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Viva Vegas Forever! A Glimpse Inside the Red Carpet Finale …

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Aimee

I spent a week in Las Vegas one night — that night was last Thursday, and wow, a good time was had by all. Viva Vegas Forever!

The Las Vegas Conventions & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) rounded out their week-long tour in Toronto, after visiting Vancouver and Calgary, and I was honoured to partake in theViva Vegas Forever celebrations.

As the official destination marketing organization of Las Vegas, the LVCVA strives to continuously expand the city’s influence as a leader in tourism and hospitality. With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in the city, and more than ten million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the LVCVA is on a mission to attract ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors.

The evening began with an elegant wine tasting affair at the Crush Wine Bar, where travel industry VIPs mingled over a selection of fine wines. For a little extra spark, the networking/wine tasting was presented speed-dating style!

Later, tour operators, local media and celebs joined together at the Uniun to walk the red carpet into the spectacular Viva Vegas Forever party, featuring a faux wedding chapel, Vegas show girls, and a Cirque du Soleil performance by Zoomanity. Also on the special guest list was DJ Lil Jon and host of Global’s The Morning Show, Liza Fromer.

Nearly two million Canadian travellers every year visit Las Vegas, making Canada a top market for the LVCVA. The Authority hit the road in an effort to connect with existing partners and introduce new and exciting features of Sin City.

“We realize that the travel trade knows Vegas,” said Kelly Sawyer, sales executive, LVCVA. ”We’re trying to educate the operators to diversify their itineraries.”

David Lusvardi, sales manager for Nevada Commission of Tourism, encourages Vegas visitors to expand their adventures, perhaps by embarking on a road trip to Death Valley or a side trip to Reno.

To learn more about all Las Vegas has to offer, speak with a knowledgeable, friendly tripcentral.ca travel agent, who can help you uncover new and exciting things to do and see in Vegas — in addition to the not-to-be-missed nightlife, casinos and exotic entertainment, of course!

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Top 7 Weirdest Buildings You’ll See on Vacation

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Aimee

Have you ever gone on vacation and seen a building that’s just too bizarre to comprehend? I’m not talking about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, although that’s a bit out of whack. No, I’m talking about buildings so far-fetched that you can’t help but wonder about the architect responsible for creating them.

Take a look to see what I mean …

#7: Edificio Mirador apartments, Spain

Incredible Pictures

The Mirador Apartments in Spain are made up of 156 apartments in twenty-one floors with a massive rectangular opening that stands nearly thirty-seven metres above the ground! The opening features a garden for tenants to enjoy, and the colours are certainly intriguing — black, orange and grey can be seen throughout the building’s exterior in a unique display of beauty and curiosity.

#6: Turning Torso Tower, Malmo, Sweden

torsotower.com

The tallest building in Scandinavia, construction of the Turning Torso Tower began in the summer of 2001. It is a surreal building to see, one that twists and turns the mind’s eye. Officially open to the public on August 27, 2005, the tower stands 54 stories tall.

#5: Cubic Houses, Amsterdam, Holland

Cubic Houses (Kubus woningen)

Built in Rotterdam and Helmond in The Netherlands, this funky design aims to make each house appear as a tree, with the neighbourhood adding up to a “forest” of sorts. With a ground floor entrance, three full floors, and nearly 100 square metres of space per home, these angled rooftops are nothing you’ve ever seen!

#4: The Longaberger Company Building, Ohio

Longaberger Company

You got it – this is the actual headquarters building of The Longaberger Company! Can you imagine coming in to work each day to this giant straw basket? This family-operated company is in Newark, Ohio–they produce specialty foods, pottery and other goods. Opened in 1997, this seven-story masterpiece is a whopping 180,000 square feet in size!

#3: Ferdinand Cheval Palace or “Ideal Palace,” France

Ferdinand Cheval

Ferdinand Cheval was a man of immense passion when it came to art, and he devoted more than three decades to the creation of his ideal palace. In 1969 the palace was classified as a historical monument in France. Open to the public during most of the year, this is truly a sight to behold. Creativity comes in droves when one surveys the nooks and crannies that shape this abstract and artistic palace.

#2: Crooked House, Sopot, Poland

Crooked House

Built in 2003 in downtown Sopot, Poland, this building is one that will tease your senses, almost making you think the structure is severely distressed and about to crack! Three stories in height, the building has become one of the most photographed structures in the entire country! Whoa – anyone else feeling sea-sick?

#1: Shoe house, Hellam, Pennsylvania

Shoe House

Built in 1948, The Shoe House stands to nearly fifty feet in length, just under eighteen feet in width, and twenty-five feet in height. If you can imagine it, this shoe has five levels inside that include several bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen and living room to boot (pardon the pun)! There is a gift shop that sells items like shoe lamps with windows that light up in the night. Very cool!

What kind of wacky structures have you seen on vacation?

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What Travel Plans Would You Make With $15,000?

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Aimee

It’s Friday and the weekend is upon us again. Yay! I’ve got a little hypothetical for you … suppose you were walking down the street or through the mall past a tripcentral.ca store and suddenly a travel agent runs out and stops you in your tracks. She says, “You’re the 150th person to walk past our store today — and you’re going to be SO glad you did! Come inside with me for a sec…”

You sit down, wide-eyed and eager to hear these magic words, “We’re giving you $15,000 to spend on your choice of travel products. You can choose as many as you like as long as the total amount is not more than $15,000 and as long as the travel dates are before the end of 2014.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we’ve already spoken to your boss and cleared all the time you’ll need off work!”

OK, so let’s use our website pricing as a guide. Let’s say you’ve been given 1 hour to spend your $15,000 (it’s hypothetical, so take as much time as you need). You can choose from an all-inclusive vacation, an escorted tour, a cruise, whatever you want! You can also plan to travel solo, take your spouse or the whole family. What travel plans would you make with $15,000?

Here’s an example of my travel plans ~ I’d travel with my spouse, so I’m multiplying my numbers by two.

Cuba vacation ~ Toronto to 5* Playa Cayo Santa Maria, Jun 16 (VIP Ocean view, 12 nights, all inclusive)
$1222 pp x 2 = $2444

Cheap Flight from Toronto to Beijing, RT, Jul. 19
$1961 pp x 2 = $3922

Majestic China Tour 2013 ~ 15-day escorted tour, Jul. 21
$3517 pp x 2 = $7034

Grand Total: $13,400

Wow, I still have some cash leftover! Maybe I should squeeze in another quick all-inclusive getaway. Or maybe a road-trip with a car rental & a few nights at a nice hotel. But enough about me and my travel plans, now it’s your turn.

Tell us which tours, vacations or flights you’d pick! Get our your calculator & start here. Take the challenge now and we might even send you some fun luggage tags FREE!

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