The Traveler Guide

Marina del Rey, with its close proximity to LAX and the famous southern California beaches, is often considered a popular destination for vacationers. The area boasts several different hotels that each caters to very different clientele. The key in planning your next vacation is to choose the hotel that best meets your needs -- with amenities and budget. Choosing a hotel that fits within your budget ensures that your family will be able to properly enjoy the rest of your trip. If you choose a hotel that stretches your pocketbook a bit, then most likely you will spend the remainder of your trip pinching pennies and worrying about your budget. Here are three different hotels to suit any budget:

Marina del Rey Hotels For The Budgeter

If you're on a budget, don't think you'll be spending a lot of time in your hotel room, or would just rather spend more money on attractions than a hotel, then choosing a budget hotel makes the most sense. For the budget traveler, there are two options from which to choose. Located on the water, the Best Western Jamaica Bay Inn offers up the views of the area while allowing the budget traveler to keep some money in their pockets. 

Expect to pay $135 a night and up depending on the season. If you're staying for a longer range, the Marina International Hotel and Bungalows are worth checking out. With rates starting at $93 during the week, this is one of the few Marina del Rey hotels that offers all of the comforts of home while still being close to all of the attractions the area has to offer.

Marina del Rey Hotels For The Mid-Range Traveler

If it's a city view that you're looking for, check out the Foghorn Harbor Inn, one of the Marina del Rey hotels that offers low rates while still providing a Marina or city view. For the mid-range traveler looking for a comfortable place to stay, while still being close to all of the action, the Foghorn Harbor Inn is the perfect choice with rates beginning at $129 depending on the season.

Luxurious Marina del Rey Hotels

For travelers looking for a package getaway, the Marriot is an excellent option. Offering up packages like "Escape! Romance in California," a package that offers views of the city, long stem roses, and a bottle of champagne, or "Glow," a package that includes visits to some of the newest night clubs in Los Angeles, the Marriot is one of the few lodgings in the area that takes care of all of your travel plans. If your trip consists of business or you're looking for luxury accommodations.

The Ritz-Carlton is right up your alley. You can choose from marina or city skyline views, visit one of the key-access only Ritz-Carlton Club level rooms, book an appointment at the newly renovated Boutique spa, or work out in the state-of-the-art cardio and weight studio. With prices starting at $325 a night, the Ritz is well suited for the traveler looking to be pampered. It's no wonder that this area is a prime vacation spot for both business travelers and vacationers alike. With stunning views and attractions for all ages, Marina del Rey is a travelers dream. And with a few choices for each budget range, anyone can afford to make this area their next vacation stop.

Cruises may still be associated with older travelers, but the times when older travelers are the only ones enjoying a cruise vacation are long passed. A cruise is an extremely attractive option for anyone seeking to escape from the demands of work and everyday life. Fortunately, cruise lines now offer a variety of programs allowing them to meet the holiday needs of any traveler’s lifestyle and preferences. Cruising is no longer about simply showing off your new wardrobe, playing shuffleboard or socializing in the lounge. 

These may all be great parts of a cruise vacation, but there is a wide range of activities and amenities perfect for every traveler. A new trend in cruising is the celebrity cruise which is perfect for anyone wanting to be pampered and feel like a “celebrity.” These luxury ships offer a range of services on board. Maids and butlers are ready to serve the passengers once on board. There is, of course, plenty of time for relaxation that can include massages, lounging or swimming, for instance. With the extraordinary catering, this entire cruise can become a fabulous treat for any passenger. 

Families with children will need to find a babysitter, but once that is taken care of, they will have a wonderful ocean vacation to look forward to. Family cruises are a great option for families desiring to spend their holiday with their kids. Activities are geared for both adults and children. Theme cruises such as Disney, for example, offer even more specialized activities and fun with some of the famous animated characters the kids will surely enjoy. A benefit to these cruises is that the programs and activities planned for the children keep them busier for longer periods of time allowing the parents to spend a little more time together and relax away from the hassle of everyday life onshore. 

At night, entertaining events bring the family back together and provide the opportunity for fun as a family all evening. If your children are older, they will probably like the idea of an adventure cruise even more. This is a great way to explore new areas and experience trips where your kids can feel like they have discovered new, exciting places and different cultures. There is possibility for this travel all over the world, whether Antarctica, the Costa Rica rainforests or the ancient ruins of the Incas in Mexico. 

Adventure cruises offer a good balance of exploration and time for relaxation since there are still plenty of opportunities to recreate the adventures once on board. Finally, there are even ships designed especially for those travelers tired of the single life. Going on a singles cruise just might be that turning point in your love life. They offer a good combination of socialization, relaxation and planned activities. There is an even number of men and women on board providing even more opportunity for you to meet your partner. But, even if you do not meet your dream partner on board, you will surely find many new friends to socialize with and enjoy the many activities offered.

Make reference to France travel and the name Paris comes up right away. Paris is known to the rest of the world for its world renowned Eiffel tower. The tower was built between 1887 and 1889 and became today one of the most recognizable monuments in France as well as an international symbol that attracts people from all around the world to Paris. Located near the Seine river, which is considered to be the lifeline of the city of Paris, the Eiffel tower was built by a French engineer called Gustave Eiffel, which explains why the tower was given the Eiffel name.

The tower was built a century after the French revolution in order to celebrate the centenary of this important historical milestone and the ideals of the French Revolution liberty, equality and fraternity. French history indicates that the tower was inaugurated on the 31st of march 1889 and opened to the public on May, 6th of the same year. However, it is the Eiffel tower that symbolizes Paris as a tourist destination in modern times. The construction of the tower had indeed met with a stiff resistance from the intellectuals as well as the regular Frenchman during its beginnings. 

A number of French leaders and citizens questioned the judgment of the people who had thought of the idea of the tower in the creation period, calling it an eyesore and a misuse of public finances and wealth. Of those protestors, the world renowned writer Guy de Maupassant is thought to have eaten at one specific restaurant everyday, as he claimed this restaurant was the only restaurant in Paris that spared him the painful sight of the tower! The tower, a milestone for France travelers was the tallest structure in the world at the time of its construction and measures approximately 300 meters high and inclues 3 stories. Highest structure in Paris, the Eiffel tower is the second highest structure in France.

The French authorities in charge of maintaining the tower provide a useful website that can attest to be a blessing for travelers from other countries. The website gives accurate rates for sightseeing and also provides the history of the construction of the tower. Distinct rates exist for adults and children as well as exclusive concessions that are available for the disabled.

Like the varying degree of passionate travelers of France, the rates for the elevators vary as one rises up the tower. The standard rates for adults for the first story are in the 40 euros while the 2nd floor can be assessed at a rate in the seventy euros for adults. The top level, which is a visual delight of Paris can be reached by elevator at a rate of about 100 euros. 

The tower is fully equipped with facilities that can help the disabled access to its height and share the beauty of the city of Paris. Lifts and turnstiles are easily available that can help people with reduced mobility access the tower. For a summary of a visit to the Eiffel tower make sure to stop at Altitude 95, the restaurant located on the first level of the Eiffel tower. Needless to say that France travel remains incomplete without touring this historical beauty. We wish you a visit that just soars with fun!

Missouri is a central part of the United States and is surrounded on all sides by the states of Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Visitors to Missouri can enjoy a wide variety of attractions as a result of several distinct regions within the state. St. Louis is the largest city in Missouri and is located at the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers which has earned the city the nickname Gateway to the West. Another popular destination for all types of travelers is Kansas City which features several museums and amusement parks. If travelers want to have some outdoor activities then a good location to go is the Osage Lakes area or the Ozark Mountains. Where you are into indoor attractions such as museums or outdoor adventures such as hiking, tours and wildlife excursions then you are sure to find what you want in Missouri.

St. Louis is a city that has been involved in history for many years. It was the starting point for the Lewis and Clark expedition and was a popular starting point for those starting their journey West in the early days of the United States. The St. Louis Arch stands as a monument to the travelers as they head West even in these modern times. The Wainwright Building in St. Louis claims to be the first skyscraper ever built in the world and still stands today as a downtown government building. For the music lovers St. Louis is also an excellent destination since is has a deep history of jazz and ragtime that can still be heard at many clubs including the most popular Lemmons Basement Bar. For the film lovers there is the Webster Film Series which shows films all year long that aren't within the mainstream of movies.

When you visit Kansas City the first thing you will notice is that is has a variety of decorative water spouts and you may even feel like you have stepped back in time to Rome. When you come to Kansas City is has a variety of attractions and activities that will keep you busy and you will be bound to find something you like to do here. The American Jazz Museum is an excellent place to go if you want to known all about the history of the jazz musical form and see many artifacts from past years. Another excellent museum option is the Arabia Steamboat Museum which covers the history of steam boat travel along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. For the family travelers there is an amusement part called the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. This amusement park has a variety of rides and live entertainment to choose from. For more adult activities, Kansas City even offers the Argosy Casino and Harrah's Casino with slot machines, table games and dining options.

There are many options when it comes to accommodations in Missouri just like the attractions. The Missouri Division of Tourism is an excellent source to help you find the right accommodation in the right city for your travel needs. However some of the excellent options include the Lodge of Four Seasons which is one of the largest resorts you can find in the entire Midwest and has activities available such as golfing and swimming. It also includes a marina, five different restaurants and a spa that is fifteen thousand square feet.