Visiting the Empire State Building in New York

Posted by Rachel in New York, New York City on 08 2nd, 2010 | No comments yet - be the first one!

A trip to New York isn’t complete without a visit to the Empire State Building. Located on Fifth Avenue, at 34th Street, the Empire State Building rises high above the street, and stands at 1,453 feet high.

If you’re intending to visit the Empire State Building, then it’s worth visiting early in the day or late in the evening and, where possible, buying a ticket online in advance. Estimates suggest that, in the height of the tourist season, between 10,000 and 20,000 people a day visit the building, which can cause considerable queues at busy times. A clear day is the ideal time to visit, as you get the opportunity to see for miles from the top of the building, but even on a grey or cloudy day you can still appreciate the great views.

Visiting during the day gives you the chance to see how the city below you looks during daylight and there are great opportunities to see other fantastic sights from above. It’s worth spending an extra few dollars to purchase the audio guide, which you listen to as you go up and around the building. In particular, there are prompts on the audio tour that tell you where to stand in the observatory to get to spot particular sights, such as Brooklyn Bridge, which you may otherwise miss if you’re not familiar with the geographical landscape.

But there’s something magical about visiting in the evening too, as many movies have famously depicted. New York City looks magical when it’s lit up night and, if you time your visit to coincide with sunset, you get to witness the changing city as it moves from daylight to darkness and the flickering lights gradually come on below. Amazingly, the building stays open late into the evening, with the last lift (elevator) heading up the building at 11.15pm.

Whatever time of day or night you visit, do allow plenty of time to soak up the sights and enjoy the experience of the Empire State Building. Most people spend an average of two hours here, but you can easily while away plenty more time. Even if it’s a hot day outside down at ground level, slip in an extra layer to put on when you reach the top, as it can be breezy and colder the further up the building you go.

Cameras and video cameras are widely accepted, but leave your tripod behind, as they’re not allowed in. Be aware too that you’re likely to have to undergo security checks on admittance and there are other objects, such as glass or bottles, that you can’t carry with you.

The Empire State Building is an amazing structure and a huge part of New York’s skyline, so do visit if you have the opportunity.

         

Top Three Places to Visit in Cape Town

Posted by Rachel in Cape Town on 07 7th, 2010 | Read Comments(1)

A visit to Cape Town in South Africa will provide you with no shortage of things to do and places to see. But if you’ve got limited time, here’s our pick of the top three must-see places to visit in Cape Town.

1. Table Mountain

Take a cable car up Table Mountain in Cape Town

One of the most famous landmarks in Cape Town, Table Mountain rises high above the city and is over 260 million years old. The highest point reaches 1085m or 3559ft. A World Heritage Site, it’s home to fynbos, an endangered collection of plants and shrubs.

Cable cars will take you up the mountain at regular intervals throughout the day – as one goes up, another goes down – and it takes less then 10 minutes to reach the summit of Table Mountain. The cable cars give fantastic 360 degree views, and at the top, you can enjoy exploring some of the 2km of pathways or simply enjoy more of the spectacular sights from the 12 or more viewing decks.

2. Robben Island

A former site of imprisonment from the 17th to 20th centuries, Robben Island is located off the coast of Cape Town and is must-visit location. Some of South Africa’s most famous political prisoners were held here, including Nelson Mandela, and since 1999, the island has become a World Heritage Site.

Ferries depart four times a day, weather permitting, from the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Waterfront in Cape Town. You can book your tickets in advance and online, or buy them from the ticket office at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. Tours of Robben Island last for three and a half hours, which includes the two half-hour ferry crossings.

3. Victoria and Albert Waterfront

Located in the heart of Cape Town and with the stunning Table Mountain as its backdrop, the Victoria and Albert Waterfont successfully blends together the old and the new in Cape Town.

The historic harbour, which started off life as a small jetty, built in 1654 by Jan van Riebeeck, has been transformed into a thriving hub of museums, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Whether you want to soak up the atmosphere of Cape Town, dine in one of the many international restaurants, or take to the sea for a spot of adventure or excitement, the Victoria and Albert Waterfront is the place to be.

         

Exploring the Cape Town Wine Routes: Constantia Valley

Posted by Rachel in Cape Town on 06 18th, 2010 | Read Comments(14)

If you’ve been inspired to visit South Africa through seeing the country during the World Cup coverage, then there are plenty of wonderful places to visit.

Cape Town is famous for many things, including its wine routes. For anyone who enjoys a tipple or two of fine wines, and wants to see where the grapes that produce many South African wines originate, then the wine routes are a must-see.

There are numerous wine routes located around Cape Town – known as the Cape Winelands – and you can either pick and choose to visit one or two, or incorporate several of them into your trip. One of the routes that is definitely worth incorporating into a trip is the Constantia Valley wine route.

The Constantia Valley Wine Route

One of the oldest wine routes in South Africa, the Constantia wine route is located very close to Cape Town, only about 20 minutes from the city centre. The Constantia Valley has a moderate climate and very fertile soil, which has been cultivated since 1685. The first Governor of the Cape, Simon Van Der Stel is renowned for establishing a farm in this area and the award-winning wines produced here are still as sought after as they used to be.

Some of the main vineyards to visit include – Steenberg, Constantia Uitsig, Buiternverwachting, Klein Constantia and Groot Constantia.

The Steenberg Estate is the oldest farm and the very first wines were produced here in 1695. You can visit the vineyard, taste the wine, eat at Catharina’s restaurant or stay a night at the luxurious Country Hotel. For golfers, there’s even an 18-hole golf course here too, so you can indulge your passion of wine and golfing.

Constantia Uitsig means Constantia View and this estate has 40 hectares producing award-winning wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and Merlot. The wine shop is packed to the brim with wine and you can dine at the Constantia Uitsig Country Hotel.

Buitenverwachting aptly means Beyond Expectations and this is certainly likely to be the case for visitors. The estate produces multi award-winning wines and has a restaurant rates amongst the top 10 in South Africa.

Set in the upper foothills of Constantiaberg, the historic Klein Constantia estate has been owned by the same wine produced for four centuries. It specialises in wines such Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Constance and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Finally, the Groot Constantia estate is a must-visit, as it was the farm established by Simon Van Der Stel. It now houses a museum depicting the early days of wine making, plus you can see the original Cloete Cellar, which dates back to 1791.

         

New York City - Rockefeller Center

Posted by admin in New York, New York City on 06 5th, 2008 | Read Comments(1)

Welcome to the ‘city within a city’ – Rockefeller Center. The project started with the intention to build a new opera for the Metropolitan Opera but was changed due to the drop out of the Metropolitan after the stock market crash in 1929. John D. Rockefeller Jr. stated “It was clear that there were only two courses open to me. One was to abandon the entire development. The other one to go forward with it in the definite knowledge that I myself would have to build it and finance it alone.” Thank god he chose the second option.

But those mundane facts give no hint of the excitement to be found within those boundaries. Built on top of underground corridors, known as ”the catacombs” which stretch from 47th Street to 51st Street, the area is home to restaurants, shops, NBC Studios, a skating rink and much more.

Take a stroll around the plaza and watch the ice skaters, or join in! From the plaza level (the rink is sunken) above the skaters you can see the giant, prone Prometheus sculpture.

Above the gilded Prometheus – bringing fire to mankind – is the massive 70-story RCA (now General Electric) tower, housing the Rainbow Room and the observation deck. The Rainbow Room is on the 65th floor and makes for a memorable meal to accompany unforgettable Art Deco décor.

The observation deck, Top of the Rock, has re-opened after a 20-year closure in 2005 and the view is simply breathtaking. On the 20 foot wide viewing area people have the chance to enjoy a 360 degree view of New York City.

The deck sits on top of the famous Raymond Hood designed RCA Building which is now named GE Building due to the acquisition of RCA by General Electrics. Home to the well-known, and still going strong, Radio Corporation of America, the tower is an architectural landmark. It is also well known for the famous picture of workers lunching on a steel beam without harnesses taken by Charles C. Ebbets in 1932.

Should you be visiting during the Christmas holiday period, you can watch the lighting of the 50 foot (or more) Christmas tree here. Don’t forget to walk around and spend some time taking in the sights, including the huge Atlas statue bearing a ringed world on his shoulders.

Shops line several of the ground level buildings, including the popular Nikon House which attracts photographers from all over the world. All around are ample opportunities to find things and people worth snapping, as well. This part of the complex is heavily frequented.

But the shops and restaurants don’t stop at ground level. In the Underground Concourse fast food and other dining, clothing boutiques, card stores and a blizzard of other stores can be found. For those who missed it uptown, the Metropolitan Museum has a store in the complex as well.

Due to the nearby subway entrances running through the concourse, travel to and from the Center is easy from any part of the city.

         

Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas

Posted by admin in Las Vegas, Nevada on 05 16th, 2008 | No comments yet - be the first one!

The Las Vegas Strip is popular all over the world for its glamorous hotels and casinos. The Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas is one of the most elegant complexes and was inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy. Gambling, entertainment, dining and accommodation are first class at the five diamond establishment.

The hotel was featured many movies but most prominently in Oceans Eleven and Oceans Thirteen which starred George Clooney and Brad Pitt as part of a team of gentleman thieves who intended on robbing casinos. A fictional vault of the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas was indeed robbed in that story! The hotel was opened in 1998 and cost a staggering $1.6 billion to build. The interior is luxuriously furnished with fountains and the lobby ceiling is decorated with colorful hand blown glass flowers.

The grounds are also worth visiting and the 18 acre artificial lake at the front of the hotel is the location for the much loved Fountains of Bellagio display of music and lights. The musical extravaganza is repeated throughout the day and features a variety of music including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Aaron Copland and Gene Kelly. The natural world is also on show at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens which has free admission and the gardens are open 24 hours a day.

The Bellagio rooms contain a flat screen TV with pay per view movies, mini bar and an in room safe. There are numerous market stores in the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas complex including Tiffany and Chanel. Guests can choose between six different swimming pools. Dining at the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas is also an experience. There are several restaurants including the award winning Le Cirque, a French cuisine experience by the lake. Japanese and Chinese restaurants are also first class and there is a traditional steakhouse.

The Spa and Salon offers a variety of treatments for guests of the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas including facials, yoga and water massages. Fitness equipment is also available to have a good workout. A personal instructor is on hand to give advice.

The poker room attracts professional poker players, who take advantage of the high table limits and call it “The office”. The Bellagio has hosted several tournaments of the World Poker Tour. It is rare for a Las Vegas hotel to have a permanent show but the Cirque du Soleil’s production of ‘O’ is outstanding. It’s an aquatic show featuring synchronized swimmers, divers and acrobats. It’s a combination of street theater, folklore traditions, martial arts and circus fire stunts.

         

Las Vegas - Cirque du Soleil

Posted by admin in Las Vegas, Nevada on 04 14th, 2008 | Read Comments(2)

The astounding Cirque du Soleil is a world famous acrobatic act… and still so much more. If you have an image of an old time circus with clowns and acrobats, be prepared for a shock. Cirque du Soleil has all this and much more but in a form that you have never seen before.

With dozens of artists – tumblers, fire-eaters, clowns and others – the show has many of the traditional entertainers but that’s already where the similarities end. The difference is immediately visible the very moment you see the entertainers. Carefully crafted makeup and costumes, it has to be seen to be appreciated. Deep blue or orange suits with tie-dyed designs, Chinese red capes and kaleidoscope makeup are only the beginning of a wonderful experience.

The performers are the best acrobats from all over the world. Displaying their talents inside huge arenas that seat over 1,600 they astonish audience members with their skills. But those skills are in service of the most unusual, individual and innovative choreography you can imagine.

Whether it’s the Aerial High Bar act making death-defying leaps that seem as if they truly can fly or the Alexis Brothers with their amazing tumbling the shows never let up for a moment. For 90 minutes at the Mystere Theatre, the audience is agog with wonder as they watch how the show unfolds. At the MGM the KA show dazzles the eye. The O performance is as wondrous as its title signifying ‘everything’.

One of the highlights of the Cirque du Soleil are definitely the dancers. Combining traditional movements from their native countries with modern twists and turns that surprise at every step, the artists leave you with something to remember for a long time after the show has already ended

But the show isn’t all just traditional high wire acts, comedy or dancers in new costumes. Every show has its own theme that weaves and tangles and then resolves like a complex detective story. It might be necessary to attend a show several times to unravel all the mystery that’s packed into the performance.

Performances can be crowded. Once an insider tip, Cirque du Soleil has taken the center stage in Las Vegas and became an important part of the whole ‘Vegas experience’. Like many shows in Las Vegas, ticket prices are a bit high but a web search might yield a discount with one of the many available Las Vegas Vouchers.

Well worth the price, the Cirque du Soleil is an unforgettable theatrical experience. Don’t miss seeing it in the Desert City of Lights. Whether O, KA or Mystere, or any of the several other shows that are brought forth over the months and years, Cirque du Soleil will always leave you guessing what’s next and asking for more.

         

Las Vegas - The MGM Grand

Posted by admin in Las Vegas, Nevada on 04 9th, 2008 | No comments yet - be the first one!

MGM has a long and glorious tradition as an entertainment company. After its foundation by Marcus Loew in 1924 it became on of the leading film studios in Hollywood. MGM was always known for having a large variety of stars and also of putting them in one big movie like “Grand Hotel” in 1932 with stars such as Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. But in the last decades of the previous century, the company branched out to other forms under the lead of Kirk Kerkorian. The MGM Grand is one excellent sample.
Completed in 1993 and located on the Strip – a four miles long boulevard filled with the largest casino, hotel and resort properties in the world – this 30-floor hotel covers almost 7 acres and houses over 5,000 rooms. In addition, the site offers a 380,000 square foot convention centre, the CBS Television City in Las Vegas and one of the largest casinos in town. At over 170,000 square feet you’ll find more games than anywhere else.

If you’re in the casino you should grasp the opportunity and enter the Lion Habitat. Behind glass walls you can observe lions lounging on an artificial savannah so close that you might think you could reach them. They’re changed on a regularly basis and have a permanent home at the owner’s ranch about a dozen miles outside of Vegas.

Watching the lions is free and you can take a picture (without a flash of course) with the animals in the background, then walk over to the gift shop and buy something to support them. A portion of the proceeds goes to preserve these majestic creatures.

The perception of Las Vegas and the MGM Grand in particular, changed over the past 20 years. The city came a long way from its gambling image to a city which offers all kind of sources for family-friendly amusement. The MGM Grand carries that theme to its pinnacle.

There’s the elegant La Femme production that celebrates the ‘artistry of the nude’, with 13-ballet trained dancers. The show is in the tradition of the Crazy Horse in Paris and is equally tasteful. It’s also possible to do your own dancing at the MGM recreation of the popular New York Studio 54. Undoubtedly tamer than the original, it offers plenty of opportunities for getting a ‘high’ in a drug-free way.

The world famous Cirque du Soleil offers its dazzling hire wire show KA at the MGM. Combining world-class acrobatics with epic-scale theatre, KA tells the tale of Imperial Twins on a journey to fulfil their destinies. If you want to narrow down a Cirque du Soleil performance to just one source, it would be an Asian theme. It offers an array of martial arts moves elegantly combined with the troop’s world-renowned acrobatics.
The hotel itself is a form of high-wire entertainment for guests. After the First World Hotel in Malaysia the MGM Grand is the largest hotel in the world if it comes to rooms. Besides the over 4,000 regular rooms, there are 751 suites but that’s not where it stops. The Skylofts are 51 luxury rooms within the hotel that offer butlers, catering and every form of pampering imaginable. But there is the small matter of the fee – between $800 to $6,000 per night – to contend with. Better bring some lion-sized plastic.

         

Holidays to Turkey

Posted by admin in Turkey on 05 23rd, 2007 | Read Comments(1)

Are you fed up with the daily grind? Are you struggling to face work, day in and day out. Wouldn’t you just love to get away from all the stresses of life and escape to a sunnier clime?

If the stresses of life are getting you down and you need a break away from things, why not think about a holiday to Turkey? The country of Turkey, widely regarded as a fusion between east and west, has an extensive coastline dotted with numerous stretches of beautiful beaches. Temperatures in the peak summer months reach a balmy 26C but can be higher in the event of there being a heat wave.

Getting to Turkey is very easy now with direct flights to Turkey from regional and hub airports throughout the UK and Ireland. Whether you want to fly to Turkey from London, direct to Antalya from Manchester or direct from Newcastle to Bodrum, there are flights available. You’ll also be pleased to know that flights to Turkey don’t have to cost the earth either, you will be surprised at just how affordable they have become. As the low cost airlines also fly into Turkey you can rest assured that prices will continue to stay competitive.

Hotels in Turkey are plentiful, as is the availability of apartments on a self-catering or half-board basis. In Turkey there are many privately owned villas that are also available to rent for a week or longer, depending on the owner. The beauty of renting a villa in Turkey is that you often get your own private swimming pool and much more privacy.

If you want a break away for you and your someone special, then why not go on holidays to Turkey. Affordable, sunny and with plenty of choice, Turkey is the ideal spot for a holiday in the sun!

         

Palermo

Posted by admin in Italy on 02 27th, 2007 | No comments yet - be the first one!

Palermo is a metropolitan cosmopolitan city. It is really quite a big city, as far as cities go in Sicily and should be a destination of interest for the traveler. It has a unique contrast of ancient and modern day city buildings and monuments throughout.

Restaurants in Palermo

As Sicily’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, Palermo offers great dining as well as great shopping opportunities. Though there are really good restaurants throughout Palermo, they are not very easy to find.

In general, we would suggest that you try the ones on the side streets instead of the ones near Via Amari and via Cavour which might be described as “tourist restaurants”.

The best restaurants and bars in Palermo include Antica Focacceria, Il Bagatto, Piazza Marina, La Cambusa Trattoria, Genio Trattoria, and Il Goliardo Trattoria-Pizzeria.

For the tourist, it might be good to note that the Piazza Olivella, hidden from the eyes of the casual tourists walking the main streets, is one of Palermo’s most popular spots. It’s the square near the archeological museum and San Filippo Neri church in a rectangle formed by via Cavour, via Roma and via Maqueda near the Teatro Massimo. About thirty dining places, including bars, are located in the square itself and also along via Orologio, via Bara and all’Olivella and the surrounding streets.

Cin-Cin is an elegant restaurant and one of Palermo’s culinary treasures, routinely ranked by critics as one of the city’s favorite dining spots. Cin-Cin’s cuisine is a highly-evolved yet traditional Sicilian cooking. If you want to find refined Sicilian cuisine you’re ready for an enchanting dinner at Cin-Cin, whose essential menu features grilled appetizers, superb main courses of beef, seafood and pasta dishes. The setting is serene: Cin-Cin occupies a number of rooms that allow an intimate ambience; a pleasant environment to enjoy a great meal.

Throughout Palermo there are excellent pastry shops and bars that serve ice cream, pastries, and sandwiches. If you want to sample these tempting delights in a leisurely setting, we suggest the charming outdoor cafes on Via Principe di Belmonte. Located in the best shopping district, Via Belmonte is closed to traffic.

Shopping at Palermo

The city doesn’t just offer great cuisine and fascinating history. Palermo also has some great shopping facilities and many better shops are conveniently located in the city’s centre around via Maqueda and via Liberta, especially on the side streets where you’ll find shops that sell everything from antiques to Sicilian-made specialty goods like crafts, ceramics and jewelry.

Famous sights at Palermo

Beyond this are the many landmarks, monuments and buildings to visit in Palermo. The Cathedral, Chinese Villa, Magione Church, Martorana Church, Mount Pellegrino, Politeama Theatre, Quattro Canti, Royal Palace, St Francis Church, St. John of the Hermits, Teatro Massimo, and Zisa are some of the many sights. As well, Mondello is a beautiful beach that can be visited during the day or night. It is not only a beach, but also a tourist and vacation spot as there are many shops and restaurants along its boardwalk. During the day it’s a lovely place to go for a swim or just to take a walk, and at night its beautiful lights along the water are dazzling.

Via Liberta Quarter

Via Liberta Quarter is a great area to visit. This area has a variety of landmarks and sights including Mount Pellegrino, Saint Rosalie’s Shrine, Chinese Villa, Favorita Park, Villa Trabia, and Ficuzza. It is also the area where Mondello beach is located, so be sure to make a trip there.

Mount Pellegrino offers amazing panoramic views of Palermo but it is most famous for the Sanctuary of Saint Rosalie, located near the summit along winding roads that travel through woods of Mediterranean stone pines. The Chinese villa, which is also located in this area, is a beautiful ancient home built in the Oriental style. The Chinese villa is located in the Favorita Royal Park and the nearby Pitre Folk Museum is open to the public. Favorita Park or the Royal Park is a vast wooded area, and rabbits and migratory birds are seen here occasionally. The Park is owned by the City of Palermo, and is an attractive entrance to Mondello Beach.

         

Sahara Las Vegas says: “SCREW YOU”

Posted by admin in Las Vegas, Nevada on 11 21st, 2006 | No comments yet - be the first one!

Sahara Hotel Las Vegas says: Screw You!

When going on a conference business trip and staying at a hotel for more than a week you definitely want a good experience, a short trip back and forth to the conference and all kinds of other attractions like shows, bars restaurants. That’s the reason why I chose the Sahara at the end of the north-strip to visit the Webmaster World – just 15 minutes to the convention center by the monorail was great last year – and so was my service.

But they proved me to be a jerk for booking 8 nights the second year in a row with them, just because I was too lazy to shop around and their rates were really cheap during the week.

Day 1 of the Dirt Horror at the Sahara Las Vegas

I arrived on Friday night and found my bathroom be – well, dirty… had that ugly long black hair near the washbowl and the whole room looked as if it wasn’t really cleaned. I thought – oh heck – they’re going to do it anyway next morning.

Day 2 of the Sahara Dirty Room Horror – Saturday

Nothing was done on Saturday during the day and when I went out Saturday night I though – hmm they are probably going to make my room in the evening as people are out then anyway…just to find out in the morning hours of Sunday when I came home that NOTHING changed.

Day 3 of the Sahara Dirt Desaster – Sunday

On Sunday I really thought – hey, I’m here at the Hotel the 3rd day and nobody gave a shit about my room, so I might have to ping somebody to do it finally. So I looked around and found that old and wasted Mexican lady on my floor and asked her nicely to make up my room when I leave in the afternoon. She looked in my eyes and confirmed that by even repeating the time to do it

Guess what – I came home at night and nothing was done, so I called up the frontdesk, called up the housekeeper service and told both that my room hasn’t been made up for 3 days in a row… both told me that they are going to take of that, and that of course THEY are not the responsible persons for that but that they will hand it to the ONEs that ARE responsible and that they’ll make up my room the next morning..

Day 4 of the Sahara Dirty Room Massacre

Believe it or not, the other day on Monday nobody showed up at my room as well.

I was really pissed off and called them up again. Again it was in the night hours but they promised to do it the next day and even sent somebody up to bring fresh towels (wohooo – we got fresh towels after paying 4 nights in a row) and I went to bed as I needed to get up.

Note that by Monday I suddenly got a strange allergic itching skin on my hands – which I definitely never had before in my life and as I write this it still itches a bit and looks infected. I must tell you that I finally believe that the lack of hygiene at the Sahara Hotel is responsible for that.

Day 5 of the Sahara Room Dirt Overkill

I got up early on Tuesday as the Webmaster World started and I was pretty sure that the cleaing is going to work out as I looked up that Mexican housemaid again and told her to make my room. After a really long day at the conference, a fabulous dinner at the Envy / Renaissance with folks like Chris Boggs, Andrew Goodman, Bill Slawski and others as well as some drinks with some of my clients I came home to my room at 1.30 in the morning – hoping to get some chilling sleep to be fresh during the next conference day.

What I saw was the whole mess I left behind – the 4 day old towels on the floor, a bed not really made up fresh for 5 days and NO SIGN of any work being done to that room… man I was pissed off… I mean the Sahara is cheap and you have to be ready to live in 15-20 year old furniture there… but what the heck was going on with the service? The really pissed me off that day as the only thing I wanted to do is SLEEP!

So once again I called up the front-desk and told them my problem. They handed me over to the housekeepers where I spoke to a lady who said she is NOT RESPONSIBLE and that she cannot do anything. So I called up the front-desk again just to speak to yet another clerk there and hear that the manager is only available at OFFICE HOURS and I must call at that time to file my complaint – but there should be a manager at housekeeping. So I called housekeeping a 2nd time just to speak to the same non-responsible lady again. When I called the front-desk the 3rd time to get ANYBODY responsible on the line I suddenly spoke to a rather nice sounding lady who suddenly showed SOME KIND OF CUSTOMER CARE – while all the other jerks before where just FINGERPOINTING at each other.

She took up my complaints, promised to inform the manage the other day as I certainly didn’t have the time and will to use my valuable time at the conference to contact Mrs. Hotel Manager when she finally showed up at her desk. Then they even sent up the night-maid at 2 in the morning to make up my bed, do basic cleaning of the room and made me feel confident that I am not the only person feeling annoyed by totally screwed up hotel operations at the Sahara.

Day 6-8 of the Sahara Hygiene Disaster

After spending more than 30 minutes calling back and forth thru the organizaton the room service worked fine from Wednesday thru Friday of my stay so I felt a bit more relaxed about it and was pretty sure that the more professionally acting lady really took care of my complaints and will consider the refund I asked her for to make up with the hassles.

Altough she mentioned that the management will come back to me eventually the next days they didn’t – so sign of that – and that certainly should have been a sign to me.

Day 9 – Payday for the Sahara Hygiene Disaster

So checking out on Saturday I expected a little gift, a refund on my invoice, at least a “we are sorry for the inconvenience” or what ever that clerk might have to do in such a situation.

Instead the lady printed my invoice, said thanks and turned away. Which really made me think – THAT’S IT ? Take my money and run?

So I asked her about my complaints and that I didn’t find any kind of compensation for that.
She was BLANK. Knew Nothing.

And after 10 minutes waiting for her after disappearing in the back room I heard that the manager on duty is on the phone and might get back to me soon. SO I told her that I’m leaving in 15 additional minutes and if they would be able to handle a 4 day old complaint in that time span.

Well – another 10 minutes later that big, unhealthy looking lady with her greasy hair and cheesy suite troubled her body thru the doors to approach me – probably double my own weight (and that is already a bit) to ask “SO YOU COMPLAIN YOUR ROOM WASN’T OK THE LAST DAYS?”

Well – After explaining the whole story again you read ALREADY and I told the others before already she said again I should have contacted her MYSELF during the office hours, which I still refused having to do – after all I issues SEVERAL COMPLAINTS to her employees.

What she did again – and that’s obviously the bad culture at the Sahara was fingerpointing back to her employees that they didn’t tell her ANYTHING and again that it is NOT HER FAULT that they didn’t tell her.

And anyway – she meant that it’s been a week ago that I got the bad service and should have told her EARLIER. Ignoring the fact of my multiple complaints in the past. Ignoring the fact that she was calling me a dumbass for ONLY complaining to the personal directly communicating with me.

HELL – who’S fault is it anyway if not the hotel manager’s if I get bad service, non-exististant complaint management and finally hit the wall to complain a last time during checkout just to hear NOT MY FAULT again?

Funny thing is that by that time that big ugly Mrs. “I am Yabbba Manager” already turned her displeasing back to me to say “goodbye sir…”

I got her back to ask if THAT IS IT. That I waiting for more than 20 minutes that day, more than 4 days after my complaints just to hear at least the ONLY responsible person tell me that it’s not my fault and that nobody would ever care if I would feel good about the stay, will ever come back or eventually tell the whole world about this finger pointing “not my fault” behaviour even by the highest people in the Hotel’s organization.

She replied with a simple and rude – “Yes sir, SCREW YOU – that’s what I said – good bye”.

I took that receipt, turned to the other clerk lady with “Has been a pleasure” and went off to the airport shuttle.

This lady certainly looked unhealthy, greasy and I wasn’T really sure if she’s 28 or 48 – heck, her bad physical condition is not even the case for some 58 old ones. But I figured that this is not the type of unhealthy looking you just get from bad eating habbits in stress jobs, lack of workout or some kind of wrong genes.

This “hotel manager” probably pissed of unhappy guests like me every day – dozens of them. And it seems to be a direct order to her employees to block of all complaints in early stages.

I am happy to be out of there and I certainly feel sorry for having picked this hotel a second time, as it definitely spoiled the otherwise amazing experience of the Las Vegas WebMasterworld 2006

And most important – I want to beware you of going thru the hassles that I’ve been to.
This was the worst experience in 15 years of business travel and 33 years of leisure travel.