The newest Pocket Guide in the series

Emirates Pocket Guide

Labels: abu dhabi, city guide, dubai, sharjah, travel guide, uae video, united arab emirates

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The newest Pocket Guide in the series - Qatar Pocket Guide

Labels: cityguide doha, doha city map, guide, middle east, qatar, Travel Video

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BUDAPEST, 2009-08-22





With special guest Paul Oakenfold.

Venue: Kincsem Park, Budapest

Labels: Budapest, concert, Hungary, Madonna - 2009, tickets, tours

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by TripAdvisor

CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) announced that its superior five-star Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, has been voted ‘Best Luxury’ hotel in Budapest, Hungary and among the ‘Best Service Europe Top 20’ and ‘Best Hotels in the Top 25 World Cities’ by the leading TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice™ awards 2009.
Winners for the 2009 awards were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and traveler ratings of specific attributes. TripAdvisor's Popularity Index is a system that determines traveler satisfaction based on a variety of sources, including TripAdvisor hotel reviews and travel articles and opinions from across the web. The hotel review process also allows travelers to ‘grade’ hotels based on a variety of attributes, including cleanliness, value, and suitability for specific types of travelers. The Travelers' Choice awards, the only honors representing the unbiased opinions of millions of travelers, are among the most coveted awards in the global hotel industry.
“We are absolutely delighted with the result,” said CHI Hotels & Resorts’ CEO and managing director Tony Potter. “This jewel of a hotel has been collecting accolades ever since it opened its doors in 2002, when it immediately won Europe’s ‘Best Hotel Architecture Award’ and later the International ‘Five-Star Diamond Award’ for its commitment to excellence in luxury amenities and top quality services. The hotel is now also on the privileged list of ‘The Most Famous Hotels in the World.’ The TripAdvisor recognition is of particular significance as the awards are based primarily on guests’ experience and expectations. The fact that we not only matched, but even surpassed, last year’s performance on the Tripadvisor awards, reflects our commitment to maintain the highest standards of luxury and services possible in all our hotels. This latest award, and the fact that the property is a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, promise a great future for this flagship property, as well as for the luxury Corinthia brand, whose portfolio will next year be boosted with new properties we are currently developing in Sharm El Sheikh and London."
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is a member of the newly-repositioned, upper-luxury Corinthia Hotels brand and of The Wyndham Grand Collection. The hotel was painstakingly restored through the personal initiative of Corinthia Hotels’ founder and the owning company’s (IHI) chairman and chief executive officer Mr. Alfred Pisani and is a faithful reconstruction of the 110-year-old Grand Hotel Royal. It is owned by Malta-based International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) and managed by CHI Hotels & Resorts, a hotel operating company that is a joint venture between IHI and Wyndham Hotel Group. Among its many amenities, the Hotel features a majestic ballroom and a unique ‘Royal Spa’ - an extensive Euro 4 million renovation of an original 19th century spa that has once again regained its rightful place as Budapest’s most luxurious and imposing Spa facility.


Corinthia Hotels’ portfolio features award-winning properties that include the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary and the Corinthia Hotel Prague in the Czech Republic. The Corinthia Hotels portfolio also features the elegant Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa and the splendid Corinthia Hotel St. Georges Bay in Malta; the superior five-star Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli, Libya; the modern Corinthia Hotel Lisbon in Portugal; and the renowned Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Corinthia Hotels brand is associated with the ‘Wyndham Grand Collection’ tier of upscale hotels worldwide.


Source: http://www.eturbonews.com

Labels: Budapest, hotels, Hungary, spa

Posted by Budapest Travel Blog at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Budapest comes alive for the annual Spring Festival 20 March – 5 April 2009

Budapest Spring Festival

THE Hungarian National Tourist Office has designated 2009 as the ‘year of cultural tourism’ and will seek to highlight major cultural sights, festivals and events in its global marketing activities throughout the year.

One of Hungary’s largest cultural events of the year is the annual Budapest Spring Festival, this year taking place from 20 March until 5 April. This is an extravaganza of more than 200 events taking place at top venues throughout the city including the Hungarian State Opera House and the Palace of Arts, with performances catering for all cultural tastes.

Palace of Arts, Festival Theatre

The festival showcases the finest Hungarian performers, composers and artists, as well as many international acts and also includes a two day Fringe Festival (3-5 April), for the third year running, for up and coming talent.

From classical to rock concerts; contemporary dance to traditional ballet; from high brow operas to colorful street performances; fire jugglers to art exhibitions, the festival offers visitors the chance to sample a wide variety of world-class performances and exhibitions in one visit to the city.

Kodály Quartet

One of the highlights for visitors will be the chance to see a performance from the world-famous Nigel Kennedy who has been popular for over 25 years and is one of the greatest violinists in the world. He will perform with the Nigel Kennedy Quintet on 2 April, at the stunning Palace of Arts.

Béla Bartók National Concert Hall

Opera lovers will be able to see Puccini’s Turandot and Haydn’s The Soul of the Philosopher performed at the opulent Hungarian State Opera House, which is one of the cheapest places in Europe to see these world-renowned operas where tickets can often be purchased on the day of performance for under 6 Euro’s or in UK money under a fiver. Classical music fans will be able to take their pick from many orchestras including the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Those looking for a more alternative cultural scene will find contemporary bands, theatre groups and performance artists at the Fringe Festival, plus belly dancers, storytellers and fire jugglers.

cecta

Labels: Budapest, concerts, exhibitions, Festival, Hungary, opera house, Spring

Posted by Budapest Travel Blog at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

YouTube video: In this exclusive interview, creator Erno Rubik talks about how he designed the Cube and shows off his new toy, the Rubik's 360 for TimeMagazine



video: cbc.ca

Labels: Budapest, Games, Hungary, rubik, rubik's 360 video, rubik's cube, toys

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Labels: guide, Maldives, Malé, Travel, travelguide

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click to view Oman Photo Gallery

Labels: Oman Photo Gallery

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Budapest Trip Planner - Four Great Ways To Plan Your Vacation in Budapest



click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner




click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner

Labels: Budapest, car, flight, hotel, Hungary, planner, Travel, trip, vacation

Posted by Budapest Travel Blog at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

On to Budapest

19th and 20th August

CHAMBLISS WIN IN LONDON AND THROWS RACE OPEN
The championship battle in the Red Bull Air Race World Series narrowed dramatically after leader Paul Bonhomme stumbled spectacularly in his home race in London, throwing open the competition again and raising the stakes for the next race in Budapest in on 19th and 20th August. The pressure will be on Britain’s Bonhomme in the sixth stop in the nine-race season to get back on track after his painful defeat in London, where the favourite who had won three of the first four races ended up in a dismal 7th after hitting a pylon.
Bonhomme’s first pylon hit in over two years cost him dearly and he will be looking for revenge in Hungary. His hard-earned six-point lead at the top was slashed to two points (he now has 38 points) after American Kirby Chambliss beat Nicolas Ivanoff in the final. Chambliss moved into second with 36 points – and two wins in his last three races while Austria’s Hannes Arch is in third, also on 36 points. “The championship is a little bit more exciting now,” he said.
Despite suffering from a neck injury he got in Rotterdam, Chambliss is on a hot streak and the 2006 World Series champion could overtake Bonhomme in Budapest – the same city where the Brit surrendered the championship lead to another American. Mike Mangold won the Budapest race and overtook Bonhomme despite a controversy over whether or not he flew too low through one Air Gate.
“We’re just a couple points behind Paul now,” Chambliss said, delighted by the unexpected turn of events in London. “We’re just gonna continue doing what we’re doing – go out there and win and see what happens.” Paul is gonna be tough to beat. But it’s a definite help where he finished. He can do that again, as far as I’m concerned.”
Bonhomme had fought back after losing in London and Budapest last year to get back on top of the table going into the final race in Perth. But after finishing on the podium in all nine races in 2007 to that point, Bonhomme had an off-day in Australia and finished fifth, a heartbreaking last-minute debacle that handed the championship to Mangold. He was hoping to build up an insurmountable lead and clinch the title before Perth this year.
“I tried too hard,” said Bonhomme, who aborted his flight in London after hitting the Air Gate and dipping perilously close to the water. “I just pushed too hard. When things aren’t going right you should just stop. My head just said ‘it’s time to get out’.”
Peter Besenyei, who took fourth in London, was glad to get back near the podium and will be looking to avoid the home town pitfalls that hurt Bonhomme, Steve Jones and Nigel Lamb in London.
“I’m pleased with fourth place,” said Besenyei, who is fifth in the standings. “I’ve been pretty consistent this season and haven’t been going up and down in the standings.”

source: www.redbullairrace.com
photo: flickr: by repeet

Labels: Budapest - Red Bull Air Race 2008, Peter Besenyei

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