Grand Canyon Skywalk voted the “Best New Bridge”

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012


GRAND CANYON WEST One of the most recognizable and popular travel magazines, Travel + Leisure, has crowned the Grand Canyon Skywalk as the “best new bridge.”  Located at Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point, the Skywalk is the only place where visitors can step out onto a glass walkway nearly 4000 feet above the floor of the Grand Canyon.  The Skywalk won by a large margin in the United States and beat out all other daring bridges around the world.

 
Grand Canyon SkywalkTop New Bridges

1. Grand Canyon Skywalk, Arizona
2. Henderson Waves Pedestrian Bridge, Singapore
3. Millau Viaduct, Millau, France
4. Ponte della Costituzione, Venice, Italy
5. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Langkawi, Malaysia

 


Travel + Leisure conducted an online survey in 2011 to discover their readers’ top new landmarks of the world. The magazine defines “New landmarks” as any landmarks that opened after 1996. The Skywalk opened in March of 2007. Some 60 landmarks were rated in different categories such as skyscrapers, parks, museums and, of course, bridges.

The article can be seen at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/top-new-landmarks-2012

About Hualapai Tourism:
Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which is wholly owned and operated by the Hualapai Nation, manages Grand Canyon West, Hualapai River Runners (whitewater rafting), Hualapai Ranch and the Hualapai Lodge. Grand Canyon West is a collection of viewpoints and attractions spread over 9000 acres of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim in Northwest Arizona, just 120 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grand Canyon West is the only place in the Canyon where visitors can access a boat ride on the Colorado River via helicopter and is home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass walkway 4000 ft above the canyon floor.

For more information and reservations contact www.momentotravel.com.au or by call 1300 300 713 - internationally at +61 2 9213 0000

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Fodor’s 100 Honors Waimea Plantation Cottages

Sunday, November 20th, 2011


Aston Hotels & Resorts

Fodor’s 100 Honors Waimea Plantation Cottages

In a New Category: “Local Flavor”

As Hawaii’s “Go To” Hotel for a “Truly Authentic Experience”

 

HONOLULU, HI (November 17, 2011) – Aston Hotels & Resorts, an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), announced that its Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages has been named to the exclusive list of 100 resorts worldwide, honored in the expanded Fodor’s 100: Hotel Awards 2011. As part of the 75th anniversary year of Fodor’s Travel, the awards were recently presented in New York City and included eight new categories.

According to Arabella Bowen, executive editorial director for Fodor’s Travel, the 2011 hotels were selected for the style, service and quality that discerning travelers seek. “Our editors and writers travel the globe each year to scout hotels, and the Fodor’s 100 Hotels represent the best of the best.” Bowen added that Fodor’s understands that choosing where to stay is one of the most important decisions a traveler makes.

With only 13 properties honored in the “Local Flavor” category, Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages, located on the island of Kauai, fits the Fodor’s description of “go-to hotels for a truly authentic experience.” Each hotel was selected for conveying authentic and locally relevant experiences around the globe. The list ranges from Quebec, Canada to Durham, England, Switzerland, Greece and Montana.

Kelvin Bloom, president of Aston Hotels & Resorts, expressed his appreciation to the hundreds of travel writers and editors who selected the winning resorts. “We are delighted that Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages was chosen for this extraordinary distinction for the 2011 awards. This unique property truly offers a one-of- a-kind experience that we’re pleased to share with the world.”

Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages

Set amidst a 27-acre coconut grove, Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages is a tranquil getaway, blending both nostalgic and modern cultures of Hawaii. This unique, oceanfront resort was created from restored historic sugar plantation homes updated with modern conveniences and hand-selected furnishings, giving it a nostalgic Hawaii feel. Its simple, comfortable charm, genuine history and beautiful grounds allow guests to enjoy an experience unlike any other in the islands. The hotel features an onsite restaurant, oceanfront wedding and event venues and a variety of activities ranging from beach volleyball to beachfront yoga. The only hotel in the Waimea area, Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages offers convenient access to Kauai’s famous Waimea Canyon, Kokee State Park, the Napali Coast and other notable attractions on Kauai’s south coast.

About Aston Hotels & Resorts

Aston Hotels & Resorts operates a diverse range of condominium resorts and hotels with accommodations from hotel rooms and condominium suites, to villas and cottages that suit any lifestyle, taste or budget. Based in Honolulu, the company manages over 4,300 units in over 27 properties on the four major Hawaiian Islands, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Sun Valley, Idaho, and Lake Las Vegas, Nev. For more information, visit Momento or call toll free 1300 300 713.

Also posted in Aston, Hawaii, Hotels & Sightseeing, Kauai | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages – New Inspired Menu

Sunday, November 6th, 2011


Aston Waimea Grove Cafe dish

Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages Toasts the Tastes of Kauai

Looking for a true taste of the islands? Follow the locals and the visitors, and find yourself at Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages on Hawaii’s Garden Island of Kauai.  

The Grove Café, located on-site, honors Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages’ unique heritage through a new menu featuring dishes inspired by Hawaii’s diverse cultures and history.  Feast on Kauai Shrimp Au Gratin, farmed in nearby Kekaha town. Enjoy Chinese-style fresh catch of the day as it comes off the boats of the local fishermen. Or, treat yourself to locally-made cookies and other delectable desserts from Kauai Kookie Company which pair perfectly with a cup of Kauai coffee, grown and harvested just down the coast in Eleele town.

To quench your thirst after a full day of exploring, the Grove Café has added a selection of Hawaii beers, including Longboard Lager, Firerock Pale Ale, Wailua Wheat and the red ale appropriately called Lava Man, a perfect match for Spicy Ahi Rolls and Kalua Pork Spring Rolls.

Guests can kick back, relax and enjoy the smooth sounds of the Hawaiian group “Wailoa” on Wednesday and Friday evenings. On Thursday nights, Uncle Ambrose Smith and his band serenade guests with their blend of traditional Hawaiian music and contemporary favorites. On Tuesdays, brave folks can grab the microphone and sing Karaoke from 7 to 10 p.m., then work off some calories the next day with a beachfront yoga class.

Guests can wander the black sand beach and take a few photos of the neighboring island of Niihau before returning to their cottages to enjoy a peaceful Waimea day. While the cottages are historic, even they need rejuvenation from time to time. Ongoing improvements progressing through the cottages include the beginning of the installation of LG flat screen TVs and Serta Perfect Sleeper beds. Guests can also stay connected with high-speed Internet access now available in the cottages. Complimentary WiFi access is also available in the lobby area and breezeway, the conference rooms and in The Grove Café.

Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages

Set amidst a 27-acre coconut grove, Aston Waimea Plantation Cottages is a tranquil getaway, blending both nostalgic and modern cultures of Hawaii.  This unique, oceanfront resort was created from restored historic sugar plantation homes updated with modern conveniences and hand-selected furnishings, giving it a nostalgic Hawaii feel. 

Definitely one of our favourite Aston properties!

Also posted in Aston, Hawaii, Kauai, Places To Stay | Tagged , , | 29 Comments

Rail Travel – More than 10 Reasons to Travel by Train

Thursday, October 20th, 2011



Rail travel is absolutely booming in North America at the moment and it’s us Australians who continue to make huge contributions to this growth. Amtrak reports that its national ridership is up 6.4 percent since the 2010 fiscal year where there were more than 28.7 million passengers. The company has just hit a record 30 million passengers for the 2011 fiscal year. This is a long-term trend which has seen Amtrak set annual ridership records in seven of the last eight fiscal years.

One of the major contributing factors for this increased growth is cost saving (who doesn’t love saving a bit of money?!)  Travelling by train has become an increasingly cost-effective alternative to planes. A search on some of the most popular rail routes taken by Australians found that the lowest airfare from New York to Washington was $186.00 roundtrip; on the train, the price was just $108.00 roundtrip. The lowest airfare from San Francisco to Vancouver was $494.00 roundtrip vs $280.00 roundtrip on the train.

Rail travel offers the door –to-door convenience that Air travel cannot offer, most major train stations are located in the heart of the city compared with airports which most are located outside of the city, adding significant travel cost and time.  One survey suggested that “travellers are considering total travel time – getting from door to door –and the full travel experience when choosing mode of transport, with 86% of people choosing rail to avoid the process of checking in, security and boarding and 66% willing to add an hour or more of total travel to their trips to avoid the hassles of long lines, airport security and baggage fees.”

Whilst rail travel can be longer than air travel, it is so much more than getting from A to B. When travelling by train you can witness some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Travelling onboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr you’ll find yourself winding through the majestic and iconic Rocky Mountains, crossing the deserts of Utah and Nevada, traversing the Sierra Nevada Mountains, ending up in the lowlands of the California Central Valley. Rail travel really is all about the ‘full travel experience’. Not only do you have spectacular scenery rushing by you, there is also much more space to move, often with the added experience of a dining car with full serviced meals and friendly wait staff.

Let’s not also forget that trains are eco-friendly, they release less carbon emissions than planes or cars.  Trains are one of the cleanest and greenest sources of transportation today; the energy efficiency of trains also means that the industry is less susceptible to those outrageous fuel prices which we have reluctantly become to accustom to.

So what are you waiting for? Jump onboard a VIA Rail, Amtrak or Rocky Mountaineer train today!

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Why Book Alamo Car Rental? Here’s 10 good reasons why!

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011


Alamo Car Rental

 Why Book Alamo Car Rental?

 Here’s 10 good reasons why:

  • Alamo is part of the largest car rental company in the world and has been serving the leisure traveller since 1974
     
  • Alamo/National has more branch locations than any other car rental company with over 300 on-airport locations throughout USA and over 70 on-airport locations in Canada. 
     
  • Alamo are proud to offer the youngest fleets in the industry.
     
  • Alamo is a recognized technology innovator, with more than 159 self-service kiosks at 65 U.S. locations, which earned it the “Extra Mile Award” from Budget Travel magazine in 2007.
     
  • “SaveTime” – pre-rental registration service for Alamo customers travelling into the U.S and Canada. – register online at www.alamosavetime.com Customers just follow 3 easy steps:

            – Input reservation number and surname
            – Input license details and personal information
            – Complete booking, including any options (to be paid during check-in at the airport) 

  • “Choice” product – available at all key gateway airports. Allows Alamo customers to choose a car they want from all cars available in group.
     
  • GPS is available at all Alamo locations in Canada and all corporate locations in USA.
     
  • Free one way rentals within and between Nevada, California and Arizona.
     
  • Disney’s official car rental partner for 20 years with exclusive on-site locations at the Disney parks. Alamo is also affiliated with all Disney’s businesses.
     
  • Alamo has the most fuel efficient fleet in the USA and is a pioneer of new clean technologies (flex fuel, hybrids, and new fuel technology).
        Contact Momento Travel for a car rental booking or quote today.
 
        Alamo Car Rental
Also posted in Alamo, Driving | Tagged , , | 22 Comments