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February 20, 2017 Lifestyle

Six Important Ways To Maximize Your Hotel Staycation

6 WAYS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR HOTEL STAYCATION

Frequent travelers from all around the globe are fond of taking either cheap hostels, inns or going for couchsurfing in many different countries. It’s cheaper and more practical but if ever you try to have a stay at a beautiful hotel then you have to know a lot of things especially if you are not a recurrent guest of any hotels from all over the world.

It is not known to many that there are other ways to maximize a stay at a hotel. A lot of people go to hotels to enjoy and relax but they’re missing the point of living like the celebrities we all look up to. Hotels have a lot of secret perks and advantages that not everyone is aware of. If you want to level-up your overnight stay or three-day stay then you are totally on the right page. Here are the six fun ways that you can follow in order to fully maximize your hotel staycation:

Here are the six fun ways that you can follow in order to fully maximize your hotel staycation:

Request new bedsheets in staycation — (photo source: P i n i n g . c o)

Request for new bed sheets, pillow covers and the like.

This is very important. If you are conscious and you care about cleanliness then you may ask the staff to replace your bed sheets with new ones. It is important that you are comfortable and contented with your bed in order for you to sleep well and soundly.

Take selfie during a hotel staycation — (photo source: http://www.70-130.com)

Take photos!

Yes. Make the most out of everything. Hotels are really attractive and appealing and it would be great if you could fill your phone with photos from different parts of your room. Always remember that you paid for your stay so it is your right to maximize everything and feel at home as well.

Facilities in hotel staycation — (photo source: WordPress.com)

Use ALL their facilities.

If you really want to make the most out of your hotel staycation then you should use ALL their facilities. Yes! In most cases, hotel facilities like swimming pool, spa, gym and the like are FREE for all those who checked-in. It is really one of the things that you should look forward to as a guest. It is only in rare occasions that hotels are collecting fees from their facilities.

Make use of light in a hotel staycation — photo source: London Hotels Insight

Make use of the lights inside the room.

Wanna get that good lighting for your photos? Well, you must make use of the lights inside your hotel room. There are different buttons inside your room which leads to opening up different tones and moods of lights. You may also opt for full on lighting by opening up all the lights so you will be selfie-ready!

Watching TV during a hotel staycation — (photo source: www.geeksofdoom.com)

Watch the TV.

A lot of people are only staying in hotels to have a place where they could leave their things and other stuff. Here’s a tip: watch the tv. It’s part of your expenses and you should not take it for granted. Usually, in hotels, there are big LED TVs that are great in sight and has awesome visuals so you should really try staying in your hotel room and watch movies.

Use Toiletries during hotel staycation — (photo source: www.frbiz.com)

Take home the toiletries.

Lastly, take home the toiletries from your hotel room. No, it’s not stealing because you actually paid for them. It’s actually one of the perks of booking a hotel room. A lot of people are paranoid and scared that if they bring home the shampoos, tissues, soaps, body gels and the like, they might be caught by the hotel staff but you actually don’t have to worry. Again, you paid for those things so you better grab them before you check out from your hotel.

There is really more to hotels than just staying there to relax and unwind. You have to be wise, aware and alert of your surroundings so that you can maximize and make the most out of your wonderful staycation. Another tip: you have to know the details about your hotel because you can’t just book without knowing the inclusions that you will get from staying there. Be mindful and always get information from the concierge or hotel staff. It doesn’t really matter if you’re just there for an overnight stay or for a long period of time, what matters is that you know your right as a customer or guest.

Author bio:

Mark Aldrin Hipolito is a daytime writer for Holiday Inn Parramatta, one of Australia’s modern and luxurious hotels in the suburban district. Mark Aldrin gives hotel tips and hacks to help people make the most out of their vacation.

February 17, 2017 Lifestyle

7 Inflight Tips to Remain Comfortable On a Long Journey

For most, long flights might feel like spending time in limbo. The sight of the meal, getting nauseous in an air-pocket and crying of the infants onboard; all can be overwhelming and utterly discomforting. However, there’re many ways to survive a long flight without all that fuss and trouble. When you book Saudi Airlines for the next long journey, the crew has some remarkable in-flight tips to ensure maximum comfort and wellness. Read on to find out more;

7 In-flight tips to remain comfortable on a long journey

Wear Cosy Clothes

If you really want to sleep while taking a long flight, wear comfortable clothes. Loose-fit shirts, comfortable trousers, flat shoes and perhaps a hoodie to cover your head are most preferred. In short, clothes that allow you to move comfortably and give plenty of stretch space are best to go with!

Escaping the Noise

Earplugs or headphones specially designed to reduce the noise are best for longer air trips. Once you are allowed to operate electronic devices, plug-in the headset and enjoy a ride without those annoying noises and shrill cries of smaller children. Just in-case you don’t want a pair of headphones, the usual earplugs would do good!

Keep yourself Hydrated

Keep yourself hydrated on a long journey in flight

Keeping the body hydrated is important especially in-flight. Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as much as possible as these hampers your ability to sleep and stay comfortable. Meanwhile, all such beverages dehydrate a body which is quite the contrary. Grab a bottle of water or fresh fruit juice and try finishing it up before you land!

Moisturise the Skin

Due to closed cabin and AC, your skin after a certain time would dry up and even crack in extreme cases which is discomforting. Before this happens, better apply a standard moisturizer on the hands, face, and lips. When you book Saudi Airlines, the crew provide its passengers’ hot wet towels to ensure maximum comfort. Rub them gently on the hands and face!

Power up with a Green Juice

Before boarding the flight, better revitalize your body with a power drink that is fresh juices extracted from green fruits and even vegetables such as cucumber and mint. Avoid those caffeinated power drinks containing testosterone which is disastrous to the immune system and overall health. You may even switch the juice with salads and fruit bites!

Utilize the Time Wisely

Much like with your personal and professional tasks, utilizing time wisely in flight is extremely important to remain as comfortable as possible. Watching movies and listening to music is good but not at the expense of exerting pressure on your eyes and ears. Read a book or play a board game with a partner, these are the best things to do.

The Good Seat

Most airline reservations are now online which is the best way to get a good seat. Window seat allows you to rest your head against the wall comfortably, aisle seat makes it easy to walk around conveniently without troubling other passengers and extreme front seats give plenty of leg space to stretch. It all depends on what makes you more comfortable.

To conclude,

Book Saudi Airlines today for a long journey to ensure maximum comfort and the best in-flight experience ever!

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February 14, 2017 Recipes

Feed Your Valentine with a Sticky Prune Chocolate Cake!

What will you feed your Valentine!

Sticky Prune Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

250 gms butter, cut into pieces and extra for greasing,

200 gms pitted prunes roughly chopped,

50 ml brandy,

1 tbsp vanilla essence,

250 gms dark chocolate (preferably 70% cocoa),

5 eggs,

250 gms powdered brown sugar,

1/2 tsp. salt.

Frosting:

100 gms dark chocolate (preferably 70% cocoa),

2 tbsp cocoa powder.

100 gms cream cheese,

50 gms butter at room temperature.

Method:

Preheat the oven to 170c, gas mark 3. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20 cm springform or loose bottomed cake tin. Wrap the outside of the tin a double layer of foil and find a roasting dish large and deep enough to accommodate the tin.

Put the prunes in a shallow dish and cover with the brandy and vanilla essence. Set aside until needed. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir to combine, and then set aside to cool slightly. In another bowl, use electric beaters to whisk the eggs, sugar, and salt until pale, fluffy and doubled in volume.

Fold the melted chocolate and butter into the eggs, followed by the prunes and their juices. Pour into the prepared cake tin, place into the roasting dish and set on the oven shelf. Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting dish until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cake tin. Bake for 55 minutes, until set but still with a slight wobble in the center. Transfer the cake from the water bath to a wire rack, removing and discarding the foil. Leave to cool completely in the tin, for about 4 hours.

For the frosting, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. In a food processor, pulse the remaining ingredients until combined. Add 1/3 of the mixture into the melted chocolate and whisk together. Return everything to the food processor and blitz until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.

Once the cake has cooled, remove from tin and place on a serving platter. Loosely spread the frosting over the top before serving.

February 13, 2017 Food

What Would You Like to Get for Your Valentine?

Each year on February 14 many people, be it the yuppie young, the hopelessly romantic or, for that matter, maybe even you and me, exchange cards messages, roses, chocolates or gifts with someone special. Red is usually the predominant color of the day.

History–

Valentine Day, also called the feast of Saint Valentine, is a time when people show feelings of love, affection, and friendship and most people who celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day show it by appreciating the people they love or adore. Some take their loved ones for a special romantic dinner at a restaurant, whilst others slog it out to cook a special meal at home, taking care to set the mood right with flowers, candles, scented aromatic oils, champagne or wine and chocolates.

Valentine Chocolates — By Stewart Butterfield (Flickr: Valentines Chocolates) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The most common gifts all over the world on Valentine’s Day are heart-shaped chocolate boxes and red roses. In Finland, Valentine’s Day refers to “Friend’s Day”, which is more about remembering friends rather than focusing solely on romance.

Valentine Day postcard vintage
Image credit- http://www.publicdomainpictures.net

Even though Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in most countries, including Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States, most restaurants, hotels, bakeries, malls and patisseries are busy and make a fast buck doing rip-roaring business on this day. That goes to show how popular this day is and has grown to the extent that the number of Valentine’s cards sent worldwide is second only in volume to Christmas cards.

Symbols like hearts, almost anything that is red or pink, images and statues of Cupid, red velvet cupcakes, strawberries dipped in dark chocolate are the most gifted things on Valentine’s Day.

The association of chocolates with passion, which goes as far back as Aztecs, who believed chocolate to be aphrodisiac with magical properties, makes for an ideal gift. Maybe this year you could try to be unique and be different.

Prune it down

Try to be original and maybe order some prune covered in chocolate, which is a traditional confectionary from Eastern Europe- or bake a chocolate and prune cake for your special Valentine.

Chocolate coated dried plums for Valentine — Chocolate coated Dried Plums
By Off-shell (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Prunes– the very word somehow does not sound romantic but maybe what it lacks in appearance, it more than makes up for being an extremely versatile and devilishly delicious ingredient to work with.

But the mere mention of the fruit prunes and one’s imagination conjures up thoughts of constipation relief making you wonder if prunes and Valentine’s Day should be mentioned in the same sentence. Well, you are not alone in thinking so if you are not a fan of prunes.

In fact, women from the ages of 25 and 54 reacted so negatively to the idea of prunes that the California prune board pressured the Food and Drug Administration to change their name from prunes to the more appealing ‘dried plums’, which they actually are, and it did work.

Sales of this super-healthy purple fruit suddenly shot up. Prunes or rather ‘dried plums’ have been sold as a popular digestive remedy for decades but see the larger picture and think of prunes beyond your digestive tract. The fact that they offer a sweet hit for only 30 calories – wow, I am sure some of you already like this dried fruit after hearing that.

Prunes are a great source of Vitamin A, a vitamin that is essential for healthy vision. One prune delivers 3 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A. People who are deficient in Vitamin A are prone to night blindness, dry eyes, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Prunes are also a powerhouse for antioxidants. Blueberries may be high on the antioxidant scale, but surprisingly prunes are even higher. Prunes contain manganese, iron and plant phenolics that function as anti-oxidants and help protect the cell membrane from radical damage.

Prunes are also high in potassium, an important mineral that ensures proper functioning of the heart and nerve response throughout the body.

Daily intake of potassium helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of problems such as dizziness, heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

The potassium present in prunes also helps support bone health. Prunes also have anti-inflammatory properties and are highly recommended for people suffering from arthritis.

This humble fruit also helps slow down the aging process and delays development of wrinkles. Ladies, now that you have read the last nine maybe prunes and the person you adore do go together!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO YOU ALL

So stop thinking what you would like to get for your Valentine and just follow the recipe and start cooking.

Next Sticky Prune Chocolate Cake recipe