Borat steals hotel chairs

Have you heard about the worldwide phenomenon that is Borat? He is a character played by Sacha Baron Cohen who you might know as Ali G, or that French race car driver from Ricky Bobby. His claim to fame is the new documentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

There has been a backlash against Borat in recent weeks. Several people who played a part in the Borat mockumentary are trying to sue because they didn't like how they were portrayed in the film. Now there are more reports that Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as Borat, narrowly escaped police custody after playing a prank in New York’s Wellington Hotel.

In the middle of the night, Borat and his film crew started carrying furniture out of the Wellington Hotel. The night manager, who wasn't having any of that, stopped them and called the police. Borat "ran out of the hotel as fast as he could." It turned out the furniture had been taken from a Sheraton hotel in New Jersey.

Hiroyuki Sakai treats the Observatory Hotel

Hiroyuki Sakai treats the Observatory Hotel

Anyone who knows me knows that if I get a chance to work Iron Chef into anything it makes my day...And yes, today my day has been made.

Last night Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai treated guests at the Observatory Hotel to an amazing 7 course meal that was kept top secret until the last minute. The menu focused on Australian produce and featured Hiroyuki Sakai's signature dish prawn with escallop mousse. Sakai will prepare two more dinners this week at a ticket price of $495 a head.

I'm a pretty picky eater, but I think I may even throw down the money and my taste buds to try something prepared by an Iron Chef, especially Hiroyuki Sakai the Iron Chef of Iron Chefs.

If you've never heard of Iron Chef I suggest you check it out. It was an amazing Japanese cooking show battle that took place in Kitchen Stadium and pitted world class 'challenger' chefs again Iron Chefs. They are given a secret main ingredient and 1 hour to create as many original dishes as possible. They are then judged by a panel of celebrities and/or food critics.

You can also catch an American Version of Iron Chef that airs on the Food Network, but it is pretty watered down compared to how extreme the Japanese version was. Maybe the English voiceovers did it for me.

FA Cup Final Boosts the price of a hotel in Cardiff

A room at the West Ham team hotel for the FA Cup Final in Cardiff this month has reached more than £1,100 in a bid at auction on the internet.

The room originally went for £245, and someone is was selling it on ebay. I just checked the auction, and unless someone makes another bid the 2 night 'stay at the luxurious Vale of Glamorgam Hotel along side the West Ham United Football team' will go for £1,750.00 (or around $3,228.05 US).

That is what I call devotion to a team! I guess if you can afford it, do it right? Personally I'd stick to a nice Cardiff Hotel that I didn't have to sell my soul to sleep in.

St. David's Hotel is in tune with your tunes

When you first walk into a fancy hotel you are usually greeted with the warm sounds of classical music. Perhaps it is Greensleeves or Pachelbel’s Canon in D. You check in, and make your way to the elevator where the music gets slightly louder. Then you make your way to the hotel's restaurant and some how the song that you thought you'd left in the elevator picks up right where it left off. Finally after your third course and the forth version of Greensleeves you have had enough. In one last valiant attempt for your sanity you spill wine all over your dinner guest's clothing ruining everyone's night and possibly the entire trip!

If you know this scenario all to well you may want to get on the mp3 bandwagon just like St David's Hotel & Spa in Cardiff. Guests at the hotel are completely free from listening to repeat music thanks to an MP3 style selection of more than 20,000 songs.

Management at the St David's Hotel & Spa have detected that the so-called iPod generation doesn't appreciate bland tunes playing in the background, and would much rather listen to the music they choose.

St David's has responded to customer taste by installing technology that will provide guests access to a 20,000-strong music library in each of its private dining and eight conference rooms.

Hotel Bathroom...of the Future

It has always bugged me that when I'm in the bathroom in a hotel I can't watch my morning news. Luckily for me The Charles Hotel in Cambridge Massachusetts has teamed up with a company called Séura to bring us the solution to my problems.

It seems Séura is the creator of the mirror television. This amazing invention is a television display that when turned on is a TV in your mirror, and when turned off completely invisible. This has to be the next step to a Star Trek world and is the greatest idea since doors that open themselves! This Boston Hotel isn't the first hotel to do this, and I'm sure it will not be the last. The MGM Grand currently has them in their Skylofts.

There are an endless number of companies looking to make our future easier. Hey who knows, maybe one day we won't be afraid of the sheets in your hotel room.

Road Trip Travel Tips

This summer I will be taking some time to visit the Calgary Stampede in Alberta Canada. Like every good trip we have planned out a few major activies that have to be done, from taking some time to check out the mountains to what Stampede Breakfasts we will be visiting every morning! We know how much everything is going to basically cost, and we know which hotel in Calgary we will be staying in. Everything sounds like it is running smoothly right? So here is the twist:

6 people in one car for almost 20 hours. That is right this is Road Trip. So I thought I would put together a few tips for everyone driving across their own state, province or country this summer in search of a family vacation. The less stress there is the more fun everyone will have.

Family Road Trip Tips:

• For older kids, give them a "travel budget" of maybe $5 or $10 that they can use to make a purchase in the airport or at a rest stop during a car trip. Having the ability to make some choices while in transit might be a great distraction.
• Prepare a map to chart the trip. Give kids a map to help them understand where they are and how far it is to the destination.
• Give each child a responsibility for the trip. Depending on their age, it might be taking care of their own luggage, organizing the games they want to bring along or preparing a mixed tape the whole family can listen to.
• Bring some classic travel games such as Battle Ship, Checkers, Scrabble, Trouble (a personal favorite), or sorry all of which come in travel sized games!
• Put the child with the shortest attention span, or that gets sick easily, next to the window; if your child is placid, give them a book or crayons and give them a middle seat or if they always feel the need to be a part of things, put them in the middle so they won't have to disturb everyone else to be a part of the action.
• Do not feed your kids a lot of snacks with sugar to avoid bouncy off the walls in the back seat

Staying Healthy on Vacation

I've always loved traveling. You get a chance to experience a new city, meet new people, bond with old friends, and yes, eat a lot great food. Eating is one of my favorite things to do on a trip. Of course there are a lot of times when you aren't eating very well. Fast food, salty chips, and sugary drinks… the list goes on and on. There isn't much more you can do than grab a bag of chips and a soda when you are 30 miles in between two cities

Luckily for us there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Health magazine and AOL CityGuide recently put together a list of the healthiest hotels in America. These healthy hotels offer amenities such as quality fitness facilities, healthy food, spas, and stress-reduction services.

• Four Seasons, Boston
• Topaz Hotel, Washington, D.C.
• Starwood's Westin Times Square, New York City
• The Peninsula Chicago
• Mandarin Oriental, Miami
• Starwood's W Atlanta
• Las Vegas Sands' Venetian, Las Vegas
• Watertown Seattle
• Hotel Vitale, San Francisco

Edmonton Oilers are Going to Anaheim

After a nail-biting overtime victory The Edmonton Oilers are going to meet The Anaheim Mighty Ducks head on in the Western Conference Finals. Playoff hockey fans from all over North American are going to be heading to Arrowhead Pond to see these teams do battle. But while in Anaheim where are the best places to stay...No...Not in the packing lot, I do not think your wife would appreciate that. So what are the best hotels in Anaheim for all you Edmonton Oilers fans to cram into? I will tell you.

1. Best Western Raffles Inn And Suites

   Not only is the Best Western Raffles Inn and Suites a mere 7 minutes away from the Arrowhead Pond and your NHL playoff experience, the room rates start at only $24. What a deal that is! You get to see you team, bring all you friends, and even still afford to get a drink at the game if you are so inclined!

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2. Best Western Anaheim Inn

   The Best Western Anaheim Inn in Anaheim is in a great location for a quick cab ride to the Oilers Vs Mighty Ducks game and a short victory walk home. The staff is friendly and easy going, and prices can start as low as $89.00 which is pennies when you split it to the 5 guys you are going to want to split the room with!

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3. Days Inn Disneyland West

   The prices start as low as $50.00 a night, the rooms are spacious, the staff in great and very accommodating, and to top it off you are only 8 minutes from the NHL plays offs! Imagine the energy that will surround this hotel that night when your team wins!

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4. Days Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort

   The Days Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort is a comfortable hotel with everything a crazed NHL playoff Hockey fan needs: A big enough room for him and all the friends he is going to make at the game, and an affordable price. This gem of a hotel is only an 8 minute trek to and from the Arrowhead Pond.

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5. Holiday Inn Suites Anaheim

   The Holiday Inn Suites Anaheim is a big more expensive than the other choices, but this Anaheim Hotel is still a great deal. The food is great, the rooms are spacious and you only need to take an 8 minute journey to get to the Oilervs VS Ducks game at Anaheim's Arrowhead pond!

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So there you have it some great hotel choice for your trip to Anaheim to watch Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks play in the Western Conference Finals. Agree with my choices? Disagree and think you have a better hotel for the list, let me know - leave me a comment!

The Best All Inclusive Hotel In Greece

You heard it right! To correspond with the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest movie, Disneyland is introducing the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite. The new suite can be found at the top of the Sierra Tower in the at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

The Spanish Colonial suite features Old World rugs, dark-stained hardwood floors, and even wooden beams overhead. It may seem like a pirate's plunder, but the suite provides all the comforts a person…or a pirate… could ever need, including a 42-inch plasma TV, surround sound stereo, and a wet bar.

The Captain's Quarters (or Master Bedroom for all you landlubbers out there) have a vintage canopied four-poster bed, cast iron light fixtures, decorative artwork inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean films and attractions, oh, and a 37-inch LCD TV. The Master Bath rounds out this part of the suite with the same Spanish styles surrounding modern luxuries such as a Jacuzzi tub and a steam shower.

Meanwhile, the kids will enjoy their own pirate stronghold. The second bedroom features a more playful rustic theme and pirate themed furniture. It is perfect for kids with big imaginations, or who are just fans of the movies. Did I mention the door bell even sings Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me?

This Pirates of the Caribbean Suite should be an amazing addition of the Disneyland Hotel.