When visiting a new city, travelers want the most out of their vacation by getting an insider’s point of view. Guidebooks are a great start. Today’s review give you the pros and cons of NineBlue’s most recent family travel guide.

WHAT? The guidebook in question is the Las Vegas For Families e-Book 5th Edition / August 2008 by NineBlue.com.

The illustrated travel guide provides you with tips and information about Las Vegas’ best family attractions, hotels, sights, shows, saving you from stumbling upon adult venues by accident.

WRITTEN BY? One of my favorite bloggers, Lara Dunston, recently wrote we should judge a guidebook by its author, just as we would any other book.

On NineBlue’s website I read that the guide is written by a 20 year resident of Las Vegas. Having spent two decades in Vegas surely adds a great credibility to the guide and proves that the author has a local knowledge of the destination. Without doubt, he knows Vegas, the ins and outs of the city, the best family hotels, the most noteworthy attractions, the best time to visit, tourist traps too avoid. Yet, despite his familiarity of Vegas I want to know his name and qualifications. Has he written any travel guides before? Most important, has he written any other guide books on Vegas? Does he have a degree in journalism? What is his background?

Last week, I read a blog post by Lara on Cool Travel Guide about how the author’s book also will be judged by their friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, the local media and tourism industry, not just the readers and publisher. Very true. This means it’s very likely that an author’s guidebook about their hometown will be their best. Therefore, even though I don’t have any more detailed information about the writer, I would be willing to buy the guide.

If there would have been no evidence of the author’s knowledge of the destination, I would not want to own a copy of it. Buying a travel guide by a writer who might not even have visited the place in the first place is downright stupid. Say you’re visiting Vegas for the first time, you wouldn’t want a person from Wisconsin show you around to the best attractions - even if he did research online. This was an extreme example, but you get my point. A local is always your best bet.

Moreover, on NineBlue.com I read their researchers keep up-to-date on all the family fun in each city. Does this mean several people have contributed to the Las Vegas guide, but only one person wrote it? This was not exactly clear from the description. However, when I open the book I read the guide was written by several residents of Las Vegas who spent their childhood, 20s and 30s in the city.

Conclusion, even though the authors have lived in Vegas since 20 years shows a clear expertise of the destination, I believe NineBlue should spell out the names and a short bio of the writers on the website. This would give all the more trustworthiness to their work.

NineBlue does have a track record of consistent sales and happy costumers, but we buy a book based on the skills and reputation of the authors - not solely the publisher or guidebook company. So, to satisfied all skeptically inclined people, NineBlue ought to give us a somewhat longer description than “the guide is written by a 20 year resident of Las Vegas”.

Nonetheless, the brand does matter.

WHAT COMPANY? The company behind “Las Vegas for Families” is NineBlue.com, a trusted source for family travelers with more than 100 travel guides for download. They are committed to fulfilling the needs of traveling parents and aims to put together the most extensive list of fun things families can do in the world. So far, NineBlue’s travel guides stands behind 20,000 family attractions listings in 1,300 cities. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas and also maintains an office in west London. The founder of the company is Edward Serrano.

In general, the guides help families plan quality vacations by giving advice on what to pack, where to go, how to get around, where to stay, good restaurants, child care and much more. Up to now, parents from more than 50 countries have put their trust in NineBlue’s family travel e-books.

WHEN? The newest edition of the popular guide “Las Vegas for Families” is available now at NineBlue.com.

If I’m not mistaken, the guide has been available for purchase since July, 2008.

FOR WHO? As already mentioned, this guide is intended for families. “Las Vegas for Families”, the title says it all. Although the book is written with families in mind doesn’t mean grown-ups with a penchant for children attractions, kid’s meal at restaurants, or the convenience of family hotels, won’t benefit from the book.

And remember, a family these days is not only a happily married couple with three children. A family can be a single mom with a five-year-old daughter, a gay couple with a seven-year-old kid, a single dad with a teenage son, a lesbian pair with an adopted child, a grandmother with her granddaughter, an aunt with her orphan niece… I think you know what I mean. And for some people, family means friends. Anyhow, as long as you’re a family and enjoy doing what families normally do, this travel guide is for you.

PROMISE? At NineBlue.com I read a quote by the founder:

“Each year almost 4 million children visit Las Vegas with their parents and our guides helps entertain them and keep them out of trouble.” - Edward Serrano, founder NineBlue.

The promise of the guide is simple, yet desirable. Who doesn’t want to be entertained? Who doesn’t want to keep their kids out of trouble?

Edward Serrano knows how to create a demand with a positive, straightforward message.

LOOK? The look is important, there’s no denial about it. But, it’s not the most important thing. No matter how stunning photos, you don’t know nothing about the content unless you open the book and turn the pages. You might think you know a book must be truly brilliant because of the typography and the amazing images on its cover. But you can’t know for sure. Hence, never ever judge a guidebook by its cover - just as we shouldn’t judge people by their looks. It’s the inside that counts. And a flawless surface is no indication of what’s within.

At the same time, an average look is no reflection of the content either. When it comes to this book, I must say the cover does not impress me. Not at all. It’s rather simple with a blue border, blue “NineBlue.com Travel Guide” heading, and an orange “Las Vegas” title. Below, a picture of a shark with the description “Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay”, a boy with big sun glasses, a man and a woman in an acrobatic show, a tiger and a few other pictures.

The text, next to a cowboy doing thumbs up, says “Best Attractions, Coolest Hotels, Rollercoasters, Kid-friendly Sites, Fun in Las Vegas!”

The cover of the guide clearly shows it’s aimed towards kids and parents. The text is in big letters and easy to read. In my opinion, the pictures look a bit blurry; the cover would have seemed more appealing and professional with other images. A better way to create an eye-catching cover is to focus on one or two pictures, three at the most, rather than nine or ten pictures next to each other. Less is more.

CONTENT? As already mentioned, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The content is what matters.

Let’s face it. The content is the essential part of any book. No question about it. We want to learn something new, get an insider’s tips and suggestions,  discover things we wouldn’t have found out on our own.

“Las Vegas for Families” highlights these topics:

• Discover the best attractions for kids
• Find out which Vegas hotels are best for families
• Shows that will put a smile on your child’s face, not tears in their eyes
• Find hotel child care options
• Family dining listings including which offer free/discount buffets for kids
• How to get around the Strip with kids
• Strip movie theaters, arcades, and more

So far, I’m satisfied. They have covered what’s important for families: where to go, where to stay, what shows are fun but not too scary, where to eat, transportation, and even more attractions.

Reading the first pages I am pleased by their choice of focus. The Introduction covers important aspects such as “Safety Rules” followed by “What to expect”, “Money”, “What to pack”, “Getting around”, “Child care”, “Alone time” and “Annual events”. All of them topics parents will find handy when traveling to Las Vegas for the first time.

The subsequent chapters include:

Family Attractions: From the Shark Reef and Bellagio Fountains to the Eiffel Tower and Venetian Gondolas, the guide’s 21 attractions ensure all visitors can find something for their personality.

Family Hotels: Of all the 130,000 hotel rooms in Vegas, the writers have picked out the 11 most family-friendly hotels including New York New York, The Sahara and Four Seasons.

Family Shows: The 24 featured shows in the guide range from Free Circus Acts and Stomp Out Loud to Xtreme Magic with Dirk Arthur. No matter the age of your kids, they will find at least one favorite. Parents too.

Family Dining: The restaurant you opt for when traveling with kids can make or break your day. “Las Vegas for Families” takes care of the hassle of finding a restaurant where children are more than welcome. The 31 suggestions include China Grill, Grand Lux Café, Picasso, Rainforest Café, The Cheesecake Factory and many more. Something for every budget.

Swimming Pools: I didn’t expect this chapter, but it’s one of my favorites. Who doesn’t want to cool off after a hot day in the sun, swim a few laps, or play in the water? The guide shows you the best swimming pools in town: Mirage Pool, Bellagio Pool, The Beach at Mandalay Bay and more.

Museums: Yes, not only adults enjoy museums. This chapter lets you know about 5 museums where you can take your kids including Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts and King Tut’s Tomb.

The last chapters, Travel Information, Directory, and Las Vegas Strip Maps and Kids Travel Kit, end up the guide in a smart way.

So, what did they miss? Apart from a minor grammatical error in the introduction (”It’s really is possible…” rather than “It really is…”), I couldn’t think of anything at first. The book is written in an authoritative and easy way all English speakers will understand. I immediately get a sense they know their thing, they’ve been there and done that, and this shines through in the writing. It’s honest and uncomplicated.

Since I haven’t been to Vegas I don’t have their local knowledge or expertise of the city. But I would have liked a chapter in the vein of “After the Trip” or “We’re Home, Now What?” giving suggestions of what to expect of a return-trip, what to think about if they want to visit Vegas again.

HOW MUCH? “Las Vegas for Families” is available for €12.99. When I first saw the price, I was neither surprised nor shocked. €12.99 is a relevant price for an e-book. A price of €9, or anything under, would leave me doubtful of the quality of the book. Set a too low price and readers will wonder if it’s too good to be true. What’s the catch? Why is this book so inexpensive? Is this a genuinely good travel guide, or are they selling it cheaply just to get rid of it? NineBlue avoid all this with an appropriate price.

Anything above €25 would have been too much. I do believe some people would gladly pay more than €20 for this guide. Even at €30, a few people might curiously wonder, what’s the deal? Why does this guide cost so much? Is it really that good? And, despite the high price, they will buy it, perhaps out of fear to miss out on something important that will guarantee a terrific trip.

With a price of €12.99, NineBlue shows that they cater for everyone’s needs - well off families who wouldn’t think twice of purchasing a travel guide for €30, price conscious budget travelers, and everyone in between.

HOW TO ORDER? “Las Vegas for Families” is available for purchase by phone or paypal. Phone people will want to order by phone, and computer savvy consumers prefer paypal. NineBlue knows this and accommodates to everyone’s preferences.

ADVANTAGES? Buy the travel guide and you will receive a free Travel Kit with fun games for kids (connect-the-dots, mazes, coloring and more) and 4 children-friendly maps of the Las Vegas Strip.

Another benefit, all guides are available for instant download. No unnecessary waiting or pricey shipping costs. With an easy PDF download, you both save and care for the environment since you only print the pages you need.

In addition, as a way of saying thanks, NineBlue offers a free babysitter referral service that connects parents and sitters. Sure, traveling with kids is all fun but sometimes we want a bit of alone time. The babysitter referral service is free of charge for both parents and the sitter.

DISADVANTAGES? As previously mentioned, the cover of the book. We shouldn’t judge it, yet they could have put more of an effort to create an artistically pleasing front. Also, they say the authors are residents of Las Vegas since their childhood. I don’t doubt this fact, but I want to know who they are. Why not include a chapter in the end with a picture and short bio of all contributing writers? And perhaps also a note of their favorite attraction, hotel or restaurant?

Misspellings. Sure, I noticed one but it still makes me wonder. Does the book have more errors? A content of a book may be great, but misspellings lower its overall quality.

WHY? Why should you buy “Las Vegas for Families”? If you have skipped straight to this part, don’t be so impatient. Read my whole review. If you have already read everything up to this part and still don’t know whether to buy the guide, read it again.

Then read these customer testimonials from NineBlue’s website:

“I like the fact that the guide can be downloaded and printed if needed.” -A Dad from Canada

“I highly recommend [Las Vegas guide] for anyone…My husband and I were also very impressed with the books’ detailed information on all aspects of what is good to know about travelling and staying in Vegas” -A Mom from Canada

Wrapping up, “Las Vegas for Families” may not be the best guidebook on Vegas,  and it’s certainly not the worst, but I give this a 3,7 out of 5 for a job well done.

To buy or not to buy, that’s your choice.

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your travel shots on the cover of Lonely Planet? Now’s your chance. Until September 8, 2008, Lonely Planet and the photo-sharing website Pikeo are holding a travel photo competition open to people in the UK, France, Spain, USA and Canada.

Lamps in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Submit your most inspiring and unique pictures of London, Paris, Barcelona and Istanbul. The four winners can see their pictures on the cover of Lonely Planet’s new ‘Encounter’ guides to each city, plus they will receive a free Intrepid Travel trip to India, Russia, Morocco or Kenya.

When the guides go on sale next year, the winning pictures and Lonely Planet and Pikeo’s favorite shots will be showcased at a gallery exhibition in London.

To enter the competition, visit http://lonelyplanet.pikeo.com and follow the instructions.

Many people take themselves way too seriously. When was the last time you did something really silly? Or something most grown-ups don’t do, without caring whether someone raised an eyebrow or two?

Be a kid again

1. Do a cartwheel.
2. Sing into your hairbrush.
3. Walk barefoot in wet grass.
4. Play a song you like really loud, over and over.
5. Dot all your “i”s with smiley faces.
6. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away.
7. Dunk your cookies.
8. Play a game where you make up the rules as you go along.
9. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
10. Change into some play clothes.
11. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
12. Eat ice cream for breakfast.
13. Kiss a frog, just in case.
14. Blow the wrapper off a straw.
15. Have someone read you a story.
16. Find some pretty stones and save them.
17. Wear your favorite shirt with you favorite pants even if they don’t match.
18. Take a running jump over a big puddle.
19. Get someone to buy you something you really don’t need.
20. Hide your vegetables under your napkin.
21. Stay up past your bedtime.
22. Eat dessert first.
23. Fuss a little, then take a nap.
24. Wear red gym shoes.
25. Put way too much sugar on your cereal.
26. Make cool screeching noises every time you turn a corner.
27. Giggle a lot for no reason.
28. Give yourself a gold star for everything you do today.

Credit: Be a kid again by Father Luke

At a time when the future of our planet, environmental issues and green travel are debated more than ever, writing about nature help making people aware. The new special issue of Granta, with contributions from writers who have written extensively on the subject, will be published September 1, 2008.

Granta 102 looks into how we write and think about the natural world:

“The writers collected here are all on some kind of journey of discovery, as the best travel writers were, but at a time when so many of us are concerned about the size of our carbon footprint, they have no need to travel to the other side of the world to understand more about themselves and their relation to the world they inhabit. In this sense, many of the stories in this issue are studies in the local or the parochial: they are about the discovery of exoticism in the familiar, the extraordinary in the ordinary. They are about new ways of seeing. Many of the pieces can also be read as elegies: we know how our world is changing and what is being lost and yet we are powerless to prevent the change.” - Editor’s Letter by Jason Cowley.

The new issue includes:

• Matthew Power finds respite from the concrete jungle in a garden in the Bronx
• Benjamin Kunkel remembers his hippy childhood in Colorado
• Edward Platt reports on the birds that migrate over the Israeli-Palestinian border
• Paul Farley and Niall Griffiths escape the inner city and revisit the Liverpool estate of their childhoods
• Kathleen Jamie takes an unusual look at the inner landscape of our bodies
• Robert Macfarlane and photographer Justin Partyka explore a rural way of life on the brink of disappearing
• Richard Mabey visits the oldest tree in Europe: the Fortingall Yew
• Jonathan Raban ponders the mythology of the American West
• Philip Marsden rediscovers the nineteenth-century nature writer, J T Blight
• Donovan Wylie photographs the dismantling of the Maze Prison

Plus: Seamus Heaney, Mark Cocker, Anthony Doerr, Jim Holt, David Heatley, Roger Deakin’s notebooks, poetry by Sean O’Brien, a short story by debut writer Lydia Peelle, and graphic fiction from David Heatley.

For more information, essays, features and interviews, visit Granta’s regularly updated and revamped website at www.granta.com.

TEXT: Valerie Mellema

Botswana is an amazing destination for travel. The Kalahari is a stunning sight, while the warm, welcoming people will help you feel right at home. No matter what you intend to do in the country, you will need to find the best accommodations for your needs. Botswana boasts numerous hotel and some of the best resorts in the world. Visiting HotelsCombined.com can help you find the best price for your stay.

Deception Valley Lodge

Located just outside of the Okavango Delta, this luxury resort offers you a unique way to experience an adventurous safari on the Kalahari. Bushmen guides, luxury accommodations and the best service in the area, you’ll find that this hotel is an incredible experience. Cultural walks to meet the Bushmen, hunting and training classes with native hunters, Victorian style suites and all the best amenities await you here.

Kubu Lodge

Located on the banks of the Chobe River, the Kubu Lodge offers you several chalets with thatched roofs and raised platforms. You’ll enjoy incredible vies of the river, as well as ceiling fans, mosquito nets, coffeemakers and a host of other amenities. The on-property restaurant serves the best local and international cuisine, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There is also a bar located on property, as well as a small gift shop.

Muchenje Safari Lodge

If you are planning a safari in Botswana, you’ll find few better options than staying with the Muchenje Safari Lodge. This beautiful resort offers you lounges, bars and panoramic views of the area. Communal dining is done in a railway sleeper car, retrofitted to be an informal restaurant. You will enjoy walking safaris through the area, river cruises on the Chobe River and a wide diversity of African wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, lions and a wide diversity of birds.

Walmont at the Grand Palm

This luxury resort has nothing to do with safaris, though you can find them easily from the hotel. Located in Gaborone, the hotel offers modern amenities to visitors, as well as numerous ways to enjoy your stay. Buffet dining is the rule in the hotel, while you can enjoy an outdoor pool. Watch out for the wildlife; monkeys enjoy visiting the pool for a frolic with unsuspecting travelers. Internet access is available in all rooms, as well as in-room safes, comfortable bedding and a location in the heart of the city.

This week’s photo was taken by a German photographer at the carnival in London.

Long Day © Nils Merkel

Before traveling to a foreign country, practice the language - at least the most common expressions. If China is your next destination, watch this brilliant video from Howcast on how to speak basic Chinese.

“A truly good luxury hotel cannot hide its brilliance, no more than a fake one can mask its incompetence.”

Award-winning travel writer and journalist Matthew Brace knows what he talks about. As a five-star hotel reviewer, he has visited the most fascinating and luxurious places around the globe for more than a decade. We all have addictions, for Matthew it is luxury hotels. From Paris, London and Venice, to Bangkok, New York and Bali.

Hotel Heaven: Confessions of a Luxury Hotel Addict will transport you to far-flung destinations, deluxe hotel suites, stylish hotel lobbies, and glamorous jet-set life, where you sip cocktails with multi-millionaires, share lifts with movie stars and eavesdrop on celebrities.

Matthew gives an honest, personal account of 80-odd hotels which all encompass what a real luxury hotel should be: “memorable, character-filled, efficient, chic and fun.”

His hilarious stories include fashion crimes in first-class airport lounges, celebrity hunting in Beverly Hills, how he finds himself face to face with a hyena in Stanley’s Camp in Botswana. Not to speak of a funny incident involving ‘a smooth fluffy dog of toy’ in Buenos Aires. Or what really plays out by a hotel’s swimming pool.

“Australians think it bizarre and unnatural for a luxury hotel  not to have a swimming pool because it is such an integral part of their home culture. Germans really do like sneaking around shortly before dawn and spreading their towels on loungers by the pool to ensure they get a seat in the sun. English people like removing them.”

Matthew also finds answers to questions we can’t help but wonder about. Do real-life guests get the same service as celebrities and travel writers? Will you get a limo from the airport even though your name isn’t Pierce Brosnan?

History inclined readers will appreciate the chapters on traditional British hotels such as Brown’s, Savoy, Claridge’s, The Ritz and The Goring. Fans of Jimi Hendrix, Dylan Thomas, William S. Burroughs and Andy Warhol can enjoy tales from these legends’ former hang-out in New York - the infamous Chelsea Hotel.

Hotel Heaven takes in high-tech, future-lux, eco-luxe, the best pet-friendly hotels, romantic hotels, and my favorite part, the best butler in Bali. This butler’s excellent assistance speaks volumes about how a top-notch luxury hotel should be, because no matter the state of luxury, a guest’s experience very much rely on the service of the staff.

Travel Blissful recently contacted Matthew Brace to learn more about the world of luxury hotels and his work as a hotel reviewer.

E.J: I read that you first stayed in a luxury hotel during a family vacation at age 13. What made you decide to finally start reviewing them?

MB: I was a foreign correspondent for years, for the UK national newspapers, and often stayed in rather ordinary hotels while on assignments. I was also a travel writer but for the budget end of the market so it was one-star all the way. Then a great friend of mine, the London Evening Standard’s film critic Alexander Walker, told me to ‘upgrade’ myself and start writing travel and hotel reviews for the stylish magazines such as Tatler and Harpers & Queen. Suddenly the doors to the world’s most opulent hotels opened.

E.J: I know you get this question (too) many times, but I have to ask. Which is your favourite hotel? Or let’s put it this way, if you could return to any hotel suite in the world, which would you choose?

MB: I’m torn between a private villa at the Club at the Legian in Bali and a suite at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles. Can I have both please, for about two weeks each!? These are the properties I really miss the most. I also adore Singapore, and long to check back in to a Palladian Suite at the Fullerton.

E.J: Have you ever considered reviewing hotels in the pretence of being a regular guest, without revealing you’re a travel writer?

MB: I have done this a lot in the past and still do occasionally. I cannot do it more often because a) budgets at magazines have tightened meaning editors rarely fund lavish hotel stays for reviewers, and b) I am not a millionaire so cannot afford to stay in them at my own expense. However, I have a problem with the whole ‘Truth in Travel’ philosophy that says all reviews must be anonymously conducted. It heavily implies that professional reviewers like me can be ‘bought’ by limos and expensive champagne. The real truth is that any genuine professional travel writer can see through the hype and examine the hotel at face value. I may get a Rolls Royce at my disposal and a much Krug as I can drink but if the hotel is not up to par I shall say so - or simply refuse to write a review at all. I have done that.

E.J: You write you have a cause of hotel kleptomania, but I must ask, what about your conscience? I once took an issue of Travel+Leisure, and another time a Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo bottle, from a luxury hotel in London and had such bad conscience about it I actually considered returning or replacing them. I never did by the way.

MB: Erica, come travelling with me and we’ll come home with a suitcase so full of soap and shampoo and gifts that we could open our own stand in Covent Garden market.

I don’t think many guests realise just what they can take from a hotel room. If you have a bathroom full of Hermes cosmetics they are yours to take. So take them, all of them, every day, and once the cleaners have been in, voila, a new set is there. You don’t need a conscience - you’ve paid for these things; it’s factored in to the room rate. Of course, if you are planning to steal paintings and furniture, then yep, you have a problem and should seek professional counselling immediately!

Atlantis on Paradise Island

E.J: How do you view the future for luxury hotels? I am mostly thinking about the popularity of the new minimalist design hotels versus the traditional, often extravagant luxury hotels.

MB: In my book ‘Hotel Heaven’ I have a chapter on design hotels and another on the extravagant ones. The concept of design hotels has been around for some time, since 1960 really when the first design hotel the Radisson SAS Royal in Copenhagen opened (designed throughout by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen). I love that hotel, especially the new corner suites with the swan chairs and the views over fabulous Copenhagen. I think design hotels will continue to be popular but the future lies in increased exclusivity - wealthy hotel guests want more and more privacy and personal service so expect to see more private island retreats and exclusive suites and villa resorts. You have all the luxuries you can hope for in a resort - now the trick is to have them all to yourself and banish the other guests.

E.J: Last, if you had all the time and money in the world, where would you like to travel?

MB: When I was researching ‘Hotel Heaven’ I had the great pleasure of interviewing the visionary Dutch architect Hans-Jurgen Rombaut who has designed (on paper) the first hotel for the Moon - called The Lunatic. I may be almost 90 when they build the hotel but I’d love to check in.

More down to earth - I would love to recreate the Grand Tour of Europe which I have always thought the height of elegant luxury travel. I would spend at least two months travelling with my wife by private jet, private train carriage and yacht through France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the Mediterranean. We would explore the numerous layers of strata laid down by centuries of civilisation, fly in good friends for weekends and parties, and of course stay in the most glamorous hotels, resorts and private houses.

Editor’s note: For more information about Matthew Brace, visit his website at www.matthewbrace.com Hotel Heaven can be purchased through Amazon.co.uk or pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

TEXT: Valerie Mellema

A visit to South Africa offers you incredible ways to enjoy yourself.  This once war torn nation has become an economic powerhouse and provides visitors with a plethora of options for exploration and adventure. Whether you choose diving and swimming with the Great Whites off the southern coast or choose to adventure inland with a safari, you will find the best way to enjoy your stay in South Africa. Visiting South Africa can give you access to some of the finest, most prestigious resorts and hotels in the world.  A visit to HotelsCombined.com can help you find the best rates.

The Bay Hotel

The Bay Hotel enjoys a central location in the heart of Cape Town, with easy access to the Bay and stunning views of Table Mountain. This 5-star hotel offers guests some of the finest amenities and accommodations in the area.  Guests can find easy access to fishing, diving, surfing, inland exploration and more. Several bars and restaurants are featured on property, as well as a full service spa. Western travelers will find all the amenities to which they are used to.

De Oudekraal

Located at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and nestled in virgin forest, the Oudekraal hotel is an amazing place for adventure and enjoyment. A black water pool, whirlpool, ocean views, several dining and drinks options and more provide enjoyment. The rooms offer Internet access, premium TV programming and all other modern amenities. In addition, you’ll find that the hotel’s location is only a short drive from shopping and dining options in the city.

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

If you are looking for exclusive, secluded accommodations in South Africa, this is an excellent choice.  The location provides you with the chance to view wildlife in their natural environment, unconcerned with the actions of humankind.  Several lodges offer you suites and rooms for your comfort and enjoyment; you’ll find authentic African décor and rich fabrics throughout all rooms.  In addition, you can enjoy picnic dinners outdoors under the stars.

Digital photos are an integral part of travels for many people. None of us wants to loose our precious vacation pictures, but sometimes we forget to back up. Digital camera cards can suffer from accidental deletions, physical damage caused by water or from dropping the camera.

DriveSavers, the worldwide leader in data recovery services, has provided a list of some tips for camera-users to prevent accidental data loss.

• Transfer pictures from your camera card as soon as possible.
• Create backup files on a portable computer, iPod, or picture storage device such as Digital Foci’s Photo Safe (PSF-250) gadget.
• Simply upload the images to a digital photo finisher’s website, such as Shutterfly or Kodak.