Hi-TecH HoTels of THe fuTure QT SYDNEY, AUSTRAlIA
It’s the Internet age and hotels are stepping up their game in the tech front. Australia’s QT Sydney is one of the hotels looking to heighten the hotel game with tech innovations. Expect digital art, light installations, HD video, and elevators that play tunes according to the number of passengers. www.qtsydney.com.au
THE PENINSUlA HONG KONG
At the Peninsula in Hong Kong, guests will only have to lift one finger for the ultimate stay. Each room has custom-made tablets, pre-programmed in the appropriate language for accessing movies and city guides. Touchscreen panels adjust lighting, call housekeeping, and turn on an electronic “do not disturb” sign so you’ll never have to get out of bed. www. peninsula.com/Hong_Kong
BEllAGIO lAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The Bellagio is not only a Las Vegas landmark— it’s also a tech marvel of a hotel. It uses Cisco CleanAir technology, which adapts the wireless signal to combat interference, and with over 330 routers spread out, you’ll never have to worry about being offline. Another tech-savvy bonus: each of the 40-inch HDTV screens in every room allows you to stream video from your devices. www.bellagio.com
Bambu Indah, Bali, Indonesia IllUSTRATION BY Claudine Delfin
GARDEN COURT HOTEl, DOWNTOWN PAlO AlTO, CAlIfORNIA
At this Silicon Valley hotel, it’s no surprise that each guest can tap into a 50-Mbps connection over Wi-Fi, 52-inch HDTVs with 30 HDTV channels, iPod, and iPhone docking stations and two phone lines. Don’t forget to catch a ride on an Uber app car service vehicle for your round trip to nearby San Francisco. www.gardencourt.com
OPUS VANCOUVER
Upon arriving at this hotel, you’ll be greeted with the usual welcome drink—and an iPad for use during your stay. You’ll also find a Samsung Galaxy SIII in your room for unlimited calls and Internet access. Each room also features iPad docking stations, iHome DVD/CD players with surround sound, heated tiled floors, and up to 46-inch Sharp Aquos TVs. vancouver.opushotel.com
on THe Web
WWW.TRIPMOBA.COM
This first Philippine-focused online travel engine allows you to book flights and hotels, compare air fares, and purchase unique travel experiences in just one user interface.
WWW.WHATSBUSY.COM APPlE GOlD VS. SAMSUNG GOlD After Apple launched its gold-colored iPhone 5S in September, Samsung announced the Gold Edition Galaxy S4, which will come in either gold pink or gold brown. The South Korean telecom giant introduced the limited-edition phone via its Samsung Mobile Arabia Twitter feed.
SAINTHOOD fOR POPES JOHN PAUl II AND JOHN XXIII Pope Francis announced that Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be canonized on April 27, 2014. Polish John Paul II, who led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, was the first nonItalian pope in 400 years, while Pope John XXIII, pontiff from 1958 to 1963, called the Second Vatican Council, which led the Church to transformation and progress.
Calculate wait times at airports and other hotspots with this site. The tool uses traffic information and weather conditions, among others, to give you a heads-up on a location.
WWW.UNIQUE-GUIDES.COM
Unique is a series of video and interactive “microguides” that present unique locations in some of the world’s great cities.
WWW.IWANNAGOTHERE.COM
This site serves up specials such as romantic ideas for trips and Europe on a budget, as well as presenting you photos for inspiration on your next trip. www.philippineairlines.com I 19