovich in fact owns the largest private yacht in the world, the Eclipse. The vessel is 557 feet long and was built by German company Blohm & Voss in 2009. It is the largest of the three yachts in the top which are in excess of 500 feet.

Power & Motoryacht magazine have been documenting the biggest superyachts since 1985. They track the developments of the industry, and note that when the project began in the mid 80's, there were only around 300 yachts in existence which boasted a length greater than 100 feet. Such a meagre size would never make it into today's top 100 list, whose smallest entry is some 225 feet; the Lady Anne built by Amels in 2006.

A more comprehensive ranking list can be found on Wikipedia, where one can see the prominence of the Middle East in the consumption of such extravagant vessels. Half of the top ten are owned by governments in the region or by individual members of royalty. For example, Sheikh Mohammed, the PM of UAE, owns the 2nd largest yacht, whilst Sultan Qaboos of Oman possesses the Al Said: number 3 in the superyacht rankings.

With the dominance of the Middle and Far East in the Superyacht industry, it is not then surprising to find some of the most luxurious marinas throughout this region. Marinas in Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are fast becoming some of the most attractive on the yachting circuit.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

Original article