World’s Best Hotel and Luxury Hotels

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For those of you that enjoy unmatched comfort and elegance when you’re on vacation there is no better place to stay than a luxury hotel. But how can you make sure that the establishment that you choose is the best for you? One person’s idea of a luxury hotel may not be that of someone else. Personal tastes play a key role in the decision making process. Create a list of things that you expect to receive at the hotel that you choose. Here are a few ideas to help you along the way.

What is the staff to guest ratio? Some of the worlds best hotels have ratios of 1:1. While this is rare it is not unattainable. Some luxury hotels have staff that are trained to recognize your needs , sometimes even before you do. They will cater to your every whim. Whether you are poolside and have forgotten your favorite book in your suite, or having your favorite mixed drink ready before you even ask for it. Luxury hotels with a high staff to guest ratio may not be able to offer this type of personalized service.

How do you want to sleep? While you’re enjoying your vacation you do not want to put up with an uncomfortable night of sleep. Look for hotels that offer different firmness choices in the mattresses that are available. Some of the worlds best hotels not only offer different mattress styles and firmness charts available, but they also have the mattress available for sale. Not the actual bed that you have just slept on. But you can arrange to purchase the mattress and have it delivered too your home.

I’m hungry. Is room service restricted to specific hours of the day? Look for a luxury hotel that offers a flexible room service schedule, preferably 24 hours a day. If you enjoy a late night on the town, you don’t want to come back to your suite only to find that peanut butter crackers and potato chips from the vending machines are your only dinner selections.

Is the spa really a spa? Look very closely when a hotel says that they have a spa. Too many times guests have been disappointed upon arrival to find that the spa consists of a whirlpool, a sauna, and a steam room. Some of the world’s best hotels offer luxurious spas with treatment rooms available where you can enjoy facials, body wraps, massages, and hot stone therapy.

Entertain me. Sometimes people just want to get away from all of the stress of daily life. Once you are settled into your suite, now what? Look at the activities available. Most luxury hotels have on site activities available such as riding, tennis courts, and a fitness center. Do you enjoy shopping? Are there shops close by? Are there any tourist attractions nearby? These are all questions to ask yourself ensuring that your stay is more enjoyable.

How much is this going to cost me? Didi you know that you can stay at some of the world’s best hotel on a budget? Normally the per night rate for this type of hotel stay can be a little high end, often requiring a specific minimum number of nights. Call in advance ask about any specials they may be running. Also look at the hotels website, often they will have offers that can only be purchased online.

Introducing Your Baby to Baby Finger Foods: Which Foods Are Best, When and Why

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When your baby reaches the point of being able to eat solid foods, this is a significant milestone. Knowing when your baby is ready should be a point of discussion with your pediatrician. You should also ask about foods that should be avoided due to allergy risks. As a rule of thumb, most babies develop an interest in baby finger foods anywhere between the ages of 6-9 months.

Many parents believe that a baby must have teeth before he’s able to handle baby finger foods. This is not true?babies are in fact adept at mashing many foods between their gums. The best candidates for these first solid foods are those which are soft, and, of course, appropriate to your baby’s age.

Introducing finger foods provides an additional developmental benefit, that of eye-hand coordination?getting that tempting bit of food to the taste buds. Most Moms know that young children can be ‘picky’ eaters, tending to shy away from new tastes. Introducing a variety of baby finger foods at this early age can make children more accepting of new tastes as they grow older, which can be a nutritional ‘plus’.

Before we get into listing some of the best baby finger foods, be advised that you should not add sugar or salt to these baby food preparations. You may be aware that most commercially prepared foods add both of these ingredients to make the food more appealing to the consumer’s palate. However, both sugar and salt add nothing to the nutritive value?we all get more than enough of these. Eliminating sugar and salt as taste enhancers in your baby’s finger foods generally results in older children who do not crave these substances in excess, a good thing!

On the other hand, aromatic spices, such as cinnamon, ginger and other sweet spices, such as basil, can help make baby finger foods more tempting to a little one, as well as broadening the scope of ‘acceptable’ foods in the future. You may also be surprised to learn that garlic is not only appealing to many babies, but a healthy addition to menus, helping to ward off many illnesses?garlic is a natural antibiotic!

Now for our list of the best baby finger foods. Keep in mind that all of these foods should be served in quite small dice. Fruits and veggies, such as fresh peaches and carrots should be cooked before serving, both to make them soft enough for baby to mash, as well as being easy on her developing digestive system. These foods can be served on their own, or made into a fruit or veggie mix.

Suitable fruits include bananas, melon, pears, peaches, mangoes, kiwi fruit and avocado.

For a veggie menu, try carrots, peas, green beans and yes, even broccoli!

Among meats that fill the bill, chicken, turkey, beef and low-mercury fish, such as tilapia will prove tempting treats.

Introducing grains such as cooked lentils, pasta and small cereal bits, such as Cheerios(TM) and Rice Krispies(TM) are good choices.

Cheeses, including cream cheese, a firm, diced tofu and scrambled egg yolks (the whites are not so easily digested) are other foods that are nutritionally excellent and add variety to baby’s diet and taste buds.

With your pediatrician’s approval, this list should provide baby finger foods he’ll enjoy and help him grow healthy and strong! Enjoy!

Caribbean Destinations: From Landscapes To Tropical Island Deluxe Accommodation

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To the eyes of an infrequent holidaymaker, the world-renowned islands that form the Caribbean archipelago will bear little distinction from countless other fly-and-flop destinations the world over. These locations, such a neophyte may be quick to point out, are places you go to to party, then cure your hangover by lying in the beach all day or spending far too much money on souvenirs.

This view is, however, far from the truth. Viewing ‘The Caribbean’ as a homogenous unit is erroneous in and of itself: each island in this archipelago has its own unique identity, and each can cater to very distinctive types of tourist. From natural havens to islands rife with tourist resorts and tropical island deluxe accommodation, Caribbean destinations are unique and diversified enough to truly offer something for everyone.

A Walk On The Wild Side

While not known amongst the active-holiday community as a particularly ‘sporty’ or nature-centric destination for a holiday, the Caribbean archipelago does boast certain islands that can fill the measures of any nature enthusiast. For those wishing their holiday to be about more than lounging in tropical island deluxe accommodation, destinations of note include Jamaica, Anguilla, Curacao, tiny Bonaire, Grenada, St Lucia and especially unspoilt Dominica – all offering plenty of nature to traipse through – as well as Barbados, the Caymans or the British Virgin Islands, which can be a paradise for enthusiasts of water sports. Hikers and trekkers will also enjoy the challenging hills and mountains of Grenada and the rainforests of Martinique, St Vincent or Tobago, while pirate lovers and history buffs will revel in the exploration of Brimstone Hill Fortress, in St Kitts.

Party Hearty

For tourists who absolutely will not do without their poolside afternoons and tropical island deluxe accommodation, Caribbean holidays may be better spent on islands such as Aruba (known mostly for its beachfront bars and restaurants), the Bahamas, laid-back Jamaica, Sint Maarten, Antigua or Trinidad. All these resorts offer the perfect mix of beachfront laziness and vibrant party scenes, while islands such as Grenada and Guadeloupe cater to the ‘lazier’ tourist. Those wanting a diverse holiday with a bit of everything can try St Lucia or a larger resort such as Cuba, which is sure to fill their need for variety and excitement.

It therefore becomes clear that the cliché that states that the Caribbean is all about British and American tourists drinking cocktails and becoming lobster-red in the sun could not be further from the truth! While the aforementioned situation does take place, these islands generally offer enough variety to please any type of tourist, rather than just the clichéd “fly and flopper”.

Totem Poles Are One of Our Culture’s Work of Art

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In ancient times, our ancestors have formed many beliefs and traditions. There way of life was mostly dependent on their beliefs. Customs and traditions were being practiced and passed on from generations to generations. Rituals and ceremonies were done and beliefs in gods that will help them with their way of living were present. It was what the gods say that people follow and helps them predict their future. Aside from the gods, there are also symbolic features used in the past that we can even see today that makes a mark on the culture of our ancestors.

One of the monumental structures that we can even see today is a Totem pole made from the ethnic tribes of North America. Native American totems are carved from trees specifically the cedar tree. The meaning of Totems depends and varies according to the group that made them. Usually, it depicts legends, marks for different clans, any notable happenings of life or a symbolic figure for an individual. Most of us still follow the beliefs of our ancestors. The passing on of the beliefs makes us realize of the importance of the culture that our descendants have left us.

According to tradition, a person is connected to an animal that will be with him throughout his life and will guide him in making major decisions and also will dictate his way of life. However, you are not connected to one animal forever because there are different types also that will guide you as you make diverse tasks in your lifetime. The animals totally depend on the direction in life that you will venture.

We think that those totem animals can give us wisdom and not only guides us physically but also spiritually. Although we may encounter a lot of symbolic animals in our life, we only consider one guardian spirit to guide us in a lifetime. For instance if you believe that your totem animal is a bear then you have the characteristic of having the great strength and power. At the same time, you are industrious in your work and very instinctive.

At home, you can have a figurine or a small-sized symbolic totem animal of your own to remind you especially when you make major decisions in your life. However, if you don’t have one, you can always use your hidden artistic talent. You can make use of materials that are just considered as waste at home. You can simplify your resources with the use of cardboard tube of paper towels and egg cartons.

With the use of your own imagination, you can create your own totem pole craft according to the events in your life with the corresponding animals that made you through those events. A little touch of your art with the use of paint or any colouring materials, you can produce a mini structure of your own.

This can also be used in school as an activity so that the school children will have a good idea of the culture and tradition of their ancestors. They will be able to understand fully the history of Native Americans. Through this, it will preserve and enrich the American culture.