Tagged With "hotel security systems"
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Re: Wonders of the Modern World
Don't know how practical that giant Chernobyl system is...but if it works, it's a legitimate wonder, no matter what someone else should have done 20 years ago. What happened then was terrible and still worries me that it could happen elsewhere...but how does that detract from the work of someone who's figured out how to fix what remains?
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Re: Wonders of the Modern World
The Soviets have never been completely transparent about Chernobyl, but this is the story as best as I was able to synthesize it: It seems that the alarm system was malfunctioning (going off all the time) so it was turned off by the tech monitoring the system. He had the fuel rods pulled out of their cooling chambers for maintenance work, was distracted (remember, the alarms are off), then by the time he focused back on the task at hand the rods had begun to melt and couldn't be reinserted...
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Re: The Best Things To Do In Boston
From Logan Airport you can take the Metro into the City. When you've seen enough at the first stop - get back on the Underground system and come up to ground level at the next stop. Repeat as often as time will allow. Great way to spend 8 hours between flights. Only the Bostonian's would drink green beer on Paddy's Day.
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
The Air France flight 447 that went down with all souls lost, out of Rio, Brazil in 2009 would have benefitted from a greater system override of the pilots misinterpretation of their flight 'status'. Anything that can reduce pilot error OR system error has to be desirable.
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
I don't mind autopilot and I don't mind a second opinion from a computer, but I don't like the computer deciding when to "fly" and override the humans, unless with very clear program instructions (eg. If plane is clearly out of control. JFK Jr could have used such a system to prevent his plane crash because he was completely disoriented when he crashed his private plane)
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Actually, privatized toll roads are the coming thing these days! Some states have sold off roads; others have allowed private companies to build from scratch. The road to Dulles Airport near Washington is a prime example. But the comparisons to WiFi here don't really work. No one charged extra for electric light in hotels when it was new; it simply replaced the gas lighting. It took 70 years of broadcasting to create a pay system. As for WiFi, or internet access in hotels generally, it's not...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
Yes, Bling, but flying is a three dimensional activity, not a two dimensional one, at at gar greater speeds! And Google is not infallible by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, flying is three dimensional but the dimensions do not change. The ground is the ground, however you get to it. The airport runways do not move right and left. The skies are now virtual highways, with planes flying along set paths. That is data for the computer guidance system. Have there been problems with the...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
Well, of course Bling is right that a completely automated system wouldn't have resulted in that situation...assuming it was functioning properly (note the Westworld reference above). That's why so many systems (cruise control in your car, autopilot on a plane, driverless transit trains) all have a human override built in.
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Re: Help with mobile phone for Morocco
Mobell and Mobal are one and the same, divided only by a trademark issue. Mobell is a British-owned company, and had to use an alternate name for the U.S. to avoid confusion with the then-unified Bell System, aka AT&T.
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?
There's certainly a lot of variation, as I also noted above. And sometimes the planners don't help much either, as is the case with all three of our New York airports, where the whole AirTrain concept is completely botched. At Kennedy, the AirTrain's stations are not in, but sort of near, the terminals. That means you have to drag your stuff outside, across the roadways, and then up stairs or elevator to the train. And then, you have a choice of going to the commuter rail station (about 3...
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Re: Unusual Hotel Rooms
I once stayed at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California. It has all kinds of unusual room designs. Believe ours was jungle themed, but it was unusual and made for a fun stay. It's a nice midway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles if you're driving along the PCH. Here's the link: http://www.madonnainn.com/
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Re: The world's most expensive flights!
I enjoy first class travel - at budget prices. There's no better feeling than rubbing shoulders with someone who's paid a thousand more than me to travel in style. Getting an upgrade is an achievement - a sense of accomplishment ! Anyone can travel First Class ! It takes a Wiley Coyote to buck the system !
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Re: How do you buy your travel?
Few more thoughts, following HistoryDigger and DrFumblefinger... 1. Definitely check all your affiliations on car rental; after years of getting better price through AAA than any other way I knew, I recently found that going to the same vendors through USAA (my car insurance) gets me even better. 2. Not only does Priceline have good pricing on cars, I've often found I can get 30-40% lower through their blind-bidding (Name Your Own Price) service. 3. RailEurope is something of a red flag for...
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
Hi Doc Over the years it seems I've joined so many of these programs, but I really don't travel enough on business and I tend to use airline reward credit cards...I guess I have gotten free nights before with Hilton and Starwood.
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
The main usefulness that I have found for these loyalty programs is not the tangible rewards. The staff just seems to be more attentive and accommodating when they see that I am a regular with their company. There have been times when the extra attention has made a big difference in an otherwise harried trip.
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
I'm a Holiday Inn Express or La Quinta member. On my most recent road trip, I did get upgraded at the HIE for being a member. The free nights are always great too and that's the main goal. I've used many La Quinta free nights when I do workshops out of town. With HIE, I usually use the points for a discounted rate in expensive areas, like Sonoma or Paso Robles - wherever a vineyard may be!
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
That's what I do, too, SayMoi. I think it's a good plan. Use my rewards for expensive cities. Pay in lower priced cities and built up more points there. It is nice to get little upgrades and free nights for being a member of a program. Plus I like having a place of consistent quality I can count on. I like knowing what kind of room I'm going to get.
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
Using the points for the expensive properties works well. We have stayed at the Marriott very close to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It was a treat just to see the Leidesplein and Vondlepark from our room . We have used points to stay at the Hotel George V in Paris, just around the corner from Champs-Élysées . Why stay extra nights in Des Moines when you can be in Paris ? Not knocking Des Moines - but, hey, Des Moinesians would go to Paris, too.
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
I've heard that in the US, the favorite destinations for people to use their rewards for free rooms are (drumroll.......)...............1) New York City..........2) Maui. No big surprises there.
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
Interesting to see this many people actually using hotel rewards programs for...hotels! I always looked for ones whose points could be traded for airline miles...not as easy as it used to be!
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
We have used the points for hotels from time to time. We did not really want to use them for hotels, but it seemed complicated to do anything "out of the system".
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Re: Hotel Rewards Programs. Worthwhile or not?
I like the Holiday Inn Express hotels. And I'll go out of my way to stay there when I can.
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Re: Spain or Portugal?
Portugal's rail system feels a bit worn in places, and some trains look terrible from outside...but the interiors are clean and the system seems to work. Not a terribly large country, so that time between the two largest cities (Lisbon and Porto) is about 3.5 hours. If you add in getting to the airport early and getting in from the airport at the other end, it's probably faster than flying. Other significant points in Portugal also have reasonable rail service, including Coimbra, the...
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Re: Experience with hotel bidding sites?
Hotwire.com has a generic "star rating" hotel, unknown to you as to which brand and exact location, at discounted prices. I've use them a few times and been satisfied with the results. For example, I got 4 star rooms in downtown Montreal for less than eighty dollars a night, probably a quarter or less of their rack rate. Generally I do like to know where I'm staying, but good luck. Let us know how this works out for you.
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Re: Replacing iPhone Abroad
NO cooperation between Apple stores in different countries. We made FOUR visits to Apple stores—Cologne, London, and twice to the Paris Louvre store—before my husband was finally able to exchange his water-damaged iPhone 5 with a replacement. He bought his replacement for 249 euros, only 1 1/2 days before he finished his three-week Europe vacation. The Louvre Apple store (which is underground in the Carousel shopping mall) was packed with confused and anxious Apple product users. Some...
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Song at 35,000 feet
Southwest airlines posted a fun clip of a band (the Black Cadillacs) performing a song they wrote in Memphis, in a 737 flying to Memphis. The plane's public address system provides far from a perfect sound environment, but the passengers seem to...
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Unusual Hotel Rooms
There's millions of hotel rooms around the world and most are fairly standard. Bed of varying size and comfort, bathroom with show/tub combo, maybe a desk, maybe a comfortable chair in which to sit. Most rooms just differ by their size and...
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October - A perfect month to explore Udaipur and nearby sites
Udaipur, which is also known as the lake city of India, is a beautiful and romantic tourist destination, in the state of Rajasthan (INDIA). Udaipur has been the home of the Mewar Kingdom, which has built a strong empire from 11th to 20th century and has not surrender to major empires in India like the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal, etc. Now as said in the title, October is the best month for a couple (or family traveler) to explore Udaipur, as the weather is quite good (not hot or too cold). And...
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4 Best Riverside Hotels in Varanasi
As Varanasi is listed among the most visited cities in our country, it is obvious that the city is boasted with some of the best hotels in India. Here we have brought to you the list of 4 best hotels in Varanasi near Ganga River . Scroll down and make your sojourn more divine. 1. Kedareswar Bed and Breakfast Kedareswar Bed and Breakfast Kedareswar Bed and Breakfast is one of the most loved and adored property of the country. This is actually a real gem that come under the moderate price with...
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The Importance Of a Summer Family Break
Everybody needs some time away from the daily grind. We all live busy lives at work, home and school and with the pressures of day to day life, there is often too little time to relax and communicate properly with our loved ones. Weekends are often filled with extra curricular activities and catching up with paperwork at home or chores. Holidays are necessary to get a break from the routine, from Lakeside holidays in lush countryside to beach breaks abroad but did you know just how...
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Know Everything About Goa Travel Information
Why Goa? India is one of the countries which have always fascinated different countries. Some invade it while some ruled it. Some brought blunders to this heritage country while some others made such wonders which made their names immortal with their works. The state of Goa is part of India and is situated at the west coast of the country. The state is rich with the Portuguese’s culture, heritage and history. Goa and the Tourism Goa is listed among the best tourist destinations in India.
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Know 11 Interesting Facts About Amber Fort in Jaipur
Royal state of Rajasthan, the state of kings and kingdoms has its own charisma when it comes to the grandeur of rich and historical monuments. Filled with many amazing and wonderful cities, Rajasthan plays a vital role in Indian Tourism. One of the major cities in Rajasthan is Jaipur, the pink city of India. Boasting a plethora of amazing forts, palaces and havelis, Jaipur is coronating the crown of Rajasthan Tourism . One of the major tourist attractions in Jaipur is Amber Fort. Famous as...
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Another criticism faced by Uber results in the Delete Uber campaign
Uber, the world’s one of the largest online taxi-hailing networks has faced many criticisms, lawsuits, legal actions and protests from the both Government and its Uber drivers. At the end of January 2017, the campaign called Delete Uber has been trending in the social media and it results in the deletion of nearly two lakhs of Uber accounts. Though the Uber faced a lot of criticism from the people, it is trying to solve the issues in a different manner. Executive order of President Trump The...
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How to have fun in Thassos, Greece
I'm not so good to express myself in words so I will show you how to have fun and what are the main tourist attractions from Thassos Greece. My name is Ovidiu and this is my instagram https://www.instagram.com/olixandru/ They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Below picture was taken at Paradise Beach (nudism can be done here). Acropolis Limenas Thassos Grecia. Tarsanas beach Thassos Town. Thasos port Limenas. I was staying in Macedon Hotel in Limenas. All pictures are made by me, I use...
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Things you should do in Singapore
Singapore is a tiny island and may be smaller than many major cities around the world, but this country has succeeded to create a high level of discipline among its people and is today being looked up upon across the world. However, don’t let the country’s inclination for law frighten you. Singapore can promise can extraordinary vacation, as long as you follow certain simple tips that will make your tour much more enjoyable. 1. Throw your litter into the bin Though this is quite a basic...
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Unmissable Sights in Budapest
We often travel to other countries, other cities, but not always for sightseeing. Conference, meeting, maybe for some service. These trips sometimes takes several days, but we can also decide to connect the pleasant to the useful and look around the city. Here is a brief introduction for those, whose destination is Budapest. What is a must see, from the Hungarian capital. I recommend this article, which contains more than 100 sights, for those who want to spend more days in Budapest, or want...
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EASY WAYS TO TRAVEL IN LONDON DURING PEAK HOURS
London, which is the English capital, has an incredible public transport network. An agency, called Transport for London (TfL), controls all kind of public transport such as London Underground, Overground, Buses, Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London River Services. Although London has an efficient transport system, travelling could become a little less convenient during peak hours as is the case with any major city in the world. Most people travel during these times which force...
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Best Ways To Reach Heathrow Airport Quickly In London
Heathrow airport is the international airport in London, United Kingdom. It is the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world based on the total number of passengers travelling through this airport. It swashes 81 airlines and has 204 terminals in 80 countries. Also, it is the hub for one of the world’s biggest airlines-British Airways. London Heathrow is easily approachable from London and from all over the United Kingdom utilizing both, public and private transport...
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How do you buy your travel?
There's a report on Skift, a travel industry news site, that says that a recent survey shows that about 2/3 of U.S. travelers think they can do better buying from the "brand" rather than an agency, and that only 15% trust online travel agencies to...
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Going to Prague? You need new transit map
If you're on the way to Prague and you already have a map of the city's excellent tram and metro system...you should get a new one. And if you do get a new one, be sure it really IS new! For a start, the Metro line A that connects to the #119...
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Wonders of the Modern World
How will future civilizations look at our society? What wonders have and will we create that will survive and be treasured by future generations? A Chinese publication has released a list of several modern wonders, a number of which come...
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5 Most Visited Indian Destinations by Foreigners
India, the name itself, translates power into one’s system. With its incredible mix of cultures, the country has been attracting a huge number of travellers and tourists from around the world. From the massive stretches of golden sand, the snow-clad mountains to the serene water bodies and the lively streets, India is a land of wonders. Every year, foreigners come to get mesmerized by its picturesque natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. And, there are several places in India that just...
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6 THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE YOU BOOK A TAXI!
Taxi services or Car Rental Services in udaipur have become an integral part our day to day lives! They facilitate you with travel options on the go and make your journey calculations little less traumatic! But before you pack your bags and hop in, make sure you remember these 6 rules of hiring a taxi! 1. Have A Price Check Before finalising your taxi service in udaipur, have a proper analysis of their fare criteria per kilometer. Check whether the overall bill fits in your budget. In order...
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Some Disappointing Airports in India
India is progressing in every arena but there are always those areas that lack behind. Of course, talking about airports, there are 30 international airports in the country and many MOR in general. However, amidst so many airports, there are some that don’t have a good reputation in terms of hygiene or maintenance. Anyone can know about the information like Delhi to Chennai Flights Schedule or so on, but only a few people put efforts to know about the airports they go to. Of course, there...
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7 Tips on how to eat street food in India without getting sick
India - a land of remarkable diversity is a much-loved tourist destination. The ancient traditions, artistic heritage, majestic landscapes and culinary creations prevailing in this country are sure to ignite your curiosity and warm your soul. Every state in the country has their own culinary delights, which have been passed from one generation to another. The variety found in Indian cuisine is unparalleled and unmatched by any other cuisine across the globe. Though the Indian food is widely...
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A Comparison between a Softside and Hardside Designer Luggage Set
The truth is that the debate between a softside versus a hardside luggage continues to rage on, and it all depends on various factors. When you visit a luggage store, the very first question you will probably ask the shopkeeper is whether they have soft or hard luggage. Most people prefer one luggage to the other and generally, they choose it based on their prior travel experience. It is true that in the last 2-3 years, there’s been a major shift to the hardside designer luggage set, with...
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10 Water Sports and Their Top 5 Spots
This human-made chaos is everything we want to survive this time and everything we get frustrated with. We as a mortal being are keen to watch movies in which robots are flying and changing the world or meta-humans are saving the planet earth. It indicates our want for something drastic to happen in this world, but what we are not willing to do is to leave our couch and drag ourselves out from the house to make our own life better or to save our own-self. I have always found water to be a...
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Luxury Train Trips are the Best Way to Explore India
India is teeming with a plenitude of palaces, historical monuments, picturesque destinations and magnificent sites. The smooth flight connections make it hassle-free for the travelers to marvel all of them in less time. However, there are those wanderers who love the journey more than the destinations. If you too are a devotee of the scenes passing by in your journey, then manifold your experience by traveling in any of the luxury trains. Be it the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels or the Maharajas...
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7 Reasons to Book a Luxury Hotel for Your Next Travel
Luxury hotels are considered as an expensive choice for accommodation and often associate its affordability with celebrities and wealthy people. However, in the recent years, there are now plenty of affordable luxury hotels in the market no matter where you go. Competition in the tourism industry made businesses to keep up with the level of standards that is expected today. Booking a luxury hotel is easy but picking the right one for you will take a good amount of research. Below are the...