The twenty-one member NBA Summer League includes the 2009 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.  The league, presented by EA SPORTS, announced a 55-game schedule. A team of NBA Development League Select players will also participate in the action taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas through July 19.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

1 p.m. Knicks vs. Pistons game

2:15 p.m. NBA Summer League Youth Skills Clinic

Game – COX Pavilion

Clinic – Thomas & Mack

Tickets can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS, online, or at Thomas and Mack Box Office.  All general admission tickets are $25 for the day (4-6 games). Seniors and children (3-12) are $15 for the day and children two years & under are admitted free of charge.

• Wine and Dine includes overnight stay, two passes to Vino di Lago and dinner for two at Sunset & Vines. Packages start at $246.
• The Vino Package includes an overnight stay and two passes to Vino di Lago. Packages start at $159.

7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday- July 18, August 15, September 12, October 10, November 21 and December 19

The Village

15 Costa di Lago

Henderson, Nevada 89011

Tickets for Vino di Lago are available at the event for $25 per person with proceeds benefiting the MDA.

Afternoon wine tastings, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., will be held on November 21 and December 19

THE ALL NEW JOINT CONCERT VENUE through September 2009.

BLINK 182 Thursday, July 23^rd and Friday, July 24^th at 8pm

(With special guests Motion City Soundtrack and Valencia on Thursday, July 23^rd and Motion City Soundtrack and Chester French on Friday, July 24^th)

Tickets start at $45                                                                                On Sale Now

Blink-182 is reuniting for their first tour in 5 years and will be bringing their highly-anticipated show to The new Joint for two nights.  Joining blink-182 for the first night will be indie-rockers Chester French and punk-rockers Motion City Soundtrack. Joining blink-182 for the second night will be punk-rockers Motion City Soundtrack and alternative-rockers Valencia.

Travis Barker, Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus, better known as blink-182, one of the world’s greatest punk rock bands, set the alternative nation abuzz with excitement and anticipation earlier this year when they officially announced they are back together.

With more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, blink-182 is widely considered one of the best punk rock bands of all time.  Formed in the San Diego suburbs in 1993, the band found international fame, multi-platinum albums and massive radio airplay success before breaking up in 2004.  Although each member went on to their own successful projects, personal events and natural chemistry brought them back together.  In what each of the band members describe as nothing short of fate, they have newfound inspiration and creativity together, and are working to create the summer’s best rock show.  Known for connecting with their fans, blink-182 is out to prove that after five years apart, they can still deliver a massive show and this will be the highlight of the summer touring season.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE AND CHICAGO                                                   Saturday, July 25^th at 8pm

Tickets start at $65                                                                                On Sale Now

Music legends Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago have reunited for a 30-city national co-headlining summer concert tour and will be making a stop at The new Joint.  Each band will perform a full set, and the two bands will come together both at the beginning of the night and for a final set that features both bands onstage together.

In 2004 and 2005, the two bands teamed up for what is still talked about as one of the great musical spectaculars in recent touring history.  A DVD filmed in 2005 of their Los Angeles shows was certified double platinum almost immediately upon release – a tribute to the extraordinary and unique quality of this collaboration.

CRUE FEST 2                                                                           Saturday, August 1^st at 6:30pm

Featuring Mötley Crüe, Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool and Charm City Devils

Tickets start at $65                                                                                On Sale Now

Mötley Crüe, along with some of rock’s top touring acts, will hit the road again this summer for Crüe Fest 2.

Mötley Crüe will perform the entire album, Dr. Feelgood, from beginning to end at Crüe Fest 2 in addition to their hits. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the release of Dr. Feelgood, which became the Crüe’s first #1 album on the Billboard charts.  Joining the Crüe will be Grammy-nominated heavy metal band, Godsmack, post-grunge band, Theory of a Deadman, alternative metal band, Drowning Pool and rock band, Charm City Devil’s.

UNDERWORLD             Thursday, August 6^th at 9pm

(With special guest Damian Lazarus)

Tickets start at $39.50                                                                            On Sale Now

UK dance band Underworld will be bringing their high energy show across the pond this summer to play The new Joint.

An incredible 27 years after their birth in Romford, Essex as a trio and 15 years after they pressed up their debut single, Rick Smith and Karl Hyde are still enjoying the ride, grinning like kids as new vistas unfold before them. What has distinguished them over the years is their ability to instill a deep soulfulness and empathetic humanity into even the most anthemic club banger. They fuse together elements of techno, dub, trance, Krautrock, drum ’n’ bass, ambient house and even blues, complementing and contrasting not only sounds, but emotions, too, tying them together with Hyde’s frequently prescient, often opaque but always strikingly poetic lyrics. The colossal ‘Born Slippy’ thus packed a heart-rending existential ache along with that thrilling, jackhammer pulse and – immortalized as it was in Danny Boyle’s Zeitgeist-busting movie ‘Trainspotting’ – became a soundtrack for a generation. Opening for Underworld will be DJ, Damien Lazarus.

NO DOUBT                                                                                           Friday, August 7^th at 8pm

(With special guests Panic at The Disco and The Sounds)

Tickets start at $95                                                                                On Sale Now

No Doubt will return to Las Vegas this summer with special guests Panic at the Disco and The Sounds to deliver a high-energy show to their fans in Vegas’s top rock venue.

The legendary high energy live act No Doubt were formed in Anaheim, CA and reached international success with their 1995 release Tragic Kingdom. That album, including the mega hit “Don’t Speak” among many others, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Their follow up, Return of Saturn, was nominated for the Best Rock Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards and granted a four star review by Rolling Stone Magazine. The band went on to win two Grammy Awards for 2001’s multi-platinum Rock Steady, played gigs with U2 and The Rolling Stones, and performed at the Super Bowl XXXVII Halftime Show in 2003 alongside Sting. Further success followed with the double platinum The Singles 1992-2003, featuring the hit “It’s My Life,” and a subsequent tour with blink-182. In November of 2008, after a nearly 5 year hiatus, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young announced plans to reform for a 2009 summer tour.

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING Sunday, August 9^th at 3pm

Tickets start at $40                                                                                On Sale Now

Undefeated in his mixed martial arts career, Brian Bowels will go pound-for-pound against former WEC® champion Miguel Angel Torres.  Bowels was originally scheduled to fight Torres in the main event of WEC 40 on April 5, 2009 in Chicago though Bowels sustained a back injury weeks before the fight was to take place, causing the WEC to replace him with Takeya Mizugaki, whom Torres defeated.  The World Extreme Cagefighting® organization is pleased to announce that on Sunday, June 6^th, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, these two warriors will finally meet in an explosive contest guaranteed to produce fireworks. For more information about WEC: Torres vs Bowels and current WEC fight news, visit www.wec.tv.

TOP RANK BOXING                  Saturday, August 15^th at 4pm

Tickets start at $50                                                                                On Sale Now

Nonito “Flipino Flash” Donaire, the current IBF and IBO world champion in the flyweight category will take on Rafael Concepción, nicknamed “El Torito” in the main event of Top Rank’s Pinoy Power 2 boxing card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  The two contenders will duke it out for the coveted title of WBA interim super flyweight title.  The first bell will be at 4pm and the event will be broadcasted live on PPV beginning at 6pm P.S.T.

KINGS OF LEON                                                                                  Wednesday, August 19^th at 8pm

(With special guest The Whigs)

Tickets start at $46                                                                                On Sale Now

After two sold out shows in the original Joint, Kings of Leon will return to Vegas to rock The Joint at the end of the summer.  Joining them this time around will be the loud, fast and melodic rock of The Whigs.

Following their epic sold-out performance at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 29^th and a highly successful spring arena tour, Kings of Leon continue to deliver incredible performances to sold-out crowds. They also recently performed on the MTV Movie Awards as one of only two artists asked, the other being Enimem. Kings of Leon thrive as one of the most popular artists to hit the music scene in recent years.

Nominated for three Grammy Awards (Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals), Kings of Leon have seen their latest release Only By The Night (RCA) take them to new levels, having sold almost four-million units worldwide.  Their infectious single “Sex On Fire” was #1 on the Billboard “Modern Rock” chart for nine weeks. “Use Somebody,” the album’s second single, stayed at number one on the charts for three weeks straight. The video has been named “Buzzworthy” by MTV and has had nearly six million views on YouTube to date.

Only by the Night was released on September 23, 2008 and debuted in the top five on the Billboard top 200 and #1 at the iTunes store. The band has since performed on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman. The band appeared on the cover of Spin magazine’s October issue, and was on the cover of Q magazine’s December issue in the UK, in which they received “Record of the Year” honors.

DREAM THEATER                                                                                Friday, August 28^th at 7pm

(With special guests Zappa Plays Zappa, Big Elf and Scale The Summit)

Tickets start at $39.50                                                                            On Sale Now

New York metal veterans Dream Theater will be bringing their “Progressive Nation 2009” tour to The Joint at Friday, August 28. Joining them for an incredible night of rock will be special guests Zappa Plays Zappa, Big Elf and Scale The Summit.

Progressive Nation was created by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. Portnoy hand-picked all of the bands for the 2009 bill based on their diversity and musicality. He comments: “This year’s lineup is so exciting for me. Every band is bringing something very unique to the package to create an incredibly well rounded musical experience. I am just as excited to be watching all the bands from the side of the stage as I am to be performing with mine in the center of it!”

RICARDO ARJONA                                                                               Sunday, September 13^th at 8pm

Tickets start at $45                                                                                On Sale Now

Known as Latin America’s Bob Dylan, Guatemalan singer and songwriter Ricardo Arjona, like his famous American counterpart, is known around the world for his socially conscious and heartfelt folk ballads and rock tunes. Playing in a variety of styles that combine traditional South American folk music with rock, hip-hop, and classical music, Arjona sings about subjects ranging from faded love to social inequities.

The Latin sensation has won two Grammy Awards from three nominations including 2007 Best Latin Pop Album and 2006 Best Male Pop Vocal Album, both for his album Adentro (2005).

THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW                                                Sunday, September 20^th at 8pm

Tickets start at $35                                                                                On Sale Now

The World Premiere of the new ‘Big Pink Greatest Hits World Tour’, will include jaw-dropping note-for-note musical excerpts from Pink Floyd’s legendary albums Wish You Were Here, Animals, Dark Side of the Moon & The Wall.

Having already wowed audiences Stateside over the course of the last five years, this magnificent new ‘Big Pink Greatest Hits World Tour’ will be even bigger, even better, featuring an amazing new stage production including more animation, more lasers, more costumes & even more amazing inflatables.

The meticulous musical attention to detail – each and every facet of Floyd’s sound reproduced note for note, sound for sound by the fastidiously talented musicians – has kept the fans coming back for more. ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Hey You’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Another Brick In The Wall’, ‘Dogs’, ‘Money’, ‘Run Like Hell’, ‘Time’, ‘Great Gig in the Sky’ are just a few of over twenty classic Pink Floyd tracks that will be performed.

PET SHOP BOYS                                                                                 Saturday, September 26^th at 9pm

Tickets start at $45                                                                                On Sale Now

One of the most iconic and influential pop acts in the world, Pet Shop Boys, are coming to The Joint this fall. They will be touring in support of their tenth album, Yes, recently released on astralwerks.

In a career spanning over 2 decades, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have created some of the most beloved and recognizable hits in the world (‘West End girls’, ‘It’s a sin’, ‘New York City boy’, etc.), and sold over 30 million records. They’ve worked with artists like Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli, Robbie Williams, Electronic, The Killers and Madonna. In the USA, Pet Shop Boys are the fourth most successful artist in the history of the Billboard dance charts (behind Madonna, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson).

Filled with sparkling state of the art pop songs, Yes is an affirmation of the duo’s knack for mixing innovative artistry with exuberant commercial appeal. Produced by the acclaimed Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Saint Etienne), the album features guitar work by ex-Smith Johnny Marr and orchestral arrangements by Owen Pallett (Last Shadow Puppets, Final Fantasy). Never far from the public eye, Pet Shop Boys have been very busy lately: producing a #1 UK dance hit for Sam Taylor-Wood (released on the ultra-hip Kompakt label), remixing a track for Lady GaGa and co-writing the hit UK single ‘The Loving Kind’ for Girls Aloud. They are also working on a ballet, and were honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the

Brit Awards.

CREED                                                                                                 Sunday, September 27^th at 8pm

Tickets start at $95                                                                                On Sale Now

Creed, one of the most successful rock bands of the past decade, has announced all four of the original band members are back together for a summer tour and new album.  Since their formation, Creed has sold close to thirty-five million albums and millions of concert tickets.

The songwriting team of Stapp and Tremonti are considered one of the most prolific in rock history.  Their collaborations delivered numerous chart-topping records that are a testament to the enormity and success of Creed. The band was the first act to have seven consecutive number one rock radio singles, four of which came off of the debut album. Their third album, Weathered, tied The Beatles Anthology, for the most consecutive weeks at Number One on Billboard’s Top 200 chart (eight weeks since the beginning of the SoundScan era (1991). The band was voted Favorite Group in 2003 on the People’s Choice Awards and won numerous American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and others including the Grammy Award for best Rock Song in 2001 for “With Arms Wide Open.”

RESIDENT SHOW

SUPERNATURAL SANTANA (A Trip Through the Hits)

Fri Sept 4^th, Sat Sept 5^th, Sun Sept 6^th, Wed Sept 9^th

Fri Sept 11^th, Sat Sept 12^th, Mon Sept 14^th, Tues Sept 15^th

Tickets start at $79                                                                                On Sale Now

Signing on as the first rock and roll resident artist in Las Vegas, Carlos Santana brings his legendary talent to The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino through a multi-year deal with AEG Live.  Through 2010, The Joint will be the only place west of the Mississippi where fans can see Santana perform. Titled to pay homage to his most successful body of work to date, Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits features the artist’s signature fusion sound in a show designed exclusively for the new venue.

Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits will feature career-spanning classics inspired by a mix of practical spirituality, a rebel-from-the-street vibe and passionate, virtuoso guitar playing. The set list will include a nostalgic collection of touchstone tracks reaching back as far as the first charting single “Jingo” (1969) and first Top 10 hit “Evil Ways” (1970), up through the latest hit, “Into The Night.”

Santana will play approximately 36 shows per year at The Joint, with a show time of 9pm Prices range from $79-$155 and can be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. For groups of 20 or more, call the Hard Rock Box Office at (702) 693- 5233. For more information, visit www.supernaturalsantana.com.

THE ROGUE FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES

pepper *this weekend* Friday, July 17^th at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $22.73                                                                                  On Sale Now

Pepper, best known for playing a mix of reggae, dub and rock will invade the Hard Rock pool this summer for FNL.  Originally from Hawaii the three piece band got national recognition after making the transition to southern California and becoming part of the Warped Tour in 2001.  Most notable singles include “Give It Up,” “No Control” and “Your Face.”

Unwritten Law Friday, July 24^th at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $20                                                                                      On Sale Now

American Rock band Unwritten Law has toured both nationally and internationally, including appearing on the popular Warped Tour.  The band has produced several notable singles including “Seein’ Red” and “Save Me (Wake Up Call).”  Most recently, Unwritten Law released a live album entitled Live and Lawless.

Los Lonely Boys Friday, August 14^th at 8pm (Doors at 7pm)

(With special guest Los Lobos)

Tickets are $35.91                                                                                  On Sale Now

Los Lonely Boys is a Grammy Award-winning rock band consisting of three brothers that combines elements of rock and roll, blues, country and soul.  In 2003, their debut album, Los Lonely Boys, was recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales recording studio.  The boys released their eagerly awaited sophomore album, Sacred, in 2006. Forgiven followed in 2008, which also saw the release of a holiday album, Christmas Spirit. Opening will be 3-time Grammy Award winning rock band, Los Lobos.

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY Friday, August 21^st at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $22.27                                                                                  On Sale Now

The contemporary swing band from Southern California will bring their big band sound to the Friday Night Live stage this summer.  The band is best known for such hits as “Go Daddy-O”, “You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)”, and “Mr. Pinstripe Suit”.

GEORGE CLINTON Friday, August 28^th at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $29.55                                                                                  On Sale Now

P-Funk originator, George Clinton will bring his psychedelic rock and soul to the Hard Rock’s FNL stage this summer.  The mastermind of such bands as Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and 1980s this solo artist has been called one of the most important innovators of funk music along with James Brown and Sly Stone.

puddle of mudD Friday, September 4^th at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $29.55                                                                                  On Sale Now

Rock band, Puddle of Mudd achieved success on rock radio and in the mainstream, and their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the U.S.  Best known for their singles “Blurry,” “She Hates Me” and “Psycho” to name a few.

Collective Soul Friday, September 11^th at 9pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $31.36                                                                                  On Sale Now

Collective Soul was formed in the early 90’s by principal songwriter Ed Roland.  The hard rock group went on to produce the hit song “Shine” became a modern rock staple.  Collective Soul found themselves thrust into the limelight, playing everywhere from arenas with Aerosmith to Woodstock 1994.  Most recently, the band released the 2007 album Afterwords.

SPECIAL POOLSIDE SHOWS

RATT & Extreme *this weekend* Saturday, July 18^th at 8:30pm (Doors at 7pm)

Tickets are $29.55                                                                                  On Sale Now

Heavy metal band, Ratt and rock band Extreme are pairing up this summer to rock out the Hard Rock pool.  VH1 placed Ratt in their “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” confirming them as one of the industry’s classic bands that helped to shape the metal scene.

Extreme achieved their greatest success in 1990 with their album Pornograff. The album peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200, was certified gold in May 1991 and  2×platinum in October 1992.  That album featured the acoustic ballad single “More Than Words,” which reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the United States.

WASTED SPACE ROCK BAR

MAT KEARNEY CHARITY CONCERT TO BENEFIT THE CITY MISSION OF LAS VEGAS *just added*

Tickets are $9.41 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the charity      Wednesday, July 21^st at 8pm

www.matkearney.com

BAND OF SKULLS *just added*                                                            Sunday, August 2^nd at 10pm

(With special guest MP & Co.)

Tickets are $10

www.bandofskulls.com/press

THE GERMS *tonight*                                                                          Tuesday, July 14^th at 8:30pm

(With special guests Assemble the Skyline, Spider Problem and The Vermin)

www.myspace.com/germsreturn

www.myspace.com/assembletheskyline

www.myspace.com/spiderproblem

JET *this week*                                                                                    Wednesday, July 15^th at 11pm

Tickets are $30

http://jettheband.ning.com/

www.myspace.com/jet

TOADIES *this weekend*                                                                      Saturday, July 18^th at 9:30pm

(With special guest The Willowz)

www.myspace.com/toadies

PETTY CASH                                                                                       Friday, July 24^th at 10pm

Cover charge will apply

www.myspace.com/pettycashparty

THE DONNAS                                                                           Sunday, July 26^th at 9:30pm

Tickets are $15

www.myspace.com/thedonnas

CASH’D OUT                Sunday, August 9^th at 10pm

(With special guest Will and the High Rollers)

Tickets are $10

www.myspace.com/cashdout

CONFLICT OF INTEREST                     Sunday, August 23^rd at 10pm

(With special guests Kil Jaden and The Day After)

Cover charge will apply

www.myspace.com/conflictofinterest

www.myspace.com/kiljadenband

www.myspace.com/tda

HELL’S BELLES                                                                                  Thursday & Friday, September 3^rd & 4^th at 10pm

Tickets are $15

http://www.hellsbelles.info/

CRACKER                                                                                            Wednesday, September 9^th at 9:30pm

Tickets are $15

www.myspace.com/crackerhatesmyspace

For art history buffs or shopping gurus who like to browse through designer stores, markets or spend your travels at museums and churches, Northern Italy is definitely the place to be. The major cities are connected by train, so you can see all four of them even if you’re stuck in a time crunch—here’s how.

Day 1: Siena

Piazza del Campo Located in the heart of Siena, you can find this huge square where the annual horse race (Il Palio) is held in the summertime. Several tasty gelaterias and cafes line the outside and you can catch some rays, browse the t-shirt stands or watch street performers. My friends saw Michael Caine relaxing here with his family a few weeks ago…it’s a favorite for Hollywood stars! If you go inside the main governmental building you can buy a ticket to the museum for less than five euros and see frescos dating all the way back to the 1300’s.  

Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo Here you can see Duccio’s famous gold Maesta painting of the Madonna and Child surrounded by the heavenly court of saints and angels. If you continue through the museum you come to a narrow spiral turret (about 100 steps up) that you can climb to get a breathtaking view of Siena’s red rooftops and lush green countryside. Totally worth the huffing and puffing to the top.

The Streets of Siena If you’re short on time, just grab a gelato and walk around the streets of Siena. There are medieval flags hanging from windows, the buildings are closely packed together and lean inwards sheltering you from the sun. Cute botiques and touristy shops are around every corner and the town center is so small that you can scope it out in an hour or so.

San Domenico and the head of St. Catherine of Siena Whether you’re religious or not, definitely go into the church of San Domenico to view the head of Siena’s patron saint. You can actually see her real head in a glass box inside a chapel in the church, and tests have been done to prove its legitimacy. St. Catherine was a catholic holy woman whose letters are considered some of the greatest of early Tuscan literature.

Day Two: Florence

Duomo Definitely start your day in Florence here, and start it early. Arrive to beat the tourist line before 9 o’clock a.m. otherwise you’ll wait 2 hours or more in line! The duomo is the Florence Cathedral and was one of the first dome structures ever built dating back to the early 1400’s. You can climb the duomo to get a soaring view from the top of the dome into the church itself bringing you inches from the fresco paintings on the ceiling. Climb further and you’ll be the tallest point in the heart of the city. No worries for you who are claustrophobic or afraid of heights…I’m both and I survived just fine.

Piazza Michelangelo This piazza is across the river Arno and is a huge tourist destination. You can walk if you’re up for a hike, otherwise regular buses run up the mountain where you get a remarkable view of the Florence valley and bridges over the Arno. Grab a sandwich at the Café Michelangelo for lunch and enjoy the view!

Ponte Vecchio When you get off the bus at the base of Piazza Michelangelo walk towards the Ponte Vecchio (literally meaning “old bridge” in Italian). You can’t miss it, it’s the only pedestrian bridge with quaint, colorful shops built right on it. If you’re willing to spend a little jing, you can find very nice gold and silver jewelry (I mostly just window shop) but it’s a great place for a photo op by the water.  

San Lorenzo If your budget is a little tighter and you’re a savvy bargainer, head to San Lorenzo market where you can find everything from Italian leather goods to t-shirts to pashminas and jewelry. Only pay half the asking price and don’t be afraid to push them for the best deal here!

Galleria dell’Accademia You ABSOLUTELY cannot leave without seeing Michelangelo’s David. Call ahead or go online to spend an extra 4 euro to make appointments in advance for reserved tickets to avoid the long summer lines. Once you grab your ticket you essentially skip all the agitated tourists and walk right in to see this monumental, world-famous sculpture.

Day Three: Milan

Last Supper If know you’ll be in Milan four months or more from your travel date, try to make an appointment to see Leonardo DaVinci’s Last Supper located in the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie. Because of its deteriorating quality, they only let 25 people into the pressure and temperature controlled chamber for 15 minutes at a time, so getting in literally feels like winning the lottery. It is so worth it.

Designer Shopping As the fashion capital of the world, EVERYBODY looks amazing in Milan so save your best outfits for this city. Home to the famous Fashion Week, it’s the center for designers like Prada, Gucci, and Valentino among others. The cheapest store I found here was United Colors of Benetton so if you’re down with designer, shop in Milan.  

Duomo di Milano This huge church is located conveniently next to a stretch of designer shops so if you have time, pop in for free and take a look around. It is HUGE. Its Italian gothic architecture is unmistakable, and from the outside, its white stone, tall pointed turrets and statues relay its monumental size mirrored inside.

Day Four: Venice

Glass blowing Go to the famous Venetian glass blowing museum near Piazza San Marco for a tour and glass blowing demonstration. It only takes a half hour and they have glass tradesmen on staff who are complete masters at forming and pounding the molten glass into beautiful vases, necklaces, chandeliers etc. Don’t buy anything at the gift shop though, its very overpriced. There are shops all over every island that sell Venetian glass for much less.

Piazza San Marco/ Gondola This famous piazza is right on the water on the main island. You can find cheap tourist stands here, check out the church or grab a Gondola ride. If you have a big group it’s more economical because a ride can cost anywhere from 70-100 euros so splitting between six to eight people takes the edge off. The streets are water so you can take boats for transportation from island to island. Hold on to your hat, the city is ocean-side and gets quite windy!

Once upon a time, in a world far far away, travelling by air was actually enjoyable. Airlines had personalised service, legroom was bountiful and they couldn’t give away enough food and drink during your flight! How things in the airline industry have changed.

For most people travelling by air now involves more stress than a bad week at the office: additional charges for baggage and checkin, fuel surcharges, rigourous security checks, queues – and that’s before you even get onboard! At least the airlines treat their paying customers well, I hear you questionably say. Wrong. If you are unfortunate enough to book with one of these airlines then you’re troubles, my good friend, may have only just begun!

So here, in all their glory, are ten airlines plagued by a litany of overbooking, delays, cancellations and failed safety inspections.

Nepal Airlines, Nepal

Nepal Airlines: This is another one of those airline options that people in the region often choose because it’s cheaper than the competition, however they usually find out that there’s a reason for this since the airline is notorious for delayed and cancelled flights. Reportedly, this airline sends delayed passengers to the airline headquarters to make arrangements for alternative flights rather than just helping them get on another plane since they’re already at the airport. It then ends up costing customers extra money to make those alternative plans.

Additional problems include that the former chairman was put in jail in 2005 for corruption and that the planes for this airline have a history of being grounded for failure to meet safety conditions. On the plus side, the airline is trying to make things better; in 2007, they sacrificed 2 goats in front of a plane in order to please the sky god and resume good flight conditions!

Varig Airlines, Brazil

Varig Airlines: This airline has had a history of problems and recent reports indicate that it remains unreliable despite efforts to improve service. For several years, people anticipated that this airline would go out of business due in no small part to financial issues. It’s a bad sign when the bank shows up at the airport and actually seizes one of your planes since you haven’t paid them!

Throughout 2006 Varig was significantly downsized and was subsequently purchased by another company in 2007. It was hoped that this could turn things around. However, reports from customers in 2008 indicate that the airline remains unreliable; one customer has said ‘the crew try their best but are let down by ancient aircraft, unpunctual flights and seats that are dirty.’ Nice. Oddly Varig is quite efficient when dealing with delays; it has a system in place to email people (often in the middle of the night) to let them know that their planes will be delayed for hours.

Alitalia Airlines, Italy

Alitalia Airlines: This large airline is so notoriously bad that there is an entire website devoted to providing consumers with information about why they should boycott their flights, (a website that Alitalia tried unsuccessfully to have shut down). In 2006, one blog named it the worst airline of the year due to constant strikes, cancelled flights and general ongoing delays and service issues.

Financial problems have caused these same issues to continue on into 2008. In fact, Alitalia just received an emergency loan from the government to help it avoid complete collapse (which the EU is investigating for issues of legality). Either way, many say that the airline’s demise is inevitable.

United Airlines, USA

United Airlines: This airline has regularly been called one of the worst airlines in the world because of constant delays that are compounded by horrible customer service. Just one example of a typical problem with this airline was the case of a woman who was returning from Cancun last year and got stranded in Mexico when United cancelled her flight. The airline basically told her, ‘it’s your problem, not ours’ and it ended up costing her nearly $1,200 to get new tickets on another flight!

In one set of reviews from a site that ranks airlines based on comfort, customer service and delays, the highest rank for United was in the area of on-time flights and that was only a 4 out of 10. It is believed that the problems are at least partly due to the nearly constant financial issues the airline faces, a problem that they’ve tried to remedy by overselling seats which sometimes leads to delays of more than seven hours for customers on their flights.

Aeromexico, Mexico

Aeromexico: This airline operates over six hundred daily flights, which is apparently too much for them to handle because they’re constantly receiving complaints about delays, poor customer service and lost baggage.

For example, one customer reported an incident a few months ago in which she had taken three students on a Spring Break trip from the USA to Nicaragua that was supposed to have a one night sleepover in Mexico City. When they arrived in Mexico City, the airline told them that the flight to Nicaragua had been delayed and that it would be eight days before they could get a new flight. The group decided to just return back to the USA; however Aeromexico couldn’t get them back there for another five days so they were stuck hanging out in Mexico City for almost a full week on their own tab.

Air India, India

Air India: The one thing that can be said for this airline is that it gets some points for consistency; unfortunately they’re awarded that honour only because they are consistently delayed. In 2005, customers experienced long periods of time just sitting on planes that pilots refused to fly because of safety concerns. In 2006, one customer reported that a flight was cancelled because there were too few people on it to make flying profitable so they were delayed to the point of needing to purchase a ticket on another airline.

In 2007, there was a day on which five flights were cancelled leaving approximately one thousand people stranded for as long as 24 hours. Air India’s problems continued into 2008 with numerous complaints of overbooking, sitting in cabins without food for up to six hours and regular delays.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, Afghanistan

Ariana Afghan Airlines: This airline is so bad that the EU has banned all but one of its planes from flying in Europe due to concerns about safety. One report states that Ariana Afghan Airlines have crashed more planes than are currently working in their fleet.

The airline is notorious for taking bribes; one customer reported that $50 would get you on a flight despite an announcement that the flight was delayed. However, the real concern comes from more recent reports that $500 will get you a pilot’s license to fly with Ariana! Some hope that increased political stability in this part of the world could ultimately lead to positive changes for this airline but for now it’s not one that you want to fly with.

Cebu Pacific, Philippines

Cebu Pacific: This small airline doesn’t have a huge itinerary of daily flights to manage so you would think that they could operate the ones they do have scheduled, but that’s not the case since they’re legendary for constant problems with delays. Currently a domestic airline, Cebu Pacific have ambitious plants to add scheduled international flights. Don’t let optimistic ambition blind you from reality: one set of industry reviews has them ranked only 2 out of a possible 10 for on time flights.

Recent complaints focus on the fact that flights are frequently several hours late on both the outgoing and incoming legs, often requiring passengers to wait inside uncomfortable planes for long periods of time while problems are sorted out. Cebu Pacific are also fond of the travellers worst nightmare – additional hidden charges.

Southwest Airlines, USA

Southwest Airlines: Many people in the United States love Southwest Airlines because it offers low prices on many flights. Unfortunately, this is often a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ as flying with Southwest has been notoriously problematic over the past few years.

There are the typical delays, of course, due to things like weather. It makes sense that Southwest is particularly concerned about weather issues since there was a case back in 2005 in which a Southwest plane mistakenly landed on an icy runway, skidding off of the track and killing a 6 year old boy. In fairness to the airline, it was said that the problem could have been the fault of the air traffic controller there but it put the airline on edge and made it so that weather-related delays were more frequent than necessary.

The following year, Southwest pulled its service out of airports where weather was often a problem, like in San Francisco (although they recently decided to return to servicing that airport this year). Things were good for the airline for a short time until early 2008 when over 40 planes were grounded because of the airline’s failure to meet inspection requirements causing widespread delays and cancellations.

AirTran Airways, USA

AirTran Airways: This small airline receives various customer complaints but the main one seems to be a result of the company’s practice of denying boarding rights to passengers who arrive late at the gate (even though the plane hasn’t even been readied to leave yet). It doesn’t seem to matter that the passengers are late because of delays in their connecting flights, delays frequently caused by the airlines themselves; passengers are often left idly at the gate watching the plane as it sits on the runway.

AirTran planes apparently like to just sit at those same gates for a while, with some passengers reporting that they’ve been stuck sitting on a stationary plane for up to five hours.

As I’ve been thinking of visiting Bournemounth for some time I decided to book  a £2 return flight. I’ll only take hand luggage and I paid using Visa Electron to avoid the card payment fees.

The promotion runs until midnight on 16 July 2009 for flights departing until 27 March 2010 There are black out periods during the Mid Term Holidays and the Festive Season.

So I’d advise that you get on the Ryanair site as soon as possible and start searching for these £1 tickets.

“When you think of an island-hopping adventure, I’d wager that for most people, what springs to mind is more likely to be the Carribean or Greece than Scotland. But whether you’re more interested in hiking up mountains or relaxing on white sand beaches, avid bird-watching or just spending some time in a very different culture, there’s something for everyone in the Hebrides.

Uist, The Hebrides

I’ve just got back from a two week Hebridean holiday, and thought that Europe A La Carte’s readers may be interested in the logistics of planning a trip to some of Europe’s wildest islands, where all the shops close on Sundays (Lewis & Harris) or Catholic shrines are common along the roadside (the Uists & Benbecula).

There are a few small airports on the islands, so you can choose to fly from Glasgow or Inverness, but for flexibility (or if you want to take a car) you’ll struggle to beat the ferry services, which are operated by Caledonian Macbrayne (CalMac for short) and run several times a day on most routes.

CalMac have a monopoly on the ferries, but amazingly this doesn’t translate to poor value. Indeed, we planned our trip based on last year’s charges, expecting to pay a little more in reality – and found that most fares this year had actually gone down due to subsidies designed to promote tourism! So there’s probably no better time to visit than this summer.

Booking ferry tickets is easy – you can walk into any of the ferry terminals, or book in advance by phone or online. “Island Hopscotch” tickets cover popular route combinations and can mean some hefty savings – for example, we used two Hopscotch tickets (route 6, for Mull, and route 11, for Skye, the Uists, Harris & Lewis), a pedestrian return to Iona, and one Saver return with the car (to get down to Barra), which took us everywhere we wanted to go and still cost significantly less than the price of a Rover ticket (which allows unlimited journies within a seven- or fourteen-day period, and may be worth the extra if you don’t like planning ahead).

You don’t need to commit to specific times when booking tickets, but for many routes, a reservation is strongly recommended if you’re travelling with a vehicle. We were slightly before the main summer rush, and found that we could always get the reservation we wanted by calling a day in advance.

CalMac ferry

The islands aren’t really equipped to deal with tourism yet; tourist sites don’t feel crowded (with the exception, in our experience, of the Abbey on Iona) but many guesthouses were full. We took a tent (Scottish laws allow for wild camping in most areas), but if you’re hoping to find bed-and-breakfast accommodation, it would be worth calling ahead to reserve a room. Alternatively, it’s worth being aware that a small (up to 5m) motorcaravan costs the same price as a car on the ferries, and there are quite a few campsites dotted around.

So if you’re interested in going somewhere a little bit different this year, I hope you can see that it’s easier than you might have thought to reach the Outer Hebrides or other Scottish islands. (Note that the information I’ve given doesn’t cover the Orkneys and Shetlands, where I haven’t yet been, and where CalMac don’t run the ferries – so if you know something about getting there, I’d be interested to hear it!)”

Introduction

Whether you’re on a romantic break, hoovering up the art and culture or trying to keep the kids amused, there are plenty of things to do for free in London. Yes, free. And if you have to splash the cash, there are savings to be made if you know where to look.

View to Big Ben from Trafalgar Square by ianbruce

Self-guided walks

Whether you fancy a stroll around famous landmarks or want to find a quieter part of town, self-guided walks are a great way to discover the city and prise the kids off the sofa. To get away from the bustle of the city centre check out some of the walks along London’s canals. A two and a half hour circular walk from Little Venice takes in the colourful flower-decked narrowboats moored along the Regent’s Canal, the busy market at Camden Lock and the panoramic views from Primrose Hill. For this and other waterside walks go to Waterscape.

There are also plenty of walks to choose from with the kids in mind. Thames themed walks can be found in the Walk this Way series with a couple of young persons’ guides focusing on the bridges, buildings and sights above the Thames – including the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and Shakespeare’s Globe – as well as lost rivers and wildlife that can be seen in the area.

London Eye at night

Parks

The big hitters are London’s eight Royal Parks which can all be visited for free. With a diverse range of plants, animals, buildings and memorials they are the perfect place to take a walk, have a picnic or catch some of the free events like the bandstand concerts or wildlife guided walks. Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy still have deer, Regent’s Park has a large boating lake and an open air theatre while Kensington Gardens has its famous statue of Peter Pan and the impressive Albert Memorial.

Peter Pan statue, Kensington Gardens, London by amamdabhslater

From the wilds of Hampstead Heath to the local rec there’s bound to be a green space nearby wherever you are in London. There are around 140 sites of metropolitan importance that are home to rare species, as well as pocket parks, commons, community gardens and other small wildlife sites across the capital. To find the nearest parks, woodlands or wetland near you, go to Wild Web where you can search by postcode or borough.

Gallery highlight tours

Most galleries and museums offer a free tour you can just turn up and join. These usually last about an hour and will concentrate on four or five selected paintings or objects from a collection chosen by the guide. For example at Tate Britain Mon-Friday there are talks at 11am art from 1500-1800, 12.00 art from 1800-1900, 14.00 Turner and at 15.00 art from 1900. The National Gallery also has a host of free events. There are free guided tours daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm as well as lunchtime talks, 10 minute talks and family workshops at other times of the week. At the Victoria and Albert Museum free tours run every day on the half hour from 10.30 to 3.30pm which give a short history of the V&A and introduce a selection of treasures.

Glass sculpture, Victorian & Albert Museum, London by wedesoft

Family trips

Days out are notoriously expensive but planning ahead can ensure that there’s plenty to interest your family and save you money. Here are a few top tips to help you.

Always do a quick tally of overall cost so you don’t get a nasty surprise at the end of the day. Include travel/fuel, ticket prices, any additional activities and food costs to get a full picture of what the day out is costing. Ask if family tickets are available. This can save money for larger family groups. Plan ahead and check the websites to ensure there is enough to interest your family. Most attractions have extensive websites that detail costs, age restrictions and suitability and any possible closures or changes that might affect your visit. Some events may be free but require booking in advance.

Regional tourist websites can also be a great source of money off offers. The West Midlands has plenty of attractions from Cadbury World and Alton Towers to Warwick Castle. Or, if you’re getting the train to London and the south east Days out Guide has details of off-peak fares and special offers and 2for1 deals when you travel by train.

Spinball Whizzer rollercoaster, Alton Towers by gnislew

Find out where kids go free. For example, at Kew Gardens children under 17 get in free when accompanied by a paying adult. (Adult £13) There’s the new Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop walkway to see as well as kids trails and a special parents’ visitors guide on the website to help you make the most of your visit. Don’t assume that the popular attractions will cost a fortune. Even the latest blockbuster exhibitions at The British Museum have free entry for under16s when accompanied by a paying adult or offer family tickets that can provide greater savings. Of course, apart from special exhibitions, the British Museum is free to visit.

In some instances, membership of an organisation might be a useful option. For example, an adult membership of English Heritage is £43 a year which includes free entry for up to 6 accompanying children (under 19) within your family group. With over 400 properties throughout England, whether it’s castles, stately homes or rambling over romantic ruins that your family enjoys it could save you money in the long run.

Even places that usually charge may have free or reduced charges on certain days or times. For instance, the Courtauld Gallery with its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work has free entry on Mondays from 10am until 2pm (excluding public holidays) – usual adult charge £5 – and has free admission for under 18s.

London double decker buses by salimvirjl

Travelling around is one of the main considerations when in London. At Transport for London you’ll find details of how to make savings on with Oyster cards, freedom passes and details of children’s fares on tube DLR and overground services. Free and discounted travel is available for under-18s.

Go prepared. It might be a faff and stating the obvious but bringing your own drinks and snacks can save a small fortune.

Keep up to date with all the free events (and some which cost less than a fiver) in London from local arts festivals to markets and fairs at Free London Listings.

“One of the best family destinations in Europe is Dublin, Ireland. Anyone looking for family vacation ideas should strongly consider a trip to Dublin. The city of Dublin is rich in culture and offers a delightful experience for travelers at every age. There is something to do for everyone!

Temple Bar, Dublin by Australia photos

Temple Bar:
Temple Bar is the cultural hub of Dublin. This is where the hustle and bustle of the city occurs. There are many restaurants and activities to choose from in this area. Take the family and stroll through the area to get a good feel of what the locals love in Dublin.

Ghost Bus Tour:
Interested in getting spooked? Dublin is a haunted city. The Irish are known for being incredibly superstitious and they believe strongly in the influence of the afterlife on the world. Purchasing tickets and going on the Ghost Bus Tour will give you an insight to haunted Dublin. You will travel to the school and home where Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, conjured up the story of a murderous vampire. You will visit a graveyard and learn about grave robbings in the medieval times as well as see the untouched sites where witches were burned at the cross. Taking the Ghost Bus Tour might be a little spooky for young children, but teenagers will certainly enjoy the ride.

Take a Day Tour:
There are a few tours to take during the day that will give a great overall impression of what Dublin is all about. One of the most recommended tours to take is the Wild Wicklow Tour. For a reasonable price, their full-day tours will take you on a short city tour, a gorgeous costal drive, a visit to Glenalough (an older Irish city), a view of mountain lakes and an opportunity to eat lunch in a traditional pub and shop in a nearby craft market. Taking a day tour is the perfect opportunity to discover the overall feel of Ireland.

Dublin Castle by infomatique

Visit a Castle:
Go back in time and visit an old, Irish castle. You can start with the Dublin Castle, which is located in the heart of Dublin. See the interior of the castle, but be sure to spend time in the beautiful gardens that resemble a maze. If you and your family enjoyed the visit to the castle, know that there are hundreds of other castles to visit in Ireland. It is possible to spend an entire trip to Ireland just visiting the beautiful, historical castles the country has to offer.

Visit a Pub:
A night out for the adults should consist of pub hopping. Dublin offers some of the most impressive pubs in the whole world. Try different brews that have been created all over Ireland. It will be especially fun if you are a connoisseur of beer!

Howth by infomatique

Take a Ride to Howth:
Howth, Ireland is a gorgeous costal city that really gives visitors a different feel of Ireland. Walk the Irish cliffs and view the blue water. Each fresh fish and chips and be sure to order the “catch of the day.” Explore the marina area where there are old fishing boats. The locals in this city are kind-hearted and love to help visitors find their way around.”