ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED: The Stanley Hotel

This stunning hotel is mostly famous for inspiring Stephen King's book The Shining after he stayed in room 217 and the location was also used for the TV movie version.

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado in the USA definitely lines up for being one of the Most Haunted Places In The World.

It was completed by the inventor of the Stanley Steamer in 1909 who was known as Freelan Oscar Stanley. The steamer can still be found in the hotel lobby to this day (see below)

There are many ghost stories that staff and visitors have reported over the years. Here are several of the most spookiest I heard:

* Unseen hands pulling at peoples clothing.
* Hotel guests have had their blankets taken off them in the night and found them neatly folded on the side in the morning.
* Freelan Stanley's wife's is constantly heard piano heard playing by itself from the ballroom.
* A child seen and heard calling out to his nan on the second floor. Stephen King has actually witnessed this himself.

The Piano

And the stories from the from the most haunted rooms are:

Photograph of room 401 & (418 below) when occupied by paranormal investigators

Room 401: The previous owner of the land The Earl of Dunraven roams here. Faces have appeared at the window when guests haven't bee occupying the room and The Earl's distinctive cherry tobacco from his smoke piping can still be smelt.

Room 418

Room 418: Haunted by the ghosts of children who play noisily in the hallways at night and leave body shape impressions on the beds when guests haven't been occupying the room.

Room 217
Room 217 hallway

Room 217: The room where Stephen King stayed. In 1911 the housekeeper was almost killed there by a gas leak explosion. Since she passed in the 1950's doors are consistently opening and closing and the lights turning on and off on their own.

The Stanley Steamer

The hotel currently runs ghost tours where guests are taken around the most haunted rooms and are also guided through a creepy underground tunnel.

ONLINE TRAVEL SAVING DEALS: Coupon Trunk

You always hear about people having these last minute holiday deals and Flight promotions for the end of the year. But just because you have got something at a reduced price already it doesn't mean you can't save even more money using online coupon codes.

You can find some great travel deals over at Coupontunk.com for things like hotels, car hire, flights, cruises, luggage and others. Big names are featured on the website such as Beaches Resorts, Lastminute.com, Cheapoair and Expedia Coupon Codes

Using the codes is easy. You simply press the 'click to redeem' button from the deal area which directs you to the company's website. Then at the check out point just enter your special code on your discount will be applied.

Discounts can be for things like so much percent off, hotel days free, free shipping or whatever else the company are willing to promote to tempt you their way.

ABANDONED MINING CITY: Kadykchan, Russia

About 14 years ago Kadykchan was a busy mining city that was filled with 12,000 residents. That was until 6 men died in a mine explosion that forced the closure of the mines and residents had to be evacuated from their homes to safer places.
Sadly it was never reopened and now this lonely city sits in silence with the detoriating buildings filled with rotting toys, clothes, books and other belongings that people left behind in the rush. The only people that walk through these days are curious tourists who want to explore the land.
The history of Kadykchan is it was first built by GULAG's prisoners during World War 2 for the intention it could be used by the coal mining workers and their families to reside in. The city struggled towards the end with the mining business when the Soviet Union fell apart and then after the explosion that seemed like the end of the line really.

At least it's still used as an attraction and seen as one of the most beautiful and interesting abandoned places in the world.

PARK INN HOTEL COMPETITION: Win A Gift Card Or An iPad

I am always excited to learn about travel competitions especially when the requirements are really simple and I can join in myself!

Hotel Giants Park Inn are holding a competition for UK residents over 18 years of age to win weekly prizes and a grand prize up until the 18th December, 2010. All you have to do is have a go at their free Play 4 Park Inn online game.

The weekly prizes for two winners include an iPad and a gift card for £250 to use at any of the 200 Park Inn hotels in 16 countries. They are also valid for Radisson Blu and Hotel Missoni hotels too for that extra choice.

Everyone that enters the competition is automatically eligible for the main prize of a £300 gift card. This can be used for a one week break at any 3 of the hotels mentioned on the website that are based in Manchester UK, Berlin Germany and Dejerba in Tunisia. The winner for the main prize will be chosen at the end of the competition.

Park Inn Hotel In Germany

So onto the fun part! .... In the style of the classic 4 in a row game you play against the computer hotel manager with your counters being hotel key cards for that novelty feel. The aim of the game is to get 4 counters in a row either horizontally, diagonally or vertically before your competitor does and to block their moves along the way too if you need to.

Then at the end of the game win or lose you can enter the competition by submitting your score, choose your preferred hotel if you win and just put your email address in. That is it!

You can play as many times as you like however you are only allowed to enter 20 scores per week for your submissions to count. As I am writing this I have already played the game and entered 3 times and will be going back for more.

All this talk of holiday prizes has made me think about my ideal holiday location to the Bahamas. Although the nearest I have probably gotten to it is my favourite holiday ever Gran Canaria - What do you mean it's not that near!

But you would be surprised to know I have actually chosen a Manchester hotel for my preferred place out of the 3 hotels because I have always wanted to go there and it would make a perfect girly holiday spot.

If you are a winner of a gift card these are valid for one year and can be used on accommodation, the hotel restaurant or bar. But you would need to use your gift card up by December 2011 or the game really will be over!

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THE UNUSUAL MAZE HOME of Cordes-Sur-Ciel, France

If you think you have been driving around in circles trying to find somewhere in the past, imagine if you had to find your home through a maze!

You would have to have some pretty good memory and walking skills to get to this strange home in Cordes-Sur-Ciel in France.

The maze was designed by Isabelle de Beaufort and Bernard Ramus based on a drawing for a medieval city plan for Toulouse, and the house is to suppose to stand for the lair of the legendary dragon that roams within the streets of Toulouse.

On closer inspection unless my eyes are deceiving me but there is no path leading to the house is there and it's blocked in by a hedge? Bizarre and magically intriguing if I do say so myself!

PERFECT GIFT FOR A TRAVELLER: Photos {to} art prints

This post brought to you by Art.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Photographic print style

 

My brother loves to travel and I was trying to think what type of gift I could get him on special occasions. I wanted something special, but what can you get someone who has travelled the world and probably has already got every souvenior they ever wanted?

Then I saw a fantastic photo printing site called Art.com who have recently launched a new special service called photos {to} art. It hit me that I could use one of the many pictures he has captured over the years and turn it into an actual work of art.

A picture in your home to look at is so much more enjoyable than just looking through a photo album, and because it's an artistic picture you can tell as many or as few people as you like about the story behind it. And if you didn't reveal any details no one would know any different as it could just be kept private unlike a personal photograph on the wall that attracts questions.

What I love about this service is you are the creator. You are the one that uploads and transforms the picture into several artistic styles available and decides on the Breadth of substrates and sizes to customize your own unique work of art.

Abstract art print style

The system is very user friendly and exciting to use. Your image is viewed in a large format on a single screen so it's easier to see, you can compare your digital picture and photos {to} art one next to each other as the design progresses and any changes you make are seen straight away and not at the end.

Then when you have finished your photo will be turned into a high quality picture on the best photographic paper that is guaranteed to last at least 100 years. Acid-free mats are also available that help tone down any discolouration that happens in time.

You may think a service like this could be quite costly, when in fact Art.com's prices are 20-40% less than other companies making their pictures great value. Plus the money you pay is an investment in itself really for memories that are going to last a lifetime.

THE REAL SIMPSON'S HOUSE: 712 Red Bark Lane in Henderson, Nevada

Here the real house matches the cartoon house perfectly to every last detail. And even the family car is present.

I'm sure we have all grew up watching episodes of The Simpson's cartoon show at some point since it's launch in 1987.

For years fans always wondered if the Springfield town was actually real. So in 1997 designers at Fox Interactive decided to have an actual Simpson's house built In Henderson, Nevada at the same time they were developing the 3D computer game.

The famous sofa & lounge area

Kitchen (including Maggie's high chair)

The four bedroom house was opened up for public viewing on 1st August, 1997 and was used in a competition hosted by Pepsi Cola for one winner to have as their own home.

As you can see the house has been mimicked in the same way the cartoon house is with it's bright colours and furnishings.

Dining room

Hallway & Stairs

Surprisingly the competition did not run well and the first winner didn't claim their prize and two months later a second winner - a lady in her 60's decided she wanted to opt for the alternative $75,000 cash prize instead.

Homer and Marge's bedroom

Lisa's bedroom with her saxophone on the bed

Bart's bedroom

Sadly since then the house was sold by the builder to some one else and the Simpson's house is no longer. The rules were if anyone actually occupied it as their home they would have to paint the outside to match other houses in the street to stay in line with local homeowner association rules.

Now it's painted it just looks the same as every other house and every detail that made it special has disapeared. The fence, Bart's tree house and other props have all been removed.

The house as it is today

I think it would have been nice if it was kept as a museum for tourists to look round if the winner didn't want it and perhaps charge an admission fee instead of just selling it. Now all that hard work has gone to waste. It's not known if the interior still remains the same, but it looks doubtful.

THE WORST CITIES IN THE WORLD TO DRIVE IN

Mumbai

Next time your stuck in a traffic jam that's making you pull your hair out in rage, imagine how these poor people feel driving in these cities I have pictured here.

Beijing

These few are amongst several considered the worst cities to drive in in the world. Whether it's for their disorganised road system, no driving rule following, badly built roads or simply bad drivers.

Manila

Just by looking at the Mumbai one makes me think does anyone get through this road safely at all? Pedestrians and animals are in the way and the cars are not in line. It looks like an accident waiting to happen doesn't it?

Where is the worst city you have driven in and why?

Or if you live in one of these cities I have mentioned do you agree with the claim of it being one of the worst cities to drive in?

KEEP THOSE TRAVEL MEMORIES ALIVE: Photos {to} art

This post brought to you by Art.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you're a lover of photography you no doubt take plenty of scenic and artist pictures on your travels.

This could be photos of old buildings, views or close up shots of something you found really interesting and memorable like leaves in a lake, pebbles on the beach etc.

And what better way to keep those memories alive than to turn them into pieces of art for your home.

Online printing company Art.com has a new fantastic service called photos {to} art that lets you transform your photo into any style of picture you like. These kind of styles include Fine, Pop, Decorative, Vintage, Hand coloured Art and a lot more.

Using the online creation tool is easy and enjoyable. You can customize your own image the way you want to make your own unique piece of art. And you are the one that makes the decision on the concept your looking for and would have the final say on completion.

You don't have to be a professional photo editor either as the system caters for anyone to use it. Your image upload is big enough for you to see properly, any changes you make have immediate effect, you can compare your original and edited picture side by side and best of all this is done from one screen. Plus you can see how you picture would hang using the different room example selections (see example below)
There are several different picture sizes and the breadth of substrates to choose from, as well as prices that are 20-40% lower than other companies. So if your looking for a thoughtful gift for someone these art pieces are great value.

Not only for their low cost, but the high quality pictures come with a 100% guarantee where the photographic paper will last a 100 years at least.

To preserve the picture further you can also get acid-free mats that helps reduce image discolouration that will occur in the future.

So why don't you get those travel pictures you have been storing on your camera or computer and into your home instead.

2100 YEAR OLD LOG HOME: Famous One-Log House, Northern California

This unusual home was carved out from a 2100 year old redwood tree trunk back in 1946.

For 8 months two men carved and hollowed out the giant log weighing 42 tons into an open plan living space. A door was added at either side and 2 small windows to let in the natural light. And the large steel bands you see around the log secure the wood to stop it from splitting.
Inside it's a similar layout to a motor home and includes areas just like a normal home would have like a lounge, dining area, kitchen, bedroom etc. It's even on wheels and has been transported to different places across the USA the past as a mobile touring attraction.

But because of the home's sized it proved to be quite a challenge after a while to take it across the main roads so the owner Art Schmock sold it.
Now it lies near the Redwood Highway in Northern California opening 7 days a week to visitors and is famous tourist attraction hence the name.

I love the concept of it all but I'm not sure I could live in it. Could you?