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

While scuba diving may be the main attraction for coming to the Banda Islands, the fascinating – and often bloody – history of these famed Spice Islands makes for a fascinating morning land tour – and some excellent food too

Banda Naira is the only habitation of any size amongst the five Banda Islands, and it’s here the colonial remnants of the Dutch and English presence can still be found. The two countries fought bitterly over the right to colonise the Banda Islands as they were the only known place in the world where the spice nutmeg could be found. The demand for nutmeg – erroneously believed to be a cure for the plague – became so great that at one point it was worth more than gold pound for pound.

One Of Banda Naira’s Colonial-Era Buildings

Antique Gramophone In The Banda Museum: It Still Works!

The local Bandanese population was decimated by the fighting between the Dutch and English, and the paintings hanging in the museum depict some of the most gruesome episodes of Banda’s history. The story of the Banda Islands is brilliantly told in the book Nathaniel’s Nutmeg, which also documents the stranger-than-fiction events of how the Banda island of Run was accepted by the Dutch from the British in exchange for the inconsequential island half a world away called Manhattan. (Find Nathaniel’s Nutmeg on Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com).

The Internal Pentagon Courtyard Of Fort Belgica on Banda Naira

View From Fort Belgica On Banda Naira Island

The serenity of the island on walking up to Fort Belgica is a world away from this historical turmoil and gives some excellent views out over the bay. Even in the early morning, the humidity is pretty ferocious.

View From Fort Belgica Over Banda Naira’s Bay. The MSY Seahorse Is In The Distance

After touring the museum and fort, it’s time for breakfast and seeing an array of the spices still grown on the island. Nutmeg and cinnamon prevail, along with taro and numerous others. The nutmeg are hooked off the tree using ingenious basket catchers that let the harvester collect a whole branch’s worth easily.

The Nutmeg Catcher – The Nutmeg Hanging On The Tree Is Hooked Into The Basket

As a breakfast, it’s hard to beat – lightly fried banana and freshly made nutmeg jam and cinnamon tea straight off the tree, along with some taro too

Banda Breakfast: Fried Banana, Cinnamon Tea, Nutmeg Jam,, Taro

MSY Seahorse in the Banda Islands

We were back on board the boat by around 10 am, and ready to go diving around the Banda Islands.

The hotel will be ideally located on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most prestigious address, at the very centre of the city’s commercial and entertainment district. The property provides easy access to the city’s finest shopping, dining and cultural venues and is a short walk from many major tourist attractions. From the hotel, guests will be able to stroll amongst the city’s celebrated promenades and architecture and enjoy the attractions of the famous Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona’s many museums, churches and parks are all close at hand and two of the most celebrated buildings by the city’s famous architect, Gaudi, are just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

According to Wilderness.net, “Wilderness is the land that was – wild land beyond the frontier…land that shaped the growth of our nation and the character of its people. Wilderness is the land that is – rare, wild places where one can retreat from civilization, reconnect with the Earth, and find healing, meaning and significance.”

Benefits of wilderness and wilderness excursions include:

• Recreational – Wilderness areas provide amazing recreational opportunities humans. You can hike, backpack, camp, climb mountains, ride horses, ski, raft, canoe, take pictures, view wildlife or stargaze, hunt, fish, chill out, and see new sights.
• Eco-benefits of a wilderness vacation – Wilderness improves air quality, decreases the “greenhouse effect,” provides water for many urban areas, and protects wildlife.
• Visit Wilderness.net to learn more about the benefits of wilderness areas such as educational benefits, geographical benefits, scientific benefits, and cultural and historical values and benefits.

Why sign on for a wilderness vacation?

You can vacation green just about anywhere, choose a green city, or visit an eco-hotel, but visiting the wild is super green because it makes a case for protecting these areas. If people don’t visit wild areas, and learn to adore them, people won’t sign on to preserve them.

The National Wilderness Preservation System, created in 1964 first protected 54 areas (9.1 million acres) in 13 states. 756 areas (109,478,939 acres) in all are protected as of today, in 44 states and Puerto Rico. While the laws do protect these wild areas, it’s not all inclusive. Many threats can damage wilderness areas, such as overuse, fire suppression, invasive species, pollution, and lack of public awareness.  Plus the demand for economic growth and the growing human population puts pressure on wild spaces. People also need to be on board with supporting the wild, and choosing a responsible trip into the wild helps.

Coming up soon – how to find wilderness areas to visit and how travel responsibly in said wild areas.

You tell me: Are you more interested in green travel in the wild or in urban areas?

[image via free pixels]

Cruises of all types, either by ocean or river are not eco-friendly. Green experts, organizations, and research, all agree that cruise lines significantly contribute to all sorts of eco-problems. For example, GreenYour notes…

• Cruise ships produce more CO2 emissions per person than any other form of transportation.
• A typical cruise ship can create one million tons of wastewater, 210,000 gallons of sewage, 35,000 gallons of water contaminated by oil, and more than 50 tons of garbage in just one week.
• Wastewater from cruise ships, including sewage, not contains bacteria that can make marine animals and humans sick plus this pollution creates algae blooms, which reduces oxygen levels in the water which in turn kills fish.
• Several major cruise operators have been sued for environmental infractions, including illegal dumping of sewage and toxic chemicals.
• About 70 percent of cruise destinations affect some of the most biodiversity-rich—and ecologically fragile—areas of the world. Tourists and the developments built to accommodate these tourists can cause some major damage to these destinations and knock out local species of plants and animals.

That’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Read the whole piece, chose an eco-friendly cruise, to learn more about the eco-impact of cruises.

SO what’s a cruise lover to do? If your heart is set on a cruise, there are a few ways you can eco-up your cruising decisions. Such as…

Locate an eco-friendly ship:

For example, ships belonging to Cruise Lines International Association recently agreed to follow stricter eco-regulations. And some companies, while they haven’t gone totally green, have introduced greener ships, such as Viking River Cruises new river cruise ship the Viking Legend, which comes equipped with new diesel-electric hybrid engines that use an estimated 20% less fuel. Viking Legend additionally has its own membrane water treatment plant, and is among the first to be certified under new EU guidelines regulating greenhouse gas emissions.  Note that even an ‘eco-friendly’ cruise may not be so eco-friendly though.

Keep your tourist impact low:

You can lower your tourist impact by keeping your consumption (i.e. souvenirs and so fourth) to a minimum. Focus on enjoying the open sea air instead. Also you should try to reduce mainland impacts when you visit such as walking instead of driving and don’t mess with local habitat.

Atone for your cruise sins:

IF you really want to cruise, it’s silly to spend the whole time feeling guilty. Instead why not donate some money to an ocean-friendly organization to make up for some of your cruise impact or even volunteer for a beach clean-up or two.

Would you consider a cruise, even with the eco-impact, or no?

[image via stock.xchng]

Think close to home: Even if you don’t live in a “green city” you likely still have local attractions, or at least in-state attractions that your family would enjoy. Start at your local city, then state travel / tourist websites to check out what’s available near you. By sticking close to home you’ll save money and save travel emissions created by cars or planes.

Think outside entertainment: Hiking, camping, even river rafting are all lower cost vacations that swooping into a new far off city. Your family will get a taste of nature appreciation and your wallet won’t suffer.

Think trains: Trains offer economical travel with a lower carbon footprint than a plane or car. PLUS kids + trains equal instant fun. When you travel somewhere by train the ride is part of the fun.

Think little green bus: The Green Tortoise offers total adventure eco-vacations – cool nature destinations, low carbon transport, organic meals, and they’re family friendly.

Think small: Green travel is sometimes thought of as a grand event – oh, I’m off to the greenest city or I’m headed to this killer eco-hut adventure tour. However, those sorts of green travel ideals can be costly. Incorporating green actions into your traveling plan – i.e. reusable water bottles, recycling, supporting local organic restaurants, reusing your towel at the hotel, buying less junky plastic souvenirs, or cleaning up your campsite before you leave it are all ways that a typical vacation becomes greener. Most of these choices naturally save you money too.

Do you have some budget friendly – earth-friendly travel ideas? Share in the comments…

[image via stock.xchng]

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!

My love affair with the island began at the ripe old age of 12 – it was my first holiday abroad and my family chose the resort of Puerto Pollensa to stay in. I was soon wooed by the fringed parasols on the beach, warm sea waters, stalls selling jewellery and hair braiding along the promenade after dark, and the tiny Spanish shop in which I managed to persuade my parents to treat me to a pair of authentic Spanish clogs. Scoff if you may, but we all know clogs were in vogue in the early nineties – the fact they gave me blisters and I couldn’t walk in them was neither here nor there.

We returned the year after and I had a ball – it was the year Hey Macarena was released and Spain was on a high! Two years later and so was I – I went back with my best friend and her parents – this time to Alcudia, and we didn’t even have a curfew! Twelve months passed before I rocked up on the Spanish shores once more, setting up camp in Santa Ponsa, and then post A-levels I hit the big one – Magaluf – with a group of not-so-sober school pals. Foam parties at BCM, pints of Pina Colada and hungover stints on Palma Nova beach ensued and that pretty much made up the schedule for the seven days we spent there. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

However, the latter is how places like Magaluf get a bad name for themselves. People see them as resorts overflowing with lager louts, Eurotrash and nothing else. What they fail to realise is that Magaluf, is in fact, a fantastic family destination. The beaches are lovely, there are plenty of great places to eat, and if you do fancy a night out on the tiles, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
You’re always going to get the odd smattering of sloshed Brits abroad wherever you go, but my relationship with Majorca has always been one filled with fond memories, good times and sunny weather. For anyone who hasn’t been, I’d definitely recommend a visit or three, and if you need a tour guide – you know where I am!

After an arduous climb up to the top of a waterfall or massive cliff, are you feeling brave enough to take a flying leap from the peak of your destination? How about if it means that you have to jump through narrow crevices into icy cold waters, risking your life because of the height of the jump and the chance that you’re going to pummel straight into the side of that cliff? Some crazy people out there aren’t afraid to take these chances, or are at least brave enough to overcome those fears. Here’s a look at nine of the places where they go to do those insane jumps.

La Quebrada Cliffs, Mexico

La Quebrada Cliffs: Cliff jumpers aren’t all crazy and appreciate that it’s much safer to jump into a deep lake or a waterfall’s plunge pool. But in Mexico they do things differently: seemingly health and safety was of little concern when someone decided to turn the La Quebrada cliffs into a diving spot. Not only do cliff jumpers here have to contend with all the usual variables, height, rocks, wind, but they also have to account for open ocean swells filling up and draining out the water levels. In other words, if your cliff jump was badly timed you stand a good chance of hitting something other than water.

But it doesn’t stop there! A group called the La Quebrada Cliff Divers perform cliff jumps nightly, in the dark. They make it look easy, especially since they jump with torches to put on a really cool show. In reality, however, it’s anything but easy and they’re risking their lives every time that they jump. Some of the jumps these guys pull off are just insane: there’s not much more you can say about it.

Wolfgangsee, Austria

Wolfgangsee: When I watched these videos of cliff diving at Wolfgangsee I was literally gobsmacked: what type of person considers cliff jumping from these extreme heights a ’sport’? Suffice to say the divers at the Red Bull Wolfgangsee Cliff Diving contest really pushed the envelope with incredible dives from mind-blowing heights of around 100ft. Fortunately, there are various jumps so you can scale to the top and leap into the waters below or you can work your way up to that kind of true fear.

Ponte Brolla, Switzerland

Ponte Brolla: This is a popular cliff diving spot in Switzerland but that doesn’t mean that it’s for the average cliff jumping tourist. It is a spot that’s best for professionals as evidenced by the fact that the World High Diving Federation held their European Cliff Diving Championships here last summer when participants performed somersaults, flying leaps and armstands to the delight of the audience. Not all has been pretty here, though: Ponte Brolla has been the site of several serious accidents among professional divers. The height of the jump, the jaggedness of the rocks and the iciness of the water all combine to make this a very dangerous cliff diving spot to risk your life.

Red Rocks Park, Vermont

Red Rocks Park: It’s not just the icy chill of the waters here that make this a dangerous (but popular) place to go extreme cliff jumping, there’s also the 80ft plunge straight into the water below. Many of these jumps are between narrow rock walls, adding to the already stratospheric danger levels. One jumper here landed parallel to the water after a ninety foot jump, breaking his back and requiring a six-month recovery after surgery!

Tar Creek Falls, California

Tar Creek Falls: It takes a long time to hike up to the top of the 70ft waterfall, so you’re exhausted before you even make the jump. While it’s considered quite a high jump, what really makes it dangerous is how the layout of the land makes it difficult to jump more than a few feet away from the side of the cliff and risk slamming into it as you fall.

Angora Lakes, Nevada

Angora Lakes, Nevada: Some people make it look easy to somersault off of the sides of 70ft cliffs at this Nevada cliff jumping spot, but some unfortunate people also don’t walk away unharmed. This has got to be one of the most insane and outright dangerous places to cliff jump but at least you can fit in a backflip on the way down!

Lighthouse Park, British Columbia

Lighthouse Park: Most people visit Lighthouse Park in British Columbia to check out the massive trees that grow in the forest and down on the waterfront. However, more adventurous people flock to Lighthouse Park to check out the massive jumps that are possible off the cliffs and into the lake.

As a whole, Asia is one of the most innovative continents in the world. From the latest in technology to the most unbelievable hotel designs in the world, the Asian continent is, to say the least, one-of-a-kind.

Japan, China, India, and other emerging Asian nations are home to some of the weirdest hotels anywhere in the world. Maybe it’s their imaginative thinking or maybe they just have a more innovative culture? Either way you slice it, Asia has some of the most off-the-wall hotels on the planet. Here are 10 of the most strange and offbeat hotels across the massive continent of Asia.

Safariland Treehouse Resort, India

Safariland Treehouse Resort: Deep in a mountainous jungle region of India, you’ll stumble upon one of weirdest hotels on the planet. This hotel actually consists of 4 treehouses which stand approximately 15 feet off the ground, and each is built out of locally sourced materials such as bamboo. These gigantic treehouses provide awesome views of the mountains and jungle streams below.

Each of the 14 rooms here cost between $150 and $250 per night depending upon the room, and there’s plenty to do for eco-tourists including wildlife treks, mountain hikes, bonfires, elephant rides, and you can even get some good food at the on-site restaurant.

Imperial Boat House, Thailand

Imperial Boat House: Located on the unspoiled Cheong Mon Beach in Thailand, the Imperial Boat House Hotel consists of 34 authentic teakwood rice barges that have been converted into luxurious beachfront suites. The pool here is even in the shape of a large ship. Each one of these converted barges features 91 square meters of living space, a beautiful sundeck, sky-lit bathroom and separate living rooms.

There aren’t many places on earth where you can ride an elephant on the beach as you can do at Imperial Boat House Hotel. These recycled barges are surprisingly comfortable in their design, and they are definitely a unique way to holiday.

Helga’s Folly, Sri Lanka

Helga’s Folly: The 40 room boutique Helga’s Folly hotel, located on a hillside in dense foliage near the town of Kandy, is more of an experience than just a stay at a hotel. This 1930’s-style hotel features a flamboyant colour scheme and eclectic furnishings. The sound of soft jazz music can be heard throughout this unique hotel, which combined with the interior design and unique setting make for a sensory explosion.

The hotel walls are littered with antique paintings, unique photographs and newspaper clippings from the local area; even the bathrooms are decorated with magazine covers as wallpaper. People who stay here claim that the experience at Helga’s Folly is unlike any other hotel in the world, and they get a feeling of sadness when their stay is over. Rooms start at about $100 per night.

Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia

Three Camel Lodge: A traditionally designed nomadic retreat in the middle of the Gobi desert, the Three Camel Lodge somehow manages to mix weird design, eco-friendly construction, and Mongolian Buddhist architecture. This hotel consists of 30 gers (nomadic tents) which are made from felt and wood without using a single nail to hold it together. This luxurious wilderness camp is also eco-friendly and takes advantage of both wind and solar power.

While these plush tents are small and expensive to stay at (doubles start at $300 per night), how many people can say that they’ve actually stayed in an authentic Mongolian ger in the middle of the desert?

First World Hotel, Malaysia

First World Hotel: This is the second largest hotel in the world behind the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with a total of over 6,000 rooms, and is located in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. It’s not so much the interior of this hotel that makes it weird, but rather the exuberant colour scheme of the hotel’s facade which puts it on this list of weird hotels.

The brightly coloured facade is a perfect fit for this entertainment hotspot with a fully-equipped theme park, casinos, lounges and enough shopping to satisfy anyone’s taste. Any trip to the Genting Highlands area is not complete without a visit to the First World Hotel, and believe me, you can’t miss it!

Crazy House Hotel, Vietnam

Crazy House Hotel: It may be officially called Hang Nga Guesthouse, but locals have dubbed this off-the-wall hotel the Crazy House Hotel, and for good reason. This hotel was built in 1990 in Dalat, and has since been added onto numerous times over the years. This treehouse of sorts more resembles a fairytale castle than a hotel with its curvy interior and exterior. There’s also plenty of friendly stone animals surrounding this unique place including a huge giraffe, bear, and spider.

If you don’t wish to fork out $60 to stay the night here, you also have the option of taking a tour of this offbeat hotel for a very small fee.

Love Hotels, Throughout East Asia

Love Hotels: These so-called ‘love hotels’ are scattered throughout Japan, South Korea and parts of China, but they’re not the type of place to go for your honeymoon. These hotels are basically a cheap way for couples to ‘rest’ for a short period of time from 1-3 hours in most cases. There’s also overnight rates, but you can’t reserve your room for the night until after 10:00pm.

Often these odd love hotels take the form of castles, UFOs, and boats to name a few. The interiors can get even weirder with leather-laced rooms, dungeons, plenty of neon, ceiling mirrors, and even rotating beds.

Dotonbori Hotel, Japan

Dotonbori Hotel: One of the weirdest entrances to a hotel in Asia has to be the Dontonbori Hotel in Osaka, Japan. The front of this luxurious hotel right in the heart of the shopping and entertainment area of Shinsaibashi features 4 gigantic pillars that are shaped liked heads. This type of grand, and weird, entrance to a hotel is not something you see everyday!

Flush Hotel, South Korea

Flush Hotel: Maybe the weirdest hotel on the planet, the so-called Flush Hotel is a fitting name for a building shaped like a toilet. The owner, Sim Jae-Duck, built the $1.6 million toilet bowl in order to raise awareness about cleaner sanitation around the world. This live-in restroom is over 400 square meters in size, and is located just south of Seoul, South Korea.

The most amazing part about this giant toilet is not the design (surprisingly), but rather how much it costs to stay here for one night: $50,000! It must be said, though, that the proceeds go to provide poor countries with proper sanitation, so at least you know your hard-earned money won’t be going down the crapper!

Capsule Inn Osaka, Japan

Capsule Inn Osaka: This was the first hotel of its kind where each ‘room’ of the hotel was actually a small capsule with cramped 2m x 1m x 1.25m dimensions. The capsules are stacked on top of each other to maximise space, each one consisting of a TV, bed, and a wireless Internet connection which almost seems like a 5-star luxury all things considered. The Capsule Inn Osaka is extremely popular amongst local businessmen who need a place to sleep on long business trips, and it’s also popular to those who need a place to stay after drinking a bit too much sake the night before.

The notion of having a capsule for your hotel room was introduced in 1979 and its popularity has sparked interest by other hotel chains around the world to duplicate its design, including hotels in New York City and London. Nightly rates here are rather inexpensive starting at the equivalent of £15-20.