Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
New York during Christmas
If you decide to come in a little early, you’ll notice that the air is a bit nippy and the trees are losing their leaves. Union Square has become a shopper’s paradise where you feel the need to pull your wallet and buy something. It’s even enticing because the items on display are just drop-dead gorgeous. No where else but in New York will you enjoy going window shopping because they have turned their storefronts into a modern art gallery to celebrate the holidays.
Barney’s, that fabulous store in New York that has become a landmark destination every holiday season has signed on Lady Gaga as its main attraction. Not only will you be shocked by the front entrance, the entire store is a Lady Gaga inspired workshop.
The food is another attraction in New York not just this year end but throughout the year. You have all kinds of international cuisine including some that are just plain weird and novel. All you need to do is walk around and you’ll come across an unusual sight or delicacy.
On Christmas Day, it’s possible that some of the sights are closed being a holiday. However, for now the following places plan to be open such as Radio City, Bryant Park, Central Park which both of which have skating rinks, many of the restaurants will be open for breakfast and lunch, bars, Staten Island ferry, Top of the Rock (weather permitting), 5th Avenue and even the Empire State Building. Although, it would be prudent to call and make reservations before making your way to any of these places so you don’t spend time wandering about aimlessly.
Staying in a Luxury Apartment for Your Business Trip
Conducting businesses globally is the dream of every rising entrepreneur. But it comes with the cost of staying away from home for long, sometimes could be in strenuous environments. Often an avid business traveler is fed up with hotels and the sale cold world of corporate package deals. Traveling the world and doing business globally can be exciting but being away from home for that long can be truly demanding.
Although hotels have come a long way to cater for business travel, it still has that hotel feel and whether you are in Tokyo or New York – it all looks and feels the same. Recently corporate apartments and long stay hotels became a real good alternative and it really does offer a lot more. Therefore choosing the right place to stay, most importantly choosing the right Tokyo luxury apartment which can cater the comforts which resembles your home is very necessary. There are a number of reasons why corporate apartments are such a good option, such as:
(A) Price- Hotel costs can really add up quickly and the fact that its not tax deductible means that its a financial burden the business. More the luxurious it gets, the more expensive it is. Corporate apartments on the other hand are much cheaper.
(B) Comfort- Space is a big issue when travelling is quite often on cards. Spending long hours on a crammed plane and then stepping into a crammed hotel room can take its toll. Corporate apartments are “real” apartments that offer a lot more space. It really is a home away from home.
(C) Location – While most hotels are very well located in central business areas, corporate apartments are usually just as well located. Often its in much livelier areas where there are urban neighborhoods. Hotels are usually in “cold and lifeless” parts of cities where nothing happens after the 9 to 5 is over. Urban neighborhoods on the other hand are lively and filled with people and a great vibe which can make the stay more pleasant. In Japan, Roppongi Hills, Shiodome, and Marunouchi are just some of the locations which have emerged due to these changes in neighborhood. Other than these locations, many luxury apartments are clustered around Ginza, in central Tokyo and one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, and the adjacent districts of Nihonbashi and Marunouchi.
Some of the best luxury apartments from the viewpoint of staying in during a business trip are the Grand Hyatt in the Roppongi Hills complex, which is located in the far west region. It also comprises of Mori Tower, a skyscraper packed with foreign firms and Japanese IT companies. The hotel has also become the spot de rigueur for celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, and Leonardo DiCaprio and other Hollywood movie stars attending the Japanese premieres of their movies, which invariably take place on a red carpet in the Roppongi Hills Arena. Another similar luxurious apartment is the Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Photo: Green Office Projects