The Wiser Customer Weblog

Hervey Bay on the Queensland coast just behind Fraser Island attracts visitors from all over the world all year round. But the most popular time for people coming to Hervey Bay is during whale watching season … between July and mid to late October.

Humpback whales head south to Antarctica during that time and many of them call into the bay to rest and prepare themselves for the long trip south. While they’re here in the bay whale watching tours run throughout the day to take tourists out to see the whales as they play and it really is an amazing sight.

If you want to see something that is truly spectacular and out of the ordinary then you should start thinking about coming to Hervey Bay to see those giants of the deep up close and very personal. In fact you shouldn’t just be thinking about it, you should start planning for it right now … it is one of the most awe inspiring things you will ever do.

Now that may sound like hype but I’ve been out there on the whale watching cruises and I’ve seen these gentle giants up close and personal. There’s nothing quite like watching one swim under the boat you’re on and realize that the whale is much larger than what you thought was quite a big boat.

And then when the surface alongside the boat and look at you … as they will because they’re inquisitive creatures … you really do begin to see why so many people keep on coming back each whale watching season.

So if you want to find out more about Hervey Bay and see some of the scenery that makes this such a wonderful and peaceful place to come for a holiday just follow the link at the top of the article. No one goes away from Hervey Bay feeling as though they’ve been let down.

A big advantage of Chamonix Haute Savoie is its distance to Geneva airport. One can depart from the United Kingdom in the early morning and be snowboarding in the p.m.. The simplicity of Flybe and reasonably priced flight services has led to cheaper fares moreover with just a 1 hour trip time between Chamonix to Geneva a ski weekend is nowadays within the range of all skiers; furthermore all our chalets are available from Weds/Thurs until Sun which enables one to take full advantage of reasonably priced flights and empty runs. From your greeting at the airport unitl receiving the skiing passes awaiting for the group on arrival at the chalet; every detail is booked to guarantee that you has the least time traveling and the maximum of the holiday skiing.

A weekends skiing in Chamonix town is an enjoyable weekend if the group arrange the finer details correctly so that you can enjoy your precious vacation. However this entails getting the air flights Geneva to Chamonix transfer and accommodation spot on and ferrying the group to the runs as swiftly as humanly possible. The aim is to provide you the max. period of ski time time om the slopes with the minimum amount of hassle including our normal high levels of comfort cuisine and concierge service. Bearing this in mind we offer express transfers great luxury ski chalets great meals and we can advise and reserve mountain guides and instructors.

The following top five can’t be seen to be unequivocal, it numbers my top snowboarding resorts for skiing holidays in the continent. Other people may list Chamonix, Grand Massif and Samoens however these areas are my best snowboarding domains.

1. Neustift Austria ” With some of the best year round ski conditions and Austrias biggest glacial skiing resort Neustift is great for those traveling with family and friends. The main benefit of the area is the Stubai Glacier which covers over 100km of fantastic snow sure skiing runs.

2. Wengen, Switzerland ” This beautiful ski resort exudes charm from the moment you arrive. It’s an easy going place; with many of the ski pistes having gentle runs leading up to Grindelwald.

3. Flims Laax Falera, Switzerland ” Is famous for its 3 connected mountains: Flims, Laax and Falera making up one of the most popular skiing areas in Switzerland. It is more for the intermediate skiers and beginners, with over 130 miles of slopes to satisfy all skiers.

4. Kitzbhel, Austria ” the 5 main Chamonix areas around the resort have plenty of slopes catering to the needs of everyone – this ski resort is one to try out. Contrary to the easy going nature of most of the courses Kitzbhel contains one of the most challenging world cup circuit courses in the world,the Hahnenkamm.

5.Verbier, Switzerland ” With its four fantastic valleys and over 240 miles of slopes, this is a resort more for the experienced skier looking for a challenge. Exploring its off piste and moguls are just some of the things that make it worth your visit.

Chamonix town is found at the foot of the magnificent Mont Blanc in the European Alps and is often regarded as the climbing and extreme skiing epi centre of the European Alps. Chamonix town has long been known as a real domain for extreme sports in both winter and summer. The resort was chosen to hold the first Winter Olympics back in the 1920s – furthermore it is also a domain of brilliant views proffering a lot of different things to the adventurous mountaineer and tourist.

However unlike most modern skiing domains Chamonix isn’t a purpose built snowboarding town and has been mostly saved from the concrete monstrosities which blights a lot of the French resorts. Chamonix is blessed with not only a world renowned skiing domain moreover a cosmopolitan and thriving resort centre.

It is big enough to ensure that there is a lot for the holiday maker to do. Whatever the pace of your holiday theres something to enrapture anyone. Not to mention an impressive sports complex, spas, guided snowshoeing and local market; and loads of designer boutiques, cafes and night clibs, Chamonix town privides a mix of mountaineering, atmosphere and shopping, which only a handful ski areas can match. So book your chalet accommodation immediately.

Hotel Porta Fortuna is a cheap 1 star hotel in Rome, located in Via Carlo Alberto 31 int1

The welcoming and young Hotel Porta Fortuna is located in the heart of Rome, just a short walk from Central Station Termini and Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, offering to its guests a comfortable elegant stay in addition to be a pratical for moving in the city.

Its location makes it easily accessible, and Hotel Porta Fortuna is conveniently close to some of the most important monuments of the city, like the Colosseum, the Forum and Piazza Venezia.

All rooms are equipped with a flatscreen color television, air-conditioning and a private bathroom. The rooms are elegantly furnished with taste and attention to detail.

Breakfast is served in the garden inside during spring/summer and in the bar during autumn/winter.

Quality of service, attention to detail and a high level of hospitality make Hotel Porta Fortuna a memorable choice for a stay in the Eternal City.

If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Rome, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of accommodations in Rome and Hotels in Florence, Naples and Venice, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Tours.
All the reservation are secure: in fact, we don’t ask you to give us your credit card information, but in order to complete the reservation, we will redirect you directly on a bank (we currently use Paypal, the eBay company) for the payment

Geneva Chamonix Ski Transfers guarantee professional, guaranteed and smart Geneva ski transfer from the plane quickly to the groups luxury chalet in Tignes, Le Grand-Bornand, Chamonix town and the nearby Mont Blanc area.

Our Geneva Chamonix transfers friendly service covers skiing transfers to La Grave, Les Orres, Le Grand-Bornand, Bessans, La Clusaz, La Chavanette and even Samoens and Les Grands Montets and we can offer bespoke airport transfers to various French skiing resorts when arranged.

With our modern equipped eight men buses and Lincoln, Jeep, BMW, or Fiat vehicles we will drive up to 17, or 20 + when you and your friends request this. Indeed the drivers are extremely trained in challenging icy conditions for you and your friends piece of mind. Naturally the vehicles are completely insured and well trained.

We also can provide mountain bike Geneva transfers from Feb through to Aug and offer mountain resort such as the most popular: Serre Chevalier, Chamonix, Superbagneres, Les Trois Vallees, Brevent, Montroc, Les Menuires, Les Gets, Plateau de Beille, Portes du Soleil, Isola 2000, Les Deux Alpes.

Getting to the Chamonix valley, Val Cenis or Araches-la-Frasse from Geneva airport has never been easier. For private group transfers to Chamonix from your plane to your groups luxury chalet in Chamonix village phone Geneva Ski Transfers immediately, then relax and revel in your skiing trip.

The B&B Vinci is situated in the
historical town centre of Noto,
a town known as the European capital of the Baroque art and considerated one of the world patrimony of the humanity by the Unesco.

The rooms are elegantly furnished
and provided with
all the conforts.
It has also a solarium with
a fantastic view on the gulf of Noto.

You can find a quite and homely atmosphere!
B&B Vinci is in Cavour Street,
just behind the Immacolata Church, among the extraordinary buildings of the aristocracy
(Trigona, Astuto, Castelluccio).

The building has recently been restored,
though respecting the characteristics and structure
of the original and typical architecture
of the historical town centre buildings.

It is endowed with a beautiful solarium,
an exclusive balcony on the Baroque town
from which you can admire
a wide panorama on the gulf of Noto.

Our rooms are tastefully furnished
and endowed with all the conforts.

You can choose
among different types of accomodation.

We can also provide
a room for disabled people.

The accomodation includes
a ticket for breakfast
at the caf in the town centre.

Each room is provided with
bathroom, conditioned air and colour TV.

If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Noto, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of Bed and Breakfast in Rome and Hotels in Florence, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Hotels all over Tuscany

Travel forums are gold mines of information if you care to review the postings of enchanted and disgruntled travelers coming back from abroad.

As Senior Editor of “Paris Eiffel Tower News”, I often peruse these forums to find out about the concerns voiced by fellow travelers headed to the ‘City of Lights’.

Among the postings which keep coming back, one stands out from the crowd: what does a 3-star rating really mean? Travelers tend to be confused by the many star-rating systems in use. I felt the subject called for an educated explanation.

The meaning of stars in the US

First of all, let’s be clear: there is absolutely no relationship whatsoever between the number of stars commercial travel sites award to hotels, and the hotel rating system in use in France.

The core business of commercial travel sites is to sell you hotel rooms, flight tickets, car rentals, and cruise packages. They purport to guide your choice by awarding stars to the products they peddle.

When you book a room on such sites, a significant portion of your money goes to the travel operator which presents the hotel – up to 50% on well-known websites.

For this reason alone, you could reasonably ask yourself: are these ratings unbiased, or tainted by corporate greed?

To make matters more complicated, each travel website uses its own rating method. Consumer Reports published an enlightening article on the topic in its November 2005 issue.

In other words, the number of stars awarded by commercial travel sites is not a fully reliable yardstick for selecting a hotel.

The meaning of stars in France

The French hotel rating system works on a completely different set of rules.

1.It is a standardized system: meaning, all hotels across France are categorized on the same unique basis.

2.The rating system was not born out of mercantile purposes: it was framed by the French lawmakers without any concern for profit.

3.Last but not least, the French hotel rating system does not measure quality. Instead, it uses 22 measurement criteria to assess the presence or absence of certain features in the hotel.

Among the main criteria used:

- Room sizes and numbers
- Room soundproofing
- Heating and air-conditioning
- Design of bathroom facilities
- Phone system
- Electrical equipment
- Elevators

Each requirement varies from one star category to another. (See link to full article below.)

Subjective quality vs. objective quantity

The French rating system does not take into account subjective quality criteria.

And because of this limited approach, it does not guarantee your expectations will be fulfilled.

First, there are keen differences in perception between populations. For example, American travellers are used to larger sizes of rooms and beds than the average room and bed sizes offered in Parisian hotels. This can be a source of disappointment.

Moreover, the French rating system does not measure service quality – cleanliness, absence of smells, staff attitude, speed of service, etc.

It may thus be chancy to base your hotel choice solely on the French rating system.

The safer bet

To afford the best chances to pick the right hotel in Paris I recommend the following 4 steps:

- Have a basic understanding of the French rating criteria
- Check guests’ reviews on Travelocity
- Visit the hotel’s own website
- Do not hesitate to e-mail your questions to the hotel.

Many travellers use Travelocity to write reviews on the hotels they stayed at. No hotel satisfies 100% of its guests throughout the year, so both extreme judgments and moderate opinions can be found on this open forum. My advice: favor moderate reviews with some flesh on the bones. They will usually give you a useful picture of what to expect from the hotel – good and less good.

Visiting the hotel’s website will usually allow you to see multiple views of its rooms and bathrooms. I insist on visiting the hotel’s own website since it usually is the place which offers the greatest number of photos.

Lastly, e-mailing your questions to the hotel owners may or may not get you an answer, usually depending on the proficiency of the receptionist in your language. Receiving informative answers to your questions is a good sign that the hotel cares for his prospective guests.

Following these 4 steps should help you minimize the risk of being disappointed during your stay in Paris. This is no guarantee though. Remember that cultures differ from each other, and your expectations of service might not be fully understood. In such case, communicate with the owner. They are usually keen on serving you to the best of their means.

Have a safe and pleasant trip to Paris!

Phil Chavanne spent 30 years in Paris. Share his knowledge at Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com: A city guide with the inside scoop on Paris and Paris hotels. You can also directly download a simple explanation of the French
hotel rating system here.

Now that Andrew Brash has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. Indeed, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Min Bahadur Sherchan with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Everest. With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Bahadur Sherchan noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Min Bahadur Sherchan returned a hero to Calgarians. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on the mountain. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though the mountain is shared by two countries. However, he was all too aware of the potential dangers the mountain could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused More than 3044 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Chomolungma or Mount Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. The Chinese were flying their airplanes over the mountain and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. This season mountaineer Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Chomolungma after he reached the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania earlier this year.

His first found him within 221 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Andrew Brash, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Mount Everest to finish what he had started.

“the Mount Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

Sherchan just 21 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

The 76-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Mt Everest. Andrew Brash last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

He was reported in good health as he began making his descent. Min Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism.

Inverness set on the banks of the river Ness is the only city and the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Lying at the north end of the great Glen, Scotland’s fifth city, Inverness lies on the nerve line of communication across the Highlands for the past 20 centuries, being the gateway to the northern Scotland. It is the centre of Commerce, communication and administration for a large geographical area with a population of 51,000 (2001). Inverness is well connected by bus, train and air links from all directions.

Owing to the rich past of Scotland, Inverness consists of a medieval street network, and a few scattered remains of the glorious architecture and buildings of the yesteryears. Most of the buildings that stand today are from the 19th century and the present architecture can be found towards the south of the city that extends to Beauly Firth.

Inverness was granted its city status by the Queen in December 2000, and celebrated the new found status in March 2001. Today, Inverness is considered the fastest growing city in Western Europe. Most health conscious people find Inverness to be a favored destination due to the peace and natural ambience it offers and prefer to migrate here in search of it. Many new housing estates are coming up to the west of the city and tourism and healthcare contribute mostly to its economy.

Inverness, as a favored tourist destination has many a sights to offer and has been promoted recently as a wedding, banquet and conference destination. The most favored accommodation by tourists is the hotels in Inverness. As a result many hotels adorn the city’s streets. Almost all of them offer the best amenities in Inverness.

Many hotels serve as conference venues for meetings, seminars and other conference of big companies. The serene and natural ambience of Inverness in contrast to the hustle and bustle of normal city life helps people relax and makes learning efficient.. Many people are known to have had their weddings at Inverness and the hotels serve as the best hosts for wedding guest and the hosts alike. Wedding services offered by Inverness hotels as banquet venues or wedding reception venues are absolutely wonderful. Added to this is the natural ambience that lends the all important romantic feeling to the newly wed.

Many hotels also offer tours and travel in and around Inverness. The favored destinations include the Culloden Battlefield, Fort George Military Museum, Cawdor Castle (MacBeth fame), Tomatin Whisky Distillery and Loch Ness (Monster fame). For the health conscious, many hotels in Inverness offer activities like Golf, Fishing, Walking & Mountaineering and Game Shooting.

“The Deluxe Four Star Drumossie Hotel in inverness seated in the heart of the Scenic Scottish Highlands offers Style and luxury accommodation for your wedding reception, It also serves as an ideal conference venue inverness.” More info at www.drumossiehotel.co.uk/conferences.html and www.drumossiehotel.co.uk/