Quebec City - Hotel de Glacé - Ice Hotel

I survived!! Details: After a warm jacuzzi (outdoors with a slight bit of snow in the air), I bundled up and headed into a massive block of beautifully carved ice (aka the hotel) and to rm 16, where I tried to remember all the dos and don'ts of properly getting into my sleeping bag for the night. I was greeted with success only to realize I hadn't turned off the light (yes, light) on the room's second bed. So I balanced on my Ugg boot, which I had already removed, careful not to touch the ice floor in my 'made-for-Arctic' socks (REI quote). That was the #1 don't: do not let anything touch the floor as it will not be warm again. Mission accomplished. Then I slept, perhaps not my best night's sleep, but I slept. Here's the scene I was greeted with this morning. #canada #quebec #quebeccity #icehotel #hoteldeglace #travelingcynthia #traveltips

Update - Quebec City - Hotel de Glace - Ice Hotel

Update on the preparation for my night's stay in the Ice Hotel:

Heavy parka  (✓)

Synthetic middle layers   (✓)

Ugg boots  (✓)

Long underwear (not cotton)   (✓)

Wool hat and scarf   (✓)

Polartec pants  (✓)

Adventurous, go-with-the-flow attitude  (I'm still looking for that)

REI #quebec #quebeccity #hoteldeglace #icehotel

Quebec City - Hotel de Glace - Ice Hotel

What I did this evening? Visited REI to learn what I need for a stay this Wednesday night in Quebec City's Hotel de Glace (translation: Ice Hotel).  What I learned: everything!

#REI #Quebec #QuebecCity #hoteldeglace #icehotel   

Insider's Travel - West Hollywood - Sunset Tower - Argyle

Insider's Travel - West Hollywood

Saturday translated to a day of pampered fun for me at Argyle a Salon & Spa in the fab Sunset Tower Hotel. My choices: haircut with Victor and mani/pedi with Farah.

#travelingcynthia #traveltips #hollywood #sunsettower #argyle #haircut #hoteltothestars

Travia - Redheads - Scotland - Ireland - US

Travia: 

While Scotland has the world's largest percentage of redheads (13%) and Ireland is second with 10%, it is the United States with the largest number of gingers, between 6 - 18 million.

Ben and Kane with their mom, Erika

Two of my favorite redheads

#scotland #ireland #us #unitedstates #travelingcynthia #traveltips #travia #redheads #gingers 

Mexico - Baja - San Felipe

Thumb's up for Mexico!

Photo by Kent Dial

San Felipe Baja #mexico #travelingcynthia #traveltips #sanfelipe#baja

Los Angeles - Chinatown - Mayflower Restaurant

This sign was posted at the entrance of the Mayflower Restaurant found in LA's Chinatown, which I had to share. The food was tasty, the atmosphere authentic and the bill meager. We'll be back!

#la #losangeles #chinatown #travelingcynthia #traveltips #mayflower #mayflowerrestaurant #losangeleschinatown

Insider's Travel - Frommer's Top Destinations 2014

Frommer’s Top Destinations for 2014

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
Bali, Indonesia
India
Big Island, HI, USA

Berlin, Germany
Taiwan
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sarajevo

Scotland
Umea, Sweden

Liverpool, England
Richmond, VA, USA

Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Palm Springs, CA, USA
Photos by: Cynthia Dial

For more details from Frommer's click here.

Insider's Travel - San Felipe, Mexico

San Felipe, Mexico, is full of surprises: white beaches, unsurpassed sportfishing, addictive serenity, fresh seafood and back-in-the-day fishing village environment. #sanfelipe #seafood #mexico #travel #travelpix #traveltips #travelphotos #travelingcynthia #insiderstravel #fishing #sportfishing beaches #beach

Travel Quote - France - Steve Martin

Quote of the Day:

Photo by Cynthia Dial
“Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything.”
Steve Martin

#france #French #travelquote #stevemartin #travelingcynthia #traveltips #insiderstravel

Travia - George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Disneyland

Travia: George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston's underground replicates Disneyland’s Tomorrowland PeopleMover and is only transportation system outside Disney theme park built by Walt Disney Co.

#Disneyland #georgebushairport #Houston #travelingcynthia #traveltips #insiderstravel #travia

Where, oh where, in the world is this?

Where, oh where, in the world is this?

Photos by Cynthia Dial

 

Insider's Travel - Bangkok - Thailand

In Thailand the local name for Bangkok is Krung Thep, a shortened version of its official 21-word name: Krung Thep Manhanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Am...on Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

Its rough translation is: "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."

Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourism Malaysia Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand NA AmazingThailand.ch
#Bangkok #Thailand #travelingcynthia #traveltips #insiderstravel