InCity Hotels

Singapore is absolutely fantastic. Myriads of attractions, plethora of entertainment options and many other activities to try out… Singapore offers it all. The culture in Singapore is mixed. Heavily influenced by Indian, Chinese, Malay and other Asian countries this nation is a melting pot of many traditions and ethnicity. Hotels and accommodation in Singapore is easy to find. Singapore Hotels offer excellent lodging experience and are internationally acclaimed to be one of the finest places to stay in the city.

Singapore is known to be one of the “most beautiful places in the world”. It is a perfect place for a tourist on a vacation or a stopover. Nestled in Southeast Asia, Singapore is a small island with some of the most beautiful hotel and accommodation facilities. Most people come to Singapore for shopping; it is after all the shopper’s paradise. With various ethnic groups having their own identity, it is pleasure to stroll through places like Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street.

Singapore’s fascination for food is a well-known folklore. You will find people normally discussing about the best places to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Expect to have some great and delicious stuff at café, restaurants, and food joints here. Singapore hotels are budget-friendly hotels offering accommodation facilities that would fit your pocket. There is something for everyone here. Singaporean hotels and accommodations are known for their exciting range that can cater to 5 star international audiences and also to people who are looking for a great value, comfort and convenience at low rates. Singapore accommodations from Orchard Road Shopping area to the suburban districts of Geylang are known to be on the cheaper side. You can get cheap Singapore hotel deals at Bencoolen Street also. You can also get attractive discounts and great value at Singapore hotels and Singapore accommodations that line the beach resorts of the Sentosa Island.

Note that in Singapore, the locations of the hotels can influence the rates of the room. If the hotel that you take is in proximity to big shopping malls or shopping districts, the hotel rooms tend to be more expensive. You can also stay in Singapore hotels that come with an affordable price tag, especially in places near bus depots or train stations. They will also make for hassle-free commuting.

A standard Singapore hotel and Singapore accommodation comes with room service, meeting room, internet and cable connection, mini bars, international phone service, fitness center etc. A simple Singapore accommodation with just the basic amenities like bedroom and bathroom is also available. Hotels in Singapore tend to carry some sort of promotion or the other at various points of time, so it is recommended to check for Singapore hotel deals and such offers before making a reservation. With so much of entertainment, shopping, nightlife and a splendid stay in hotels in Singapore, it pays to make your reservation earlier so that you do not miss out on the pleasure and entertainment.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is also the country’s largest city. The city is proud of its historic ancestry and has some of the most grand architecture, much of which dates as far back as the 12th century. Prague has a wealth of historical monuments, bridges, museums, galleries and so forth to visit, and has also been enlisted by UNESCO as a world heritage site. All these factors have contributed to the flourishing tourism industry of Prague, making it one of Europe’s top destinations.

Hotels offering lodging in Prague provide excellent accommodation, modern facilities and useful recreational and entertainment activities. A visit to the city of Prague is always a great experience and there is a large array of hotels from which you can choose from, regardless of your requirements or budget.

Here are some 5 star Prague hotels:

Hotel Savoy Prague
For sheer style and 5-star quality, with more than a touch of luxury, the Hotel Savoy is the best address in Prague. Elegant decor, reminiscent of a bygone age of Imperial grandeur, is combined with a high standard of personal service and attention to every detail. This exclusive combination has earned the hotel a reputation of which it is justifiably proud. Add to this the ideal location near the Castle and you have all the ingredients for a perfect Prague city break.

Intercontinental Prague Hotel
Luxury 5-star Hotel InterContinental Prague has by far the best location in downtown. Overlooking the river Vltava & historical city center, the InterContinental Prague Hotel is an oasis of peace and comfort. InterContinental Prague is perfectly situated on the corner of Jewish Quarter few steps from Jewish Synagogue, 4 blocks from Old Town Square, the world famous Old Town Astronomical Clock, the Charles bridge, and is the ideal address for your unforgettable stay in this fascinating Prague city.

Esplanade Hotel Prague
Right at the centre of Prague, just a few steps from the Wenceslas Square and close to the State Opera House there is the 5-stars Esplanade Hotel, Prague. The Hotel was built in the Art nouveau style and is attractive particularly for its peaceful and quiet environment. The hotel supplies requirements even of the most exacting tourists as well as businessmen.

Prague Marriott Hotel
Centrally located in the heart of Prague at the gate of Old Town Square, the Prague Marriott Hotel brings unparalleled standards of comfort and service to one of Europe’s most beautiful and exciting cities! Hotel offer a wide variety of premier accommodations including 258 deluxe guest rooms and thirty-five suites. Brasserie Praha restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring a selection of cuisine from American and French to typical Czech. In-room dining is available twenty-four hours. The mezzanine level of the Prague Marriott Hotel contains over twelve thousand square feet of beautifully appointed and flexible conference space.

Prague is a truly magical destination catering to the independent traveller’s thirst for a unique and unforgettable Prague experience!

BEIJING — The Olympics are looking like a bust for the city’s hotels.

The 17-day games were supposed to generate a buzz throughout the summer, leading to a tourism windfall with fully booked hotels and free-spending customers.

Instead, Beijing’s summer tourism season has been slow, and hotels and travel agencies say many potential visitors are being put off by tightened visa rules and scarce tickets to Olympic events. Others could be reluctant to book trips because China’s authoritarian government seems more concerned with keeping out foreigners than welcoming them to the games.

“We are not full at the moment, and we have rooms to fill” said Anthony Ha, general manager of the newly opened Marriott Courtyard Beijing Northeast. “There’s not much time left, and we have a way to go.”

China has spent a reported $40 billion on new infrastructure and stunning venues, hoping to impress visitors with a modern city when the games begin Aug. 8. But the lack of reservations could shake the city’s hotel industry, which has more than doubled its five- and four-star hotels offerings to 160 since Beijing was awarded the Olympics seven years ago.

Ha declined to reveal his hotel’s occupancy rate, but he expressed concern over a report last month from the Beijing Tourism Bureau that showed five-star hotels were 77 percent booked, and four stars were at 44 percent.

“That’s worrisome,” Ha said. Hotel operators in Beijing were “hoping to hit 90 percent daily. It’s a huge thing.”

The average price of a five-star hotel in Beijing ranged from $560 to $1,150 per night, according to the tourism bureau, although some rates were reported as high as $2,000 per night during the Olympics. The four-star average was $325.

The number of foreign visitors to Beijing in May dropped by 12.5 percent from a year ago, the tourism bureau said. Among the biggest drops were Japanese visitors, down 45 percent. The number of American visitors fell by 17.15 percent.

But the lack of visitors also coincides with new visa regulations that make it tougher for tourists and business executives to enter China. Students have been targeted too, because the government fears they might side with political activists if protests erupt during the games.

Homeowners who hoped to lease their houses or apartments are also disappointed. Song Zhi, manager of a Web site aimed at overseas Olympic tourists, said he had 200 units but only 20 were reserved. The average price was about $145.

“We don’t have what we’ve expected,” Song said. “There’re not even many people making inquires about pricing. We had expected a peak in June, but that peak has yet to come.”

Several hotel managers also cited soaring prices, which rose artificially when Beijing Olympic organizers in 2005 and 2006 reserved 70 percent of the rooms at the city’s four- and five-star hotels. A few months ago, those organizers released thousands of rooms, dropping their room holdings to 40 percent.

The practice is common in many large sporting events, but it usually drives up prices.

“A lot of the hotels overestimated their occupancy rate for July and August,” said Si Cunxia, sales manager of Travel China travel agency. “The hotels were all too optimistic to think that they would be packed with tourists. In reality, tourists who would normally come to Beijing are not coming during the Olympics because transportation and accommodations are quite high.”

China’s authoritarian government seems intent on keeping many foreigners away. Visa rules were changed with little explanation, and officials have conducted repeated sweeps for travel documents at compounds where foreign visitors live.

To guard against threats to the Olympics, Beijing said last week that it had mobilized a 100,000-member anti-terrorism force headed by the elite Snow Wolf Commando Unit.

Ground-to-air missiles have been positioned under camouflage netting just 300 meters from one Olympic venue, a highly visible response to alleged plots by separatists from the Muslim-dominated region of Xinjiang. The government says plotters attempted to crash an airliner and planned to kidnap athletes and journalists.

There are also reports of bar areas in Beijing being forced to close early during the games, with a few around town dubbing these the “Killjoy Games.”

“Beijingers will enthusiastically welcome foreign tourists,” said Zhang Huiguang, director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau. “But for terrorists and troublemakers, we’ll unite and fight against them.”

Guo Lingmei, general manager of marketing for BTG Travel in Beijing, said tourism will probably remain slow for the entire summer. He blamed high hotel prices and difficulties obtaining tickets to Olympic events.

Beijing organizers have said 6.8 million tickets were available for the games, but most were snapped up by buyers within China.

Some five-star hotels are in good shape - at least during the Olympics - because they secured reservations from Olympic sponsors or Olympic committee delegations.

“We don’t have any problems at all,” said Marco Sander, director of marketing and sales at the 526-room Kempinski Hotel. He said his high-powered guests were a sure bet.

“They need to come, and they have no choice to turn back now,” Sander said. “They have put so much money down, they cannot draw back.”

Sander’s hotel, like many, has undergone renovation for the games. But he said he was doubtful that Beijing would charm foreigners. Barcelona made its mark in 1992 with a stunning port and spirited nightlife, and Sydney did much the same in 2000.

“We will see a big vacuum after the Olympic Games,” he said. “If Beijing is not able to transmit a very positive picture about the city and facilities, if we can’t convince people to come to Beijing, we have a big problem.”

The earthquake on May 12 that killed almost 70,000 people in Sichuan province may account for some of the decrease. So may a slumping world economy, and alarming images of deadly rioting on March 14 in Tibet, followed by chaotic pro-Tibet protests on international legs of the torch relay.

by Stephen Wade - Huffington Post

Today when you visit Barcelona you will be amazed at the number of different hotels you have to choose from when looking for Barcelona accommodations in this beautiful and exotic city. However in this particular article we will be taking a closer look at some of the best 5 star hotels in Barcelona that you may wish considering staying at when visiting this city.

5 Stars Hotel Arts Barcelona

This is now one of the most popular of all the 5 star luxury hotels to be found in this city and is owned by the Palace Carlton Group. It is located right on the sea front and provides those people staying there with modern by very high quality accommodation. Although this hotel is in the city center it is not at the very heart of Barcelona city and to get to it will only take about 5 minutes to walk there.

5 Stars Grand Marina Hotel Barcelona

This is hotel is owned by Eurostars and is located close to the Port Vell section of Barcelona and provides its guests with easy access to the very center of the city. But it also provides its guests with great views of the marina in Barcelona. This hotel is also located to the southern end of the Ramblas and close to a memorial known as the “Monument a Colum” which remembers the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.

5 Stars Le Meridien Hotel Barcelona

Located in the very heart of the city on the Famous Ramblas this is ideal for those who want to be at the very heart of what this city has to offer. All those that stay at this hotel are only few minutes walk from it fabulous and famous shopping areas as well as providing its guests with some of the best transportation links that the city has to offer.

5 Stars Barcelona Hilton Hotel

This hotel is located right in the very heart of the city’s financial and commercial district. Whilst still being close to all the major tourist attractions that the city has to offer along with its famous shopping centers. It was refurbished in 2004 and offers beautiful elegant rooms that any one would be pleased to stay in whilst visiting the city of Barcelona.

Above we have taken a very brief look at some of the 5 star hotels in Barcelona that a tourist to this city may want to consider staying at. However as well as the ones mentioned above there are others such as the Gallery Hotel and the Rafael Hotels Casanova which can provide guests with beautiful and luxurious during the time that they stay in this very culturally diverse city.