The King’s Speech

Location: A prince and a commoner in the wedding of the century. Sound familiar? This historical drama was shot in and around London, though stand-ins were used for Buckingham Palace’s interiors. Go there: It might be hard to recreate the vintage look of the film, but London is full of atmospheric and historic architecture and palaces to visit. If you’re a sucker for English period films or places Colin Firth has graced, tour company P & P Tours can show you around many historic movie locations like Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

Black Swan

Location: Much of the ballet psychodrama was shot in New York City, though the performances were filmed upstate in Purchase, New York. Go there: To see the real “Swan Lake” on stage at Lincoln Center, you’ll have to hope tickets aren’t sold out for the New York City Ballet, performing this month February 11-26.

The Fighter

Location: in the grand tradition of Oscar winners Good Will Hunting and The Departed, the Mark Wahlberg boxing flick was filmed in Massachusetts, in Micky Ward’s real hometown of Lowell, 30 miles north of Boston. Go there: For a map of locations in Lowell, check out this blog post and perhaps spot Micky Ward at the West End Gym.

Inception

Location: The setting of this film depends on what dream level you’re in. The locations list includes Los Angeles, England, Paris, Japan, even Morocco. Go there: There are plenty of real locations to visit, including University College London and Tangier’s Grand Souk. Canada’s Fortress Mountain Resort where the snow scenes were shot is currently closed, but you can ski nearby in Banff.

The Social Network

Location: Another Massachusetts and California movie, this very academic film shot at many college and prep school campuses, but none of them Harvard, which hasn’t allowed film crews in decades. Go there: If you enjoyed the Winklevoss rowing scene, head to England this summer for the Henley Royal Regatta June 29 – July 3.

Toy Story 3

Location: The latest in the Pixar animated trilogy is set at the Sunnyside Daycare. Go there: Reviews are mixed, but Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a new Pixar parade, to let fans see their favorite characters in “person.” Visit any Disney gift shop to make your own toy story.

True Grit

Location: The Coen brothers western remake may be set in 19th century Arkansas, but it was filmed in modern day Santa Fe, New Mexico and Texas, taking over much of towns like Granger. Go there: If you’re a film purist or big John Wayne fan, you can tour the locations of the original film in Ouray County, Colorado.

Winter’s Bone

Location: Many moviegoers hadn’t heard of this film when nominations were announced, set and shot in the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri. Go there: The difficult film centers around the effects of methamphetamine on a rural family, but travel destinations don’t get much more wholesome than Branson, Missouri. Bring the family for riverboat shows and the best bathroom in the country.

Vasa Museum

A tourist favorite, but an amazing one. This 17th-century warship spent 333 years in the mud of Stockholm Harbor. Raised in 1961 and housed in the weirdest-looking building in town. On the beautiful island of Djurgården, the former royal hunting grounds. Fee. www.vasamuseet.se

Kayaking

“Rent a kayak and paddle around the islands downtown.”—Doug Lansky, Stockholm-based travel writer. Stockholm is built on the water. Enjoy. A two-seater is about $42 for two hours. That’s all you’ll need. Ekelundsvägen 26, Solna; tel. 46 8 730 22 10, www.svima.se

Bandy

If you visit in winter, watch a game of bandy. It’s hockey on a football field—lightning fast, lots of goals, no fights, and outdoors, which means freezing cold on the bleachers. You’ll make friends as long as you root for Hammarby (wear green and white). Games at Zinkensdamm on Södermalm. Fee. www.hammarbybandy.se

The Archipelago

It takes a lifetime to explore the whole thing. A perfect first stop is Fjäderholmarna. Boats leave from Nybrokajen and outside the Grand Hotel. www.strommakanalbolaget.se

Skansen

Outdoor museum on Djurgården island houses 150 historic buildings from across Scandinavia; depicts traditional Swedish life before the industrial age. Oldest structures were constructed in the 14th century. Includes a zoo and a pacifier pit where kids ceremoniously part with their sucking equipment. On Djurgården. Fee. www.skansen.se

Kaknästornet

Sweden’s main radio and TV tower is the closest thing to a sky-scraping structure in town. The restaurant doesn’t revolve, but the views from 508 feet (155 meters) will make your head spin and the food is not half bad. Elevator fee. www.kaknästornet.se

Royal Palace

The baroque palace has 600 rooms, but none of them house the royal family anymore. They moved about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) west in 1981, to their other castle Drottningholm. Combined royal residential quarters, offices, museums, and art galleries open to visitors year-round. Dominates Gamla stan—The Old Town. Fee. www.royalcourt.se

Gripsholm

OK, it will take you a day, but it’s worth it if it’s a nice one. Take a boat from City Hall to gorgeous Mariefred, the home of Gripsholm Castle. Catch the train back. Fee. www.gripsholmsslott.se

City Hall

One of the most beautiful in the world. It took eight million red bricks to make architect Ragnar Östberg’s vision come true in 1923. The venue for the annual Nobel Prize award ceremony dinner in December. At the southeastern tip of Kungsholmen island. Hard to miss.

Gamla Stan

Lying smack in the middle of everything, the Old Town is impossible to miss. Cutest square: Brända Tomten. Nobel Museum (www.nobelmuseum.se) at Stortorget. www.old-town-stockholm.com

Jacob, president and founder of the Boston firm Jacob-Innovations, LLC, began to envision how to utilize this untapped vertical space above passengers’ heads to transform flight experiences from cramped cattle cars to spacious elbow room. He drafted airplane interior designs using his Step-Seat model that emphasized cost efficiency and passenger comfort, two seemingly polar opposites. It’s no surprise that Jacob understands both sides of the story. In addition to his design work he also has a degree in finance and economics.

Jacob also knows his way around an airplane. While working on designs for better keyboards and handheld computers he often traveled from the U.S. to Europe to attend meetings, usually flying back on the same day. “All of my innovations you see are based on flight issues I personally dealt with,” he sighs.

When first glancing at Jacob’s pioneering designs, critics may see added risk, added costs, and yes, added passengers. But look more closely, and you’ll notice the detailed thought that went into each concept. All his published designs are technically certifiable by the FAA, and can be implemented in airplanes already in use. As for safety, Jacob insists, “The steps I suggest are not that different from steps you’d find in a Boeing 747 that lead to the upper deck. Jacob has thought about the design from every angle. “There are some challenges with flight attendants having a visual line of sight with passengers, but things like weight sensors in the seats could indicate whether a passenger is there or not,” he says.

There is the question of cost to the airlines for implementing these designs. “Yes, you may have additional weight, but then again, with almost twice the passengers in business class you can recover the upfront costs for building it,” Jacob says. “Also, charging more for new and improved economy-plus and economy-premium seating will add revenue to flights.”

So what are the chances that you may be climbing up stairs into your own peaceful sleeping bunk at 30,000 feet anytime soon? “The airlines are quite a rigid industry when trying to make any significant changes,” says Jacob. “We have projects for some of the largest airlines in the world, especially overseas, but they like to keep anything new they’re doing as discreet as they can.” In the meantime, while patiently waiting for the airline interior revolution, some of us may be found secretly asleep on the floor.

Alternate Elevated Seats – Economy

“If you were able to make the seat in front of you higher by about seven inches (no more than the height of a conventional step), you would have a lot of space under the seat in front you,” explains Jacob. “The person in front could recline without being right in your face and the shell adds privacy so passengers don’t snore in each other’s faces either.”

Alternate Elevated Seats – Business Class

This model is designed to, paradoxically, improve both passenger density and comfort in business class. By elevating every other seat by two steps, new space creates a full bench for your legs in the lower seat, with more reclining for the passenger in the higher seat. (You may have to choose between your legs or your back when booking either style of seat.) “With this design, you could fit in about 40% more seats, when comparing fully flat business class seats,” touts Jacob.

Lateral Steps

In this version five lateral steps are used to access a second tier of seats, effectively doubling the number of passengers in conventional business class. It allows more space for suitcases, saving business travelers time by avoiding luggage check-in and pick-up.

It’s also great for mothers traveling with babies. A mechanism that folds the stairs into the upper level would allow the crew to switch the module to economy or business seating depending on how many of each type of seat are booked. “This model has the greatest efficiency,” says Jacob. “I’ve had the question about handicapped people with this model, and they will always have priority for the first level.”

Lateral Steps and Alternate Elevated Combined

Both the concepts of alternating the height of each window seat and using steps to create a second tier of middle seating are incorporated here. Despite obviously adding to the number of passengers, each would get their own bed and added privacy.

“Another plus is that it allows two travelers to be seated together if they wish,” says Jacob. “And it’s a lot more open with greater window views.”

Limited Height

This concept was made for aircraft spaces with limited height, such as the upper deck of a Boeing 747. The second tier is up only three steps and passengers are seated laterally, thus requiring less headroom. “You can’t go all the way up because of the curvature of the plane, but this increases the seats in the space by approximately 20%,” he says.

1) Catalina Island

Can you think of a better Valentine’s Day getaway than to the Island of Romance? The newly renovated Pavilion Hotel on Catalina Island is offering a special Valentine’s Day package including complimentary continental breakfast, complimentary afternoon wine and cheese social, and tickets to the Valentine’s Dance in the historic Casino Ballroom on February 12th.

The beautifully remodeled hotel boasts semi-private lanais in all ground floor rooms, a huge garden courtyard with several lounge areas and a fire ring, an open air ocean view lounge near the front lobby, and two new luxury suites with ocean views. This is the perfect Valentine’s Day getaway for couples who want to relax in the warm sun and also enjoy a special Valentine date night at the dance.

2) Lake Tahoe

Snow bunnies aren’t ready to look ahead to Spring just yet, and you won’t find more beautiful or more romantic Winter conditions than in Lake Tahoe. Hit the world-class slopes by day and cuddle by your private fireplace at night in a cozy mountain condo at Northstar Resort.

Valentine’s Day weekend is packed with special events at Lake Tahoe, from ski races to romantic sunset dinners. Whatever romance means to you, you’ll find it at Lake Tahoe.

3) Las Vegas

You don’t think Sin City can be romantic? Think again! A Valentine’s Day getaway to Vegas should start with reservations at one of the Strip’s 5-Star Resorts. We especially like The Venetian for romance. The best thing about Vegas is that you can still enjoy the fine amenities all over the Strip, no matter where you stay.

Book a couples massage at your favorite Las Vegas spa, then find a romantic restaurant for Valentine’s dinner, and cap off your Valentine’s Day getaway with Vegas’ most spectacular celebration of love, Cirque du Soleil’s Love at the Mirage.

Bimini Road, Bahamas

It’s one of the world’s greatest mysteries: Where is the lost city of Atlantis? Take a boat ride out from the coast of North Bimini in the Bahamas and you may see the answer. Submerged 20 feet beneath the surface are otherworldly rock formations considered by many to be part of what was once the ancient city’s road system. Skeptics scoff at the idea, but grab your goggles and take a gander at the orderly 1,500-foot-long row of square blocks and decide for yourself.

Red Sea Star, Eilat, Israel

Every seat offers an up-close coral view at the Red Sea Star. This restaurant, bar, and observatory sits 16 feet under the Red Sea near the town of Eilat. With two windows to each table in the star-shaped restaurant, seafood fans can practically point at their dinner before they eat it. If you want to get up close and personal with sea life without getting your feet wet, the coral reef gardens that surround the restaurant are home to dramatic bluespotted rays, clownfish, and orange-striped triggerfish. Lighting is kept low at night to prevent distress to the reef’s sensitive inhabitants, making the restaurant one of the few underwater night-observatories in the world.

Baiheliang Underwater Museum, China

The Chinese were on the cutting edge when they built the Baiheliang stone tablet — an ancient water calculation structure to record low water levels — around 1,200 years ago. It used to be easy to see the mile-long tablet from shore, but the Three Gorges Dam submerged much of it under higher water levels in 2006. But all was not lost. You can now dive to see the tablets or visit the Baiheliang Underwater Museum, which opened in 2009. Walk along an enclosed corridor and peer through the portholes 122 feet below the surface of the famed Yangtze River. And what will you see? The stone tablet is decorated with more than 30,000 characters of poetry as well as elaborate fish sculptures, including the nine-foot-long King of Carps.

Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji

Taking undersea accommodations to new heights of luxury, the long awaited Poseidon Undersea Resort will be over-the-top-and 40 feet underwater. The brainchild of a submarine manufacturer, guests at Poseidon will be able to sleep deep below the waters of a Fijian lagoon. Besides an amazing location, the resort will have 24 underwater suites, a fitness room, a library, and a wedding chapel. With 70 percent of the room’s surface constructed from transparent acrylic, guests will have no need to use the flat screen televisions for entertainment. If you fancy a change of view, try the revolving undersea restaurant or book a ride on the resort’s 16-passenger submarine. Guests willing to sink a mere $30,000 for a room will need to be patient — the resort is now scheduled to open in 2011.

Underwater Sculpture Park, Grenada

When you want your culture with a side of sea life (and maybe a light covering of algae and coral), jump into the dramatic Underwater Sculpture Park off Grenada. Sitting in clear, shallow waters, the works are sure to startle unsuspecting SCUBA divers and snorkelers as they stumble upon figures lying on the seabed, holding hands, or sitting at desks among the kelp. The 65 sculptures are constructed in an eco-conscious manner and become artificial reefs as they are colonized by coral and marine life. The world’s first underwater sculpture park is the work of artist Jason de Caires Taylor, who is also working on another underwater sculpture park off the coast of Cancun in Mexico.

Cele 65 de statuete sunt facute intr-un mod ecologic si au devenit recife fiind colonizate de corali si alte vietuitoare marine. Primul parc subacvatic de sculpturi al lumii este opera artistului Jason de Caires Taylor, care lucreaza acum la un alt parc subacvatic in Cancun, Mexic.

The Necker Nymph, Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

A new plaything for guests of Sir Richard Branson, the Necker Nymph is an open-top marvel that let’s you fly underwater in a three-person “aero-submarine.” Able to dive to depths of nearly 100 feet, this cool craft can be added to your bill for $25,000 a week when you’re renting Branson’s 105-foot catamaran The Necker Belle (from $95,000 per week). Built by the same engineer responsible for the submersible featured in James Cameron’s IMAX film Aliens of the Deep, the Nymph is only around a tenth of the weight of a traditional submarine and uses technology similar to planes to maneuver through the emerald waters of the Caribbean.

Herod’s Harbor, Caesarea, Israel

You’ll need to equip yourself with a waterproof map, diving or snorkeling gear, and a guide to take in the ancient Roman history at the Herod’s Harbor underwater museum. Dating back to 10 BC, what was once one of the most important ports of the Roman Empire now sits in just 20 feet of water off the town of Caesarea. A roped trail laces the way between the 36 exhibits, including sunken ships, vast anchors, harbor foundations, and ancient marble columns. Opened in 2006, the 18,580-square-foot archeological park sits on the Israeli coast halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa.

LIME Spa, Maldives

The bill might give you a sinking feeling, but treatments at the world’s first underwater spa in the Maldives’ North Male Atoll will raise your spirits. The surreal spa at the Huvafen Fushi resort is a place you’ll want to keep your eyes open. Rays pirouette on the other side of the glass and you might also catch a glimpse of Huvafen Fushi’s celebrity clientele — George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, and Kate Moss have all been guests of the resort.

Jules Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida

Sleep with the fishes at Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Undersea Park. Checking into this unique address includes donning SCUBA gear and plunging 21 feet into the turquoise waters off the Florida Keys. But don’t fret — even those who haven’t learned to dive can still take the plunge after taking a three-hour course. Guests are seen to their rooms by trained dive staff and the accommodations include hot showers, a fully stocked kitchen, and even air conditioning. Getting underwater is all part of the experience in this part of the country: The quirky Florida Keys are also home to an Underwater Music Festival every July at Looe Key Reef near Big Pine Key.

Ithaa Undersea restaurant, Maldives

Dive into delicious Maldivian-Western fusion cuisine at this restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Just don’t blame us when the faces on the other side of the glass stare accusingly at your plate of fruits de mer. Reserve well ahead for a seat at the world’s only all-glass underwater restaurant. Only twelve diners can feast at a time at this haute cuisine destination 16 feet below the waves. With 360-degree views of the surrounding Indian Ocean, you’ll get a good understanding of what it’s like to be inside an aquarium looking out.

Piazza del Duomo

The heart of Florence; climb the bell tower for sweeping views; see the octagonal Baptistery with its three sets of gilded bronze doors; visit the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, full of Gothic and Renaissance sculpture; and explore the Duomo, or cathedral, the city’s most iconic building. Fees at some sights. www.operaduomo.firenze.it

Galleria degli Uffizi

“Allow enough time to savor the world’s greatest gallery of Renaissance art—and don’t forget to look up at the marvelous frescoed hallway ceilings.”—Louise Fili, author, The Civilized Shopper’s Guide to Florence. Countless Italian masterpieces, but also works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, and other leading European artists. Tip: Prebook tickets by phone or online. Fee. www.uffizi.com

Il Gelato Vivoli

“The city’s best gelateria, or ice-cream parlor, is Vivoli, near Santa Croce at Via Isola delle Stinche 7.”—David Gardner, proprietor, Baldovino restaurant and Hotel Villa Bordoni, Chianti. Tip: A cup, or tub (coppa), is better value than a cone (cono): Choose from different size tubs and remember you can ask for more than one flavor per tub. Tel. 39 055 292 334. www.vivoli.it

Santa Croce

Franciscan basilica in the east of the city; countless paintings and other works of art, including fresco cycles by Giotto; many illustrious characters buried here, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Tip: Admission to the church also covers the easily missed museum and Cappella dei Pazzi (Pazzi Chapel) next door. Fee. www.santacroce.firenze.it

Museo Nazionale del Bargello

- ar trebui sa vizitezi Bargello chiar daca nu esti un fan al sculpturilor, pentru ca poti gasi numeroase camere frumoase ce gazduiesc arte aplicate este cea mai imprtanta galerie a Italiei ce detine opere de arta in stil gotic, renanscentist sau sculpturi; opere ale lui Michelangelo si Donatello. www.firenzemusei.it/00_english/bargello/index.html

Visit market

“Don’t miss the Mercato Centrale, a vast covered market selling fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and dozens of other gastronomic treats.”—David Gardner. Tip: The Mercato Centrale is closed Sundays and after about 2 p.m. daily, except Saturdays in winter.

Cappelle Brancacci

“The paintings here changed the course of art history.”—Luca Finardi, general manager, Hotel Helvetia & Bristol. Groundbreaking 15th-century fresco series by Masaccio and Masolino. Tel. 39 055 276 8224. Fee. www.comune.firenze.it.

Santa Maria Novella

“Don’t miss the Cappellone degli Spagnoli, a soaring frescoed chapel alongside the church.”—Jonathan Buckley, co-author, The Rough Guide to Florence & Siena. The city’s second major church after Santa Croce; Masaccio’s 15th-century painting of a Maestà is one of the city’s most important; several ravishing Renaissance fresco series; excellent small museum. www.smn.it

Galleria dell’Accademia

Home to Michelangelo’s “David” and his four non finiti (unfinished) stone “Slaves”; also some paintings, including work by Botticelli. Tip: Arrive early to avoid long lines or prebook tickets through Firenze Musei. Tel. 39 055 294 883. Fee. www.gallerieaccademia.org/sito/home.html

Cappelle Medicee

Crypt and chapels containing tombs of many of the Medici family; major sculptures by Michelangelo. Tip: Visit the adjoining Church of San Lorenzo (separate entrance) with its paintings and the tomb of Donatello. Fee. www.firenzemusei.it/00_english/medicee/index.html

Palazzo Pitti

“You’ll want to see the Galleria Palatina here, with much of the Medici’s former art collection, but don’t miss the adjoining Giardino di Boboli—it’s the best garden in the city.”—Anne Hanley, editor, Time Out Florence & Tuscany. Tip: Take advantage of combined tickets to see several museums within the palace. www.palazzopitti.it

Pho (Vietnam)
The most famous and most popular dish of Vietnam, Pho (pronounced FA) is a noodle soup typically served with beef. This warm soup is then complimented by adding some basil and chili to suit your tastes. If there were one Vietnamese offering I can never get enough of, it’s Pho. It’s simply delicious and extremely filling.

Loc Lac (Cambodia)
This traditional Cambodian dish can be found at any restaurant, though the best are usually served in the street markets. Loc Lac consists of fried cubed beef with fresh red onions served atop a bed of lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Some places include a side of rice. Make sure you get it with the pepper sauce.

Sushi (Japan)

Sushi has become a global phenomenon and is my favorite food by far. And, there’s nothing like getting sushi from its source in Japan. The fish there is extremely fresh and much larger and thicker than is typically served in the United States. Outside of Japan, you will also find amazing sushi in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

Thai pork noodle soup (Thailand)
This soup can only be found in Thailand, where it is a common street food. You’ll find vendors on every street selling it. A noodle soup with cuts of red pork and wontons in it, it’s the most delicious dish in Thailand, and the first dish I seek out when I visit. When you try it add a bit of fish sauce, some sugar and a dash of chili for flavor. This makes the best mix of sweet and sour.

Pad Thai (Thailand)

Though it might be one of the most famous dishes in the world, good Pad Thai can be hard to find. If you want to enjoy this noodle, peanut and tofu dish at its best, get out of the restaurants and away from the tourist zones. The small markets hidden down narrow streets offer the best variations. If you are ever in Bangkok, a good Pad Thai vendor can be found on Sukhimvit Soi 33.

Dim Sum (China/Hong Kong/Taiwan)

Dim sum is a Chinese tradition that involves a stream of small portions of steamed food or dumplings served in steamer baskets or on small plates. Usually, the food is cooked in dough, though there are many types of dim sum. The steamed dishes are brought over to your table and shared Tapas style. Dim Sum can be found across Asia in areas where Chinese cuisine is prominent, and most places that do dim sum serve only that.

Laksa (Malaysia)
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup found in Malaysia. It uses a coconut broth with lemongrass, galangal and Vietnamese mint and noodles-I enjoy the thicker variety. You will usually find it with tofu, beef or chicken. (Malaysia is a Muslim country so there isn’t a lot of pork served.) I wouldn’t recommend Laksa it if you don’t like spicy food, since the dish has a burn factor thanks to lots of chili. However, most places will see you are a tourist and make it mild

Mi Goreng (Indonesia)

Ubiquitous in Indonesia, Mi Goreng is sold everywhere from street stalls to high-end restaurants. Similar to Chinese Chow Main, it’s a noodle dish made with fried noodles, garlic, onion, chili, vegetables, tomatoes, eggs and your choice of meat. Because of the sauce used, Mi Goreng is very sweet. Though it is typically a noodle dish, you can get a rice version as well, which I actually prefer.

The next time you’re traveling through Asia, make sure to sample these delicious dishes. Often the signature dish of their country, they represent some of the best their countries have to offer. But more importantly, they’ll leave your stomach full with some of the best tasting food you have ever had.

If you want to sleep, while waiting your plane or train, it may cause many security and hygiene problems. We believe that urban infrastructure should be more comfortable for people. For this purpose we have developed a device SLEEPBOX. It provides moments of quiet sleep and rest from the city without wasting time searching for a hotel.

Here are the possible locations for SLEEPBOX:

• – Railroad stations
• – Airports
• – Expocentres
• – Public and shopping centers
• – Accommodation facilities

In countries with warm climate SLEEPBOX can be used on the streets.

Thanks to SLEEPBOX any person has an opportunity to spend the night safely and cheaply in case of emergency, or when you have to spend few hours with your baggage.
SLEEPBOX is a small mobile space (box) 2mx1.4mx2.3m (h). The main functional element in it is a bed 2×0.6 m., which is equipped with automatic system of change of bed linen. Bed is soft, flexible strip of foamed polymer with the surface of the pulp tissue. Tape is rewound from one shaft to another, changing the bed. If a client wants to sleep in maximum comfort, he can take the normal set of bed linen for an extra fee. SLEEPBOX is equipped with a ventilation system, sound alerts, built-in LCD TV, WiFi, sockets for a laptop, charging phones. Also under the lounges is a place for luggage.

After the clients exit, automatic change of bed linen starts and quartz lamps turns on. Payment can be made on a shared terminal, which provides the client with an electronic key. It is possible to buy from 15 minutes to several hours.
SLEEPBOX is intended primarily to perform one main function – to enable a person to sleep peacefully. But it can also be equipped with various additional functions, depending on the situation. Application of the device can be very broad, not only in the form of paid public service, but also for internal purposes of organizations and companies.

Modul de plasare a sleepboxes în zona de asteptare. Montaj.

Toate drepturile de proprietate intelectuală pentru Sleepbox aparţin grupului Arch.
Protejate prin brevete, inclusiv:
brevet european de design industrial nr 001742719
( http://oami.europa.eu/RCDOnline/RequestManager ).
Federaţia rusă de brevet RU2010501345;
SUA în curs de brevetare.
Utilizarea neautorizata sau modificarea de design este strict
interzise şi va fi un subiect urmăririi legale.

SLEEPBOX
Suprafata: 3.75 m2
arhitecţi: Goryainov A., M. Krymov

]]> http://travelsplendid.com/descopery/the-coolest-inventions-in-travel-sleepbox/feed/ 0 http://travelsplendid.com/destinatii/romania/5498/ http://travelsplendid.com/destinatii/romania/5498/#comments Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:33:38 +0000 splendidtraveler http://travelsplendid.com/?p=5498 A foreign tourist can visit Bucharest with a budget equivalent of $ 28.3 per day, cheapest than that are the European cities of Sofia (Bulgaria) and Krakow (Poland), according to a study by Price of Travel on the estimated budget for travel to major cities Europe.

According to calculations made by the tourism portal, a visitor can stay at a hostel in Bucharest “cheap and good for  31.87 RON per night. Daily transport cost about 2.6 lei, 39.6 lei meals, drinks / entertainment 7.5 lei and lei attractions cost 9. Thus, a foreign tourist can spend a day in Bucharest 90.57 lei, which is $ 28.3, according to Mediafax.

“Bucharest is certainly the most charming city in Romania and there seems to rush to attract visitors from the West. Fortunately, those who make the effort to come here will be rewarded with even lower prices  which compensates to some extent for all the other frustrations of a visit to Bucharest. And that huge parliament building worth seeing, ” comments the report.

Cel mai prietenos oras european din punct de vedere al bugetului care trebuie alocat de turisti este Sofia, capitala Bulgariei, cu un cost de 20,75 dolari pe zi. La polul opus troneaza Zurich (Elvetia), unde o zi costa un turist cel putin echivalentul a 111,5 dolari.Sumele sunt estimate pe baza celor mai ieftine produse si servicii disponibile in fiecare oras analizat.

The friendliest European city in terms of budget to be spent by tourists is Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, at a cost of $ 20.75 per day. The opposite is to be found in  Zurich (Switzerland), where a tourist spends one day  the equivalent of at least 111.5 dolari. The numbers are estimated based on the cheapest products and services available in each city examined.

]]> http://travelsplendid.com/destinatii/romania/5498/feed/ 0 http://travelsplendid.com/descopery/where-in-the-world-should-you-go-in-2011/ http://travelsplendid.com/descopery/where-in-the-world-should-you-go-in-2011/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:01:33 +0000 Adriana http://travelsplendid.com/?p=5490 Where in the world should you go next year? Lonely Planet cofounder Tony Wheeler, have chosen their top 10 countries for next year based on scores for topicality, excitement, value for money and…that special X-factor. Here they are, in order of rank, from Lonely Planet’s latest book: Best in Travel 2011.

10. Japonia

Japan has an ill-deserved reputation as an expensive destination where the English language is in short supply. But US$100 cuts of Kobe beef and the occasional Lost in Translation moment aside, Japan is surprisingly affordable and user-friendly. Before you go, stop by your local travel agency and purchase a Japan Rail Pass, which grants you unlimited access to the country’s sophisticated transport network.

While Tokyo was ultimately unsuccessful in its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the campaign resulted in increased English signage across the country. So, if Japan has been on your travel wishlist for a while, make this the year that you fi nally see the birthplace of sushi, sake and sumo.

9. Syria

Heard the one about Bashar al-Assad and the US Ambassador? Well it’s no joke. After five years of cold-shoulder treatment relations have thawed and Syria is officially off the naughty step. There’s a definite upwardly-mobile attitude taking over the streets, thanks in part to the state-controlled economy slowly being overhauled and the noose of the ‘Axis of Evil’ tag no longer hanging around the nation’s neck. Savvy tourists can lord it up like a pasha, staying in lovingly restored Ottoman palaces and sipping cappuccino after shopping it up in the souq. But with all this modernisation it’s good to see some things are still the same.

Out east the Bedouin still herd their scraggly sheep and welcome strangers into goat-hair tents for tea. Aleppo and Damascus’ Old Cities remain mazes where the best maps won’t work, and the countryside is still a vast open-air museum, strewn with the abandoned playgrounds of fallen empires. With hospitality still a national obsession, the attitude to visitors hasn’t changed either.

8. Tanzania

It’s true, Tanzania is a place of great marvels – Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar… The names slip off the tongue like a roll call of Africa’s most alluring destinations. But that’s not all. It also has great herds of elephants in Ruaha, treeclimbing lions around Lake Manyara, chimpanzee sanctuaries in Gombe and Mahale and packs of wild dogs in Selous.

There are also sunsets on the Rufiji River, when the water boils with hippos and crocodiles. In fact, the country has the whole panoply of east Africa’s wildlife – including such rarities as the red colobus monkey, black rhino, hawksbill and leatherback turtles and Pemba flying foxes – concentrated in an unrivalled collection of parks and reserves. So you think you’ve seen it all? We’re betting Tanzania still has a surprise or two for you.

7. Italia

Italy is a beguiling, beautiful, charismatic mess. The press might be largely owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, stories of corruption, bribery and sex scandals might be everyday news, and the economy might be in the doldrums, but this is still one of the world’s most magnificent places to be. The food is delicious, sunshine is plentiful, scenery and towns are sublime, and there is millennia-worth of art to look at. There are 44 Unesco World Heritage Sites here, more than in any other country.

That Italy is celebrating only 150 years as a country in 2011 (it was unified in 1861) highlights how clearly it still feels like a collection of regions. Local people hail from their region; their nationality comes second. Each region has a pronounced character and qualities worthy of the small nations they once were, which makes it particularly rewarding to explore Italy bit by bit.

6. Vanuatu

For those in search of authentic experiences, Vanuatu is hard to beat. From mighty mountains and thunderous waterfalls to remote villages, from huge lagoons to tropical islets, there’s so much on offer, far from the crowds. Don’t expect ritzy resorts and Cancun-style nightlife; with a good choice of family-run guesthouses in traditional villages and a smattering of comfortable, romantic hideaways, it’s tailor-made for ecotourists.

With 83 islands, you’re spoilt for choice. Vanuatu has recently seen an increased number of direct flights from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands – go now, before the secret’s out.

Up next is the second part with the top 5 destinations to visit in 2011!

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