Tag Archives: travel

Olympus Camera Companions

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When I returned home after 5 months of travelling round the world I pretty much hated the sight of everything I had left in my suitcase; worn out leggings, barely working phone chargers, dog-eared gifts from various countries and cheap dusty footwear for all eventualities. But I had only more love and admiration for my two Olympus cameras, which enabled me to capture beautiful sights and create lifetime memories everywhere I went.

Olympus Pen camera

It is always nice being stopped in the street and complimented on a piece of clothing. Nowadays I get stopped by intrigued passers-by who want to know where I got my vintage-style camera from.  I am talking about the Olympus Pen E-PL7, which though compact has the ability of a much bigger camera. Available in white, black and silver, all equally stylish with a vintage look, but the striking white seems to be the most popular. For bloggers this camera is the perfect companion… A remote control wifi facility means it is very quick and easy to transfer photos from the camera to my phone, enabling me to use the high quality images immediately on my social media channels. And the useful flip/swivel screen is perfect for selfies, but I use it more for overhead shots of food.

Here are a few photos taken on my Olympus Pen:

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I was lucky to travel to some of the world’s best beaches and marine reserves, and couldn’t have captured the same underwater photos without my Olympus TG-860 Stylus Tough Digital Camera. This compact camera is designed for travellers, it is able to go 15m underwater and is also crushproof, freezeproof and shockproof… basically it is indestructible.

olympus toughPaired with a 16MP BSI sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens, this camera is a versatile machine that’s perfect for outdoor, active photographers who are ready to head out on an adventure. With 5-axis stabilisation, a flip-out LCD and Wi-Fi connectivity, the TG-860 is a versatile companion for a multitude of shooting situations.

Here are some images I took using my Olympus TG-860:

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Now that I’m back in London my cameras are just as indispensable, accompanying me on blogging expeditions round the city and further afield.

More information on the Olympus Pen and Tough Digital cameras here.

Pet Friendly Hotels

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For those of you who can’t bear to travel without your pooches, here are a few exemplary luxury hotels who ensure your pets are pampered just as much as you are whilst on holiday.

Loews Regency Hotel, New York
Creature Comforts: Loews Regency Hotel is the choice of every pet lover. Put simply: Loews Loves Pets. As part of the Loews Loves Pets programme, your VIP (Very Important Pet) will be waited on hand and paw, travelling in first-class comfort at this pet-friendly hotel. On 26 August, Loews Regency is celebrating National Dog Day with a dedicated Yappy Hour (5-8pm) comprising a host of special offers and treats for furry friends and their owners.
Rates: Loews Loves Pets package, charging a one-time £32 per stay. Rooms are from £386 per night
Bookings: loewshotels.com/regency-hotel, 1-800-233-2356

The Little Nell, Aspen
Creature Comforts: Aspen is awash in four-legged friends. The hotel will pamper yours with their luxury pet amenities. They’ll eat epicurean treats and enjoy selections from their special organic pet menu. They’ll walk them, sit them and guide you to pet friendly trails. They’ll supply bowls and beds, and even a Puppy Jet Lag Kit to help them get used to the altitude in Aspen.
Rates: Petiquette Program, £64 one-time cleaning fee and an additional £16 per night. Rooms are from £434 per night
Bookings: stay@thelittlenell.com, +1 970-920-4600

Peninsula Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills
Creature Comforts: Four-legged guests are pampered with personalised towels, luxurious doggy beds and a specially-designed menu that offers treats such as the ‘Bow Wow Beef Burger’ and ‘Spot’s New York Strip’. If a guest doesn’t have time to walk their dog, one of the hotel’s white-uniformed Peninsula Pages will take the pooch for a stroll around the block. They often walk up to 10 dogs a day. The hotel takes the term “pet-friendly” to new heights of luxury, offering each four-footed guest a plush doggie bed, monogrammed towel and Fiji Water in a shiny bowl. Pet owners can treat their dogs to specialties from the “people food for dogs” menu, including dishes such as a “Bow-Wow Burger” and a “Tail of the Pup Hot Dog”.
Rates: Rooms are from £354 per night
Bookings: peninsula.com/beverlyhills, +1 310-551-2888

The Peninsula New York, New York
Creature Comforts: Fifth Avenue’s most fashionable address is delighted to welcome complimentary creature comforts, offering pet dogs only the finest when holidaying in New York. These include a welcome card and dog toy, personalised bottle of water, organic pet food, a Peninsula dog bed with two dog bowls and Peninsula dog leashes and bandanas.
Rates: Superior Rooms are from £381 per night
Bookings: peninsula.com/newyork, +1 212 956 2888

Viceroy New York, New York
Creature Comforts: Your favourite friend will be provided with a bed, food, water bowl and delicious dog treats at arrival. Upon request, the hotel is happy to make dog aromatherapy kits available for purchase.
Rates: One pet per room allowed (under 25 lbs), charged at £64 per room per night. Rooms are from £199 per night incl. taxes & fees. The pet charge is waived for guests staying in Junior Suites or above, from £275 per suite per night incl. taxes & fees.
Bookings: vny.reservations@viceroyhotelsandresorts.com, +1-855-647-1619

Volcanoes Safaris, Rwanda & Uganda
Creature Conservation: With only 480 mountain gorillas left in the Virungas, not only will visitors to the region experience seeing them in the wild, but more importantly, they will have the opportunity to help protect their furry ancestors. Experts in rare mountain gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda and leaders in eco-tourism, Volcanoes Safaris – which consists of four eco-luxe lodges – contributes $100 from the cost of every safari directly to the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, a separate non-profit organisation which undertakes community and conservation activities.
Rates: 7 Day Safari rates start from £4,214 (US$6,329) per person, 5 Day Safari rates start from £3,176 (US$4,770) per person.
Bookings: salesug@volcanoessafaris.com

Enjoy the nightlife Las Vegas has on offer

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Las Vegas

One of the best known cities in the world is Las Vegas. It’s known not only for its casinos but also bars, restaurant and exciting entertainment options. Just about every night out in Vegas will involve the need for food in some capacity. One possible restaurant option is the Wicked Spoon which is located at the Cosmopolitan. This restaurant is the modern version of the buffet style restaurant with upscale food. The servings are individually plated in a tapas style. Save room for dessert as you will definitely want to try out the gelato bar which promises over a dozen different scrumptious flavors. This restaurant is on the pricey side but worth every penny.

Guests in Vegas may also wish to cap off their gourmet dinner with a drink. A unique experience can be found at Minus 5 Experience. Located at Mandalay Bay, this bar provides an environment with a temperature the same as its name which equals 23 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. Guests are provided with jackets, gloves and boots to keep warm in this Tundra in the middle of the Vegas desert. Seating and decorations are made of ice as well as the glasses in which drinks are served. Many of the drinks here are vodka based but expect to find old favourites as well as the coldest beer in town. A bit pricey but a cool experience in more ways than one.

Of course no trip to Vegas is complete without visiting the casinos, especially if you play on mobile casino such  as http://www.mobilecasino.co.nz/. One of the most well known is the Bellagio which is known for its terrific gambling and extravagant setting. With sights like the famous Bellagio fountains, this is one casino not to miss. Expect to find all the popular tables games here especially poker. Renowned for their poker rooms, you may catch a glimpse of a celebrity visiting here. Another casino worth a visit is the MGM Grand. An older casino, the MGM offers electronic and table games. Along with these is the unique Sigma Derby the only mechanized horse racing game in the city.