One Weekend at Fallsview

Welcome to Canada’s First Mega Casino ResortBefore the MGM Grand, before Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage, before pirates ruled Treasure Island, Las Vegas was a world of privately run casinos and nightly shows by styling crooners. Frank Sinatraand his rat pack cohorts entertained in the Copa Room of The Sands for $5.95 a ticket, including dinner. This was the Vegas heyday of the 1960s when glitter gulch lured those seeking fortune, free of fame.It was the era that led to the development of themed resorts and megabuck corporate investment of the 1970s and 80s. Following in the footsteps of its American predecessor, Niagara Falls, today Ontario, Canada is at a similar cusp. It’s ready to reinvent itself. Step one: add a resort casino called Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort is Niagara’s nod to Caesar’s Place – the Las Vegas luxury resorts that started the bigger, better, boom craze of the late 1960s. But unlike Vegas, this casino is still under the watchful eye of provincial politicians – The Government of Ontario receives 20 percent of gross gaming revenues and 100 percent of the net profits from the commercial casinos run by the contracted and privately owned Falls Management Company (FMC). And responsibility is the name of the game here – addiction information litters the casino floor, and there is talk of providing 24-hour addiction counseling. But Fallsview is about more than gaming. It’s about amenities – restaurants, shopping, spa services, live shows and even a wedding chapel. This is the first resort casino in Canada intended to attract longer-stay visitors from the U.S. and international destinations particularly Japan, China and Korea. Gaming is a sexy window dressing. So how do you fill a weekend (or more) at the Fallsview Casino Resort? Here’s what a getaway might look like… Friday Night Check-In Enter the hotel’s European-inspired lobby decorated with hand-painted ceiling frescos and make your way to the check-in desk where professional staff can make any reservation you need during your stay. Then head up to one of the 368 luxury rooms. Most have a picture perfect view of both the American and Canadian falls, scenic anytime of the year. The rooms are professionally decorated with Laura Ashley prints, dark wood furniture and floor-to-wall marble tiled bathrooms, home to very complimentary lighting. Once back downstairs, take a minute to experience the casino’s most photographed attraction: a multi-story fountain modeled after an electrical power generator. Every evening on the hour, this spectacular fountain becomes an animated light show of lasers, electrical pulses imitating lightning, and color shifts. Voiced over the drama are exchanges between two plant employees working to overt a power overload crisis. When it’s over, spend Friday night clubbing at the casino’s newest addition – a contemporary, dj-driven dance club that opened July 2006. Or, for a quieter experience, go to the first floor of 17 Noir. No reservation is necessary in the bottom floor lounge that’s part of the resort’s extravagant red and black roulette table inspired dining concept, which is as understated as a Celine Dion stage show. There’s an authentic sushi bar up front and oriental noodle bar in the back, along with stylish tables designed with conversation and falls views in mind. You’ll be in no hurry to leave either – food is served until 4 am. Saturday morning, noon and night Sleep in after a night of dancing, or get up in time for breakfast at The Famous. Located on the main floor, this art deco themed 24-hour diner was created by Robert Sniderman, the owner of The Senator in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Then head back to the hotel for a swim in the lap pool or relax in the adjacent whirlpool, both accessible to hotel guests only. On the same floor is The Spa, a mandatory addition to any trendy resort. The 15,000-square-foot facility offers the typical spa services, including therapeutic massages and body wraps. Facial treatments uniquely titled “Serenity,” “Clarity,” “Purity” and the “Caviar Signature Immersion” are available. And men are not left out. A number of treatment packages named after local landmarks, such as the “Peninsula Pleasure,” are designed especially for the discerning homme. By now, it’s time for a late lunch, and what’s a casino experience without a buffet? Fallsview has one called the Grand Buffet, and this 750-seat eating emporium is located adjacent to the gaming floor. Fuel up seven days a week, lunch or dinner, then head to the center of it all – the single level 200,000 square foot casino floor (picture three football fields side-by-side) with 150 gaming tables and more than 3,000 slot machines ranging in price from five cents a pull to one hundred dollars in the high stakes area. Unlike most casinos, the slots are not grouped according to bet values, but banks of different amounts are scattered throughout the floor encouraging patrons to walk around. Take special note of a bank of fifty cent slots located under a giant campy statue of a woman auspiciously showing off a diamond ring. These slots have a special payout – the jackpot line wins your choice of two diamond rings, a diamond necklace or single diamond. So far, according to the casino, 50 people have gone home sporting new rocks. Table games include the usual suspects: blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat (played Asian-style with the house dealing cards) and Pai-Gow, an ancient Chinese game similar to poker. In fact, this casino is a big draw for Asian clientele, intentionally so. The resort was designed with Feng Shui principals in mind; there are no floors containing the number four (an unlucky number in Chinese culture), and there are three fountains on site. Water is a symbol of luck and fortune, so here’s where Niagara Falls has the edge over the desert town of Vegas – what could be luckier than the world’s largest natural water falls just outside the window? Speaking of popular, as of the New Year, Fallsview added two poker tables to its repertoire – thanks to a certain television show. It launched the new addition with a celebrity tournament in 2005, and tables have been buzzing since. There’s even a home-grown version of Texas Hold ’em called Niagara Hold ’em. The house gets a ‘rack’ of the pot, and there’s no checking or raising, so bluffing is highly likely. If you don’t get lucky at the casino tables, you will definitely hit the payout upstairs at 17 Noir. The second floor of this Vegas-style fine dinning restaurant requires reservations, but it’s worth it. The fusion-style cuisine blends local produce, fish and select meats to create dishes that combine fruit accents and with sharp flavors. Finish off the meal with the signature dessert called Eclipse Chocolate and Hazelnut Mousse. Inspired by an astronomical theme, this planet of chocolate hazel nut truffle (complete with rings of Saturn) orbits on top of an edible chocolate cone decorated with stars and backed by a fire-like wall of spun candy. See it to believe it. Not to be out done, 17 Noir has three chef’s tables, each exclusive. One is in the red wine cellar, the other is surrounded by stemware cabinets and the third is in the kitchen and primarily used by friends of the chef. The best seating, however, is in the room directly overlooking the falls. The room can be shut off for private functions of up to 30 people, and it has fiber optic cable in the floors that change color. Dinner at 17 Noir can (and should) take hours, but if you can make it, head to one of the many shows the casino offers nightly. The Avalon Ballroom hosts the headliners. This state-of-the-art theater accommodates 1,500 people when set up with rows of seats but can be reconfigured for fashion shows, corporate events, tailgate parties during football season and even boxing matches. Performers who’ve hit the stage include the Barenaked Ladies, Tony Orlando, Julio Iglesias and Burton Cummings. Live entertainment continues inside the casino at the both the Splash Bar, seen from the casino floor, and the 365 Club, which can be separated from the noise of the slots. Here, free nightly shows range from local bands Thursday through Saturday, comedy night on Wednesday starting at 8pm, and a musician’s jam session every Tuesday evening. Monday is reserved for big-screen sporting events. Gamble away until 1am when you might be feeling puckish again. If so, the Grand Buffet offers a late night buffet of munchies for only five dollars. Sunday morning Check out of the hotel by 11 am, but don’t think you’re done yet. There’s still shopping to do. Fallsview has three floors of boutiques and additional restaurants, so you can’t go home empty handed. Stop at Turtle Pond Toys for something unique for the kids and then at Swiss Fudge to get a thank-you gift for the neighbors who fed the cat. Treat yourself at First Hand Canadian Crafts and Design, filled with high-quality jewelry, furnishings, and crafts by Canadian artisans and designers, or at Linda Lundstrom, designer of stylish coats perfect for this country’s climate. And if you didn’t win your diamond on the casino floor, take your last chance to pick up something glittery at Swarovski. A sparkling crystal seems the ideal reminder of a weekend of Vegas-style glamour at one of the most breathtaking natural wonders shared by the US and Canada alike. The chairman of the board would be proud.

13 Affordable Honeymoon Destinations

Feeling a little stretched by your wedding expenses? Don’t let that impact your honeymoon fun! We did the math on 13 of the best 
affordable honeymoon getaways where travel budgets stretch longer and wider.

By Joe Yogerst 

Honolulu
Given its distance from the mainland and high-priced island economy, the 50th state has always been one of the pricier domestic destinations. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find good value. Couples dreaming about a Hawaiian honeymoon should consider Honolulu and the island of Oahu, home to icons like Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head crater and the Banzai Pipeline surf break.  Honolulu’s hefty hotel stock means rates are available that fit every budget. Dining can be affordable too, especially when you join the locals at the low-priced lunch joints and bakeries of Honolulu’s Kapahulu neighborhood and the city’s Saturday farmers’ market. The city and its lush tropical surroundings also boast many free festivals and special events that highlight the island’s multicultural heritage.

Brazil
Brazil has finally embraced the all-inclusive with the same passion it puts toward soccer. Brazilian backers have hooked up with SuperClubs to launch Breezes properties at prime honeymoons locations, including the musical city of Bahia on the north coast and the super-chic Buzios beach-resort area near Rio de Janeiro. Despite its reputation as a high-priced city, Rio can actually be very reasonable. After all, the most popular activities are absolutely free: people-watching and parading up and down Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. And you don’t have to stay right on the beach: Hotels a block or two behind the strand are often hundreds of dollars per night cheaper than the sandside ones while offering the same level of room and service.

  

Ireland
With the average price of a hotel night falling over the past two years, Dublin has gone from being one of the most expensive capitals in Western Europe to one of the best values. Even so, the Irish metropolis remains relatively expensive compared to the rest of the Emerald Isle — especially the breathtaking west coast, with its quaint villages, wind-swept scenery and green that seems to stretch forever. Our advice: Skip Dublin and fly straight into Shannon Airport, and you’ll save both money and time (it’s an hour closer to the United States than Dublin), without sacrificing the attractions for which Ireland is known — welcoming locals, thriving musical culture and rugged natural beauty.

 

Jamaica
The Spanish colonized Jamaica shortly after Christopher Columbus discovered the exotic tropical isle in 1494. The British later snatched it away, laying the groundwork for the cultural melting pot that eventually gave the world Rasta, reggae and Red Stripe. But the Spanish are invading again, this time with huge all-inclusive resorts that lure couples craving bargains. You don’t even have to stay at one of the new Riu, Iberostar or Gran Bahia Principe resorts, strung along the north shore between Negril and Ocho Rios — their mere appearance has brought down hotel rates across the island. Sandals resorts were founded in Jamaica, and their seven on-island oases are offering all sorts of incentives, including spa credits, free nights and rates up to 65 percent less than before the Spanish invasion. And with budget airlines like JetBlue, AirTran and Air Transat now flying between North American cities and Montego Bay, as well as expanded service by other air carriers, Jamaica is now among the cheapest places to reach in the Caribbean.

 

Balkans
Europe’s long-lost corner may not seem like the most obvious spot for a honeymoon, but the Balkans have really come into their own in recent years as a low-cost alternative to pricier Mediterranean destinations. In particular, Bulgaria and Croatia have emerged as standout locales where money goes further than elsewhere on the continent — and they have as much culture to offer as their better-known neighbors in Western Europe.
Bulgaria blends Roman ruins, ancient Orthodox churches, Greek-like cuisine and Black Sea beaches with incredibly low prices on just about everything. While Croatia is just as eclectic, with a gorgeous mix of Adriatic islands and beaches, fortified Renaissance towns and inland national parks with white-water rafting, hiking and boating on jade-colored lakes.

 

Australia
The Aussies have long believed everyone deserves a great holiday, and they respond with dining, sleeping and travel options for every budget. In fact, the Australian Automobile Association offers an awesome Web tool for figuring out the prices of hotels, B&Bs, hostels and even houseboats and campgrounds. AAA’s star system is primarily based on amenities but roughly corresponds to overnight rates. And with trans-Pacific tickets down from their pre-recession peak, you can easily reach Australia for less. Qantas and other Aussie carriers also offer value air passes that allow flexible flights within Australia — ideal for first-time visitors who want to see it all, from the sophisticated restaurants and shops of Sydney and Melbourne to dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef to desert landscapes in the Red Centre.

 

Yucatan Peninsula
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula encompasses a huge area — Cancun and Cozumel islands, the mainland Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen and Tulum) and inland spots like Chichen Itza and Merida — which means there’s plenty of choice in terms of where you stay, eat and play. Each destination has its own distinct vibe. Cancun is all about beaching, bargain shopping and crazy nightlife. Fronting the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Cozumel is a holy grail for the diving crowd. Playa del Carmen is smooth and sophisticated, while Tulum and Isla Mujeres offer two takes on beach-bum paradise — the former, eco-minded; the latter, isolated (in a good way).
The average price of a hotel room has plunged across the Yucatan during spring and summer. Five-star hotels generally offer the deepest discounts. Or you can make like Indiana Jones in a thatch-roof jungle bungalow at the Mayaland Hotel, near Chichen Itza. Down in laid-back Tulum, there are good beachfront rooms for less, and even the high-end places, like the rustically romantic Posada Luna del Sur, can fit you in for an affordable price, depending on the season.

 

Montreal, Canada
If you crave a honeymoon with a French joie de vivre but Paris seems too pricey, why not consider Montreal? In Montreal, a compact city with top-grade public transit, you won’t have to rent a car to wander. Base yourselves in Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), and you can walk to Notre-Dame Basilica, the St. Lawrence riverfront and the renovated Marche Bonsecours market, with its bars, restaurants and boutiques. Or purchase a three-day occasional card for unlimited travel on the city’s extensive metro and bus networks. Many of the coolest attractions and events in the city are actually free. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Redpath Museum won’t cost you a dime. Neither will many of the events staged during the city’s famous comedy festival. Likewise, the annual Montreal International Jazz Festival includes more than 350 free concerts.

 

Thailand
Southeast Asia’s favorite destination is the kind of place where it almost doesn’t matter how much money you spend — even slumming it can seem like luxury in tropical paradises like Phuket and Ko Samui. Thailand’s biggest bargain is accommodations, especially at the more popular destinations, where the choice in hotels can sometimes overwhelm. Fierce competition has brought room prices down to levels that seem too good to be true. Flying around Thailand is fairly inexpensive too and never takes very long. Flights between Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai take about an hour and can cost less one-way than most comparable flights in the U.S..

 

Portugal
Portugal tops nearly everyone’s list of the most affordable holiday destinations inside the Euro zone, beating out neighboring Spain and equally sun-splashed Greece. But it’s not just the value that’s been giving this coastal country such attention of late: One of the last Western European nations to modernize, Portugal retains much of its bygone charm — this land of ancient castles and endless olive groves, chromatic fishing villages and funky urban neighborhoods is just now being complemented by chic beach retreats and some of the best golf courses in the world.
The European Consumers’ Organisation recently selected Lisbon as Europe’s Best Vacation Destination, just ahead of Barcelona, Spain. One of the reasons is that a full week at a five-star hotel in Lisbon can run about the same price as just one or two nights at a luxury hotel in other European capitals. In addition to reasonable hotel rates, Portugal is known for relatively low rental-car rates, restaurant prices and greens fees.

 

Turkey
With more than 3,400 miles of shoreline, Turkey has a lot of coast to choose from. And it’s on three different seas: the Mediterranean, Black and Aegean. Much like neighboring Greece, the coast is sprinkled with ancient ruins and picturesque villages, chic waterfront resorts and white-sand strands framed by pine forests and turquoise bays. The main difference is price. Plan right, and you could end up paying half as much for a Turkish honeymoon as an equivalent Greek getaway. Turkey’s seaside resorts are an especially good bargain. The Greek isle of Santorini may be breathtaking, but over on the Turkish shore, you can snag a great room in places like Antalya, Bodrum or the new hipster hangout of Cesme, for much less.
A beach honeymoon in Turkey easily combines with a stopover in one of Europe’s iconic capital cites (London, Paris, Rome). Or you can fly straight to Istanbul and while away a couple of days beside the Bosporus in a city that has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years.

 

Puerto Rico
This island remains one of the Caribbean’s best value getaways, not the least because U.S. citizens don’t have to invest in a passport to get there. Flights from the States haven’t dropped that much in price over the past few years, but accommodations in Puerto Rico definitely have.
You’ll also save bucks on many of Puerto Rico’s popular outdoor activities. Surf schools at world-renowned Playa Rincon range are considerably less than other surf spots like Hawaii. Top-ranked scuba outfitters offer one and two-tank dives for extremely competitive prices out of San Juan.
Rental cars are another great value. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, not only are roads and driving conditions very similar to back home, so are rental rates.

 

Sri Lanka
This teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean is on the opposite side of the globe from North America, so airfare isn’t cheap. But once you reach the ancient land of Serendib, the island is very affordable. Imagine all of the exotic delights India has to offer — palaces and ancient temples, coconut-palm-shaded beaches, game reserves with wild elephants and leopards, incredible cuisine and exotic shopping — in a smaller, more manageable space, and you’ll have some idea of why Sri Lanka is such a cool honeymoon destination.
As for safety concerns, the U.S. Department of State lifted its long-standing travel warning on Sri Lanka in May 2010. Diplomats still advise not traveling to the island’s far north, where most of the 26-year civil war took place — but that’s not where you’d likely go as a tourist anyway.

 Contact us to book any of these beautiful destinations.  solsticetravel@yahoo.com