A Hotel Catering to the Newly Single or Broken Hearted

The last thing someone wants to do when they’ve recently broken up and are walking around nursing their newly single wounds, is check into a Fairfield Inn, or crash on a friends couch. Apartment hunting? I think not. Jumping back into “single reality” needs a cushiony transition, like a hotel, and not just any hotel but the kind that will keep you busy and handle your battered pride with kid gloves.

AKA Hotels is exactly that hotel, it’s the kind of extended living that makes you happy to go it alone. Whether you’re moving through divorce, breakups, relocation, identity crisis (hey, it happens), etc. AKA is the perfect hybrid between hotel and apartment. With various locations in NYC, DC, PA and soon to be LA and the perfect pricing structure for daily, weekly and monthly stays, (the savings for guests increase with the length of their stay). In addition, when leasing AKA suites for six months or longer, the residence is free from hotel taxes saving you thousands of dollars.

Housekeeper? Check. Concierge? Check. Complimentary breakfast, which can be brought to you, in bed? CHECK, check. How about French cooking classes? Guitar lessons, DJ Lessons, or a customized fitness program with a Celebrity trainer….almost anything you can imagine a single person would need to busy them and get back to the things they neglected when wrapped in the throws of romance, are at their fingertips.

Not only do you not have to put your life on hold, but you can move on gracefully while going to bed at night in the comfort of luxury and pampering.

Here's another hotel that offers a similar "single friendly" deal:

The Marmara Manhattan's "Suddenly Splitsville" Package

• A one-year subscription to Divorce Magazine, the only magazine of its kind, read by those who need advice from attorneys and other divorce professionals
• A pint of Häagen-Dazs ice cream to drown those sorrows in
• A bottle of Champagne to toast new found freedom
• AMONG MANY OTHER PERKS! 

 

_______________________

Chelsea Latimer is a Galavanting Travel News & Reviews correspondent, she keeps a personal blog at Chelsea Talks Smack. You can also follow Chelsea on twitter >>

French Cocktail Hour - House Party June 4th. Location: Your Place

The French government wants the world not to be intimidated by French food and dining. So they thought it would be a nice idea to treat the world (19 countries) to wine and cheese parties on June 4th, 2009. They're forking over 2.1 million bucks to do it, too.

Is that not the wildest thing you have ever heard? And the coolest?

Of course, it could also be seen as a passive aggressive move in response to Bush's 300% increase on the import tariffs for Roquefort which, by the way, Obama still hasn't lifted. Come on. A guy who gets his arugula at Whole Foods must appreciate Roquefort...

But who cares? What are you waiting for? Apply now! It won't cost you a thing.

And not only that, you could win a trip to France!

_________________________________

Pamela Poole is Galavanting contributor, a California girl calling Paris home, a writer, translator, and a francophile entrepreneur.

Just In Time for Earth Day: Hotels Make Positive Environmental Changes

CNN.com recently highlighted a Budget Travel report on how many hotels are making positive environmental changes. The use of energy efficient light bulbs and the implementation of programs which encourage the reuse of towels and linens are on the rise, but the changes don’t stop there.

Chains such as the Hyatt and Marriot have been working to install low-flow shower heads and toilets which save millions of gallons of water. An act as simple as the Marriot purchasing towels that do not need to be laundered before the first use reduces water usage by 6 million gallons per year.

Accor hotels use sensors which indicate when someone is in the room. When guests leave temperature controls are changed to save energy. Intercontinental gets extra life out of old furniture and linens by donating them to local families in need as opposed to throwing them away when renovating hotel rooms.

Recycling has a whole new purpose as chains such as the Marriott and Wyndham look to recycled plastic bottles for resources. Soon the Marriot will feature pillows made from the material and the Wyndham plans to dress their staff in new uniforms from the same source.

In addition to green practices, many chains are opening state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly locations. Starwood, Best Western and the Hyatt are among the forward thinking that incorporate practices such as using solar power to heat water, decorating with carpets and cushions made of recycled materials and installing key card controlled lighting. Drive a hybrid? You can even receive priority parking at some of these locations.

Many of the positive changes stem from the goal of major chains to gain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications. The number of hotels with the certification is growing so keep an eye out for the label when you choose your next travel accommodation.

______________________________

Lori Rice is a Galavanting Travel News & Reviews correspondent and features contributor, she keeps two blogs at Blondie in Brazil and Fake Food Free. You can also follow Lori on twitter.

Photo by Lori Rice

Women-Only Bolivia 2009 Photography Workshop

You, Bolivia? You betcha!

Galavanaters grab your cameras & your girlfriends and register for the Women-Only Bolivia 2009 Photography Workshop - Bolivia's richness in culture is not to be missed!

The salt fields of Salar de Uyuni and the bustling Witch Market in the capital of La Paz will be among the many highlights of the fantastic photography adventure. The Women Photojournalists of Washington, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is hosting this fundraising Bolivian photography workshop June 28 – July 11.

Beginners and immediate skills levels are welcome and the proceeds go towards scholarships for young women in visual media. Teachers will be three-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Carol Guzy from the Washington Post along with the Director of Photography at AOL, and international award winning photo editor, Cathaleen Curtiss.

Details:
Women-Only Bolivia 2009 :: Photography Workshop
Dates: June 28 – July 11
Location: Bolivia
Women Photojournalists of Washington

Want a sneak peek into the beauty of Bolivia? Join Travel Blog Exchange and search through fellow TBEXer’s Bolivian photos (and be sure to blog about your trip!)

___________________________________

Shanna Quinn is a Galavanting contributing editor based in Chicago, IL.

photo by Jessie Reeder

Hijacker Releases Canadian Hostages & Crew in Jamaica and Now in Custody

The AP is reporting that a hijacker broke through airport security and hijacked a parked CanJet aircraft. CanJet Flight 918 flying from Halifax, Nova Scotia, had made a scheduled landing at Montego Bay when an armed man boarded the aircraft. He is reported to be a mentally challenged man in his twenties and is now in Jamaican police custody.

The airport Sangster International Airport had been shut down, but is now re-opened. All of the passengers were from Canada and are now resting in a local hotel after being released earlier today. The remaining crew were subsequently released unharmed.

Click to read more ...