Anniversary special for a special anniversary . . .

The Peninsula Hotel Beverly Hills - this is one of my favourite hotels in the USA. As soon as you drive up to the entrance of the hotel you feel that 'I'm a movie/rock star' thing happening. It's not a flashy hotel, it's kind of cool and mellow, and you never know who you'll run into. I was there a few years ago and Sly Stallone was in the bar!
The bed linen ruined me forever - since the time I slept on those beautiful white sheets and fitted my head into clouds imitating pillows I can't settle for anything less on top of a mattress.

The super chic Peninsula Beverly Hills opened its doors on 8 August 1991, and this year is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a host of special offers. Guests booking two nights at the exclusive hotel will enjoy a third consecutive night for just US$20.

As well as this special rate for the third night, guests will receive additional special “20” benefits including a daily breakfast credit of US$20 per person, a 20 per cent discount on Spa and Food and Beverages charges, valet parking at US$20 per vehicle per night, two “Pen 20” cocktails upon arrival, and a 20th anniversary gift.

Room rates for the first two nights start from US$585 per room, per night, for a Superior Room, and the package is valid from 6 August to 22 December 2011.

For more information, please visit www.peninsula.com/beverlyhills

Subject to availability, terms and conditions.

About The Peninsula Beverly Hills
The only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star hotel in Southern California for 18 consecutive years, The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers 193 elegantly appointed rooms, including 36 suites and 16 private villas, nestled among lush tropical gardens in the heart of Beverly Hills. This iconic luxury hotel is home to the sumptuous Belvedere Restaurant, The Living Room, where the legendary Peninsula Afternoon Tea is served daily, The Peninsula Spa and the Rooftop Garden, a refined-resort oasis featuring a swimming pool, private cabanas, and outdoor cocktails and dining. The Peninsula Beverly Hills is located at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards, within easy walking distance of Century City and Beverly Hills’ legendary Rodeo Drive.

Get Up & Go winter issue out now!

Every time I put an issue of Get Up & Go magazine to bed it's with a big sigh of relief, then the excitement starts to build. The first copy to hit my desk is the thrill of the week. And one just turned up. It looks lovely and the cover with penguins should be a hit with everyone.
The birds are part of the parade of amazing animals featured in our Antarctica story.
We have pages and pages of train journeys - so off you choof!
There are stories on Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, England, Hawaii, Fiji, Oman, New Zealand and Macau.
Australia features too with a wonderful air touring trip across the top of Australia; the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, some coffee secrets in Melbourne and the new MONA gallery in Tasmania.
Subscribe to win a holiday in Macau and enter the competition to win a trip to Thailand for a stay on Phuket.
Go on, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

How sweet it is

I find when I'm travelling and in a new city it's good to catch a bus or train out of the cbd to discover the suburbs. I have found markets, specialty shops, festivals and regional restaurants in outlying areas of cities in Europe.
And Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Hobart are no different.
One of Sydney's inner west suburbs, Summer Hill is on the train line - just seven stops from Central station and has the feel of a small village. Charming coffee shops and restaurants, bakeries and a marvellous fruit and veg shop are on offer.
There's a tiny, wee gallery shop - Sweets Workshop - that has handcrafted goods for sale, lovely art works and regular exhibitions by the bright young things in the indie art world. The dedicated gallery space has exhibitions that focus on an artists or designer, artistic process or theme.
From 2-20 July is: 'Bread Tag World'. Beth Taylor has created art out of bread tags. Meticulously created, full of heart and humour, Beth has made something beautiful and thoughtful out of something we see every day (see globe image left).
Sweets Workshop, Shop 4, 58-60 Carlton Crescent, Summer Hill (opposite Summer Hill railway station). Bread Tag World opens tomorrow art the gallery at 2pm - see you there.
Visit: www.sweetsworkshop.com

The absorption principle

In his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says that international hotel chain Crowne Plaza is testing a ‘snore absorption’ room to see if it will help guests sleep better.
Amongst its bag of tricks are walls lined with foam shaped like the bottom of egg-boxes to stop noise reverberating around the room, sound-absorbing bed-heads, and anti-snoring pillows that use magnetic fields to open a person’s airways and stiffen the upper palate – that when soft vibrates during deep breathing and thus creates snoring.
There is also an ‘anti-snoring wedge’ built into the bed that makes it uncomfortable for people to sleep on their backs – often a major contributor to snoring – and forces them to sleep on their sides.
The ‘snore absorption’ room is being trialled in the Crowne Plaza London The City, and nine other hotels in the chain in Europe and the Middle East.
A spokesman said that a survey had found that half of couples complained about partners spoiling their holiday by snoring, and it was hoped that the ‘snore absorption’ room would go a long way towards helping these people get a more restful sleep – and thus enjoy their holiday more.

WIN Maui Jim sunglasses

I have four pair of stylish and super cool Maui Jim sunglasses ready to give away to Get Up & Go bloggers, readers and facebookers! The sunglasses are worth between $250 and $300 a pair.
To be in with a chance to win your own pair just sign up to the Get Up & Go e-newsletter - go to www.getupandgo.net.au and sign up for the FREE e-newsletter. It comes out once a month and I put specials, bargains, hot deals and giveaways. In fact every newsletter has a great giveaway.
Once you sign up, you'll receive the newsletter next Tuesday, follow the instructions - easy peasy, and who knows, Maui Jim might be coming your way.
What are you waiting for?
Good luck

Get Up & Go: WIN Maui Jim sunglasses

Get Up & Go: WIN Maui Jim sunglasses: "I have four pair of stylish and super cool Maui Jim sunglasses ready to give away to Get Up & Go bloggers, readers and facebookers! The su..."

Survey reveals sleep habits

A national survey of 1200 Australians* by Travelodge Hotels has delved into the nation’s sleep habits and revealed that the ‘Friday Feeling’ is no longer defined by a few drinks after work, but the signal for a good night’s sleep, with over a third (37%) reporting Friday night as their best night’s sleep of the week!
And the worst? With Monday morning playing on our minds, almost 40% stated Sunday night’s sleep as a struggle…and it’s work related stress at fault, with a quarter of respondents (25%) tossing and turning because of work worries.

Work woes
Work woes affect men the most, with a third reporting it as the main reason they can’t sleep at night. For women, while the office is definitely a factor (22%), they’re mostly missing out on precious shut-eye because of their partner’s snoring! A quarter (25%) of the female respondents complained of a noisy other half, compared to just 8% of men!

A sneaky doze
The survey also revealed that we’re not catching up on crucial missed sleep under the covers. Busy lifestyles are seeing Aussies catching up wherever they can and it might be our work that’s suffering with 26% of men and 16% of women confessing to a sneaky doze in a meeting. Other places where Aussies are attempting to get out of sleep debt include trips on the bus or train to work (62%), at the movies (40%) and in a lecture (32%).
The survey was commissioned by Travelodge Hotels, just one aspect of a new sleep campaign that sees Travelodge Hotels engaged in a range of activities to help ensure a good night’s sleep for every guest including complimentary Good Sleep Guides and “dream tea” for all guests. In 16 city locations across Australia and New Zealand, Travelodge Hotels offer great rates, rest assured.
Rachel Argaman, CEO of Travelodge Hotels, says: “Providing a good night’s rest for guests is a priority for the teams at each Travelodge Hotel across Australia and New Zealand. Whether you’re on holiday or a business trip, a good night’s sleep puts you in the right headspace for tackling the day’s excitement and challenges. We want Travelodge guests to feel relaxed and revitalised when they check-out and this new survey shows just how important that commitment is to the wellbeing of our guests.”

Other interesting statistics from the Travelodge survey:
On average, Australians report getting six to seven hours’ sleep per night (62%)
42% of single Aussies are cuddling up to a pillow to help them drift off, compared to 33% of those married or in a relationship. The loved up Aussies are overwhelmingly cuddling their partner (92%)
When it comes to what side of the bed we sleep on, we’re creatures of habit. An overwhelming 71% stick to their familiar side of the bed even when in a hotel.
18% of 18-24 year olds admit to being afraid of the dark and conquer this fear by sleeping with the TV on (50%).
For general sleep tips, hints on how to combat jetlag and more information about sleep, Travelodge have created the “Sleep Centre” which guests can access at any time through the Travelodge website: www.travelodge.com.au

About Travelodge Hotels
Travelodge is proud of consistently offering great value, rest assured. Whether it’s your next holiday, a weekend getaway or even a business trip, Travelodge’s price per room rates offer comfort and quality at unbeatable value. There are currently 16 Travelodge Hotels across Australia and New Zealand in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Newcastle, Perth, Darwin, Wellington and Palmerston North. Book a great night’s sleep (at a great rate) at: www.travelodge.com.au

*Survey was conducted via online survey tool Survey Monkey of 1200 over 18 year old Australian men and women during May 2011