Travel Ape - The World's Hippest Travel Guide

Where to Party for Mardi Gras

2012-01-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

Where to Party for Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is an extravagant celebration of indulgence. Also known as Fat Tuesday or Carnival, it’s traditionally a final opportunity for Christians to enjoy copious amounts of food, drink and merriment before Lent, a period of fasting.
Today’s Mardi Gras celebrations are enjoyed by people of all faiths. Here are some top Mardi Gras party locations in South America, North America and the Caribbean.

1. Rio de Janiero, Brazil hosts the world’s best-known Mardi Gras celebration. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Rio’s Mardi Gras party is also the world’s largest. Millions of locals and tourists fill the streets to join parades, samba and enjoy elaborate costumes.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana is home to North America’s premier Mardi Gras party. Wild festivities are centered on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, an area that becomes more “adult” as the booze flows. Family-friendly atmospheres can be found along parade routes. Tip: To get the best streetside view of a New Orleans parade, claim your space in the early morning.

3. The Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Carnival for a full month before Fat Tuesday. Calypso band competitions are especially popular during this time. The rum-fueled revelry culminates with a massive three-day party on Sunday, Monday and Fat Tuesday. Monday is reserved for devilish disguises; revelers cover themselves in paint and mud. Gorgeous Carnival finery is reserved for Fat Tuesday.

Fantasy Fest in Key West in Full Swing

2011-10-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Travelape loves to have a good time as everyone knows. This weekend there is no better place then getting down in Key West at Fantasy Fest. For all the details check out the offic site http://www.fantasyfest.net/.

The big parade is on October 29th and is sponsorewd by Cpatian Morgans. I think there will be a little dirinking. For reviews of the Key West Bars. check out. Travelape.com. Duval Street is going to be going off.

Key West Hotels are in limited supply for the weekend. Travelape has some options also check out the comapre feature. It will hook you up with Expedia and More.

Hotels at Universal Studios Orlando

2011-06-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hotels at Universal Studios Orlando

If you’re planning on staying in the Universal Studios area in Orlando, you’re going to need a little information on the hotels. It’s better to be informed than it is to guess and end up wasting your money. Below we will cover the three top Universal Studios hotels, which are Loews Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando and Portofino Bay.

Loews Royal Pacific Resort is best known for its value. However, there is more to this hotel than just value. For instance, it’s a great option for both business travelers and families. For the business traveler, there is a business center and conference facilities. For families, or any leisure traveler, there is a game room, massage, fitness center, concierge, pool and sauna. Then again, business travelers also have the option of taking advantage of these amenities. One of the neatest features at this hotel is the tiki-bar restaurant with an open kitchen. A close second is the superb food and drinks by the pool.

Hard Rock is for the more active traveler. If you like to listen to rock and you want access to a fitness center, game room and sauna, this will be the best option for you. If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to try the in-house ice cream. Many of the rooms are adjoining, which is a big plus for large groups. Another neat feature is the free ferry to Universal Studios.

Portofino Bay is the most visually pleasing hotel in the entire Orlando area. It offers most of the same amenities as the two hotels above plus Harbor Night and wine tasting. Portofino Bay has more than one pool, but the Villa Pool is the best option. This is also a great hotel for corporate functions and banquets.

New Site: Ape Likes Get Branson. 4 stars

2011-06-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Plan Your Trip
to Branson with GetBranson.com

GetBranson.com
is your first and only stop for information on Branson including shows, hotels
and deals. The city of Branson, located in Missouri, offers a plethora of
activities no matter the weather. If you’re planning on visiting Branson, the
website will help you plan your trip, decide on accommodations and find some
great deals to boot!

The website, done in blue and grey is eye-catching with a huge 888 number across
the top that you can phone to find some of the best deals in the city. The site
is extremely easy to navigate, offering choices like attractions, hotels, blog,
shows, featured and deals. Choosing any of these options will get your trip
planning started in the right direction.

By choosing Branson Deals the site takes you to a page that lets you enter your
travel and departure dates as well as the number of adults and children that
will be traveling with you. Some of the deals offered on the site include a
Silver Dollar City/Howard Johnson package, the Howard Johnson Secret Deal and a
Stone Castle Inn Branson Titanic Sale. Deals are subject to change and many
depend on your travel dates.

If you click on categories and then attractions, you’ll receive a listing of all
of the popular attractions in Branson and their average cost. This is helpful
when trying to plan activities for your family and a budget at the same time.
Some of the attractions include Branson
Zipline and Canopy Tours, Ride the Ducks,
Silver
Dollar City and White Water.

No matter when you are planning on traveling, GetBranson.com has been revamped
and is the most helpful guide in planning your vacation to the city of Branson,
Missouri. Start planning early and check the site often to get the best deals
available for your Branson vacation.

Summer Time Hit The Beach

2011-06-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a fun place to visit this summer, then here are a few
you might like to try. Catalina, or Santa Catalina Island, is one of the Channel
Islands of California and is located about 20 miles off the coast, near the city
of Los Angeles. With its quiet small-town atmosphere, Catalina Island is a great
place to get away from the bustle of the big city. This summer, the Catalina
Country Club is hosting unplugged and jazz nights on Thursdays and Fridays, and
is a great place to visit any day of the week. Great
Cheap Catalina Hotels

If you happen to live north of Los Angeles, then
Pismo Beach, in San Luis
Obispo county, is also a great place to kick back and enjoy the weather. Try a
relaxing stroll along Pismo Pier or the boardwalk and then remember to check out
the 26th Annual Classic at Pismo Beach car show. The show features over a
thousand classic cars, and the Hot Rod Bar and Grill will make sure you don't
leave hungry.

With nearly 15 million annual visitors,
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is one of America's most popular resort
cities. Known for its miles of beaches and hundreds of golf courses, Myrtle
Beach is also the home of the SummerFest at Barefoot Landing. This festival runs
from June through September and is a lot of fun for the whole family.

The Hamptons are New York's upscale beach towns and are a great place to
recuperate from the stress of the Big Apple. Favored by celebrities, the
Hamptons are known for their charity events as much as for their pricy beach
houses. If you need
cheap Long Island hotels travel has them for you. This year, the Mattiuck
Lions Club will hold its 57th
Annual Strawberry Festival between June 17th and 19th, in the town of
Mattiuck. Give it a try.

Best Western Catalina Canyon Hotel - Budget Accommodations Catalina Island

2011-05-30T12:21:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day 2011 from the Blue Ape !!! I'm about to leave this beautiful paradise of the "left coast" but not after one more day on the beautiful Catalina Island. I moved midweek from my former hotel to the Best Western Catalina Canyon Hotel, located at 888 Country Club Lane Avalon.

You and whomever you choose to enjoy this beautiful Island off the coast of California, will find a great budget hotel with all kinds of quality. You'll find the Best Western Catalina Canyon Hotel just above Avalon Bay. The property is beautiful offering a courtyard, patios and some rooms with private balconies. Enjoy the pool, have cocktails at the bar, or enjoy a dinner at the onsite restaurant. If you're looking for some fun off property, as I stated before, Catalina Island has lot's to offer. Go on a fishing expedition, go for a walk around the Bay, or go into any number of great shops and restaurants along the Avalon Bay. If you're thinking about taking the family, the Best Western Catalina Canyon Hotel offers specialty family rooms.

Room rates start at about $85 to $100 and you will find great rates toward the end of the summer in to the fall. Enjoy

Glenmore Plaza Hotel Catalina Island - A Great West Coast Hotel

2011-05-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

Wheeewwww....Greetings and salutations to all the TravelApe fans and yes I am sorry. For those of you that are getting to this party late, I'm saying sorry to my regulars that come to enjoy these posts because the Big Blue Ape has had some other business to take care of and has not had the chance to post for some time.

Well I'm back and I'm in Catalina Island. To anyone who doesn't really know where Catalina Island is here is a map. Basically you'll find this wonderful California offshoot about a stones throw from San Diego. To that one of my favorite places to stay while on Catalina Island is the Glenmore Plaza Hotel Catalina Island. The Glenmore is located on the southern end of the Island at 118 Sumner Ave Avalon, CA 90704. Charm doesn't even begin to explain how lovely the Glenmore Plaza Hotel is and what it has to offer.

Guests will enjoy four floors and a choice of 46 different guest rooms. Guests of the Glenmore Plaza Hotel on Catalina Island also have access to a complimentary breakfast, concierge service, a complimentary newspaper each day, business center so those that need to stay in touch with the real life can do so, a wonderful public spa and access to a rollaway bed if you have extra guests.

The city of Avalon on Catalina Island offers quite a bit to do while visiting. Enjoy a round of golf at the Catalina Island Golf Club, take a tour on a boat or enjoy the conservancy on the island. This is beauty personified.

Hotel Blue Myrtle Beach - An Escape for Some Golf

2011-05-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm on the move now and it seems like the schedule is getting hotter. I made a jaunt out of the big city and headed south to Myrtle Beach for a few days stay at Hotel Blue Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach is absolutely gorgeous right now and the big blue ape wanted to get in some golf before the weather becomes a little more unpredictable in the coming weeks. Hurricane season is coming.

Any way, a stay at the Hotel Blue Myrtle Beach right now will run you, and I'm talking about rooms with ocean views, for a total of like $65 !!! An an efficiency and you're looking a a deal of like $85.

The Hotel Blue Myrtle Beach is located at 705 South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach and is about a block away from the famed Family Kingdom Amusement Park.

Enjoy all this hotel has to offer. You'll enjoy an outdoor pool, swim up pool side bar, a lazy river, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, a 20 lane bowling alley and an on site cafe. The Hotel Blue Myrtle Beach is value personified for a vacation in Myrtle Beach.

Hilton Times Square Hotel New York - In the Heart of the Action

2011-05-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ok day two of my personalized reviews of great hotels in New York City that are smack dab near the fun of central park. The Hilton Times Square Hotel New York comes to you, but this one, Travel Ape has to admit is pricey.

That being said, however, the big blue ape may like value, but every once in a while splurging is fun. While you're in New York City and have the funds, the Hilton Times Square Hotel is not a bad place to toss them away. You may be looking at week day rates of about $485 to $535 but wait !!! If you have the weekends open, because the summer months are coming up, staying in the city is not a usual choice, we have great rates from $283 to $309. Again, these are high rates but this is a world class hotel.

The Hilton Times Square Hotel New York City is located less than a mile away from Central Park at 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY and has everything you need for a great stay. Each room comes with a minimum of a king sized bed or two queen sized beds. And these are big comfy beds with great linens. The hotel has 43 floors with 444 rooms. Rooms on the corner are a little more money, but the views are incredible. Be prepared to be pampered with incredible in house restaurants and eateries, including a restaurant overlooking 42nd street on the 26th floor and the Pinnacle Bar. If you want to work out they offer discount program with a nearby club.

Just a thought if you're looking for ideas to package a great vacation to New York City. Enjoy a Broadway Show like Jersey Boys, or take in the traveling show of Cirque du Soleil at Radio City Music Hall. I'm sure if you look into it, even during the summer you'll find some great events. Why not splurge and hit the Hilton Times Square Hotel.

Millenium Hilton Hotel New York City - Great Stay Near Central Park

2011-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

The Millenium Hilton Hotel New York conjures up one of TravelApe's most favorite words. That is "VALUE". I've been in the city for a few weeks and I greatly apologize for not posting in a while, but I got caught up in a few personal things, but I'm back.

With that being said, may I submit to you all a great suggestion for a place to stay if you are looking to go to New York City and want to be near Central Park. After looking around I've found that the Millenium Hilton Hotel New York has great ratesrelative for everything it offers. If you check out the hotel section of my site you'll see some great summer time rates. This hotel offers babysitting services (not to mention children under 18 stay free when they come with their parents), has an on site bar and lounge, has a 24 hour business center, swimming pool and excellent fitness center. Quite simply this New York City hotel has the ability to handle most types of clientele.

Check out the events in the city near Central Park and maybe get a room for a few days. Word has it that the Black Eyed Peas are putting on a free concert this summer. Might be worth a trip to the Big Apple.

Lunch in the Big Apple - The Carnegie Deli

2011-04-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today was full of all kinds of activities, but first I had to get lunch. Where else would this Big Blue Ape go then to the best damn sandwich shop in the world...the Carnegie Deli. I would fight someone to the death on this debate, because I actually dream of the Carnegie Deli's corn beef special sometimes and I have no issue admitting that.

We offer some great ideas and suggestions of places to eat at TravelApe.com if you take a look at the New York City Dining Guide, but to the the point of order for this post, one hell of a lunch.

First I started off with the Chicken Broth soup with Golden Noodles. For a bowl of soup the price, $8.95, is a little steep, but trust me people, the taste is pure bliss. Today, I went in a little different direction from the normal corned beef sandwich and tried out the "Woody Allen". This is a sandwich piled high with corned beef and pastrami. I add a little golden brown spicy mustard and I literally had an out of body experience. Then, because I wanted to treat myself, I had a delicious slice of cheese cake.

The entire meal with tax and tip was about $40. Yes, quite a price for lunch, but if you have the $$ and you're in New York City, you will be doing yourself an injustice if you don't try the Carnegie Deli.

New York City Central Park Hotels - A Favorite of the Ape's

2011-04-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

I just got out of the shower and now just getting to the task at hand. That is do my little reports and personalized reviews of the New York City Hotels. Just a note, you'd be surprised how little people take notice of a big blue ape walking around the Big Apple, but that is just ok with me. Travel Ape likes to blend in to the scene.

Today's little assignment was to take a stroll through NYC's famed Central Park, but more importantly to visit some of the best lodging and hotels in the area. The first one I visited was the Dakota Hotel, located at the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West. The views of this hotel are literally picture perfect. Some may remember this hotel as the former resident of none other than John Lennon. The structure is built around a courtyard and has a 19th Century French decor. This is one beautiful hotel and class is an understatement

The next great hotel near Central Park is the Astor on the Park Hotel located at 465 Central Park West New York City. This hotel sports 7 floors with 112 rooms. The hotel is not heavily rated by a lot of online rating sites, but for the per night room rates, especially in NYC, the Astor on the Park Hotel New York is a great value. Let's not forget what this big blue ape feels about value. You'll be happy to find clean, crisp, no frill rooms and if you decide to stay here you'll be in walking distance to, of course, Central Park across the street, several museums, and in case you are interested in visiting someone at Columbia, you'll be very close.

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at a few more hotels in the area and I'll give my reviews of where I went to lunch. Where that will be is still up in the air. If anyone has any ideas, just post them here.

The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartmeraent building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The building is most widely known as the location of the murder of musician John Lennon. The architectural firm of Henry Janeway Hardenbergh was commissioned to create the design for Edward

The Ape is in New York City

2011-04-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

I'm out of the airport and I'm set up at my friends in Manhattan. I was admittedly a little nervous about leaving Florida because I just love the sunshine, but you know what, spring is here and it's pretty darn nice. Sure the clouds are out, but I heard it was almost in the 80's here today and it's supposed to be sunny and close to 80 tomorrow. So New York City, the ape is ready to do his thing.

I've got lots of things to do while I'm here, and we'll get to them over the next few days. The thing is tonight I'm tired and I need a nice meal and then a great nights sleep. So i just wanted to say hello and we'll be going over the famed New York City hotels and lodging.

If while I'm here anyone has any suggestions about where to go, see or stay please feel free to make it known to me.

The ape is hungry so we'll talk later.

Gay Travel - Not that There is anything wrong with it

2011-04-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Well my cousin Theresa the Monkey came to visit me yesterday as I was beginning to get ready to pack for my little excursion up to New York City. To get to the point, Theresa is a girl and has a girlfriend. Let me make myself clear, how and who someone loves is their business and Travelape makes no judgment about these things. This Ape doesn't "Swing that way" but I stand behind my cousin and love her.

To that issue, Theresa was able to point me in the direction of a site that caters to Gay Vacations and Gay Travel. Wow what a great community of users. The information they provide is fantastic, but the point is, the users really get involved with offering insight into events and specials relating to the gay and lesbian community. They keep you updated on Gay Pride Parades, parties and overall it seems like everyone is working for a classy feel on the site.

Theresa and her girlfriend will be here in Orlando staying in my rental as I travel, but they plan on staying through the Mark Barker Gay Festival between June 2 and June 6th.

So stay tuned and check out this site. I'm sure we all have people with alternative lifestyles and it's worth opening you eyes and hearts to the good people the are. While you're at it why not let them know where they can go to find information about travel and events :)..

Next time you hear from me I'll be in New York City, with my report on the New York City Central Park Hotels. Travel Ape is out of the building !!!

Best Fitness Center in Orlando - All About Value

2011-04-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's no secret that the Big Blue Ape (Me that is) is just gorgeous. You think that's an easy thing to maintain. Think again. Well because I travel around so much I have several memberships to national and regional fitness centers. So the general theme of this blog could be Orlando Recreation, but the specific item of interest is finding a great Orlando fitness center for great value. Remember, Travel Ape is all about value.

So to the points at hand. What is the place I love to blow out my quads, run till I can't see and have my traps explode for all the wonderful ladies? Well, Lifestyle Family Fitness Center Orlando. I've been to a few Lifestyle fitness centers as they are prevalent in the state of Florida and I like the general feel of each of them. The ones I have graced have several things in common. First, they occupy large areas. You won't be on top of others as you work out. Second, they have plenty of equipment so people doing the same things aren't waiting on you to finish. Last, I can't name one Lifestyle Fitness Center where I was ever treated rudely. Most important, because Orlando is a huge destination resort town, they offer great one day to multiple day packages. As about the "One Free Day" special

So if you want to get ripped and moving without spending a lot of money on your trip to Orlando, do what the Big Blue Ape does. Get pumped and healthy at Lifestyle Family Fitness of Orlando.

JW Marriott Orlando Grand Lakes Hotel -- A Great Place to Get Away to in Orlando

2011-04-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, I had a friend stay over a few days and he brought his dog. Well, Travel Ape having a big heart felt bad making him leave the poor fella in a kennel. The path to hell is paved with good intentions. My house is infested with fleas !! Got to get out and get it fumigated. Well I have no choice but to find a Orlando Hotel, so why not stay in a place that's a little fun. The JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes Hotel, located at 4040 Central Florida Parkway in Orlando.

Ok the place has eateries and restaurants. And we all know the difference. You get big comfy beds and you just feel like you're doing something correct when you're staying at the JW Marriott Orlando. I'm not sure and I have to check with the front desk, but I think I get some kind of discount in playing golf at another associated hotel. I'll let you know about that. While I'm at it I probably need to just toss my clothes and buy new ones so here's a great place to find great shopping in Orlando. Obviously I forgot to tell everyone I got myself a rental down here now. Out of know where, but I'll be in Orlando for some time.

Orlando Golf - A Great Walk in the Sun with Lot's of Value

2011-04-09T17:40:00.001-07:00

Ok it's Saturday night and I'm getting up from my nap. As you all know I wrote a few days ago about some things I like to do while making the nights hot in Orlando. You can check that post out about Orando Nightlife here. Anyway, in the spirit of this weekend's Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta I'm making plans to go golfing tomorrow afternoon. If you know me, the Big Blue Ape likes his discounts. So this Orlando Golf guide is more about value than flare. So penny pinchers here's my vote for some great golfing in Orlando.

Without a doubt the selection of golf courses in Orlando is enormous. That's what makes it difficult to try and find a place that will be fun, have the air of a great course and not cost you your children's first year of college to play a round and get a bite to eat. Well, the Royal St Cloud Links located at 5310 Michigan Avenue in St Cloud Fl, just outside of Orlando, fits the bill. The Royal St. Cloud Golf links features 27 hole golf course. To get warmed up the complex has a complete range of practice areas including putting greens, driving range and chipping area. What's more the place has excellent on site dining at the Stone Bridge Tavern & Grille. Get the ribs they are great. Oh, by the way, a round of golf...$18. How's that for a deal.

Great Steak Dinner for Great Value - Travel Ape Swings in for a Great Steakhouse Dinner

2011-04-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm a big steak lover. I mean A BIG STEAK LOVER !! Knocking around town I've come up with a great place to get a great steak at a great deal. I have to remember to add it to my Orlando Dining Guide, but for now I'll just tell you about this little known place whose specilaty is the culinary art of preparing a sumptuous bovine.

That place is Linda's La Cantina Restaurant located at 4721 East Colonial Drive Orlando Fl. This restaurant is not about the flare of a Morton's Steak House or Ruths Chris. The sheer fact is that La Cantina spends their money on getting great qaulity food. From what I've heard this place has been a favorite for locals since 1947. My favorite is a filet made up with Pittsburgh Medium Rare. You have to try that. La Cantina offers other options than steak, although I couldn't imagine going there and not indulging on their favorite staple. I had some of my family visit last week and some rave reviews came in for the spicy buttered shrimp and everyone loved the fried crown onion. If you're looking for a deal of a meal for an average price of $20, this Big Blue Ape would recommend swinging the whole family in to La Cantina. The restaurant is open 4pm til close Tuesday thru Saturday and is closed on Mondays.

Orlando Nightlife ... Rock, Party and Dance with Travel Ape

2011-04-07T14:19:00.001-07:00

It is certainly no secret that I’m late riser and a late player. I’ve decided to take my Big Blue Ape “fun show” out for the night while I’m in Orlando. It goes without saying that you have all kinds of selection when it comes to Orlando nightlife.

Yeah, lot’s to do but if I had to take my choice there’s three top nightclubs in Orlando that I just love to tip the night fantastic. Ok first on the list, you’ll find located at the corner of Washington and Orange in Downtown Orlando, the Independent Bar. This bar pounds with energy, lights and lot’s of room. If you love to dance you’ll find 2 great venues each with their own style of music. When I’m looking for some hot salsa there’s no better place than the Samba Room. This Orlando favorite offers a sensual fair and mix of the Caribbean, Brazil and Cuba. What’s more they offer a great upscale restaurant area. Rounding out my list of fun places to hit on a night out in Orlando is the Club Firestone. Located at 478 North Orange Avenue this club is located in an abandoned Firestone Tire Factory. Club Firestone is all about hot new and hip live music. You can't help to rock out. If you happen to see a Big Blue Ape banging his head and rocking out, don't be shy come over and buy me a shot.

Travelape Loves Art - At Least teh Festivals

2011-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

The big blue ape took his road show back to Orlando this weekend to check out the Winter Park Art Festival. Ok I am known for swinging from vine to vine and club to club but I do like the finer things in life.

If you have never been to the Winter Park Section of Orlando you are missing out. This is one of the older parts of town and has a train station right in the middle. There are nice little locally owned shops to gander at. The festival took over the whole park area. There were over 250 artist showing their stuff.

Me I like the pop art stuff and there was plenty of it. Uncle Chuckles and Chesty were in town and they went along with me. We enjoyed some smoothies from Strawberry Fields. They were yummy in the sunny weather. After that we headed back to Pointe Orlando and had dinner at The Funky Monkey Wine Company of course. I stumbled back to the Peabody Orlando to watch the duck walk on Monday and back on the road.

Feeling Lucky March Madness and The Irish

2011-03-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

Ok the plane got in late last night in Ac and landed in Vegas late. Never made it to Studio 54. Instead I went to a strip club called Olympic Gardens. Its old school Vegas strip club style. $300 in one dollar bills later me and Uncle Chuckles counced.

We stayed at the Hard Rock beacasue we dig the pool and wanted to do some gambling But we got side tracked and instead got bottle service at the new club called Vanity. We didnt get out of the club till almost 5am. Grabbed grub at the great Mr Luckys 24/7.

We were thinking of going indoor skydiving but we decide to hit the Caesars Sportsbook to place our madness bets. Ape is the king of the brackets. Who you got?

St Patricks Day Fun

2011-03-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I am getting ready for a big St Patricks Day tomorrow. As everyone who knows me knows I take thsi holiday very seriously. Im not really sure who St Patrick is, but I honor him any way. LOl. Each year I die myself green for a day. And drink green beer till I get naked and dance on the bar.

The Travelape Jet is all fueled up and ready for a few jumps. My plan is to start in New York City with the St Patricks day parade. I am staying athe Astor on the Park tonight. So I would avoid it if you can.

Then tomorrow night I will hop intoa limo to rush down to Atlantic City to go to the Irish Pub. This is teh place to go for St Pattys day in mini Sin City. Also if I had time I would stay for bag day a great day-after St Pattys day tradition.

After a dip in the Atlantic Ocean I am headed to the helipad at the Trump Taj Mahal. Hop over to the airport and fly out to Vegas to finish up in style. Going retro and hitting up Studio 54 at the MGM. Hope to see you out there.

Its hard out here for an ape.

Spring Break For Travelape

2011-03-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Its been a rough winter and the big blue guy needs to get away. Looks like Im going to do a little tour of the best Spring Break spots. I am starting with Daytona Beach for a wet t shirt contest.

Then Ill shoot over to Orlando for a night to hang out with my boy Mickey Mouse. He just got out of rehab again. Ill probably stay over at the Hilton Bonnet Creek cause I get crazy rates there. Or If not Ill try the Hilton Orlando Resort Lake Buena Vista Hotel.

After that Im on a plane to Cancun for some real fun. Probably get down at Senior Frogs or La Boom. Travelape loves smoking a Cuban cigar and walking along the beautiful beaches of Mexico. And lovely coeds everywhere he looks. Its hard out here for an ape.

Oh yeah and I forgot to mention who is paying for it. Its the guys over at Go On Spring Break. Suckers. LOL :)

5 Theme Parks Before You Die

2010-01-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Family Vacation Available at Theme
Parks

Today's theme parks are not just places to find
thrill rides. Music and stage entertainment fans will find a wide range of both
stage and street shows, there's fine dining and entire sections of kid-friendly
rides.

Based on 2008 attendance records, the top five parks in the United States were
Disney World, Disneyland, SeaWorld (Orlando), Busch Gardens (Tampa) and
Universal Studios (Orlando).

Occupying about 25,000 acres, Walt Disney World is located in its own cities,
Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, near Orlando, Florida.

Along with the themed areas such as the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, Disney World
also features the BoardWalk, Wedding Pavilion, Wide World of Sports, Speedway,
full-size and miniature golf courses, catch-and-release fishing, watercraft and
surrey bike rentals, cruises, two water parks and 24 themed hotels.

Disneyland, the first Disney park, was the only one Walt Disney was able to see
completed. Once inside a themed area of the park, visitors can neither see nor
hear the other areas allowing for full immersion.

California Advenure is unique to Disneyland. Soar over California in a
one-of-a-kind aerial view of the natural wonders. Check out the Monsters Inc.
ride, Toy Story Mania, the Pixar Play Parade or sing along with High School
Musical 3: Senior Year.

Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure transport
visitors into their favorite movies, cartoons, stories and more through shows,
rides and interactive attractions.

SeaWorld, Orlando, offers a flying roller coaster that is one-of-a-kind. Manta
riders are strapped to the belly of an iron Manta and ride head first, face down
at highway speeds.

Coming off their 50-year anniversary, Busch Gardens
offers broadway-style shows, more than 2,500 exotic and endangered animals, and
the most record-breaking roller coasters in the state.

Take your family on the utlimate vacation escape by visiting a theme park.

Top 5 Travel Tweeters on Twitter

2009-12-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

The 5 Best Travel Tweeters to Twitter

Twitter is more
than just a website, it is a lifestyle. It seems that everyone has a Twitter
account these days, and although at first it seemed like a passing phase for
social networking enthusiasts, the micro-blogging site has taken off. Speaking
of taking off, if you are a travel enthusiast, here are the top 5 travel
tweeters that you should be following:

@travolution: Travolution discusses the integration of technology and travel and
offers news from the world of travel. There are some pretty interesting travel
gadgets out there, check them out here!

@worldreviewer James Dunford Wood offers news blurbs from the world of travel
and reviews of some pretty interesting destinations.

@nytimestravel: The New York times travel writers provide excellent travel
reviews, advice and recommendations. Following them will enable you to know what
the stories are before release!

@NewYorkOlogy: NewYorkOlog keeps travelers to New York City up to date with the
city's current happenings.

@Seatguru: The SeatGuru has the inside tips you are looking for when it comes to
finding the best seat on the plane and learning how to take advantage of airline
deals.

When you are looking for great travel deals, you must turn to the experts. And
thanks to Twitter, most of the experts are now right at your fingertips. If you
do not already have a Twitter account, you should get one right away. Follow
these top five tweeters today and you will immediately begin learning about new
destinations and how to locate the right deal for your next getaway.

5 Most Popular Travel Bloggers on the Web

2009-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, travelers were pretty much on their own in regard to booking travel and learning through personal experience whether their destination or services of choice were worth time and money invested. Trip reviews were either by paid (and sometimes influenced) media professionals or your neighbor's boring photo slide show on their living room wall.

Then came the World Wide Web and travel blogging. Often humorous, sometimes sad, generally informative, and always opinionated, travel blogs have become a major facet of both entertainment and the travel industry, and they offer a personal, firsthand glimpse into what one can expect from travel, before even packing a suitcase.

There are five travel blogs that have been awarded prestigious awards for their excellence and quality by some of the most renowned travel blog awarding organizations:

Tripbase, Lonely Planet, the Blogger's Choice Awards, Chapeau Awards, and the Weblogs.

They are:
Budget Travel Category (Tripbase) - vagablogging.net
Best Consumer Travel (Lonely Planet) -blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel
Best Travel Blog (Blogger's Choice) - cooltribes.blogspot.com
Travel and Leisure (Chapeau) - travelblog.viator.com
Travel (Weblog Bloggies) - camelsandchocolate.com.
Discount Deals - reservevacations.com/articles/

As one of the most popular and entertaining subject matters for writers and readers alike, travelogues and reviews abound in blog form on the Internet. These glimpses into the experiences of customers have even provided a much needed system of checks and balances for quality control of travel providers. The shear number of travel blogs to read is endless and can be overwhelming. But, consider these five and you will be well on your way to armchair navigating amongst the best virtual travel writers in Cyberspace.

Take a Holiday in Warm Sunny Orlando, Florida

2009-12-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

Get away from the cold Winter weather and visit one of the many Orlando hotels for the Holidays. You can stay in a discounted hotel room while spending a day at the beach, visiting one of the many nearby theme parks, or just enjoying the pool near your room. Many of these hotels offer special rates and promotions during the Winter months for the Holiday travellers.

Most of the hotels in Orlando offer competitive deals and low rates all year long, such as the buy 4 nights get 3 free at Disney Resorts. However, some offer extra special deals during the Holiday season, such as 25% off a 4 night stay at the Marriott World Center or 30% off at the Hyatt. Others, such as the Holiday Inn and Suites at Universal or Holiday Inn Hotel International Drive are offering 4 day theme park packages to Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, or Sea World with a stay at the hotel.

One of the well known and largest Orlando hotels, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, offers an annual Winter production, "ICE", where snow and ice is brought into the convention center and sculpted into beautiful ice sculptures to be enjoyed by hotel guests. Packages to this hotel include visits to this wonderous event. Whether you are getting away from the cold, or just enjoying an amazing Winter family adventure, spend some time in one of the affordable Orlando hotels for the Holidays. A good time will be enjoyed by all.

Is Renting a Convertible Worth the Money?

2009-11-24T12:57:00.000-08:00

Top Down, Let's Ride!

If you have ever rented a convertible car on vacation, chances are you have experienced the thrill of the wind whistling in your ear, your hair flowing like water waves (whether long or short) and the feel of being free. Or you have the unfortunate opportunity of a "technical difficulty" in trying to re-connect the top unsuccessfully just before the bottom falls out of the sky. Regardless of one's individual experiences, there are still pros AND cons to renting a convertible vehicle.

We all know and enjoy the pros when it comes to renting a convertible, such as the sporty look, the breeze on our face, ect. But, what about the price? The size of a convertible vehicle is usually about the size of a regular mid-size car. So what are you really paying for? Is it just the fact that your top can fold back and mine can't? And unless you just run across a "steal" deal, there aren't any discounts on convertibles. So you are already paying more for a sporty look and most people on vacation are renting from an airport which tacks on additional fees for the airport and the convenience so you will definitely pay more renting from and airport.

Enjoying a lifelong dream to visit Orlando or Myrtle Beach is beyond important. Yeah, I know, it can be so romantic just the two of you in the car with the top back looking like you just won the lottery. If you have the money then it wouldn't matter one way or the other, but if you are a penny pincher like myself, go with a less expensive car such as an economy or midsize class, roll the windows down, and call it a day!

Improvements in In-Flight Entertainment

2009-11-20T09:25:00.001-08:00

In-flight entertainment has seen some revolutionary advances in the past few years. According to Aircell, the firm that installs Wi-Fi in airplanes, nearly 1000 domestic carriers will provide their customers with Wi-Fi service in 2009. They project that by 2010, double that number of domestic carriers will provide Wi-Fi services. That leaves only about a fourth of domestic carriers who will not provide Wi-Fi services.Wi-Fi is not free. You pay to use Wi-Fi. Some airlines are planning to give users a lower price like Delta Air Lines which has over 300 planes switched to Aircell's Gogo Wi-Fi.

Ranjan Goswami, director of customer relations at Delta has stated that customers using smart phones or satellite phones can use Wi-Fi for a nominal charge regardless of the length of the flight. Currently, planes that have Wi-Fi installed provide Internet service for their customers which means that they can access their emails. Some airlines are thinking about switching all of their in-flight entertainment to Wi-Fi service because they are cheaper to install and weigh less than their conventional entertainment systems. Aircell costs 100,000 dollars to install in a plan and weighs only 300 pounds.

Jack W. Blumenstein, the owner of Aircell plans to install movies and other entertainment packages that can be arranged before flight by flyers that bring systems that require Wi-Fi connectivity. Southwest Airlines is testing a back of the seat entertainment system that most customers like better than screens in the middle of the airplane. Another airline that has installed Wi-Fi system is Virgin America. Their head executive, David Cush, says that 26 of their A320s and A319s have Wi-Fi systems installed.

The entertainment system using Wi-Fi connections is called seatback because the back of the seat in front of you is now offering more than telephone service but videos and live satellite television. JetBlue started offering live satellite television as a frontrunner in the new airline entertainment business. They are not planning to add seatback video. You might not have enough time on your trip to make use of all the seatback entertainment that will be available. There has never been a more entertaining time to fly.

Portland's Hip Dining Spots

2009-05-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Portland's Hip Dining Spots

At the smooth and cool speak-easy lounge of Hobo's, there is a great lounge menu, and the food is excellent. This restaurant works well for large parties, and the dining room is best for romantic dining. A large-party gratuity is added for parties of five or more. It's a highlight of Portland's gay culture scene.

Pok Pok is a personal favorite of Portland locals, and they feel very strongly about it. Serving authentic Thai food, it’s the top-rated restaurant in the city. Expect more than the standard chicken curry and pad Thai. Go with a friend or two and order the wings.
The festive Red Star Tavern and Roast House is part-fancy dining room and part-busy bar. The mahagony walls are off-set by an open kitchen decorated with 1930’s décor. The food is serious stuff and you better not leave hungry. You can walk to downtown from here, but you might pay a bit more for the location.

The Portland Spirit is a dinner cruise down the Willamette River offering not only excellent river and city views, but meal specialties like crab and lobster, of course. Order a local wine while you watch the stars go by.

Or, take some time to visit the Woodstock District, which is right by East Moreland. This is an out-of-the-way area, but Tani's Sushi, The Delta Café, and Otto's Sausage are top-notch.

Great Hostels in Rome

2009-05-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

Great Hostels in Rome
Ask anyone about the best hostel in Rome, and they’ll tell you it’s The Beehive. Imagine if your really tidy (but somewhat chic) aunt built a hostel. This is that hostel. It’s got a nice private sitting area outside, as well as friendly staff and clean (!!) rooms. What more can you ask for in a hostel?

If you want to party because you’re in town with the boys for a nice, civilized rugby game, stay at Yellow, located near the main train station. It’s only for 18-39 year olds, and they serve a lot of alcohol at their in-house bar. That’s either exactly what you’re looking for, or exactly not!
If you want the personal hospitality and good breakfasts offered by a downtown B&B, consider the Bobby B&B, which is near the center of Rome. The rooms are uniquely decorated and, most importantly in that part of town, sound-proof! This is only for the ultra-feminine travelers!
For something cheap but still offering a more comfortable hotel feel, there is Hotel Romae, located just a few blocks from the main train station. There are several room sizes to choose from, and they have a good selection of breakfast, though you may have to trek across the street to their sister hostel, Yellow. For all standard Rome Hotels check out Travelape.

Boston on a Budget

2009-05-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Boston on a Budget
If the weather is nice, take a lengthy stroll through Hyde Park, right next to the Capitol Building. This is the place you see in the movies with the swan boat rides. The original Cheers is nearby, but don’t go in just to take pictures.

Be sure to visit the historical Copley Square; though the shopping there is fairly mainstream, it is still a really nice place to walk around in. Nearby is today’s Boston city center, including the Hancock Tower and the site of the Boston Massacre, which is now a giant bank. And you haven’t been to Boston without getting a crab cake at Quincy Market.

The Samuel Adams Brewery tour is perfect for those museum-phobes that just want a museum to serve a free pint, darn it! After a fairly brief tour through their facilities (where you’ll gain mad respect for Sam and friends), your tour group will take a seat to taste the fine brews they offer, including some test types or seasonal ones you’ve been craving.

For meals, visit the Italian District in the North End. You could sit down and pig out in one place, but consider a walking buffet. Discover the world’s best manicotti at La Summa, where you’ll be surrounded not by tourists, but by other Italians.Before or after dinner, take a self-guided walking tour through Boston’s historyon the Freedom Trail, such as the Old North Church (Remember? ‘Two if by sea…’), Paul Revere House, Copp's Burying Ground, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Summer Festivals in Chicago

2009-05-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Summer Festivals in Chicago

The free parties get started the last weekend in May. Mayfest Chicago is the region’s annual German festival, so you know what that means. Get ready for lots of loud music, plates of Wiener schnitzel and other heavy foods, plus an offering of the finest brews the Germans have to offer. For more culture, try the many foreign fests in August: Armenian, Croatian, Korean, Belize, and Greek!

On June 5-6, visit the family-friendly 57th Street Art Fair, the Midwest’s oldest juried art show. The displays are everything from glass to printmaking to ceramics to jewelry to fiber and more. There is plenty of opportunity to entertain the kids at this alcohol-free event, whether its hands-on, kid-friendly crafts or the many nearby parks. For more artsy fun from July 14- August 25, watch a movie with your family in Hyde Park for absolutely free each Tuesday night. Watch the classics under the stars.

Of course, just one week later you have the largest outdoor blues festival in the world, the 26th Annual Chicago Blues Festival. There are many stages with all of the modern legends helping you soak up that summer sun. If you’re into down-home music, visit the Chicago Ribs’n’Soul Festival from August 14-16. Speaking of ribs, you do not want to miss the world-famous Taste of Chicago on August 29-30.

Where to Walk with Only 24 Hours in Paris

2009-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

With so little time, you won’t have any to spare for the Eiffel Tower line, but don’t worry—you’ll get even better pictures away from all those stuffy tourists. Take the metro to Trocadero for fantastic Tower pics.

Take the Metro Line 2 to “Blance” and check out the Moulin Rouge. Hang onto your purse and walk to the base of the Sacre Coeur, which is on your left. Climb the stairs and pay 5 Euros and go to the crypt where you can climb the stairs to the dome of the church. Not many people do it, so you get one of Paris’ best views and some privacy.

Walk the famous Champs-Elysée towards the Place de La Concorde. You’re nearing the high-class shopping area of Place Vendome, Rue de Rivoli, etc. Hop the Line 1 to St. Paul and you’ll land in the heart of Le Marais. Take a Metro is St. Michel to see Notre Dame, the Seine River, and the Latin Quarter. Check out the famous Shakespeare and Co. bookshop. Then walk along the Seine to Odeon. Near the metro stop there is a little pink-and-green stand where a happy French man serves France’ best crepes. Walk down San André Des Arts and find the Pont Des Arts bridge. End your day with a wine and cheese picnic on Paris’ only bridge without cars.

Embrace Life !! Walk Across Active Volcanoes in Hawaii.

2009-04-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

If I'm correct the majority of people who read this blog are from affluent countries if not all from the United States. Sure the United States has areas that are questionable and dangerous, but hardly for most areas that are real dangers in terms of nature. Yes, there is Death Valley, and sure part of the North West is still considered to be uncharted, but how about walking near the lava of a live volcano?

Well you can live

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most exciting and unique parks in the entire world. It's an experience rich in geologic and natural Hawaiian history and culture. This expansive park is home of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess, as well as many native Hawaiian flora and fauna, wildlife and some of the world's most active volcanoes. The park encompasses several climatic regions that range from the cool snow-capped Mauna Loa to the desolate, sunbaked and barren lava covered shoreline at Kalapana.

Golf in Holland? The Hampshire Golfhotel Waterland Amsterdam will Convince You.

2009-04-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

When visions of Golf dance in the avid golfer's head, I'm sure most would agree they see images of sun kissed courses bordered by palm trees or maybe a blustery scene of links on the British Isles. How about Holland or the Netherlands? Sure I guess the concept isn't that insane, since any major destination probably has some form of upscale golf or country club available, but I bet I'm safe to say that golf isn't the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions, Holland or Amsterdam.

Well do we have a treat for you. The Hampshire Golfhotel Waterland Amsterdam is world class. We mean WORLD CLASS !! You'll find yourself in the lap of luxury in any one of the approximately 100 rooms and or deluxe rooms. Every room has a great view of the incredible golf course, offers well appointed furniture and comes complete with every convenience you'd expect in a top rate hotel like hair dryers, bathrooms with showers and baths and big color televisions. The hotel itself offers a fantastic bar and restaurant known as the Plaza serving up big frothing glasses of beer and bar food favorites.

Let's not forget about the big draw and reason for this post in the first place. Be ready to enjoy several rounds of golf at the Hampshire Golfhotel Waterland Amsterdam 45 hole golf complex. Fantastic views, incredible layout of the links and greens and a world class experience waiting for any avid golfer.

So if you had been thinking about making the move to take a trip to Amsterdam and happen to love golf the Hampshire Golfhotel Waterland Amsterdam is a must for your travel plans.

June Really Makes Atlanta "Hot"-Lanta - Check Out these Up Coming Events

2009-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Atlanta is a shining city of the south and maybe one of the crown Jewels of the big American Metropolis with it's culture, commerce and progressive nature. The weather has turned to warm as Spring offers an incredible respite from Winters cold, but the Summer is very close.

After taking a look at the upcoming events for the next few months in and around the city of Atlanta, the month of June holds a lot of options. If you take a look at Travel Ape's Atlanta Travel Guide you can see complete information about reviews and other important information about these events, but here's a summary of some featured happenings for Atlanta in June.

On June 10th the soulful sounds of Al Green come to Atlanta to perform at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Green is best known for some great hits such as "Let's Stay Together" and "Love and Happiness". Enjoy a medley of pop, gospel and R&B with Al Green

Also performing at the Chastain Park Ampitheatre is Pink Martini. Founded in 1994 by a Harvard graduate that was classically trained as a pianist, the band follows a sound close to the sound of big band 1940's and 1950's. Pink Martini is scheduled to perform on June 5th, 2006.

For those of you that really love classic rock Bad Company will be coming to Atlanta on June 19th 2009 to perform also at the Chastain Park Ampitheatre.

In the spirit of making your trip a little easier a few suggestions for hotels are the Buckhead Inn Atlanta, Wingate by Wyndham Buckhead and the Springhill Suites Buckhead.

The Far East is Calling - Travel Ape Welcomes Tokyo Japan

2009-03-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Speeding ahead with the growth of its travel guide section and the destinations it covers, Travel Ape is proud to announce the inclusion of the travel guide dedicated to the city of Tokyo Japan. This is the first of the great cities of the Far East to fall into the Travel Ape family and we couldn't be prouder. Travel Ape recently did a huge tour of the western cities of the United States with coverage of Portland Oregon and decided to take a jaunt across the great Pacific Blue. What he came back with was an excellent story and we now have the Tokyo Travel Guide.

We start a great day in Tokyo with some fantastic ideas to see and do. So here's a little bit of advice on what to do if you happen to make the great journey to the Far East and enjoy the wonders and magic of Tokyo. Let's begin our day with any number of Tokyo Attractions, but we'll offer up a great featured attraction the Shinjuku Garden located at 11 Naito-Cho. This fantastic Tokyo attraction is world class all the way, with 144 acres of the most magnificent garden area you'll ever see. Once a private area for the elite of Tokyo government it is now a public attraction that is a must see. Take your day to a new height with any number of Tokyo Restaurants but here's our pick. Nobu Restaurant is a new style restaurant that infuses great historic Japanese Fare with new style continental cuisine. It's perfect. Finally hit the Tokyo Night Life scene and check out the hot sizzling action of New Lex Edo. Tokyo is known for its hot nightlife and this place embodies it all the way.

So we welcome the best that Tokyo offers here at Travel Ape. Enjoy this gem from the Far East.

Austin Texas Welcome to TravelApe.com

2009-03-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

Travel Ape welcomes one of the newest cities to our family of travel guides...Austin Texas is now a proud member of the Travel Ape Clan bringing to you all the information we offer about destinations you've come to expect. So please take a look at the Austin Travel Guide.

So what do we have from the capital of the biggest state in the Continental United States? Just about everything you'd need to learn and enjoy a stay or a trip to Austin. From the Austin Dining Guide you'll learn about the best and some of the most heralded restaurants in and around town, to even some of the little known places, to the Austin Nightlife guide that let's you know about the fun and excitement of the night. Of course for the tourists out there Travel Ape offers complete attractions and landmark guides.

So let's start with a little brief overview of the Austin Restaurant Guide. We have to begin with the featured restaurant of Chuy's. Chuy's is located at 1728 Barton Springs Boulevard in Austin and is the very first Chuy's restaurant. So this is the landmark. This is all Tex Mex and quality. The next restaurant is Vespaio located at 1610 South Congress Avenue. Texas may not be the first place you think about when you think of pizza or Italian food, but Vespaio is a mainstay worth seeing.

Heading out for the night check out the Austin Nightlife Guide. The Mean Eyed Cat is the place to be to have fun in a comfortable and relaxed setting. But not to relaxed. Some hot nights go down at the Mean Eyed Cat.

Take a look at the entire section of information with the Austin Travel Guide at Travel Ape. There is a lot to see and do if you pan a trip.

Atlantic City Hotels - Getting Ready for Summer

2009-03-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. Yes not the proverbial it seems nice out there, but it's spring as of March 20th 2009. There is a lot to see and do with the weather getting warmer, but as we do so often we like to make suggestions on the featured fun stuff out there in the world. Our thoughts today aren't necessarily for this spring, but to give you a little time to organize yourself to get out for a trip this coming summer. Sure times are tight, but if you live on the east coast we have a few suggestions. To that end how about considering a trip to Atlantic City New Jersey.

There is no doubt that if you know anything about Atlantic City the news hasn't been good. The casino industry is embattled with fierce competition, legislation and poor performance as of late. That's why you may be in for some great deals if you head there the deals are great, not to mention there are several events planned that you may find of interest.

Take a look at the wide array of Atlantic City hotels and the Atlantic City casinos section offered here. You won't believe some of the deals they are offering. Here are some great events

In Boxing area favorite, although he's not from Atlantic City, Kelly Pavlick is scheduled to fight Sergio Mora on July 15th or 18th.

In May Jerry Seinfeld is making his way to the Boardwall City to share some of his inane observations.

Finally because Travel Ape is a fan of the 1980's Loverboy is performing in Atlantic City at the Hilton on August 18th.

Find out more information about other Atlantic City events with Travelape.com's complete event and ticket section.

Vacation Packages - Many Cities You'd Never Think About

2009-03-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we did a post about vacation packages to some unknown cities. The point was that for most we think about going away to exotic ports of call such as Hawaii, Florida and maybe the South Seas. The point, to get to the point for God's sake, is that there are many other great destinations and cities to consider. Let's take a glance.

Let's start as obscure and out of left field as we can. Biloxi Mississippi is a great place to check out. It's a Gulf Coast destination so you're going to find beaches. Yes beaches. There's more. There's the great Biloxi Casinos and other local entertainment. If we had to make a pick we'd probably lean towards the Grand Casino Biloxi as a choice to check out. Check out our complete section on Biloxi Travel at Travel Ape.

Next how about a Trip to Dallas Texas. Yes things are bigger in Texas and for the upper crust Dallas has it all. One great up and coming event is Andrea Bocelli appearing in Dallas June 3rd of this year. Talk about Big Time entertainment !!! Why not try out a Dallas Vacation package centered around this event. Yahoo offers a list of great tour operators with Dallas vacation packages.

Finally as spring is finally upon us why not enjoy the great outdoors. Fishing in any number of the fresh water hot spots in America is just fantastic. Pigeon Forge is just such a place to embrace the greatness of these times.

With so much to see and do across the country these are just a few of the off beat places, for lack of a better term, where a vacation would be fantastic. Check back often for more ideas on vacations and vacation packages soon.

A Birthday Wish for a Special Friend of Travel Ape

2009-03-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's hard to think back so far, but way before the days of 9/11, before the bubble really burst on Wall Street with the first Tech boom, before computers were almost as pervasive an appliance in every home as the stove there wasn't a Travel Ape. At least Travel Ape wasn't famous. Well to a special person who will remain nameless for the sake of anonymity, to Travel Ape there is no one more important person...Bar None !!! This person discovered, cultivated and made Travel Ape who he is today and has done the same for the website that shares Travel Ape's name, of course that is TravelApe.com. Today is this person's birthday, and straight from the Ape himself came a decree that special note be made in this person's honor.

To many people the world is a non-stop tread mill of family, work, responsibilities that repeat and repeat. Not to say in any way that this is not a noble way to live, on the contrary, special commendations need to be made to honor the true heroes that live on these front lines. They make life in the world. To a select few a far greater burden falls upon them. To many these people live in the shadows, in the background and believe it or not are not in the limelight. These are visionaries. Whether it be artists, musicians or, yes, entrepreneurs, something pushes these people to a different path. This path is far from easy, although the pay out to the laymen observer seems like a life pitched from God above...It isn't. No better example exists, at least in the mind of Travel Ape and the rest of us here, than in the life of this person. Half self tortured and equally self driven, he's done what most people could only hope to accomplish. He's created and developed multiple and successful enterprises. He's provided jobs, opportunity and possibility for countless others. He's successfully grown his business enterprises for over 15 years...a feat not easily achieved.

There is so much more. This man has ventured beyond the world of mere business and has excelled. He's participated in the World Series of Poker and although far from winning it, made money. He's produced video features doing so by intertwining his own special brand of personality with great professionalism.

For all of this Travel Ape wishes this great man a good day. A hearty Birthday Wish to a special friend for whom had they never met, Travel Ape surely admits his life would have been emptier and less fulfilling for the loss.

Traveling to Florida by Car - An Ode to a Special Friend

2009-03-18T19:53:00.001-07:00

Recently a near and dear friend to Travel Ape had mentioned that he was going to travel to the Sunshine State, that is Florida for those of you who may not know that, and do so by car. This friend lives in the North East and decided that he'd like to make the trip a little more than a short vacation so having the car with him made sense. Not to mention being a veteran in the travel business the friend felt he'd get some kind of needed bit of inspiration that comes along with a long traveled pilgrimage such as doing so by auto.

A car ride from New Jersey to the Miami and Fort Lauderdale Florida area is about 1,200 to 1,250 miles and if you drove in one straight shot would take a little over 20 hours. Do do it in one straight shot though, that is if you have the time, is a complete waste. Over that 1,200 miles exists a treasure trove of destinations, stops and attractions to fill up a lifetime of memories.

Today's Interstate System makes a trip like this a no brainer, but it takes you through Washington DC, Maryland, the Carolina's, Georgia and a good portion of Florida. Why not try this. On the first portion of the journey get to the District of Columbia area and take a break to see all that is available to see. The Washington DC area has too much to offer to laser in on any few suggestions and to be honest just being in the area serendipity will take over. After a few hours of soaking in DC you can head back on the road till you get to Richmond Virginia. Staying overnight to recharge the batteries is advisable so here is a link to some great Richmond hotels. Start the next day by driving until you come to the incredible town of Savannah Georgia. Savannah may very well be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Check out the official Savannah Tourism Website for more information. From Savannah to Fort Lauderdale is just another 7 hours of driving.

There are hundreds of variations and options to see and do but we just wanted to show you one way to enjoy a trip like this.

To Travel Ape's friend, he hopes for him the best if and when he takes his journey.

House of Blues is Rocking the USA - Turn Great Events into a Vacation

2009-03-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

The House of Blues has risen to an iconic level over the last 15 years and for good reason. The commitment to excellent entertainment and events and the locations of their various venues makes it a great place to visit while on vacation. The House of Blues brand has venues in great cities such as Atlantic City, New Orleans, Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, San Diego and of course Myrtle Beach. So planning a vacation around an event at a House of Blues venue is obviously very easy.

So the best way to start this little conversation is to provide some feedback on what and who are playing where.

First off at the Las Vegas House of Blues coming up March 27th is Daniel Tosh. Flat out just plain funny, and Travel Ape has Daniel Tosh Tickets available for the dates. Prices range from about $110 to $350 a piece.

Second, why not head east and get in a round of golf for a Myrtle Beach Vacation and a Mystery Dinner Show at the House of Blues Myrtle Beach. On March 28th HOB Myrtle Beach will be showcasing it's comedy murder mystery show that is a laugh a riot. The event is interactive so if you're not into being part of the show this isn't for you.

There are plenty of other destinations to choose from so look at the HOB's main site link offered above to see who is playing and when. For a full list of great hotels and discount rates check out the Hotels page provided by Travel Ape. It offers links to each of the cities that The House of Blues is located and the fun never stops.

Hotel Ratings - Making Sense of What a Rating Really Means

2009-03-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

The advent of the internet has no doubt brought efficiencies to the retail market place. Consumers have no doubt benefited from how the internet works, how information is disseminated and how quickly they can compare prices for comparable products ensuring, in large part, that large differences in price offerings for the same products are negligible. That being said the flip side is that information found on the internet has no real way of certifying if the information is accurate or standardized. This is most glaringly obvious when it comes to hotel rating systems.

Years before the internet became the place to find information only a handful of names in the industry stood out as the "word" trusted to provide ratings and reviews for hotels and accommodations. These include AAA (the Automobile Association of America), Zagat's Travel Guide and other guides such as Frommers and Fodor's. For anyone that is even slightly familiar with the internet can attest that the number today is in the 100's. The issue is who do you trust and what can you do to ensure you get the most of the ratings you use.

First and foremost we at Travel Ape are firm believers in the criteria and review system utilized by AAA. Another veteran group that provides the Mobil Travel Guide is a close second. Reason being, these companies/groups have inspectors that take their time and administer an excruciating level of detailed analysis on each and every hotel they review. They measure televisions in hotel rooms, inspect bathrooms, test concierge service and do so much more. Further, AAA for example only awards the very top award, which is called the Five Diamonds designation, to only five hotels world wide. So it's not even so much that hotels offer a level of service, the rating system is also done on a comparable level across the industry.

So if you're looking for ratings use the AAA guide to ratings as the gold standard and make your decisions from there.

Spirit Air Web Site Wrought with Problems

2009-03-12T16:45:00.002-07:00

The time has come to make public a nagging issue that has consumed our Ape friend for almost a year. As many of you who know Travel Ape he is a mild mannered, laid back, fun kind of guy that doesn't like to make waves. Most of all he hardly ever gets stressed out about the small things in life. Things like heavy traffic on the highway, the dollar bill that just wont seem to be accepted at the vending machine when buying a soda, or when the browser on the computer freezes up, all meaningless to a fella that takes life smiling along. Well today I saw his breaking point and to that end a discussion must be had.

Most of the travel that Travel Ape does on the east coast of the US is done through Spirit Airlines. The convenience, pricing, etc have always seemed to be perfect. Well in the last 12 months or so it seems that almost every time our Purple Ape friend has used the Spirit Air website some issue pops up. Whether it be the slow response of the web site, growing trend in confusion for navigation, and the big kicker, the seating chart utility has become the equivalent to a master puzzle to be solved. What's even worse is each and every time he ran into an issue and tried to contact customer service he got the same response..."Sorry, we are unable to assist you with issues relating to the website".

So what's the issue Spirit? Why does it seem that each and every day the navigation, functionality, and user experience degrades on your website? Travel Ape has been a big fan for some time of your airline and your company. What's the issue?

With that being said we'd like to maybe suggest to all of you to check out Travel Ape's Discount Airfare section. Why not right. No doubt we've been fans of Spirit for some time, but drastic times call for drastic actions.

Hopefully Spirit Airlines will see this post and take heed. We certainly hope so.

2009-03-12T16:45:00.001-07:00

Make Room for Basketball and a Vacation - Atlatnic City is the City to Do So

2009-03-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

March Madness is in full bloom. The crazies are out and about flaunting their school colors and mascots as teams make their bid for conference Championships and the ultimate bid to the "Big Dance". For those of you who may not know about all of the little idioms of which I speak, this time of year ushers in the Men's Collegiate Basketball Championships of the NCAA. Our featured tournament of course is the Men's Atlantic 10 Conference that is hosting their conference tournament at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City New Jersey from today, March 11th till March 14th culminating with a Champion to be crowned and an open bid to be won with a a free entry into the NCAA National Tournament starting in a few weeks.

So to the Atlantic 10 Tournament. We at Travel Ape are in the area as of late and the tourney officials have set up some very accommodating packages to get people in the door and have fun. One such package, which we think is awesome, is if you're from the local area, that is, from the counties of Atlantic, Ocean or Cape May Counties, and you come to any of the sessions you will be afforded a special two for special. That is show your identification, such as a driver's license with proof of residency and another person can enter the session with you for free.

There are plenty of great Atlantic City Hotels and packages being offered by the local hotel association and some of the third party hotel companies so check them out.

Which ever your team whether it be Temple, St. Joseph's of Philadelphia, Xavier, Dayton or any number of other teams, the event is sure to be fun and the action hot. So don't miss out on this event this year. Atlantic City got an extension last year, but five other cities are bidding to host the event next year so this may be its last in the area.

Tampa Florida - Sun, Fun and Great Restaurants

2009-03-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

There is so much to report about a city here and there that it almost becomes impossible to cover it all in one post. We recently received an email from a user of the Travel Ape site that wanted to know a little more about Tampa and it's restaurants. We know doubt have a Tampa Restaurants guide and reviews section, but I guess here and there we like to personalize our attention to questions and this one seems like as good as any.

To that end, SummerBum49, we have a bit of selection to offer you in the way of Tampa and it's dining. Tampa, like many other great cities has a vast array of dining to offer the inhabitants of the city in addition to the visitors and vacationers that come through the town each and every day. No Doubt that seafood would have to be our very first feature because Tampa is a port town and the catch of the day was actually caught that day. We bring you Catch Twenty Three located at 10103 Montague St, West Park Village, Tampa. Catch Twenty Three quite simply is an unassuming restaurant that brings the eater dishes that offer a combo of Latin and Caribbean style. The setting is tropical and what's best are the prices at an average of $25 per plate this is a steal. The second would have to be the famed steakhouse known as Bern's. Bern's Steakhouse is a Tampa staple that's been around since 1956. Bern's is known for superb service and one of the largest wine collections a restaurant could offer. The prices there are a little high though, where you're looking at an average plate of about $45 and that's not counting the wine you'll most assuredly want.

We have a few more choices to let you see, but we'll wait for another day. Enjoy a great meal in Tampa and if you have any more questions please let the Ape know.

Pigeon Forge Dollywood - Enjoy KidFest This August.

2009-03-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

With many trying to find ways to stretch their vacation budget dollars we've done a little bit of researching for you. Why not a trip to Pigeon Forge. This is a charming little spot in the Smoky Mountains filled with things to do like hiking, biking, nature walks and just enjoying a destination that isn't filled with the hustle and bustle you might find in a big time destination or vacation spot.

Well one of the top attractions in Pigeon Forge is Dollywood. Dollywood is an amusement park named after the founder of this great place, Dolly Parton. There are actually a few of these parks through out the lower southern United States, but we'll focus on the Dollywood Pigeon Forge for the moment because this park just opened it's newest attraction as she does every year, Dollywood is planning it's annual Kidsfest Celebration.

The KidsFest Celebration at Dollywood is a great way for the family to enjoy a good, budget oriented vacation. It's just a lot of fun that offers a full docket of family fun, craft seminars and explanations by experts of the local wildlife.

If you're interested in planning a simple and budget oriented family vacation check out the links from above.

Spring Weather in Atlantic City Today - Book an Atlantic City Hotel While They are Cheap

2009-03-07T11:18:00.001-08:00

Well we woke up today at the Travel Ape compound, located in an undisclosed location, but somewhere in the North East, to unseasonably warm weather. Actually, weather that is quite bewildering, considering not more than five days ago a snow storm hit the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas with more than 8 inches and up to a foot in other locations.

So with a fat budget and our Travel Ape mobile we got up early and found our way to the Atlantic City Boardwalk (Remember, you may think you caught us on where the Travel Ape compound is, but the vehicle we speak about could very well be a private jet...so there) to see spring fighting to bust out. Let me tell you something, it's doing more than trying to bust out, it's taken residence and giving Old Man Winter a noogie that would make any school yard bully proud.

Atlantic City is currently about 60 degrees and the sun is beaming. So the four of us that made a pilgrimage to the sea side town have booked a few rooms at the Borgata Resort and Casino. I'll tell you one thing, when we get back to the hotel in a few hours I'm surely going to take a restful stop at the Borgata's famous spa. Last time I was there I spent about 20 minute under the hot springs water fall.

Well why we're on the subject and seeing that Atlantic City is a personal favorite of the big ape, we'd like to take some time to maybe suggest a stay at any number of great Atlantic City Hotels. Next weekend are some great rates at some incredible hotels. At Harrah's Atlantic City a stay from March 13th to the 15th is $515.00, head to the Showboat Casino Atlantic City and you're rate for a full weekend goes to $439 and if you're interested in trying out a whole new hotel experience in Atlantic City try the Chelsea Hotel where a full weekend is going for $327.

Spring is here and the Boardwalk is hopping. Come out and enjoy Atlantic City, you may see us at one of the Craps Tables or buffets.

Branson Hotels - Charming Accommodations in the Ozark Mountains

2009-03-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

A Branson Missouri vacation is the perfect idea for the over stressed, over worked, over stimulated person. Branson is known the world around for it's incredible entertainment. The city offers over 50 individual venues that feature shows and events almost every night. Of course it has other great attractions and is probably know best for good old wholesome family fun or a quiet romantic getaway.

Well with all the hub bub what are some of the featured places we'd recommend for your stay in Branson? I mean, we've certainly put ourselves on the line here. Well here are a few of some suggested Branson Hotels.

One would be remiss if in making a suggestion for a Branson Hotel that the very first place to be mentioned should be the Chateau on the Lake Branson. Imagine a castle coming out of the hills and that is all I can say to properly describe the Chateau as you drive up to it. Set against the Ozarks this is a fantastic resort. The property offers five star hotel rooms, award winning dining at the Chateau Grille and to unwind an on site spa known quite simply as the Spa Chateau. The next hotel suggested would have to be the Grand Victorian Hotel Branson. Located at 2325 West Highway 76 in Branson, the Grand Victorian is no Chateau on the Lake but the quality is very, very high. Last, but certainly not least, for a no frills but charming stay in Branson we suggest Old Matt's Guest House Inn Branson. Visitors have access to a quiet secluded pool, well appointed guest rooms free breakfast.

Take some time to see if a trip or vacation to Branson makes sense to you. I'm sure you'll find a gem of a deal today.

San Francisco Chef Food and Wine Event - A Great Time Planned for August 2009

2009-03-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

San Francisco is by far one of the most chic cities in the entire world. Isn't it fitting that the debut of an annual festival that embraces all that is chic be hosted in this great American Town? I say yes.

Well coming to San Francisco is the San Francisco Chefs Food and Wine Festival planned to take place the weekend of August 6th to August 9th 2009 and is being presented by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, a 70 year old organization with over 900 independently owned and operated restaurants within the San Francisco Bay area. The event itself and the events that make up this major event feature some of the best in local talent from the Bay Area, with a focus on dishes and preparation of culinary presentations using ingredients from the local area including spins on locally noted cuisine. Attendees to this event will be exposed to an entire weekend of fun, flair and festivities that include sample tasting sessions, dinner events, classes and instructional seminars by well known professionals and much more. The majority of the individual events are scheduled to take place in and around historic Union Square, while indoor classes, cocktail parties and other events are planned to be held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.
Officially the event begins on Thursday August 6th and closes on Sunday August 9th, with a possible extension through to Monday August 10th for tours to wine country and getaway tours.

Tickets and other packages available for attending this event will go live sometime by the middle of April 2009. For more information check the official web site at the SF Chef Food and Wine Festival.

Charlotte North Carolina - The Bell of the Travel Ape Ball

2009-03-03T11:34:00.001-08:00

I do declare that Travel Ape is a true gentleman, and why not? He's invited one of the most beautiful cities in the country to the Travel Ape family....Charlotte North Carolina.

Steaming ahead with his aggressive push towards adding cities and destinations to the library of travel guides, Travel Ape and his signature site TravelApe.com are pleased to be bringing online live the Charlotte Travel Guide. Now this is just one beautiful city that happens to be one of those gems you have to see. Not to mention, Wow, the woman of Charlotte North Carolina are phenomenal. If you didn't know, Travel Ape is somewhat of a ladies man.

Our symian friend got back into the North East to catch the great snow fall, but he spent some time in the Charlotte area for a few weeks. Here are some featured attractions and places that are just great in the Charlotte area. Of course when it comes to Travel Ape, he loves visiting his friends at the zoo and Charlotte is home to the North Carolina Zoo. Located at 4401 Zoo Parkway, the North Caroline Zoo is home to some of the best animals you'll see at the zoo. Oh, yes, the lions, tigers and bears. Check out the official site for the Zoo here. Go get yourself some great seafood at Upstream located at 6902 Phillips Place in Charlotte. Fine food and casual atmosphere. Last but not least enjoy a night out on the town in Charlotte at Crush located at 300 East Stonewall Street. This is the newest hot spot in a town that is constantly on the rise.

We welcome all that Charlotte has to offer today and we'll keep you updated on more as it comes online.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss - Celebrate at Universal Studios

2009-03-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

Can't You See? Can't You See? A Celebration is to Be !!! A Celebration is to Be !!! Is the Celebration for You? Or Is the Celebration for Me?

Well that seems to be the best we at Travel Ape can do to pay homage for one of the greatest Children's Authors in the History of Mankind. The famed and beloved author of great books such as "Green Eggs and Ham", "Oh the Places You'll Go", "The Cat in the Hat" and of course one of the all time Christmas Favorites "The Grinch that Stole Christmas", officially known as Mr. Theodor Suess Geisel, but known to most as Dr. Suess celebrates what would have been his 105th Birthday, today, March 2nd. What better a way to pay homage to this author that is credited with inspiring reading in children and parents that learned to love reading to their children than to highlight THE theme park attraction ride that shares the name of one of his greatest book titles. We bring you the "Cat in the Hat Ride" of Universal Studios Florida.

In classic fashion that has come to be known so well, Universal Studios Orlando Theme Park brings to life, what may be known as it's signature ride, the Cat in the Hat Ride. Quite simply the ride brings to life the beloved world and characters of Dr. Seuss in grand fashion. Visitors to the Cat in the Hat Ride enjoy the experience from the very beginning as they are loaded into the ride cars that are decorated as couches colored in blue and orange and can hold six people. The ride follows the story in perfect form and intertwines the Thing-1 and Thing-2 insanity all the way up to the resolution of the beloved Cat. Enjoy a full narrative of the story that you've come to love as you ride through the visual bonanza.

If that's not enough to give you your complete and full Dr. Seuss fix than enjoy the entire world of Suess with Seuss Landing. The extravaganza and homage to all that is fun, whacky and forever child like.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. From children who grew to love you and for all those that will enjoy you for years to come.

Kansas City - A Place for Jazz

2009-02-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

Kansas City Missouri is known around the world as one of the classic cities of Jazz. Yep, it's right up there with New Orleans when it comes to the genre of jazz and blues. So many greats in the world of jazz have come through Kanas City over the years it's almost impossible to even put together a short list that truly captures the essence of each and every entertainer.

Today, visitors as well as those that call Kansas City home can enjoy jazz and blues performances in venues, clubs, entertainment halls and festivals across the city and local area.

A little known fact but Travel Ape is an avid jazz enthusiast. From the legends and trailblazers such as John Coltrane, George Benson, David Sanborn and Miles Davis, to names that may not be well known such as Stan Getz and Fred Stone Travel Ape loves to chill out, sit back and listen for hours.

So to the point, if you love jazz, I mean truly love it, then a trip to Kansas City is a must. Upcoming performances include Marilyn Maye performing at Jaradine's Restaurant and Jazz Club from March 22nd to March 25th, Lisa Henry and the UMKC Jazz Band appearing at the Blue Room on March 2nd and internationally recognized jazz performer Joe Cartwright also appearing at the Blue Room on March 12th. For other Kansas City Jazz performances check this link.

Check out rates for Kansas City hotels for any of the dates of interest. If you do plan on visiting be sure to make time to check out other great Kansas City attractions such as the Kansas City Zoo and the Grand Street Cafe.

Boston - St. Patty's Day Celebration

2009-02-25T15:43:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago we did an excerpt on a St. Patty’s Day Celebration in a city that, for most, wouldn’t otherwise be associated with the holiday that pays homage to the great patron saint of Ireland. That city was Dallas. This post and the post to come will focus and feature two cities that are probably synonymous with the holiday of St. Patty’s Day than any thing else, and for that matter, than any other cities world wide save Dublin Ireland itself. These are the cities of Boston and Chicago. Today’s featured post will be about the great St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the historic town of Boston Mass. So for all you Celtic fans you’re in for a treat.

The official celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Boston is taking place Sunday March 15th, 2009 starting at 1pm, but the entire week leading up to the Holiday Date has all kinds of events scheduled. Throughout the metro Boston area St. Patrick’s Day events are scheduled and begin as early as March 7th. One such parade is the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade slated for March 7th 2009 to begin at 11am. Then on March 8th 2009 two additional parades are scheduled. The first in Lawrence MA and the second, in Worcestor MA both slated to begin at 12 noon. Check out our featured pick for accommodations for the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Sheraton Boston located at 39 Dalton Street. It’s perfectly located and priced at $279 per night if you were to check in March 14th and check out on the 15th of March and head to the parade. The location puts you within walking distance to the parade route and you won’t have to fight with all the traffic.

There still is plenty of time to book and plan for a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Boston if you get on it today.

New Orleans and Mardi Gras

2009-02-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Today is Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but for millions of Christians around the world, and especially the United States this is Carnivale or Fat Tuesday. The day before the first day of lent which is commenced with Ash Wednesday tomorrow.

A little history of the event and where Mardi Gras came from is a neat way to start a homage to this celebration that is synonomous with New Orleans. To begin, just like most celebrations that were brought over from the proverbial “old world”, so was Mardi Gras. Just like the feast of Christmas, if we look to history, incorporated the holiday of Satranella with the Birth of Jesus Christ when the Emporer Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire, so to became Mardi Gras. The roman celebration of Lupercalia was combined with the feast before the lenten period. Well as time went on, the celebration of Mardi Gras became a grand festival each year in Paris. The fact that the New Orleans area was settled by the French we can all see how logic dictates the progression of this great celebration.

The first document Mardi Gras parade was in 1837, under the United States rule. The celebration evolved to the grand spectatcular that it is today.

Each year millions of people descend on the New Orleans area to celebrate this festival born in antiquity. New Orleans has certainly seen some tough times as of late, and the hope is to get people interested in visiting this wonderful city and their unique festival today and into the future.

For everyone out there, on behalf of Travel Ape and all of his friends, have a happy and safe Mardi Gras celebration.

Attractions in Venice Italy - Enjoy All There is to See and Do

2009-02-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

Whether you're 100% Italian and you love the meatballs and pasta your grandmother made when you were a child, or just an avid traveler that enjoys all that an adventure and trip to a new place can bring, a trip to Venice Italy satisfies both. Yep, if you are a second generation or greater Italian American the city of Venice encompasses all you could want to enjoy on a trip to Italy. If you love to travel, a trip to Venice Italy is a must for your travels.

Why you might ask, would Venice be on the top of anyone's list for travel? Venice, quite simply is one of the most beautiful cities and destinations in the world, steep in history and embracing the tourism city it has become. With so much to see and do on a trip to Venice we've decided to highlight a few of the great attractions you could enjoy.

When speaking about Venice Italy I would gather that one thought would have to be fostered in most people's minds...the Grand Canals. The Grand Canals of Venice are incredible and offer those that live and work in the area a breathtaking natural back splash unlike anything anyone has ever seen in the world. Take time to enjoy a gondola ride in any number of privately run tours, and you'll be off to a great start. While your in the Grand Canals one place you must try and see is the Palazzo Grassi, a grand structure that belonged to the famed Bolognese Grassi family of Venice and masterminded by Giorgio Massari. Words cannot do this place justice, so seeing it live is the only way to appreciate it.

Of course although we produce, create, write and edit our own content Travel Ape is a big fan of offering information provided by the insiders of a city or destination. That being said, we strongly recommend a visit to the Official Venice Italy Tourism site to find out more info about great places to visit.

Travel To Milan with Travel Ape

2009-02-22T10:05:00.001-08:00

Recently Travel Ape put out a press release about the web site that shares his name, www.TravelApe.com, and it's entry into another fold of european cities. Our featured city for this post is the destination of Milan Italy.

The fact that it took so long to get content for the city of Milan and deliver it as a travel guide for our visitors is just ridiculous. Milan Italy is the second largest metropolitan city in the historic country and has about 1.3 Million people that call it home. Milan is unlike many of the other destinations that you'd visit in Italy in that it is more known for it's current effect on the world than a place to visit for it's rich history and pristine upkeep of it's riches of antiquity such as Rome, Venice and other great Italian cities. Milan is known as a mecca in Europe for fashion, design and even high finance. The city is so highly regarded as a modern renaissance city that it will be hosting the Universal Expo in 2015, the modern equivalent to what was called the World's Fair in the past century.

If you are interested in enjoying Milan Italy today, we have complete coverage with our Milan Travel Guide. Take our que and get reservations for one of the world's most famous hotels the AC Milan located at Via Tazzoli 2 in the city of Milan. Elegant decor and location makes the AC Milan a fabulous place to root oneself to begin what will be a memorable trip. Once you've got your proverbial and temporary roots down, where should you start? There are so many options, but my feeling is to begin with a trip to the Piazza Duomo located in, well the Pizza del Duomo Central Square. This will put you in the heart of "fun" as you begin your travels in and around the city. When you enter the square you will be in front of the Milan Cathedral. All points from there head you towards fun.

The nightlife of Milan is legendary and if we had to choose one place to visit it would have to be Milan's signature Absolut Icebar located at Piazza Gerusallemme 12. What makes this incredible Milan Nightclub and nightlife spot so hot? Well it's the ice...Yes, the bar is made of ice..the walls, the ceilings, the fixtures all ice and the inside stands at -2 celsius. The Absolut Icebar does provide boots and a complimentary cloak when you visit, but it's advised to dress warmly before you get there. They just serve vodka with fruit drinks, but visiting this place is an experience that will stay with you about your travels to Milan.

So we welcome the city of Milan to the Travel Ape family and we hope you enjoy it too.

Kansas City - Travel to the Heart of America

2009-02-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

Kansas City Missouri is steep with history and it's own sense panache. So we are proud to welcome one of the newest cities to our travel guide list, the great city of Kansas City. We have spent some time gathering and organizing the information to reflect all that is fun and exciting to do in this great United States metropolis. Also please be sure to check out the the Official Travel Source for Kansas City provided by the Kansas City council on tourism.

Start your trip with a search of great potential hotels and accommodations. A little tip, if you can pull it off, mid week is usually the best time to check in and check out, as the weekends are almost double in rates. We have some great hotels that we'd recommend. The Double Tree Overland Park Kansas City is pure class. The hotel offers great hotel rooms, but the property is fantastic. You'll get a complete upgraded fitness center, dry cleaning service and onsite restaurants. Another great choice would be for it's value. Harrah's Hotel North Kansas City has rates at about $117 a night. With a brand like Harrah's you know you're getting quality.

When you arrive in town there is no shortage of attractions in Kansas City to visit. From the American Jazz Museum located at 1616 East 18th Street to the centralized collection of the best stores, boutiques and restaurants found at Country Club Plaza, you'll have a lot to do on your visit.

Cap off your nights with some hot dancing or some quiet cocktails in any number of Kansas City Night Clubs and Nightlife spots. Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club located at 3101 Gillham fits the bill for hot dancing and the Velvet Dog located at 400 East 31st Street is a great martini lounge.

Check out our complete Kansas City travel guide for more great deals and ideas to do on your visit.

Ohio Hotels - Find Great Hotels in the State of Ohio

2009-02-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

The state of Ohio is a central fixture in the United States. No doubt for the educated out there that Ohio has been synonymous as a battle ground state for the past few presidential elections. Well there's a reason for that. Ohio is a state diverse with great places to visit and geat people to see. So why not take a vacation or a trip to the great state of Ohio.

So let's talk about all there is to do in the state of Ohio. Well that's a difficult thing to try and figure out with all there is to do in a state so vast. You have everything from great hiking, fishing and outdoor activities, to the fun and excitement of two major metrolopolis cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

There are endless possibilities of outdoor places to visit in Ohio, but if we're to make a suggestion Logan Ohio is fantastic. Logan has several great outdoor activities to choose from including fishing and canoeing. Sure going to visit one of the great campgrounds in the area might have some excitement, but if you're looking for some comfort there's a whole list of Logan Ohio Hotels to choose from including the Baymont Logan Hotel and the Inn at Cedar Fall Bed and Breadfast.

If fighting the wild outdoors doesn't sound like fun to you how about a trip to Canton Ohio and the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Check out a whole selection of great places to stay with Canton Hotels including the Canton Hampton Inn, the McKinley Grand Hotel and the Residence in Canton.

There are lots places and cities to visit in Ohio, so be sure to check out the complete list of State of Ohio Hotels to see all the great and wonderful destinations you can enjoy.

Celebrity Cruises - Available on TravelApe.com

2009-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wish you could be on the open sea, enjoying the gala affairs of a top notch cruise? Well TravelApe.com is here to bring this into reality for you. TravelApe.com offers a selection of cruises from major providers and one of them is a well known brand...the Celebrity Cruises.

Travel Ape offers two notable cruise ships from Celebrity Cruises, the Constellation and the Zenith.

The Constellation is a 965 foot vessel registered in the Bahamas, and was completed on May 1st, 2002. The Constellation can also hold up to 2034 people and features 853 outside rooms, 206 inside rooms, 11 passenger decks and 10 elevators. It also has great features such as shops that include well known names like DKNY and just about every kind of entertainment you'd want. The Constellation offers 10 and 11 day cruises mainly through the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The Zenith is a 682 foot vessel that also has it's ship registry in the Bahamas. The vessel was completed in January of 1992 and refurbished in 1999. The maximum capacity of guests the Zenith can hold is 1368. Additionally the vessel features 525 outside rooms and 148 interior rooms. Just like the Constellation, the Zenith has it's own wonderful unique features that include gourmet dining and the famed AquaSpa, a spa that enriches the senses with the various therapies offered as well as the incredible architectural design. The Zenith offers cruises of 11 to 15 days in length, and destinations include the Caribbean and Bermuda.

So get your "cruise" on and head out on the high seas with Celebrity Cruises.

Nashville Travel Guide

2009-02-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Nashville. The home of country music and the prototypical city of country western entertainment. I know, I know, making such drastic generalizations isn't the politically correct way to do things these days, however, come on people, this is Nashville, and Travel Ape has been torturing us with his new found love of the banjo since he's come back from collecting any and all of the information that we're providing to all of you on the web site.

So what does the new Nashville Travel Guide have to offer? Like any major city or metropolis Nashville has the arts and entertainment, the dining, the nightlife and the local attractions. That being said, however, Nashville also has it's own brand associated with each of the categories I just mentioned.

When it comes to the arts Nashville is very unique. Just check out the complete Nashville Arts and Entertainment section we provide. At the apex of the Nashville arts and entertainment scene is the Ryman Auditorium, donned the Mother Church of Country Music. The Ryman Auditorium is located at 116 Fifth North in Nashville and offers entertainment of such caliber as Olivia Newton John.

How about getting a great meal in Nashville? Sure every major city has good steak, seafood and Italian restaurants, but how about something that is indicative of the city itself? Check out the complete list of Nashville Restaurants, but if we may make a selection for you Restaurant Zola is an excellent choice. In fact it was voted the most romantic restaurant in the Nashville area.

There's lot's more to see and do in Nashville and we'll be sure to come back to report on more, but for now take a look at the new Nashville Travel Guide section at Travel Ape to see all the city has to offer.

Portland Oregon Travel Guide

2009-02-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, sure we'd all like to go to some of the more glamorous places in the world. The places with Tiki Huts and Palm Trees. That seems to be the consensus. Well in a time of economic downturn, we sometimes have to make due with a little less than what we want. What if I told you about a place where you may not have thought about, but still is wonderful. Do you think you have a clue to where I refer? Well you better, it's in the title of this blog for goodness sake. It's Portland Oregon.

We're pleased to offer the newest arrival of the Travel Ape Travel guides, the Portland Travel Guide. Why Portland? Well we want the best information about the most diverse cities and destinations and yes, Portland Oregon has it.

Try out great arts and culture. Currently the Portland Jazz Festival is in play. This is an annual event that you must see if you ever are out on the Portland area during February.

How about great dining in a top notch Metropolis? Well Portland Oregon has just that. We'd certainly have you check out the complete Portland Restaurants guide, but are Featured Restaurant would have to be Hobo's Restaurant of Portland located at 120 North West 3rd Avenue is the epitome of class on the water. A glitzy jazz atmosphere with incredible food is all I have to say.

Then there's the arts and culture that any major city has. Check out the complete Portland Attractions section, but our featured attraction after much thought has to be the Oregon Zoo.

Well we thank you for reviewing the newest destination to the Travel Ape stable of destinations, Portland Oregon. Keep your eyes open for more destinations coming on board very soon.

Miami Beach Vacation Rentals

2009-02-12T18:37:00.000-08:00

Finding the best value when traveling can be a huge obstacle to over come during these economic hard times. One strategy, for lack of a better term, is to look for vacation rentals, as opposed to getting a hotel room. On the surface vacation rentals may be a little pricer than a hotel room, however, if you get creative the value and discounts you can achieve are pretty substantial.

Our focus for this post will be finding Miami Beach Vacation Rentals. What better an example than planning for a vacation in a great destination resort like Miami and the surrounding area. The key here is stepping outside the proverbial box. Why not plan a vacation or trip with a group or some friends? That's exactly what you can do when you opt for a vacation rental over a hotel room. Now all of the sudden you spread the cost over many people. Let me tell you too, a vacation rental offers individual rooms, kitchen areas, living room areas, etc, so you can even knock off a chunk of the costs when it comes to meals. Sure when you're on vacation, at least for many of us, part of the fun is going out to eat. Take a second to think about the cost associated with 5 days of breakfasts and lunches going out to eat versus eating in. The comparison from eating in to eating out is fractional. That means more money for fun and visiting other attractions. How about a 5 day vacation rental to Miami Beach and getting a vacation rental at the New Casablanca on the Ocean. You get two bedrooms, kitchenette and not to mention a property centrally located to all that is fun in Miami Beach. A trip for March 22nd to March 26th is $143.00 per night. Split that between two couples comes out to be $357.50 for the 5 days !!!

There is no lack of events and activities for one to enjoy while in Miami Beach, but why not consider, especially taking into account the dates we used, visiting the Coral Gables Wine and Food Festival taking place on March 26th. There is much more. Visit the official Miami Beach Tourism Site to see what might tickle your fancy and plan a trip around that.

Vacation Rentals are just one more option at your disposal to still be able to travel and enjoy yourself. Travel Ape is here to make sure everyone has fun.

Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts

2009-02-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

If you have been lucky enough to travel to many places and often, hopefully the area of Naples Florida has been one of the places you've been able to see. Found on the gulf coast and south west region of Florida, Naples is a combination of sleepy quiet town and excitement rolled into one. Yes a very unique place indeed.

Naples Florida has long been known as a place for the blue hairs to reside and the snow birds to flock come winter, but many are probably aware that Naples Florida also has some great hot spots. One such area is Fifth Avenue, a place of chique shops, trendy restaurants and great bars. That being said, there is also the classy side of Naples if you're looking for world class entertainment or a show. You'll find that at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts located at 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard. You may sneeze at what you may think is world class but check out some of these great artists that play the Philharmonic Center for the arts...They include notables such as Tom Jones, Queen Latifah, Oletta Adams and the world renowned River Dance Show, just to name a few. There are so many more. That being said here's some great up coming shows at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts with dates and ticket prices.

Tom Jones will be appearing on Wednesday April 22nd at 8pm. Tickets range from $79 to $100. Check out the Spiritually uplifting gospel sounds of Oleta Adams on February 17th and February 18th where all tickets cost $45, first come first serve for the tickets of your choice. Finally, if classical music is your fancy, from February 26th to March 1st the group Classical No. 4 will be performing where tickets cost $25 for students and $55 for all others.

There's much to see and enjoy at the Naples Philharmonic Center. Call today for tickets and other information 1-(800) 597-1900.

Tampa Travel Guide

2009-02-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

Most recently the host city for the Super Bowl, Tampa is now an official part of the Travel Ape team. Boy oh boy did the big Ape have fun down in Tampa getting the information to form the new Tampa Travel Guide. There's no doubt about it , I think our symian friend has a great affinity for the Sunshine State, although he never likes to play favorites publicly.

So what made Tampa such an appealing place to cover, at least, go to the extent of gathering up all the juicy bits and pieces to make a Travel Ape branded travel guide for the city? Quite simple. Tampa is all about fun. It's a big city, but the city embraces fun in almost everything it does. From the business district area to the marinas the people of Tampa want to have fun.

There are so many great things to do in Tampa and something for any one to enjoy. Let's start with Busch Gardens Tampa. This theme park is flat out a perfect excursion for the entire family, and excursion is the perfect word to define Busch Gardens of Tampa because its over all theme reflects the adventure of Africa. For the adults Tampa has a hot nightlife. If we had to choose one place to see on a visit, the Hyde Park Cafe is a must. Hyde Park Cafe offers three diverse areas in one establishment. Last, but not least, if you have a refined palette the restaurant of choice would have to be Fetishes Restaurant located at 6690 Gulf Street in St. Petersburg.

So we welcome Tampa to the Travel Ape Family. Currently Spirit Airlines has some great deals from several destinations to Tampa. Check them out today.

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - A Place for Lovers.

2009-02-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

Ok before you make yourself take a second look the title of this blog is exactly what you read...Pittsburgh Pennsylvania has been ranked, according to an online poll, as the Number One city in the United States for romance to bloom. Now to the fine print. The poll actually is ranking the number one city for baby boomer romance to bloom. Regardless, Travel Ape found this poll to be interesting enough to look into just a little.

How about some of these statistics about the Steel City. Pittsburgh, at least for boomer marriages, is ranked 8th in marriage rates among the top 50 metro areas in the United States. On top of that, again among boomers, Pittsburgh has the 2nd lowest rate of those divorced and separated. Is it something in the water? The air? Most would think that a tropical paradise would be where love would bloom. Who knew?

Why get into all this lovey dovey talk? Well it's almost Valentine's Day, and if you didn't know Travel Ape has a soft spot for love. With that being said, Travel Ape went out and looked for the top romantic things to do for your romantic trip to Pittsburgh. First check out any number of potential Pittsburgh Hotels. Then get your reservations at one of Pittsburgh's most romantic restaurants the Hyeholde Restaurant located at 190 Hyeholde Dr., Moon Township, PA. Just take a look at the link to the site provided. I can't do it justice by writing about it here. Here's the number for reservations too, 412-264-3116. What wold be a romantic night without a limo to drive you so call Excpetional Limo at 412-956-2697.

Where ever you decide to enjoy your night of romance enjoy. That's from the big old Ape himself.

Alaska 24 Hours of Sunlight - Travel for the Thrill of a Lifetime

2009-02-08T02:19:00.000-08:00

There are many different things in the world that to many the live on this relatively tiny blue marble in the Universe that are obscure, unknown or unexperienced. In Alaska, the phenomenon of 24 hours of sunlight, or on a daily level close to that many hours, where the sun never seems to set.

Imagine traveling to a land where at midnight the sun shines as if you were sitting down for a late lunch. Alaska is no doubt considered and categorized for travel and the avid traveler as adventure travel and for good reason. Many of the state of Alaska's regions are still uncharted and hardly ever traveled by human beings. Many of the cities and even their largest cities are very tough to travel to especially during the winter months. If one were to travel to Alaska, it is said that the best times to enjoy this wonderful land of dense forests, untamed wildlife and majestic mountain ranges is around late May through June. Why? Because the days are longest, meaning the number of hours of sunlight, the skies are usually very clear and blue and the late morning to afternoon hours are warm and comfortable.

There are so many things to see and enjoy in Alaska should you wish to travel and vacation there. Visit old gold rush towns, visit villages of the indigenous people of Alaska, go skiing or do some of the best fresh water fishing that you could do anywhere on the globe.

There aren't a whole heck of a lot of hotels and formal accommodations, but you can make your start by heading to Anchorage. We have a list of Anchorage Hotels to choose from, so check out availability for this coming late May through June.

2009 Mens Basketball Big East Conference Championships.

2009-02-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

The 2008-2009 NCAA Men’s College Basketball season is far from over, but it never is too early to prepare for the post season. Especially when you may be a die hard fan of any number of colleges.

Today’s post is about one of the biggest conference championships in Men’s NCAA Basketball, the Big East Championship. For over 30 years now, teams from the Big East Conference descend upon the city of New York to battle it out for the championship that gives the winner a direct bid into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The venue, none other than one of the most famous sports venues in the world Madison Square Garden. The excitement each year is palpable.

This year the Big East Conference Championship has a slightly different format than it has in many years mainly because the number of teams that participate in the conference have increased to 16 from what I believe was about 10 teams just a few short years ago. Back to the format, the two top teams will get double byes for the first two rounds, as the remaining teams will begin play on Tuesday on March 10th, 2009.

It's not too early at all to try and search for New York City Hotels in and around the Manhattan area where Madison Square Garden is located. If you are really a fan of college basketball this may be one of the finest tournaments in the country. Also, on a personal note Travel Ape has predicted the winner to be the Villanova Men's Basketball Team. We'll see.

If you are interested in getting tickets you have to go to one of the individual colleges or schools ticket offices. Check out the official Big East Men's Basketball site to see the teams.

Boston Harbor Hotel - Boston Hotels

2009-02-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

The Boston Harbor Hotel one of the only Five Star Hotel located on the Water Front in Boston. The location might be what makes this hotel a must to stay at if you have the means and funds, while visiting Boston. It is uniquely positioned as it has views of the ocean on one side and a clear view of the city of Boston on the other. What's more visitors are greeted by a story book like winding green parkway on another side. The long and short is the Boston Harbor Hotel is all about luxury and an upscale experience for visitors. Which, might I add, visitors can reach the hotel by car or by boat should you be out on the open seas and want to come to land to be pampered for a spell.

The hotel features 230 guest rooms which have been recently renovated and updated to capture a more modern, yet elegant decor.

Rooms and accommodations at the Boston Harbor Hotel feature all the trimmings of luxury including big comfy beds and hand crafted and carved furniture and Italian Marble. How about the fact that you also can relax in your room while enjoying television on a flat screen plasma television? Talk about class and luxury, the Boston Harbor Hotel has it all.

The hotel and property are great for staying over and also for hosting events. The event room can handle both small intimate gatherings and meetings, to large events such as weddings where attendance can reach up to 350 people.

Find out more about the Boston Harbor Hotel by visiting their official website. Why not also check out the local events calendar for the Boston area to see if some event , show or anything is happening and plan a trip. You can't lose.

NBA Tickets.

2009-02-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

The NBA or National Basketball Association is very hot right now, and believe it or not, it's coming to it's mid way point in just a few weeks. That point culminates on February 15th 2009 for the NBA's All Star Game.

Why are things so hot? The NBA is experiencing a resurgence of interest mainly due to the achievement of the USA Basketball team during the 2008 Summer Games in China where USA won gold. The team was made up of great players from the USA that are all excelling for their respective NBA teams, of which two of Team USA's premiere players are caught in a grudge match for potential 2008-2009 MVP NBA Honors...You might have heard of them both..A Mr. Lebron James and a Mr. Kobe Bryant.

So don't miss either of them if you can. Check out both player's teams schedule and available tickets by going to www.TravelApe.com Cleveland Cavalier's Tickets and the Los Angeles Laker's Tickets sections provided.

Should some other form of entertainment strike some interest in you TravelApe.com has a complete event tickets sections. Check it out.

Cancun Hotels and Cancun Vacation Packages.

2009-02-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

I think the cold and snow have finally gotten to most of us here in Travel Ape nation. I know Travel Ape himself has taken excursions to Florida several times in the past few months, but he's even complaining today about the wintery weather. In his mind Florida isn't tropical or south enough, he's thinking about Mexico.

Well one of the most famous destination resorts in Mexico is of course Cancun. We've stumbled upon several Cancun Vacation Packages through some of our alliances, and they really are great. Obviously being a great destination like Cancun is, the hotels in the area are quality. One such Cancun hotel that features multiple packages is the Laguna Suites Spa and Golf Resort Cancun. In general the Laguna Suites Spa and Golf Resort has a whole bunch to offer. First and foremost like the name of the property indicates it sits on site with a golf course. The Pok Ta Pok Golf Club to be specific offering 18 holes of majestic play in Mexico. Also you'll find the full service Namaste Spa. Other perks include full access to two other local sister resorts, free airport transfers to and from the hotel and a free shuttle to the Ocean Spa Resort Cancun.

The suites at the Laguna Suites Spa and Golf Resort are just fantastic. They are fully air-conditioned, equipped with cable television a sofa bed and are handicap accessible.

Packages for the Laguna Suites and Golf Resort range from $199 to $549 depending on the number of days and nights spent and the premiums offered.

The $199 package is called the Sweet Suite Cancun Getaway and offers accommodations for 4 days and 3 nights in a junior suite plus 2 $30 Spa Gift Certificates. For $429 they have what is called the Cancun 5 Night Getaway. This is basically the same package as in the Sweet Suite Cancun Getaway but you get 6 Days at the resort. Finally is the Cancun Super Getaway which offers 7 Days and 6 Nights for $549. As with all packages this one comes with accommodations in a junior suite plus 2 $30 gift certificates to the spa.

If you're really interested in pursuing one of these packages you can go directly to the web site links offered above or call 1-800-675-8399 for a customer service representative. Also why not plan your vacation around events happening around the calendar in Cancun. Check out the Official Cancun Visitors Bureau Website.

Getting Ready for the Pro Bowl after a Crazy NFL Season...

2009-02-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

As I stated in my previous post congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers the 2009 NFL's Super Bowl Champions !!! Again what a crazy season and a fitting crazy end to the years most anticipated sporting event.

To that end we now set our sights on the some what anticlimactic game of the NFl's Pro Bowl to be played on February 8th 2009 in Hawaii. To most of you out there traveling to the Hawaii, or better yet, making plans to take a vacation to go to Honolulu is at this point on the calendar may not be financially and practical for many. That doesn't mean that for those lucky few that are may be able to find time, money and whatever else is necessary to get to the game, or for those of you that are interested in the game itself, that we at Travel Ape can't help but build up a little excitement.

The game is played at Aloha Stadium and has been for many years. If you go to Wikipedia it has some great information that not many know about relating to the evolution and history of the Pro Bowl, one little fact of which, it was played at Texas Stadium in 1973. One additional fact that I'm not sure a lot of people know is that there are plans to have the Pro Bowl Played the week between the Conference Championship Games and the Super Bowl. The times they are a changing.

If you are still thinking about finding a hotel room for the game check out our complete listings of potential vacant hotels in Hawaii and the surrounding area for this coming weekend. Just so you know we've seen rates for as low as $92 a night to as high as $400 a night for premium hotel locations. The big rate deal on the $92 a night price can be found at the Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel and for a 2.5 Star Rated hotel it's quite a bargain and relatively near the stadium.

Go Back to the 70's and Dance Your Disco at Boogie Nights in Atlantic City.

2009-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

For some the 1970's meant high gas prices and long lines at the pump. To others it was a weird time between the 1960's and 1980's. Well whatever it meant to you if you were there, or if you wanted to experience it for yourself, there's a club in Atlantic City at Resorts Casino called Boogie Nights.

As the song that carries the same moniker of the club "Ain't no Doubt we are here to Party" and the fun is hot in this throwback of a dance club on the boardwalk. Resorts Atlantic City Hotel Casino dubs the club as the "ultimate 70's and 80's dance club" where patrons can find great specials on Friday and Saturday Nights.

The club gets grooving at 9pm and admission is $10 regular and free for Elite and Ultra Members. You can also get reservations for a table at Boogie Nights for a VIP Table. Call 609-340-7698.

Get your polyester shirts out and go have some fun in Atlantic City with Boogie Nights.

Spring Training is Just around the Corner. Why not catch the Action in Florida.

2009-01-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

It seems just like last week that Travel Ape's beloved Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball won the World Series. Well as quick as the time has passed since that rainy week in October of 2008, the new MLB Season is almost upon us as teams prepare to organize for spring training.

Few places capture the esssence of spring training like that of the state of Florida. Cities from across the state of Florida have clamored and held their fingers in hopes of being chosen as a spot for a Major League team to host their spring training. Here's a few place and cities across Florida that might be worth checking out if you are also interested in taking a vacation to escape the cold of winter. Spring Training for all teams begins officially February 25th, 2009.

There are about 14 teams in the MLB that have a city in Florida be there home away from home during spring training. We'll highlight some of the top teams and provide links for checking out prices and rates on hotels for the cities that the teams are located during spring training. Trust me, if you've never thought about it, mixing in a trip to Florida with sping training is one of those little thought of ideas that are golden. The tickets for exhibition games are a fraction of the price for games during the regular season. So we'll let you know where the teams train and give you links for checking out hotel rates in those areas.

First to the defending World Series Champions, the Fighting Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have been training in Clearwater Florida for some time. There should be some extra excitement around camp this year due to the World Series victory. Check out rates for Clearwater Hotels for the end of February.

Next we have the New York Yankees. Sure the Bronx Bombers had a disappointing season last year, but the Yanks are still a major brand in sports recongnized world wide. The New York Yankees train up and around the Tampa Florida area. We just checked and it looks like there are some great deals for Tampa Hotels around the time that spring training begins. It also might be a good strategy to check out dates the few weeks following the beginning of spring break for even better deals.

Last on this list we decided to go with the Boston Red Sox. Yeah, we know, another team that came up a little short, but come on, they almost made it back to the fall classic. And yes, we're fully aware that we have two American League teams featured. Not done on purpose. To that end the Boston Red Sox have been training in and around the Fort Myers Florida area for many years now. There has been some talk about the team moving to another location in the state of Florida, but for now they are staying put. The Fort Myers area is actually unique because it's located around several other key tourist destinations including Naples, Cape Coral and Port Charlotte. All are located along the gulf coast and make for great places to stay and visit. Palm trees abound. Check out complete Fort Myers hotels with this link including rates, reviews and maps.

We're doing our homework about the teams that use Arizona as their homes during spring break and will have info about them in our next post. Until then, for all you hardcore baseball fans only 25 days and counting till spring break begins.

Some Rides at Epcot So Real Even though Virtual.

2009-01-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

Travel Ape and I happened to be discussing the changing nature of amusement and rides found at some of the best and brightest theme parks in the world. Much of the conversation was how much the evolution of virtual reality rides. I happened to mention, and this was from over ten years ago, the incredible realistic feeling the Back to the Future Ride at Universal Studios Orlando was to me. Travel Ape, being the man that he is, had to one up me. The story he told blew me away and has me wanting to get a trip to Florida just to take a ride on the "Mission to Mars".

The Mission to Mars ride is located at the Epcot section of the Walt Disney World Resort. The ride was unofficially opened to test the likes and dislikes of users in August 2003. Since then the ride has, for lack of better words and no pun intended, skyrocketed to being one of the most sought after theme park rides to try. An excerpt from a press release by Disney themselves have the description as "Guests who accept the mission will engage in a one-of-a-kind astronaut experience that launches them into a simulated space adventure -- from pulse-racing liftoff to the sensations of traveling though outer space on a mission to Mars. The new attraction is the most technologically advanced ever created by Disney. In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering developed Mission: SPACE as the first ride system ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight."

This description doesn't do the ride any justice. Travel Ape went on to tell me that the reality of the scenides that get the hair on the back of your neck standing up and your stomach doing tumble saultses, the way the ride moves, the propulsion felt was worse than any real life roller coaster he'd ever braved to partake. Travel Ape really is a pain in the back rear when it comes to giving away to many secrets of fun he'd like to have his friends try, but what he did say was that if you've ever seen one of those centrifuge machines they have in movies where astronauts are training, I'd have a pretty decent idea of one of the things I'd be getting myself into by going on the ride. The final assessment was he'd never come close to feeling like he was about to vomit, but by the end of the ride, had it gone just 5 more seconds, that would have inevitably happened. A glowing endorsement or a stark warning I still can't tell. All I can say is that if you are an action junky and love rides that get the hair on the back of your neck standing up and your stomach doing tumble saults

A Time for Excellence in a Dying Economy.

2009-01-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

Recently a friend of TravelApe's spoke to him about the utter frustration he had with the site Hot Wire. Hot Wire, for those of you who may not know, is a site that offers a unique pricing mechanism while looking for travel services. Specifically, as it relates to this post, we'll be discussion the booking of hotels.

Well to eliminate much of the waste in the story I'll provide some big facts. First, the friend was looking to book a reservation for a hotel for a destination in Florida. To that end, it took him 6 tries to book the reservation during which time his reservation was not confirmed, but either a hold was placed on the cash in the account being used to make the purchase or actually removed from the account where a refund was necessary. All totaled the friend had about $1200 "out there" that needed to be accounted for and where services were not delivered.

In this day and age, where the economy is tumbling, where consumer confidence is dwindling by the day the major brands in the world need to pay attention even greater than they ever have before, to help reverse these trends. Poor service, confusion on the web sites, frustrated consumers only magnify the situation. The trend is a familiar one and scary. First the economy is bad anyway so people stop making purchases. Then those that do make purchases run into the bad issues with Hot Wire that I spoke about above in this post. What comes next, the obvious, less people use the service. The effect then is that Hot Wire as a business loses credibility and there goes the dynamite !!

Travel conglomerates like Hotels.com, Priceline and Travelocity, in addition to smaller brands like TravelApe.com and Reserve Vacations need to seize this opportunity to show greatness in a declining market. The markets, God willing, will rebound, and consumers will return. That being said, those brands and companies that stand the sizable tides in front of them and weather the storms will be those that survive for a long time to come.

Find Hotels in Florida.

2009-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Sticking with a little bit of a theme due to the excessive cold that old man winter is sticking it to the North East of the United States we at Travel Ape have been looking into options to get to warmer weather. It appears that the best bet, as it were, for vacations is either in Southern California or Sunny Florida. Today we'll give some options for Florida.

A great site that we've noticed and have had some communication with is State of Florida Hotels. Now before we go any further just one note. The site is very simple, but trust us it's chock full of complete information related to hotels and the cities all over Florida. That being said, let us be completely clear so you really see the full value of this site. State of Florida Hotels doesn't just offer information and hotel information for the major destinations, but to almost every city in the state that has a hotel, motel or some kind of commercial accommodations.

Sure you can find great information for Orlando Hotels, Miami Hotels and Fort Lauderdale Hotels, but there are many other great cities that you can check out. Just so we continue to offer solid info here are some featured hotels and pricing for these major destinations. If you're looking to escape to the American Riveria of Miami and it's famed beaches we'd like to suggest one of the best hotels in the entire area, the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club Miami Hotel located at 19999 West Country Club Drive in Miami. Ok, the rates I'm about to quote may seem excessive, but this is one incredible hotel located in the heart of paradise. If you book a hotel room there rates are about $400 a night. If you have the cash don't miss out on this fabulous hotel. If you head a little North of Miami to Fort Lauderdale we suggest getting right on to the beach. The hotel of choice, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Resort. When we checked for rates at this hotel for this coming week the average price seemed to vary in the hundreds. Definitely worth a look. Last if you want to maybe get to Florida but have some family you need to bring along obviously Orlando is the choice. The Buena Vista Suites Orlando Hotel is the perfect choice. Here you get great quality, your near the main gates of Disney World and the price is perfect at about $140 a night. That's fantastic.

Of course there are many other destinations worth checking out if you get the chance to go to Florida, and the site offers equal the information about Tampa Hotels, Fort Myers Hotels, Key West Hotels and Naples Hotels.

Whatever you do if Florida is on the map for a trip this site is very much a great place to check out.

A Great Site for Unique Vacation Packages.

2009-01-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

Every once and a while we at TravelApe.com come across some unique places to find travel and travel related services. Recently that has happened once again, as we have stumbled across Reserve Vacations, a great place to find unique vacation packages.

Now what makes ReserveVacations.com so unique. First, the pricing. You'll find vacation packages that have accommodations that are priced at up to 75% discount on regular rates for hotel rooms. That's not a misprint. At a high level you can find up to 75% off regular rates. Second, the packages come with great premiums. The one catch is that many of the resorts that offer packages are time share properties and require a 90 minute to 2 hour tour and exhibit to get the deal. I know, I know, the phrase time share connotates scam or too goo to be true. That being said, and having done a little home work on the topic, this image really is unfounded, especially as of late. The timeshare industry has undergone a dramatic change and shift from this image and the big thing is the vacation packages do not require that a purchase be made. Just enjoy the facility, take up to, at most, 2 hours out of your trip and you get a deal that can't be matched.

You'll find like with an Orlando Vacation Package, premiums that offer 2 free passes to the gems of the theme park world in Disney World, Sea World Orlando and Universal Studios Florida. One such great Orlando Vacation Package called the Family Disney Fun Vacation offers such a deal with 2 day passes to Disney World. Or how about with a group of Myrtle Beach Vacation Packages that offer great golf packages or simple vacations. One featured Myrtle Beach Vacation Package offers what is called the Golfer's Dream and can be found at Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation Package for $199 for 4 Days and 3 Nights, full accommodations plus two rounds of golf that include a cart. I'm talking about incredible rates.

The only issue we've found is that transportation to and from the destinations are not included in the packages. It can be a little bit of a pain to organize the flight if the destination is a little far away, but again, with rates like these it's worth a look. Reserve Vacations has a section for Hot Vacation Deals and is worth a look periodically if you're thinking about taking a vacation soon.

Spirit Airlines Showing Cracks in the Armor.

2009-01-13T13:26:00.001-08:00

As many of you may or may not know our friend Travel Ape has headed south, and in good time, to miss out on the cold of the Northeast. Well good for him. That being said, however, in a phone conversation yesterday I can tell you that our Symian Friend was not very happy with his flying experience on Spirit Airlines. To say it bluntly Spirit Airlines wasn't good. Now let me remind all of you that in the past and for quite some time Travel Ape has been very happy with his traveling service brought by Spirit. It just seemed like from the very beginning that there were going to be issues.

In the first place, the only flight offered to his destination, which was the South West Region of Florida heading to places like Bonita Springs, Naples, and Fort Myers departed at 7:30am in the morning. Doing what he always does, Travel Ape headed to the airport to arrive at 1o minutes to 6am to find a line out the door. The Spirit Airlines staff only had 4 people at the counters and the line moved very slow. Having worked his way through the gauntlet he next came to another long line, but in all fairness this was managed by the staff of the Atlantic City International Airport. Now to be fair to Spirit Airlines, it appeared that this point in the trip was where things went sour. Travel Ape conceded that, although he had never been to prison, the style and manner in which the staff cattle prodded people through the line and the way they spoke to people, including senior citizens, reminded him of what he had seen as new inmates came off buses and were being brought into the state pen for the first time. Next due to the short amount of time from being let into the gate area to being able to sit down and eat, he had literally 15 minutes and they started to board the plane.

It only got worse for some reason. The plane was delayed because the staff had not cleaned it from the previous flight nor was able to, in a timely manner, de-ice the wings and then the flight itself took more than 45 minutes than was expected.

Again, many of the issues may have to be just chalked up to acts of God, but in the totality of things, Spirit Airlines needs to address these issues. One such thing that has nothing to do with the flight itself is the very booking process on the site. There used to be such an easy interface to book seats after the reservations were made, but now for the last two flights that Travel Ape has used Spirit Airlines the interface was impossible.

I'm sure he speaks for most when he prays and hopes that Spirit's Brass see the issues and we'll address the issues quickly and efficiently. The travel world is bad enough without having issues of bad customer service.

Getaway to Florida before the Snow Hits - A Message to the Northeast United States.

2009-01-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, maybe the title to this blog post is not fair, but if you have the means and money heading to Florida, and doing it soon is the right move. Travel Ape sure is doing it. On Monday morning Travel Ape will be heading to the West Coast of Florida to visit places like Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Marco Island and other great places along the coast.

If you haven't heard, the Northeast is about to be socked with some dreary weather adding to it possible snow fall. It is fortuitous though, because Travel Ape hadn't planned on leaving on a whim, he had his trip booked for over a month now. It just looks like genius.

To that end here are some cool places that Travel Ape plans on visitng while on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

First to Naples Florida. Of course we have to give out the gratuitous pointers to Naples Hotels and one Featured hotel in Naples, Florida being the Quality Inn and Sainte Golf Resort located at 4100 Golden Gate Parkway. To that end while in Naples Travel Ape will definitely be making his way to the famed Fifth Avenue Block of Naples. This really is a wonderful place that he's dubbed the mini-rodeo drive of the Gulf Coast. You'll find hip places to drink plus any number of great restaurants. From European style dining to eclectic fare you'll find it on Fifth Avenue.

Next to Fort Myers Beach, where again, we'll offer some Fort Myers Hotels suggestions and this one featured Fort Myers hotel, the Hyatt Coconut Plantation Fort Myers Hotel located at 1800 Coconut Plantation Drive, which is actually in Bonita Springs, but if you know the area they are right near each other. Now when Travel Ape heads to Fort Myers he loves to go to this little out of the way place called Junkanoo on the Beach Bar and Restaurant. If you look at the link provided you'll see that this place has what Florida is all about. An open bar to the beach and some of the best sites you'll see. You'll think you're in heaven.

If you don't have the time, money or resources to get to Florida, that's ok. Travel Ape will have plenty to tell you about so you can plan very soon to get down there.

Preparing for the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay.

2009-01-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

Tampa Bay is home to the 2009 Super Bowl, or better stated Super Bowl XLIII. The game will be played at the home field of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccanneer's, Raymond James Stadium on February 1st 2009. Now that all of the formalities are out of the way, Travel Ape is here to offer a little bit of advice on what to do and see if you're lucky enough to be visiting the Tampa Bay area for this year's Super Bowl.

Tampa is a great city to visit regardless if it is hosting a Super Bowl or not, but with all the fanfare that an event like this can offer, the city will truly be jumping the week of the Super Bowl. Ok for starters let's get to some tips about what to do for game day. Do yourself a favor and look up your seats and the complex parking lot to see what section best suits you for parking and will be available that day. The information is provided directly off of the official Raymond James Stadium Web Site. Now for the schedule of game day openings we have 9am the NFL controlled parking lots will allow cars to begin to park. This will allow visitors and ticket holders to be there for the 11am NFL Experience event. Then at 2pm the stadium will be open for seating.

There may be some very little help to find any number Tampa Bay Hotels at this point but here are some hotels that are still available. The La Quinta Inn and Suites Tampa has an incredible deal for $199 a night from January 30th to February 1st. The Howard Johnson Express Suites has room rates available for the same time period at $254.15 a night.

I can't say for how long that these rates or even availability will be around for long, so if you've decided to attend this year's Super Bowl jumping on the rates available now would be advisable.

Three Great Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach

2009-01-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

Myrtle Beach is syonomous with golfing. To some it's considered to be a mecca of golf to others the golf capital of the world. We've tried to get an official number but its figures that Myrtle Beach offers more than 100 golf courses in the city alone. To try and sum up the Top Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach is not an easy thing to do so we've gone out to our members. Criteria such as difficulty, layout, location, services were all taken in to consideration. Here are some of the results. We offer to you the TravelApe.com members Top Three Myrtle Beach Golf Courses.

The Dye Course at Barefoot Resort - The Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach is home to four courses, but the Dye Golf Course is the signature golf course to this resort area. The Dye Course is named aptly for its' designer Pete Dye. Be forewarned, this is not a course that a beginner should take on his or her first shot out. The Dye Course is notoriously known for being extremely challenging even to the most skilled golfer. All totaled the course is laid out in over 7,000 yards and is a Par 72. Greens Fees are a little pricey too, for a round of golf can go anywhere from $100 to $180. With all the pitfalls and difficulties the course offers there is no way to discount the beauty of the landscape. This course is a work of art. The Dye Course at Barefoot Resort lies along the coastline that gives way to beautiful white sands of the Myrtle Beach back bays. Of course with a golf course such as this the play is not only the highlight of your visit. You can enjoy Five Star Dining or partake in any number of other great amenties the resort has to offer.

The True Blue Plantation Golf Club - This public golf course is one of the most famous in the world of golf. Offering over 7,000 yards of links and a Par 72, this well manicured, curvaceous course is magnificent. A few of the top features of the True Blue Plantation Golf Course is the significant elevation changes from hole to hole and from tee to greens. To add a little more to the list of awards and credentials of True Blue Plantation, Golf Digest named it as one of the Top 50 Golf Courses in the United States. From our research we've found out that a lot of changes and "fixes" were made to fill in waste areas and bunkers and to redo a good portion of the links.

Rivers Edge Golf Club - This golf course is a dream. The Rivers Edge Golf Club was designed by none other than Arnold Palmer. This golf course offers a 72 Par Handicap with about 6,900 yards of links. Greens fees are actually not bad, relative to other courses in Myrtle Beach, where the average greens fees are $89 to $109. To that end just as it was stated with the Dye Course, the Rivers Edge Golf Course is very difficult. The word punishing actually came up several times when this course was discussed. For the golfer, sure playing the game and withstanding the pressure each one puts upon himself is a rush, but we can not discount the beauty and magesty that many of these courses have to offer. The Rivers Edge Golf Course is named so for just the reason of it's location. It is located and situated along the Shallotte River.

We will be coming back with more reviews of golf courses as time passes and as always we welcome the comments and questions by you our users. Till then good golfing.

Happy New Year from TravelApe.

2009-01-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

The fanfare is mostly behind us. The holiday season is making it's last whimper into the cold and new beginning of January as 2009 greets all of us. On behalf of the great Travel Ape and all of his friends we wish all of our supporters, contributors, friends, acquaintances the best in the New Year.

Some very exciting things are happening at TravelApe.com in 2009. Towards the end of 2008, as many of you have seen with our posts here, Travel Ape is expanding and upgrading its content and the number of destinations it covers. Further, TravelApe also introduced new travel products and services to its vacation package section with unique vacation packages. TravelApe.com has become the wise man on the block, as it were, having successfully completed it's 8th Year online in February 2008 and about to celebrate year number nine in less than a month. Once again we've found another great partner in ReserveVacations.com . Reserve Vacations LLC, the parent company of the website offers unique vacation packages to great destinations. To make it easier follow the accompanying links for Cancun Vacation Deals, Atlantic City Resort Packages, Las Vegas Vacations, Williamsburg Travel, Branson Vacation Deals, Myrtle Beach Resort Deals, Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages and most recently Orlando Vacations.

You can follow some of the new sections on Travel Ape with these other helpful links. Orlando Vacation Package, Atlantic City Vacation Packages, Myrtle Beach Vacation Packages, Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages and Branson Vacation Packages. Again, a lot of exciting things are happening.

Keep coming back and keep visiting the main site of TravelApe.com. We pride ourselves in extracting the fun that is out there and we're pretty happy with what we can offer.

Branson Missouri...Enjoy a Smoky Mountain Christmas...and Get a Branson Hotel

2008-12-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Branson Missouri has slowly crept into the conscienseness as being a destination resort. Branson has been heralded as one of the greatest cities to in having the most shows and theaters. Well if you happen to be in the Branson area there is a great celebration that the people from this charming town of the Ozark Mountains Celebrates each year. It's called the Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration. The general time line of this celebration begins the day after the pumpkins are put away from Halloween and culimnates on New Year's Eve. This year, 2008 marks the 20th Annual Celebration of this Festival

Let's take a look at some of the great things to take part in at Branson's Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration.

Silver Dollar City - This is a Theme Park in the area that offers rides, entertainment, shows and great food. Further, the park is modeled and themed for 1880's America. During the Smoky Mountain celebration the theme park turns into a winter wonderland. Every night during the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival, Silver Dollar City puts on a wonderful Christmas Parade that includes floats that have over 100,000 Christmas lights combined on them. Imgaine pulling that line of lights out of a knot.

DollyWood - Named after the famous entertainer Dolly Parton, this theme park is just as wonderful for the Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration. This year Dollywood's theme is Babes in Toyland. This is a wonderul musical that has over 20 people in the production and is backed by a tremendous professional orchestra. The show is put on every night and will run to January 3rd 2009.

Last on our tour of Branson's Christmas Bonanza is the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights. I can honestly say words don't do it justice, because it really is amazing. The drive is called the Magical Christmas Wonderland and takes the tour of the entire city up to what is called Inspiration Tower.

This weekend you might be able to find some great Branson Hotel Deals. The average rates I'm seeing right now fora stay starting tomorrow, December 20th, are about $100 a night. Remember I said average, which includes the higher end properties. One of the more incredible spots is the Chateau on the Lake in Branson. Another solid property to visit is the Radisson Hotel Branson. Both hotels are offering rates in the neighborhood of $129 and $69 respectively.

For more information about the Smoky Mountain Christmas or for more information about Branson Missouri and all there is to see and do check out the link provided.

Christmas in Italy...Traveling to Rome During the Holiday Season..

2008-12-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Our gregoreous and happy go lucky purple ape, known to many you affectionately sure does love to travel. Oddly, as he was reviewing the posts to his blog he realized that he has neglected to talk about the beauty and style of destinations outside of the United States. Once again, trying to maintain a theme of reflecting on the holiday season our simian friend thought it would be fun to discuss both traveling to a destination outside of the United States and doing so doing the Holiday season. That is, what kind of traditions, fun, events, etc, etc, could the would be traveler find should he or she venture to a foreign land during the holiday season. We chose the beautiful and ancient city of Rome Italy.

If any of you out there have family or friends of Italian desent, or have the priviledge of being so, you can all attest that the traditions, feast and events surrounding the Holiday season for the Italians is bright, fun and festive. Oh, yeah, and the food is just incredible. Venturing outside to Italy itself does offer a slight variation on the traditions and foods one might find in an Italian American household or party during the Holiday season. If you do happen to go on a Rome Italy Vacation, and it is during the festive holiday season here are somethings to expect. What one has to remember is that Rome, as a city, is ancient and much of the traditions for Christmas date back to the actual Roman Empire era or antiquity. One of the traditions that was very common in Italy, but I have reccently found out, is that during the Christmas season the Holiday is ushered in by festivities including fifers, or to best translate, musicians that play a bagpipe type of instrument. The sound carries through the city and really offers a "feel" to the season. As I mentioned, sadly, this tradition is fading from the scene. Now unlike the United States, in Italy a decorative Nativity scene is the focal point of decorations in homes and around the city. Another difference in Italy is the legend of Santa Clause. Children in Italy still look fondly to Christmas to venture to sleep and but look to a female version known as La Befana. This Christmas gift giver is said to fly around on a broom but their night comes on the day of January 6th for the Feast of the Epiphany. The day to celebrate the arrival of the three Wise Men visiting baby Jesus.

There are many other great traditions, but you can see for each country a little something different and wonderful is a part of the tradition. If you happen along to Rome Italy, be sure to enjoy all the holiday has to offer.

Top Ten Office Holiday Party Offenses...

2008-12-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

Well here at TravelApe.com the holidays are in high gear. Sure the economy has been sluggish but the Ape himself has made his way to the offices more than usual the past few weeks just to offer some extras encouragement. I'm sure I don't have to say that everyone loves him here. Travel Ape brings with him quite a bit of exuberance, spirit and fun. Well we're preparing for the annual TravelApe.com Holiday Party, and it occurred to me, there's probably no one event that could be the death nail to many on the job when it comes to these events. So I figured I'd offer my own bit of advice when it comes to going to the office holiday party. I hope these tips help.

The first bit of advice is whether you're required to go to the office holliday party. Sure to most employees, the office party is nothing more than an extension of work and therefore an extension of the politics, the rules and everything else that goes along with work. To some extent, sadly enough this is true. We can't always hope that the workers that work for us, will behave like adults. Party's are associated with fun, drinking and to some degree letting loose. So when it comes to the choice of attending or not attending, just know this...just go..unless there is some unforseen God awful thing that has come up and you can't attend, there is no way around management not looking into the fact that you're not there. They have put the time, effort and money to try and show their appreciation for you so by not showing up you're giving them a big flag as to what you feel about the company.

The second bit of advice is for God's sake don't go to the party on an empty stomach. This is just a big no no and as an adult when it comes to drinking. A full stomach sops up sooo much. Eat things like breads or pasta, or even a few glasses of milk, if your lactose tolerant. Poor Travel Ape isn't thats why I bring that fact up.

The third is dress attire. Why I even have to mention this is beyond me, but being around the world of business long enough and having attended my share of Office Holiday Party's I've seen some big missteps in this area. I'm not saying go out and rent a tux or go pay $5000 for a gown that one would wear to the Presidential Innagural Ball, but just be smart about it. No jeans..Maybe some offices are laid back and sure enough ours are here at TravelApe.com but put on a pair of kahki's if your a man and no t-shirts. The same goes for the ladies. A pair of nice slacks and a conservative button down shirt or sweater works great.

The fourth is try your best to have fun and not do business. This is definitely not the time to pitch to your supervisor, upper management, the CEO or Chairman your next great idea. The Holiday Office Party really is meant for just that..a time to break away from the drudgery of the daily grind in the office or work place and try and have time to mix with co-workers on a different level. By the grace of God if you happen to run into a whale of a client while stopping at the convenience store on the way to the party that's 100% sure thing, contract in hand and is worth big money to the firm, that might be the exception to this rule.

The fifth is a combination of a few helpful hints...Don't get drunk, don't hook up and don't dance like you're at a Hedonism Resort. The first bit of advice should be paramount, because it is no doubt the catalyst that usually leads to the other two fopaux's I mentioned. Remember you work with these people and probably outside your immediate family are the people you have to deal with more often day to day than anyone. I've heard horror stories where employees that have had steller careers for years at a firm, all to just smudge their reputations because of one night of one or two stupid acts.

The long and short is, I'm sure to most that have read the above, that common sense would seem to be enough. Sadly enough, and history has shown us, that it isn't enough. So for those of you that already know these rules of the Holiday Office Party kudos to you. Maybe you'd like to pass this post along to friends, collegues or family that you feel might find the suggestions helpful.

Vacation Pacakges, Vacation Deals and Resort Packages...TravelApe.com Has it Now..

2008-11-29T15:01:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take this time to offer a little introduction to the newest members and premiums offered by the wonderful Travel Ape. TravelApe.com the official site of Travel Ape is now offering a vacation packages and vacation deals section. Actually, I'm speaking out of turn. TravelApe.com had the Vacation Packages section for some tim but some new cities have been added, in addition to having added some new cities. These cities include Cancun Mexico, Branson, Williamsburg and Myrtle Beach.

The exciting thing I've noticed though is that Travel Ape really went out to find some great deals for vacation packages and vacation deals in these destinations. First for Cancun Vacation Pacakges I'm seeing a deal for $199 for a 4 day and 3 night package with additional premiums. That's a heck of a deal heading to Cancun Mexico. What's more it appears that several other packages will be offered going to Cancun that range somewhere in the $199 to $499 price for comparable trips that are regularly priced from $799 to over $1000. The deals are very good.

The next newsest group of packages for a destination they are offering are for Williamsburg Vacation Packages. What makes Williamsburg Virginia such an attractive destination for travel is it really is a simple place to get to from many sources and directions, plus it's a great family vacation. The deals being offered are on average for 4 Days and 3 Nights with great premiums that include free meals, tickets to local amusement parks, discounts on all kinds of stuff. The rates for the Williamsburg Vacation Packages that I saw ranged somewhere between $149 to $250 for the 4 day stays. The property where these deals are offered are the Westgate Historic Williamsburg Resort.

One last place that is worth mentioning is Myrtle Beach South Carolina. It goes without saying that many of the best golf vacation packages you could find probably are offered along with Myrtle Beach Vacation Packages. Once again as I observed for the other destinations, the pricing and the offerings are incredible. For anywhere from $165 to $250 you can find a 4 day and 3 night vacation package and mix in a premium that you would enjoy. Participating properties where you can find accommodations for these Myrtle Beach Vacation Pacakges are at the Springmaid Beach Resort, the Golf Colony Resort on Surfside Beach and the Wild Wing Resort of Myrtle Beach. I've checked out all the pacakges coming out and each has there own value. It really is up to the traveler.

We are proud here at TravelApe.com as well as having Travel Ape be a very happy soul. There will be more informaiton about great deals each day and we'll be adding packages to the destinations we currently serve.

Holiday Season Has it's Highs...and Lows...A Tip of the Hat to Those Who Help...

2008-11-26T22:18:00.000-08:00

A current theme of Travel Ape's posts have been toward the Holiday Season. There is no doubt that the Season is upon us now, as I sit on the East Cost and it is officially Thanksgiving Day. There are many things to look upon as this season comes, especially when it comes to tradition. There are foods, and events that many of us look to each year. Of course there comes a lot of travel with the holiday's too, and Travel Ape would be remiss if he didn't at least acknowledge that to be the case. We travel to friends homes, back to our childhood homes to visit with parents and grandparents, or to go for a special getaway to either a sunny island or a ski vacation.

To many though, this season brings with it a great deal of malaise. It's a time where people who have felt loss or are alone, where this feeling stings the most. No one deserves to be alone during this time of year especially and there are travel programs for singles, or elderly to take part.

To that end there are some unsung heroes that help people dealing with grief, and having had spend much time on the road, Travel Ape would like to acknowledge these people and the organizations.

In the West Coast, out of Los Angeles California there is the Hope Unit Foundation. Founded by a group of ten people that were spurred into action by a feeling that cancer patients and to a larger extend terminal patients were not be treated for the grief associated with their conditions. The HOPE Unit Foundation did just that. They have been recognized in California for their outstanding work in this area and are a fabulous group. If you live, travel to or are even in need of help like this in Los Angeles check out the HOPE Unit Foundation.

Heading out to the East Coast, a smaller area, but an organization that really has become a shining star in the area of grief counseling is the Alcove Grief Counseling and serves the greater Atlantic City NJ area. The Alcove is located in the town of Northfield NJ, which is just outside of Atlantic City, but the focus of the foundation is to counsel children dealing with a loss in the family. A service that can't be heralded enough. The Alcove has been able to collect millions in grants and contributions each year due to its outstanding reputation in dealing with grief as it does with children. As any of us know, the Holidays can be a difficult time to deal with loss, but for children it is a sin that should not have a solution ready. The members of the Alcove provide this incredible service.

The city of New Orleans was stunned almost 4 years ago by Hurricane Katrina, and in large part as a community has not recovered. The Seasons Grief Center has been providing help in overtime since this terrible tragedy. Originally having been set up to deal with terminally ill patients and their families, Season's has extended their service to help out with many in the community that are dealing with loss of a life they had. A life that had been decimated to nothing. For that effort and so much more Seasons Grief Center of New Orleans has received much official recognition and awards for this effort. For good reason.

There are many other viable and worthy organizations that probably deserve recognition for the same reasons the ones mentioned above have been. Travel Ape welcomes any posts to recognize these worthy groups. In the spirit of this being a mainly travel oriented blog and web site, we'd also like to suggest for those of you Volunteer Travel. This is a great way to get away and see the world and also help people.

There is no doubt that Travel Ape is a fun filled simian and absolutely enjoys the holiday season. Travel Ape also has a heart and knows that many are sad and need help.

From all of us at Travel Ape, enjoy your up and coming holiday season, if you're lucky enough to have a good life, be thankful for all you have and if you're not, know that there is a world out there that does care.

Gobble, Gobble and an Early Happy Thanksgiving Greeting with Travel Deals...

2008-11-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

It may be a little early, but Thanksgiving salutations from TravelApe.com and friends. The Thanksgiving weekend is absolutely the biggest travel day of the year, and for goodness sake, not having a post about it here at Travel Ape's blog seems too odd.

There's lot's to do and there are traditions that track back over 100 years or generations for families and communities alike. There's high school football games about community rivals that go back decades. There are family gatherings that bring people across the country to see long lost friends and family once a year. This truly is a great day and doing so in a country that tried so ardently and against the history of humanity, embrace success, achievement, a sense of community and hopes for a better life to be thankful in this way. This truly is Thanksgiving.

A few places that people may be traveling to are Los Angeles, where the sunny shores of the California coastline can welcome an outdoor Thanksgiving feast. Another great place for travel or if you happen to be coming to visit family is Miami Florida. Miami is graced with a high Hispanic community namely Cuban, and a lot of Thanksgiving food fare comes with a Cuban Flare. How about going to the Bayou and traveling to the New Orleans area. The influence on food is most incredible in the New Orleans area and variations on appetizers, to side dishes to even the Turkey itself is almost artistic. Just think Cajun with Turkey...The combination is a home run.

One of the most unique dishes Travel Ape has come across is the Turducken. This is just a feast for the lover of great fowl. It basically is a de-boned turkey that is stuffed with a de-boned duck stuffed with a de-boned chicken. The basting and what goes on in an operation of cooking like this is beyond words. Succulent is all I can say.

Traditions go along with Thanksgiving like no other. Even beyond Christmas, because Thanksgiving is a true holiday of the people. Religious, or agnostic, liberal or conservative or anything in between, for a relative many of us that live in this country, we are lucky. Lucky beyond are stars. Further, comes with it an air of lightness, not of a solemn nature, of relaxation, not stress, with a step back kind of attitude and anticipation of what comes with the up and coming season.

From Travel Ape and his friends his family, he wishes all of you an upcoming Thanksgiving and continuing holiday season.

Holiday Traditions in Travel..Rockefeller Center New York City Tree Lighting

2008-11-20T19:27:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year once again. Well officially in about a week from now the Holiday Season will be upon us. For many, it already has started, and usually is heralded in literally the day after Halloween. One notices this as some radio stations dedicate their broadcasting 24 hours a day up and to Christmas Day with all Christmas Music.

With all that of note, the Holiday season is full of tradition. Either on a per family scale or to a larger degree with things like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the White House and one of Travel Ape's favorites the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center New York City. Several years ago when Travel Ape was just a small simian, his uncle took him up to New York City and he attended an official Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. A day he's never forgotten and if time, his schedule and location permit he tries to make his way to the actual event.

The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is located in the area between 47th and 50th Streets and 5th and 7th Avenues. The text link provided in this paragraph offers directions, schedule and more information about this years tree lighting ceremony and event.

Over the next month during this holiday season Travel Ape will be posting more info about other holiday happenings and traditions across the United States. If there are any that you want to specifically comment about or post, we welcome them here.

From Travel Ape and the rest of us here, we wish you Peace in this up and coming Holiday Season.

Dawson Street Pub in Manyunk Very Disappointing ...

2008-11-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

Travel Ape and I like to try and maintain a sense of youth and in doing so while traveling if we can take in some of the local entertainment we do it.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I happened along into Manyunk Pennsylvania. There was a birthday party, he asked me to tag along, I felt obliged so I went for the ride. We spent the weekend there so we could make a little bit of a trip of it. I digress. We asked around to see what local watering hole might be a decent place to sit back, relax and maybe even take in some music. We were told about Dawson Street Pub.

Without to much hoopie-a-do I'll get right into it. It appears that this place, Dawson Street Pub is living on borrowed time. Maybe at some point this was a place to be, a place where the never before acts of some soon to be new phenom in the world of music got their chance but I didn't see it. To start the door person was rude. No personality and noticeably enjoying the little authority they had. Second, the bartender that I can remember was bad at their job...it's not brain surgery making a Tom Collins...better stated, I could have counted the drink I got as one of my required 8 ounces of water, b/c it was totally watered down. Third, the entertainment was suspect at best and the noise in the place is carried terribly. Last, the regulars, and you can pick them out like a man wearing a pink shirt in a room full of black shirts, are idiots.

I would not recommend Dawson Street Pub at all. Don't waste your time. There is plenty to do in the Philadelphia area, this shouldn't even be on your list.

Spirit Airlines making note improvements..

2008-11-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

I was on the phone with our friend Travel Ape this past weekend. For those of you who may not have noticed our blogs and our official posts haven't happened in a few weeks, so I hope you sadly missed us and are happy to have us back. Well regardless, Travel Ape happened to be sitting in the Fort Myers Airport in Florida on his way to Atlantic City NJ via a Spirit Airlines flight. The topic of discussion was started, "Hey how bad was your flight?". Which Travel Ape responded "You know what I was startled by how fast and courteous the service was"...I was startled by the response.

Well sure enough I looked into the observation a little further and Spirit has made a concerted effort in both speeding up flights and improving service. The product of which is a combination of two. For example, a flight from or to Atlantic City - Fort Myers Florida had been tracked on average somewhere near 2 hours and 45 minutes. At last tracking, Travel Ape's same flight was in the range of 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. What's the difference? First off, there has been an initiative to get the time between flights sped up. If you take a flight on Spirit you'll notice the team and militant effort of the flight crew moving people out, personally helping out with loading and unloading luggage and cleaning up waste left from last flights. Second, again peeping into the background a little, Spirit has made some significant changes in their flight plans. That translates into flight paths that basically take a lot less. Not really sure the semantics that go into flight plans but why this took so long to address or adjust doesn't make sense. The only thing I'm happy about is that Spirit Airlines is just better to fly on considering flight times are considerably less.

Well kudos to Spirit Airlines. No doubt shorter flights equate into less fuel used and of course this tracks back up to the consumer with cheaper fairs. In a time where less has to mean so much more, it's nice to see that capitalism still means striving for adjustments that meet market demand. Check back often for many of the deals that Spirit Air has to offer.

Congratulations Philadelphia Phillies..MLB Champs

2008-10-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

I wrote a few weeks back that oddly enough TravelApe is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. Well last night our symian friend's team won the World Series.

Well being a travel related blog it's probably important to get some information out there to all the people traveling to Philadelphia to attend the parade tomorrow. So here it is.

First things first, Public Officials have said anyone wishing to attend this event use public transportation. That is SEPTA or AMTRAK. Here are links to their sites. But use the information below first to see where the parade route will be so you can plan around it.

The parade is set to begin this Friday, October 31st, Halloween at 20th and Markets Street and to start at 12 Noon.

The parade will travel south down Broad Street and end at the sports complex.

Time Saving Travel Tips..Why has the "Fast" in Fast Food lost it's Meaning.

2008-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you what really get's my goat and had TravelApe very frusted this past weekend on his own. Oddly enough it was the same situation but at different places and areas. First to me. I was visiting a friend outside of Philadelphia the other day and being pressed for time I got into a drive through line at a Burger King. Yeah, let's not even get into quality or anything like that, I'm talking about the mere fact that I wanted something that tasted somewhat good and could get it fast. I proceeded to sit in line for 10 minutes !!! Yes ten minutes. Now let us get the facts straight. I was in line, there was one car in front of me and there was one other car in the parking lot. I could see that there was no activity in the store. Oh, by the way did I mention two lovelorn teen agers were in the throws of ectasy as I sat in line. Point is, when one drives into a fast food line, the expectation is in less than five minutes you can make an order, pay, get your food and be on your way with a half decent meal. Point is for me, I left.

Unbeknownst to me our friend TravelApe was in the Miami area this weekend doing some sightseeing and decided to stop in at an area KFC. Once again, he sat in line for over 15 minutes. TravelApe, unlike me, however, is a little more patient. That, however, still doesn't offer a happy end to the story. First, he sat in line while he watched a group of teenager or young workers throwing stuff at each other through the store windows. Second, a special meal he saw on a commercial wasn't available yet?? Third the food was terrible.

Well the moral of this story is there has to be a better way. TravelApe and I conversed on the phone and decided there are a few decent options. First, and probably people poo-poo on this concept, the local brand name convenience stores are sometimes the best of the options. The have food that is probably of higher quality, offer better selection, and sure let's get past the "fast" element here, actually can get you out the door in less the five minutes. The selections are boundless depending on where you are in the country. You have your 7-11 Convenient Stores across the country. You have Your WaWa's in the North East area of the United States. You've got your Circle K's out West. And a whole smorgish borg of selections across this great country. Do yourself a favor, before you take that turn and head into a Burger King, McDonald's, KFC or Taco Bell, think...And think well. The in and out convenient stores are your best bet.

Over the next few posts I'm going to feature some great destinations and offer some recommendations as to other alternatives outside the convenient stores too. The options are out there and TravelApe is sure to find them for you.

2008-10-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Jamaica...A Place for Couples..

2008-10-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

The island of Jamaica is a tropical paradise, if you can find the right places to visit. While island hopping Travel Ape was very happy to find that this oasis of the Caribbean has several resorts that cater to couples.

Specifically Couples Resorts has several properties around the island that offer a little bit of unique pampering all to themselves. Just as you would think these properties are the perfect fit for weddings, honeymoons or just a good old classic romantic getaway. Let's take a little deeper look at some of the specific properties this group services. First you'll find Couples Negril Hotel. The resort is all inclusive and is couples only. So no worrying about kids or frolicking youths. Well unless that 20 something couple is something to be worried about. Current rates for nightly stays, and again remember this is an all inclusive resort, are $519 per night. If that rate seems a little steep for you, there is another Couples resort that offers a better rate. At the Couples Swept Away Hotel, you can find current daily rates at an average of about $390.

All told the Couples resorts are dedicated to providing a great closed setting for the romantically inclined. From moonlit dining to days swaying under hammocks tied to palm trees, I'm sure you can let your imagination get away with you to figure out how great a destination plan these are. Travel Ape might just surprise his sweetheart with an all inclusive trip to either one of the Couples properties, so if you are booking soon you may just see him there. Be sure to send over a Banana Daiquiri. I'm sure he'll return the favor.

The Oak Room New York City..Fancy for Your Eyes as Well As Your Stomach...

2008-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

There are certain times when just getting something to eat is not primitive. Not just getting the sustinence that is required to live. The fact is, going out to eat can sometimes be like going to an art museum. Well feast your eyes, your ears and the rest of what ever senses you have on the Oak Room New York City. This is a place of elegant style that offers entertainment in the old world style. You and the guests that accompany you can enjoy the elegance and warmth of carbaret style entertainment along with a great dinner. The Oak Room in New York City is located in the Algonquin Hotel New York City and is a perfect match for this legendary hotel. Quite simply this is really a fun place to visit, eat and just enjoy some great quality entertainment.

Visitors to the Oak Room Supper Club have been treated to the best in jazz, piano and much more. You're sure to enjoy some great laughs too on occaision as these performers really play it up to the crowd. Some great entertainment is coming to the venue soon as they include Barbara Carroll. Actually this performance is being offered every sunday as the show is called Barbara Carrol's Sunday Brunch Performance. A treat for your sunday afternoon. Beginning on October 20th, Glimpses of the Moon, a Jazz Age interpretation of a book authored by Edith Wharton will be gracing the Oak Room New York City.

There are many more performances that are worthy of a night out or afternoon if you're in the New York City area. Enjoy the best that these places have to offer.