Getting Published

Eeek, I sent an enquiry letter off to an editor today regarding an article I'd like to get published. Wish me luck!

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Posted in: article writing,publishing

Excellence Riviera Cancun - Footage

Here is some footage I took while on Honeymoon in Mexico, staying at the Excellence Riviera Cancun in Puerto Morelos.

I'm pretty much the opposite of professional when it comes to videos, but this shakey footage was taken from our room's balcony. It was on level 3 of building 9 in the excellence club.

This was an amazing resort, and a more in depth review will follow.

http://youtu.be/5xcscICxbdw

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Posted in: excellence riviera cancun,mexico,puerto morelos

Newport Mirage

The Newport Mirage is located in a beautiful spot, overlooking the Pittwater. It’s situated away from all busy roads, but close enough that even the country folk can find their way to the busier areas.

The rooms are well looked after, and kept very clean, while offering amenities such an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer, heating and cooling and a mini bar with tea making facilities.

Unfortunately after those facts, the Newport Mirage is lacking.

Is it just me? Or would this drive you insane too?



There... That's better...

Check in was fast and easy, and while the lady helping us wasn’t rude by any meals, she definitely wasn’t all that friendly either. I don’t begrudge her that though, who’s to say that she hadn’t just been abused by the last guest she served, and was no longer in the friendly mood that she’d started the day with. As I said, she was nowhere near rude.

For the amount you pay for what is quite a basic room – our charge was around $160 per night, staying with a group discount, for a room that overlooked the carpark/road - there is neither free internet nor a complimentary breakfast, however they do provide free parking.

In our room, room 307, we had two single beds pushed together and made up as a king size bed. This made the bed nice and spacious, and it was very comfortable, with nice fluffy pillows to match. Sleeping was not a problem.

I would not recommend this hotel for business travellers. We paid $5 for only an hours internet usage, and were told that it would only work for one log on, so if you accidentally logged off after only 15 minutes use, then you would be required to pay again to reconnect.

There is a restaurant on site, which offers at least breakfast and dinner (I didn’t see anything mentioning lunch, but I’m assuming they also offer it). However on both nights we were there the restaurant was booked out for private functions between 6 and 9:30pm. A courtesy note was left in our room advising us of this, and recommending the restaurant across the road.

Both functions being held the nights we were there were weddings. I am thankful for small mercies, in that the receptions were required to finish at 9:30pm.

There was very little sound proofing provided in the guest rooms, and it felt as though we had been invited into the event, as everything going on in the restaurant above was echoing through our rooms below. We were actually invited to the wedding on the second night – hence our visit – and were able to partake in the meals that the restaurant provided. Whilst I’d never consider reporting this to the bride, I once again found the hotel lacking in this department. My mind naturally travelled back to my own wedding, where the meals had been amazing and perfect, and any other synonym you care to add. I suppose though that that is the difference between a random hotel on Sydney’s Northern shore, and Walt Disney World…

The hotel is in a beautiful position for a wedding, with the ceremony overlooking the yachts in the harbor as the sun sets. Regrettably I do doubt that we will return to the Newport Mirage. There seem to be many more hotels that are much better value available.

Have you been to the Newport Mirage? Let me know of your experiences!

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Posted in: airport hotel,hotel review,mirage,newport,newport mirage,pittwater

Cheap flights from Australia to Japan

Jetstar are currently holding a sale for flights between Australia and Japan during September and October.

Be flexible with dates and you should be able to find return flights for around $500 between the Gold Coast and Tokyo.

Cairns to Tokyo (Narita) 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2011 $209

Gold Coast to Osaka 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2011 $229

Gold Coast to Tokyo (Narita) 02 Sep - 31 Oct 2011 $229

Cairns to Osaka 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2011 $249

Sydney to Osaka 01 Sep - 20 Sep 2011 & 12 Oct - 27 Oct 2011 $290 - Via Gold Coast only

Melbourne (Tullamarine)to Tokyo (Narita) 06 Sep - 20 Sep 2011 & 12 Oct - 25 Oct 2011 $303 - Via Gold Coast only

Melbourne (Tullamarine)to Osaka 01 Sep - 20 Sep 2011 & 12 Oct - 25 Oct 2011 $303

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Posted in: cheap flights,flights,gold coast,japan,jetstar,tokyo

Zuji Global Hotel Sale

Zuji are currently holding a sale - for 3 more days - they have on offer over 25000 hotels from all over the world for under $99.

Get in quick so you don't miss out!

Zuji Global Hotel Sale

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Posted in: hotel,hotel sale,sale,zuji