The Secrets of Stunning Hotel Gardens

It’s not difficult to pick a good hotel, but it can be virtually impossible to find anywhere that feels like a luxury home from home. So many hotel rooms are cramped and stylised that all you want to do is sleep and shower there. In my opinion, the best hotels have somewhere you can relax, somewhere green, but have a bit more than a fountain in the entrance hall. Here are a few examples of how hotels have taken the potted plant to a new level to create something huge and beautiful.

Hotel Grand Lobby At the Gran Melia – Cancun. Image att: trawin
They don’t have to play by the rules
Some of the most amazing hotel gardens are ones that don’t conform to the regular rules of gardens, for example, being horizontal.
The Pershing Hall Hotel in Paris has one of the most spectacular green walls in the world. It was designed by Patrick Blanc, a French botanist who pioneered the idea in the 80s. This vertical garden was finished in 2001, at the same time as the renovation of the hotel. If you want to marvel at this spectacular expanse of greenery for your whole stay, some of the more premium rooms look out over it. The courtyard below has been turned into an amazing restaurant and bar, topped by a glass roof which slides back in good weather so you can see the full, 30 meter high lush wall. The garden has over 300 species of plants from all over the world, including specimens from the Himalayas, the Amazon and the Philippines to make you think you could be in a tropical rainforest.
The Hotel Lone in Croatia have adopted a similar idea, with a cutting edge installation, aptly named In the Hanging Garden No One Speaks; and it is simply breathtaking. Its two stories of wooden fern filled baskets supported by a bio-machine, and has been designed to grow into a curtain-like structure within a few years. The hotel itself is a design hotel – every wall covering, window pane and bedpost has been designed specifically for the Lone, and the result is clean cut and sharply modern. This only makes the Hanging Garden even more jaw dropping – the contrast between the sleek lines of metal and the lush foliage refuses to be ignored.
Let the setting speak for itself
There are so many hotels with stunning surroundings, but very few take the opportunity to let the natural beauty be, and simply let guests enjoy natures very own garden.
However, the Ubud Hanging Gardens Hotel in Bali has done just that. It leaves the stunning Indonesian jungle to speak for itself, and is best seen by floating in the split level infinity pool that hovers above the foliage. You can also feel good about staying in this hotel, the architect won an award for the eco credentials on this project. Also, if just looking at the plant life is not enough for you there is always the option of going for a jungle trek…
Stay in an eco hotel
Eco hotels don’t just exist in verdant foreign countries; you can also enjoy the greenery they provide in the most concrete of jungles.
The Mint Hotel in London was only opened in early 2011, but has already got people lining up to stay. Perhaps the most eye catching part of the hotel is its sustainable green wall, which is actually the tallest in Europe. It spans 11 floors and 1,025 square meters. The wall has over 40 different species of plants from across the globe to help boost biodiversity, in over 180,000 plants, all watered and fed by a sustainable system. Now that is a lot to look at.
Staying in any one of these hotels is an immersive experience, and although they are all completely different structures, everyone has managed to incorporate life and lushness in to the design of the hotel. So next time you are away from home, think about treating yourself to a stay in something a lifeless box room with a TV, you deserve it.

Jasmine Ayres regularly blogs about her two favourite subjects – travel and botany. She believes that everyone should be able to stay in beautiful, green builds all over the world, and that all hotels should be eco hotels. She’s an expert in the effects of interior landscaping and the simple power of office plants in a working environment.

How to Take Part in a Wine Tasting Event

Learning about wine can be difficult, but for most people after they understand it they become addicted.  Wine tasting always makes for an interesting event because it allows people to try new things, get to different places, and meet new people.
Wine Tasting
The purpose of a wine tasting event is for wine experts or wine enthusiasts to get a chance to sample a wide variety of wines.  Wine events can take place at either a sit-down restaurant or a more formal experience.  Many times the customers and the waiters will dress up.  Other times, a wine event may take the form of a party at a house for a more casual experience.
The reason why wine tasting events are so popular is because people who attend are able to sample many different wines.  Purchasing a bottle of wine at the store may be troublesome or annoying.  It may not always be possible to determine if the bottle of wine will taste good or not.  Although, it is possible to buy many different bottles of wine as long as you are willing to through most of it away after sampling them.
What Makes it so Interesting?
The fun part about wine tasting is that you can compare and learn from other people that are sampling the wine.  Plus it is a good way to make new friends.  Listening to experienced wine tasters is one of the best ways to learn the trade and become more of a wine enthusiast.
The best way to attend a wine tasting event is to contact a local wine bar or wine tasting restaurant.  Many times a local restaurant will host a sponsored wine tasting event.  Also a wine cafe will give customers a sample of the wine before they order a glass or a bottle.
Clash of Cultures
When tasting the wine, many people will spit it out after leaving it in their mouth for approximately eight to ten seconds.  The reason for this is because after tasting several different wines people are less likely to adequately taste the wine after drink number ten.  Some people will swallow the wine because they paid good money to taste it and do not wish to waste it.  Those that do spit out the wine will either spit it on the floor or into a drain.  Others will use a spittoon, a cup, or a bucket to spit out the wine.
Many rules to wine tasting are dependent of where in the world you taste the wine.  Look into the different cultures before heading to Rome or France to go to a wine tasting event.

Memorial Wine Cellar is a wine bar and wine restaurant that offers Houston wine tasting.  Check out this wine tasting restaurant for weekly Houston wine events.

Pop Up Hotels: Are They Really The Next Big Thing?

Image Credit
The Pop-up Hotel is a fairly new phenomenon, providing you with luxury camping where and when you need it. My use of the word 'camping' may misconstrue, this is no ordinary tent! With double beds, storage spaces, living areas, bathrooms, dressing rooms and verandas, this accommodation is a site to behold!
These temporary hotels are quite literally 'popping' up all over the globe, despite occasionally being on the pricey side, the benefit of purchasing will wipe away any thoughts of the bank balance!

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A family run company - 'The Pop Up Hotel' based in Somerset; have used their 14years experience of property development in the Caribbean; to create the ultimate portable hotel for your comfort. The initial idea stemmed from the designs of their Caribbean homes, they wanted to bring the exquisite design over the pond, re shape it and make these homes fit to British culture.
'The Pop Up Hotel' supplies their 'rooms' at British festivals. For those of whom do not wish to spend their time in a cramped '2 man tent', get dressed outside and have to traipse through the filth to the nearest fast food van... well, isn't that all of us!? These spectacular tents are just the ticket!! For £995 - a price based on 4-5 people sharing, a £200 each - undoubtedly worth it. You and your friends will be able to camp just 10 minutes away from all the other campsites, have an excellent night sleep, a warm shower and, if you wish, 'room service' supplied by 'The Pop Up Hotel'. If this does not temp, I do not know what will! There are current reservations available for the 'hotels' at Glastonbury 2013, so get in there quick!

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The pop-up hotels have also hit London with support from Travel Lodge. The concept of bringing this idea to London is that a fully functioning hotel can be in place in just a few short months, ideal for any large events happening such as the Olympics or important conferences. It has been said that these Pop Up Hotels will soon become the future of UK tourism, with the housing and hotel prices peaking, these affordable and sufficient hotels will be of a high demand.
The trend has also spread from London to the rest of Europe, with a French company 'Abilmo' supplying large pop up homes, they possess the flexibility to construct over 25 a day! Pushing further afield to Mexico, are the 'eco beach pads', using purely natural resources off the Caribbean coast to build, this is the ultimate cheap and authentic place to stay.
Overall, the Pop-Up hotels are affordable, convenient and suit any culture over the globe. This really is the next big thing.

Pop Up Hotels, The Next Big Thing was written and produced on behalf of HotelClub.com

Top 3 Apps to Increase Efficiency for Business Travelers

Traveling for business is almost always a drag one way or another but with the technology of the iPhone, apps can help make work more efficient and even fun. There are countless apps available for download but not many can offer multiple benefits with easy and simple controls.
Before wasting precious time downloading, testing, and deleting useless utilities for the iPhone consider the top three apps that can alleviate headaches for business travelers. You will wonder how you ever managed a business trip without them.
1. TripIt for Business

First on the list is this all-in-one trip planner that makes coordinating all your needs with business travel. From booking hotels to checking flight arrival times and reviewing car rentals, this app is a must-have for those on the go. The beauty of TripIt for Business is that it also accommodates small businesses and large corporations. With a range of ten or up to a hundred users, organizing trips for all employees is a cinch.
Unique Feature: This app offers a handy dashboard that organizes all business travelers into a single compilation. It will allow one traveler to keep in touch with one another and even allows simultaneous access to each traveler’s itinerary. Many business travelers can benefit from being able to see which employee is most efficient or which travels most often.

2. GateGuru

Business travel will almost always require flights so having an app like GateGuru is a must to increase efficiency. Aside from providing live status updates, it also tracks down the correct gate for any given flight and helps to save time. With detailed information on over 115 airports, amenities like restaurants, Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, or retail stores, GateGuru is acts as a great traveling assistant.
Unique Feature: GateGuru is designed to accommodate social networking platforms. Travelers can check-in on Twitter, Facebook, Gowalla, or Foursquare. With a built-in leaderboard, this app is top notch and allows users to leave reviews, offer advice, and much more. Business travelers will not only be able to see what services are nearby but also what others have to say about them.

3. TurboScan

Travelers that are constantly on the run often have trouble keeping loose documents like receipts or work notes in order. In any business industry, any documents are important so losing even just one can defeat the purpose of the entire trip. With this handy app, it is like having a portable scanner in your iPhone. A convenient feature is having the option to print, save, or email documents as PDF or photo files.
Unique Feature: The auto-detection feature in TurboScan helps business travelers save valuable time and eliminates crinkles in the documents and keeps edges in tact. There will be no more shadows or imperfections in your important documents because users can control brightness, contrast, color, and even orientation. Even with a plethora of awesome features, TurboScan does not compromise crisp quality and offers a wide variety of options for user customization.

Technology has made many headaches much easier to deal with. Each and every business trip is important so getting rid of the burdens of trip planning is worth the while. Whether you are the frequent business traveler that has trouble with flight delays, reserving car rentals, or even finding great places to eat in the area, eliminate your traveling troubles with the top three apps to maximize efficiency.

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History of Dentist Chairs

Striking Fear in the Hearts of Many
For many people, going to the dentist is highly unpleasant. Mere thoughts of the sounds made by electric dental equipment are enough to turn both children and adults into nervous wrecks. It doesn't have to be this way. Ignorance breeds fear; many anxious patients can make dental visits easier for themselves simply by learning about the mysterious equipment they may see during their appointment.
The Dental Chair
At the centre of the examination room sits the dentist's chair, an oversized, padded and highly adjustable device designed to keep patients as comfortable as possible. The modern dentist's chair seems like a cross between a comfortable home recliner and a hairdresser's chair. After the patient sits down, the chair is reclined so that it is almost parallel to the floor. A foot pedal raises the height of the entire chair, so that the patient's mouth is comfortably close to the dentist.
The Evolution of the Dental Chair
The history of dental chairs is fascinating. The first adjustable dental chair was invented in 1790 by Josiah Flagg, an American dentist. Flagg began with a large, wooden Windsor chair and modified it to accommodate an adjustable head rest; before this, dental patients sat in a wooden chair without any head rest at all. Flagg also attached an arm extension for convenient placement of the necessary dental equipment. Forty years later, James Snell designed and created the first fully reclining dental chair. However, Snell's model did not allow for height adjustments. The first pump-style chair incorporated the adjustable features of the Snell model, and provided a foot pump that raised and lowered the patient. This functionality was a tremendous benefit for both dentist and patient, both of whom could now remain relatively comfortable for long periods of time. In 1867, British dentist James Beall Morrison patented his dental chair design. Building upon the advances of Josiah Flagg and James Snell, Morrison constructed a chair that could be raised up to three feet. It allowed the patient to recline fully, and was also capable of tilting to the left and right. This lateral tilt proved exceptionally useful during dental procedures focused on only one side of the mouth, such as extraction of wisdom teeth or filling cavities in the molars.
Dental Chairs Today
Modern dental chairs offer an ever-increasing list of benefits for patients and dental professionals. They are built out of aluminium, steel, and heavy plastic, and most offer smooth electric or hydraulic height and tilt adjustments. These models also usually have a bevy of electrical ports to accommodate drills and other medical equipment. This keeps all electrical cords in one convenient place and lowers the danger of tripping; it also allows the dentist to control the tools with a series of foot pedals attached to the base of the chair.
Comfort and Cleanliness
Heavy padding provides greater patient comfort. Earlier dental chairs often lacked padding and were constructed from bare wood; if they had any fabric covering at all, it was sewn from upholstery fabric. This made the chairs very difficult to sanitise between patients, particularly if the fabric was not easily removable. Modern dental chairs are ergonomically designed to fit the contours of the patient's body. They typically have a vinyl covering that is impregnated with an anti-microbial substance, such as MicroBan. If any bodily fluids come in contact with the chair, the microbes will quickly die. Vinyl is also very easy to wipe down and easily tolerates strong disinfectant cleaners, which ensures that each patient enjoys a freshly sanitised chair.
The Aesthetics of Medical Design
The appearance of the modern puffy, padded, comfortable dental chair also serves an important function: its non-threatening appearance soothes nervous patients and invites them to sit down and relax. This is a particular concern with children and all patients who are in great pain. The soft corners and rounded edges of today's dental chairs are intentional design elements designed to reduce stress. The first dental chairs were visually intimidating; their bare wood frames were uncomfortable, and the metal headrests and instrument trays made the chairs look like torture devices. This fomented feelings of apprehension and fear in the patients and virtually ensured that they would have an unpleasant experience.
How Heavy is Too Heavy?
Advances in dental chair design have also increased their load capacity. The typical chair can accommodate patients who weigh up to 330 pounds; many also have adjustable armrests that can be pulled out to widen the chair. Patients who weigh more than 330 pounds must make special arrangements to ensure their safety during a dental visit. In such extreme cases, the patient may be placed in an adjustable hospital bed designed for morbidly obese people. Patients who are extremely tall may also have difficulty with a standard-size dental chair, which can comfortably accommodate patients up to about six and-a-half feet tall. It is prudent for these people to mention their height when making a dental appointment so that accommodations may be made.
Knowledge is Power
When the mysterious equipment in the dentist's office is explained and examined, patients realise that there is very little to fear. They also have access to safe, effective anesthetics that eliminate all pain and discomfort from serious dental procedures. Fearful patients no longer have to suffer in silence; help is available and pain-free.

Practice Loan Company offer financial assistance to practicing dentists. PLC's bespoke loans for dentists can help you to keep your cash flow running smoothly.