Posts Tagged ‘Las Vegas’

Baochi

The NileGuide features eleven of the world’s most unique hotel bars (stunning photos included). Seriously, these are not your everyday pubs.

  • Hotel La Purificadora’s roof top bar in Puebla, Mexico: “One of the hotel’s most impressive features is its roof top bar which runs parallel to a long glass-walled swimming pool.”
  • The Salt Hotel’s bar in the Uyani Salt Flats, Bolivia: “Even the bar area is built with the practicality of salt in mind. The stools, tables, chairs, benches, etc. are all fashioned out of the surprisingly useful building material…one important rule, ‘Please Don’t Lick The Walls!’”
  • The Fairmont’s Tonga Room in San Francisco, California: “Unexpected sprinkler-produced “rainstorms” shower into the pool with booming thunder and lightening every few minutes, and the dance floor is made from the planks of the SS Forester, one of the last schooners that sailed between San Francisco and the South Seas.”
  • Cellar Bar at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York City: “If the word “cellar” conjures up images of cold, dark, underground rooms, you’re not alone. But, Cellar Bar, with its vaulted, gray brick-facade ceiling, wrought-iron candelabra chandeliers, and blood-red bar backdrop, puts a sexy spin on the underground.”
  • ICEHOTEL’s Absolut ICEBAR in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden: “Every winter, ice is harvested from the Torne River to create the ICEHOTEL and ICEBAR…All drinks at ICEBAR are served wtih Absolut vodka in glasses made out of ice…another good reason for the gloves!.”
  • Hostel Celica Bar & Restaurant in Ljublijana, Slovenia: “…more then 80 local and global artists were invited to decorate the prison-cells-turned-hostel-rooms…Even though many of the surfaces have been covered, a lot of the original architecture remains, including cell bars on the doors to the all the hostel rooms.”
  • Skyview Bar at Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE: “When patrons want to take in the spectacular view from the top of the hotel, they go to the Skyview Bar that juts out from the hotel’s “mast,” perched 660 feet above the Gulf…incredible height and location off the coast makes the views from Skyview some of the most breathtaking on the entire coast.”
  • Cloud 9 at The Grand Hyatt Shanghai, China: “At the apex of the hotel tower, the appropriately named, Cloud 9 boasts 360-degree views of Shanghai from the hotel’s 87th floor. With modern furniture, columns and steel decor, the ambience of the bar is decidedly futuristic.”
  • The Madonna Inn’s Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge in San Luis Obispo, California: “The bar area is covered with pink leather, fake roses adorn the ceiling, and there is a plethora of stone and intricately carved wood. Even the goblets drinks…are ornate…made of molded glass in the Madonna Inn’s signature rose pattern and come in an array of iridescent and jewel-toned colors.”
  • Harry’s Lounge at the Hotel Im Wasserturm in Cologne, Germany: Wasserturm means “water tower” in German, so it’s no surprise Hotel Im Wasserturm is built inside what used to be Europe’s largest 130-year-old water tower….Harry’s Lounge is Hotel Im Wasserturm’s rooftop bar. Modeled after an old fashioned gentleman’s club…sip drinks while enjoying the spectacular views of Cologne’s city center.”
  • GhostBar at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada: “Ghostbar’s outdoor-indoor design and vantage point slightly off the main drag make it one of the best places in the city to see breathtaking views of The Strip…If you’re afraid of heights you might want to avoid the see-through acrylic panel at the end of the deck called the “ghostdeck,” stand on it and peer down 55 floors below!”

Read the entire article here.

What’s your favorite bar in the world?  Mine is the Top of the Mark in San Francisco, CA.

Baochi

frank

I have to admit, I was at first a little star struck by Frank Eliason. After all, as the person who established a new customer support paradigm on Twitter for Comcast, he’s a celebrity among the Twitterati. But when I met Frank at BlogWorld last month, he was just as nice as can be. The next time I saw him, he was leading a conference panel about customer support via social media. I’ve been a fan ever since. 

A lot has changed since Frank first introduced the concept of customer service on Twitter in April of 2008.  Now, many companies (including Boingo) view Twitter, Facebook, etc. as important channels for interacting with valued customers. See what you started, Frank? ;)

Unsurprisingly, Frank travels a good deal. Below are a few of this travel tips:

  • When you travel, what is the one item you always take with you?
    I can’t narrow it down to just one item! I always pack the same things:  iPhone, Netbook, laptop, wireless cards, toiletries and clothes. With all my electronics, you may not want to stand behind me in the security line, but rest assured I tend to be fast.
  • What are you listening to your on your iPod these days?
    I am mainly into Billy Joel but am also listening to a Grammys CD that goes through all the years of the Grammys.
  • What is your favorite city in the world and why?
    My favorite city is Venice.  I went there for my honeymoon and also after our daughter passed away.  During my honeymoon, I marveled over the city’s uniqueness. During our last visit, I also grew to appreciate the people, their spirit, and their generosity.
  • What is your favorite dining spot in the world?
    There is a restaurant on top of the Hotel Danieli in Venice that has the most amazing view.  I highly recommend it.  Food is good too!  I hope to get back there some day.
  • Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?
    I did not stay there, but during my last trip to Vegas I spent a lot of time at the Encore.  I am not a gambler, but I have to say I really enjoyed the restaurants and ambiance of the place.
  • What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?
    Tallinn, Estonia.  I just loved that place.  It was amazing to see on one side, the Soviet-era housing and on the other side, a quaint older city that was thriving.

Frank, when you’re ready, please share with us the deets on your next pioneering project!

Baochi

In support of cancer awareness in general (October is Breast Cancer Awareness month), we interviewed survivor extraordinaire, Meaghan Edelstein.

Two years ago, at age 28, Meaghan was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer and told her chances of survival were slim. But she waged a victorious battle against the illness and then went on to establish  Spirit Jump, a “grassroots non-profit organization with a mission to provide hope and comfort” to those battling cancer. During her own ordeal, Meaghan was so comforted by the “uplifting cards and inspirational gifts” that she has duplicated this experience for other cancer victims through Spirit Jump.

Meaghan, yours is a remarkable story of survival against the odds and we toast to your continued health! Good luck as you travel around the globe dispensing comfort to others battling cancer.

Cancer Survivor and Founder of Spirit Jump, Meaghan Edelstein with her boyfriend.

Here are a few of Meaghan’s travel tips:

1. Is there a gadget you can’t live without?

I cannot live without my iPhone! Spirit Jump runs 100% through social media and email. We have people all over the world trying to connect with us and that means at all hours of the day.  With my iPhone I can stay connected no matter where I am or what I am doing.

2. What is your favorite city in the world and why?

I LOVE Boston. It’s a city full of history and full of life. I received my cancer treatments at Dana Farber Cancer Institute so there is a very special place in my heart for Boston.

3. What is your favorite dining spot in the world?

What a hard question to answer! There are so many great places and I think each city has a specialty.  I just got back from Vegas and ate at a fabulous restaurant in the Venetian called Zeffirino.

4.  What book is on your nightstand?

One of my favorites books The Time Travelers Wife.

5. Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?

Las Vegas. I just got back and I have to say it was a blast! When I was diagnosed with cancer I thought I would never get to Vegas but I guess I proved myself wrong. It was a great city with wonderful food, shows and people!

6. What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?

St. Augustine,  Florida. I went on a short weekend vacation and had no expectations. My boyfriend and I had such a wonderful time there. It was absolutely beautiful, full of history, Tiffany crystals, ghosts and a wonderful winery. I can’t wait to go back. The Saragossa Inn in St. Augustine Florida was amazing!

Thanks, Meaghan!

If you’d like to support someone battling cancer through Spirit Jump, get more information here.