Useful Articles and Text Summaries

Shopping at Shenzen is less and less different to shopping at Hong Kong. In order to support the activity, plenty of in-depth advice, maps, layouts, and translations have been provided. There are shopping streets, commercial hubs, theme parks, nightclubs, and soaking up culture. I read this from an article at Chinaexpat, a site that provides all information about China and dedicates it for expatriates and tourists visiting/working at China. From the article, I imagined that Shenzen is a bright, shining city that has tourists waking all day and night long. It is a lively city for shopping. Maybe you can consider visiting Shenzen if you are traveling to China, as another option for Hong Kong. It’s just that you can not have your visa renewed at this city. Read more about Shenzen here.

I found an article about Chinese New Year tradition. If you’re considering a visit to China during this event, read the article in advance. Chinese New Year lasts for fifteen days, and mostly celebrated in the living rooms. The decoration has red on majority and many hangings. There are also cakes, sweets, beers, and some kind of beverages prepared in each home to welcome the guests. For the New Year’s Eve, families make offerings to dead family members. Before that, each family will usually gather together to have a feast. Started from the first day, families will visit their elders respectively and prepare red envelopes filled with money to be given to kids. You will hear the greeting ‘Gong xi fat choi” everywhere then. That can be translated “hope you make a bundle!” This continues until the 15^th day. There is however some traditions about what should be done in each of the 15 days. The article has it all, read here.

Hotelchatter presents some of the best and worst international hotels based on their own experience. It’s good for your recommendation.

Hotels in Europe

1. Radisson Blu Hotels have free wireless in many of their services throughout Europe.
2. In United Kingdom, City Inn Hotels (London) offer it for free, while The Park Inn Hotel (London) charges 15 pounds.
3. In Spain, The Hotel Omm (Barcelona) is free, while El Coloso (Madrid) charges $26 and The Gallery Hotel (Barcelona) offers free but it’s so slow and you have to seek for signal.
4. In France, The Hotel de Crillon and The Five Hotel both offer free WiFi.
5. In Germany, The Leonardo Hotel offers free but after 2-day of stay.

Hotels in South America

1. Hotel Plaza Fuerte in Uruguay has free WiFi in rooms.
2. Sofitel Cartagena in Colombia offers free but the signal is bad.

Hotels in Central America

1. The Rosewood Mayakoba at Mexico charges fee.

Hotels in Asia

1. Hotel Nina in Hong Kong, China had no WiFi and charge US$40 a day.

1. The Establishment Hotel at Sydney offers free WiFi.

Hotels in South Africa

1. The Radisson Blu and The Peech Hotel both have free WiFi.

Check here.

Besides the best WiFi award, Hotelchatter also make a list of worst WiFi hotels for 2009. It’s good for you to know if free WiFi is one of your considerations during your stay. According to this site, major crime is charging for wireless connection. Others are confusion (like where to get the WiFi and where to use it freely) and waffling. Check the list.

1. Thompson Hotels, charge at least $10 a day for Internet access.
2. W Hotels, charge about $17 a day for Internet access.
3. Four Season Hotels, some of the hotels only offer complimentary WiFi in the lobbies and in business centers
4. Ritz-Carlton Hotels.
5. Las Vegas Casino Hotels. Excalibur and The Mirage each charges $13.95 and $14.95 per day of Internet access.

While that, here are some hotels that still charge for in-room Internet access: Morgans Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Loews Hotels, Kor Hotels. Check Hotelchatter’s site for more information.

Hotelchatter make their list of best WiFi hotels in 2009. These budget-ish boutique hotels offer free WiFi, hip places to sleep and play, cleanliness, along with the free Internet. If you are a frequent traveler and need free Internet access in a boutique hotel, consider this list.

1. Element and Aloft Hotels
2. Kimpton Hotels
3. Hotel Indigo
4. Hyatt Place Hotels
5. Courtyard by Marriots

Then there are always free WiFi hotels: Holiday Inn Hotels, Best Western Hotels, Personality Hotels, and Gansevoort Hotels.

The article also presents always free WiFi hotels, but the facility only apply to members. They are: JDV Hotels, Omni Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and Fairmont Hotels.

While that, some hotels offer mostly free WiFi (depending on the brand):

1. Choice Hotels, all brands except Clarion, Rodeway Inn, and Ascend Collection.
2. Intercontinental Hotels, all brands, including Holiday Inn (domestic) except for Intercontinental Hotels and Crowne Plazas.

Check this.

This is a list I found at the site of Hotelchatter, but it’s derived from the report made by brides.com. The cheapest hotels for honeymoon, and not only that, but they are also the chicest. You can manage everything related to your marriage here, from the ceremony, reception, until the after party. You can make use of them if you’re considering a marriage. Check the list for smart choices.

1. Rodwell House in South Africa, with room rates as low as $168.
2. Townhouse Hotel in Miami, with room rates between $115–$500 including continental breakfast. A few steps from the beach, you can also spend time on the rooftop.
3. Murmuri in Barcelona, Europe, an intimacy with room rates starting around $155 excluding breakfast.

There are more lists if you check the site. You can also register with a hotel chain such like Hotelchatter for information and updates about hotels around the world.