Skiing + Paragliding = Speed Riding

by Kraig Becker on

When it comes to adventure sports, there always seems to be someone looking to push the boundaries in new, and sometimes unusual, directions. Take, for instance, the relatively new sport of speed riding or sky riding, as it’s sometimes called. The sport is a combination of skiing and paragliding that often sends the daredevils that try it, screaming down the side of an impossibly steep mountain at breakneck speeds.

Take this video for example. It’s a great representation of what speed riding is all about, as we watch adventurer Antoine Montant sliding, skipping, and flying (sometimes quite literally) along the face of a near vertical peak. Montant is delivered to the mountain by helicopter, and then gets to the bottom by any means necessary, which is often where the adventure comes in. When you run of slope, you trust in your paraglider to get you down safely.

Hint: Be sure to watch to the end to see Antonie wipe out. It’s not pretty, but don’t panic, he’s okay folks.

Hotel comparison site Trivago picks the top ten Valentine’s day hotels in Europe

by Scott Carmichael on

Our friends at hotel comparison site Trivago always manage to send us timely articles on European hotels. Take for example this list of the top ten romantic Valentine’s day hotels.

The lineup has some of the best kept secrets, including a small luxury hotel next door to Buckingham Palace, a renovated millhouse in the French Dordogne and a quaint hotel overlooking the Italian Umbria. Here are the top ten hotels, as picked by Trivago:

  1. Hotel 41, London
  2. Hotel Gródek, Krakow
  3. Villa Contessa, Bad Saarow
  4. Moulin d’Abbaye, Brantome (France)
  5. Amfitriti Paradosiakos Xenonas, Nafplio (Greece)
  6. Hotel The Pand, Bruges
  7. Il Cantico della Natura, Magione (Italy)
  8. Villa Carona, Carona (Switzerland)
  9. Ca’n Simó, Alcudia (Majorca)
  10. Santini Residence, Prague

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Paris preparing for Hotel Le Seven

by Melanie Nayer on

To know me is to know I love Paris. I love the vibe of the City of Light, the shopping on St-Germain-des-Pres, the nightlife in Montmartre, fresh baguettes and brie from the pâtisserie, afternoon espressos in Luxembourg Gardens and evening cocktails at the Plaza Athenee. I love strolling back to my hotel under the gas lights that guide the way through the city and watching people fall in love on the street at any moment.

One of the best things about Paris are the city’s various hotels, at various prices, in every neighborhood for every type of traveler. I’ve stayed in national chains and 10-room boutiques and every time I go back to Paris I find a new place to stay. One by the Five is one of Paris’ more outrageous hotels, and one of our top hotels for not-so-adventurous adventure travelers thanks to its floating beds and retro-design. Imagine my excitement when I learned that The Five was opening a sister hotel, Le Seven, this March.

Our friends at HotelChatter.com got wind of the hotel opening and the descriptions sound delightful. Apparently, Le Seven is taking a page from le minds of women and creating a le scene that adds a little fantasy into drab hotel rooms:

“The Black Diamond Suite: Entirely black, a blend of materials, a glimmer of diamonds and mirrors in the entire suite, feel like you were in a diamond. The dark and shimmering feel of satin and crystal activates the senses and the rest is in your hands.
The Marie Antoinette suite: What would Marie-Antoinette’s room look like today? A large bed in padded white leather with pink glass shelves and a domed ceiling painted with a sky, from which a modern crystal chandelier, a large padded bench in the lounge, with crystal in the bathroom and pink fiberoptic lights.
The Sublime Suite: Dedicated to women, all in the soft tones and all white like a large cloud with curves and lighting to accentuate those curves. A large round bed with little droplets of light coming down from the ceiling.
The 007 Suite: With a series of 007 gadgets and a masculine feel. An oversized TV with all the James Bond movies available to you. A steambath shower to relax after an intense day.”

The hotel’s Facebook page also notes an Alice in Wonderland Suite, where “pillows and chairs looking like they come from another world, maybe because they do.” (I love the foreshadowing).

Rumor around the arrondissements is that the hotel will open in April and room rates start at 197 Euros a night.

10 great romantic destinations

by Gadling Staff on

Some people like to travel for food. Others prefer to travel for sun. Still others enjoy traveling so they can share a secluded destination with a loved one. Here are ten romantic destinations for couples of all ages to enjoy… together.

Verona, Italy
Located in the northeast part of Italy near the Swiss border, Verona is most famously known as the setting of William Shakespeare’s passionate Romeo and Juliet. Many tourists and lovers travel to Verona simply to see the balcony that has a historical connection to the fictional characters of that famous play. The covered passageway that leads to the balcony is covered in graffiti and letters from visitors asking Juliet for luck in love.

Visitors may also go googly-eyed with a romantic stroll over the Castelvecchio Bridge, along Verona’s winding Adige River. Be sure to walk all the way to St. Peter’s Castle for an awe-inspiring view of the city shrouded in sunset.

St John, USVI
There are numerous secretive retreats in the Virgin Islands, but Moon Cottage is said to be the Caribbean’s “most romantic villa.” Located on the island of St. John, Moon Cottage offers lovers a hidden getaway and is the perfect place for couples to expand their relationship. Amenities include a private heated pool, walking distance to the beach, and complete seclusion.

For those seeking to mix some adventure with their passion, consider a day-trip to Jost van Dyke, the “New York of the Virgin Islands,” and home to (quite possibly) the world’s most amazing bar.
Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Routinely selected as among the world’s best beaches, Kauai is the oldest and the most northern of all the Hawaiian Islands; it’s also the least populated of the islands. Kauai was given the nickname of the “Garden Isle” because of its lush tropical forests. This is ideal for couples because lovers can spend time together in a quieter, more secluded setting, unlike other, busier islands in Hawaii.

Though dining options on Kauai may be a bit unromantic, there are countless ways to wile away serene hours in Kauai with a loved one.

Los Roques, Venezuela

Los Roques is great for lovers, because the secluded beaches offer the chance for couples to enjoy the sun… and each other.

Los Roques is Venezuela’s archipelago in the Caribbean. It’s most famous for its beautiful beaches — and even more beautiful water. This is a great place for lovers to visit because of the limitless secluded beaches offer the chance for couples to enjoy the sun… and each other.

In fact, the most popular activity on Los Roques is to be dropped off in the morning with a cooler filled with food and drink, and just spend the day exploring the uninhabited island on which you (and your partner) find yourself.

Napa Valley, California, USA
Famous for its wineries and cozy bed and breakfasts, Napa is the perfect couple’s getaway.

Lovers can visit local wineries, take tours, have dinner in various restaurants with cuisine ranging from French to Italian, then cozy up next to each other in front of a fire at one of the many local bed and breakfasts.

Venice, Italy
Located in northern Italy, this city is best known for its gondolas and canals. Lovers can take a tour of the city while sitting on velvet seats and Persian rugs. Though not the quickest way around the city, a gondola ride is certainly the most romantic.

An estimated 20 million people visit the sinking city every year, but Conde Nast has an excellent overview of the city, which includes details about disappearing within Venice’s ancient walls with your lover.

San Luis Obispo, California, USA
San Luis Obispo, along the Central Coast of California, is home to the famous Madonna Inn. The Madonna Inn has 110 rooms, each decorated with a different theme; there’s also a European style pool and a beautiful day spa, and it’s all located just minutes from San Luis Obispo. Couples can enjoy unique food, art and culture in town, or they can visit the Hearst Castle.

Paris, France
Paris offers couples seemingly endless options: Lovers can visit the Eiffel Tower, see a ballet or opera show, dine on fine French cuisine by candle light, take photographs to share later, or visit the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

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New York City, New York, USA
This is the ideal romantic getaway for the couple that likes to be active. Lovers can catch a show on Broadway, take a carriage ride through Central Park, and then grab a coffee in Rockefeller Center. The city is full of restaurants and fabulous hotels for couples as well, including many romantic places and bars.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
All-Inclusive is the way to go. Many resorts in Cabo San Lucas offer an all-inclusive package. This is great for couples because not only do you get a room for two, but food and beverages are all included. Lovers can enjoy the beaches and night-life without any hassle.

If you’re thinking about Cabo as a destination, be sure to remember that at least one Cabo hotel offers in-room aphrodisiacs to help couples set the mood.

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Of course, romance is what you make it. You don’t need to be in one of these cities to enjoy a romantic weekend with your lover. While these destinations help set the mood, nothing coos romance like simply paying unending attention to your significant other.

Decade old Concorde crash brings Continental Airlines to trial

by Scott Carmichael on

Tomorrow, Continental Airlines will have to answer to a French court about allegations it knowingly installed an unapproved part on one of its DC-10 aircraft. That small metal strip is partially blamed for the crash of Air France Concorde flight 4590 on July 25th 2000.

On that fateful day, 113 people lost their lives when the fuel tanks of the Concorde caught fire, sending the plane crashing through a hotel just outside the airport. 109 people died on the plane, and four were killed in the hotel.

The court case has taken ten years to prepare, and follows a 2004 investigation that concluded the crash was caused by the strip of metal that had fallen off a Continental plane that took off minutes before Concorde came down the runway. The inquiry reached the conclusion that the titanium strip had blown a tire to shreds, sending debris into an engine, and blowing holes in a fuel tank.

Along with Continental and two of its employees, the court will also hear testimonies from Concorde program officials and the boss of the French aviation institute. According to the court, the Concorde program managers ignored years of problems, including several identical incidents that thankfully did not end as disastrous.

The main objective of the trial is to determine levels of blame for those responsible for the crash. Continental plans to fight the allegations, claiming the engine was already on fire before the plane hit the piece of metal. In the end, it’ll most likely come down to how much was known about the weakness of the Concorde design, and why a simple piece of metal could cause such a catastrophic crash.

The disaster ended more than the lives of the 113 people involved in the crash – it also started the end of the supersonic passenger flight era. After the crash, the entire Concorde fleet was taken out of service for fuel tank upgrades, but she took her final flight on November 25th 2003.