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<title>E.M</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com//E.M.</link>
<description>New posts by E.M</description>
<item>
<title>Summer Cruisin'</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Luxury-Travel/Summer-Cruisin.107878</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<ol> 
<li>
<h3><a href="http://www.rssc.com/" target="_blank">Seven Seas Mariner</a></h3>
 Part of the Regent Company, this beast of a cruise ship is the first of its kind to include balconies with all of its on-board suites.  Up to 700 guests and 445 crew members can take sail on this monster, where once out on sea guests can enjoy an array of different activities including a tennis court, a running track, a medium size golf course, a library, a photo shop, and a French gourmet restaurant.<br/><br/>  The exclusive 101 day cruise starts off in Vancouver with its last stop being Los Angeles.  Along the way the ship will stop in the ports of Alaska, Russia, China, Thailand, Australia, among a few others, where during the sail passengers have the benefit of attending presentations about each destination. </li>
<li>
<h3><a href="http://www.seabourn.com/" target="_blank">Seabourn Odyssey</a></h3>
 Sailing off from the Venetian port and arriving in Turkey, the Odyssey's 14 day cruise is an exquisite journey which can take up to 450 passengers with a 180 staff member at your service.  All of the rooms are at a suite-style level with 90% of them having a personal veranda.  The suites also include an open bar, a lavishly designed living room, and soap as per personally selected by you.<br/><br/>  On-board you will find pool-side individual treatments, various massage techniques fit for your needs, and daily cooking lessons.  Once at a stop, passengers can indulge in different water sport activities, with crew members going out of their way to be at your service even if relaxing on some exotic beach.  This cruise stops in unique spots including in Croatia, Montenegro, and the Greek Islands of Rodos, Santorini, and Mikonos. </li>
<li>
<h3><a href="http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com/" target="_blank">SeaDream</a></h3>
 The Seadream cruise ships are owners of two individual yachts, each a total of 55 couples with 95 crew members.  The voyage makes sure to provide their passengers with a unique journey with a personal touch.  While the barman will pick up your name and fix you up your favorite drink, your waiter will make it his responsibility to surprise you with your desired dessert during the 7-day sail.<br/><br/>  On-board couples can spend more time together by taking advantage of the various yoga classes and tai-chi lessons offered, while also taking part in water games or a Segway ride.  The Seadream takes off from the port of Monte Carlo, with stopovers in Trope and Corsica, with its final resting station in Roma, Italy. </li>
<li>
<h3><a href="http://www.cruisecompete.com/ships/insignia_cruises.html" target="_blank">Insignia</a></h3>
 Insignia is part of the Oceania triplets, where the other two go by the names of the Regatta and the Nautica cruise ships.  Each is a mammoth of a craft that can hold up to 684 guests with 400 crew members, and goes out to sea for a period of 15 days to destinations in Brazil, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, spots in the Mediterranean, and finally to Barcelona. <br/><br/> Among the many 93-meter suites on board, you will find Jacuzzis, 42-inch plasmas, latest movie premiers, and hand-held computers with access to the internet.  If you finally manage to leave your room, go on-deck for private sunbathing areas, and be treated to various fruit cocktails and foods.  Enjoy dolphin adventures and other water explorations once setting off from the starting point of Rio de Janeiro. </li>
<li>
<h3><a href="http://www.cunard.com/" target="_blank">Queen Victoria</a></h3>
 Operated by Cunard Lines and launched by Camilla Parker Bowles, the wife of Prince Charles, in December 2007, the Queen Victoria is an absolute mega-structure that can hold up to a staggering 2,000 passengers.  About a third of all rooms have a balcony and nearly all of them face the ocean.  On board you will find enough activities to keep you busy throughout the day including boutiques, a cigar lounge, a pub, library, an art gallery and a planetarium.  <br/><br/>The exclusive suites include a private deck, a lavish bathroom with Jacuzzi, a telescope, gym equipment, and of-course, your own private butler.  The cruise, which sets off from New York, can reach between 84 to 105 days, where during the sail the ship arrives at locations in Panama, Guatemala, California, Mexico, Hawaii, New Zealand, New Guinea, Hong Kong, Jordan, Italy, England, and a few other places before taking you back to the original starting point.</li>
</ol><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FLuxury-Travel%2FSummer-Cruisin.107878"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FLuxury-Travel%2FSummer-Cruisin.107878" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:08:09 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Right Site, Perfect Summer: Top Five Sites for Planning a Vacation</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/Tips/Right-Site-Perfect-Summer-Top-Five-Sites-for-Planning-a-Vacation.105516</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Summer is just around the corner, if not already here for some.  What to do, where to go, and most importantly, how to get there?  Whether you would like to save your money and travel economically or splash out on that crazy, most exclusive holiday, below you will find some of the top internet sites that will help you in organizing your perfect vacation.</p>
 


<h3>1. </h3>


<h3><a href="http://www.kayak.com" target="_blank"><img border= "0" alt="" src="%%IMG1%%" /></a></h3>



<p>
This site compares all ticket pricing with results from practically every airline around the world.  In regards to some of the features that presented Kayak as being the number one travel search engine are various ways of distribution and time schedule elements that reflect on changes made in the recommendations.  </p>


<h3>2.</h3>



<h3><a href="http://www.farecast.com" target="_blank"><img border= "0" alt="" src="%%IMG2%%" /></a></h3>


<p>

Like the above site of Kayak, Farecast is also very efficient with finding tickets from all airlines, but it focuses very highly on time-scheduling.  The bonus using this site is a continuous follow up after changes have been made concerning flight rates and recommendations on bookings.  Approximately a third of the recommendations are accurate. 
</p>


<h3>3. </h3>


<h3><a href="http://www.skytrax.com" target="_blank"><img border= "0" alt="" src="%%IMG3%%" /></a></h3>


<p>

Different reviews from net surfers and experts in the field concerning hundreds of airports all around the world, make this site a highly reliable one.  Up to 288,000 comparisons and reviews on the site are in regards to the different scale-parameter, where you will find such topics as the quality of seats, service on the plane, among other such features that may help you decide which airline is best to fly with and what route is economically viable to take. 


</p>



<h3>4. </h3>

<h3><a href="http://www.wegolo.com" target="_blank"><img border= "0" alt="" src="%%IMG4%%" /></a></h3>



<p>
This site offers you 75 different airline companies to order and buy tickets from, and is considered one of the more dependable sites to find cheaper tickets, especially in and around Europe.  According to some magazine reviews, Wegolo has managed to become one of the more successful sites, compared to other competitive sites, when trying to find the cheapest routes.  The site also offers different hotel options and comparisons as well as the preference of renting a car. </p>




<h3>5. </h3>


<h3><a href="http://www.luxurylink.com" target="_blank"><img border= "0" alt="" src="%%IMG5%%" /></a></h3>



<p>
This site is the main ring of the 1,001 most expensive and luxurious hotels around the world, which also includes individual villas and suites, as well as lavish rooms on-board grand cruise ships.  Magazine editors recommend however to be patient when going about booking through LuxuryLink as waiting may sometimes save you up to 50% on the cost for accommodation. 



</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTips%2FRight-Site-Perfect-Summer-Top-Five-Sites-for-Planning-a-Vacation.105516"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FTips%2FRight-Site-Perfect-Summer-Top-Five-Sites-for-Planning-a-Vacation.105516" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:22:25 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Coffee Delight</title>
<link>http://www.trifter.com/Practical-Travel/World-Cuisine/Coffee-Delight.103369</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Ah yes, morning coffee, how sweet it is.  Actually, I wouldn't know because I don't drink the stuff, but I make up for that part with other bad habits.  However, I am fascinated by the fact that coffee has become the second most popular drink, (water, my favorite, is first), and is the third largest commodity in the world, just behind water and oil. The morning motivator, the day breaker, or night stimulant: whatever you call it, coffee has gone on to develop from the days where some Ethiopian goats got high off the red berries of local shrub, to the hands of the goat herder who decided that he wanted a little buzz as well, to some of the biggest empires including Arabia and the New World, to every little house, shop, corner, and street in any country, city, town, and village.  Coffee is big business, so even though I don't crave it, I make sure to try the local coffee at places that I visit.  And just like the goat herder, I too get a buzz cause of not drinking it all that often.  It's like anything you do, abuse it and it will get boring, enjoy it for what it is and you will reap its benefits.</p>
 
<p>I thought it would be beneficial to describe the two basic types of coffee beans before posting some of the world's coffee.  Each bean has its own characteristics and each is unique for various reasons.</p>
 
<h3>Arabica:</h3>
<p>The higher quality bean which is expensive to produce and more difficult to cultivate.  This bean needs very specific conditions of temperature, altitude, and soil.  As soon as they are ripened, the berries fall to the ground and must be harvested immediately.  This bean however is full of flavor and aroma, and also is low in caffeine.  Arabica beans make up just about 75% of the beans grown around the globe.</p>
 
<p><img src="%%IMG0%%" alt="" /></p>
 
<h3>Robusta</h3>
<p><strong></strong> These beans are more receptive concerning temperature and altitude.  Having twice the amount of caffeine with regards to the previous bean, the Robusta bean does not fall when ripe, meaning that it can be harvested at a simpler pace.  Their minimal flavor and aroma are usually the main content of instant coffee, and this is a result of the bean maturing rather rapidly.</p>
 
<h3>Coffees of the World</h3>
 
<h3>Ethiopia: Coffee Arabica</h3>
 
<p>I remember on my way to Kenya, I had to go through Ethiopia.  Once at the airport I, along with other fellow passengers, found a small sitting area. Sitting down on a pillow in a semi-circle, a man in traditional Ethiopian clothes pours you a cup of Ethiopian coffee, called Coffee Arabica.  Mountain coffee as it is also sometimes referred to is highly acidic but with a delicate body that is gentle on the throat.  Since there is less caffeine in this coffee, the kick was disappointingly short-term.</p>
 
<h3>Jamaica: Blue Mountain</h3>
 
<p>A friend of mine was working out in Jamaica as part of a new hotel project not too far from Kingston.  When he came back for a visit he brought back some Jamaican coffee.  I asked him if it was laced with anything but he disappointingly said no.  I sighed as well.  The expensive Blue Mountain coffee is made of flavorful beans similar to Tia Maria coffee liquer, and has a mild taste to it with a bitter-sweet kick.  It was a nice booster but honestly speaking, I would rather the other product Jamaica is well-known for…ya mon!</p>
 
<h3>Hawaii: Kona</h3>
 
<p>Every year in Hawaii there is a Kona Coffee Cultural Festival that displays various ways in traditionally using the coffee plant.  Kona coffee is one of the most wanted coffees in the world, but it also comes with a rather high price tag.  Its overwhelming aroma is backed up by its soft sweet flavor and a delicate wine-like after-taste.  Could be interesting but might have to drink a few cups to feel anything since wine isn't really my thing.</p>
 
<h3>West Africa, Brazil, Vietnam: Coffee Canephora</h3>
 
<p>A very bitter taste and about twice the amount of caffeine compared with that of Coffee Arabica, and this is due to the Robusta bean.  It usually comes as instant or filter coffee, but can also be drank as espresso blends.  I haven't had the pleasure to try this particular coffee, but when I do will probably go for an espresso, or 4.</p>
 
<h3>Japan, Philippines, US: Kopi Luwak</h3>
 
<p>If you saw the movie “The Bucket List” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, you know a little something about the most expensive coffee in the world.  Kopi Luwak can reach up to $600 a pound, but the real story is how it is actually made.  The berries are eaten and then passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet, however the beans pass through their system undigested.  These beans, it is believed, get their powerful flavor from the stomach of the civet cat which also gives the coffee its richly bitter taste.  I'm going to hold off trying this coffee for the meantime.</p>
 
<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></p>
 
<p>Asian Palm Civet - Yummy Beans</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FWorld-Cuisine%2FCoffee-Delight.103369"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trifter.com%2FPractical-Travel%2FWorld-Cuisine%2FCoffee-Delight.103369" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:27:13 PST</pubDate></item>
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